title: 15 Charged With Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Firearms, And Money Laundering Offenses

body_text: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On February 21, 2024, a federal grand jury in Knoxville, Tennessee, returned a 19-count indictment against 15 defendants—Todd M. Evans, 31, and Joshua M. Vanriette, 38, both of Pontiac, MI; Gary L. Shadden, 70, Henri L. Ewing, 34, James M. Pass, 56, and Traythan W. Edwards, 23, all of Rockwood, TN; Robert S. Fugate, 53, and Charlotte A. Brown, 53, both of Spring City, TN; Amber B. Jackson, 33, Nicholas J. Eskridge, 46, Christopher C. Gilmore, 52, and Kristy L. Murray, all of Harriman, TN; and Bobby L. Robinette, 44, Liberty Warfield, 40, and Misty Walden, 46, all of Kingston, TN. According to the indictment, all defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, multiple defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine as well as other fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine offenses, Evans, Vanriette, Ewing, and Pass are each charged with firearms offenses, and Evans, Vanriette, and Jackson are charged in a conspiracy to commit money laundering. Jackson, Walden, Shadden, Brown, Gilmore, Edwards, and Warfield had their initial appearances on February 22, 2024, before the Honorable Judge Jill E. McCook, United States Magistrate Judge, and all entered pleas of not guilty. The remaining defendants will have their initial appearances at a later date. This case has been set for trial on April 30, 2024, before the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court in Knoxville. If convicted, Evans, Vanriette, and Ewing each face a mandatory minimum term of 20 years and up to life in prison and other penalties; Jackson, Murray, and Pass each face a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison and other penalties; Eskridge and Robinette each face a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison and other penalties; Shadden, Walden, and Gilmore each face a mandatory minimum term of 5 years and up to 40 years in prison and other penalties; and Edwards and Warfield each face up to 20 years in prison and other penalties. U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton, III, of the Eastern District of Tennessee; Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico; and Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement. This indictment is the result of an investigation led by the FBI, and the ATF, with significant support from the Roane County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Harriman Police Department, Rhea County Sheriff’s Office, Rockwood Police Department, as well as other partnering agencies to include the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent N. Jones will represent the United States. This operation 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. Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. ###


title: D’Iberville Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Gulfport, Miss. -- A D’Iberville man pled guilty to possession of visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. According to court documents, Benjamin Lee Poiroux, 40, was encountered by FBI agents at the Gulfport Airport and gave consent for his electronic devices to be forensically searched. The search of his iPad, laptop, and cellular telephone revealed he possessed over 1,300 visual images and 75 videos of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, also known as child sexual abuse materials. Poiroux is scheduled to be sentenced on May 30, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Acting Special Agent in Charge Maher Dimachkie of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case with assistance from the Cyber Crime Division at the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones is prosecuting 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 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 .


title: Meridian Man Sentenced to Over 20 Years in Prison for Armed Robberies

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

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A Meridian man was sentenced to 245 months in federal prison for four armed robberies across Mississippi. According to court documents, Matthew Byrd, 42, committed four armed robberies of local businesses across Mississippi between April 20, 2022, and May 15, 2022. The robberies took place in Lauderdale County, Forest County, and Hinds County. During each robbery, Byrd displayed a firearm to intimidate the clerk and steal merchandise and cash from the business. Byrd previously pled guilty to three counts of robbery and two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement. The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department, East Mississippi Drug Task Force, Meridian Police Department, Clinton Police Department, Newton County Sherriff’s Department, and the ATF investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam T. Stuart prosecuted the case. This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.


title: Huntingdon County Man Charged With Receiving Child Pornography

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Chris Weaver, age 50, of Spruce Creek, Pennsylvania, was charged on February 21, 2024, in a criminal information with receiving child pornography. According to U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the information charges Weaver with being in receipt of child pornography between July 1, 2020 and January 31, 2023, in Huntingdon County. The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney K. Wesley (Wes) Mishoe is prosecuting the case. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood , a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . The maximum penalty upon conviction for the charged offense is 20 years imprisonment, a lifetime term of supervised release following imprisonment, a fine, and a special assessment. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by a judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed innocent unless and until found guilty in court. ###


title: Alabama Man Sentenced to Over 30 Years in Prison  For Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Conspiracy

body_text: Gulfport, Miss. – A Monroeville, Alabama man was sentenced to 397 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Curtis Navelle Harrison, 46, was sentenced on February 21, 2024, in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. According to court documents, on July 23, 2021, as part of an ongoing investigation, law enforcement officers conducted a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Louis Booker, Jr. at a residence in Moss Point, Mississippi. Three days later, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on the residence. During the execution of the search warrant, Booker, Harrison, another adult male, and a minor child fled from the residence. When the individuals were apprehended, officers located a $10.00 bill from the prior buy on Harrison’s person. Approximately 200 grams of methamphetamine, firearms, and fentanyl were also recovered from the residence. Subsequent investigation resulted in the discovery of text messages and social media messages between Harrison and Booker, which demonstrated that they were involved in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. The DEA reports that two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, and one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. More facts on fentanyl can be found at https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl and https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl . On June 14, 2023, a jury in federal court found Harrison guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. In imposing sentence, the court noted Harrison’s prior criminal history. Specifically, the Court pointed to the fact that at the time of his commission of this offense, Harrison was out on parole from a life sentence in Alabama. According to documents submitted to the court, Harrison was sentenced to life in Alabama based on his prior convictions for attempted murder and 1 st degree armed robbery of an undercover police officer. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Buckner and Lauren Dick prosecuted the case with support from Assistant U.S. Attorney Gaines Cleveland.


title: Johnson County man sentenced to federal prison for lead role in drug trafficking conspiracy

