title: South Florida Lobbyist Guilty of Tax Evasion

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: Correction: This press release was updated on February 25, to reflect that the sentencing hearing is set for May 14, at 11:00 a.m., rather than May 16. The May 16 date was an error. MIAMI – Eston Eurel Melton III of West Palm Beach, Florida, has pled guilty to tax evasion, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7201. Melton is a lobbyist specializing in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach County governments. According to court documents, Melton failed to pay approximately $1.2 million in taxes for tax years 2005 through 2014. By July 2019, his tax debt, including penalties and interest, was approximately $1.7 million. He evaded the Internal Revenue Service’s efforts to collect the taxes in multiple ways. First, to dissuade the IRS from seizing his residence, he represented to the IRS that he was attempting to sell the residence himself, but then undermined his realtor’s efforts to make the sale. Second, Melton owned a lobbying business, Global Projects, Inc. Melton signed approximately $67,000 in checks to himself from Global Projects and the checks were negotiated for cash. A close family member, identified in the court papers as Individual 2, then deposited the same or similar sums in cash into her account shortly Third, Individual 2 opened a lobbying business, Gryphon Partners, Inc., apparently competing with Global Projects. Gryphon Partners’ revenue rose while Global Projects’ fell, and many of Global Projects’ clients transferred to Gryphon Partners. Although Melton continued to provide almost all the lobbying services, Global Projects and Gryphon Partners paid him almost nothing after 2019, instead making all distributions to his family member. Fourth, Individual 2 bought a new home in West Palm Beach, where Melton and Individual 2 lived together. Individual 2 represented to the closing agent that Melton should not be on the deed because Individual 2 was buying the home with her own money. In fact, approximately two thirds of the cash to close was proceeds of Melton’s lobbying work at Global Projects and Gryphon Partners. Fifth, after December 2018, Melton had no checking account. Finally, Melton transferred four life insurance policies, with a total cash value of approximately $51,000, to Individual 2, as well as title to two cars. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for May 14, 2025, at 11:00 AM. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge Emmanuel Gomez of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Osborne for the Southern District of Florida is prosecuting the case. IRS-CI, Miami Field Office investigated it. 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 25-cr-80001. ###


title: Owner of Unlicensed D.C. Row House Found Guilty in the Deaths of Two People in Fatal Kennedy Street Fire

body_text: WASHINGTON – James G. Walker, 67, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today in Superior Court of the District of Columbia on two counts of second-degree murder, and 27 criminal building code violations, for the deaths of Fitsum Kebede and Yafet Solomen, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., Attorney General for the District of Columbia, Brian L. Schwalb, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division Anthony Spotswood, Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Chief John A. Donnelly, Sr. Walker was indicted and arraigned on January 16, 2020, on two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of the lesser included charges of involuntary manslaughter and numerous criminal building code violations by Superior Court Judge Ronna L. Beck. According to the government’s evidence, the defendant, James Walker, owned commercial property located at 708 Kennedy Street, N.W. Walker did not have a certificate of occupancy for the building and the structure was in violation of several fire safety codes. Walker operated the building as an illegal “rooming house.” Some of the building’s rooms were too small to be considered habitable space; some had no windows, and the defendant failed to install or maintain functional smoke alarms throughout the building, including the basement. The most egregious violation, however, was the failure to provide an unobstructed means to escape the property, which included erecting multiple security gates that required keys from both sides, the worst offense being a double-keyed security gate installed within the property that blocked access from the kitchen to the front door. Importantly, the defendant had received specific warnings on March 21, 2019, from the Metropolitan Police Department that the building was in violation of several building codes specifically related to fire safety and hazardous conditions. He was instructed to correct the conditions and have the building inspected for residential use. He did not. On the morning of August 18, 2019, a fire erupted in the basement of 708 Kennedy Street. Three tenants were present at the time of the fire. 40-year-old Fitsum Kebede and 10-year-old Yafet Solomen were in the basement and were unable to exit the premises. They subsequently died from thermal burns and smoke inhalation. The government’s evidence was that the defendant’s knowledge of the danger posed by the conditions of the property and his conscious disregard of the extreme risk that death or serious bodily injury could occur were the but-for cause of the deaths of the decedents. This case was jointly tried by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the District of Columbus Office of the Attorney General. In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Martin, D.C. Attorney General Schwalb, ATF Special Agent in Charge Spotswood, MPD Chief Smith, and Fire and EMS Chief Donnelly, commended the work of the ATF Arson and Explosives Task Force that investigated the case, including MPD, ATF, and Fire and EMS. Finally, they acknowledged the work of Assistant United States Attorney Vinet Bryant, Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Cargill and Assistant Attorney General Keith Ingram who prosecuted the case.


title: Illinois Woman Pleads Guilty to Marriage Fraud and Perjury

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kalee Ann Huff, 27, of Fairbury, Illinois, pleaded guilty today to marriage fraud and perjury. According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 3, 2021, Huff married a foreign national in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. Huff admitted that she agreed to marry the foreign national in exchange for $10,000, as part of a plan to keep him in the United States as his immigration visa was about to expire. Huff further admitted that she and the foreign national planned to divorce once he obtained lawful permanent resident status, commonly known as a Green Card. Huff also admitted that she was pressured to enter the fake marriage scheme by two members of her family with whom she was living in Greenbrier County, because the family needed money to pay for household expenses. One of the two family members, brother-in-law Joseph Sanchez, pleaded guilty on January 29, 2025, to participating in an immigration marriage fraud conspiracy. Sanchez admitted to helping to arrange the fake marriage, with the understanding that half of the $10,000 would be paid upon the marriage being final and the other $5,000 would be paid once the foreign national received his Green Card. Huff admitted that only $5,000 of the promised amount was ever paid and that she never directly received or spent the money. On October 17, 2021, Huff signed a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Huff listed her address as an apartment in White Sulphur Springs. Huff admitted that address was the foreign national’s and that she never lived there, and that he caused to be filed a falsified lease agreement with immigration officials listing her as a co-tenant of the apartment. On March 8, 2023, Sanchez drove Huff and the foreign national to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The purpose of the trip was for Huff and the foreign national to attend an interview with U.S. immigration officials and trick those officials into believing the marriage was entered into in good faith and that the relationship between Huff and the foreign national was genuine. The scheme was unsuccessful, and the foreign national’s application was denied. Huff admitted that the foreign national coached her on how to lie about their relationship and marriage in advance of the interview. On August 8, 2023, immigration officers confronted Huff about the fake marriage scheme, and she signed a statement admitting that she knowingly entered into the marriage for the purpose of evading U.S. immigration laws. Huff also told the officers that the foreign national had threatened her by stating she would go to prison if she did not continue helping him obtain a Green Card. On December 10, 2024, Huff appeared before a federal grand jury in Charleston, pursuant to a subpoena and a cooperation provision in the marriage fraud case against her. Huff admitted that she committed perjury during her grand jury testimony when she answered questions falsely about material facts relating to the government’s investigation. Huff is scheduled to be sentenced on June 12, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Sanchez, 33, of Fairbury, Illinois,is scheduled to be sentenced on May 30, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the cases. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 5:25-cr-20 and 2:25-cr-23. ###


title: Long Island Investment Advisor Charged in Superseding Indictment With Attempted Obstruction of Justice, Bank Fraud Conspiracy, Wire Fraud Conspiracy and Money Laundering Conspiracy Charges

