title: Virginia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiring To Impersonate Federal Law Enforcement Officer

body_text: WASHINGTON – Haider Ali, 36, of Springfield, Virginia, was sentenced today to 68 months in prison for his role in a fraud conspiracy that included bank fraud and the impersonation of federal law enforcement, in a scheme that bilked more than $750,000 from his victims. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Acting Special Agent in Charge Emily Odom, of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, Inspector General Dr. Joseph V. Cuffari, of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Inspector in Charge Damon Wood, with the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. According to court documents, Ali and his co-conspirator, Arian Taherzadeh, 40, of Washington, D.C., impersonated federal officers, using fake identification to rent luxury apartments and cheat the owners out of rent, and to ingratiate themselves with legitimate members of law enforcement. Ali pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court, on October 5, 2022, to the federal charges of conspiracy and bank fraud, and to the unlawful possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device, a District of Columbia offense. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ordered 36 months of supervised release and restitution of $757,922.66. “Deceptions like this do grave damage to the actual agents and officers who are on the street, dealing with the public whose trust is critical to their safety and success,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “Fortunately, our law enforcement partners moved quickly to stop this defendant, expose his scam, and uncover his million-dollar bank fraud. As this sentence shows, impersonating a member of law enforcement is a serious offense. Those who pretend for the sake of exerting unlawful authority over the public, or for their own financial gain, will face significant consequences.” “Impersonating federal officers is a serious crime. Ali used fake law enforcement credentials to cheat people out of money to fuel his greed and perpetuate his fake persona,” said Emily Odom, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division. “Thanks to collaborative efforts with our law enforcement partners, we were able to quickly and effectively dismantle this sophisticated scheme, which not only degraded the operations of real law enforcement but also endangered the safety of the public.” According to court documents, Ali and Taherzadeh operated a business called United States Special Police LLC (USSP), which was described as a private law enforcement, investigative, and protective services company, based in Washington. The two men represented themselves to law enforcement as investigators and/or special agents, claiming an affiliation with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) which was, in fact, not true. The company was not associated in any way with the United States government or the District of Columbia and had never done business with the federal or D.C. governments. As the scheme unfolded, Ali falsely claimed at various times that he was a member of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and/or the U.S. Secret Service. He also falsely claimed that he participated in the capture of the wife of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, that his family had a royal bloodline, and that he had a connection to a senior official in the Pakistani Intelligence Service. Taherzadeh, meanwhile, falsely claimed to be, among other things, a Special Agent with the Department of Homeland Security, a member of a multi-jurisdictional federal task force, a former United States Air Marshal, and a former Army Ranger. Both men used these false claims to recruit others to join their “task force” or “unit,” which these individuals believed to be part of DHS and federal law enforcement. In furtherance of the scheme, Ali and Taherzadeh ingratiated themselves with employees of the U.S. Secret Service because it provided them with cover and aided in their scheme. Ali and Taherzadeh used their assumed law enforcement personas and the business to maintain leases for multiple apartments and parking spaces for supposed law enforcement operations at a luxury apartment complex in Southeast Washington. These units included a penthouse where Ali and Taherzadeh possessed, among other things, a Glock handgun registered to Ali that was loaded with a large-capacity ammunition feeding device, surveillance equipment, law enforcement tactical gear and a machine capable of programming Personal Identification Verification (PIV) cards used to create false credentials. They also used their false identification with law enforcement to obtain security footage in the building, as well as a list of the building’s residents, as well as their apartment numbers and contact information. Throughout their tenancy, no rent was paid on the leased apartments or parking garage. This resulted in a loss to the building of $295,277, and to the garage of $7,854. Additionally, according to the plea documents, beginning as early as May 2017 and continuing through March 2021, Ali engaged in a bank fraud scheme in which he generated more than $1 million in gross receipts from one or more financial institutions. He used bank accounts that he and others maintained and controlled to falsely and fraudulently execute debit and credit card transactions. Ali and Taherzadeh were arrested on April 6, 2022. Taherzadeh pleaded guilty on Aug. 1, 2022, to a federal conspiracy offense and two District of Columbia offenses: unlawful possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device and voyeurism. Taherzadeh is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1, 2023. Following the pronouncement of the sentence, Ali was ordered remanded to begin his sentence effective immediately. This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Valuable assistance was provided by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Aloi and Joshua S. Rothstein of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section. Valuable assistance has been provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Tortorice and Paralegal Specialists Quiana Dunn-Gordon, and Lisa Abbe and former Paralegal Specialist Chad Byron of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and Trial Attorneys Kathleen Campbell and Evan Turgeon of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.


title: Former Erie County Deputy Sheriff Sentenced for Using Excessive Force

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: TOLEDO – Adam Bess, 35, was sentenced today to 12 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary after earlier pleading guilty to a felony for depriving an inmate at the Erie County Jail of her constitutional rights by using excessive force. Six months of this sentence will be served as home detention. Judge Zouhary also ordered Bess to pay a $100 special assessment and be placed on supervised release for one year upon release from imprisonment. According to court documents, on November 1, 2021, Bess was working as a sergeant at the Erie County Jail. During the booking process of a new arrestee, Bess placed his hand around the inmate’s throat in anger in a “choke hold” and caused the inmate to have difficulty breathing. Bess’ actions were without justification and in violation of both the Erie County Sheriff’s Office use of force policy as well as federal law. After being released from jail, the inmate had visible bruising on her neck, immediately reported the matter to the command staff at Erie County Sheriff’s Office, and went to the hospital for evaluation of her injuries. The Erie County Sheriff’s Office promptly reported the matter to the FBI and placed Bess on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation. Bess subsequently resigned. As a result of Bess’ federal felony conviction, he can no longer work in law enforcement. This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division, Sandusky Resident Agency, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Freeman and Tracey Tangeman.


title: Former local bakery owner sentenced to 6 years in prison for stealing identity of deceased baby & committing $1.5M in pandemic relief fraud

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A former Columbus woman was sentenced in federal court today to 72 months in prison for committing 16 counts of wire and passport fraud. The defendant stole the identity of a baby who died as an infant and used the infant’s identity to obtain a passport, a student pilot license, a job as a flight attendant, and pandemic relief loans. As part of her sentence, Ava Misseldine, 50, will pay more than $1.5 million in restitution and forfeit her Utah home and profits from the recent sale of her Michigan home, both of which she bought with stolen government money. According to court documents, Misseldine stole the identity of a baby who died in 1979 and is buried in a Columbus cemetery. In 2003, Misseldine applied for an Ohio ID and later a Social Security card and driver’s license using the stolen identity. In 2007, Misseldine posed as the stolen identity to obtain a student pilot certificate and U.S. Passport. Misseldine submitted paperwork claiming she needed the passport to travel internationally in her occupation as a flight attendant for JetSelect. She was employed under the false identity. Over the next 13 years, Misseldine continued to obtain identity documents in both her real and fake names. An investigation was launched in 2021 when she tried to renew the fraudulent passport. Misseldine obtained approximately $1.5 million in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loans in 2020 using both her real and fake identities. Her loan applications list her businesses as various bakeries and catering companies, including her former bakeries Sugar Inc. Cupcakes & Tea Salon in Dublin and Koko Tea Salon & Bakery in New Albany and at Easton. She submitted forged documents to support her loan applications. Misseldine used the pandemic relief loan money to purchase a home for $647,500 adjacent to Zion National Park in Utah and a home for $327,500 in Michigan. In August and September 2021, Misseldine, after relocating to Utah, obtained driver’s licenses in both names. Misseldine was arrested in Utah in June 2022. She pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Ohio in October 2022. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson and commended the investigation by the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service and Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, assisted by the U.S. Marshals, the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Landry is representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Second Illinois Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Over 2 Pounds of Heroin and Fentanyl

