title: New Orleans Woman Sentenced for Theft of More Than $88,000 in Government Funds

component: Office of the Inspector General

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA -- ALINE JAMES, a/k/a “Aline Foster” (“JAMES”) , age 51, of New Orleans, La., was sentenced for Theft of Government Funds, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to the indictment, JAMES’s mother J.J. was a recipient of Disability Insurance Benefit (“DIB”) Program funds. J.J. passed away in 2012. Unaware of J.J.’s death, the Social Security Administration continued to deposit approximately $87,098 in DIB funds into J.J.’s bank account. After her mother’s death, JAMES spent these funds and forged J.J.’s signature on checks to herself. In addition, JAMES spent $1,200 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES ACT”) funds that were sent to her mother. U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo sentenced JAMES to four (4) years’ probation and payment of a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee. Judge Milazzo also ordered that JAMES pay $88,298.00 in restitution to the Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit http://www.justice.gov/cornoavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 cn repot it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni of the Financial Crimes Unit.


title: Three Defendants Arrested During 2023 Joint Enforcement Operation in Carlsbad Plead Guilty to Federal Drug Offenses

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Three of the eight defendants indicted following a joint enforcement operation last year in Carlsbad, pleaded guilty in federal court to federal drug offenses. Carlos Venegas, Jr., 24, of Carlsbad, pleaded guilty on March 4, 2024, to one count each of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine, 400 grams and more of fentanyl, and 500 grams and more of cocaine, attempt to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine, attempt to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine. Amber Owen, 51, of Carlsbad, pleaded guilty on March 12, 2024, to one count each of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine and distribution of 50 grams and more of methamphetamine. Kinny Gonzalez, 29, of Carlsbad, pleaded guilty on April 2, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine and 400 grams and more of fentanyl and more than 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, distribution of cocaine, conspiracy to smuggle goods from the united states, smuggling goods from the united states, attempt to smuggle a firearm and ammunition out of the united states to promote a drug trafficking offense, attempt to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine, attempt to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of cocaine, distribution of 400 grams and more of fentanyl and distribution of 50 grams and more of methamphetamine. All 3 defendants will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. A federal grand jury indicted Venegas, Owen, and Gonzalez on July 19, 2023, along with their co-defendants and Jesus Alonso Cerezo-Espidio, Kassandra Lee Perales, Jared Michael Moore, Brian Kain Purdy and Sabino Alfonso Maldonado. According to court records, on March 5, 2023, Gonzalez provided cocaine to Moore. Then, on March 8, 2023, Gonzalez agreed to send multiple firearms and a black jeep to an individual in Mexico. Gonzalez arranged for Purdy and Maldonado to pick up the black Jeep in Carlsbad so that it could be loaded with firearms to be illegally exported to Mexico. Purdy and Maldonado then turned over the Jeep to a person who had traveled to Carlsbad from Mexico for the purpose of picking up the firearms and transporting them back to Mexico. As the individual from Mexico began to drive back to Mexico with the firearms, he was stopped by law enforcement officer, and the firearms were seized. On April 2, 2023, an individual crossed the border from Mexico into the United States with an ice chest containing 1,974 net grams of cocaine and 501.4 net grams of pure methamphetamine. The following day, April 3, Venegas and Kassandra Perales traveled from Carlsbad to El Paso to pick up the ice chest and deliver it Kinny Gonzalez in Carlsbad. Unbeknownst to them, law enforcement officials had already seized the methamphetamine and cocaine from the vehicle overnight. After learning that the drugs were no longer in the car vehicle, Venegas and Perales had several conversations with Kinny Gonzalez in Carlsbad to whom they were supposed to deliver the ice chest regarding what could have happened to the drugs. The following week, on April 10, 2023, Owen provided Venegas and Perales with 893.3 net grams of pure methamphetamine and 657 net grams of fentanyl pills which they planned to take to North Dakota to sell before returning to Carlsbad to pay Owen. On April 11, 2023, Venegas and Perales left Carlsbad and were driving toward North Dakota with the 893.3 net grams of pure methamphetamine, 657 net grams of fentanyl pills and a loaded firearm when we were stopped in Chaves County by law enforcement officers who seized the drugs and firearm. At sentencing, Venegas, Owen, and Gonzalez each face between 10 years and life in prison followed by a term of supervised release. To date, four of the other eight defendants have pleaded guilty to federal drug offenses. Kassandra Lee Perales, Jared Michael Moore, Brian Kain Purdy and Sabino Alfonso Maldonado all remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. Jesus Alonso Cerezo-Espidio is currently scheduled to stand trial on May 6, 2024. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Towanda R. Thorne-James, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration El Paso Division, made the announcement today. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force, with enforcement assistance from the United States Marshal Service, Carlsbad Police Department, Eddy County Sheriff’ Department, Roswell Police Department, Chaves County Drug Task Force, DEA Airwing and Customs and Border Patrol. The New Mexico Air National Guard’s Air Unit, Artesia Police Department and Customs and Border Patrol’s Air Unit provided support during the operation on August 1, 2023. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Renee L. Camacho and Devon Aragon-Martinez are prosecuting the case. This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The task force initiatives are also part of the New Mexico High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program (HIDTA), a federal grant program that supports law enforcement efforts to combat the drug threat in the state. ###


title: Former Pharma Executive And Cousin Plead Guilty To Insider Trading Of Kodak Stock

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the guilty pleas of JAMES ANDREW STILES and EDWARD GRAY STILES in connection with a scheme to commit insider trading based on misappropriated information about potential government loans to be made to the Eastman Kodak Company to finance the production of COVID-19-related pharmaceutical components. ANDREW STILES and GRAY STILES were arrested in 2023 and pled guilty today to securities fraud based on insider trading before U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Andrew Stiles betrayed the trust and confidence of his employer by stealing confidential business information and using it alongside his cousin, Gray Stiles, to make unlawful trades in Kodak’s stock based on inside information. Even secret codes and lies to regulators could not stop them from getting caught. No one is above the law, and this Office’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the financial markets remains a priority.” As alleged in the Indictment, other public court documents, and statements made during court proceedings: Between June and July 2020, ANDREW STILES conducted an insider trading scheme in which he misappropriated material, non-public information (“MNPI”) and used it to trade in the stock of the Eastman Kodak Company (“Kodak”). He further provided that MNPI to his cousin, GRAY STILES, so that he would likewise trade on the MNPI. During that time, ANDREW STILES was an executive at a company (“Company-1”) that was working with Kodak to collaborate on the production of chemicals for pharmaceutical manufacturing in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. Company-1 was also assisting Kodak in its application for a significant government loan, which ultimately resulted in the news, on July 27, 2020, of a government “letter of interest” to provide Kodak with a loan of $765 million (the “LOI”). In the following days, Kodak’s stock rose substantially, at one point increasing to more than 2,500% above the closing price prior to the news of the LOI. During June and July 2020, ANDREW STILES was kept apprised of Kodak’s efforts to obtain the government loan, and he both traded using that non-public information and passed that information to GRAY STILES. For example, on July 9, 2020, when Kodak had applied for a loan in the amount of $655 million, ANDREW STILES and GRAY STILES exchanged the following coded text messages: GRAY: Any update on the film we sent off a few weeks ago to get developed ANDREW: 600+. Maybe 2 weeks out GRAY: I can live with that hahaha Between June 2020, after ANDREW STILES learned about the potential loan to Kodak, and July 27, 2020, the date the LOI was first publicized, ANDREW STILES purchased more than 90,000 shares of Kodak stock, including multiple purchases the day before the LOI was scheduled to be announced. GRAY STILES purchased more than 30,000 shares, more than half of which were purchased the day prior to the scheduled announcement of the LOI. In fact, on July 27, 2020, ANDREW STILES texted GRAY STILES, “Tmw,” indicating the expected date of the announcement. Less than one minute later, GRAY STILES responded, “Hot damn.” Following that exchange, and before the news was announced, ANDREW STILES and GRAY STILES each purchased more than 10,000 additional shares. ANDREW STILES and GRAY STILES each sold the entirety of their shares in the days and weeks after the announcement. ANDREW STILES realized profits of more than $500,000, and GRAY STILES realized profits of more than $700,000. * * * ANDREW STILES, 38, of Charleston, South Carolina, and GRAY STILES, 39, of Richmond, Virginia, each pled guilty to one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex Rossmiller, Nicolas Roos, and Allison Nichols are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Lake Placid man sentenced to 20 years for production of child pornography