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, a superseding indictment was filed that added two counts against Adam Kaplan for attempted obstruction of justice in connection with a grand jury investigation in the Eastern District of New York and during his pretrial release on fraud charges. The superseding indictment also added additional charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud against Adam Kaplan for conduct, including while on pretrial release, as well as an additional charge of money laundering conspiracy against Adam Kaplan and Daniel Kaplan. In July 2023, Adam Kaplan and Daniel Kaplan, investment advisors with a financial services firm (Financial Services Firm), were charged in a 16-count indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, investment advisor fraud and money laundering in connection with a scheme to defraud at least 50 victims of more than $5 million. The defendants, who are twin brothers, will be arraigned on the superseding indictment at a later date. John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the charges. “As alleged in the superseding indictment, before his arrest, and while he was aware of a grand jury investigation into his crimes, Adam Kaplan attempted to threaten and injure victims and witnesses and bribe law enforcement,” stated United States Attorney Durham. “But his disregard for the law and court-ordered rules didn’t stop there, he also repeatedly and flagrantly violated his conditions of pretrial release. This Office will not tolerate attempts by defendants to undermine the criminal justice process and will prosecute them to the full extent of the law.” Mr. Durham thanked the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, Chicago office, for its work on the case. "Adam Kaplan allegedly ordered threats be made to his victims and attempted to bribe authorities to disrupt a federal investigation into the brothers’ misconduct,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy. “Kaplan’s alleged actions reflect remorselessness as he continued to make concerted efforts to protect his multimillion-dollar fraud scheme even following his initial arrest. The FBI will never tolerate individuals who prey upon populations for personal wealth, and then resort to extreme measures to conceal their egregious wrongdoings.” As set forth in court filings and the underlying indictment, between May 2018 and November 2022, Adam Kaplan and Daniel Kaplan defrauded at least 50 clients of the Financial Services Firm, including some elderly and disabled victims, of at least $5 million. Between January 2023 and September 2024, Adam Kaplan and a co-conspirator defrauded additional individuals of approximately $1 million and also conspired to defraud a financial institution. The superseding indictment charges that, between April 2023 and September 2024, while aware of a federal grand jury investigation into the brothers’ conduct, Adam Kaplan attempted to influence, obstruct and impede the underlying investigation, including through attempts to threaten, injure and pay off witnesses, and destroy evidence. Specifically, Adam Kaplan (i) ordered an associate to create a fake email from a victim so that Adam Kaplan could use the fake email as evidence at trial and to impeach that victim’s credibility; (ii) engaged in a months’ long fraudulent scheme to steal money from victims; and (iii) attempted to tamper with, threaten and pay off witnesses, including telling his associate that a victim needed “to fear,” that a victim should be “peeing blood / missing teeth and another visited / scared,” that a victim should be sent skull and crossbones imagery, and that his associate should “put [a victim’s] phone on fire . . . Seriously, please blow it up.” After his arrest, while on release on a multimillion-dollar bond, Adam Kaplan (i) attempted to bribe a Department of Justice official; (ii) continued his fraudulent schemes and continued to pay off witnesses; and (iii) committed credit card fraud. To perpetuate these crimes, Adam Kaplan used multiple burner phones to avoid detection and monitoring by law enforcement, used aliases, attempted to break into others’ email accounts and attempted to destroy evidence. If you were a client of Adam Kaplan or Daniel Kaplan and would like to file a complaint, please visit www.iC3.gov . Please reference “Adam Kaplan” or “Daniel Kaplan” in your complaint. The charges in the superseding indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Toporovsky and Paul Scotti are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Janelle Robinson. The Defendants: ADAM S. KAPLAN Age: 35 Great Neck, New York DANIEL E. KAPLAN Age: 35 Great Neck, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-293(S-1) (JMA)


title: Former Stamford Resident Sentenced to More Than 26 Years in Federal Prison for Recording His Sexual Abuse of a Minor

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SERVIO BARROS-TERREROS, 58, a citizen of Ecuador last residing in Stamford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny to 320 months of imprisonment for taking pictures of his repeated sexual abuse of a minor. According to court documents and statements made in court, in December 2022, a minor female victim reported that, when she was nine and 10 years old, Barros-Terreros had sexually assaulted her multiple times. The victim reported that Barros-Terreros took sexually explicit pictures of her and threatened to publish the pictures and show them to the victim’s mother if the victim told anyone. Barros-Terreros also instructed the victim to undress during video calls he initiated with the victim, during which he also engaged in sexually explicit conduct. On January 12, 2023, Stamford Police arrested Barros-Terreros on state sexual assault and risk of injury offenses, and seized Barros-Terreros’ iPhone. Analysis of the iPhone revealed sexually explicit images of the minor victim, and images of Barros-Terreros engaging in sexually explicit conduct with the minor victim. Barros-Terreros has been detained since his arrest. On March 5, 2024, he pleaded guilty in federal court to production of child pornography. Barros-Terreros faces immigration proceedings when he completes his prison term. This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Stamford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings with the assistance of the Office of the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Stamford-Norwalk. This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com .


title: Federal Jury Finds Convicted Felon Guilty of Firearm Possession

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

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A federal jury convicted a San Antonio man Wednesday for one count of felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Dante Delray Vecera, 33, was found unresponsive in a locked and running vehicle blocking two lanes of traffic on the 410 frontage road. Police officers observed a bag containing white powder, a marijuana cigarette, and a bag of what appeared to be black tar heroin inside the vehicle. The officers provided Vecera with Narcan, fearing an overdose. While waiting for EMS to arrive on scene, officers looked for Vecera’s driver’s license in an attempt to identify him and located an unholstered pistol in the pocket of his pants. While removing the weapon, Vecera regained consciousness. He refused all field sobriety tests and was taken into custody after being medically cleared. Prior to this arrest Vecera had been convicted of several violent felonies, including two prior Nevada convictions for burglary and coercion (sexually motivated), and a Texas conviction for violation of a protective order and assault. Vecera faces up to 15 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, San Antonio Police Department and the Castle Hills Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karina O’Daniel and Amy Hail are prosecuting the case. This is a Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Initiative case. VAWA was first enacted in 1994 as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. It initially focused on providing resources and training to improve the responses and policies of law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts, to support victim services, and to address crimes historically treated as private matters. Recognizing that domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking require a coordinated community response that extends beyond the justice system, Congress subsequently reauthorized VAWA, enhancing its policies and expanding grant funding streams, in 2000, 2005, 2013, and 2022. The Office on Violence Against Women has issued more than $11 billion in funding authorized by VAWA in its lifetime. ###


title: Federal Indictments Charge Five Individuals With Unlawful Gun Possession

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Five individuals have been charged in separate federal indictments this week for unlawful possession of firearms, announced Lawrence J. Cameron, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. One defendant is also facing a drug charge and a gun offense tied to drug trafficking. The indictments are the result of an ongoing collaboration between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Union County Sheriff’s Office, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), to combat crime, reduce violence, and remove illegal firearms from the hands of prohibited individuals and convicted felons. “Protecting communities across Western North Carolina is one of our highest priorities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron. “We will continue to enforce federal firearms laws and partner with law enforcement to remove illegal guns from our streets and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.” The five individuals indicted this week and the charges against them are: Jonathan Glendale Denton , 41, of Charlotte – charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Rex Allen Hawkins , 53, of Traphill, N.C. – charged with possession of firearms by a felon, including a shotgun, a rifle, and ammunition seized from his residence during a probation search. Mitchell Clydero Patterson , 37, of Spring Lake, N.C. – charged with possession of a firearm by a felon. Anthony Dion Tribble , 27, of Charlotte – charged with possession of a firearm by a felon. Timothy Demetrius Williams , 34, of Charlotte – charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of a stolen firearm. The charges in the indictments are allegations and the defendants are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The cases are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte. Federal law prohibits individuals from possessing a firearm if they fall into certain restricted categories, including convicted felons, fugitives from justice, illegal aliens, individuals convicted of domestic violence, and unlawful users of controlled substances. Additionally, it is illegal to possess a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime or a violent offense. Federal law also prohibits the straw purchase of a firearm, wherein a person who can lawfully purchase a firearm buys a gun, or attempts to do so, for a prohibited person. Federal law also requires that individuals who are engaged in the business of dealing in firearms be licensed by the ATF. For additional information and resources please visit www.atf.gov . These cases are 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. For more information about PSN in the Western District, please visit our website .


