title: Armed Leader Of Fentanyl And Cocaine Distribution  Conspiracy Sentenced To 40 Years In Federal Prison

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton Jr. has sentenced Carlos Roman (57, Orlando) to 40 years in federal prison for possession of cocaine and possession of a firearm equipped with a silencer in furtherance of drug trafficking. Judge Dalton also sentenced three individuals who conspired with Roman to distribute fentanyl and cocaine: James Richard Howell (37, Silver Springs) to 57 months; Kenneth Angel Vera (31, Orlando) to 27 months; and Joely Manuel Burgos (39, Orlando) to 51 months. Roman and Vera had pleaded guilty on December 6, 2022. Howell and Burgos had pleaded guilty on December 5, 2022, and December 28, 2022, respectively. According to court documents, Roman supplied cocaine and fentanyl to Howell, Burgos, and Vera for resale and regularly communicated with each of them on a cellular telephone that was monitored by law enforcement pursuant to court-ordered authorization. On August 9, 2022, Roman was arrested at his home with 19 firearms, 6 silencers, 3 flash-bang grenades, and thousands of rounds of ammunition. See related press release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/members-drug-trafficking-conspiracy-plead-guilty-drug-and-gun-charges-operation-titan “Illicit fentanyl is highly addictive and incredibly destructive. The individuals who bring this poison into our communities must be held accountable for their actions,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “The success of this investigation is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of these investigators as well as the cooperation and collaboration between DEA and our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners. DEA remains committed to these partnerships to continue to keep our communities safe and healthy.” This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Winter Garden Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Kissimmee Police Department, the Winter Park Police Department, the Clermont Police Department, the Orlando Police Department, the Apopka Police Department, the Ocoee Police Department, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill. Operation Titan Fall is a multi-agency Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCEDTF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.


title: Inland Empire Return Preparer Charged with Preparing False Tax Returns with Bogus Deductions for 5 Years

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: RIVERSIDE, California – An Inland Empire man was arrested this week after being named in a 47-count indictment alleging he prepared false tax returns for clients, the Justice Department announced today. Salvador Gonzalez, of Corona, was arrested Monday afternoon by special agents with IRS Criminal Investigation after being charged last week by a federal grand jury. Gonzalez was arraigned on the indictment Tuesday afternoon in United States District Court, where he entered not guilty pleas. Gonzalez was ordered released on bond, and a trial in this case was scheduled for May 9. The indictment charges Gonzalez with 47 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. According to the indictment filed on March 8 and unsealed Tuesday, Gonzalez operated a tax preparation business called Grace’s Lighthouse Resource Center, Inc., in Corona. For tax years 2016 through 2021, Gonzalez allegedly prepared income tax returns for individuals and corporate clients to submit to the IRS that claimed tens of thousands of dollars in bogus business losses. Gonzalez also allegedly falsified additional deductions on client returns, including medical and dental expenses, unreimbursed employee expenses, and charitable contributions, knowing that the clients were not entitled to the amounts claimed. If convicted in this case, Gonzalez would face a statutory maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count alleged in the indictment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Robert S. Trisotto of the Riverside Branch Office and Trial Attorney Lauren K. Pope of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case. 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: Former Wells Fargo Executive Agrees to Plead Guilty to Obstructing Bank Examination Involving the Opening of Millions of Accounts Without Customer Authorization

body_text: LOS ANGELES – The former head of Wells Fargo Bank’s retail banking division has agreed to plead guilty to obstructing a government examination into the bank’s widespread sales practices misconduct, which included opening millions of unauthorized accounts and other products, federal authorities announced today. In a plea agreement filed today in United States District Court, Carrie L. Tolstedt, 63, of Scottsdale, Arizona, agreed to plead guilty to one count of obstruction of a bank examination. Tolstedt is expected to make her initial court appearance in Los Angeles in the coming weeks, with the parties requesting the court to set a hearing for April 7. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), which investigated misconduct at Wells Fargo, also has reached a resolution with Tolstedt in a regulatory proceeding. As part of the consent order resolving that matter, Tolstedt agreed to a ban from working in the banking industry and to pay a $17 million civil penalty. “The justice system and regulators rely on corporations and their executives to fully cooperate during investigations into potential wrongdoing. But, in this case, Ms. Tolstedt took steps to cover up misconduct at Wells Fargo,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally. “Obstructing an investigation compromises the mission of those seeking the truth, and we will hold accountable any individual who attempts to conceal wrongdoing.” “The plea agreement filed today sends a clear message that bank executives who commit fraud and deliberately deceive regulators will be brought to justice for their actions. I commend our agents and their federal law enforcement partners for their hard work and persistence, which ultimately led to this outcome,” said Mark Bialek, Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “Today’s plea agreement holds the defendant accountable for her role in obstructing the examination into the unlawful sales practices at Wells Fargo, which deceived millions of clients who placed their trust in the institution,” said Acting Inspector General Tyler Smith of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General. “We remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate any individuals, including bank executives, who threaten to undermine the integrity of the banking sector.” “Obstructing lawful governmental reviews of bank operations undermines the integrity of our financial institutions,” said Robert K. Tripp, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Francisco Field Office. “The resolution of this case is the result of diligent work by the FBI and our law enforcement partners, who spent years uncovering corporate misconduct in this case. This investigation demonstrates our unwavering commitment to rooting out white-collar crimes, regardless of their complexity, and protecting our economy.” From approximately 2007 to September 2016, Tolstedt was Wells Fargo’s senior executive vice president of community banking and was head of the Community Bank, which operated Well Fargo’s consumer and small business retail banking business. The Community Bank managed many of the products that Wells Fargo sold to individual customers and small businesses, including checking and savings accounts, CDs, debit cards, bill pay, and other products. Wells Fargo previously admitted that, from 2002 to 2016, excessive sales goals led Community Bank employees to open millions of accounts and other financial products that were unauthorized or fraudulent. In the process, Wells Fargo collected millions of dollars in fees and interest to which it was not entitled, harmed customers’ credit ratings, and unlawfully misused customers’ sensitive personal information. Many of these practices were referred to within Wells Fargo as “gaming.” Gaming strategies included using existing customers’ identities – without their consent – to open accounts. Gaming practices included forging customer signatures to open accounts without authorization, creating PINs to activate unauthorized debit cards, and moving money from millions of customer accounts to unauthorized accounts in a practice known internally as “simulated funding.” Gaming also included opening credit cards and bill pay products without authorization, altering customers’ contact information to prevent customers from learning of unauthorized accounts and to prevent Wells Fargo employees from reaching customers to conduct customer satisfaction surveys, and encouraging customers to open accounts they neither wanted nor needed. According to the plea agreement filed today, by no later than 2004, Tolstedt was aware of sales practices misconduct within the Community Bank and the fact that employees were terminated each year for gaming. By no later than 2006, Tolstedt was learning about the gaming practices from corporate investigations and, over time, learned that terminations for gaming in the Community Bank were steadily increasing, that the misconduct was linked in part to sales goals within the Community Bank, and that termination numbers likely underestimated the scope of the problem. Although the Community Bank eventually took steps purportedly designed to proactively identify sales misconduct, the measures used by the bank flagged only a small portion of the potentially problematic activity for investigation. As of July 2014, only the most egregious .01 to .05 percent of employees engaging in activity considered a “red flag” for sales practices misconduct were investigated – with the remaining 99.95 to 99.99 percent left unexamined under this process. In May 2015, Tolstedt participated in the preparation of a memorandum, which she knew would be provided to the OCC in connection with its examination of sales practice issues at Wells Fargo. To minimize the scope of the sales practices misconduct within the Community Bank, Tolstedt corruptly obstructed the OCC’s examination by failing to disclose statistics on the number of employees who were terminated or resigned pending investigation for sales practices misconduct. She also failed to disclose that the Community Bank proactively investigated only a very small percentage of employees who engaged in activity flagged as potential sales practices misconduct. “We are proud to work with our partner agencies to help bring justice to the many people who were harmed by the unscrupulous sales practices of Wells Fargo,” said Brian Tomney, Inspector General of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. “The results of this case should be a clear signal that FHFA-OIG and its partner agencies will hold accountable those who seek to put profits ahead of legal and fair banking practices.” “This plea agreement demonstrates the determination and cooperation of Postal Inspectors and our federal law enforcement partners. Postal Inspectors are committed to investigating anyone holding a position of trust in the financial system that would engage in a fraud to deceive their customers,” said Rafael Nuñez, Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service, San Francisco Division. Wells Fargo in 2020 acknowledged the widespread sales practices misconduct within the Community Bank and paid a $3 billion penalty in connection with agreements reached with the United States Attorneys’ Offices for the Central District of California and the Western District of North Carolina, the Justice Department’s Civil Division, and the Securities and Exchange Commission. The statutory maximum sentence for obstruction of a bank examination is five years in federal prison. Tolstedt has entered into a plea agreement which calls for a prison sentence of up to 16 months in prison, which prosecutors believe is the high end of the sentencing guideline range for the obstruction offense. The plea agreement is “binding,” which means the court must accept or reject all aspects of it. Should the court reject the plea agreement, including the agreed-upon sentencing range, any party may withdraw from it. The FBI; the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General; the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General; the Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; and the United States Postal Inspection Service are investigating this matter. The OCC and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission provided substantial assistance. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander B. Schwab and Carolyn S. Small of the Major Frauds Section, along with Special Attorney Benjamin S. Kingsley and Assistant United States Attorney Daniel S. Ryan of the Western District of North Carolina.


