title: Lowell Man Charged for Robbery of a Mail Carrier

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Lowell, Massachusetts man has been charged for robbing a United States Postal Service mail carrier using what appeared to be a firearm, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Baraka Janvier, 18, was charged with robbery of property of the United States. Janvier will make an initial appearance in federal court in Concord at a future date. Janvier is in state custody in connection to this incident. The investigation remains ongoing. According to the charging documents, in Nashua on the afternoon of April 16, 2024, Janvier and a juvenile co-conspirator held the mail carrier at gunpoint and demanded his keys. Investigators obtained valuable information, pictures, and video from local residents, which helped to identify Janvier, his co-conspirator, and the driver of their vehicle. Investigators tracked Janvier and his co-conspirator to a house in Lowell, where they found two black pistol BB guns and a dark-colored mask. Janvier stated that he and the co-conspirator robbed a mail carrier for a key and then gave it to another person in Lowell for $500. The charge provides for a sentence of up to ten years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. The United States Postal Inspection Service led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Nashua, New Hampshire Police Department and the Lowell, Massachusetts Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarad E. Hodes is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ### Attachment: Charging Document


title: New York City Man Convicted of Drug and Gun Offenses

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Rasheed Mingues, age 44, a resident of New York City staying in the Utica, New York, area, pled guilty on Friday to possession of controlled substances with the intent to distribute them and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement. Mingues admitted that, between April and October 2022, he sold over 100 grams of methamphetamine and over 30 grams of fentanyl in the Utica, New York area. He also admitted that on December 9, 2022, he possessed over 700 grams of fentanyl, over 700 grams of methamphetamine, and over 100 grams of cocaine with the intent to distribute them, and that he possessed a loaded 9mm handgun in the same bag as the drugs. Federal law prohibits Mingues from possessing the firearm as a result of a prior felony conviction. Sentencing is scheduled for August 23, 2024, in Syracuse, at which time Mingues faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. The DEA and New York State Police are investigating the case with assistance from the Utica Police Department, Syracuse Police Department, Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica N. Carbone and Benjamin Gillis are prosecuting the case.


title: Operators of Florida Labor Staffing Companies Sentenced to More than Three Years in Prison for Tax and Immigration Charges

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Two operators of several Key West, Florida, labor staffing companies – including PSEB Services Inc., E.S.F. Services Inc. and Expert Services F.S. Inc. – were each sentenced to over three years in prison today for tax and immigration-related crimes. According to court documents and statements made in court, at various times between January 2014 and October 2019, Zdenek Strnad, Vasil Khatiashvili and others helped run a series of labor staffing companies that facilitated the employment in hotels, bars and restaurants in Key West and elsewhere of non-resident aliens who were not authorized to work in the United States. These labor staffing companies did not withhold federal income taxes or Social Security and Medicare taxes from these workers’ wages and did not report the wages to the IRS. U.S. District Court Judge Jose E. Martinez for the Southern District of Florida sentenced Strnad to 44 months in prison and Khatiashvili to 38 months in prison. In addition to their prison sentences, Judge Martinez ordered Strnad and Khatiashvili to both serve three years of supervised release and to pay $1,836,960.68 in restitution to the United States. Khatiashvili and Strnad’s co-defendant, Petr Sutka, was sentenced to 48 months in prison on March 18. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami, and Special Agent in Charge Matthew D. Line of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Miami Field Office made the announcement. HSI and IRS-CI investigated the case. Senior Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Clark of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, and Senior Litigation Counsel Sean Beaty and Trial Attorneys Jessica A. Kraft, Nicholas J. Schilling Jr., Matthew C. Hicks and Wilson Rae Stamm of the Justice Department’s Tax Division prosecuted the case. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 23-CR-10015. ###


title: Ten Charged and One Arrested in Connection with Sanctions Evasion Scheme

component: National Security Division (NSD)

body_text: Defendants Conspired to Unlawfully Export Millions of Dollars’ Worth Of Aircraft Parts From the United States to Venezuela’s State-Owned Oil Company Through Costa Rica And Spain MIAMI – The Justice Department today announced the unsealing of an indictment charging 10 defendants with conspiring to violate the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA) for their roles in a scheme to evade U.S. sanctions imposed on Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), the Venezuelan state-owned oil company, in January 2019. One of the defendants, George Clemente Semerene Quintero, 60, was arrested on April 19, 2024, upon arrival at the Miami International Airport. As alleged in the indictment, between January 2019 and December 2021, after learning of the sanctions imposed on PDVSA, the defendants devised a scheme to illegally procure aircraft parts, including Honeywell Turbofan Engines, from the United States to service PDVSA’s aircraft fleet in Venezuela, in violation of U.S. sanctions and export controls. To carry out this scheme, the defendants concealed from U.S. companies that the goods were destined for Venezuela and PDVSA by exporting them to third parties in other countries, including Novax Group SA (Novax), a Costa Rican company, and Aerofalcon SL (Aerofalco), a Spanish company. The Department of Commerce added Novax and Aerofalcon to its Entity List in November 2023. According to court documents, the defendants include: Four individuals associated with PDVSA: Gilberto Ramon Araujo Prieto, 54, a PDVSA air transport manager and colonel in the Venezuelan military; Guillermo Ysrael Marval Rivero, 62, and Fernando Jose Blequett Landaeta, 52, both PDVSA air transport managers and logistics analysts responsible for procurement; and Semerene, PDVSA’s head of logistics, procurement and warehousing. Four individuals associated with Novax: Luis Alberto Duque Carvajal, 63, of San Jose, Costa Rica, the owner of Novax; Melvin Aleman Espinoza, 39, Novax’s director of operations; Mikhail Largin, 60, Novax’s director of special projects; and Pedro Elias Sucre Salazar, 58, a Novax employee located in Venezuela. Two individuals associated with Aerofalcon: Juan Carlos Gonzalez Perez, 60, the owner of Aerofalcon; and Juan David Guerra Viera, 54, a director for Aerofalcon. The defendants are charged with conspiring to violate IEEPA, and if convicted, face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Defendants Duque, Aleman, Sucre, Gonzalez, and Guerra Viera are additionally charged with submitting false or misleading export information and smuggling of goods, which respectively carry maximum penalties of five and 10 years in prison. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod of the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) made the announcement. BIS is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Stratton for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section (CES) are prosecuting the case. CES Deputy Chief Matthew McKenzie provided valuable assistance during the investigation. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 21-CR-20589. ###


title: Pinson Man Sentenced for Drug Conspiracy

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – A Pinson, Alabama man was sentenced on April 17, 2024, to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine. According to court documents, Darnell Watkins, 61, plead guilty to the charge in October of 2022. Watkins was one of several conspirators charged in Mobile when an investigation conducted by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigations revealed that cocaine and heroin supplied by James Harding, Jr., in Birmingham, was being distributed in Daphne and Fairhope by other members of the organization, including Darrell Williams. Harding and Williams were convicted by a federal jury in Mobile in October of 2022. Harding was sentenced to 480 months imprisonment, and Williams was sentenced to 324 months imprisonment. Court documents reflect that Watkins assisted the conspirators in south Alabama in connecting with Harding and arranging for the delivery and transportation of the drugs and the payment of the drug money. United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer imposed the 10-year sentence in Watkins’ case and ordered that he be placed on supervision by the United States Probation Office for 5 years following his release from custody. No fine was imposed, but Judge Moorer ordered that Watkins pay $100 in special assessments. The case was investigated by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Baldwin County Drug Task Force, the Safe Streets Task Force and the FBI. It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney’s Office by Assistant United States Attorney Gloria Bedwell.