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who possessed 975.7 grams of heroin and fentanyl was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison. Donald R. Owens, age 44, from Markham, Illinois, received the prison term after a March 15, 2023 guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and aiding and abetting the same. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that Owens was driving a car that the Iowa State Patrol stopped for speeding. Mathew J. Moreno was a passenger in the vehicle. Owens fled from officers, and a high-speed chase followed before Owens ultimately crashed the vehicle. During the chase, someone threw a vacuum‑sealed package out of the car which contained 975.7 grams of heroin and fentanyl. Officers also found over $17,000 in cash in Moreno’s and Owens’s possession. Owens was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Owens was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve an 8-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. On July 10, 2023, Moreno was sentenced to 87 month’s imprisonment. Moreno must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. Owens is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason Norwood and Special Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and was investigated by the Iowa State Patrol, the Iowa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-CR-32. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


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

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Dairo Antonio Úsuga David, known by various aliases, including “Otoniel,” a citizen of Colombia, was sentenced by United States District Judge Dora L. Irizarry to 45 years’ imprisonment for engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise as a leader of the multibillion-dollar paramilitary and drug trafficking organization known as the “Clan del Golfo” (CDG). Úsuga David was also sentenced to 45 years’ imprisonment for engaging in a maritime narcotics conspiracy and 45 years’ imprisonment for engaging in a narcotics importation conspiracy. The sentences will run concurrently. As part of the sentence, the Court ordered Úsuga David to pay $216 million in forfeiture. The defendant pleaded guilty to all three charges in January 2023. Markenzy Lapointe, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Merrick B. Garland, United States Attorney General, Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Damian Williams, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Anne Milgram, Administrator, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Ivan J. Arvelo, Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI), Christie M. Curtis, Acting Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), and Steven A. Nigrelli, Acting Superintendent, New York State Police (NYSP), announced the sentence. “Today’s 45-year sentence of Clan de Golfo’s notoriously violent leader illustrates the United States’ tenacious approach to securing justice against those who threaten the security of our nation and communities,” stated United States Attorney Lapointe. “Cartel leaders like Úsuga David will be found, extradited, and prosecuted.” “Otoniel led one of the largest cocaine trafficking organizations in the world, where he directed the exportation of massive amounts of cocaine to the United States and ordered the ruthless execution of Colombian law enforcement, military officials, and civilians,” stated Attorney General Garland. “This sentence sends a clear message: the Justice Department will find and hold accountable the leaders of deadly drug trafficking organizations that harm the American people, no matter where they are and no matter how long it takes.” “The human misery caused by the defendant’s incredibly violent, vengeful, and bloody reign as leader of the Clan de Golfo drug trafficking organization may never be fully calculated due to its magnitude, but today’s lengthy sentence delivers appropriate justice and sends a message to other paramilitary and cartel leaders that the United States will seek their arrest and extradition in order to hold them accountable in our courts of law,” stated United States Attorney Peace. Mr. Peace extended his appreciation to the United States Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle District of Florida and Eastern District of Texas, the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS), Judicial Attachés in Bogotá, Colombia and Attorneys assigned at the Special Operations Division, the United States Marshals Service, the Port Authority Police Department, the Colombian Attorney General’s Office, the Colombian National Police, the Colombian Ministry of National Defense, the Colombian Ministry of Justice, and the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for assistance in the investigation, arrest, and extradition of the defendant. “Today’s sentencing demonstrates DEA’s commitment to defeating deadly criminal networks who have no regard for human life,” stated DEA Administrator Milgram. “DEA investigated Otoniel – one of the most violent and prolific drug traffickers in the world – for almost 20 years. Under Otoniel’s leadership, the Clan de Golfo shipped massive quantities of cocaine into the United States, terrorized the Colombian people, and killed civilians, law enforcement officers, and rivals in Colombia who threatened the organization’s trafficking operations. I commend the men and women of the DEA for their many years of outstanding work that culminated in today’s sentencing.” “Today’s sentencing of notorious Clan del Golfo leader Dairo Antonio Úsuga David is the culmination of years of collaborative efforts between HSI and our local, federal and international law enforcement partners,” stated HSI New York Special Agent-in-Charge Arvelo. “Criminals should take note of this sentencing and heed its warning; HSI remains committed to these joint efforts to disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations whose illicit activities threaten the national security of the United States and the safety of our communities.” “When you consider the scale of Usuga David’s operations—a man with a private army who dared to place bounties on the heads of law enforcement and other government officials in Columbia–– you have to admire the tenacity and courage of team that brought him to justice, both in Columbia and the U.S.” stated NYPD Commissioner Caban. “The NYPD is proud to have played its part in the coordinated efforts of Columbian officials, the U.S. Department of Justice, the DEA, the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the New York State Police.” NYSP Acting Superintendent Nigrelli stated: “Today’s sentencing is the direct result of law enforcements dedication to stemming the tide of illegal drugs coming into our communities. This defendant smuggled tons of illegal drugs into our country and our state, putting lives in danger. We will continue to make it a priority to find, then dismantle these dangerous and deadly operations. I want to thank our members and our law enforcement partners for their work on this case and their commitment to stopping the flow of illegal drugs into our country.” Between June 2003 and October 2021, Úsuga David was the leader of a continuing criminal enterprise responsible for exporting multi-ton shipments of cocaine from Colombia to Mexico and Central America for ultimate importation into the United States. Additionally, Úsuga David participated in conspiracies to distribute narcotics via maritime vessels and also to manufacture and distribute cocaine, knowing and intending that the narcotics would be illegally imported into the United States. The Clan Del Golfo Between 2012 and through his capture by Colombian military and law enforcement forces on October 23, 2021, Úsuga David was the leader of the CDG. The CDG is one of the most violent and most powerful criminal organizations in Colombia, and it is one of the largest distributors of cocaine in the world. With as many as 6,000 members at times, the CDG exercises military control over vast amounts of territory in the Urabá region of Antioquia, Colombia, one of the most lucrative drug trafficking areas within Colombia due to its proximity to the Colombia-Panama border and the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. Clad in military uniforms, CDG members employ military tactics and weapons to reinforce their power and incite wars and violence against rival drug traffickers, paramilitary organizations, and Colombian law enforcement authorities who threaten the CDG’s control. The CDG funds its operations primarily through a multi-billion-dollar drug trafficking operation. It imposes a “tax” on any drug traffickers operating in territory under its control, charging fees for every kilogram of cocaine manufactured, stored, or transported through areas controlled by the organization. The CDG also directly exports cocaine, and coordinates the production, purchase, and transfer of weekly and bi-weekly multi-ton shipments of cocaine from Colombia into Central America and Mexico for ultimate importation to the United States. To maintain control over CDG territory, Úsuga David and the CDG employed an army of “sicarios,” or hitmen, who carried out acts of violence, including murders, assaults, kidnappings, torture, and assassinations against competitors and those deemed traitors to the organization, as well as their family members. The CDG murdered and assaulted Colombian law enforcement officers, Colombian military personnel, rival drug traffickers and paramilitaries, potential witnesses, and civilians. Úsuga David and the CDG used violence to promote and enhance the reputation and position of the CDG with respect to rival criminal organizations; preserve, protect, and expand the CDG’s power and territory; finance the CDG’s operations and enrich its leaders through the collection of drug debts; maintain discipline among its members and associates; and protect CDG members from arrest and prosecution by attempting to silence potential witnesses and retaliating against law enforcement authorities and those assisting law enforcement. Úsuga David served as a high-ranking leader within the CDG from its inception and was its principal leader for approximately10 years. During his reign, Úsuga David oversaw all of the CDG’s activities and directed its members to engage in extensive criminal acts, including acts of violence, mandated shutdowns of all business activities and civilian movement within designated regions of Colombia, retaliation against law enforcement authorities and potential witnesses, the exertion of control over drug manufacturing facilities and trafficking routes, and the exportation of cocaine in multi-ton quantities. Úsuga David assumed power and territorial control over vast swaths of the Colombian coastline and personally directed members of the CDG to commit acts of violence to reinforce that power. This included violence against civilians. For example, in early 2012, following the death of Úsuga David’s brother in a police raid, Úsuga David ordered a multi-day shutdown be imposed on towns and communities within the CDG’s control. During the strike, CDG members ordered that all businesses remain closed, and that residents stay in their homes. Úsuga David ordered CDG members to execute those who did not adhere to his orders. Úsuga David also personally ordered CDG members to commit murders of specific individuals, including the murders of rival drug traffickers and members of the CDG who betrayed him or the organization. For example, Úsuga David ordered the assassinations of multiple individuals who worked for a rival drug trafficking organization. In addition, Úsuga David regularly directed CDG members to use violence, intimidation, and murder to dissuade law enforcement authorities from performing their duties and to silence potential witnesses. For example, at Úsuga David’s direction, the CDG carried out organized campaigns, referred to as “Plan Pistolas,” to kill Colombian law enforcement and military personnel using military-grade weapons, including grenades, explosives, and assault rifles. Úsuga David offered bounties for the murder of Colombian police officers and military personnel to intimidate law enforcement authorities and prevent them from capturing him or interfering in the CDG’s business. Úsuga David’s organization made numerous attempts to assassinate individuals who were believed to be cooperating with law enforcement. Úsuga David was also extensively involved in the narcotics activities that funded the CDG and enabled its power. He oversaw the CDG’s drug trafficking exports and directed a network of “debt collectors” tasked with the enforcement and collection of taxes paid by drug trafficking organizations that operated in regions controlled by the CDG. In addition, Úsuga David controlled cocaine manufacturing facilities and used the CDG’s extensive distribution network to export cocaine independently for his own personal profit. Asset Forfeiture As part of the sentence, the Court ordered Úsuga David to pay a $216 million forfeiture money judgment. The forfeiture money judgment is subject to the Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Colombia concerning the Sharing of Forfeited Proceeds and Instrumentalities of Crime. Assistant United States Attorney Robert Emery of the Southern District of Florida and Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Li of the Southern District of New York led the prosecutions for their respective offices. The government’s case is being handled by the Eastern District of New York’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Francisco J. Navarro, Gillian Kassner, and Tara B. McGrath are in charge of the prosecution. Claire S. Kedeshian of the Office’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters. The investigation, extradition, and conviction of Úsuga David is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. 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 15-cr-20403. The Defendant : DAIRO ANTONIO USUGA DAVID (also known as “Otoniel,” “Mao,” “Gallo” and “Mauricio-Gallo”) Age: 51 Antioquia, Colombia E.D.N.Y. Docket Nos. 14-CR-625 (S-4) (DLI) 23-CR-021 (DLI) 23-CR-027 (DLI) ###


