title: Woman admits assaulting victim in Browning on Blackfeet Indian Reservation

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Browning woman accused of striking another woman from behind, causing serious injury to the victim’s eye, in Browning, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, admitted to an assault charge today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, Autumn Rose Rider, 30, pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Rider faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for March 20, 2025. Rider was detained pending further proceedings. In court documents, the government alleged that on July 24, 2022, the victim, Jane Doe, and Rider’s father drove Rider to a residence in Browning. While Jane Doe was standing outside of the vehicle and getting back into the car, Rider hit her from behind. The assault caused a laceration and caused Jane Doe to feel like there was a piece of glass in her eye. The victim was not sure if Rider hit her with a bottle or struck her with a fist and broke her glasses. Jane Doe was ultimately transported to Kalispell Regional Hospital for treatment of injuries to her eye and face. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Chinese national sentenced in illegal wildlife guide-outfitter scheme

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A Chinese national was sentenced today to two years’ supervised release and agreed to turn over to the United States over $73,000 and a luxury vehicle related to an illegal guide-outfitter scheme he ran for over a year. According to court documents, beginning in August 2021, Jun “Harry” Liang, 41, and his co-conspirator Brian Phelan, 53, of Fairbanks, conspired to provide guide-outfitter services for caribou and brown bear hunts out of Fairbanks. Neither defendant was licensed by the state of Alaska as a big game guide-outfitter. During the 2022 hunting season, Liang collected $60,000 in advance payments from two undercover agents posing as non-resident hunters in exchange for guide-outfitter services for a brown bear hunt. The money was transferred to Liang’s account through wire transfer and deposited checks. In furtherance of completing the hunt, in August 2022, Liang and Phelan falsely informed the Alaska Department of Fish and Game that Phelan was the brother-in-law of the two undercover agents, which ultimately led the Department to issue a non-resident brown bear permit and tag based on fraudulent information. On Sept. 20, 2024, Liang pleaded guilty to one count of Lacey Act false labeling, and additional violations for failing to obtain a special recreation permit and engaging in business in park areas without a permit in Denali National Park. As part of his sentence for the Lacey Action violation, Liang is also required to pay a $10,000 fine. For guiding without a license on Federal Land, he will pay over $9,000 in restitution to the Bureau of Land Management. On Dec. 30, 2024, Phelan was sentenced to two and a half years’ probation and fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to two counts of violating a regulation for management, use and protection of BLM land, and one count of Lacey Act false labeling. “Hunting is a vital part of Alaskan communities, and Mr. Liang and Mr. Phelan unjustly enriched themselves through their conspiracy, harming law-abiding guide-outfitters in our state,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their dedication in dismantling Mr. Liang’s illegal operations and upholding our conservation laws. Hopefully this sentence, including the forfeiture of tens of thousands of dollars and goods, will deter others from committing wildlife violations.” “This sentencing emphasizes our unwavering commitment to safeguarding wildlife and upholding the integrity of our conservation laws,” said Assistant Director Edward Grace, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement will tirelessly pursue anyone exploiting our nation’s wildlife and attempting to make a profit from violating our wildlife laws. Individuals engaging in illegal hunting and guiding activities not only threaten our natural resources but also erode the trust and reputation of dedicated hunters and ethical guides within our communities. The defendants fraudulently secured over $70,000 in payments from hunters through these illegal activities. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement will remain vigilant in its efforts to investigate and prosecute those who violate wildlife laws and regulations and related offenses.” The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, Alaska Region, with assistance from U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and IRS Criminal Investigation Service, Seattle Field Office, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carly Vosacek and Steve Skrocki prosecuted the case. ###


title: Two Southern California Men Who Supplied Fentanyl Sold to Darknet  Customers in All 50 States Sentenced to Federal Prison

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: SANTA ANA, California – An Orange County man and South Los Angeles man were sentenced today to federal prison for supplying fentanyl-laced pills to a drug trafficking ring that sold these drugs to more than 1,000 customers nationwide via the dark web. Adan Ruiz, 27, of Garden Grove, was sentenced by United States District Judge David O. Carter to 215 months (17 years, 11 months) in federal prison. Judge Carter separately sentenced Omar Navia, 39, of South Los Angeles to 180 months (15 years) in federal prison. In imposing the sentences, Judge Carter at today’s hearings called this case “the most sophisticated fentanyl distribution ring that this court has seen.” Navia pleaded guilty on April 29 to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Ruiz pleaded guilty on June 3 to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of distribution of fentanyl. Both defendants have been in federal custody since November 2023. Navia and Ruiz admitted in their plea agreements that, from at least August 2021 to December 2022, they supplied fentanyl-laced pills to Michael Ta, 26, of Westminster, and Rajiv Srinivasan, 38, of Houston, who used the darknet and encrypted messaging applications to sell more than 120,000 fentanyl-laced pills and other drugs to more than 1,000 customers across the country, causing several fatal overdoses in the process. Navia further admitted to supplying methamphetamine to Ta and Srinivasan’s drug trafficking operation. Srinivasan operated the account “redlightlabs” on multiple darknet marketplaces, including the site “Dark0de.” Srinivasan and Ta used the redlightlabs account to advertise and sell counterfeit M30 oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and other illicit drugs. Srinivasan also used the encrypted messaging application Wickr to communicate with and sell drugs to customers. Srinivasan received virtual currency as payment for the drugs and then routed that virtual currency through cryptocurrency exchanges. Ta communicated with Srinivasan about drug orders, obtained fentanyl-laced pills and methamphetamine from sources of supply, stored those drugs in his residence, and mailed out packages with drugs to customers who had ordered them from Srinivasan on the “redlightlabs” account. From at least February 2022 to November 2022, Srinivasan and Ta engaged in at least 3,800 drug deals to approximately 1,400 customers in all 50 U.S. states, totaling more than 123,000 fentanyl-laced M30 pills, more than 9 kilograms (20 pounds) of methamphetamine, nearly 300 grams of “China white” (fentanyl powder) and black tar heroin, and 27 grams of cocaine. Ta and Srinivasan admitted in their plea agreements to causing the fentanyl overdose deaths of three victims. Both defendants further admitted to distributing fentanyl-laced pills to two additional victims, both of whom suffered fatal drug overdoses shortly after they received the pills from Ta and Srinivasan. Ta pleaded guilty in August 2023 to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and is serving a prison sentence of 260 months (21 years and eight months). Srinivasan pleaded guilty in June 2023 to the same charge and to one count of distributing fentanyl resulting in death and is serving a prison sentence of 235 months (19 years and seven months). The FBI investigated this matter. The United States Postal Inspection Service, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas provided substantial assistance. The investigation in this matter was conducted under the auspices of the FBI-led Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement Team (JCODE), which targets darknet vendors by using sophisticated, high-tech techniques to identify drug traffickers who wrongly believe the dark web allows them to engage in criminal conduct with anonymity. Since its inception in 2018, JCODE investigations have resulted in the arrest of more than 300 darknet drug traffickers, as well as the seizure of more than $42 million in drug-tainted proceeds, over 800 kilograms of narcotics, and approximately 145 firearms. The Northern Colorado Drug Task Force (NCDTF) also helped investigate this matter. NCDTF works to protect the community by identifying, investigating, and impacting drug-related crime in Larimer County. Participating agencies who make this effort possible include Fort Collins Police Services, Larimer County Sheriff's Office, Loveland Police Department, Windsor Police Department, the Eighth Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and Colorado Adult Parole. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Fayetteville Resident Agency also assisted during the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Gregg E. Marmaro of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section prosecuted this case.