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: DUBLIN, GA: A Johnson County man has been sentenced to more than 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking, and awaits sentencing with other defendants after pleading guilty to dog fighting charges. Travis Lee Martin , a/k/a “Fat,” 42, of Wrightsville, Ga., was sentenced to 200 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine and 100 Grams or More of Heroin, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen ordered the sentence to run consecutively to a pending sentence Martin faces in a related dogfighting case, fined Martin $5,000 and ordered him to serve five years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “This sentence is a testament to the outstanding investigation by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other law enforcement agencies that identified and dismantled Martin’s multi-county drug trafficking and dog fighting operations,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “These collaborations are vital in eradicating dangerous criminal activity in our communities.” Martin and 11 co-defendants were named in a 27-count drug conspiracy indictment unsealed in December 2022, identifying an operation distributing methamphetamine and heroin in Laurens, Treutlen, Johnson, and Emanuel counties. The three-year investigation led to multiple searches of residences and vehicles, resulting in numerous seizures of drugs, cash and firearms. Martin’s guilty plea in the case acknowledges the forfeiture of $80,050 in cash seized during the investigation. All of the remaining defendants have been sentenced after pleading guilty to related charges and are serving sentences of up to 87 months in prison. During the drug trafficking investigation, authorities also rescued 96 dogs suspected to be part of a dog fighting operation from three Johnson County locations, a location in Laurens County and one in Washington County. Martin and four co-defendants await sentencing after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Violate the Animal Welfare Act, a charge that carries a maximum statutory penalty of up to five years in prison. Among those co-defendants is Sentell Eugene Carey , 40, of Wrightsville, Ga., who is serving four years’ probation after also pleading guilty in the drug trafficking case. Judge Bowen will schedule sentencing hearings after U.S. Probation Services completes pre-sentence investigations for each defendant. The dogs were seized in a civil action brought by the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Marshals Service contracted with an agency to provide veterinary service, care and rehabilitation of the rescued dogs. “Illicit drugs like methamphetamine and heroin have destroyed countless lives,” Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division stated, “Cases like this clearly demonstrate the resolve of the DEA to hold criminals accountable.” “The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General-Investigations, actively investigates allegations of animal abuse. This agency has made animal fighting a high priority in order to demonstrate that these blatant acts of cruelty to animals will no longer be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge Miles Davis. “We would like to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica K. Rock for aggressively prosecuting perpetrators of animal fighting, and our federal, local state law enforcement partners, for their dedicated work in this investigation.” The drug trafficking case was investigated by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Southeastern Regional Drug Enforcement Office, the Emanuel County Sheriff’s Office, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ocmulgee Drug Task Force, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer J. Kirkland. The criminal dog fighting prosecution was investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and local law enforcement agencies, and prosecuted for the United States by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica K. Rock, while the civil forfeiture of the dogs was coordinated by Southern District of Georgia Civil Division Chief Shannon Heath Statkus.


title: Tampa Man Indicted For Unauthorized Computer Intrusion And Related Violations Of The Wiretap Act

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Timothy Burke (45, Tampa) with conspiracy, unauthorized access of protected computers, and violations of the Wiretap Act. If convicted on all counts, Burke faces a maximum penalty of 62 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Burke that the United States is seeking forfeiture of a website domain and 20 computer-related devices used to commit the charged criminal conduct, and $1,500, the proceeds of certain charged criminal conduct. According to the indictment, Burke and Conspirator 2 secured and used compromised credentials—usernames and passwords—to gain unauthorized access to protected computers owned or used by the victim entities, namely the “National Sports League” and “StreamCo,” and to obtain and steal information from those entities’ computers. As to the StreamCo-related conduct, the indictment further alleges that Burke and Conspirator 2: (1) used the compromised credentials to access a website of the StreamCo-Net, a StreamCo service that allowed its broadcaster-customers to record and transmit high-resolution encoded content and communications over the Internet; (2) obtained and stole StreamCo proprietary information from that website; and then (3) used that stolen StreamCo proprietary information to intercept, download, and save the StreamCo broadcaster-customers’ streams. The indictment also specifies two StreamCo broadcaster-customers impacted by the charged conduct. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Tampa Field Office – Cyber Squad. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jay G. Trezevant and James A. Muench. Download Indictment


title: Qatar Man Sentenced For Transportation And Possession Of Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced Saoud Al Naimi (21, Tampa) to five years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for transporting and possessing child sexual abuse material. The court also ordered Al Naimi to forfeit three iPhones, an iPad Pro, and a MacBook, which were used in the commission of the offense. Al Naimi was also ordered to register as a sex offender. Al Naimi entered a guilty plea on August 22, 2023. According to court documents, Al Naimi is a citizen of Qatar and was in the United States on a student visa, attending courses at a local college. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding Al Naimi’s use of an internet platform to upload a video of child sexual abuse. HSI agents searched Al Naimi’s electronic devices for evidence of child sexual abuse material and found hundreds of images and videos of children engaged in sex acts, including children under 12 years old. A search of Al Naimi’s iPhone revealed that he had obtained images of child sexual abuse in May 2020, while outside of the United States. U.S. border crossing records confirmed Al Naimi transported child sexual abuse material into the United States when he entered in January 2022. Between May 2020 and April 2022, Al Naimi transported child sexual abuse material between the United States and Qatar approximately three times. “This predator contributed to the vile practice of sexually exploiting children online and has caused irreparable harm by condemning them to a lifetime of victimhood,” said HSI Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kristopher Pagitt. “Alongside partners like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, HSI investigators will always seek to stop the vile actions of child predators and hold them accountable for their actions.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Miami physical therapist assistant convicted of over $2.6 million in fraudulent claims

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – On Feb. 16, a Miami federal jury convicted a local physical therapist assistant of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, and five counts of health care fraud after a week-long trial. From May 2019 through February 2021, Tania Cesar, 55, of Hialeah, Florida, worked as a physical therapist assistant at Elite Therapy Group Inc. (Elite) in Miami, Florida. During this period, Cesar signed over 1,500 physical therapy notes for physical therapy treatments that she never provided to patients. Cesar’s false and fraudulent therapy notes led to over $2.6 million in claims billed to Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS). Several co-conspirators testified, including the owners of Elite, describing the payment agreement between Elite and Cesar. Cesar would come into the therapy clinic once or twice a week to sign the therapy notes but never treated patients. Some of Elite’s patients also testified, explaining that they had never received physical therapy treatment, nor they had ever met Cesar. Furthermore, Cesar signed false and fraudulent therapy notes for treatments she purportedly performed on dates when airline and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) records confirmed that she was out of the country. In addition, Cesar was working full-time at another physical therapy clinic in Miami, where Cesar logged hours that, when added up with the hours for purported physical therapy she signed for in fraudulent therapy notes from Elite, suggested that she was working more than 24 hours on multiple days. Moreover, Cesar had the same financial relationship with another clinic, Zion Medical (Zion), before she began signing false and fraudulent therapy notes at Elite. The owner of Zion testified that he and Cesar had the same agreement that Cesar had with the owners of Elite, Cesar would sign false and fraudulent therapy notes for treatments she never performed. These false and fraudulent therapy notes were also billed to BCBS as part of the scheme. Sentencing is set for May 6 before U.S. District Senior Judge Robert N. Scola Jr. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of FBI, Miami Field Office made the announcement. FBI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Egozi and Lindsey Lazopoulos Friedman are prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Hyman is handling asset forfeiture. 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-20259. ###


title: Shreveport Gang Member Sentenced in Federal Court for  Illegally Possessing a Firearm While Under Indictment on  State Court Charge of Second Degree Murder

