title: Two Middle Georgia Repeat Offenders Sentenced in Drug Trafficking Cases

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: MACON, Ga. – Two Georgia residents with lengthy criminal histories were sentenced to prison for their criminal involvement in separate armed drug trafficking investigations in the Middle District of Georgia. Rodrick Taylor, aka “RT,” 40, of Athens, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 292 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release on March 13 in Case No. 3:20-CR-62-CAR after he pleaded guilty to one count of illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Antonio Reid, 48, of Walton County, Georgia, was sentenced as a career offender to serve 212 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on March 13 in Case No. 3:21-CR-25-CAR after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal handed down the sentences. The defendants are not eligible for parole. “These cases involve repeat felony offenders who disregarded the law time and again, endangering citizens and law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Both cases demonstrate how our office is teaming up with local, state and federal law enforcement across the Middle District of Georgia to identify those individuals who are causing the most chaos in their communities and hold them accountable for their crimes.” According to court documents in the Taylor case, federal and local agents identified Taylor as a heroin dealer in the Athens community during a wiretap investigation into an armed drug trafficking organization controlled by Rickshun Willingham in 2019. During their investigation, FBI agents learned that Taylor assisted Willingham in a robbery of two kilograms of heroin in an Athens parking lot. A search warrant was executed at Taylor’s Bogart, Georgia, home on May 27, 2020. Agents found a .40 caliber pistol, along with drug distribution items. Taylor has multiple prior felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. FBI agents received information in Aug. 2020 that Taylor was selling heroin from his home and was bragging about having a new firearm and posting a video of himself with a Glock 9mm pistol at a shooting range on his social media account. A search warrant was executed at Taylor’s home on Sept. 24, 2020, and agents found a loaded 9mm Glock pistol, 105 grams of heroin as well as evidence that Taylor flushed heroin down the toilet before agents made entry into his home. According to court documents in the Reid case, Monroe Police Department officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Reid’s vehicle on Oct. 5, 2020. When a police officer approached the vehicle, Reid sped away at a high rate of speed and eventually crashed into a curb and fled on foot into the woods. An adult woman and a three-year-old child remained in Reid’s vehicle; both were physically unharmed and released from the scene. When located in the woods by an officer, Reid continued to resist arrest, but ultimately was taken into custody. Reid was in possession of crack cocaine. Reid has multiple prior felony convictions including a 2014 conviction for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia. As a result, Reid was sentenced as a career offender. The Taylor case was investigated by the FBI Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, Athens-Clarke County Police Department and the DEA. The Reid case was investigated by the Monroe Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison prosecuted the cases for the Government.


title: Mexican national charged with attempting to bring over $100,000 of cocaine into country

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 40-year-old resident of Mexico has been indicted for attempting to import almost 10 kilograms of cocaine into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today against Ricardo Cantu-Vasquez. He is expected to appear for his arraignment before a U.S. magistrate judge in the near future. The criminal complaint originally filed in the case alleges that on Feb. 27, law enforcement stopped Cantu-Vasquez for a traffic violation. Authorities conducted a search of the vehicle and allegedly found 9.5 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside a concealed compartment under the rear seat of the vehicle. The drugs have an estimated street value of nearly $115,000. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Laredo Police Department conducted the investigation with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany Jensen and Brian Bajew are prosecuting the case. This case is being prosecuted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF is the largest anti-crime task force in the country. 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 on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage . An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Bullitt County Felon Sentenced to Over 2 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – A Bullitt County, Kentucky, man was sentenced yesterday to 2 years and 9 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of a felony offense. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Colonel Marcus Laytham, Chief of the Mt. Washington Police Department, made the announcement. According to court documents, James Nott, 41, was sentenced to 2 years and 9 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for illegally possessing an AK-type 7.62 mm rifle, a Charter Arms .38 special revolver, and ammunition on July 11, 2023. Nott was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On November 11, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Nott was convicted of possession of an unregistered destructive device and possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of marijuana. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Mt. Washington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Tieke and Stephanie Zimdahl prosecuted the case. ###


title: Columbia County Man Indicted For Receipt And Possession Of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on March 12, 2024, Vincent Shaffer, age 44, of Schuylkill County, PA, was indicted on a charge of possession of child pornography. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that Shaffer received child pornography on August 20, 2023, and possessed child pornography on December 7, 2023, in Columbia County. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation-RAC Williamsport and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum R. Wilson is prosecuting the case. 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.usdoj.gov/psc . The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is 20 years, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich, Billings Police Department issue warning about pink fentanyl