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – On April 2, a Lake Placid man was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to production of visual depictions involving sexual exploitation of minors. Frederick Anderson Bowen, 77, of Lake Placid, Florida, recorded himself performing oral sex on a child. Highlands County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputies located the video saved on Bowen’s cellphone. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, and Sheriff Paul Blackman of HCSO announced the sentenced imposed by U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman. FBI Miami, Fort Pierce Resident Agency and HCSO investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hudock prosecuted it. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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 . To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt, or production of child pornography , you can file a report on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)’s website at www.cybertipline.com , call 1-800-843-5678, or contact the FBI directly at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 23-cr-14028. ###


title: Springfield Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms Charges

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Springfield man pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in Springfield to an Information charging him with three firearms offenses. Benjamin Hunter-Blake, 25, pleaded guilty to one count each of felon in possession of firearm and ammunition, unlawful possession of machinegun, and unlawful possession of unregistered firearm (a silencer). U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for July 2, 2024. On Jan. 27, 2023, five pistols, including a “ghost gun” with an attached “Glock switch” machinegun conversion device; four other Glock switches; a silencer; and a large collection of ammunition, large capacity magazines, and other firearms-related items were seized from Hunter-Blake’s residence in Springfield. Hunter-Blake’s mobile phone was also seized, which contained evidence that Hunter-Blake had been obtaining and distributing other firearms, including to at least one individual with a felony conviction. Hunter-Blake was convicted twice in state court on firearms felonies and is currently under indictment and house arrest for a third state firearms case. The charge of felon in possession of firearm and ammunition provides for a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and three years of supervised release. The charge of unlawful possession of a machinegun and unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm provides for a sentence of 10 years in prison on each charge and three years of supervised release. Hunter Blake agreed to the forfeiture of the Glock switches and three high-capacity magazines. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Boston Feld Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance provided by the Springfield Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.


title: Eight Bronx Men Charged For Participation In Beer Theft Enterprise

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; James E. Dennehy, Special Agent in Charge of the Newark Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”); Edward T. Cetnar, Superintendent of Police and Director of Public Safety of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (“PANYNJ”); and Sean Douris, the Chief of Police, Public Safety, and Infrastructure Protection at CSX, announced today the unsealing of a seven-count Indictment charging JOSE CESARI, a/k/a “Cry,” MIGUEL CINTRON, LUIS IZQUIERDO, a/k/a “Luis Zapata,” WAKIEM JOHNSON, a/k/a “Waka,” KEMAR BONITTO, DEYLIN MARTINEZ-GUERRERO, ANTONIO GONZALEZ, and JUSTIN BRUNO with crimes arising from their participation in a multi-year scheme to steal beer — primarily Corona and Modelo shipped from Mexico — from railroad cars and beverage distribution facilities located throughout the Northeast, including in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York (the “Beer Theft Enterprise”). Six defendants were arrested today and will be presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn F. Tarnofsky. CESARI remains at large, and BONITTO is in state custody in Connecticut. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “For years, the Beer Theft Enterprise has operated brazenly, allegedly breaking into railyards and beverage distribution facilities throughout the Northeast and filling U-Haul box trucks to the brim with cases of beer. That dangerous and disruptive conduct — sometimes allegedly accompanied by the threat of violence — has left several beverage distribution and railroad companies ailing. Today’s arrests reinforce that the Beer Theft Enterprise’s staggering thefts will not be tolerated in the Southern District of New York.” FBI Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said: “Train heists harken back to the days of the Wild West and gunslingers riding horses, stealing loot from rail cars. The romanticized image has nothing to do with the modern-day criminals we allege took part in a theft ring in New Jersey, New York, and beyond that targeted railyards and beverage distribution centers. They used the cover of night to cut through fencing, off-load pallets of beer, and sold off the stolen goods, costing the victims’ companies hundreds of thousands of dollars. The alleged ringleader Cesari often used a weapon during the robberies. Our team of agents and investigators working on this case has done an outstanding job bringing these alleged thieves' crime spree to the end of the line.” PANYNJ Superintendent of Police and Director of Public Safety Edward T. Cetnar said: “These brazen thefts result in millions of dollars of lost revenue every year, directly affecting the regional economy and everyone’s safety. The cooperative efforts of law enforcement in this case show our focus on securing our facilities and bringing perpetrators to justice.” CSX Chief of Police, Public Safety, and Infrastructure Protection Sean Douris said: “CSX is committed to protecting the safety of its property and that of its customers. We take criminal activity very seriously. Railyards are privately owned property and unauthorized activity is considered criminal trespassing and violators will be prosecuted. CSX appreciates the valuable partnerships we have with federal and local law enforcement agencies in New York, and across our network, who are crucial when it comes to investigating incidents and prosecuting individuals responsible for theft.” According to the allegations in the Indictment: [1] Between in or about July 2022 and in or about March 2024, the Beer Theft Enterprise carried out dozens of beer thefts throughout the Northeast, which cumulatively resulted in losses to certain beverage distribution companies of at least hundreds of thousands of dollars. In a typical theft, the Beer Theft Enterprise operated under cover of night. At least some of the members of the Enterprise working that night assembled in the Bronx before travelling to that night’s target railyard or beverage distribution facility. Typically, one or more members working that night drove a vehicle — often a U-Haul box truck — to the target location to be filled with cases of stolen beer. After arriving at the railyard or beverage distribution facility, members of the Enterprise commonly gained unauthorized access by cutting a hole in the fencing surrounding the location. When stealing from a railyard, members frequently cut the lock to railroad cars containing sealed pallets of cases of beer — usually Corona or Modelo — then unsealed the pallets and transported the cases of beer to their waiting vehicles. Generally, they transported the stolen beer to the Bronx, where it was inspected and made available for sale. The participating members of the Beer Theft Enterprise were usually paid hundreds of dollars for the night’s work after assisting in a beer theft. As a leader of the Beer Theft Enterprise, CESARI was often present during these robberies. Sometimes, during a particular beer theft, CESARI used a police scanner to monitor potential police activity. In addition to participating in many of the Enterprise’s raids over the course of the conspiracy, CESARI sometimes sought to recruit new members to the conspiracy with promises of monetary gain. CINTRON, IZQUIERDO, JOHNSON, BONITTO, MARTINEZ-GUERRERO, GONZALEZ, and BRUNO were members of the Beer Theft Enterprise. These defendants participated in certain thefts perpetrated by the organization by, for example, renting or driving vehicles that were used in particular thefts, helping plan or execute particular thefts by communicating with CESARI, and otherwise assisting in particular thefts. * * * A chart containing the names, ages, charges, and minimum and maximum penalties for the defendants is set forth below. The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI, the PANYNJ, and the CSX Police Department. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Rosenberg is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Count Charge Defendants Min. and Max. Penalties 1 Conspiracy to steal from interstate or foreign shipments by carrier, and to break and enter carrier facilities with intent to commit larceny therein CESARI, 27; CINTRON, 32; IZQUIERDO, 40; JOHNSON, 31; BONITTO, 38; MARTINEZ-GUERRERO, 28; GONZALEZ, 33; and BRUNO, 23 Maximum sentence of five years in prison 2 Theft from interstate or foreign shipments CESARI, CINTRON, IZQUIERDO, and JOHNSON Maximum sentence of 10 years in prison 3 Theft from interstate or foreign shipments CESARI, BONITTO, and GONZALEZ Maximum sentence of 10 years in prison 4 Theft from interstate or foreign shipments CESARI and BRUNO Maximum sentence of 10 years in prison 5 Conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery CESARI Maximum sentence of 20 years in prison 6 Hobbs Act robbery CESARI Maximum sentence of 20 years in prison 7 Using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a crime of violence CESARI Mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of seven years in prison Maximum sentence of life in prison [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Kentwood Residents Plead Guilty to Federal Drug Charges