title: Kershaw County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Gun and Drug Offenses

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Cameron Jones, 26, of Camden, has been sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a felon and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on April 1, 2022, an officer with the Camden Police Department was patrolling a local park due to recent violence in the area. When the officer approached the park, Cameron Jones began to run from the officer while holding his waistband. The officer chased Jones and saw Jones throw items into some bushes. The officer eventually caught Jones. While Jones was detained, officers with the Camden Police Department and Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office went back to the area where Jones threw items into the bushes and found a tan pistol with a drum magazine and 24.11 grams of cocaine. Additionally, Jones had over $3,700 in cash in his pockets. Further investigation revealed that Jones' DNA was on the firearm and that he had previously posted pictures with the firearm on social media. The court also heard information that on Dec. 19, 2023, FBI agents and officers with the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office and Camden Police Department arrested Jones after he was indicted by a grand jury for his conduct on April 1, 2022. After his arrest, the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant on his home and found, multiple handgun magazines, marijuana, methamphetamine, and 18 machine gun conversion devices (also known as Glock switches), and a magazine matching the firearm from April 1, 2022. Jones has a prior conviction for distribution of cocaine which prohibits him from possessing a firearm or ammunition and was a known member of a gang at the time of his arrest. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson sentenced Cameron Jones to 93 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. 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. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office, and the Camden Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Sanford are prosecuting the case. ###


title: St. John The Baptist Parish Man Guilty of Violating Federal Controlled Substances Act

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Correction: Continued investigation by agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) revealed that FREYRE-SOTO conspired with co-conspirators to conduct large-scale cocaine transactions utilizing a boat off the coast of the Gulf of America (Gulf of Mexico). NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – EDEL FREYRE-SOTO (“FREYRE-SOTO”) , age 54, a resident of Laplace, Louisiana, pled guilty on February 18, 2025, to conspiracy to possess, and possession with intent to distribute, 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A) and 846, as well as possession, with intent to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A) before United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson. For each of the counts, FREYRE-SOTO faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, at least five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. According to court documents, on September 10, 2023, members of the St. John the Baptist Sheriff’s Office seized 69 kilograms of cocaine from FREYRE-SOTO at his residence in Laplace, LA. Continued investigation by agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) revealed that FREYRE-SOTO conspired with co-conspirators to conduct large-scale cocaine transactions utilizing a boat off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. On March 19, 2024, Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized 85 kilograms of cocaine from a co-conspirator’s residence in Laplace that had been smuggled in through the Grand Isle marina. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Sarver of the Narcotics Unit.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Charges Inmate with Assaulting Detention Officer

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A To’hajiilee man is facing a new charge for allegedly assaulting a federal detention officer at the Cibola County Correctional Facility while awaiting trial on another federal case. According to court documents, on November 5, 2024, Antonio Chaco , 41, while in custody at the Cibola County Correctional Facility awaiting trial on charges of second-degree murder and kidnapping resulting in death, assaulted a detention officer and employee of CoreCivic, Inc. The assault occurred while the detention officer was assisting the U.S. Marshals Service with the supervision of federal detainees. During the assault, Chaco struck, pinned down, and choked the officer. If convicted, Chaco faces up to 20 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Chaco is scheduled to stand trial for second-degree murder and kidnapping resulting in death on April 21, 2025. If convicted of those charges, Chaco faces life in prison. Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and David Barnett, U.S. Marshal for the District of New Mexico, made the announcement today. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting both cases.


title: PDS Gang Leader Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearms Possession

body_text: WASHINGTON – Andre Alonte Willis, 33, of Washington, D.C., and a leader of the Push Dat Shit (PDS) street crew, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 240 months in prison on five felony convictions related to drug trafficking and firearms offenses in the District of Columbia. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean T. Ryan of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Washington Field Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. On September 12, 2024, a jury convicted Willis, also known as “Boogie,” of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana; conspiracy to use, carry, and possess firearms and machine guns in furtherance of drug trafficking; illegal possession and transfer of a machine gun; possession with intent to distribute marijuana; and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Evidence at trial proved that Willis was a “big homie” in the D.C. street crew known as “Push Dat Shit” or “PDS,” and was the gang’s primary source of exotic strains of marijuana that he acquired from a variety of sources in California. FBI agents seized $150,000 in cash, along with a loaded handgun and marijuana packaged for distribution from Willis’ apartment when he was arrested. PDS maintained gang territory on the 3300 – 3500 blocks of Wheeler Road, Southeast, and adjacent areas, and operated an open air drug market outside the Holiday Market. In approximately August 2018, PDS became allied with a neighboring street gang known as Jugg Gang, or “JG.” Between August 2018 and April 2023, members of the allied PDS/JG street crew sold drugs from Holiday Market and from “trap houses” that they maintained in apartment buildings surrounding that location. As their drug business grew, PDS/JG became the target of drive-by shootings conducted by rival gangs – shootings they referred to as “spinning the block.” Beginning in approximately August 2019, a PDS/JG member began assembling and distributing fully automatic AR-Pistol assault rifles that he purchased as “kits” from online retailers. Such firearms are defined as “privately made firearms” by the ATF but are frequently referred to as “ghost guns” on the street. PDS/JG members used, carried, and possessed these “ghost gun” AR-Pistol machine guns in order to both defend their territory from rival gangs, but also to “spin the block” on rival gangs in order to deter and dissuade the rivals from entering PDS/JG territory. PDS/JG members “kept score” with rival gangs, and the points earned by “spinning the block” varied depending on the “importance” of the people that were injured or killed In calculating Willis’ sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson included sentencing enhancements based on her finding that the conspiracy involved between 400 and 700 kilograms of marijuana, as well as her findings that Willis was a leader of more than five people in jointly-undertaken criminal conduct, and that he recklessly created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to others in the course of fleeing from the FBI to avoid arrest. Wills was also ordered to serve a five-year term of supervised release after completing his prison sentence. This case was investigated by the FBI, ATF, and MPD. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Nelson and Justin Song and Paralegal Specialist Melissa Macechko.


title: Mexican National Guilty of Re-entry of a Deported Alien

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that JOEL BECERRA-CESARIO (“BECERRA-CESARIO") , age 38, a native of Mexico, pled guilty on February 18 2025 to illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a) and 1326(b)(2). According to court documents, BECERRA-CESARIO , an illegal alien with a prior felony drug conviction, was found in Kenner, La. on October 20, 2023. He had previously been deported to Mexico on May 15, 2014. His prior drug conviction in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Kansas was for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and resulted in a 135-month prison sentence. At the sentencing hearing scheduled for May 27, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey, BECERRA-CESARIO faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.