title: Felon Sentenced To 30 Months For Unlawfully Dealing Firearms On Social Media

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Leonel Castillo, 34, of Denver, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of Engaging in a Business of Dealing Firearms without a Federal Firearms License. According to the plea agreement, between September 2022 and May 2023, Castillo operated a business utilizing Facebook to raffle items including firearms. Castillo purchased firearms from federal firearms licensees or third-party private sellers. He then held interactive raffles on Facebook in which participants paid for the chance to win the firearms. Castillo would then have federal firearms licensees transfer the firearms to the winners of the raffles, sometimes through straw transfers. Castillo was a felon and prohibited from possessing firearms throughout the time he ran this business. “Criminals who deal firearms illegally can’t escape consequences by using social media as their marketplace,” said United States Attorney Matt Kirsch. “I am grateful that our partners at the ATF were able to investigate this unusual scheme and that our office was able to bring this person to justice.” United States District Court Judge Nina Y Wang presided over the sentencing. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Albert Buchman handled the prosecution. 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. Case Number: 23-cr-00326-NYW


title: Corpus Christi man convicted of weapons charge

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A federal jury in Corpus Christi has returned a guilty verdict against a 30-year-old local man for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. The jury deliberated for 17 minutes following a one-day trial before finding Michael Pulido guilty. On Feb. 7, 2024, authorities arrived at a local apartment complex following a criminal mischief complaint. The investigation led them to Pulido who had fired four gunshots inside his apartment. They checked his criminal history and discovered Pulido had been previously convicted of a felony. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition per federal law. At trial, the defense attempted to convince the jury that the gun belonged to someone else. They were not convinced and found him guilty as charged. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos presided over the trial and set sentencing for April 15, at which time Pulido faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Corpus Christi Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Yasmine Tucker and Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.


title: Edinburg doctor and son guilty in kickback conspiracy

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 75-year-old Edinburg physician and his 43-year-old son both pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive kickbacks in exchange for referring prescriptions to local pharmacies, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Dr. Tajul Shams Chowdhury, a licensed physician, owned and operated a medical practice in Edinburg called Center for Pain Management. His son, Mohammad Imtiaz Chowdhury, worked as a purported marketer for a local pharmacy. According to court documents, prescriptions for costly compound drugs were referred from Dr. Chowdhury’s clinic in exchange for kickback payments made from the pharmacy to Mohammad Chowdhury. In total, Mohammad Chowdhury was paid $6.6 million in kickbacks as part of the scheme. Both men were permitted to remain on bond pending their sentencing, which is currently scheduled for March 25 before Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane. At that time, both men face up to five years in prison and a maximum $250,000 possible fine. The U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General (OIG), Department of Labor – OIG, FBI, Department of Defense – Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Department of Veteran Affairs – OIG, Department of Health and Human Services - OIG and Texas Health and Human Services - OIG conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Swartz is prosecuting the case.


title: Trafficker Sentenced to 19.5 Years in Prison for Supplying Weapons and Ammunition to Sinaloa Cartel

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – January 13, 2025 SAN DIEGO – Keith Octavio Rodriguez Padilla, a prolific firearms trafficker, was sentenced in federal court today to 19.5 years in custody for his role in supplying weapons and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition to the Sinaloa Cartel. This case is part of a long-running investigation targeting the Valenzuela Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO), which was a significant component of the Sinaloa Cartel. The Valenzuela TCO was one of the largest importers of cocaine into the United States. The TCO sourced cocaine and other controlled substances (including fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana) from South America and Mexico, transported the drugs to multiple locations along the U.S.-Mexico border using commercial trucking companies, smuggled the drugs into the country, and distributed them throughout the United States. The TCO then smuggled the bulk cash proceeds from its drug trafficking activities back to the TCO’s leadership in Mexico. According to court records, throughout 2020, the Valenzuela TCO, including one of its leaders, Jorge Alberto Valenzuela Valenzuela, was engaged in violent conflict with another component of the Sinaloa Cartel led by Ivan Archivaldo Guzman-Salazar. During this conflict, Jorge’s brother and previous TCO leader, Gabriel Valenzuela-Valenzuela, was killed. This led the Valenzuela TCO to procure large quantities of firearms, ammunition, tactical gear, armored vehicles, and ballistic vests. A considerable number of these items were sourced from within the United States and clandestinely smuggled into Mexico, using numerous arms trafficking networks. During the multi-year investigation, agents identified Keith Octavio Rodriguez Padilla as a firearms and ammunition trafficker and broker for the TCO. Rodriguez Padilla and his co-conspirators worked with high-ranking organization members to supply firearms to the TCO. These firearms ranged from .50 caliber rifles, submachine guns, and grenade launchers to assault style rifles (AK-47s, AR-15s, FN SCARs) and handguns. In addition to the weapons, Rodriguez Padilla and his co-conspirators supplied tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition to the TCO. Some of these weapons and ammunition were acquired in the United States, including from California, Arizona, and Nevada, and then smuggled through the Ports of Entry in San Diego and Arizona to Mexico. For example, on November 20, 2020, DEA and HSI agents initiated surveillance at a commercial truck yard being operated by the Valenzuela TCO in the Otay Mesa area of San Diego. Agents ultimately obtained a search warrant for this truck yard and during the search, seized approximately $3,078,880 in bulk U.S. currency, approximately 685 kilograms of cocaine, 24 kilograms of fentanyl, and a pickup truck with a trap gas tank the size of half the truck bed were discovered. The truck yard contained numerous tractors-trailers, along with numerous other vehicles. Inside one of the trailers, agents seized approximately 20,000 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition, along with approximately 427 ballistic plate carriers, approximately 1,000 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition, and approximately 104 magazines for .50 caliber ammunition. Agents learned that Rodriguez Padilla had purchased the .50 caliber ammunition on behalf of the TCO. To date, this investigation has resulted in charges against 109 defendants and the seizure of approximately 2,000 kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl, more than $16 million in cash, and 21,000 rounds of ammunition. “Guns and ammunition smuggled into Mexico support cartels and empower drug traffickers,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “This case continues to deal blow after blow to that infrastructure, sending a clear message: DOJ will prosecute every angle of cartel operations – from drug importation to money laundering to arms trafficking – to combat death and destruction on both sides of the border.” “Today’s sentencing is a direct result of the hard work and collaboration between Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and our law enforcement partners. This extensive investigation highlights our unwavering commitment to protecting our country and communities from the dangers of illegal firearms trafficking,” said Shawn Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of HSI San Diego. “We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the drug trafficking organizations are disrupted and held accountable.” “Weapons trafficking fuels drug-related violence,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian Clark. “Money and greed are the foundation of the Sinaloa cartel business model and Padilla provided a lifeline by trafficking firearms. This sentence underscores our commitment to aggressively pursue the Sinaloa Cartel at every level, to include all facilitators who profit from drug-related violence. Strong relationships between law enforcement agencies have proven invaluable as we work together to save lives.” “This multi-year investigation and lengthy federal prison sentence highlights the hard work, dedication, and cooperation of multiple law enforcement agencies to disrupt and dismantle violent transnational criminal organizations,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Travis Holland. “Today’s sentence serves as a reminder, we will continue to leverage the strength of federal, state, and local law enforcement to bring justice against the Cartels and individuals working on their behalf.” “Mr. Padilla’s role in trafficking weapons and ammunition not only facilitated violence between cartel organizations, but also facilitated the endangerment of American citizens as these transnational criminal organizations bring dangerous and deadly drugs into the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “This sentencing demonstrates the result of well-coordinated investigations and the effectiveness of our partnered investigations. Protecting American citizens is the number one priority for every law enforcement organization, and IRS-CI is proud to be a partner in this investigation.” This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. Sutton and Mikaela Weber. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. DEFENDANT Case Number 21-cr-2960-AGS Keith Octavio Rodriguez Padilla Age: 39 Rialto, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES International Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine for Purpose of Unlawful Importation, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 959, 960 and 963. Maximum Penalty: Mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life in prison, $10 million fine. Conspiracy to Import Cocaine, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 952, 960 and 963. Maximum Penalty: Mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life in prison, $10 million fine. Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846. Maximum Penalty: Mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life in prison, $10 million fine. Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. 1956(h). Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved. Conspiracy to Smuggle Goods, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. §§ 371 and 554(a). Maximum Penalty: Five years in prison, fine of $250,000. INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Homeland Security Investigations Drug Enforcement Administration Federal Bureau of Investigation Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation United States Marshals Service Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations Customs and Border Protection, Office of Border Patrol Department of Justice, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Department of Justice, Office of Enforcement Operations Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs San Diego County Sheriff’s Department San Diego Police Department Border Crime Suppression Team San Diego County District Attorney’s Office


