title: More Than Two Dozen Individuals From Erie Area Indicted on Drug and Firearms Violations

component: Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces

body_text: ERIE, Pa. - An Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation has led to charges against a total of 26 defendants across nine separate but related Indictments for violations of federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The Indictments charge a network of overlapping regional drug dealers based out of Erie, Pennsylvania, with trafficking multi-kilogram quantities of fentanyl powder and pills, substantial quantities of methamphetamine, and cocaine. During this long-term wiretap investigation, several firearms were seized from drug distributors who were prohibited from possessing firearms or possessed the firearms in furtherance of their drug trafficking. Investigators also seized multiple Glock conversion devices—commonly referred to as “Glock switches”—which are designed to convert a semiautomatic Glock pistol into an automatic machinegun. The Indictments, all unsealed September 18, 2024, include: - an 11-count Indictment returned on September 10, 2024, charging 14 defendants with obtaining and redistributing fentanyl and methamphetamine in and around Erie County and other areas of the Western District of Pennsylvania; - a two-count Indictment returned on September 10, 2024, charging four defendants with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute varying quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine; - a one-count Indictment returned on September 10, 2024, charging two defendants with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing cocaine, and - six additional one-defendant Indictments charging one to three offenses involving drugs, firearms, or both. These Indictments were returned between July 30, 2024, and September 10, 2024. A list of the defendants, charges, and maximum penalties is included at the bottom of this release. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. “The combination of guns and illicit drugs—like fentanyl and methamphetamine—leads to tragic consequences for communities in the Erie area and across our district,” said U.S. Attorney Olshan. “Today’s charges against 26 defendants reinforce a core message: if you peddle deadly drugs in the Western District of Pennsylvania, you should expect a visit from law enforcement. Our office and our law enforcement partners will not sit idly by and allow drug traffickers and those who carry devices capable of turning semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic weapons to operate with impunity. Simply put, we are unrelenting in our resolve to keep ordinary citizens safe and secure in their own homes and neighborhoods.” “The message to those who think they can continue trafficking cartel poison in our communities at will is the FBI and our partners with the EAGLE Safe Streets Task Force will not stop until we break the cycle of drug violence,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek. “Your operations will be dismantled, your drug-fueled profits will be seized, and you will be brought to justice. This marks the third large-scale operation in the Erie area in the last three years. The FBI’s resolve, and that of our partners, in combatting drugs on our streets will not change.” “Operation Hot Block is the epitome of a joint investigation,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Sara Bay. “Working hand in hand, HSI and FBI, along with multiple federal agencies, state, county, and city police, all contributed to the significant enforcement action today. Through these collective efforts, a dangerous criminal organization that dealt in violent crime and supplied deadly drugs like fentanyl to victims in northwestern Pennsylvania has been dismantled. Residents of northwestern Pennsylvania are safer due to the efforts of all law enforcement professionals that helped bring this investigation to fruition.” “The Erie Police Department is proud to participate on the FBI EAGLE Task Force,” said Erie Police Department Chief Daniel Spizarny. “Working together with other law enforcement agencies in the region, we strive to prevent these deadly drugs from reaching our city. The damage these drugs do to our community, our friends, our neighbors, and our families must be stopped. A safer city for all is our goal.” Assistant United States Attorneys Molly Anglin and Paul Sellers are prosecuting these cases on behalf of the government. This prosecution is a part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Erie Resident Agency Erie Area Gang Law Enforcement (EAGLE) Safe Streets Task Force—which is comprised of investigators from the FBI, United States Customs and Border Protection, Erie Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Millcreek Police Department, Oil City Police Department, Franklin Police Department, and Erie School District Police Department—conducted the investigation leading to the indictments, in coordination with Homeland Security Investigations; the Internal Revenue Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Pennsylvania State Police Vice and Drug Law Units; Erie County Detectives; and Erie County District Attorney’s Office. The investigation was also conducted in association with the Northwest Pennsylvania Drug Initiative, which was formed following Erie County’s designation as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) in 2021. The HIDTA program was created by Congress in 1988 to coordinate and assist federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in addressing regional drug threats with the purpose of reducing drug trafficking and drug production in the United States. The Northwest Pennsylvania Drug Initiative coordinates personnel and resources between multiple agencies including the Pennsylvania State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Erie Police Department, Erie County District Attorney’s Office, Erie County Detectives, United States Postal Inspection Service, EAGLE Task Force, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and other participating agencies. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. List of Defendants Name Age City Charges Maximum Penalty Colone Dwayne Roberts 33 Erie, PA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Possession with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl Life imprisonment Possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon 15 years imprisonment Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime Life imprisonment Amajaeon Depree Moore 20 Erie, PA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl Life imprisonment Attempt to possess with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl Life imprisonment Possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon 15 years imprisonment Possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl 30 years imprisonment Onyeah Lashay Roberts 32 Erie, PA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl Life imprisonment Shaliel Dupree Wall 26 Erie, PA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fluorofentanyl Life imprisonment Possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine 40 years imprisonment Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime Life imprisonment Dajuwon Brown Faulkner 22 Erie, PA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine 40 years imprisonment Oliver Deshawn Williams 31 Erie, PA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Jamaine Jarrel Gambill 38 Erie, PA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Noah Devon Thomas 35 Erie, PA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl Life imprisonment Desmar Deshawn Samson 34 Erie, PA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl Life imprisonment Kory Paul Durfey 36 Erie, PA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl Life imprisonment Michael Ray Nelson 34 Unknown Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine 40 years imprisonment John Allen Lauver 46 Altoona, PA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine 40 years imprisonment Deborah Lea Bean 43 Corry, PA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Terrell Lamont Stonewall 49 Erie, PA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Thomas Devon Moffett 32 Erie, PA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon 15 years imprisonment Jaymil Avon Davis 33 Erie, PA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl Life imprisonment Elisabeth Mae Burger 43 Erie, PA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Paul Scott Denning 32 Erie, PA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl Life imprisonment Lee Earl McLaurin 37 Erie, PA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine 30 years imprisonment Miciah Rashaid McLaurin 35 Erie, PA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine 30 years imprisonment Christopher Elliott Barnes 37 Erie, PA Possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine 40 years imprisonment Darrian M. Brooks 35 Farrell, PA Possession with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl Life imprisonment Possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon 15 years imprisonment Unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime Life imprisonment Oarmell Burrell Douglas 46 Erie, PA Possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Oujacquan Akeem Jones 41 Erie, PA Possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine 40 years imprisonment Brendon Malone 35 Erie, PA Possession of a machinegun 10 years imprisonment Aaquil Pacley 27 Erie, PA Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl 20 years imprisonment Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine 40 years imprisonment


title: United States Reaches Settlement Agreement with Cobb County Board of Elections  to Make Voting Accessible for People with Disabilities

