title: Stockton Man Pleads Guilty to Dealing Drugs, Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Carrying a Firearm in Relation to Drug Trafficking

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jamel Duppre Stinson, 43, of Stockton, pleaded guilty today to two counts of possession of various drugs with intent to distribute, one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of possessing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, on April 21, 2020, law enforcement agents went to Stinson’s residence to execute a search warrant for his residence, vehicle, and person. Stinson arrived in a Mercedes driven by his girlfriend. Once the vehicle parked on the driveway, officers announced their presence and that they had a search warrant. Stinson, still seated in the front passenger seat, shoved an item in a black plastic bag into a shoe on the front passenger floorboard. Officers removed Stinson from the vehicle and detained him. During the subsequent search, officers located a loaded Glock 21 .45 caliber firearm in his left shoe. In his right shoe, they discovered various distribution amounts of crack cocaine, powder cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. Stinson later admitted that he sold drugs in Oakland, that he personally manufactured powder cocaine into crack cocaine, and that he carried the firearm for protection because people knew he had money from dealing drugs. Stinson is prohibited from possessing firearms because he has been previously convicted of eight felonies, including six prior drug trafficking offenses and a prior conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oakland Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella is prosecuting the case. Stinson is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb on Dec. 18, 2023. Stinson faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $5 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Luzerne County Woman Sentenced To 30 Months’ Imprisonment For Fentanyl Trafficking

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Candacelee Ellis, age 37, of Plymouth, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on September 22, 2023, by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani, to 30 months’ imprisonment on the charge of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Ellis previously pleaded guilty and admitted to conspiring with other individuals to distribute between 160 grams and 280 grams of fentanyl in the Luzerne County area between 2019 and 2020. Previously, co-defendant Eric Hill, age 34, also of Plymouth, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by Judge Mariani to serve 10 years’ imprisonment for conspiring to distribute between 400 grams and 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl in the Luzerne County area. The charges against the defendants resulted from an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), the Kingston Police Department, the Luzerne County Drug Task Force, and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. ###


title: Roosevelt Norris Charged with Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Roosevelt Norris, 54, of Rutland, Vermont, appeared on Friday, September 22, 2023, before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle after the federal grand jury in Burlington charged him with three counts of distributing cocaine base, a Schedule II controlled substance. According to court records, Norris, who is also known as “Maz,” sold cocaine base to a confidential informant on three occasions in July and August 2023. Norris pleaded not guilty to the charges. Magistrate Judge Doyle ordered Norris to remain in the custody of the United States Marshals pending trial. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that a criminal complaint contains allegations only and that Norris is presumed innocent until and unless he is convicted of a crime. Norris faces up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1,000,000, and up to a lifetime of supervised release, with a mandatory minimum of three years of supervised release. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines. United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the Vermont State Police and the Rutland Police Department. The prosecutors are Assistant United States Attorneys Corinne M. Smith and Jonathan A. Ophardt. Norris is represented by Michael J. Straub, Esq.


title: Norwood Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing Government Benefits

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Norwood woman pleaded guilty on Sept. 22, 2023 in federal court in Boston to fraudulently receiving federal workers’ compensation benefits and disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). Karen Nolan, 66, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft of public funds and two counts of making false statements. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf scheduled sentencing for Dec. 7, 2023. Nolan was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2021. From approximately November 2017 through August 2021, Nolan repeatedly stole federal workers’ compensation benefits, as well as Social Security disability benefits from approximately July 2019 through August 2021. In April 2019, Nolan falsely reported to the SSA that she had not worked since 2017 due to a medical disability, but was actively employed at a dermatology practice at the time. Nolan also made similar false statements to the Department of Labor, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs in May 2021. The charges of theft of public funds each provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charges of making a false statement each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. 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; Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office; Sharon MacDermott, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; and Anthony DiPaolo, Chief of Investigations, Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts, made the announcement today. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: New York Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Possession and Distribution Charges

body_text: BOSTON - A New York man has pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl in Woburn. Ruben Davila Cardenas, 45, pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Court Senior Judge Mark L. Wolf scheduled sentencing for Dec. 20, 2023. In October 2021, Cardenas distributed approximately three kilograms of fentanyl and approximately 500 grams of fentanyl analogue. The charge of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England; John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; and Colonel Mark B. Hall, Director of the New Hampshire State Police made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Mulcahy of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: Mexican National Residing in Bakersfield Pleads Guilty to Possessing 60 Pounds of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Francisco Torres Mora, 30, a Mexican national residing in Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to possessing with intent to distribute 60 pounds of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, in April 2021, Torres possessed 60 pounds of methamphetamine at a commercial property that he intended to distribute. Law enforcement officers seized the methamphetamine after wire intercepts indicated that Torres was holding the methamphetamine for Jorge Calderon-Campos, 42, also a Mexican national, who was the target of a wiretap investigation that resulted in the seizure of an additional 26 pounds of methamphetamine and 1 kilogram of heroin. The wiretap investigation also uncovered an illegal cockfighting enterprise involving Calderon-Campos, who is charged in a second indictment with violations of the Animal Welfare Act. An associate, Horacio Ortega-Martinez, 36, a Mexican national residing in Bakersfield, previously pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of gamecocks for an animal fighting venture and was sentenced to 18 months in prison. This case was the product of an investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG), the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Secret Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Kern County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, the California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Kern County Sheriff's Office, the Kern County Probation Department, and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case. Torres is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Jan. 29, 2024. Torres faces a mandatory statutory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, along with a $10 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. Calderon-Campos and four other co-defendants are currently scheduled for a status conference on Dec. 6, 2023. They are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.


title: Providence Man Sentenced for Robbing Five Rhode Island Banks

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Providence man who previously admitted to a federal judge that he robbed five banks in Rhode Island within five weeks in early 2022, including three in three days, was sentenced today to 30 months in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Dashawn Diaz, 24, admitted that on January 12, 13, and 14, 2022, and on February 1 and 8, 2022, he presented a note to tellers at various bank branches in Providence, Pawtucket, and East Providence announcing that he was robbing the bank. In at least one of the robberies, Diaz told a teller, “Hurry! Big bills only” as he presented a note that read “Armed Robbery.” On March 2, 2023, Diaz pleaded guilty to five counts of bank robbery, admitting that on January 12, 2022, he robbed a Providence branch of Santander Bank of $7,100; on January 13, 2022, a Providence branch of Citizens Bank of approximately $2,700; on January 14, 2022, a branch of Citizens Bank in Pawtucket of $952; on February 1, 2022, a Santander Bank branch in Providence of $2,348; and on February 8, 2022, a TD Bank branch in East Providence of $3,167. At sentencing today, U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy sentenced Diaz to thirty months of incarceration to be followed by three years of federal supervised release. Diaz was ordered to pay restitution to the banks totaling $15,807. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zechariah Chafee. The matter was investigated by the FBI and the Providence, Pawtucket, and East Providence Police Departments. ###


title: Two Real Estate Developers Convicted of Conspiring to Embezzle Millions From the Failed Washington Federal Bank in Chicago