title: Sequoyah County Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Firearm Crime

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that James Timothy Mathis, of Muldrow, Oklahoma, age 41 and a felon, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm. The Indictment alleged that on March 4, 2023, Mathis, who had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, was found in possession of a .38 SPL caliber Smith & Wesson Bodyguard Airweight revolver. Individuals previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. The charges arose from an investigation by the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, United States Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea at the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Mathis was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing. Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Pahl represented the United States.


title: Neuroscience Company and Co-Founder/CEO Pay $445,000 to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Related to Promotion of False Billing Codes

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: Evoke Neuroscience, Inc., of New York will pay $225,000, and its co-founder/CEO David Hagedorn, Ph.D., of Jacksonville, North Carolina, will pay $220,000, to resolve alleged False Claims Act violations for causing the submission of false claims to Medicare by promoting false billing codes for a “brain health” device. The settlement was announced today by United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Dr. Hagedorn, a psychologist, co-founded Evoke as a startup in approximately 2009. Evoke sold its “eVox” device primarily to general practitioner physicians. The device involves a 20-60 minute in-office application of a helmet with electrodes that purports to test certain brain functions. During Evoke’s initial startup phase, Dr. Hagedorn selected six billing codes for the eVox device. The settlement resolves allegations that from January 1, 2013 through May 31, 2021, Evoke and Dr. Hagedorn promoted to health care providers six false billing codes for Medicare reimbursement for the eVox device. By promoting false billing codes to health care providers, Evoke and Dr. Hagedorn caused the providers to submit false claims to Medicare. The United States contends that none of the codes were ever appropriate for the eVox device as applied because the codes generally require a longer testing time, a specialized environment ( e.g. , soundproof/dark room), and can only be administered by a relevant specialist. Moreover, the United States contends that Evoke and Dr. Hagedorn improperly encouraged health care providers to bill multiple codes for a single application of the eVox device. In 2018, coding consultants informed Evoke that many of the billing codes it was promoting were problematic, after which time Evoke stopped promoting the false codes. “There is no ‘startup’ exception under the False Claims Act,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “You will be held accountable if you knowingly promote false billing codes to others.” This settlement resolves claims originally brought by Kevin Vance, M.D., and Angel Vance, R.N., of Madison, Mississippi to whom, among others, Evoke marketed the eVox system. The case was brought under the whistleblower, or qui tam , provisions of the False Claims Act. The Act permits private citizens with knowledge of fraud against the government to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the United States and to share in any recovery. The Vances will receive $89,000 of the settlement proceeds. The lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Dr. Kevin Vance and Angel Vance v. Evoke Neuroscience, Inc. , No. 21-452 (E.D. Pa.). The qui tam suit was initially filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, and was transferred to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where the U.S Attorney’s Office had previously settled a False Claims Act case with a local provider involving, among other things, use of eVox: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/neurosurgeon-medical-practice-director-pay-over-1-million-resolve-false-claims-act . The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew E. K. Howatt and Joel M. Sweet of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, along with Auditor Dawn Wiggins and Investigator Jeff Braun, and Assistant United States Attorneys Deidre Colson, Jennifer Case, and Civil Chief Angela Williams of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General supported the investigation. The government’s pursuit of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477) or online at https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud . All civil claims are allegations only. There has been no determination of civil liability.


title: Montgomery Man Convicted on Federal Drug and Ammunition Charges

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA – Today, United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart announced the conviction of Robert Damaine Salter, a 36-year-old from Montgomery, Alabama, for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin; distribution of heroin; and being a felon in possession of ammunition. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, in early 2022, law enforcement agents began an investigation, through which they learned of multiple communications between Salter and others discussing the purchase of various controlled substances, including methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. Stacy Audrice Toney, 35, also from Montgomery, was one of the individuals who had these communications with Salter. In one call, Salter agreed to purchase seven ounces of crystal methamphetamine, or as he referred to it, “ice cream cones,” from Toney. In other calls, Salter and Toney discussed selling larger quantities of methamphetamine, sometimes as much as a kilogram. Agents obtained search warrants for residences associated with Salter and Toney and found numerous controlled substances. In addition, agents found two rounds of .40 caliber ammunition at Salter’s apartment and a firearm at a house associated with Toney. Salter and Toney both have felony convictions and are prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition. The jury rendered its guilty verdict on August 3, 2023. Following his conviction, Salter faces a sentence of ten years to life in federal prison. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled for him in the coming months. Toney previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin; and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Toney’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 31, 2023. Toney is also facing a sentence of ten years to life. The DEA and the Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark E. Andreu and John J. Geer, III, are prosecuting the case.


