title: Sheriff and Three Men Charged in Bribery Scheme Involving Purchase of Law-Enforcement Badges and Credentials

component: Criminal Division

body_text: An indictment was unsealed today in the Western District of Virginia charging the Sheriff of Culpeper County, Virginia, and three Virginia men with a conspiracy to exchange bribes for law enforcement badges and credentials. According to court documents, from at least April 2019, Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Howard Jenkins, 51, of Culpeper, accepted cash bribes and bribes in the form of campaign contributions totaling at least $72,500 from Rick Tariq Rahim, 55, of Great Falls; Fredric Gumbinner, 64, of Fairfax; James Metcalf, 60, of Manassas; and at least five others, including two FBI undercover agents. In return, Jenkins appointed each of the bribe payors as auxiliary deputy sheriffs, a sworn law-enforcement position, and issued them Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office badges and identification cards. Jenkins told or caused others to tell the bribe payors that those law-enforcement credentials authorized them to carry concealed firearms in all 50 states without obtaining a permit. In addition, Jenkins assisted Rahim in gaining approval for a petition to restore his firearms rights filed in Culpeper County Circuit Court that falsely stated that Rahim resided in Culpeper County. Jenkins is charged with one count of conspiracy, four counts of honest-services mail and wire fraud, and eight counts of federal programs bribery. Rahim is charged with one count of conspiracy, three counts of honest-services mail and wire fraud, and three counts of federal programs bribery. Gumbinner is charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of honest-services wire fraud, and two counts of federal programs bribery. Metcalf is charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of honest-services wire fraud, and two counts of federal programs bribery. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on the conspiracy count, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each of the honest-services mail and wire fraud counts, and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each of the federal programs bribery counts. The defendants are scheduled to make their initial court appearances today in the Western District of Virginia. Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Christopher Kavanaugh for the Western District of Virginia, and Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI Richmond Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Richmond Field Office, Charlottesville Resident Agency is investigating the case. Trial Attorney Celia Choy of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather Carlton and Melanie Smith for the Western District of Virginia are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Honduran Man Sentenced for Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Honduran man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for illegal reentry. Blas Antonio Celaya-Padilla, 41, of Chelsea, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 45 months in prison. His sentence will be served concurrently with a 37 month federal sentence he is currently serving for conspiracy to commit alien smuggling in the Eastern District of North Carolina. Padilla was previously deported from the United States on five prior occasions between 1999 and 2015 and has three prior federal convictions for illegal reentry: a 2004 conviction in the Western District of Texas; a 2011 conviction in the District of Arizona; and a 2012 conviction also in the District of Arizona. Sometime after his 2012 deportation, Padilla illegally reentered the United States. Padilla’s criminal conduct in North Carolina occurred after his three prior illegal reentry convictions. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Chelsea Police Chief Keith E. Houghton made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Levy’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Recidivist Defendant Pleads Guilty In Connection With Million-Dollar Fraud Scheme Targeting Senior Executives Of Investment Firms

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JONATHAN GHERTLER pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos in connection with his scheme to impersonate senior leaders of two Manhattan-based investment firms, resulting in over $1 million in losses to their portfolio companies, and to impersonating a partner of a global law firm on telephone calls with federal law enforcement agents who were investigating the scheme. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Jonathan Ghertler defrauded companies of over $1 million by impersonating some of the most prominent figures in finance. But law enforcement got wind of his scheme. Again. And when Ghertler saw the writing on the wall, he brazenly impersonated a partner of a global law firm and tried to convince federal agents and an Assistant United States Attorney to drop their investigation. His efforts failed and his fraud was unraveled, as have all of Ghertler’s past frauds, thanks to the persistent work of the prosecutors of this Office and our law enforcement partners.” According to the allegations in the Indictment and Complaint: From at least in or about December 2021, up to and including at least June 2022, GHERTLER impersonated the General Counsel of a global private equity firm (the “Private Equity Firm”). In doing so, GHERTLER fraudulently caused the Private Equity Firm’s portfolio companies to pay at least $200,000 to fund a non-existent internal investigation into alleged links between senior employees of the Private Equity Firm and Jeffrey Epstein, the deceased financier who, before he died on or about August 10, 2019, had been charged in the Southern District of New York with sex trafficking of minors and conspiring to commit sex trafficking of minors. In addition, from at least May 2021, up to and including February 2023, GHERTLER impersonated the founder of an investment firm (the “Investment Firm”), directing the Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”) of one of the Investment Firm’s portfolio companies (the “IF Portfolio Company”) to make at least $865,000 in payments to fund a non-existent internal investigation related to the founder’s alleged relationship with Epstein. In recent weeks, GHERTLER, posing as the founder of the Investment Firm, had discussed with the CEO the possibility of making a large investment into a restaurant chain owned by another investment firm. On or about February 7, 2023, after learning from the CEO that federal investigators were investigating a potentially fraudulent payment made by the Investment Firm, GHERTLER, posing as a partner (the “Partner”) at a global law firm, spoke on the phone with Special Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”). GHERTLER told the federal agents that the IF Portfolio Company had chosen not to report the fraud because it had been “made whole” by the fraudster. On or about February 10, 2023, GHERTLER, impersonating the Partner, spoke again with federal agents. GHERTLER said, after “consult[ing]” with “associates and lower-level partners” at the Global Law Firm who “used to work” at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, “our position is that, uh, the law states that, umm, you know, if the money was paid back prior to, uh, the crime being, uh, discovered, uh, it’s not a crime.” GHERTLER added that his “client [ i.e. , the founder of the Investment Firm] has a lot of other issues he is dealing with right now, so this is one he really doesn’t need to deal with.” * * * GHERTLER, 60, of Orlando, Florida, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of making false statements, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Sentencing has been scheduled for August 9, 2023, at 11 a.m. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Sowlati is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Statement on Supreme Court’s Ruling in Students for Fair Admissions Inc. (SFFA) v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and SFFA v. University of North Carolina

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in two cases — Students for Fair Admissions Inc. ( SFFA ) v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and SFFA v. University of North Carolina : “The Supreme Court’s decision undercuts efforts by universities across the country to create a diverse group of graduates prepared to lead in an increasingly diverse nation. It will significantly set back efforts to advance educational opportunity for all Americans. And it upends nearly 50 years of precedent. “The Department of Justice remains committed to promoting student diversity in higher education using all available legal tools. In the coming weeks, we will work with the Department of Education to provide resources to college and universities on what admissions practices and programs remain lawful following the Court’s decision.”


title: Florida Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Sextortion Scheme

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA — Peterson Jean-Baptiste , 23, of Palm Bay, Florida, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison and placed on lifetime supervision for his role in disseminating child pornography. Evidence presented to the Court showed that, while on probation in Florida for a drug distribution conviction, Jean-Baptiste targeted teenage girls on Snapchat. After establishing a relationship with his victims, Jean-Baptiste requested nude photographs. Once in possession of nude images, Jean-Baptiste threatened to post the images on the internet if the victims did not provide more images. Jean-Baptiste would then direct the victims on how to pose and forced some victims to involve an animal in the pictures. This matter came to the attention of law enforcement when one victim informed her parents of the sextortion, and the sextortion was reported to the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office began an investigation and requested assistance from the Department of Homeland Security once it became apparent that the crime involved multiple states. Law enforcement was able to locate the defendant in Florida, seize his mobile device, and search the device. A search of the phone showed that the defendant regularly used FaceTime video to chat with young girls, and he had them film their bodies while he watched, usually only showing his forehead or part of his face. On one occasion he mistakenly showed his entire face, and this further confirmed the defendant’s identity. Two victims—one 14 years old and the other 15 years old—resided in South Carolina. Additional images of young girls were found on the phone, but law enforcement did not have enough information to identify them. “Sextortion has been on the rise in recent years and presents an extreme danger to our children,” said United States Attorney Adair F. Boroughs. “We are grateful to the young victim and parents that first reported this crime to law enforcement. We will continue to dedicate resources to identifying victims of this predatory conduct and ensuring that offenders face serious consequences for sextortion.” This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc . United States District Judge Bruce H. Hendricks presided over the case. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins prosecuted the case. ###


title: Ponte Vedra Beach Man Sentenced To More Than Six Years In Federal Prison For Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Videos Over The Internet

