title: Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm Trafficking and Straw Purchasing Conspiracy

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty today to conspiring to illegally traffic and straw purchase firearms. Shakim Grant, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to make false statements in records required to be kept by an FFL and one count of aiding and abetting making false statements in records required to be kept by an FFL. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Aug. 9, 2023. Grant was initially charged by complaint on Jan. 17, 2023 along with alleged co-conspirators Cory Daigle and Gustavo Rodriguez. He was subsequently charged by an Information on March 16, 2023. From in or about August 2022 through November 2022, Daigle and Rodriguez conspired to create false entries in records required to be maintained by Daigle, an FFL, in order to conceal the illegal sale of multiple firearms via Grant to Rodriguez, who could not lawfully purchase or possess firearms. Specifically, Grant and, allegedly, Daigle made and signed false representations on required forms to disguise Rodriguez’s identity as the true firearm purchaser. Rodriguez is prohibited from possessing a firearm. It is further alleged that the defendants attempted to coverup the illegal straw purchase by providing false information to law enforcement. The charge of conspiracy to make false statements in records required to be kept by an FFL provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of aiding and abetting making false statements in records required to be kept by an FFL provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Revere Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Construction Company Owner and Former Residential Facility Employee Indicted for Rigging Bids for Public Contracts

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, Jamie DePaepe, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of the Interior (DOI) Office of Inspector General, and Andy Tsui, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation Denver Field Office, announced that William Ross Badoni and Elroy Harry made initial appearances in federal court on April 27 and April 25 on an indictment charging them with conspiracy to commit federal program fraud. The indictment also charges Badoni with one count of committing theft or bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds and eight counts of laundering of monetary instruments. Badoni, 59, of Shiprock, and Harry, 59, of Aztec, will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not been scheduled. A federal grand jury indicted Badoni and Harry on April 11. According to the indictment, Badoni was the owner and director of Badoni Construction Company, located in San Juan County. During the time relevant to the indictment, Harry was employed by Kinteel Residential Campus, Inc. (KRCI) as a maintenance supervisor. KRCI is a residential facility which offers free or low-cost housing and meal accommodations for students attending school in Aztec. As such, KRCI receives federal funds from the Department of Interior through the Bureau of Indian Education. From about April of 2018 to June of 2019, Badoni and Harry allegedly conspired to falsify and submit to KRCI bids in the names of other construction companies in order to make it more likely that Badoni’s bids would be selected for KRCI construction projects. Harry also allegedly provided Badoni with non-public information about construction projects and the bidding process. In return, Badoni allegedly gave, offered, or agreed to give things of value, namely sums of money, to Harry. Once Badoni had won the initial award of construction contracts, Harry and Badoni allegedly worked together to increase compensation for Badoni by submitting fraudulent “change orders” for KRCI’s approval. Further, Badoni and Harry allegedly caused KRCI to issue new construction contracts on an urgent basis under false pretenses in order to justify deviating from standard policies and procedures relating to KRCI’s bidding process. “This indictment shows IRS-Criminal Investigation’s commitment to ensuring fair and open competition opportunities for companies seeking to work with the federal government,” said Andy Tsui, IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge. “IRS-CI will continue working with our law enforcement partners to ensure an even playing field for those attempting to obtain federal contracts for their businesses.” “The Department of the Interior (DOI) Office of Inspector General (OIG) is committed to protecting our Indian Country schools and dormitories, so the students receive the education and opportunities they deserve, and the educators and staff have the resources they need,” said Jamie DePaepe, Special Agent in Charge for the DOI OIG. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate fraud in DOI programs to ensure those who defraud DOI programs are held accountable.” “We will ardently protect taxpayer dollars invested in our youth,” said United States Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez. “Protecting the integrity of contracting processes involving federal funds helps make sure that when we invest in our communities, that investment pays off.” An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Badoni faces up to 20 years in prison and Harry faces up to 5 years in prison. The Criminal Investigators Division of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Inspector General investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Taylor F. Hartstein is prosecuting the case. # # # 23-96


title: Springfield Man Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: BOSTON – A Springfield man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Springfield for child exploitation offenses. Bairon Ubeda, 42, was indicted on one count of sexual exploitation of a child, one count of receiving child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. According to court documents, from December 2018 through February 2019, Ubeda employed, used, persuaded, induced and coerced a three-year-old minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. During that time period, it is alleged that Ubeda knowingly received and possessed child pornography. The charge of sexual exploitation of a child provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentenced of up to 20 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Mazur of Rollins’ Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Schenectady Man Charged with Producing Child Pornography and Communicating a Threat

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Richard Nejame, age 27, of Schenectady, New York, was charged today with sexual exploitation of a child and communicating a threat to injure. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Special Agent in Charge Janeen DiGuiseppi, of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. The criminal complaint alleges that between about October 2022 and May 1, 2023, Nejame communicated with several girls over a messaging application. During one series of communications, Nejame threatened a 14-year-old girl in Florida that if she did not take nude pictures of herself and send them to Nejame, bad people would come and harm her, or words to that effect. In another series of communications on the same messaging application, Nejame persuaded and coerced a 15-year-old girl in Virginia to take sexually explicit still images and videos of herself and send the images and videos to Nejame. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. Nejame is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of sexual exploitation of a child, Nejame would face at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison. The interstate communication of a threat charge carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Nejame had his initial appearance today and was ordered detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for May 3, 2023 before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart. The FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force is investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Former Financial Advisor Sentenced for Scheme to Steal Funds from Elderly Bank Customers

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Tyler Rigsbee, 33, of Cameron Park, was sentenced today to two years in prison and ordered to pay $158,960 in restitution for committing aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, from 2016 to 2021, Rigsbee worked as a FINRA-registered financial advisor at a major bank in Sacramento. During his employment, Rigsbee targeted elderly bank customers and stole $158,960 from these victims’ accounts. Rigsbee stole $113,160 from one elderly victim’s account by using the name and identity of the account beneficiary to fraudulently transfer the funds into another account that Rigsbee had set up and controlled in the beneficiary’s name. Rigsbee next stole $45,800 from the account of a second elderly victim by transferring funds in incremental amounts into a separate account that Rigsbee had set up and controlled in the victim’s name. Rigsbee then pocketed the money by transferring these funds into his own personal bank account. Toward the end of his scheme, Rigsbee attempted to conceal his theft by stealing $16,700 from a third elderly customer’s account and attempting to funnel that money into the second victim’s account to partially replace what he previously stole. However, this transaction was flagged, and the funds were reverted. This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot C. Wong prosecuted the case.


title: Snohomish man who dealt drugs, even as he awaited sentencing for an earlier drug conviction, pleads guilty to drug, gun, and murder-for-hire related charges