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal jury in Chicago has convicted two real estate developers of participating in a conspiracy that embezzled millions of dollars from the failed Washington Federal Bank for Savings in Chicago. Washington Federal, which was based in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood, was shut down in 2017 after the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency determined that the bank was insolvent and had at least $66 million in nonperforming loans. For more than a decade, developers MIROSLAW KREJZA and MAREK MATCZUK were part of a conspiracy that embezzled millions of dollars in bank funds. The embezzled funds were disguised as purported real estate development loan disbursements to Krejza, Matczuk, and others. The conspirators were not required to repay these purported loans, and they never did. Krejza, 65, of Chicago, and Matczuk, 60, of Park Ridge, Ill., were convicted Friday of conspiring to commit embezzlement and falsify bank records, as well as aiding and abetting embezzlement by bank employees. The jury returned the verdicts after a three-week trial in federal court in Chicago. U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Kendall did not immediately set sentencing dates. The convictions were announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Vincent R. Zehme, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Region of the FDIC’s Office of Inspector General; Machelle L. Jindra, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Inspector General in Chicago; Justin Campbell, Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago; Catherine Huber, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Central Region of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General; Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; Andrea Peacock, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Department of the Treasury, Office of Inspector General; Deborah Witzburg, City of Chicago Inspector General; and Kathryn B. Richards, Chicago Housing Authority Inspector General. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Trustee Program and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Petersen, Kristin Pinkston, and Brian Netols, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Snell. The federal investigation into the collapse of Washington Federal led to criminal charges against 16 defendants, including the bank’s Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and other high-ranking employees, for conspiring to embezzle at least $31 million in bank funds. Krejza, Matczuk, and two others were convicted after jury trials, while ten defendants pleaded guilty and two entered into deferred prosecution agreements. Much of the embezzled money was transferred to Chicago attorney ROBERT M. KOWALSKI and other individuals outside the bank without all of the required documentation and often without any documentation whatsoever. A jury earlier this year convicted Robert Kowalski on bankruptcy fraud, bank embezzlement, and false statement charges. His sentencing is set for Jan. 23, 2024. Robert Kowalski’s sister, JAN R. KOWALSKI, also an attorney, pleaded guilty and was sentenced in June to more than three years in prison for fraudulently enabling her brother to conceal more than $357,000 from creditors and the trustee in his bankruptcy case. Last month, three former members of Washington Federal’s Board of Directors pleaded guilty to conspiring to falsify bank records to deceive the OCC. WILLIAM M. MAHON, GEORGE F. KOZDEMBA, and JANICE M. WESTON will be sentenced in December. Last year, Chicago attorney PATRICK D. THOMPSON was convicted of making false statements to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. regarding the amount of money he received from Washington Federal via a purported loan and other unsecured payments. Thompson was also convicted of filing tax returns in which he falsely deducted interest that he had not actually paid to Washington Federal.


title: Helena contract carrier sentenced for stealing mail on rural routes

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: HELENA — A carrier who delivered mail for the U.S. Postal Service was sentenced today after she admitted to stealing mail from her route in search of cash and gift cards from more than 90 victims, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris sentenced Katie Elizabeth Bowlds, 39, of Helena, to two years of probation and ordered $1,847 restitution. Bowlds pleaded guilty in April to possession of stolen mail. “I hope the restitution ordered today will help make up for the missed birthday, anniversary, and special occasion gifts that Bowlds robbed from people, including kids, when she stole mail and rifled through greeting cards for cash and gift cards. Mail is necessarily private, and the public expects and deserves to have their mail delivered intact to its intended recipients. Bowlds’ actions eroded this trust, and I am pleased she is being held accountable for her criminal conduct,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said. The government alleged in court documents that in 2022, Bowlds worked as a contract delivery services carrier for the U.S. Postal Service on a rural route in Helena. In the spring of 2022, Bowlds stole hundreds of greeting cards from her postal route in search of cash and gift cards. Many of these greeting cards contained small denominations of cash and gift cards and were intended for birthdays, anniversaries and other life events. The cards never reached the intended recipients because of Bowlds’ thefts. Bowlds’ actions affected more than 90 victims. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Betley prosecuted the case. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Two Promoters Charged in Alleged Nationwide Illegal Abusive-Trust Tax Shelter Fraud Scheme

component: Tax Division

body_text: A federal grand jury in Denver returned an indictment, unsealed today, charging a Colorado man and a Texas man with conspiring to defraud the United States and with assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns. The indictment also charges the Colorado man and his spouse with evading their personal federal income taxes. According to the indictment, since 2017, Timothy McPhee of Estes Park, Colorado, and Larry Conner of Frisco, Texas – along with others – promoted and sold an abusive-trust tax shelter to clients nationwide for fees ranging from approximately $25,000 to $50,000. The indictment alleges that McPhee and Conner instructed clients to assign their income to a series of sham trusts to make it appear as if the income was no longer owned or controlled by the client. However, this paper trail was allegedly false as the clients continued to benefit from and control the income assigned to the sham trusts. McPhee and Conner’s promotion and sale of the tax shelter allegedly resulted in tens of millions of dollars in federal income taxes not being paid to the IRS. McPhee and Conner allegedly assured clients that after transferring income or personal property to the sham trusts, the clients would retain full control over the assets and could continue to use them for their benefit. To facilitate such use, McPhee and Conner allegedly directed their clients to open bank accounts and obtain credit cards in the names of their sham trusts and to pay personal expenses with funds held in those accounts. McPhee and Conner also allegedly directed their clients to transfer real estate and other assets to the sham trusts to avoid paying income taxes on any capital gains incurred from the sale of those assets. McPhee and his wife, Marcia Predmore, are charged with using the abusive-trust tax shelter to conceal a substantial amount of their own income from the IRS. McPhee and Predmore allegedly signed trust instruments purporting to create four trusts, opened bank accounts in the name of each entity and paid for personal living expenses from those bank accounts. The indictment alleges that McPhee and Predmore assigned nearly all their income to their sham trusts and transferred multiple real estate properties to one of their sham trusts before selling the property. McPhee and Predmore then allegedly filed false individual income tax returns with the IRS that failed to report the income they assigned to the sham trusts. If convicted, McPhee and Conner face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States and three years in prison for each count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. McPhee and Predmore also face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count of tax evasion. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Senior Litigation Counsel Corey J. Smith and Trial Attorneys Lauren K. Pope and Amanda R. Scott of the Tax Division 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: Third Defendant Charged With Federal Narcotics Offenses Resulting In Death In Connection With The Poisoning Of Four Children At A Bronx Daycare