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that MICHAEL WHITE , age 44, and JOHN WHITE , age 44, both of Kentwood, La., pled guilty on March 27, 2024 to a three-count indictment, charging them with one (1) count of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute forty (40) grams or more of Fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846, 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B), and two (2) counts of Distribution of Fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B). According to the indictment, MICHAEL WHITE and JOHN WHITE conspired with each other, and with others, to distribute fentanyl in Tangipahoa Parish. They face the same maximum sentence for all three counts to which they have pled guilty. Specifically, they face a minimum of five years up to a maximum of forty years imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and up to four years of supervised release. All three counts also carry a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (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 http://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . United States Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Agency, Fentanyl Overdose Response Team (FORT), Homeland Security (HSI), and the Hammond Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.


title: Former Health Insurance Coverage Supervisor Sentenced to Federal Prison for Embezzling Nearly One Million Dollars from Employer

component: USAO - Indiana, Southern

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Yolanda Brooks, 52, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud. According to court documents, Yolanda Brooks was employed by Company A as a Medicaid Supervisor from December 16, 2005, until July 2, 2020. Company A processed medical insurance claims on behalf of Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance companies. Brooks’ responsibilities included processing medical care claims to be paid by Medicaid and other medical insurance carriers. In performance of her duties, Brooks had access to checks in the possession of Company A, which were to be processed as refunds or reimbursements to their clients. In March and July of 2018, Brooks opened two personal bank accounts at Key Bank in her maiden name, Yolanda Mohid. The address listed for both accounts was Brook’s personal residence in Indianapolis. Other than the introductory title of ‘Yolanda Mohid’ on each account, the account names were similar to the names of clients of Company A. Between March 22, 2018, and July 23, 2021, Brooks took approximately 486 checks mailed to Company A in the total amount of $920,148.51 and deposited them into her two personal bank accounts referenced above. Brooks falsely represented to the bank that she was authorized to negotiate said checks and deposit them into her personal accounts. Brooks used the stolen money for her own personal purposes, including shopping at Victoria’s Secret, casino gambling, and luxury vacations. “Nearly five hundred times, this defendant abused her position of trust to steal nearly a million dollars intended to pay people’s healthcare costs,” said U.S. Attorney, Zachary A. Myers. “Our office is committed to working with our partners at the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to hold fraudsters accountable. The serious federal prison sentence imposed here should serve as a warning to any who might consider engaging in this sort of scheme: you will be caught, you will be prosecuted, and you will potentially go to federal prision.” “Solving complex financial crimes such as this is one of the many things we do as postal inspectors. I commend the investigative efforts of our postal inspectors in this case, as well as our partners at the United States Attorney’s Office, in unraveling this elaborate scheme and holding Ms. Brooks responsible for her crime,” said Rodney M. Hopkins, Inspector in Charge for the Detroit Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson. Judge Stinson also ordered that Brooks be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years following her release from federal prison and pay a total of $920,148.51 in restitution. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Warden and who prosecuted this case. ###


title: New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun and Drug Offenses

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Danieel mutin , age 19, of New Orleans, pled guilty on March 27, 2024, to Counts 1 and 2 of an indictment charging him with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C) (Count 1); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i) (Count 2). As to Count 1, MUTIN faces up to twenty years imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least 3 years of supervised release. As to Count 2, MUTIN faces a minimum of five years up to a maximum of life imprisonment, which must run consecutive to any other sentence, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 5 years of supervised release. As to each charged count, MUTIN also faces payment of a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. MUTIN is set for sentencing on June 26, 2024. According to court documents, on May 18, 2023, New Orleans Police Officers observed a black Audi sport utility vehicle matching the description of a vehicle used in a shooting. Officers pursued the SUV to the intersection of Bullard Road and Dwyer Road, New Orleans. After seeing three black males, including MUTIN, abandon the SUV and flee on foot, officers followed and, ultimately, apprehended MUTIN . After his arrest, officers discovered that MUTIN possessed a backpack containing 134 fentanyl pills designated with the pharmaceutical marking used for Oxycodone. At the time of his arrest, MUTIN had a Glock Model 30, .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol in his pants pocket. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Dawkins of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Washington Parish Man Sentenced for Federal Drug Violations

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – KELVIN WARREN (“WARREN”) , age 30, a resident of Bogalusa, Louisiana, was sentenced on March 28, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Barry Ashe, to 130 months imprisonment, five years of supervised release, and the payment of a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to possession with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine and over 40 grams of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A). According to court documents, on January 27, 2022, WARREN occupied a vehicle that was pulled over by the police during a traffic stop. During a vehicle search, police located a bag on the front passenger floorboard at WARREN’s feet, that contained approximately 1.7 pounds of methamphetamine, 5.8 ounces of fentanyl, a scale, and other drug paraphernalia. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Maurice E. Landrieu, Jr. of the Narcotics Unit.