title: Romanian Citizens Arrested and Charged with Laundering $1.4 Million in Proceeds from Jewelry Thefts and Covid Fraud

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – March 14, 2023 SAN DIEGO – Eduard Ghiocel and Floarea Ghiocel, married Romanian nationals and suspected leaders of a Romania-based transnational organized crime group, are charged in federal court with laundering $1.4 million in proceeds from dozens of small thefts, robberies and swindles targeting mostly elderly victims in San Diego County. Also charged are four of the Ghiocels’ family members or close associates, including Gabriel Ghiocel, Marius Ghiocel, Larisa Ghiocel and Argentina Alexandru. All defendants are alleged associates of the larger Valcea Romanian Transnational Crime Group. Eduard and Floarea Ghiocel were transferred from state to federal custody and are scheduled to make their first appearance in federal court today. The other defendants remain at large in Romania. Starting at 9 p.m. PST Monday night (6 a.m. Tuesday - Eastern European Time Zone), pursuant to seven Romanian search warrants issued by the Bucharest Tribunal and executed by police officers from the Romanian National Police's Directorate for Combatting Organized Crime, Service for Combatting Organized Criminal Groups, and Service for Combatting Organized Crime Valcea, assisted by FBI and IRS, officers seized Ghiocel assets across locations in Valcea County, Romania, including high-end luxury vehicles, gold coins, and cash, totaling $618,075. According to a complaint and an international seizure warrant, the defendants conducted a series of 17 jewelry thefts in elderly communities in San Diego between March 2020 and September 2022. The complaint said the Ghiocels also filed false unemployment claims in order to steal about $32,250 in California unemployment insurance benefits intended to help workers impacted by the pandemic. According to the complaint, the Ghiocels laundered the proceeds of their crimes by pawning expensive gold jewelry and watches for cash in jewelry stores in Los Angeles. The Ghiocels, who never had any legitimate employment, then systematically laundered that cash, along with the stolen unemployment insurance proceeds by sending wire transfers to Romania via Money Service Businesses, and by purchasing gold bars, gold coins, and high-end luxury vehicles from locations in Southern California and shipping these items to Romania. In total the Ghiocel Sub-Group repatriated $1,367,652.02 in assets from illicit funds to Romania, the complaint said. “We have alleged that an organized crime group targeted and robbed members of San Diego’s senior community, many of whom lost items of great personal significance,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “We will pursue justice for these crime victims wherever the evidence takes us, even as far as Romania.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team, investigating agencies and authorities in Romania for their excellent work on this case. “The FBI would like to thank our local, state, federal, and Romanian partners for their incredible cooperation in this important matter,” said Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy of the FBI’s San Diego Field Office. “The FBI and our partners are committed to scouring the globe to find those who have victimized our citizens, to hold them accountable for their crimes and to seize what they have stolen. A special thanks to the Romanian authorities who were essential, as the trail of this investigation led within their borders: prosecutors from the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism and police officers from the Romanian National Police’s Directorate for Combating Organized Crime. Their assistance is an excellent example of what international cooperation can bring to bear.” “This international organized crime ring targeted some of the most vulnerable of our population. It's important that we send a message to criminals that the safety of everyone in our community matters,” said San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit. “I want to thank the investigators and prosecutors who continue to work toward justice on behalf of the victims.” “According to allegations in the complaint, the defendants victimized some of our most vulnerable citizens and targeted relief programs during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Tyler Hatcher, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation's Los Angeles Field Office. “One of our main duties as financial investigators is to take the profit out of crime and hold criminals accountable for their actions, and that’s what this investigation is about. IRS-CI will continue to work closely with our partners locally and internationally to locate and hold criminal organizations accountable for their crimes.” Assistance was provided by the Romanian National Police (Service for Combatting Organized Criminal Groups and Service for Combatting Organized Crime Valcea) and the Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (Agency for Prosecuting Organized Crime). The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided significant assistance. *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. DEFENDANTS Case Number: 23MJ0474-MSB Eduard Ghiocel (1) Age: 47 Transient, Romanian aka Eduard Alexandru, aka “Filica” Floarea Ghiocel (2) Age: 48 Transient, Romanian aka Floarea Alexandru Gabriel Ghiocel (3) Age: 25 Transient, Romanian Marius Ghiocel (4) Age: 33 Transient, Romanian Larisa Ghiocel (5) Age: 24 Transient, Romanian Argentina Alexandru (6) Age: 31 Transient, Romanian SUMMARY OF CHARGES Title 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h) and Title 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(2)(A) — Conspiracy to Transport Funds to Promote Unlawful Activity Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $500,000 fine or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved in the transportation, transmission, or transfer, whichever is greater INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Federal Bureau of Investigation San Diego Police Department Internal Revenue Service California Employment Development Department Investigative Division U.S. Department of Homeland Security Department of Labor Office of Investigator General


title: Fort Wayne Pimp Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Sex Trafficking of a Minor at Indianapolis-Area Hotels