title: Department of Justice Commemorates National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: HAMMOND- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana joins the nation in commemorating National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, observed this year from April 21-27, 2024. This annual observance, led by the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), honors victims of crime, recognizes victim advocates, and promotes the rights and services available to victims. President Ronald Reagan established National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in 1981 to raise awareness of these crucial issues. United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson said, “My Office prioritizes collaboration with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners. We emphasize the importance of providing support to victims at the earliest stages of investigations and litigation. This year, we have increased our efforts by implementing more efficient policies and procedures to align with Attorney General Garland’s revised Victim Rights Guidelines issued on March 31, 2023. Timely and sustained interactions with victims prevents re-victimization and promotes healing as cases move through the criminal justice system.” In 2022, there were nearly 20 million crime victimizations in the United States. More than 6.6 million were the result of violent crimes, including rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. Of that 6.6 million, only about 42% were reported to police. This year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week theme is “How would you help? Options, services, and hope for crime survivors.” We must create an environment in which victims and survivors feel safe talking about what happened to them. The theme aims to ensure that everyone in a community knows where and how crime victims and survivors can find help — including friends, family members, colleagues, neighbors, service providers, or other trusted members of the community. We must all be prepared to offer support. During National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, victim advocacy organizations, community groups and state, local, and tribal agencies host rallies, candlelight vigils, and other events to raise awareness of victims’ rights and services. On the evening of Wednesday, April 24th, a candlelight vigil will be held on the National Mall near the U.S. Capitol from 7:00pm-8:00pm EST. In recognition of this year’s theme, the vigil is an opportunity to engage and empower community members to offer support to all types of victims and survivors. For additional information on the candlelight vigil as well as other events, please visit: https://ovc.ojp.gov/events . Locally, please check city/county websites for any events planned in your area. For additional information about this year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and how to assist victims in your community, please visit OVC’s website at www.ovc.gov .


title: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Statement on the Senate’s Vote on the Reauthorization and Reform of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Section 702

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the Senate's vote on the reauthorization and reform of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Section 702: “Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is indispensable to the Justice Department’s work to protect the American people from terrorist, nation-state, cyber, and other threats. “This reauthorization of Section 702 gives the United States the authority to continue to collect foreign intelligence information about non-U.S. persons located outside the United States, while at the same time codifying important reforms the Justice Department has adopted to ensure the protection of Americans’ privacy and civil liberties. “In today’s heightened global threat environment, the Justice Department will continue to use Section 702 to ensure that our efforts to keep our country safe are informed by the most valuable and timely intelligence, as we continue to uphold our commitment to protect the rights of all Americans.”


title: Grand jury indicts Columbus police officer with crimes related to turning off body worn camera during encounters with women while on duty

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal grand jury has indicted a Columbus police officer, charging him with two counts of destroying or altering records related to a criminal investigation. Nicholas P. Duty, 35, of Commercial Point, Ohio, was arrested this morning and is scheduled to appear in federal court at 12:45pm today. According to the indictment that was returned yesterday and unsealed today, on two occasions, Duty destroyed, altered or falsified records by purposefully deactivating or removing his police body worn camera. It is alleged Duty’s actions were intended to impede, obstruct or influence a federal investigation. Specifically, it is alleged that on Oct. 31, 2023, and March 22, 2024, Duty deactivated or removed his body worn camera during interactions with two women, including during a sexual encounter. During the alleged incidents, Duty was on duty, wearing a police uniform, in a marked police vehicle and assigned a body worn camera. He knew he was required to comply with Columbus Division of Police policies for wearing the division-issued camera. Knowingly altering records to obstruct a federal investigation is a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. United States Attorney Kenneth L. Parker, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Daryl S. McCormick, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Shawn Gibson, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Kevin W. Kelley are representing the United States in this case, which is being investigated by the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission’s Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force. Anyone with information about the alleged criminal activity or knowledge of additional possible crimes is encouraged to contact the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) at 855-BCI-OHIO (855-224-6336). An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.


title: Man Indicted and Arrested for Child Exploitation

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging Lionel Albino Galindo, 52, of Vega Alta, PR, for child exploitation. According to court documents, from February 2024 throughout March 19, 2024, Lionel Albino Galindo sexually exploited a 13-year-old female minor. The defendant used a cellular phone as well as internet instant messaging services, to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a 13-year-old female minor, to engage in sexual activity, which includes the production of child pornography. Albino Galindo knowingly transported the female minor to engage in sexual activity on several occasions and produced visual depictions of such conduct. The defendant also received child pornography from the female minor and sent obscene material to the minor. Lionel Albino Galindo is facing one count of coercion and enticement of a minor; one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity; one count of sexual exploitation of children; one count for receipt of child pornography; one count for possession of child pornography; and one count of transfer of obscene material to a minor. The defendant is scheduled for his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Giselle López-Soler of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. If convicted for the charges of coercion and enticement and transportation of minor to engage in illicit sexual conduct, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years up to life; for sexual exploitation of children he faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years up to 30 years; for possession of child pornography and transfer of obscene material to a minor he faces up to 10 years; and for receipt of child pornography he faces five to 20 years in prison; all charges followed by a term of supervised release of no less than 5 years up to life. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico; and Joseph González, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement. The FBI is investigating the case with the collaboration of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau. Assistant US Attorney (AUSA) Emelina Agrait Barreto of the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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. 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: Two Florida Steel Traders Sentenced for Money Laundering and Russia-Ukraine Sanctions Violations

