title: New Orleans Man Sentenced After Pleading Guilty to Violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act and the Federal Gun Control Act

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – KENDALE ADAMS , age 42, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced on August 8, 2023 by United States Judge Wendy B. Vitter to 151 months’ imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release and $200.00 in special assessment fees after pleading guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin and methamphetamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C), and one count of felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to court documents, On Saturday July 17, 2021, a Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) Task Force Officer conducting surveillance at a convenience store in New Orleans, Louisiana observed ADAMS loitering outside the convenience store. The officer also observed a large bulge in ADAMS’s front right waistband consistent with a firearm being concealed. The officers alerted nearby New Orleans Police Department (“NOPD”) uniformed units. Several units arrived and approached ADAMS who removed a firearm from his waistband and ran behind a vehicle. The officers apprehended ADAMS , seized the firearm and placed him under arrest. While searching ADAMS , officers seized a clear bag containing multiple drugs from ADAMS’s front right pocket along with $366 in cash. The seized drugs consisted of approximately 6 grams of marijuana, .58 grams of methamphetamine, 4.49 grams of heroin, and approximately 5 grams of a heroin and fentanyl mixture. The recovered firearm, a Glock Model 19, nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol, was stolen as confirmed by law enforcement. ADAMS acknowledged that he possessed the heroin and fentanyl with the intent to distribute the substances and that he had previously distributed heroin and fentanyl on many occasions. ADAMS also acknowledged that he knew he had been convicted of felony offenses, making it illegal for him to be in possession of a firearm. Between 2004 and 2009, in Orleans and Jefferson Parish, ADAMS was convicted possession of crack cocaine, attempted armed robbery, possession of ecstasy, possession of heroin, theft of goods, and possession of stolen firearms. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit.


title: Texas Resident Pleads Guilty  to Federal Drug Charges

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that ELIAS SALAS , age 19, from Edinburgh, Texas, pleaded guilty on as charged on August 8, 2023 to Count 1 of the indictment, charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 846. SALAS faces a minimum of ten years and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000.00 fine, at least five years supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Kenner Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.


title: Maryland Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison  For Coercing and Enticing a Minor

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WASHINGTON – Jonathan Willis, 37, of North Bethesda, Maryland, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for coercion and enticement of a minor. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Special Agent in Charge Emily Odom, of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division. Willis pleaded guilty on March 15, 2023, in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. According to the government’s evidence, on March 31, 2022, the defendant began communicating with a 14-year-old minor victim who resided in Washington, D.C. using Snapchat. The defendant offered to pay the victim money in exchange for sexually explicit photographs. Over a two-week period, the defendant sent the fourteen-year-old girl multiple photos of his penis and of himself masturbating, and repeatedly asked her to come to his residence in Maryland to “make love.” The victim refused and reported the defendant’s communications to law enforcement. On May 12, 2022 and May 24, 2022, an undercover officer assumed the victim’s identity on Snapchat. On both occasions, the defendant requested sexually explicit photographs of the 14-year-old girl, sent her photos and videos of his penis, and attempted to persuade her to travel to Maryland for sexual activity. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Randolph D. Moss ordered 10 years of supervised release and ordered Willis to register as a sex offender for 25 years. This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Prince George’s County, Maryland Police Department. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Acting Special Agent in Charge Odom commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes members of the FBI's Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Youth Investigations Division. They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Burrell, who prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: Urbana Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a Child

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who sexually exploited a child pled guilty on August 4, 2023, in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Michael Heinitz, age 20, of Urbana, was convicted of one count of sexual exploitation of a child. At the plea hearing, Heinitz admitted that, between August and September 2022, he recorded sexually explicit videos of a four-year-old girl. Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Heinitz remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Heinitz faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, $55,100 in special assessments, and supervised release for 5 years to life following any imprisonment. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is CR 23-33. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Waterloo Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm

body_text: A prohibited person who possessed a firearm pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Ezekiel Menteer, age 23, of Waterloo, was convicted of one count of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. At the plea hearing, Menteer admitted that, in January 2022, he possessed a Kimber pistol after having been convicted of a felony and while being an unlawful drug user. Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Menteer remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Menteer faces a possible maximum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Waterloo Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is CR 23-2009. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Kidnapping

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

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A convicted felon pleaded guilty today to kidnapping and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson. Jeffrey Barton , 51, of Guinn, Alabama, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala to felon in possession of a firearm and kidnapping. According to the plea agreement, in June 2022, the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) received a call from a man reporting that an individual, later identified as Barton, had been at his residence and forced his wife into a vehicle at gunpoint. A CCSO Deputy saw the vehicle the victim’s husband described leaving the driveway of the victim’s residence. When the female victim in the vehicle saw the CCSO deputy’s patrol car, she jumped out of the driver’s door and began running toward the deputy. The deputy saw Barton in the back seat. Barton got out of the vehicle with his hands above his head. Officers searched the vehicle and found a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol on the ground next to the driver’s door. The maximum penalty for being a felon in possession of a firearm is 10 years in prison. The maximum penalty for kidnapping is life in prison. The ATF investigated the case, along with the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy Peoples is prosecuting the case.


title: Haskell County Resident Sentenced For Drug Conspiracy And Money Laundering