title: Ohio Woman Sentenced to 6 Months in Federal Prison After Filing False CARES Act Claims to Steal More than $200,000 in Pandemic Unemployment Benefits

component: USAO - Indiana, Southern

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Brianna Yerkey, 21, of Struthers, Ohio, has been sentenced to 6 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud. According to court documents, beginning in February 2021, and continuing through June 2021, Brianna Yerkey intentionally defrauded the federal government and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (IDWD) by exploiting the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance funding authorized by the CARES Act. Specifically, Yerkey used Facebook and Snapchat to advertise to perspective clients that she would file Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) applications on their behalf and prepare and submit their weekly PUA vouchers in exchange for a fee of between $500 and $1,300. Yerkey instructed perspective clients to establish an online account with IDWD and provide her with the username and password so she could log in to their accounts. As part of the scheme, Yerkey provided false and fraudulent information regarding the applicant’s residential address, employment, unemployment, and whether the applicant was presently residing in Indiana. Yerkey also falsely stated that their unemployment was connected to the COVID-19 pandemic to obtain unemployment benefits from the IDWD to which her clients were not entitled. Yerkey attempted to conceal her crimes by providing details in the PUA applications that would create the false impression the applicants were university students in Indiana. Yerkey intentionally used university addresses and employment dates that would align with summer school break so that IDWD would not suspect fraud if the applicant provided an out of state driver’s license for proof of identity. In total, Yerkey submitted false and fraudulent claims to the IDWD totaling approximately $287,311 in unemployment benefits. “Pandemic Unemployment Assistance under the CARES Act was a lifeline for thousands of Americans suffering economic disaster directly related to COVID-19,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “Ms. Yerkey exploited a federal program, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars intended to help our most vulnerable populations in a time of instability. These selfish, greedy actions must be rectified. I am grateful for the work of the FBI that led to today’s sentence.” “People in desperate need turned to the defendant for help, and she pocketed that money,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “The FBI and our partners won’t idly sit by and let schemes like this occur but will relentlessly pursue those who fraudulently profit at the expense of others.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Matthew P. Brookman. Judge Brookman also ordered that Yerkey be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 1 year following her release from federal prison and pay $125,271 in restitution. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany J. Preston, who prosecuted this case. 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 augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID‑19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form ###


title: U.S. Attorney Announces Civil Complaint Against Shelby County Property Owner for Environmental Cleanup Costs

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – The United States today announced the filing of a civil complaint in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee against Shelby County property owner Minor David Madison, Jr . Madison owns land tracts at 3517 and 3523 Southern Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee — properties that housed successive dry-cleaning businesses over the years, including the former Custom Cleaners. According to the complaint, Madison leased the property to several dry-cleaning operators beginning in 1966. Those operators are alleged to have disposed of solvents, such as perchloroethylene and trichloroethene, at the site while Madison owned the property. In June 2013, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) received complaints about chemical vapor smells and abandoned barrels of chemicals at the property. TDEC sampling detected high concentrations of hazardous substance vapors in the subsurface, migrating soil gasses that would pose a threat to neighboring properties, and a plume of contaminated groundwater threatening the aquifer that supplies drinking water to Memphis and other local municipalities. United States Attorney Kevin Ritz said: “Clean air and safe drinking water are basic building blocks for a healthy and just Memphis. More than 20 years after the last dry cleaners on this property shuttered, residents are still living with toxic gasses in the soil and water above the level considered safe by federal standards. This is the first step in making sure those same residents don’t have to foot the bill for bringing their community back to a healthy standard.” The lawsuit seeks recovery of all costs incurred by the Environmental Protection Agency under Section 107 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (“CERCLA”), 42 U.S.C. § 9607. CERCLA, commonly known as Superfund, provides the United States with a way to recover the costs of responding to a release or threatened release of hazardous substances by imposing liability on property owners. In 2017, the EPA added Madison’s properties to the Superfund’s National Priorities List, a list of the most serious sites requiring response actions. For more about the Former Custom Cleaners Superfund site, see https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0402275 . EPA has been performing response actions since 2016 and will continue to conduct response actions in the future to abate hazards posed by the site. This case is being handled for the government by Assistant United States Attorney Audrey Calkins and attorneys with the Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations of unlawful conduct; the allegations must be proven in federal court. ###


title: Brantley County man sentenced to federal prison for distributing sexually explicit images of children

body_text: BRUNSWICK, GA: A south Georgia man has been sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison for distributing sexually explicit images of children. Gary Kreitzman , 36, of Nahunta, Ga., was sentenced to 142 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood also ordered Kreitzman to register as a sex offender and to serve 10 years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “Children are re-victimized every time sexually exploitive images are shared,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable the predators who endanger our most vulnerable citizens.” As described in court documents and testimony, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in July 2020, alerting agents to images of child pornography being transferred through an online chat application. The investigation led the agents to Kreitzman’s residence, and during a search of the property, agents seized multiple electronic devices with hundreds of sexually explicit images of children. Kreitzman told investigators that he shared the images in the online chat application to gain access to more images. “The GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit is committed to protecting children from these predators,” said Chris Hosey, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “This federal prison sentence illustrates the results of a strong and united partnership amongst local, state, and federal agencies.” The case was investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Brantley County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer M. Kirkland. Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/ .


title: Baton Rouge Man Sentenced to Seventeen Years in Federal Prison for Armed Robbery and Related Gun Offense

component: USAO - Louisiana, Middle

body_text: United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr., announced that U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced Oreall Ruffin, age 25, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 205 months in federal prison following his convictions for interference with commerce by robbery and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The Court further ordered Ruffin to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, on or about November 17, 2019, Ruffin along with three other masked and armed men, entered the Dollar General store on 4755 Prescott Drive in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The four robbers all brandished handguns. In the store, Ruffin walked up to a Dollar General cashier and pointed his handgun at the cashier. Ruffin then jumped over the register and, unlawfully and against their will, took money from the safe while directly in the presence of a Dollar General employee. Ruffin and the other robbers obtained approximately $7,000 from Dollar General. On or about November 21, 2019, Ruffin and three other individuals approached two employees of the Dollar General store located at 6365 Scenic Hwy as they stood outside the front door getting ready to lock the security gate. All robbers were wearing masks and armed with guns. During the robbery, Ruffin wore a gas mask that had distinctive red markings on it. The robbers, brandishing their guns, forced the two employees to open the door and enter the store. Ruffin ordered an employee to the back of the store while pointing a handgun at him and had the employee turn off an alarm. While in the presence of the robbers, an employee, against her will, removed approximately $1,200 from a safe and provided it to the robbers. On or about November 22, 2019, Ruffin along with another masked, armed man entered the Family Dollar store located at 3777 North Sherwood Forest Blvd holding and pointing handguns at two Family Dollar employees working near the end of their shift. During the robbery, Ruffin wore a gas mask with distinctive red markings. He ordered an employee to get on the ground and open the safe. The employee opened the safe and handed the money to the robbers. The robbers, unlawfully and against the employees’ will, took approximately $2,416.48 dollars. U.S. Attorney Ronald Gathe stated, “Crimes such as these have a lasting affect on the victims. No one should be forced at gunpoint to submit to the will of another. I thank all of our local and federal partners for working together and bringing this defendant to justice.” This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Baton Rouge Police Department with assistance from the Louisiana State Police Crime Laboratory. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremy S. Johnson and M. Patricia Jones.


title: Evansville Man Sentenced to Over 15 Years in Federal Prison for Dealing Fentanyl Resulting in Fatal Overdose

body_text: EVANSVILLE- Kalib Scott Powell, 29 of Evansville, has been sentenced to 188 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to dealing fentanyl resulting in death. According to court documents, on February 21, 2019, Powell sold J.H. a half-gram of fentanyl powder in exchange for United States currency. On February 23, 2019, J.H. overdosed and died. Her cause of death was determined to be fentanyl intoxication. The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office responded to the overdose and recovered J.H.’s cell phone. An examination of that phone revealed a conversation about the planned purchase of fentanyl from Powell. It was uncovered that Powell had previously been warned by a customer after she sampled the fentanyl powder that it was very strong and “someone was going to die” from the ingestion of it. Nevertheless, Powell continued to sell the fentanyl powder knowing the danger. United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, Michael Gannon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Indianapolis Field Office; and Sheriff Noah Robinson of the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement. “Fentanyl is a powerful and lethal poison that traffickers sell with utter disregard for human life,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A, Myers. “The serious prison sentence imposed here will not bring the victim back to their family, but it is an important measure of accountability and justice. We will continue our efforts with the DEA and Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office to hold fentanyl dealers accountable for the devastation they cause, and hopefully save others from suffering the same tragic fate.” The Drug Enforcement Administration and Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Richard L. Young. Judge Young also ordered that Powell be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Lauren M. Wheatley, who prosecuted this case. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, depending on a person’s body size, tolerance, and past usage. One kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. 6 out of 10 illegal fentanyl tablets sold on U.S. streets now contain a potentially lethal dose of the drug. One Pill Can Kill : Avoid pills bought on the street because One Pill Can Kill . Fentanyl has now become the leading cause of death in the United States. Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid that drug dealers dilute with cutting agents to make counterfeit prescription pills that appear to be Oxycodone, Percocet, Xanax, and other drugs. Fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl are usually shaped and colored to look like pills sold at pharmacies. For example, fake prescription pills known as “M30s” imitate Oxycodone obtained from a pharmacy, but when sold on the street the pills routinely contain fentanyl. These pills are usually round tablets and often light blue in color, though they may be in different shapes and a rainbow of colors. They often have “M” and “30” imprinted on opposite sides of the pill. Do not take these or any other pills bought on the street – they are routinely fake and poisonous, and you won’t know until it’s too late. ###


title: Fountain Valley Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Murdering Man Who Was Shot on Boat and Dumped into Ocean

