title: Former Baltimore City Department Of Finance Employee Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud Conspiracy And Bribery Scheme

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – Joseph Gillespie, age 35, of Baltimore City, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud involving a scheme to defraud a financial institution and the United States Small Business Administration in order to obtain fraudulent loans under the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan program for various purported businesses. The Defendant also admitted to engaging in a bribery scheme for over eight years, whereby, in exchange for bribes from various property owners in Baltimore City (the “City”), the Defendant would use his official position as an employee of the City to extinguish various financial obligations owed to the City, including for water bills and property taxes. The guilty plea was announced by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland and Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office. Financial assistance offered through the CARES Act included forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), administered through the Small Business Administration (“SBA”). According to the guilty plea, on March 4, 2021, the Defendant and co-defendant Ahmed (“Adam”) Sary submitted a fraudulent PPP loan application to Cross River Bank to obtain a PPP loan for JAG Investments (“JAG”), a company the Defendant owned. The PPP loan application contained numerous material misrepresentations, including that JAG in 2019 had 19 employees and an average monthly payroll of more than $55,000. In support of the loan application, fabricated 2019 Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) forms were submitted, which falsely stated that JAG’s total payments to employees in 2019 were more than $275,000. Based on the false representations and fraudulent submissions made on behalf of the Defendant as the owner of JAG, the PPP loan was funded on March 6, 2021 and approximately $138,000 was distributed to a bank account controlled by the Defendant. The Defendant agreed to pay Sary kickbacks totaling $38,000 for his work in submitting the false application and obtaining the fraudulent PPP loan. After receipt of the PPP loan, the Defendant established payroll services for JAG to facilitate documentation that would later be used to substantiate a request for the PPP loan to be forgiven. Further, according to the plea agreement, beginning in or about early 2016 and continuing until on or about September 20, 2023, the Defendant engaged in a bribery scheme in which he abused his position of trust as a public official for his own personal gain. As an employee of the Baltimore City Department of Finance, Revenue Collections Department, the Defendant routinely accepted bribes from various property owners in the City whose property was subject to certain financial obligations and, if the obligations remained unpaid, to tax sale. The Defendant accepted these bribes -- typically 10% to 15% of the amount owed to the City -- in exchange for removing or extinguishing these financial obligations, including for citations, tax, and water obligations—thereby causing losses to the City. The Defendant also accepted bribes in exchange for delaying or postponing—without approval or permission from other City officials—due dates for the payment of outstanding financial obligations, thus forestalling the placement of a lien on the property by the City. Once the Defendant received the bribe payment, he would extinguish the financial obligation owed to the City by marking the obligations as “paid” in the City’s record-keeping system. After removing the obligation, the Defendant would, at times, send a photograph of supporting documentation to the property owner reflecting that a payment was made towards a financial obligation owed to the City when, in fact, no such payment was made by the property owner. As part of an FBI investigation, the Defendant engaged in multiple recorded conversations in which he discussed the specifics of the bribery scheme outlined above. For example, in response to the question “[S]o you want 100 for each property?” talking about the size of the bribe payment, the Defendant replied, “yeah that’s basically how I do.” During another recording, the Defendant stated that he had the ability to “wipe a bill off” the City’s record of outstanding obligations tied to a particular property or to “put paid next to ‘em,” even though the financial obligation had not in fact been paid. Defendant further stated that he removed additional financial obligations for this property owner, saying “There was a couple, extra miscellaneous bills that y’all had that I wiped off …. That shit gone now.” During another recorded interaction, the Defendant stated, “Going forward, I’m just your inside man ... That’s what I do for a lot of different people around the City. You know what I mean – manage their shit for them a little bit …. I’m gonna go look at your shit.” The Defendant’s bribery scheme continued for years thereafter, and he admitted that he enlisted the help of multiple co-conspirators in connection with his scheme. According to the plea agreement, the Defendant received more than $250,000 in connection with the bribery scheme and caused losses to the City in excess of $1,250,000. Gillespie and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Gillespie will be sentenced to between two years’ and five years’ imprisonment. United States District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for December 9, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. 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 . U.S. Attorney Barron commended the FBI for their work in the investigation, and thanked the Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General, Baltimore County Police Department, and the Baltimore City Inspector General for assistance as well. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul A. Riley and Evelyn L. Cusson, who are prosecuting the federal case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Del Rio Man Who Posted Videos of Himself Using “Glock Switch” Pleads Guilty in Federal Court

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

body_text: DEL RIO, Texas – A Del Rio man pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms. According to court documents, Mark Anthony Jimenez aka M-Thang, 23, obtained a pistol attached with a machine gun conversion device, also known as a switch. The switch is designed to convert a semi-automatic weapon into a weapon that can be fired as a fully automatic weapon by a single function of the trigger. Jimenez then purchased two boxes of 9mm ammunition in Del Rio. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives discovered videos Jimenez had shared on Facebook depicting himself, a juvenile, and codefendant Alleena Nikole Soto, 20, of Del Rio, firing rounds from the pistol with the switch attached, in fully automatic mode. Jimenez knew that it was unlawful to possess a machine gun conversion device, and that it was unlawful for Soto to possess firearms because she was a convicted felon. ATF canvassed the property where Jimenez was seen firing the automatic pistol and recovered multiple 9mm shell casings consistent with the ammunition that he purchased. Jimenez faces up to 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Soto remains in custody awaiting further proceedings. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The ATF is investigating the case with support from the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office, the Del Rio Police Department, and Val Verde County Adult Probation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jayvee Rhoda is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Iowa Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Robbery of Princeton Bank

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: Blink points a firearm at the bank clerk during the armed robbery of First Interstate Bank. KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Promise City, Iowa, man pleaded guilty in federal court today to the armed robbery of a Princeton, Mo., bank. Phillip Michael Blink, 67, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to one count of armed bank robbery and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. By pleading guilty today, Blink admitted that he robbed First Interstate Bank in Princeton on May 19, 2023. Blink, wearing a cowboy hat, a red bandana over his face, gloves and a trench coat, walked into the bank and approached a teller at approximately 9:25 a.m. Blink stated in a low voice: “I’m sorry, but this is going to be a bad morning.” Blink then placed a light blue bag on the countertop and stated: “I want all the money.” The teller began placing all the bills from her teller machine into the blue bag when Blink reached into his right pocket and pulled out a Ruger 9mm semi-automatic handgun. Blink stated: “I told you it was going to be a bad morning.” Blink then set the firearm on the countertop and pointed it at the teller. After taking $4,115, Blink left the bank and got into a Ford F-150 truck. He backed out of a parking space and went northbound on Highway 65. The bank manager took photographs of Blink and his truck while Blink was fleeing the scene. Employees of the bank called 911 for law enforcement assistance. Later on the same day, Blink was pulled over by a Knoxville, Iowa, police officer. Officers arrested Blink, who admitted to the armed bank robbery. Officers searched his truck and found the Ruger handgun and clothing linked to the bank robbery, as well as the money that was stolen. Under federal statutes, Blink is subject to a sentence of up to 25 years in federal prison without parole for armed bank robbery and an additional mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole, which must be served consecutively, for possessing a firearm in furtherance of the bank robbery. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the FBI.


