title: Readout of Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta and Access to Justice Director Rachel Rossi’s Trip to Iowa

component: Office for Access to Justice

body_text: Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta joined Director Rachel Rossi of the Office for Access to Justice (ATJ) in Des Moines, Iowa, today as part of the Department’s National Public Defense Day Tour to recognize the 60th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision in Gideon v. Wainwright, which held that criminal defendants are entitled to counsel when facing felony charges and celebrate the role of public defenders in the American legal system. Associate Attorney General Gupta and Director Rossi met with Iowa Supreme Court Justice Matthew McDermott, who is also the Chair of the Iowa Access to Justice Commission, about the Commission’s work to help individuals struggling with fully accessing Iowa’s justice system. They also met with Iowa State Public Defender Jeff Wright, who hosted the visit and helped lead a listening session with local leaders about the issues facing the indigent defense bar in Iowa, including high caseloads and low pay, recruitment and retention concerns, and particular challenges facing attorneys in rural areas. Associate Attorney General Gupta and Director Rossi were joined at the listening session by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa Richard Westphal. The Associate Attorney General announced during the listening session an initiative to help the Justice Department connect with and address the needs of public defenders in communities across the country, with the creation of a new attorney position in ATJ dedicated to supporting, collaborating with, and engaging the state and local public defense community. The department’s National Public Defense Day Tour has also made stops in Miami; Tulsa, Oklahoma; the Muscogee (Creek) Nation; Nashville, Tennessee; and Las Vegas. The tour will conclude on Friday at the Justice Department with an event recognizing federal, state and local public defenders that will be livestreamed for the public. Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta (left center) with Access to Justice Director Rachel Rossi (left), Iowa State Public Defender Jeff Wright (right center) and Iowa Supreme Court Justice and Chair, Access to Justice Commission Matthew McDermott (right). Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta (mid, center), Access to Justice Director Rachel Rossi (left, center), U.S. Attorney Rich Westphal (right, center) and others participate in a listening session with members of the public defense community.


title: Fentanyl Dealer, Felon Who Possessed Firearm Sentenced to More Than 20 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: GREENSBORO, N.C. - A former resident of Alamance County was sentenced to 248 months in federal prison for fentanyl- and firearm-related charges, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina. RAYMOND RONALD JENNINGS of Burlington, North Carolina, age 52, was sentenced to a 248-month term of imprisonment by the Honorable Thomas D. Schroeder, Chief United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. In addition to prison time, JENNINGS was ordered to serve five years of supervised release and pay a special assessment of $400.00. According to a complaint filed in the case, law enforcement recovered 27.72 grams of fentanyl and a .40-caliber Smith & Wesson pistol from the home of JENNINGS, who was a convicted felon at the time. The grand jury charged JENNINGS with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (841(b)(1)(C); maintaining a drug involved premises, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 856(a)(1); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c); and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). A federal jury convicted JENNINGS after a three-day trial. “Fentanyl continues to devastate communities in the Middle District of North Carolina, and across the country,” said United States Attorney Hairston. “Cases like this show our commitment to combatting the crisis in the court of law.” The investigation was undertaken by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) and the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tanner Kroeger and Nicole DuPré. ###


title: Omaha Man Sentenced to 77 Months for Being a Felon In Possession of Firearm

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

body_text: United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Kevin Gray, 28, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on March 10, 2023, in federal court in Omaha for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Gray to 77 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a three-year term of supervised release. On November 10, 2020, Gray sold a Ruger 5.7-caliber handgun to a cooperating witness working with law enforcement. Due to three previous felony convictions for robbery, Gray is prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law. This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. The United States Attorney’s Office has prosecuted this case with support from the following Project Guardian partners: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Omaha Police Department. For more information about Project Guardian, please see www.justice.gov/archives/ag/about-project-guardian.


title: Norfolk Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Dallas Sherman Rhinehart , 53, of Norfolk, Nebraska, was sentenced March 10, 2023, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for his participation in a methamphetamine drug conspiracy. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Rhinehart to 130 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Rhinehart will begin a five-year term of supervised release. In May of 2020, Rhinehart was identified as someone distributing methamphetamine in the Norfolk area. On July 6, 2020, and July 22, 2020, law enforcement conducted controlled buys of methamphetamine from Rhinehart. The total amount of methamphetamine purchased included 52 grams of pure methamphetamine and 30 grams of a mixture of methamphetamine. Rhinehart’s co-conspirators include Katherine Marie Tacheira, who has pleaded guilty and is pending sentencing, and Lindsey Ann Rokahr, who has pleaded not guilty and is pending trial. This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.


title: Texas Man Indicted in Western Pennsylvania on Money Laundering Charge

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Houston, Texas, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh for money laundering, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The one-count Indictment, returned on Feb. 28, 2023, and unsealed today, named Oluseyi Jeremiah Olagoke Adebayo, 48, as the sole defendant. The defendant was arrested today in Houston. The government will be seeking his detention pending trial. According to the Indictment, from June 2022 through October 2022, Adebayo conspired to launder over $400,000 of fraudulent proceeds of a business email compromise scam that victimized a Pittsburgh-based company. Adebayo utilized aliases to register shell companies and open bank accounts for those shell companies. He then transferred portions of the fraudulent proceeds into those bank accounts to conceal their true nature, location, source, ownership, and control. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of not more than $500,000.00 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Mark V. Gurzo is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Alabama Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A Bellamy, Alabama man pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. According to court documents, Willie Roger Starks, Jr., 30, was found in possession of a firearm by a Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Deputy on October 27, 2019, during a traffic stop. Starks had a .40 caliber pistol in his car. Starks has a prior felony conviction for Burglary of a Dwelling and was under the supervision of the Mississippi Department of Corrections at the time. As a convicted felon it is contrary to federal law for Starks to possess any firearm. Starks pleaded guilty to a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2) which criminalize the possession of firearms by convicted felons. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 15, 2023 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam T. Stuart and Charles W. Kirkham are prosecuting the case. This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime .


title: Niagara Falls Man Going To Prison For  Attempted Receipt Of Child Pornography

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Pedro Melendez, 28, of Niagara Falls, NY, who was convicted of attempted receipt of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 96 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin M. Higgins, who handled the case, stated that in July 2021, Melendez engaged in sexually explicit communications with an 11-year-old minor victim residing in Connecticut, via several email and PlayStation accounts and applications. Melendez specifically asked the minor victim if she was 11 years old, which she confirmed, and he continued to engage in sexually explicit conversations. During these conversations, Melendez repeatedly asked the minor victim to send him sexually explicit images of herself, while sending the minor victim naked images of himself. Melendez also said that he wished he lived near the minor victim so that he could be her “teacher” and her “training partner.” In addition, Melendez told the minor victim to delete her messages saying “[t]hen ya might show people then I'm a pedophile,” and “[o]nly because your [sic] young enough to be my kid.” The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia. # # # #