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: SANTA ANA, California – An Orange County man was sentenced today to life in federal prison for the October 2019 murder of a man whose body was found floating in the Pacific Ocean with bullet and blunt force trauma wounds. Hoang Xuan Le, 42, a.k.a. “Wayne,” and “Wangsta,” of Fountain Valley, was sentenced by United States District Judge David O. Carter. At the conclusion of a 17-day trial in December 2021, a jury found Le guilty of first-degree murder within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, conspiracy to commit murder, and using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. In February 2022, Le pleaded guilty to eight narcotics-related felonies, including distribution of cocaine and methamphetamine. On the night of October 15, 2019, Le lured the victim onto a boat owned by Sheila Marie Ritze, 43, of San Juan Capistrano, at Dana Point Harbor, with the promise of a late-night fishing trip. The victim owed Le a debt. Around midnight, Ritze drove her boat out into the Pacific Ocean with Le and the victim on board. Le shot the victim on the boat, the victim went overboard, and Ritze and Le left the victim to die in the ocean, where he drowned. Le and Ritze then returned to Dana Point Harbor. The victim’s body was recovered from the Pacific Ocean several miles northwest of Oceanside on October 16, 2019. The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that he was a homicide victim who drowned after being shot and suffering blunt force trauma. “Le committed murder, and, as a result, [the victim’s] family will never see him again,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum. “Le’s crime has left a grieving mother, grieving widow, grieving brothers, a grieving sister, and two fatherless small children.” On April 17, Ritze was sentenced to almost 22 years in federal prison for her role in the murder. Ritze was convicted of one count of second-degree murder within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, and one count of making false statements to federal investigators. The Coast Guard Investigative Service and the FBI investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Scally and Gregory W. Staples of the Santa Ana Branch Office prosecuted this case.


title: Trice Pleads Not Guilty During Arraignment In Wynter Cole-Smith Case

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Rashad Maleek Trice, 26, was arraigned for kidnapping two-year-old Wynter Cole-Smith, resulting in her death and kidnapping a minor. Trice was charged by criminal complaint on July 7, 2023, to secure his immediate detention, and indicted on July 26 to satisfy his constitutional right to federal indictment by a grand jury. During today’s arraignment before Magistrate Judge Ray Kent, Trice was formally read the charges against him and pleaded not guilty. “Today’s hearing marks yet another step ahead in the judicial process, and my office is fully prepared to make our case against Mr. Trice at a fair trial,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “My thoughts continue to be with the family as we seek a measure of justice following the heartbreaking loss of Wynter Cole-Smith.” Trice is charged with two counts. The first count is kidnapping resulting in death, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1201(a)(1). If convicted, the statutory mandatory minimum sentence is life in prison. This offense is also death penalty eligible. The second count is kidnapping of a minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1201(a)(1) and (g)(1). If convicted, the statutory mandatory minimum sentence is 20 years in prison with a maximum possible sentence of life in prison. "The sadness for those of us working the case is outmatched by our resolve and focus on the continued, careful work supporting the prosecution. Over 30 law enforcement agencies banded together on this case, culminating in tremendous heroism by those Eastpointe and St. Clair Shores Police Officers apprehending the accused and by those FBI Agents who recovered Wynter,” said Devin J. Kowalski, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan . “Thank you to all the federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, and the women and men of the FBI for your relentless, courageous work. Thank you to the community for your help and support of law enforcement in this case," said Devin J. Kowalski, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan.” The charges in an arraignment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. ###


title: Virginia woman sentenced for federal firearms charge

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Hope Julia Clemons, age 33, of Norfolk, Virginia, was sentenced today to 63 months in prison for making a false statement during the purchase of firearms. According to court documents and statements made in court, Clemons illegally purchased firearms in the Eastern Panhandle to be trafficked in the Washington, D.C. area. On at least two occasions, Clemons purchased firearms at gun dealers in Berkeley County, falsely stating on the required forms that the weapons were for her personal use. Clemons then gave the firearms to co-defendant Tyrone Greenfield to sell in the greater Washington, D.C. area. Clemons used a West Virginia state identification, secured by Greenfield, to make the purchases. Greenfield was sentenced earlier this year to 110 months in federal prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The case was investigated by the FBI; U.S. Marshals Service; Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the West Virginia Air National Guard; the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the Harpers Ferry Police Department, and the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C. The EPDTF consists of the West Virginia State Police, Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Ranson Police Department, the Charles Town Police Department, and the Martinsburg Police Department. U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided. Read more about the initial indictment: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/west-virginia-maryland-and-washington-dc-residents-indicted-firearms-and-drug


title: Two Teens Sentenced to Federal Prison for Attempting to Smuggle AK-47-Style Rifles Into Mexico

component: USAO - Arizona

number: 2023-122_Mendez et al.

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Manuel De Jesus Guzman, 19, of Rio Rico, Arizona, and Joshua Francisco Mendez, 19, of Tucson, Arizona, were sentenced on June 21, 2023, and July 26, 2023, respectively, by United States District Judge James A. Soto. Guzman was sentenced to 18 months in prison and Mendez was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison; both sentences will be followed by three years of supervised release. Guzman and Mendez pleaded guilty to Smuggling Goods from the United States. Guzman and Mendez attempted to exit the United States and enter Mexico on June 7, 2022, through the pedestrian gate at the DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona. During a search at secondary inspection, Customs and Border Protection officers located four AK-47-style rifles taped to their bodies. Guzman and Mendez had two Romarms WASR-10 rifles, one Century Arms VSKA rifle, and one Century Arms BFT rifle. The firearms that Guzman and Mendez intended to take across the border are prohibited from being exported from the United States into Mexico without a valid license. Neither Guzman nor Mendez had a valid license or any other lawful authority to export the firearms into Mexico. Homeland Security Investigations, Department of Homeland Security conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Bolling and Micah Schmit, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-22-01487-JAS-MSA RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-122_Mendez et al. # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Lawrence Man Sentenced to Over Six Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and Cocaine

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Lawrence man was sentenced on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, in federal court in Worcester for conspiring to traffic fentanyl and cocaine in central and eastern Massachusetts. Hector Torres Rosario, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to 78 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In May 2023, Torres Rosario pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl. From April to July 2022, Torres Rosario was responsible for brokering and assisting co-conspirators in the sale and transportation of cocaine and fentanyl in furtherance of a criminal drug conspiracy. Torres Rosario was indicted in September 2022 along with 21 other co-defendants from Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Marshals Service, Massachusetts State Police, Southbridge Police Department, Lawrence Police Department, Essex County Sherriff’s Department and Worcester County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Hassink of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case. This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: U.S. Attorney Takes Oath of Office at Investiture Ceremony