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Tacoma – A Snohomish, Washington, man who was rearrested following his sentencing in a drug trafficking scheme, has now pleaded guilty to new charges, including attempting to hire a hitman to kill a witness in his case, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Michael John Scott, 44, was sentenced in January 2020 to 78 months in prison for dealing fentanyl-laced pills and cocaine. One week later, before he was to report to serve his sentence, he was arrested on his way to a drug deal in Whatcom County. While at the federal detention center awaiting trial on these new drug charges, Scott tried to hire a hitman to kill a witness against him. Today, Scott pleaded guilty to four federal felonies. Scott admitted two additional crimes connected to drug distribution. According to the facts in the agreement, even as Scott was awaiting sentencing for the earlier drug distribution crimes, he was continuing to set up drug deals. On January 30, 2020, he was arrested as he arrived to sell fentanyl pills to a person in Whatcom County. That person was working with law enforcement. A search of Scott’s home revealed a stolen, loaded firearm, a Colt Delta Elite 10mm semi-automatic pistol. Scott admits in his plea agreement that he had the gun in furtherance of his drug distribution conspiracy. Following the January 30, 2020, arrest, while in custody at the Federal Detention Center in SeaTac, Washington, Scott agreed to pay an associate $2,000 if he would assist Scott in finding a hitman to kill a witness against him and an associate of that witness. Scott said he would pay $10,000 each for the murders. Scott told his associate that he wanted the deaths to appear to be fentanyl overdoses. In June and July 2021, Scott wrote letters disguised as ‘legal mail’ to the person he thought was the hitman and to a friend he wanted to handle payment for the crimes. The FBI was aware of the scheme and had an agent pose as the hitman. The friend of Scott’s met with the “hitman” and provided him with a down payment. Today, Scott pleaded guilty to: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances --punishable by up to 20 years in prison; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime – punishable by a mandatory consecutive five year prison term on top of any sentence imposed for the other counts of conviction; Use of Interstate Commerce Facilities in the Commission of Murder for Hire –punishable by up to ten years in prison; and Tampering with a Witness, Victim, or Informant – punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Under the terms of the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend no more than 20 years in prison and the defense can recommend no less than ten years in prison. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Bryan is not bound by the recommendations and can impose any sentence allowed by law when Scott is sentenced on July 27, 2023. Scott pleaded guilty in June 2019 for his role in U.S. v Hernandez et al, a 32-defendant drug trafficking case that was unsealed in December 2018. Scott was a high-volume redistributor of fentanyl-laced imitation oxycodone pills and cocaine, who delivered hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash to his cartel suppliers for the drugs–sometimes as much as $150,000 at a time. When Scott’s home was searched in December 2018, law enforcement recovered illegal drugs, more than $40,000 in cash, and other tools of the drug trade. In the current case, Scott is forfeiting more than $25,000 seized in the case as well as the firearm seized at his residence. The case was investigated by the FBI, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kristine Foerster and Max Shiner.


title: Eighth Defendant Pleads Guilty to Porterville-Based Drug Ring

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Xochil Aguilera, 39, of Porterville, pleaded guilty today to a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Aguilera is the eighth defendant in this case to plead guilty. According to court documents, Aguilera served as a courier of drugs and money for the drug trafficking operation. On July 14, 2020, she delivered 800 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl; on Sept. 23, 2020, she received $2,000 from co-defendant James Cox for a half pound of methamphetamine; and on Nov. 12, 2020, she received $1,850 from an undercover agent for the sale of 1,100 fentanyl pills. Aguilera is the wife of Pedro Delgado-Montenegro, 43, who is also charged with participating in the drug trafficking organization. In pleading guilty, Aguilera agreed to the forfeiture of $27,021, which represents drug proceeds seized in this case. Other defendants who have entered guilty pleas to drug charges in this case include: Ignacio Alcantar-Torres, 33, of Porterville, is scheduled for sentencing on July 10, 2023; Alexis Mendiola, 37, of Northridge, is scheduled for sentencing on July 10, 2023; Ana Margarita Valdez-Torres, 43, of MacFarland, is scheduled for sentencing on July 24, 2023; Maria Delgado, 32, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to four years in prison; Renato Aguilera, 31, of Porterville, was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison; Roberto Cavazos, 44, of Porterville, was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison; James Cox, 60, of Visalia, was sentenced to 16 years and six months in prison. Charges are pending against Delgado-Montenegro; he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Porterville Police Department, the Coalinga Police Department, and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case Aguilera is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Aug. 14, 2023. Aguilera faces a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million. 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 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: Kingsport Woman Sentenced to 21 Months For Lying On ATF Form To Purchase Firearms And Providing Firearms To A Felon

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

body_text: GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On May 1, 2023, Tonya Rae Saine, also known as Tonya Rae Bowles, 56, currently of Kingsport, Tennessee, was sentenced to 21 months in prison by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville. Saine was found guilty of Making a False and Fictitious Written Statement to a Licensed Dealer of Firearms, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(6) and Disposing of a Firearm to a Convicted Felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(d)(1) by a federal jury in December 2022. Following her release from imprisonment, Saine will be on supervised release for 3 years. According to filed court documents and evidence presented at trial, on September 4, 2021, Saine traveled to the business premises of a Federal Firearms Licensee (“FFL”) in Sevierville, TN. While at the FFLs gun counter, she and another person (a convicted felon) looked at several firearms before selecting two firearms – a pistol and a rifle, to purchase. Saine, who was not prohibited from purchasing a firearm, completed the required paperwork using her information and paid for the two firearms. She also purchased a laser aiming device for the pistol. Surveillance video from the FFL showed Saine at the FFL’s gun counter handing the firearms to the felon who was accompanying her and, after she completed the purchase, the felon leaving the FFL’s premises while carrying one of the firearms. Saine admitted to law enforcement that she had met the felon while she was a contract employee of the Tennessee Department of Correction, and that the felon was incarcerated on a felony conviction at the prison where she had worked as a nurse. She also admitted that she was in a relationship with the felon, knew he was a felon, and that he had traveled to and from the FFLs premises with her. Law enforcement also recovered a text message from a cell phone that Saine sent the felon after the purchase of the firearms that said, “I’ve got your gun and stuff in the house.” A cooperating witness testified that they saw the felon with the pistol and were able to recognize the firearm because of the attached laser aiming device and distinctive markings on the firearm. U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee; and ATF Special Agent in Charge Marcus S. Watson made the announcement. The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the Kingsport Police Department and ATF. This investigation was led by ATF Task Force Officer Mike Slater. Assistant United States Attorney B. Todd Martin and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Blake Watson represented the United States. 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: Washington Family Pleads Guilty to Indian and Arts and Crafts Act Violations