title: Convicted elderly sex offender heads to prison for next decade

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 74-year-old Kingwood resident has been sentenced for possessing and watching sexually explicit material involving minors over a web video meeting, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Stephen Philip Keller pleaded guilty Nov. 27, 2023, to one count of accessing with intent to view child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. At the time of the plea, the court heard that Keller is a repeat offender against minors. He was convicted in 2001 for criminal solicitation of a minor. U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen has now ordered Keller to serve two 120- month prison terms concurrently for the accessing with intent to view and possession of child pornography convictions. Keller was further ordered to serve 15 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Keller is also a registered sex offender and will continue to be so following his sentence. In March 2021, Keller logged into in a web video meeting which included more than 20 minutes of child pornography videos. The investigation identified Keller as one of several participants in the meeting. In February 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Keller’s residence. At that time, he admitted to participating in more than five web video meetings which involved the streaming of child pornography. Keller also admitted to receiving child pornography through encrypted messaging apps on his cellphone. Authorities also conducted a forensic investigation and discovered several illicit images of minors on Keller’s phone. Keller will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Bauman prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page .


title: Two Individuals Plead Guilty To Participating In Insider Trading Scheme Based On SPAC Merger With Trump Media & Technology Group

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that MICHAEL SHVARTSMAN and GERALD SHVARTSMAN each pled guilty to one count of securities fraud, both in connection with their participation in an insider trading scheme surrounding the merger of Digital World Acquisition Corporation (“DWAC”) with Trump Media & Technology Group (“Trump Media”). MICHAEL and GERALD SHVARTSMAN were arrested in June 2023 and pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Michael and Gerald Shvartsman admitted in court that they received confidential, inside information about an upcoming merger between DWAC and Trump Media and used that information to make profitable, but illegal, open-market trades. Insider trading is cheating, plain and simple, and today’s convictions should remind anyone who may be tempted to corrupt the integrity of the stock market that it will earn them a ticket to prison.” According to the allegations in the Indictment and statements made in public court proceedings: In October 2021, MICHAEL SHVARTSMAN and GERALD SHVARTSMAN together made more than $22 million dollars in illegal profits by trading in securities of DWAC based on material, non-public information (“MNPI”) about DWAC’s planned, but not yet public, business combination with Trump Media, a media company founded by former President Donald J. Trump. As sophisticated investors, MICHAEL SHVARTSMAN and GERALD SHVARTSMAN were invited to invest in DWAC and another special purpose acquisition company (“SPAC”), and after signing non-disclosure agreements, they were provided confidential information about the SPACs, including that a potential target of the SPACs was Trump Media. As a condition of receiving this information, the defendants were prohibited by the non-disclosure agreements from disclosing the confidential information they learned or using it to buy and sell securities on the open market. After making initial investments into DWAC through the initial public offering process, through placing their associate on DWAC’s board of directors, the defendants continued to learn valuable MNPI about DWAC’s plans to merge with Trump Media, such the status of the merger negotiations and the timing of a public merger announcement. In violation of the non-disclosure agreements that they had signed, and in contravention of their associate’s duties and responsibilities as a board member, the defendants bought millions of dollars of DWAC securities on the open market before the news of the Trump Media business combination was public. The defendants also tipped others about the upcoming merger, inducing further trades in DWAC securities on the basis of the MNPI they had obtained subject to their non-disclosure agreement and through their associate’s board seat. * * * MICHAEL SHVARTSMAN, 53, of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, and GERALD SHVARTSMAN, 46, of Aventura, Florida, each pled guilty to one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. MICHAEL SHVARTSMAN and GERALD SHVARTSMAN are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Liman on July 17, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., respectively. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations. Mr. Williams also thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which has filed a parallel civil action. The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth A. Hanft, Daniel G. Nessim, and Matthew R. Shahabian are in charge of the prosecution.


title: “Head Of Legal And Compliance” For Multibillion-Dollar Cryptocurrency Pyramid Scheme “OneCoin” Sentenced To Four Years In Prison

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that IRINA DILKINSKA was sentenced to four years in prison by U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos for her role in the massive OneCoin fraud scheme. OneCoin, which began operations in 2014 and was based in Sofia, Bulgaria, marketed and sold a fraudulent cryptocurrency by the same name through a global multi-level marketing (“MLM”) network. As a result of misrepresentations made about OneCoin, victims invested over $4 billion in the fraudulent cryptocurrency. DILKINSKA previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Irina Dilkinska's involvement in the sprawling OneCoin pyramid scheme was a flagrant breach of conduct. Rather than upholding the law and embracing her position as the Head of Legal and Compliance, she facilitated and committed money laundering, aiding in the exploitation of millions of victims. As Dilkinska learned today, this Office will hold accountable every perpetrator of the OneCoin scheme, no matter where they may hide.” According to the allegations in the Superseding Information and other filings and statements made in court: In 2014, RUJA IGNATOVA, a/k/a “the Cryptoqueen,” and KARL SEBASTIAN GREENWOOD co-founded OneCoin, [1] a company based in Sofia, Bulgaria, that marketed a purported cryptocurrency by the same name, which was in fact a fraudulent pyramid scheme. OneCoin operated as a MLM network through which members received commissions for recruiting others to purchase cryptocurrency packages. This MLM structure influenced rapid growth of the OneCoin member network. According to OneCoin’s promotional materials, over three million people invested in fraudulent cryptocurrency packages. OneCoin records show that between the fourth quarter of 2014 and the fourth quarter of 2016 alone, OneCoin generated €4.037 billion in sales revenue and earned “profits” of €2.735 billion. DILKINSKA was the purported Head of Legal and Compliance for OneCoin. But rather than ensuring that OneCoin complied with the law, DILKINKSA assisted in running its day-to-day operations and laundered money for OneCoin, including arranging for the transfer of $110 million in fraudulently obtained OneCoin proceeds to a Cayman Islands entity. * * * In addition to the prison term, DILKINSKA, 42, a citizen of Bulgaria, was sentenced to one month of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $111,440,000. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Folly, Juliana Murray, and Kevin Mead are in charge of the prosecution. [1] OneCoin has operated using several corporate entities and d/b/a names, including “OneCoin Ltd.,” “OnePayments Ltd.,” “OneNetwork Services Ltd.,” “OneAcademy,” and “OneLife.” These entities and d/b/a names are referred to collectively here as “OneCoin.”


title: Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to A Bank Fraud Conspiracy Using Checks Stolen From The U.S. Mail

