title: Wanblee Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Wanblee, South Dakota, man convicted of one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse and two counts of Sexual Abuse. The sentencing took place on December 15, 2023. Anthony Red Elk, 34, was sentenced to three terms of life imprisonment and ordered to pay a total of $300 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The life imprisonment sentences shall be served concurrently. Red Elk was indicted for the charges by a federal grand jury in November of 2021. He was found guilty following a federal jury trial in Rapid City, South Dakota, in July of 2023. The convictions relate to Red Elk sexually assaulting a ten-year-old girl at Wanblee, on the Pine Ridge Reservation, while the young girl babysat Red Elk’s child in his home. Red Elk then sexually abused the same female in 2018 and again in 2019 at Wanblee, after she had reached the age of 18. Red Elk threatened her should she tell anyone and taunted her that no one would believe her if she came forward. Red Elk previously worked at the Crazy Horse School in Wanblee as a basketball coach, bus driver, and custodian. He also worked in a juvenile detention facility. He was fired from the Crazy Horse School in January of 2019, for sending sexually explicit Facebook messages to a student. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted and tried the case. Red Elk was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Huntington Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Federal Gun Crime and Violating Supervised Release

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Thomas Ray III, 54, of Huntington, was sentenced today to 12 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm and violating his supervised release. A federal jury found Ray guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm on July 12, 2023, following a two-day trial. Evidence at trial showed that on October 23, 2020, Ray possessed a firearm that he discharged multiple times, including at law enforcement officers, during and after a domestic disturbance in the area of 17th Street and Artisan Avenue in Huntington. Ray had arrived at an Artisan Avenue residence where he struck two women, brandished a firearm, pointed it at the forehead of a third woman and fired two rounds into the air. Officers responding to the resulting 911 calls located Ray in an alley several blocks from Artisan Avenue. Ray fired a round at one officer and continued to flee. Ray fired several more shots at officers while fleeing before they returned fire and wounded him in the leg. Ray was still holding the firearm while on the ground and resisted being placed into custody. Officers recovered the firearm, a loaded Smith & Wesson Model M&P Shield .40-caliber pistol, after Ray tossed it to the ground. Officers also found .40-caliber ammunition and a Harrington and Richardson revolver in Ray’s pants pockets. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Ray knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for Forcible Detention/Armed and Give False Bomb/Gas Alarm in Will County, Illinois, Circuit Court on February 28, 2012, and for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on December 9, 2013. At the time of this offense, Ray was serving a term of federal supervised release for the 2013 conviction. Today’s prison sentence includes two years for committing a crime while on supervised release. “Mr. Ray has a significant criminal history and his actions in this case threatened law enforcement officers and other individuals with a substantial risk of serious harm,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “Today’s sentence is warranted and appropriate.” Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie Taylor 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. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-57. ###


title: Former Cook County Land Bank Authority Employee Sentenced to a Year in Federal Prison for Scheming To Fraudulently Purchase and Resell Properties

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: CHICAGO — A former employee of the Cook County Land Bank Authority (CCLBA) has been sentenced to a year in federal prison for using “straw buyers” to fraudulently purchase and resell properties from the agency on his behalf. MUSTAFAA SALEH, 37, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a wire fraud charge. U.S. District Judge Andrea R. Wood imposed the year-and-a-day prison sentence during a hearing Friday in federal court in Chicago. The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Machelle L. Jindra, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Inspector General in Chicago, and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the Office of Special Inspector General for Troubled Asset Relief Program, IRS Criminal Investigation Division, Cook County Office of Independent Inspector General, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s Office of Inspector General. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Franzblau and Kirsten Moran, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Netols. Saleh worked as an asset manager for the CCLBA, a governmental entity that promoted the redevelopment and reuse of vacant, foreclosed, abandoned, and tax delinquent real estate by acquiring and transferring the property to private ownership. The CCLBA sold the real estate at below-market rates and prohibited the buyers from selling or renting a property until the CCLBA was satisfied that the buyer had adequately improved it. CCLBA employees were prohibited from purchasing a property from the agency unless it would be used for the employee’s primary residence. From 2016 to 2021, Saleh used nominee or “straw” buyers to fraudulently purchase six properties from the CCLBA on Saleh’s behalf and thereafter redeveloped, resold, and otherwise used the properties for Saleh’s financial benefit. In some instances, Saleh’s duties at the CCLBA allowed him oversight over the same properties he owned and resold. The properties were located in Chicago and the nearby suburbs of Oak Lawn and Midlothian. In addition to the property fraud scheme, Saleh fraudulently obtained maintenance work from the CCLBA. In 2016, Saleh formed a property maintenance company called Evergreen Property Services and directed another individual to pose as its owner. Over the next three years, Saleh caused the CCLBA to contract with Evergreen and pay it more than $1 million for property maintenance services, even though CCLBA employees were prohibited from having a financial interest in property maintenance companies contracting with the agency.


title: Montgomery Woman Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Child Sex Trafficking

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: Montgomery, Alabama – Today, Acting United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross announced that a federal judge sentenced 27-year-old Laporchie Howard, a resident of Montgomery, Alabama, to 120 months in prison. Howard’s sentence follows her entering a guilty plea to the charge of sex trafficking a minor. During the December 15, 2023, sentencing hearing, the judge also ordered that Howard serve five years of supervised release following the prison term. Federal prisoners are not eligible for parole. According to her plea agreement and other court records, in early 2017, Howard resided with two co-defendants — D’Vonte Lockley and Tracey Shannon — in an apartment located in Montgomery. Sometime before May 4, 2017, a female runaway under the age of eighteen and an adult female were invited to live with Howard at her apartment. In her plea agreement, Howard acknowledged that she and her co-defendants knew that one of their new roommates was a minor. In return for food and housing, the two new residents engaged in commercial sex at a Montgomery hotel. Howard received the proceeds. In furtherance of the commercial sex trafficking enterprise, Howard sent various text messages to the other four residents and to customers directing some of the criminal activities. She also set the prices of the commercial sex acts. With some of the proceeds, Howard purchased illegal drugs for herself and the two victims. For over a month, the two victims’ commercial sex income was the sole source of support for all the residents in the apartment. Lockley and Shannon were previously sentenced for their involvement in the sex trafficking crimes. 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 United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who 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 . The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Montgomery Police Department, and the Alabama Attorney General’s Office investigated this case, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section. Assistant United States Attorneys J. Patrick Lamb and Tara S. Ratz for the Middle District of Alabama, and Assistant Attorney General Audrey Jordan of the Alabama Attorney General’s Office prosecuted the case.