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Chief United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced George Thomas Griffiths, Jr. (43, Ponte Vedra Beach) to six years and three months in federal prison for distributing videos and images depicting young children being sexually abused. Griffiths was also ordered to serve a 15-year term of supervised release, forfeit his smartphone, and register as a sex offender. Griffiths had pleaded guilty on May 27, 2022. According to court documents, an FBI task force officer began an undercover investigation using a particular social media application (“app”) to identify individuals attempting to sexually exploit children using the internet. Between February 3 and February 20, 2020, an app user named “ban_me_again,” who was subsequently identified as Griffiths, uploaded several videos depicting children being sexually abused to a public chat room on the app. Meanwhile, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office (SJSO) received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that the same app had reported that this same user had uploaded videos depicting child sexual abuse materials during this same time period. Further investigation revealed that Griffiths had distributed these videos over the internet from his home and from his place of employment. At that time, Griffiths worked at a health care facility in Jacksonville as an x-ray technologist. On November 19, 2020, SJSO detectives and personnel, together with agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), executed a search warrant at Griffiths’s residence and seized a smartphone used by Griffiths. During an interview, Griffiths stated, among other things, that he had used the particular app to talk to individuals over the internet. He also stated that it was “possible” that he had exchanged pictures and videos on the app, and that these materials “possibly” included “bestiality” involving both adults and children. When asked how many times he distributed child sexual abuse materials, Griffiths first responded, “I don’t know” and then clarified, “more than one or two.” Subsequent examination of Griffiths’s phone revealed that it contained at least 2,000 images and at least 10 videos depicting children being sexually abused, including infants and toddler-aged children. This case was investigated by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown. Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran handled the forfeiture of Griffith’s electronic device. It is another case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Virginia Sheriff, Three Others Indicted on Federal Bribery Charges

component: Criminal - Public Integrity Section

body_text: CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – An indictment was unsealed today charging the Sheriff of Culpeper County, Virginia, and three other Virginia men with a conspiracy to exchange bribes for law enforcement badges and credentials, federal programs bribery, and honest services fraud. According to the indictment, from at least April 2019, Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Howard Jenkins, 51, accepted cash bribes and bribes in the form of campaign contributions totaling at least $72,500 from Rick Tariq Rahim, 55, of Great Falls, Virginia, Fredric Gumbinner, 64, of Fairfax, Virginia, James Metcalf, 60, of Manassas, Virginia, and at least five others, including two FBI undercover agents. In return, Jenkins appointed each of the bribe payors as auxiliary deputy sheriffs, a sworn law-enforcement position, and issued them Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office badges and identification cards. Jenkins told or caused others to tell the bribe payors that those law-enforcement credentials authorized them to carry concealed firearms in all fifty states without obtaining a permit. In addition, Jenkins assisted Rahim in gaining approval for a petition to restore his firearms rights filed in Culpeper County Circuit Court that falsely stated that Rahim resided in Culpeper County. “Scott Jenkins not only violated federal law but also violated the faith and trust placed in him by the citizens of Culpeper County by accepting cash bribes in exchange for auxiliary deputy badges and other benefits,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “Our elected officials are expected to uphold the rule of law, not abuse their power for their own personal, financial gain.” "As law enforcement officers, we are sworn to protect and serve our communities. We do that by upholding the law - equally, and not abusing the powers that are entrusted to us,” Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI’s Richmond Division said today. “With today's announcement, FBI Richmond re-enforces our commitment - to the community - of ensuring abuses of public trust will not be tolerated and those responsible will be held accountable.” Jenkins is charged with one count of conspiracy, four counts of honest-services mail and wire fraud, and eight counts of federal programs bribery. Rahim is charged with one count of conspiracy, three counts of honest-services mail and wire fraud, and three counts of federal programs bribery. Gumbinner is charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of honest-services wire fraud, and two counts of federal programs bribery. Metcalf is charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of honest-services wire fraud, and two counts of federal programs bribery. If convicted, each defendant faces up to 5 years in prison on the conspiracy count, up to 20 years in prison on each of the honest-services mail and wire fraud counts, and up to 10 years in prison on each of the federal programs bribery counts. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence for all four defendants after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The defendants are scheduled to make their initial court appearances today in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia. The FBI’s Richmond Field Office, Charlottesville Resident Agency is investigating the case. Trial Attorney Celia Choy of the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather Carlton and Melanie Smith of the Western District of Virginia are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: South Carolina Participates in National Enforcement Action Resulting in 78 Individuals Charged for $2.5B in Health Care Fraud