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Frank A. Tarentino III, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and Edward A. Caban, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today the unsealing of a criminal Complaint in Manhattan federal court charging RENNY ANTONIO PARRA PAREDES, a/k/a “El Gallo,” with conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death in connection with the poisoning of four children under the age of three, one of whom died, at a daycare facility in the Bronx. PAREDES is in custody and was presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “I promised last week that we would continue to work to bring those involved in the child poisonings at Divino Niño daycare to justice. Since then, this Office and our law enforcement partners have worked around the clock to identify and apprehend additional individuals who are responsible. Today’s arrest is one more step toward obtaining justice for the child-victims of this heinous offense and their families.” DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III said: “As alleged, Paredes had an instrumental role in this conspiracy and is charged with narcotics distribution and death in connection with the poisoning of four children. The alleged drugs and materials seized in the trap are indicative of a prolific drug packaging operation. Traffickers often hide contraband in inconspicuous or unsuspecting locations with no regard for the safety of others. In this case, the Daycare’s floorboards were used as concealment, putting children’s lives at risk who innocently sat on the floor to play. I reiterate that DEA and our law enforcement partners will continue to pursue justice for all members of this trafficking ring.” NYPD Police Commissioner Edward A. Caban said: “The truly disgraceful allegations in this case continue to shock the senses. This latest charge proves that our determination to eradicate the threat of illicit fentanyl and save lives cannot – and will not – stop. The NYPD and our law enforcement partners remain committed to investigating and holding fully accountable anyone who puts the lives of our children in danger. New Yorkers’ families, and our communities, depend on it.” As alleged in the Complaint: [1] From at least in or about July 2023 through at least in or about September 2023, RENNY ANTONIO PARRA PAREDES and others, including GREI MENDEZ and CARLISTO ACEVEDO BRITO, [2] conspired to distribute fentanyl, including at a children’s daycare center in the Bronx, New York (the “Daycare”). There, despite the daily presence of children, including infants, PAREDES and his co-conspirators maintained large quantities of narcotics, including a kilogram of fentanyl stored on top of children’s playmats, and large quantities of suspected narcotics in hidden compartments known as “traps” located in the floor of the room in which the children played and slept. In addition, law enforcement found in the traps materials to package narcotics, such as glassine envelopes used for retail distribution of drugs, which had been stamped in red with “RED DAWN.” One of the traps found in the floor of the Daycare is pictured below: As a consequence of the drug conspiracy engaged in by PAREDES, MENDEZ, ACEVEDO BRITO, and others, on or about September 15, 2023, four children at the Daycare, who were all under three years of age, appear to have experienced the effects of poisoning from exposure to fentanyl. Three of the children were hospitalized with serious injuries. The fourth child, a one-year-old boy, died. Following the arrest of PAREDES, law enforcement officers searched the apartment in which PAREDES had been staying. During the course of that search, law enforcement officers found shopping bags containing tools and instruments that are used to prepare and distribute narcotics, including strainers, tape, a grinder, plastic bags, and digital scales. Law enforcement officers also found what appears to be two clear Ziplock bags filled with a greyish powder and a rectangular, brick-shaped package, both of which appear to contain narcotics. Law enforcement officials further found in the apartment in which PAREDES was staying glassine envelopes that bore the same red stamp with the name “RED DAWN” as the above-described glassine envelopes found at the Daycare. The first photo below depicts the glassines found in the trap in the Daycare, and the second photo below depicts the glassines found in the apartment in which PAREDES was staying. Law enforcement officers also found the “RED DAWN” stamp itself in the apartment in which PAREDES was staying. * * * PAREDES, 38, of the Bronx, New York, is charged in Count One with conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The statutory minimum and maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA, the NYPD, the SDNY Digital Forensic Unit, the Complex Analytical and Social Media Enhancement Team at the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) New York Strike Force. The OCDETF New York Strike Force provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The specific mission of the New York Strike Force is to target, disrupt, and dismantle drug trafficking and money laundering organizations, reduce the illegal drug supply in the United States, and bring criminals to justice. The Strike Force is affiliated with the DEA’s New York Division and includes agents and officers of the DEA; NYPD; New York State Police; Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; New York National Guard; U.S. Coast Guard; New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision; Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office; Fort Lee Police Department; Palisades Interstate Parkway Police; Teaneck Police Department; Hillsdale Police Department; Closter Police Department; Northvale Police Department; River Vale Police Department; Englewood Police Department; Saddle River Police Department; Bergen County Sheriff’s Department; Hawthorne Police Department; and Hackensack Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maggie Lynaugh and Brandon C. Thompson are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact descried therein should be treated as an allegation. [2] GREI MENDEZ and CARLISTO ACEVEDO BRITO have been charged in a separate complaint under docket number 23 Mag. 6444.


title: Sequoyah County Resident Sentenced For Federal Drug Crime

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Gene Douglas Fleet, age 53, of Vian, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 87 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the District 25 Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, and the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Department. On April 26, 2022, Fleet pleaded guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. On June 23, 2021, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on the I-40 corridor near Checotah after observing Fleet's truck exceeding 75 miles per hour and drifting off the road. A search of the cab revealed a single package of more than 200 grams of pure methamphetamine. At the plea hearing April 26, 2022, Fleet admitted to possessing the methamphetamine in order to distribute it. The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Fleet will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration Assistant United States Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States.


title: MS-13 Gang Member Sentenced To Life In Federal Prison For A Racketeering Conspiracy, Including A Murder In Maryland

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis today sentenced Jose Rafael Ortega-Ayala, a/k/a “Impaciente,” age 30, of Greenbelt, Maryland, to life in federal prison for racketeering and murder in aid of racketeering conspiracies, for committing murder in aid of racketeering, and for conspiracy to destroy and conceal evidence connected to his participation in La Mara Salvatrucha, a transnational criminal enterprise also known as MS-13. The charges related to the murder of a victim believed to be cooperating with law enforcement and the subsequent cover-up of the murder. Ortega-Ayala was convicted on December 16, 2022, after a two-week trial, along with co-defendants Jose Domingo Ordonez-Zometa, a/k/a “Felon,” age 33, of Landover Hills, Maryland and Jose Henry Hernandez-Garcia, a/k/a “Paciente,” age 29, of Annandale, Virginia. The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Assistant Attorney Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department's Criminal Division; the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations, Baltimore Field Office; Chief Kevin Davis of the Fairfax County Police Department; Stafford County Sheriff David P. Decatur; and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department. According to evidence presented at trial, MS-13, one of the largest street gangs in the United States, is a national and international gang composed primarily of immigrants or descendants from El Salvador and other central American countries. Branches or “cliques” of MS-13, operate throughout the United States, including in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Ortega-Ayala and his co-defendants were members and associates of the Los Ghettos Criminales Salvatruchas (“LGCS” or “Ghettos”) clique of MS-13. Members of MS-13 were expected to protect the name, reputation, and status of the gang from rival gang members and other persons, at all times, using any means necessary to force respect from those who showed disrespect, including acts of intimidation and violence. One of the principal rules of MS-13 is that its members must attack and kill rivals, often referred to as “chavalas,” whenever possible. Participation in criminal activity by a member, particularly in violent acts directed at rival gangs or as directed by gang leadership, increases the respect accorded to that member, resulting in that member maintaining or increasing his position in the gang, and opens the door to promotion to a leadership position. Also outlined during trial evidence was the fact that Ordonez-Zometa, the leader of the LGCS clique. On March 8, 2019, Ordonez-Zometa called a meeting of the LGCS clique at his house to discuss gang matters, including recent contacts that a clique member (Victim 1) had with the police. Ortega-Ayala, Hernandez-Garcia, Victim 1, and other MS-13 members participated in the meeting, during which Ordonez-Zometa questioned Victim 1 about his/her cooperation with police. During the questioning, Ortega-Ayala and at least one other MS-13 member assaulted Victim 1, based on their incorrect suspicions that Victim 1 was cooperating with law enforcement. They also assaulted another MS-13 member who attempted to defend Victim 1. The assault culminated with Ordonez-Zometa, as LGCS clique leader, ordering that Victim 1 be killed. Ortega-Ayala, Hernandez-Garcia, and other MS-13 members then stabbed and murdered Victim 1 in Ordonez-Zometa’s basement. According to trial testimony, after the murder, Ordonez-Zometa ordered Ortega-Ayala, Hernandez-Garcia, and other LGCS clique members and co-conspirators, to conceal and destroy evidence of the murder. Ortega-Ayala and other MS-13 members transported the body of the victim to a secluded location in Stafford County, Virginia, and set the victim’s body on fire, then destroyed and concealed evidence of the murder from the vehicle used to transport the victim. Meanwhile, Ordonez-Zometa, Hernandez-Garcia, and another MS-13 member stayed at the crime scene and attempted to remove, destroy, and conceal evidence of the murder, including the blood of Victim 1. Ordonez-Zometa and Hernandez-Garcia were previously sentenced to life in federal prison. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods (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. This case is also an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Anyone with information about MS-13 is encouraged to provide their tips to law enforcement. The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations both have nationwide tiplines that you can call to report what you know. You can reach the FBI at 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713), or you can call HSI at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron and Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri commended the FBI, HSI, the Fairfax County Police Department, the Stafford County Sheriff's Office, and the Prince George's County Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office for its assistance. Mr. Barron and Ms. Argentieri thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Morgan and Trial Attorneys Jared Engelking and Matthew Hoff of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, who are prosecuting this case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Nigel Jamille Coats, 19, of Huntington, was sentenced today to nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a stolen firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 15, 2022, Brennon Michael Adkins, 22, and TJ Jazz Cremeans, 21, both of Huntington, broke into Tri-State Pawn and Jewelry in Huntington to steal various electronics from the store’s inventory. After entering, Cremeans stole three firearms. Coats admitted that he was in a vehicle with Adkins and Cremeans prior to and following their breaking and entering at the business. Coats further admitted that he possessed one of the stolen firearms, a DPMS, model AR-15, 5.56mm rifle, shortly after the breaking and entering and theft was completed. Cremeans pleaded guilty to theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee on June 27, 2023. Cremeans admitted that he stole the AR-15 along with a Savage Arms model 111 .30-06-caliber rifle and a Stoeger model M3000 12-gauge shotgun during the breaking and entering. Adkins pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen firearm on May 1, 2023, admitting that he possessed the shotgun following the breaking and entering. Cremeans and Adkins await sentencing. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Huntington Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Troy D. Adams prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-213. ###