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: JUNEAU – A Washington family has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Indian Arts and Crafts Act for crimes committed when they owned and operated several businesses in Ketchikan, Alaska, involving the sale of Philippine produced stone carvings and wood totem poles as authentic Alaska Native produced artwork. According to court documents, between April 2016 through December 8, 2021, Cristobal “Cris” Magno Rodrigo, 59, Glenda Tiglao Rodrigo, 46, and Christian Ryan Tiglao Rodrigo, 24, operated Alaska Stone Arts, LLC, Rail Creek, LLC, and Rodrigo Creative Crafts. During the course of the conspiracy the Rodrigos operated Alaska Stone Arts, LCC, which primarily sold stone carvings, and Rail Creek, LLC, that primarily sold wood totem poles in Ketchikan, Alaska. Those carvings were sourced from Glenda Rodrigo’s company, Rodrigo Creative Crafts, located in the Philippines. This Philippine business was created for the sole purpose of producing carvings featuring Alaskan Native designs and motifs through the use of Philippine labor. The carvings were shipped to the United States and subsequently to the Rodrigo’s stores in Ketchikan, and were then sold as authentic Alaskan Native art to unsuspecting customers in Alaska and elsewhere. As part of the conspiracy, the Rodrigos also hired Alaskan Natives at Alaska Stone Arts, LLC and Rail Creek, LCC to represent and sell Philippine produced artwork as their own authentic Alaskan Native artwork in order to deceive customers into believing they were purchasing authentic Alaskan Native produced carvings. The investigation is still ongoing. The defendants were arraigned and pled guilty on April 28, 2023, before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew S. Scoble. If convicted, the Rodrigos face a maximum of 10 years in prison. A sentencing hearing has been set on August 17, 2023, before Senior District Court Judge Timothy M. Burgess in federal district court. The judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. “This type of fraud directly affects Alaska Native artisans and their ability to make a living and is an affront to Alaska Native artists that have produced these beautiful works throughout the history of their culture” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker. “The United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to work to protect this cultural heritage, protect unwitting consumers, and prosecute and hold accountable those who perpetrate this type of fraud.” “Protecting Alaska Native and American Indian culture and traditions is a critical part of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act,” said Edward Grace, Assistant Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a dedicated team of special agents that work on Indian Art and Crafts Act violations on behalf of the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Indian Arts and Crafts Board. Their investigative efforts protect consumers from those who choose to misrepresent Indian arts and crafts products. This exploitation of Alaska Natives for personal and financial gain is unacceptable. We thank our partners at the U.S. Department of Justice and the Indian Arts and Crafts Board for their assistance with this investigation.” “Alaska has a very rich cultural heritage in which Alaska Native arts and crafts play a central role, including the passing down of cultural traditions from generation to generation. Accordingly, the Indian Arts and Crafts Board (IACB) is very pleased that these defendants have been brought to justice for their roles in producing as well as selling counterfeit Tlingit totem poles and stone carvings,” said U.S. Department of the Interior IACB Director Meridith Stanton. The IACB is responsible by statute for administering the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, an anti-counterfeiting statute enacted to rid the Alaska Native and American Indian arts and crafts market of fakes like those being misrepresented by defendants Cristobal M. Rodrigo, Glenda T. Rodrigo, and Christian Ryan T. Rodrigo. “Cases like these, particularly in popular Alaska tourist destinations which attract consumers from all over the world, are critical to preserving the integrity and viability of authentic Alaska Native art and craftwork, culture, and economies,” Director Stanton added. “The IACB applauds the diligent work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Alaska and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Indian Arts and Crafts Act Enforcement Division in investigating and prosecuting these important cases.” The Department of Interior – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Office of Law Enforcement lead the investigation with the assistance of the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Department of Agriculture. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt is prosecuting the case. If you were a customer of Alaska Stone Arts, LLC or Rail Creek, LLC and purchased a stone carving or wood totem pole believing that it was an authentic Alaskan Native artwork, please contact U.S. Fish and Wildlife Special Agent Sherrell at 907-586-7545. If you suspect potential Indian Arts and Crafts Act violations being committed, a complaint may be submitted through the Indian Arts and Crafts Board’s online complaint form, www.doi.gov/iacb/should-i-report-potential-violation , email, iacb@ios.doi.gov, or toll free number, 888-278-3253. ### usao/ak/23-034


title: Fallston Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher today sentenced Robert Jackson Wyatt, Jr., age 54, of Fallston, Maryland, to 15 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for distribution of child pornography. Wyatt had a previous federal conviction for possession of child pornography. Judge Gallagher ordered that, upon his release from prison, Wyatt must register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”). The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr., Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler and Harford County State’s Attorney Alison Healey. According to his guilty plea, on August 31, 2021, members of the Maryland State Police (“MSP”) were conducting an investigation into offenders sharing child pornography using a communication protocol for peer-to-peer file sharing that enables users to distribute data and electronic files over the Internet in a decentralized manner. An IP address that was sharing suspected child pornography was identified as belonging to Wyatt and a search warrant for his home was executed on October 1, 2021. Investigators learned that Wyatt was not home but was at a nearby marina on his boat where he often spent time. Investigators went to the marina and watched as Wyatt walked from his boat to his car. Wyatt then drove back to his residence, where he was confronted by investigators. Wyatt consented to a search of his cell phone and an MSP digital forensic examiner found several files of child pornography on the phone. A peer-to-peer filesharing program was installed on the phone, as well as a virtual private network application and an anti-forensic application. On a chat application, Wyatt belonged to chat groups including “Incest and Little Girl” and “mommy and daughter.” On October 26, 2021, a search warrant was executed on Wyatt’s boat. Two thumb drives were found with multiple images and videos of child pornography, including several known series involving depictions of babies, toddlers, and sadomasochistic abuse of children. Several of the files located on Wyatt’s devices matched those that were distributed during the MSP investigation via the peer-to-peer file sharing originating from the suspect IP address. Wyatt admitted that he was the person who shared the files with the MSP investigator on August 31, 2021. In total, over 1170 images files and over 170 video files were located on Wyatt’s devices. 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 Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HSI, the Maryland State Police, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen E. McGuinn, who prosecuted the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: U.S. Attorney Charges Former Westchester County Board Of Legislators Employee With Attempted Enticement Of A Minor

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ANAND SINGH was arrested today and charged with one count of attempted enticement of a minor. The Complaint charges that SINGH communicated with an individual, who he believed to be a 14-year-old girl, on Hily, a dating application, and via text message and made plans to meet the individual at an apartment building to engage in sexual activity. SINGH was presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy in White Plains federal court and detained pending a bail hearing on Wednesday. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “33-year-old Anand Singh allegedly attempted to entice an individual, who he believed to be a 14-year-old, to meet for sexual purposes, via dating and text apps. Today’s arrest is a reminder of the inherent danger the internet could potentially pose to our youth and the critical importance to protect them from online predators.” As alleged in the criminal Complaint: [1] In December of 2022, SINGH, then an employee of the Westchester County Board of Legislators, used a mobile dating application called “Hily” and text messages to entice an individual posing as a 14-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity with him. SINGH used the screen name “Anon” to communicate with the individual on the Hily application. During these communications, SINGH repeatedly expressed, in graphic and unambiguous terms, his desire to engage in sexual activity with the individual and made a plan to meet her at an apartment building in Newark, New Jersey, for the purposes of engaging in sexual activity. In the early hours of December 17, 2022, SINGH went to the location where he and the individual posing as a 14-year-old girl planned to meet. * * * ANAND SINGH, 33, of Tarrytown, New York, is charged with one count of attempted enticement of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The statutory minimum and maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (“FBI”) Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force. He also thanked the Westchester County Police Department and Westchester County District Attorney’s Office for their participation and support in this investigation. The investigation is ongoing and there may be other victims of this alleged conduct. If you have information to report concerning ANAND SINGH, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Wheelock is in charge of the prosecution. The allegations contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is 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 are only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Baltimore Felon Sentenced to Over 12 Years in Federal Prison for a Conspiracy to Distribute Large Amounts of Fentanyl