body_text: COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA -- The Department of Justice, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina together with federal and state law enforcement partners, announced a strategically coordinated, two-week nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 78 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes that included over $2.5 billion in alleged fraud. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled, and, in some cases, used the proceeds of the schemes to purchase luxury items, including exotic automobiles, jewelry, and yachts. In connection with the enforcement action, the Department seized or restrained millions of dollars in cash, automobiles, and real estate. “These enforcement actions, including against one of the largest health care fraud schemes ever prosecuted by the Justice Department, represent our intensified efforts to combat fraud and prosecute the individuals who profit from it,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will find and bring to justice criminals who seek to defraud Americans and steal from taxpayer-funded programs.” “This nationwide enforcement action demonstrates that the Criminal Division is committed to fighting health care fraud and opioid abuse by prosecuting those who allegedly exploit patients and health care benefit programs for personal gain,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s announcement includes some of the largest and most complex cases that the Department has prosecuted, and demonstrates the Department’s commitment to seeking justice for those at all levels of the healthcare industry who put profits above patient care, from professionals in doctors’ offices to executives in corporate boardrooms.” “Health care fraud is a complex and ever-evolving threat that negatively impacts the American people,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Today’s nationwide coordinated law enforcement action is a testament to the tenacity of the FBI and our partners, as well as our combined efforts to pursue anyone who conspires to exploit our health care system for financial gain.” Telemedicine Fraud The enforcement action included charges against 11 defendants in connection with the submission of over $2 billion in fraudulent claims resulting from telemedicine schemes. In a case involving the alleged organizers of one of the largest health care fraud schemes ever prosecuted, an indictment in the Southern District of Florida alleges that the chief executive officer (CEO), former CEO, and Vice President of Business Development of purported software and services companies conspired to generate and sell templated doctors’ orders for orthotic braces and pain creams in exchange for kickbacks and bribes. The conspiracy allegedly resulted in the submission of $1.9 billion in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and other government insurers for orthotic braces, prescription skin creams, and other items that were medically unnecessary and ineligible for Medicare reimbursement. As part of the alleged conspiracy, individuals in a massive telemarketing operation, located in the United States and abroad, targeted the elderly and disabled with direct mail, television advertisements, and other forms of advertising to induce them to contact offshore boiler-rooms staffed by individuals who “up-sold” the elderly and disabled on unnecessary medical equipment and prescriptions. According to the indictment, the software platform that the defendants allegedly operated was actually a conduit for these telemarketers to coordinate the payment of illegal kickbacks and bribes to telemedicine companies to obtain doctors’ orders for Medicare beneficiaries. The defendants allegedly programmed the software platform to generate false and fraudulent orders for telemedicine practitioners to sign and obstruct Medicare investigations by concealing that the interactions with beneficiaries had occurred remotely using telemedicine. The program-generated orders falsified certifications that the telemedicine doctors had examined the beneficiaries in person, and falsified diagnostic testing that Medicare required for brace orders. After the original CEO sold the company in a corporate acquisition, the new corporate leadership allegedly chose to continue the pre-existing fraud scheme. In another telemedicine fraud case, in the Eastern District of Washington, a licensed physician was charged for signing more than 2800 fraudulent orders for orthotic braces, including for patients whose limbs had already been amputated. As alleged, the physician took less than 40 seconds to review and sign each order. The cases announced build on earlier telemedicine enforcement actions involving over $10.1 billion in fraud. The April 2019 Operation Brace Yourself Telemedicine and Durable Medical Equipment Takedown—which originated in the District of South Carolina—alone resulted in an estimated cost avoidance of more than $1.9 billion in the amount Medicare paid for orthotic braces in the 20 months following that enforcement action, preserving the Medicare trust fund for necessary medical care. “Patients trust federal health care programs to provide high quality care. When bad actors steal from these programs, they hurt patients,” said Inspector General Christi A. Grimm of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG is dedicated to protecting federal health care programs and putting patients first. Thank you to our law enforcement partners, especially the Medicaid Fraud Control Units, that participated in this effort.” Pharmaceutical Fraud The enforcement action also included charges against 10 defendants in connection with the submission of over $370 million in fraudulent claims submitted in connection with prescription drugs. In one case announced, the owner and corporate officer of a pharmaceutical wholesale distribution company was charged for an alleged $150 million fraud scheme in which the company purchased illegally diverted prescription HIV medication, and then marketed and resold the medication by falsely representing that the company acquired it through legitimate channels. The defendant allegedly purchased the diverted medication at a substantial discount from individuals who obtained the drugs primarily through illegal “buyback” schemes in which they paid HIV patients cash for their expensive HIV medication and repackaged those pills for resale. To cover up their scheme, the defendant and others falsified labeling and product tracing documentation to make it appear legitimate. Pharmacies purchased the misbranded medications, dispensed them to patients, and billed them to health care benefit programs, all while the defendants reaped substantial illegal profits. In a related case, on June 15, an individual in the Southern District of Florida was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in this nationwide scheme. According to court documents, the defendant illegally acquired large quantities of prescription drugs from patients for whom the drugs had been prescribed but not yet consumed. The defendant and others then repackaged the drugs and sold them to wholesale companies. In some instances, the medication that the defendant sold contained the wrong medication, broken pills, and even pebbles, leading to complaints by pharmacies. The defendant used his share of the proceeds to purchase luxury goods, including a $280,000 Lamborghini, a $220,000 Mercedes, and three boats. Opioid Distribution and Other Types of Health Care Fraud The charges also targeted over $150 million in false billings submitted in connection with other types of health care fraud, including the illegal distribution of opioids and clinical laboratory testing fraud. This enforcement action includes charges against 24 physicians and other licensed medical professionals who lined their own pockets, including doctors who allegedly put their patients at risk by illegally providing them with opioids they did not need. The charges also include cases where healthcare companies, physicians, and other providers paid cash kickbacks to patient recruiters and beneficiaries in return for patient information, so that the providers could submit fraudulent bills for Medicare reimbursement. “At DEA, we are committed to protecting the safety and health of all Americans,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “When individuals divert addictive opioid medications for personal gain, they are knowingly putting Americans at risk, all too often causing harm and even death. DEA is committed to taking decisive action to hold accountable anyone who participates in these dangerous schemes.” “CHAMPVA provides community health care to family members of our nation’s disabled or deceased veterans, and the defendants’ alleged criminal actions resulted in a multibillion-dollar fraud scheme that puts those benefits at risk and pilfers significant taxpayer funds,” said Inspector General Michael J. Missal of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG). “The VA-OIG’s continued oversight of VA’s multiple healthcare programs, including CHAMPVA, is one of the agency’s highest priorities. We thank our outstanding law enforcement partners for their efforts in this investigation.” The Center for Program Integrity of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CPI/CMS) separately announced that it took adverse administrative actions in the last six months against 90 medical providers for their alleged involvement in health care fraud. Principal Assistant Deputy Chief Jacob Foster and Acting Assistant Chief Rebecca Yuan of the National Rapid Response Strike Force of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section led and coordinated this enforcement action. The Health Care Fraud Unit’s Strike Forces in Brooklyn, Dallas, Detroit, the Gulf Coast, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, and Tampa; the Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response Strike Force; the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Southern District of Georgia, District of Idaho, Western District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, District of New Jersey, Eastern District of New York, Southern District of Ohio, District of South Carolina, Southern District of Texas, Eastern District of Washington, and Eastern District of Wisconsin; and the State Attorney Generals’ Offices for Indiana, New York, and Pennsylvania are prosecuting these cases, with assistance from the Health Care Fraud Unit’s Data Analytics Team. Descriptions of cases involved in this enforcement action are available on the Department’s website at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit/2023-national-hcf-court-documents . In addition to the FBI, HHS-OIG, DEA, and CMS/CPI, State Medicaid Fraud Control Units, HSI, FDA, IRS-CI, VA-OIG, USPS-OIG, FDIC-OIG, OPM-OIG, Amtrak-OIG, and other federal and state law enforcement agencies participated in the operation. 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, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 25 federal districts, has charged more than 5,000 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $24 billion. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit . The Fraud Section uses the Victim Notification System to provide victims with case information and updates related to this case. Victims with questions may contact the Fraud Section’s Victim Assistance Unit by calling the Victim Assistance phone line at 1-888-549-3945 or by emailing victimassistance.fraud@usdoj.gov . To learn more about victims’ rights, please visit www.justice.gov/criminal-vns/victim-rights-derechos-de-las-v-ctimas , and for further information for victims about new federal charges in connection with the HIV scheme, please visit www.justice.gov/criminal-vns/case/united-states-v-steven-diamantstein . A complaint, information, or indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Maryland U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron Announces Results of Strategies to Reduce Violent Crime