title: Long Island Trafficker of Firearms, Including ‘Ghost Guns,” Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Jeramya Sloan, also known as “JuJu,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Joanna Seybert to 46 months’ imprisonment for illegally selling eight firearms – including several privately made firearms, or “ghost guns” – in Suffolk County. Sloan pleaded guilty to firearms trafficking in June 2022. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentence. “This case reflects the efforts of this Office, together with our law enforcement partners, to reduce gun violence in our district. We will arrest and prosecute those who traffic firearms and contribute to the proliferation of untraceable ghost guns, which threaten public safety,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “The recovery of each and every gun sold by Sloan potentially prevented death or serious injury.” Mr. Peace also thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, New York Division (ATF), the Suffolk County Police Department, and the United States Postal Inspection Service, for their work in this case. According to court filings and statements made during court proceedings, from approximately December 2019 through January 2021, Sloan sold eight firearms to someone he believed was a member of the Bloods street gang, at locations throughout Suffolk County. Specifically, Sloan sold: (1) a .45 caliber Ruger P97DC semi-automatic pistol; (2) a .22 caliber High Standard MFG Corp revolver; (3) a .22 caliber Smith & Wesson M&P semi-automatic pistol; (4) a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson SW40VE semi-automatic pistol, with an obliterated serial number; (5) a 9-millimeter Polymer80 type semi-automatic pistol, bearing no make, model or serial number (also known as a “ghost gun”); (6) a 9-millimeter FMK G2 semi-automatic pistol; (7) a .45 caliber Polymer80 type semi-automatic pistol “ghost gun,” with a loaded magazine; and (8) a 9-millimeter Polymer80 type semi-automatic pistol “ghost gun,” along with a MasterPiece Arms MAC 10 9-millimeter high-capacity magazine. The .45 caliber Ruger was traced to another purchaser, who originally bought the firearm in approximately March 2005 from a store in Columbia, South Carolina. The .22 caliber Smith & Wesson was traced to another purchaser, who originally bought the firearm in approximately May 2012 from a store in Oneonta, New York. The other firearms could not be traced. At the time of Sloan’s arrest on November 9, 2021, ammunition was recovered from his residence in Selden. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. As part of the program, U.S. Attorney’s Offices work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and their local communities to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York is currently partnering with the SCPD, the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), ATF, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (DHS/HSI), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in its PSN mission. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorney Justina L. Geraci is in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : JERAMYA SLOAN (also known as “JuJu”) Age: 22 East Patchogue and Selden, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-559 (JS)


title: Ohio Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Federal Gun Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Danny Merriweather, also known as “D,” 36, of Toledo, Ohio, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 5, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a 10th Avenue residence where Merriweather was living and seized a Smith & Wesson .38-caliber SPL Airweight revolver and quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Merriweather admitted to possessing the firearm. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Merriweather knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for distribution of a quantity of cocaine base in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on October 22, 2012. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-47. ###


title: MS-13 Gang Member Sentenced to Life in Prison for Racketeering Conspiracy, Including Murder

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A Maryland man was sentenced today to life in prison for racketeering and murder in aid of racketeering conspiracies, for committing murder in aid of racketeering, and for conspiracy to destroy and conceal evidence in connection with his participation in La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), a transnational criminal enterprise. According to court documents, on March 8, 2019, Jose Rafael Ortega-Ayala, aka Impaciente, 30, of Greenbelt, along with Jose Henry Hernandez-Garcia, Victim 1, and other MS-13 members, participated in a Los Ghettos Criminales Salvatruchas (LGCS) clique meeting, where gang matters – including recent contacts that Victim 1 had with the police – were discussed. During the meeting, Jose Domingo Ordonez-Zometa, the leader of LGCS, questioned Victim 1 about his/her cooperation with police. During the questioning, Ortega-Ayala and at least one other MS-13 member assaulted Victim 1, based on their incorrect suspicions that Victim 1 was cooperating with law enforcement. They also assaulted another MS-13 member who attempted to defend Victim 1. The assault culminated with Ordonez-Zometa, as LGCS clique leader, ordering that Victim 1 be killed. Ortega-Ayala, Hernandez-Garcia, and other MS-13 members then stabbed and murdered Victim 1 in Ordonez-Zometa’s basement. After the murder, Ordonez-Zometa ordered Ortega-Ayala, Hernandez-Garcia, and other LGCS clique members and co-conspirators, to conceal and destroy evidence of the murder. Ortega-Ayala and other MS-13 members transported Victim 1’s body to a secluded location in Stafford County, Virginia, set the body on fire, then destroyed and concealed evidence of the murder from the vehicle used to transport the victim. Meanwhile, Ordonez-Zometa, Hernandez-Garcia, and another MS-13 member stayed at the crime scene and attempted to remove, destroy, and conceal evidence of the murder, including the blood of Victim 1. On March 6, Ordonez-Zometa was sentenced to life in prison. On Aug. 4, Hernandez-Garcia was also sentenced to life in prison. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland, and Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office made the announcement. The FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and state and local law enforcement partners investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Jared Engelking and Matthew Hoff of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Morgan for the District of Maryland prosecuted the case.