title: Six Charged Federally in Glock Switch Takedown

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

body_text: Six federal defendants involved in the sale of switches via social media were arrested in a joint takedown by ATF Dallas and the Irving Police Department on Thursday, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Marnelius Burks, 20, Marco Cabrales, 22, Royce Weaver, 21, were charged in one indictment with possession and transfer of a machinegun, aiding and abetting the possession and transfer of a machinegun, and conspiracy to possess and transfer a machinegun. Damien Sereseroz, 21, and Gracie Valadez, 20, were charged in a separate indictment with aiding and abetting the possession and transfer of a machine gun. Anthony Joel Cantu, 18, was charged via criminal complaint with possession of a machinegun. The defendants made their initial appearances in federal court on Monday. “Six months ago, we pledged to deploy the full force of the federal government against those who traffic in machinegun conversion devices. With the help of our law enforcement partners, we’ve done just that,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “In the hands of a criminal, these illegal devices exponentially increase a firearm’s lethality. We will not allow them to overtake our streets.” “Unfortunately for the bad guys, the good guys work together. It may not always look that way in Hollywood, but fortunately for our citizens, we work better together than any criminal organization out there. We promised an all-out blitz on machine gun conversion devices last year, and this case shows that our team has all the momentum. I would like to thank the Irving Police Department, specifically their ultra talented detective team, and all our law enforcement partners for this collective win for the people of the DFW metroplex” stated ATF Dallas Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II. “I want to commend the collaborative effort between the Irving Police Department and ATF Dallas in addressing the serious issue of illegal firearm modifications. Our commitment to public safety remains unwavering, and we will continue to work diligently to prevent the proliferation of dangerous weapons in our community.” According to court documents, Mr. Burks and Mr. Weaver allegedly ordered switches from China off the internet and had them shipped to North Texas. Mr. Cabrales allegedly advertised the switches on social media and sold them to an undercover. Mr. Cantu also allegedly advertised the sale of switches, as well as drop-in sears, on social media. On Dec. 3, 2024, he allegedly met with an undercover officer to deliver one. When asked if the sear in question made rifles fire fully automatic, Mr. Cantu allegedly responded, “hell yeah, my boy,” and said he had one on his own AR-style pistol. Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations of criminal conduct, not evidence. Mr. Burks, Mr. Cabrales, Mr. Weaver, Mr. Sereseroz, Ms. Valdez, and Mr. Cantu are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted, they each face up to 10 years in federal prison. Two juveniles arrested in the takedown are being charged by the state. They, too, are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division and Irving Police Department conducted the investigation with the help of Homeland Security Investigation’s Dallas Field Office and the Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marissa Aulbaugh and Eric B. Chen are prosecuting the cases. Thursday’s takedown was part of “ Operation Texas Kill Switch ,” a statewide initiative taking aim at machinegun conversion devices, also known as “switches,” which transform commercially available semi-automatic firearms into fully-automatic weapons capable of firing faster than military-grade machine guns. Launched by U.S. Attorneys Leigha Simonton, Alamdar Hamdani, Damien Diggs, and Jaime Esparza in June 2024, Operation Texas Kill Switch relies on partnerships with state and local law enforcement as well as rewards offered by Crime Stoppers. The arrests were also part of Irving Police Department’s “Operation Reel Switch,” targeting the illegal possession and distribution of machinegun conversion devices in the metroplex. A partnership between Irving Police, ATF Dallas and Homeland Security Investigations Dallas, Operation Reel Switch was launched in September 2024. To date, law enforcement involved in the operation have seized 38 machinegun conversion devices and several guns.


title: Minnesota Man Charged with Hate Crime for Assault Against Black Man

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A Minnesota man was indicted today and charged with federal hate crime offenses for assaulting a Black man outside of a bar, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to the indictment that was unsealed this afternoon, on or about February 3, 2024, Justin Anthony Kudla, 35, used force or the threat of force to injure, intimidate, and interfere with the victim – a Black man identified in the indictment as Victim 1 – because of Victim 1’s race, color, religion and/or national origin, and because Victim 1 was enjoying the goods, services, and accommodations of a local bar. The indictment also charges Kudla with willfully causing bodily injury to Victim 1 because of Victim 1’s actual and perceived race. The indictment charges Kudla with one count of interference with federally protected activities and one count of hate crime. He made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court today before Magistrate Judge Dulce J. Foster. If convicted of the hate crime offenses, Kudla faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each offense and a fine of up to $250,000. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI Minneapolis Field Office, with assistance from the Belle Plaine Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Gilead for the District of Minnesota and Trial Attorneys Katherine G. DeVar and Briana M. Clark of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Child Sexual Predator Sentenced to Prison

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Glenn Raymond Breeden, 56, of Orlando, Florida, was sentenced today to 120 months’ imprisonment and a lifetime of supervised release after planning via cell phone to engage in sexual activity with someone he believed was a minor. The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Howard C. Nielson, Jr., comes after Breeden pleaded guilty in June 2024 to coercion and enticement/attempted coercion and enticement. According to court documents and statements made at Breeden’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, in January 2024, Breeden traveled from Florida to Utah. While in Utah, Breeden communicated via cell phone with an undercover law enforcement officer who he believed was the father of a child under the age of 12. Breeden told the father he planned to engage in sexual activity with the minor. Upon opening the door at a hotel in Salt Lake City to let the father and child into the hotel, Breeden was met by law enforcement and arrested. The case was investigated by the West Valley Police Department and the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Joey Blanch of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Spiro Resident Pleads Guilty To Possessing An Unregistered Firearm

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Bryant Dewayne Underwood, age 36, of Spiro, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of An Unregistered Firearm. The Indictment alleged that on October 26, 2023, Underwood knowingly possessed one 5.56 NATO (.223) caliber, short-barreled rifle which was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the LeFlore County Sheriff’s Office. The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Underwood will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarrod Leaman and Edith Singer represented the United States.