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that EARLY WILLARD WOODMORE, III age 36, of Haskell County, Oklahoma, was sentenced for his role as the leader of a methamphetamine trafficking organization operating in Haskell and Pittsburg Counties. Early Woodmore, III was sentenced to life imprisonment for Drug Conspiracy and Distribution of Methamphetamine and 240 months in prison for Money Laundering Conspiracy and Laundering Monetary Instruments. The sentences will run concurrently. The charges arose from investigations by the Drug Enforcement Administration High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service, the National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the District 18 Drug and Violent Crime Taskforce, the Haskell County Sheriff’s Office, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, the McAlester Police Department, the Stigler Police Department, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. On April 7, 2022, Early Woodmore, III and his co-defendant, Calvin Woodmore, were convicted by a federal jury after trial. From early 2018 until his arrest by law enforcement in 2020, Early Woodmore, III led a methamphetamine trafficking organization in which he arranged to have large quantities of methamphetamine shipped to addresses in Haskell County and Pittsburg County. Once these packages of methamphetamine arrived, the Woodmores’ organization would break them down into smaller quantities for distribution into communities in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. In the course of their trafficking, Early Woodmore, III acted as an enforcer, retaliating with acts of violence against individuals suspected of cooperating with law enforcement. “DEA McAlester is proud to stand with our numerous law enforcement partners in Eastern Oklahoma and champion the work that led to the dismantlement of the Early Woodmore, III drug trafficking organization,” said Eduardo A. Chávez, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Dallas, which oversees operations in Oklahoma. “Mr. Woodmore is being held accountable for the poison that found its way into our neighborhoods by his hand. Whether it is a gram or a kilogram of methamphetamine, the DEA will never cease its efforts to rid these drugs from the streets of Oklahoma.” “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is proud to have been part of this investigation,” said Claudia Angel, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Fort Worth Division. “Postal Inspectors remain committed to identifying and pursuing those who would misuse the U.S. Mail to distribute dangerous drugs to our communities. We are thankful for the tireless efforts of our many law enforcement partners who assisted in dismantling this criminal enterprise. We are also grateful for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Oklahoma for their commitment in prosecuting these cases.” “This is an important victory for the American public. Not only is Early Willard Woodmore, III going to jail for his crimes, but this is a decisive blow against a drug trafficking and money laundering network,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus, Jr., IRS Criminal Investigation (CI), Dallas Field Office. “The special agents of CI are committed to taking the profits away from drug traffickers and putting those individuals in jail. The women and men of IRS-CI are proud to provide this financial expertise as we worked alongside our law enforcement partners to bring criminals like Mr. Woodmore to justice.” “ATF is proud to have worked together with our partners to put Mr. Woodmore in the penitentiary for the rest of his adult life,” stated ATF Dallas Field Division Special in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II. “Unfortunately for him, the law caught up with his armed drug trafficking ways. It should be a lesson to others in Oklahoma, crime only pays for so long.” “The District 18 District Attorney’s Office commends the tireless efforts of the agencies involved, as well as the stellar level of collaboration among those agencies,” said District 18 District Attorney Chuck Sullivan. “The Woodmore crime syndicate has plagued the communities in both Pittsburg and Haskell Counties for far too long, flooding the streets with this poison and brutally terrorizing its citizens. The sentence of life in prison for Early Woodmore, III is the only appropriate and just outcome to bring this investigation and prosecution to a close.” “The sentencing of the Early Woodmore, III to life imprisonment is a fitting conclusion to a complex, multi-agency investigation,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Through the exceptional efforts of many federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, Woodmore and his criminal associates were investigated, arrested, and prosecuted. This sentence sends a very clear message that distributing illegal drugs will not be tolerated.” This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the trial and sentencing hearing in Muskogee. Both Calvin Woodmore and Early Willard Woodmore, III will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve non-paroleable sentences of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Conway represented the United States.


title: Florida Man Sentenced to over Ten Years in Prison  for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: Gulfport, Miss. – A Florida man was sentenced to 127 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Ricky Fernando Duckworth, 41, of Jacksonville, Florida was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. According to court records, on March 19, 2019, investigators through an undercover agent purchased two ounces of 98% pure methamphetamine from Duckworth in Moss Point, Mississippi. On November 16, 2021, Mr. Duckworth was indicted by a federal grand jury. He pled guilty on March 28, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor- led, intelligence driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Rapid City man Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The sentencing took place on August 4, 2023. Scott Deisinger, 52, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. He also forfeited his interest in three firearms and accompanying ammunition. Deisinger was indicted for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in October of 2022. He pleaded guilty on April 14, 2023. On August 7, 2022, Rapid City Police Department pulled over a vehicle that had been reported stolen. Deisinger was the driver and sole occupant. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement located marijuana, approximately 90 grams of methamphetamine, items indicative of drug distribution, and three firearms. Two of the firearms had been reported stolen. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team, which is a local drug task force comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime . Deisinger was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Rapid City Man Sentenced for Illegal Firearm Possession

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on August 4, 2023. Zachary Kirschenmann, 27, was sentenced to three years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. He also forfeited his interest in firearms seized on August 1, 2022. Kirschenmann was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in October of 2022. He pleaded guilty on April 28, 2023. On August 1, 2022, Rapid City Police Department stopped a vehicle driven by Zachary Kirschenmann. Officers conducted a search of the vehicle and located two firearms, a ballistics vest, several rounds of .45 caliber ammunition, a lockbox with assorted ammunition, and firearm optics. A check of the firearms located showed one of the pistols had previously been reported stolen. The two firearms were located in a backpack along with multiple forms of documentation belonging to Kirschenmann. Due to felony convictions in South Dakota, Kirschenmann is not legally allowed to possess firearms. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team, which is local drug task force comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime . Kirschenmann was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Sioux Falls Man Charged with Sex Trafficking of an Adult by Force and Coercion

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man for Sex Trafficking of an Adult by Force and Coercion. Odarie Massiah, age 33, was indicted in August of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on August 4, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered. The Indictment alleges that between July 1, 2020, and August 8, 2022, Massiah knowingly and intentionally recruited an adult female into conducting commercial sex acts, and financially benefited from doing so. The charge is merely an accusation and Massiah is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The investigation is being conducted by the Sioux Falls Police Department and HSI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting the case. Massiah was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.


title: Manderson Man Indicted for Murder

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Manderson, South Dakota, man for Second Degree Murder. Sequoyah Mark West, Jr., age 29, was indicted in June of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on August 4, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered. In April of 2023, at Manderson, West killed a man by beating and strangling him. The charge is merely an accusation and West is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. This matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court. The investigation is being conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth is prosecuting the case. West was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.


title: Iowa City Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison Related to Child Pornography

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – An Iowa City man was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in federal prison for receiving child pornography. According to public court documents, and evidence presented at sentencing, William Robert Adams, 23, was identified through a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children after suspected child pornography was found on the social media platform Snapchat. During the execution of a search warrant on Adams and his residence, law enforcement located numerous pictures and videos of children ranging in age from toddler to age 16. Law enforcement also found evidence that Adams was buying and selling child pornography online. Some of the images were determined to be sadistic or masochistic. In total, Adams was attributed with possessing over 5,000 child pornographic images. After completing his term of imprisonment, Adams will be required to serve 5 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Adams was also ordered to pay restitution pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 2259. This section requires restitution be paid to victims in an amount determined by the court, but no less than $3,000 per victim. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nationwide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.


title: Multiple People Indicted for Meth Trafficking

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City returned an indictment charging multiple people for their alleged involvement in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine within the state of Kansas and elsewhere between February 2020 and July 2023. According to court documents, Jose Roman, 43, Marcos Valencia Jr, 32, Ezequil Castro, 37, Juan Gonzalez (all of Kansas City, Kansas), Manuel Alvarez, 28, of Seneca, Manuel Faudoa, 23, of Dodge City, and Gerardo Sierra-Martinez, 21, of Kansas City, Missouri, are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Roman is also charged with five counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and one count of money laundering. Sierra-Martinez is charged with two counts of money laundering for allegedly sending money wire transfers totaling $55,500 to a person in Mexico City, Mexico in order to promote unlawful activity. He is also charged with one count of distribution of methamphetamine. Gonzalez and Faudoa are charged with two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and Alvarez is charged with one count of distribution of methamphetamine. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Jackson County, Missouri Drug Task Force, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Nebraska Highway Patrol, and the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Krug is prosecuting the case. OCDETF Strike Force Cases This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The specific mission of the OCDETF Kansas City Metro Strike Force is to disrupt and dismantle major criminal organizations and subsidiary organizations, including criminal gangs, transnational drug cartels, racketeering organizations, and other groups engaged in illicit activities that present a threat to public safety and national security and are related to the illegal smuggling and trafficking of narcotics or other controlled substances, weapons, humans, or the illegal concealment or transfer of proceeds derived from such illicit activities in the Western District of Missouri and District of Kansas. The OCDETF Kansas City Metro Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Kansas City, Missouri, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the United States Marshal Service (USMS), the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Missouri (USAO-WDMO), the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas (USAO-KS), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Internal Revenue Service/Criminal Investigation Division (IRS/CID), the United States Secret Service (USSS), and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Kansas. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Local drug dealer admits to selling “China White”