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced today that, because of the crime reduction efforts led by his office, homicides and non-fatal shootings in Baltimore are continuing to trend down significantly. As of the half year mark in 2023, homicides are down 22.2% and non-fatal shootings are down 12.6%. At a press conference on August 24, 2022, U.S. Attorney Barron announced the establishment of a new Violent and Organized Crime Section along with expanded collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement. State funds supported the hiring of additional Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys, whose sole focus has been on violent crime, along with investigators, and other legal support personnel. Additionally, U.S. Attorney Barron has encouraged prosecutors to use all available resources and any legal means necessary to investigate and prosecute repeat violent offenders—specifically for any wrongdoing that meets office priorities, especially pandemic-related fraud, and utilizing a federal school zone statute that makes it a crime to possess a gun within 1000 feet of a school. In August 2022, immediately before implementation of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s collaborative violent crime strategy, homicides were up approximately 7% and nonfatal shootings were up more than 12%; the next month (September 2022), however, saw a record-low since 2015 in violence and, since implementation of the office’s strategy, homicides are down approximately 20% and nonfatal shootings are down approximately 10%. “We have much more work to do, but law enforcement and community collaboration, innovation, and evidence-based initiatives are making neighborhoods safer,” said U.S. Attorney Barron. “We will continue to lead a coalition of law enforcement, community and public service partners, as our model of working together at the local, state and federal levels is making a difference in the fight against violent crime.” Since September 2022, State-funded Special Assistant United States Attorneys have indicted 30 defendants for federal gun crimes, including charging 10 defendants for illegal possession of a firearm within 1,000 feet of Baltimore schools, including Sandtown-Winchester Achievement Academy, Calverton Elementary and Middle School, Green Street Academy, Frederick Elementary School, Cherry Hill Elementary School, Maree G. Faring Elementary School, Curtis Bay Elementary and Middle School and Belaire-Edison Elementary School. Of those school zone defendants nine have pleaded guilty and seven have been sentenced to between six months and 12 years in federal prison. Additionally, every Criminal Division prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office has been assigned a gun case, marking the most significant officewide investment in combating violent crime in the office’s history. The office’s “Al Capone” prosecution model for repeat offenders has also been successful in the violent crime strategy. For example, defendants have been charged with CARES Act fraud and gun crimes, including the illegal possession of privately manufactured firearms, often referred to as “ghost guns.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office created a CARES Act Strike Force and, as part of that effort, U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General Special Agents are now co-located in the office to coordinate and screen all new violent crime and illegal firearms defendants for potential pandemic fraud. The success of this Strike Force’s effort has led U.S. Attorney Barron to also establish the Maryland Financial Intelligence Task Force (“MD FIT”), a coalition of federal, state, and local law enforcement and financial institutions, working collaboratively to uncover financial crimes, including crimes committed by violent repeat offenders. U.S. Attorney Barron stated, “MD FIT is another tool to add to our arsenal of proactive and innovative measures to combat violent crime. We will do everything we can to remove the violent criminals who wreak havoc in our neighborhoods. I am grateful that our law enforcement partners joined our office’s strategy to try new and innovative ways to reduce violent crime.” While strategic enforcement is key to U.S. Attorney’s Office’s violent crime efforts, community-based prevention and intervention is a core principle—embraced more than ever—by the office. The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are especially supporting and teaming up with nonprofits focused on reaching at-risk youth and young adults. In September 2022, three Baltimore community-based organizations, ROCA Inc., the Living Classrooms Foundation, and the Black Mental Health Alliance, were awarded U.S. Department of Justice grants totaling more than $5 million to help reduce gun crime and other violence. ROCA Baltimore received $1,998,807 to expand its violence intervention programming and the U.S. Attorney’s Office has instituted monthly community walks with ROCA to reach out to youth and young adults to provide resources and needed services. Since November 2022, this collaboration has directly serviced over 130 individuals and approximately 20 young people have been referred for services, including the job training and education services provided by ROCA. Since September, the office has also sponsored or cosponsored a variety of other community-based violence intervention and prevention initiatives as part of a comprehensive strategy. Six reentry resource fairs, focused on federal returning citizens and those soon to return, have provided healthcare assistance, employment opportunities, financial literacy services, and more. The office has also participated in multiple meetings with community leaders and serious at-risk individuals, to encourage potential reoffenders to take a better path to success. Additionally, since last November, U.S. Attorney Barron, along with leadership from the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, have participated in “knock and talk” home visits of parolees with teams of probation officers and social workers, to provide resources and services to parolees and their families. These efforts are part of Project Safe Neighborhood Program (“PSN”), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN combines federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, and community service providers to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The office is working comprehensively to build trust and collaboration between law enforcement and the community, to support community-based intervention and prevention, and to strategically enforce the law against those most responsible for the violence in our communities. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Participates in Coordinated National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: BOISE – U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced criminal charges against two defendants today as part of the Department of Justice’s 2023 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action. This two-week nationwide law enforcement action resulted in criminal charges against 78 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes that included over $2.5 billion in alleged fraud. In the Idaho case, a federal grand jury in Boise returned an indictment charging nurse practitioner Angela Kathryn Hughes, 49, of Boise, and Sydney L. Neal, 37, of Boise with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Hughes was also charged with distribution of controlled substances. The indictment alleges that from January 2022 through March 2023, Hughes and Neal conspired to distribute oxycodone, oxycodone acetaminophen, and hydrocodone acetaminophen outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. In addition, the indictment alleges that Hughes distributed hydrocodone acetaminophen to Neal on two occasions and oxycodone to another person on a third occasion. The trial is scheduled for August 28, 2023, before Senior U.S. District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill of the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge would determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. “These enforcement actions, including against one of the largest health care fraud schemes ever prosecuted by the Justice Department, represent our intensified efforts to combat fraud and prosecute the individuals who profit from it,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will find and bring to justice criminals who seek to defraud Americans and steal from taxpayer-funded programs.” “This nationwide enforcement action demonstrates that the Criminal Division is committed to fighting health care fraud and opioid abuse by prosecuting those who allegedly exploit patients and health care benefit programs for personal gain,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s announcement includes some of the largest and most complex cases that the Department has prosecuted, and demonstrates the Department’s commitment to seeking justice for those at all levels of the healthcare industry who put profits above patient care, from professionals in doctors’ offices to executives in corporate boardrooms.” “Unlawful prescription schemes not only steal taxpayer dollars, but they also can cause addiction and physical harm to patients and the community,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “Health care providers should never start down the path of fraud and unlawful prescription drug distribution. We won’t tolerate it, and I’m grateful for the Boise Police Department’s collaboration with our federal law enforcement partners to investigate the case we announced today.” “Medical professionals who take advantage of their credentials to illegitimately prescribe controlled substances violate the principles of their profession and put the health and safety of others at risk,” said Steven J. Ryan, Special Agent in Charge at the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting the health and safety of American communities and holding accountable those who undermine efforts to curb the opioid crisis.” “The DEA, in partnership with Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and the Boise Police Department (BPD), remain steadfast in our commitment to ensure prescription drugs are not illegally diverted from the supply chain in an effort to continue the fight to reduce the overwhelming drug poisonings occurring across the United States,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “These indictments and subsequent arrests are part of that effort to curb this drug poisoning epidemic and bring those to justice who knowingly and intentionally misuse their DEA registrations.” U.S. Attorney Hurwit credited the cooperative efforts of the Boise Police Department, Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and Drug Enforcement Administration which led to the charges. Idaho patients impacted by this service disruption experiencing a behavioral health crises can contact the 988 telephone hotline. Additionally, Idaho patients can contact 211 for questions regarding access to treatment services, primary care, and where to obtain naloxone. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law . ###


title: PillPack by Amazon to Pay $300,000 to Settle Alleged Controlled Substances Act Violations

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces today that PillPack, LLC dba PillPack by Amazon Pharmacy (PillPack) will pay $300,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) by failing to keep accurate records of controlled substances. In 2020, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began investigating PillPack for potential violations of the CSA, and in October of 2020 conducted an audit of PillPack, which revealed recordkeeping deficiencies. Specifically, DEA investigators found that PillPack’s records did not accurately reflect its inventory for ten Schedule III-V substances: Codeine #4, Tramadol, Zolpidem, Butalbital, Alprazolam, Acetaminophen with Codeine #3, Clonazepam, Lorazepam Carisoprodol, and Lyrica. “PillPack’s failure to maintain accurate records risked the diversion of drugs that are often abused in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “As a pharmacy, they have a responsibility to safeguard these controlled substances, and their penalty for failing to do so, serves as a warning to other entities handling medications improperly.” “The DEA is committed to ensuring that all registrants are in compliance with the required regulations, which are enforceable through the Controlled Substances Act,” said Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “When a pharmacy like PillPack fails to comply, that increases the potential for diversion and puts the safety of the public in jeopardy. DEA pledges to work with our law enforcement and regulatory partners to ensure these rules are followed.” The CSA deters the illegal distribution, possession, dispensing, and improper use of controlled substances. The CSA requires the accurate inventorying, tracking and recordkeeping of each controlled substances to prevent misuse. The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation leading to the settlement agreement. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Raphael Katz. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. ###


title: New York Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking

body_text: BOSTON – A New York man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Springfield to drug trafficking charges involving fentanyl. Chanty Reynoso Vasquez, 28, of Bronx, N.Y., pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Nov. 20, 2023. Reynoso Vasquez was indicted by a grand jury in May 2022. On March 30, 2022, in Springfield, Reynoso Vasquez possessed 400 grams or more fentanyl intended for distribution. The charge of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, up to six years of supervised release and a fine of $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England; and Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of Levy’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.