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: BILLINGS — U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich, for the District of Montana, and Billings Police Chief Rich St. John today issued a warning to the public about the appearance in the community of pink fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is more potent than morphine and heroin. Law enforcement is beginning to see pink fentanyl pills in Billings. Noted for their pink color, the pills are more potent than the fentanyl that has been seen in the community. Many of these illicitly produced synthetic opioids can result in overdoses and death. “It has become far too common for us to see illicit fentanyl as a blue pill, but synthetic opioids can come in all forms and colors. We are now seeing pink fentanyl pills and they’re even more potent and deadly than the fentanyl pills we’ve previously seen in Montana. All of us must remain vigilant in the fight against fentanyl, as one pill can kill you. Please don’t take any pill that is not prescribed to you by a medical professional. Our office stands shoulder to shoulder with the Billings Police Department in the battle to save lives and to stop the widespread trafficking of this poison in our community,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said. “The emergence of pink fentanyl presents a new and serious challenge for the law enforcement community. The practice of mixing pink fentanyl with other street drugs has created a major public health concern. The increased potency has deadly results. Our officers, along with our law enforcement partners and supported by the USAO, are working tirelessly to reduce the amount of these dangerous drugs in our community and hold offenders accountable,” Chief St. John said. Additional information about fentanyl can be found at https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/fentanyl Persons with information about pink fentanyl and its distribution are asked to contact the Billings Police Department at 406-657-8200. Tips also may be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers at 406-245-6660. XXX


title: Former police officer sentenced to 10 years in prison for  possession of child sexual abuse materials

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Oxford, Miss. – A former policeman from Bruce, Mississippi and part-time volunteer firefighter was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison on Tuesday morning for possessing child sexual abuse materials. Following a sentencing hearing in Oxford, U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock ordered Corey Harrelson to serve 121 months in prison, followed by a term of supervised release of 5 years. Harrelson was also ordered to make restitution payments of $3,500 to each of eight known victims, for a total of $28,000. According to court documents, Harrelson of Bruce, Mississippi, possessed computer files containing images and videos of minors, including prepubescent children, engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Harrelson possessed files of more than 80 known child victims. “Today’s sentence should serve as a stark reminder that those who possess images of the sexual abuse of children will face significant punishment in federal court, regardless of their job or status,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “I would like to thank the FBI and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office for their assistance in this investigation, and for their continued commitment to put defendants like this one behind bars.” Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch said, " I am proud of my team for their hard work investigating this horrific crime and grateful to the U.S. Attorney's Office for securing this sentence. While this conviction does not turn back the clock, it prevents this predator from inflicting more harm, and it is my hope and prayer that the closure of this case helps these victims find peace and healing. " “Safeguarding our society's future begins with protecting underage citizens in our community from vile individuals like, Corey Harrelson,” remarked Jackson Mississippi Resident FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Maher Dimachkie. “Those who commit these heinous crimes against our youth will not be tolerated. The FBI and the DOJ maintain a commitment to protect our communities by aggressively investigating and protecting the innocence of our minors, assuring offenders are brought to justice. “ The FBI and Mississippi Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Roberts prosecuted the case.


title: Senatobia woman sentenced to 33 months in jail for  embezzling from former employer

component: USAO - Mississippi, Northern

body_text: Oxford, Miss. – A Senatobia, Mississippi woman was sentenced in federal court today to 33 months in prison for embezzling almost a half of a million dollars from her former employer by creating false employees and having salaries for the fake persons deposited into her personal bank accounts. According to court documents, Julia N. Linck, nee Capriotti, of Senatobia, stole the funds from October 2014 through July 2020 from Memphis Barbecue Company in DeSoto County. Following a sentencing hearing on Tuesday in Oxford, U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock ordered Linck to serve 33 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Linck was also ordered to pay back the stolen funds, with the court ordering her to pay $462,874.05 in restitution. The U.S. Secret Service and DeSoto County, Mississippi Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Roberts prosecuted the case.


title: Aventura Technologies, Inc. Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Illegal Importation for Reselling Chinese Goods as U.S.-Made