title: Mexican National Sentenced To 33 Months In Federal Prison For Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Esteban Suarez Trejo (33, Mexico) to 33 months in federal prison for illegal reentry into the United States after deportation by a felon. Suarez Trejo pleaded guilty on October 4, 2024. According to court documents, Suarez Trejo was convicted of aggravated assault on January 4, 2010, and deported from the United States to Mexico. Following his deportation, Suarez Trejo illegally reentered the United States. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick L. Darcey.


title: Pasco Man Sentenced To More Than 17 Years For Trafficking In Fentanyl And Methamphetamine

body_text: Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Gary Anthony Andrews (34, Holiday) to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and cocaine, and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. The court also ordered Andrews to forfeit a Hi-Point firearm and a Taurus firearm, which are instrumentalities of the offense. Andrews entered a guilty plea on September 27, 2024. According to court documents, on March 11, 2024, agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration arrested Andrews via criminal complaint as he was on his way to sell methamphetamine to a confidential source. Agents recovered approximately 897 grams of methamphetamine and oxycodone pills from the vehicle. Andrews also had two young children in the car. During a search warrant executed at Andrews’s home, agents recovered approximately 400 grams of methamphetamine, 9.9 grams of crack cocaine, scales, baggies, masks, and Narcan. Agents also located two loaded firearms in the home, one with a spent casing inside. Andrews was identified as the source of supply for another individual in the Tampa area. From October 2023 to March 11, 2024, Andrews was responsible for 2,491.8 grams of methamphetamine, 84.2 grams of fentanyl, and 9.9 grams of cocaine. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha E. Beckman.


title: Jacksonville Man Sentenced To More Than 18 Years In Federal Prison For Trafficking Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, And Cocaine

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan has sentenced Ronald Holland (46, Jacksonville) to 18 years and 9 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. The court also ordered Holland to forfeit $1,500, which represents proceeds of the offense, and multiple firearms seized during the investigation. Holland entered a guilty plea on March 26, 2024. According to court documents, between 2020 and 2023, Holland operated and managed a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in Jacksonville. Holland and his co-conspirators acquired bulk narcotics from Mexico-based sources of supply who trafficked the narcotics through Houston, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia to Jacksonville. Holland directed two of his underlings, Annette Jones and Janice Strong, to distribute the fentanyl and methamphetamine from two houses he operated off Verbena Road in Jacksonville. In 2022, federal agents and local law enforcement officers jointly investigated the drug trafficking activities of all three individuals. Between December 2022 and March 2023, agents conducted multiple controlled purchases of pure methamphetamine directly from Strong at one of the houses off Verbena Road. During this time, agents also conducted multiple controlled purchases of pure methamphetamine and fentanyl directly from Jones. Agents observed Holland re-supplying Jones and Strong, and accompanying Jones during drug transactions. Law enforcement officers also observed heavy foot traffic at the two houses off Verbena Road, which was indicative of drug trafficking activity. On March 15, 2023, federal agents and local law enforcement officers executed search warrants at Holland’s apartment off Harts Road and the two houses off Verbena Road. At Holland’s apartment, agents seized approximately 680 grams of cocaine, 173 grams of pure methamphetamine, 130 grams of fentanyl, assorted drug paraphernalia, and ammunition. At the Verbena Road houses, agents seized approximately 415 grams of pure methamphetamine, 50 grams of fentanyl, and $1,500. Agents also located a Springfield Armory pistol, a North American Arms revolver, a Savage Arms rifle, two Ruger pistols, extended magazines, assorted ammunition, and a bulletproof vest. According to the joint investigation, Holland was responsible for distributing more than 50 kilograms of pure methamphetamine, over 5 kilograms of fentanyl, and 680 grams of cocaine during the drug trafficking conspiracy. In a related case, Annette Jones pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Janice Strong was indicted, and her case is pending trial. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Aakash Singh. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Ocala Man Pleads Guilty To Possessing A Firearm As A Convicted Felon

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Lewis Tinson, Jr. (29, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Tinson faces up to 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court records, on August 27, 2021, Tinson’s girlfriend called 911 because Tinson had placed a gun to her face earlier that day. When deputies from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office arrived, Tinson was outside the girlfriend’s home with firearms in his hands. Upon seeing the deputies, Tinson fled inside the residence and unsuccessfully tried to hide three loaded firearms in a clothes hamper. Tinson is a four-time convicted felon. All his prior felony convictions involve firearms—carjacking with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a delinquent, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and shooting at, within, or into a vehicle. As a convicted felon, Tinson is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Minnesota Woman Sentenced to Decade in Federal Prison for Defrauding Nail Salon Owner

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A Minnesota woman who defrauded a nail salon owner out of more than $100,000 and then engaged in “bill stuffing” at an Iowa casino to conceal the fraud proceeds was sentenced on January 10, 2025, to ten years in federal prison. Mary Kate Nguyen, age 37, from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, originally from Vietnam, received the prison term after an April 23, 2023, guilty plea to one count of wire fraud and one count of contempt of court. In her plea and sentencing hearings, Nguyen admitted that in 2016 she told the owner of a Minnesota nail salon that she operated a loan brokering business known as “My Second Chance Financing, Ltd.” Nguyen told the victim she could help build the victim’s credit by obtaining and then paying off loans for her. The victim provided various means of identification to Nguyen, who used the victim’s identity to obtain over $90,000 in loans at four different financial institutions. Nguyen also instructed the victim to make a series of wires with the loan proceeds to Iowa, purportedly to expedite the loan repayment process. Instead of paying off the loans in full, however, Nguyen used loan proceeds for her own benefit. Between December 2016, and February 2017, Nguyen and others acting at her direction engaged in “bill stuffing” at a casino in Northwood, Iowa. “Bill stuffing” is the practice of creating slot machine tickets by inserting currency and then cashing out those tickets at a casino in order to create a paper trail. By “bill stuffing,” Nguyen concealed the illegal source of the funds she had obtained. A grand jury indicted Nguyen in late 2021, and a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Minnesota released Nguyen pending trial. While on pretrial release in Minnesota, Nguyen used methamphetamine and eventually absconded from supervision. In September 2022, the United States Marshal’s Service arrested Nguyen in Minnesota. While on pretrial release in Minnesota, and later in a jail in Orange City, Iowa, Nguyen attempted to perpetrate a serious of financial frauds in Minnesota and North Dakota. Among other things, Nguyen repeatedly provided false and fraudulent bank statements and other financial documents to banks in attempts to obtain loans to purchase commercial and residential properties. In September 2022, Nguyen submitted the winning bid of $1.3 million to purchase the former federal courthouse in Bemidji, Minnesota. Nguyen also obstructed justice by threating to “hang” investigators. Nguyen has an extensive criminal history in Minnesota. Nguyen’s prior convictions include four convictions for theft by swindle and three convictions for driving while impaired, as well as convictions for theft by check, giving a peace officer a false name, and drug possession. Nguyen was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Nguyen was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment and fined $20,000. She was ordered to make $131,175 in restitution to her victim. She must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. In sentencing Nguyen, Judge Strand stated that Nguyen’s conduct while on pretrial release and in jail was “incredible” and “stunning.” Judge Strand found Nguyen was an “extreme danger to society” and a “substantial, serious menace to society” with respect to financial crimes. Nguyen is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation-Special Enforcement Operations Bureau. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Woodbury (Minnesota) Police Department, U.S. Marshal’s Service, Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement, and Iowa Division of Intelligence assisted in the investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 21-CR-3037. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Lincoln Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Aidan J. Glenn, 25, of Lincoln, Nebraska was sentenced on January 10, 2025, in federal court in Lincoln for one count of distribution fentanyl resulting in death. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Glenn to a total of 240 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Glenn’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. On August 10, 2023, Aidan Glenn sold Chase Hartung ten fentanyl pills. After Hartung received the pills, he gave five of them to T.R.H. That individual used at least one of the pills which resulted in T.R.H.’s overdose and death. T.R.H.’s phone records showed that Hartung was T.R.H.’s only source of fentanyl. Hartung admitted he provided T.R.H. with the pill on August 11, 2023. Through conversations with Hartung and a review of Hartung’s phone law enforcement learned that Hartung and T.R.H. occasionally pooled money together to purchase M30 pills from Aidan Glenn and Wren Chamberlain. On August 12, 2023, Hartung helped law enforcement arrange a controlled purchase of M30s from Glenn. Glenn informed Hartung that he was going to meet Michael Smith at a location in Lincoln to get more pills. Law enforcement then arrested Glenn, Chamberlain, and Smith at that location. During recorded jail calls Glenn admitted to selling Hartung the pills that resulted in T.R.H.’s death. Wren Chamberlain was previously sentenced on December 5, 2024, by United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis, to 51 months imprisonment and a 3-year term of supervised release for one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Chase Hartung is currently set for a court hearing on January 28, 2025, before United States Magistrate Judge Jacqueline M. DeLuca. Michael Smith is currently set for sentencing on March 6, 2025, before United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis. This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department.