title: Multiple Defendants Charged in Federal Methamphetamine Conspiracy and Related Drug Trafficking Offenses

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Bowling Green, KY – A federal grand jury in Bowling Green, Kentucky, returned a six-count indictment on April 12, 2023, charging six defendants with conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and seven total defendants with methamphetamine trafficking related offenses. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Director Tommy Loving of the Bowling Green/Warren County Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) Drug Task Force made the announcement. According to the indictment, the following six defendants were each charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine between June 1, 2022, and March 7, 2023: Leroy B. Riggsbee, 38, of Bowling Green, KY, Shantaja S. Hutchins, 46, of Bowling Green, KY, Jeffery W. Glass, 50, of Bowling Green, KY, Tyler P. Houchens, 28, of Glasgow, KY, Brandon T. Trent, 24, of Bowling Green, KY, and Joseph A. Raby, 40, of Bowling Green, KY. Each defendant also faces additional charges. Riggsbee and Glass are charged with aiding and abetting each other in the distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on June 28, 2022. Riggsbee is charged with distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on August 24, 2022. Riggsbee and Houchens are charged with aiding and abetting each other in the possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on September 22, 2022. Trent, Raby, Riggsbee, and Hutchins are all charged with aiding and abetting each other in the possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on January 4, 2023. Antoine Bass, 40, of Bowling Green, who was not charged in the conspiracy, was charged with Hutchins for aiding and abetting each other in the distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine on March 7, 2023. Riggsbee, Hutchins, Glass, Houchens, Trent, and Raby all face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. Bass faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. The ATF Bowling Green Field Office and the Bowling Green/Warren County Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) Drug Task Force are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, is prosecuting this case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Port Angeles, Washington, man indicted for sexual abuse of a minor

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 34–year-old resident of Port Angeles, Washington, was indicted late yesterday by a federal grand jury for two counts of sexual abuse of a minor, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Briceson R. Standley has been detained since his arrest on a criminal complaint on June 15, 2023. According to records filed in the case, in April and June 2022, Standley met up with a 15-year-old youth who he had communicated with on a social media app. In the first encounter, Standley sexually molested the youth. In the second encounter, Standley allegedly carried a machete and a pocketknife. Standley allegedly raped the youth. The 15-year-old ceased any communication with Standley and ultimately reported the conduct to a health care provider. An investigation by the U.S. Park Service determined that the alleged assaults took place on a portion of Olympic National Park land. Federal courts have jurisdiction over such land. Sexual abuse of a minor is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case is being investigated by the Investigative Services Branch of the National Park Service and Port Angeles Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristine L. Foerster.


title: Member Of White Supremacist Group Charged for Allegedly Defacing Synagogue With Neo-Nazi Symbols

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A Michigan man was indicted for conspiring with others and allegedly defacing Temple Jacob – a Jewish synagogue in Hancock, Michigan. According to the court documents, Nathan Weeden, 23, of Houghton, and co-conspirators Richard Tobin, of New Jersey, and Yousef Barasneh, of Wisconsin defaced Temple Jacob with swastikas and symbols associated with The Base, a multi-state, white supremacist group. In September 2019, Weeden, Tobin, and Barasneh – all members of The Base – allegedly used an encrypted messaging platform to discuss vandalizing property associated with African Americans and Jewish Americans. Weeden and his co-conspirators dubbed their plan, “Operation Kristallnacht,” which in German means “Night of Broken Glass” and is in reference to the events that took place on Nov. 9 – 10, 1938, in which Nazis murdered Jewish people and burned and destroyed their homes, synagogues, schools and places of business. Weeden allegedly carried out this plan on Sept. 21, 2019, when he spray-painted swastikas and symbols associated with The Base on the outside walls of Temple Jacob. Weeden is charged with one count of conspiracy against rights and one count of damage to religious property. Weeden faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine and a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine, respectively. Weeden was arrested on June 29. The FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Hancock Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler for the Western District of Michigan and Trial Attorney Eric Peffley of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Weeden Indictment


title: Waco Woman Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Identity Theft and Credit Card Fraud in Eastern District of Texas

component: USAO - Texas, Eastern

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas – A Waco woman has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for identity theft and credit card fraud in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today. Ashley Renee Cagle, 43, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and access device fraud and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant. According to information presented in court, Cagle was arrested by McKinney Police Department officers in May of 2021 when she was found to be in possession of stolen United States mail along with multiple credit and debit cards. Further investigation showed that Cagle engaged in wire fraud when she passed a check using another person’s driver license number at a Wal Mart in the Eastern District of Texas. According to information presented during the sentencing hearing, six businesses suffered financial losses as a result of Cagle’s fraudulent check passing scheme. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Mazzant noted Cagle’s extensive criminal history and the need for protection of the public when he sentenced Cagle to a term of ten years in federal prison. “This case is an example of the hard work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Secret Service investigating identity theft, wire fraud, and mail theft and bringing these cases to prosecution by the U.S. Attorney's Office,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. “Identity theft causes harm not only to businesses who are defrauded, but to those individuals whose private information is used to carry out the crime. The U.S. Attorney's Office will continue to partner with federal and local law enforcement to investigate and vigorously prosecute these offenses.” This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service and the McKinney Police Department. ###


title: U.S. Attorney Announces 17 Indictments in Fayetteville Area as Part of Ongoing Federal Violent Crime and Drug Strategy  Significant Amounts of Drugs and Guns Seized