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Co-Conspirator Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison and $4.7 Million Forfeiture John Can Unsalan, aka Hurrem Can Unsalan, the president of Orlando, Florida-based steel trading firm Metalhouse LLC, was sentenced to six years in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering to promote violations of U.S. sanctions against Sergey Kurchenko, a pro-Russian Ukrainian oligarch. Unsalan’s former business associate, Sergey Karpushkin, a Belarusian national residing in Miami, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for his role in the scheme. Unsalan pleaded guilty and was ordered to forfeit $160 million in proceeds from the offense. Karpushkin pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and to commit international promotional money laundering and was ordered to forfeit $4.7 million in criminal proceeds. Kurchenko was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in 2015 for his role in misappropriating state assets of Ukraine or of an economically significant entity in Ukraine. Two sanctioned companies – Kompaniya Gaz-Alyans OOO, based in the Russian Federation and controlled by Kurchenko, and ZAO Vneshtorgservis, based in the Russian occupied Georgian region of South Ossetia – were designated by OFAC in 2018 for acting on behalf of and providing material support to the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic in the separatist-controlled regions of eastern Ukraine. As set forth in court filings, Unsalan and Karpushkin engaged in trade with these sanctioned individuals and entities to procure steelmaking equipment and raw material despite knowing that Kurchenko, Gaz-Alyans and Vneshtorgservis were subject to U.S. sanctions that prohibited U.S. persons and entities from doing business with them. No licenses from OFAC were applied for or issued for these payments or transfers. As stated in court documents, between July 2018 and October 2021, Unsalan conspired with others to transfer over $150 million to Kurchenko and companies controlled by Kurchenko. Unsalan, acting through his company, Metalhouse, engaged in trade with sanctioned individuals and entities and received tens of thousands of tons of metal products from the companies. Between July 2017 and August 2020, Karpushkin conspired with Unsalan and other business associates, acting through Metalhouse, to enter into contracts and purchase orders for pig iron, steel billets, and wire rods from these sanctioned companies and agreed to share profits from these unlawful transactions. The co-conspirators intentionally concealed from U.S. banks and government officials the ultimate source and origin of the goods that they sought to acquire, knowing that they did not have the necessary authorization or license from OFAC to transact with Kurchenko and companies owned and controlled by Kurchenko. Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division made the announcement. The FBI Tampa and Washington Field Offices investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt for the Middle District of Florida, Trial Attorney Emma Ellenrieder of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and Trial Attorneys Sean O’Dowd and Sean Fern of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section prosecuted the case. The investigation was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.


title: Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division Commemorates Earth Day and Releases the Division’s Accomplishments Report for Fiscal Year 2023

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: The Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) released the Division’s Accomplishments for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 in commemoration of Earth Day on April 22. “The Environment and Natural Resources Division continues to serve a critical role in securing environmental justice and responding to the climate crisis, which are two of the Administration’s top priorities,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of ENRD. “We do this while carrying out a mission of remarkable breadth in enforcing federal laws enacted to protect public health, worker safety, natural resources, and animal welfare. Our work also promotes the sovereignty of federally recognized Indian Tribes, while protecting their rights, homelands and resources.” The report highlights ENRD’s work in 2023 to defend pollution control measures, approvals for renewable energy projects and federal stewardship of public lands, wildlife and natural resources. The division’s Office of Environmental Justice provided environmental justice training, outreach resources and other support to the entire Justice Department while also organizing outreach and engaging with stakeholders. ENRD also continued its important work to partner with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to prosecute criminal violations of environmental and animal welfare laws. Some examples of ENRD’s work that are noted in the report include a Clean Air Act settlement featuring a $1.6 billion civil penalty with diesel engine maker Cummins Inc. , a Clean Air Act settlement with BP Whiting securing important air toxic controls and a $40 million civil penalty (the largest-ever such penalty against a single facility), and the sentencing of a Florida couple for illegally importing plywood in violation of the Lacey Act and customs laws. ENRD attorneys also continued work to prosecute individuals for dogfighting, which this year led to multiple, multi-year sentences and the seizure of hundreds of dogs. In FY 2023, ENRD attorneys worked on about 4,500 matters and obtained over $440 million in civil and criminal fines, penalties and costs recovered. The division also secured federal injunctive relief valued at $2.3 billion, saving the United States more than $2.5 billion through defensive and condemnation litigation.


title: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Statement on the 29th Anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing

body_text: The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in recognition of the 29th anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing, which took place on April 19, 1995, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: “Twenty-nine years after the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, we continue to remember the 168 people, including 19 children, who were stolen from their loved ones, as well as the hundreds who were injured and forever changed. We continue to mourn alongside the families and the entire Oklahoma City community devastated by the attack. “On this day, twenty-nine years ago, I watched in horror from my desk at the Justice Department as reports came in that there had been an explosion at the Murrah building in Oklahoma City. My colleagues and I gathered in front of a TV in my office and saw our first glimpse of the aftermath of the horrific attack. Forty-eight hours later, I traveled to Oklahoma to represent the United States in the first court hearing of the perpetrator, Timothy McVeigh. “I will never forget the devastation that was inflicted on the entire Oklahoma City community. I will also never forget the extraordinary grace and love the community demonstrated in the face of that horrific tragedy. The Justice Department will never forget those who were lost, and we remained committed to working to prevent and disrupt such horrific attacks before they can occur. “That means continuing to counter the threat that both foreign and domestic terrorism pose to our country as we grapple with a heightened global threat environment. “It means continuing to hold accountable those who target Americans who serve the public with threats and acts of violence. “And it means doing this work without ever losing sight of our responsibility to protect the civil rights of everyone in our country. “As we mark 29 years since April 19, 1995, we renew our commitment to remembering what happened, to honoring those we lost, and to doing everything in our power to prevent future tragedies.”


title: Chicago Chiropractor Convicted of Federal Health Care Fraud Charges

body_text: CHICAGO — A Chicago chiropractor has been convicted of federal health care fraud charges for billing a private insurer for nonexistent services. CLARENCE W. BROWN III owned and operated Dr. CB3 Wellness, Inc. and Apex Integrated Medical Center, Ltd. in Chicago. From 2016 to 2020, Brown submitted fraudulent claims to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois for purported health care services that Brown knew were not actually provided to patients. Some of the fraudulent claims were for services purportedly provided on dates when Brown was not in Illinois. Brown prepared false patient medical records and other documents to support his fraudulent claims. Brown billed BCBS approximately $1.3 million for services purportedly provided to members of two families that were not actually provided, and, as a result, fraudulently obtained approximately $750,000 from the carrier. After a two-week trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago, a jury on April 12, 2024, convicted Brown, 48, of Chicago, on all nine health care fraud counts against him. Each count is punishable by up to ten years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge John F. Kness set sentencing for July 23, 2024. The conviction was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Misty N. Wright and Andréa L. Campbell.


title: Final Defendant Sentenced in  Bribery Scheme Involving District Tax Official