title: New Orleans Man Indicted for Federal Drug and Weapons Offenses

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that DANIEL KELLY (“KELLY”) , age 38, of New Orleans, was indicted for violations of the Federal Controlled Substances and Gun Control Acts. KELLY is charged in Count 1 of the indictment with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). He is charged in Count 2 with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). In Count 3, he is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). As to Count 1, KELLY faces up to twenty years in prison, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release. As to Count 2, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life in prison, to run consecutively to all other sentences, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. As to Count 3, he faces up to fifteen years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release. Each count also carries a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. According to court documents, on or about March 14, 2024, KELLY possessed, with the intent to distribute, cocaine and fentanyl, and illegally possessed six firearms and ammunition in furtherance of his possession with intent to distribute. Additionally, as a previously convicted felon, KELLY was prohibited from possessing the firearm and ammunition. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Special Assistant United States Attorney James Ollinger of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Oswego County Man Charged with Transportation and Possession of Child Pornography

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – A grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging Rylin Turley, age 25, of Cleveland, New York, with transportation and possession of child pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement. The indictment alleges that on August 3, 2024, Turley entered the United States from Canada, and knowingly possessed and transported an iPhone that contained child pornography. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Turley faces at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison for the transportation count, and up to 20 years for his possession of child pornography. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. Turley would also have to register as a sex offender, forfeit the device used to commit the crimes and pay restitution to victims. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. HSI is investigating the case, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Peruvian Citizen Pleads Guilty and is Sentenced for Possessing Fraudulent Visa and Social Security Card

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Andre Paolo Juarez-Oliva, age 27, and a citizen of Peru, pled guilty and was sentenced today to time served (over 5 months in jail) for possessing a fraudulent visa and a fraudulent social security card. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo, New York Field Office, made the announcement. Juarez-Oliva admitted that he entered the United States illegally and that on June 4, 2023, police arrested him in Waterford, New York, after observing him driving a vehicle with fraudulent license plates. The police then found the fraudulent visa and social security card in Juarez-Oliva’s vehicle. HSI agents in Albany and Newark, New Jersey, investigated this case with assistance from the Waterford Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikayla Espinosa prosecuted this case.


title: Madison Carrig Pleads Guilty to Embezzlements through the Use of Employer Credit Cards

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that Madison Carrig, 30, of Whitehall, New York, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court in Burlington to two counts of access device fraud. Chief Judge Christina Reiss released Carrig on conditions pending sentencing, which is scheduled for January 3, 2025. On July 12, 2024, the United States Attorney filed an information charging Carrig with two counts of access device fraud. Carrig pleaded guilty to the information at today’s court hearing. According to the charging document, from September 2022 through November 27, 2023, Carrig defrauded the three car dealerships who employed her as office manager or controller by embezzling cash receipts received from customers of the dealerships, and misusing company credit cards to purchase goods and services for her own use and benefit. Carrig faces up to ten years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence will be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. This case was investigated by the Vermont State Police. Carrig is represented by Natasha Sen, Esq. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.


title: Former Interim President of Puerto Rican Steel Distributor  Pleads Guilty to Eight-Year Price-Fixing Conspiracy

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: An executive of a steel distributor in Carolina, Puerto Rico, pleaded guilty today to conspiring with competitors to fix prices for sales of reinforcing bar, or rebar. According to court documents filed in the U.S. District Court in San Juan, Edgardo Sola Colon (Sola), of Toa Alta, Puerto Rico, is the president of a steel distributor in Puerto Rico and is a former president of another steel distributor in Puerto Rico. These companies are some of the leading wholesale distributors of rebar in Puerto Rico. Rebar is commonly required for residential and commercial construction projects on the island, and nearly all rebar distributed in Puerto Rico is imported from other countries or the continental U.S. Collectively, Sola’s company and two other competitors controlled approximately 70% of the wholesale rebar market in the Commonwealth. Between 2015 and 2022, including the period of reconstruction following Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017, Sola conspired with competing companies and individuals to suppress and eliminate competition by fixing prices for steel products, including rebar, which were distributed to hardware stores, building contractors and other businesses and individuals in Puerto Rico, resulting in substantial profits to the conspirators. Among other communications, Sola and his competitors exchanged WhatsApp chat messages in which they agreed on specific rebar prices, including price increases. For example, in December 2020 Sola sent to Juan Carlos Aponte, an executive at a competing company, a chat message with the price of Turkish rebar, and Aponte responded, “The position is the following: Platform $33.95, 10 bundles $34.50, Fewer than 10 bundles: $34.95” before asking, “The question is are we on the same page?” Sola responded, “Yes, that is what I am doing.” In his plea agreement, Sola admitted that more than $50 million in sales by his companies were affected by the conspiracy. On Aug. 7, Aponte pleaded guilty in federal court in Puerto Rico to participation in the same price-fixing conspiracy, and now awaits sentencing. “In pleading guilty, this defendant admitted to a long-running agreement to fix prices on rebar, a critical component of the construction supply chain for Puerto Rico,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Manish Kumar of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “This guilty plea demonstrates the Antitrust Division’s continued commitment to holding accountable individuals who collude to raise prices and harm all consumers and businesses in Puerto Rico. We and our law enforcement partners will continue to prosecute the people responsible for anticompetitive criminal conduct like this.” Violating the Sherman Act, which is a federal criminal antitrust statute, is a felony. The maximum penalty for individuals convicted of violating the Sherman Act is 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine. The maximum penalty for corporations is a $100 million criminal fine. The fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum fine. Sola’s sentencing is set for Dec. 16. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section investigated the case, with the assistance of the FBI San Juan Field Office. Trial Attorneys April Ayers-Perez, Alison Friberg and Taylor Bernhardt of the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section and Senior Litigation Counsel John Davis of the Antitrust Division’s Litigation Program are prosecuting the case. Anyone with information in connection with this investigation should contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258 or visit www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations .


title: Man Who Sold Methamphetamine to Undercover Agent Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who sold methamphetamine to an undercover agent was sentenced today to 306 months in federal prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. James Douglas Morrison, age 40, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 22, 2024 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. In 2022, an undercover agent purchased methamphetamine from Morrison in Waterloo, Iowa. Morrison also directed others, including co-defendant Heather Sue Hartzell, to sell “ice” methamphetamine on his behalf. Approximately one month later, law enforcement officers stopped Morrison while he was driving back from Des Moines with Hartzell. Hartzell and Morrison had almost 2,000 grams of “ice” methamphetamine inside the car that Morrison had obtained from his supplier in Des Moines, Iowa. Morrison also had a gun. Morrison was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Morrison was sentenced to 306 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Morrison 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 Nicole L. Nagin, and it was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tri‑County Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Black Hawk County Sherriff’s Office, and the Waterloo Police Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-2045. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Robberies of Hispanic Construction Workers