body_text: SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Devoris Antonio Hardy , 23, of Shreveport, Louisiana , was sentenced yesterday on firearms charges. United States District Judge Donald E. Walter sentenced Hardy to 36 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. According to information presented in court, Hardy, who had ties to a Shreveport gang, was indicted on March 25, 2021, in Caddo Parish for one count of second degree murder in connection with a murder that happened in December 2020. On April 6, 2021, he was present with his counsel, formally arraigned on all charges and was released on a $250,000 bond. Less than one year later, on March 14, 2022, Shreveport Police Department officers responded to a call about two cars shooting at each other at the corner of Youree Drive and East Washington Street in close proximity to the Montessori School for Shreveport. Upon arrival, officers located two individuals outside of a vehicle that had a gunshot hole in the rear window. Defendant Hardy was located a little further away on East Washington Street. Officers found six spent shell casings inside Hardy’s vehicle. In addition, officers found a Glock pistol, model: 22 Gen 4, Caliber: 40 in the bed of a pickup truck that belonged to an innocent person where officers learned Hardy had stashed the pistol following the shootout. The shell casings found in Hardy’s vehicle matched the Glock 22 found in the bed of the pickup truck. Hardy admitted to officers that while attending a hearing regarding his second degree murder charge in Caddo Parish that morning, he saw a member of a rival gang in the courtroom that he had issues with. Hardy stated that he thought they were about to fight in the courthouse. After court, he was picked up by his brother and suspected that the gang member would follow him. Hardy asked for the gun, which he stated was his friend’s fathers’ gun, because he was nervous. He told officers that shortly thereafter another vehicle approached their vehicle and opened fire. Hardy returned fire and the vehicle he was in attempted to get away. Hardy admitted that the gun found in the pickup truck was the one he used. Hardy was indicted in federal court for receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment in May 2022 and was held without bond due to him being a danger to the community. In August 2023, Hardy proceeded to a jury trial in Caddo Parish District Court on the second degree murder charge and the jury returned a responsive verdict of negligent homicide. He was sentenced to the maximum term of imprisonment allowed by the state statute, five years. Hardy pleaded guilty to the federal charge on October 23, 2023, and was subsequently sentenced yesterday. “This is a dangerous individual who has a callous disregard for human life,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “We are pleased that this Court upward departed from the recommended sentencing guidelines in this case to a 36 month sentence. We are working with law enforcement at every level and District Attorney Stewart’s office to get firearms that are in the wrong hands out of those hands and put Shreveport’s most dangerous individuals in state and federal prison.” The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Shreveport Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Aaron Crawford. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn . # # #


title: Cybertip Leads to Conviction of Lake Charles  Man for Possession of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Louisiana, Western

body_text: LAKE CHARLES, La. – Arthur Dorain Deville , 50, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, has been sentenced on child pornography charges, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. to 51 months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Deville pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography on August 16, 2023. In 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a cybertip from Dropbox, Inc. in reference to images containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) being uploaded to one of their accounts. An investigation by agents with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (LBI) revealed that the Dropbox account belonged to Deville. On October 26, 2022, Deville admitted to agents with LBI and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations that the Dropbox account belonged to him, and he was the only person with access to the account. Deville also confessed to possessing the CSAM maintained in the Dropbox account. An analysis of the deleted files in Deville’s account contained CSAM involving minor children not having reached the age of puberty. The case was investigated by Department of Homeland Security Investigations and Louisiana Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Craig R. Bordelon. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood combines 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 . # # #


title: District Man Indicted on Enhanced Second-Degree Theft  Following Theft from Residential Front Porch in Northwest

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, February 21, 2024, Eugene Fleet, 61, of Washington, D.C., was indicted by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on one count of felony second-degree theft stemming from events occurring on January 12, 2024, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced. Fleet is to be arraigned on March 13, 2024, at a hearing before a Superior Court judge. According to the government’s evidence, on January 12, 2024, Fleet took a package containing a baby blanket from a resident’s porch in Northwest, Washington, D.C. Fleet was later located and arrested after investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department. Fleet has two or more prior theft convictions, though not from the same occasion, and therefore is subject to enhanced penalties for his alleged theft, including a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in jail for each count of theft for which he is indicted. Since September 1, 2023, including the aforementioned case, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has indicted 27 cases involving a felony second-degree theft charge based on a defendant’s two or more prior theft convictions, not from the same occasion. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Limb. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.


title: Mississippi Tax Preparers Sentenced to Prison in False Tax Return Conspiracy

component: Tax Division

body_text: A group of Mississippi tax return preparers were sentenced to prison yesterday for charges related to a conspiracy to prepare and file false tax returns for clients in Jackson, Mississippi. Adam Earnest was sentenced to 100 months in prison, James Klish was sentenced to 50 months in prison and John Wells was sentenced to 15 months in prison. Each was also ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Daniel P. Jordan III for the Southern District of Mississippi to serve three years of supervised release and to pay restitution to the United States in an amount the court will later determine. Two other conspirators, Christopher Rendell and Jonathan Barefoot, will be sentenced at a later date. A federal jury convicted Earnest, Klish and Rendell of conspiring to defraud the United States by preparing false tax returns at Sunbelt Tax Service, a return preparation business that operated in Jackson. Earnest and Randell were also convicted of preparing such returns. Wells and Barefoot pleaded guilty before the trial to crimes related to preparing and filing false tax returns for clients. According to court documents and evidence presented in court, Earnest, Randell, Klish, Barefoot and Wells worked at Sunbelt and conspired together to claim inflated tax refunds for clients by reporting false education credits, itemized deductions and business profits or losses on their clients’ tax returns. Over the years, they prepared thousands of fraudulent returns, causing over $3.5 million in tax loss to the IRS. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Patrick Elwell, Zachary Cobb and Mary Frances Richardson of the Tax Division prosecuted the case.


component: USAO - Mississippi, Southern

body_text: WASHINGTON – A group of Mississippi tax return preparers were sentenced to prison yesterday for charges related to a conspiracy to prepare and file false tax returns for clients in Jackson, Mississippi. Adam Earnest was sentenced to 100 months in prison, James Klish was sentenced to 50 months in prison and John Wells was sentenced to 15 months in prison. Each was also ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Daniel P. Jordan III for the Southern District of Mississippi to serve three years of supervised release and to pay restitution to the United States in an amount the court will later determine. Two other conspirators, Christopher Rendell and Jonathan Barefoot, will be sentenced at a later date. A federal jury convicted Earnest, Klish and Rendell of conspiring to defraud the United States by preparing false tax returns at Sunbelt Tax Service, a return preparation business that operated in Jackson. Earnest and Randell were also convicted of preparing such returns. Wells and Barefoot pleaded guilty before the trial to crimes related to preparing and filing false tax returns for clients. According to court documents and evidence presented in court, Earnest, Randell, Klish, Barefoot and Wells worked at Sunbelt and conspired together to claim inflated tax refunds for clients by reporting false education credits, itemized deductions and business profits or losses on their clients’ tax returns. Over the years, they prepared thousands of fraudulent returns, causing over $3.5 million in tax loss to the IRS. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Patrick Elwell, Zachary Cobb and Mary Frances Richardson of the Tax Division prosecuted the case.