body_text: WASHINGTON – Arman Amirshahi, 46, was sentenced today to three years of probation and 200 hours of community service for paying bribes to a District tax official to evade his tax obligations. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, D.C. Inspector General Daniel W. Lucas, and the D.C. Chief Financial Officer Glen Lee. Amirshahi was part of one of the several sophisticated and long-term bribery schemes helmed by co-conspirators Anthony Merritt, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, and Vincent Slater, former manager in the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR). In furtherance of the schemes, four business owners—including Amirshahi, Charles Zhou, Andre De Moya, and Davoud Jafari – paid cash bribes, through Merritt as middleman, to Slater, to evade their business taxes. A former employee of the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, Merritt held himself out as a permit and licensing expediter and introduced the business owners to the scheme. For a cut of the bribe payments, Merritt handled communications with the business owners. Merritt ferried their cash bribe payments to Slater, and allowed Slater to maintain apparent distance from them as he fraudulently reduced their liabilities or intervened on their behalf within OTR. Slater resigned from OTR in December 2017, concluding the schemes, each of which had lasted over five years. Through their actions, the co-conspirators deprived the District of Columbia of approximately $3 million. Each of the defendants was convicted for their roles in this conduct. Amirshahi and Zhou pleaded guilty to bribery in January 2019 and February 2019, respectively. In 2019, Slater, De Moya, and Merritt were charged in one indictment, and Slater, Jafari, and Merritt were charged in a second indictment. Slater pleaded guilty post-indictment in June 2020. In June 2023, a jury convicted De Moya and Merritt of conspiracy, bribery, and wire fraud. In September 2023, Merritt pleaded guilty to the second indictment in which he was charged. In October 2023, the jury convicted Jafari of conspiracy, bribery, and wire fraud. Merritt was sentenced to 110 months in prison for his central role in facilitating the separate conspiracies. For their respective roles, De Moya received a sentence of 30 months; Slater received a sentence of 27 months; and Jafari received a sentence of 24 months. Zhou, the first co-conspirator to cooperate with the government, was sentenced to five years of probation. Each defendant also was ordered to pay restitution and forfeit their ill-gotten gains, where applicable. The businesses that benefited from the scheme included the concert venue Echostage as well as downtown bars and nightclubs such as Eyebar (later renamed Eden), Ultrabar, L8 Lounge, Barcode, Café Asia, Umaya, Zeba Bar, and Muse Lounge. In addition to the probation and community service, Amirshahi was ordered to serve the first year of the sentence under home confinement except for employment, religious ceremony, treatment programs or medical appointments, or emergencies with notification to the probation office. U.S. Attorney Graves commended the work of the agencies who investigated the case, including the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the District of Columbia Office of the Inspector General. He also credited the substantial assistance from the District of Columbia Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of Integrity and Oversight. In addition, U.S. Attorney Graves expressed appreciation for the efforts of Paralegal Specialists Liliana Villamizar, Amanda Rhode, and Mariela Andrade, and former Paralegal Specialists Aisha Keys and Michon Tart. Finally, Graves acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Macey, Emily Miller, and Timothy Visser, who prosecuted these cases through trial, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gaston and former AUSA Amanda Vaughn, who participated in the underlying investigations and earlier court proceedings. 18cr0335


title: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man, convicted of Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment. The sentencing took place on April 16, 2024, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Lucas Ewald Ahrendt, age 32, was sentenced to two years and three months federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $100 as a statutorily required special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Ahrendt was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment by a federal grand jury in August of 2023. He pleaded guilty to Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment on January 26, 2024. In the evening December 26, 2022, in the West 57th area of Sioux Falls, a passerby observed Ahrendt in the front passenger seat of a truck, smoking a marijuana joint while waving a handgun around. That passerby made a report of the concerning behavior to law enforcement who made contact with Ahrendt and located a Glock handgun, loaded with a full magazine and a bullet in the chamber. Marijuana and fentanyl were also located in the vehicle. Ahrendt was prohibited from possessing firearms because he was under indictment for a felony, Possession of a Controlled Substance in Moody County, South Dakota, when he received the firearm. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert 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. Ahrendt was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to continue serving his sentence.


title: Peoria Woman Sentenced to 144 Months in Prison for Attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois woman, Crystal Bennett, also known by the aliases, “Nancy Carpenter” and “Crystal Waynette Silsby”, 41, of the 1000 block of West Gift Avenue, was sentenced on April 18, 2024, to 144 months in the Bureau of Prisons for attempted possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid, the government established that, on May 18, 2021, Bennett attempted to retrieve a package from a commercial shipping company store in East Peoria, Illinois. Bennett provided a store clerk with parcel tracking information and stated that the package was for her boyfriend. Based on suspicious behavior, law enforcement was called and determined that the package contained over 50 grams of methamphetamine with a substance purity of 98%. Bennett was arrested and officers located several drug ledgers during a search of her vehicle. In September 2021, Bennet was arrested again, when she was found in possession of over 250 grams of methamphetamine, a loaded gun that had previously been reported stolen, several grams of heroin, and over $2,400 cash. An indictment was filed against Bennett in October 2022, and she was arrested and arraigned on the indictment in January 2023. Bennett was released on bond conditions in May 2023, but bond was revoked one week later. A guilty plea was entered in September 2023. Bennett has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since May 2023. The statutory penalties for attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine are 5 to 40 years imprisonment, followed by not less than 4 years of supervised release. A maximum fine of up to $5,000,000 is also possible. The United States Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, East Peoria Police Department, Macomb Police Department, and Illinois State Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ronald L. Hanna and Keith Hollingshead-Cook represented the government in the prosecution.


title: Mission Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on April 15, 2024. Gary Drum, age 37, was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Drum was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in December of 2023. He pleaded guilty on February 29, 2024. On June 22, 2015, Drum was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact in U.S. District Court, District of Montana. As a result of this conviction, Drum is required to comply with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. In 2022, Drum was ordered to serve a jail sentence after a conviction in Fort Peck Tribal Court. Pursuant to a contract between the Fort Peck Sioux and Asiniboine Tribe and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Drum served his sentence at the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Adult Corrections Facility. Drum remained in the area after his release, initially residing at a residence in the North Antelope Community. On at least two separate occasions, Drum was arrested for tribal charges and served additional time in custody. Drum was last released from custody on October 31, 2023, and failed to update his address with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Sex Offender Registration Office within three business days. 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case. Drum was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Lower Brule Man Sentenced for Habitual Domestic Assault by an Habitual Offender

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man convicted of two counts of Domestic Assault by an Habitual Offender. The sentencing took place on April 15, 2024. Isaac Goodface, age 32, was sentenced to four years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Goodface was indicted by a federal grand jury in September of 2023. The defendant changed his plea to guilty on November 30, 2023. The defendant was convicted of physically assaulting the same victim on two separate occasions in Lyman County, within the Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservation. In September of 2022, Goodface threw the victim on the ground, strangled her, struck her about the head and face, and prevented her from leaving the residence. In June of 2023, Goodface struck the victim on the face and pointed a gun at her during an argument. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services, Lower Brule Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case. Goodface was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Dupree Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Dupree, South Dakota man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on April 15, 2024. Jayme Lee Rivers, also known as Jayme Lee Two Crow, age 44, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison, four months in a residential re-entry center, five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Rivers was indicted by a federal grand jury in December of 2023. He pleaded guilty on February 29, 2024. Rivers is required to register as a sex offender under federal law. Rivers had registered a homeless shelter in Rapid City as his primary address. He was kicked out of the shelter in April of 2023. Rivers chose not to update his registration until he moved from Rapid City to Dupree in late August of 2023. 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. This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case. Rivers was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Mission Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of a Firearm

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. The sentencing took place on April 15, 2024. Vernon Robert Schmidt, a/k/a Sonny Bob Schmidt, age 38, was sentenced to two years and 11 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to a pay $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Schmidt was indicted by a federal grand jury in August of 2022. He pleaded guilty on January 16, 2024. The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on May 18, 2022, near Mission. On that date, law enforcement was looking for Schmidt based on an alleged domestic dispute that occurred earlier in the day at a residence near Mission. Schmidt was subsequently located at a different residence. A loaded 9 mm pistol was found in his possession. Schmidt has three prior felony convictions in U.S. District Court, District of South Dakota. In 2005, he was convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer; in 2006, he was convicted of Escape; and in 2015, he was convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. As a result of these convictions, it is illegal for Schmidt to possess firearms or ammunition. Schmidt will forfeit ownership of the firearm to the United States. 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. This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case. Schmidt was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Todd County Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Abusive Sexual Contact