title: Fairbanks man sentenced to over 14 years for possessing kilograms of illegal drugs with intent to distribute

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A Fairbanks man was sentenced today to over 14 years in prison for possessing with intent to sell over 12 kilograms of controlled substances. According to court documents, beginning in August 2023, law enforcement received information that Kevin Shank, 46, was selling controlled substances from his residence in Fairbanks. In February 2024, law enforcement observed an individual purchase 1.1 grams of heroin and 21 blue fentanyl pills from Shank. On March 19, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Shank’s residence, and discovered and seized over 6.1 kilograms of methamphetamine, over 2.4 kilograms of fentanyl tablets, nearly one kilogram of fentanyl powder, nearly one kilogram of cocaine, over 1.7 kilograms of marijuana, and smaller amounts of heroin, suboxone and Xanax. They also seized seven firearms, two homemade suppressors and various ammunition, as well as over $303,000 in cash and a truck purchased with drug trafficking proceeds. Court documents explain that most of the controlled substances were found in a secret compartment in a small side room of the residence, while several firearms were staged at entrances to the residence and the side room. On Nov. 26, 2024, Shank pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute. The Court also ordered Shank to serve five years on supervised release and pay a $25,000 fine as part of his sentence. “Mr. Shank possessed roughly 22 pounds of controlled substances, including seven pounds of illicit fentanyl, intended for distribution to profit at the expense of Alaskans safety,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn R. Vogel for the District of Alaska. “This case marks the largest drug seizure in Fairbanks history, and we thank our law enforcement partners for their efforts. This sentence underscores our strong commitment to dismantling drug trafficking supplies and to holding those accountable who endanger our communities by trafficking illegal, dangerous drugs.” “Drug traffickers like Mr. Shank, who profit from the pain they cause selling poison to our neighbors, pose an especially grave threat,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “The fentanyl alone seized in this case amounted to more than 85,000 potentially lethal doses. Make no mistake: If you deal drugs in Alaska, DEA and our partners will hold you accountable.” The Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Field Division and Fairbanks Resident Office, with assistance from the FBI Anchorage Field Office, Alaska State Troopers, Fairbanks Police Department, North Pole Police Department, North Slope Borough Police Department and Fairbanks Airport Police Department as part of the Fairbanks Area Narcotics Team (FANT), investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Vosacek prosecuted the case. ###


title: Convicted fraudster illegally in the country charged with failing to surrender to prison

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A Honduran woman illegally residing in the United States has been indicted for failing to surrender to serve her sentence for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Leidy Areli Hernandez Lopez, 44, pleaded guilty May 10, 2023, to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud stemming from her role in selling illegal temporary Texas license plates. U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. later sentenced her to serve 30 months in federal prison and to pay over $316,000 in restitution. She was to report to federal prison before 2 p.m. April 9, 2024. However, she failed to do so. A federal grand jury returned an indictment Feb. 20 charging her with failure to surrender. If convicted of that charge, she faces another five years in federal prison. Lopez is considered a fugitive, and a warrant remains outstanding for her arrest. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI at 713-693-5000. The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Belinda Beek 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: Columbia Physician Pleads Guilty to False Statements to Medicare

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Columbia, Mo., physician pleaded guilty in federal court today to making false statements relating to a health care matter. Jerry Joseph Bruggeman, M.D., 53, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr. to one count of making false statements relating to a heath care matter. In early 2020, Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, became aware of a report that a Medicare beneficiary had been invoiced for a medical service purportedly performed by Bruggeman, even though the patient indicated he had never heard of Bruggeman. Investigation determined that in January 2019, Bruggeman had ordered genetic testing for this patient, for whom a laboratory submitted 26 claims to Medicare. Further investigation revealed that between January 2018 and December 2019, Bruggeman referred over 3,100 orders for cancer and pharmacological genetic testing and durable medical equipment such as orthotic braces. The orders referred by Bruggeman affected over 1,000 Medicare beneficiaries and resulted in over 8,700 claims being submitted to Medicare for payment. Genetic testing orders signed by Bruggeman had resulted in Medicare Part B paying a total of $1,055,303. Additionally, claims for durable medical equipment under Medicare Part B had resulted in $551,105 in Medicare payments. In total, Bruggeman’s orders for genetic testing and durable medical equipment caused Medicare Part B to pay a total of $1,606,408. A federal agent interviewed numerous beneficiaries, all of whom indicated that they had no idea who Bruggeman was and had never sought his services as a physician. The interviewed patients reported that they received braces that they did not need, did not request, and did not know how to use. Many patients received multiple braces for different body parts. Investigators also obtained a select number of patient files, which reflected that each patient’s orders were supported by highly similar assessments and/or letters of medical necessity, all of which had Bruggeman’s signature on them. Applicable Medicare regulations required that a licensed practitioner sign the orders, and that the items ordered be medically reasonable and necessary for the treatment of the patient’s illness or injury. Between approximately Jan. 31, 2018, and April 2019, Bruggeman received approximately $29,440 in compensation from a telehealth company for the orders he signed through an online portal. The company maintained an online portal that aggregated the personal information of Medicare beneficiaries who had been solicited by marketing companies. The company created medical assessments and orders for these beneficiaries, then hired medical professionals like Bruggeman to “review” and sign orders for cancer genetic testing, pharmacogenetic testing, and durable medical equipment. Bruggeman did not interact with the patients in any manner prior to signing the forms. Under federal statutes, Bruggeman is subject to a sentence of up to five in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Kummerer. It was investigated by Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.


title: Indian National Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Defrauding Elderly Victims of Nearly $6 Million

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: AUSTIN, Texas – An Indian national was sentenced in a federal court in Austin today to 97 months in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to court documents, Moinuddin Mohammed, 34, engaged in a conspiracy to launder proceeds of a scheme to defraud elderly victims out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and gold. Mohammed was a courier who picked up the cash and gold from vulnerable elderly people. The international conspiracy originated from India and involved the impersonation of government officials in order to convince the victims to turn over millions of dollars from their retirement and savings accounts. Multiple victims were contacted by a person claiming to be the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, who told the victims that they were under investigation or at risk of financial loss. The victims were told that they would need to deposit cash, gold or other items of financial value in order to resolve the investigation or prevent the loss. One victim was defrauded of more than $300,000, another was defrauded of approximately $151,500, and a third victim lost a total of approximately $470,000 to the fraud scheme. Nationwide, investigators identified 21 victims who lost a total of nearly $6 million to the scheme. In addition to his imprisonment, Mohamed will pay full restitution in the approximate amount of $960,000, forfeits $20,000 in cash that was seized by investigators, and forfeits a money judgement in the amount of $16,000. “The significant sentence of this courier for an international fraud scheme sends a strong message that we will investigate and prosecute those at every level of the organization,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “Mohammed illegally used the likeness of government officials to prey on and victimize the vulnerable, elderly people in our community, and fraudsters like him will be held accountable.” “Mohammed targeted some of our most vulnerable elderly citizens in an effort to line his own pockets and the pockets of foreign fraudsters,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. "The FBI continues to see an uptick in financial scams targeting our elderly population and we work every day to bring awareness to our victims and justice to those who perpetuate these devastating schemes. We want to thank our U.S. Attorney’s Office for aggressively pursuing justice for those who fell victim to this scammer. Cases like this are a priority for the FBI and we encourage anyone who has been a victim of a financial scam to contact your local FBI office or go to www.IC3.gov . We also encourage the public to review the FBI's last report on Elder Fraud to educate yourselves and protect those you love.” The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Henneke prosecuted the case. ###


title: Inmate Sentenced to Two Additional Years of Prison for Possession of Contraband