component: USAO - Indiana, Southern

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Damion Alexander, 28, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to sex trafficking of a minor. According to court documents, Damion Alexander met a 17-year-old girl online sometime in 2021. After meeting the minor and her adult friend in person, Alexander convinced them both to travel with him and caused them to engage in commercial sex acts that financially benefited him. From at least May 15, 2021, to June 2, 2021, Alexander transported the minor victim back and forth from Fort Wayne to engage in commercial sex in Indianapolis-area hotels on multiple occasions. Alexander took sexually explicit photos and videos of the minor victim and the adult and used them for online commercial sex advertisements. Cell phone videos obtained during the investigation showed Alexander berating and abusing the minor victim while she was severely impaired. Alexander corresponded with the commercial sex buyers, set prices, and directed the minor victim as to how long to spend with them and what acts to perform. Commercial sex buyers used CashApp to make payments that were transferred to Alexander’s account. Alexander received and kept thousands of dollars obtained by trafficking the minor victim in commercial sex, assuring her that he was “holding” the money and would give it back to her if she ever needed it. On June 2, 2021, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers recovered the minor victim at the Sheraton Hotel located at Keystone Crossing in Indianapolis. Alexander was found loitering outside of the victim’s hotel room, and he fled the scene when approached by officers. “Trafficking vulnerable minors’ bodies for financial gain is a despicable crime that merits significant punishment,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Pimps like this defendant inflict lasting trauma with utter disregard for the safety or dignity of those they exploit. Our office and our law enforcement partners, including the FBI and IMPD, are fully committed to rescuing survivors from sex trafficking and putting pimps in prison. The sentence imposed today should serve as a warning to would-be traffickers: if you sell minors for sex you will spend many years in federal prison.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson. Judge Stinson also ordered that Alexander be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 15 years following his release from federal prison and pay $13,000 in restitution to the victims. Alexander must also register as a sex offender where he lives, works, and goes to school, as required by law. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Kristina M. Korobov and Lawrence D. Hilton, who prosecuted this case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc


title: Paducah Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Distribution

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Paducah, KY – A Paducah man was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison followed by a 5-year term of supervised release for distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. There is no parole in the federal system. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Sheriff Ryan Norman of the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office, and Chief Brian Laird of the Paducah Police Department made the announcement. According to court documents, Marcus S. Johnson, 38, distributed, or possessed with the intent to distribute, methamphetamine on multiple occasions in McCracken County in June of 2022. In total, the methamphetamine weighed over 250 grams. “I appreciate the ongoing collaboration between our federal and local law enforcement partners as we continue to encounter methamphetamine trafficking throughout the Western District,” said U.S. Attorney Bennett. “We will continue working as a team to identify and prosecute drug dealers responsible for the destruction of lives and the related devastation brought on by drug addiction.” The case was investigated by the DEA Paducah Post of Duty office, the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office, and the Paducah Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Hancock, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case. ###


title: Ashland man sentenced to 37 months in prison for sexually abusing minor girl on Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: BILLINGS — An Ashland man was sentenced today to 37 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for sexually abusing a minor girl on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Jordan Cody Washee, 30, pleaded guilty in October 2022 to abusive sexual contact. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that the victim, identified as Jane Doe, reported that starting in 2011 and continuing through 2012, Washee sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions at her house. The victim was between the ages of 11 and 13 at the time. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office. XXX


title: LaPorte Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison

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

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Anthony Sanders, 35 years old, of LaPorte, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Sanders was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, in February 2021, Sanders was in Michigan City with a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine. When police officers attempted to stop him, he ran and discarded the handgun. Police recovered not only the pistol, but two extended magazines, one with 28 rounds and the other with 17 rounds of ammunition. Sanders’ had prior convictions for robbery involving a firearm, two for burglary, and two for dealing cocaine and, as a convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing the firearm. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the Michigan City Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Molly E. Donnelly. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. ###


title: Manager of Transnational Fraud Scheme Sentenced to 41 Months in Prison

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Kamal Zafar was sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 41 months in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a fraudulent scheme directed at thousands of individuals in the United States. As part of the sentence, Zafar was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3.2 million and forfeiture of $232,362. Zafar pleaded guilty to the charge in June 2022. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentence. Mr. Peace thanked the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and New York City Police Department for their assistance with the case. As alleged in the indictment and other court filings and proceedings, Zafar managed the fraud scheme by recruiting individuals to open bank accounts in the names of inactive and shell corporations and also assisted in the laundering of fraud proceeds. Between January 2018 and September 2018, operating from call centers in India, the scheme targeted victims in the United States and falsely claimed to be employees of the Internal Revenue Service, the Social Security Administration or the Drug Enforcement Administration. The victims who were taxpayers were informed that they owed a sum of money to the Internal Revenue Service. The victims who were medical professionals were informed that they owed a sum of money to the DEA in connection with their licenses. Both groups of victims were told that they would be arrested the next day if the debts were not immediately paid. After the victims wired payments to bank accounts that Zafar had opened or directed to be opened to receive the fraud proceeds, the funds were either withdrawn and laundered through additional bank accounts or wired to foreign countries. The scheme netted over $2 million from victims across the United States. Zafar’s six co-conspirators previously pleaded guilty. In January 2022, Ajay Sharma, the leader and organizer of the fraud scheme, was sentenced to 78 months in prison and five others are awaiting sentencing. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Charles P. Kelly, Charles N. Rose and Diane Leonardo are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : KAMAL ZAFAR Age: 53 South Huntington, New York Defendants Who Have Previously Pleaded Guilty : AJAY SHARMA Age: 44 Mumbai, India ANKUR SHARMA Age: 25 Bellerose, New York RICARDO URBINO, also known as “Ricardo Urbina” Age: 30 Queens, New York HARPREET SINGH Age: 33 Queens Village, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 19-CR-024 (JMA) JAMAL ZAFAR Age: 48 Huntington, New York ARMUGHANUL ASAR Age: 68 College Point, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 19-CR-385 (JMA)


title: Federal Jury Convicts Tampa Armed Felon On Drug Trafficking Charges

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Dempsey Gilmore (32, Tampa) guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana, carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 24, 2023. Gilmore had been charged in a superseding indictment on January 11, 2023. According to evidence and testimony presented at trial, on February 9, 2022, a Tampa Police Department (TPD) officer observed a red Dodge Charger fail to stop for a stop sign and attempted a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled at speeds of over 100 miles per hour. A TPD Air Support Unit tracked and recorded the vehicle as it fled from the police, ultimately stopping near a residence, where the driver and passenger got out, scaled a fence, and ran into a house. During the flight, the air unit recorded the vehicle temporarily stopping and its occupants throwing items from the car. TPD Officers arrived at that location and, along the side of the road, found a bag containing almost 200 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine, a zip-top bag labeled “Dempsey,” and a fully loaded firearm. They also found a box with bags of marijuana and a digital scale nearby. After obtaining a search warrant for the house which the suspects had entered, officers ordered the occupants to exit the house. Several individuals immediately complied, but Gilmore and another man initially remained inside the house, ultimately coming out. Officers found a security video from the house showing Gilmore and the other man running into the residence and located more marijuana inside the Dodge Charger that had been abandoned near the residence. A fingerprint recovered from the vehicle matched that of Gilmore. Gilmore was previously convicted of multiple felonies, including being a felon in possession of a firearm and escape. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Beckman. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Wayne County Man Sentenced To 30 Years In Prison For Online Enticement Of A Minor