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 38-year-old resident of Laredo has entered a guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. On May 26, authorities executed a search warrant at Jose Pedro Garcia’s residence. At that time, they found multiple small plastic baggies, each containing various types of suspected narcotics. Authorities seized, separated, weighed and ultimately identified them as heroin, meth, cocaine base and fentanyl. Garcia had been selling drugs for approximately 10 years and had sold meth, crack cocaine and “China White” aka fentanyl. Garcia admitted he started with cocaine, but moved on to fentanyl because it gave people a stronger high and was more popular. He had color coded the bags so he could differentiate between the drugs. U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentencing Nov. 7. At that time, Garcia faces a minimum of five and up to 40 years in prison as well as a maximum $5 million fine. Garcia will remain in custody pending that hearing. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol and Laredo Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Bajew is prosecuting the case. The case was prosecuted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF is the largest anti-crime task force in the country. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage . More information on the dangers of fentanyl can be found on the DEA’s website. #OnePillCanKill


title: Utah Man Sentenced for Hate Crime Attack of Three Men

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A Utah man was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for his bias-motivated attack of three men at a family-owned business. On Feb. 19, 2020, after a five day trial, a jury in Salt Lake City convicted Alan Covington for attacking three men with a metal pole because he believed the men were Mexican. According to evidence presented at trial, on Nov. 27, 2018, Covington, armed with a metal pole and hatchet, entered a family-owned tire shop, Lopez Tires. Upon entering the shop, the defendant demanded to know if the men were Mexican. According to testimony at trial, the defendant shouted that he wanted to “Kill Mexicans” and then began swinging the metal pole at the business owner, his brother, and teenage son. Covington hit the teenage son with the metal pole, taking him to the ground and causing serious physical injury to his face. Covington continued his attack striking the father multiple times in the back and eventually turned his attack on the business owner’s brother, who was able to escape without injury and report the matter to police. Covington was apprehended by police near the tire shop, with a metal pole and a hatchet in his possession. “This defendant brutally assaulted a family and attempted to kill a young man because he believed they were Mexican,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Such bias-motivated violence is fundamentally at odds with our most deeply held values. The Justice Department will continue to aggressively pursue and bring to justice those who commit such acts.” “This was a horrific act of hate-motivated violence and there is no place for it in our state or country,” said U.S Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah. “These victims are part of our community, and no one should ever have to fear for their safety because of their race or nationality. With Covington now behind bars, we hope the victims and their families can find peace and heal from this unspeakable act of hate.” “We hope the sentencing provides some measure of justice for the victims, whose lives will never be the same because of Mr. Covington’s heinous actions,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office. “Our country is rich in diversity and violence motivated by hate – like all violence – has no place here. The FBI will vigorously defend the civil rights of all in the communities we serve.” Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Higgins and Special Agent in Charge Sinha made the announcement. The FBI Salt Lake City Field Office investigated the case, with the cooperation of the Salt Lake City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Drew Yeates for the District of Utah and Deputy Chief Rose Gibson of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.


title: Former Lawyer Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud in West Palm Beach Federal Court

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Craig Sherman, an 80-year-old retired lawyer pleaded guilty yesterday to two counts of federal wire fraud charges in West Palm Beach, Florida. Sherman admitted that from 2013 through 2020, he defrauded friends and clients through an investment scheme. Sherman was an attorney in Boca Raton, Fla., who also worked as the town attorney for the Town of Bay Harbor Islands, Fla. Sherman solicited friends and clients to invest in real estate projects that were planned or in progress in the Town of Bay Harbor Islands. Sherman indicated that the investors would loan money for construction projects and would be paid between 6% to 8% interest annually for the loan. The principal would be returned later, usually when the construction project was completed. Instead of using the investment money to fund the construction projects–like he claimed he would—Sherman used it to pay for his personal expenses and to try to keep his law firm running. He also used investment money from some investors to cover payments due to other investors. The total fraud is close to $7 million. The sentencing hearing will be scheduled later. Sherman faces up to 20 years in prison as to each count and will be ordered to pay restitution to the victims. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, announced the guilty plea. FBI Miami, West Palm Beach Resident Agency investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laurence M. Bardfeld is prosecuting it. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-80083. ###


title: Columbia Man Sentenced to Over 8 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Heroin and Fentanyl

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA — Jeffrey Tavoun Allen, 34, of Columbia, was sentenced to more than 8 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin and fentanyl. Evidence presented to the court showed that in September 2020, investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) made controlled buys of fentanyl-laced heroin from Allen. When Allen was arrested in December 2020, Allen was in possession of cocaine base, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. Allen also had plastic baggies used in packaging drugs and a digital scale. In 2007, Allen was convicted in South Carolina state court for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. In 2018, Allen was again convicted in state court for multiple counts of distributing heroin. United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Allen to 100 months in prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Taylor is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Myrtle Beach Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Tax Fraud

body_text: FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA —Troy Benjamin Bittner, 54, of Myrtle Beach, has pleaded guilty in federal court to wire fraud and filing a false tax return. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that from November 2020 to December 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bittner was employed as a general manager at the Carolina Pines RV Resort in Conway, South Carolina. During that time, when it was not uncommon for guests to cancel reservations, he fraudulently generated $828,516.00 in customer refunds that were neither authorized nor requested by guests for completed reservations. After generating the fraudulent refunds, Bittner then wired the refunds to his personal financial accounts. In addition, on February 27, 2022, Bittner electronically filed with the IRS a 2021 Form 1040 in which he substantially understated his total income for calendar year 2021, resulting in a tax loss of $270,686.00. Bittner faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain or gross loss of the offense, restitution, and 3 years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Bittner after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service (USSS), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hummel is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Saint George Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Selling Untraceable Firearms Without a License