title: Prior felon charged with gunpoint robbery of five Starbucks

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 24-year-old Houston resident has been indicted on multiple counts of robbery, brandishing a firearm and illegal possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Kentrelle Tatum is set to appear for his detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Edison at 11 a.m. A federal grand jury returned the indictment Feb. 15 which alleges five counts of robbery, four counts of brandishing a firearm and one count of illegal possession of a firearm as a felon. From Sept. 5 to Sept. 11, 2023, Tatum allegedly robbed five separate Houston-area Starbucks establishments over the course of six days while brandishing a firearm. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm per federal law. If convicted, Tatum faces up 20 years in federal prison for each of five counts of robbery, while a conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm carries a possible 10-year prison term. Each of the charges could also result in fines of up to $250,000. He is also charged with four counts of brandishing a firearm while committing a crime of violence which carries a mandatory seven years to be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with assistance from the Houston Police Department and Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Rodriguez is prosecuting the case. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Gang Member Admits Racketeering and Firearms Charges

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A member of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips gang admitted to his role in a racketeering conspiracy and to possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Amir Warden, aka “Stamps,” aka “Killa,” 31, pleaded guilty on Feb. 22, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court to two counts of a superseding information that charged him with Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy and possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From 2015 through Sept. 22, 2022, Warden was a member of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips, a criminal enterprise responsible for acts of violence and the distribution of controlled substances in the District of New Jersey and elsewhere. Warden held a leadership role within the enterprise and conspired with other members and associates to distribute controlled substances. On Aug. 19, 2019, he distributed heroin. On Sept. 29, 2022, Warden, a convicted felon, knowingly possessed three loaded firearms, three high-capacity drum magazines, and approximately 1,300 rounds of assorted ammunition. Warden faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the racketeering conspiracy and a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the firearms charge. Sentencing is scheduled for June 25, 2024. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the DEA, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz; special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins; and special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. He also thanked investigators of the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of Marshal Juan Mattos; the Irvington Police Department, under the direction of Police Division Director Tracy Bowers; the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II;, the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé; the Bloomfield Police Department, under the direction of Director of Public Safety Samuel A. DeMaio; the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura; the East Orange Police Department, under the direction of Chief Phyllis L. Bindi; the Elizabeth Police Department, under the direction of Police Director Earl J. Graves; the Edison Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Tom Bryan; the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor William A. Daniel; the Spotswood Police Department, under the direction of Chief Philip Corbisiero; and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Fugitive and Missing Person Task Force. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francesca Liquori of the Special Prosecutions Unit. warden.sinformation.pdf


title: Edina Financial Adviser Charged with Wire Fraud for Stealing $1.6 Million from Clients

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – An Edina financial adviser has been charged with wire fraud after misappropriating $1.6 million in client investment funds, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, Kristi Margaret Berge, 47, was the founder and CEO of Keep Safe Investments, LLC, or “KSI Financial,” a financial planning and investment services firm. Berge also co-owned and operated J&K Connect LLC, a company that invested in real estate through buying, renovating, and re-selling properties. Berge maintained offices for her companies in Edina, Minnesota. Berge is registered as an investment adviser with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and licensed as an investment adviser with the State of Minnesota. According to court documents, from June 2020 through February 2023, Berge fraudulently misappropriated approximately $1.6 million from some of her clients’ accounts by falsely representing to clients that she would maintain their money in safe and secure investment accounts, such as individual retirement accounts and 401(k) retirement savings plans. Instead, Berge fraudulently misappropriated the money by repeatedly withdrawing client funds in varying amounts between $5,000 and $220,000 and depositing the funds into bank accounts she controlled. Berge then used the clients’ funds to purchase multiple properties in Edina for her real estate business. Berge tried to conceal her fraud by falsely labeling her illicit withdrawals as “management” or “administrative” fees and by creating fabricated records to give the false impression that she had authorization to withdraw clients’ investment funds. Berge is charged with one count of wire fraud. On March 7, 2024, Berge is scheduled to make her initial appearance in U.S. District Court before Judge Eric C. Tostrud. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Ebert and Harry M. Jacobs are prosecuting the case. An information is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Indianapolis Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Two Armed Carjackings

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Deandre Govan, 21, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison after pleading guilty to carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. According to court documents, on October 10, 2021, Victim 1 arrived to work at a restaurant on the West side of Indianapolis. As he walked to the door of the restaurant, he was approached by Deandre Govan. Govan brandished a black semiautomatic handgun and took the victim’s wallet and cell phone and ordered him to unlock it. Govan forced the victim to give him the keys to his car and fled the scene in the stolen car. The following day, IMPD officers found the victim’s car on University of Indianapolis (UIndy) campus. On October 12, 2021, Victim 2 was parked on UIndy’s campus in her 2010 white Ford Focus with the window down, when Govan approached her vehicle and brandished a black semiautomatic firearm. Govan instructed her to hang-up her phone and unlock the device. Govan took her phone, money, and forced her out of the vehicle. Govan fled the scene in the stolen car. Around the same time, IMPD received multiple reports of robberies at an apartment complex located at the intersection of South Keystone and East Hannah Avenues. On October 13, 2021, maintenance men at the apartment complex were standing outside of one of the residential buildings when Govan rode by on a bicycle. The men did not recognize him to be a resident within the complex, so they asked him what he was doing there. Govan became hostile and brandished a black semiautomatic pistol and pointed it at the face of one of the workers. Shortly after, IMPD investigators located Govan at the intersection of South Keystone and East Hanna Avenues. Govan initially resisted arrest but was quickly detained. Investigators located a Glock 45 9mm semiautomatic pistol on Govan’s person and was able to identify him as the carjacker by his tattoos and clothes. “Armed criminals like this defendant who terrorize our communities must be held accountable,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “The serious federal prison sentence imposed here demonstrates that there is no place in society for these violent crimes and that armed, violent criminals are a priority for federal prosecution. We are deeply committed to working closely with our partners at the FBI and IMPD to reduce gun violence in Indianapolis.” “Carjacking is a violent crime that endangers the public and I hope this sentence will bring comfort to his victims knowing he is behind bars and not free to terrorize others,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “It also demonstrates the teamwork between the FBI and our partners at the IMPD and should send a clear message that violent criminals preying on our community will not be tolerated.” The FBI and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson. Judge Stinson also ordered that Govan be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Corbin D. Houston, who prosecuted this 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: Husband and Wife from Knoxville Sentenced for Roles in  Heroin and Meth Conspiracies