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A former resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to two years of imprisonment on his conviction of possession of contraband in prison, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Lafon Ellis, 30, who is currently incarcerated at the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center. According to information presented to the Court, throughout 2023, Ellis repeatedly possessed contraband and otherwise violated the law through his conduct while imprisoned at the Allegheny County Jail. On February 17, 2023, a search of Ellis’s cell revealed a Schedule I controlled substance commonly referred to as K2. On May 3, 2023, a search of his cell revealed a piece of paper that subsequent testing revealed to be K2. He also had 16 intact Suboxone strips and 57 partial Suboxone strips. On August 9, 2023, a search of Ellis’s cell revealed eight sheets of K2. A search of his cell on December 10, 2023, revealed marijuana, K2, and Suboxone. Additionally, Ellis was the subject of about two dozen other misconduct reports, most of which related to Ellis refusing to obey valid orders, threatening employees, engaging in physical altercations with employees, fighting with other inmates, threatening to kill a correctional officer, and possessing a nail that he was fashioning into a weapon. Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the United States Marshals Service and Allegheny County Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Ellis.


title: Eielson Airman sentenced to 5 years for possessing child pornography

body_text: FAIRBANKS, Alaska – An Eielson Airman was sentenced today to five years in prison and will serve 15 years on supervised release for paying to receive child pornography. According to court documents, on Nov. 7, 2023, Kyle Cozens, 32, who was stationed on Eielson Air Force Base, was interviewed by the FBI in a related case from Illinois involving child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Cozens allowed agents to review messages on his phone and they observed CSAM images of a known victim. Agents obtained a search warrant for Cozens’ phone and discovered he was communicating with individuals on messaging apps and buying CSAM images from them. Agents discovered multiple CSAM images and videos on his phone, with some visuals depicting prepubescent females. On March 1, 2024, law enforcement searched Cozens’ residence and seized over 30 electronic devices. To date, law enforcement has identified over 80 videos and over 680 images depicting child sexual abuse on Cozens’ devices. On Nov. 15, 2024, Cozens pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. In addition to prison time and supervised release, Cozens is required to register as a sex offender upon release from prison as part of his sentence. “The widespread dissemination of images of children forced to endure sexual abuse is a horrific crime that law enforcement fights every day. Mr. Cozens contributed to the revictimization of those children by paying for visuals of child sexual abuse,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn R. Vogel for the District of Alaska. “My office will continue to protect our most vulnerable by partnering with law enforcement to find and prosecute anyone who targets children for nefarious purposes.” “The defendant purchased and possessed large amounts of CSAM, directly contributing to online child exploitation and the re-victimization of young children,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “This sentencing underscores the FBI’s commitment to ensuring child predators are identified and held accountable for their crimes against children.” “Interagency partnerships, like the ones utilized in this case, are vital to fighting child exploitation,” said Special Agent Tyler Pierson, Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment 632. “AFOSI is committed to these partnerships and our mission of protecting the Department of the Air Force from criminal behavior that threatens the mission, equipment and people of the Department.” The FBI Anchorage Field Office, Fairbanks Resident Agency, and U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations investigated the case, with assistance from the FBI Springfield Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Vosacek prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Brockton Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine and Firearms Trafficking

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Brockton man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to trafficking cocaine and illegal firearms in and around the Boston area. Malcolm Desir, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, aiding and abetting; four counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine; one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm; one count of firearms trafficking; and one count of knowingly and intentionally possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for May 28, 2025. Desir was arrested and charged in November 2023 along with co-conspirator Cordell Miller and Alan Robinson. Miller was identified as a firearms and ammunition trafficker in the metro Boston area. Over a three-month investigation beginning in August 2023, Miller sold several firearms to a cooperating witness during controlled purchases and offered to sell distribution weight cocaine. The drug deals were handled by Desir, who distributed the powder cocaine in a number of controlled purchases. During one controlled purchase, Desir also sold a firearm he had purchased from Miller two years prior. More than a kilo and half of powdered and crack cocaine, unknown prescription pills, indicia of distribution and two illegal firearms were recovered during a search at Desir’s residence. In January 2025, Robinson pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 15, 2025. Miller pleaded guilty in February 2025 and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 7, 2025. The charges of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of firearms trafficking provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of knowingly and intentionally possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime provides for a sentence of a minimum of five years and up to life in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: Vice President of Health Care Software and Services Company Pleads Guilty to $1B Health Care Fraud Conspiracy

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A Kansas man pleaded guilty today to operating an internet-based platform that generated false doctors’ orders to defraud Medicare and other federal health care benefit programs of more than $1 billion. According to court documents, Gregory Schreck, 50, of Johnson County, admitted that he and his co-conspirators targeted hundreds of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries to provide their personally identifiable information and agree to accept medically unnecessary orthotic braces, pain creams, and other items through misleading mailers, television advertisements, and calls from offshore call centers. Schreck and his co-conspirators owned, controlled, and operated DMERx, an internet-based platform that generated false and fraudulent doctors’ orders for orthotic braces, pain creams, and other items for these beneficiaries. Schreck, a vice president of the company that operated DMERx, admitted that he offered to connect pharmacies, durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers, and marketers with telemedicine companies that would accept illegal kickbacks and bribes in exchange for signed doctors’ orders that were transmitted using the DMERx platform. Schreck and his co-conspirators received payments for coordinating these illegal kickback transactions and referring the completed doctors’ orders to the DME suppliers, pharmacies, and telemarketers that paid for them. The fraudulent doctors’ orders generated by DMERx falsely represented that a doctor had examined and treated the Medicare beneficiaries when, in reality, purported telemedicine companies paid doctors to sign the orders without regard to medical necessity and based only on a brief telephone call with the beneficiary, or sometimes no interaction with the beneficiary at all. The DME suppliers and pharmacies that paid illegal kickbacks in exchange for these doctors’ orders generated through DMERx billed Medicare and other insurers more than $1 billion. Medicare and the insurers paid more than $360 million based on these false and fraudulent claims. Schreck pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting Special Agent in Charge Isaac Bledsoe of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Miami Regional Office; Acting Special Agent in Charge Justin E. Fleck of the FBI Miami Field Office; Special Agent in Charge David Spilker of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG)’s Southeast Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Jason Sargenski of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southeast Field Office made the announcement. HHS-OIG, FBI, VA-OIG, and DCIS are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Darren C. Halverson and Jennifer E. Burns of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Fraud Section Trial Attorneys Andrea Savdie and Shane Butland assisted in the prosecution. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: Michigan Man Indicted on Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft Charges

component: USAO - Minnesota


title: Two Men and Woman Charged in Grand Jury Indictment Alleging Armed Robbery Spree of a Dozen Southern California Businesses