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Franco Rawlings Jr. pleaded guilty today to robbing several Hispanic construction workers in the Trinidad neighborhood at gunpoint throughout 2023, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves announced. Rawlings pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to two counts of armed robbery, one count of robbery, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. Sentencing is scheduled for December 4, 2024 before the Honorable Errol Arthur. As part of his sentence, Rawlings faces mandatory minimum sentences of five years in prison for each armed robbery offense and one year in prison for the unlawful possession of a firearm offense. According to the March 6, 2024 indictment, from May to June of 2023, Rawlings conspired with a co-conspirator to identify residential construction sites within the Trinidad neighborhood in Northeast, Washington, D.C., staffed by Hispanic workers and to rob those Hispanic workers using firearms. The indictment also charged Rawlings with a solo armed robbery that he allegedly committed in April 2023. According to the government’s evidence, with which Rawlings agreed, on April 18, 2023, a victim was working as a welder on a home located in the 1400 block of Montello Avenue Northeast, in the Trinidad neighborhood, when Rawlings approached him in an alleyway. Rawlings pointed a gun at the victim and told him not to move. Rawlings then searched the victim and took his wallet, which contained $700 dollars in cash. On May 30, 2023, two victims were working to install a deck at a home located in the 1300 block of Montello Avenue Northeast, also in the Trinidad neighborhood, when Rawlings and his co-conspirator approached them through a rear, open gate. Rawlings and his co-conspirator pointed firearms at the victims and told them to go into the basement of the home. There, Rawlings forced one of the victims to the ground and robbed him while the co-conspirator robbed the other victim. On June 27, 2023, three victims were working to remodel a home in the 1100 block of Owen Place Northeast, also in the Trinidad neighborhood, when Rawlings and his co-conspirator entered through the rear of the residence. As Rawlings entered, he pointed a firearm at the victims and told them not to move and to put their hands up. Rawlings, with the aid of his co-conspirator, robbed a victim of U.S. currency and fled. On June 28, 2023, police searched Rawlings' residence, which was located in the Trinidad neighborhood. There, police found Rawlings in possession of a black Glock 19 handgun, which was loaded with 12 rounds in a 17-round-capacity magazine. At the time police recovered the firearm, Rawlings had been previously convicted of a felony that prevented him from possessing a firearm in the District of Columbia. The defendant was arrested on June 28, 2023, and has been in custody ever since. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Secures Sentence in Drunk Driving Case Involving Serious Injuries

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man was sentenced to three years supervised probation for a drunk driving crash on Santa Ana Pueblo in 2021. At sentencing, Lionel Medina , 29, an enrolled member of the Zia Pueblo, faced up to 10 years in prison. According to court documents, on December 1, 2021, Santa Ana Police officers received a report of hit and run involving a white pickup truck on US 550. According to reports, the truck rear-ended an SUV in the eastbound lane before fleeing the scene. Minutes later, officers received a report of a head-on collision involving the same white pickup truck in the westbound lane near mile post 11. At the scene of the head-on crash, law enforcement found a gray sedan and the white pickup truck, both with severe front-end damage. Medina was found barely conscious in the driver's seat of the truck, smelling of alcohol. Officers discovered multiple alcohol containers in the vehicle. A blood test taken several hours after the crash revealed Medina 's blood alcohol content was 0.22, almost three times the legal limit. Jane Doe suffered extensive injuries, including multiple fractures to her spine, sternum, shoulder blade, upper arm, thigh bone, and heel. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today. The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Santa Ana Police Department and Sandoval County Sheriff’s department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meg Tomlinson is prosecuting the case. # # #


title: Man sentenced for possessing machineguns

body_text: Steven Shobert, 49, of Worland, Wyoming, was sentenced on Aug. 28 to 18 months in prison for possession of machineguns in violation of federal law. According to court documents, on Aug. 29, 2023, Shobert was arrested for driving under the influence. He had a holstered firearm on his hip and surrendered it to the officers. A state judge imposed bond conditions requiring Shobert to relinquish his firearms pending the DUI case. Shobert consented to a search of his residence to gather his firearms. The search resulted in the discovery of one Glock model 17, which was equipped with a machinegun conversion device commonly called a “Glock Switch.” Law enforcement also found three AR-15 type machinegun conversion devices. Acting U.S. Attorney Eric Heimann explained, “Machinegun conversion devices like auto sears and ‘Glock switches’ can make a semiautomatic firearm into a fully automatic machinegun, so they are considered machineguns under federal law. Possession of these dangerous devices is a serious crime which can result in a felony conviction and federal prison time. Our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to remove illegal machineguns from Wyoming communities.” Shobert was indicted on Nov. 15, 2023 and pleaded guilty on April 11. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the 18-month prison sentence. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan C. Coppom. The crime was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, and the Washakie County Sheriff’s Office. Case no. 23-00153 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN


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

body_text: Crimes on Public Lands Jose Donaire-Duarte , age 21, from Spain, was sentenced to seven days incarceration for simple assault and two years of unsupervised probation for disorderly conduct. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Aug. 28. According to the charging documents, while leaving a social event in the Mammoth Hot Springs concession area, hosted by Xanterra the concessionaire for Yellowstone Nation Park, an intoxicated Donaire-Duarte began sexually harassing the victim. He grabbed the victim around the waist, held her tightly against him and grabbed her buttocks repeatedly. The victim felt afraid, broke away from Donaire-Duarte and began to run. He pursued the victim, grabbed her by both shoulders, preventing her from running and pulled her close to him again. Upon arrival at the dormitory where both resided, Donaire-Duarte followed the victim to her room, where he climbed on top of her in bed, with his chest on her chest and his arms on either side of the victim, while repeating the victim’s name. A third party arrived in the victim’s room, at which point Donaire-Duarte left. The crime was investigated by the National Park Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes. Case No. L:24-PO-00670-SAH-1 Firearm Offenses James Herman Bell, 51, of Riverton, Wyoming, was sentenced to be imprisoned until May 5, 2025 and three years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Aug. 28. According to court documents, Bell was seen by employees stealing ammunition from a store in Riverton. The Riverton Police Department (RPD) were dispatched and given descriptions of two men. RPD located the men a few blocks away. They each turned over items they had taken without paying, including Bell who had a 20-round box of .358 rifle ammunition. Bell is convicted felon and is not allowed to possess firearms or ammunition. Bell was indicted on Nov. 15, 2023 and pleaded guilty on May 31. This crime was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, RPD, and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist. Case No. 23-CR-00162 Sexual Abuse Skyler Sven Quiver, 29, of Ethete, Wyoming, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release for sexual abuse of a person incapable of consent. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Aug. 29. According to court documents, a minor victim reported a rape in June 2012. At that time, she could not identify the person who raped her because she was extremely intoxicated. A rape examination detected semen and although the DNA did not match a prior male subject, it was kept on file. In 2021, a routine search of the FBI Combined DNA Index System (“CODIS”) database indicated a possible DNA association between biological evidence collected from the minor victim and a newly convicted offender, the defendant. Quiver was interviewed and admitted to having sex with victim and when asked if it was possible she was too intoxicated to give consent, he said, “yes.” This crime was investigated by the FBI and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Elmore. Case No. 24-CR-00015 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#trafficking


title: Harvey Man Guilty of Being Felon in Possession of a Firearm

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – MIGUEL KEELEN (“KEELEN”) , age 35, of Harvey, La., pled guilty on August 29, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to court documents, KEELEN possessed a firearm on December 11, 2023 while at a Valero Gas Station on South Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans. Specifically, KEELEN displayed and drew a pistol from his waistband before then concealing the pistol and fleeing from police. KEELEN was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his previous felony convictions. KEELEN faces up to fifteen (15) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. Sentencing is scheduled for December 5, 2024. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney James Ollinger of the Violent Crimes Unit.