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ABINGDON, Va. – A Knoxville, Tennessee couple, who conspired with others to traffic heroin and methamphetamine into Lee County, Virginia, were sentenced today to lengthy prison terms. Billie Jo McGuire, 30, and her husband, Billy Justin King, 30, both pled guilty in October 2022 to one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, and one count of possession with the intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine. Billy King also pled guilty to possessing a firearm in possession of a drug trafficking crime. Today, King was sentenced to 15 years in prison and McGuire was sentenced to 24 months. McGuire and King conspired with Robert Earl Warr, Robert Lee Jenkins, and others, including John Joel Foster, Ray Anthony McSwain, Garrett Lee Teffeteller, Darin Thomas, and David Edward Farmer, to sell heroin and methamphetamine in and around Lee County, Virginia, and the Knoxville, Tennessee area. According to court documents, as part of the broader conspiracy, King and McGuire trafficked methamphetamine and heroin from Eastern Tennessee into Lee County, Virginia for redistribution. While King was the ‘leader’ between the pair, McGuire assisted her husband’s drug activities by weighing the drugs, counting money, answering King’s cell phone, and coordinating drug customers. United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and Craig B. Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force, the Knoxville, Tennessee Police Department, the Knox County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Office, the Sevier County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Office, and the Lee County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher prosecuted the case for the United States.


title: Detroit, MI, Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for His Leadership Role in a Drug Trafficking Organization Targeting two of North Dakota’s Native American Reservations

component: USAO - North Dakota

body_text: FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that Romel Rambus, age 29, of Detroit, Michigan, appeared before Chief Judge Peter D. Welte, U.S. District Court, Fargo, ND, for his leadership role in a drug trafficking organization targeting two of North Dakota’s Native American Reservations . Rambus pled guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Money Laundering Conspiracy, and was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison, Five Years of supervised release, and $100 special assessment. A multi-agency investigation led by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement learned of a drug trafficking organization affiliated with the 5674 Reub Gang, a violent street gang operating out of Michigan, which was involved in transporting thousands of oxycodone/fentanyl pills to North Dakota for distribution, in Bismarck, ND, Minot, ND, Fort Berthold Indian Reservation and Spirit Lake Indian Reservation. As part of this organization, in approximately 2015, Romel Rambus, after the death of his brother, Reuben Rambus, took over the operation and worked with the Devonsha Dabney to distribute narcotics in North Dakota. Co-Conspirator Jonathan B. Walker, a/k/a Jay , was sentenced on October 2, 2023, to 180 months incarceration, 5 years of supervised release, and $500 in special assessment fees. Co-Conspirator Devonsha Dabney a/k/a Kemell , was sentenced on October 10, 2023, to 180 months in federal prison, 4 years of supervised release, and $100 special assessment fees. Over forty defendants were charged for their involvement in the drug trafficking organization and all defendants have enter pleas of guilty or signed plea agreements with the intent to plead guilty. “This sentence is another reminder to those who target tribal communities in North Dakota for distribution of dangerous drugs,” Schneider said. “Instead of short-term profits, you’ll be facing a long-term stay in federal prison. Bringing this defendant and his co-conspirators to justice is the result of relentless efforts by our career prosecutors and their multi-agency law enforcement partners.” The Previous Press Release for this investigation can be seen by clicking the following link: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nd/pr/detroit-mi-man-sentenced-15-years-federal-prison-his-leadership-role-drug-trafficking This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (Detroit), the Drug Enforcement Administration, Ward County Narcotics Task Force, Metro Area Narcotics Task Force, Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Division of Drug Enforcement, North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, North Dakota Crime Laboratory, and Minot Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, with Assistant United States Attorneys Dawn Deitz and Alex Stock assigned with the assistance of lead investigator Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement Special Agent Isaiah Soldier. ######


title: Two Charlotte-Area Businessmen Sentenced To Prison For Fraudulent Investment Scheme

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two Charlotte-area business partners were sentenced to prison late yesterday for executing a fraudulent investment scheme, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Marlin Hershey, 54, of Cornelius, N.C., was sentenced to 21 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. Dana Bradley, 53, also of Cornelius, was sentenced to 10 months plus one day in prison followed by two years of supervised release. In addition, the court imposed significant restitution and financial penalties on the defendants, including more than $333,000 in restitution to victims and combined forfeiture and fines of more than $600,000. North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall and Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to filed documents and court proceedings, from approximately 2009 to 2021, Hershey and Bradley conspired to defraud numerous victims who invested in two unregistered securities offerings promoted by the defendants, Performance Retire on Rentals, LLC (Performance Retire), and Distressed Lending Fund (DLF). To execute the scheme, the defendants provided victims with investment materials that contained false and misleading statements and did not disclose material information. For example, the defendants did not disclose to investors negative information about the defendants’ backgrounds and the financial troubles of the entities for which they were soliciting investments. The defendants also did not inform investors that the defendants received undisclosed “management” fees, and commission-like payments that were typically 10% of the victims’ investments. To further conceal the scheme, the defendants sent to investors periodic performance reports that disclosed false information about the status and health of their investments and made Ponzi-style payments to existing investors using new investors’ money. Eventually, both Performance Retire and DLF failed, causing financial losses to investors. On June 1, 2023, the defendants pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy. They will be ordered to report to the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney King thanked the Securities Division of the North Carolina Secretary of State and the FBI for their joint investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Ryan and Taylor Stout of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.


title: District Man Indicted on Enhanced Second-Degree Theft  Following Theft from CVS in Northwest

body_text: WASHINGTON – Peter Harshaw (aka Peter Allen), 64, of Washington, D.C., was indicted on February 21, 2024, by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on one count of felony second-degree theft stemming from events occurring on January 19, 2024, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced. Harshaw is to be arraigned on February 26, 2024, at a hearing before a Superior Court judge. According to the government’s evidence, on January 19, 2024, Harshaw took store merchandise without paying from the CVS store in Northwest Washington, D.C. Harshaw was quickly located and arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department. Harshaw has two or more prior theft convictions, though not from the same occasion, and therefore is subject to enhanced penalties for his alleged theft, including a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in jail for each count of theft for which he is indicted. Since September 1, 2023, including the aforementioned case, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has indicted 27 cases involving a felony second-degree theft charge based on a defendant’s two or more prior theft convictions, not from the same occasion. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Naveed Amalfard. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.


title: Third Revocation of Supervised Release Lands Fort Dodge, Iowa Man Back in Federal Prison for Fourth Time