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Todd County, South Dakota, man convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Abusive Sexual Contact. The sentencing took place on April 15, 2024. Derek Sharpfish, age 33, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Sharpfish was indicted by a federal grand jury in April of 2023. He pleaded guilty on January 2, 2024. The convictions stem from conduct involving two different victims that occurred between October of 2020 and January of 2023 within the Rosebud Indian Reservation. On multiple instances during that period, Sharpfish engaged in sexual intercourse with a minor female who was between the ages of 13 and 15-years-old. On one occasion during that period, Sharpfish groped an adult female while she was sleeping. 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court. This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case. Sharpfish was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: White Supremacist Leader Sentenced to 44 Months in Prison for Conspiring to Make Death Threats Against Brooklyn Journalist

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Nicholas Welker, also known as “King ov Wrath,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Pamela K. Chen to 44 months’ imprisonment for conspiring to make death threats. Welker, the leader of Feuerkrieg Division (“FKD”), an international racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist (“RMVE”) group, which translates to “War Fire,” posted death threats against a Brooklyn-based journalist (the “Journalist”) so that the Journalist would stop reporting on the Neo-Nazi group. Welker pleaded guilty in September 2023. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentence. “Welker tried to silence a journalist from reporting on his white supremacist group so that his fellow extremists could continue to commit violence against racial, ethnic, and religious minorities, and the LGBTQ+ community,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “There were real victims of this crime—the journalist and his news media organization. Today’s sentence demonstrates that we will stand up for them and other journalists who bravely report on these violent hate groups.” Mr. Peace expressed his thanks to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force which consists of investigators and analysts from the FBI, the NYPD, and over 50 other federal, state, and local agencies. Mr. Peace also thanked the Estonian Internal Security Service and Prosecutor’s Office for their valuable support. According to court filings, Welker’s threat included a photograph of the Journalist with a gun aimed at his head and the words “Race Traitor” over the Journalist’s eyes. The threat stated, “JOURNALIST F[***] OFF! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.” The threat listed the Journalist and his employer by name. Welker posted the threat to a public online forum. Two under-aged FKD members tweeted the death threat directly at the Journalist’s social media handle so that he would see it. Welker intended to frighten the Journalist into dropping his reporting on Welker’s hate group. FKD members share a common goal of challenging laws, social order, and the government via terrorism and other violent acts. The organization encourages attacks on racial minorities, the Jewish community, the LGBTQ+ community, the U.S. Government, journalists, and critical infrastructure. FKD has members in the United States and abroad. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Ellen H. Sise and Andrew D. Reich are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Trial Attorney Jennifer Levy of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. The Defendant : NiCHOLAS WELKER (also known as “King ov Wrath”) Age: 33 San Jose, California E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-141 (PKC)


title: Winner Man Sentenced for Third Degree Burglary

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Winner, South Dakota, man convicted of Third Degree Burglary. The sentencing took place on April 15, 2024. Anthony Arellano, age 21, was sentenced to time served from his arrest on June 15, 2023, through June 14, 2024, equal to approximately one year in custody, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Arellano was further ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,665.00. Arellano was indicted by a federal grand jury in August of 2023. He pleaded guilty on January 8, 2024. In the early morning hours of June 1, 2023, Arellano broke into a store in Rosebud, South Dakota, and stole several hundred dollars’ worth of merchandise. Arellano was identified on surveillance video from the scene and was arrested at a residence in St. Francis, South Dakota, on June 15, 2023. This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court. Arellano was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: District of South Dakota Seizes 368 Illegal Firearms in 2023

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that over the course of 2023, federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies seized 368 firearms that were possessed in violation of federal law. In the same year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota charged approximately 93 defendants with illegally owning, possessing, using, or obtaining one or more such firearms. “Through these firearm seizures, we are confident law enforcement agencies prevented countless violent and drug-related crimes from occurring in communities across South Dakota,” said U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is grateful for the strong law enforcement partnerships in South Dakota, which allow us to combine federal, state, and tribal resources to target some of the most dangerous individuals in our state and remove illegal firearms from our streets.” Efforts to seize illegal firearms are the result of close cooperation between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), South Dakota State Highway Patrol, and numerous sheriff’s offices and police departments across the state, including Sioux Falls and Rapid City. “Illegal firearms trafficking simply cannot be tolerated as it directly fuels violent crime within our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle, of the St. Paul Field Division. “We at ATF will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners across South Dakota to pursue these perpetrators of violence. We are grateful for the strong partnerships forged over the years that have led to these impactful investigations. We are also grateful for the U.S. Attorney’s Office here in South Dakota, which has been the essential catalyst in bringing these violent perpetrators to justice.” “Maintaining strong partnerships within our law enforcement community is incredibly important to ensure successful firearm investigations like these,” said Jamie Holt, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul Special Agent in Charge. “Investigating and prosecuting organizations and individuals involved in these types of crimes results in safer communities with less gun violence.” Some of the major firearms-related cases prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2023 include: United States v. Sam Boyd —In the fall of 2020, Defendant began obtaining methamphetamine from a co-conspirator in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Defendant then distributed the methamphetamine to others for distribution. Throughout the conspiracy, Boyd routinely possessed multiple firearms and ammunition, despite being prohibited from doing so due to a prior felony conviction. Boyd proceeded to trial and a jury found him guilty of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person. Boyd was sentenced to 23 1/3 years in federal prison. The case was investigated by the DEA, ATF, and Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team. United States v. Weston Clausen, Jaylen Ducheneaux, and Ford Traversie —Three Defendants burglarized Reloaders Corner, a licensed federal firearm retailer in Isabel in August of 2022. The three Defendants broke into the firearms business after hours and stole 105 firearms, ammunition, and other items. Some of the firearms were then illegally trafficked to other individuals. Several of the stolen firearms have been recovered in various communities in South Dakota, Colorado, and throughout the Midwest. Tragically, one gun was recovered at the scene of a suicide by a 17-year-old teenager. All three Defendants pleaded guilty to Theft of Firearms from a Federal Firearm Licensee and Third-degree Burglary. Traversie was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison; Clausen was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison; and Ducheneaux was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison. All three Defendants were ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $20,188 to the victim for the unrecovered firearms. The case was investigated by the Dewey County Sheriff’s office and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe law enforcement, as well as the ATF, BIA, and FBI. United States v. Travene Tyrone Myers —Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2023, after having been reported of using a firearm to threaten his then girlfriend. When officers searched Myers’ vehicle, they located a fully loaded, semi-automatic pistol under the driver’s seat, which Myers, a previously convicted felon, admitted to possessing. Myers was sentenced to seven years and eight months in federal prison. The case was investigated by HSI, the Sioux Falls Police Department, and ATF. United States v. Harold Salway, Jr. —Over a 13-month period, Defendant purchased at least 43 firearms, acting as a straw purchaser for many of the transactions. More than a dozen of these firearms later showed up in crimes committed in Rapid City and on the Pine Ridge Reservation, including two homicides, two suicides, and other shots-fired calls. Law enforcement also located several juveniles involved in criminal activity who were found to be in possession of firearms purchased by Salway. He was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to unlawful user in possession of a firearm, use of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and false statement during the purchase of a firearm. The case was investigated by the ATF and the Rapid City Police Department. United States v. Antoine Thomas —Defendant was arrested on February 10, 2022, in possession of nearly 550 grams of methamphetamine, 31 grams of M-30 pills containing fentanyl, multiple firearms, and ammunition. Thomas was previously convicted of robbery twice and also illegal possession of a firearm. He pleaded guilty to multiple drug and firearms charges and was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. The case was investigated by the FBI, ATF, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sioux Falls Police Department. This District of South Dakota’s prosecution of illegal firearms is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Suburban Chicago Woman Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking of a Child