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland – Kavon Dupree Jackson, age 26, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, pleaded guilty to a bank fraud conspiracy. The guilty plea was announced by Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland; Acting Postal Inspector in Charge Ajay Lall of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division (“USPIS”); and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department (“PGPD”). According to his guilty plea, Jackson and a co-conspirator illegally possessed a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) “arrow key,” which they used to open USPS postal boxes and steal mail. They then took the mail matter back to their residence and culled out any checks from the stolen mail. Jackson and the co-conspirator then changed the names of the payees on the checks to their names or to the names other conspirators recruited to assist with the scheme. Jackson and his co-conspirators would then cash the checks and immediately dissipate the funds for their own gain. Jackson’s co-conspirator used various social media accounts to advertise for persons with bank accounts at various financial institutions and offered to pay them to use their accounts to wash the stolen, counterfeited checks. In return, these “money mules” would receive a small cut of the proceeds and Jackson and his co-conspirators would retain the rest. Jackson also sometimes deposited stolen checks into his own account. For example, on November 9, 2021, Jackson deposited check number 1354, drawn from Victim 1’s account, into Jackson’s own bank account at another bank. Jackson altered the payee name on the check to that of his own. Additionally, Jackson increased the amount of the check from $90 to $8,800. On March 16, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Jackson’s residence. Law enforcement recovered a USPS arrow key, more than 350 stolen checks, an assault rifle, and numerous rounds of ammunition. Law enforcement conducted another search warrant at Jackson’s residence on November 4, 2022, and recovered more stolen checks, mail matter, and a pistol. Jackson agrees that both firearms were purchased with proceeds from the scheme and are subject to forfeiture. The scheme resulted in more than $250,000 in losses, representing the amounts of stolen checks that were deposited into the financial institutions associated with Jackson or his co-conspirators. More than 50 victims had checks stolen from them which were later deposited into co-conspirators’ accounts. As a result, some of the victims experienced substantial financial hardship. Jackson faces a maximum of 30 years in federal prison for the bank fraud conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Lydia K. Griggsby has scheduled sentencing for June 18, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron also thanked Assistant United States Attorney Jason D. Medinger, who is prosecuting the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach .


title: Justice Department Secures $4.14 Million Settlement for Student-Athletes to Remedy Title IX Violations at University of Maryland, Baltimore County

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today a settlement agreement with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) to resolve the department’s findings that UMBC allowed a former head coach of the swimming and diving team to sexually harass male student-athletes and discriminate against female student-athletes for years. The department conducted its investigation under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX). “A school’s responsibility is to protect its students, not abusers who seek to exploit their positions of power,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The young student-athletes at UMBC experienced a double betrayal: their coach’s prolonged abuse compounded by their university’s utter failure to acknowledge, respond to or remedy this egregious conduct. UMBC has now taken full responsibility for its failures and has expressed its commitment to addressing them and rebuilding the trust of its community. The Justice Department recognizes the brave and resilient student-athletes who came forward and continue to come forward to share their stories with us. This settlement should send a resounding message to our nation’s colleges and universities: sexual assaults and harassment of students will not be tolerated.” The department found that in 2015, students reported that the head coach may have used a camera to film them while they showered in a UMBC locker room. Rather than investigate this report or take action to protect students, UMBC administrators warned the coach that campus police planned to search his locker, thwarting the criminal investigation. In 2019, a student reported unwanted sexual touching and harassment by the coach of male swimmers and again, UMBC failed to investigate or otherwise respond. The department also found that during this time, UMBC did not respond to female students’ reports of sex discrimination, including dating violence, while on the team. As a result of these glaring failures by the university, student-athletes were subjected to ongoing sexual abuse, harassment and other sex discrimination by their coach for years. UMBC has agreed to pay up to $4.14 million in financial relief to student-athletes who were subjected to sex discrimination by the former head coach. Under this settlement agreement, UMBC will also: Significantly improve UMBC’s process for responding to complaints of sex discrimination; Provide additional resources and staffing for its Title IX compliance program, including a permanent Title IX Coordinator; Provide a full-time support person for those who have experienced sexual assault; Deliver training to student-athletes and athletics department employees on healthy relationships, intimate partner violence, power dynamics within the coach-athlete relationship and retaliation; Create and enforce a policy outlining expectations for coaching staff behavior and Administer surveys to student-athletes about their experiences with sex discrimination and take all necessary and appropriate corrective action. The department will monitor UMBC’s implementation of the agreement, which will remain in place through the 2028-2029 academic year. View a summary of the agreement here . Attorneys from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division’s Educational Opportunities Section and an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland conducted the investigation, with UMBC’s full cooperation. Individuals with information related to the department’s findings are encouraged to contact the Justice Department at Community.UMBC@usdoj.gov . The month of April is observed as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The enforcement of Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination, including sexual harassment and assault, in education programs and activities operated by recipients of federal financial assistance, is a top priority of the Civil Rights Division. This settlement is part of the division’s work to combat sexual harassment and follows the division’s resolution of investigations involving allegations of sexual assault of students at San José State University and at Case Western Reserve University . Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt and additional information about the work of the Educational Opportunities Section is available at www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section . Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov/report/ .


title: Billings man sentenced to more than 16 years in prison for armed meth, fentanyl trafficking in Billings community

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: BILLINGS — A Billings man who admitted to drug trafficking and firearms crimes after law enforcement more than a pound of methamphetamine, fentanyl pills and a loaded gun in his motel room was sentenced today to 16 years and three months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Robert Earl Biggs, 49, of Billings, pleaded guilty in November 2023 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that in 2022, the Billings Police Department Street Crimes Unit learned through an investigation that Biggs was staying in a local motel and using others to distribute drugs for him. One of his distributors told officers that she had seen four to five pounds of meth and approximately 4,000 fentanyl pills in Biggs’ room a few days prior. The investigation ultimately led to officers detaining Biggs and searching his motel room. Law enforcement located fentanyl pills, more than a pound of meth, a black bag containing $5,860 and a loaded firearm in the room. Co-defendant Brandi Davitt was sentenced in January to four years in prison for her conviction in the case, while co-defendant Leota Beartusk-Martinez pleaded guilty to a trafficking crime and is awaiting sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin M. Rubich prosecuted the case. The Billings Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force conducted the investigation. 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. XXX


title: Former Social Security Employee Sentenced To 36 Months In Prison For Pandemic Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Takiyah Gordon Austin, age 47, formerly of Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion, for a scheme to fraudulently obtain unemployment benefits related to COVID-19 emergency relief funds. Judge Mannion also ordered Austin to pay restitution in the amount of $288,590. The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program was created by the March 27, 2020 CARES Act, as part of the United States government’s efforts to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the public’s health and economic well-being. The PUA program was designed to provide unemployment benefits to individuals not eligible for regular unemployment compensation or extended unemployment benefits. According to U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Austin pleaded guilty to one count wire fraud and one count of aggravated identify theft. From in or about May 2020 to in or about May 2021, Austin, a claims specialist with the Social Security Administration, filed PUA claims for ineligible recipients in exchange for payment from the individuals. Additionally, Austin filed claims after accessing SSA databases to obtain the personal identifying information from unsuspecting individuals and then diverted the unemployment funds to addresses she controlled in order to use the funds for her own personal expenses. Through the scheme, Austin defrauded the government of over $288,000. The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Special Assistant United States Attorney Megan Curran and Assistant United States Attorney Alisan V. Martin prosecuted the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . # # #


title: St. Louis County Man Sentenced to a Total of 10 Years in Prison for Drug, Gun Crimes