title: Kenton County Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: COVINGTON, Ky. – A Kenton County man, Frank Long, 53, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, before U.S. District Judge David Bunning, to illegal possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. According to his plea agreement, on November 1, 2024, law enforcement responded to a call for service, after someone identified a man urinating in public. Upon arriving at the scene, officers identified Long and his vehicle and approached him, detecting a strong odor of alcohol and finding a handgun in between the center console and the front passenger seat. Long was arrested for alcohol intoxication and a further search of his vehicle found five loaded firearms. An investigation then revealed that Long has an active Domestic Violence Order, from Scott County, Kentucky, that was issued on April 20, 2022 and effective for three years. “The defendant was in possession of several loaded firearms, despite the fact he was subject to a domestic violence protective order, a dangerous and potentially deadly combination,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “The critical teamwork of several law enforcement partners will now hold him accountable for his violation of federal law, and will inspire our combined efforts to make our communities safer.” “Outcomes like this clearly show the continued importance of collaboration in protecting Kentucky families,” said Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General. “I’m proud of our colleagues from the Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigations (DCI) who worked with federal and local law enforcement to apprehend this dangerous suspect before he could further harm our Commonwealth.” United States Attorney Shier; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; Attorney General Coleman; and Chief Kyle Rader, Erlanger Police Department, jointly announced the guilty plea. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, and Erlanger Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine Leonhard is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. Long is scheduled to be sentenced on April 25, 2025. He faces a maximum of 15 years in prison. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes. — END —


title: Justice Department Sues to Block Global Business Travel Group’s  Proposed Acquisition of CWT Holdings

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: The Justice Department filed a civil antitrust lawsuit today to stop Global Business Travel Group Inc. (Amex GBT), the largest business travel management company in the world, from acquiring its rival, CWT Holdings LLC (CWT), the third-largest business travel management company in the world. The complaint, filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges that the proposed $570 million transaction — Amex GBT’s fifth acquisition of another travel management company since 2018 — would harm competition for business travel management services to U.S. global and multinational businesses. “American businesses rely on travel management companies to connect employees, control travel costs, make travel booking and expense management easier, and ensure their employees’ safety during travel,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Doha Mekki of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “This acquisition is the latest in a series of acquisitions by Amex GBT that will further consolidate an already consolidated market with only a handful of competitive options capable of serving customers with the most need for travel management services. American businesses will face the consequences, seeing higher prices, less innovation and fewer choices.” As alleged in the complaint , Amex GBT and CWT anticipated that the proposed acquisition would harm competition and benefit the merged firm at the expense of its customers. The complaint alleges that senior Amex GBT executives viewed the acquisition as an opportunity for “consolidation” of the market for business travel management services for global and multinational customers and a respite from its recent customer losses to CWT. The complaint further alleges that Amex GBT recognized that its valuation of the proposed acquisition should reflect the financial benefit of avoiding future loss business to CWT. For example, its CEO wrote to its president that the company “need[ed] to consider how much we might lose to [CWT] each year in a [business as usual] scenario.” During deal negotiations, CWT’s owners likewise believed Amex GBT should pay a higher price for CWT in recognition of the increased revenues Amex GBT would enjoy post-merger due to the reduction in “price pressure” from “removing [a] big competitor.” The complaint alleges that the combination of Amex GBT and CWT would combine two of the three largest players in business travel management services for global and multinational companies located in the United States, giving the combined firm a significant share in a market that one of the largest owners of CWT has acknowledged is “oligopolistic.” Few other companies can effectively provide travel management services to global and multinational companies located in the United States at the scale of Amex GBT and CWT. Today, Amex GBT and CWT compete fiercely to provide travel management services for large businesses and those with complex travel needs. CWT had recently begun pursuing new and innovative strategies to improve service and reduce prices in order to win over business from Amex GBT. As a result, Amex GBT recently lost several significant bid opportunities for large business customers to CWT. If Amex GBT is permitted to acquire CWT, this intense competition would be lost, risking higher prices, less innovation and fewer choices — costs that will be borne by the many businesses and employees for whom these services are critical to their productivity and operations. Amex GBT is a publicly traded Delaware corporation with its principal executive office located in New York City and its operational headquarters located in London. In 2023, Amex GBT managed a total transaction value of approximately $28.2 billion, earning revenues of $2.29 billion. CWT is a privately held company headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota. In 2023, CWT managed a total transaction volume of approximately $14 billion, earning revenues of about $850 million.


title: Washington, D.C., Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Assault Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – MacArthur Walker Jr., 58, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on January 8, 2025, to two years and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees involving physical contact. According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 4, 2024, Walker was driving a vehicle through the New River Gorge National Park area near Sandstone, West Virginia when a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle. The officer smelled the odor of marijuana, and a passenger in Walker’s vehicle told the officer there was approximately 3.5 grams of marijuana in the vehicle. The passenger provided the officer with the marijuana. The officer directed Walker to exit his vehicle and stand by the officer’s vehicle while the officer searched Walker’s vehicle. During the search, the officer found a brown briefcase containing a loaded Rossi .38 Special revolver, a holster, and .38 Special ammunition. After the officer found the firearm, Walker left his ordered position next to the officer’s vehicle and approached the officer. When the officer told him to turn around to be handcuffed, Walker drew back his fist and struck the left side of the officer’s body. The officer deployed a taser to stop Walker. Walker has a long criminal history that includes prior felony convictions for first-degree theft, multiple controlled substances offenses, and third-offense driving while intoxicated. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the National Park Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys J. Parker Bazzle II and Alexander A. Redmon prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-88. ###


title: Beaver County Resident Sentenced to Prison for Role in Cocaine Trafficking