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia has entered into a settlement agreement with the Cobb County Board of Elections to resolve a multi-year compliance review that identified physical barriers at many polling sites. Cobb County has agreed to make certain corrections in time for the November 2024 general election, and to conduct a systemic review and ensure accessibility for all future polling locations. “During this election year, it is appropriate to remember that voting is a fundamental right and hallmark of our democracy; therefore, a person with a disability should have an equal opportunity to cast a ballot in person on Election Day,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “We applaud the commitment of the Cobb County Board of Elections to work closely with our office to ensure that citizens with disabilities in Cobb County can vote alongside their family, friends, and neighbors at their local precinct, and do so with the same ease and convenience as nondisabled voters.” From 2016 to 2024, the United States conducted a compliance review of Cobb County’s polling sites and surveyed more than 50 polling locations through three election cycles. Based on these surveys, the United States found numerous polling sites with physical barriers. The Cobb County Board of Elections expressed its commitment to ensure all polling locations are accessible to people with disabilities and worked cooperatively with the U.S. Attorney’s Office throughout the entire compliance review. Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, Cobb County Board of Elections will employ temporary measures to make polling places accessible for the November 2024 general election. They will also train their poll workers on the County’s obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and how to use the temporary measures on Election Day. Cobb County Board of Elections will also survey all remaining polling locations for accessibility throughout the term of the Agreement. When selecting future polling sites, the Cobb County Board of Elections will ensure that new locations are ADA accessible. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will monitor the Agreement and provide technical assistance. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marissa Fallica, Rahul Garabadu, and Aileen Bell Hughes. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga . Attachment: Settlement Cobb County Board of Elections_0.pdf


title: Former Navy Sailor Stationed on Guam Sentenced to 71 Month in Federal Prison for Child Sexual Abuse Materials

component: USAO - Guam & Northern Mariana Islands

body_text: Hagatña – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announces that on September 12, 2024, Andrew Taylor Wood, age 26, from Stafford, Virginia, was sentenced to 71 months imprisonment in the U.S. District Court of Guam for Transportation of Child Sexual Abuse Material, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(1) and (b)(1). The Court also ordered ten years of supervised release, $86,500 in restitution to 12 victims, and $100 mandatory assessment fee. As a convicted sex offender, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Taylor must register in every jurisdiction he resides, works, and goes to school. From at least 2016 until 2022, Andrew Taylor Wood possessed, distributed, and transported images and videos depicting prepubescent minors and material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence. Wood created Dropbox accounts for the purpose of uploading, storing, and distributing this material and shared links in online forums for the purpose of trading for access to additional material. Wood possessed numerous electronic devices used to store videos and images. He also transported these devices around the country as he changed duty stations with the U.S. Navy. “I applaud the work of HSI and NCIS in bringing Wood to justice,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “This case reveals how CSAM is spread through electronic means. Children remain victimized for life. We will continue to prioritize exploitation cases to keep our communities safe.” “Today’s sentencing underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society. The exploitation of children is a heinous crime, and HSI, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue justice for the victims, said HSI Special Agent in Charge Lucia Cabral-DeArmas. “We will use every tool at our disposal to ensure that those who engage in such reprehensible acts are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service. The case was prosecuted by Benjamin K. Petersburg, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Guam. This was a Project Safe Childhood (PSC) case, 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, PSC 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 PSC, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Businessman Pleads Guilty to Theft of Pandemic Relief Funds

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Massachusetts businessman pleaded guilty yesterday to misappropriating COVID-19 relief funds for personal use. Jesse Lelievre, 41, of North Andover, pleaded guilty to theft of government property. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Dec. 19, 2024. Lelievre was charged in July 2024. Lelievre was the owner and manager of Paramount Plumbing & Heating LLC a Massachusetts company that provided plumbing, heating, and related services. In 2021, Lelievre applied for a loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) on behalf of Paramount Plumbing & Heating. Lelievre obtained the loan through the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) program, which provided loans to small businesses that suffered substantial economic injury due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To obtain the loan, Lelievre entered into a loan agreement with the SBA in which he agreed, among other things, to use all loan proceeds solely as working capital for his business. Thereafter, Lelievre directed the EIDL funds into a bank account that he controlled and misappropriated approximately $180,000 for personal expenses, including to buy a diamond ring and to remodel his home. The charge of theft of government property 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; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and  Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Field Office of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General made the announcement. Substantial assistance was provided by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, Boston Region. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Markham of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting 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: California Man Sentenced For Heroin Trafficking

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – AL VERNON BROWN (“ BROWN”) , age 52, a Los Angeles, California resident, was sentenced on September 18, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 846, as well as, distribution and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B). BROWN was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment, 4 years of supervised release, and a $200 mandatory special assessment fee. According to court documents, BROWN mailed half-kilogram quantities of heroin from California to his co-conspirators in New Orleans, including CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON and KEVIN JOHNSON. On June 22, 2021, agents seized a package containing 485 grams of heroin that was mailed by BROWN to Metairie, Louisiana and was intended for KEVIN JOHNSON. The Federal Bureau of Investigation - New Orleans Gang Task Force, with the assistance of the New Orleans Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Gretna Major Crimes Task Force, led the investigation. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Rachal Cassagne of the Narcotics Unit.


title: Slidell Man Sentenced For Making False Statements To Small Business Administration

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DEAN MEILLEUR (“MEILLEUR”) , age 57, a resident of Slidell, Louisiana, was sentenced on September 17, 2024, for making or using false writings or documents to the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(3). According to court documents, MEILLEUR , submitted false writings and documents to the SBA to obtain Economic Impact Disaster Loans (“EIDL”). In his EIDL applications, among other things, MEILLEUR falsely represented that he was the owner of a trucking business formed in 2017 and, that he was eligible for EIDL funds. As a result of these false submissions, MEILLEUR obtained $147,400 from the SBA to which he was not entitled. United States District Judge Brandon S. Long sentenced MEILLEUR to four (4) years of probation, payment of restitution in the amount of $147,400.00, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. 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 . For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . U.S. Attorney Evans commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Andre J. Lagarde of the Public Integrity Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Alaska Man Arrested for Threatening U.S. Supreme Court Justices, Their Family Members