title: Huntington Woman Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Valerie June Damron, 63, of Huntington, was sentenced today to seven years and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of a quantity of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 11, 2022, Damron sold approximately 1 ounce of methamphetamine to a confidential informant at her Seventh Avenue residence. Damron admitted to that transaction and to selling quantities of methamphetamine totaling approximately 69 grams on three occasions between October 14 and October 19, 2022. Damron further admitted that the quantities of fentanyl were mixed in with the methamphetamine sold in two of those additional transactions. On October 20, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Damron’s residence and seized approximately 122 grams of methamphetamine, 20.5 grams of fentanyl and multiple firearms including a Davis Industries .22-caliber pistol, a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol, and a FT 9mm pistol. Damron admitted that she intended to distribute the controlled substances. On February 2, 2023, investigators arrested Damron at her residence and seized approximately 211 grams of methamphetamine, 3.5 grams of fentanyl and a Kel-Tex .380-caliber pistol. Damron told the investigators that she had been previously supplied with 2 to 3 pounds of methamphetamine on multiple occasions by another individual. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-19. ###


title: Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Thomas Donnell Shaw, 30, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 4, 2021, Shaw was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by a law enforcement officer. The traffic stop resulted in a search of the vehicle, and officers found a FNH model FNS-40 .40-caliber pistol and a quantity of methamphetamine. Shaw admitted that he possessed the methamphetamine with the intent of distributing it within the Southern District of West Virginia. Shaw further admitted that he possessed the firearm in part to protect himself, the drugs and his drug proceeds. Shaw is scheduled to be sentenced on April 1, 2024, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Huntington Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys J.C. MacCallum and Ryan A. Keefe are 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. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-194. ###


title: Theft of 22 Firearms from J.T. Reid Gun Shop Leads to 12-Year Sentence for Biddeford Man

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

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Biddeford man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for theft from a federally licensed firearms dealer (FFL), possession of a stolen firearm, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute. U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Tomas Johnson, 40, to 12 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Johnson pleaded guilty on April 27, 2023. On October 20, 2021, Johnson spent over an hour inside of J.T. Reid’s Gun Shop in Auburn. While there, he asked store employees about multiple firearms and handled a semi-automatic assault rifle with a large-capacity magazine attached to it. Johnson was prohibited from possessing firearms due to multiple prior felony convictions. On October 24, 2021, Johnson threw a rock through the glass window of J.T. Reid’s front door. Johnson, wearing a hood, mask, and gloves, unlawfully entered the premises through the front door with a backpack and stole 22 firearms from J.T. Reid’s business inventory before fleeing the scene. On October 28, 2021, as part of the investigation to locate and apprehend Johnson, an undercover officer called a phone number associated with Johnson and arranged to buy a quantity of cocaine base from him. When investigators saw Johnson walking toward the agreed-upon location for the drug deal, they exited their vehicle to approach him and he fled on foot. During the pursuit, Johnson discarded a loaded firearm that was later identified as one of the firearms stolen from J.T. Reid’s. At the time of his arrest, he was found in possession of a quantity of cocaine base. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Auburn Police Department and Lewiston Police Department investigated this case. ###


title: Arizona Man Arrested for Making Online Threats Against Federal Agents and Employees

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Michael Lee Tomasi, 37, of Rio Verde, Arizona, was arrested on Friday after a grand jury indicted him on three counts of Threat Against a Federal Official and three counts of making Interstate Threats. From May 2021 through November 2023, while living in Colorado and Arizona, Tomasi used a social media platform to express a desire to incite violence and threaten a variety of individuals and groups, including elected officials, a judge, and federal officials and law enforcement officers. The charges against Tomasi relate to threats he made in Arizona to federal law enforcement agents and employees. “The threats of violence against public officials alleged in this indictment are abhorrent,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The defendant is specifically charged with threatening to kill FBI agents and other FBI employees just for doing their jobs. I am deeply proud of the work the FBI does every day; its personnel should not have to deal with threats against themselves as they work to protect the American people. The Justice Department will not stand for such heinous behavior and will prosecute threats against its employees to the fullest extent of the law.” “Threats against law enforcement personnel like those alleged in this indictment are not just polemics, they are illegal under federal law and corrosive to civic life and dialogue," said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. Each count alleging Threat Against a Federal Official carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. Counts alleging Interstate Threat carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is conducting the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, is handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-23-01751-PHX-DWL RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-202_Tomasi # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Leader Of Multiple “Pump And Dump” Securities Fraud Schemes Sentenced To 30 Months In Prison

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that EARL INGARFIELD was sentenced to 30 months in prison for orchestrating multiple “pump and dump” stock fraud schemes designed to target retail investors and manipulate trading in penny stock shares, including a scheme to manipulate the shares of Suburban Minerals Corporation (“SUBB”) from which INGARFIELD made more than $1.4 million. INGARFIELD previously pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff, who imposed today’s sentence. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Earl Ingarfield engaged in a classic pump and dump scheme that victimized innocent investors and undermined the integrity of our public markets. Those who defraud investors by spreading false and misleading information for their own monetary gain will face stiff punishment for their crimes.” According to the Indictment, public filings, and statements made in court: From at least 2013 through March 2014, EARL INGARFIELD was the leader of multiple schemes to manipulate the stock of penny stocks, including the price of SUBB, a public company traded on the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market. In or about 2013, INGARFIELD obtained control of SUBB, installing management at the company that acted at his direction and financing SUBB’s operations. INGARFIELD also obtained convertible promissory notes issued by SUBB, which he then converted into tens of millions of SUBB shares that were nominally held by offshore shell entities. INGARFIELD used these shell entities to conceal his involvement and the fact that he owned and controlled the vast majority of the shares of SUBB. In early 2014, at INGARFIELD’s direction, SUBB announced that it was purportedly acquiring a producing African diamond mine worth $5 billion. But in reality, no such mine existed. Between January 2014 and March 2014, SUBB issued a series of press releases making false representations regarding that purported mine acquisition and SUBB’s operations. During the same time period, INGARFIELD orchestrated a marketing campaign through which promotional materials echoing the same false claims were distributed to the investing public by email. The false and misleading press releases and email marketing campaign caused SUBB’s share price and trading volume to become artificially inflated. While SUBB’s price was artificially inflated, INGARFIELD profited by selling millions of his secretly amassed shares, all at the expense of the investing public. Between January and March 2014, he made more than $1.4 million from the sale of SUBB shares. On March 7, 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission halted trading in SUBB, after which the share price dropped precipitously and never recovered. * * * In addition to his prison term, EARL INGARFIELD, 64, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced to two years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution of $1,804,738 and forfeiture of $1,418,473. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of Homeland Security Investigation’s El Dorado Task Force. The matter is being handled by the Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Deininger, Shiva Logarajah, and Tara La Morte are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Three South Florida Residents Indicted for Kidnapping and Murder