component: Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III today sentenced Romesh Vance, age 32, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 150 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute between four and 12 kilograms of fentanyl and for violating his supervised release from a previous federal drug conviction. Judge Russell also ordered that Vance must forfeit his interest in any assets derived from his criminal activities, including almost $41,000 in cash and jewelry which were recovered from Vance and his residence in the 200 block of Westowne Road in Baltimore; and a 2017 Mercedes Benz recovered from Vance. The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Field Division; Baltimore City Sheriff Sam Cogen; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; and Chief Robert McCullough of the Baltimore County Police Department. According to his guilty plea, from October 2020 through March 1, 2021, Vance was engaged in a drug trafficking conspiracy involving large amounts of fentanyl and other controlled substances. Vance operated a stash house in Pikesville, Maryland, where he and his co-conspirators processed fentanyl and other drugs, mixed the drugs with cutting agents, and packaged the drugs for re-sale. Vance and his associates then drove the packaged drug products to drug shops operated by their drug trafficking organization, along Stricker, School and Gilmor Streets in Baltimore. On March 1, 2021, law enforcement saw Vance leave the Pikesville stash house and travel to the drug shop at 1515 Stricker Street, where he delivered approximately one kilogram of fentanyl to co-conspirator Vashawn Watkins, who brought the drug products into 1515 Stricker Street. Law enforcement subsequently executed a search warrant at that location and recovered the drugs. Law enforcement later conducted a search warrant at the stash house in Pikesville and recovered 6.8 kilograms of fentanyl, along with cutting agents and other drug-related paraphernalia. Vance admitted that it was reasonably foreseeable to him that he and his co-conspirators would distribute more than four kilograms but less than 12 kilograms of fentanyl in furtherance of this conspiracy. Co-defendant Vashawn Watkins, age 22, of Baltimore, previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and to illegal possession of a firearm in a school zone and was sentenced to nine years 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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case is also part of 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. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the DEA, the Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason D. Medinger and Ariel Evans, who prosecuted the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Ketchikan Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: JUNEAU – A Ketchikan man pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography charges. According to court documents, Walter William Onstad, of Ketchikan, plead guilty to a charge of distribution of child pornography. Onstad admitted in court that he was an administrator of a Kik group “Anything Goes,” which was used exclusively for the purpose of distributing child pornography. As administrator of the group, Onstad solicited images of child pornography to be posted to the group from others as a requirement to be admitted to the group. Once images were verified and approved by Onstad, those individuals were admitted to the group where they had complete access to images of children being sexually exploited on the Kik group “Anything Goes.” Onstad was detained at his change of plea hearing pending his sentencing scheduled on August 17, 2023. Onstad faces a mandatory minimum of five years and/or maximum penalty of life in prison and five years to life on supervised release. 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 made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt is prosecuting the case. This case is 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . ### usao/ak/23-035


title: Haverhill Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Steal Firearms From Second Amendment Outdoors In Derry

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Haverhill, Massachusetts man pleaded guilty today in federal court to conspiring to steal firearms from a federal firearms licensee, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Gary Ortiz, Jr., 19, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to steal firearms from a federal firearms licensee. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled sentencing for August 10, 2023. Ortiz and one of his co-conspirators, Jaythean Diaz, were indicted on July 11, 2022. Diaz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to steal firearms from a federal firearms licensee. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled Diaz’s sentencing for July 25, 2023. On December 8, 2021, Ortiz and his co-conspirators broke into Second Amendment Outdoors in Derry, New Hampshire and stole 12 firearms—11 pistols and one rifle. Videos recovered from the phone of a co-conspirator show Ortiz holding the stolen firearms, and messages recovered from Ortiz’s phone show searches for Second Amendment Outdoors before the burglary, as well as, searches for news about the burglary afterward. Additional text messages from Ortiz’s phone show that he was attempting to sell a firearm hours after the burglary. The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 5 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, a maximum fine of $250,000 and restitution in an amount to be determined at sentencing. 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. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (“ATF”) led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lawrence Police Department, Methuen Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, Derry Police Department, Atkinson Police Department, Plaistow Police Department, Kingston Police Department, Windham Police Department, Hooksett Police Department, and Salem Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Kennedy is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities; supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place; setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities; and measuring the results. ###


title: Morgantown man and Detroit man sentenced for drug operation

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two men have been sentenced today for working together to sell large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine in the Morgantown area. Aaric Murray, 33, of Morgantown West Virginia, was sentenced today to 170 months in federal prison. Richard Kirkland Johnson, 26, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced to 147 months. Murray and Johnson were found guilty of multiple charges during a trial in September 2022. According to trial testimony, officers were called to Murray’s home on reports of a hostage situation. Upon arrival, officers determined there wasn’t a threat but found evidence of a drug operation. A subsequent search of the home found crack cocaine, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and two firearms with ammunition. Murray and Johnson had thousands of dollars in cash during the initial search, as well as communications on their cell phones of recent drug deals. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh heard evidence today of Murray’s extensive criminal history, including more than 40 interactions with law enforcement since 2012. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Mon Metro Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley and Clayton Reid prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.


title: Two DC-Area Men Plead Guilty to Drug Charges Connected to an Open-Air Drug Market in SE DC