title: Supplier Sentenced for Selling Counterfeit M30 Pills

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Dairon Jissan Rodriguez-Escalante, 27, a legal permanent resident from Cuba living in Maricopa, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Angela M. Martinez to 33 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Rodriguez-Escalante pleaded guilty to Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl on March 27, 2024. In 2021, Rodriguez-Escalante was identified through social media as a source of supply of counterfeit M30 pills containing fentanyl for other individuals who sent narcotics through the mail. In October and November 2021, Rodriguez-Escalante sold over 650 grams of blue M30 pills containing fentanyl to U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Drug Enforcement Administration agents on two separate occasions. The United States Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration-St. Louis Office, Peoria Police Department, and the Mesa Police Department Forensic Laboratory conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-23-1086-PHX-JJT RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-119_Rodriguez-Escalante # # # 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 X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Former Customs and Border Patrol Agent Found Guilty of Federal Civil Rights and Kidnapping Charges for Sexually Assaulting and Abducting Minor Victim

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: After deliberating for two days, a jury found a former U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent, Aaron Mitchell, guilty of both a federal civil rights offense and a kidnapping charge for sexually assaulting and kidnapping a victim who was a minor. The jury also found that the defendant’s conduct included aggravated sexual abuse, kidnapping and resulted in bodily injury. “The heinous crimes committed against a young middle school student by an individual sworn to uphold the law are unspeakable,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant had a duty to protect his community but instead he abused his power, kidnapped, cuffed and restrained a young girl, and repeatedly sexually assaulted her in his apartment for hours. With this verdict, the jury has done us all a great service by holding accountable this former federal law enforcement official. The Justice Department will continue to stand up for sexual assault victims, especially children, and we will prosecute law enforcement officials who break the law with every tool at our disposal.” “We count on our law enforcement officers to protect children, schools and communities,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona. “This defendant dishonored his badge and his colleagues by ignoring his oath and harming the most vulnerable among us. Thanks to the Douglas Police Department and the FBI for investigating this case with dedication and compassion, and for vindicating the rights of a courageous victim.” “Mitchell not only broke his oath, but the trust instilled in him as a law enforcement officer. Public servants, particularly in law enforcement, must be held to the highest of ethical standards. Those falling short must be rooted out and firmly held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Jose A. Perez of the FBI Phoenix Field Office. “The FBI remains committed to uncovering those who attempt to hide their acts of violence behind the badge. We would like to thank our investigators and the Douglas Police Department for their support and assistance in this case.” During a two-week trial, jurors heard evidence that, on the morning of April 25, 2022, Mitchell traveled to Douglas, Arizona, where he abducted a 15-year-old female middle school student, restrained her, drove her to his apartment and sexually assaulted her. According to evidence presented at trial, Mitchell found the child waiting for school to start, introduced himself as a law enforcement officer, and asked for her papers. Next, after flashing his police badge and credentials, Mitchell ordered the child into his car and explained that he was taking her to the police station. Instead, Mitchell drove the child miles away from her school, pulled over and restrained her hands and feet with two pairs of handcuffs. The victim testified that, after being handcuffed, the defendant told her to do everything he said because he didn’t want to have to hurt her. Once the defendant forced the victim into his apartment, he repeatedly sexually assaulted her over the course of several hours. Mitchell eventually returned the victim to the area of the middle school where he had abducted her earlier that morning and reminded her not to tell anyone. The victim immediately reported the abduction and sexual assaults to her friends, family members and multiple law enforcement agencies. During an interview with police, the defendant exclaimed that the victim “better hope I don’t get out of here.” An examination of the defendant’s cellphone revealed that the defendant had conducted numerous searches regarding rape and how to stop someone from screaming and, while he had the child captive in his apartment, he conducted an additional internet search for how long it takes to smother someone. A sentencing hearing will be set at a later date. Mitchell faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Douglas Police Department and FBI Phoenix Field Office, Sierra Vista Resident Agency investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carin Duryee for the District of Arizona and Trial Attorney MarLa Duncan of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Indictment Unsealed Against Mexican Woman Charged With Money Laundering

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced the unsealing of an indictment charging Angelica Mendoza Rubio, 48, a citizen of Mexico, with conspiring to launder proceeds of wire fraud. The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury sitting in Madison, Wisconsin, on June 28, 2023. Rubio was arrested yesterday at the airport in Atlanta, Georgia, and made her initial appearance in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. She was detained pending her appearance on the charges in U.S. District Court, Madison, Wisconsin. If convicted, Rubio faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The charge is the result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance provided by the Diplomatic Security Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith P. Duchemin is handling the prosecution. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.


title: Pair Faces Attempted Kidnapping, Gun Charges

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A couple has been indicted and accused of kidnapping a St. Louis woman at gunpoint earlier this month. Jervonz L. Williams, 48, and Emma M. Cunningham, 32, were each indicted in U.S. District Court Wednesday on one count of attempted kidnapping. Williams also faces one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and Cunningham faces one count of making a false statement in connection with the purchase of a firearm and one count of transferring a firearm to a convicted felon. They appeared in court Friday and pleaded not guilty. The indictment accuses Williams and Cunningham of holding a woman against her will on August 5 for a financial reward. The indictment accuses Williams of possessing a firearm while a convicted felon and Cunningham of providing him a firearm, knowing that he is a felon, and falsifying paperwork while buying a gun. A motion seeking to have both held in jail until trial says the victim was a property manager who was meeting Cunningham for a final walkthrough of her apartment. The motion alleges that Williams was armed and threatened the life of the victim in an effort to access her financial accounts via her cell phone. The victim was bound with duct tape but managed to free herself and flee. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bluestone is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Madison Man Sentenced to 28 Months for Stealing Paycheck Protection Program Funds

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Eric Upchurch, 36, Madison, Wisconsin was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 28 months in federal prison for wire fraud, making false statements to the Small Business Administration (SBA), and money laundering related to the Paycheck Protection Program. Upchurch was convicted of these charges on June 13, 2024, following a jury trial. In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted to provide immediate financial assistance to individuals, families, and organizations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This Act authorized the SBA to offer Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) forgivable loans to business owners negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout 2020 and 2021, Upchurch submitted fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of several businesses, including: Opportunity, Inc.; Economic Empowerment Wisconsin; One Red Feather; Madison Alliance for Black Economic Empowerment; Young, Gifted, and Black; and a sole proprietorship. In these PPP loan applications, Upchurch falsely claimed that his businesses earned hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue, and paid employees tens of thousands of dollars in payroll per month. Upchurch also provided lenders with forged payroll reports and tax forms to corroborate his false statements. Evidence presented at trial proved that none of Upchurch’s companies formally employed anyone besides Upchurch, and none of the companies had the revenue necessary to cover the inflated claimed payroll. In total, Upchurch stole $406,211 and attempted to steal an additional $400,378 in PPP loan proceeds. Upchurch also laundered a portion of his fraudulently obtained PPP funds when he purchased $19,000 worth of Bitcoin. At sentencing, Judge Conley explained that Upchurch repeatedly lied on documents to fraudulently obtain PPP funds. Judge Conley also noted that, had the lenders not stopped Upchurch’s applications, the PPP would have incurred additional loss. This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector general. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chadwick M. Elgersma and William M. Levins.