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: CENTRAL ISLIP, NY – Earlier today, Aventura Technologies, Inc. (Aventura) pleaded guilty to committing mail and wire fraud conspiracy and illegal importation in federal court in Central Islip. The guilty plea reflects Aventura’s long-running, lucrative scheme to purchase Chinese-made security equipment (such as networked surveillance cameras) and resell it as U.S.-made, including to multiple agencies of the U.S. government, branches of the military and to customers overseas in the public and private sectors. The scheme began in 2006, ending in 2019 when charges were brought in this case. Aventura made more than $112 million in sales during that time. Today’s proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge Arlene R. Lindsay. In connection with its guilty plea, the company agreed to dissolve itself and to forfeit more than $3 million in seized assets, including Aventura’s headquarters and a seventy-foot yacht partially owned by the defendants, as well as more than 7,000 seized items of merchandise. All seven individuals charged in this case have pleaded guilty, including Aventura’s nominal president Frances Cabasso and its true chief executive, her husband Jack Cabasso. In addition to Aventura’s fraudulent resale of Chinese-made goods, the company defrauded customers by falsely claiming that Frances Cabasso was in charge of Aventura in order to obtain access to valuable government contracts reserved for women-owned businesses. Frances Cabasso pled guilty to wire fraud conspiracy in connection with that scheme. The individual defendants who pled guilty in the case were Frances Cabasso, Jack Cabasso, and senior executives Jonathan Lasker, Christine Lavonne Lazarus and Eduard Matulik, as well as employees Wayne Marino and Alan Schwartz. The charges were announced by Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); Robert C. Erickson, Jr., Deputy Inspector General, General Services Administration Office of Inspector General (GSA OIG); Brian J. Solecki, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office (DCIS); Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent-in-Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); Francis J. Russo, Director, Customs and Border Protection, New York Field Office (CBP); William W. Richards, Special Agent in Charge, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Office of Procurement Fraud Investigations (AFOSI); Heather Hill, Acting Inspector General, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA); Greg Gross, Special Agent in Charge, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Economic Crimes Field Office (NCIS); Keith K. Kelly, Special Agent-in-Charge, Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Fraud Field Office (Army CID); and Teri L. Donaldson, Inspector General for the Department of Energy (DOE IG). “For years, the defendants, while pretending to be a women-owned business, intentionally corrupted the U.S. military supply chain by passing off Chinese-made networked electronics with known vulnerabilities as American-made,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This case highlights the importance of national and international inter-agency cooperation in securing our cyber supply chain and protecting our military readiness. We will spare no effort in holding accountable those who undermine and threaten the national security of the United States.” “This GSA contractor lied about its surveillance and security equipment being made in the United States when it was actually being made in China,” stated GSA Deputy Inspector General Erickson. “Company executives also misrepresented to GSA that the company was woman-owned to gain access to government contracts they otherwise would not have been eligible to receive. We remain committed to investigating contract fraud such as this and holding criminals accountable.” “The introduction of misbranded parts and materials into the DoD’s supply chain poses a significant risk to America’s military readiness and our national security,” stated DCIS Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Solecki. “We remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice, to ensure that individuals and companies who engage in fraudulent activity, at the expense of our nation’s military members, are investigated and prosecuted.” “Executives of Aventura Technologies have already pled guilty, detailing how the company fronted illegal importations and wire fraud by the sale of thousands of goods that entered the U.S. under fraudulent circumstances to federal entities,” stated IRS-CI Special Agent-in-Charge Fattorusso. “Their scheme went further to purport that Aventura was a woman-owned business simply to win additional government contracts. It is not common to see both the executives and the company face prosecution, but in this case, today’s guilty plea is proof of the significant amount of evidence present in this case.” “U.S. Customs and Border Protection provided the critical link to an ongoing investigation that resulted in the takedown of an elaborate criminal enterprise,” stated CBP Director Russo. “This case serves as a great example of collaborative law enforcement efforts to uncover and dismantle criminal enterprises that seek to defraud the United States government for personal gain while jeopardizing our national defense and causing economic harm to their competitors.” “This outcome demonstrates the Office of Procurement Fraud’s commitment to identify and hold accountable those who engage in fraudulent behavior that places our warfighters at risk,” stated AFOSI Special Agent-in-Charge Richards. “AFOSI, alongside our joint investigative and prosecutorial partners, will work tirelessly to combat fraud threatening the Department of the Air Force.” “The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) is the nation’s tax watchdog agency committed to ensuring the integrity of the IRS contracting and procurement process,” stated TIGTA’s Acting Inspector General Hill. “We are aggressively investigating individuals who attempt to defraud the IRS, like the individuals in this case. Companies working with the IRS and the Department of Treasury must conduct themselves with integrity and honesty. Thank you to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners for their support in this investigation.” “Falsely misrepresenting the country of origin for equipment sold to the U.S. Government that is directly used in support of the safety and readiness of our warfighters is a serious crime,” said NCIS Special Agent-in-Charge Gross. “NCIS is committed to protecting the integrity of the Department of the Navy’s procurement and acquisitions process.” “Today's plea is a fitting end for those who conspire to defraud the government,” stated Army CID Special Agent-in-Charge Kelly. “We are proud to work alongside our federal law enforcement partners to protect the United States Government from those who seek to misrepresent themselves and their product, thereby threatening the readiness of the U.S. Army and potentially risking the lives of countless soldiers.” “The installation of the material provided by Aventura in a Department of Energy facility would have provided a possible pathway for the PRC to gather information on the personnel who work at one of the Nation’s most advanced research facilities,” said DOE Inspector General Donaldson. “I thank our law enforcement partners who supported our Special Agents to ensure this equipment didn’t make its way into the lab, and the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York for holding the company who put our national security at risk, accountable for its actions.” The Country of Origin Fraud and Unlawful Importation Scheme As admitted in court, Aventura lied for over a decade to its customers, including the U.S. military, the federal government, numerous private customers in the United States, and public and private sector customers abroad. Between 2008 and November 2019, Aventura made upwards of $112 million, including over $20 million in federal government contracts, while claiming that it was manufacturing its products at its headquarters in Commack, New York. In fact, since at least 2006, Aventura imported goods, primarily from the People’s Republic of China (PRC), then resold them as American-made or manufactured in a small number of other countries. The company’s marketing relied heavily on U.S. flags and “American-made” branding, and its sales force routinely asserted that Aventura was the sole U.S. manufacturer of security equipment. As described below, Jack Cabasso went to extreme lengths to conceal the Chinese origin of his products, while at the same time writing to U.S. government procurement officials to accuse his competitors of reselling Chinese-made goods. Visitors to Aventura’s corporate headquarters were shown a fictitious “lab,” and were told that a separate building was reserved for classified government work and was off-limits to