title: Methamphetamine Traffickers Sentenced to Federal Prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Saipan, MP – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that the United States District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands imposed the following sentences against defendants for Conspiracy to Possess Methamphetamine with the intent to Distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1), and Conspiracy to Maintain a Drug-Involved Premises, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 856. HUAISHU WANG (age 40) – convicted of Conspiracy to Possess Methamphetamine with the intent to Distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1), and sentenced to 188 months imprisonment, three years supervised release, 100 hours community service, and a $100 mandatory assessment. HONGJIE LI (age 48) – convicted of Conspiracy to Possess Methamphetamine with the intent to Distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1), and sentenced to 57 months imprisonment, three years supervised release, 50 hours community service, and a $100 mandatory assessment. YONGBING NI – (age 54), convicted of Conspiracy to Maintain a Drug-Involved Premises, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 856, and sentenced to 10 months imprisonment, three years supervised release, and a $100 mandatory assessment. These defendants were also ordered to report to a U.S. Immigration Officer for deportation proceedings as a condition of supervised release. On May 3, 2022, HONGJIE LI claimed a package mailed from Canada to a private mail facility in Saipan. The package contained 858 grams of methamphetamine. LI transported the package to a residence, where she lived with HUAISHI WANG and YONGBING NI. After the package was delivered to the residence, federal and local law enforcement agents executed a search warrant and discovered the three co-defendants were working together to distribute methamphetamine across the island. Inside the residence, agents discovered 214 grams of methamphetamine packaged in 46 baggies, an additional 15 grams of methamphetamine, digital scales, three BB-guns similar in appearance to semiautomatic 9mm and .45 caliber handguns, an Airsoft rifle similar in appearance to a 5.56mm rifle, and $68,408 in United States currency. The street value of the drugs was at least $540,000. U.S. Attorney Anderson stated, “Our office is committed to aggressively prosecuting drug offenses in the CNMI. Substantial penalties apply to many of these crimes. Considering the effects of methamphetamine on our communities, we must make every effort toward deterrence and accountability.” “Synthetic drugs, such as methamphetamine, are easy to manufacture, highly addictive, and responsible for the growing number of deaths in our communities,” said DEA Honolulu District Office Assistant Special Agent in Charge Victor Vazquez. “Individuals who seek to profit on these dangerous drugs and distribute them will be targeted and held accountable.” This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division, Guam Resident Office, Saipan Post of Duty. The case was prosecuted by Albert Flores, Jr., and Garth Backe, Assistant United States Attorneys in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands


title: Leader of Waycross-area drug trafficking conspiracy sentenced to decades in federal prison

body_text: WAYCROSS, GA: The leader of a south Georgia fentanyl- and heroin-trafficking operation linked to drug overdose deaths has been sentenced to more than 20 years in federal prison. Eric Lashawn Hayes , a/k/a “Pee Wee,” 39, of Blackshear, Ga., was sentenced to 262 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood also ordered Hayes to serve eight years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “The investigation of Eric Hayes and his co-conspirators – including his three brothers – exposes the horrors of the growing fentanyl menace in the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg “An alarming number of overdoses and deaths drew attention to these drug dealers, and they are being held accountable for distributing poison throughout the Waycross area.” Hayes was one of six defendants named in February 2021 in U.S.A. v. Hayes, et. al , an indictment targeting a drug distribution network in the greater Waycross area. The Pierce and Ware County Sheriff’s Offices initiated the investigation in July 2020 after multiple drug overdoses attributed to heroin and fentanyl, including three deaths. The Savannah Office of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration joined the investigation, which identified Hayes as a source of supply for the illegal drugs. The investigation culminated in the indictments of the six defendants, all of whom have been sentenced after pleading guilty to felony charges. They include: Cyrlus LaShawn Hayes , a/k/a “Dubo,” 45, of Waycross, Ga., a brother of Eric Hayes, serving 120 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Fentanyl and Heroin; Davey Green , a/k/a “Little Dave,” 35, of Waycross, Ga., half-brother of Eric Hayes, sentenced to 58 months in prison after pleading guilty to Distribution of Fentanyl; Renalba Jamar Green , a/k/a “Reno,” 35, of Waycross, Ga., another half-brother, sentenced to 24 months in prison for using a cell phone to conduct illegal drug trafficking activity; Crystal Champagne , 34, of Waycross, Ga., serving 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to Distribution of Fentanyl; and, Preston Connor Luke , 27, of Blackshear, Ga., sentenced to three years’ probation for Distribution of Fentanyl. “Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin – the combination of these deadly substances has claimed many lives,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Because of the efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement, these defendants can no longer distribute these dangerous and potentially deadly substances.” The case was investigated by the Savannah Office of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Ware County Sheriff’s Office, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Blackshear Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Marshals Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank M. Pennington II. 21-23


title: Owners of Freight Forwarding Company Plead Guilty to Exporting Stolen Outboard Engines to Mexico

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Two Miami residents, Carlos Orlando Ledesma, 57, and Nadia Esperanza Ledesma, 46, have pled guilty to conspiring to export nearly 600 stolen outboard engines to Mexico through a Miami-based freight forwarding company. Previously, on February 22, co-defendants Roberto Marrero-Cisneros, 65, from Miami, and Osmani Valdivia Perez, 55, from Lehigh Acres, also pled guilty to the same conspiracy charge. Nadia Ledesma is the President of Netcycle Trading Corp., a freight forwarding company in Miami, and Carlos Ledesma is the warehouse manager. According to court documents, from 2015 to 2018, Carlos and Nadia Ledesma received almost 600 stolen outboard engines for export to Mexico. Dozens of individuals delivered the stolen engines. The engines had visible damage from the thefts, and cables and lines had been cut rather than properly detached. The individuals delivered the stolen engines in non-commercial vehicles without bills of sale or any other documentation for the engines. According to court documents, Marrero-Cisneros created false serial number stickers to place on the stolen outboard engines. Nadia and Carlos Ledesma, and their co-conspirators, created false bills of sale and submitted false export information to the United States. Many of the stolen engines were directed to Tomas Vale Valdivia, a co-conspirator who was then in Mexico. Later, on January 28, 2020, Vale Valdivia was sentenced to 57 months for alien smuggling, in a separate case before U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams. Vale Valdivia is the nephew of defendant Osmani Valdivia Perez. Valdivia Perez made many cash payments to co-conspirators in this case, on behalf of Vale Valdivia. The cash payments included payments to Netcycle for the fees for exporting the stolen outboard engines, payments to Marrero-Cisneros for the false serial numbers, and payments to the individuals who stole the outboard engines. U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola, Jr. set the sentencing hearings for Marrero-Cisneros and Valdivia Perez for May 8, and the sentencing hearings for Carlos and Nadia Ledesma for May 23. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, acting Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Buckley, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami, and Special Agent in Charge Zinnia P. James, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), Southeast Region, announced the guilty pleas. HSI Miami and CGIS investigated the case, with assistance from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana Maria Martinez is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daren Grove is handling asset forfeiture. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 22-cr-20269. ###


title: New Hope Man Sentenced for His Role in Multi-Million-Dollar Kickback and Health Care Fraud Cases