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani sentenced Michael Jacob Walczyk, age 43, of Beach Lake, Pennsylvania, to 360 months in prison for enticement of a minor. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Walczyk pleaded guilty to a felony Information and admitted that, between July 10, 2019 and September 2020, he knowingly persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced a victim under the age of 18 to engage in sexual activity for the purposes of producing child pornography. Walczyk encountered the victim online in 2019, when she was 14 years old. He convinced her to produce sexually explicit photographs and videos for him and engaged in live video chats during which he directed her to perform sexual acts. Beginning in January 2020, Walczyk began to invite others to watch as the minor victim performed sexual “shows” at his direction and charged them a fee. Walczyk further engaged in verbally abusive and controlling behavior to keep the victim performing and producing child pornography for his enjoyment and profit. Walczyk used multiple mobile applications and websites to contact the child victim, and he coerced her to turn over all of her social media login information, so he could monitor her activities and exercise control. Walczyk admitted that he used false identities to entice the victim and that he produced and distributed child pornography as part of his offense conduct. Judge Mariani found that Walczyk’s pattern of prohibited sexual conduct with a minor should result in a higher sentencing range as a repeat and dangerous sex offender against minors under the United States Sentencing Commission Guidelines. In addition to the 30-year prison term, Judge Mariani ordered Walczyk to serve a 10-year term of supervised release, to pay $2,900 in restitution to the victim, and to forfeit assets involved in the commission of the offense, including over $3,000 in proceeds from selling admission to the child pornography livestreams. “This case represents the worst fears of parents of young children in the age of the internet,” said U.S. Attorney Karam. “And it drives home the importance of monitoring and controlling the online activities of our children. Just as we warn our kids about the pitfalls of talking to strangers they might encounter on the street or out in public places, we must have frank conversations with children about the dangers of interacting with people they don’t know online. If someone tries to chat with a child or asks for any information or pictures, they need to know they can and should tell a trusted adult immediately. We are grateful to the brave, young victim and her family who came forward in this case, for helping to ensure that this defendant won’t be able to victimize another child.” “Michael Walcyzk deserves each and every day of this 30-year sentence,” said Jacqueline Maguire, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “His repeated virtual invasions of his victim’s home; his sexual exploitation of her, both for his own pleasure and for profit; and the psychological torment he inflicted have changed this child’s life. Our Crimes Against Children Task Force will continue to diligently work to identify and apprehend abhorrent predators like Michael Walcyzk, whose crimes demand they be removed from society so they can’t harm anyone else.” The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean A. Camoni prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood , a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. # # #


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office and Department of Justice Host Two-Day Human Trafficking Seminar for Law Enforcement and Victims’ Services Agencies

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS, IN- United States Attorney Zachary A. Myers is proud to announce the successful completion of the first Human Trafficking Seminar held in the Southern District of Indiana. This two-day, educational event was hosted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana, and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit (HTPU). The seminar was organized by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence D. Hilton, the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Human Trafficking Coordinator, and the agenda included presentations from the HTPU’s Deputy Director, Matt Grady, National Program Manager, Sean Tepfer, and Trial Attorney Julie Pfluger. Topics covered included proving coercion, documenting a human trafficking crime scene, anticipating and overcoming common defenses, trauma informed interviewing, trial preparation, evidence collection, and prosecuting human trafficking crimes at a federal level. “Human trafficking is a horrific crime that inflicts lasting trauma on survivors who are often already vulnerable,” said U.S. Attorney Myers. “These complex crimes require prosecutors to work closely with investigators to get traffickers off the streets, while collaborating with agencies and organizations who provide vital resources to support survivors. Human traffickers, especially those who employ force, fraud, or coercion, and who sell minors for sex, should take notice: these crimes one of our top priorities, and convictions will result in lengthy terms in federal prison with no possibility of parole. Survivors, especially those who are still in the grips of traffickers, should know that there are specially trained police, prosecutors, and service providers who support you, believe in you, and will work tirelessly to get you the help you need.” An example of these collaborative efforts in the Southern District of Indiana can be seen in the recent sentencing of Damion Alexander to fifteen years in federal prison for the sex trafficking of a minor. See release here. U.S. Attorney Myers encourages the community to be aware of indicators of trafficking and report suspicious activity. Recognizing key indicators is the first step in identifying victims and can help save them from further exploitation. Indicators of human trafficking can include the following: An individual with an inability to produce identification or other documents because they are in a third party’s possession and control. An individual who is unable to freely contact friends or family. An individual who is coached on what to say to law enforcement or other authority figures. An individual who lacks knowledge or awareness as to what happens to the money they earn/are supposed to earn. An individual who lacks knowledge or awareness as to how much money they earn. An individual who is unable move or travel freely. Garnishment of a salary to pay off a fee imposed by their employer. Juveniles engaged in commercial sex. Frequent visits to the emergency department. Anyone who has information about a potential human trafficking situation or thinks they or someone they know may be a victim of human trafficking should contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Individuals can also text 233733 or email help@humantraffickinghotline.org . For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org . Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking . The federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and partners who participated in the Seminar included: Allen County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Assistant Commonwealth Attorney for Anderson, Spencer and Shelby County, Kentucky Boone County Prosecutor’s Office Boone County Sheriff’s Office Crawfordsville Fire Department Cherish Child Advocacy Center. Noblesville, IN Child and Parent Services. Elkhart, IN Child Advocacy Center. Marion County, IN Child Advocates Inc. Indianapolis, IN Clinton County Prosecutor’s Office Community Health Network of Indiana Damien Center. Indianapolis, IN Department of Child Services- Hancock County Department of Homeland Security- Investigations Eskenazi Health COH Family Service Association of Indianapolis FBI Firefly Children & Family Alliance. Indianapolis, IN Freedom Network USA Hancock County Prosecutor’s Office Indiana Attorney General’s Office- Investigations Division Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking Indiana Legal Services Indiana Department of Child Services Indiana Department of Workforce Development Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Indiana Protection of Abused and Trafficked Humans Taskforce Indiana State Parole Indiana State Police Indiana Trafficking Victims Assistance Program Indiana Youth Services Association Johnson County Human Trafficking Task Force Marion County Behavioral Health Court Marion County Juvenile Probation Marion County Prosecutor's Office Marion Superior Court Probation Department Moyars Consulting Riley Children’s Hospital Salvation Army Sheridan Police Department Stepping Stone Shelter for Women, Inc. Michigan City, IN Sylvias Child Advocacy Center. Lebanon, IN Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Office U.S. Attorney’s Office- Northern District of Indiana U.S. Marshal Services Vigo County Prosecutor's Office Whitestown Metropolitan Police Department Washington Township School Police Department West Lafayette Police Department Zionsville Police Department Zoey's Place Child Advocate. Greenfield, IN


title: Mescalero man charged with assault in Indian Country

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Danny Deron Morgan made an initial appearance in federal court on March 14 on a criminal complaint charging him with assault of an intimate partner by strangling in Indian Country. Morgan, 50, of Mescalero, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. According to the criminal complaint, on Feb. 20, Morgan allegedly assaulted a victim, identified as Jane Doe, by attempting to strangle them in Otero County, New Mexico, within the bounds of the Mescalero Apache Tribe. A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Morgan faces up to 10 years in prison. The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Eliot Neal is prosecuting the case. # # # 23-50


title: Mexico, Mo., Man Involved in Police Chase that Ended in Multi-Vehicle Crash, Sentenced for Illegal Firearms, Meth Trafficking

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Mexico, Mo., man who was in a vehicle that led officers on a high-speed chase before crashing into several other vehicles was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing firearms and methamphetamine to distribute. Myron Samare Mahaney, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to seven years and three months in federal prison without parole. On Nov. 1, 2022, Mahaney pleaded guilty to one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. A Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper attempted to stop a Nissan Rouge, in which Mahaney was a passenger, that was traveling 95 miles per hour on U.S. Highway 54 on March 14, 2022. The Nissan accelerated rapidly when the trooper turned on his lights and siren then drove onto U.S. Highway 50 in Jefferson City, traveling 107 miles per hour. The Nissan exited onto Dix Road and crashed into multiple vehicles that were stopped in traffic on southbound Dix Road. Mahaney fled on foot from the vehicle but was taken into custody by Jefferson City police officers. Mahaney was carrying a crossbody bag that contained approximately 219 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, a loaded Smith and Wesson 9mm semi-automatic handgun and a loaded Springfield .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun. He had $2,086 in cash in his front pocket. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Mahaney has a prior felony conviction for unlawful use of a weapon after he pulled up to a residence, got out of his vehicle, yelled for the residents to come out and fight and then started shooting toward the residence with his firearm, a Glock 19 with a 50-round drum. The driver of the white Nissan was Malik Miller, 25, of Mokane, Mo. Miller pleaded guilty in Cole County, Mo., Circuit Court to felony charges of accessory to trafficking drugs, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon and resisting arrest. Miller was also sentenced in federal court on Feb. 10, 2023, to 15 years in federal prison without parole for being a felon in possession of a firearm in a separate and unrelated case. This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather D. Richenberger. It was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Jefferson City, Mo., Police Department.