body_text: All Six Charged Defendants Have Now Entered Guilty Pleas WASHINGTON – Douglas Campbell, 27, of District Heights, Maryland, and his brother Delonte Campbell, 27, of Southeast Washington D.C., pleaded guilty today, in U.S. District Court, to felony charges in connection with their roles in an open-air drug market. Douglas Campbell pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Delonte Campbell pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess and distribute a controlled substance, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school. Sentencing for both defendants is set for August 3, 2023. The brothers are among six defendants charged with operating an open-air drug market at the Shell Gas Station located at 4700 South Capitol Street SE. According to court documents, law enforcement had observed individuals, including the six defendants charged, operating an open-air drug market at the Shell Gas Station. The gas station drew individuals who conducted daily drug transactions in the parking lot and surrounding area of the gas station, often while armed with firearms. The Shell Gas Station was the scene of increased violence suspected to be connected to drug trafficking in the months leading up to the defendants’ arrests. The Campbells and their co-defendants trafficked narcotics at the Shell Gas Station through hand gestures and social media advertisements. Once a potential customer was procured, these individuals often measured and distributed controlled substances to their customers in plain view. The defendants sold alongside each other, coordinated sales with each other, and were in frequent communication through telephone and social media messaging, coordinating their activities with the goal of selling marijuana to customers at the Shell while securing their narcotics and drug trafficking proceeds with firearms, often carrying weapons in plain view. Each of the six defendants charged for their role in the conspiracy have now pleaded guilty. Lavon Alphonso Blakeney, 28, of Southeast Washington D.C., and David Ashton, 24, of Hyattsville, Maryland, each pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Keonte Obatunde Lorenzo Lewis, 20, of Southeast Washington D.C., pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school and carrying a pistol without a license. Finally, Tyrell Davon Jones, 28, of Temple Hills, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess and distribute a controlled substance and carrying a pistol without a license. All are awaiting sentencing. The charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years imprisonment to be imposed. The possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum sentence of one year imprisonment to be imposed. The charge of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment. The charge of carrying a pistol without a license carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine the appropriate sentence after considering the guideline ranges and other factors. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew W. Kinskey and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Stewart of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section (VRTO) of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office’s Safe Streets Cross Border Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ Washington High Intensity Drug Trafficking Group, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Field Division, and the Metropolitan Police Department.


title: Chicago Heroin Dealer Sentenced to Federal Prison

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A Chicago man who distributed heroin in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on four different occasions was sentenced today to more than 3 years in federal prison. Jerry Lamont Granville, age 52, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after an October 31, 2022 guilty plea to four counts of distribution of a controlled substance and one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that law enforcement utilized a confidential informant to conduct four controlled purchases of heroin from Granville between October 2020 and January 2021. On January 5, 2021, following one of the controlled purchases of heroin, law enforcement officers stopped Granville’s vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, officers found heroin and cocaine base. Granville was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Granville was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Granville is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he 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-36. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Mason City Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: A Mason City, Iowa man who possessed over 150,000 depictions of child pornography was sentenced on Friday, April 28, 2023, to 240 months imprisonment after a jury returned a guilty verdict against him on November 17, 2022. Brandon Manning, age 41, from Mason City, Iowa, was convicted of two counts of possession of child pornography at trial. The verdict was returned following more than four hours of jury deliberations. The evidence at trial and his sentencing showed that Manning possessed thousands of images and videos of child pornography, including pornography of children under the age of 12 years old—including infants, on an SD card in a cellphone he attempted to destroy, as well as an internal hard drive that was found in his home, hidden in his bedroom. Manning was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 240 months’ imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay $118,000 in restitution to the victims. Manning must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Manning is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. 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 individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and was investigated by the Mason City Police Department and the State of Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-3002. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Ellsworth Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Child Pornography Offenses

body_text: Bryan Ross, 26, from Ellsworth, Iowa, was sentenced April 28, 2023, to 25 years in federal prison for Producing and Distributing Child Pornography. At the hearing, evidence established that between July 2019, and February 2022, Ross knowingly harassed and coerced minors online via Facebook and Snapchat to take sexually explicit photos and videos of themselves to send to him. Evidence further established that Ross received and attempted to receive visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and distributed them to others online. Ross was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 300 months’ imprisonment and fined $1,000. Ross was also ordered to pay $18,649 in restitution to the victims. Ross must also serve an 8-year term of supervised released following the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. 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 individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” The case was investigated by HSI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-3016. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Lincoln Man Sentenced for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Brian Norman, 52, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on April 28, 2023, by Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard to a term of 210 months’ imprisonment following his conviction for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. After he completes his prison sentence, Norman will serve seven years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. On January 4, 2022, an individual working with law enforcement purchased cocaine from Norman. Following the sale, investigators contacted Norman in the front passenger seat of a car that was parked in a parking lot of a Lincoln business. Investigators found cocaine, psilocybin mushrooms, MDMA tablets, hydrocodone tablets, and suspected LSD in a bag located at Norman’s feet. Investigators also located numerous baggies, a digital scale, and other drug paraphernalia consistent with drug distribution. Investigators found about one and a half pounds of methamphetamine in two bags in Norman’s coat pockets. He also had $816 cash in his pocket. The methamphetamine was sent to the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab where a forensic scientist found the methamphetamine to be 99% pure resulting in at least 630 grams of pure methamphetamine. This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force, the Nebraska State Patrol, and the Omaha Police Department.


title: South Dakota Woman Sentenced to Ten Years for Possession of Drugs and Firearm

body_text: United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Kylah Whiting, 21, of Winner, South Dakota, was sentenced on April 28, 2023, by Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard to a total term of 10 years’ imprisonment following her conviction for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime. After she completes her prison sentence, Whiting will also serve five years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Whiting pleaded guilty to both offenses on January 25, 2023. On October 17, 2021, a Butler County Sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Whiting. Whiting refused to stop and a highspeed chase ensued for the next 14 miles. Whiting lost control of the vehicle and wrecked. The vehicle driven by Whiting flipped over and was upside down as officers approached. Two occupants were seen attempting to climb out of the vehicle. Whiting told police there was a gun in the car. A sheriff’s deputy then spotted a Smith & Wesson handgun near the driver’s door. Whiting told police the handgun, as well as a backpack inside the vehicle, were hers. Whiting and her passenger were transported by ambulance to the hospital. Police searched the car. Whiting’s backpack was found to contain two more firearms, a purse, numerous small baggies which are commonly used to package drugs for resale, four additional baggies containing approximately 293 grams of methamphetamine, and a digital scale. Police also found additional evidence in and around the vehicle consistent with drug distribution. This case was investigated by the Butler County Sheriff’s Department and the Nebraska State Patrol.


title: Plymouth Man Arrested, Charged in Federal Complaint with Arson Following Fires at Two Minneapolis Mosques

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – Jackie Rahm Little, aka Joel Arthur Tueting, has been arrested and charged in a federal criminal complaint with arson following fires at two Minneapolis mosques, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. Little was apprehended and arrested last night in Mankato by the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office and taken into federal custody today by FBI and ATF agents, with assistance from the Minneapolis and St. Paul Police Departments. According to court documents, on April 23, 2023, at approximately 7:00 p.m., Little, 36, started a fire in the bathroom of the Masjid Omar Islamic Center. On April 24, 2023, just before 7:00 p.m., Little was captured on surveillance video entering the Masjid Al Rahma Mosque. Shortly thereafter, a fire broke out on the third floor of the mosque and the building was evacuated. According to court documents, prior to the arson incidents, on January 5, 2023, Little was captured on surveillance video entering the Minneapolis district office of a U.S. Representative. Little spray-painted the text “500” on the front door of the U.S. Representative’s office and photographed the graffiti. Later that same day, Little spray-painted the same text (“500”) on the side of a patrol vehicle assigned to a Somali Minneapolis Police Department officer as well as in an entryway at a marketplace, colloquially referred to as the “Somali Mall.” Little will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright on Monday, May 1, 2023. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office, and the St. Paul Police Department, with assistance from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights and National Security Divisions, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Manda M. Sertich is prosecuting the case. A complaint is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Lake County Convicted Felon Sentenced To Two Years In Federal Prison For Conspiracy To Traffic More Than 130 Pounds Of Marijuana