body_text: CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA — Jerome Daniel Sanders, 44, of Saint George, was sentenced to 2 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to dealing privately manufactured firearms without a license and possessing a firearms silencer in violation of the National Firearms Act. Evidence presented in court established that Sanders began advertising non-serialized privately manufactured firearms for sale online in 2020. During the investigation, ATF agents discovered that Sanders used specialized manufacturing equipment to mass-produce these untraceable firearms and then sell them without a federal firearms license. Between 2020 and 2022, Sanders listed 112 of these firearms for sale online and made several other in-person sales, including to undercover ATF agents. Sanders also sold a homemade fully functional firearms silencer to an undercover ATF agent during the investigation. On June 3, 2023, federal agents conducted a search warrant at Sanders’ residence and recovered 35 firearms with serial numbers, 28 firearms without serial numbers, a cutting machine and drill press used to manufacture firearms, $20,000 in cash, and various other firearm manufacturing paraphernalia. “Untraceable firearms in the hands of dangerous persons pose a significant threat to the safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will investigate and prosecute those who illegally manufacture untraceable firearms and sell them for profit without a license.” “While it is legal to build a firearm for personal use, those engaged in the business of manufacturing and selling firearms without a federal firearms license are breaking the law and threatening our public safety,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “Individuals conducting business in this unlawful manner often put firearms in the hands of prohibited individuals. These firearms are also almost impossible to trace, which can impact investigations involving violent gun crime.” United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Sanders to 2 years in prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. The Court also ordered Sanders to forfeit his proceeds, firearms, and manufacturing equipment as part of the judgment. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Low Country Violent Crime Task Force, and Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Chris Lietzow prosecuted the case. ###


title: Navajo Man Pleads Guilty to Second Degree Murder

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Marc Clark pled guilty to second degree murder. Clark, 46, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. A federal grand jury indicted Clark on Nov. 17, 2021. According to court records, Clark drove with three others, including John Doe, also an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, to a gas station in Shiprock so that John Doe could fill up a gas can. After the group parked the vehicle, John Doe and Clark got out and John Doe entered the store to pay for gas. While John Doe was inside, Clark began arguing with John Doe’s girlfriend, who was in the rear seat of the vehicle. As the argument escalated, Clark unsuccessfully attempted to pull John Doe’s girlfriend out of the car. During the struggle, Clark slapped and punched her multiple times through the open window. In response to the assault, the driver of the vehicle drove away, leaving Clark in the parking lot. When John Doe walked out of the store, he approached Clark, and the two men began talking. As they were talking, Clark drew a knife from his pocket and suddenly and without warning stabbed John Doe in the neck. John Doe was taken to the trauma care unit at the Northern Navajo Medical Center, where he passed away. Clark was apprehended by the Navajo Police Department at a laundromat near the gas station. The knife he had stabbed John doe with was on his person at the time. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Clark faces between 23 and 27 years in prison. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew J. McGinley and Paul J. Mysliwiec are prosecuting the case. # # # 23-170


title: Former Middle School Health Aide Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Aaron Leon Happy was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Happy, 42, of Shiprock, New Mexico, pled guilty on February 27, 2023, to possession of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. According to court records, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a tip from Facebook in July 2019 about a user’s activity. Specifically, Facebook disclosed that the user, “Aaron Happ,” was engaging multiple minors in sexually explicit conversations on its platform. The tip was sent to the FBI, who identified the user as Happy, who then worked as a health aide at the Newcomb Middle School located within the exterior boundaries of the Navajo Nation. On Dec. 15, 2020, the FBI executed a search warrant on Happy’s person, office, and residence. Investigators found a trove of videos and images of children being sexually assaulted on one of Happy’s cellular telephones which he obtained from the internet. Upon his release from prison, Happy will be subject to supervised release for life and must register as a sex offender. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI investigated this case with assistance from the FBI Albuquerque’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the FBI Gallup Resident Agency, the FBI Denver - Durango Resident Agency, the San Juan County (New Mexico) Sheriff’s Office, the Cortez (Colorado) Police Department and the Montezuma County (Colorado) Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal is prosecuting the case. # # # 23-171


title: San Mateo Man Charged With Embezzling More Than $1.1 Million From San Francisco Law Firm

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO - A federal grand jury in San Francisco indicted Jairo Tomas Santos with bank fraud, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. Santos was arrested on August 4, 2023, and appeared in federal court on August 7 to face the charges. According to the indictment (CR 23-00230 WHA), filed July 25, 2023, Santos, 42, formerly of San Mateo, Calif., allegedly embezzled more than $1.1 million from his employer, a San Francisco-based law firm, where Santos worked as the office manager. According to the indictment, Santos began his embezzlement scheme no later than March 2016 and continued it through February 2023. As part of the scheme, Santos obtained checks from the victim law firm, filled out the payee line of those checks, addressing them to “Jairo Santos,” and signed each check with the signature of the law firm’s senior partner even though Santos was not authorized to do so. Santos then deposited these checks into his personal checking accounts at Wells Fargo Bank. Between March 9, 2016, and February 2023, Santos allegedly deposited approximately 806 unauthorized checks from the victim law firm made payable to Santos into his personal checking accounts. The total value of these unauthorized deposits was approximately $1,191,683. Further, as part of the scheme to defraud, Santos made and deleted entries in the general ledger for the victim law firm that concealed the fact that the payments were made for Santos’s own use. The indictment further alleges that Santos deposited these checks from the victim law firm knowing that the payments were not authorized by the firm or its senior partner and knowing that they exceeded the amounts he was legitimately owed by the firm for his salary and expenses. In sum, the indictment charges Santos with three counts of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344. Santos’s initial San Francisco federal district court appearance is scheduled for August 22, 2023. An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Santos faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, and a fine of $1,000,000, plus restitution, if appropriate, for each violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344. The court also may order an additional term of supervised release to begin after a prison term as part of any sentence. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. The case is being prosecuted by the Corporate and Securities Fraud Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christiaan Highsmith is prosecuting the case, with the assistance of Elizabeth Kim. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI. santos_jairo_indictment.pdf


title: Montgomery Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Ammunition Used During  Shooting at a Funeral

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: Montgomery, Alabama – On August 7, 2023, a federal judge sentenced 42-year-old Gerald Dyron Little, from Montgomery, Alabama, to 120 months in prison for illegally possessing ammunition he used during a shooting at a funeral, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. In addition to the ten-year sentence, the judge also ordered that Little serve three years of supervised release following his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court records and evidence presented during his March 2023 trial , on June 26, 2021, Little caused a disruption during a memorial service in Fort Deposit, Alabama, and was asked to leave. Little returned later while graveside services were ongoing at a nearby cemetery and, while still in his vehicle, began arguing with family members. The argument escalated and Little fired a handgun from the open window of the vehicle. Bullets struck four funeral attendees including the brother of the deceased, who died from his injuries. Forensic evidence proved that the shell casings recovered from the scene came from ammunition possessed by Little during the shooting. Little has a previous felony conviction and is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition. State charges related to the shooting are pending. “It goes without saying that mourners should not have to fear gun violence when they gather to honor and remember a loved one,” stated United States Attorney Stewart. “It is my hope that this prosecution will serve as a reminder that there is no place in our communities for actions like those Little took. My office is committed to ensuring that that those who possess firearms and ammunition unlawfully, especially those who do so in a way that causes harm to others, are held accountable.” “This prohibited person showed total disregard for the law and committed an inhumane act of violence against an innocent group of grieving people,” stated Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the men and women of the ATF and our valued law enforcement partners in their efforts to confront violent crime. We will continue to work collaboratively and tirelessly to keep our communities safe from people who endanger our neighborhoods.” This case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Fort Deposit Police Department investigated this case, with assistance from the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon W. Bates, Joel Feil, and Stephen K. Moulton prosecuted the case.