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: An Alaska man was arrested yesterday in Anchorage for allegedly threatening to injure and kill six U.S. Supreme Court Justices and some of their family members. According to court documents, between March 10, 2023, and July 16, Panos Anastasiou, 76, sent over 465 messages to the Supreme Court through a public website the court maintained. “We allege that the defendant made repeated, heinous threats to murder and torture Supreme Court Justices and their families to retaliate against them for decisions he disagreed with,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Our justice system depends on the ability of judges to make their decisions based on the law, and not on fear. Our democracy depends on the ability of public officials to do their jobs without fearing for their lives or the safety of their families.” Beginning on Jan. 4, Anastasiou’s messages allegedly escalated to messages intending to threaten harm toward the victims. The messages contained violent, racist, and homophobic rhetoric coupled with threats of assassination by torture, hanging, and firearms. Anastasiou is charged by indictment with nine counts of making threats against a federal judge and 13 counts of making threats in interstate commerce. The defendant made his initial court appearance yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle F. Reardon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, Anastasiou faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count of making threats against a federal judge and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count of making threats in interstate commerce. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Attorney General Garland and U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska made the announcement. The Supreme Court of the United States Police, Protective Intelligence Unit is investigating the case, with significant support from the U.S. Marshals Service and FBI Anchorage Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Taylor for the District of Alaska is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Justice Department Designates Indianapolis for Focused Federal Efforts to Reduce Domestic Gun Violence Under the Violence Against Women Act

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has approved an initial set of 78 communities across 47 states, territories, and the District of Columbia, including Indianapolis, designated for focused federal efforts to reduce intimate partner gun violence under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022. The Justice Department - through its United States Attorney’s offices (USAOs) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Field Divisions - will partner with each designated jurisdiction to execute a plan to reduce intimate partner firearm violence and to prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders who violate federal firearms laws, including unlawful possession of firearms by prohibited people and possession of prohibited weapons including Glock switches and other machinegun conversion devices. This work will include continuing outreach to increase coordination and target the most dangerous offenders. In the Southern District of Indiana, the U.S. Attorney’s Office partners with Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and ATF through the LEATH Initiative (Law Enforcement Action to Halt Domestic Violence), named in honor of IMPD Officer Breann Leath, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic disturbance call. The LEATH Initiative focuses federal, state, and local law enforcement resources on domestic violence offenders who illegally possess firearms. More information about the LEATH Imitative is available at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/leath . The U.S. Attorney’s Office has also partnered with the City of Indianapolis to assign Special Assistant United States Attorneys to prosecute violent crimes in federal court, including armed domestic abusers. “As we approach Domestic Violence Awareness month in October, it is imperative that we continue to work hand in hand with our community and law enforcement partners to halt intimate partner violence,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “We know that violent, illegally armed abusers pose a profound danger to those closest to them, police, and the entire community. I am grateful to the Department of Justice for recognizing our efforts. This designation will help further our commitment to saving lives by disarming domestic abusers and removing them from our communities.” “Our homes should be the place where we feel most safe in the world. Unfortunately, domestic abusers use violence, and all too often firearms, to threaten and harm those closest to them and the first responders coming to render aid,” stated Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “Domestic Violence Awareness month in October provides an opportunity to reiterate our commitment to reducing intimate partner violence. ATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute domestic abusers who possess firearms to ensure our communities are safe from these offenders.” “IMPD remains steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that all relationships are free from violence, as every member of our community deserves to live in safety and without fear,” said Chief Chris Bailey. “We are grateful to the Department of Justice for recognizing our efforts with this important designation and are thankful for our partnerships with other state and federal agencies. Together, we are working to ensure that domestic violence offenders who illegally possess firearms are identified, prosecuted, and brought to justice,” he added. Chosen communities have been designated in close coordination with community stakeholders. They include rural areas, suburban areas, urban areas, and Tribal communities. The Justice Department used data to identify communities that could benefit from increased focus on intimate partner violence resources and where the local jurisdiction is committed to partnering with the Department to increase the use of federal tools to prosecute offenders under federal firearms laws. The designation represents the partnership and coordination between the department and the local jurisdiction to ensure federal resources are being leveraged effectively to address intimate partner firearm violence. The Justice Department anticipates additional jurisdictions to be designated as USAOs continue coordination with their local stakeholders. All USAOs, with or without specific community designations under Section 1103, will continue to combat intimate partner firearm violence and prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders as part of their Project Safe Neighborhoods strategy and in support of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime. ###


title: Fort Myers Felon Pleads Guilty To Possessing Loaded Firearm During Traffic Stop

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Marquis Lamar Kitchen (38, Fort Myers) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Kitchen faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court documents, on March 21, 2024, officers from the Fort Myers Police Department observed a vehicle moving side to side on the roadway and initiated a traffic stop. The vehicle slow rolled for a few blocks before coming to a stop. Officers gave loud commands for the driver to roll down all of the vehicle’s windows. One of the officers saw a male with braided hair jump from the driver’s seat into the passenger seat, and a female jump from the passenger seat into the driver’s seat. When officers asked the occupants to exit the vehicle, they found Kitchen in the passenger seat. As the occupants were exiting the car, an officer noticed a pistol on the driver’s side floorboard protruding from underneath the driver’s seat. DNA analyses linked Kitchen to the trigger, rough areas, and loading port of the pistol. At the time, Kitchen had a prior felony conviction, making him prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Fort Myers Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan. 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 out 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 first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Marion County Felon Sentenced To Federal Prison For Illegal Possession Of A Firearm And Ammunition

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Jordan Karod Goodman (23, Ocala) to seven years and eight months in federal prison for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Goodman entered a guilty plea on June 10, 2024. According to court documents, on November 13, 2023, officers from the Ocala Police Department (OPD) responded to a shooting at a convenience store. An officer observed Goodman running in the area and wearing a black ski mask. When ordered to stop, Goodman refused. Goodman eventually fell and was detained by the officers. A Glock firearm with an extended magazine was recovered from the sidewalk where Goodman had fallen. When interviewed, Goodman stated that he believed someone had been shooting at him, so he had returned fire with his handgun. Goodman, who has two prior state felony convictions for possession of cannabis with intent to sell/deliver and carrying a concealed firearm, is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Ocala Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. 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: Fort Myers Man Pleads Guilty To Conspiring To Distribute Methamphetamine And Fentanyl Through The U.S. Mail

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Durand Dijuon Demetiu Colbert (34, Fort Myers) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Colbert faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the plea agreement, Colbert conspired with an individual in California to distribute various controlled substances including methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Lee County area. The other individual resided in the Los Angeles area and supplied Colbert with controlled substances that would later be distributed to others. The controlled substances were sent to Colbert in Florida through the U.S. mail or other packaging carriers. During the conspiracy, on November 17, 2023, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Colbert’s residence. At that time, Colbert was in possession of approximately1,700 fentanyl pills. Additionally, on November 28, 2023, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted multiple packages containing various controlled substances sent from Los Angeles to Colbert in Fort Myers through the U.S. mail. The packages were intercepted in Fort Myers and contained methamphetamine. This case was investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.


title: Marion County Man Pleads Guilty To Filing False Tax Returns

body_text: Ocala, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Richard Underwood has pleaded guilty to three counts of filing false tax returns. Underwood faces a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison on each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court documents, Underwood’s tax returns from 2017 to 2019 overstated certain business expenses incurred by his company, KDG Consulting, Inc. Each year, these falsely reported expenses significantly reduced Underwood’s business income (which ranged from about $530,000 to $780,000) by hundreds of thousands of dollars. Underwood’s fraudulent conduct caused his taxable income to drop to $0 in 2017 and 2018, and $7,110 in 2019. As part of his plea agreement, Underwood has agreed to pay $680,141 (plus interest) to the Internal Revenue Service—an amount reflecting the taxes he failed to pay during those years. This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Belkis H. Callaos.


title: Clearwater Man Sentenced To 10 Years For Possessing Firearms And Ammunition As A Convicted Felon

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Robert Pugh (34, Clearwater) to 10 years in federal prison for possession of a firearm or ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Pugh to forfeit a Taurus firearm, a Sig Sauer firearm, and assorted rounds of ammunition, which were possessed in connection with the offense. Pugh entered a guilty plea on June 20, 2024. According to court documents, on January 3, 2024, officers from the Clearwater Police Department executed a search warrant at a residence where Pugh resided with his co-defendant, Leon Williams. The search warrant was obtained after a series of controlled purchases of cocaine from Williams. During the search, two loaded firearms – a Taurus handgun and a Sig Sauer handgun – were found at the home, along with approximately 60 grams of marijuana, 70 grams of cocaine, digital scales, and other paraphernalia for drug distribution. Pugh admitted to owning the Taurus, that he had obtained it from another felon, and that he had access to the Sig Sauer. Pugh further admitted that he kept the Taurus for protection while he sold marijuana from the residence, and that he had sold marijuana as recently as the day before. DNA evidence was also obtained connecting Pugh to the Taurus handgun. Prior to the offense, Pugh had been convicted of multiple felonies including felonious possession of a firearm or ammunition, aggravated battery, and sale of cocaine. As a convicted felon he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. Williams previously pleaded guilty to his role in this case. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 24, 2024. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Clearwater Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang. This case is part of the 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 for occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Targeted DOJ Initiative with Local Partners to Reduce Domestic Violence

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has approved an initial set of 78 communities across 47 states, territories, and the District of Columbia for designation under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022. The Justice Department - through its United States Attorney’s offices (USAOs) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Field Divisions - will partner with each designated jurisdiction to develop a plan to reduce intimate partner firearm violence and to prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders prohibited under 18 U.S. Code Section 922(g) from owning firearms. “Domestic violence takes a devastating toll on families and communities across Rhode Island,” remarked U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha, “and when combined with illegal firearms, the consequences can be deadly. This Office is proud to partner with the cities of Pawtucket, Central Falls, and Woonsocket to bring targeted federal prosecutions that keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers and help keep our communities, our friends, and our neighbors safe.” "ATF is dedicated to reducing domestic violence, with a special focus on cases involving firearms. By working closely with our law enforcement partners, we are determined to end these violent crimes and safeguard our communities," said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division. "Together, we will protect victims and hold offenders accountable, ensuring a safer future for all." Selected jurisdictions include rural areas, suburban areas, urban areas, and Tribal communities. The Justice Department used data to identify communities that could benefit from increased focus on intimate partner violence resources and where the local jurisdiction is committed to partnering with the Department to increase the use of federal tools to prosecute offenders under 18 U.S.C. 922(g). The designation represents the partnership and coordination between the department and the local jurisdiction to ensure federal resources are being leveraged effectively to address intimate partner firearm violence. In Rhode Island, Pawtucket, Central Falls, and Woonsocket have been selected to participate. The U.S. Attorney’s office is committing resources and training to law enforcement to identify firearms cases which may be investigated and charged as federal crimes, with a focus on perpetrators of intimate partner violence. The Justice Department anticipates additional jurisdictions to be designated as USAOs continue coordination with their local stakeholders. All USAOs, with or without specific community designations under Section 1103, will continue to combat intimate partner firearm violence and prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders as part of their Project Safe Neighborhoods strategy and in support of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime. ###


title: Sin City Deciples Founder Sentenced to 360 Months in Prison

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

body_text: HAMMOND- Kenneth Christopher McGhee a/k/a “Sonny,” “Angel,” age 75, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after being found guilty of racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and being a drug user in possession of a firearm following an 18-day jury trial, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. McGhee was sentenced to 360 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. According to court documents, the Sin City Deciples, originally formed in 1967 in Gary, Indiana, is an outlaw motorcycle organization in which its members and associates engaged in acts of violence, extortion, and narcotics distribution in the Northern District of Indiana and elsewhere. McGhee served as the “Founder” of the entire club and lead the conspiracy for decades, including during the charged period between 2009-2021. As the “Founder,” McGhee commanded and oversaw multiple acts of extortion and violence, including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder in retaliation for the death of a fellow Sin City member, and conspiracy to distribute large amounts of cocaine. At the time of his arrest, he unlawfully possessed at least 8 firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. The agencies involved in this prosecution were: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the East Chicago Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Gary Police Department, the Griffith Police Department, the Hammond Police Department, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area officers and agents, the Merrillville Police Department, the Munster Police Department, and the Schererville Police Department. Also providing assistance were the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of Arkansas, the Northern District of Illinois, the Southern District of Indiana, the Western District of Kentucky, and the Western District of Pennsylvania. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David J. Nozick and Michael J. Toth. This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. This case was also 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: Nashville Man Charged with Federal Firearms Offense Following Gunfire Outside the Soho Lounge

body_text: NASHVILLE – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Erik Dewaun Williams, 25, of Nashville with being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee. According to publicly available information, in the early morning hours of April 14, 2024, Metro Nashville Police TITANS (The Investigative Team Addressing Neighborhood Shootings) detectives were in the Bell Road area when a person called 911 to report that people were arguing while armed with guns. Detectives immediately went to the scene. Shortly after arrival, detectives heard gunfire and saw Williams firing a pistol. When he saw the detectives, Williams began to run away. Officers followed and Williams threw the gun down during the chase. Detectives quickly caught Williams and arrested him. At the time of his arrest, Williams had previously been convicted of felonies in Rutherford and Sumner Counties, and he was on bond on state gun charges. This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Goldin is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. # # # # #


title: Justice Department Addresses Gender-Based Pay Discrimination in Lawsuit Against Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department has reached a settlement agreement to resolve a gender-based pay discrimination lawsuit filed in January 2023 against the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs (WDMA). The lawsuit alleged that the WDMA discriminated against former employee Michelle Hartness, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, when it offered her a lower salary than similarly or less qualified men for a director position in the Wisconsin Division of Emergency Management. Title VII is a federal statute that prohibits pay discrimination and other forms of employment discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin or religion. “It is time to close the gender pay gap which stands as one of the most pressing problems that we face in the labor market today. This settlement agreement demonstrates the Justice Department’s strong commitment to vindicating the rights of qualified job applicants and employees who are offered or paid less simply because they are women,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We will continue to aggressively hold state and local government employers accountable when they unlawfully deny women the right to bring home the full paycheck they have rightly earned.” Under the settlement agreement, WDMA will pay Ms. Hartness a $175,000 monetary award. By signing the agreement, WDMA also confirms that it maintains antidiscrimination and other personnel policies to prevent compensation discrimination, including a pay-setting policy to establish consistency in setting salaries, and that it trains personnel on the pay-setting policy. Ms. Hartness filed a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC’s Milwaukee Area Office investigated the charge and found reasonable cause to believe that Ms. Hartness was discriminated against because of her sex. After unsuccessful conciliation efforts, the EEOC referred the charge to the Justice Department. Senior Trial Attorneys Patricia Stasco, Chrisine Dinan and Catherine Sellers and Trial Attorney Young Choi of the Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section handled the case. The full and fair enforcement of Title VII is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division and the Employment Litigation Section is available at www.justice.gov/crt/ and www.justice.gov/crt/employment-litigation-section .


title: Taunton Man Pleads Guilty to Oxycodone Conspiracy

body_text: BOSTON – A Taunton man pleaded guilty yesterday to his role in an oxycodone conspiracy. John Campbell, age 41, pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone pills. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Jan. 15, 2025. Campbell was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2023 . Between approximately July 2022 and June 2023, Campbell distributed oxycodone pills to others for further re-distribution. He also obtained oxycodone pills from his co-conspirator and co-defendant Kenneth Veiga. The quantities of oxycodone pills distributed ranged from hundreds to more than 1,000 on several occasions. Campbell also distributed oxycodone pills to an undercover agent on four occasions. Laboratory testing of pills seized as part of the conspiracy confirmed that the pills contained oxycodone. During intercepted calls, Campbell was overheard discussing oxycodone prices and quantities in telephone calls and text messages. On July 12, 2023 during a search of Campbell’s residence a digital scale; rubber bands; and oxycodone pills were seized. Veiga pleaded guilty and in July 2024, was sentenced to 60 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Campbell faces a up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; John E. Mawn, Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; United States Coast Guard Investigative Service; Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office; and the Barnstable, Dennis, Bourne, Falmouth, Mashpee, Yarmouth and Sandwich Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Mulcahy of the Criminal Division is prosecuting 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 . The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: Former Law Enforcement Officer Sentenced to more than 11 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Online Enticement of a Minor

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Koby Don Williams, age 49, of Ellensburg, Washington, was sentenced on one count of Attempted Online Enticement. Williams was convicted of this crime on May 14, 2024, following a jury trial. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice imposed a sentence of 135 months in federal prison to be followed by 15 years of supervised release. According to court documents and information disclosed at trial and sentencing, on July 23, 2022, Williams replied to a decoy Craigslist post as part of an undercover law enforcement operation meant to identify individuals interested in and willing to meet with minors for sex. The post indicated that “Rebecca” was a 13-year-old prostitute. Over the next three days, Williams called and chatted over text with “Rebecca,” who Williams believed to be a minor. During the conversations, Williams discussed “Rebecca’s” age; what Williams would pay for sex acts, Williams’s employment as a “cop;” and arrangements to meet “Rebecca” at a hotel for sex. On July 26, 2022, Williams arrived at the Quality Inn in Othello, Washington, to meet “Rebecca.” He was met by law enforcement and arrested. Following a search of Williams and his vehicle, officers located Williams’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement badge, two bottles of generic Viagra, and $4,075 in U.S. currency in a credit union envelope. Williams testified at trial both that he did not believe “Rebecca” was a minor and that he was there to rescue a minor. The guilty verdict at trial demonstrated that jurors did not believe Williams’s testimony. “Mr. Williams held a duty of trust within the Eastern Washington law enforcement community, and he breached that trust by seeking out what he thought was a child for sex. He then attempted to use his position as a law enforcement officer to explain away his conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Thanks to the excellent investigative work by local and federal law enforcement, and by Assistant United States Attorney Ann Wick, who secured the guilty verdict at trial, Mr. Williams is now being held accountable.” “Mr. Williams knew exactly what he was doing as he attempted to meet a minor for sex.” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “What makes this even more despicable is that he was a member of law enforcement, entrusted with protecting the public. Mr. Williams’ actions both endangered our community’s most vulnerable and betrayed the trust endowed to our public safety professionals. Safeguarding children is not only a priority for the FBI but is also one of the more noble tasks we perform.” “Sexual exploitation of children, human sex trafficking of children, and internet crimes against children often go unnoticed. It is deeply concerning when a member of law enforcement is involved in committing these horrific acts,” said Othello Police Detective Sergeant Brent McFarlane. “Sadly, the online world provides criminals with easy access to children. This stark reality underscores the need for proactive and coordinated investigations. This case demonstrates the collaboration between federal and state partners to protect the most vulnerable and hold perpetrators accountable.” 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 Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov This case was investigated by the FBI, DHS/OIG, Othello Police Department, Moses Lake Police Department, and the Toppenish Police Department, with the assistance of the Washington State Department of Corrections. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ann Wick.


title: Federal Indictment Accuses Former Gary, Ind. Police Officer of Enticing a Minor To Produce Child Pornography

component: USAO - Illinois, Northern

body_text: CHICAGO — A former Gary, Ind. Police officer was arrested today on federal criminal charges for allegedly enticing a minor to produce and record sexually explicit conduct. JAMES W. BOND, 52, of Crown Point, Ind., is charged with sexual exploitation of a minor and receiving and possessing child pornography, according to an indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Hammond, Ind. The indictment alleges that Bond, while serving as a Commander with the Gary Police Department earlier this summer, enticed and coerced a minor to produce sexually explicit conduct and send it to Bond. At the time, the minor was employed by the City of Gary as part of the Summer Youth Employment Program. Bond was arrested this morning. His initial court appearance is scheduled for this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Abizer Zanzi in U.S. District Court in Hammond, Ind. The indictment and arrest were announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Sean Fitzgerald, Special Agent-in-Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago, and Douglas G. Carter, Superintendent of the Indiana State Police. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elie Zenner. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois upon recusal by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The exploitation count is punishable by a minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of 30 years. The receipt count is punishable by a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years, while the possession count carries a maximum sentence of ten years. If you believe that you or someone you know may have been victimized by James W. Bond, you are encouraged to contact Homeland Security Investigations by calling 1-877-4-HSI-TIP. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Bond indictment


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office To Work With Dauphin County Partners To Reduce Domestic Violence

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON– U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam announced today that Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, has been designated by the U.S. Department of Justice to receive additional resources to focus on combating domestic gun violence. U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has approved an initial set of 78 communities across 47 states, territories, and the District of Columbia for designation under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022. The Justice Department - through its United States Attorney’s offices (USAOs) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Field Divisions - will partner with each designated jurisdiction to develop a plan to reduce intimate partner firearm violence and to prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders prohibited under 18 U.S. Code Section 922(g) from owning firearms. “Our office is committed to working closely with our federal and local partners to hold offenders accountable for crimes associated with domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking,” said U.S. Attorney Karam. “ATF Philadelphia Field Division will work closely with our law enforcement partners in the designated counties to combat firearm violence against intimate partners and children, ensure that perpetrators are held accountable, that the rule of law is upheld, and that survivors are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Office. Communities have been designated in close coordination with community stakeholders. They include rural areas, suburban areas, urban areas, and Tribal communities. The Justice Department used data to identify communities that could benefit from increased focus on intimate partner violence resources and where the local jurisdiction is committed to partnering with the Department to increase the use of federal tools to prosecute offenders under 18 U.S.C. 922(g). The designation represents the partnership and coordination between the department and the local jurisdiction to ensure federal resources are being leveraged effectively to address intimate partner firearm violence. The Justice Department anticipates additional jurisdictions to be designated as USAOs continue coordination with their local stakeholders. All USAOs, with or without specific community designations under Section 1103, will continue to combat intimate partner firearm violence and prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders as part of their Project Safe Neighborhoods strategy and in support of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime. # # #


title: Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Ammunition Charge

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty yesterday to being a felon in possession of ammunition. Nicholas Carle, 36, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition before U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns who scheduled sentencing for Dec. 18, 2024. Carle was charged in April 2023. On Dec. 18, 2022, after being stopped by law enforcement for a traffic violation, Carle ran from law enforcement, dropping his coat. Inside the coat, a Smith & Wesson .357 revolver, loaded with six rounds of ammunition was recovered. Body camera footage shows law enforcement finding the firearm sticking out of the Carle’s coat while it was on the ground. Inside of the trunk of the vehicle, approximately 2.5 pounds of a substance that appeared to be marijuana were located. Due to prior felony convictions including a conviction for possession of a firearm without a permit, Carle is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. The charge of possessing ammunition after being convicted of a felony provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of a $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 Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William F. Abely and Julien M. Mundele are prosecuting the case.


title: First Assistant United States Attorney Reagan Fondren Appointed Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – Effective September 19, 2024, First Assistant United States Attorney Reagan Taylor Fondren will succeed former United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz as the Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee pursuant to the Vacancies Reform Act. Ms. Fondren has served as First Assistant since October 2022. Fondren, a native Memphian and graduate of Central High School, completed her undergraduate studies at Spelman College and her law degree at the University of Tennessee College of Law. She has worked in federal public service with the United States Department of Justice for her entire career and has served as an Assistant United States Attorney for over 16 years. Fondren began her career as a Presidential Management Fellow with the Drug Enforcement Administration. There, she served in the Office of the Chief Counsel and was responsible for the investigation and institution of charges against DEA registrants accused of violating federal regulations. In 2008, she joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, where she gained significant trial and appellate experience as a violent crime and homicide prosecutor. In 2014, Fondren returned to Memphis to serve the Western District of Tennessee as an Assistant United States Attorney. She served as senior and lead AUSA in the Civil Rights Unit of the Criminal Division. In this role, she managed complex investigations and trials involving multiple law enforcement partners. She later joined the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office, where she served as Senior Litigation Counsel and defended the United States in an array of civil cases, such as employment discrimination, medical malpractice, and prisoner litigation. As head of the Financial Litigation and Bankruptcy Divisions, she worked with government agencies to collect debts and represent the interests of the United States in bankruptcy litigation. Additionally, Fondren served as the District Election Officer and Chair of the Diversity Committee. Ms. Fondren is married to Rickey Fondren II, and they have two children. She is a Fellow of the Memphis Bar Foundation and active in community and legal organizations including the National Bar Association; the National Black Prosecutors Association; Girl Scouts Heart of the South; The Links, Incorporated; and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. ### For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Texas Man Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison  for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – A Houston, Texas man was sentenced to 51 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. According to court documents, Miguel Wayne Hall, 40, was arrested by Mobile County Sheriff’s Office on December 18, 2023 following a traffic stop where he was found to be in possession of a firearm. Hall has multiple prior felony convictions, including convictions for aggravated robbery, burglary, and assault. As a convicted felon, Hall is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Hall was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm and pled guilty to the charge. United States District Court Judge Kristi K. DuBose sentenced Hall to 51 months in prison followed by a 3-year term of supervised release for illegally possessing the firearm. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office investigated 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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Terrill prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.


title: Indictment Charges Two in $230 Million Cryptocurrency Scam

body_text: lamserrano_indictment_24cr417.pdf WASHINGTON – An indictment was unsealed today charging Malone Lam, 20, of Miami, FL and Los Angeles, CA, and Jeandiel Serrano, 21, of Los Angeles, CA, with conspiracy to steal and launder over $230 million in cryptocurrency from a victim in Washington, D.C. Lam, a citizen of Singapore who goes by the online monikers “Anne Hathaway” and “$$$”, and Serrano, who uses “VersaceGod” and “@SkidStar”, were arrested last night and are appearing in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and the Central District of California, respectively, today. The arrests and indictment were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Washington, D.C. Field Office. According in the indictment, since at least August 2024, Lam, Serrano, and others conspired to carry out cryptocurrency thefts and to launder the stolen crypto currency through exchanges and mixing services. The conspirators would fraudulently gain access to victim cryptocurrency accounts and then transfer victim funds into their possession. They laundered the proceeds, including by moving the funds through various mixers and exchanges using “peel chains,” pass-through wallets, and virtual private networks (VPNs) to mask their true identities. Lam and Serrano then allegedly spent the laundered cryptocurrency proceeds on international travel, nightclubs, luxury automobiles, watches, jewelry, designer handbags, and rental homes in Los Angeles and Miami. In one instance, on August 18, 2024, Lam, Serrano, and their conspirators contacted a victim in D.C. and, through the communications with that victim, fraudulently obtained over 4,100 Bitcoin (worth over $230 million at the time). This ongoing investigation is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and the IRS-Criminal Investigation Washington Field Office. Significant investigative and operational support was provided by the FBI’s Los Angeles and Miami Field Offices. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ### 24cr417


title: Marion Man Sentenced to 8+ Years in Prison on Child Pornography Charges

body_text: BENTON, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a Marion man to 97 months’ imprisonment for receiving and possessing child pornography. Michael D. Mitchell, 36, pleaded guilty in May to two counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prosecute individuals who view and upload child sexual abuse material, and a federal prison sentence is warranted for those who contribute to the online sexual exploitation of children,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “I commend our FBI partners for their efforts to identify and investigate child predators.” According to court documents, federal law enforcement received an online tip from an internet platform for a user uploading child pornography. Agents tracked the IP address associated with the user to Mitchell’s Marion residence. Following a subsequent search of Mitchell’s phone, agents recovered eight items of child sexual abuse material. “This case demonstrates the effectiveness of the FBI’s partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson. “FBI Springfield opened this investigation based on a tip from NCMEC’s Cyber Tipline which allows parents and children to report child sexual abuse material and other incidents of sexual exploitation of children. Thanks to that tip, another offender is behind bars, no longer able to contribute to the spread of child sexual abuse material.” Upon release from prison, the judge ordered Mitchell to serve five years of supervised release. The FBI Springfield Field Office led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Sanders prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood , a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.


title: Texas Couple Charged in Multimillion-Dollar Tax Refund Fraud Scheme

component: Tax Division

body_text: A federal grand jury in Tyler, Texas, returned an indictment yesterday charging a Texas husband and wife with crimes related to their conspiracy to defraud the United States by seeking fraudulent tax refunds. According to the indictment, from 2017 to 2023, Larry and Rebecca Kalmowitz filed false tax returns in the name of estates and trusts that sought $42 million in fraudulent refunds, ultimately receiving over $23 million from the IRS. The returns allegedly falsely reported interest income and large amounts of income tax withholdings to the IRS that resulted in large tax refunds to which they were not otherwise entitled. The Kalmowitzs allegedly created bank accounts in the names of the estates and trusts and deposited the fraudulently obtained tax refund checks into those accounts. They allegedly used the proceeds to purchase real property that they placed in the name of a nominee and to purchase luxury vehicles, including a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 and a Mercedes-Benz GLS450. When the IRS attempted to recover the fraudulent funds, the Kalmowitzs allegedly took steps to obstruct the recovery by, among other things, filing false forms to support the claimed income and withholdings and a false form to release a federal lien. Both were charged with mail fraud, money laundering, conspiracy to defraud the United States and filing a false claim against the United States. If convicted, the Kalmowitzs each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of mail fraud, a maximum penalty of 10 years for each count of money laundering, a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy to defraud the United States and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count of filing a false claim against the United States. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Damien Diggs for the Eastern District of Texas made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Zachary Cobb and Daniel Lipkowitz of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Locker for the Eastern District of Texas are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Remarks of United States Attorney Todd Gee  Announcing a Pattern or Practice Investigation of the  Rankin County, Mississippi Sheriff’s Department and Rankin County

component: USAO - Mississippi, Southern

body_text: Thank you, Assistant Attorney General Clarke for your leadership. The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division has a long history of helping to bring change to Mississippi and this nation, and you have continued that tradition with the work we announce today. In January of last year, five white deputies from the Rankin County, Mississippi Sheriff’s Department, some of whom were part of a unit that described itself as the “Goon Squad,” entered a home without a warrant, and then handcuffed, kicked, tased, and sexually assaulted two African-American men, Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker, while taunting them with racial slurs. They told the victims, who both resided in Rankin County, to “go back” to Jackson or to “their side” of the Pearl River—areas with a higher concentration of African-American residents. A deputy eventually shot one of the victims in the mouth during a mock execution, and then the group tried to frame them both for crimes they did not commit. The Department of Justice obtained criminal convictions of those five deputies, along with another local officer who joined in the assault, and they were sentenced to terms in prison ranging from 10 to 40 years. But for several reasons, this may not simply be written-off as an isolated incident in Rankin County. First, three of these same deputies pleaded guilty to participating in another brutal attack just a month earlier, in December 2022, when they punched, kicked, and tased a white victim and then fired a gun near him to try to scare him. Second, publicly reported text communications between the members of the Goon Squad, including officers who were not present for the January 2023 assault, indicate that deputies routinely discussed extreme, unnecessary uses of force and other ways to dehumanize residents of Rankin County. For example, deputies shared a video of an officer defecating in the home of a Rankin County resident. Third, brave residents of Rankin County have come forward to report abuse by members of the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office. Journalists have compiled harrowing accounts of beatings, taser use, and other extreme uses of force. In a listening session my office held in Rankin County, I heard first-hand accounts of alleged abuse. The accounts came from men and women, old and young alike. Together this information indicates that there may be a pattern or practice of civil rights violations by the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department and Rankin County. The investigation we announce today will examine those alleged pattern or practices in great detail. And if the Department of Justice’s investigation determines that such a pattern or practice of discrimination has occurred, we will seek remedies that bring real change to all the residents of Rankin County. I want to make clear that there are good law enforcement officers in Rankin County and throughout Mississippi that go to work every day and do the right thing. They answer the call when people are in need, and they treat those they encounter fairly. But the information we have learned to date about the conduct of some members of the Rankin County Sheriff’s office calls back to some of the worst periods of Mississippi’s history. This year is the sixtieth anniversary of the “Mississippi Burning” murders of three civil rights workers that this office prosecuted. There, too, law enforcement played a role in the violence. We all want to hope that Mississippi and our nation have moved past a time when such crimes can occur, but the allegations involving the Goon Squad and others in Rankin County echo back to 1964 in ways that we must confront. Simply put, the events in Rankin County appear to be a continuation of the violence and intimidation that for too long has defined how many African-Americans experience the justice system in Mississippi. We do not have to accept the old hatreds and abuse of the past. And we do not have to accept the false claim that safety comes at the price of illegal force and abuse of power. In Mississippi and throughout the nation we have learned over and over that real change in civil rights sometimes requires us to dig up the past, tell painful facts, and offer new ways of doing things. We intend for this investigation to do that same work in Rankin County. Let me close by reminding anyone who has information about alleged civil rights abuses in Rankin County that they can make a report through email at Community.Rankin@usdoj.gov or on a telephone hotline at 888-392-8557. Thank you all for joining us today for this important announcement.