title: 12 charged in connection with violent motorcycle gang assault

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A dozen members of the Homietos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang are now in custody on racketeering and firearms charges related to a violent assault of another motorcycle club in Houston, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Law enforcement took Joseph Gomez aka Tequila, 37, Sugarland, into custody late Friday, Sept. 22. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Yvonne Ho today at 2 p.m. Authorities took Houston residents Joe Barrera aka LJ, 35; Joe Rios aka Jo Daddy, 47, Edgar Hinojosa aka Charro Bean, 38, William Espinoza, 47, Mario Gomez aka Gator, 50, Morgan Cooper aka Coop, 49, and Moises Soriano aka Oso, 41, into custody Sept. 21, after which they appeared in federal court. Law enforcement also arrested Rudolph Lopez aka Yao, 36, Fort Worth. They all remain in custody pending further criminal proceedings. Ricardo Quinones aka Scooter, 36, Houston; Raymond Burnett aka Ray Ray, 36, Alvin; Jesse Mulrein aka Fort Worth G, 36, Dallas, were previously in custody and expected to make their appearances in the near future. “We took action,” said Hamdani. “These alleged gangs are built on a foundation of violence, with members and associates committing acts designed to protect the power and reputation of the organization. Whether on the east side, Sunnyside or within the confines of a motorcycle club, we will pursue anyone who allegedly commits brutal and violent acts to maintain status in a gang.” “The arrests of 12 alleged Homieto outlaw motorcycle gang members are the result of a multi-year FBI Houston-led interagency investigation and are the first significant indictments against these types of criminal groups in the Houston area,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge David Martinez of the FBI Houston field office. “This criminal organization is accused of crimes that keep victims, community members and rivals in a perpetual state of fear through intimidation and violence. Law enforcement and the public have had enough of the violence, ruthlessness and disregard for law and order that this gang is alleged to have perpetrated.” A federal grand jury returned the indictment on September 13, 2023, which was unsealed upon the arrests. The charges allege that on Sept. 19, 2020, members of the Homietos gang and their associates were celebrating their fifth-year anniversary at the Sterling Banquet Hall in Houston. One member had allegedly invited three members of the Tattoo Crue motorcycle club. Shortly after their arrival, several Homietos members violently assaulted the Tattoo Crue club members, according to the indictment. Two victims allegedly required hospitalization. The indictment alleges the Homietos Outlaw motorcycle gang is a violent criminal organization with chapters spread throughout the state of Texas and in other locations in the United States. They allegedly recruit members and associates who are predominantly convicted felons, a great number of whom are current or former Houstone Tango Blast gang members. In order to protect the power, reputation and territory of Homietos, members and associates are required to commit acts of violence, threats of violence and intimidation, according to the charges. These members and associates allegedly maintain and enhance their status in Homietos by participating in such violent acts. All 12 are charged with assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering and conspiracy to do so and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Barrera, Cooper and Burnett are also charged with felon in possession of a firearm while Hinojosa faces allegations of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. The assault charge carries up to 20 years in prison as a possible penalty, while the conspiracy charges carry a potential three-year-sentence. If convicted of the discharging a firearm count, they also face a minimum of 10 years and up to life which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed. All charges also carry possible fines of up to $250,000. The FBI and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, sheriff’s offices in Harris and Montgomery Counties, Houston Police Department and U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John M. Lewis and Brian J. Hrach are prosecuting the case. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Clovis Businessman Pleads Guilty to Stealing $1.4 Million in COVID-19 Relief Money

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Ruben Mireles, 48, of Clovis, pleaded guilty today to stealing $1.4 million in COVID-19 relief money, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, Mireles owned and operated a farm labor contracting business in Kings County. His business initially went by the name Vista Pacific Labor Solutions Inc. (VPLS) and then changed its name to Calzona Ag Management Inc., doing business as Vista Pacific Farm Management (CAM). In January 2021, after VPLS changed its name to CAM, Mireles caused CAM to apply for and receive a COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for $1.4 million from the Small Business Administration (SBA). Then, in April 2021, Mireles caused VPLS to apply for and receive another PPP loan for $1.4 million from the SBA based on false information. In the second loan application, Mireles falsely represented to the SBA that VPLS was a separate company from CAM when, in fact, VPLS and CAM were the same company. Mireles also falsely represented that he had not received any other PPP loans when, in fact, he had previously received CAM’s loan. Finally, Mireles falsely represented that he was not subject to any pending criminal charges when, in fact, he was facing state fraud charges. Based on Mireles’ representations, VPLS’s loan application was approved and the $1.4 million, to which he was not entitled, was deposited into his bank account. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the SBA Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton is prosecuting the case. Mireles is scheduled to be sentenced by Jennifer L. Thurston on Feb. 20, 2024. Mireles faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. This effort is part of a California COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force operation, one of five interagency COVID-19 fraud strike force teams established by the U.S. Department of Justice. The California Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources in the Eastern and Central Districts of California and focuses on large-scale, multistate pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces use prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.


title: Clovis Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Online Coercion of a Child

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Paul Joseph Espinosa, 55, of Clovis, pleaded guilty today to attempted online coercion of a child, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, in May 2021, Espinosa noticed an undercover agent’s Instagram profile and sent her a direct message. The undercover agent told Espinosa she was 15 years old, but Espinosa continued to send her direct messages and call her using Instagram audio. Espinosa asked the 15-year-old undercover persona for sexy pictures, asked multiple times to meet up with her to cuddle, to “enjoy each others company at least for a night” and “lay there naked” and “enjoy each other.” Espinosa asked for the 15-year-old persona to send her a picture for his eyes only and sent her three sexually explicit photos of females when asking her for “naughty” pictures. According to court documents, on June 26, 2021, Espinosa traveled from Clovis to Fresno to meet up with the intended victim because he wanted to engage in various forms of sexual activity with her. When Espinosa arrived, he was placed under arrest. This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Fresno Police Department and Fresno County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany Gunter and Christina McCall are prosecuting the case. Espinosa is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 22. 2024, by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. Espinosa faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the Court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet safety education.


title: Former agent admits to scheme to illegally employ non-immigrants for American company

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A former Border Patrol (BP) agent and another individual have entered a guilty plea to employing illegal aliens by fraudulently obtaining immigration permits, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Ricardo Gonzalez, 40, and Alex Lopez, 33, Laredo, entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to defraud the United States. Gonzalez operated a company known as Gonmor Transportation. Lopez was the office manager. Gonzalez was also an active BP agent. The multi-year scheme involved the company recruiting and hiring non-immigrants to work as commercial truck drivers, but then paid them less due to their citizenship status. As part of the scheme, Gonzalez’s company would provide these new hires with a letter to take to one of the ports of entry in Laredo. The letter had information claiming the driver was working for a Mexican trucking company and was requesting an I-94 travel permit so he could enter the United States, pick up cargo and return to Mexico. As part of their respective pleas, each admitted to knowing the drivers were not working for this Mexican company, yet still providing the letter to assist in obtaining the I-94 permit. Once these drivers obtained the permit, Gonmor paid them to transport cargo within the United States, in violation of the permit terms. A Mexican driver with a valid non-immigrant visa who works for a Mexican transportation company and is paid by them in Mexico may obtain an I-94 at one of the ports of entry. With it, the driver can travel with a load into the United States, go beyond the checkpoints to his or her final destination then return to Mexico. An I-94 does not allow the holder to work in the United States or for a U.S.-based company. Gonzalez and Lopez admitted to knowing the people they were hiring to drive trucks for the company were not allowed to work in the United States, that the company paid these people less because of their status and that the I-94 permit did not authorize these individuals to work in the United States. U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, each faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Gonzalez and Lopez were permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing. Customs and Border Protection - Office of Professional Responsibility conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Bajew is prosecuting the case.


title: Two Puerto Rican Men Plead Guilty to Federal Hate Crime Against a Transgender Woman and Obstruction of Justice Charges