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who violated the terms of his federal supervised release for the third time was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. Matthew Brockway, 44, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the prison term after admitting to multiple violations of his supervised release, including several failures to report/submit to urinalysis, numerous uses of controlled substances, and failures to report as directed by U.S. Probation. Brockway initially was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment in 2010 for drug trafficking offenses and was first released to supervision on February 24, 2021. Less than a year later, on January 27, 2022, Brockway’s supervised release was revoked for various supervised release violations, including new state law violations and he was sentenced to federal prison for 24 months. After being released a second time on November 25, 2022, mere months later, on January 9, 2023, Brockway was revoked again for various supervised release violations, including using drugs and sentenced to 11 months’ imprisonment. On November 17, 2023, Brockway was released on his third supervision and has now been ordered to serve 30 months in federal prison. Brockway was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Brockway is being held in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the United States Probation Office. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 08-3026. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Shoreham Man Sentenced for Child Exploitation Offenses

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on February 22, 2024, Scott Remick, 48, of Shoreham, Vermont, was sentenced in United States District Court in Burlington, Vermont, to serve 80 months in prison after his guilty plea to one count of receipt of child pornography (also known as child sexual abuse material, or CSAM). United States District Judge Christina Reiss also ordered Remick to serve a 14-year term of supervised release and to pay two assessments: $5,000 pursuant to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015, and $5,000 pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018. According to court records and proceedings, on June 16, 2021, a source of information (SOI), who is a private software developer and security analyst and who is part of a group of individuals involved in analyzing a specific piece of software with a specific security vulnerability, identified a computer with the security vulnerability (the Target Computer). The SOI accessed the Target Computer, including the contents of an encrypted volume mounted on it. The SOI viewed some of the image files in that container and discovered that they depicted CSAM. The SOI also created a text file that contained directories and file names of files located in the encrypted volume. The file names indicated that the files contained sexually explicit content involving children. The SOI reported its findings to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and to the Vermont State Police (VSP). VSP reached out to special agents with the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). After HSI spoke with the SOI and conducted additional investigation into the suspected user of the Target Computer, Scott Remick, agents obtained a warrant to search remotely electronically stored information at Remick’s residence, and a second warrant to search Remick’s residence. On July 3, 2021, HSI agents executed the remote search warrant and recovered CSAM images, as well as items associated with Remick. On July 7, 2021, HSI agents executed the warrant to search Remick’s residence. Agents determined that a self-built computer at the residence was the same one searched pursuant to the remote search warrant. Agents found additional CSAM images on the self-built computer. Through additional investigation, law enforcement discovered that, in 2012, Remick met a then-17-year old female on an online dating application when Remick was 37 years old. Remick and the minor female began communicating and eventually began sharing sexually explicit photos of themselves, including photos of the minor female engaging in sexually explicit conduct. United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Vermont State Police, and the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in the investigation and prosecution of Remick. Barbara A. Masterson, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont, represented the government. Assistant Federal Public Defender Steven L. Barth represented Remick. 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 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 Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Homemade Firearm Results in Prison Sentence

body_text: A man who was found in possession of a homemade large-caliber pistol in the Meskwaki Casino in 2022 was sentenced February 22, 2024, to five years in federal prison. Som Boun Cam, age 56, from Council Bluffs, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 18, 2023 guilty plea to possessing a smooth bore, .410 gauge pistol, which was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. In a plea agreement, Cam admitted that on April 14, 2022, he was in the Meskwaki Casino hotel when he was involved in a scuffle with another guest and misplaced his backpack. Hotel staff subsequently found the backpack, and when they looked in it on April 18, 2022, they found methamphetamine and a homemade smooth bore .410 gauge pistol. On April 19, 2022, Cam returned to the hotel to claim his property. Cam admitted he had manufactured the firearm. This was a firearm that was required to be registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, but it was not registered to him. Cam has a 1995 felony conviction for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and methamphetamine, a 2017 felony conviction for possessing a firearm as a felon, and multiple assault convictions. Cam was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Cam was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. 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. Cam is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Reinert and was investigated by the Meskwaki Nation Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-00050. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Monte Vista Man Sentenced to 30 Months After Conviction on Firearms Charges

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DURANGO – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Titus Naranjo, age 42, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for possessing firearms after previously being convicted of a felony. Naranjo will serve his federal sentence consecutively to a Colorado prison sentence for a felony drug distribution offense. According to court documents, Naranjo was a well-known drug dealer in Monte Vista, Colorado. Naranjo had five prior drug-related convictions dating back to 2015 in Rio Grande County, including several felonies. In April 2021, law enforcement searched Naranjo’s residence, yielding a large amount of methamphetamine. In November of that same year, local law enforcement encountered Naranjo while executing a search warrant on a house to facilitate the arrest of another drug dealer and gang member. Officers found a Charter Arms .38 special revolver in one of Naranjo’s pockets, and 14 grams of methamphetamine in the other. “Armed drug dealers present a unique danger to our communities,” said United States Attorney Cole Finegan. “Effective coordination between our local partners, like our cooperation with the Monte Vista Police Department and the ATF in this case can and do result in significant consequences and deterrence.” "The Monte Vista Police Department will continue to pursue criminals in our communities who are dealing drugs and poisoning our citizens,” said Monte Vista Police Chief George Dingfelder. “Our commitment to the community is to use all available resources to hold these people accountable for their crimes.” “Firearms illegally possessed by violent felons, especially when involved in drug activity, frequently lead to an increase of violent crime within our communities, said ATF Special Agent in Charge Brent Beavers. “Our commitment remains unwavering in targeting these individuals while working hand in hand with our law enforcement partners to reduce violent crime.” The Monte Vista Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation in this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Graves handled the prosecution. 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. Case No. 23-cr-00003-GPG-JMC


title: Florence Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Gun and Drugs Violations