title: Two Previously Deported Men Charged With Illegal Reentry

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that two previously deported men were indicted separately by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Daniel Godinez-Pelcastre, age 54, of Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury with illegal reentry into the United States by a previously removed alien. The indictment alleges that Godinez-Pelcastre was previously removed from the United States on March 29, 2017, through Brownsville, Texas, and it is alleged that he reentered the United States without first obtaining legal permission to do so. The indictment also alleges that on November 21, 2022, Godinez-Pelcastre was encountered in Adams County, Pennsylvania. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) and the Pennsylvania State Police. Hector Cristales-Najarro, age 25, of Guatemala, was indicted by a federal grand jury with illegal reentry into the United States by a previously removed alien. The indictment alleges that Cristales-Najarro was previously removed from the United States on February 11, 2020, through San Antonio, Texas, and it is alleged that he reentered the United States without first obtaining legal permission to do so. The indictment also alleges that on December 26, 2022, Cristales-Najarro was encountered in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) and the Harrisburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaime M. Keating is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses are 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Former Mexican governor and presidential candidate sentenced for money laundering

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – The former governor of Tamaulipas, Mexico, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for accepting over $3.5 million in illegal bribe money and using it to fraudulently purchase property in the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Tomas Yarrington Ruvalcaba, 66, was also a former candidate for president of Mexico. He pleaded guilty March 25, 2021. Today, U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera sentenced Yarrington to 108 months imprisonment. Not a U.S. citizen, Yarrington is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that as an elected official, Yarrington violated his oath of office, weakening the country of Mexico and promoting criminal activity. As part of his sentence, Yarrington has also forfeited a Port Isabel condominium. “Even if you are governor of a Mexican state, we will not stand idly by when you use your position to wrongfully fill your pockets and violate the laws of the United States.” said Hamdani. “Today’s prison sentence for Yarrington concludes a multi-year, multi-agency international investigation spanning two continents concluding in bringing a corrupt politician to justice.” “HSI relentlessly disrupts and dismantles transnational criminal organizations that pose a threat to U.S. national security, to include any corrupt public officials who use their position for criminal gain,” said Craig Larrabee, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in San Antonio. “HSI is dedicated and determined to investigate those involved in criminal activity and who launder their ill-gotten gains in the United States.” Yarrington accepted bribes from individuals and private companies in Mexico to do business with the state of Tamaulipas while he served as governor. Yarrington was in that position from 1999 to 2005. He was also an Institutional Revolutionary Party candidate for president of Mexico in 2005. Yarrington used the bribery money he received while governor to purchase properties in the United States. He had prestanombres - nominee buyers -purchase property in the United States to hide Yarrington’s ownership of the properties and the illegal bribery money used to purchase them. Yarrington laundered his illegally obtained bribe money in the United States by purchasing beachfront condominiums, large estates, commercial developments, airplanes and luxury vehicles. “IRS-Criminal Investigation (CI) special agents are experts in following the money in a financial crime, and we found plenty of money to follow that helped to unravel Yarrington’s criminal enterprise,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Rodrick J. Benton of IRS-CI’s Houston Field Office. “Working alongside other law enforcement agencies, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the other U.S. and international partners helps U.S. taxpayers know that justice is a global concept and no criminal is out of reach.” “The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), HSI, IRS-CI and FBI, along with our state, local and international law enforcement partners, were a force multiplier in this case who collaborated to halt the threat of corrupt money into our country,” said Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the DEA – Houston Division. “There will always be zero tolerance for those who abuse their power for self-gain at our communities' expense. This sentence highlights our continued commitment to bringing those who misuse that power to justice.” “This individual took advantage of his position to enrich himself at the expense of those who trusted him,” said Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr. of the FBI - San Antonio Division. “Today’s sentencing serves as a powerful reminder to any corrupt official that these activities will not be tolerated. The FBI remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to hold corrupt officials accountable to the communities they were sworn to serve.” In April 2017, authorities captured Yarrington in Italy while traveling under an assumed name and false passport. He was taken into custody on a provisional arrest warrant based on the indictment returned in May 2013. Although Yarrington contested extradition, Italian authorities eventually authorized his extradition to the United States. He arrived in April 2018. He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. HSI led the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation dubbed Operation Green Tide with the assistance of IRS – CI, DEA, FBI and Texas Attorney General’s Office. It included agents and officers in Brownsville, San Antonio, Houston, Corpus Christi and New York. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs handled the extradition in this matter. The U.S. government also acknowledges with gratitude the significant assistance received from the government of Mexico in the course of this investigation. Additionally, the United States acknowledges the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service, HSI-Rome, HSI-Mexico City, the Italian Ministry of the Interior (particularly Interpol Rome and the Central Operations Service of the Italian National Police) and the Italian Ministry of Justice in Yarrington’s extradition. 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. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage . Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jody Young, Jon Muschenheim and Karen Betancourt are prosecuting the case.


title: City Felon Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Possessing Stolen Firearm

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release on charges of violating federal firearms laws, and a consecutive 1 year of imprisonment for committing the offense while on federal pretrial release, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Joshua Lowry, 32, formerly of the City’s Brookline neighborhood. According to information presented to the Court, on January 15, 2021, members of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration executed a search warrant on at an apartment in the Brookline section of the City of Pittsburgh. During the search of the residence, investigators recovered drug evidence along with multiple stolen firearms attributable to the target of the investigation, Joshua Lowry. During an interview with investigators, Lowry admitted to possession of at least one of the recovered stolen firearms. Lowry is precluded from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon several prior felony convictions. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael R. Ball prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Joshua Lowry.


title: Winooski Resident Sentenced to 40 Months in Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine and Cocaine

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Julie Overfield, 63, of Winooski, Vermont, was sentenced today to serve 40 months in prison after Overfield was convicted for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, and methamphetamine. Overfield also received a 24-month prison sentence, to run concurrent with the 40-month sentence, for violating terms of supervised release that were imposed following a conviction in the District of Arizona for conspiring to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Chief United States District Judge Geoffrey Crawford ordered that after Overfield’s release from prison, Overfield must serve a three-year term of supervised release. According to court records, the Winooski Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating Julie Overfield in February of 2022. On two occasions, Overfield sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant assisting law enforcement. On March 23, 2022, the DEA executed a federal search warrant at Overfield’s Winooski residence, resulting in the seizure of 60 grams of cocaine, 36 grams of cocaine base, 13.5 grams of methamphetamine, and $4,341 of cash. Laboratory testing revealed that all of the methamphetamine was of high purity, commonly referred to as “Ice.” United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Winooski Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt handled the prosecution. Federal Defender Michael Desautels, Esq. represented Overfield.


title: Two Waterbury Residents Involved in Fentanyl and Heroin Trafficking Ring Sentenced to Prison