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A federal judge has sentenced another individual charged in a series of related cases involving multi-million-dollar health care fraud conspiracies, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Special Agent in Charge Tamala E. Miles. Last Friday, Chief United States District Court Judge L. Scott Coogler sentenced John Hornbuckle , 53, of New Hope, to 80 months in prison. In November 2022, Hornbuckle pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to receive kickbacks. Between 2012 and 2018, Hornbuckle owned QBR. According to the plea agreement in Hornbuckle’s case, QBR billed insurers millions of dollars for electro-diagnostic testing that its technicians performed, regardless of whether there was a medical need for them. Hornbuckle caused QBR to pay medical providers a per-patient fee for the tests they ordered from QBR that were reimbursed by insurers, including Medicare and other government health care programs. The payments were disguised as hourly payments for the provider’s time and the time of the provider’s staff, but the provider was actually paid a fee per patient who received a test. Insurance programs paid more than nine million dollars for the medically unnecessary tests that QBR paid doctors to order. Hornbuckle was also ordered to pay $9,192,005.20 in restitution, a fine of $250,000, and forfeiture of $176,449.19. The case against Hornbuckle is related to several other cases that have resulted in convictions in the last year. Dr. Mark Murphy , 66, and his wife Jennifer Murphy , 66, both of Lewisburg, Tennessee, were sentenced last week. Brian Bowman , 41, of Gadsden, has pleaded guilty to health care fraud conspiracy. According to Bowman’s plea agreement, Bowman marketed QBR’s electro-diagnostic testing to medical providers, and was paid a fee for each test they ordered. Bowman received nearly a million dollars in fees from QBR. James Ewing Ray , 52, of Gadsden, has pleaded guilty to health care fraud and kickback conspiracy for his role as a sales rep who marketed QBR’s scheme to medical practices and received kickbacks per test ordered. John Alan Robson , 40, of Trussville, was indicted last month on charges of health care fraud conspiracy, kickback conspiracy, and kickbacks. According to his indictment, Robson was a sales rep who marketed to doctors’ offices various health care products and services, including prescription drugs from specialty pharmacies, durable medical equipment (DME), and electro-diagnostic testing. Robson was paid fees for the prescriptions, DME, and tests he generated from doctors. Brian Bowman and James Ray are awaiting sentencing. The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorneys J.B. Ward and Don Long prosecuted the cases.


title: Denver Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Violent Armed Robberies

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER - The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces the Dionte Jelks, age 22, of Denver, was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for armed robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. According to the plea agreement, from January 11, 2021, through February 11, 2021, the defendant participated with his co-defendants in takeover style robberies of pharmacies in Denver and Aurora. The defendant's role for each robbery was to jump pharmacy counters and aid in the robbery of pharmacists at gunpoint. The defendant would yell at pharmacy employees to get them to give him the drugs. In one robbery, he forced the employees to lie face down on the ground and in others he followed the employees around the pharmacy, demanding controlled substances. During the January 25, 2021, robbery, the defendant threatened to shoot an employee. After the robberies on January 15, 2021, and January 25, 2021, the defendant used social media to sell the controlled substances taken from the pharmacy during the robbery. He sent a Facebook friend a picture of Oxycodone and Alprazolam pills, followed by a video, as proof that the stolen pills were not fake. The defendants only stopped their armed robberies when they were disrupted by law enforcement on February 11, 2021. Judge R. Brooke Jackson sentenced the defendant on March 9, 2023. “The defendant’s aggressive and violent actions will forever impact the victims of these robberies. No one should fear that they will be shot and killed simply because they showed up for work,” said United States Attorney Cole Finegan. “This sentence should send a clear message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated.” "ATF and local law enforcement successfully disrupted this violent string of armed robberies,” said Acting ATF Special Agent in Charge Kirk Howard. “We are hopeful this 17-year sentence in federal prison will serve as a deterrent to those who might choose to bring violence to our communities.” “The Denver Police Department thanks our partners for their roles in holding Mr. Jelks and other violent criminals accountable for their dangerous crimes,” said Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas. “We hope this arrest, conviction, and sentencing demonstrate to our community that gun violence and drug crimes are not tolerated.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Denver Division investigated this case, with assistance from the Denver Police Department and the Aurora Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Celeste Rangel 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: 21-cr-00140


title: Wilkesboro Woman Sentenced to Prison for Conspiracy Drug Trafficking after Multi-State Operation

body_text: GREENSBORO – A North Carolina woman was sentenced today to 15 years in prison, after pleading guilty to a one-count indictment which charged her and six codefendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute quantities of methamphetamine. The case was part of a multi-state organized crime investigation, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina. WHITNEY LEIGH ESTEP, age 32, of Wilkesboro, North Carolina, was sentenced to a 180-month term of imprisonment by the Honorable William L. Osteen, Jr., United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. In addition to prison time, ESTEP was ordered to serve three years of supervised release. She pleaded guilty on August 26, 2022, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846 and 841(b)(1)(C). According to court records, ESTEP and six additional defendants were indicted in June 2022 after an investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies revealed a multi-state organized crime conspiracy. Beginning in 2020, law enforcement agencies from several states began investigating a drug trafficking organization rooted in Mexico. During the investigation, it was revealed that ESTEP was sent by a member of the organization to obtain cocaine and deliver it to other individuals in the organization. In March of 2022, task force officers visited ESTEP’s home which was the location of multiple methamphetamine deals prosecuted in another case. ESTEP admitted to officers that she had been working with others for a year and a half, transporting money and providing marijuana in return. The money picked up and delivered by ESTEP was then sent to the Sinaloa drug cartel in Mexico, and ESTEP admitted to investigators that she knew the money was involved in the trafficking of drugs. ESTEP believed she had transferred tens of thousands of dollars, and investigators later confirmed that ESEP had wired funds to Mexico. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, and multiple sheriff’s offices and police departments across North Carolina. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jake D. Pryor. ###


title: President of Oklahoma Steel Pole Manufacturer Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: An Oklahoma man pleaded guilty, on Friday, March 10, to evading over $1 million in income taxes. According to court documents, from 2014 to 2019, Phillip Barry Albert of Tulsa was President of Pelco Structural LLC and directed its outside payroll service company to pay him over $2.6 million. Albert instructed that the payments be classified as reimbursements rather than income, so that federal income taxes would not be withheld, and the payments would not be reported on his Forms W-2 as wages. Albert filed individual income tax returns for 2014 through 2019 that did not report the payments, totaling $2,615,750, thus causing a tax loss to the IRS of $1,000,232. Albert faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Clinton J. Johnson for the Northern District of Oklahoma made the announcement. IRS-Criminal Investigation and the FBI are investigating the case. Trial Attorney Meredith Havekost of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Cella and Thomas Duncombe of the Northern District of Oklahoma are prosecuting the case.


title: Final defendant sentenced in prosecution of middle Georgia methamphetamine-trafficking conspiracy