visitors. In fact, Aventura did not own or occupy the building in question. In the course of its investigation, the government intercepted and covertly marked numerous shipments from PRC sources to Aventura’s Commack, New York headquarters. In some cases, cameras shipped from the PRC were pre-marked with Aventura’s logo and the phrase “Made in USA,” accompanied by an American flag. In many instances, the items were later resold to government agencies to whom the defendants falsely represented that the products were American-made. Examples include: In March 2019, the U.S. Navy ordered from Aventura a $13,500 laser night vision camera that was specified as American-made on Aventura’s U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) price list. In April 2019 at a shipping facility in Jamaica, Queens, a team led by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers intercepted a shipment from a PRC manufacturer to Aventura that contained a camera matching the Navy’s order, and surreptitiously marked it for later identification. Two weeks later, that same camera was delivered to Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut. In September 2018, the Department of Energy (DOE) ordered approximately $156,000 worth of supposed American-made networked automated turnstiles from Aventura, to be installed at a facility in Tennessee. In January 2019, turnstiles matching DOE’s order were intercepted in a shipment from a PRC manufacturer and marked by CBP; one month later, they arrived at the DOE facility in Tennessee. The crates shipped by Aventura to the DOE appeared identical to those that the CBP-led team had inspected, except that the shipping labels from the PRC directing the crates to Aventura had been peeled off, leaving behind visible traces of paper and glue. A special agent with the Department of Energy Office of Inspector General placed a call to Lazarus regarding the turnstile shipment in May 2019. During the call, Lazarus falsely stated that the turnstiles were “U.S. made [in] New York.” In 2018, Aventura sold the U.S. Air Force 25 body cameras. Aventura was contractually required to provide goods from a limited set of countries that did not include the PRC. In August 2018, however, an Air Force service member observed Chinese characters on the built-in screen of one of the body cameras. The body camera was sent for analysis to a specialist, who downloaded its firmware and found numerous indications that the camera was manufactured in the PRC. The camera contained multiple preloaded images that were apparently designed to display on the built-in screen—including the U.S. Air Force logo, the logo of the PRC Ministry of Public Security, and the logo of a PRC manufacturer of security equipment. All three logos had been saved to the camera’s firmware using the same software, on a computer that was set to a time zone in the PRC—indicating that the camera’s manufacturer in the PRC had been aware that the U.S. Air Force was a likely end user of the camera. Coverup of the Country of Origin Fraud and Unlawful Importation Scheme The defendants, working with counterparts in the PRC, went to extraordinary lengths to conceal this scheme. For example: In November 2018, Jack Cabasso exchanged emails with an employee of a PRC manufacturer of surveillance equipment (PRC Manufacturer-2), identifying the need to “hide” the name of PRC Manufacturer-2 from Aventura’s customers. One week later, Cabasso stressed the need to take steps so that “they cannot trace” the product to PRC Manufacturer-2. Cabasso added that “the biggest problem” was that PRC Manufacturer-2’s initials were marked on its circuit boards, and said that he had “lost several potential customers” because of similar practices by another PRC manufacturer (PRC Manufacturer-1). The employee responded that the company’s initials would be removed from all circuit boards shipped to Aventura. Similarly, in December 2018, Aventura executives exchanged emails with employees of another PRC-based digital video equipment manufacturer (PRC Manufacturer-4). They complained to the employees that “communication from the server to the client contains [PRC Manufacturer-4’s name] visible in clear text. This should be changed.” When one of the employees wrote that this could not be changed, Jack Cabasso responded: “WE CANNOT HAVE CUSTOMERS ABLE TO SEE [PRC Manufacturer-4’s name]”, later adding: “we also sent a sample to a customer and he found [PRC Manufacturer-4] … branding in the [operating system] which is a problem.” On or about November 23, 2016, Jack Cabasso sent an email to a GSA representative accusing 12 other GSA contractors of selling products to the U.S. Government that were manufactured by a PRC manufacturer of surveillance equipment (PRC Manufacturer-1). Cabasso asserted that this was a “big problem” and “doesn’t get any worse,” because PRC Manufacturer-1 was “actually the Communist Chinese Government and ha[d] ‘significant’ cybersecurity issues aside from” compliance with U.S. laws specifying country-of-origin requirements for government purchases. Cabasso stated that PRC Manufacturer-1 “will acknowledge they manufacture no products outside of China,” and appended an article about the removal of cameras manufactured by PRC Manufacturer-1 from the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan. Notably, Aventura was importing security equipment from PRC Manufacturer-1 while Jack Cabasso was complaining to GSA about other contractors’ supposed dealings with the company. For example, bank records show that Aventura wired funds to PRC Manufacturer-1 in the PRC on or about October 31, 2016 and November 29, 2016, and law enforcement records show that on or about December 13, 2016, Aventura imported from PRC Manufacturer-1 in PRC an approximately 1,800-pound shipment of goods manifested as “digital video.” In November 2018, Aventura executives communicated with a potential distributor in Qatar who asked for assurance that Aventura’s cameras were American-made. Cabasso responded: “I believe Ed [Matulik] confirmed that they are made in the Aventura factory here in New York and [anyone] may visit at any time.” Cabasso attached what purported to be a photograph of Aventura’s assembly line, depicting a row of seated individuals in blue lab coats and protective hairnets working at laboratory benches—a photograph that also appeared on Aventura’s website. In reality, this photograph first appeared in a trade publication article recounting a reporter’s visit to PRC Manufacturer-1’s manufacturing facility in Hangzhou, PRC, and it depicts PRC Manufacturer-1’s assembly line—not Aventura’s. The Scheme to Misrepresent Aventura as a Woman-Owned Small Business In a parallel scheme, Jack and Frances Cabasso, along with other Aventura executives, falsely represented on numerous occasions that Frances Cabasso was the chief executive of Aventura. In fact, Frances Cabasso was in charge only on paper; the true chief executive officer of Aventura was Jack Cabasso, and Frances Cabasso played a minimal role at the company. This misrepresentation gave Aventura access to government contracts that were set aside for women-owned small businesses, a category that is legally defined to include only businesses owned by women where management and daily operations are also controlled by one or more women. Aventura’s website and its GSA webpage identify Aventura as a woman-owned business, and the defendants repeatedly certified to the GSA and stated to government procurement officers that Aventura is a woman-owned business. For example, on or about January 13, 2014, a GSA employee emailed Frances Cabasso to “verify if Aventura Technologies, Inc. is a Woman-Owned business.” She replied: “Yes we are still a certified women-owned business.” Aventura won multiple contracts from the federal government on the strength of its status as a woman-owned business. In fact, real control at Aventura was exercised by Jack Cabasso. Frances Cabasso worked as a bookkeeper at a nearby business and was rarely present at Aventura’s offices. At times, emails sent to Frances Cabasso’s email address were auto-forwarded to Jack Cabasso, who sometimes signed his responses in Frances’s name. The defendants openly joked about the fact that Frances Cabasso did not work at Aventura. For example, in an instant message exchange on December 5, 2016 between Jack Cabasso and Lazarus, both defendants discussed moving another employee into “Fran’s office”--the office of the purported owner of the company—putting the word “Fran’s” in quotation marks. * * * * The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander Mindlin, Kayla Bensing and Claire Kedeshian are in charge of the prosecution. Significant contributions were made by former Assistant United States Attorney Ian Richardson, now Chief Counsel for Corporate Enforcement within the Department’s National Security Division. The Defendant : AVENTURA TECHNOLOGIES, INC. Commack, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 19-CR-582 (JMA)