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: Two Puerto Rican men pleaded guilty today to federal charges of conspiracy to commit a hate crime and obstruction of justice, arising out of an assault with a dangerous weapon against a transgender woman because of her gender identity. According to court documents, on Feb. 24, 2020, at around 12:29 a.m. ET, Jordany Rafael Laboy-Garcia and Christian Yamaurie Rivera-Otero, along with their former co-defendant Anthony Steven Lobos-Ruiz, were out driving together in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, when they saw the victim, identified as A.N.L., standing under a tent near the side of the road. The defendants recognized A.N.L. from social media posts concerning an incident that had occurred the day prior at a McDonald’s in Toa Baja. During that incident, A.N.L. had used a stall in the McDonald’s women’s restroom. Upon recognizing A.N.L., Lobos-Ruiz used his iPhone to record a video of himself yelling, “la loca, la loca,” as well as other disparaging and threatening comments to A.N.L. from inside the car. The defendants then decided to get a paintball gun to shoot A.N.L. and record another iPhone video. Within 30 minutes, they retrieved a paintball gun and returned to the location where they had last seen A.N.L., who was still at that location. Lobos-Ruiz then used his iPhone to record Laboy-Garcia shooting at A.N.L. multiple times with the paintball gun. After the assault ended, Lobos Ruiz shared the iPhone video recordings with others. Several hours later, Rivera-Otero and Lobos-Ruiz exchanged text messages, in which they told each other to delete the evidence of their harassment and paintball gun assault of A.N.L., in order to conceal their involvement. Following this message exchange, Lobos-Ruiz deleted the videos on his iPhone of himself yelling at A.N.L. and of Laboy-Garcia firing paintballs at A.N.L. “The defendants are being held accountable for assaulting a transgender woman because of her gender identity and then trying to obstruct an investigation into that assault,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Acts of violence against LGBTQI+ people have no place in our society today. As we mark 25 years since the death of Matthew Shepard, the Justice Department remain steadfast in its commitment to investigate and prosecute those who target LGBTQI+ people with acts of violence.” “To assault an innocent victim who posed no threat to the defendants for no other reason than her gender identity is reprehensible behavior that will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico. “The Justice Department will continue to vigorously defend the rights of all people, regardless of their gender identity, to be free from hate-fueled violence. Our community must stand together against acts of violence motivated by hate for any group of people – we remain steadfast in our commitment to prosecute civil rights violations and keep our communities safe and free from fear.” “What makes our country great is our diversity in all aspects of life,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph Gonzalez of the FBI San Juan Field Office. “This diversity makes us strong, and criminal acts undermine our society's foundations. The FBI will not tolerate hateful criminal activity of any kind and will pursue these cases to the full extent of the law. We urge anyone who thinks they have been a victim or a witness to a hate crime to call 787-987-6500 or leave a tip by visiting Tips.FBI.Gov. Know that we are here for you." As part of the plea agreement, Laboy-Garcia pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit a hate crime and admitted that he shot paintballs at A.N.L. because she was, and was perceived to be, transgender. Rivera-Otero pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and admitted to directing his co-defendant to delete video recordings of the assault and harassment of A.N.L. Sentencing hearings for both defendants have been scheduled for Nov. 10. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Lobos-Ruiz previously pleaded guilty to committing a hate crime and was sentenced to 33 months in prison. The FBI San Juan Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose A. Contreras for the District of Puerto Rico and Trial Attorney Laura Gilson of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Ohio Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Johnte Tyree Warren, 24, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced today to four years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 1, 2022, Warren arranged by phone to sell a quantity of fentanyl to a confidential informant. Warren admitted to meeting the confidential informant in a vehicle on 20th Street in Huntington on that day as arranged and to selling approximately 12.95 grams of fentanyl to the confidential informant. Warren further admitted to distributing additional quantities of fentanyl in the Huntington area at various times including February and March 2022, sometimes utilizing another individual to distribute fentanyl on his behalf. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chamber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Courtney L. Finney prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-79. ###


body_text: WASHINGTON – Two Puerto Rican men pleaded guilty today to federal charges of conspiracy to commit a hate crime and obstruction of justice, arising out of an assault with a dangerous weapon against a transgender woman because of her gender identity. According to court documents, on Feb. 24, 2020, at around 12:29 a.m. ET, Jordany Rafael Laboy-Garcia and Christian Yamaurie Rivera-Otero, along with their former co-defendant Anthony Steven Lobos-Ruiz, were out driving together in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, when they saw the victim, identified as A.N.L., standing under a tent near the side of the road. The defendants recognized A.N.L. from social media posts concerning an incident that had occurred the day prior at a McDonald’s in Toa Baja. During that incident, A.N.L. had used a stall in the McDonald’s women’s restroom. Upon recognizing A.N.L., Lobos-Ruiz used his iPhone to record a video of himself yelling, “la loca, la loca,” as well as other disparaging and threatening comments to A.N.L. from inside the car. The defendants then decided to get a paintball gun to shoot A.N.L. and record another iPhone video. Within 30 minutes, they retrieved a paintball gun and returned to the location where they had last seen A.N.L., who was still at that location. Lobos-Ruiz then used his iPhone to record Laboy-Garcia shooting at A.N.L. multiple times with the paintball gun. After the assault ended, Lobos Ruiz shared the iPhone video recordings with others. Several hours later, Rivera-Otero and Lobos-Ruiz exchanged text messages, in which they told each other to delete the evidence of their harassment and paintball gun assault of A.N.L., in order to conceal their involvement. Following this message exchange, Lobos-Ruiz deleted the videos on his iPhone of himself yelling at A.N.L. and of Laboy-Garcia firing paintballs at A.N.L. “The defendants are being held accountable for assaulting a transgender woman because of her gender identity and then trying to obstruct an investigation into that assault,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Acts of violence against LGBTQI+ people have no place in our society today. As we mark 25 years since the death of Matthew Shepard, the Justice Department remain steadfast in its commitment to investigate and prosecute those who target LGBTQI+ people with acts of violence.” “To assault an innocent victim who posed no threat to the defendants for no other reason than her gender identity is reprehensible behavior that will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico. “The Justice Department will continue to vigorously defend the rights of all people, regardless of their gender identity, to be free from hate-fueled violence. Our community must stand together against acts of violence motivated by hate for any group of people – we remain steadfast in our commitment to prosecute civil rights violations and keep our communities safe and free from fear.” “What makes our country great is our diversity in all aspects of life,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph Gonzalez of the FBI San Juan Field Office. “This diversity makes us strong, and criminal acts undermine our society's foundations. The FBI will not tolerate hateful criminal activity of any kind and will pursue these cases to the full extent of the law. We urge anyone who thinks they have been a victim or a witness to a hate crime to call 787-987-6500 or leave a tip by visiting Tips.FBI.Gov. Know that we are here for you." As part of the plea agreement, Laboy-Garcia pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit a hate crime and admitted that he shot paintballs at A.N.L. because she was, and was perceived to be, transgender. Rivera-Otero pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and admitted to directing his co-defendant to delete video recordings of the assault and harassment of A.N.L. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Lobos-Ruiz previously pleaded guilty to committing a hate crime and was sentenced to 33 months in prison. The FBI San Juan Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose A. Contreras for the District of Puerto Rico and Trial Attorney Laura Gilson of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Arrest Made in Recent Anchorage Credit Union, Bank Robberies