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Today, a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida charged Avin Seetaram, a/k/a “Smalls,” 24, Somjeet Christopher Singh, a/k/a “Lil Chris,” 29, and Gavin Hunter, 18, all of Broward County, with murder for hire conspiracy, murder for hire, kidnapping conspiracy, kidnapping, and obstruction of justice, for their involvement in a violent kidnapping and murder of Miami-Dade resident Suren Seetal. According to allegations contained in the previously filed criminal complaint and today’s indictment, Seetal was last seen alive on November 2, 2023, when he was leaving work. After leaving work, Seetal’s telephone was in the vicinity of Dr. HVAC, Singh’s air conditioning business, before going off network shortly thereafter. Seetal’s body was recovered at Big Cypress Reservation on November 21, 2023. Seetaram’s arraignment hearing is scheduled for December 28. Hunter’s arraignment hearing is scheduled for January 2, 2024. Singh’s arraignment hearing is scheduled for January 3, 2024. If convicted of the charges contained in the federal indictment, Seetaram, Singh, and Hunter each face a mandatory sentence of life in prison or the death penalty. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, Sheriff Gregory Tony of the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO), Chief of Police Manuel A. Morales of the Miami Police Department (MPD), and Chief of Police Delrish L. Moss of the Miramar Police Department (Miramar PD), announced the charges. FBI Miami, BSO, MPD, and Miramar PD investigated the case with invaluable assistance from the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Miccosukee Police Department, Margate Police Department, Martin County Sheriff’s Office, Miami-Dade Police Department, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Pembroke Pines Police Department, and the Seminole Police Department. The FBI notified Seetal’s family after his remains were discovered. The family’s cooperation was crucial in allowing the investigation to continue and culminate with today’s announcement of charges being filed. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abbie Waxman is handling the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Klco is handling asset forfeiture. This case is part of the Southern District of Florida’s Violence Reduction Partnership (“VRP”) initiative. Through the VRP, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its federal and local law enforcement allies have sought to dismantle the most violent criminal networks that plague communities throughout the Southern District of Florida. The VRP strives to combat violent crime, narcotics trafficking, gang activity and firearms offenses by prosecuting offenders and working with community leaders and non-profit entities to provide preventive services to the local populations. The charges announced today are the result of the VRP’s law enforcement initiatives. Additional information regarding the VRP initiatives is available at usafls.vrp@usdoj.gov (link sends e-mail) or by calling (305) 961-9134. Anyone with information regarding this matter is encouraged to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov. The victim’s family asks that the public please respect their privacy during this difficult time. A criminal complaint and an indictment contain allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case numbers 23-mj-04334 and 23-cr-20483.


title: Architect of Stamford Jewelry Store Robbery that Resulted in Owner’s Murder Sentenced to 32 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that THOMAS LIBERATORE, 66, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 384 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for offenses stemming from the robbery of Marco Jewelers in Stamford in March 2020. During the robbery, the owner of Marco Jewelers was shot and killed. According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 28, 2020, at approximately 2:48 p.m., Stamford Police Officers responded to Marco Jewelers, located at 16 Sixth Street in Stamford. When officers arrived, they found evidence of a robbery and encountered the storeowner, Mark Vuono, lying on the ground in front of an open safe. Emergency medical personnel arrived and pronounced Vuono deceased. Investigators collected and analyzed surveillance video from Marco Jewelers, surrounding businesses and Stamford city cameras. Video obtained from Marco Jewelers revealed that, on March 28, 2020, Paul Prosano drove Robert Rallo and Liberatore in a black Jaguar to Marco Jewelers. Rallo and Liberatore then entered the store. Rallo, armed with a handgun, engaged in a physical altercation with Vuono, while Liberatore stole items from the display cases. Vuono, who also possessed a firearm, and Rallo struggled next to a large open safe. During the more than three-minute struggle, Rallo reached into the safe and pulled out a third firearm, a .357 Magnum revolver. Rallo subsequently shot and killed Vuono with the .357 revolver. Between $360,000 and $430,000 worth of jewelry was stolen during the robbery. Following the robbery, law enforcement located the black Jaguar in Staten Island and maintained surveillance on the vehicle. On March 31, 2020, at approximately 5:30 p.m., a black BMW X3, driven by Prosano, pulled up beside the black Jaguar. Rallo exited the rear door of the BMW and entered the driver’s door of a black Jaguar. The two vehicles then left the area and rapidly accelerated. The Jaguar crashed on Tompkins Street. Rallo attempted to flee on foot, but was quickly apprehended. The BMW crashed into a tree and parked car at the intersection of Daniel Low Terrace and Corson Avenue. Prosano also attempted to flee and was apprehended. A search of the BMW revealed 63 rings, eight bracelets, two tie pins, an earring and a cufflink, and a search of Prosano’s residence revealed 23 pairs of earrings and three rings. These items were stolen from Marco Jewelers. Liberatore has been detained since his arrest on April 1, 2020. On December 19, 2022, a jury found Liberatore and Prosano guilty of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery) and interstate transportation of stolen property. Liberatore was also found guilty of aiding and abetting the use of a firearm to cause a death during a robbery. The trial evidence established that Liberatore, who formerly resided in Stamford, orchestrated the robbery of Marco Jewelers. Liberatore has a lengthy criminal history, and he served a total of approximately 30 years in prison prior to the Marco Jewelers and the murder of Mark Vuono. He met Rallo and Prosano while incarcerated within the New York State Department of Corrections. On April 5, 2022, Rallo pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery, interstate transportation of stolen property, and using a firearm to cause a death during a robbery. On March 1, 2023, he was sentenced to 40 years of imprisonment. On July 5, 2023, Prosano was sentenced to 30 years of imprisonment. This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Stamford Police Department and Greenwich Police Department, with the assistance of the New York Police Department, Yonkers (N.Y.) Police Department and New Rochelle (N.Y.) Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis, Rahul Kale and Margaret Donovan.


title: Umar Koon Pleads Not Guilty to Drug Charges

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office stated that Umar Koon, 45, of the Bronx, New York, pleaded not guilty today in United States District Court to charges that he distributed, and possessed with intent to distribute, illegal narcotics. United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle released Koon on conditions pending trial, which has not been scheduled. According to court records, the Northwestern Vermont Drug Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation began an investigation of Koon in the summer of 2023 after obtaining information that Koon was selling fentanyl in the Chittenden County area. Between September and November 2023, investigators, utilizing a confidential informant, made seven controlled purchases of drugs from Koon. On five occasions, it is alleged that Koon sold the confidential informant fentanyl; the two other deals involved cocaine base. Investigators arrested Koon on November 14 after he returned to Burlington from New York City on a bus. Agents seized a suitcase Koon was carrying, obtained a state court-issued warrant to search the bag, and recovered distribution quantities of cocaine, cocaine base and fentanyl. They also seized $1,500 in cash from Koon’s person. Koon was held without bail on state charges until December 6, when he was released to live in New York City. On December 7, 2023, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Koon with seven counts of distributing illegal narcotics and one count of possessing other illegal narcotics with intent to distribute. Federal agents arrested Koon at his home in the Bronx on December 12. A federal judge in New York ordered that Koon surrender for arraignment today in Vermont. The State of Vermont has dismissed its case in favor of this federal prosecution. The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty. If convicted, Koon faces up to 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $1,000,000. The actual sentence would be determined with reference to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples. Koon is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Steven Barth.


title: Hartford Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Gun Offense

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that AARON CHRISTIAN, 30, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 21 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for a firearm offense that followed a gang-related shootout. According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 18, 2022, after an unidentified shooter, who is suspected of being a member of a rival gang, opened fire at individuals who were standing in a parking lot outside of a memorial gathering in Hartford, surveillance cameras at the location recorded at least nine individuals drawing firearms, and some of them returned fire. Shot Spotter technology recorded approximately 50 shots fired within approximately 90 seconds in and around the location, and law enforcement recovered at least 31 shell casings from the scene. It is alleged that Christian was present at the memorial gathering and was recorded on video firing at the fleeing assailant. Following the shooting, Hartford Police obtained a warrant for Christian’s arrest. On July 14, 2022, officers encountered Christian standing with others outside of a smoke shop located at 390 Franklin Avenue in Hartford. As officers approached, Christian fled and attempted to throw a handgun onto the roof of the business. The gun struck the awning of the business and fell to the sidewalk. Christian was apprehended and officers recovered a loaded Ruger Model LCP .380 pistol from the sidewalk. Christian’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for drug, larceny and threatening offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. Christian has been detained since his arrest. On July 14, 2023, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. State charges against Christian related to his alleged conduct on April 18, 2022 are pending. This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Hartford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Pierpont, Jr. and Robert S. Dearington U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the Hartford State Attorney’s Offices for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this matter. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.