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury has returned a 12-count superseding indictment charging two San Fernando Valley residents and one Long Beach resident with committing armed robberies of smoke shops, donut shops, and convenience stores in Los Angeles and Orange counties during a two-week crime spree last year, the Justice Department announced today. The following defendants were charged Wednesday by a federal grand jury with one count of conspiracy to commit interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act), three counts of Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of attempted Hobbs Act robbery: Antonio Lamar Bland, 36, of North Hollywood; Ronnie Tucker, 23, of Long Beach; and Abigail Luckey, 49, of North Hollywood. Bland and Tucker also have been charged with one count of Hobbs Act robbery and four counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Bland also is charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition. The defendants’ arraignment is expected in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles in the coming weeks. There is a May 6 trial date scheduled in this case. All three defendants have been in federal custody since last year. “Members of the community should not have to think about being subjected to violence when they walk into a convenience store or business. The defendants’ pattern of violent conduct described in the indictment put innocent lives at risk,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally. “Violent crime is a top priority for the US Attorney’s Office, and we are grateful for the teamwork of federal law enforcement and our local police departments to bring charges against these defendants.” "Any time someone takes a gun into a place of business to rob it, victims are traumatized and there is a potential for tragic consequences," said Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. "If convicted, these individuals face significant prison time. Moreover, the FBI and our partners remain committed to pooling resources, intelligence, and skills that allow us to remain focused on one goal: keeping our communities safe." “Investigators from the Burbank Police Department spent hundreds of hours investigating this robbery series,” said Burbank Police Chief Michael Albanese. “The Burbank Police Department is grateful for the assistance from our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office for their work in holding these individuals accountable for their actions. Our community is safer because of it.” According to the superseding indictment, from January 29, 2024, to February 14, 2024, Bland, Tucker, and Luckey robbed 12 businesses in Los Angeles and Orange counties: one smoke shop in Tustin, nine 7-Eleven stores in North Hollywood, Burbank, Torrance, Van Nuys, Long Beach, Glendale, and Pasadena, and two donut shops in Los Angeles and Downey. These commercial robberies typically occurred late at night and usually involved Bland and Tucker who entered each business wearing hooded sweatshirts and face masks. In several of the robberies, a getaway driver, Luckey, waited outside for Bland and Tucker to complete the robbery and fled the scene in a white four-door sedan owned by Luckey when they returned to the vehicle. In the midst of the 12 robberies, on February 6, 2024, Bland and Luckey drove to Las Vegas and were legally married before returning to Southern California for their next robbery on February 8, 2024. The armed robbery spree ended after Bland, Tucker and Luckey committed an attempted robbery of a donut shop in Downey during the early morning hours of February 14, 2024, court records show. Once the subjects entered the donut shop, one yelled, “Open the cash register!” The employee noticed that one of the subjects, believed to be Bland, had what appeared to be a handgun tucked into his front waistband with the handle visible. Fearing that the subjects were going to harm him, the employee ran toward the rear kitchen area from behind the main sales counter. The subjects jumped the counter in pursuit of him. The employee retrieved his own firearm to defend himself. To deter the suspects from attacking him, he fired at least one shot, hitting a wall of the building. After the employee fired, Bland and Tucker ran out of the store. Law enforcement witnessed the attempted armed robbery and, shortly afterward, pulled over a car containing Bland, Tucker and Luckey, and later retrieved a firearm from the vehicle. In February 2024, Bland allegedly illegally possessed a firearm and ammunition. He is not legally allowed to possess them because of previous felony convictions in Los Angeles Superior Court for carjacking and possession of drugs in prison. An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted of all charges, Bland, Tucker and Luckey would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each Hobbs Act robbery-related count. Bland and Tucker would face a statutory minimum sentence of seven years in federal prison for each count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Bland would face up to 15 years in federal prison for each count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and being a felon in possession of ammunition. The FBI and the Burbank Police Department are investigating this matter with assistance from the Tustin, Torrance, Long Beach, Glendale, Pasadena, Los Angeles, and Downey police departments. Assistant United States Attorneys Diane Roldán of the General Crimes Section and J’me K. Forrest of the Violent and Organized Crime Section are prosecuting this case.


title: Duluth Man Sentenced to Over 17 Years in Prison in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Case

body_text: ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Duluth man has been sentenced to 210 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. According to court documents, Johnathan Eric Thompson, a.k.a. “Remy,” 34, conspired with others to obtain and distribute large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Thompson regularly traveled to Chicago to obtain methamphetamine and fentanyl to sell throughout the Duluth, Minnesota region. On October 27, 2023, Thompson sold 1,830 grams of methamphetamine to one individual, and on November 16, 2023, he sold 2,280 grams of methamphetamine to another individual. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at an apartment being used by the defendant and his co-conspirators to store and package methamphetamine and fentanyl for sale and found 858 grams of methamphetamine and 568 grams of fentanyl. Thompson was arrested on November 30, 2023. At the time of arrest, he was found in possession of 268 grams of fentanyl and 100 counterfeit fentanyl pills. Between October and November 2023, it is estimated that Thompson possessed 7,321 grams of methamphetamine and 863 grams of fentanyl. Thompson was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court before Judge Eric C. Tostrud on one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. In handing down the sentence, Judge Tostrud noted the sentence was due in part to Thompson’s negative impact to the city of Duluth, and that his crimes “fed existing addictions and destroyed lives and families.” This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Duluth Police Department, St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department, the Lake Superior Violent Offender Task Force, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nichole J. Carter prosecuted the case.


title: Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Armed Kidnapping of Ride Share Driver

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Miguel Alejandro Pastran Hernandez, 24, was sentenced today to 144 months in federal prison for kidnapping a rideshare driver at gunpoint and forcing the victim to drive the defendant from Texas to South Florida. Chief Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga sentenced the defendant to 60 months as to Counts 1 and 2, kidnapping and carjacking, and imposed the mandatory 84-month term of imprisonment for Count 3, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, to be served consecutively. On or about Aug. 16, at around 10:30 p.m., Victim 1 was working as a driver for a ride sharing application near Arlington, Texas, when Victim 1 picked up Pastran Hernandez. Victim 1 drove Pastran Hernandez to his destination, which was a gas station that appeared to be closed. After a short time, Victim 1 heard the click of a gun being chambered and saw Pastran Hernandez holding what appeared to be a firearm. Victim 1 offered to give Pastran Hernandez the victim’s possessions and leave the vehicle, but Pastran Hernandez told Victim 1 that he was going to tie the victim up and put the victim in the back of the vehicle. Instead of tying up Victim 1, Pastran Hernandez ordered Victim 1 to drive to Florida. Pastran Hernandez used a mobile application on his cellphone to see where law enforcement was located along the drive and instructed Victim 1 to avoid those areas. Pastran Hernandez told Victim 1 that he had other guns in the car, inside his luggage. While driving from Texas to Florida, Pastran Hernandez discovered that Victim 1 had a blue handgun in the vehicle. The firearm was unloaded, with the ammunition stored separately in the vehicle. Pastran Hernandez loaded the ammunition into the firearm and kept it on his person for the duration of the kidnapping. During the journey, Pastran Hernandez brandished that firearm at Victim 1 so that Victim 1 would follow his commands. On or about Aug. 18, Pastran Hernandez and Victim 1 arrived in Miami Beach, Fla., where Pastran Hernandez surveilled the residence of another potential victim (Victim 2). Pastran Hernandez told Victim 1 that Victim 2 was a social media influencer, and that Pastran Hernandez intended to kidnap Victim 2 or someone in Victim 2’s family for a $3,000,000 ransom. On or about Aug. 19, Pastran Hernandez made Victim 1 drive to a store in Hialeah, Fla., to buy supplies for the kidnapping of Victim 2. Pastran Hernandez held onto Victim 1’s car keys, while Victim 1 used the restroom. Around that time, police officers arrived at the store and Pastran Hernandez fled the area on foot. Law enforcement located Pastran Hernandez at a park in Hollywood, Fla. a few hours later. On Pastran Hernandez’s person, inside a cross-body bag, was Victim 1’s blue handgun. The firearm was loaded and had a bullet in the chamber. Inside Pastran Hernandez’s backpack, which was in Victim 1’s car, law enforcement later discovered multiple Airsoft or BB guns, knives, a black mask, hat, sunglasses, binoculars, walkie-talkies, zip-ties, and other items. U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge Justin E. Fleck of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement. FBI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Hannah prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 24-cr-20380. ###