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man was arrested last week by the FBI on criminal charges related to recent robberies of a credit union and bank. According to court documents, Tyler Ching, 34, entered the Global Credit Union on Industry Way in Anchorage on Sept. 19. He approached two customers who were speaking with a bank teller, and he pointed what appeared to be a handgun at them. The defendant placed a bag on the counter and demanded the teller put money inside. The defendant left the credit union with roughly $2,320. On Sept. 20, Ching allegedly entered the Wells Fargo Bank branch on Jewel Lake Road in Anchorage. He approached a teller who was speaking to a customer and pointed what appeared to be a handgun at the customer and teller. He demanded the teller put money in a bag he brought with him. The defendant fled with around $2,820. Law enforcement received multiple tips on Sept. 20 stating the suspect resembled Ching. After further investigation, the suspect was identified as Ching, and he was arrested in Cooper Landing on Sept. 22. Ching is charged with two counts of bank robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §2113(a). If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska; and Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement. The FBI’s Anchorage Field Office, with assistance from the Alaska State Troopers and the Anchorage Police Department, is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alana Weber is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Former Federal Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse of a Ward

body_text: A former correctional officer at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell to sexual abuse of a ward. According to his plea agreement, beginning on Sept. 3, 2022, through Sept. 19, 2022, while employed as a correctional officer at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, Dustin B. Sparks, 29, knowingly engaged in a sexual act with an inmate on one or more occasions. “As this latest prosecution demonstrates through today’s guilty plea, the Department of Justice remains vigilant and dedicated to rooting out sexual misconduct at the Federal Bureau of Prisons,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Any employee of the Federal Bureau of Prisons who abuses their authority and mistreats those in their custody will be held accountable.” “The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG) will continue to aggressively investigate Federal Bureau of Prisons employees accused of sexual abuse of inmates,” said Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz. “Today’s announcement should send a clear message that this kind of conduct will not be tolerated, and perpetrators will be brought to justice.” “Those charged with the custody and care of inmates have a profound responsibility, both to those in their care and the public,” said U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “We remain steadfast in our efforts to prevent and prosecute criminal misconduct by those entrusted with that grave responsibility.” DOJ-OIG investigated the case, with assistance from the FBI Louisville Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zach Dembo for the Eastern District of Kentucky is prosecuting the case. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 19. Sparks faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines other statutory factors. The Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) is committed to rooting out misconduct within its ranks and working with law enforcement partners to prosecute violations of federal law. The numerous FBOP employees working diligently to ensure justice for the victims of sexual misconduct are critical to the Department’s reform efforts.


title: Garryowen man admits role in large-scale meth trafficking ring based on Crow Indian Reservation

body_text: BILLINGS — A Garryowen man on Sept. 22 admitted to selling methamphetamine to others as part of a large-scale trafficking ring that was based on the Crow Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. Zachary Douglas Bacon, 35, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute meth. Bacon faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The court set sentencing for Jan. 25, 2024. Bacon was released pending further proceedings. In court documents, the government alleged that federal law enforcement, in a collaborative effort with local and tribal law enforcement, investigated a large-scale, multiple-state narcotics trafficking operation centered on properties on the Crow Indian Reservation. The properties, including one known as Spear Siding, were a source of supply of meth for both Crow and the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservations. Bacon is one of the individuals affiliated with the investigation. The government further alleged that in October 2022, Bacon sold two ounces of meth to an individual and that the meth came from Spear Siding. Investigators also determined that Bacon sold meth that he regularly obtained from Spear Siding to others. Assistant U.S. Attorneys are prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI 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: Federal Jury Convicts Colorado Springs Woman for Her Role in a Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl that Resulted in Death

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Marlene McGuire, age 58, of Colorado Springs, was found guilty for her role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in the death of a juvenile. A federal jury in Denver returned guilty verdicts against McGuire on Friday, September 22, 2023, after approximately two-hours of deliberation. According to the facts established at trial, on January 30, 2022, McGuire sold four pills which contained fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl to the three juveniles near a fire station in the Security-Widefield area of Colorado Springs. On January 31, 2022, a father of one of the juveniles and his stepmother discovered the juvenile deceased in his bedroom in their home. Police and a deputy coroner found paraphernalia used for smoking fentanyl pills in the juvenile’s room and two blue pills in a baggie in his dresser drawer. After an autopsy, the El Paso County Coroner’s Office determined the juvenile’s cause of death was acute fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl toxicity. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Western Laboratory tested the two pills found in the juvenile’s dresser drawer. Both pills contained para-fluorofentanyl. One of the two pills also contained fentanyl, lidocaine, and xylazine. An investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) identified McGuire and a co-defendant as the individuals who sold the blue pills and also revealed that they had been engaged in a conspiracy to sell various controlled substances—including methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and blue pills—since at least May 2020. On February 21, 2022, the FBI and CSPD executed a federal search warrant at McGuire’s long-time residence in Colorado Springs. In addition to finding both McGuire and a co-defendant in the residence, law enforcement officers located and seized methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and a blue pill which contained fentanyl. “Fentanyl is a deadly poison that is killing our children,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan. “We are grateful to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Colorado Springs Police Department for their work in this investigation, and their collective efforts to keep our communities safe from this deadly epidemic.” “Fentanyl is a deadly plague consuming our communities. In this case, the defendant was part of a conspiracy that led to the overdose death of a young man,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “The cooperation with our law enforcement partners in Colorado Springs made this result possible. The family of the deceased young man can know that those who supplied the deadly drugs have been held accountable and will no longer be able to provide poison to other juveniles.” “The Colorado Springs Police Department is grieving with the family of the child who was killed and hopes that the successful prosecution of this case brings some measure of justice,” said Commander Doug Trainer, CSPD Metro Division. “We take the distribution of fentanyl in our community seriously. We are thankful for our federal partners at the FBI and the United States Attorney’s Office who assisted with the investigation and prosecuted this case. We want to reassure our community that we will continue to fight the fentanyl epidemic alongside our federal partners.” United States District Court Judge Regina M. Rodriguez presided over the week-long jury trial. Sentencing is scheduled for December 6, 2023. The FBI and the Colorado Springs Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Alyssa Mance and Peter McNeilly handled the prosecution. Case Number: 22-cr-00080


title: Northern Nevada Man Sentenced To Life In Prison For Murdering Pregnant Indigenous Woman On Reservation

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: RENO, Nev. — A Northern Nevada man was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge Miranda M. Du to life in prison, plus 20 years in prison, for murdering a pregnant indigenous woman on the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation in December 2020. According to court documents, Michael Burciaga (36) stabbed his pregnant girlfriend, a registered member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, multiple times, causing her death and the death of their unborn child. Shortly after midnight on December 15, 2020, officers with Pyramid Lake Police Department responded to an emergency call from the victim’s daughter at the victim’s home located on the Pyramid Lake reservation in Nixon, located in Washoe County. Burciaga has prior convictions for Domestic Assault in Becker County, Minn.; Domestic Battery in Fernley; and Battery and Domestic Battery in Sparks. A jury convicted Burciaga of Murder in the First Degree within Indian Country, a violation of the Protection of Unborn Children Act, and Domestic Assault by a Habitual Offender Within Indian Country. “Today’s sentence illustrates our collaborative efforts to ensuring justice for the victim and holding the defendant accountable for his heinous crime,” said United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “The Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) crisis is a priority for the Department of Justice and we will continue to work alongside Tribes and law enforcement partners in the pursuit of justice.” “Today’s sentencing ends a tragic story of cold-blooded murder,” said Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI. “While life in prison will not undo the crime committed by Mr. Burciaga, it will prevent him from victimizing anyone on the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation again. I appreciate the work of our investigators and tribal partners ensuring violent offenders such as this are held accountable, and residents can feel safe in their homes.” This case was investigated by the FBI and Pyramid Lake Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Penelope Brady, Megan Rachow, and Richard Casper prosecuted the case. For additional information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website at: https://www.justice.gov/tribal/mmip . ###


title: Purported Medical Assistant Convicted For Multi-Year Conspiracy To Distribute Prescriptions For Opioids