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Catherine D. Perry on Tuesday sentenced a St. Louis County, Missouri man caught with a gun and fentanyl after a police chase to a total of 10 years in prison. Antwan Boothe, 33, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in December to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted fleeing a traffic stop near the intersection of Jennings Station Road and West Florissant Avenue in St. Louis County on April 21, 2022, with his 9-year-old son in the car. While speeding away in a Chevrolet Camaro, Boothe hit multiple parked cars. After the Camaro became disabled, Boothe ran through the rear yards of homes adjoining the Jennings Senior High School campus, discarding a gun as he fled. After officers caught and arrested Boothe, they found a plastic bag with nearly 200 capsules containing fentanyl. They retraced his steps and found a stolen .40-caliber Glock pistol and its magazine. They also found over $7,000 in the car. As part of his plea, Boothe admitted that he intended to sell some or all of the fentanyl. Judge Perry sentenced Boothe to nine years in prison for the 2022 incident, and one more year for violating his supervised release in a 2015 federal case in which he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If Boothe is caught and charged again with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, he could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison. The St. Louis County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Martin prosecuted 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: District Man Arraigned on Armed Carjacking Indictment

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Elijah Montgomery, 19, of Washington, D.C., was arraigned today on an indictment charging him with armed carjacking and other charges arising out of an October 12, 2023 incident near the corner of Galloway Street and Sargent Road NE, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). A Superior Court grand jury returned the eight-count indictment charging Montgomery with armed carjacking, armed robbery, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle during a crime of violence, fleeing, destruction of property, and first-degree theft. The Honorable Judge Di Toro denied the government’s request that Montgomery be held pending trial, and ordered him released to home confinement pending trial. According to court documents, on October 12, 2023, Montgomery was driving a stolen Kia Rio with a punched ignition when he pulled up next to and blocked in the victim, who was seated in the driver’s seat of his parked vehicle. Two passengers exited the Kia Rio, one of whom pointed a handgun at the victim, and demanded the victim’s cell phone and car keys. The unarmed assailant returned to the Kia Rio and the gunman entered the victim’s car, before fleeing together in the same direction. The vehicles were quickly identified 15 minutes later by the MPD’s Violent Crime Robbery Suppression Unit’s police cruisers and overhead helicopter. Montgomery, who was driving the stolen Kia Rio, fled from police, crashing it in the 2500 block of Benning Road NE. He was apprehended after a brief foot chase. The carjacked vehicle was stopped in Maryland shortly thereafter. At the time the vehicle was stopped, it was being operated by a 13-year-old juvenile. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Gimenez.


title: Four Defendants Found Guilty on Federal Charges After Obstructing Patients and Providers of a Nashville Area Reproductive Health Services Facility

component: Civil Rights - Criminal Section

body_text: NASHVILLE – United States Attorney Henry Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee and Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced that a federal judge returned a guilty verdict yesterday for defendants Eva Edl, Eva Zastrow, James Zastrow, and Paul Place on criminal charges arising out of their blockade of a reproductive health care clinic in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, on March 5, 2021. The judge found each defendant guilty of a violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act), 18 U.S.C. § 248. Evidence presented at trial proved that the defendants violated the FACE Act by using physical obstruction over the course of several hours to interfere with the clinic’s employees and a patient, because the clinic was providing, and the patient sought, reproductive health services. The clinic was located on the second floor of a medical building. The defendants and others filled the interior hallway to the clinic. These defendants positioned themselves directly in front of the main clinic door for over two hours, physically blocking access to the clinic, resulting in no patients accessing the clinic. Police requested that the defendants leave or move multiple times, but after more than two hours, these defendants were arrested. The defendants face up to a maximum of six months in prison, five years of supervised release, and fines of up to $10,000. The case was investigated by the Memphis Division – Nashville Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. # # # # #


title: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to More Than 13 Years in Prison for Robbing a Pizza Parlor in Mayfair and Shooting Two Employees

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Kaleb Bridges, 20, of Philadelphia, PA, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Gerald A. McHugh to 166 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release for robbing a local restaurant and shooting and wounding two employees. On December 6, 2023, Bridges pleaded guilty to charges of Hobbs Act robbery and carrying, using, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The charges stem from Bridges’ actions on the night of March 8, 2023, when he entered the Mayfair Pizza restaurant at 7424 Frankford Avenue just before closing time. He produced a gun and demanded that an employee empty the cash register and place the money into a bag. After she had done so, Bridges pulled away before the employee could release the bag. Bridges then shot the employee (Victim #1) in the shoulder. She ducked down below the counter and Bridges fired another round, which struck a refrigerator. The employee’s father, who owns the business, witnessed what happened. As Bridges made his way to the door with the bag of stolen money, the employee’s father then struggled with Bridges in an effort to keep him from fleeing. During the struggle, Bridges’ gun fell to the floor. Bridges retrieved and fired it, this time striking the employee’s mother (Victim #2), the co-owner of the pizza parlor. At that point, the employees were able to gain control of the defendant and hold him until the police arrived and took him into custody. Police officers rushed the shooting victims to the hospital, where Victim #1 was treated and released within a few hours. Victim #2 spent several weeks in the hospital recovering from her injuries. “Kaleb Bridges’ decision to rob this family business at gunpoint and shoot two members of that family was life-changing for the victims,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “While this crime occurred in a matter of minutes, it will long stay with the two women he shot and the witnesses who struggled to restrain him. It’s also changed the course of Bridges’ life, which, for the next decade-plus, will be lived locked away in prison.” “Armed robberies threaten Philadelphia’s business and communities, and ATF Philadelphia Field Division is committed to working with the Philadelphia Police Department and our other partners to investigate, prosecute and prevent such crimes,” said Eric J. DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Philadelphia Field Division. “We regularly work together, sharing the ATF’s unique forensic and investigative tools, to ensure justice for the victims and to make our communities safer through federal prosecution.” “The brazen violence displayed by Kaleb Bridges is a threat to the safety of every person in our city,” said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel. “This case is a chilling example of how a robbery can escalate into a shooting, leaving innocent people injured and a community shaken. I applaud the collaborative efforts by the ATF, our detectives, and the U.S. Attorney's Office in holding this defendant accountable for his actions. This sentence sends a clear message that we will not tolerate this kind of violence in our neighborhoods, and that we will work tirelessly to bring those who commit such crimes to justice.” This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Philadelphia Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Eckert.


title: Indianapolis Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison

body_text: HAMMOND- Herman Lamont Banks, 49 years old was sentenced by United States District Court Senior Judge Jon E. DeGuilio after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Banks was sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, on September 29, 2019, law enforcement was dispatched to a welfare check outside a bar located in Gary, Indiana. Law enforcement discovered Banks asleep or unconscious behind the wheel of a running car with its headlights on. As Banks eventually woke up and got out of the car, officers saw and recovered a firearm with a loaded drum magazine attached to it from under the driver’s seat. Bank’s criminal history revealed he had two prior federal felony narcotic convictions, and as such was prohibited from possessing the firearm or ammunition in this case. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force and the Gary Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joel L. Mathur and Kevin F. Wolff. This case was also 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: Florissant Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Possessing Child Pornography