title: North Lauderdale Man Who Transported Child Pornography Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – On March 14, a North Lauderdale man, who is a registered sex offender, and who was convicted of transportation of over 620 electronic images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore, who sits in Miami. Jason Hemans, 40, arrived at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport from Jamaica on August 18, 2023. Due to Hemans being a registered sex offender, United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers conducted an examination of Hemans’ smartphone. During the examination, numerous images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) were discovered on Hemans’ smartphone. Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Fort Lauderdale, responded and conducted further review of Hemans’ smartphone and discovered several hundred images of CSAM on the device and arrested Hemans, who also admitted to receiving and viewing the images. On December 19, 2023, Hemans pled guilty to one count of violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(1) (transportation of child sexual abuse material). U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, announced the sentence. HSI Fort Lauderdale, a member of the South Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, investigated the case with the assistance from United States Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Koontz prosecuted the case. This case was a result of “Operation Angel Watch” which was created in 2007 through International Megan’s Law and is a joint effort by the Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Operation Angel Watch plays a crucial role in the global fight against transnational child sexual abuse by identifying individuals who have been previously convicted of sexual crimes against children and who may pose a potential threat while traveling overseas for the purpose of sexually abusing or exploiting minors. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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 . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 23-cr-60160. ###


title: Three Rutland Drug Traffickers Sentenced

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that three defendants have been sentenced in connection with drug charges related to the trafficking of cocaine base in Rutland, Vermont, concluding yesterday with the sentencing of Danielle Richardson. The three defendants are: Christopher Moton, 29, of North Charleston, South Carolina; Maurice Pompey, 35, of Anderson, South Carolina; and Danielle Richardson, 31, of Poultney, Vermont. Moton previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, while Pompey and Anderson pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine base. According to court records, law enforcement conducted multiple covert purchases of controlled substances from Pompey and Richardson between August and October of 2022. Both Pompey and Richardson were linked to 116 State Street, Apartment #4, in Rutland, Vermont. On October 24, 2022, a federal search warrant was obtained authorizing the search of the apartment. The search resulted in the seizure of two handguns and suspected cocaine base, heroin, and fentanyl. Moton was inside of the apartment when law investigators executed the warrant. Richardson was arrested during a traffic stop and found in possession of cocaine base at the time of her arrest. United States District Judge Christina Reiss imposed the following sentences: Christopher Moton – 18 Months of Imprisonment to be followed by Three Years of Supervised Release; Maurice Pompey – Time Served to be followed by Three Years of Supervised Release; Danielle Richardson – Time Served to be followed by Two Years of Supervised Release. United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the coordinated investigatory efforts of the Rutland Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Southern Vermont Drug Task Force, the Vermont State Police, and the Manchester Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Ophardt and Zachary Stendig. Moton was represented by Kevin Henry, Esq. Pompey was represented by Richard Bothfeld, Esq. Richardson was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Sara Puls, Esq. 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: Rhode Island Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Defrauding Investors and Tax Evasion