title: Former Co-Owners of New Jersey Marketing Company Sentenced to Prison in $8.8 Million Compounded Prescription Drug Scheme

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – The former co-owners of a New Jersey marketing company were each sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison for their roles in a scheme to defraud public and private health benefits programs of at least $8.8 million for the billing of medically unnecessary compounded prescriptions, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Lisa Curty, 46, of Staten Island, New York, and Christine Myers, 38, of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, each previously pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez to separate informations charging them with conspiracy to commit health care fraud. U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden imposed the sentencing today in Newark federal court. “These two defendants are just the latest in a long line of schemers who took advantage of publicly and privately funded insurance plans, raiding them for millions of dollars in fraudulent reimbursements for compounded medications. We will continue to prosecute those who take advantage of our health care system to generate illicit income.” U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger “The volume of cases involving compound medication fraud has moved beyond frustrating for law enforcement, with an arrest, conviction or sentencing happening almost every other day in New Jersey,” FBI – Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. “The fraudsters committing these crimes aren't paying attention to the fact that everyone doing the same thing is going to federal prison. This is the FBI and our law enforcement partners screaming in the town square, you will be next if you continue to break the law.” “Protecting the integrity of TRICARE, the healthcare system for our military members and their families, is a top priority of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the law enforcement arm of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General,” Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Brian J. Solecki, DCIS Northeast Field Office, said. “Schemes to bill TRICARE for medically unnecessary services place a great burden on the TRICARE program. We will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to ensure that individuals who engage in fraudulent activity, at the expense of the U.S. military, are investigated and prosecuted.” According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Compounded medications are specialty medications mixed by a pharmacist to meet the specific medical needs of an individual patient. Although compounded drugs are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they are properly prescribed when a physician determines that an FDA-approved medication does not meet the health needs of a particular patient, such as if a patient is allergic to a dye or other ingredients in the prescription. Between February 2015 and February 2017, Curty and Myers participated in a conspiracy that involved the submission of fraudulent prescriptions for compounded medications to public and private insurance plans. The scheme centered on the discovery that certain insurance plans paid for prescription compounded medications – including scar creams, wound creams, and metabolic supplements/vitamins – at exorbitant reimbursement rates. Curty and Myers exploited this opportunity by creating a New Jersey marketing company and hiring sales representatives to target individuals who had insurance plans that covered compounded medications. The sales representatives then convinced those individuals to obtain prescriptions for compounded medications, regardless of medical necessity, often by providing them with cash payments. The individuals were then directed to certain telemedicine companies, which the marketing company or its affiliates paid, to receive the prescriptions. Once the prescriptions were written, they were filled by certain compounding pharmacies with which the marketing company conspired. The compounding pharmacies would then receive reimbursement from the insurance plans, and would pay the marketing company a percentage of the reimbursement amount. As owners of marketing company, Curty and Myers retained a portion of the payment and provided a “commission” payment to the relevant sales representative. In addition to the prison term, Judge Hayden sentenced the two defendants to two years of supervised release and ordered them to pay $8.2 million in restitution. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Dennehy in Newark, and the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Solecki, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordann Conaboy of the Opioid Abuse and Prevention Unit in Newark.


title: Illegal Possession of Firearm and Later Possession of Ammunition Land Felon in Federal Prison for 25 Years

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – Last week, CAMERON WATKINS , 31, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 25 years in federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm in October 2021 and illegal possession of ammunition in July 2022, after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On December 19, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a two-count Superseding Indictment against Watkins, charging him with illegal possession of a firearm, and separately with illegal possession of ammunition, after a previous felony conviction. According to court documents, Watkins was found to be in possession of a loaded handgun with an extended magazine during an interaction with Oklahoma City Police officers on October 7, 2021, where he barricaded himself in a hotel room. Further, according to court records, Watkins is a known gang member, and was directly involved in a violent conflict between rival gangs beginning in the summer of 2022. Public documents allege Watkins was present for at least three shootings during the conflict. According to witness testimony at a federal jury trial, Watkins shot and killed a metro man on July 20, 2022. On April 10, 2023, Watkins pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in October 2021. On April 14, 2023, a federal jury returned a guilty verdict against Watkins for being a felon in possession of ammunition in July 2022. Public records further reflect that Watkins holds multiple prior felony convictions, including possession of phencyclidine, a controlled substance, in Oklahoma County District Court Case No. CF-2011-6648, and trafficking illegal drugs – cocaine base, possession of an offensive weapon while committing a felony, and concealing stolen property in Oklahoma County District Court Case No. CF-2012-6406. At the sentencing hearing last week, U.S. District Judge David L. Russell sentenced Watkins to serve the statutory maximum of 25 years in federal prison. In announcing the sentence, Judge Russell noted the jury’s verdict directly implicating Watkins in the murder and stressed the need to protect the public. This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Oklahoma City Police Department, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacquelyn M. Hutzell, David M. McCrary, and Mary E. Walters prosecuted the case. This case is also part of “Operation Shots Fired.” Operation Shots Fired targets cases involving individuals who discharge firearms as part of their criminal activity, such as drive-by shootings or when shots are fired during robberies, domestic disputes, or other incidents. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok . Reference is made to public filings for additional information


title: Minneapolis Felon Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man has pleaded guilty to possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, on January 24, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the South Minneapolis residence of Andre Garner, 42, and recovered almost 800 grams of fentanyl in a van registered to Garner. During their search, law enforcement also recovered over 1,000 grams of cocaine, two firearms, and $9,400 in cash. As a part of his guilty plea, Garner admitted that he told law enforcement that anything law enforcement found was his, including the money and the van. Garner pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Judge Jerry W. Blackwell to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Hennepin County Violent Offender Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary A. Taylor is prosecuting the case.


title: One of two Nigerian citizens who defrauded U.S. Pandemic programs of more than $1 million pleads guilty

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Tacoma – One of two Nigerian citizens who resided in Canada, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for defrauding pandemic unemployment benefit programs in multiple states, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Sakiru Olanrewaju Ambali, 45, was arrested in February 2023, in Frankfurt, Germany, as he traveled back to Canada from Nigeria. Ambali was detained in Germany and was extradited to the U.S. last August. Prosecutors will recommend a sentence of five years in prison when Ambali is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert J. Bryan on March 14, 2024. In his plea agreement Ambali admits he and codefendant Fatiu Ismaila Lawal, 45, used the stolen identities of thousands of workers to submit over 1,700 claims for pandemic unemployment benefits to over 25 different states, including Washington State. In total, the claims sought approximately $25 million, but the conspirators obtained approximately $2.4 million, primarily from pandemic unemployment benefits. As part of his plea agreement Ambali has agreed to make restitution of $1,035,107. The co-conspirators allegedly submitted claims for pandemic unemployment benefits to New York, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, California, Washington and some 19 other states. Using 13 Google accounts, they filed some 900 claims. The co-conspirators also allegedly established four internet domain names that they then used for fraud – creating some 800 different email addresses that were used for fraud. Between March 2020 and December 2021, Ambali admits he personally submitted at least 620 claims for unemployment benefits that paid more than $1 million. Additionally, between 2018 and 2021, Ambali used stolen personal information of eight U.S. citizens to try to claim tax refunds totaling more than $40,000. The IRS caught most of the fraud. Ambali also attempted to use the stolen American identities for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to defraud the Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA caught most of the fraud and paid only $2,500. Ambali and his co-conspirators had the proceeds of their fraud sent to cash cards or to “money mules” who transferred the funds according to instructions given by the co-conspirators. They also allegedly used stolen identities to open bank accounts and have the money deposited directly into those accounts for their use. Lawal was arrested in Canada in February and is pending extradition. The National Unemployment Fraud Task Force provided a lead on this case to the investigative team in Western Washington. The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG). Also contributing to the investigation were Washington State Employment Security Division (ESD), the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the Small Business Administration (SBA). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cindy Chang of the Western District of Washington. DOJ’s Office of International Affairs is assisting. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Framingham Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Two Firearms and Ammunition