title: Michigan Man Sentenced to 27 Months’ Imprisonment for Crack Cocaine Distribution and Unlawful Firearm Possession

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on August 7, 2023, Van Vincent Thomas, 41, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions III to a sentence of 27 months’ imprisonment followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Thomas previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. According to court records, in January and February 2022, Van Vincent Thomas conspired with co-defendant Jonathan Arnold to distribute cocaine base in the Chittenden County, Vermont, area. In March 2022, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) obtained and executed a search warrant at a motel in Shelburne, Vermont, where Thomas had been staying. During execution of the search warrant, HSI agents recovered a Ruger Redhawk .44 caliber revolver with an obliterated serial number belonging to Thomas, along with over 70 grams of cocaine base, over $40,000 in cash, and 43 rounds of ammunition. Prior to possessing the Ruger Redhawk, Thomas was convicted in 2017 in the Chittenden District Court of Vermont for felony distribution of cocaine base. United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Milton Police Department, Burlington Police Department, Vermont State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Corinne Smith, Joseph Perella, and Kimberly Ang. Mr. Thomas was represented by Avi Springer, Esq., and Assistant Federal Public Defender Sara Puls. 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn .


title: Man Sentenced to Over 15 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Dozens of Kilograms of Fentanyl and Methamphetamine from Mexico into Indianapolis

component: USAO - Indiana, Southern

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Tyler Sanders, 41, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced to 183 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to court documents, in February of 2019, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents became aware of a large drug trafficking operation in Indianapolis that was responsible for transporting drug proceeds to Mexico. On April 5, 2019, HSI agents conducting surveillance of the residence saw Sanders load a Chevrolet Suburban with large, black, plastic trash bags. Sanders left the residence while driving the Suburban. IMPD officers conducted a traffic stop of the Suburban for speeding along Massachusetts Avenue. Upon obtaining a positive K-9 alert on the vehicle, officers located the black plastic trash bags in the rear of the vehicle. Inside the plastic bags, officers located smaller, plastic bags containing a total of 33.51 kilograms of methamphetamine and 3.98 kilograms of plastic wrapped “bricks” that tested positive for fentanyl. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, R. Sean Fitzgerald, Special Agent in Charge, HSI Chicago, Michael Gannon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Indianapolis Field Office, Indiana State Police Superintendent, Douglas Carter, and IMPD Police Chief, Randal Taylor made the announcement. “We know that a majority of the fentanyl and meth plaguing our streets ultimately comes from international cartels operating across the southern border,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “Cutting off suppliers who are responsible for selling and transporting drugs from Mexican cartels is a priority of federal law enforcement. We, alongside HSI and DEA, are committed to weeding out these offenders and making an example of their criminal behavior with serious federal prison sentences.” Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, Indiana State Police, and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, James R. Sweeney II. Judge Sweeney also ordered that Sanders be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years following his release from federal prison and pay a $2,000 fine. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Peter A. Blackett, who prosecuted this case. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, depending on a person’s body size, tolerance, and past usage. One kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. 6 out of 10 illegal fentanyl tablets sold on U.S. streets now contain a potentially lethal dose of the drug. One Pill Can Kill : Avoid pills bought on the street because One Pill Can Kill . Fentanyl has now become the leading cause of death in the United States. Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid that drug dealers dilute with cutting agents to make counterfeit prescription pills that appear to be Oxycodone, Percocet, Xanax, and other drugs. Fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl are usually shaped and colored to look like pills sold at pharmacies. For example, fake prescription pills known as “M30s” imitate Oxycodone obtained from a pharmacy, but when sold on the street the pills routinely contain fentanyl. These pills are usually round tablets and often light blue in color, though they may be in different shapes and a rainbow of colors. They often have “M” and “30” imprinted on opposite sides of the pill. Do not take these or any other pills bought on the street – they are routinely fake and poisonous, and you won’t know until it’s too late. ###


title: Wilton Man Admits Operating Art Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that NICHOLAS P. HATCH, 29, of Wilton, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to a fraud offense stemming from a scheme involving the sale of counterfeit paintings. According to court documents and statements made in court, Hatch was the owner of Hatch Estate Services LLC, an estate sales company based in Norwalk. Between approximately April 2020 and January 2022, Hatch used various websites, including Estatesales.org, a website specializing in estate sales and auctions, to offer for sale purported paintings by the artist Peter Max. Hatch, who knew that the paintings were not authentic Peter Max paintings, used multiple aliases when interacting with purchasers through email during the sale process, and he made various representations as to the paintings’ authenticity, including providing certificates of the works’ authenticity. Through this scheme, Hatch sold 145 fraudulent Peter Max paintings and defrauded 43 purchasers out of a total of $248,600. Hatch pleaded guilty to mail fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Judge Nagala scheduled sentencing for October 30. Hatch was arrested on a criminal complaint on May 9, 2023. He has been detained since July 14, 2023, after he violated the conditions of pre-trial release. This investigation has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.


title: United States Orders Mewbourne Oil Company to Pay $5.5 Million and Reduce Unlawful Air Pollution from Oil and Gas Wells in New Mexico and Texas, Eliminating More than 11,000 Tons of Harmful Air Pollutants Annually