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: FLORENCE, S.C. — Rayshawn Mortress Tutt Smoot, 34, of Florence, was sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine and crack cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Evidence presented to the court showed that on Aug. 11, 2022, investigators with the Florence Police Department, deputies with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, and agents with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division went to arrest Smoot in Florence for active arrest warrants. Upon arriving at the residence, officers observed a car parked on a vacant lot and Smoot in the driver’s seat. Officers also saw a pistol with a drum magazine on the front passenger seat. During a search of the car, officers found approximately 33 grams of crack cocaine, approximately five grams of cocaine, a digital scale, and a box of sandwich baggies along with the pistol. The pistol had a drum magazine which was loaded with 26 rounds of ammunition. United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III sentenced Smoot to a total of 106 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, Florence Police Department, Florence County Sheriff’s Office, and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hummel is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Member of Violent Criminal Enterprise Sentenced for Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A member of a violent criminal enterprise was sentenced yesterday for her role in a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed large amounts of cocaine and cocaine base (crack cocaine) throughout Western Massachusetts. Khristy Guzman, 39, of Holyoke, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and 24 months of supervised release for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. Guzman pleaded guilty on Oct. 5, 2023. According to court documents, Guzman was identified as a member of a violent criminal enterprise in Springfield. During the investigation, controlled purchases and intercepted communications allegedly between Vincente Gonzalez and his co-conspirators, including Guzman, revealed that, beginning in or about April of 2021, the defendants allegedly prepared and trafficked large amounts of cocaine and crack cocaine in the Holyoke and Springfield areas. In furtherance of the trafficking activity, the enterprise used violence and threats of violence to allegedly control Gonzalez’s territory on Elm Street in Holyoke. Guzman’s role in the conspiracy was to manage the day-to-day sales of cocaine allegedly occurring in Gonzalez’s territory on Elm Street. According to the court documents, the Government argued that Guzman, and allegedly her co-conspirators, aided in making local residents, including children, feel like prisoners in their own homes. The simple act of going outside put residents in direct contact with violence and exposed them to be witnesses to countless crimes. Guzman is the second defendant to be sentenced in this case. Miguel Burgos was sentenced in September 2023 to 60 months in federal prison, followed by a term of four years of supervised release. Brigham Ocasio-Ramos is expected plead guilty on Feb. 28, 2024. Vincente Gonzalez is scheduled for a jury trial on May 6, 2024. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Holyoke Police Chief David Pratt; and Springfield Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police’s Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction Enforcement Team and the Hampden District Attorney’s Office’s Strategic Action and Focused Enforcement Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil L. Desroches of the Springfield Branch Unit is prosecuting the case. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Missouri Woman Sentenced for $237,000 in Pandemic Frauds

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Friday sentenced a St. Peters, Missouri woman to a year and a day in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining $237,000 from pandemic assistance programs. Regina Brand, 52, was also ordered to repay the money. Brand pleaded guilty in August to one felony count of wire fraud and admitted defrauding two pandemic relief programs. She submitted at least 12 fraudulent applications for rental assistance under the Missouri State Assistance for Housing Relief Program between Sept. 1, 2021 and at least June 30, 2022. The program was intended to provide emergency assistance to landlords and renters to prevent a wave of evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Brand received $96,825 in assistance. Brand also submitted four fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan applications between April 1, 2020 and August 25, 2021, in the name of Angels Voices or Brand Construction. Brand falsely listed the average monthly payroll and number of employees employed by the companies, resulting in loans totaling $140,261. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman prosecuted the case.


title: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Edmonton Felon for Illegally Possessing a Handgun

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Bowling Green, KY – A federal grand jury in Bowling Green, Kentucky, returned an indictment on September 13, 2023, charging a Metcalfe County resident with possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police made the announcement. According to the indictment, on February 23, 2023, Aaron Dale McKinney, 47, possessed a Springfield Armory (HS Produkt), model XD-45, 45 caliber semiautomatic pistol, and ammunition. McKinney was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On May 25, 2021, in Metcalfe Circuit Court, McKinney was convicted of possession of a controlled substance, first degree, third or more offense (methamphetamine). On September 26, 2017, in Metcalfe Circuit Court, McKinney was convicted of manufacturing methamphetamine, first offense. McKinney made his initial appearance on February 21, 2024, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is being investigated by the ATF Bowling Green Field Office with assistance from the Kentucky State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Nicholas Rabold, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, is prosecuting this 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. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Sex Offender Sentenced to Serve More Than 27 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – Yesterday, STEVEN NEEL HARRY , 62, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 327 months in federal prison for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, announced United States Attorney Robert J. Troester. On April 18, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a two-count Indictment against Harry, charging him with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and commission of a felony sex offense by an individual required to register as a sex offender. According to court records, in September 2022, Harry started communicating with an undercover law enforcement officer. During those conversations, Harry made clear that he was a registered sex offender and discussed meeting an individual at a hotel in Oklahoma City to engage in sexual activity with a person whom Harry believed was a 12-year-old girl. In March 2023, Harry then coordinated to meet with the “girl” at an Oklahoma City metro motel, where he was arrested. Harry had brought with him to the meeting a leather mask, leather restraints, a hammer, and other items. “This abhorrent and vile behavior has absolutely no place in our society and will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Troester. “The swift action by law enforcement and decisive punishment of more than 27 years in prison will ensure that this predator will not harm—or even attempt to harm—innocent children for many years. I applaud the work done by the FBI and prosecutors in my office to hold Mr. Harry accountable and bring him to justice. “Identifying and stopping child predators before they strike is a critical part of the FBI’s mission,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “This sentencing reflects the hard work, dedication, and partnership between the investigators and the prosecution team to ensure the most innocent members of our community are protected.” On May 31, 2023, Harry pleaded guilty to Count 1, and admitted to using an electronic device to set up a sexual encounter with a minor. At the sentencing hearing yesterday, U.S. District Judge Charles Goodwin sentenced Harry to serve 327 months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Goodwin noted that Harry “fully intended to torture and rape” a child, and that the “most severe punishment” is needed for deterrence and to protect the public. Judge Goodwin also noted Harry’s criminal history. Public records reflect Harry has felony convictions for possession of a machine gun and being a drug addict in possession of firearms in Western District of Oklahoma case number CR-98-60, travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor in Western District of Texas case number CR-02-71, possession of a machine gun in Western District of Oklahoma case number CR-03-13, and failure to comply with the Sex Offender Registration Act in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-17-6413. Following Harry’s conviction for travel with intent to engage in a sexual act, he was required to register as a sex offender. This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison B. Christian and Brandon Hale prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Louisville Felon for Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

body_text: Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned a six-count indictment on February 6, 2024, charging a Louisville man with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville, and Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division made the announcement. According to the indictment, between January 11, 2022, and July 26, 2023, Marcus Allen Crook, 32, conspired to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. On July 26, 2023, Crook possessed a Glock, model 17 Gen 4, nine-millimeter pistol, a Glock, model 20 Gen 4, ten-millimeter pistol, and a FN, model 509, nine-millimeter pistol, in furtherance to his drug trafficking. Crook was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offense. On December 7, 2012, in Jefferson Circuit Court, in Case Number 09-CR-3791, Crook was convicted of manslaughter in the first degree (not vehicle related). Cook made his initial court appearance on February 21, 2024, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. He remains detained pending trial. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is being investigated by the HSI and the KSP, with assistance from the ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Shannon is prosecuting this 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. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Crystal Springs Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for  Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Jackson, Mississippi – A Crystal Springs man was sentenced to 204 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 429.9 grams of methamphetamine. According to court documents, Marcus Baldridge a/k/a Possum a/k/a Lil One, 40, of Crystal Springs, Mississippi, negotiated the sale of a pound of methamphetamine to an individual. During the sale, Baldridge realized he lacked two ounces to complete the pound. Baldridge left the buy location to meet with his source of supply, then returned to the location and provided the two ounces of methamphetamine to his co-conspirator, Dremarcus Taylor, who subsequently provided the two ounces to the buyer to complete the transaction. The substances sold by Baldridge were analyzed by the DEA Laboratory and confirmed to be methamphetamine hydrochloride with a combined net weight of 429.9 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine. Dremarcus Taylor entered a plea of guilty for his role and is scheduled for sentencing on May 21, 2024. This case is the result of an extensive investigation targeting illegal drug trafficking in the Hinds County, Mississippi, and surrounding areas. The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Acting Special Agent in Charge Mike Arnett of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Keesha Middleton.