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Rhode Island man was sentenced to eight years in prison for running a decade-long Ponzi scheme to defraud investors and to evade his taxes, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division. According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2008 and 2018, Thomas Huling, formerly of West Warwick, orchestrated a scheme to defraud investors by promoting several investment projects, including high-yielding bond trading platforms, a car emissions reduction technology and an online advertising and marketing company. He solicited funds for these investments by representing, among other things, that the investments would achieve quick and substantial returns with little or no risk. In truth, and contrary to his promises, Huling diverted investor money to fund a lavish lifestyle that included high-end vehicles, membership and golf fees at multiple country clubs, gambling, clothing, restaurants, vacations and travel, as well as improvements to his residence. He created and used multiple shell companies, opened over 50 bank accounts and engaged in convoluted financial transactions between accounts to conceal his personal use of the funds. When concerned investors contacted Huling about the status of their investments, Huling lulled them with false excuses and promises, and at other times avoided their calls. To appease certain early investors, Huling used money raised from new investors to pay them off. While Huling was defrauding his investors, he was also evading his taxes. Between 2009 and April 2018, Huling reported no taxable income, paid no income taxes and for certain years filed fraudulent individual and corporate income tax returns. To hide his income, Huling used nominee bank accounts and paid for personal expenses using cash and corporate debit cards. He also falsified the books and records of his companies by recording sham loans, titled personal assets in the name of shell companies and made false statements to IRS special agents. In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy ordered Huling to serve three years of supervised release and to pay restitution to the United States and victims of the fraud in an amount to be determined later. IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI investigated the case. ###


title: Paducah Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Producing and Possessing Child Pornography

body_text: Bowling Green, KY – A Paducah, Kentucky, man was sentenced today to 20 years in federal prison for producing and possessing child pornography. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement. Clint Culverhouse, 34, of Paducah, Kentucky, formerly of Franklin, Kentucky, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for producing and possessing child pornography. According to court documents, Culverhouse recorded himself sexually abusing an infant and possessed many additional images and videos of child sexual abuse material. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the FBI Paducah Satellite Office with assistance from the Bourbon County Detention Center, and the Kentucky State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case. 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.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” ###


title: Decatur Man Sentenced to 300 Months in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Child

component: Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section

body_text: URBANA, Ill. – A Decatur, Illinois, man, Tevin Ford, 29, was sentenced on March 13, 2024 to 300 months in the Bureau of Prisons, to be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release, for sexual exploitation of a child. At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that Ford had sexually assaulted three minors at a hotel room in Decatur in September of 2021. Also at the hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Michael M. Mihm found that Ford’s intent to abuse the minors had been clear from the beginning of the offense. Ford pleaded guilty to the offense on September 14, 2023. The statutory penalties for sexual exploitation of a child are 15 to 30 years imprisonment; a fine up to $250,000; and not less than five years of supervised release. Decatur Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the United States Marshal Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elly Peirson and Rachel Ritzer represented the government in the prosecution. This case was investigated as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the U.S. 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 .


body_text: A Rhode Island man was sentenced to eight years in prison for running a decade-long Ponzi scheme to defraud investors and to evade his taxes. According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2008 and 2018, Thomas Huling, formerly of West Warwick, orchestrated a scheme to defraud investors by promoting several investment projects, including high-yielding bond trading platforms, a car emissions reduction technology and an online advertising and marketing company. He solicited funds for these investments by representing, among other things, that the investments would achieve quick and substantial returns with little or no risk. In truth, and contrary to his promises, Huling diverted investor money to fund a lavish lifestyle that included high-end vehicles, membership and golf fees at multiple country clubs, gambling, clothing, restaurants, vacations and travel, as well as improvements to his residence. He created and used multiple shell companies, opened over 50 bank accounts and engaged in convoluted financial transactions between accounts to conceal his personal use of the funds. When concerned investors contacted Huling about the status of their investments, Huling lulled them with false excuses and promises, and at other times avoided their calls. To appease certain early investors, Huling used money raised from new investors to pay them off. While Huling was defrauding his investors, he was also evading his taxes. Between 2009 and April 2018, Huling reported no taxable income, paid no income taxes and for certain years filed fraudulent individual and corporate income tax returns. To hide his income, Huling used nominee bank accounts and paid for personal expenses using cash and corporate debit cards. He also falsified the books and records of his companies by recording sham loans, titled personal assets in the name of shell companies and made false statements to IRS special agents. In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy for the District of Rhode Island ordered Huling to serve three years of supervised release and to pay restitution to the United States and victims of the fraud in an amount to be determined later. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha for the District of Rhode Island made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI investigated the case. Acting Section Chief John Kane of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Hebert for the District of Rhode Island prosecuted the case.