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Framingham man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Edwin Alago, 42, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. U.S. District Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for March 12, 2024. Alago was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2023 after being previously arrested on related state charges. In May 2021, Alago possessed a SCCY .9mm CPX-2 semi-automatic pistol bearing a defaced serial number and seven rounds of .9mm ammunition. Due to previous felony convictions for drug distribution and possession and assault with a dangerous weapon, Alago is prohibited from possessing firearms. The charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime provides for a sentence of up to life in prison and no less than five 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. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office and the Framingham Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Meghan C. Cleary and Brian Sullivan of the Major Crimes Unit are 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: Illegal Firearms Possession Lands Metro Felon in Federal Prison for More Than 12 Years

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – Last Week, DARRICK LAMONT SMITH , also known as William Louis McCollum, 48, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 150 months in federal prison for illegally possessing firearms after previous felony convictions, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On October 19, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a four-count Superseding Indictment against Smith, charging him with three counts of being a felon in possession of firearms and one count of possession of an unregistered silencer. According to the Superseding Indictment, on separate occasions in January 2022, Smith possessed a total of six firearms and an unregistered silencer. Several of the firearms were found to have been previously stolen and Smith also possessed multiple high-capacity magazines, including a 50-round drum. On February 23, 2023, Smith pleaded guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. As part of his plea, Smith admitted that he possessed firearms despite his criminal record. At the sentencing hearing on December 13, 2023, U.S. District Judge Charles B. Goodwin sentenced Smith to serve 150 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, the Court noted Smith’s demonstrated willingness to commit violence, further articulating a need to protect the public and deter continued criminal activity. The Court also noted Smith’s lengthy history of drug and firearm offenses. Public records reflect that Smith has multiple felony convictions, including possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-1992-6772; assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-1999-3338; aggravated robbery in Wichita County, Texas, District Court case number CF-2000-6087; and possession of a firearm after felony conviction and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2014-1776. This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle M. Connolly prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a Department of Justice program to reduce violent crime. In October 2017, the Department announced the reinvigoration of Project Safe Neighborhoods and directed U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop crime-reduction strategies that incorporate lessons federal law enforcement has learned since the program’s launch in 2001. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok . Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: New Jersey Man Sentenced to Prison for $1.5 Million Fraud Scheme

body_text: BOSTON – A New Jersey man was sentenced today in connection with his scheme to defraud a friend of more than $1.5 million. Edwin Tavarez, 48, of Garfield, N.J., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 18 months in prison and two years of supervised release. Tavarez was also ordered to forfeit $1,515,836. On May 31, 2023, Tavarez pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Between March 2015 and February 2020, Tavarez executed a scheme in which he conned a decades-long friend into “investing” more than $1.5 million into a purported development deal for an industrial property in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston. In fact, Tavarez pocketed the money and used it to fund a restaurant he owned in the Bronx, N.Y., for personal expenses, and at casinos. Tavarez hid his scheme by sending text messages to the victim with fake updates on the purported property development and blaming project delays on the permitting process. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen A. Kearney and Leslie A. Wright of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Fernandina Beach Man Pleads Guilty To Threatening To Kill A United States Supreme Court Justice

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Neal Brij Sidhwaney (43, Fernandina Beach) has pleaded guilty to transmitting an interstate threat to kill. Sidhwaney faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court documents, on July 31, 2023, Sidhwaney placed a phone call from Florida to the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington, D.C., and left an expletive-laden, threatening voicemail message. On the voicemail message, Sidhwaney identified himself by name and repeatedly threatened to kill a specific Supreme Court Justice. This case was investigated by the Supreme Court of the United States Police – Protective Intelligence Unit with assistance from the United States Capitol Police –Threat Assessment Section. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kirwinn Mike and Special Assistant United States Attorney Joe Wheeler, III.


title: Kenai woman sentenced to prison for bankruptcy fraud

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Kenai woman was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for making a materially false statement in a bankruptcy case. According to court documents and statements made in court, Saray Consuelo Sarmiento Angarita Lockwood, 58, ran a successful dental clinic in Kenai with her late husband. In April 2019, Lockwood and her husband filed for bankruptcy. During the bankruptcy proceeding, Lockwood made false statements under penalty of perjury about an entity they owned called Strategic Innovations LLC. In October 2015, Lockwood and her husband opened two bank accounts in the name of Strategic Innovations LLC, the initial deposits for which were checks drawn on Lockwood’s husband’s retirement and investment accounts. Lockwood and her husband were the sole signatories on the bank accounts, and from 2015 through at least 2019, Lockwood performed most of the deposits and withdrawals into and from the accounts. In May 2021, in connection with their bankruptcy, Lockwood and her husband responded to questions posed by the U.S. Trustee. On one question, Lockwood falsely claimed that family members had loaned Strategic Innovations LLC money to purchase at least four properties seized and auctioned off by the IRS as part of its efforts to collect the Lockwoods’ outstanding federal income tax liabilities. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Joshua M. Kindred ordered Lockwood to serve three years of supervised release. When Judge Kindred delivered his sentence, he cited general deterrence as a factor in his sentencing decision, explaining that white collar criminals should not be treated differently from other criminals who differ in socioeconomic status. He stated that “criminal conduct is criminal conduct," and it should result in proper sanctions. United States Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. "For over 10 years, Ms. Lockwood executed calculated efforts to evade millions in tax payments and filed false statements in bankruptcy court to perpetuate the scheme. She took advantage of the system and disregarded all warnings given by federal agents,” said U.S. Attorney Tucker. “White collar criminals, like Ms. Lockwood, that evade taxes and file false statements to avoid their debts harm law abiding citizens. Absolutely no one is above the law, and my office will ensure that anyone who chooses to commit fraud will be aggressively prosecuted and held accountable for the damage they cause.” “Ms. Lockwood was sentenced on a single count of bankruptcy fraud, yet all of her actions served the sole purpose of evading millions in taxes. This is not a victimless crime. The victims of tax evasion are you, me, and all the taxpayers in Alaska,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Seattle Field Office Special Agent in Charge Adam Jobes. “IRS-CI, in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, will continue to investigate false claims in bankruptcy court and tax evasion, to foster confidence in these systems for the American people.” IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Heyman and Tom Bradley, and Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal of the Justice Department’s Tax Division Western Criminal Enforcement Section prosecuted the case. ###


title: Albany Man Sentenced to 27 Months for Pandemic Unemployment Insurance Fraud