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Rochester, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court on January 8, 2025, to 15 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on his conviction of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Roberto Muniz Sanchez, 46. According to information presented to the Court, Sanchez was a member of an organized drug trafficking group that obtained kilogram quantities of cocaine via United States Postal Service parcel from Puerto Rico and then sold them in western Pennsylvania and elsewhere as part of an ongoing drug trafficking conspiracy. From approximately October 2023 to March 2024, Sanchez knowingly conspired with the leaders of the drug trafficking organization to possess with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine in and around Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, with Sanchez having purchased quantities of cocaine on several different dates during that period for both distribution to others and personal use. Assistant United States Attorney Carl J. Spindler prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation leading to Sanchez’s conviction in this case in close collaboration with the Lawrence County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Castle City Police Department, Ellwood City Police Department, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, United States Department of Agriculture, Union Township Police Department, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Homeland Security Investigations, and Pennsylvania State Police. This prosecution was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Lawrence County is one of six western Pennsylvania counties officially designated as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area by the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy. The county received its HIDTA designation in July 2022, allowing it to receive dedicated federal resources to coordinate federal, state, and local governments in fighting drug trafficking and abuse.


title: Roanoke Man Charged with Robbing Truist Banks Makes Court Appearance

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: Roanoke, Va. – A local man indicted by a federal grand jury last month on bank robbery charges, made his initial court appearance yesterday in federal court. Michael Anthony McCoy, 67, of Roanoke, was indicted by a federal grand jury sitting in Roanoke on one count of conspiracy to commit bank robbery, two counts of bank robbery (one of which includes the use of a dangerous weapon), and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. McCoy was arrested late last year in Newport News, Virginia, on other charges. A second defendant, Dawn Davis, previously pleaded guilty to related charges. According to the indictment, on October 26, 2022, McCoy directed Davis to write a threatening note to use in a bank robbery. After Davis wrote the note as directed, McCoy entered the Truist Bank location on NW Melrose Avenue in the City of Roanoke and handed the note to a bank teller. After McCoy handed the note to the teller, he approached a second teller and brandished a firearm. McCoy and Davis stole approximately $6,485 from the Truist Bank location. Two days later, McCoy then robbed another Truist Bank, stealing nearly $6,000 from that bank as well. Acting U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Lee, Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares made the announcement. The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Scheff and Special Assistant United States Attorney John Beamer, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Section, 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: Operators of Cryptocurrency Mixers Charged with Money Laundering

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A federal grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia returned an indictment on Jan. 7 charging three Russian nationals for their involvement in operating the cryptocurrency mixing services Blender.io and Sinbad.io. Roman Vitalyevich Ostapenko and Alexander Evgenievich Oleynik were arrested on Dec. 1, 2024, roughly a year after Sinbad.io’s online infrastructure was seized as part of a coordinated law enforcement action among the Netherlands’ Financial Intelligence and Investigative Service, Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, and the FBI. The third defendant, Anton Vyachlavovich Tarasov, remains at large. “According to the indictment, the defendants operated cryptocurrency ‘mixers’ that served as safe havens for laundering criminally derived funds, including the proceeds of ransomware and wire fraud,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. “By allegedly operating these mixers, the defendants made it easier for state-sponsored hacking groups and other cybercriminals to profit from offenses that jeopardized both public safety and national security. The indictment and arrests announced today, which follow the earlier takedown of the defendants’ criminal infrastructure, yet again demonstrate the value of our international partnerships in countering the global threat from cybercrime.” “Blender.io and Sinbad.io were allegedly used by criminals across the world to launder funds stolen from victims of ransomware, virtual currency thefts, and other crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia. “This indictment demonstrates our continued commitment to dismantling infrastructure used by cybercriminals to steal from Americans and hide their ill-gotten gains.” “Last year, with the assistance of our international partners, we successfully dismantled Sinbad.io,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Sean Burke of the FBI Atlanta Field Office. “However, we did not rest with this initial success. We maintained our focus on identifying the individuals responsible for its development and ensuring their accountability. These indictments serve as a testament to the power of international cooperation.” According to court documents and publicly available information, Blender.io and Sinbad.io were cryptocurrency mixers that allowed their users, for a fee, to send cryptocurrency to designated recipients in a manner designed to hide the source of the cryptocurrency. Blender.io and Sinbad.io were available for use by the public via the internet and used by criminals looking to distance themselves from the fact that their funds came from cryptocurrency thefts, ransomware attacks, and other crimes. Blender.io operated from approximately 2018 to 2022. The service was advertised on a popular internet forum as having a “No Logs Policy” and deleting any traces of user transactions. Additionally, in the advertisement, Blender was described as not requiring users to sign up, register, or “provide any kind of detail except the receiving address!” The advertisement asserted that, “[a]s there are no personal details asked for, there’s no way your identity is compromised, or can be linked back to, because as far as blender.io goes they don’t know who you are.” After Blender.io shut down, Sinbad.io began operating a few months later. Like Blender.io, Sinbad.io provided users with Bitcoin concealment services. And, on November 27, 2023, Sinbad.io was taken down through law enforcement action. Both Blender.io and Sinbad.io have been sanctioned by the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). On May 6, 2022, OFAC sanctioned Blender.io, citing its use by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to launder stolen virtual currency. OFAC’s public sanctions announcement also explained that Blender.io laundered funds for multiple ransomware groups. On Nov. 29, 2023, OFAC sanctioned Sinbad.io, publicly citing its use by a DPRK state-sponsored hacking group and cybercriminals to obfuscate transactions linked to other criminal offenses. Ostapenko, 55, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and two counts of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. Oleynik, 44, and Tarasov, 32, are both charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the money laundering conspiracy count and five years in prison for each unlicensed money transmitting business count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Netherlands’ Public Prosecution Service and Fiscal Information and Investigative Service made significant contributions to the case, including to the disruption of the Sinbad mixer, and provided other valuable assistance. Significant support was also provided by the Australian Federal Police and Attorney-General’s Department, and Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation. The FBI is investigating the case. Trial Attorney Ethan Cantor of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, who is a member of the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Samir Kaushal for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Assistant U.S. Attorney Maxwell Coll for the Central District of California provided significant assistance. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Former Fugitive Found Guilty At Trial Of Conspiracy To Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Billy Ruiz (46, California) guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Ruiz faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 8, 2025. Ruiz was indicted on April 6, 2017. After his indictment, Ruiz evaded law enforcement for years, but he was ultimately arrested, then arraigned in the Middle District of Florida on July 12, 2024. According to evidence presented at trial, Ruiz sold large amounts of methamphetamine in March 2016 to a lower-level drug dealer for redistribution in central Florida. Ruiz operated out of southern California and, along with one or more co-conspirators, shipped methamphetamine to Orlando by overnight delivery. The methamphetamine was then repackaged and distributed in central Florida. The evidence presented at trial showed that Ruiz sold two batches of methamphetamine, each of which weighed approximately two pounds. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Lake Mary Police Department, and the Orlando Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Sowell and Chauncey Bratt. This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.