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that two Waterbury residents were sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford for their participation in a fentanyl and heroin trafficking organization. ELIAS SANCHEZ-MARTINEZ, 31, was sentenced to 135 months of imprisonment, and IMIRICI SOSA-ORTIZ, also known as “Mimi,” 36, was sentenced to 94 months of imprisonment. According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from a joint investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury Police Department into a Waterbury-based drug trafficking operation headed by Nestor Sosa-Ortiz. The investigation, which included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, physical surveillance, and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Sosa-Ortiz’s organization received large quantities of fentanyl and heroin from suppliers in Connecticut and New York and distributed the narcotics through a network of co-conspirators, including Sanchez-Martinez. After Sosa-Ortiz was arrested in New York City on a separate federal heroin and fentanyl trafficking charge in May 2019, he continued to control his drug network while incarcerated by using smuggled cell phones to communicate with various co-conspirators, including his sisters, Imirici Sosa-Ortiz and Isamelis Sosa-Ortiz. The organization used an apartment located at 330 Bishop Street in Waterbury to store kilogram-quantities of fentanyl and heroin, and to process and package the drugs for street sale. Imirici Sosa-Ortiz helped manage the operation at this location. Sanchez-Martinez, Imirici Sosa-Ortiz, Isamelis Sosa-Ortiz and several co-defendants were arrested on October 29, 2019. On that date, investigators executed search warrants at the Bishop Street apartment and four other locations and seized approximately six kilograms of fentanyl and heroin, approximately 100,000 bags of fentanyl/heroin packaged for street distribution, approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills disguised as Percocet pills, one firearm, and approximately $50,000 in cash. Nearly 50 grams of fentanyl were seized from Sanchez-Martinez’s Charlevoux Street residence. Imirici Sosa-Ortiz has been detained since her arrest. On January 22, 2020, she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Sanchez-Martinez, who is a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was detained from the date of his arrest until June 20, 2020, when he was released on a $100,000 bond due the COVID-19 pandemic. Shortly thereafter he fled to the Dominican Republic. He was located and arrested in the Dominican Republic on June 9, 2021, and has been detained since that date. On motion from the government, Judge Bryant ordered the forfeiture of Sanchez-Martinez’s bond. The five individuals who signed Sanchez-Martinez’s bond are responsible for paying $100,000. On August 29, 2022, Sanchez-Martinez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl. He faces immigration proceedings when he completes his prison term. Seventeen individuals were charged as a result of this investigation. Nestor Sosa-Ortiz and Isamelis Sosa-Ortiz pleaded guilty. Nestor Sosa-Ortiz is awaiting sentencing. On December 21, 2022, Isamelis Sosa-Ortiz was sentenced to 94 months of imprisonment. This investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury Police Department. The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the New Haven, Waterbury, East Haven, Branford, West Haven, Ansonia, Meriden, Naugatuck, and Shelton Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Drug Supplier for Gangster Disciples Sentenced in Counterfeit Prescription Pill Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Chelmsford man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston to trafficking counterfeit oxycodone and Adderall pills that contained fentanyl and methamphetamine. Vando Gvozdarevic, 30, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release. On July 7, 2022, Gvozdarevic pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl. “Communities across our Commonwealth and beyond are plagued by the chaos and harm caused by the opioid epidemic that manifests itself in overdose deaths, violence, and crime. Mr. Gvozdarevic trafficked this poison into our neighborhoods in the form of tens of thousands of counterfeit pills. The risk of overdose was increased for those seeking diverted pharmaceutical pills and people unfamiliar with street narcotics who thought they were illicitly getting prescription pills when in fact they had potentially deadly and addicting opioid or stimulant,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “The Gangster Disciples are a ruthless gang that preyed upon our communities, and Vando Gvozdarevic was a driving force and prolific pill pusher, who supplied them with deadly narcotics disguised as prescription pills,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Today’s sentence should be a warning to other bad actors. The FBI’s North Shore Gang Task Force will stop at nothing to identify, investigate, and disrupt those who insist on bringing their harmful business to our neighborhoods.” Gvozdarevic was charged in November 2021 along with 12 others in connection with a large drug conspiracy centering around the Gangster Disciples in Lawrence, Haverhill and Methuen. The investigation, which began in August 2020, intercepted communications between Gangster Disciples’ leaders, members and drug suppliers pertaining to their alleged distribution of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and suboxone in Massachusetts, Maine and southern New Hampshire as well as into the Essex County Jail. The investigation identified Gvozdarevic as a supplier of methamphetamine and fentanyl disguised as counterfeit Adderall and oxycodone pills. 12,556 counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine and 3,717 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl were seized from Gvozdarevic’s apartment during the execution of a federal search warrant. Gvozdarevic was previously sentenced to five years in state prison for drug distribution and firearm offenses. U.S. Attorney Rollins, FBI SAC Bonavolonta and John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Chelmsford Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. This case is also a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: St. Charles County Man Accused of Pointing Laser at Police Helicopter

body_text: ST. LOUIS –A man from Lake St. Louis, Missouri has been indicted and accused of pointing a laser at a Metro Air Support helicopter in the St. Louis area. David Gammil, 44, was indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on March 8 on one count of aiming a laser at an aircraft. Gammil’s indictment says the incident occurred on February 23. Gammil was arrested Wednesday and made his first appearance in court, where he pleaded not guilty. The charge carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both. For years, the FBI and aviation authorities have warned that lasers can blind pilots, and the incidents are on the rise. The Federal Aviation Administration reported 9,457 incidents in 2022, including dozens which resulted in reported injuries. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case was investigated by the St. Charles County Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lang is prosecuting the case.


title: One More Individual Sentenced  for Conspiring to Stage  Automobile Accidents to Defraud Insurance and Trucking Companies

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – TROY SMITH (“ SMITH ”), age 58, of Houma, Louisiana, was sentenced on March 8, 2023 for Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, arising out of staged automobile accidents with tractor-trailers occurring in New Orleans, announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to court documents, on May 17, 2020, SMITH, along with participants Damian Labeaud (“Labeaud”), Bernell Gale (“Gale”), Marvel Francois (“Francois”), and another passenger, participated in a staged accident in the vicinity of Louisa Street and Chickasaw Street. Labeaud fled the scene after intentionally colliding with a tractor trailer. Francois falsely reported to the NOPD that she had been driving and that the tractor-trailer had struck her vehicle. United States District Judge Lance M. Africk sentenced SMITH to 6 months imprisonment, upon release from imprisonment, 3 years supervised release, and payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward Rivera, Maria Carboni and Brandon Long, also of the Financial Crimes Unit.


title: Six Charged With Drug Trafficking Operation, Shipping Methamphetamine From California to Chicago

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal grand jury has indicted five Chicago area residents and one California resident with a drug trafficking conspiracy for both shipping methamphetamine through the mail and distributing methamphetamine in and around Chicago. Charged in the indictment under count one are STEPHEN R. JENKINS, 44, of Chicago, KEITH R. MCCORMICK, also known as “Keith Lopez”, 51, of Sacramento, CA, DANIEL HEISE, 40, of Chicago, DONALD W. GRENIER, JR., 61, of Chicago, JOSE HERNANDEZ, 45, of Chicago, and WILLIAM F. KOCH, 36, of Chicago. Jenkins, Heise, Koch, and Greiner, Jr. are also charged with additional drug trafficking counts, which occur on different dates, within the indictment. Heise is also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. As alleged in the indictment and the criminal complaint filed in February 2023, from February 2022 to February 2023, Jenkins and Heise directed McCormick to ship parcels containing methamphetamine via U.S. Mail from Sacramento, California to Chicago. During their investigation, law enforcement identified more than 200 parcels suspected of containing methamphetamine, and recovered methamphetamine from at least ten parcels, including parcels addressed to Grenier, McCormick, Koch, Hernandez, and Heise. Jenkins and Heise, along with other members of the drug trafficking organization, are alleged to have shipped narcotics proceeds back to McCormick via private shipping companies, including FedEx and UPS. The indictment is announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Ruth M. Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) in Chicago; Sheila G. Lyons, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Robert W. Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; David Brown, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Forces located in Chicago and Sacramento, the USPIS’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (HIDTA) Parcel Interdiction Regional Enforcement Team located in Chicago, USPIS’s Narcotics and Economic Crimes Investigations Task Force located in Sacramento, Homeland Security Investigations in Sacramento, and North Riverside Police Department, Illinois. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly Peirson. The public is reminded that an indictment contains only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The drug trafficking counts carry penalties driven by the amount of methamphetamine each defendant is responsible for trafficking; they range from no less than 5 years up to life in federal prison. For the firearms charge, Heise faces an additional penalty of five years in federal prison consecutive to the drug charges. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. This case is part of an OCDETF investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers and other alleged criminal offenders 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 alleged criminal networks.