title: Gang Member Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Prison for Narcotics Distribution Conspiracy

body_text: BOSTON – A member of the East Side Money Gang with multiple prior convictions was sentenced today for conspiring to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. Gang operated in Chelsea, Mass. and surrounding communities. Henry Del Rio, a/k/a “Junior,” 28, of Chelsea, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 78 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. In May 2024, Del Rio pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Del Rio was arrested and charged in January 2023 along with co-defendant Jose Perez. In December 2022, police officers attempted to stop a vehicle speeding through Lexington, Mass. that Perez was driving. Perez accelerated and engaged in a high-speed escape attempt, traveling more than 85 miles per hour on residential streets, crashing head-first into another vehicle, and ultimately losing control and colliding into a post. As Perez exited the vehicle, a loaded Glock 34X 9mm semi-automatic handgun dropped to the ground. Perez and Del Rio, the sole passenger, fled and led officers on a foot chase through a parking lot. Once the two men were apprehended, approximately 63 grams of cocaine and a bag containing 44 smaller, individually wrapped bags of fentanyl, totaling approximately 53 grams, were found where Del Rio had fled. A third bag containing approximately 49 grams of cocaine was recovered in the vehicle. At the time of the offense, Del Rio was on federal supervised release after serving a five-year prison sentence for multiple felony convictions, including drug and firearms offenses, arising from a prior East Side Money Gang-related case. In December 2024 , Perez was sentenced to 142 months in prison after being convicted by a federal jury in August 2024 . United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lexington, Chelsea and MBTA Police Departments and Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mike Crowley and Sarah Hoefle of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.


title: Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty to Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. —Jordan Anthony Hughes, 24, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to production of child sexual abuse materials, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. According to court documents, in September 2022, Hughes knowingly used a child under the age of 12 to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of that conduct, in Sacramento. Hughes committed hands-on violations of the minor victim and took videos and pictures of that abuse. Hughes’ abuse of the child dated back to at least 2017. In addition, Hughes used the internet to convince other underage victims to send him images and videos depicting themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Hughes did this in part by posing as an underage male himself. Hughes also distributed images of child sexual abuse conduct, often under the guise of helping or teaching his victims how to perform certain sexual acts. At the time of his arrest, Hughes possessed voluminous child sexual abuse materials. This case is the product of an investigation by the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force, which includes the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department as well as Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shea J. Kenny is prosecuting the case. Hughes is in custody and is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta on July 10, 2025. Hughes faces a mandatory statutory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.


title: Saint Paul Man and Mounds View Woman Sentenced to Prison for Armed Carjacking in Minneapolis

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A Saint Paul man has been sentenced to 51 months in prison, and a Mounds View woman will serve 41 months in prison for their respective roles in aiding and abetting a Minneapolis carjacking, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. According to court documents, on October 6, 2023, Carvon Antonio Saine, 19, and his co-defendant Isis Martinaz Brent, a.k.a. Jayda Marie White, 20, approached an elderly victim who had just parked a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu on the street in South Minneapolis. Brent brandished a Carl Walther 9mm semiautomatic pistol and demanded the victim’s keys. During the carjacking, an associate of Brent’s forcefully snatched the victim’s bags, causing the victim to fall and suffer bodily injury on their hands and knees. The Malibu experienced mechanical issues and was later found abandoned. A short time later, Brent and Saine approached a second victim in a parking lot on Chicago Avenue South. Brent knocked on the window, demanded the victim’s keys, and again brandished the Walther semiautomatic pistol at the victim. The second victim was able to escape the attempted carjacking. Saine and Brent were sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court before Judge John R. Tunheim, each on one count of aiding and abetting a carjacking. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minneapolis Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Green prosecuted the case.


title: Delta Junction woman sentenced for interfering with joint military operations with a high-powered laser

body_text: FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A Delta Junction woman was sentenced today to three years’ probation after she interfered with joint military operations by pointing a high-powered laser at two helicopters. According to court documents, on Feb. 11, 2024, Canadian Military Aircrews were flying in two tactical helicopter squadrons near Allen Army Airfield near Delta Junction. Anchorage Airport Traffic Control contacted the Alaska State Troopers regarding a report from a Canadian Military Pilot that lasers were being pointed at his aircraft. Court documents explain that the pilot stated the aircraft was at about 4,200 feet of elevation, well above minimum flight requirements for that area, and in a holding pattern when one of the crew reported they were being hit with a green laser. The aircraft was orbiting for around 20 minutes and every time they passed over a certain cabin, they got hit with a laser. The aircraft descended to around 500 feet to prepare to land at Allen Army Airfield and got hit with the laser again. One of the crew pinpointed the laser to the certain cabin. Court documents further explain that Alaska State Troopers responded to the specific cabin and contacted Heide Goodermote, 49. Goodermote told law enforcement that the helicopters angered her, and further stated the helicopters had no right to fly over her property so she pointed a laser at them. On Feb. 15, 2024, law enforcement returned to seize the laser and identified it to be a class IIIB laser, which is a laser that emits between 5 and 500 milliwatts of output power and can cause immediate eye damage or skin burns. Three of the Canadian Air Force helicopter crew members reported injuries to their eyes because of Goodermote’s conduct. On Nov. 26, 2024, Goodermote pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of assaulting or impeding certain officers or employees engaged in performing official duties. “Ms. Goodermote wrongly believed the helicopters had no right to fly over her property and decided to take matters into her own hands by shining a dangerous laser at the helicopters and crew that could have caused serious damage,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn R. Vogel for the District of Alaska. “We are thankful the incident did not result in substantial loss of life or property, but this case should serve as a reminder that putting other people’s well-being at risk when they are performing official duties as part of U.S. government operations, like a joint military exercise with foreign allies, is a prosecutable offense.” The FBI Anchorage Field Office, Fairbanks Resident Agency investigated the case, with assistance from the Alaska State Troopers. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Vosacek prosecuted the case. ###


title: Four Sentenced for Roles in Penobscot and Aroostook County Drug Trafficking Ring