body_text: CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago woman has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for recruiting and enticing a child to engage in commercial sex acts. In November 2021, JAMARI HODGE recruited and enticed a 13-year-old girl to engage in commercial sex acts. Hodge took sexually explicit photographs of the victim and posted them in online advertisements offering the commercial sex. Hodge then rented hotel rooms in Illinois and Indiana to use for encounters with individuals who responded to the advertisements. Hodge set the prices and collected the payments from customers after the encounters. Hodge, 29, of Calumet City, Ill., pleaded guilty last year to a federal charge of enticing a minor to engage in commercial sex. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Martha M. Pacold on Wednesday ordered Hodge to pay $180,000 in restitution to the victim. The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lansing, Ill., Police Department, Calumet City, Ill. Police Department, and Richton Park, Ill., Police Department. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Kelly. If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.


title: Two Former Arkansas Sheriff’s Deputies Plead Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Violations for Violently Assaulting a Man They Arrested

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: Two former Crawford County, Arkansas, sheriff’s deputies, Levi White, 34, and Zackary King, 28, pleaded guilty to federal civil rights offenses for using unlawful force on a man they arrested. “The defendants swore an oath to uphold the law, then violated that oath and abused their power by assaulting a person who was pinned to the ground and not resisting,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “These defendants will now face the serious consequences that result from their unlawful actions. The Justice Department will continue to protect the right of every person in this country to be free of excessive force by law enforcement officers.” “The videos from this incident are a shocking display of the violent deprivation of civil rights committed by these officers,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Fowlkes for the Western District of Arkansas. “No person in police custody should ever feel threatened or should ever experience violence at the hands of those who are sworn to protect the public. We will continue to vigorously pursue justice in cases involving the violation of civil rights in the Western District of Arkansas.” “The violent and abusive actions of these two men, who were sworn to serve and protect our community, are unacceptable,” said Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Law enforcement officers hold positions with significant authority and influence, and their credibility in the eyes of the American people depends on their ability to maintain integrity. These guilty pleas serve as a reminder that the FBI will continue to hold accountable those who take advantage of their positions and will always fight to protect the civil rights of all Americans.” “Disgraceful actions, like those of the two Crawford County sheriff’s deputies, negatively impact all members of Arkansas law enforcement,” said Special Agent in Charge Alicia D. Corder of the FBI Little Rock Field Office. “A gun and a badge do not give someone the right to ignore the Constitution. The FBI’s ArkTrust Task Force will continue to work to restore the public’s trust in law enforcement by investigating officers who violate the civil rights of citizens in our community.” According to court documents, White, King and a third officer approached a man identified as R.W. in a gas station parking lot on Aug. 21, 2022, during their investigation into a person threatening a store attendant. R.W. lunged at White and tackled him, then all three officers quickly subdued R.W. and pinned him to the ground. After R.W. was pinned to the ground and no longer fighting the officers, King kicked R.W. in the back and struck R.W. once in the midsection with his fist. At approximately the same time, White punched R.W. at least nine times in the head, then lifted R.W.’s head and slammed it into the pavement. The third officer did not strike R.W. R.W. suffered head injuries from the assault. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled at a later date. White faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. King faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI Little Rock Field Office and ARKTrust Task Force investigated the case. Special Litigation Counsel Michael J. Songer and Trial Attorneys Lia Rettammel and Anna Gotfryd of the Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dustin Roberts and Devon Still for the Western District of Arkansas are prosecuting the case.