title: Depew Man Sentenced for Child Sex Crimes After Federal Jury Trial Conviction

body_text: Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Eric F. Melgren sentenced Johnny Lee Summers, 24, of Depew. Summers was convicted by a federal jury in March 2023 for Coercion and Enticement of a Minor; Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country; and Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor in Indian Country. Summers was sentenced to 340 months imprisonment, followed by 15 years of supervised release. Judge Melgren further ordered that Summers register as a sex offender upon his release. During the trial, three victims testified against Summers explaining how he took advantage of them. From February 2021 through January 2022, Summers sought out and coerced one of the victims, who was 14 years old. Summers wanted to engage in sexual activity and sent her thousands of sexually inappropriate messages. He requested that she send him nude photos and eventually sexually abused her. Summers is a citizen of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The FBI, Tulsa Police Department, and Creek County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Valeria Luster and Steven Briden prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Owners of China-Based Company Charged with Conspiracy to Send Trade Secrets Belonging to Leading U.S.-Based Electric Vehicle Company

body_text: Klaus Pflugbeil, 58, a Canadian national and resident of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), was arrested today in Nassau County, New York, for conspiring with co-defendant Yilong Shao, 47, of Ningbo, China, to send to undercover law enforcement officers trade secrets that belonged to a leading U.S.-based electric vehicle company (Victim Company-1). “The defendants stand accused of stealing valuable proprietary technology from a U.S. electric car manufacturer and using it to set up a rival business overseas,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “This blatant theft of advanced trade secrets relating to battery components and assembly blunts America’s technological edge, and the Justice Department will hold accountable those who would try to cheat our country of its economic potential and threaten our national security.” “As alleged, the defendants set up a company in China, blatantly stole trade secrets from an American company that are important to manufacturing electric vehicles, and which cost many millions of dollars in research and development, and sold products developed with the stolen trade secrets,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “Rather than invest their own resources into competitive technology, the defendants looted Victim Company-1’s trade secrets for their own financial gain. Today’s arrest demonstrates that this office will prosecute those who engage in theft of trade secrets that places U.S. businesses at a competitive disadvantage, undermines innovation and creates a potential national security risk.” “Klaus Pflugbeil and Yilong Shao allegedly used stolen confidential information – developed by their previous employers – to establish their own Chinese-based competitor,” said Assistant Director in Charge James Smith of the FBI New York Field Office. “When American economic intelligence is stolen by foreign businesses, it not only harms the victim companies, but also threatens our financial infrastructure. The FBI will bring to justice anyone who steals our proprietary trade secrets in an effort to both safeguard the American economy and our national security.” According to court documents, Pflugbeil and Shao are operators of a PRC-based business (Business-1) that sold technology used for the manufacture of batteries, including batteries used in electric vehicles. The defendants built Business-1 using Victim Company-1’s sensitive and proprietary information, and marketed their business as a replacement for Victim Company-1’s products. Pflugbeil was arrested this morning after he sent multiple Victim Company-1 trade secrets to an undercover agent and traveled to Nassau County for a meeting with who he believed to be Long Island-based businesspeople, but who in reality were undercover law enforcement agents. Pflugbeil is scheduled to make his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo. His co-defendant Shao remains at large. Victim Company-1 is a U.S.-based leading manufacturer of battery-powered electric vehicles and battery energy systems. In 2019, Victim Company-1 acquired a Canada-based manufacturer of automated, precision dispensing pumps and battery assembly lines (the Canadian Manufacturer). Prior to its purchase by Victim Company-1, the Canadian Manufacturer sold battery assembly lines to customers who manufactured alkaline and lithium-ion batteries for consumer use. The battery assembly lines contained or utilized a proprietary technology now owned by Victim Company-1: continuous motion battery assembly (the Battery Assembly Trade Secret). The proprietary technology provided a substantial competitive advantage to Victim Company-1 in the battery manufacturing process. Victim Company-1 spent at least $13 million developing the Battery Assembly Trade Secret. Both Pflugbeil and Shao are former employes of the Canadian Manufacturer. The complaint alleges that, by no later than 2019, Pflugbeil and Shao planned to make use of Victim Company-1 trade secrets for their own business activities. For example, between October and November 2019, Pflugbeil and Shao discussed “set[ting] up” a company in Canada and China that would rely on the sensitive and confidential information needed to make and sell their own battery technology. Pflugbeil told Shao that he had “a lot of original documents” related to the technology and sought out more “original drawings” from Victim Company-1 that they could copy for their planned business. Shao subsequently confirmed that “we have all of original assembly drawings by PDF.” In or about July 2020, Pflugbeil and Shao opened Business-1, which has since expanded to locations in China, Canada, Germany, and Brazil. Business‑1 makes the same precision dispensing pumps and battery assembly lines that Victim Company-1 manufactured using its proprietary technology. Business-1 is marketed by Pflugbeil as an alternative source for the sale of products that rely upon Victim Company-1 trade secrets, publishing online advertisements that state, for example, “Are you looking for [Victim Company-1] Metering pumps and spare parts? Look no further.” In operating Business-1, Pflugbeil and Shao relied upon the Battery Assembly Trade Secret. For example, in September 2020, Pflugbeil emailed a series of drawings to a gears manufacturer in order to produce several parts and wrote “please keep the attached information confidential.” The attachment contained drawings belonging to Victim Company-1 related to the Battery Assembly Trade Secret. The drawings that Pflugbeil sent were identical to Victim Company-1’s drawings, except the name of the company was changed, the date of the drawing was changed, and the drawing identifying number was written in reverse of Victim Company-1’s drawing identifying number. On or about Sept. 11, 2023, undercover agents attended a trade show for the packaging and processing industries in Las Vegas, Nevada. The undercover agents posed as businesspeople who were interested in purchasing a battery assembly line from Business-1 to manufacture batteries at a facility on Long Island, New York. The undercover agents were introduced to Shao at the trade show and later to Pflugbeil via email. Subsequently, on or about Nov. 17, 2023, Pflugbeil sent, via email, a detailed 66-page technical documentation proposal to an undercover agent (UC-1) while UC-1 was in the Eastern District of New York. The proposal notes, “this technical documentation package contains [Business-1] proprietary information which must be kept confidential.” In reality, the proposal contained Battery Assembly Trade Secret information belonging to Victim Company-1: at least half a dozen drawings Pflugbeil used in the proposal and sent to UC-1 were, in fact, Victim Company-1’s information related to the Battery Assembly Trade Secret. If convicted, Pfugbeil faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI is investigating the case. The Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ellen H. Sise and Samantha Alessi for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from Trial Attorney Scott A. Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. This action was coordinated through the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, an interagency law enforcement strike force co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce designed to target illicit actors, protect supply chains, and prevent critical technology from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation-states. Under the leadership of the Assistant Attorney General for National Security and the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement, the Strike Force leverages tools and authorities across the U.S. government to enhance the criminal and administrative enforcement of export control laws.