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kahleke Taylor, a/k/a “Flex,” age 23, of Albany, was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for a mail and wire fraud scheme that obtained more than $200,000 in COVID-19 pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits using the personal information of other people. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, Northeast Region, United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG); Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang. As part of his previously entered guilty plea , Taylor admitted to soliciting personal information from other people on social media. He used the information to make false online unemployment insurance applications to the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL). On one application he filed in August 2020, for example, Taylor certified that a person had lost work at a hotel in Latham, New York, in March 2020 due to “Lack of Work – COVID,” all of which was false. From September 2020 through June 2021, the applications Taylor admitted to filing as part of the fraud scheme resulted in benefits payments of $207,004. United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also imposed a 2-year term of supervised release, to begin after Taylor is released from prison. Judge D’Agostino ordered Taylor to pay $207,004 in restitution to the State of New York and to forfeit a $192,731 money judgment to the United States. Taylor’s co-defendants, Taquan Parker, age 27, of Rensselaer, New York, and Olajuwon Sutherland, a/k/a “Suave,” age 28, of Troy, New York, previously pled guilty to charges stemming from their roles in the scheme with Taylor. Parker was sentenced to 13 months in prison to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release while Sutherland was sentenced to 3 years of probation. This case was investigated by HSI, USDOL-OIG, USPIS, and the New York State Inspector General’s Office, with assistance from the NYSDOL Office of Special Investigations and the Schenectady County Department of Social Services. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Rosenthal and Joseph S. Hartunian prosecuted the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Georgetown Restauranteurs Sentenced to Prison for Tax Offenses and Theft of COVID-19 Relief Funds

body_text: WASHINGTON – Gholam “Tony” Kowkabi, 63, and Karen Kowkabi, 64, of Vienna, Va., were sentenced in federal court today to 57 months in prison and 24 months of probation, respectively, for tax offenses relating to their failure to pay more than $1.35 million of taxes arising from their operation of several restaurants in the Washington, D.C. area. Gholam Kowkabi was also sentenced for stealing more than $738,000 from the emergency small business relief funds his Georgetown restaurant—Ristorante Piccolo—received during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of his guilty plea, Mr. Kowkabi acknowledged having spent money intended to help his business on a waterfront condo in Ocean City, Md., as well as personal investments, vacations for his family, and college tuition for his adult children. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office. Gholam Kowkabi pleaded guilty on Aug. 14, 2023, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to wire fraud and tax evasion. He was sentenced by the Honorable Reggie B. Walton. Following his prison term, Gholam Kowkabi will be placed on three years of supervised release. Gholam Kowkabi must pay $1,351,038.51 in restitution to the IRS and $738,657.18 in restitution to the Small Business Administration. In addition, the judge ordered the forfeiture of the Ocean City condominium, interest in multiple joint ventures, and a money judgment in the amount of $738,657.18. Karen Kowkabi pleaded guilty on Aug.14, 2023, in the U.S. District Court to five counts of willfully failing to pay taxes. She also was sentenced by the Honorable Reggie B. Walton who ordered her to pay $1,351,038.51 in restitution to the IRS, owed jointly with Gholam Kowkabi. The Tax Evasion Scheme According to the statements of offense submitted to the Court and admitted by Gholam Kowkabi and Karen Kowkabi, the Kowkabis have owned and operated Ristorante Piccolo in Georgetown since 1986. The Kowkabis also owned and operated restaurants Catch 15 and Tuscana West in Washington, D.C. From 1998 to 2018, the Kowkabis amassed an unpaid tax balance of $1,351,038.51, including federal income and employment taxes and Trust Fund Recovery Penalties. Gholam Kowkabi admitted to willfully attempting to evade payment of those taxes by concealing assets and obscuring the large sums of money he took from the businesses by, among other means, purchasing property in the name of a nominee entity and causing false entries in the businesses’ books and records to hide personal purchases using business bank accounts. Karen Kowkabi also admitted that she willfully failed to pay these taxes owed to the IRS. The Scheme to Steal COVID-19 Relief Funds Further, from May 13, 2020, to July 27, 2021, Gholam Kowkabi obtained more than $1.6 million in COVID-19 relief funds, including $474,000 from first draw and second draw Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) for $499,900 and a Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) grant for $631,823.28. First Draw PPP loans were to be used to help fund payroll costs, including benefits, and could also be used to pay for mortgage interest, rent, utilities, worker protection costs related to COVID-19, uninsured property damage costs caused by looting or vandalism during 2020, and certain supplier costs and expenses for operations. Second Draw PPP loans were to be used to help fund payroll costs, including benefits. Second Draw PPP loan funds could also be used to pay for mortgage interest, rent, utilities, worker protection costs related to COVID-19, uninsured property damage costs caused by looting or vandalism during 2020, and certain supplier costs and expenses for operations. EIDL loan proceeds could be used for working capital to make regular payments for operating expenses, including payroll, rent/mortgage, utilities, and other ordinary business expenses, and to pay business debt. Restaurant Revitalization Funds could be used for specific expenses including business payroll costs (including sick leave), payments on any business mortgage obligation, business rent payments (not including prepayment), business debt service (not including prepayment), both principal and interest, business utility payments, business maintenance expenses, construction of outdoor seating, business supplies, business food and beverage expenses, covered supplier costs, business operating expenses. In these applications and loan agreements, Gholam Kowkabi fraudulently and falsely promised that the PPP, EIDL, and RRF proceeds would be used solely for business-related and eligible purposes as specified in the applications. Instead, Gholam Kowkabi used a portion of the PPP funds, EIDL funds, and RRF funds for unauthorized purposes and for his own personal enrichment, including the purchase of a waterfront condo in Ocean City, Md., for more than $500,000, two joint venture investments totaling more than $250,000 for the construction of homes in Great Falls, Va., and more than $78,500 to open Divan Restaurant in McLean, Va. Gholam Kowkabi further spent more than $11,000 of COVID-19 relief funds on his home mortgage, more than $14,000 on vacations, more than $62,000 on personal legal expenses, more than $20,000 on home improvements, and more than $5,500 on college tuition payments. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg, and Special Agent in Charge Carter commended the work of those who investigated the case from IRS-CI. They expressed thanks for the assistance provided by the SBA Office of Inspector General during the investigation of this case. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie A. Goemaat of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Trial Attorney Sarah Ranney of the Department of Justice, Tax Division. # # On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of fraud related to COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.


title: Yolo County Insurance Broker Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Robert Kirby Wells, 64, of Woodland, pleaded guilty today to one count of aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, Wells served as an insurance broker for a company located in Denver, Colorado, that owned multifamily and commercial properties throughout the United States. Wells was responsible for obtaining several types of insurance coverage for the company’s properties, including umbrella liability coverage. As part of the fraud scheme, Wells represented to the company that he obtained umbrella coverage for properties when, in fact, he did not. Wells then invoiced and was paid for purported premiums associated with the umbrella liability policies that he had never obtained. At times, after Wells received full payment for premiums associated with coverage he obtained for the company, as well as umbrella coverage he did not obtain, Wells secured loans purportedly to pay for the same premiums. He did so by falsely representing that he was financing the premiums on the company’s behalf and using the identities of a managing principal and employee of the company without their authorization. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General, the Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Thuesen is prosecuting the case. U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb is scheduled to sentence Wells on March 11, 2024. Wells faces a mandatory sentence of two years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. 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.