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Today, U.S. Attorney Michael Easley, along with federal and local law enforcement, announced ongoing and coordinated efforts to address violent crime and drug trafficking in Fayetteville and surrounding areas. This effort was conducted as part of two strategic initiatives underway in the region: the Violent Crime Action Plan (VCAP) and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) . Over the last two months, 17 individuals were indicted by grand juries for federal charges and are currently in custody. As part of the initiative, 16 guns, four auto sear machine gun switches, nearly 1500 rounds of ammunition, nearly a kilogram of cocaine, approximately an ounce of fentanyl, 100 MDMA/fentanyl pills, cash and two luxury SUVs have been seized. Additionally, convictions have now been secured against all three North Carolina defendants in an international fentanyl trafficking ring that operated in multiple cities, including the city of Fayetteville. Earlier this month, a federal jury returned verdicts of guilty on both counts against Hector Perez Valenzuela , who was found with seven kilograms of pure fentanyl. In total, the fentanyl trafficking ring was held accountable for distributing more than 40 kilograms of fentanyl around the country. “As we head into the summer months, when we typically see an uptick in violent crime, we want to send a strong and unified message that this community stands against gun violence and drug traffickers,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “We are working with law enforcement at every level to get dangerous, illegal guns and drugs off the streets and put the individuals most responsible for violence and narcotics behind bars. We are using every tool available to keep our communities safe.” VCAP is a collaboration of the U.S. Attorney’s Office with the Fayetteville Police Department (FPD), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office, and the United States Marshals Service (USMS). A primary objective of the VCAP is to identify and systematically investigate and prosecute individuals contributing to crime in the city of Fayetteville and surrounding areas. Law enforcement partners use inter-agency coordination and intelligence-led policing, analyzing crime data to deploy resources where they are most needed and leveraging federal Task Force officers to bring federal technology to address local gun violence. OCDETF investigations identify, disrupt, and dismantle 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. "The Fayetteville Police Department remains committed to our partnership with Federal and State agencies to remove violent and career criminals from our community,” said Fayetteville Police Chief Kemberle Braden. “This partnership and the highlighted cases presented today support our goal of making Fayetteville a safe and secure community." “These indictments and seizures demonstrate the FBI's relentless determination to eradicate the sales of illegal drugs. We are proud to work side by side with our law enforcement partners to hold these individuals accountable,” said Robert M. DeWitt, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Charlotte Special Agent in Charge. “Drugs are affecting families and killing our loved ones,” said Cumberland County Sheriff Ennis W. Wright. “Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Agencies nationwide are constantly collaborating to find opportunities to improve safety in our communities. We hold everyone who endangers our communities with gun violence and poisons like Fentanyl, Cocaine, Meth, and Heroin responsible. While the drug dealers think they are safe, we are putting you on notice that your dealings are being watched, and rest assured that we are on the way to you and have a place for you to stay." “ATF and our law enforcement partners support the Violent Crime Action Plan because it focuses on those individuals who pose the biggest threat to our communities,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “We can have a major impact on the level of crime and violence in a community when we take firearms out of the hands of dangerous, prohibited individuals.” "Fentanyl poisonings and other dangerous drugs have taken a terrible toll on our communities.” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Atlanta Division. “Violent criminals and drug traffickers will face the consequences of their actions.” “The Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office is proud to be a part of the Violent Crime Action Plan,” said Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West. “We are committed to partnering with our local, state, and federal law enforcement to aggressively prosecute violent crime. These indictments are an example of working together with our partners to remove dangerous and illegal drugs and guns as well as violent offenders from our community.” There are a wide range of charges on these subjects including felon in possession of a firearm, robbery, possession with intent to possess/distribute narcotics, as well as possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes and crimes of violence. The following individuals, all from Fayetteville and surrounding areas, face federal prosecution resulting from VCAP: Norman Vincent Brown, age 33, felon in possession of a firearm Malik Crawford, age 26, interference with commerce by robbery and possession of firearm during a crime of violence Joseph Monroe Griffin, age 33, felon in possession of a firearm Ondrilleis Malloy, age 26, felon in possession of a firearm Demarco McLucas, age 22, felon in possession of a firearm Tammy Michelle Mitchell, age 42, felon in possession of a firearm Anthony Thomas, age 27, interference with commerce by robbery and possession of firearm during a crime of violence Samuel Thompson, age 20, possession of a machinegun and felon in possession of a firearm Zaire Whitten, age 26, felon in possession of a firearm The following defendants were indicted as part of an OCDETF investigation: Eric David Black, age 30, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl; possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Robert James Colt, a/k/a “RJ,” age 38, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl; possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession of a firearm by a felon. Jean Raymond Desire, a/k/a “Krim,” age 50, conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine; distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine; and distribution of a quantity of cocaine and aiding and abetting. Rashard Antwon Hardy, a/k/a “Gump,” age 42, conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine and distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine and abetting. Rick Derrell McIntyre, age 44, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Laron Marcell McIntyre, a/k/a “Rat,” age 48, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Natadja Denae Owen, age 26, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine; distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine and aiding and abetting; and distribution of a quantity of cocaine and aiding and abetting. Kenneth Brandon Pomeroy, Jr., a/k/a “Spazz,” age 38, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl; possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The VCAP initiative is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The Fayetteville Police Department, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the U.S. Marshals Service are involved in the investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caroline Webb and Chad Rhoades are the lead prosecutors for the cases, with assistance from other criminal Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the office. An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. ###


title: New Britain Man Sentenced to 42 Months in Federal Prison for Firearm Offense

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that LUIS JAVIER LOPEZ, 24, of New Britain, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 42 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release for unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition. According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 26, 2022, Hartford Police attempted to stop a car that Lopez was driving, and which was reported to be involved in two shots fired incidents in the weeks prior. After Lopez fled, police deployed tire deflation devices during the pursuit to disable Lopez’s car. Lopez continued to drive his disabled car for several miles before he crashed into a vehicle stopped at a red light on the Berlin Turnpike in Wethersfield. Lopez ran from his car and was arrested in the vicinity of a motel on Arrow Road. At the time of his arrest, Lopez possessed a high-capacity magazine loaded with 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition. Officers also located a 9mm firearm on the other side of a fence where Lopez had been running, and two spent 9mm shell casings by Lopez’s car. Analysis of the firearm and recovered shell casings via the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) connected them to each other, and to the two shots fired incidents involving his car. Lopez was previously convicted in state court of possession with intent to sell a controlled substance. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. Lopez has been detained since his arrest. On February 16, 2023, he pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition by a felon. This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Hartford Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie T. Levick and Angel M. Krull through the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program. PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.


title: Appleton Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Possessing Methamphetamine for Distribution

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Ari Lor, 30, Appleton, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 10 years in prison for possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Lor pleaded guilty to this charge on April 4, 2023. In January of 2022, law enforcement agents began a drug investigation into Lor. On June 20, 2022, GPS location data from Lor’s cellular telephone showed he was driving towards Wausau, Wisconsin, from his home in Appleton. Based on information developed during the investigation, agents believed Lor was planning to meet with co-defendant Devin Needham to buy methamphetamine. Law enforcement officers located Lor’s black minivan parked at a market in Wausau. Officers observed Lor leave the market carrying at least one plastic bag and get in the passenger side of the minivan. The minivan drove away but was pulled over by law enforcement officers a short time later for an expired registration sticker. After a K-9 positively alerted to the presence of narcotics, officers searched the minivan and found approximately one pound of methamphetamine in a white plastic bag. Officers later reviewed surveillance video from the market and saw Lor and Needham walk around the store together. In the video, Needham is carrying a white plastic bag and the name of a store printed on the side of the bag was identical to the bag found in the minivan containing the methamphetamine. During Lor’s arrest, agents seized two cellular telephones from him. Officers later searched the phones pursuant to a warrant, and on one of the phones found a message over the application “Telegram” from June 19, 2022, in which Lor asked Needham about the price of one pound of methamphetamine. Needham responded it would cost $4,000. Telegram messages prior to Lor’s arrest on June 20 show him and Needham making plans to meet that day in Wausau. Lor’s criminal history includes four prior felony convictions, including convictions for strangulation and suffocation and possession with intent to distribute amphetamine. At the sentencing hearing, Judge Peterson concluded that a significant sentence was warranted because Lor’s criminal history showed a commitment to a criminal lifestyle. Judge Peterson also noted that Lor had been provided with many opportunities to turn his life around but failed to do so. Needham pleaded guilty on April 5, 2023 to possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine for distribution. He will be sentenced by Judge Peterson on July 20, 2023. The charge against Lor is the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force comprised of investigators from the FBI, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, Wausau Police Department, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin State Patrol, Everest Metro Police Department, and Wisconsin’s National Guard Counterdrug Program. The Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group and the Marathon County District Attorney’s Office also provided assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner is handling the prosecution.


title: Columbus man sentenced to 45 years in prison for sexually exploiting three minors

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A 37-year-old Columbus man was sentenced today to 540 months in prison for coercing at least three minor victims to engage in sexually explicit activity for the purpose of producing images and videos of the acts. Two of those victims were offered cash and gifts to entice them into performing and/or engaging in sexually explicit acts with him. Raymond L. Williams committed this exploitation between 2016 and July 2022. Court documents say that the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force received a CyberTipLine report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that images depicting child sexual abuse had been uploaded to an online account that was traced to one of the victims, an approximately 14-year-old minor male. Investigators interviewed the minor victim who said the images and videos were created for Williams and that his chats with Williams took place through third party messaging apps. The investigation further revealed that Williams would provide sex toys to the minor victim to use in the sexually explicit conduct by leaving them in hiding places around the downtown branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library. Law enforcement then assumed the identity of the minor victim in online platforms and began communicating with Williams, setting up a meeting at the library in which Williams expected to engage in sexual intercourse with the minor. Upon his arrival, Williams was placed under arrest by the ICAC task force and his electronic devices were seized. Williams has been in custody since his arrest. Further investigation and forensic analysis of those devices identified two additional victims who stated that Williams offered them cash or gifts in exchange for sexual acts occurring between the time frame when the victims were 11 through 17 years of age. Investigators found images, videos, and text messages with the victims on phones seized from Williams further confirming the statements of all three victims. Williams pleaded guilty in March 2023 to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor. He was sentenced today to 360 months on each count of sexual exploitation of a minor and 540 months on the coercion and enticement of a minor charge, with each count to run concurrently. “Predators are looking for underaged people they can manipulate and exploit,” said Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. “Sexual abuse is never contained to a present moment. It lingers across a child’s lifetime and has pervasive, long-term ramifications.” Parker was joined by Angie Salazar, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit Field Office; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and agencies participating in the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children task force in announcing the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Kansas Man Charged for Stealing from U.S. Government

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas man on two counts of theft of government money or property, and one count of engaging in illegal monetary transactions. According to court documents, Jack Crowder, 34, of Wichita is accused of stealing $17,688.00 from the U.S. Department of Labor on September 7, 2022, and $5,412.00 from the U.S. Department of Labor on September 8, 2022. The defendant made his initial court appearance on June 28, 2023, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gwynne E. Birzer of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas. The IRS- Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deb Barnett and Ola Odeyemi are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Member Of White Supremacist Group Charged For Allegedly Defacing Synagogue With Neo-Nazi Symbols

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: Defendant, a Member of “The Base,” Allegedly Painted Swastikas and Other Symbols on Temple Jacob in Hancock, Michigan GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney Mark Totten for the Western District of Michigan today announced the indictment of Nathan Weeden, 23, of Houghton, Michigan for conspiring with others and allegedly defacing Temple Jacob – a Jewish synagogue in Hancock, Michigan – with swastikas and symbols associated with The Base, a multi-state, white supremacist group. “We are fully prepared to make our case against Mr. Weeden,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “No one should be the target of hate because of their race, ethnicity, religion, or any other status. When hateful words become hateful acts, in violation of federal civil rights laws, my office will use every tool we have to protect the public and ensure accountability. With the rise of antisemitism across the United States and here in Michigan, everyone must do their part to stand united against hate.” VIDEO MESSAGE: U.S. Attorney Mark Totten In the attached indictment issued against Weeden, along with other public documents filed in cases against alleged co-conspirators Richard Tobin of New Jersey (see here and here ) and Yousef Barasneh of Wisconsin (see here and here ), support the following allegations. According to the indictment, in September 2019, Weeden, Tobin, and Barasneh – all members of The Base, a multi-state, white supremacist organization – allegedly used an encrypted messaging platform to discuss vandalizing property associated with African Americans and Jewish Americans. Weeden and his co-conspirators dubbed their plan, “Operation Kristallnacht,” which in German means “Night of Broken Glass” and is in reference to the events that took place on November 9th and 10th of 1938 in which Nazis murdered Jewish people and burned and destroyed their homes, synagogues, schools, and places of business. The indictment alleges that Weeden carried out this plan on September 21, 2019, when he spray-painted swastikas and symbols associated with The Base on the outside walls of Temple Jacob. Weeden is charged with two counts. The first count is for Conspiracy Against Rights under 18 U.S.C. § 241, a civil rights statute that makes it a crime to conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person in the exercise of their rights. The maximum penalty under this statute is 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The second count is for Damage to Religious Property under 18 U.S.C. § 247, also a civil rights statute that makes it a crime to intentionally deface, damage, or destroy religious property because of the race or ethnic characteristics of individuals associated with that religious property. The maximum penalty under this statute is 1 year imprisonment and a $100,000 fine. “The FBI will not tolerate crimes motivated by hate, which are meant to intimidate and isolate the targeted groups,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “People of all faiths deserve to feel safe in their communities and this office, in close collaboration with our law enforcement partners, will aggressively pursue these types of cases to ensure there are consequences for crimes like those alleged in this indictment.” The grand jury issued its two-count indictment against Nathan Weeden on June 27, 2023. The indictment was unsealed on June 29, 2023, after the defendant was arrested by the FBI. He remains in custody at this time. The court will schedule Weeden’s arraignment, detention hearing, and trial at a later date. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler and Trial Attorney Eric Peffley of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section. It is being investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Hancock Police Department. The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. Click here to view a copy of the indictment . ###


title: Felon sentenced for illegal possession of firearm after offering to sell pistol, illegal switches for gun conversion

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

body_text: BILLINGS — A California felon who was identified offering to sell an undercover agent a pistol and switches used to convert guns from semi-automatic firearms to fully-automatic was sentenced today to two years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U. S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Drew Parker Seymour, 24, of Banning, California, pleaded guilty in February to prohibited person in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that Seymour has been convicted of four felonies, including this case, that involve him illegally possessing firearms. In March 2022 in Billings, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives learned that Seymour offered online to sell an individual illegal Glock switches, which are used to convert semi-automatic firearms into automatic machine guns. An undercover agent began communicating with Seymour, who offered to sell the agent Glock switches and a .45 caliber pistol. Seymour sent pictures of both. Seymour later withdrew his offer to sell the Glock switches. The undercover agent agreed to meet Seymour to buy the pistol. Before the meeting occurred, drug task force agents detained Seymour and his girlfriend at a post office in Billings as they attempted to pick up a package of fentanyl. In a search of the couple’s motel room, law enforcement located a .45-caliber, semi-automatic pistol hidden under a mattress. Seymour’s fingerprint was recovered from the gun’s magazine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin D. Hargrove prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Billings Police Department, U.S. Postal Service and Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force conducted the investigation. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. XXX


title: Florida Contractors and Owner to Pay More than $7.7 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Procurement of Small Business Contracts