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office -District of Kansas held an investiture ceremony at the Wichita U.S. Courthouse for U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher. Chief Judge Eric F. Melgren administered the oath. U.S. Attorney Brubacher was officially sworn in to serve as the presidentially-appointed and U.S. Senate-confirmed U.S. Attorney on March 10, 2023, by United States District Judge Julie Robinson. An investiture is a more formal, ceremonial event to mark Brubacher’s appointment. Judges, former U.S. Attorneys, law enforcement, and community members attended on August 4, 2023, at the federal courthouse for the occasion. Brubacher is the first woman to hold the position. Seven former U.S. Attorneys gathered to celebrate the District and mark the historic event with a photo. “Along with expressing my gratitude for the honor of this role,” Brubacher said, “I want to assure the People of the District and this Court that fairness, equality, and impartiality are the guiding principles of the USAO in Kansas.” Brubacher also thanked partners and the community for joining the USAO as they “protect the public in their safety and rights, and uphold the rule of law.” United States District Chief Judge, the Honorable Eric. F. Melgren presided over the event. The ceremony also included remarks by Jon Gering, Raylene Hinz Penner and Jill Docking, who are personal and professional mentors to Brubacher. Dale Schrag gave the invocation and Brubacher’s children participated in the event as well. ###


title: Three Men Charged with Conspiring to Distribute Nine Kilograms of Cocaine

body_text: BOSTON – Three men have been charged for their alleged roles in a cocaine distribution conspiracy. Leonardo Lara, 43, and Leandro Martinez, 41, both of Lawrence; and Merced Navarro-Morfin, 42, of Lunenberg, were indicted on one count each of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. With respect to Lara and Navarro-Morfin, the conspiracy is alleged to have involved five kilograms or more of cocaine. Martinez and Navarro-Morfin were also indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Following initial appearances on Aug. 4, 2023, in federal court in Boston, Lara was detained pending a further hearing scheduled for Aug. 7, 2023. Martinez was released by the court on conditions. Navarro-Morfin will have an initial appearance in federal court in Boston on Aug. 9, 2023. It is alleged that in April 2022, approximately $40,000 in suspected drug proceeds were seized from Lara’s vehicle following a traffic stop in Sturbridge. Shortly after Lara was released, Martinez and Navarro-Morfin allegedly travelled to a Methuen residence used by Lara, and removed eight kilograms of cocaine. Martinez and Navarro-Morfin also allegedly possessed approximately $196,000 in suspected drug proceeds and one additional kilogram of cocaine. According to court records, Lara has two prior federal convictions. In 2017, Lara was convicted of money laundering and theft of public funds for which he was sentenced to 15 months in prison. In 2004, Lara was convicted in federal court of one count of bank robbery for which he was sentenced to two years’ probation. Navarro-Morfin was also convicted in federal court in Boston in 2015 of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of marijuana and cocaine, for which he was sentenced to 97 months in prison. The charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, involving five kilograms or more of cocaine, provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute cocaine provide for a maximum of 20 years incarceration, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office

component: USAO - Wyoming

body_text: Sexual Exploitation of a Child Kyle Smith, age 33, of Sheridan, Wyoming, was sentenced on July 31, 2023, to 420 months’ imprisonment for sexual exploitation of children and attempted sexual exploitation of a child. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence which included fifteen years of supervised release, a $200 special assessment and $3,206.67 in restitution. According to court documents, the case originated when Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigators received Cybertips from both Snapchat and Instagram for accounts that were associated with the defendant. While ICAC was investigating these Cybertips, police in Mansfield, Texas, were separately investigating Snapchat accounts linked to the defendant for soliciting child pornography and sextortion. ICAC agents obtained search warrants and discovered that Smith was messaging numerous underage girls over Snapchat and other applications. In the messages, Smith would threaten and manipulate the underage girls into producing child pornography for him. This case was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation’s ICAC unit, the Mansfield (Tex.) Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. Case No. 22-CR-00137 Firearm Offenses Luis Martinez-Garcia, age 36, a citizen of Mexico who was unlawfully in the United States, was sentenced on July 25, 2023, to 12 months’ probation with special conditions and a $100 special assessment for intending to transfer ammunition to a prohibited person. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence. According to court documents, Martinez-Garcia was detained by the Mills Police Department after a traffic stop where he was in possession of a firearm and .40 caliber ammunition. When stopped, Martinez-Garcia was driving to a shooting range where he intended to give the ammunition to an acquaintance who was also not lawfully in the United States and therefore a person prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. Martinez-Garcia was later taken into custody by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the Casper for having no legal status in the United States and indicted. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore. Case No. 23-CR-00035 Drug Trafficking Derek Ascherin , age 30, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced on August 1, 2023, to 51 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence which included three years of supervised release, $500 community restitution and a $100 special assessment. According to court documents, on October 25, 2022, Cheyenne Police Department (CPD) officers were dispatched to Capitol City Storage on a report of a suspected trespasser asleep in a vehicle. CPD officers arrived on scene and contacted Ascherin asleep in a Honda sedan. During their investigation, officers located multiple plastic bags with methamphetamine and fentanyl pills and placed Ascherin under arrest for being under the influence of a controlled substance. In total, the defendant possessed approximately 17 grams of methamphetamine and 8.9 grams (82 pills) of fentanyl. Ascherin pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The case was investigated by the Cheyenne Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood. Case No. 23-CR-00026 Illegal Re-Entry of Previously Deported Alien into the U.S. Luis Montano-Sanchez , age 31, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced on August 2, 2023, to one month imprisonment for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence and recommended the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement begin removal proceeding during service of his sentence pursuant to the Institutional Hearing Program. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore. Carlos Moreno-Rodriguez , age 32, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced on July 27, 2023, to five months’ imprisonment for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence and recommended the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement begin removal proceeding during service of his sentence pursuant to the Institutional Hearing Program. About the United States Attorney’s Office The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include: Environmental Justice The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Project Safe Childhood Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious. Project Safe Neighborhoods Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful. Victim Witness Assistance The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect. To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime#traffickin


title: California Man Sentenced to Over 13 Years of Prison  for Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Gulfport, Miss. – A California man was sentenced to 159 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Cedric Joseph Gaytan, age 63, of Orange, California, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. According to court records, after a controlled purchase of fentanyl pills from Gaytan on July 22, 2022, agents obtained a search warrant for Gaytan’s Biloxi residence. During the search of the residence, investigators located 173 grams of fentanyl inside of a grandfather clock in the living room. Gaytan was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 16, 2022. He pled guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl on March 28, 2023. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Biloxi Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.


title: Commerce Township Man Pleads Guilty in Pandemic Loan Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT - A Commerce Township resident pleaded guilty today to orchestrating a fraud scheme involving approximately $851,000 in loans intended to help small businesses stay afloat during the Covid-19 pandemic, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today. Joining in the announcement was Angie M. Salazar, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Ryan Carruthers, 32, entered a plea of guilty to one count of wire fraud before United States District Judge Paul D. Borman. The guilty plea arose out of Carruthers’ participation in a wide-ranging scheme to fraudulently obtain loans from two pandemic relief programs overseen by the Small Business Administration (SBA). “Ryan Carruthers stole nearly a million dollars from programs intended to help our community weather an unprecedented national crisis. Every dollar that went to Mr. Carruthers is a dollar that did not go to a small business that needed help during the pandemic,” said United States Attorney Ison. “My office takes pandemic fraud extremely seriously, and we will continue to dedicate resources to bringing those who perpetrated such frauds to justice.” “This case shows the efforts some will take to defraud their fellow community members and taxpayers,” said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar. “Today, three years after the start of the pandemic, we are still investigating fraud and working to ensure that those who received this money did so honestly and justly. The message should be clear for anyone who stole these funds for personal enrichment, our HSI agents and partners are committed to holding you accountable.” According to the plea agreement, in approximately April 2020, Carruthers began to submit electronic applications for pandemic relief loans in the names of various business entities he purported to own and control. Between April 2020 and April 2021, Carruthers submitted 12 loan applications through the ‘’Paycheck Protection Program,” (PPP), which was an SBA-administered program that provided forgivable loans to businesses to encourage them to keep workers employed during the pandemic. Carruthers also submitted a loan application under the SBA’s ‘’Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program” (EIDL), which was a program that provided low-interest financing to businesses adversely affected by the pandemic. According to the plea documents, the loan applications described above contained numerous material misrepresentations and false statements. Carruthers’s business entities were shell businesses that existed on paper only; they had no revenue, employees, or ongoing operations of any sort. However, Carruthers claimed in his applications that each of these entities had between three and 15 employees. The average monthly payroll amounts included in the applications were fictitious, as were representations about how the money would be spent. Carruthers received approximately $851,963 in proceeds from the 13 loans that were funded as part of his scheme. According to the plea documents, Carruthers used these fraudulently obtained monies to, among other things, pay off the mortgage on his home, purchase a personal watercraft, and pay various personal expenses. Sentencing is set for December 5, 2023 before Judge Borman. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John K. Neal. The investigation was conducted by HSI.