title: Woman Sentenced to 31 Months in Prison for Stealing Stimulus Payments and Purchasing Mercedes-Benz and Jewelry

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – December 18, 2023 SAN DIEGO – Alexandra Crystal Jackson was sentenced in federal court today to 31 months in prison for using the personal information of others to obtain Economic Impact Payments from the IRS and benefit payments from California’s Employment Development Department and spending the proceeds on luxury goods. Jackson pleaded guilty on September 21, 2023. In her plea agreement, Jackson admitted that she collected personal information from homeless and low-income individuals as well as detainees at local detention facilities. She admitted she used the information to apply for Economic Impact Payments, commonly referred to as “stimulus checks,” and directed payments to bank accounts she controlled. Jackson also admitted to using the information to apply for benefit payments from California’s Employment Development Department (EDD), and to receiving at least 40 EDD debit cards in the names of others. Jackson used the EDD debit cards to withdraw cash from ATMs and to pay for jewelry, furniture, and a Mercedes-Benz G-Glass 550 SUV that the IRS seized. U.S. District Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel also ordered Jackson to pay restitution and entered a preliminary forfeiture order for the Mercedes-Benz. Jackson’s co-defendant, Demetrius Montre McFarland, previously admitted he provided Jackson with the personal information of his fellow detainees at the Vista Detention Center. McFarland entered a guilty plea on December 11, 2023, and his sentencing hearing is set for March 5, 2024. “These government programs were meant to help California residents get through the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “They were not intended as a get-rich-quick scheme for criminals who want a Mercedes.” “Taking advantage of some of our communities’ most vulnerable adults and conspiring with your spouse to line your pockets is deplorable,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “The Economic Impact Payments were meant to help our communities during a time of crisis. Ms. Jackson and her husband abused the system and now Ms. Jackson will have time to reflect on her actions. IRS:CI is committed to identifying and investigating these types of schemes which includes the seizure of any assets purchased with funds stolen from these relief programs. We are dedicated to bringing justice to our communities affected by these types of schemes.” This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric R. Olah and Joseph Orabona. DEFENDANTS Case Number 23-CR-1098-GPC Alexandra Crystal Jackson Age: 32 San Diego, CA Demetrius Montre McFarland Age: 31 San Diego, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Conspiracy–Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371 Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine AGENCY Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation


title: Modesto Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Child Sexual Exploitation Convictions

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Michael Brace, 33, of Modesto, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for two counts of receipt and distribution of material involving the exploitation of minors, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The prison sentence is to be followed by 10 years of supervised release during which Brace’s access to computers, the internet, and minors will be restricted. According to court documents, between Aug. 7, 2020, and Jan. 4, 2021, Brace knowingly received visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including images of prepubescent minors and violence being inflicted on victims. Brace also communicated with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a 13-year-old female on the social media platform Skout and traveled to Fresno with the belief that he would engage in sexual activity with the purported minor. This case was the product of an investigation by the Central Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, specifically the Fresno and Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Offices, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa 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 those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Cambridge Man Sentenced for Child Pornography Offense

body_text: BOSTON – A Cambridge man was sentenced today for purchasing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) with digital currency from the dark web. David H. Chang, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to five years in prison and five years of supervised release. Restitution to victims will be determined at a later date. On Sept. 15, 2023, Chang pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. In April 2021, Chang was identified as the owner of a cryptocurrency account being used to purchased CSAM from a site on the dark web. During a search of Chang’s apartment in January 2022, approximately 1,700 images and 360 videos depicting CSAM were found of Chang’s electronic devices. The files showed the abuse of minors ranging from approximately two years old to approximately 10 to 12 years old, with some videos up to 50 minutes in length. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Homeland Security Investigations in New Haven (Conn.) provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica L. Soto and Benjamin Tolkoff of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to 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: Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Trafficking of Machinegun Conversion Devices

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty today to illegally selling a dozen machinegun conversion devices. Elijah Navarro, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in the business as a manufacturer or dealer in firearms and two counts of transferring or possessing a machinegun. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for March 13, 2024. Navarro was initially arrested and charged along with co-defendant Michael Wilkerson in February 2023. The defendants were subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2023. In January 2023, Navarro agreed to sell 12 machinegun conversion devices to an individual in exchange for $1,700. Following a series of communications, Navarro met the individual twice at a pre-arranged location. On Jan. 19, 2023, Navarro sold the first two machinegun conversion devices to the individual for $400 and later, on Jan. 25, 2023, sold the remaining 10 devices for an additional $1,300. Navarro does not possess a license to import, manufacture, deal or possess firearms. The charge of engaging in the business as a manufacturer or dealer in firearms provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10,000. The charge of unlawful transferring or possession of a machinegun provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three 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. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael A. Cox made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Federal Jury Finds Pittsburgh-Area Nursing Homes Guilty of Healthcare Offenses

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA -After deliberating for two days, a federal jury found companies operating two Pittsburgh-area nursing homes, Comprehensive Healthcare Management Services, LLC, d/b/a Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center (Brighton) and Mt. Lebanon Operations, LLC, d/b/a Mount Lebanon Rehabilitation and Wellness Center (Mt. Lebanon), guilty of making false statements in connection with the payment of health care benefits and for the purpose of obstructing and impeding the investigation and proper administration of a matter within the jurisdiction of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Brighton was convicted of six counts and Mt. Lebanon was convicted of four counts. Brighton and Mt. Lebanon were tried before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Additional individual defendants were acquitted. Evidence presented at trial established that Brighton and Mt. Lebanon falsified staffing information provided to the Pennsylvania Department of Health and CMS to show that the facilities were in compliance with the conditions of participation in Medicare and Medicaid. The false certifications were provided to evade penalties that the government regulators could have imposed for failing to meet those conditions, including the condition that the facilities provide sufficient staffing to meet the needs of the residents. Judge Colville scheduled sentencing for a date to be set in May, 2024. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of five years’ probation, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based on the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen R. Kaufman, Nicole A. Stockey, Karen Gal-Or, Jacqueline C. Brown, and Robert S. Cessar, along with Special Assistant United States Attorney Aaron McKendry. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General conducted the investigation that led to the convictions of the nursing facilities in this case.


title: Orlando Restauranteur Sentenced To Federal Prison For Tax Fraud

body_text: Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Roy Dalton, Jr. today sentenced Manuel Tato to four years and nine months in federal prison for willfully failing to pay employment taxes. The court also ordered Tato to pay a $250,000 fine and $93,690.66 in restitution. Tato had pleaded guilty on April 27, 2023. According to court documents, Tato owned and operated multiple restaurants in the Orlando area from at least 2010 to 2017, including Spice Modern Steakhouse. Tato was also the owner and operator of an entity called Core Food Group, an affiliated company for Tato’s restaurants that was responsible for processing payroll for the employees of Tato’s restaurants. Tato employed approximately 645 restaurant workers between 2010 and 2017 and had a duty to collect and pay over employment taxes on behalf of those employees. Employment taxes include federal income tax, Medicare, and Social Security. While Tato withheld employment taxes from his employees’ paychecks and informed his employees that he was doing so on their paystubs, he never actually paid those taxes to the Internal Revenue Service. During the charged time frame, July 2016 to March 2017, Tato failed to pay the Internal Revenue Service $93,690.66. Throughout the entire time Core Food Group existed, Tato failed to pay over $2 million in taxes that he had withheld from his employees and owed in relation to their employment. Tato used a complex corporate structure, different Federal Employer Identification Numbers, and numerous bank accounts to attempt to disguise his criminal activity. During this time, Tato maintained a lavish lifestyle, sending his children to private school, and living in a million-dollar mansion with a private tennis court. Additionally, in 2020, and after being informed that he was under investigation for failing to pay employment taxes, Tato and his family purchased a beach house. “Restaurant owners who neglect their responsibility to file or pay employment taxes are placing themselves in a heated situation by betraying the trust bestowed upon them by their employees and the American public.” said Tara K. Reed, IRS-CI Acting Special Agent in Charge. “Today’s sentencing cooks up a fresh reminder to those who prioritize a luxurious lifestyle over fulfilling their obligations towards hardworking employees and the nation's tax requirements will not escape justice.” This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana Hill and Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel S. Lyons.