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A federal jury convicted a purported medical assistant for the distribution of large quantities of illegal prescriptions for opioids without a legitimate medical purpose. According to court documents and evidence presented during the eight-day trial, David A. Litwin (64) conspired with a licensed physician and others to sell prescriptions, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, Xanax and Soma, to persons without any legitimate medical purpose for the drugs. Over the course of several years, Litwin helped to operate a medical practice known as New Amsterdam Medical Group that purported to be a pain specialty center. However, Litwin and his co-conspirators utilized that pain specialty center to sell fake prescriptions to hundreds of people, including multiple individuals who filled the prescriptions in order to sell opioids unlawfully on the secondary market. On September 22, 2023, Litwin was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and seven counts of distribution of oxycodone. United States District Judge Kent J. Dawson presided over the jury trial, and sentencing is scheduled for December 21, 2023. United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kevin Adams for the DEA Las Vegas District Office, and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement. The case was investigated by the DEA and FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nadia Ahmed, Edward Veronda, and Jean Ripley. If you have a tip or information about illegal sales or distribution of prescription opioids, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, etc., by doctors and pharmacies call the DEA RxAbuse Tip Line at 1-877-RxAbuse (1-877-792-2873) or submit a tip online at: https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/tips_online.htm . ###


title: Tijuana Man Sentenced to Federal Prison after  30-Year Identity Theft Uncovered

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – September 25, 2023 SAN DIEGO – Abel Alonso Valdez-Vazquez was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for misusing the identity of an American citizen for over 30 years in order to obtain identification documents and thousands of dollars in government benefits. U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Battaglia ordered Valdez-Vazquez, 59, to pay $81,185.35 in restitution to the Social Security Administration. Valdez-Vazquez will likely be deported at the conclusion of his prison sentences. Valdez-Vazquez was originally arrested on August 5, 2022, after driving a vehicle into the U.S. through the Otay Mesa Port of Entry that had three undocumented aliens concealed within it. Valdez-Vazquez was charged under the identity of G.P., a U.S. citizen, and pleaded guilty to his conduct as “G.P.” on January 19, 2023. Soon thereafter, investigators learned that a second man claiming to be G.P. had complained that his identity had been stolen and used for decades by an unknown person. Investigators were able to confirm the true G.P.’s identity after confirming it with family members and birth records. It was more difficult to determine the identity of his impersonator, but ultimately his true name – Abel Alonso Valdez-Vazquez – was revealed and his status as a Mexican citizen without legal status in the United States was confirmed. It was determined that Valdez-Vazquez had been using G.P.’s identity since at least December 1992, when he was first arrested (and later convicted) under G.P.’s identity. In his second plea agreement, entered on June 30, 2023, as Abel Alonso Valdez-Vazquez, he admitted that from 2007 through 2017, and 2019 through December 2021, he received Supplemental Security Income (SSI) from the Social Security Administration under G.P.’s identity. Valdez-Vazquez admitted that as a Mexican citizen without legal status in the United States, he was never eligible to receive any government benefits, and that all SSI paid to him was therefore money stolen from the United States. Valdez-Vazquez also admitted fraudulently applying for and receiving a California Driver’s License under G.P.’s identity, and then using that license to apply for entry into the United States on August 5, 2022, when he was arrested at the border. “This defendant pulled off this fraudulent charade for more than 30 years, and he had many victims – from the man whose identity was stolen, to the courts, state and federal government, and the Social Security Administration,” said Acting United States Attorney Andrew R. Haden. “We hope this prosecution sends a message to those who commit fraud and identity theft: No matter how long it takes, you will be found out, and there will be consequences for your crimes.” “The effects of stolen identities have long lasting effects that can take years and prove costly to resolve,” said Chad Plantz, special agent in charge for HSI San Diego. “Identity theft is not a victimless crime and HSI is committed to investigating those who think otherwise and helping victims.” “Mr. Valdez-Vazquez knowingly committed identity theft, receiving Supplemental Security Income that he was not legally eligible for, which is a federal crime,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the SSA. “This sentence holds him accountable for his deceitful actions. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecuting this case.” These cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Chang and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey D. Hill. DEFENDANTS Case Numbers 22cr1969-AJB & 23cr1304-AJB Abel Alonso Valdez-Vazquez Age: 59 Tijuana, MX SUMMARY OF CHARGES Bringing in Unlawful Aliens Without Presentation – Title 8, U.S.C. Section 1324(a)(2)(B)(iii) Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison and $250,000 fine Receipt of Stolen Public Money – Title 18, U.S.C. Section 641 Maximum Penalty: Ten years in prison and $250,000 fine Unlawful Representation – Title 8, U.S.C. Section 1325(a)(2) Maximum Penalty: Six months in prison and $5,000 fine AGENCIES United States Homeland Security Investigations Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General


title: Cedar Rapids Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl and Heroin

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A woman who distributed fentanyl and heroin was sentenced today to two years in federal prison. Susan Heins, age 47, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 6, 2023 guilty plea to one count of distribution of a controlled substance. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that, on October 21, 2020, law enforcement conducted a controlled buy of purported heroin from an individual in Cedar Rapids. Once the location of the controlled buy was arranged, Heins met with the confidential source at the meeting location and distributed fentanyl and heroin. Heins was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Heins was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Heins is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consisting of the DEA; the Linn County Sheriff's Office; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Marion Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-CR-92. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Cedar Rapids Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Gun Charges

body_text: A man who distributed methamphetamine, possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it, and possessed a firearm as a prohibited person, pled guilty on September 21, 2023, in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Dennis Wayne Hager, age 64, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was convicted of two counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine, and one count of possession of a firearm as a felon and drug user. At the plea hearing, Hager admitted that, on May 25, 2021, and June 1, 2021, he distributed 50 grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine to another person. He also admitted that, on or about June 1, 2021, he possessed a firearm as a methamphetamine user and a felon. Hager had four felony convictions related to drugs. Finally, he admitted that, on September 1, 2021, he possessed 50 grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Hager remains in custody of the United States Marshal. On each of the drug counts, Hager faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and the following maximum penalties: (1) not more than life imprisonment without the possibility of parole; (2) a fine of not more than $10,000,000; (3) a mandatory special assessment of $100; and (4) a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. On the gun count, Hager faces a possible maximum sentence of (1) not more than 10 years’ imprisonment without the possibility of parole; (2) a fine of not more than $250,000; (3) a mandatory special assessment of $100; and (4) a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years. Because there are multiple counts, the sentences could be run consecutively for a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a $30,250,000 fine, $400 in special assessments, and a life term of supervised release. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department Narcotics Unit and the Iowa Department of Public Safety Division of Narcotics Enforcement. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-40. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Estherville Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm Charge

body_text: Jodeci Holmes, 21, from Estherville, Iowa, pled guilty September 21, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. At the plea hearing, Holmes admitted that on April 1, 2023, she possessed a 9mm Luger pistol in Estherville, Iowa. She further admitted that, at the time she possessed the gun she was a marijuana user and had previously been convicted of the felony offense of possession with intent to deliver marijuana in 2022. Being a user of controlled substances, and having a felony conviction, each prohibit an individual from possessing a firearm. Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Holmes remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Holmes faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and not more than three years of supervised release following any imprisonment. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Emmet County Sheriff’s Office, Estherville Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-3008. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.