title: Madison Investment Advisor Sentenced to 4 ½ Years for Wire Fraud and Tax Evasion

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Thomas Demergian, 63, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 4 ½ years in federal prison for wire fraud and evading federal taxes. Demergian pleaded guilty to the charges on April 4, 2024. He was also ordered to pay restitution. Demergian will begin serving his prison term in September. Beginning in 2000, Demergian convinced certain clients to invest money with him through “IRT Company.” He falsely told clients that he would invest their money with real estate trusts and mutual funds. In reality, once clients sent their money to Demergian, he diverted those funds to a bank account in his own name and spent the funds for his own use. Demergian met with clients annually and provided them with fictitious Investment Portfolio Summary sheets reflecting positive growth. When clients asked him to liquate their investments, Demergian told clients that such a decision was imprudent or provide other untrue reasons why their requests could not be completed. The fraud scheme was discovered in 2023 when a client’s family member began asking questions about the investments. Law enforcement agents eventually identified many victims who lost, in total, approximately $1.8 million. A financial investigation revealed that Demergian had used his clients’ investment funds for gambling, travel, cars, collectibles, and other personal expenses. From 2017 to 2022, Demergian underreported his income on his tax returns by failing to disclose over $400,000 in illegally obtained income, thereby evading $104,779 in tax obligations. As sentencing, Judge Conley said, “in terms of white-collar crime, this is the worst” because Demergian “cynically targeted elderly and vulnerable victims, many of whom he had also befriended.” Given the lengthy nature of the conduct, the amount of money stolen, and the tremendous breach of trust, Judge Conley determined that a significant sentence was warranted. Judge Conley did credit Demergian for ultimately helping investigators identify the total losses, but also noted that Demergian only did so after he knew he had already been “found out.” The charges against Demergian were the result of an investigation conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Madison Police Department with assistance provided by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Securities. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Duchemin handled the prosecution.


title: Former tribal council employee charged with embezzlement, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment last week charging a Dillingham man with federal crimes associated with a scheme to steal funds from the Curyung Tribal Council while he served as an accountant/ IT specialist. According to court documents, from October 2023 to February 2024, William Corbett, 35, stole over $94,000 from the Tribal Council while employed as an accountant/ IT specialist. Corbett was responsible for overseeing the Tribe’s finances and had access to and control over the Tribal Council’s accounting software data, financial account, payroll information, credit cards and checkbooks. Checks issued by the Curyung Tribal Counsel were not valid unless signed by at least two authorized signors. Corbett was not an authorized signor. The indictment alleges Corbett unlawfully issued checks from the Tribal Council’s account by forging the signatures of authorized signors. The checks were issued as payable to himself and businesses under his control. He also allegedly fabricated invoices and payroll documents by using personal information of two people, causing direct deposits to be made from the Tribal Council’s accounts to accounts controlled by Corbett. Corbett is charged with one count of embezzlement and theft from an Indian Tribal organization, five counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. The defendant is scheduled for his initial court appearance on September 3, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle F. Reardon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a mandatory sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft, in addition to up to 20 years in prison and $750,000 in fines for his other alleged crimes. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement. The Department of Interior, Office of Inspector General and the Dillingham Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Brickey is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: U.S. Attorney Recognizes Overdose Awareness Day

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, Timothy M. O’Shea, joins the U.S. Department of Justice, in recognizing Overdose Awareness Day, August 31, 2024. While 2023 statistics are not yet available, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reports that 1,828 persons died of a drug overdose in Wisconsin during 2022. [1] That is more than double the number in 2015. In addition, during 2022, there were 15,162 opioid related hospital encounters in Wisconsin. [2] In Wisconsin, synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl, were identified in 91% of all opioid overdose deaths and in 73% of all overdose deaths. [3] The attached table summarizes recent finished fentanyl prosecutions in U.S. District Court in the Western District of Wisconsin. These cases illustrate the crucial, difficult work done by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners. “The fentanyl epidemic is devastating Wisconsin families and communities,” U.S. Attorney O’Shea said. “My office is committed to holding accountable those who traffic in this dangerous drug. We cannot, however, solve this epidemic through prosecutions alone. It is also critical that we continue our educational and outreach efforts with our law enforcement partners and with the community.” “Drug trafficking is anything but a victimless crime. If a fentanyl poisoning hasn’t personally affected your family or community, it soon will.” O’Shea continued, “That means we all share responsibility to fight the opioid crisis – a responsibility in awareness and prevention.” Key Points From the Wisconsin Department of Health Services [4] Fentanyl and similar synthetic opioids are more potent than other opioids and are driving the increase in overdose deaths. People who use multiple substances are at an increased risk for overdose. Fentanyl is found in all types of drugs including stimulants (cocaine and methamphetamine) and opioids. It is pressed into pills and mixed into other drugs. A person may think they are using one substance, but they are instead using a substance mixed with fentanyl. It is estimated that as many as 40 percent of counterfeit pills contain enough fentanyl to be lethal. Fentanyl is hard to detect. You can’t see it, taste it, or smell it. A tiny amount—as little as two grains of salt—is enough to kill someone. Fentanyl test strips are legal in Wisconsin and available for purchase. Fentanyl test strips are also distributed free at some pharmacies, service providers, and treatment centers. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ Dose of Reality initiative contains resources and information for drug users, parents, loved ones, educators, health care providers, and community members. People across Wisconsin are encouraged to learn more about the risks of fentanyl and how it is contributing to overdose deaths. [1] https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/aoda/drug-overdose-deaths.htm [2] https://wish.wisconsin.gov/results/ [3] https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/opioids/ph-advisory.htm [4] https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/opioids/ph-advisory.htm


title: Missouri Man Found Guilty of Pandemic Fraud, Witness Tampering, Clean Air Act Violations