title: Cryptocurrency Investment Firm Founder Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Thousands of Investors of Over $9M in Ponzi Scheme

body_text: An Oklahoma man pleaded guilty yesterday for his role in a cryptocurrency investment fraud conspiracy. According to court documents, Travis Ford, 35, of Glenpool, was the CEO, co-founder, and head trader of Wolf Capital Crypto Trading LLC (Wolf Capital), a purported cryptocurrency investment firm. From January 2023 through August 2023, Ford solicited investments through Wolf Capital’s website and other social media and internet-based promotion activities. Ford held himself out as a sophisticated trader able to deliver high returns of 1-2% per day (approximately 547% per year). Ford admitted that he did not believe those promised investment returns were possible to achieve consistently. Ford made such false promises to induce members of the public to invest money in the company. Ford misappropriated and diverted investor funds to benefit himself and his co-conspirators, to the financial detriment of investors. In total, Wolf Capital raised $9.4 million from approximately 2,800 investors through fraudulent conduct. Ford pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, for which he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent Wible, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigation Group made the announcement. The USPIS is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys John J. Liolos and Matt Kahn of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Granite City Postal Carrier Sentenced to Prison for Stealing Credit Cards from the Mail

component: USAO - Illinois, Southern

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A southern Illinois district judge sentenced a postal carrier in Granite City to 32 months in federal prison after she admitted to stealing credit cards from the mail and using for personal expenses. Lakeatra E. White, 32, of Granite City, pleaded guilty in September 2024 to one count of theft of mail by postal employee, one count of access device fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. In addition to imprisonment, White will serve three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $15,209.11 in restitution. “Mail carriers are entrusted public servants, and postal workers who steal from their customers choose to break that trust,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to partner with the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General to hold employees committing fraud accountable.” While employed as a city carrier assistant at the Granite City Post Office, White stole several mail items from customers on her route containing gift cards, credit cards and credit card information. According to court documents, she stole credit cards belonging to two victims, in which she tried to rack up personal charges estimated at nearly $27,000. During the investigation, White turned over 115 pieces of mail she had stolen to law enforcement. “This sentencing represents the hard work and dedication by USPS OIG Special Agents working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring charges on this significant mail theft investigation,” said Special Agent in Charge Dennus Bishop, U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Central Area Field Office. “The majority of postal employees are hard-working public servants dedicated to moving mail to its proper destination. The USPS OIG, along with our law enforcement partners, remain committed to safeguarding the U.S. Mail and ensuring the accountability and integrity of U.S. Postal Service employees.” U.S. Postal Service - Office of Inspector General, led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Reed prosecuted the case.


component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA –Roman Vitalyevich Ostapenko, Alexander Evgenievich Oleynik, and Anton Vyachlavovich Tarasov have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their involvement in operating the cryptocurrency mixing services Blender.io and Sinbad.io. “Blender.io and Sinbad.io were allegedly used by criminals across the world to launder funds stolen from victims of ransomware, virtual currency thefts, and other crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “This indictment demonstrates our continued commitment to dismantling infrastructure used by cybercriminals to steal from Americans and hide their ill-gotten gains.” “According to the indictment, the defendants operated cryptocurrency ‘mixers’ that served as safe havens for laundering criminally derived funds, including the proceeds of ransomware and wire fraud,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. “By allegedly operating these mixers, the defendants made it easier for state-sponsored hacking groups and other cybercriminals to profit from offenses that jeopardized both public safety and national security. The indictment and arrests announced today, which follow the earlier takedown of the defendants’ criminal infrastructure, yet again demonstrate the value of our international partnerships in countering the global threat from cybercrime.” “Last year, with the assistance of our international partners, we successfully dismantled Sinbad.io. However, we did not rest with this initial success. We maintained our focus on identifying the individuals responsible for its development and ensuring their accountability,” said Sean Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “These indictments serve as a testament to the power of international cooperation.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the indictment, and publicly available information: Blender.io and Sinbad.io were cryptocurrency mixers that allowed their users, for a fee, to send cryptocurrency to designated recipients in a manner designed to hide the source of the cryptocurrency. Blender.io and Sinbad.io were available for use by the public via the internet and used by criminals looking to distance themselves from the fact that their funds came from cryptocurrency thefts, ransomware attacks, and other crimes. Blender.io operated from approximately 2018 to 2022. The service was advertised on a popular internet forum as having a “No Logs Policy” and deleting any traces of user transactions. Additionally, in the advertisement, Blender was described as not requiring users to sign up, register, or “provide any kind of detail except the receiving address!” The advertisement asserted that, “[a]s there are no personal details asked for, there’s no way your identity is compromised, or can be linked back to, because as far as blender.io goes they don’t know who you are.” After Blender.io shut down, Sinbad.io began operating a few months later. Like Blender.io, Sinbad.io provided users with Bitcoin concealment services. And, on November 27, 2023, Sinbad.io was taken down through law enforcement action. Both Blender.io and Sinbad.io have been sanctioned by the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). On May 6, 2022, OFAC sanctioned Blender.io, citing its use by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to launder stolen virtual currency. OFAC’s public sanctions announcement also explained that Blender.io laundered funds for multiple ransomware groups. On November 29, 2023, OFAC sanctioned Sinbad.io, publicly citing its use by a DPRK state-sponsored hacking group and cybercriminals to obfuscate transactions linked to other criminal offenses. Roman Vitalyevich Ostapenko, 55, of Russia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and two counts of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. Alexander Evgenievich Oleynik, 44, of Russia, and Anton Vyachlavovich Tarasov, 32, of Russia, are both charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. Ostapenko and Oleynik were arrested on December 1, 2024, roughly a year after Sinbad.io’s online infrastructure was seized as part of a coordinated law enforcement action, while Tarasov remains at large. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. The Netherlands’ Public Prosecution Service and Fiscal Information and Investigative Service made significant contributions to the case, including to the disruption of the Sinbad.io mixer, and provided other valuable assistance. Significant support was also provided by the Australian Federal Police and Attorney-General’s Department, and Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samir Kaushal, Trial Attorney Ethan Cantor of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, and member of the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team are prosecuting the case. Significant assistance was also provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maxwell Coll of the Central District of California. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: New Orleans Man Guilty of Federal Drug and Weapons Violations

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that SHANE BOLDEN (“BOLDEN”) , age 25, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty on January 8, 2025 before U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk, to possession with intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(D), and being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). According to court documents, the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) executed a search warrant at BOLDEN ’s residence on April 8, 2024. NOPD recovered over a pound of marijuana that BOLDEN intended to sell, and eight firearms that belonged to BOLDEN : a Glock Model 33, .357 caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with 15 armor-piercing rounds; a Glock Model 23, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with 22 hollow point rounds; a Zastava Arms Model PAP M85 NP, 5.56 millimeter caliber semi-automatic pistol; a Stag Arms Model Stag-15, multi-caliber semi-automatic pistol; a Romarm/Cugir Model Mini Draco, 7.62 millimeter caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with 30 rounds; a Glock Model 19x, 9 millimeter caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with 16 red-tip hollow point rounds; a Diamondback Arms Model DB380, .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with eight rounds; and a stolen Glock Model 22, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol. BOLDEN is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of prior felony convictions, including a conviction for possession with intent to distribute marijuana. NOPD also recovered over $108,000 in cash belonging to BOLDEN . BOLDEN has agreed to forfeit all of the firearms and cash to the United States government. As to his conviction for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, BOLDEN faces up to five years in prison and a minimum of two years of supervised release. As to his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, he faces up to 15 years in prison and up to three years of supervised release. Each count also carries up to a $250,000 fine and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the New Orleans Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Sioux City Woman Pleads Guilty to Meth Conspiracy