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

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: Four individuals from Maine were sentenced today in separate hearings at the U.S. District Court in Bangor for their roles in a northern Maine drug trafficking ring. U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced the four defendants: John Miller , 24, was sentenced to 54 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. On April 19, 2023, Miller pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Jason Cunrod, 42, was sentenced to 48 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. On August 29, 2023, Cunrod pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Joshua Young, 48, was sentenced to time served (approximately 62 days), followed by three years of supervised release to include 24 months of home detention. On April 26, 2023, Young pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Carol Gordon , 53, was sentenced to time served (approximately 30 months and 25 days), followed by three years of supervised release to include six months of community confinement. On March 14, 2023, Gordon pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. According to court records, between January 2018 and December 2021, Cunrod , Miller , Gordon , Young and others trafficked methamphetamine and fentanyl in Penobscot and Aroostook counties and elsewhere. Miller , Cunrod ,and Young each regularly arranged to obtain quantities from a coconspirator through phone calls, texts and social media using coded language and then distribute those drugs to customers in Aroostook County, using the proceeds to purchase more drugs from the source. In addition, during the conspiracy, Miller provided his source with dozens of firearms that he acquired from various individuals in Aroostook County. Gordon allowed others to sell drugs from her Bangor home and facilitated distribution events by serving as an intermediate between the seller and customer in exchange for narcotics for her personal use. Twenty-one defendants have been charged in this and related cases for their part in a widespread northern Maine drug trafficking conspiracy. To date, 17 of the defendants have been sentenced while four await sentencing: Sentenced: Andrew Adams (32, Aroostook County) – 10 years Matthew Catalano (38, Penobscot County) – 165 months Christopher Coty (44, Bangor) – 4 years Jason Cunrod (42, Caribou) – 48 months Blaine Footman (38, Bangor) – 5 years Nicole Footman (41, Holden) – 3 years Dwight Gary, Jr. (54, Medway) – Time served (approx. 5 months) Carol Gordon (53, Bangor) – Time served (approx. 31 months) plus 6 months of community confinement Thomas Hammond (26, Charleston) – 84 months Joshua Jerrell (30, Orrington) – Time served (approx. 36 months) James King (55, Caribou) – 165 months Shelby Loring (29, Bangor) – Time served (approx. 32 months) Danielle McBreairty (34, Glenburn) – 20 years John Miller (24, Caribou) – 54 months Aaron Rodgers (43, Bangor) – Time served (approx. 33 months) Wayne Smith (33, Bangor) – 85 months Joshua Young (48, Presque Isle) – Time served (approx. 2 months) plus 24 months home detention Awaiting sentencing: Daquan Corbett (30, Brockton, Mass.) Daviston Jackson (28, Boston, Mass.) Sarah McBreairty (36, Dixmont) – sentencing scheduled 05/05/25 James Valiante (42, Linneus) – sentencing scheduled 05/05/25 The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case. Assistance was provided by the police departments in Orono, Bangor, Brewer, Caribou, Presque Isle and Houlton. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also recognized the cooperation and coordination provided by the Maine State Attorney General’s Office and the Aroostook County District Attorney’s Office. Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces: This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. ###


title: Halloween getaway driver convicted

body_text: VICTORIA, Texas – A federal jury sitting in Victoria has returned a guilty verdict against a 27-year-old Houston man for armed robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The jury deliberated for less than two hours before convicting Jordan Javon Ashton following a three-day trial. The robbery took place at the Morelos Supermercardos in Victoria Oct. 31, 2023, and involved a stolen vehicle with stolen plates and a stolen gun. On that Halloween evening, Latrayveon McNeal and Jerrell Potts – wearing masks and brandishing firearms - entered the supermarket and approached the Barri money services counter. They pointed weapons and yelled at the cashier, store employees and customers. Fearing for their lives, the employees complied with demands and provided U.S. currency and a large amount of cashed checks. McNeal and Potts fled in a stolen white truck and met up with Ashton who was armed and waiting for them a few blocks away from the store. Ashton then drove the robbers from the scene leaving the white truck in the middle of the road with the motor still running. The jury saw numerous exhibits to include several photographs and surveillance video from the supermarket, the weapons used in the crime and heard excerpts of 911 calls made on that day. They also heard that Ashton had previously been convicted of a felony and was on parole during the commission of this crime. The defense attempted to convince the jury that he withdrew from the conspiracy. They did not believe those claims and found Ashton guilty as charged. McNeal, 26, and Potts, 25, both of Houston, previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the crime. Potts received 87 months in federal prison, while McNeal is pending sentencing. U.S. District Judge David S. Morales presided over trial and set sentencing for May 29. At that time, Ashton faces up to 20 and 15 years for the robbery and the firearms charges, respectively, as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He will remain in custody pending that hearing. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of Victoria Police Department, Victoria County Sheriff’s Office and Victoria County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patti Hubert Booth is prosecuting the case.


title: Corpus Christi man admits to recording sexual video of himself with minor relative

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 34-year-old man had entered a guilty plea to production of child sexual abuse material otherwise known as sexual exploitation of a child, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The investigation into Valentine Cancino began when authorities received multiple cyber-tips indicating child pornography had been uploaded onto the internet. Law enforcement was able to identify Cancino as the source of the content. On Jan. 30, 2024, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Cancino’s residence in Corpus Christi. They located and seized two electronic devices. One of those devices was a Samsung Galaxy cell phone. Upon inspection, authorities discovered a video recording Cancino made of himself engaging in sexual activity with a minor relative. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos will impose sentencing June 4. At the time, Cancino faces up to 30 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Cancino has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Homeland Security Investigations and the Corpus Christi Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Overman is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page .


title: Fresno Man Indicted for Possession of Loaded Gun After High-Speed Chase

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging David Garcia, 32, of Fresno, with being a felon in possession of a firearm, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. According to court documents, on Jan. 23, 2025, law enforcement officers located a vehicle suspected in several recent catalytic converter thefts. When they attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver, Garcia, sped off across an apartment complex lawn before leading officers on a high-speed chase in which he drove the wrong way on the road, collided with another vehicle, and ran multiple red lights and stop signs. In an attempt to escape officers, Garcia tried to drive through a fence into Scandinavian Middle School but his vehicle was disabled. Garcia is prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions in Fresno County. According to court documents, officers found a loaded Glock 22 handgun with an extended magazine in Garcia’s vehicle. The handgun and vehicle were both reported stolen. This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Veneman-Hughes is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Garcia faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 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 U.S. Department of Justice 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: Illegal Aliens Charged with Methamphetamine and Firearms Offenses

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Paducah, KY – A federal criminal complaint and arrest warrant were issued this week charging two illegal aliens with aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. One of the defendants was also charged with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Acting Special Agent in Charge A.J. Gibes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, Sam Olson, Field Office Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Chicago, U.S. Immigration Customs, and Chief Jason Newby of the Hopkinsville Police Department made the announcement. According to court records, on August 28, 2024, a search warrant was executed at a residence in Hopkinsville where Carlos Daniel Davalillo-Silva , 26, and Paola Alexandra Rodriguez , 32, both citizens of Venezuela, had been staying. The search yielded approximately 3 pounds of methamphetamine that the pair intended to distribute. Rodriguez was also found to be in possession of two firearms. Silva and Rodriguez were charged with aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Rodriguez was also charged with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. Homeland Security Investigations verified that Silva and Rodriguez are Venezuelan and entered the United States illegally. The defendants are in state custody and will make initial court appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky at a later date. If convicted, they each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life 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 DEA – Paducah Post of Duty, the ATF – Bowling Green Post of Duty, HSI, ICE/ERO, and the Hopkinsville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Secures Guilty Plea in Firearm Assault Case

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man pleaded guilty to two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon after an incident that left one of the victims requiring medical treatment for facial injuries. According to court documents, Jerome Weaver , 21, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, admitted to intentionally assaulting two victims using a firearm with the intent to cause bodily harm. As a result of the assault, one of the victim’s required medical treatment for facial injuries. Weaver will remain on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, Weaver faces up to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Brittany DuChaussee is prosecuting the case.