body_text: DUBLIN, GA: The final defendant from a Laurens County methamphetamine trafficking ring has been sentenced to prison, wrapping up an operation that dismantled a major middle Georgia drug conspiracy and took more than 75 illegally possessed firearms off the streets. Robert Anthony Justice , 40, of Chester, Ga., was sentenced to 21 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to using a cell phone to conduct illegal drug trafficking activity, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. With Justice’s plea, 25 of 30 indicted defendants in Operation Monroe Doctrine have been sentenced after pleading guilty to felony charges related to the conspiracy, and four defendants entered Pre-Trial Diversion. One defendant passed away during the pendency of the case. “Whether it’s in big cities or small towns, methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs fuel an addiction crisis that generates crime and misery,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Operation Monroe Doctrine demonstrates the success of law enforcement agencies working together to protect these communities.” The July 2021 indictment of 30 defendants in USA v. Monroe et. al, dubbed Operation Monroe Doctrine, was the culmination of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation that identified a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy throughout Laurens and Telfair counties and beyond, operating from at least January 2020 through January 2021. As described in court documents and testimony, the defendants coordinated to import and distribute illegal drugs throughout the greater Dublin and Laurens County community. Key sentences in the operation include: David Alex Monroe , 34, of Dexter, Ga., the leader of the conspiracy, is serving 84 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine. As part of his plea agreement, Monroe forfeited a machine gun, an illegal short-barrel rifle, and two silencers, and abandoned his interest in 54 additional firearms. Jorge Hernandez-Pena , 48, of Atlanta, Ga., the conspiracy’s source of supply, is serving 240 months in prison, followed by deportation, after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine. Fredi Ramirez-Garcia, 44, of Decatur, Ga., another of the conspiracy’s drug distributors, is serving 120 months in prison, followed by deportation, after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. David Kates , 48, a Jamaican citizen, is serving 108 months in prison, followed by deportation, after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine. Christopher Forbes , 33, of Dublin, Ga., is serving 97 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine. As part of his plea agreement, Forbes forfeited his interest in 21 firearms and two silencers. Carl Davis , 50, of Jacksonville, Fla., is serving 88 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine. “Prior to the people of Laurens County electing me as sheriff, I promised I would work hard to eliminate the dangerous drug dealers from our community,” said Laurens County Sheriff Larry Dean. “I have and will continue to do so. My deputies will continue to work with other agencies on the local, state and federal level to ensure strong, swift convictions to the ones who choose to peddle dope here. My hat goes off to everyone who had a role in this case, from my staff all the way to the DEA and the U.S. Attorney's Office. I thank you all.” “The insidious drug methamphetamine destroys families and communities,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “DEA and its law enforcement partners are committed to protect and serve those communities. This investigation was a success because of the collective effort between DEA, and its local, state and federal law enforcement counterparts.” “There is no initiative more critical to ATF than increasing the safety of our communities. Cases which result in the arrests and prosecution of criminals are fundamental to continuing this initiative while simultaneously shows criminals that ATF and its law enforcement partners will not falter in this mission.” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “We will pursue criminals such as these wherever they may operate, and they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States, using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. The case was investigated by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and the Ocmulgee Drug Task Force, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John P. Harper III, Frank M. Pennington II, and Southern District of Georgia OCDETF Coordinator Marcela C. Mateo.


title: U.S. Attorney Karam Continues To Promote The United Against Hate Initiative

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to promote the Department of Justice’s new initiative to better counter hate crimes and hate incidents in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. As part of the initiative, U.S Attorney Karam hosted a meeting with Scranton High School students, the Mayor of Scranton, law enforcement agencies, and community leaders from across Northeastern Pennsylvania. This meeting was designed to educate students and community leaders on identifying, reporting, and preventing hate crimes. At this event, subject matter experts from the United States Attorney’s Office, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office; the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Pennsylvania State Police, City of Scranton, the Lackawanna and Luzerne County District Attorney’s Offices, and other local law enforcement identified federal and state criminal hate crime statutes. The audience was made up of Scranton High School students, groups of community leaders, civil rights advocates and organizations, and religious leaders of various faiths. Presenters highlighted differences between hate crimes versus hate incidents and provided options for responding to hate incidents when situations do not constitute a federal or state crime. Presenters also distinguished unlawful conduct from protected First Amendment activity, including identifying protected speech versus speech that advocates violence or encourages people to commit hate crimes. The Middle District of Pennsylvania was one of the first of 16 U.S. Attorney Offices to launch the United Against Hate program. U.S. Attorney Karam previously hosted a meeting on November 17, 2023, in the Harrisburg area with an audience of various law enforcement agencies and community leaders from across the mid-state. The United Against Hate initiative seeks to strengthen collaborative relationships of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies with communities in order to build trust and encourage the reporting of hate crimes and hate incidents. “Building upon our partnership with our community leaders and our state and local law enforcement, we are reaching out to school leaders and our future leaders, the youth of this District, to play an important role in identifying, reporting, and preventing crimes of hate, ” said U.S. Attorney Karam. “The number of hate crimes and incidents continue to rise, including in schools, and we want to take every opportunity to educate, listen, and collaborate to combat these acts that violate the fundamental principal of democracy. We will hold all those accountable who commit crimes because of someone’s skin color, the faith they practice, who they love, or because they have a disability.” As part of its United Against Hate programming, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to partner with communities across the Middle District of Pennsylvania to expand connections with those communities, further hate crimes prevention efforts, and encourage more people to report hate crimes and hate incidents. Those who believe they are subject to hate crimes or incidents should contact local law enforcement and the FBI. Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/. Anyone in the Middle District of Pennsylvania may also report civil rights violations to the Civil Rights coordinator of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania by calling 717-614-4911 or emailing usapam.civil.rights@usdoj.gov . # # #


title: California Men Admit Conspiring To Distribute Fentanyl And Methamphetamine

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – Two California men admitted conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine in New Jersey and elsewhere, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Erik Eduardo Velazquez Bautista, 25, of San Diego, California, pleaded guilty by videoconference today before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti to an information charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Jesus Alejandro Rodriguez Velasquez, 27, also of San Diego, California, pleaded guilty on March 2, 2023, to the same offense before Judge Martinotti by videoconference. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: On Dec. 2, 2021, Velazquez Bautista and Rodriguez Velasquez were driving across the country to deliver narcotics to a purchaser in New York when they were stopped by law enforcement. Law enforcement seized approximately 20 kilograms of methamphetamine and approximately five kilograms of fentanyl. Velazquez Bautista and Rodriguez Velasquez each face a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of up to $1 million. Sentencing for Rodriguez Velasquez is scheduled for July 11, 2023; sentencing for Velazquez Bautista is scheduled for July 18, 2923. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Daniel J. Kafafian, with the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine M. Romano of the Health Care Fraud Unit in Newark. rodriguez.information.pdf bautista.information.pdf


title: Houma Man Indicted for Mail Fraud and Making False  Statements to Federal Agents

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that DONDRE MORGAN, (“ MORGAN ”), age 31, of Houma, LA, was indicted on March 10, 2023 on two (2) counts of Mail Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341 and one (1) count of Making False Statements to Federal Agents in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(2). According to the indictment, MORGAN, Sharnae Every, MORGAN’S girlfriend, and others defrauded the SBA and other designated financial institutions of approximately $1,142,041.00 through the submission of approximately 110 fraudulent PPP loan applications. As part of the scheme to defraud , Every recruited friends and family members primarily via Facebook to send Every their personal and bank information in exchange for "free money." MORGAN also assisted in recruiting various friends and family members by speaking with them in person or texting them, telling them to contact Every. Every charged the individuals she recruited anywhere from $45.00 to $120.00 to prepare and submit the fraudulent PPP application. Every primarily used Cash App. to receive the initial payments. Every then charged $3,500.00 once the loans were funded and received these funds into her Current account, her Cash App account, or into MORGAN’s Current account. On September 9, 2022, Every was indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud and Mail Fraud. On March 2, 2023, Every pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 8, 2023 by U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier. If convicted, MORGAN faces a maximum penalty of twenty (20) years per count for Counts 1 and 2 and five (5) years for Count 3, followed by a term of supervised release for up to three (3) years, a fine up to $250,000.00 per count, or twice the gross gain to the defendant, or twice the gross loss to any victim, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee per count. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . The Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General, is an active member of the PRAC Fraud Task Force. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . The United States Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Department of Veteran Affairs, Office of the Inspector General; United States Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General; United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; and the United States Secret Service’s Cyber Fraud Task Force, consisting of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, Thibodeaux Police Department, and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit; Assistant United States Attorney Edward Rivera, COVID-19 Fraud Coordinator; and Assistant United States Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman of the Civil Division.


title: Ring-Leader of Conspiracy that Used Stolen Identities to Purchase Vehicles Pleads Guilty

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Haverhill man pleaded guilty today to orchestrating schemes to use the stolen identities of United States citizens from Puerto Rico to fraudulently purchase vehicles and other merchandise and apply for and utilize bank accounts and credit cards. Alvin Rivera, 39, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and false representation of a Social Security number. Rivera pleaded guilty to similar schemes in two cases, one originating in the District of Massachusetts and another originating in the District of New Jersey that was transferred to the District of Massachusetts for resolution. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing in both cases for June 15, 2023. Rivera and multiple co-defendants were charged by criminal complaint in September 2020 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2020 in the District of Massachusetts. In a coordinated multi-jurisdictional effort, the defendant was also charged in the District of New Jersey, and others involved in the scheme were also charged there, in the state of New Jersey, the Northern District of Ohio and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. According to charging documents, between October 2017 and September 2020, Rivera was the leader of a conspiracy in Massachusetts that used stolen identity information of United States citizens to obtain credit and goods. Under Rivera’s direction, and with stolen identity information that he provided, co-conspirators visited Massachusetts car dealerships to purchase late-model vehicles and applied for 100% financing. In support of the applications, the co-conspirators provided stolen biographical information from real United States citizens, fraudulent Puerto Rico driver’s licenses and Social Security cards in those identities, as proof of identification. The co-conspirators used the stolen identities to illegally open bank accounts and credit cards and purchase vehicles, many of which were exported out of the United States. According to charging documents, between October 2017 and February 2018, Rivera also personally used stolen identity information of United States citizens to apply for credit and fraudulently purchase vehicles in a similar scheme in New Jersey. The charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The charge of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year sentence that must run consecutively to any other sentence imposed, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of false representation of a Social Security number provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Matthew B. Millhollin, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; and Brockton Police Chief Brenda Perez made the announcement today. Assistance was provided by the Lowell, Lawrence, Methuen, Haverhill, Woburn and Dartmouth Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elianna J. Nuzum and Adam W. Deitch of Rollins’ Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. The District of Massachusetts investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a specialized investigative group comprising personnel from various state, local, and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring, and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity, and benefit fraud schemes. The District of New Jersey investigation was conducted by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Middle School Students Take Field Trip to U.S. Attorney’s Office to Learn Importance of Choosing Wisely

body_text: MIAMI – Students from BridgePrep Academy of North Miami Beach took a field trip to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida to learn how to make better choices and participate in a courtroom mock trial. The seventh graders gathered in the media room where Law Enforcement Coordination and Community Outreach Section Chief J.D. Smith took them through presentations focused on the value of making smarter choices and having a plan for success. “You should know every step you need to take to reach your goals,” said Smith. “Don’t be afraid to fail big. Think outside of the box and remember that a goal without a plan is just a wish.” To drive home the point of making smarter choices Smith played prisoner testimonials which focused mostly on regret. “I ruined my life,” said one prisoner. “I ruined it.” Another testimonial showed a prisoner pleading for people to take his message seriously. “I killed someone’s father,” he said. “This is my now moment but I took away that man’s now.” The messages seemed to hit home with the students, especially when they were told where the Federal Detention Center was located. “There are about 600 male inmates and 100 female inmates in the building next door,” said Smith. “You have a choice to be a good person or a bad person. Every day it starts all over again. Don’t let bad things determine your path in life.” From there the students filled a federal judges empty courtroom where they played the roles of prosecutor, defense attorney, and bailiff, among others. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Gilfarb played the role of judge as students argued a case involving the wrongful death of a university student who died during flag football practice. Both the prosecutors and defense team made great cases, but in the end the evidence was too strong. The defendant was found guilty of negligent homicide. Students said they enjoyed seeing what it was like to be on trial while others said it was a life changing experience. Many said they’d like to do it again. That’s what Smith likes to hear as he loves interacting with young people, trying to put them on the right path. “These activities can be fun—and many times are—but I’m always focused on trying to help these students be the best citizens they can be,” he said. “As a former Detroit Police Supervisor, I’ve seen how tempting it can be to get in with the wrong crowd. One mistake can alter a life for good. If I can help change one person’s outlook then it’s worth it.” Law Enforcement Coordination and Community Outreach Section Chief J.D. Smith talks to BridgePrep Academy of North Miami Beach students about the importance of making good decisions. Students also participated in a mock trial during this field trip. ###


title: Passenger accused of gun crime after attempted traffic stop led to shooting of Great Falls police officer

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A woman passenger appeared in federal court today on a firearm charge after the driver allegedly shot and wounded a Great Falls Police Department officer during an attempted a traffic stop of their car on March 7, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Nikki Marie Snell, 38, of Harlem, had an initial appearance on a criminal complaint accusing her of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Snell faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston presided. Snell was detained pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that on March 7, Great Falls Police Department officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a car. The driver, a man, ran from the car with a large brown purse and is suspected of subsequently shooting an officer. Investigators identified Snell as the only passenger in the car and detained her. Officers also recovered the large brown purse that had been in the man’s possession. The court documents further alleged the purse belonged to Snell and that it contained a loaded 9mm, semi-automatic pistol, along with a syringe, an empty baggie with suspected methamphetamine and a digital scale. The government alleged that Snell is prohibited from possessing a firearm, ammunition, destructive device or any other dangerous weapon because of a prior federal felony conviction. A criminal complaint is only an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Betley is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and Great Falls Police Department. PACER case reference. 23-mj-32. The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html . To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl . XXX


title: New Orleans Woman Charged  for Theft of More Than  $88,000 in Government Funds

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that ALINE JAMES, a/k/a “Aline Foster” (“JAMES”) , age 50, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was indicted on March 10, 2023 for Theft of Government Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641. According to the indictment, beginning in or around September 2012, and continuing until in or around December 2020, JAMES collected approximately $88,298.00 in Social Security Administration and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES ACT”) funds to which she was not entitled. If convicted, JAMES faces a maximum penalty of ten (10) years of imprisonment, up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni of the Financial Crimes Unit.


title: Former Raleigh Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearms Charges, Barred from Law Enforcement Certification

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: WILMINGTON, N.C. – Keven Rodriguez, a former Raleigh Police Department officer, pled guilty today to three drug trafficking and firearms charges for distributing cocaine while working on duty in his position as a Field Operations Division Officer. He also pled guilty to possession of contraband while in prison after a search of his jail cell found smoking paraphernalia. As a condition of his plea, Rodriguez has agreed to permanently surrender his law enforcement certification and will be permanently barred from any law enforcement certification in the State of North Carolina from either the Criminal Justice Commission or the Sheriffs’ Commission. Rodriguez faces at least ten years in prison when sentenced later this year. “Keven Rodriguez violated his sworn oath to protect and serve,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “He will never again wear the badge and never again tarnish the honorable profession of policing to which countless brave men and women have committed their lives. I commend the Raleigh Police Department for taking quick action when they first learned of the allegations against this rogue officer. That enabled us to move quickly to get a criminal off the streets and behind bars where he belongs.” “Mr. Rodriguez’s actions betrayed public trust, dishonored the oath he swore to uphold, and discredited his character,” said Raleigh Police Chief Estella D. Patterson. “I am pleased to see that justice was served and appropriately administered in this case. I am extremely grateful for the strong relationships with our local, state, and federal partners. Together, we will continue to remove individuals, such as Mr. Rodriquez, from our community and the law enforcement profession.” Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division commented, “This officer violated his oath to protect and serve. His actions do not reflect the honest and hardworking men and women of law enforcement.” According to court documents and other information presented in court, Rodriguez was on duty and employed as a patrol officer with the Raleigh Police Department when he sold cocaine to a confidential informant on January 24, 2022. Rodriguez sold 56 grams of cocaine while in uniform with his duty issued firearm. Rodriguez then sold cocaine to the confidential informant on two other occasions, February 2, 2022 and February 8, 2022 while still employed with the Raleigh Police Department. Rodriguez was arrested on February 23, 2022. While awaiting trial on the drug and gun charge, Rodriguez was being held at the Sampson County Jail when his jail cell was searched and corrections officers located smoking paraphernalia in his jail cell. Today, Rodriguez pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five hundred (500) grams or more of cocaine, distribution of a quantity of cocaine, use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and possession of contraband while in prison. The prosecution of Rodriguez was a part of an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Operation (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, 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 Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after arraignment today by Chief United States District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Raleigh Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly L. Sandling prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-CR-00049-M


title: McKeesport Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Gun Charges

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA - A former resident of McKeesport, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal narcotics and firearm laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Raymar McKenzie pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. Specifically, McKenzie pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and crack, in addition to possession of a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that between August and September 2020, the Allegheny County Police Department (ACPD) conducted three controlled buy operations from defendant Raymar McKenzie. During each controlled buy, a third party called McKenzie from his known cellular phone number and purchased cocaine base. Following each controlled buy, McKenzie returned to a McKeesport residence in his black pickup truck. As a result, law enforcement applied for and obtained search warrants for the residence, McKenzie, and his vehicle. On Sept. 18, 2020, law enforcement executed the search warrants. Law enforcement detained McKenzie during the search, and he was found in possession of $1,680.00. From an upstairs bedroom, officers located a cellular phone on a bed. Upon calling the number used to contact McKenzie during the controlled buy operations, the phone rang. A sweatshirt on the floor of that bedroom contained packaged cocaine base and a pair of keys that opened the black pickup truck operated by the defendant during the controlled buy operations. Next to the sweatshirt, officers observed a safe. While opening the safe, McKenzie notified officers that the safe contained fentanyl. Following a waiver of his rights, McKenzie admitted that everything in the house was his and described the contents of the safe as including crack, fentanyl, and a black Ruger. In addition to the packaged drugs and firearm, the safe held a loaded .40 caliber extended magazine and $3,000.00. Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for June 26, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of life imprisonment, a fine of $2,000,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Pending sentencing, the court remanded McKenzie to the custody of the US Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Allegheny County Police Department and the McKeesport Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of McKenzie.


title: U.S. Attorney Announces Federal Charges Against 10 Additional Defendants in $250 Million Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota today announced federal criminal charges against 10 additional defendants for their alleged roles in the fraud scheme that exploited a federally-funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 10 defendants are charged across four separate indictments and two criminal informations with charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and bribery. As outlined in the charging documents, the defendants participated in a massive scheme to defraud the Federal Child Nutrition Program by obtaining, misappropriating, and laundering millions of dollars in program funds that were intended as reimbursements for the cost of serving meals to children. The defendants exploited changes in the program intended to ensure underserved children received adequate nutrition during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than feed children, the defendants enriched themselves by fraudulently misappropriating millions of dollars in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. ************** The following defendants are named in the four indictments: Kawsar Jama , 41, of Eagan, was the principal of Gedo Community Services and Ahlan Childcare Center, Inc., both of which Jama enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future and Sponsor A. As alleged, between September 2020 through February 2022, Jama falsely claimed to have served approximately 1.46 million meals to needy children at sites in Pelican Rapids, Burnsville, and Minneapolis. In total, Jama submitted $3.7 million in fraudulent claims for Federal Child Nutrition Program funds, some of which she spent on living expenses, real estate, and vehicles, including a Tesla Model X and an Infiniti QX56 SUV. Jama is charged with five counts of wire fraud and four counts of money laundering. 22-CR-226 (NEB/TNL) Abdikadir Kadiye , 51, of Minneapolis, was the president of Hobyo Health Care Foundation, which he enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Sponsor A. As alleged, throughout 2021, Kadiye falsely claimed to have served at least 445,000 meals to needy children at his sites in Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, and Minneapolis. In total, Kadiye submitted more than $1.1 million in fraudulent claims for Federal Child Nutrition Program funds, some of which he spent on vehicles (including a $105,000 2022 BMW sport utility vehicle), airline tickets, real estate, and $20,000 towards the purchase of a laundromat. Kadiye is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and three counts of wire fraud. 22-CR-226 (NEB/TNL) Abdulkadir Awale , 50, of Bloomington, was the principal of Karmel Coffee, LLC and Sambusa King, Inc., and the CEO of Nawal Restaurant. All three of Awale’s businesses were enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future and Sponsor A. As alleged, between April 2020 through January 2022, Awale falsely claimed that through his businesses he provided food for more than 3.6 million meals to various sites in Minnesota, totaling approximately $11.8 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. As part of the scheme, Awale also paid at least $83,000 in kickbacks to a Feeding Our Future employee. Awale used some of funds to make mortgage payments, cash withdrawals, and purchase vehicles, including a Freightliner Cascadia truck. Awale is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, five counts of money laundering, three counts of wire fraud, and four counts of federal programs bribery. 22-CR-226 (NEB/TNL) Khadra Abdi , 41, of Minneapolis, was the principal of Shafi’I Tutoring & Homework Help Center, which she enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. As alleged, between April 2020 through December 2021, Abdi falsely claimed to serve 1.1 million meals to needy children at her site in Hopkins. In total, Abdi submitted more than $3.4 million in fraudulent claims for Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. As part of the scheme, Abdi also paid at least $17,000 in kickbacks to a Feeding Our Future employee. Abdi used some of funds to make credit card payments, cash withdrawals, and purchase clothing. Abdi is charged with two counts of wire fraud and three counts of federal programs bribery. 22-CR-226 (NEB/TNL) Ayan Farah Abukar , 41, of Savage, was the founder and executive director of Action for East African People, a non-profit which she enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future and Sponsor A. As alleged, between October 2020 through 2022, Abukar falsely claimed to be serving as many as 5,000 children a day at her various sites in Bloomington, Minneapolis, Savage, and St. Paul. In total, Abukar fraudulently received approximately $5.7 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. As part of the scheme, Abukar also paid more than $330,000 in kickbacks to a Feeding Our Future employee. Abukar spent millions on real estate, including a 37-acre commercial property in Lakeville and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars towards the purchase of an aircraft to be delivered to Nairobi, Kenya. Abukar is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, three counts of federal programs bribery, and three counts of money laundering. 23-CR-80 Sade Osman Hashi , 45, of Minneapolis, was the principal of Great Lakes Inc. and Safari Express, entities which he enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future and Sponsor A. As alleged, between September 2020 through 2022, Hashi falsely claimed to be serving as many as 2,500 meals each day to needy children at his site in the Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis. In total, Hashi fraudulently received approximately $5.7 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. As part of the scheme, Hashi also paid more than $150,000 in kickbacks to a Feeding Our Future employee. Hashi used some of the funds to make cash withdrawals and converted approximately $133,000 to cryptocurrency. Hashi is charged with four counts of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, three counts of federal programs bribery, and one count of money laundering. 23-CR-81 Sharon Denise Ross , 52, of Big Lake, was the executive director of House of Refuge Twin Cities, a non-profit which she enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future and Sponsor A. As alleged, between October 2021 and January 2022, Ross falsely claimed to be serving thousands of children each day at her House of Refuge sites. In total, Ross fraudulently received approximately $2.8 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds, some of which she spent on real estate, vehicles, and payments to family members. Ross is charged with ten counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. 23-CR-82 Criminal informations: Mohamed Ali Hussein , 53, and Lul Bashir Ali , 57, both of Faribault, enrolled their entities Somali American Faribault Education (SAFE) and Lido Restaurant in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. As alleged, Hussein falsely claimed that the SAFE site in Faribault was serving as many as 2,500 children a day, seven days a week. Lul Ali falsely claimed that the Lido Restaurant site in Faribault was serving as many as 1,600 children a day, seven days a week. In total, Hussein and Lul Ali received more than $5 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. As part of the scheme, Hussein also paid more than $100,000 in kickbacks to a Feeding Our Future employee. Hussein and Lul Ali are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. 23-CR-91 Mulata Yusuf Ali , 38, of Minneapolis, is charged with theft of government funds involving the Federal Child Nutrition Program from December 2020 through January 2022. 23-CR-92 United States Attorney Andrew Luger thanks the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their collaboration and skilled investigative work in bringing these indictments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Minnesota Matthew S. Ebert, Harry M. Jacobs, Chelsea A. Walcker, and Joseph H. Thompson are prosecuting the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets. An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Hammond Woman Charged  for Theft of More Than  $44,000 In Social Security Funds

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MELISSA KING (“KING”) , age 53, of Hammond, Louisiana, was indicted on March 10, 2023 for Theft of Government Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641. According to the indictment, beginning in or around December 2016, and continuing until in or around March 2020, KING collected approximately $44,696.00 in Social Security Administration funds to which she was not entitled. If convicted, KING faces a maximum penalty of ten (10) years of imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt . U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni of the Financial Crimes Unit.


title: Rowan County Man Sentenced to 45 Years for Production and Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: ASHLAND, Ky. — A Morehead, Ky., man, Johnathan Clay Davenport, 31, was sentenced to 540 months in federal prison on Wednesday, by U.S. District David Bunning, for production of child pornography and distribution of child pornography. According to his plea agreement, law enforcement received information that a subject had distributed child abuse material on Kik Messenger, along with messages that indicated that he had been sexually abusing three minor children. Law enforcement located Davenport, and Davenport admitted he was responsible for distributing the image of child sexual abuse material and he also admitted that he was part of a group related to the sexual exploitation of children. Upon search, law enforcement found that Davenport had produced additional sexually explicit images of three minor children and attempted to produce images of a fourth minor victim, and he admitted to taking the explicit images in his home. Davenport pleaded guilty in November 2022. Under federal law, Davenport must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 15 years. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jerry Templet, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Col. Phillip Burnett, Commissioner, Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the DHS-HSI and KSP. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth. This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. – END –


title: Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Damon Shawn Bailes Jr., also known as “Paper,” 31, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 3, 2022, law enforcement officers arrested Bailes in the area of 19th Street and Rural Road in Huntington on a warrant for a parole violation. Officers found 76 grams of fentanyl, $365 and a loaded SIG Sauer SP2022 handgun on Bailes’ person. Bailes admitted that he possessed the fentanyl and intended to sell it. Bailes is scheduled to be sentenced on June 21, 2023, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, four years of supervised release, and a $5 million fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force, and the Huntington Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Cremeans is prosecuting 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. 3:22-cr-114. ###


title: Dennis Duffy Sentenced to Prison for Pandemic Fraud

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont - The District of Vermont announced that Dennis Duffy II, 40, of South Burlington, was sentenced today in United States District Court in Burlington to 12 months and one day of imprisonment following his guilty plea to loan fraud and money laundering. U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions III also ordered that Duffy serve two years of supervised release following completion of his prison term, pay restitution in the amount of $191,000 and forfeit a Ford truck that he purchased with fraud proceeds. The court ordered that Duffy surrender to the Federal Bureau of Prisons on May 16, 2023 to begin serving his sentence. On July 8, 2021, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment that charged Duffy with fraud and money laundering. The first fraud charge accused Duffy of making false statements and providing forged documents to North Country Federal Credit Union in the summer of 2020 in connection with Duffy’s application for a $416,000 Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loan for his commercial cleaning business, Night Owl Cleaning, Inc. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act contained many provisions that were intended to address the medical, economic, and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the PPP loan program established by Congress in the spring of 2020. The PPP loan program was an economic stimulus program intended to help small businesses keep employees on payroll during the pandemic. It provided billions of dollars in low-interest, unsecured loans that were to be administered through and guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Applicants had to certify that the loan proceeds would be used to maintain payroll and pay other business-related expenses. If applicants were able to demonstrate that proceeds were used to keep workers employed, some or all of a loan could be forgiven. Applicants had to provide the lending financial institution with certain documentation demonstrating their entitlement to and qualifications for a PPP loan. According to the indictment, in late June 2020, Duffy applied for and received a $416,000 loan for Night Owl Cleaning from North Country Federal Credit Union. As part of the application process, Duffy gave NCFCU tax records, rent invoices and utility bills that purported to be for Night Owl. For example, Duffy gave the credit union what purported to be a federal corporate tax return for 2019 that indicated Night Owl had gross revenues that year that exceeded $7.3 million and had taxable income of about $382,000. In fact, the actual returns Duffy filed with the IRS that year reported gross revenues of $79,000 and taxable income of only $15,700. According to the indictment, other Night Owl financial information that Duffy submitted to North Country in support of the loan application was similarly fraudulent. In early July 2020, NCFCU funded the PPP loan by depositing the $416,000 into a Night Owl Cleaning account. Instead of using those funds for Night Owl payroll, however, Duffy used more than $390,000 to buy a house in Milton. In connection with the PPP loan fraud, Duffy pled guilty to credit union fraud and money laundering. The indictment accused Duffy of committing an unrelated fraud against American Express in 2017. In April 2017, Duffy applied for and obtained an American Express credit card for Night Owl Cleaning. Between May and August 2017, Duffy used the AMEX card to make three fraudulent purchases, totaling $125,000, from a business purportedly named Vermont Aerial. In fact, the transactions were fraudulent transfers of AMEX funds to another company Duffy owned named Pet Stop. Immediately after the AMEX funds were deposited into the Pet Stop account, Duffy retransferred the money to a Night Owl Cleaning account, then used those monies for his own benefit. Among other things, Duffy purchased a truck with proceeds of the AMEX fraud. Although the charge of wire fraud was dismissed as part of Duffy’s plea agreement, Duffy agreed to forfeit the truck, to pay full restitution to American Express, and that the fraud against AMEX would be included in the loss calculation under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Duffy’s case was the first pandemic-related fraud prosecution to be filed in Vermont federal court. This case was investigated by the Burlington office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Duffy is represented by Mark Kaplan, Esq. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.


title: U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell Joins DOJ Delegation to Alabama to Commemorate “Bloody Sunday” and Passage of Voting Rights Act of 1965

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - Earlier this week, Alison J. Ramsdell, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota, joined more than two dozen other U.S. Attorneys from across the country as a delegation to commemorate the 58 th Anniversary of “Bloody Sunday,” the March over Selma’s Edmund Pettus Bridge and the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Ramsdell has served as a member of the Attorney General Advisory Committee’s (AGAC) Civil Rights Subcommittee since her appointment in April 2022. “It was an honor to join colleagues from across the United States to commemorate a turning point in the civil rights movement that gave rise to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965,” said U.S. Attorney Ramsdell. “The Department of Justice was founded to ensure the protection of civil rights, including the right to vote, and that objective remains one of our sacred missions here in the District of South Dakota and across the country.” In addition to participating in the March over the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Sunday, March 5 th , the delegation met with Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of DOJ’s Civil Rights Division and held other meetings with community and civil rights leaders. The group met with distinguished jurist Myron Thompson . As former Chief Judge in the Middle District of Alabama, Judge Thompson was instrumental in preserving the Montgomery bus station where the Freedom Riders were attacked in 1961. The group met with Bryan Stevenson, Founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative , a nonprofit that provides legal representation to people who have been wrongly convicted, unfairly sentenced, or abused in state jails and prisons. The attorneys heard from The Johnson Institute in the federal courthouse where many key civil rights cases were decided. Through its programming, The Johnson Institute demonstrates the importance of the U.S. Constitution and an independent judiciary. The U.S. Attorneys visited The Legacy Museum and the Memorial for Peace and Justice , which provide a comprehensive history of racial injustice. The U.S. Attorneys from the following districts also attended the Selma and Montgomery events: Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, South Carolina, Colorado, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Western and Middle Districts of Louisiana, Eastern District of Wisconsin, Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, Middle District of Florida, Northern and Eastern Districts of California, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Virginia, Western District of North Carolina, Southern District of Ohio, Eastern District of New York, and Southern District of West Virginia. The delegation was hosted by the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama, and organized by U.S. Attorneys Nick Brown and Rachael Rollins. The Attorney General’s Advisory Committee was established nearly 50 years ago by Attorney General Elliott Richardson. The Committee’s purpose is to give U.S. Attorneys a voice in Department policies and to advise the Attorney General of the United States. ###


title: Ongoing Jungle Life Mafia Street Gang Prosecution Results in Multiple Guilty Pleas and Sentencings for Nine Tangipahoa Parish Residents

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MICHAEL ALEXANDER, SR. , a/k/a “Monsta,” a/k/a “Jamond,” age 40, ATRELL ANDERSON, a/k/a “Trey,” a/k/a “Trel,” a/k/a “Da Boi,” age 31, TERRELL HAYNES, a/k/a "Redman," age 44, MICHAEL ALEXANDER, JR., a/k/a "Mike Mike," age 22, BRANDON BAKER, age 37, LOUIS BELLS, JR., age 22, JERALD ALEXANDER , age 37, STAR ROBICHAUX, age 43, and JOSHUA PRINE, age 42, residents of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, have now all pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to court documents, Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) agents began investigating the drug trafficking activities of the Jungle Life Mafia street gang in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana in 2019. The investigation spanned two years which led to the seizure of drugs, drug proceeds, and guns. In total, DEA agents seized $590,602 in U.S. currency and 10 illegal guns. On March 9, 2023, ALEXANDER, SR. pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of heroin, and a quantity of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and being a felon in possession of firearms. For the conspiracy charge, ALEXANDER, SR. faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least 5 years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. For possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, he faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years, up to 40 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and at least 4 years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. For possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, ALEXANDER, SR. faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years, up to life imprisonment, to run consecutive with any other sentence, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 5 years of supervised release. If convicted of being a felon in possession of firearms, ALEXANDER, SR. faces up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years supervised release. For each of the four (4) charges against him, ALEXANDER, SR. must also pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Sentencing for ALEXANDER, SR. is scheduled for June 13, 2023. On October 6, 2022, ANDERSON pled guilty to conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 100 grams or more of heroin. He also pled guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and use of a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On March 9, 2023, ANDERSON was sentenced to 188 months imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release, and a $600 mandatory special assessment fee. On September 19, 2022, HAYNES pled guilty to conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 1 kilogram or more of heroin. He also pled guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. For the conspiracy count, he faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least 5 years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. For distribution, HAYNES faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years, up to 40 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and at least 4 years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. For being a felon in possession of a firearm, HAYNES faces up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years supervised release. For each of the three (3) charges against him , HAYNES must also pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Sentencing for HAYNES is scheduled for April 18, 2023. On October 19, 2022, ALEXANDER, JR. pled guilty to conspiring to distribute quantities of heroin and methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and use of a communication facility in furtherance of drug trafficking. On February 14, 2023, ALEXANDER, JR. was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release, and a $500 mandatory special assessment fee. On January 18, 2023, JERALD ALEXANDER pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm. For the marijuana offenses, he faces up to 5 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and at least 2 years of supervised release. For possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, ALEXANDER faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years up to life imprisonment, to run consecutive to any other sentence, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 5 years of supervised release. For being a felon in possession of a firearm, he faces a maximum of ten years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release. For each of the four (4) charges against him, ALEXANDER must also pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Sentencing for ALEXANDER is scheduled for April 18, 2023. On August 2, 2022, BELLS pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. On October 25, 2022, BELLS was sentenced to 71 months imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. On October 4, 2022, BAKER pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute quantities of heroin and methamphetamine. On February 28, 2023, he was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. On September 14, 2022, ROBICHAUX pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 1 kilogram or more of heroin. On October 18, 2022, PRINE pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 1 kilogram or more of heroin. Both ROBICHAUX and PRINE face a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least 5 years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. Sentencing for ROBICHAUX is scheduled for April 25, 2023 and sentencing for PRINE is scheduled for June 13, 2023. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Hammond Police Department, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, 21 st Judicial District Attorney’s Office, St. Tammany Parish District Attorney’s Office, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers of the Narcotics Unit.


title: Bridgeport Man Charged with Illegal Gun Trafficking

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, announced that DAQUAN LAMONT WRIGHT, 26, of Bridgeport, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with illegal gun possession and trafficking offenses. Following his arrest, Wright appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport and was ordered detained. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, an investigation determined that Wright was illegally selling firearms without a license. Wright was previously convicted in state court of theft of a firearm, and possession with intent to sell narcotics. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. It is alleged that, in January and February 2023, investigators made three controlled purchases of handguns from Wright. One of the handguns had been reported stolen in North Carolina. During the investigation, Wright indicated that he possessed, and had access to, other firearms and firearm parts. A search of Wright’s Bridgeport residence today revealed a Glock Model 43 handgun, ammunition, and various gun parts. The complaint charges Wright with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and with dealing in firearms without a license, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that a criminal complaint is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This investigation has been conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Fairfield and Stamford Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis through the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program. PSN, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts, is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.