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Jack Protzman (74, Tavares) to two years in federal prison for conspiracy to traffic more than 130 pounds of marijuana. The court also ordered Protzman to forfeit $18,440, and an additional $32,800 was administratively forfeited, which amounts were traceable to proceeds of the offense. Protzman had pleaded guilty on August 16, 2022. According to court documents, an individual working with law enforcement met with Protzman regarding his marijuana dealing. Protzman showed the individual THC oil cartridges he was trafficking and said he purchases 2,000 cartridges at a time. Protzman also advised that he cultivated marijuana out of state and could provide marijuana to the individual in 50-pound increments. Protzman also advised that he was looking for someone to assist him in transporting his marijuana across state lines in a concealed compartment in a specially-outfitted vehicle. Protzman sold the individual hundreds of THC oil cartridges and pounds of marijuana, including one instance where Protzman delivered 110 pounds of marijuana in November 2019, which was seized by law enforcement. Agents seized $32,800 in cash from Protzman. In 2004, Protzman was convicted of conspiracy to import 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana into the United States and sentenced 5 years and 11 months in federal prison. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran. This case was part of 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. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: INTERPOL Washington Addresses World Border Security Congress in North Macedonia

component: Interpol Washington

body_text: This week, INTERPOL Washington participated in the World Border Security Conference in Skopje, North Macedonia, to highlight INTERPOL’S unique role in border security and to enhance critical law enforcement partnerships. “The transnational criminal and terrorist threats we face today are increasingly lethal, diverse, invasive, and present in communities of all sizes across the world,” said INTERPOL Washington Director Michael A. Hughes. “Our efforts at home and abroad rely on international partnerships to dismantle the transnational criminal organizations that exploit border security vulnerabilities to commit heinous acts. At INTERPOL Washington, we are committed to working with our foreign and domestic law enforcement partners on programs that increase the security of American communities and build a safer world.” The World Border Security Congress is a high-level, three-day forum for discussion and debate on current and future border policies, implementation issues, and other related challenges. Attendees also discuss new and developing border security technologies and share best practices. The conference provides a unique platform for sharing information and promoting cooperation among border management and security professionals from around the world. An INTERPOL Washington delegation spoke at the event, emphasizing the agency’s work in strengthening domestic and international border security. INTERPOL Washington maintains numerous programs that strengthen border security at home and abroad. In the United States, INTERPOL Washington shares global criminal investigative data with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and more than 18,000 other domestic law enforcement agencies to ensure the frontline officers know the criminal history of foreign nationals they may encounter. Through Project Terminus, INTERPOL Washington also extends secure police communications systems to select nations, delivering solid, actionable criminal intelligence in a secure manner around the world. A component of the U.S. Department of Justice co-managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, INTERPOL Washington—the U.S. National Central Bureau (USNCB)—is the designated U.S. representative to INTERPOL. It serves as the national point of contact and coordination for all INTERPOL matters, coordinating international investigative efforts among member countries and the more than 18,000 local, state, federal, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies.


title: North Liberty Woman Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison Related to False Statements During the Purchase of Firearms

body_text: DAVENPORT, IA – A North Liberty woman was sentenced on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, to 12 months and one day in federal prison after pleading guilty to making false statements during the purchase of firearms. According to court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Miracle Star Vaughn, 27, purchased seven handguns from Scheels, in Coralville, over a period of 18 months. During the firearms purchases, Vaughn provided false information regarding her address and her drug use. One of the firearms Vaughn purchased was recovered in Chicago in the possession of Dimione Walker. Walker was a felon prohibited from possessing firearms, and also had a federal warrant for his arrest. One of the other guns Vaughn purchased was recovered in the possession of her significant other and co-defendant, Michael Haythorn, also a felon prohibited from possessing firearms. At sentencing, the District Court found that when law enforcement confronted her, Vaughn continued to provide false statements. The District Court considered the danger to the community created by Vaughn’s conduct and noted that Vaughn’s lack of criminal history allowed her to purchase these firearms. After completing the prison term, Vaughn will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Haythorn pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a felon. His sentencing is currently scheduled for May 23, 2023. “Straw purchasing is a serious crime that contributes to the epidemic of gun violence,” United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa said. “We will continue to partner with federal and local law enforcement to hold accountable those who illegally purchase firearms.” This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Iowa City Police Department. 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. In May 2021, the 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. If you have information pertaining to illegal firearms activity such as a straw purchase, please contact the ATF at 1-800-ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867). Anonymous tips may also be submitted to ATF through the ReportIt mobile app.


title: Mobile Man with Illegally Modified Machinegun Sentenced in Federal Court

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced in federal court today on the charge of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, described as a Glock .40 caliber pistol loaded with a magazine containing eighteen rounds of .40 caliber ammunition modified with a machinegun-conversion device, which had not been registered to him as required by federal law. Sidney Rashard Collins, 21, pled guilty to the charge in August of 2022. According to court documents, Mobile police officers were on routine patrol on Dauphin Street in downtown Mobile on May 15, 2022, when they saw bouncers at a nightclub there searching patrons prior to their entry into the club. They observed struggle when bouncers attempted to search Collins, and Collins fled the area, jumping a nearby gate. Officer approached him, and Collins ran west on Dauphin Street, failing to stop in spite of officers’ commands to do so. The officers chased Collins and observed him pull a firearm from his waistband that throw it into the intersection at Conception and Dauphin Streets while continuing to run. Collins finally tripped and fell, and officers detained him. They also recovered the gun he had thrown into the intersection. The police observed that the firearm was a loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol, which had been modified by the addition of a machinegun-conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock chip” or a “Glock switch.” This device enables a Glock pistol to shoot automatically, more than one shot, without manual reloading by a single function of the trigger. This device is designed to convert a Glock-style firearm to fire automatically, effectively creating a machinegun A firearm equipped with this device is regulated under federal law and must be registered to be possessed legally. Collins’ device was not registered as required. In a statement to police made after Collins was advised of his constitutional rights and agreed to waive his rights, Collins admitted that knew the manner in which the firearm operated with the device. United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer imposed a sentence of 70 years in Collins’ case, to be followed by three years of supervised release to follow his imprisonment. As conditions of supervision, Collins will undergo testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse, and he will be subject to a search of his person and premises upon reasonable suspicion. No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that Collins pay $100 in special assessments. Collins’ case was investigated by the Mobile Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michele O’Brien and Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.