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: Mewbourne Oil Company has agreed to pay a $5.5 million penalty and to spend at least $4.6 million for projects to ensure 422 of its oil and gas battery pads in New Mexico and Texas comply with state and federal clean air regulations. These terms are in settlement of claims of unlawful operations alleged in a civil complaint filed today under the federal Clean Air Act and New Mexico state law. Mewbourne’s actions taken pursuant to the deal will eliminate more than 11,000 tons of harmful pollutants from the air each year. “Good air quality is essential to the health of our communities, and we need to ensure that oil and gas facilities are properly designed, maintained and monitored in order to meet national standards,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “We will continue to work to improve air quality and public health, including by holding oil and gas production operations like Mewbourne accountable for their violations of federal and state law.” “Today’s settlement will eliminate 11,000 tons of harmful air pollutants annually and ensure that Mewbourne complies with the Clean Air Act,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “The result will be cleaner, healthier air for communities in New Mexico and Texas.” “Compliance with air quality regulations is essential to ensure the health of our people and the protection of our environment,” said New Mexico Environment Cabinet Secretary James Kenney. “We will continue to conduct oil and gas investigations and aggressively enforce violations.” The complaint, filed jointly by the United States on behalf of the EPA and the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), alleges that, at more than 100 of its oil and gas production operations in New Mexico and Texas, Mewbourne failed to obtain required state and federal permits, failed to capture and control air emissions from storage vessels and failed to comply with inspection, monitoring and recordkeeping requirements. EPA and NMED identified the alleged violations through field investigations and repeated flyover surveillance conducted in 2019, 2020 and 2022. In addition to paying a $5.5 million fine – to be shared equally by the United States and the State of New Mexico – the consent decree, filed together with the complaint, requires the company to take numerous steps to ensure that 422 battery pads covered by the decree and located in New Mexico and Texas are operated lawfully. New Mexico’s portion of the fines will be sent to the State of New Mexico’s general fund. Mewbourne will also spend at least $3.6 million to implement extensive design, operation, maintenance and monitoring improvements, including installing new tank pressure monitoring systems that will provide advance notification of potential emissions and allow for immediate response action by the company. The company’s compliance with the consent decree will result in annual reductions of more than 9,900 tons of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and 1,300 tons of methane. VOCs are a key component in the formation of ground-level ozone, a pollutant that irritates the lungs, exacerbates diseases such as asthma and can increase susceptibility to respiratory illnesses, such as pneumonia and bronchitis. In addition, as a co-benefit of these reductions, the consent decree will result in significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. This includes reduction of methane – a powerful greenhouse gas – by more than 33,000 tons per year, measured as carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent, which would be like eliminating the consumption of over 3.4 million gallons of gasoline. Greenhouse gases from human activities are a primary cause of climate change and global warming. In addition to more immediate reductions in VOCs, Mewbourne has committed to spending at least $1 million to replace over 2,000 pollutant-emitting pneumatic devices with non-emitting devices on an accelerated schedule. This offset project will reduce VOC emissions over 15 years by approximately 4,500 tons beyond that required by existing regulation. The Clean Air Act requires the EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for criteria pollutants that are considered harmful to public health and the environment. Ozone is a criteria pollutant that is created when oxides of nitrogen (NO x ) and VOC react in the atmosphere. VOC and NOx are emitted by oil and gas production facilities, such as those operated by Mewbourne. During the timeframes of Mewbourne’s alleged violations, air quality monitors/ in the relevant counties in New Mexico registered rising ozone concentrations exceeding 95% of the NAAQS for ozone. In counties where ozone levels reach 95% of the NAAQS, NMED is required by New Mexico state statute to take action to reduce ozone pollution. Mewbourne is an independent oil and gas producer engaged in the exploration, development, production and acquisition of oil and natural gas resources in the United States. The company is a large producer in the Permian Basin, which is a shale oil and gas producing area located in southeast New Mexico and West Texas. The Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Enforcement Section is prosecuting this case in conjunction with the New Mexico Environment Department and EPA Region 6. This settlement is part of EPA’s National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative, Creating Cleaner Air for Communities by Reducing Excess Emissions of Harmful Pollutants. The consent decree is available for public viewing at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees . The United States will publish a notice of the consent decree’s lodging with the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico in the Federal Register and will accept public comment for 30 days after the notice is published. The Federal Register notice will also include instructions for submitting public comment.


title: Atlantic County Man Charged with Possessing Destructive Devices

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – An Atlantic County, New Jersey, man was charged today with possessing destructive devices, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Robert J. Moser, 31, of Mays Landing, New Jersey, was charged by complaint with one count of possessing destructive devices. He is scheduled to appear today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Skahill in Camden federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: On March 17, 2023, law enforcement officers responded to Moser’s residence after receiving a 911 call that Moser was unconscious after a possible drug overdose. One of the officers who responded to assist Moser in his bedroom observed in plain view numerous suspicious devices covered in tape with exposed fuses. Officers secured the scene and recovered at least two destructive devices. One of the destructive devices contained explosive powder, metal ball bearings, and metal eye hooks, and a second destructive device contained explosive powder and metal dart tips. The possession of a destructive device charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller; officers of the Township of Hamilton Police Department, under the direction of Chief Gregory K. Ciambrone; members of the Atlantic City Police Department Bomb Squad, under the direction of Chief James A. Sarkos; and personnel from the Atlantic City Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor William Reynolds, with the investigation leading to today’s arrest. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. moser.complaint.pdf


title: Former Leader of “Clan Del Golfo” Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison for Operating a Continuing Criminal Enterprise and Related Charges