title: California Man Sentenced to Almost 20 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: Gulfport, Miss. – A California man was sentenced to 237 months in prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Brent Alan Wright, age 50, of Yorba Linda, California, was sentenced on August 3, 2023 in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. According to court records, on December 29, 2021, DEA agents received information regarding a drug trafficking organization in Long Beach, MS. The investigation revealed that the leader of this drug trafficking organization (DTO), Antonina Troyer, was receiving multi-pound packages of methamphetamine from Brent Alan Wright in California. Wright used the United States Postal Service to ship methamphetamine to Troyer on several occasions. During the course of the conspiracy, Wright shipped approximately 2.9 kilograms of methamphetamine to South Mississippi. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.


title: Three Romanians Sentenced in St. Louis for Nationwide Fraud

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – Three Romanian citizens have been sentenced in St. Louis for running a “short-change fraud” in stores across the country. U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Monday sentenced Daniel Rostas, 30, to 15 months in prison and Loredana Angel, 35, to 10 months in prison. On May 31, Judge Pitlyk sentenced Legenda Rostas, 28, to two years in prison and ordered her to repay $224,666. Restitution amounts for Angel and Daniel Rostas have not yet been determined. All three pleaded guilty earlier this year to felony charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and illegal reentry of an alien. All admitted engaging in sleight of hand to defraud Target stores for years while buying Visa gift cards. When purchasing the cards, they would display the full purchase price in cash, then fold over a portion and keep it while handing the rest of the money to store employees. They targeted younger or less experienced employees and wired the money they made to relatives in Romania. Legenda Rostas was involved in $224,666 in fraud since 2017, her plea agreement says, with Angel admitting about $83,865 in fraud. Records show Daniel Rostas wired about $62,534 to Romania and elsewhere. “Fraud is often mistaken for a victimless crime,” said acting Special Agent in Charge of the HSI Kansas City Area of Operations Taekuk Cho. “But when individuals commit these types of crimes, whether it be through heightened prices to recoup lost funds, employee layoffs, or a multitude of other possible losses to the economy, these criminals are most certainly victimizing consumers and businesses.” Loredana Angel and Legenda Rostas told authorities that they are sisters and that the Rostas are married. All three also admitted entering the country illegally after being removed from the United States before. Daniel Rostas has been removed twice. The case was investigated by the Arnold Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations.


title: San Antonio Family Members Plead Guilty in Federal Fraud Case

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – Three members of a San Antonio family pleaded guilty in federal court today to charges related to government contracts fraud for services at U.S. Army medical facilities. According to the indictment, Kenneth Flores, 50, Christopher Flores, 54, and Irma Flores, 74, conspired together to defraud the United States by eliminating competition and fixing contract awards and prices on Army contracts for the housekeeping and janitorial services at Army Hospitals and Medical Centers. The scheme involved a corrupt partnership between the Floreses and co-conspirator government employees Karisa Waysepappy Kelley and John Jordan “Chip” Mathes, concerning millions of dollars in work on Army healthcare housekeeping and janitorial services contracts in return for bribes and kickbacks, eliminating the Flores’ competition in the process. From Nov. 15, 2018, until June 25, 2020, Christopher Flores’s company, Alliance Supply, paid $216,710.46 to Mathes’ company, C & S Consulting. From Feb. 21, 2019, until July 17, 2020, Alliance Supply paid Kelley’s company Waysepappy Consulting $57,906.50. Irma Flores served as the bookkeeper for Allegiance Environmental Services, a company owned by Kenneth Flores, under which Alliance operated. Mathes and Kelley pleaded guilty in February. Kenneth Flores pleaded guilty to one count in the indictment to conspiracy to defraud the United States and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Christopher and Irma Flores each pleaded guilty to an information charging them with one count of gratuity paid to public official, and each face a maximum penalty of two years in prison. All three are scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 27. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Floreses have agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $3.7 million. The government dismissed the charges against Antonio Flores, Jr. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The Defense Criminal Investigative Service; Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division; U.S. General Services Administration Office of Inspector General; and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly Stephenson and Joe Blackwell, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jay Porier are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Georgia Man Is Sentenced To 22 Years In Prison For Multiple Armed Bank Robberies In Three States