title: April Federal Grand Jury 2023-B Indictments Announced

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the April Federal Grand Jury 2023-B Indictments. The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence. Edy Adonay Ayala-Carbajal. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Ayala-Carbajal, 36, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Sep. 2011, at or near Dallas, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ammon Brisolara is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-122 Dylan Lee Boyd. Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force and Threat in Indian Country; Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country; Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor in Indian Country; Commission of Felony Sex Offense Involving a Minor by a Registered Sex Offender. Boyd, 27, of Quapaw and a member of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, is charged with knowingly engaging in a sexual act by force and threat with a minor victim under 16 years old in Nov. 2020. He allegedly knowingly engaged in sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact with the minor victim. Boyd is further charged with committing a felony offense with a minor while being required to register as a sex offender. The Quapaw Nation Marshals Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey P. Todd is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-114 Darrius Malik Brown. Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number; Receipt of a Firearm While Under Indictment for a Felony; Distribution of Fentanyl; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (superseding). Brown, 25, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a handgun with the serial number removed. He allegedly possessed a firearm while he was under indictment. Brown knowingly distributed fentanyl and possessed a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Elmore is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-083 Chaz Chinsethagid. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor; Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country. Chinsethagid, 33, of Jenks, is charged with attempting to persuade, induce, and entice, an individual whom he believed had not attained the age of 18 years, to engage in sexual activity. He is further charged with knowingly receiving, possessing, and distributing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Chinsethagid allegedly possessed visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations, Tulsa Police Department, Collinsville Police Department, and Creek County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-123 Eric Enslow. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Obstructing, Delaying, and Affecting Commerce by Robbery; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Enslow, 35, transient, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition knowing he was previously convicted of felonies in Iowa. He allegedly affected interstate commerce by robbery and brandished a firearm during a crime of violence. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Brasher is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-124 Juan Jose Huerta; Miguel Angel Huerta; Carlos Pena-Villalba; Jose Fernando Flores Carillo; Roberto Carlos Valle. Drug Conspiracy (Count 1); Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Counts 2 & 8); Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute (Counts 3, 5 & 13); Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (Counts 4, 6, 9, 11 & 14); Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises (Counts 7 & 15); Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute (Count 10); Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Count 12). Juan Huerta, 57, a Mexican National; Miguel Huerta, 27, of Broken Arrow; Pena-Villalba, 53, a Mexican National; Carillo, 24, a Mexican National; Valle, 45, a Mexican National are charged with conspiring to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine. Juan Huerta and Pena-Villalba are charged with allegedly possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Valle is further charged with knowingly possessing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and more than 40 grams of fentanyl with intent to distribute. Juan Huerta and Miguel Huerta are further charged with knowingly possessing more than 40 grams of fentanyl with intent to distribute. Carillo allegedly also possessed fentanyl with intent to distribute. All are charged with possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking and with maintaining a residence to distribute drugs. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Nasar is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-118 Olegario Pinales Cobarrubias. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Cobarrubias, 42, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in May 2008, at or near Del Rio, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy M. Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-115 Edwin Orlando Rios-Mejia. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien; Tampering with Evidence. Rios-Mejia, 25, a Honduras national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Sep. 2019, at or near Houston, Texas. He is further charged with evidence tampering. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheryl L. Baber is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-116 Juan Daniel Rodriguez; Adrian Hernandez Barrios; Adolfo Jacobo; Jesus Ponce Alcaraz; Aureliano Rodriguez Hernandez; Felecia Martinez, Luis Martinez; Marco Antonio Monreal Lopez; Juan Luis Luna; Bulmaro Martinez; Cesar Barrera-Gonzalez; Jorge Mario Piedra Hernandez. Drug Conspiracy (Count 1); Drug Conspiracy (Count 2); Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (Count 3); Distribution of Methamphetamine (Counts 4 through 6); Distribution of Methamphetamine (Count 7); Distribution of Methamphetamine (Count 8); Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Counts 9 & 11); Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises (Counts 10, 12 & 14); Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Count 13); Distribution of Cocaine (Counts 15 & 16) (superseding). Rodriguez, 18, of Tulsa; Barrios, 28, of Tulsa and a Mexican national; Jacobo, 28, of Tulsa; Alcaraz, 30, a Mexican national; Aureliano Hernandez, 38, a Mexican national; Felecia Martinez, 39 of Tulsa and a member of the Potawatomi Nation; Luis Martinez, 37, a Mexican national; Lopez, 41, a Mexican National; Luna, 41, a Mexican National are charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. Barrios, Jacobo, Alcaraz, Barrera-Gonzalez, 27, a Mexican national, Bulmaro Martinez, 38, a Mexican national, Jorge Hernandez, 38, a Mexican national are also charged with conspiring to distribute cocaine. Barrios is further charged with possessing a firearm while drug trafficking, and intentionally distributing methamphetamine and more than 50 grams of a mixture that contains methamphetamine. Rodriguez is charged with allegedly distributing more than 500 grams of a mixture that contains methamphetamine. Rodriguez, Aureliano Hernandez, and Felecia Martinez are further charged with maintaining a residence to distribute methamphetamine. Additionally, Felecia Martinez is charged with possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and Alcaraz is further charged with distributing cocaine. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam D. McConney is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-078 Gerson Armando Romero Salazar. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm. Salazar, 22, an El Salvador national, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition knowing he was unlawfully in the United States. The Homeland Security Investigations and Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shakema M. Onias is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-125 Richard Joseph Schweiger. Felon in Possession of a Firearm (Count 1); Drug Conspiracy (Count 2); Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury (Counts 3 & 6); Distribution of Heroin Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury (Count 4); Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death; Prior Conviction Allegation for a Felony Drug Offense (Count 5) (superseding). Schweiger, 48, of Sapulpa, is charged with possessing a firearm knowing he was previously convicted of felonies in Louisiana and Oklahoma. He is charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl since January 2022. It is alleged that during that time, Schweiger distributed fentanyl or heroin to at least three individuals, which resulted in serious bodily harm. He is further charged with knowingly distributing fentanyl, which resulted in the death of Barbara Ann Martin. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Creek County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Flesher is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-009 Brian Thomas Tate. Leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury Accident in Indian Country. Tate, 40, of Oilton and a member of the Pueblo of Laguna, is charged with failing to stay at the scene of an accident and rendering reasonable assistance to those injured in the accident. The FBI, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and Creek County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Ihler is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-129 Stanley Wayne Zackery, Jr. Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Suffocating and Attempting to Strangle and Suffocate in Indian Country; Robbery in Indian Country; Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country; Domestic Assault in Indian Country by a Habitual Offender. Zackery, 41, of Weleetka and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with assaulting a dating partner by strangling and suffocating the victim. He is accused of taking property of value from the victim by force and violence. Zackery is charged with assaulting the victim which resulted in serious bodily injury. Additionally, he is further charged with domestic assault after receiving felony convictions for domestic assault in Okfuskee District Court and the Eastern District of Oklahoma Federal Court. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Weems is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-117


title: Springfield Man Arrested for Distributing Fentanyl

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Springfield man has been arrested on drug related charges involving fentanyl. Emilio Garcia-Cappas, 27, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute 40 or more grams of fentanyl and one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Garcia-Cappas was arrested yesterday and, following an appearance in federal court in Springfield, was detained pending a hearing scheduled for a later date. According to the indictment, between Feb. 5, 2024 and Feb. 22, 2024, Garcia-Cappas allegedly conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 or more grams of fentanyl. The indictment further alleges that on Feb. 12, 2024, Garcia-Cappas distributed and possessed with intent to distribute fentanyl. The charge of conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $2 million. The charge of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers; and Brian A. Kyes, United States Marshal for the District of Massachusetts made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Fairbanks man charged with stealing guns from local firearm store

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging a Fairbanks man with stealing multiple guns from a local firearm dealer. According to court documents, on March 10, 2024, Darel Puller, 25, stole 22 firearms from a local gun store in Fairbanks. Twenty-one of those firearms were part of the business inventory, as reflected in count one of the indictment. One firearm belonged to the store’s owner that was not part of the businesses inventory, as reflected in count two of the indictment. The defendant will make his initial court appearance on a later date before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska and Chief Ron Dupee of the Fairbanks Police Department made the announcement. The Fairbanks Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Anchorage Field Office and Seattle Field Division are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mac Caille Petursson and Carly Vosacek 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: Federal Jury Finds Bloods Gang Member Guilty of Illegal Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: ST. PAUL, Minn. – A federal jury found a Brooklyn Center man guilty of possessing a firearm as a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to the evidence presented at trial, in the early morning hours of September 28, 2019, Dante Jospeh Tyus, 30, a member of the Minneapolis Bloods street gang, was stopped by the Minnesota State Patrol for driving erratically. Tyus, who showed obvious signs of intoxication, was arrested for driving under the influence. Tyus’s vehicle was towed and impounded. After being booked at the Hennepin County Jail, Tyus made a series of recorded calls expressing concern to his girlfriend and enlisting her assistance in recovering a firearm that was hidden inside his vehicle. Law enforcement obtained a warrant to search the vehicle and recovered a 9mm semiautomatic handgun hidden inside a door panel. Because Tyus has prior felony convictions in Hennepin County, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time. Following a four-day trial in U.S. District Court before Judge Susan Richard Nelson, Tyus was found guilty of possessing a firearm as a felon. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Minnesota State Patrol, and the Minneapolis Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carla J. Baumel and Allen A. Slaughter tried the case.


title: Jenks Man Sentenced for Second-Degree Murder

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Bradley Wade Wofford, 37, of Jenks, for Second Degree Murder in Indian Country. Judge Heil ordered Wofford to serve 235 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release. According to court documents, Wofford was driving under the influence of methamphetamine. He ran into a car driven by Scotty Dilbeck, killing him. Wofford was previously convicted of driving under the influence on four separate occasions. He is a citizen of Cherokee Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The FBI and Oklahoma Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi prosecuted the case.


title: Three Sentenced in International Controlled Substances and Prescription Drug Trafficking Operation