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: BROOKLYN, NY - Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Dairo Antonio Úsuga David, known by various aliases, including “Otoniel,” a citizen of Colombia, was sentenced by United States District Judge Dora L. Irizarry to 45 years’ imprisonment for engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise as a leader of the multibillion-dollar paramilitary and drug trafficking organization known as the “Clan del Golfo” (CDG). Úsuga David was also sentenced to 45 years’ imprisonment for engaging in a maritime narcotics conspiracy and 45 years’ imprisonment for engaging in a narcotics importation conspiracy. The sentences will run concurrently. As part of the sentence, the Court ordered Úsuga David to pay $216 million in forfeiture. The defendant pleaded guilty to all three charges in January 2023. Merrick B. Garland, United States Attorney General, Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Markenzy Lapointe, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Damian Williams, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Anne Milgram, Administrator, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Ivan J. Arvelo, Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI), Christie M. Curtis, Acting Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), and Steven A. Nigrelli, Acting Superintendent, New York State Police (NYSP), announced the sentence. “Otoniel led one of the largest cocaine trafficking organizations in the world, where he directed the exportation of massive amounts of cocaine to the United States and ordered the ruthless execution of Colombian law enforcement, military officials, and civilians,” stated Attorney General Garland. “This sentence sends a clear message: the Justice Department will find and hold accountable the leaders of deadly drug trafficking organizations that harm the American people, no matter where they are and no matter how long it takes.” “The human misery caused by the defendant’s incredibly violent, vengeful, and bloody reign as leader of the Clan de Golfo drug trafficking organization may never be fully calculated due to its magnitude, but today’s lengthy sentence delivers appropriate justice and sends a message to other paramilitary and cartel leaders that the United States will seek their arrest and extradition in order to hold them accountable in our courts of law,” stated United States Attorney Peace. Mr. Peace extended his appreciation to the United States Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle District of Florida and Eastern District of Texas, the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS), Judicial Attachés in Bogotá, Colombia and Attorneys assigned at the Special Operations Division, the United States Marshals Service, the Port Authority Police Department, the Colombian Attorney General’s Office, the Colombian National Police, the Colombian Ministry of National Defense, the Colombian Ministry of Justice, and the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for assistance in the investigation, arrest, and extradition of the defendant. “Today’s 45-year sentence of Clan de Golfo’s notoriously violent leader illustrates the United States’ tenacious approach to securing justice against those who threaten the security of our nation and communities,” stated United States Attorney Lapointe. “Cartel leaders like Úsuga David will be found, extradited, and prosecuted.” “Today’s sentencing demonstrates DEA’s commitment to defeating deadly criminal networks who have no regard for human life,” stated DEA Administrator Milgram. “DEA investigated Otoniel – one of the most violent and prolific drug traffickers in the world – for almost 20 years. Under Otoniel’s leadership, the Clan de Golfo shipped massive quantities of cocaine into the United States, terrorized the Colombian people, and killed civilians, law enforcement officers, and rivals in Colombia who threatened the organization’s trafficking operations. I commend the men and women of the DEA for their many years of outstanding work that culminated in today’s sentencing.” “Today’s sentencing of notorious Clan del Golfo leader Dairo Antonio Úsuga David is the culmination of years of collaborative efforts between HSI and our local, federal and international law enforcement partners,” stated HSI New York Special Agent-in-Charge Arvelo. “Criminals should take note of this sentencing and heed its warning; HSI remains committed to these joint efforts to disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations whose illicit activities threaten the national security of the United States and the safety of our communities.” “When you consider the scale of Usuga David’s operations—a man with a private army who dared to place bounties on the heads of law enforcement and other government officials in Columbia–– you have to admire the tenacity and courage of team that brought him to justice, both in Columbia and the U.S.” stated NYPD Commissioner Caban. “The NYPD is proud to have played its part in the coordinated efforts of Columbian officials, the U.S. Department of Justice, the DEA, the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the New York State Police.” NYSP Acting Superintendent Nigrelli stated: “Today’s sentencing is the direct result of law enforcements dedication to stemming the tide of illegal drugs coming into our communities. This defendant smuggled tons of illegal drugs into our country and our state, putting lives in danger. We will continue to make it a priority to find, then dismantle these dangerous and deadly operations. I want to thank our members and our law enforcement partners for their work on this case and their commitment to stopping the flow of illegal drugs into our country.” Between June 2003 and October 2021, Úsuga David was the leader of a continuing criminal enterprise responsible for exporting multi-ton shipments of cocaine from Colombia to Mexico and Central America for ultimate importation into the United States. Additionally, Úsuga David participated in conspiracies to distribute narcotics via maritime vessels and also to manufacture and distribute cocaine, knowing and intending that the narcotics would be illegally imported into the United States. The Clan Del Golfo Between 2012 and through his capture by Colombian military and law enforcement forces on October 23, 2021, Úsuga David was the leader of the CDG. The CDG is one of the most violent and most powerful criminal organizations in Colombia, and it is one of the largest distributors of cocaine in the world. With as many as 6,000 members at times, the CDG exercises military control over vast amounts of territory in the Urabá region of Antioquia, Colombia, one of the most lucrative drug trafficking areas within Colombia due to its proximity to the Colombia-Panama border and the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. Clad in military uniforms, CDG members employ military tactics and weapons to reinforce their power and incite wars and violence against rival drug traffickers, paramilitary organizations, and Colombian law enforcement authorities who threaten the CDG’s control. The CDG funds its operations primarily through a multi-billion-dollar drug trafficking operation. It imposes a “tax” on any drug traffickers operating in territory under its control, charging fees for every kilogram of cocaine manufactured, stored, or transported through areas controlled by the organization. The CDG also directly exports cocaine, and coordinates the production, purchase, and transfer of weekly and bi-weekly multi-ton shipments of cocaine from Colombia into Central America and Mexico for ultimate importation to the United States. To maintain control over CDG territory, Úsuga David and the CDG employed an army of “sicarios,” or hitmen, who carried out acts of violence, including murders, assaults, kidnappings, torture, and assassinations against competitors and those deemed traitors to the organization, as well as their family members. The CDG murdered and assaulted Colombian law enforcement officers, Colombian military personnel, rival drug traffickers and paramilitaries, potential witnesses, and civilians. Úsuga David and the CDG used violence to promote and enhance the reputation and position of the CDG with respect to rival criminal organizations; preserve, protect, and expand the CDG’s power and territory; finance the CDG’s operations and enrich its leaders through the collection of drug debts; maintain discipline among its members and associates; and protect CDG members from arrest and prosecution by attempting to silence potential witnesses and retaliating against law enforcement authorities and those assisting law enforcement. Úsuga David served as a high-ranking leader within the CDG from its inception and was its principal leader for approximately10 years. During his reign, Úsuga David oversaw all of the CDG’s activities and directed its members to engage in extensive criminal acts, including acts of violence, mandated shutdowns of all business activities and civilian movement within designated regions of Colombia, retaliation against law enforcement authorities and potential witnesses, the exertion of control over drug manufacturing facilities and trafficking routes, and the exportation of cocaine in multi-ton quantities. Úsuga David assumed power and territorial control over vast swaths of the Colombian coastline and personally directed members of the CDG to commit acts of violence to reinforce that power. This included violence against civilians. For example, in early 2012, following the death of Úsuga David’s brother in a police raid, Úsuga David ordered a multi-day shutdown be imposed on towns and communities within the CDG’s control. During the strike, CDG members ordered that all businesses remain closed, and that residents stay in their homes. Úsuga David ordered CDG members to execute those who did not adhere to his orders. Úsuga David also personally ordered CDG members to commit murders of specific individuals, including the murders of rival drug traffickers and members of the CDG who betrayed him or the organization. For example, Úsuga David ordered the assassinations of multiple individuals who worked for a rival drug trafficking organization. In addition, Úsuga David regularly directed CDG members to use violence, intimidation, and murder to dissuade law enforcement authorities from performing their duties and to silence potential witnesses. For example, at Úsuga David’s direction, the CDG carried out organized campaigns, referred to as “Plan Pistolas,” to kill Colombian law enforcement and military personnel using military-grade weapons, including grenades, explosives, and assault rifles. Úsuga David offered bounties for the murder of Colombian police officers and military personnel to intimidate law enforcement authorities and prevent them from capturing him or interfering in the CDG’s business. Úsuga David’s organization made numerous attempts to assassinate individuals who were believed to be cooperating with law enforcement. Úsuga David was also extensively involved in the narcotics activities that funded the CDG and enabled its power. He oversaw the CDG’s drug trafficking exports and directed a network of “debt collectors” tasked with the enforcement and collection of taxes paid by drug trafficking organizations that operated in regions controlled by the CDG. In addition, Úsuga David controlled cocaine manufacturing facilities and used the CDG’s extensive distribution network to export cocaine independently for his own personal profit. Asset Forfeiture As part of the sentence, the Court ordered Úsuga David to pay a $216 million forfeiture money judgment. The forfeiture money judgment is subject to the Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Colombia concerning the Sharing of Forfeited Proceeds and Instrumentalities of Crime. The government’s case is being handled by the Eastern District of New York’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Francisco J. Navarro, Gillian Kassner, and Tara B. McGrath are in charge of the prosecution. Claire S. Kedeshian of the Office’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters. Assistant United States Attorney Robert Emery of the Southern District of Florida and Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Li of the Southern District of New York led the prosecutions for their respective offices. The investigation, extradition, and conviction of Úsuga David is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. The Defendant : DAIRO ANTONIO USUGA DAVID (also known as “Otoniel,” “Mao,” “Gallo” and “Mauricio-Gallo”) Age: 51 Antioquia, Colombia E.D.N.Y. Docket Nos. 14-CR-625 (S-4) (DLI) 23-CR-021 (DLI) 23-CR-027 (DLI)


title: Ohio Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison For Drug and Firearm Crimes

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Thomas Matthew Blankenship., 39, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced today to 11 years and eight months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 10, 2022, law enforcement officers served arrest warrants on Blankenship as he left a residence in the Pecks Mill area of Logan County, West Virginia. After he was placed in handcuffs, officers found approximately 95 grams of fentanyl, 11 grams of methamphetamine, and a loaded 9mm pistol on his person. Blankenship admitted that he intended to distribute the drugs, and that he possessed the pistol in order to protect himself, the drugs, and any money he made from selling the drugs. Blankenship has a long criminal history that includes nine prior felony convictions, including for felonious assault, improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation, tampering with evidence, trafficking in heroin, felon in possession of a firearm, and failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police and the Logan County Sheriff’s Office. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-197. ###


title: Leader Of Drug Trafficking Organization Responsible For Trafficking More Than 5,000 Kilograms Of Cocaine Sentenced To Prison

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that CAMILO ENRIQUEZ-NUNEZ, a/k/a “Viejo,” was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer to 25 years in prison for trafficking at least 5,000 kilograms of cocaine. ENRIQUEZ-NUNEZ previously pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “My Office is dedicated to holding drug kingpins like Enriquez-Nunez accountable. Thanks to our partners at the DEA and the prosecutors of this Office, more than one ton of cocaine was seized before it could hit the streets, and this top cocaine trafficker faces years in prison.” According to the Superseding Indictment and statements made in court proceedings and filings: From approximately 2019 through 2022, ENRIQUEZ-NUNEZ was the leader of a drug trafficking organization that transported between 5,000 and 10,000 kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to New York, New Jersey, and Florida. ENRIQUEZ-NUNEZ laundered at least $10 million of proceeds from his drug trafficking organization and personally made millions of dollars in profits. In September 2021, law enforcement agents seized a shipment of approximately 920 kilograms of cocaine that ENRIQUEZ-NUNEZ had transported from Puerto Rico for distribution in the New York area. A photograph of the seized cocaine is below: In July 2022, law enforcement agents arrested ENRIQUEZ-NUNEZ in Puerto Rico and seized approximately 338 kilograms of cocaine, $750,000 in drug proceeds, and four assault rifles belonging to him. A photograph of those seized items is below: ENRIQUEZ-NUNEZ has a prior federal cocaine trafficking conviction and engaged in this cocaine trafficking while on federal supervised release following his prior conviction. While imposing today's sentence, Judge Engelmayer described the conduct as drug trafficking on an “epic, steroidal level.” * * * In addition to the prison term, ENRIQUEZ-NUNEZ, 43, of Puerto Rico, was sentenced to five years of supervised release. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Mr. Williams also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico for their assistance in the case. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel P. Rothschild, Kevin Mead, and Marguerite B. Colson are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Three Men Involved in Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Ring Sentenced

component: USAO - Wyoming

body_text: Cole Douglas Herrick, age 40, of Casper, Wyoming, and Colorado residents Scott Alan Buchanan, age 44, and Chad Alexander Buchanan, age 48, were recently sentenced for their involvement in a drug trafficking ring that was responsible for bringing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl into the Casper area. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the following sentences: Cole Herrick pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to make community restitution in the amount of $500 and pay a $100 special assessment. Scott Buchanan pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He was sentenced to 204 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release. The judge also ordered him to make community restitution in the amount of $500 and pay a $300 special assessment. Chad Buchanan pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release. His sentence also included $500 for community restitution and a $200 special assessment. According to court documents, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) began investigating Cole Herrick in August of 2022 when Casper Police Department officers found Herrick in a motel room with a significant quantity of methamphetamine. Herrick admitted distributing methamphetamine in Casper. DCI agents learned that Herrick frequently traveled to Denver, Colorado, to pick up methamphetamine and fentanyl from Chad Buchanan. Around September of 2022, Chad Buchanan was arrested for a probation violation. Herrick then started picking up methamphetamine and fentanyl from Chad’s brother Scott Buchanan. In December of 2022, agents stopped Scott Buchanan outside Casper and found 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, numerous fentanyl pills, and a firearm. The defendants were indicted by the grand jury in January 2023 and pled guilty in April and May. In total, the defendants were responsible for distributing more than 15 kilograms of methamphetamine and more than 100 grams of fentanyl. This crime was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the Casper Police Department. Case No. 23-CR-00004-ABJ


title: Former Manager of Brockton RMV Sentenced for Extortion

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Brockton woman was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for accepting money in exchange for agreeing to issue passing learner’s permit test scores to applicants regardless of whether they actually passed at the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) in Brockton. Mia Cox-Johnson, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to four months in prison and one year of supervised release, with the first six months to be served under home confinement. Cox was also ordered to pay a $5,500 fine. Cox-Johnson pleaded guilty on March 30, 2023 to two counts of extortion under color of official right and one count of conspiring to commit extortion. Cox-Johnson, a former manager of the RMV service center in Brockton, took money in exchange for passing scores on learner’s permit tests for both passenger vehicle driver’s licenses and Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs). Between December 2018 and October 2019, Cox-Johnson conspired to take money in exchange for agreeing to give customers passing scores on their multiple-choice learner’s permit tests even if they did not pass. Customers were told to request a paper test instead of taking the test on the RMV computer. Cox-Johnson personally graded these customers’ paper tests and gave the applicants passing scores. On Dec. 28, 2018, Cox-Johnson accepted $1,000 in cash – delivered from a friend on behalf of another individual – in exchange for a passing score for the individual’s relative who had failed the passenger vehicle learner’s permit test six times when taking it in their native language. Cox-Johnson agreed to score the relative as having passed the permit test regardless of whether they had truly passed. Cox-Johnson did, in fact, pass the relative’s test, which was taken on paper in English. On Oct. 21, 2019, a customer came to the Brockton RMV and took three multiple-choice tests they needed to pass in order to get a commercial learner’s permit – a prerequisite to taking the road test for a CDL. Cox-Johnson accepted $200 in cash from an individual to score the customer as having passed the tests even if they did not actually pass. In fact, the applicant failed one of the tests, but Cox-Johnson falsely gave the applicant a passing score. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Christopher A. Scharf, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region, made the announcement today. The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF). Valuable assistance was provided by the Mattapoisett Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Wichers, Adam Deitch and Eugenia M. Carris of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie Duane of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.