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Wednesday sentenced a man who possessed more than 1,700 images containing child sexual abuse material to eight years in prison. Sheldon S. Dokes, now 31, uploaded files containing child pornography in March and April of 2022 from his mother’s home in Florissant, Missouri, using the screen name “Sin Frost.” Dokes told investigators that he first viewed child sexual abuse material in a group chat on the Kik app. Dokes possessed over 1,700 unique images and two unique videos containing child pornography on his phone. Dokes had three images containing child pornography on his Instagram account and another three on his Facebook Messenger account as attachments to messages. Dokes received four images containing child sexual abuse material and distributed two images to others via Kik Messenger. Dokes pleaded guilty in December to one count of possession of child pornography. Judge Pitlyk ordered the sentence to run consecutive to the four years Dokes is serving after he was convicted in two gun cases in St. Louis County Circuit Court. The FBI and the St. Louis County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Essex County Man Convicted of Murder and Other Crimes for His Role as Leader of Sprawling Drug Trafficking Organization

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County man was convicted today for ordering and committing three murders and for his role in a large-scale narcotics enterprise, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Michael Healy, 43, of Montclair, New Jersey, was convicted by a federal jury of racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute narcotics, conspiring to murder a federal witness, three counts of murder in aid of racketeering, and related firearms offenses following a four-week trial before U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz in Newark federal court. “Michael Healy ruthlessly ordered murders so that he could protect his narcotics operation and continue to sell large quantities of dangerous narcotics. He recruited men to kill someone he thought was an informant, and even when they killed the wrong person – a bystander – he ordered them to kill his target. He personally pulled the trigger on another victim. Healy’s brazen violence resulted in the senseless killing of three men and caused incredible danger to the community. He now faces multiple mandatory life sentences for his crimes, and the District of New Jersey is safer as a result. As this case demonstrates, my office will use every tool available to prosecute violent crime and ensure that those who endanger the community will face lengthy jail sentences.” U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger “Three families were forced to bury their loved ones because one man decided his warped kingdom of illicit drugs and dirty money meant more than their lives,” FBI – Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. “Healy mercilessly ordered and hunted down those he believed could harm his criminal enterprise and lucrative relationship with the gangs and cartels, going so far as to pull the trigger himself on one of the victims. Justice has been served with this verdict, and Healy now faces a grim life in federal prison without any chance of parole.” According to court documents and evidence presented at trial: In February 2018, Healy found out that one of his conspirators in the drug trafficking enterprise (DTE) was cooperating with law enforcement by providing information about the drug enterprise. Healy ordered members of the Bloods in East Orange to kill the informant, referenced in the Indictment as “A.S.” On Feb. 3, 2018, outside the informant’s residence in Bloomfield, New Jersey, Healy’s conspirators shot and killed a bystander, referenced in the indictment as “Victim-1,” believing the bystander was the informant. Realizing they killed the wrong person, Healy ordered the Bloods to finish the job, and on March 12, 2018, in Bloomfield, the conspirators killed the informant while walking his dog in the area of his residence. On April 6, 2018, believing that another member of the enterprise – identified in the indictment as “J.C.” – might also pose a risk to the enterprise, Healy himself shot and killed “J.C.” in Newark. Healy’s DTE operated in and around Newark beginning in approximately 2012. Between 2003 and 2012, Healy became a member of the Tree Top PIRU set of the Bloods street gang in Maryland. In and around 2012, Healy formed and led the Healy DTE, a large and sophisticated drug distribution organization that obtained, transported and distributed large amounts of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and marijuana. Healy used his leadership status in the Tree Top PIRU Bloods to assist him with obtaining suppliers, recruiting and controlling enterprise members, and otherwise conducting the Healy DTE’s operations. The Healy DTE transported multi-kilogram quantities of controlled substances from California to New Jersey by various means, including private aircraft, vehicles with hidden secret compartments, and the U.S. Postal Service. The Healy DTE then processed and repackaged the controlled substances at various “stash houses” in New Jersey. The Healy DTE distributed some of the controlled substances in New Jersey, including through Bloods gang members in East Orange. Thomas Zimmerman, Tyquan Daniels, and Ali Hill – all members of the Brick City Brims subset of the Bloods street gang in East Orange – previously pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy for their respective roles in the murders of Victim-1 and A.S. Zimmerman was sentenced to a 37-year term of imprisonment; Daniels was sentenced to a 35-year term of imprisonment; and Hill was sentenced to a 25-year term of imprisonment. In addition, on Feb. 22, 2024, Leevander Wade pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy for his roles in all three murders. His sentencing is scheduled for June 25, 2024. The counts of racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, discharge of a firearm resulting in death, and conspiracy to murder a federal witness are all punishable by a maximum of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The counts of use of a firearm in furtherance of violent crime are punishable by a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life in prison, and a $250,000 fine. The count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances is punishable by a mandatory 10 years in prison, a maximum of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 1, 2024. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of special agent in charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Fritz G. Fragé; the Essex County Prosecutors Office; the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, the East Orange Police Department; the Montclair Police Department, the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, Intelligence and Investigative Division, under the direction of Secretary Robert Green; the Ohio State Highway Patrol, under the direction of Colonel Charles A. Jones. The government is represented by Senior Trial Counsel Robert L. Frazer and Assistant U.S. Attorney Samantha C. Fasanello.


title: Florida Man Sentenced to 71 Months in Prison for Possession of Child Pornography and Voyeurism Offenses

body_text: WASHINGTON – Kyle Blanco, 21, of Orlando, Florida, was sentenced today to 71 months in prison for possessing over 1,000 child pornography files and using his iPhone to surreptitiously record women as they used bathroom stalls at American University, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Blanco pleaded guilty on August 17, 2023, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to a two-count Information, charging him with possession of child pornography and voyeurism. He was sentenced by the Honorable Reggie B. Walton. Following his prison term, Blanco will serve 10 years of supervised release. In addition, Judge Walton ordered Blanco to pay $5,000 in restitution to an identified victim in one of the child pornography files. According to court documents, on March 30, 2022, an American University student caught Blanco surreptitiously recording her from an adjacent stall in a gender-neutral bathroom. The victim reported the offense to the American University Police Department, which obtained and executed a search warrant for Blanco’s dorm room. The police seized Blanco’s iPhone and laptop computer pursuant to that warrant. Before law enforcement could search Blanco’s iPhone, however, he remotely wiped it in an effort to obstruct the government’s investigation. Law enforcement was able to search Blanco’s laptop, which contained evidence of additional voyeurism offenses at American University. It also contained over 1,000 media files constituting child pornography, some of which depict adult men raping prepubescent girls. One week after his initial appearance in this case, Blanco violated his release conditions by downloading an application frequently used to access child pornography anonymously and by clearing the web history on his phone. Judge Walton revoked Blanco’s release conditions, and Blanco self-surrendered to U.S. Marshals in Orlando, Florida, on June 9, 2023. He has remained in custody ever since. The case was investigated by the FBI–MPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force with valuable assistance from the American University Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul V. Courtney and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy E. Larson.