title: Chicago Man Sentenced For Mail Fraud Scheme  Involving Fraudulent Tax Returns To The IRS

body_text: Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge William Jung has sentenced Elvin Marks to 41 months in federal prison for mail fraud and fraudulent claims to an agency of the United States government. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $606,309.35, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. Marks had pleaded guilty on November 1, 2022. According to court documents, beginning in January 2016, and continuing through December 2018, Marks devised a scheme to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to obtain money using the United States Postal Service (USPS). To accomplish the fraudulent scheme, Marks prepared IRS Tax Forms 1040 and/or 1040X that included fraudulent information concerning wages, earnings, and deductions to obtain tax refunds for himself or others, which he was not entitled to, and were mailed through the USPS to the IRS. These fraudulent tax forms caused the IRS to issue refunds that Marks received in the Middle District of Florida. For instance, on December 20, 2016, Marks knowingly made and sent to the IRS a falsified IRS Tax Form 1040X for calendar year 2015, claiming a tax refund for $99,960 in the name of another person, which the IRS rejected. In addition, Marks knowingly made and sent to the IRS a falsified IRS Tax Form 1040 for calendar year 2017 in his own name requesting a refund of $4,606,144. The IRS subsequently mailed Marks’ tax refund to a residence in the Middle District of Florida, which he later obtained. The IRS recovered $3,994,611.85 from the Marks, resulting in a loss of $606,309.35. “With filing season underway, the financial penalties and significant prison term handed down against Mr. Marks is a timely reminder of the importance of ensuring your tax return is an honest account of your income and tax obligations. This sentencing should also put unscrupulous preparers on notice about the consequences that await those who do not play by the rules,” said IRS-CI Acting Special Agent in Charge Ronald A. Loecker. This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Pizzo and Maria Guzman.


title: Plaquemines Parish Man Sentenced for Violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – THEODORE HOLMES , age 34, a resident of Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, was sentenced on March 7, 2023, to 18 months imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a $200 mandatory special assessment fee by U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. HOLMES previously pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846, and the use of a communication facility in causing or facilitating the commission of felonies under the Controlled Substances Act, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843(b) and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2. According to court documents, a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigation revealed that HOLMES was involved in a narcotics distribution conspiracy with several other co-conspirators between June 8, 2020, and June 5, 2021. As part of the conspiracy, HOLMES regularly distributed amounts of methamphetamine. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers of the Narcotics Unit.


title: Clayton Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison For Soliciting Child Pornography from 11-year-old

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from Clayton, Missouri who sought and received nude pictures of minors, including pictures of an 11-year-old from Kentucky, was sentenced Wednesday to 11 years in federal prison followed by the remainder of his lifetime on supervised release. U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White also ordered Jason W. Fine, 50, to pay a $50,000 fine and special assessments of $45,000 that will go into a fund for victims and prevention programs. Judge White called Fine’s case the worst case of its type that he’d encountered. Fine pleaded guilty in November to two felonies: soliciting child pornography and receiving child pornography. Fine admitted as part of his plea that between July 1, 2021 and Sept. 2, 2021, while pretending to be an 11-year-old girl, he requested and received nude pictures of the 11-year-old Kentucky girl on Kik Messenger. In an interview with law enforcement on June 14, 2022, Fine said he had communicated online with multiple minors and that a few had sent him child pornography. In court Wednesday, the victim’s mother told Judge White what it was like to discover that Fine preyed on her daughter by posing as a girl “doing horrific things and asking our daughter to do those same things,” the mother said. The discovery of his crime wreaked “absolute devastation” on the victim and her family, the mother said, asking for serious prison time for Fine. “Knowing he is behind bars ensures that he can’t take advantage of young girls. He can't prey upon them and use them as toys. He can't manipulate them, solicit or use them,” she wrote in a letter to Judge White. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson pointed out that Fine used his undergraduate degree in psychology to manipulate children into sending him pictures and videos, and did not assist law enforcement in identifying his other victims so they could be helped. Anderson said Fine’s supporters described his crime as pornography addiction, but “It is pedophilia. It is sadistic child abuse.” The St. Louis County Police Department the Campbell County (Kentucky) Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Federal jury convicts Heron man of kidnapping son, fleeing to Costa Rica

body_text: MISSOULA — A federal jury today convicted a Heron man of kidnapping his son in violation of a parenting plan and taking him to Costa Rica, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. A jury found Jacob Israel Strong, aka Jacob Israel Guill, 37, guilty of international parental kidnapping. The two-day trial began on March 14. Strong faces a maximum of three years in prison, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for July 27. Strong was detained pending further proceedings. “Maintaining the safety of Montanans, especially children, is a top priority for our office, which is why I am pleased with the jury’s verdict. This case shows the extensive efforts we will make to bring kidnappers to justice, including working with law enforcement across international borders. I am grateful to First Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Racicot and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Lowney, along with the FBI, for investigating and prosecuting this case,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said. The government alleged in court documents and at trial that in January 2020, Strong and his ex-wife entered into a parenting plan for their then two-year-old son as part of a divorce proceeding. Prior to a court date in August 2021, Strong failed to return their son to his mother as scheduled. The mother was unable to locate Strong and ultimately contacted the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office. Law enforcement also was unable to contact Strong. The Sanders County Attorney’s Office subsequently charged Strong with felony parental interference and a state arrest warrant was issued for Strong. Still, law enforcement was unable to find him. The government further alleged that in September 2021, the FBI opened an investigation to assist Sanders County in the search for Strong and his son. In January 2022, the FBI discovered Strong and the child were living in Costa Rica, and learned that Strong and his son left the United States in approximately October 2021, near Midland, Texas. Strong paid a man to transport them to Costa Rica, and Strong and the child lived with the man for about six weeks. In May 2022, the FBI received specific information about Strong’s whereabouts, and Costa Rica officials arrested and deported him back to the United States. The child’s mother traveled to Costa Rica to take custody of her son and returned with him to the United States. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy J. Racicot and Brian C. Lowney are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI. XXX


title: Washington drug dealer sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for trafficking meth, heroin, cocaine and fentanyl to Cascade County, Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Washington man who admitted to trafficking drugs in Cascade County and the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation after law enforcement seized more than five pounds of methamphetamine along with other drugs from his vehicle was sentenced today to 12 years and six months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Jorge Perez, aka Chicago, 41, of Spokane, Washington, pleaded guilty in October 2022 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that in March 2022, law enforcement learned that Perez was bringing large quantities of meth, heroin, cocaine and fentanyl from Spokane to the Great Falls area for distribution. The FBI’s investigation identified the vehicle Perez was driving and, with assistance from local law enforcement, stopped the vehicle outside of Great Falls in June 2022. Perez was the driver and sole occupant and had more than $4,000 cash on his person. Perez admitted there were pounds of drugs in the vehicle. Law enforcement seized approximately five pounds of meth, which is the equivalent of 18,120 doses, along with cocaine and fentanyl pills. In a second traffic stop in which Perez was a passenger, law enforcement found meth, cocaine and heroin in the vehicle. In a third traffic stop, on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, in which Perez was the driver and sole passenger, law enforcement found meth, cocaine and fentanyl. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan R. Plaut prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Great Falls Police Department, Cascade County Sheriff’s Office, Montana Highway Patrol and Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement. 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. XXX