title: Philadelphia Man Convicted by Jury Trial for Several Carjackings

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Amir Wilson, 22, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was convicted by a jury of conspiracy, two counts of carjacking, and using or carrying a firearm during a crime of violence arising from his role in two carjacking incidents that took place in Philadelphia in May 2021. On the evening of May 15, 2021, at approximately 10:30 p.m., Wilson and others pulled alongside a man on his way to work, produced guns, and demanded his keys while holding him at gunpoint. The group then fled the scene in their original vehicle and the victim’s carjacked vehicle. Hours later, on May 16, 2021, at approximately 3:00 a.m., Wilson and others pulled alongside two men who were leaving a graduation celebration for a friend. The carjackers again produced guns and demanded the keys to that victim’s vehicle and fled the scene in the two cars. A short time later, members of the Philadelphia Police Department spotted the carjacked vehicle and attempted to stop it. The vehicle fled from police, leading them on a high-speed chase that was discontinued for safety reasons. Police found the second victim’s car abandoned a short time later. On May 16, 2021, at approximately 5:15 p.m., members of the Philadelphia Police Department were on routine patrol and spotted the first victim’s vehicle. They attempted to stop the car, but it fled from police, leading them on another chase. Police caught up to the car after it struck another vehicle and crashed through a fence at Germantown and Hunting Park Avenues and saw Wilson flee from the car on foot. He was apprehended a short time later. Digital and forensic evidence linked Wilson to the two carjacking incidents. “Amir Wilson’s guilty verdict reaffirms our ongoing commitment to keeping our citizens safe,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. This case is another excellent example of ATF’s continued efforts working with our partners and proudly serving as part of the joint carjacking task force led by the Philadelphia Police Department. We will continue working with our local, state, and federal partners in making sure violent individuals are held accountable when they threaten the safety of the community.” “The type of violent crimes committed by the defendant are the very reason the carjacking task force was created,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Eric DeGree. “The ATF will continue to support the Philadelphia Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office, as we seek to create a safer city for the citizens of Philadelphia.” The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Priya T. De Souza and Martin E. Howley, Jr.


title: Physician convicted for prescription drug conspiracy resulting in death

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Shakeel Kahn, age 57, was convicted by a federal jury of crimes involving drug distribution, firearms possession, and money laundering. According to court records and trial evidence, between 2011 and 2016, Kahn was a licensed medical doctor who operated clinics in Casper, Wyoming, and Fort Mohave, Arizona. Kahn unlawfully distributed drugs by writing prescriptions for large quantities of opioids without any legitimate medical need in exchange for cash payments from his customers. Kahn possessed firearms in furtherance of his unlawful drug distribution, and at least one person died after overdosing on drugs distributed by Kahn. The jury returned its verdict on Dec. 15 following a six-week week trial before U.S. District Court Alan B. Johnson in Casper. Kahn was previously convicted of these same crimes in 2019, but those convictions were overturned by the United States Supreme Court due to a faulty jury instruction. This crime was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS Criminal Investigation and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming.


title: Two Inland Empire Brothers Sentenced to 24 Years in Prison for Trafficking Heroin via Home Delivery Service in Orange County

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: SANTA ANA, California – Two Riverside County brothers who ran a drug trafficking operation that used two Orange County-based call centers that took telephone orders for deliveries of the drug, which resulted in one fatal overdose, each were sentenced today to 288 months in federal prison. Julio Cesar Martinez, 45, a.k.a. “Primo,” of Riverside, and Victor Martinez, 46, a.k.a. “Hector,” of Hemet, were sentenced by United States District Judge Cormac J. Carney in separate hearings. Each Martinez brother pleaded guilty on August 16 to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin. “These two brothers took drug dealing to another level by operating a heroin-delivery service that profited on the addiction and affliction of others,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “While they and their families lived lavishly, these defendants ignored the destruction they caused in our community. Today’s sentence sends a clear message that we will not stand for misconduct of this sort.” From at least 2003 to July 2021, the two brothers ran a drug trafficking organization that imported heroin from Mexico into the United States by couriers who concealed the drug, sometimes in their body cavities, to Orange County. Once the heroin arrived in Orange County, Julio Martinez oversaw its distribution to various call centers that he also supervised. He also oversaw its distribution to customers. After a customer placed a heroin order, Martinez and his accomplices arranged for the drug’s delivery using “runners,” who were directed to deliver the heroin and take the customer’s payment. Martinez and other conspirators used coded language on the telephone while engaging in drug distribution activity. For example, the organization’s code word for heroin was “food” and its code word for one gram of heroin was “taco.” In December 2016, a customer who purchased heroin over the telephone from Martinez’s drug trafficking organization died of acute polydrug intoxication, including heroin. The brothers admitted in their plea agreements to distributing at least 29 kilograms of heroin onto the streets of Orange County. To conceal the source of the income the organization generated, Julio Cesar Martinez and Victor Martinez caused the deposit of the heroin sales proceeds into bank accounts held by other conspirators. The Martinez brothers ordered their co-conspirators to structure the deposits into the bank accounts to evade federal reporting requirements by depositing the money at different banks and by breaking the deposits up into amounts $10,000 and under. The brothers used the proceeds to purchase cars and homes and to fund their lifestyles. “Operation 'Horse Caller' targeted all levels of this international drug trafficking network, ranging from suppliers in Mexico to mules and runners delivering drugs to customers in Orange County at the direction of the Martinez brothers,” said Donald Alway, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. “Federal and local law enforcement agencies working in partnership led to the dismantling of the Martinez brothers' network and closed off a main pipeline of the heroin supply in Orange County that operated for years and led to deadly consequences.” “The Martinez brothers’ efforts to conceal their drug trafficking activities by attempting to exploit minimum bank reporting requirements was to no avail,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “This well-coordinated investigation is yet another example of the effectiveness of our partnerships with fellow law enforcement agencies in bringing these criminals to justice.” Federal prosecutors have secured 16 convictions in this case. The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter. The Orange County Sheriff's Department, the Newport Beach Police Department, the Costa Mesa Police Department, the Huntington Beach Police Department, the Oxnard Police Department, the California Highway Patrol and March Air Reserve Base provided substantial assistance. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin J. Butler of the Violent and Organized Crime Section prosecuted this case. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan S. Galatzan of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling the forfeiture portion of the case. 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 https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .