title: Three Defendants Plead Guilty to a Civil Rights Conspiracy Targeting Pregnancy Resource Centers

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: Three Florida residents pleaded guilty today to conspiring to injure, oppress, threaten or intimidate employees of pregnancy resource centers in the free exercise of the right to provide and seek to provide reproductive health services. The defendants selected reproductive health facilities that provided and counseled abortion alternatives and vandalized those facilities with threatening messages. According to court documents, between May and July 2022, Caleb Freestone, Amber Smith-Stewart and Annarella Rivera engaged in a series of targeted attacks on pro-life pregnancy help centers in Florida. The defendants admitted they participated in the attack in the dark of night and, while wearing masks and dark clothing to obscure their identities, spray painted the facilities with threatening messages, including “If abortions aren’t safe than niether [sic] are you,” “YOUR TIME IS UP!!,” “WE’RE COMING for U” and “We are everywhere.” “These defendants vandalized pregnancy resource centers with threatening messages meant to terrify the employees of those centers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Violence and threats have no place in the national discourse about reproductive rights. The Justice Department is committed to holding accountable those who seek to interfere with access to reproductive health services in our country, without regard to the point of view of the defendants or their victims.” “Federal law protects providers who render reproductive health care and those who seek their services,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “Neither should be subject to unlawful intimidation or threats of harm. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners in protecting access to reproductive health care and federally prosecuting those interfering with that right.” “The FBI works diligently to safeguard the civil rights of our citizens,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Rodney Crawford of the FBI Tampa Field Office. “We and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate those who conspire to attack facilities providing these lawful reproductive health services.” A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. The defendants each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Charges remain pending against a fourth defendant. The FBI Tampa Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Miami Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacie Harris for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Laura-Kate Bernstein of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case. Anyone who has information about incidents of violence, threats and obstruction that target a patient or provider of reproductive health services, or damage and destruction of reproductive health care facilities, should report that information to the FBI at www.tips.fbi.gov . For more information about clinic violence, and the Justice Department’s efforts to enforce FACE Act violations, please visit www.justice.gov/crt/national-task-force-violence-against-reproductive-health-care-providers .


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced for Violating Federal Gun Control Act

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ROBERT HALL (“HALL”), age 24, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on June 12, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk, after previously pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to court records, HALL had previously pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). On March 7, 2023, an officer with the New Orleans Police Department, aided by the Real Time Crime Center cameras, saw individuals with whom HALL was associating who were armed with concealed weapons. When stopped by police, HALL had a Smith & Wesson, .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun in his pocket. Records checks confirmed that HALL had several prior felony convictions, including convictions for robbery and being a convicted felon with a firearm. Judge Africk sentenced HALL to 57 months imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release and payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller, Senior Litigation Counsel.


title: St. Peters Man Admits Selling Fatal Dose of Fentanyl

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Peters, Missouri on Friday admitted selling the fentanyl that killed one woman and sent another to the hospital in one day in 2019. Zachary Hovis, 24, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to two counts of distribution of fentanyl. Hovis admitted supplying fentanyl to a woman in the parking lot of a country club in Weldon Spring, Missouri on Nov. 16, 2019. The victim drove to a nearby businesses’ parking lot, where she was found unconscious about an hour and 15 minutes later. Despite a bystander’s attempt to aid the victim by administering naloxone, the victim died. A medical examiner later determined that the immediate cause of the victim’s death was fentanyl intoxication. Later that day, Hovis supplied fentanyl to another person. That woman would testify that she wanted to buy oxycodone from Hovis and that Hovis said he was supplying oxycodone, Hovis’ plea agreement says. That woman later went to the hospital, believing she was overdosing. She was treated and released. Hovis is scheduled to be sentenced October 3. Each charge is punishable by a prison term of up to 20 years, a fine of up to $1 million or both prison and a fine. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. Charles County Drug Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassandra Wiemken is prosecuting the case.


title: Registered Sex Offender sentenced to 5+ years in prison for possession of images of child sexual abuse

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 59-year-old Shoreline, Washington man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 66 months in prison for possession of images of child sexual abuse, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Bruce Arthur Williamson came to the attention of federal law enforcement in October 2019 when Williamson communicated with an undercover agent in Tennessee regarding images of child sexual abuse. Law enforcement traced the communications to a residence Williamson shared with other sex offenders in Shoreline. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones imposed 15 years of supervised release to follow the prison term. At the sentencing hearing Judge Jones said, “Young children are not pieces of candy in a dish that you get to pick to violate… You participated in a market that makes it a dangerous place for children.” Judge Jones expressed concern that despite a prior conviction, sentencing and treatment, Williamson had failed to register as a sex offender and again sought out child sex abuse material. The FBI executed a federal search warrant on the residence in May 2020. A forensic investigation by law enforcement determined that various electronic devices owned by Williamson contained images of child sexual abuse. Williamson fled following the search and was ultimately located living homeless in November 2023 when he came into federal custody. Williamson pleaded guilty in February 2024. The plea to federal charges also resolves a state charge of failing to register as a sex offender. In asking the court for the 78-month sentence Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson wrote to the court, “Those who collect and share images and videos of children being assaulted further a market that thrives on the sexual abuse of children. The collection of this material drive demand for new material and normalize horrific acts of sexual exploitation. And it subjects victims of child abuse to perpetual re-victimization, knowing that the digital record of their worst moments forever travels the globe to whet the sexual appetite of child predators. The defendant has proven by his repeated crimes against minors that he is an unapologetic child predator.” The FBI investigated this case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Y. Gregson.


title: U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas, joined national, state, local, and tribal leaders today in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increase understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk. Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Esparza emphasized the importance of awareness and education. “Elder abuse is a serious crime against some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens and, with our law enforcement partners, my office is committed to preventing and prosecuting the most pressing elder justice issues facing older Americans. But we need your help to prevent elder abuse and neglect,” said U.S. Attorney Esparza. “Listen to older adults and their caregivers to understand their challenges and provide support. Look for unusual financial transactions like unexplained withdrawals, purchases of gold bars or cryptocurrency, or uncharacteristic efforts to wire large amounts of money. Report abuse or suspected abuse to local adult protective services, long-term care ombudsman, or the police. Together, we can combat all types of elder abuse in our communities.” Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse. The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams. Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud. To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes. To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page . The Western District of Texas continues to work with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes. To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov . ###


component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: WASHINGTON – Three Florida residents pleaded guilty today to conspiring to injure, oppress, threaten or intimidate employees of pregnancy resource centers in the free exercise of the right to provide and seek to provide reproductive health services. The defendants selected reproductive health facilities that provided and counseled abortion alternatives and vandalized those facilities with threatening messages. According to court documents, between May and July 2022, Caleb Freestone, Amber Smith-Stewart and Annarella Rivera engaged in a series of targeted attacks on pro-life pregnancy help centers in Florida. The defendants admitted they participated in the attack in the dark of night and, while wearing masks and dark clothing to obscure their identities, spray painted the facilities with threatening messages, including “If abortions aren’t safe than niether [sic] are you,” “YOUR TIME IS UP!!,” “WE’RE COMING for U” and “We are everywhere.” “These defendants vandalized pregnancy resource centers with threatening messages meant to terrify the employees of those centers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Violence and threats have no place in the national discourse about reproductive rights. The Justice Department is committed to holding accountable those who seek to interfere with access to reproductive health services in our country, without regard to the point of view of the defendants or their victims.” “Federal law protects providers who render reproductive health care and those who seek their services,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “Neither should be subject to unlawful intimidation or threats of harm. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners in protecting access to reproductive health care and federally prosecuting those interfering with that right.” “The FBI works diligently to safeguard the civil rights of our citizens,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Rodney Crawford of the FBI Tampa Field Office. “We and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate those who conspire to attack facilities providing these lawful reproductive health services.” A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. The defendants each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Charges remain pending against a fourth defendant. The FBI Tampa Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Miami Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacie Harris for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Laura-Kate Bernstein of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case. Anyone who has information about incidents of violence, threats and obstruction that target a patient or provider of reproductive health services, or damage and destruction of reproductive health care facilities, should report that information to the FBI at www.tips.fbi.gov . For more information about clinic violence, and the Justice Department’s efforts to enforce FACE Act violations, please visit www.justice.gov/crt/national-task-force-violence-against-reproductive-health-care-providers .


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Observes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

component: USAO - Illinois, Southern

body_text: FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe joined local, state and federal leaders Friday in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day slated for June 15. “On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, we recognize the importance of protecting our seniors from fraudsters and others who attempt to prey upon them,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “In the southern Illinois, we fully support the Justice Department’s Elder Justice Initiative, both by prioritizing the prosecution of criminals who victimize senior citizens and by providing training to seniors to help them avoid being victimized by the multitude of schemes aimed at defrauding them.” As part of the Elder Justice Initiative, a federal grand jury in southern Illinois returned an indictment earlier this month charging Ligneshkumar H. Patel, 37, of Des Plaines, Illinois, with serving as a money mule for a criminal conspiracy that swindled more than $148,000 from an elderly Edwardsville woman. According to court documents, unidentified members of the conspiracy falsely posed as law enforcement officials and convinced the victim that her identity had been stolen. Then, telling the woman that she was in jeopardy of losing all of her money, the fraudsters convinced her to purchase gold and hand over to a “federal agent” to be kept safe. According to the indictment, Patel was the “federal agent” who showed up at the victim’s Edwardsville home and took the gold from her. “Unfortunately, we’ve seen several cases where seniors in southern Illinois have been victimized in these imposter scams,” said U.S. Attorney Crowe. “These scams are particularly vicious, because the perpetrators attempt to take the senior’s entire life savings. If you have loved ones who are elderly, please warn them about these scams, so that they don’t end up becoming victims.” The Department’s Money Mule Initiative helps to identify schemes involving money couriers to disrupt criminal organizations. By exploiting the vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people to move money in furtherance of the fraud scheme. “HSI special agents are proud to work closely with our law enforcement partners to target and arrest individuals who prey on the elderly,” said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Sean Fitzgerald. “While the charges cannot undo the pain and financial loss inflicted upon the victim, it is my hope that the perpetrator being held accountable for this horrific crime will aid in the journey of processing what has transpired.” Elder abuse is specifically defined as an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trusted position. In another recent elder abuse case filed in the Southern District of Illinois, a federal grand jury charged former certified nursing assistant Markeisha A. Hill , 35, of Granite City, with allegedly using her elderly patients’ credit card and bank account information to make personal purchases without their consent. The indictment alleges that Hill committed these crimes while working at nursing homes located in Edwardsville and Glen Carbon. An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury. As part of the Department’s Elder Justice Initiative , earlier this week the chief federal prosecutor of the Fraud and Corruption Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois presented a program entitled “Protect Yourself Against Fraud” at a senior community center in Edwardsville. The program is designed to educate seniors about the types of fraud scams that target them and how they can avoid becoming victims. An upcoming presentation is scheduled for June 21 at Senior Services Plus in Alton. To schedule a presentation, contact Lauren Barry by emailing Lauren.Barry@usdoj.gov . To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline by calling 1-833-372-8311 or filing a cyber crime complaint via the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center .


title: Vancouver, Washington man sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug trafficking while possessing firearms

body_text: Tacoma – A 41-year-old Vancouver, Washington, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 10 years in prison for drug distribution and firearms crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Joseph Anthony Cannarozzi was identified in May 2021 as the source of potentially deadly fentanyl pills. The ensuing investigation determined Cannarozzi was dealing fentanyl pills and also selling anabolic steroids through the mail. At the sentencing hearing Chief U.S. District Judge David G Estudillo said, “This case is not about a statistic, it is about an individual who passed away from a mix of substance you sold him for money…. Controlled substances create real devastation and turmoil for real people.” “Even after his pills were connected to a death, Mr. Cannarozzi, continued to deal fentanyl. Some 10,000 pills were seized from his home,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “That conduct, coupled with his possession of multiple firearms, justifies this significant prison sentence.” According to records filed in the case, in May 2021 pills found with the victim of an overdose death were linked back to Cannarozzi prompting an investigation from the Clark County Sherriff’s Office. Officers surveilled Cannarozzi’s home and saw drug customers repeatedly coming to the home for suspected drug transactions. In October 2021, a search warrant at Cannarozzi’s home resulted in the seizure of 10,000 fentanyl pills made to look like prescription medication, as well as suspected steroids and records on drug distribution. Law enforcement also seized six firearms from the home. The search revealed that Cannarozzi operated a business called “Locked and Loaded” that sold steroids and other medications via the internet. Financial records indicate that more than $1 million was processed through those business accounts. Cannarozzi was charged federally in August 2022. Cannarozzi pleaded guilty to possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes on March 6, 2024. In asking for the ten-year sentence Assistant United States Attorney Kristine Foerster wrote to the court, “The nation’s ongoing fentanyl-death epidemic would not be possible without suppliers like Cannarozzi. He trafficked in large quantities of deadly fentanyl pills disguised as prescription drugs. He did this despite knowing the pills could kill. He sold those pills to (the victim) and other customers, and he kept selling the pills even after they caused (the victim’s) death.” The case was investigated by the Clark County Sherriff’s Office, the Vancouver Police Department, Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), and the United States Postal Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristine Foerster.


title: 30 Year Sentence for District Man Who Stabbed Two Men in Northwest DC, Killing One

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Joseph Melton, 55, of Washington, DC, was sentenced today, by Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe, to 366 months in prison for the January 2020 murder of a man. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Melton pleaded guilty on March 25, 2024, to second degree murder while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon (knife). According to the government’s evidence, around 9:10 a.m. on January 14, 2020, Melton approached Kevin Chamberlain in the 1800 block of Connecticut Ave. NW. Mr. Chamberlain recognized the defendant from college, thirty years ago, but did not know the defendant’s name. As they encountered each other, Melton made threats to Mr. Chamberlain, and then pulled out a knife from his pants pocket and attempted to stab him. Mr. Chamberlain was able to escape that attack and Melton fled the scene. Later that same day, at around 1:15 p.m., a second victim encountered Melton in the 800 block of Vermont Ave., NW. Melton stabbed this victim in a vicious attack. This victim would later physically recover from his injuries. However, about an hour thereafter, Melton re-encountered Mr. Chamberlain in the area of the intersection of 24 th and G Streets, NW, and attacked him again, stabbing him repeatedly. Mr. Chamberlain succumbed to his wounds a few hours thereafter. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those investigating the case from the Homicide Branch of the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Liebman and Andrea Antonelli.


title: Nevada U.S. Attorney's Office Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – Ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15, 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada joins national, state, local, and Tribal leaders in increasing awareness and understanding the many forms of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. “Every year, millions of seniors experience some form of elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or fraud,” said United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “Our Elder Justice Initiative brings together local, state, federal and Tribal law enforcement to share information and increase coordination in addressing elder abuse and fraud in Nevada. We know the partnership between law enforcement and the public are vital to combating these types of crimes and are important in raising awareness. We participate in community events and presentations to raise awareness on how to recognize and prevent abuse and fraud crimes against seniors.” Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse. The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams. Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud. To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes. In addition to prosecuting elder abuse and fraud cases, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, through its Elder Justice Initiative , partners with law enforcement agencies, government entities, and community organizations to ensure that older adults, caretakers, and those who come in frequent contact with the elderly are educated on how to detect, prevent, and report elder fraud, neglect, and abuse. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. ###


title: Western District of Washington recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

body_text: Seattle – U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman for the Western District of Washington, joined national, state, local, and Tribal leaders today in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increases understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk. Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Gorman emphasized the importance of awareness and education. “Our Elder Fraud Coordinator and an investigator for the FBI are presenting in area retirement homes and community centers to provide important warnings to protect residents from fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “With so many fraudsters using the internet, social media or phones to hunt for their prey, we all need to be vigilant to keep those we care about from falling victim to financial scams.” Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse. The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams. Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud. To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes. In contractor frauds, workers knock on the door of an elderly victim and claim the victim’s home needs repair. The workers demand payment for work and supplies, but they either perform no or sub-par work before disappearing with the money. To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page . The Western District of Washington continues to work with federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes. This year we prosecuted a former bank manager who stole from the accounts of elderly customers and last year prosecuted a so-called “money mule” who played a role in stealing funds from elderly victims. Also in 2023 we prosecuted an unlicensed investment advisor who stole the funds of his investors – many of them elderly. To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.


title: Tucson Man Indicted on Firearm and Cocaine Trafficking Charges

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Jesus Antonio Najar, 22, of Tucson, was indicted last week by a federal grand jury for: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; Use/Carrying of a Firearm During a Drug Crime; Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number; and Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, specifically a machinegun, a short-barreled rifle, and a silencer. The indictment alleges that, on April 19, 2024, Tucson Police Department officers apprehended Najar after he was observed driving a stolen vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, officers found a drop in auto sear, a device exclusively used for converting a semi-automatic weapon into a fully automatic weapon. Officers also found an AR pistol with the manufacturer’s serial number obliterated, and silencers without serial numbers, none of which were registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. The indictment further alleges that, on October 12, 2023, Najar conspired to possess and did possess cocaine with the intent to distribute it, committed drug crimes while using and possessing three firearms, including a machine gun, and possessed a Glock 17 with a machinegun conversion device attached and not registered to him. In addition, Najar is alleged to have possessed an unregistered short-barrel rifle on December 11, 2023. Convictions for the offenses alleged in the indictment carry the following penalties and fines: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine each carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both, and a term of between three years and lifetime supervised release. Use/Carrying a Firearm During a Drug Crime carries a maximum penalty of life in prison a minimum of five years in prison, to be served consecutively to any other sentence, a fine of $250,000, or both, and a term of not more than five years supervised release. Use/Carrying a Firearm During a Drug Crime, where the firearm is a machinegun, carries the same penalties, but with a minimum penalty of no less than 30 years in prison. Possession of an Unregistered Firearm carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of $10,000, or both, and a maximum term of three years of supervised release. Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both, and a maximum term of three years of supervised release. An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and the Tucson Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Sottosanti and Adam Rossi, District of Arizona, Tucson, are handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-24-03292-SHR-LCK RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-075_Najar # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Burlington County Man Sentenced to 245 Months in Prison for Heroin Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: TRENTON, N.J. – A Burlington County, New Jersey man was sentenced to 245 months in prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed more than one kilogram of heroin in Trenton and the surrounding area, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Jerome Roberts, aka “Righteous,” 53, was convicted in October 2021 of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and distribution of 100 grams or more of heroin. Roberts was convicted following a three-week trial before former then-Chief U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson. U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner imposed the sentence on June 13, 2024, in Trenton federal court. According to documents filed in the case and the evidence at trial: From October 2017 to October 2018, Roberts and others engaged in a large narcotics conspiracy that operated in the areas of Martin Luther King Boulevard, Sanford Street, Middle Rose Street, Southard Street, Hoffman Avenue, and Coolidge Avenue in Trenton, and which sought to profit from the distribution of heroin and numerous other controlled substances. Roberts and his conspirator Jakir Taylor obtained regular supplies of hundreds of “bricks” of heroin from conspirator David Antonio, whom they referred to as “Papi.” Communications intercepted over court-authorized wiretaps showed that Taylor and Roberts agreed to obtain from Antonio what Roberts referred to as the “motherlode,” a supply of as many as 1,500 bricks – approximately 1.5 kilograms of heroin – in a single delivery. Taylor said that he intended to “flood the streets” of Trenton with this large supply. And Antonio said that “as long . . . as I keep it flowing, we never gonna stop.” Evidence in the case also showed that Roberts personally distributed large quantities of heroin to others during the conspiracy. For example, law enforcement surveillance, intercepted communications, and other physical evidence showed that on or about August 10, 2018, Roberts obtained a supply of 200 bricks of heroin from Antonio, which he redistributed to Taylor and others. During coordinated arrests on Oct. 25, 2018, law enforcement arrested Roberts, Taylor, Antonio, and other defendants, and recovered more than 1.4 kilograms of heroin from Antonio’s residence. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, Newark Division, Trenton Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, Trenton Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ross A. Marchetti; officers of the Trenton Police Department, under the direction of Acting Police Director Steve Wilson; officers of the Princeton Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Nicholas Sutter; officers of the Ewing Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police John P. Stemler III; officers of the Burlington Township Police Department, under the direction of Police Director Bruce Painter; and detectives of the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw, with the investigation leading to the sentencing. He also thanked officers of the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Superintendent Col. Patrick J. Callahan; detectives of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Angelo Onofri; officers of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John A. Kemler; and members of the N.J. State Board of Parole for their assistance in the case. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Ramey of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton. Antonio pleaded guilty to his role was sentenced in March 2020 to 204 months in prison. Taylor pleaded guilty to his role and was sentenced in January 2023 to 228 months in prison. This case was conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and the FBI’s Greater Trenton Safe Streets Task Force, a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to enhance the identification, apprehension, and prosecution of individuals involved in gang-related activities, violent crime, and drug distribution in and around the greater Trenton area. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.


title: Green Forest Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting and Abusing an 8-Year-Old Female

component: USAO - Arkansas, Western

body_text: FAYETTEVILLE – A Green Forest man was sentenced today to 360 months imprisonment without the possibility of parole on two (2) Counts of Sexually Exploiting a Minor via the Production of Child Pornography. The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearings, which was held in the U.S. District Court in Fayetteville. Per Court documents, in February of 2023, agents and task force officers with Homeland Security Investigations received information that Terencio “Junior” Perez-Cancino, age 33, had uploaded images to Snap Chat servers showing him sexually abusing an approximately eight-year-old female. Officers and agents served a search warrant at Perez-Cancino’s home, and in a post-Miranda interview, he admitted he had created the images depicting his abuse of the minor female approximately two years prior. The minor subsequently disclosed in a forensic interview that Perez-Cancino had sexually abused her over an approximately four-year period. U.S. Attorney Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement. Homeland Security Investigations, the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, the Eureka Springs Police Department, and the Green Forest Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon Still prosecuted these cases on behalf of the United States. This case was prosecuted 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. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov .


title: Bergen County Man Admits Fraudulently Obtaining Cares Act Loan and Laundering the Proceeds of his Fraud

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County, New Jersey, man admitted that he fraudulently obtained an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and laundered the loan proceeds, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. George Leguen, 51, of Paramus, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on June 12, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From August 2020 through January 2021, Leguen participated in a scheme to defraud to fraudulently receive COVID-19 emergency relief funds meant for distressed small businesses under the EIDL program. Leguen applied to the Small Business Administration (SBA) on behalf of a business he owned and controlled. He submitted fraudulent information in support of that application, including the number of employees, annual gross revenue figures, and fraudulent federal tax returns. Leguen received $149,900. After receiving the fraudulent funds, he diverted the proceeds for his personal gain. The charge of wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain to the defendant or gross loss to the victim, whichever is greatest. The charge of money laundering carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved in the laundering offense, whichever is greater. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 19, 2024. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and task force officers of IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan in Newark: the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz of the New Jersey Field Division; special agents of the U.S. Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron Hatley, Newark Field Office; and special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone, Northeast Region, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. The District of New Jersey COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. 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 Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Fatime Meka Cano and Aja Espinosa of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark. leguen.information.pdf


title: Seven Years in Prison for 2023 Shooting  in Northwest D.C.

body_text: WASHINGTON – Travone Henderson, 21, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today for shooting two individuals in the middle of the day on November 13, 2023, near a Columbia Heights shopping center, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Henderson pleaded guilty on February 28, 2024, to assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Today, Superior Court Judge Jason Park sentenced Henderson to serve a total of seven years’ imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for the two offenses. According to the government’s evidence, with which Henderson agreed, on November 13, 2023, at around 12:30 p.m., Henderson walked on the sidewalk on 14th Street Northwest past the DC USA shopping center entrance. Henderson passed the victim, who was standing on the sidewalk speaking to a man. Abruptly, Henderson turned towards the victim and rushed at him with a firearm. The victim ran and Henderson attempted to move the victim’s companion in an effort to grab the victim. Henderson then fired several times at the fleeing victim. The victim and a passing bystander each sustained a bullet wound to their legs. Henderson immediately fled on foot. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Carlton, who prosecuted the case.


title: Court Gives 45 Year Prison Term for Murder at a Bus Stop in Southeast

body_text: WASHINGTON –Terrell Poe, 37, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 45 years in prison for his role in the murder of Christopher Washington in September 2020. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). On February 15, 2024, a jury found Poe guilty on three counts of first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe sentenced Poe to 45 years in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. According to the government’s evidence presented at trial, at 2:24 p.m. on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 23, 2020, 30-year-old Christopher Washington, was waiting at the bus stop on Southern Avenue, SE when Poe pulled up in a stolen white pickup truck. Poe got out of the truck, armed with an assault rifle, and shot Mr. Washington to death. Just minutes earlier, in a local church parking lot, Poe had switched from his girlfriend’s car into the stolen pickup truck and gone looking for Mr. Washington. Poe passed Mr. Washington as he walked up Indian Head Highway in Maryland, then turned around and followed Mr. Washington, apparently losing sight of him, and then finding him again at the bus stop. After the murder, Poe returned to the church parking lot, dropped off the stolen truck and drove off in his girlfriend’s car. In announcing the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter V. Roman and Wes Faulkner.


title: Tacoma man sentenced to more than six years in prison for violent assault

body_text: Tacoma– A 41-year-old Tacoma man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 80 months in prison for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Shaun Lee Blue stabbed the victim multiple times leaving him critically injured. Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo said “it is difficult for the court to wrap around the idea that whatever the victim did could justify stabbing him 17 times.” According to records filed in the case, Blue worked for the victim as a day laborer. On March 19, 2023, the men were working on removing an old trailer from a property in Eatonville, Washington. At the end of the workday, the two met up at the Roy Y Park and Ride lot so that the victim could pay Blue for the work he had done. At the parking lot, both men got out of their cars and started to argue. Blue pulled a knife and stabbed the victim in the abdomen multiple times causing serious cuts to his intestines, colon, and liver. Blue continued to stab the victim even after the victim fell to the ground. After the attack, Blue drove away and the victim was able to call 9-1-1 for help. He was found critically injured in his vehicle and was taken to the hospital. The victim continues to recover from his significant injuries and multiple surgeries. The Roy Y Park and Ride is on the property of Joint Base Lewis McChord and therefore is in exclusive federal jurisdiction. In asking for a sentence above the guidelines range Assistant United States Attorney Hillary Stuart wrote to the court, “Blue has not yet been deterred from violent crime despite numerous arrests and jail sentences. Blue’s prior interactions with the law should have put him on notice as to the serious consequences of his crimes, but it did not. He lacks any respect for the law or the legal system.” The victim is asking for $25,363 in restitution. Chief Judge Estudillo will determine the exact amount of restitution at a hearing next month. The case was investigated by the FBI, and Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) with assistance from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hillary K. Stuart.


title: Louisiana Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Shipping Firearms to Upstate New York

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Rodell Patterson, age 52, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced today to the maximum 60 months in prison for engaging in the firearms business without a license. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller, New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement. Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also imposed 3 years of supervised release. Patterson previously admitted to mailing eight packages containing a total of 10 firearms from Baton Rouge to the Capital Region in 2021 and 2022. Two of those firearms were recovered in June 2022 at the Troy, New York, apartment of a man on parole. Patterson acknowledged that he knew these transfers were unlawful, and he admitted to engaging in extensive conversations with the recipient of the packages about the types of firearms and the amount of payment. Patterson still faces an indictment in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. That charge is merely an accusation of which Patterson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of that charge, Patterson faces up to an additional 15 years in prison. ATF’s Albany Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana and ATF’s Baton Rouge Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner prosecuted the case.


title: Fulton County Man and Pennsylvania Man Sentenced for Bank Robbery Conspiracy

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Luke Kenna a.k.a. “Lt.,” age 44, of Gloversville, New York, was sentenced today to 41 months in prison for conspiring to commit bank robbery and for illegally possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a prior misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. Michael Brown, Jr. a.k.a. “Russ” a.k.a. “Doc Grimson,” age 43, of Exton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 37 months in prison for his part in the bank robbery conspiracy. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. As part of their respective guilty pleas, Brown and Kenna each admitted that between November 14 and November 27, 2022, they agreed to and planned to commit an armed bank robbery at a bank branch in Johnstown, New York, with each other and with another conspirator, Brian Tierney a.k.a. “Wodanaz.” As part of that conspiracy, Kenna conducted surveillance of the bank and purchased items, including weapons, to commit the robbery; Tierney ordered handgun parts for use in the robbery and sent photographs of a handgun, and a radio scanning and jamming device, to Kenna; and Brown drove to New York to conduct surveillance of the bank with Kenna. Kenna also admitted that he possessed a rifle on November 6, 2022, after previously being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also ordered that both Brown and Kenna serve 3-year terms of supervised release. Kenna was also ordered to forfeit the rifle he possessed in November 2022. The third conspirator, Brian Tierney, of Lynchburg, Virginia, pled guilty on April 16, 2024, and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 16, 2024, by Chief Judge Sannes. The FBI Albany Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), which includes FBI Special Agents, and federal, state, and local investigators, including from the New York State Police, investigated the case. The FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office, the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, and New York State Police Special Investigations Unit also provided assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting the case.


title: Naval Captain Convicted by Federal Jury of Cyberstalking and Identity Theft

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – June 14, 2024 SAN DIEGO – U.S. Navy Captain Theodore E. Essenfeld was convicted by a federal jury today of cyberstalking and stealing the identity of his former girlfriend. During the four-day trial, the United States presented evidence that Essenfeld created imposter accounts with Facebook, LinkedIn, email, and cellular phone accounts using the woman’s name, biographical information, and photographs without her knowledge or consent. Posing as the victim, Essenfeld posted erotic and sexually explicit content to the Facebook account, as well as graphic media files or “memes.” In addition to the materials posted on the imposter Facebook account, the United States presented evidence that Essenfeld joined Facebook dating groups using the imposter account and interacted with numerous other Facebook users while impersonating the victim, including “liking” other users’ posts, sending messages with kissy-face emojis, and sending group messages. Essenfeld linked the imposter Facebook and LinkedIn accounts to the victim’s prospective employer by following and engaging with the prospective employer’s social media accounts. He also linked the fake accounts to other aspects of the victim’s life by “liking” posts by her former co-workers, her university, the U.S. Navy, and fitness studios she previously attended. Over 1,200 Facebook users ultimately became “friends” with the imposter account, including the victims’ former colleagues. The evidence showed that the victim reported the imposter account to Facebook over 400 times, but Facebook refused to take down the account because it appeared more authentic than the victim’s actual account due to the volume of images and level of Essenfeld’s engagement on the platform. “The impact of cyberstalking can be as crushing as a physical blow,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Thanks to the persistent courage of this victim, the jury saw the damage Mr. Essenfeld inflicted in every aspect of her life – from her workplace to her gym – and today, they held him accountable for his acts of deceit and destruction.” “Mr. Essenfeld deserves to be held to account for his cruel campaign to stalk, harass, and intimidate his victim,” said Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Carter of the NCIS Southwest Field Office. “NCIS and our law enforcement partners remain committed to protecting victims of cyberstalking and rooting out criminality that threatens Department of the Navy readiness.” This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sabrina Feve and Michael A. Deshong. Essenfeld’s sentencing is scheduled for September 6, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Robert S. Huie. DEFENDANTS Case Number 23cr0177-RSH Theodore E. Essenfeld Age: 52 Chula Vista, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Count 1: Cyberstalking – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 2261A(2)(B) Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine Count 2: Identity Theft – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1028(a)(7) Maximum penalty: Fifteen years in prison and $250,000 fine AGENCY Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS)


title: Guilderland Man Sentenced to 85 Months for Armed Robbery of Drug Dealer

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Alexander G. Madera, age 21, of Guilderland, New York, was sentenced today to 85 months in prison for robbing a marijuana dealer and brandishing a pistol in furtherance of the robbery at the dealer’s residence in Guilderland. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and Guilderland Police Chief Daniel P. McNally made the announcement. As part of his earlier guilty plea, Madera admitted that on January 23, 2022, at about 5 a.m., he and Jorge Rosario, armed with a rifle and pistol, respectively, entered a single-family residence in Guilderland with the goal of robbing a marijuana dealer. After entering the residence, Madera robbed the dealer of $172 in drug money, at gunpoint, in the dealer’s bedroom, while Rosario remained on guard in the living room. Before they could leave the residence, however, they were attacked and disarmed by other residents of the house. They were then restrained until the police arrived and arrested them. Both have remained in custody since that time. Rosario pled guilty and will be sentenced on July 9, 2024. Under the terms of Rosario’s plea agreement, the parties have jointly recommended that Rosario receive a prison term of between 168 and 188 months, and a 5-year term of post-imprisonment supervised release. Chief United States District Judge Branda K. Sannes also ordered that Madera serve a 3-year term of supervised release following his release from prison. ATF and the Town of Guilderland Police Department investigated this case, with the assistance of the Albany County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emmet O’Hanlon and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting the case.


title: Jefferson County Scrap Metal Company Pays False Claims Act Damages for Receiving Brass Shell Casings from Fort Drum

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Northstar Auto and Salvage LLC, of Evans Mills, New York, has agreed to pay $45,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by receiving government property from unauthorized individuals. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Special Agent in Charge Joel Kirch of the Northeast Field Office of the Department of the Army, Criminal Investigation Division made the announcement. When the Army conducts live-fire exercises at Fort Drum, brass shell cartridges (“brass”) are collected and returned to a centralized processing facility, where the brass is prepared for sale on the open scrap metal recycling market, thereby recovering money for the Government. Northstar Auto and Salvage LLC (Northstar) purchases and processes scrap metal, but Northstar never had a contract to purchase Fort Drum brass. From 2017-2019, a Fort Drum civilian employee and two soldiers took approximately 29,000 pounds of brass from the centralized processing facility. Neither the civilian employee nor the soldiers were authorized to dispose of the brass. These individuals sold the brass to Northstar, delivering it in personally-owned pickup trucks, not military vehicles. Northstar then sold the brass on the open market, receiving $24,012 in profit. Northstar did not make any effort to verify whether the individuals were authorized to dispose of the brass, beyond accepting their verbal assurances that they were authorized. The knowing receipt of public property from a federal employee or member of the Armed Forces who lawfully may not sell such property, including acting with deliberate ignorance, violates the False Claims Act. 31 U.S.C. § 3729(a)(1)(F). The investigation and settlement was the result of a coordinated effort among the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, and the Northeast Field Office of the Department of the Army, Criminal Investigation Division. The New York State Police provided substantial assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Moran represented the United States in this matter.


title: Washington County Sex Offender Sentenced to 15 Years for Child Pornography Offenses

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kevin Smurphat, age 35, of Whitehall, New York, was sentenced today to 15 years of imprisonment, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release, for possessing, receiving, distributing, and transporting child pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. As part of his guilty plea, Smurphat, a previously convicted sex offender, admitted that while on state parole in early November 2020, he used a cellphone to upload, to a file-hosting service, depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and that he joined a group chat where he distributed child pornography to other individuals and received child pornography as well. In addition to the imprisonment and supervised release terms, Smurphat was ordered to pay a total of $7,000 in restitution to his victims. The FBI investigated the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Assistant United States Attorney Dustin C. Segovia prosecuted the case. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locates, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Warren County Sex Offender Sentenced to 137 Months on Child Pornography Conviction

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Peter Bratis, age 44, of Chestertown, New York, was sentenced today to 137 months in prison for possessing child pornography with a prior conviction for abusive sexual conduct involving a minor. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement. In pleading guilty, Bratis admitted to using a Google Drive account to store images depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct between February 24, 201 and August 4, 2022. Bratis had previously been convicted in Warren County Court of an offense involving abusive sexual conduct of a minor, specifically rape in the second degree. Bratis has been in custody since his arrest on August 25, 2022. Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also sentenced Bratis to 25 years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. Bratis will continue to be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. HSI investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emmet O’Hanlon and Joseph Hartunian prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and is designed to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Columbus Man with Lengthy, Violent Criminal Past Sentenced for  Illegally Possessing a Gun

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

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ga. – A Columbus resident with previous convictions for aggravated assault and other felonies was sentenced to serve more than nine years in prison after he admitted to illegally possessing a firearm. Devontae Jammell Morris, 29, was sentenced to serve 115 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Clay Land on June 11. Morris previously pleaded guilty to one count of illegal possession of a firearm on Jan. 29. There is no parole in the federal system. “Felons with lengthy violent criminal histories who illegally possess guns can expect federal prosecution and should count on stiff sentences,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Law enforcement at every level and across the Middle District of Georgia is working to reduce violent crime and make our communities safer.” “This is a clear example of what happens when a convicted felon is caught possessing a gun. It’s illegal,” said Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman. “We will continue to work with our federal partners to remove guns from the hands of violent offenders.” According to documents and statements filed in court, a deputy with the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle after it exited a parking lot on Buena Vista Road in Columbus at a high rate of speed on Nov. 19, 2022. The vehicle, driven by Morris, did not stop and continued on Old Buena Vista Road before stopping. Morris exited the car, ran across the road and entered a store. Deputies found him in a bathroom located in the back storage area of the store. Morris had a small amount of illegal drugs on him and $1,752 in cash. Officers found a semi-automatic Glock pistol with a TruGlo laser, a Glock magazine, an extended magazine, bullets and a digital scale in his vehicle. Morris has many prior criminal convictions in the Superior Court of Muscogee County, Georgia, including for aggravated assault, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and aggravated battery. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm. 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 of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Department and ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Crawford Seals prosecuted the case for the Government.


title: Westville Couple Sentenced For Sexual Assault And Coercion And Enticement Of A Minor In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that a Westville, Oklahoma, couple were sentenced for sexual offenses they committed against minors in Indian country. Robert Lee Catron, age 36, was sentenced on June 11, 2024, to 30 years in prison for one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. According to investigators, between 2020 and 2022, Catron sexually assaulted a child he knew to be under the age of 12. Jenny Marie Locust, age 39, was sentenced on June 4, 2024, to 10 years in prison for one count of Enticement and Coercion of a Minor. According to investigators, between 2021 and 2022, Locust used her cell phone to entice and coerce a child under the age of 18 to engage in sexual activity with her boyfriend, Robert Lee Catron. The crimes occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. Both Catron and Locust will be required to register and comply with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act upon release. The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Westville Police Department. “I'm extremely grateful for the collaborative effort that brought these defendants to justice for their detestable crimes,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Kaplan of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. “The significant sentences handed down in this case should send a clear message to child predators that law enforcement will aggressively pursue them, even when the abuse is disclosed years after it occurs.” “Together, Catron and Locust committed horrifying crimes, transgressing every rule of decency our society has set up to protect children,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “There can be no tolerance for those who would visit such evil upon children, and this office will not relent in its pursuit of such perpetrators.” The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma presided over the hearings. Catron and Locust will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve their non-paroleable sentences of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Paladino represented the United States.


title: Three Members Of Drug Enterprise Sentenced For Federal Drug Crimes

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that three Oklahoma residents, ROBERT JAMES JACKSON, age 31, of Hugo, ANDRE CIMONE GOLSTON, age 35, of Idabel, and ANTWAINE TREMAINE NELSON, age 33, of Idabel, were sentenced for federal drug charges. Jackson was sentenced to 168 months in prison for one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine, Golston was sentenced to 48 months in prison for one count of Use of a Communication Facility, and Nelson was sentenced to 46 months in prison for one count of Use of a Communication Facility. The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office, and Idabel Police Department. On September 22, 2022, Golston pleaded guilty to one count of Use of a Communication Facility. On October 13, 2022, Nelson pleaded guilty to one count of Use of a Communication Facility. On October 19, 2022, Jackson pleaded guilty to Distribution of Methamphetamine. According to investigators, Jackson, Golston, and Nelson participated in a scheme to distribute methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Oklahoma from the spring of 2020 until approximately October 2021. The Honorable John F. Heil III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. The defendants will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States at sentencing.


title: Eastern District of Kentucky Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. — Carlton S. Shier, IV, U.S. Attorney for the District of Eastern District of Kentucky joined national, state, local, and Tribal leaders today, in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Since 2006, WEAAD has been observed to promote awareness and increase understanding of the many forms of elder abuse, as well as the resources available to those at risk. Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Shier emphasized the importance of awareness and education. “Elder abuse is particularly destructive, as it targets especially vulnerable victims and relies on some manner of trust, only to be accompanied by acute deception,” said U.S. Attorney Shier. And convincingly combatting it requires more than just effective law enforcement; it requires the education and vigilance of the public, who is often in the superior position to detect and prevent it. We must all work together to protect our vulnerable older Americans from this predatory conduct; they really deserve nothing less.” Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse. The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies, working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams. Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in a perpetuating fraud. To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes. To learn more about the Department’s elder justice efforts, please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page . The Eastern District of Kentucky continues to work with federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes. Recent examples of these prosecutions from the Eastern District of Kentucky include: U.S. v. Gbadegsein et al .: This case involved the extradition and conviction of Adedunmola Gbadegesin, 34, from Nigeria. He was charged, along with Olatunbosun Oluwakayode Ajayi, 40, of Atlanta; Otunuya Ineh Eqwem Livingstone, 46, of Houston; and Ismaila Fafunmi , 36, of Indianapolis, with conspiracy to commit money laundering. Gbadegesin and his co-conspirators collaborated to create fake online dating profiles that were posted to online dating websites. As part of the conspiracy, they engaged in online chats, emails, and telephone calls with unwitting victims, who were in the United States, including one in Lexington. The conspiracy employed others, in the United States, to receive money from the intended victims and transport that money back to Nigeria, through various means. U.S. v. Glass : Donna Sue Glass, of Greenup, Ky., was the owner of Glass Family Care Home. She stole funds from three of her facility’s residents, while acting as their guardian and caregiver. She used one resident’s bank account to purchase items for her personal benefit, including expenses for vacations, her daughter’s beauty pageant competitions, monthly tanning salon memberships, and veterinary care for her pets. She also increased the rent of another resident for whom she served as guardian – to an amount well more than the resident could afford – so that the resident would owe her a debt. She then took funds directly from the resident’s savings account to satisfy this “debt.” When the resident moved to another facility, Glass continued to accept and spend the resident’s retirement benefits, and failed to pay her new facility, under the pretense that she was owed money. Glass was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay $87,700 in restitution. To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov. —END—


title: Poteau Resident Sentenced For Murder In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Christian Scott Dunham, age 22, of Poteau, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 293 months in federal prison for the August 2022 killing of his neighbor. The charges arose from investigations by the Poteau Police Department, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On February 13, 2023, Dunham pleaded guilty to Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree. According to investigators, in the early morning hours of August 20, 2022, Dunham shot and killed the victim with a .22 caliber revolver. The crime occurred in Le Flore County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Dunham will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.


title: Three Defendants Plead Guilty to a Civil Rights Conspiracy Targeting Pregnancy Resource Centers

body_text: Three Florida residents pleaded guilty today to conspiring to injure, oppress, threaten or intimidate employees of pregnancy resource centers in the free exercise of the right to provide and seek to provide reproductive health services. The defendants selected reproductive health facilities that provided and counseled abortion alternatives and vandalized those facilities with threatening messages. According to court documents, between May and July 2022, Caleb Freestone, Amber Smith-Stewart and Annarella Rivera engaged in a series of targeted attacks on pro-life pregnancy help centers in Florida. The defendants admitted they participated in the attack in the dark of night and, while wearing masks and dark clothing to obscure their identities, spray painted the facilities with threatening messages, including “If abortions aren’t safe than niether [sic] are you,” “YOUR TIME IS UP!!,” “WE’RE COMING for U” and “We are everywhere.” “These defendants vandalized pregnancy resource centers with threatening messages meant to terrify the employees of those centers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Violence and threats have no place in the national discourse about reproductive rights. The Justice Department is committed to holding accountable those who seek to interfere with access to reproductive health services in our country, without regard to the point of view of the defendants or their victims.” “Federal law protects providers who render reproductive health care and those who seek their services,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “Neither should be subject to unlawful intimidation or threats of harm. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners in protecting access to reproductive health care and federally prosecuting those interfering with that right.” “The FBI works diligently to safeguard the civil rights of our citizens,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Rodney Crawford of the FBI Tampa Field Office. “We and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate those who conspire to attack facilities providing these lawful reproductive health services.” A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. The defendants each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Charges remain pending against a fourth defendant. The FBI Tampa Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Miami Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacie Harris for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Laura-Kate Bernstein of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case. Anyone who has information about incidents of violence, threats and obstruction that target a patient or provider of reproductive health services, or damage and destruction of reproductive health care facilities, should report that information to the FBI at www.tips.fbi.gov . For more information about clinic violence, and the Justice Department’s efforts to enforce FACE Act violations, please visit www.justice.gov/crt/national-task-force-violence-against-reproductive-health-care-providers .


title: Canadian Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Obtain Personal Protective Equipment and Event Tickets Through Wire Fraud