title: Ferguson Man Caught with Gun After Police Chase Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A felon from Ferguson, Missouri who was caught with a gun after fleeing from police in St. Louis was sentenced to 19 years in prison. On July 19, 2021, Anthony Willis, now 30, fled from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers who tried to pull him over after he failed to stop at a stop sign in the Wells Goodfellow neighborhood. Willis drove past another stop sign before other officers used spike strips to deflate his tires. He kept driving until he hit another vehicle at Goodfellow and Natural Bridge, then got out and ran. He was caught a short distance away. Willis left a loaded .40 caliber Glock handgun in the car. As a convicted felon, Willis is barred from possessing a firearm. Willis was convicted of the 2010 robbery of a Del Taco in St. Louis and the robbery of a Popeye’s Chicken manager in St. Louis County on two occasions in 2010. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and was on parole at the time of the police chase. Due to his prior convictions, he was considered an “armed career criminal,” which meant he faced a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison. Willis was found guilty by a jury November 16 of a felony charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Martin and Donald Boyce are prosecuting the case.


title: Federal jury returns verdict in two violent armed robberies

body_text: HOUSTON – A 51-year-old Houston man has been convicted of two 2019 armed robberies, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. The Houston jury deliberated for approximately two hours after a three-day trial before convicting Hezron Benjamin Stuart on two counts of interference with commerce by robbery and two counts of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The jury found that Stuart robbed The Corner Food Mart located at 3502 Mangum and discharged his firearm May 18, 2019. On May 23, 2019, Stuart also robbed the Citgo Gas Station located at 3839 South Loop East. During the Citgo robbery, Stuart shot the store clerk when he refused to give up the cash. This kind of violent crime has to stop,” said Hamdani. “To those trigger-pullers that want to inflict harm on our community... be aware…we are coming after you. This man put lives in danger and was found guilty. I am happy that because of this jury and the dedicated work of our prosecutors and partners, he will now face the consequences of his actions.” At trial, the jury heard from witnesses in both cases, including the surviving shooting victim, who were able to identify Stuart as the person who robbed and shot at them. The jury also heard from a firearms examiner who testified regarding firearms evidence collected from both scenes and the similarities between the evidence. A fingerprint examiner had compared a fingerprint left at the scene of the Citgo Gas Station robbery to Stuart and determined that it was the same. Stuart represented himself during the trial and claimed he was not the individual who committed the robberies. The jury did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged. U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal presided over trial and set sentencing for July 27. At that time, Stuart faces up to 20 years for the robbery and up to life for the firearms charges which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed. Stuart has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI conducted the investigation as part of the ATF Houston Crime Gun Strike Force with the assistance of the Houston Police Department (HPD) and the Houston Forensic Science Center. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Ferko and Britni Cooper prosecuted the case. The ATF Houston Crime Gun Strike Force was created as a joint effort between the ATF And HPD to combat the growing trend in crimes involving firearms.


title: Queens Man Sentenced To 16 Years in Prison for Enticing Three Minors to Engage in Sexual Conduct

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Rogelio Vega was sentenced by United States District Judge Eric R. Komitee to 16 years in prison for enticing three minors to engage in sexual conduct. As part of his sentence, Vega will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. Vega pleaded guilty to the charges in September 2022 . Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentence. Between approximately 2015 and January 2021, the defendant, while also serving as an ordained Deacon in the Catholic Church, used the Kik Internet messaging application, which is marketed to teens, and the Grindr Internet application, which is marketed to the LGBTQ+ community, to express his interest in “young guys” and coerce and entice three male victims between the ages of 14 and 16 to meet him for sexual acts. Messages found on the defendant’s cell phones revealed a series of communications in which the victims identified themselves as underage and the defendant arranged to meet them multiple times for sexual encounters in his car or at motels. Anyone with information about crimes perpetrated by Vega is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI and reference this case. Department of Justice Trial Attorney Patrick J. Campbell is in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : ROGELIO VEGA Age: 52 Maspeth, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-563 (EK)


title: Box Elder woman sentenced to five years in prison for shooting woman in the face over drug deal

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Box Elder woman who admitted to shooting a woman in the face over a drug deal on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. Tricia Friede Gardipee, 51, pleaded guilty in September 2022 to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court document that on Aug. 13, 2021, Gardipee shot the victim, identified as Jane Doe, in the face with a .22-caliber rifle over a drug deal on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation. Gardipee confronted Doe and some of her friends earlier that day in Havre. Doe picked up a brick and said she didn’t want any problems. The confrontation was because another woman ripped off Gardipee by selling her anxiety medication instead of fentanyl, and Gardipee was trying to get her money back. The government further alleged that Doe later drove with friends to a Box Elder residence. As Doe pulled into the driveway, Gardipee, along with others, pulled in behind them, blocking the car. Gardipee and her son, both armed, walked up to Doe’s car. Gardipee then shot Doe in the face. Doe was treated for injuries. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda L. Myers prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Rocky Boy’s Police Department. XXX


title: Mescalero man charged with assault on federal officer

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 that Jeremy Daniel Dennis made an initial appearance in federal court on March 14 on a criminal complaint charging him with assault on a federal officer. Dennis, 43, of Mescalero, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. According to the criminal complaint, on Dec. 25, 2022, Dennis allegedly assaulted a BIA Officer conducting a welfare check on him by punching and kicking the officer and attempting to strangle them by pressing the officer’s bulletproof vest into their throat. The incident occurred in Otero County, New Mexico, within the bounds of the Mescalero Apache Tribe. A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Dennis faces up to 8 years in prison. The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant United States Attorney Eliot Neal is prosecuting the case. # # # 23-51


title: Christian County Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearms

body_text: Paducah, KY – A Christian County, Kentucky man was sentenced today to 70 months in federal prison, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release, for possessing a firearm after having previously been convicted of felony offenses, illegal possession of a machinegun, and possession of an unregistered firearm. There is no parole in the federal system. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Maynard of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Sheriff Tyler DeArmond of the Christian County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement. According to court documents, on February 23, 2022, agents executed a search warrant at the residence of Shaun Powers, 43 of Hopkinsville. They located a privately manufactured firearm that was designed to function as a fully automatic machinegun. Agents also located a short-barreled rifle and other firearms parts and accessories. Powers was not allowed to possess these firearms because he had previously been convicted of the following felonies. On April 15, 2015, in Christian Circuit Court, Powers was convicted of first-degree promoting contraband, third-degree assault, second-degree burglary, and third-degree burglary. The case was investigated by the ATF Bowling Green Field Office and the Christian County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. ###


title: Grand Rivers Man and Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking

body_text: Paducah, KY – A Grand Rivers man and woman were sentenced today for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, and Sheriff Ryan Norman of the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement. Today, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Paducah Division, Edward Ibold , 38, was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release for possession with the intent to distribute 264 grams of methamphetamine. Ibold was also sentenced to an additional 20 months in prison for violation of the terms his supervised release from a previous federal conviction. He received a total sentence of 140 months in prison. Nikole Console , 28, was sentenced to 36 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for possession with the intent to distribute 264 grams of methamphetamine. There is no parole in the federal system. The case was investigated by the DEA Paducah Post of Duty Office and the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case. ###