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Georgia man who committed multiple armed bank robberies in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia, was sentenced to 22 years in prison today, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Johnny Jermaine Davis, 40, of Kennesaw, Georgia, was also ordered to serve five years under court supervision after he completes his prison term and to pay over $65,000 in restitution. Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. On September 1, 2022, Davis pleaded guilty to six counts of bank robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. In addition to charges filed in the Western District of North Carolina, Davis was charged with bank robbery by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in the Eastern District of North Carolina, the Middle District of North Carolina, the Eastern District of Tennessee, the Middle District of Tennessee, and the Northern District of Georgia. Those federal cases were subsequently transferred to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of North Carolina for consolidated prosecution. According to filed court documents and court proceedings, between January and May 2021, Davis robbed seven banks in three states, including two banks in Asheville, N.C. Davis brandished a firearm during each of these robberies and discharged a firearm during one robbery. The Bank Robbery in East Ridge, Tennessee Court records show that on January 6, 2021, at approximately 3:00 p.m., Davis robbed a Regions Bank in East Ridge, Tennessee. After he entered the bank, Davis approached the bank teller and asked to cash a check. Davis then drew a firearm and vaulted over the counter. Davis demanded money from the bank tellers and discharged the firearm, which caused a window to shatter. Davis then took money from the teller drawers and fled the scene. The First Bank Robbery in Asheville, North Carolina On February 25, 2021, at approximately 3:02 p.m., Davis entered the BB&T bank located at 1653 Hendersonville Road, in Asheville. Davis was wearing a blue and white baseball cap, sunglasses, and a surgical mask. Davis walked toward the teller area of the bank and pretended to cash a check. Court documents show that Davis put on a black glove and pulled out a semi-automatic handgun, pointed the firearm at a teller and yelled, “Don’t move.” Davis then jumped over the counter, ordered the bank employees to lay on the ground, and began to grab cash from the teller drawers. Davis also told the bank employees he had planted a device that would release toxic gas if they moved before two minutes passed. Davis finished emptying the cash drawers and exited the bank. The Bank Robbery in Chapel Hill, North Carolina On April 3, 2021, at approximately 12:40 p.m., Davis robbed a PNC bank located at 841 Willow Drive, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. According to court records, Davis entered the bank wearing a UNC baseball cap, a mask, sunglasses, and surgical gloves. He approached a teller and, as with previous bank robberies, he inquired about cashing a check. After he was told he needed two forms of identification, Davis left the bank. He returned soon thereafter and jumped over the counter while brandishing a semiautomatic pistol. Davis then ordered two tellers to step away from the counter and lie face-down on the floor. He then ordered one of the tellers to unlock the drawers. The teller complied, and Davis ordered her back to the floor. Davis took cash from the teller drawers and fled the scene. The Bank Robbery in Spring Hill, Tennessee On April 9, 2021, at approximately 12:06 p.m., Davis entered the First Citizens National Bank located at 2035 Wall Street in Spring Hill, Tennessee, wearing a UNC baseball cap, a surgical mask, sunglasses, and blue surgical gloves. Once again, Davis approached the teller and asked for a pen so that he could cash a check. Davis then drew a semiautomatic pistol, grabbed a teller by the wrist, and pointed the gun directly at her. Davis then ordered all the tellers to lie down on the floor and demanded money. A bank teller opened the bank vault and Davis took cash. Davis then moved two bank employees into a utility room and closed the door, before exiting the bank. The Bank Robbery in Fayetteville, North Carolina On May 8, 2021, at approximately 12:08 p.m., Davis entered the First Horizon Bank at 929 S. McPherson Church Road, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, wearing a baseball hat, sunglasses, black gloves, and a mask. Upon entering the bank, Davis approached a teller and asked him if he could cash a Wells Fargo check. The teller said that he could not and began to search for nearby Wells Fargo bank locations in an effort to assist. According to court documents, Davis then drew a black semiautomatic pistol and whispered to the teller that he did not want to hurt anyone. Davis ordered the teller to move behind the teller stations, and then pointed the gun at another teller and ordered them both to lie down on the floor. Davis demanded access to a cash machine, then the safe, and then the vault; but each time the tellers explained that they did not have ready access to any of those storage areas. Davis moved the two tellers at gunpoint to a nearby room and ordered them to stay put. Davis then found a bank employee working in another office, pointed the gun at her, and demanded to know how to access the safe. When the employee told Davis she did not know, he moved the bank employee into the room with the other tellers. Davis took cash from a desk drawer before he left the bank. The Second Bank Robbery in Asheville, North Carolina On May 20, 2021, at approximately 4:42 p.m., Davis entered the Wells Fargo bank located at 800 Merrimon Ave., in Asheville. According to court records, Davis was wearing a baseball cap, sunglasses, and a surgical mask. As in previous bank robberies, Davis walked to the counter and told the teller he wanted to cash a check. When the teller asked for identification, Davis left the bank purportedly to retrieve his ID. Davis returned a short time later, approached the counter, and drew a semi- automatic handgun and pointed it at the teller. Davis then jumped over the counter and told all four bank employees to get down on the ground. Once all four bank employees were on the floor, Davis emptied the cash drawers, slammed the counter, and ordered the employees not to move for two minutes because he had placed a motion sensor. Davis then fled the scene. The Bank Robbery in Rome, Georgia According to court documents, on May 28, 2021, at approximately 10:50 a.m., Davis entered the SunTrust (now Truist) bank located at 2401 Shorter Avenue, in Rome, Georgia, wearing a hat, sunglasses, and a mask. After he entered the bank, Davis approached a teller and inquired about opening an account but then left the bank. At approximately 11:21 a.m., Davis re-entered the bank, walked into an occupied office, and at gunpoint walked the bank employee out of the office and toward the teller counter. Davis then ordered the tellers to lie down on the floor and vaulted over behind the counter while brandishing the firearm. Another bank employee entered the room and Davis pointed the gun at her and ordered her to get on the floor before he took cash from the bank and fled the scene. On June 9, 2021, the FBI executed a search warrant at Davis’s home in Georgia. Davis was arrested at the scene. FBI agents also seized several items of clothing consistent with items depicted in surveillance footage at the various robberies, including shoes, a hat, pants, and a jacket. FBI agents also found a firearm that was consistent with the firearm Davis used during the robberies. Davis is currently in federal custody. He will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the FBI in Asheville, the Asheville Police Department, and the Hendersonville Police Department for their investigation of the case in Western North Carolina and thanked the FBI field offices and local law enforcement agencies in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia for their invaluable assistance. U.S. Attorney King also thanked the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in the Middle and Eastern Districts of North Carolina, the Middle and Eastern Districts of Tennessee, and the Northern District of Georgia for their coordination and cooperation throughout Davis’s prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Gast of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Additional defendant charged in case involving armed robbery of mail carrier

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A third defendant has been arrested on charges relating to an April 2023 armed robbery of a mail carrier. Cody N. Beasley, also known as “Drose,” 22, of Columbus, was included in a superseding indictment returned in federal court on Aug. 3. Beasley remains in federal custody. Mahad S. Jama, 21, of Westerville, and Da’mon D. May, 18, of Columbus, were charged in April 2023, 10 days after they allegedly robbed a mail carrier at gunpoint. According to court documents, on April 4 at 3:20pm, Jama and May robbed at gunpoint a USPS letter carrier who was sitting in his work vehicle on Sawmill Road in Dublin. Jama allegedly approached the USPS vehicle, brandished a handgun that May provided him, and demanded the carrier’s U.S. Postal Service key. Beasley is alleged to have aided and abetted them in that robbery. The defendants allegedly robbed the worker of an “arrow key” that gives access to mail collection boxes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and partner law enforcement agencies continue to investigate a network of individuals involved in robbing or stealing U.S. Postal Service keys for the purpose of stealing checks from collection boxes. The three defendants are charged with robbery of mail, a federal crime punishable by up to 25 years in prison, and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, which carries a penalty of at least seven years in prison. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Lesley C. Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Pittsburgh Division; announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Noah R. Litton and Elizabeth A. Geraghty are representing the United States in this case. A superseding indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. # # #


title: Chelsea Sunn Pleads Guilty To Defrauding Former Employer

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office stated that Chelsea Sunn, 31, of White River Junction, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court in Burlington to a charge of wire fraud. U.S. District Judge William Sessions III released Sunn on conditions pending sentencing, which has been scheduled for December 4. On July 7, 2023, the United States Attorney filed a one-count information charging Sunn with wire fraud. Sunn pleaded guilty to that information today in court. According to the information, between 2016 and April 2020, Sunn, who was then known as Chelsea Roy, was employed by Blakeman’s Towing and Recovery, a business in White River Junction. Sunn was hired as a full-time office worker but later converted to part-time employment. Sunn was compensated on an hourly basis that included time-and-one-half pay for claimed overtime work. Among other duties, Sunn handled Blakeman’s billing and payroll. According to the information, beginning no later than December 2018 and continuing at least until March 2020, Sunn defrauded Blakeman’s Towing and Recovery by falsely inflating the hours she reportedly worked. This caused Blakeman’s to pay Sunn tens of thousands of dollars beyond her authorized compensation. In the course of defrauding Blakeman’s Towing and Recovery, Sunn used the interstate wire communication system to report her fraudulently-inflated work hours, and caused Blakeman’s to make electronic direct deposits of fraudulently-obtained funds into Sunn’s bank account in Vermont. Sunn faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence would be determined with reference to Federal Sentencing Guidelines. This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. Sunn is represented by David Kirby, Esq. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.


title: Honduran National Indicted  for Illegal Re-Entry

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – HECTOR STEFANO FLORES-DUARTE , a/k/a “Stefano Flores,” age 29, was charged on August 4, 2023 in a one-count indictment for illegal reentry of a removed alien in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to the indictment, HECTOR STEFANO FLORES-DUARTE , (“ FLORES-DUARTE ”) reentered the United States after he was previously deported on June 10, 2022. If convicted, FLORES-DUARTE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years, a maximum fine of up to $250,000, a maximum term of supervised release of up to one year, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an 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 United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Dubuque Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Firearm as Prohibited Person

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who possessed a firearm as a felon and as a drug user pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Eric Thomas, age 48, from Dubuque, Iowa, was convicted of possessing a firearm as a prohibited person. In a plea agreement, Thomas admitted that he possessed a loaded gun along with a mixture of heroin and fentanyl. Thomas was a daily heroin user and had six prior felony convictions, including three burglary convictions, one conviction for assault on a peace officer while displaying a dangerous weapon, one conviction for a controlled substance violation, and one conviction for manufacturing or delivering controlled substances. Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Thomas remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Thomas faces the following maximum penalties: (1) not more than 15 years’ imprisonment without the possibility of parole; (2) a fine of not more than $250,000; (3) a mandatory special assessment of $100; and (4) a term of supervised release of not more than three years. If the court finds that Thomas has three previous convictions for a violent felony or a serious drug offense, or both, committed on occasions different from one another, then pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(1), Thomas’s crime is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment without the possibility of parole and the following maximum penalties: (1) not more than life imprisonment without the possibility of parole; (2) a fine of not more than $250,000; (3) a mandatory special assessment of $100; and (4) a term of supervised release of not more than five years. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Devra Hake and was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-1012. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.