component: Civil Division

body_text: HX5 LLC and its owner and Chief Executive Officer, Margarita Howard, located in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and an affiliated joint venture HX5 Sierra LLC, located in Cleveland, Ohio, have agreed to pay the United States $7,759,693.92 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly providing false information to the Small Business Administration relating to HX5’s and HX5 Sierra’s eligibility for federal set-aside contracts intended for small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. “Small business set-aside contracts assist small businesses, including socially disadvantaged companies, to compete in the American economy,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “When companies misrepresent their eligibility for such contracts, they prevent others from receiving the business opportunities Congress intended.” The SBA’s 8(a) business development program is intended to help small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Once certified, 8(a) Program participants are eligible to receive federal contracting preferences. The settlement announced today resolves allegations that HX5, HX5 Sierra and Howard fraudulently obtained six 8(a) contracts during the period Jan. 1, 2015, to Dec. 31, 2021. More specifically, the government alleged that HX5 and Howard failed to report distributions and payments to Howard’s family members and allegedly provided false information to SBA regarding Howard’s assets. The government further alleged that if HX5 and Howard had provided accurate information it would have resulted in HX5’s termination from the SBA 8(a) Program, which, in turn, would also have made HX5 Sierra ineligible for 8(a) set-aside contracts. As a result of the alleged false statements, HX5 improperly maintained its status as an 8(a) Program participant, and HX5 and HX5 Sierra were awarded 8(a) set-aside contracts by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Air Force for which the companies were not eligible. “We are very pleased with today’s agreement,” said U.S. Attorney Jason R. Coody for the Northern District of Florida. “This result demonstrates a coordinated effort among our agency partners to ensure that disregard for the integrity of small business contracting will not go unchecked.” “Individuals that provided fraudulent information to gain access to SBA funds intended to support eligible small businesses will face justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite of the SBA’s Office of Inspector General’s Eastern Region. “Today’s settlement sends a strong message that those responsible will be held accountable. I want to thank the U.S. Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners for their support and dedication to pursuit of justice in this case.” The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Vantage Systems Inc. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Vantage Systems, Inc. v. HX5 LLC, et al., et al. , No. 20-cv-3649 (N.D. Fla.). As part of today’s resolution, Vantage Systems will receive $1,357,964.00. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort among the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, with assistance from the NASA Office of the General Counsel, NASA Office of Inspector General, Air Force Office of General Counsel, Air Force Office of the Judge Advocate General, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Army Office of the Judge Advocate General, Army Criminal Investigation Division, the Defense Contract Audit Agency, the Defense Contract Management Agency, and the Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General. The matter was handled by Trial Attorney Laura Hill of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, former Trial Attorney Andrew Jaco of the Justice Department’s Civil Division (now with the Justice Department’s Criminal Division), and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Ann Couch for the Northern District of Florida. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Multi-Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty To Possessing Firearm

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Terrence Thompson (42, Sarasota) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Thompson faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court documents, on December 9, 2022, deputies from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office (“SCSO”) received a 911 call about a disturbance involving Thompson at a residence in the area of Lalani Boulevard and Bee Ridge Road in Sarasota. The SCSO Aviation Unit tracked Thompson from the residence and with its infrared camera recorded Thompson stopping his vehicle and throwing a small pistol-shaped object in the bushes near Crescent Ridge Road and Bee Ridge Road. SCSO deputies searched the area and recovered the loaded Bersa Thunder 380 pistol that Thompson had discarded. Thompson was arrested a short time later. During an interview with ATF agents, Thompson admitted to being a convicted felon and possessing the pistol. He further admitted to discarding the pistol when the helicopter spotted him. As a convicted felon Thompson is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee.


title: Missouri Man Sentenced on Machine Gun Charge

body_text: CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. on Wednesday sentenced a Dunklin County, Missouri man to two years in federal prison for selling a device that can convert a Glock pistol into a machine gun. On Oct. 12, 2022, Cole Johnathan Campbell, now 22, of Kennett, Missouri, sold an auto sear, also known as a “Glock switch,” to a confidential informant working for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The auto sear converts a semi-automatic Glock pistol into a fully automatic firearm. Glock switches alone, even if not attached to a firearm, are defined as a machine gun under federal law. Campbell said he had removed the device from his own gun, knew it worked and had a video of it in operation. He also offered to sell more of the devices, his plea agreement says. Campbell pleaded guilty in March to one felony count of unlawfully transferring a machine gun. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Willis prosecuted the case.


title: Fifteen People Charged in Passaic County Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – Fifteen members and associates of a Paterson-based street gang were charged today in connection with their roles in the distribution of narcotics, including heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. The 11 defendants arrested today are scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court. Two defendants were already in custody on state charges and two defendants remain at large. All of the defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, including heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine. A number of the defendants are also charged with weapons offenses. (See chart below.) “As alleged in the criminal complaint, these defendants were affiliated with a street gang that trafficked fentanyl, an extremely dangerous synthetic opioid that can kill users with a single dose,” U.S. Attorney Sellinger said. “Not only did they deal these dangerous drugs in Paterson, certain gang members are alleged to have had guns to solidify their control of the drug trade. We have no higher priority than taking apart these gangs and addressing the drivers of violence. Independent of this case, thanks to the efforts of our federal, state, and local partners there have been fewer shooting incidents in New Jersey and fewer shooting victims in Paterson this year than in 2022. We are committed to building upon this progress and keeping our communities safe.” “ATF is dedicated to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling gangs and criminal organizations,” Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, said. “We appreciate the commitment and tireless efforts of our federal, state and local partners and our personnel in bringing accountability to criminals. Our collaborative and unified efforts are essential to reducing violent crime and removing those offenders that terrorize our communities and threaten public safety.” According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court: The defendants are all members and associates of the UpTop street gang, based in the Fourth Ward of Paterson, in the area of Governor and Carroll streets, the Incca Village housing complex, and Harrison Street. The gang members and associates are involved in the distribution of controlled substances. Jamal Ricks, aka “Bop,” and Rahjohn Leary, aka “Rah,” are high-ranking members of UpTop who worked with the other conspirators to control the sale of drugs in and around Paterson. Quadair Williams, aka “Fed Baby,” aka “Mega,” is a close associate of senior members of UpTop, including Ricks and Leary, and one of the gang’s drug suppliers. Some members of the gang, including Marquis Turner, aka “June Bug,” and Quajamir Price, aka “Porkchop,” used and possessed and conspired to use and possess firearms in furtherance of the gang’s drug trafficking activities. Turner is charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Price is charged with conspiracy to possess a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. The count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances is punishable by a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million. The count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000. The count of possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime is punishable by a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison, which must be served consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed, and a fine of up to $250,000. The count of conspiracy to possess a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and task force officers of the (ATF), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Miller; officers of the Paterson Police Department, under the direction of Officer in Charge Isa M. Abbasi of the Office of the Attorney General; detectives of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes; the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Richard H. Berdnik; special agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins; special agents of U.S. Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jose Riera in Newark; special agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), under the direction of Newark Field Office Director John Tsoukaris; the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; and the Elizabeth Police Department, under the direction of Police Director Earle Graves and Chief Giacomo Sacca, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the U.S. Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations Newark, Newark Police Department, Passaic Police Department, and Hillside Police Department for their assistance with the case. This case is part of the Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), which was formed in 2020 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Paterson’s Department of Public Safety for the purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Paterson. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals, the Paterson Department of Public Safety, the Paterson Police Department, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, N.J. State Parole, Passaic County Jail, N.J. State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, and N.J. Department of Corrections. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Graham of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Clara Kim of the OCDETF/Narcotics Unit. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. DEFENDANTS NAME AGE RESIDENCE Quadair Williams aka “Fed Baby” aka “Mega” 41 Hackensack, New Jersey Jamal Ricks aka “Bop” 35 Paterson Rahjohn Leary aka “Rah” 29 Newark Ronald Taylor aka “Fat Cat” aka “Cat” 29 Passaic, New Jersey Malachi Fields aka “Chicago” 28 Paterson Marquis Turner aka “June Bug” 26 Paterson Prince Carter aka “Eighty” aka “Eight” 41 Paterson *Terrance Drakeford 30 Prospect Park, New Jersey Xavier Classen aka “Swaggy” 25 Paterson Quajamir Price aka “Porkchop” 20 Paterson *Jamah Godwin 29 Paterson Troy Blair 48 Paterson Elton Baker 45 Paterson Justin Carlos aka “Spaz” 36 Paterson Marecius Samuels aka “Re-Up” 35 Paterson *denotes at large 23-190 uptop.complaint.pdf