title: 20 Charged in Sandusky Drug Trafficking Ring

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: TOLEDO, Ohio - Federal, state, and local law enforcement officials announced the unsealing of a superseding indictment that charged 20 members of a Drug Trafficking Operation (DTO) operating in Sandusky, Ohio. The Sandusky DTO is alleged to be responsible for trafficking distribution quantities of controlled substances in the Greater Sandusky area, including fentanyl and fentanyl analogues in both powder and counterfeit pill form, as well as methamphetamine and cocaine. The investigation that led to the indictment took place earlier this spring and summer. Individuals were apprehended in a series of coordinated arrests, and agents have seized large quantities of fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, cocaine, and methamphetamine, including thousands of fentanyl pills masquerading as legitimate prescription medication. Agents also seized cash proceeds and numerous illegally possessed firearms during the investigation. This announcement was made by United States Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio, DEA Special Agent in Charge Orville Greene, and Sandusky Police Chief Jared Oliver. “The indictment alleges a coordinated effort by the members of this Drug Trafficking Operation to fuel and profit from the region’s drug trade, and the widespread opioid and other drug addictions that accompany it,” said United States Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko. “These charges and arrests will significantly reduce in the Greater Sandusky area the distribution of these poisons, which are crippling our communities. We applaud our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners who have worked tirelessly to bring this criminal organization’s operations to a halt. Sandusky’s streets are safer today as a result.” The following defendants were charged in the 63-count superseding indictment: Danny Lee Johnson, aka, Uncle Danny, 39, Elyria, Ohio Shon Alexander, aka Lil Man, 33, Sandusky, Ohio Mark Milten Castile, aka Castile Jr., aka Little Mark, 27, Sandusky, Ohio Mark Milton Castile, aka Castile Sr., aka MC, 50, Sandusky, Ohio Markier Castile, 22, Sandusky, Ohio Johnny Diego Desounyez Cherry, 41, Sandusky Marquez Clinton, aka, Quez, 38, Sandusky, Ohio Alycia Cross, 33, Sandusky, Ohio Anrico Cunningham, aka, Suave, 40, Sandusky, Ohio Marvin Cunningham, aka Marv, 62, Sandusky, Ohio Brian Giving, aka, Hurt, 43, Sandusky, Ohio Brent Hanson, 25, Sandusky, Ohio Brent Hanson, 25, Sandusky, Ohio Salei Harris, aka Bernard, 38, Sandusky, Ohio Eric Irby, 30, Sandusky, Ohio Bryonia Myers, 35, Sandusky, Ohio, Tremar Pearson, 24, Sandusky, Ohio Jarvis Pool, aka Shorty J, 42, Sandusky, Ohio Kendrick Scott, aka Cheese, 51, Sandusky, Ohio Dashour Smith, 28, Sandusky, Ohio Dean Swain, aka Dino, 42, Sandusky, Ohio The superseding indictment alleges that from about April 2023 to August 2024, the defendants did unlawfully, knowingly, and intentionally combine, conspire, confederate, and agree with each other to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, mixtures and substances containing detectable amounts of cocaine, cocaine base (crack), fentanyl, and methamphetamine, all Schedule II controlled substances, and fentanyl analogues, a Schedule I controlled substance. According to court documents, Johnson, an Elyria based cocaine source of supply, arranged delivery of bulk cocaine to purchasers in Sandusky, using a network of associates and stash houses to store, break-down, package and redistribute narcotics and profits resulting from the illegal drug trafficking. Some associates would receive bulk cocaine and fentanyl pills stamped to appear as prescription Oxycodone pills and repackage to distribute. Others transported, or assisted in transporting cocaine, drug proceeds, and firearms. Several associates conducted their operations out of the Chill Palace, a bar in Sandusky, where they distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, and other related drugs to customers throughout the region. Other associates received bulk methamphetamine sent through the mail, and one maintained an unlicensed gambling house at a residence in Sandusky, which was used as a distribution center. “This was a highly organized, poly-drug distribution organization, supplying our communities with bulk quantities of controlled substances including fentanyl in both powder and counterfeit pill form. These quantities had the potential to kill hundreds of thousands of people. Today’s enforcement action demonstrates the strength of our partnerships and our commitment to keeping our communities safe” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Orville Greene. “The Sandusky Police Department is proud to have such a great partnership with both the DEA and Ohio BCI. It is because of these partnerships that this investigation resulted in the arrests of several individuals and the seizure of substantial amounts of fentanyl, fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, and cocaine. I echo US Attorney Lutzko’s statement, our community is safer today because of the tireless efforts of our Detectives, the BCI Agents and the DEA in dismantling this drug trafficking operation,” said Sandusky Police Chief Jarod Oliver. An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum. The investigation preceding the superseding indictment was conducted by the DEA, Sandusky Police Department, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification (BCI). This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Melching and Frank Spryszak for the Northern District of Ohio.


title: Federal Judge Sentences Lexington Man To 15 Years For Engaging In Sexual Contact With A Minor In Indian Country

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Rogelio Vega Evans, 26, of Lexington, N.C. was sentenced today to 180 months in prison for engaging in sexual contact with a minor by force in Indian Country, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Upon his release from prison, Evans will be subject to a lifetime of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in North Carolina, and Chief Carla Neadeau of the Cherokee Indian Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to filed court documents and court proceedings, on or about June 18, 2022, Evans sexually abused a child under the age of 12. The minor victim is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band Cherokee Indians (EBCI), and the crime occurred in Indian country, within the Qualla Boundary of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. On December 18, 2023, Evans pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual contact with a minor under the age of 12 by force. Evans remains in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI and the Cherokee Indian Police Department for their investigation of the case, and the High Point Police Department for its assistance with Evans’s arrest. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex M. Scott of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.


title: Philadelphia Man Convicted at Trial of Using a Destructive Device to Start a Fire at a Northeast Philadelphia Home in 2022

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Jason Mattis, 51, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was convicted yesterday following a jury trial of possessing an unregistered destructive device. As laid out in a December 2022 indictment, on July 1 of that year, Mattis lit an incendiary device similar to a Molotov cocktail and threw it onto the porch of a residence in the Tacony section of Northeast Philadelphia. The weapon thrown by Mattis ignited and started a fire on the porch of the residence, as well as the sidewalk and the street in front. The incident occurred in the evening while the residents of the home were inside. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives examined the evidence left at the scene and determined that the weapon used by the defendant was an incendiary bomb as that term is defined under federal law. The defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. The case was investigated by the ATF’s Arson and Explosives Task Force, the Philadelphia Fire Department, and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Eckert.