title: Daphne Man Sentenced to 17½ Years for Child Pornography Offenses

body_text: Stephen Richey, 69, of Daphne, was sentenced to 210 months (17½ years) in prison for production of child pornography. Richey pled guilty to the offense on January 12, 2023. The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer. According to court documents filed in connection with his guilty plea, in April 2022, after finding inappropriate pictures of herself on Richey’s cell phone, the victim contacted law enforcement and an investigation began. The investigation revealed that Richey had taken numerous photographs of the victim. Based on the content of the images and age of the child depicted, these images constituted child pornography. Following this discovery, Richey was interviewed by law enforcement and admitted that he had taken the images of the child. Judge Moorer imposed a 210-month sentence of incarceration and a 25-year term of supervised release upon his discharge from prison. Judge Moorer ordered that Richey pay $7,000 in restitution to the victim, $5,100 in special assessments, and $40,000 in fines. Richey will be required to register as a sex offender when he is released from prison and is to have no contact with minors. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Daphne Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Kacey Chappelear, Beth Stepan, and Tandice Blackwood prosecuted the case. 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 individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/publications-resources.


title: Bensalem Man Sentenced To 20 Years’ Imprisonment For Fentanyl Trafficking

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Tarik Wilson, age 24, of Bensalem, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner to 20 years’ imprisonment for conspiring to distribute fentanyl. The Court also ordered a five-year term of supervised release to follow the term of imprisonment. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Wilson previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and a fentanyl analogue between March and May 2022 in Lebanon and Bucks Counties. As part of his plea, Wilson also admitted to distributing fentanyl in Lebanon County in April 2020, resulting in the deaths of two individuals. The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Lebanon County Drug Task Force, the Bucks County Drug Task Force, and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlo D. Marchioli 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. This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses. # # #


title: Dauphin County Woman Charged With Child Pornography Offenses

body_text: HARRISBURG- The United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Gerard M. Karam, announced that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment on April 26, 2023 charging Tammie Jo Hooks, 60, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with receiving, distributing, and possessing child pornography. The indictment also alleges that prior to committing the charged offenses, Hooks was convicted in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia of distributing child pornography, which may subject her to increased penalties if she is convicted of the federal offenses charged in indictment. 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 individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources." Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is up to life imprisonment, a term of up to lifetime supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant. # # #


title: Wormleysburg Man Sentenced For Theft From Federal Courthouse Construction Site

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Christopher Gontaryk, age 48, of Wormleysburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 17 months of imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $10,736.01 in restitution. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Gontaryk stole about $9,919.61 of construction materials, which belonged to the United States, from the construction site of the Sylvia H. Rambo U.S. Courthouse in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on October 11, 2021. The following day, he sold copper and brass construction materials that he had stolen at a metal scrapyard located in Pottsville, PA. In March 2022, while on release pending trial for the foregoing theft, Gontaryk returned to the same location and committed another theft of construction materials worth about $816.40. He again sold the stolen materials at a scrapyard, this time in York, PA. Gontaryk was sentenced to 15 months of imprisonment for the first offense and two months for the second offense, resulting in the total sentence summarized above. The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Protective Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Romel Sharma prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Jefferson County Man Sentenced for Federal Firearms Offense

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – A Jefferson County man was sentenced this week to 3 years and 4 months in federal prison followed by a 3-year term of supervised release for possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of a felony offense. There is no parole in the federal system. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement. According to court documents, Alpintino A. Johnson, Jr., 26, of Louisville, Kentucky, possessed a Romarm/Cugir, model Micro Draco, 7.62 caliber pistol. Johnson was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On April 20, 2018, in Hardin Circuit Court, Johnson was convicted of trafficking in marijuana under eight ounces, gun enhanced, and first degree promoting contraband. The case was investigated by the ATF and Louisville Metro Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Judd 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: Tompkinsville Woman Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Stalking and Mailing Threats

body_text: Bowling Green, KY – A federal grand jury in Bowling Green, Kentucky returned an indictment on March 15, 2023, charging a local woman with stalking and mailing communications containing threats to injure another person. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, FBI Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the Louisville Field Office, and Chief Michael Delaney of the Bowling Green Police Department made the announcement. According to the indictment, on January 27, 2023, and January 30, 2023, Tara K. Thomas, 31, mailed threatening communications to another person in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Additionally, between September 21, 2021, and January 30, 2023, she sent Facebook messages and used the United States mail to stalk another person in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Thomas is charged with one count of stalking and two counts of mailing threatening communications. The defendant made her initial court appearance this week before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky in Bowling Green. If convicted, Thomas faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. The FBI Bowling Green Satellite Office and the Bowling Green Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond McGee, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Former Greenfield Township Sewer Authority Plant Operator Sentenced To Prison For Clean Water Act Violations

body_text: SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that United States Judge Malachy E. Mannion sentenced Bruce Evans, Jr., age 41, of Greenfield Township, Pennsylvania to one year and one day in prison for violating the Clean Water Act, and for submitting a false statement to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP). Evans, Jr. was convicted after trial in December of 2021. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Evans, Jr. knowingly failed to operate and maintain the municipality’s wastewater treatment plant in accordance with regulations and limitations specified in a permit issued by the PADEP to the Greenfield Township Sewer Authority (GTSA). The permit required that the permittee maintain the plant in good working order, properly operate and maintain all facilities and systems installed and used by the permittee to achieve compliance with the terms and conditions of the permit, and meet specific numerical limits on pollutants discharged into a local waterway. As a result of the defendant’s failures, pollutants were discharged in violation of the permit on multiple occasions. Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the EPA presented testimony from 34 witnesses over the course of a trial that began on November 15, 2021 and ended on December 17, 2021. Evans, Jr, and his father, Bruce Evans, Sr. were tried together. Witnesses included GTSA board members, Greenfield Township Supervisors, FBI and EPA Special Agents, multiple PADEP inspectors and supervisors, and residents who lived near sewage system lift stations where sewage overflowed. Throughout the time covered by the charges, Bruce Evans, Sr. was a Greenfield Township Supervisor, a Greenfield Township employee, a GTSA Board Member, and the paid Manager of the GTSA. Evans, Jr. was an employee of Greenfield Township and the GTSA. Evans, Sr. was convicted of twenty (20) counts of Clean Water Act violations; four (4) counts of wire fraud involving the misappropriation of GTSA funds for his personal benefit and the benefit of his family; and four (4) counts of obstruction of certified mail sent by the PADEP addressed to his fellow GTSA board members but intercepted by Evans, Sr. Evans, Jr. was convicted of four (4) counts of Clean Water Act violations, and one (1) count of submitting a false statement to the PADEP related to representations and certifications made by Evans, Jr. regarding his professional work experience. Bruce Evans, Sr. is awaiting sentencing. The investigation was jointly conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Criminal Investigations Division in Philadelphia, Pa., the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Scranton Field Office, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection - Northeast Region. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Olshefski and EPA Attorneys W. Martin Harrell and Patricia C. Miller prosecuted the case as Special Assistant United States Attorneys. # # #


title: Laurens County man is final defendant sentenced in middle Georgia drug trafficking conspiracy

body_text: DUBLIN, GA: A Laurens County man who was involved in a now-dismantled drug-trafficking conspiracy has been sentenced to prison, joining the other seven defendants identified in the investigation. Quaveris Leshaun Mims , a/k/a “Strong,” 51, of Dublin, Ga., was sentenced to 108 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Cocaine, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen also fined Mims $2,000 and ordered him to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “A collaborative effort from multiple law enforcement agencies identified and shut down this prolific drug-trafficking network in middle Georgia,” U.S. Attorney Steinberg said. “These eight guilty pleas reflect the continued hard work and dedication of our law enforcement partners to make their communities safer.” Operation “The Hole” was an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation coordinated by agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, along with the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and the Ocmulgee Drug Task Force. The investigation targeted a drug-trafficking ring moving large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana into the Laurens County area starting as early as 2017. The investigation identified a small, secluded cinder-block building called “The Hole” that was being used as the “trap house,” or central distribution site, complete with a retail-like service counter for drug transactions. During the execution of multiple federal search warrants, agents seized pounds of methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana, along with two dozen firearms, nearly $37,000 in cash, silver bars with an estimated value of $73,000, devices for pressing bricks of cocaine, pill presses, a stolen vehicle, and two stolen generators with lights. Additional drugs, firearms and cash also were discovered during individual arrests of the eight defendants. In addition to Mims, the seven co-defendants all are serving federal prison sentences after pleading guilty in the case: Rodney Jarrod Denson , a/k/a “RD,” 46, of Dublin, Ga., was sentenced to 262 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy charges. Denson was a drug supplier for other defendants. Anthony Michael Denson , 51, of Dublin, Ga., was sentenced to 92 months in prison after pleading guilty to a conspiracy charge. He is the brother of Rodney Denson. Nicholas Turner , 27, of East Dublin, Ga., was sentenced to 112 months in prison after pleading guilty to a conspiracy charge. Brandon Payne , a/k/a “Tre,” 28, of Dublin, Ga., was sentenced to 121 months in prison after pleading guilty to a conspiracy charge. Payne is a stepson of Rodney Denson. Constance Victoria Moore , 36, of McRae-Helena, Ga., was sentenced to 24 months in prison after pleading guilty to a conspiracy charge. Zandera Finney , 36, of Warner Robins, Ga., was sentenced to 120 months in prison after pleading guilty to a conspiracy charge. Desergio Kates, a/k/a “Serg,” 26, of Dublin, Ga., was sentenced to 14 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana. Kates is a stepson of Rodney Denson. “The leader of this once-thriving drug trafficking organization has owned up to his crimes and now will pay the price,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Operation The Hole was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), the premier U.S. Department of Justice program to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations. Agencies involved in the investigation include the DEA; the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives (ATF); the FBI; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office; Ocmulgee Drug Task Force; the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office; the Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office; the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office; the Washington County Sheriff’s Office; the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office; and the Warner Robins Police Department, and is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia Rhodes, Henry W. Syms Jr. and Jeremiah L. Johnson.


title: Four Additional Defendants in North Carolina  Plead Guilty to National COVID-19 Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Denise Coit Alston, 69; Monica Faye Barnes, 51; Terron Cortez Parker, 37; and Kami D. Woodard, 37; each pleaded guilty earlier this week to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for fraudulently obtaining Paycheck Protection Act (“PPP”) COVID-19 loans. The defendants requested relief for various companies they owned including companies listed as being engaged in catering, trucking and real estate. They all face up to 20 years in prison. “These defendants, along with the broader network of co-conspirators, took taxpayer money meant to help struggling small businesses during a global pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “We are investigating and prosecuting those who steal from public programs intended to keep legitimate businesses afloat.” According to the filed charges and information summarized in court, the defendants conspired with Edward Whitaker, Schunda Coleman, and others to obtain fraudulent PPP loans on behalf of their businesses. Whitaker and Coleman pled guilty on January 19, 2023 for their role in operating a nation-wide scheme to help people across the country commit millions of dollars of PPP fraud from their home in Texas. Whitaker and Coleman created fraudulent supporting documents and applications for each PPP loan in exchange for 25% of the total loan proceeds. The fraudulent applications falsified the number of employees and gross wages being paid prior to the COVID-19 pandemic by backdating fraudulent IRS Forms 940 and 941, in order to help qualify for the PPP loans. Following the disbursement of the PPP loans, Whitaker gave each defendant, via text messages subsequently obtained by law enforcement, detailed instructions as to how to make it appear that the PPP loans were being paid out to employees. In reality, most or all of the money was transferred back to the defendants. The fraudulent payroll records were then submitted to the Small Business Administration (SBA) to obtain 100% loan forgiveness. Late last year , Quentin Jackson pled guilty in the same conspiracy which included the recruitment of numerous individuals within the Eastern District of North Carolina to use Whitaker and Coleman to obtain fraudulent PPP funds. “The Paycheck Protection Program was designed to help small businesses facing financial difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Donald “Trey” Eakins, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge in the Charlotte Field Office. “Through our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agents will continue to aggressively pursue individuals who try to exploit federal relief programs for their personal gain.” The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were economically suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act and additional appropriations authorized up to $649 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Financial institutions issued the PPP loans, which were guaranteed by the SBA. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after United States Magistrate Judge Robert T. Numbers II accepted the pleas. Sentencings will occur before United States District Judge James C. Dever III later this year. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation is leading the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Beraka is prosecuting the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-00027-D. ###


title: Arlington Doctor Charged with Illegally Distributing Oxycodone

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment this week charging an Arlington doctor with distributing tens of thousands of oxycodone pills for almost a decade for no legitimate medical reason. According to allegations in the indictment, Kirsten Van Steenberg Ball, 68, was a primary care physician who operated a medical practice out of her home in Arlington. Ball allegedly conspired with her office manager to shield the fact that she was dispensing vast quantities of oxycodone to her patients—contrary to ordinary standards of medical care—from law enforcement and regulatory authorities. The indictment alleges that Ball’s office manager, Candie Marie Calix, 40, of Front Royal, used an alias to disguise the fact that Calix was, herself, a patient of Ball. According to the indictment, Ball allegedly prescribed her office manager approximately 50,000 oxycodone pills over a period of approximately 10 years. The indictment further alleges that the Virginia Department of Health Professions (DHP) investigated Ball twice: once in 2015 and once in 2021. Despite the two investigations, Ball did not change her prescribing practices. According to the indictment, examples of Ball’s prescriptions include the following: Prescribing a patient as many as 360 oxycodone 30-mg tablets per month; Prescribing similarly high quantities of oxycodone to close family members; Paying a patient to perform manual labor on Ball’s home while concurrently prescribing the patient oxycodone, ostensibly for long-term pain; Loaning a patient $40,000 while concurrently prescribing the patient oxycodone; Continuing to prescribe oxycodone to patients after they failed drug screens. Ball is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, and 21 counts of distribution of oxycodone. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Calix was sentenced to seven years in prison on September 28, 2022, for conspiring to distribute oxycodone. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Rumbaugh is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-CR-cr-80. An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.