body_text: A woman who conspired to distribute more than 40 kilograms of methamphetamine pled guilty January 7, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City. Celeste Seaton, 40, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. At the plea hearing Seaton admitted that for five months in 2023 she and others conspired to distribute over 3 pounds of pure methamphetamine in the Sioux City, Iowa area. Specifically, on three occasions in 2023, Seaton distributed over 750 grams of pure methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. Seaton further admitted to methamphetamine trafficking over the last several years in Sioux City and that she obtained and distributed a total of 100 pounds of methamphetamine from her source of supply who was obtaining the methamphetamine from Arizona. Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Seaton remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Seaton faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and the Woodbury County Attorney’s Office. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-4051. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Seven Defendants Sentenced to a Total of 41+ Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearms and Narcotics

body_text: MONROE, La. – Seven defendants were sentenced this week in the Monroe Division for illegal possession of firearms and narcotics, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. Chief United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced the defendants as follows: Adrien Marcel Brown , 44, of St. Joseph, Louisiana was sentenced to 126 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute or possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On April 14, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant of the residence of Brown and Andrea Lenae Bass, Brown’s co-defendant. Agents found methamphetamine inside the home. The suspected narcotics were sent to the crime lab for analysis and confirmed to be over 50 grams of pure methamphetamine. Brown pleaded guilty on September 4, 2024. Bobby R. Thompson , 45, of Monroe, was sentenced to 68 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On March 21, 2024, Monroe Police Department officers detained Thompson due to an active arrest warrant as well as a battery investigation. Thompson was found to be in possession of a SCCY CPX-1 9mm pistol and ammunition. Thompson was a convicted felon and knew he was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition and was arrested. He pleaded guilty to the charge on September 18, 2024. Desmond Copeland , 37, of Monroe, was sentenced to 72 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a domestic complaint involving Copeland on April 6, 2024. Deputies found Copeland to be in possession of a Smith & Wesson M&P 9 9mm pistol and ammunition. As a convicted felon, Copeland was prohibited from possessing the firearm and ammunition. He pleaded guilty on September 24, 2024. Shawn M. Robertson , 39, of Monroe, was sentenced to 72 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In August 2023, a Louisiana State Police trooper attempted to stop Robertson’s vehicle for speeding. The trooper lost sight of Robertson for a short time but found him in a nearby driveway. Robertson was the sole occupant and driver of the vehicle. The trooper found a loaded 9mm magazine on the floorboard of the vehicle. Meanwhile, another trooper was stopped by a passing motorist who stated that he had found an abandoned pistol on the road. Law enforcement officers investigated further and learned that the magazine in Robertson’s vehicle fit the pistol found on the road and learned that Robertson’s girlfriend had purchased the Taurus G2C firearm approximately 85 days before. In addition, their investigation confirmed that Robertson had the firearm in his possession before ejecting it from the vehicle onto the roadway. Robertson pleaded guilty on September 16, 2024, and admitted to knowing he was in possession of the firearm despite being prohibited from doing so. Dylan Cueto , 33, of West Monroe, was sentenced to 57 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On April 12, 2024, deputies with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the residence of Cueto. Deputies found him in possession of a Smith & Wesson M&P 380 Shield pistol, a Marlin 12-gauge shotgun, a Bushmaster XM15-E2S rifle, and ammunition. Cueto pleaded guilty on September 24, 2024, and admitted to possessing the firearms and ammunition knowing he was prohibited from doing so. Dequarius Dequan Bailey , 30, of Monroe, was sentenced to 68 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In December 2023, Monroe Police Department officers executed a search warrant at Bailey’s residence and found a DPMS A-15 223-5.56mm rifle loaded with a high-capacity drum magazine hidden under his bed. Law enforcement officers also found a loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol hidden in the bathroom. Bailey was arrested and admitted to possessing the firearms despite the fact that he was a convicted felon and was prohibited from possessing them. Bailey pleaded guilty to the charge on April 19, 2024. Dalton W. Knight , 24, of West Monroe, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On February 11, 2023, an individual sold a Savage rifle to a pawn shop in West Monroe. An investigation by Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office determined that the firearm had previously been stolen. Deputies interviewed the individual that sold the firearm and learned that he had purchased it from another individual and that had traded with Knight for the firearm on December 31, 2022. Knight admitted to possessing the rifle and trading it. He pleaded guilty to the charge on September 24, 2024, and admitted to knowing that as a convicted felon he was prohibited from having any firearm in his possession. “There is a reason why crime is down in Monroe and the surrounding area,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “In partnering with our local district attorney’s offices and law enforcement agencies, we are highly focused on targeting the right offenders and seeking sentences of imprisonment for those who illegally possess firearms and distribute narcotics in our communities. Our office, the DEA and the ATF will forever appreciate these partnerships which are vital to public safety.” These cases were investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Louisiana State Police, Monroe Police Department and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office. Special Assistant United States Attorney Cathy Semmes and Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica D. Cassidy, William C. Gaskins, and Mike Shannon prosecuted the cases. # # #


title: Former Office Manager Sentenced to Two and a Half Years in Federal Prison for Embezzling over $1 Million from a Family-Owned Business in Greenfield

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS— Jennifer Lynn Horton., 49, of Shepherdsville, Kentucky has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release after pleading guilty to two counts of wire fraud. According to court documents, between 2011 and 2022, Jennifer Horton worked as the office manager for a family-owned contracting company located in Greenfield, Indiana. In that role, Horton was responsible for managing payroll, customer invoices, and company credit cards. Beginning around January 2016, and continuing through December 2022, Horton devised and executed multiple schemes to brazenly defraud her employer of over a million dollars. First, by inflating her salary on 466 separate occasions, for a total of $515,000, without approval. In addition, in December 2020, Horton added her husband to the company’s payroll even though he had not been hired as a salaried employee. During that time, Horton stole an additional $107,000 under the guise of her husband’s name. To conceal her conduct, Horton edited the company’s payroll data to make it appear that she was being paid her agreed-upon salary and to delete the payments to her husband. After the edited data was approved, Horton reverted the payroll system to make the unauthorized payments to herself and her husband. Horton misled her boss about the company’s financial reports, resulting in significant financial strain on the company when the true information was discovered. Horton also redirected credit card payments made by the company’s customers into her own personal bank account over 185 times. She concealed the theft by altering the company’s accounting records to delete invoices or falsely mark them as being paid in full to the company. Finally, Horton abused the company credit card to pay personal bills and make personal purchases, including a house, cars, and clothes. In total, Horton stole approximately $1,116,258 from her employer. In addition to her prison sentence, the court ordered the forfeiture of her interest in four vehicles—a 2022 Ford F350, a 2022 Ford Mustang, a 2021 Ford Mustang, and a 2020 Ford EcoSport—and that she pay a judgment of $1,002,2680. “This criminal abused her friendships and position of trust to swindle a family-owned company out of over a million dollars,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Family entrepreneurs are a critical driver of our economy, and fraud schemes against them harm those companies, their employees, and our community as a whole, and this serious federal prison sentence should send the message that this conduct will not be tolerated. My thanks to our partners in Hancock County and at the FBI for ensuring that there is accountability for economic crimes.” “Holding individuals accountable for financial crimes like this is essential to protecting the integrity of our businesses and communities,” said Hancock County Prosecutor Brent Eaton. “This case serves as a reminder that accountability for the defendant and justice for the victim are crucial in preventing fraud. I would like to thank the dedicated staff of the Hancock County Prosecutor’s Office and Sheriff’s Department, the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and Detective Douglas Cook for their exceptional work and collaboration on this case.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case, with valuable assistance provided by the Hancock County Prosecutor’s Office and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Corbin Houston, who prosecuted this case. ###