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced that on April 19, 2024, Paul Bateman, 47, a citizen of the United Kingdom who previously resided in Laos, was sentenced in the United States District Court following his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including the opiates Tapentadol and Tramadol, as well as other drugs that required a prescription. Bateman had been extradited from the United Kingdom to face charges. Chief Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford sentenced Bateman, who has spent approximately 20 months in custody, to a sentence of time-served, with no supervision to follow, as the defendant is expected to be deported to the United Kingdom upon the completion of his sentence. Previously sentenced in connection with this case were Bateman’s co-conspirators, Samir Doshi and Rebecca Buckley. In February 2019, following his guilty pleas to conspiracy to distribute Schedule IV controlled substances and violating the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, United States District Judge Christina Reiss sentenced Doshi to time served after Doshi had served about six months in jail. He also was ordered to forfeit $20,000. In September 2020, following her guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, Judge Reiss sentenced Buckley to five years of probation and forfeiture of $349,712.10. According to court records, between in or about 2015 and in or about August 2019, Paul Bateman worked with others, including Buckley and Doshi, to distribute controlled substances and other prescription drugs over the internet. Bateman was a search engine optimizer (“SEO”) responsible for creating and maintaining websites that offered controlled substances and other drugs for sale. Bateman also took steps to improve the ranking of his websites in response to customer searches. The websites created by Bateman did not ask for or require a prescription prior to the distribution of controlled substances and other drugs. In or about 2015, Bateman began working with Buckley, who provided customer service and credit card processing for customer orders made through Bateman’s websites. After customers paid Buckley, Buckley sent some of the proceeds to Bateman, typically via wire transfer. Bateman used some of this money to pay suppliers and others while keeping some for himself. The websites that Bateman and Buckley operated sold drugs such as Modafinil, a wakefulness-promoting drug that is a Schedule IV controlled substance, and prescription medications for erectile dysfunction. Bateman also worked with Samir Doshi. In or about 2016 or 2017, Bateman and Doshi met in Thailand and discussed a business relationship in which Bateman would build websites for Doshi for the sale of Schedule IV controlled substances Tramadol (an opiate pain reliever) and Soma (also known as, Carisoprodol, a muscle relaxant). Doshi provided Bateman with $2,000 to build those websites. After that meeting, Bateman created websites for the sale of Tramadol and Soma. Bateman also received commission payments from Doshi. In or about May 2018, Bateman and Doshi began marketing Tapentadol to customers, including by drafting and sending an email introducing Tapentadol as a product for sale. Tapentadol is an opiate classified as a Schedule II controlled substance. This investigation was led by the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and the United States Marshals Service substantially assisted with Bateman’s extradition from the United Kingdom to the United States. United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the efforts of law enforcement and stated, “From behind their computer screens, Bateman and his co-conspirators were responsible for distributing dangerous opiates and unregulated, prescription drugs to consumers throughout the United States and across the globe for profit. Some consumers were located in Vermont, and none of the defendants were licensed to prescribe in Vermont. This case demonstrates law enforcement’s commitment to halting this conduct and bringing those responsible to justice, even when they are located abroad.” “Prescription drugs that are smuggled from overseas and are outside the secure supply chain can present a serious health risk to those who use them. The drugs may contain unknown or dangerous ingredients and are manufactured under unknown or unregulated conditions,” said Special Agent in Charge Fernando P. McMillan, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations New York Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who traffic in illegal prescription drugs.” Bateman was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Steven L. Barth. Doshi was represented by Mark A. Kaplan, Esq. Buckley was represented by Matthew Hart, Esq. Assistant U. S. Attorneys Andrew C. Gilman and John J. Boscia represented the United States.


title: Informational: Federal Court arraignments

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: BILLINGS — The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared recently before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt: Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on April 16 was: Leon Boyd Messerly, 63 of Fort Belknap, on charges of assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury and domestic assault by habitual offender. If convicted of the most serious crime, Messerly faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Messerly was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Rocky Boy’s Law Enforcement and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement conducted the investigation. PACER Case No. 24-20. Colten Small, 21, of Box Elder, on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. If convicted of the most serious crime, Small faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Small was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Rocky Boy’s Law Enforcement conducted the investigation. PACER Case No. 24-17. Edmund Taylor Madarassy IV, 27, of Ennis, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, Madarassy faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Madarassy was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Helena Police Department and Montana Probation & Parole conducted the investigation. PACER Case No. 24-10. Appearing on a criminal complaint was: Levi Eric Newton, 29, of Bainville, on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted of the most serious crime, Newton faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $20 million fine and five years of supervised release. Newton was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Valley County Sheriff’s Office, Phillips County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Peck Police Department and Williston (North Dakota) Police Department conducted the investigation. PACER Case No. 24-34. Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on April 17 was: Kyle James Jonas, 32, of Park City, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession of a stolen firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Jonas faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Jonas was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation. PACER Case No. 24-41. Appearing on April 15 was: Alexander Mikhail Lyles, 37, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, Lyles faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Lyles was detained pending further proceedings. The Billings Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. PACER Case No. 23-122. Angelena Emma Lafave, 58, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Lafave faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Lafave was detained pending further proceedings. The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, Billings Police Department and U.S. Postal Service conducted the investigation. PACER Case No. 24-34. The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html . To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl . XXX


title: Owner of tax preparation business indicted for tax fraud charges

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – On April 11, a south Florida grand jury returned an indictment charging the owner of a tax preparations business with 15 counts of aiding and assisting the preparation of false tax returns and one count of contempt of court. The indictment alleges that from tax years 2016 through 2021, Beatriz Toledo, 60, of Hialeah, Florida, through her company, Immigration and Tax Service Group LLC, willfully prepared false and fraudulent tax returns for clients, which included false claims for the Residential Energy Credit, which allowed taxpayers to claim a credit for qualified energy-saving expenses, and false itemized deductions for state and local sales taxes, business expenses, and other itemized deductions. The indictment further alleges that as a result of these false claims, Toledo’s clients’ taxable income decreased thereby increasing their tax refund. The indictment also alleges that Toledo’s preparation of false tax returns on behalf of her clients were in violation of a permanent injunction previously entered against her by a federal district judge in 2010 (Case No. 09-cv-21987). In 2009, the United States filed a suit against Toledo seeking to bar her from preparing false tax returns. Toledo then signed a joint motion for entry of a permanent injunction, which the district court entered on July 26, 2020. That injunction prohibited Toledo from, among other things, preparing false tax returns through inflated claims for the deduction of business or employee expenses, assisting or aiding others to evade the payment of taxes or to prepare false or fraudulent federal income tax returns, and preparing or assisting others in preparing documents that materially understated an individual’s income tax liability. Despite these prohibitions, Toledo continued to prepare false tax returns by overstating claims for the Residential Energy Credit and itemized deductions to reduce her clients’ tax liability for tax years 2016 through 2021, as per the allegations in the indictment. On April 18, Toledo made her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman. If convicted, Toledo faces up to three years in prison per count and a fine of up to $250,000 on the tax charges, and up to life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the contempt of court charge. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Matthew D. Line of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Office made the announcement. IRS-CI, Miami Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Will J. Rosenzweig is prosecuting it. An indictment contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 24-cr-20147. ###