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – ROBERT VINNIK , 29, of Ontario, Canada, has pleaded guilty for his role in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On June 15, 2021, a federal grand jury returned a 10-count Superseding Indictment against Vinnik and four other co-defendants, all of Canada, charging the group with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and Vinnik and co-defendant, Steven Mesrop , 32, with aggravated identity theft. According to the Superseding Indictment, Vinnik and his associates operated a scheme to use stolen credit card and identity information to induce businesses to provide goods and services, such as event tickets and personal protective equipment, to resell for a profit. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is alleged that the conspirators began targeting U.S.-based businesses selling goods that were scarce due to the pandemic. The conspirators allegedly used stolen credit card information to purchase items such as nitrile gloves, masks, and gowns and to resell them to third parties. The Superseding Indictment alleges that the conspirators operated the scheme from Canada, the Dominican Republic, Spain, Greece, and Dubai. It further alleges that the conspirators targeted sports teams and event venues throughout the United States and Canada, including Madison Square Garden in New York City. According to the Superseding Indictment, Vinnik and his associates used 21 different alias email accounts and information from 52 stolen credit cards to purchase over 1,800 tickets to Oklahoma State University athletic events between November 2019 and January 2020. In March 2020, the conspirators allegedly used stolen credit card information to purchase approximately $18,000 worth of toilet paper from a paper supply company in Oklahoma City. On June 14, 2024, Vinnik pleaded guilty to Count One of the Superseding Indictment, and admitted that he voluntarily conspired with others to use stolen credit card and identity information to purchase goods and services such as event tickets and personal protective equipment, which he and his conspirators agreed to sell to third parties for a profit. At sentencing, Vinnik faces up to 20 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. Other defendants in the case have been sentenced as follows: Steven Mesrop has been sentenced to serve 80 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Dijon Cornelius Shepard , 30, has been sentenced to serve 20 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States. Mirna Mahrous Habib , 27, has been sentenced to serve four months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud Karin Treister , 27, has been ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $30,000, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations New York’s El Dorado Task Force, the New York City Police Department, and the Irvine (California) Police Department, with assistance from Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia E. Barry is prosecuting the case. Reference is made to public filings for further information.


title: Bennington Man Sentenced for Child Pornography

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Ricky E. Bennett, age 38, of Bennington, Nebraska, was sentenced on June 14, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for possession of child pornography. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Bennett to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Bennett’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. Bennett was also ordered to pay $10,100 in special assessments. In the late summer to early fall of 2021, Bennett was being investigated for child enticement. During the course of that investigation a search warrant was conducted and his phone and electronic devices were seized on November 3, 2021. Bennett’s electronic devices were forensically reviewed. On a thumb drive of Bennett’s, 183 images, to include duplicates, of child sexual abuse material were located. On a Toshiba hard drive, 162 images of child sexual abuse material were located. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (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 Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Bogar Mendez-Marquez, 44, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced June 14, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. Chief United State District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Mendez-Marquez to 87 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Mendez-Marquez is released from prison, he will begin a 4-year term of supervised release. Between July 18, 2022, through February 27, 2023, Mendez-Marquez reached an agreement to distribute over 50 grams of actual meth to others within the District of Nebraska. Mendez-Marquez voluntarily and intentionally joined this agreement and knew the purpose of the agreement was to distribute meth. On or about July 18, 2022, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in Omaha in which Mendez-Marquez was located. Officers seized 2 grams of meth from Mendez-Marquez. Mendez-Marquez admitted that he mailed 5 pounds of meth for the drug trafficking organization. On or about February 27, 2023, law enforcement conducted a controlled buy against Mendez-Marquez and a co-conspirator in Omaha. Law enforcement organized the drug deal with Mendez-Marquez’s co-conspirator and the co-conspirator informed the undercover agent that they needed to acquire more meth from their source of supply, which was Mendez-Marquez. The co-conspirator met with Mendez-Marquez and acquired approximately a quarter pound of meth and sold it to the undercover agent. Lab results confirmed the substance was 100.5 grams of actual meth. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Advocates The Protection And Safety Of Older Adults Through Education And Community Awareness

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is on Saturday, June 15th. In observance of WEAAD, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is reaffirming its commitment to protect older adults from abuse, neglect, and fraud. WEAAD serves as an important reminder of the prevalence of elder abuse and the need for community awareness, education, prevention, and intervention. Elder abuse is a growing concern across the nation, affecting millions of older adults each year. It encompasses various forms of mistreatment, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as neglect and financial exploitation. The consequences of elder abuse are devastating, often leading to severe physical injuries, emotional trauma, and even death. “Our elderly population deserves to live with dignity and respect, free from fear of abuse and exploitation,” said Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. “World Elder Abuse Awareness Day shines a light on this critical issue and serves as a call to action for our community to protect our most vulnerable citizens.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office in collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting those who perpetrate crimes against older adults. However, law enforcement alone cannot address this issue; community awareness and preventive measures are equally important. To mark WEAAD, the U.S. Attorney’s Office planned a series of outreach events and initiatives aimed at raising awareness and educating the public about the signs of elder abuse and the resources available to prevent and address it. These events included: Elder Fraud Bingo: This event, held in Asheville today and previously at other locations throughout Western North Carolina, is a fun activity that delivers vital information to older adults and other community members about the types of scams targeting older adults and encourages the reporting of fraud. Educational “Walk for Awareness:” In partnership with local senior centers, healthcare providers, local governments, and other community organizations, the U.S. Attorney’s Office participated in a “Walk for Awareness” held in Charlotte and in Asheville. The focus of the events was to bring awareness to elder abuse, help participants recognize the signs of abuse, understand the rights of older adults, and how to access support services. Public Service Announcement (PSA): A PSA featuring U.S. Attorney King delivering a message against elder abuse was posted on the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s YouTube Channel and shared on social media, highlighting the importance of recognizing and reporting elder abuse. Resource Distribution: The U.S. Attorney’s Office partnered with Mecklenburg County’s Senior Nutrition Program in Charlotte, and Sparc’s Health & Nutrition Program in Asheville, to distribute informational material to homebound older adults through their mobile meal delivery services, to ensure that vital information reaches as many people as possible. “Our goal is to empower our community with the knowledge and tools to combat elder abuse effectively,” said U.S. Attorney King. “By working together, we can remove the stigma associated with victimization, encourage the reporting of abuse and exploitation, and above all ensure a safer, more supportive environment for our senior citizens.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office encourages everyone to learn more about elder abuse, neglect and exploitation and to be vigilant in protecting older adults. If you suspect elder abuse, please contact your local law enforcement or the Eldercare Locator Helpline at 1-800-677-1116 or visit eldercare.acl.gov . You can also report suspected financial exploitation and fraud by calling the Justice Department’s Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311) or visiting the Elder Justice Initiative at Justice.gov/elderjustice .