title: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Metcalfe County Felon for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

body_text: Bowling Green, KY – A federal grand jury in Bowling Green, Kentucky returned an indictment on February 14, 2024, charging a Metcalfe County man with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division made the announcement. According to the indictment, on November 23, 2023, Damien N. Wilson, 29, of Russell Springs, Kentucky, possessed a Ruger, model SR9, 9-millimeter semiautomatic pistol. Wilson was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On December 16, 2022, in Casey Circuit Court, Wilson was convicted of first-degree possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine – first offense. On January 13, 2022, in Casey Circuit Court, Wilson was convicted of first-degree possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine – first offense. On February 20, 2019, in Russell Circuit Court, Wilson was convicted of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance – methamphetamine. On March 28, 2018, in Adair Circuit Court, Wilson was convicted of first-degree possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine – first offense. Wilson was arraigned on February 21, 2024, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. He remains in federal custody pending trial. If convicted, Wilson faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. The case is being investigated by the ATF Bowling Green Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Nicholas Rabold, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, is prosecuting 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. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a Firearm

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

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A Mexican national, residing in the United States illegally, pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. According to court documents, Joel Terrazas Olvera, 51, was found in possession of a firearm by a Rankin County Sheriff’s Deputy on September 19, 2023 during a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Olvera was riding as a passenger. A federal grand jury indicted Olvera for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Olvera is scheduled to be sentenced on May 9, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee, Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations, and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement. Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Goff is prosecuting the case. This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.


title: Precursor Chemical Broker Sentenced for Methamphetamine Importation and Money Laundering Conspiracies

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A precursor chemical broker was sentenced today to 18 years and eight months in prison for methamphetamine importation and money laundering conspiracies. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Javier Algredo Vazquez, 56, of Queens, New York, procured chemicals, including methylamine, for the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) to make controlled substances for importation into the United States. The CJNG, which is based in the State of Jalisco in Mexico, is one of the largest, most dangerous, and most prolific drug cartels in Mexico and is responsible for transporting tonnage quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and other drugs into the United States. Algredo Vazquez imported over 5 million kilograms of chemicals into Mexico, including enough precursors to produce over 700 million doses of methamphetamine and over 2 billion doses of fentanyl. Algredo Vazquez also transferred millions of dollars from the United States to chemical suppliers in China and India to procure the chemicals. 24,500 kilograms of methylamine hydrochloride purchased by Algredo Vazquez and his co-conspirators that was seized at the Port of Oakland, California, on June 8, 2021. Algredo Vazquez was convicted at trial in July 2023 of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine for unlawful importation into the United States, conspiracy to distribute a List I chemical to manufacture methamphetamine for unlawful importation into the United States, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Administrator Anne Milgram of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement. The DEA Los Angeles Field Division and HSI Houston investigated the case, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service’s Investigative Operations Division. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Joint Interagency Task Force West also provided support for the investigatory efforts. Trial Attorney Kate Naseef, Acting Assistant Deputy Chief Nhan Nguyen, and Acting Deputy Chief Kaitlin Sahni of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section prosecuted the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs contributed significantly to the investigation. The Justice Department thanks the Mexican Attorney General’s Office for their assistance in securing the conviction.


title: Former Postal Employee Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Theft of a Postal Service Key

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – A Mobile woman was sentenced to 30 months in prison for conspiracy, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and theft of a United States Postal Service (“USPS”) key. According to court documents and evidence presented at a November 2023 trial, Kristen Arieale Williams, 32, was employed as a mail carrier at the post office in Prichard. The jury heard evidence that in late October 2022, Williams stole and sold a USPS “arrow” key to a coconspirator. Arrow keys are government property and will open, among other things, all blue USPS collection boxes in a particular geographic area. Stealing and possessing such a key with fraudulent intent is a federal crime. Williams’s coconspirator paid Williams $2,500 in cash for the key. Law enforcement caught Williams’s coconspirator using the key to steal mail from collection boxes outside the Bel Air Mall in Mobile in November 2022. The coconspirator stole hundreds of pieces of mail using the key. Trial evidence showed that Williams also conspired to commit bank fraud involving counterfeit checks deposited into her bank account. The counterfeit checks were derived from checks stolen from the mail and bore the true names, addresses, and bank account numbers of multiple victims who testified at trial. The jury reviewed incriminating text messages and other data extracted from Williams’s cell phone and the cell phone of a coconspirator. The jury also heard excerpts of a recorded confession that Williams gave to law enforcement in March 2023. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Kristi K. DuBose applied an obstruction-of-justice enhancement, finding that Williams lied during sworn testimony that she gave at trial. In addition to the 30-month prison sentence, Judge DuBose ordered Williams to serve a five-year term of supervised release upon her release from prison, during which time she will be subject to credit restrictions. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge DuBose ordered Williams to pay $48,334.10 in victim restitution and $500 in special assessments. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the USPS–Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case. The Brewton Police Department and the U.S. Small Business Administration–Office of Inspector General provided substantial assistance in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.


title: Stephens County Woman Sentenced to Serve 15 Years in Federal Prison for Child Abuse

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – Earlier this week, CAITLYN CHEYENNE DOWNS , 24, of Stephens County, was sentenced to serve 180 months in federal prison for child abuse in Indian Country, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On December 7, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a three-count Indictment against Downs, charging her with murder in the second degree and two counts of child abuse. The Indictment alleges that between May 11, 2022, and September 20, 2022, Downs willfully failed to protect two minor children from harm or threatened harm and that Downs was responsible for the health, safety, and welfare of the children. According to public record, Downs left three minor children in the care of another adult on several occasions in 2022, and willfully ignored warning signs that the adult was physically abusive toward the children. In September 2022, one of the children died as a result of a head injury sustained during such abuse. On August 29, 2023, Downs was charged by a one-count Superseding Information with child abuse, to which she pleaded guilty. This case is in federal court because Downs is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the crime occurred within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation. At the sentencing hearing on Wednesday of this week, U.S. District Judge Stephen P. Friot sentenced Downs to serve 180 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, the court noted the seriousness of the offense, adding that Downs was “appallingly dismissive” when she was alerted the children were continuously being abused in 2022. This case is a result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office and the Duncan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Edgmon and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaleigh Blackwell are prosecuting the case. Reference is made to public filings for more information.