title: Arnold Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Charges

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – On April 2, 2024, a resident of Arnold, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Milton Paschal, 44, pleaded guilty to Counts One and Eight of the Superseding Indictment before United States Senior District Judge Kim R. Gibson. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around August 2018 to March 2023, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Paschal conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine. Additionally, in and around December 2023, Paschal distributed and possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine. Paschal was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining cocaine that he distributed to others. Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for August 1, 2024. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Arnold P. Bernard Jr. is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Paschal. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, and other local law enforcement agencies. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: District Man Arrested in Armed Carjacking from January 2024

body_text: WASHINGTON – Marquis Derby, 19, of Washington, D.C., was arrested yesterday and charged by complaint with armed carjacking and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). On April 2, 2024, Magistrate Judge Eric Glover found probable cause for these offenses and ordered that Derby remain held pending a preliminary hearing on April 5, 2024. According to the arrest warrant, on January 12, 2024, Derby and an unidentified individual carjacked a construction worker at gunpoint when the victim, who was working on a job site in Northeast Washington, D.C., went to retrieve equipment from his truck. As the victim reached into his truck, Derby pressed a firearm into the victim’s back and took the victim’s phone out of his pocket. Derby then demanded that the victim unlock his phone. As he was doing so, a second, unidentified accomplice punched the victim several times in the face and took the victim’s keys. Derby took the victim’s phone and got into an SUV as the unidentified accomplice got into the victim’s truck. When the accomplice was unable to start the victim’s truck, he got into the SUV with Derby, and the two men drove off together. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department’s Carjacking Taskforce. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Lawrence. A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Huntington Woman Pleads Guilty to Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking Organization

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Today, Kyla Smith, also known as “Flaca,” 29, of Huntington, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Smith admitted to her role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Southern District of West Virginia. According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 29, 2023, a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Smith on Eighth Avenue in Huntington. Smith admitted that the officer saw her conceal a bag of methamphetamine in the front of her pants during the traffic stop. Smith surrendered the methamphetamine to the officer, and admitted that she intended to distribute the controlled substance. Smith further admitted that she participated in the DTO from at least August 2023 through November 2023. Smith distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl to various customers, including some who redistributed the controlled substances that she provided to them. Smith and other DTO participants used multiple residences to store and distribute quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl, including a Davis Street residence in Huntington maintained by Smith. On November 15, 2023, officers executed a search warrant at Smith’s Davis Street residence and seized approximately 477 grams of fentanyl. Smith is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31, 2024, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a $10 million fine. Smith is among 27 individuals indicted in a 53-count indictment that charges the defendants with distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl transported from Detroit, Michigan, in Huntington and other locations within the Southern District of West Virginia. Smith is also among 14 defendants who have pleaded guilty in the main case. One other of the 27 indicted individuals pleaded guilty to a related offense in a separate case. The indictment against the remaining defendants is pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie Taylor are prosecuting the case. The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-180.


title: Georgia Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison

body_text: FORT WAYNE –Xavier M. Scott, 57 years old, of Douglasville, Georgia, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Scott was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 8 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, on August 3, 2021, Scott was pulled over for speeding on Interstate 469. Scott, a drug courier who transported and delivered controlled substances across the United States, was found in possession of cocaine and cocaine base along with 12.4 grams of 98% pure methamphetamine, an amount consistent with distribution, along with multiple cell phones, zip lock baggies and a digital scale. Scott was also in possession of a loaded firearm used for protection in furtherance of his drug trafficking offense. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Indiana State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin C. Sheridan. 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: Metro Atlanta Man Sentenced for Laundering Fraudulently Obtained COVID-19 Unemployment Funds

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - Austin Martin Siampwizi was sentenced on April 1, 2024, for laundering money procured from fraudulent unemployment claims filed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Siampwizi laundered proceeds from fraudulent unemployment claims filed using the stolen identities of more than 50 victims,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “His sentence of imprisonment is an example of our office’s commitment to work closely with our federal and state law enforcement partners to hold individuals accountable for defrauding the CARES Act program.” “Austin Martin Siampwizi engaged in a scheme to purchase and subsequently cash hundreds of money orders that were funded with fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. The UI benefits were from fraudulent online claims submitted to the Washington Employment Security Department using stolen identities. Today's sentencing affirms the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General’s commitment to working with our federal and state law enforcement partners to investigate identity theft involving the UI program,” said Mathew Broadhurst, Special Agent-in-Charge, Southeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “The defendant chose to enrich himself by committing fraud, further depleting limited funds that were designated to help businesses struggling to survive during the pandemic,” said Robert C. Donovan, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Field Office. “This case signifies our commitment to protect citizens and businesses from fraud and identity theft. We will continue to work closely with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to prosecute those who abuse these programs.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act created a temporary federal program that provided up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits for those unemployed as a result of the pandemic and included a provision to provide temporary benefits to individuals who had exhausted their entitlement to regular benefits or were otherwise not eligible. That temporary federal program was administered by state employment agencies. Siampwizi laundered money obtained from fraudulent unemployment claims submitted to the Employment Security Department of Washington State. These claims were filed using stolen personally identifiable information of over 50 individuals. Siampwizi also submitted fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Paycheck Protection Program loan applications for his two businesses, Global Car Rental, LLC, and Global Group Development & Construction, LLC. Siampwizi, 47, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to three years, one month in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $279,210.52. On December 14, 2023, Siampwizi pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy. This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Klapman prosecuted the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . 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: Former Paralegal for Chicago Law Firm Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Embezzlement

body_text: CHICAGO — A former paralegal for a Chicago law firm has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for embezzling more than $600,000 from bankruptcy estate accounts. BECKY LOUISE SUTTON fraudulently embezzled the funds from 2009 to 2018 while working on bankruptcy matters for the law firm. Sutton embezzled money from more than 40 bankruptcy estate accounts and several liquidating trust accounts in Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 matters on which she worked. Sutton orchestrated fraudulent transfers of bankruptcy funds from fiduciary bank accounts intended for creditors to accounts she controlled, including her personal bank account, credit card account, student loan account, and mortgage account. In one instance, Sutton listed a company with a name similar to a true creditor to disguise her fraudulent diversion of the funds. Sutton’s conduct victimized not only the creditors, but also her law firm, a partner at the firm for whom she worked, and the U.S. Trustee Program, among others. Sutton, 68, of Manteno, Ill., pleaded guilty last year to a wire fraud charge. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Mary M. Rowland on Tuesday ordered Sutton to pay $611,263 in restitution. The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Trustee Program. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kartik K. Raman.


title: Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Willie Charles Sanders, also known as “Disco,” 51, of Charleston, pleaded guilty yesterday, April 2, 2024, to distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 23, 2022, Sanders sold a quantity of methamphetamine to a confidential informant at Sanders’ Charleston residence. Sanders is scheduled to be sentenced on July 10, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Charleston Police Department. Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Troy D. Adams is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-164.