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A jury on Friday found a business owner from Farmington, Missouri guilty of all the charges he faced in trial this week, including bank fraud, Clean Air Act violations and threatening witnesses. The jury in U.S. District Court in St. Louis convicted Christopher Lee Carroll, 54, of three counts of bank fraud, three counts of making false statements to a financial institution, one count of conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act, 13 violations of the Clean Air Act and two counts of threatening a witness. A company part owned by Carroll, Whiskey Dix Big Truck Repair LLC, was also found guilty of 16 Clean Air Act violations. "The jury found Christopher Carroll responsible for nearly $3,000,000 in pandemic relief loan fraud, poisoning the air through Clean Air Act violations and then threatening witnesses to try and cover up his crimes," said U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming. “He lined his pockets with money that was supposed to save jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. He used more of the loan money to buy land and a fleet of trucks so he could start a trucking company, and then had the emissions control equipment removed to save on fuel costs. We will seek a significant prison sentence for this defendant and his company and any sentence, by law, will include mandatory restitution.” "Christopher Carroll's company was granted millions of dollars from the PPP program but laid off dozens and dozens of its employees," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. "To add insult to injury, Carroll wouldn't have even qualified for the funds if it weren't for his employees. We thank the jury for holding Carroll accountable for fleecing the PPP program, which was designed to help people who were out of a job through no fault of their own during the pandemic." According to evidence and testimony from the trial, Carroll and his partner, George Reed, submitted a false and fraudulent application for a $1.2 million Paycheck Protection Program loan in April of 2020 for the time share exit company they ran, Square One Group LLC. The loan application contained false statements, including that Reed and Carroll’s wives owned the company. Reed and Carroll submitted loan applications in their spouses’ names to conceal Carroll’s status as a paroled felon, which would have precluded his company from receiving PPP funds. Carroll did not use the money to pay dozens of employees who were out of work, or keep their health insurance in effect, Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwendolyn Carroll said during closing arguments Friday. Roughly two weeks later, Carroll began buying trucks and land to start a trucking company. Carroll and Reed then applied for loan forgiveness, falsely claiming that they’d spent the money on payroll and other permitted expenses. They then sought a second loan of more than $1.6 million. When that loan was approved, Carroll and Reed took a total of $660,000 in “owner draws” from the company, the evidence showed. But Carroll didn’t stop with pandemic loan fraud, Gwendolyn Carroll told jurors. He had emissions control equipment designed to reduce pollutants removed from Whiskey Dix’s fleet of diesel trucks. During the resulting investigation, Carroll would later ask one employee to “take the fall,” and told another that he would stop paying for his lawyer if he talked to federal agents. He did follow through on that threat. Reed, 69, pleaded guilty to bank fraud in September of 2022 and admitted fraudulently applying for, obtaining and using the two PPP loans. He admitted that the company failed to pay a “significant number” of employees, despite their receipt of the loans that would have allowed them to do so. His plea also says Carroll terminated the health insurance benefits of at least 17 employees. The FBI and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gwendolyn Carroll and Kyle Bateman are prosecuting the case.


title: North Texas men sentenced to federal prison for sexually exploiting children online

component: USAO - Texas, Eastern

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas – Two north Texas men have been sentenced to federal prison for child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. Justin Mark Jones, 35, of Dallas pleaded guilty to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant on August 27, 2024. According to information presented in court, between October 2022 and May 2023, Jones was communicating online with an individual he believed to be a 13-year-old minor. Jones contacted the purported child on a social media application, asking for a photograph and whether they “could have a little naughty chat.” Over the ensuing months, Jones and the purported child communicated on multiple social media platforms, during which Jones repeatedly raised sexually explicit topics of conversation. For example, Jones initiated discussions about the use of sexual toys, the purported child’s sexual experience, and the types of sex acts the two could perform on and with one another. On May 17, 2023, Jones traveled to a location in Plano, to meet the child and to engage in illegal sex. Jones arrived with a backpack containing sexual objects and condoms. This case was investigated by the Plano Police Department and the FBI-Dallas Crimes Against Children Human Trafficking Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa Miller. Eric Victor Henry Blood, 44, of Carrollton, was convicted at trial of three counts of transportation of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. He was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant on August 27, 2024. According to information presented in court, Blood came to the attention of law enforcement when an Internet-based communications, storage, and email platform reported his email address had been used to upload images and videos of child pornography onto the company’s platform on multiple occasions. Homeland Security Investigations special agents served a federal search warrant at Blood’s Carrollton residence in May 2022, during which Blood admitted to using that account. Agents located child pornography files on multiple electronic devices he owned and possessed, including depictions of prepubescent minors and the violent sexual abuse of minors. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa Miller and Lesley Brooks. ###


title: Cherokee County Resident Sentenced To 40 Years For Murder

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Xavier Sean Wilson, age 23, of Park Hill, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 480 months in prison for Murder in Indian Country - Second Degree. The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service. On October 4, 2023, Wilson pleaded guilty to one count of an Information charging him with Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree. According to investigators, on April 30, 2022, Wilson assaulted and killed the victim with a knife inside the victim’s home. The crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. “The penalty imposed by the court today reflects the gravity of the crime,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “Thanks to the efforts of the FBI and our law enforcement partners, the defendant will now be held accountable for his actions. The FBI is firmly committed to combating violent crime in Indian country and we hope this brings some measure of closure to the community.” “The defendant’s shattering act of violence took the life of the victim, meriting the sentence handed down today,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Nothing makes up for the horror of such a crime, or for the sudden loss experienced within a family and a community. But it is my hope that the sentence handed down allows a measure of justice and safety to allow the family and community to confront its grief.” The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Wilson will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Edith Singer represented the United States.


title: McAlester Resident Sentenced To 37 Years For Murder

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Darius Alexander Presley, age 23, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to thirty-seven years and three months in prison for a 2022 murder and attempted murder in Pittsburg County. Presley was sentenced to 327 months for one count of Murder in Indian Country – Second Degree, 240 months for one count of Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country, and 180 months for one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, with the terms of imprisonment set to be served concurrently. In addition, the Court sentenced Presley to a term of 120 months for one count of Using, Carrying, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, to be served consecutive to the other sentences, for a total sentence of 447 months. The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police and SWAT Team. On September 13, 2023, Presley pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, on December 2, 2022, Presley entered a home north of McAlester armed with a handgun. Once inside the residence, Presley shot two individuals, killing one and seriously wounding the other. Presley then fled the scene of the crime. A multi-agency search for Presley narrowed to a McAlester residence, where law enforcement discovered Presley barricaded inside. A Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police SWAT team apprehended Presley without further incident. The crimes occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. “This sentencing is the result of a multi-agency effort to bring a violent offender to justice,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “We hope the community feels safer knowing Mr. Presley will spend decades behind bars for his crimes.” “The defendant’s vicious acts stole one innocent life and shattered the lives of many others,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “I know there is nothing the criminal justice system can offer to undo the tragedy or remove the heartache, but the sentence imposed will ensure the defendant will be in prison for a very long time for his senseless crimes. I commend the bravery and rapid response of law enforcement teams on the ground who capably ended the crisis, and I am grateful for the diligence of investigators and prosecutors whose teamwork led to the successful conviction of the defendant.” The Honorable Keith Starrett, Senior U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Presley will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.


title: Boone County Man Sentenced For Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: COVINGTON, Ky. – A Boone County, Ky., man, Timothy Estep, was sentenced to 174 months on Friday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for distribution of methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, in October 2023, law enforcement used a confidential informant to purchase 12.7 grams of methamphetamine from Estep. Law enforcement thereafter attempted to conduct a traffic stop but Estep fled, during which he drove into the oncoming lane of traffic. Several days later, law enforcement took Estep into custody when he arrived for a second controlled purchase. Law enforcement found 13.8 grams of methamphetamine on Estep and an imitation revolver in his vehicle. Estep admitted that he knowingly distributed methamphetamine during the first controlled purchase and that he intended to distribute methamphetamine during the second. Under federal law, Estep must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Detroit Field Division; and Director Scott Hardcorn, Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by DEA and Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Spievack prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. — END —


title: Omaha Woman Sentenced for Methamphetamine Conspiracy

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Kasey O’Boyle, age 35, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced August 29, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, for her involvement in a methamphetamine conspiracy. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter Jr. sentenced O’Boyle to 90 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After her release from prison, she will begin a 4-year term of supervised release. As part of a long-term Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation involving Mexican-based meth being distributed in the Omaha area, Kasey O’Boyle was identified as an individual that was receiving large multi-pound shipments of meth that she would later distribute to local conspirators. On April 26, 2023, investigators with the DEA, Omaha Police Department, and Bellevue Police Department were aware that O’Boyle was meeting with someone in a parking lot in the area of Fort and 78 th Streets. O’Boyle had given the individual she was meeting a suitcase and then left the area. Investigators contacted this individual and identified him as Columbian national, Hugo Ruiz-Rios. Ruiz-Rios was in possession of 18 pounds of meth. Ruiz-Rios was previously detained by Border Patrol agents on October 15, 2022, in El paso, Texas, after crossing illegally from Mexico. Ruiz-Rios was released on November 28, 2022, after making a claim seeking asylum. After arresting Ruiz-Rios, investigators went to the residence of O’Boyle. The vehicle that O’Boyle drove to meet Ruiz-Rios was located in the driveway. Investigators searched the vehicle and located an additional 41 pounds of meth. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . This case was investigated by the DEA, Omaha Police Department, and Bellevue Police Department.


title: Omaha Company and Company President Sentenced for Covid Related Crimes

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced today that Quin Global, an entity incorporated in Nebraska, was sentenced on August 30, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for mail fraud and selling an unregistered pesticide. Matthew Petersen, age 39, of Omaha, the President of Quin Global, was sentenced for selling an unregistered pesticide. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Quin Global to a total term of 2 years’ probation and ordered Quinn Global to pay a $390,000 fine and $520 in special assessments. Matthew Petersen was sentenced to a 1-year term of probation and was ordered to pay a $2,500 fine and a $25 special assessment. “The defendants in this case perpetuated one of the largest COVID-19 fraud cases related to the sale of unregistered pesticides in the country,” said Special Agent in Charge Lance Ehrig of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division in Nebraska. “Today’s sentencing demonstrates that individuals and corporations will be held criminally responsible for profiting from false claims that preyed upon public health concerns during a global pandemic and for failing to ensure the integrity and safety of their products.” The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), 7 U.S.C. § 136 et seq. , regulates the distribution, sale, and use of all pesticides in the United States, including antimicrobial pesticides. Antimicrobial pesticides are substances used to destroy or suppress the growth of harmful microorganisms – such as the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 – on inanimate objects and surfaces. All pesticides distributed or sold in the United States must be registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”). Registrants of antimicrobial pesticide products that claim to control microbes that pose a threat to public health must additionally submit efficacy data to support these public health claims. Quin Global is located in Omaha and is a manufacturer of adhesive and tool systems. Matthew Petersen is the President of Quin Global. In March 2020, Quin Global began efforts to expand its business by manufacturing and selling pesticides. Quin Global initially contacted a company formerly known as Lonza, Inc. seeking to become a supplemental distributor of Lonza Inc.’s product Formulation HWS-64. Lonza, Inc. informed Quin Global that it would take months to enter into a legally permissible agreement. In response, Quin Global purchased the product from, Buckeye International, a supplemental distributor of Lonza, Inc. The product Quin Global purchased from Buckeye International was being marketed as Buckeye Sanicare Lemon Quat. Quin Global began diluting and repackaging this product into its own proprietary pressurized canister and application systems. Quin Global sold this diluted product as a Quin Global product named Ramsol-RS1 which it marketed as being “EPA-approved” and as being effective against the COVID virus. The product being sold by Quin Global was not “EPA-approved” nor was it registered with the EPA pursuant to FIFRA since Quin Global never sought registration for the product. In April 2020, Quin Global consulted a regulatory consultant, Delta Analytical, regarding the feasibility of registering Ramsol-RS1 product, which Quin Global was already manufacturing and distributing. Quin Global was informed of the requirements and did not seek to comply with the required EPA FIFRA registration requirements. From April 2020 through July 2020, Quin Global distributed Ramsol-RS1 to 73 of its distributors in the United States of America and Canada. These distributors then supplied the product to their own retail customers. Quin Global received numerous inquiries from customers about the product’s validity and efficacy. Quin Global repeatedly assured their customers that its product would be effective against viruses and cited to the EPA registration for the Lonza/Buckeye product. Lonza’s Formulation HWS-64 was listed on the EPA’s List N in March of 2020 as being approved for use against SARS-CoV-2 with the instructions that the product be utilized in accordance with directions for use against Adenovirus Type 7. Similarly, Buckeye Sanicare Lemon Quat was also listed on the EPA’s List N for use against SARS-CoV-2 at a specified concentration. For most of its accepted disinfection uses it is to be diluted at a 1/64 concentration, or 2 ounces per gallon of water. For Adenovirus Type 7 it is to be used at a higher concentration dilution of 8 ounces per gallon of water. On or about April 24, 2020, Quin Global shipped 72 22-liter containers and 20 7-L containers of Ramsol-RS1 from Omaha to a downstream distributor, Chemical Concepts Inc., in Huntington Valley, Pennsylvania, using R&L carriers a commercial interstate carrier. In June 2020, investigators with the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division conducted undercover purchases of 7-liter canisters of Ramsol-RS1 from Chemical Concepts and Panther East in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Chemical Concepts and Panther East are downstream distributors for Quin Global. The two 7-Liter canisters of Ramsol-RS1 that were purchased from Chemical Concepts and Panther East were sent to the EPA National Enforcement Investigation Center (NEIC) for further testing. The NEIC found Quin Global’s product to be significantly diluted, with active ingredients being diluted more than 100 times than the product should be if diluted at 8 ounces per gallon. The Ramsol-RS1 product was also diluted well beyond what it should have been if diluted at 2 oz per gallon of water with active ingredients being diluted more than 25 times what they should have been. Ramsol-RS1 was diluted to a point well beyond efficacy against viruses and, specifically, the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Between April 2020 and July 2020, Quin Global, advertising this product as being EPA approved and as being effective against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, sold approximately $1.4 million worth of Ramsol-RS1 and $185,000 in related equipment. Specifically, Quin Global sold 1,148 7-liter containers and 3,363 22-liter containers. Quin Global stopped sales after being confronted by the EPA. This case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency-Criminal Investigation Division.


title: Minnesota Man Sentenced for Fentanyl Possession

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that De’Shuan Whitfield, age 23, of St. Paul, Minnesota, was sentenced August 29, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for possessing five pounds of fentanyl. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Whitfield to 70 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. On April 23, 2022, DEA Criminal Interdiction Unit investigators were at the Trailways Bus Station in Omaha when they observed Whitfield exit a bus and leave with an untagged suitcase. Whitfield was contacted and during the course of the conversation, investigators became suspicious of Whitfield due to the way he was acting and the things he said. Whitfield admitted that he had a marijuana dispensary bag. Whitfield opened his suitcase and investigators observed the marijuana dispensary bag. Whitfield also had a backpack. After seizing the marijuana in the suitcase, the backpack was searched. The backpack contained 40 plastic bags containing 4,444 grams of counterfeit M-30 pills. The pills were later tested, and it was determined that they contained fentanyl. This case was investigated by the DEA and the Nebraska State Patrol.


title: Springfield Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Crimes Against Children

component: Department of Justice

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Springfield, Illinois, man, Evan Taylor, 28, was sentenced on August 29, 2024, to 480 months’ imprisonment for the offenses of sexual exploitation of a minor, distribution of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity, enticement of a minor, and the use of interstate facilities to attempt to transmit information about a minor. At the sentencing hearing in front of U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless, the government established that between 2018 and 2020, Taylor victimized multiple children between the ages of seven and fifteen both by creating child pornography and then distributing images he created using multiple online chatting platforms. Taylor also sexually abused a child under his care, drove across state lines to have sex with a minor, and attempted to entice another minor victim. Taylor bragged about his sexual abuse online and demanded to have sex with one of the minors, even after the minor had become physically sick. The government noted that the creation and dissemination of the images of abuse further traumatized the victims, given that they have no way of knowing with certainty whether the images remain online or in the possession of others. During the hearing, Judge Lawless categorized Taylor’s actions as sickening, heinous, despicable, and predatory. She noted the egregiousness and continuing nature of Taylor’s conduct and explained that he had taken away the security and innocence of the children he had victimized. Judge Lawless also said that the sentence was necessary to ensure the safety of the public and to provide just punishment. A federal grand jury returned the fifteen-count indictment in December 2020, and Taylor was arrested that same month. He has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since his arrest. He pleaded guilty to all fifteen counts in December 2023. The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, investigated the case. Assisting agencies included the Indiana State Police; the Jasonville, Indiana, Police Department; and the Marengo, Illinois, Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, the Sangamon County Child Advocacy Center, and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner K. Jacobs represented the government in the prosecution. The case against Taylor was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.


title: Johnston County Resident Sentenced For Murder

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Cecil Browning Higginbotham, age 33, of Mannsville, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 240 months imprisonment for Murder in Indian Country – Second Degree. The charge arose from an investigation by the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, the Dickson Police Department, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. On October 16, 2023, Higginbotham pleaded guilty to the murder charge. According to investigators, on August 9, 2022, Higginbotham pushed the victim to the ground, knocked the victim unconscious, and dragged the victim into his residence. Once inside, Higginbotham repeatedly assaulted the victim, causing severe blunt force trauma to the victim’s head and neck. On August 11, 2022, the victim died of injuries sustained during the prolonged attack. The crime occurred in Johnston County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. “The defendant’s actions were reprehensible, violating everything we demand as members of a safe and peaceful society. The sentence handed down is most certainly deserved,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the sentencing hearing. Higginbotham will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys T. Cameron McEwen and Caila Cleary represented the United States.


title: McAlester Resident Sentenced To 20 Years For Voluntary Manslaughter

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Brian Wayne Davis Jr., age 33, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, and 120 months for one count of Using, Carrying, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, to be served consecutive, for a total of 240 months. The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the McAlester Police Department, and the Eufaula Police Department. On February 5, 2024, Davis pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, during an argument on March 16, 2023, Davis fatally shot the victim. The crimes occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Davis will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.


title: Muskogee Resident Sentenced For Robbery

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 Darrin Renay Kimble, age 58, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 77 months in prison for one count of Robbery in Indian Country. The charges arose from an investigation by the Coweta Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On August 29, 2024, Kimble pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on February 21, 2021, Kimble entered a Coweta Walmart and attempted to leave the store without paying for a large television. When stopped by an employee, Kimble pulled a knife and threatened to stab the employee and surrounding customers. The crime occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Kimble will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.


title: North Carolina Residents Sentenced For Federal Drug Crime

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that two North Carolina residents, Teon Raynard Robbins, age 45, and Antwon Marquise Williams, age 33, were sentenced for federal drug charges. Robbins was sentenced to 292 months in prison and Williams was sentenced to 78 months in prison for federal drug possession and distribution charges. The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. On November 29, 2023, Williams pleaded guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. On December 4, 2024, Robbins pleaded guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. According to investigators, on March 1, 2023, law enforcement stopped Robbins and Williams for speeding on Interstate 40 in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma. During a search of the car, officers found over 40 kilograms of methamphetamine, packaged in 100 Ziplock-type bags inside three duffle bags in the back seat. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Robbins and Williams will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve non-paroleable sentences of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States at sentencing.


title: Tahlequah Resident Sentenced To 30 Years For Child Sex Abuse And Exploitation

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Leiloni Blake Smith, age 32, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Smith was sentenced to 360 months on eight counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country, 360 months on two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child, and 360 months on two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child by a Parent. Smith was also sentenced to 240 months for one count of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. The sentences are to be served concurrently. On March 21, 2024, Smith was found guilty by a federal jury at trial on thirteen counts of a fourteen count Indictment. On January 18, 2023, Gregory Neil Bias, Smith’s co-defendant, pleaded guilty to nine separate counts of child sex abuse crimes, eight separate counts of child sexual exploitation crimes, and one federal firearm crime. On July 31, 2024, Bias was sentenced to 30 years in prison for nine separate counts of child sex abuse crimes, eight separate counts of child sexual exploitation crimes, and one federal firearm crime. The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. According to investigators, in 2020 the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) alerted law enforcement to a Tahlequah-area internet user exchanging electronic files containing images of child sexual abuse. Agents identified, located, and arrested Bias in January of 2022 for distributing child sexual abuse materials. At the time of arrest, Bias resided with Smith. During the investigation, searches of electronic devices belonging to Smith and Bias uncovered multiple depictions of sexual abuse perpetrated by both Smith and Bias on two children. Smith was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2022 of aggravated sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of a child, and possession of child sexual exploitation materials. The crimes occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Smith will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources” . We encourage anyone who suspects or has information regarding child sexual exploitation, trafficking of minors, sextortion, child pornography, or any other means of child exploitation to immediately contact law enforcement. You can file a report on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)'s website at www.cybertipline.com , call 1-800-843-5678, contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or call 877-4-HSI TIP.


title: McIntosh County Resident Sentenced For Causing Death By Firearm During A Crime Of Violence

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Fredrick Cody Burkhalter, age 27, of Rentiesville, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 222 months in prison for causing the death of a person by firearm during a crime of violence. The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police Department. The investigation was also aided by personnel from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Checotah Police Department, the District 25 Violent Crime Task Force, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Attorney General’s Office, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Fire Department Hazmat Unit, the Tulsa Fire Department, the Oklahoma Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue K9 Team, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Emergency Management, and the Tulsa Humane Society HEART Team. On March 28, 2024, Burkhalter pleaded guilty to one count of Causing the Death of a Person in the Course of a Violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c). According to investigators, in April of 2022, Burkhalter intentionally shot and killed the victim, then disposed of the victim’s body and attempted to cover up the crime. The victim’s remains were recovered and identified during a coordinated search of Burkhalter’s home and property conducted by a multi-agency task force. The crime occurred in McIntosh County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office extends its deepest gratitude to each and every one of the state, county, tribal, and federal agencies who came to the aid of investigators and offered their invaluable partnership and combined efforts to bring resolution to this case,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “It is always heartbreaking when we are unable to bring good news to the family of a missing person, but we hope that this sentence brings a measure of closure to a family and a community during their time of grief.” The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Burkhalter will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Flanigan and Richard Lorenz represented the United States.