title: Driving Instructor Who Bribed RMV Road Test Examiner Pleads Guilty

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A driving instructor pleaded guilty today to conspiring to defraud the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) resulting in driver’s licenses being issued to applicants who did not pass the road test. Ngan Dinh, 48, of Boston, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris has scheduled a sentencing hearing for June 5, 2024. Dinh paid a road test examiner at the Brockton RMV service center to misrepresent to the RMV that certain driver’s license applicants had passed their road test when in fact they had not. Some of the applicants did not even show up to take the test. As a result of the fraud, the RMV mailed driver’s licenses to applicants who had not proved they were qualified. The charge of conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Christopher A. Scharf, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine J. Wichers and Adam W. Deitch of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.


title: Washington State Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Marketing and Selling Low-Quality Ballistic Protective Equipment Produced in China to Dozens of Law Enforcement Agencies and the U.S. Military

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A Washington State man was sentenced to federal prison today for knowingly and intentionally marketing and selling low-quality ballistic protective equipment produced in China to dozens of domestic law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Military. Jeffrey Meining, 42, of Vancouver, Washington, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. According to court documents, from at least 2016 and continuing until 2022, Meining operated a ballistic equipment business called “BulletProof-IT” that sold products to numerous state, local, and federal agencies that included law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and the U.S. Military. Throughout his time in business, Meining lied about where the products he sold were made and their compliance with product safety and performance standards, including those set by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). On his website and other business materials, Meining falsely claimed that the ballistic protective equipment he sold—including helmets, body armor, and shields—were made in the United States, when in fact, most were made in China. For example, in December 2017, Meining purchased 600 helmets from a Chinese company for just over $50,000. At around the same time, Meining sold 600 of the same model helmets for $90,000 to a reseller than in turn sold them to the U.S. Department of State for $107,994. In addition to lying about the origin of his products on business informational materials, Meining also lied about their origin on contracts with the U.S. Government. In 2016, BulletProof-IT became a supplier of goods to U.S Tactical Supply under a contract with the General Services Administration (GSA), which allowed federal, state, and local government agencies to place orders for tactical supplies from certified suppliers. Under the terms of the GSA contract, the government could only purchase goods made in the U.S. or designated countries. Between 2016 and January 2022, Meining supplied over $1 million in products under the GSA contract, nearly $400,000 of which were substitute products that did not meet required safety standards. Meining further lied about his safety testing of products, falsely claiming to sell products certified to NIJ standards despite never having paid for any full NIJ testing. Achieving NIJ standards requires, among other criteria, the testing of numerous samples of a particular product. Instead of adhering to these requirements, Meining simply paid for “modified” testing usually completed as part of a product’s research and development. Several of the products Meining offered for sale failed even this more limited testing protocol. Despite these results, Meining continued offering these products for sale and, in several instances, falsified the test results he received to mislead his customers. On June 28, 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Portland intercepted and detained a package from China addressed to Meining that contained helmets and ceramic body armor plates. To release the shipment, Meining submitted doctored test results on which he removed notations of the various products having failed their performance tests. Throughout his time in business, customers relied on Meining’s false statements and falsified product testing results in making their purchase decisions. For example, in 2019, Meining signed a $247,800 contract with the Mesa Police Department in Mesa, Arizona for the purchase of 840 ballistics helmets. In the contract, Meining falsely verified that the helmets met NIJ performance standards. In another instance, in 2021, Meining signed a $32,680 contract with the U.S. Air Force for helmets and equipment. In that contract, Meining again falsely stated that the helmets met NIJ standards and were made in the U.S. On November 11, 2022, Meining was charged by criminal information with wire fraud, and, on March 23, 2023, he pleaded guilty to the single charge. “We are thankful to the many investigative agencies that worked together to hold Jeffrey Meining accountable and deter others from engaging similar reckless criminal acts,” said Natalie Wight, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “In the shadow of deceit, Jeffrey Meining orchestrated a scheme of betrayal, defrauding not only law enforcement agencies but the very fabric of trust woven into our nation’s armor,” said Robert Hammer, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle Field Office. “Through his company, Meining peddled false promises, masqueraded Chinese-made products as American-made, and fabricated test results to conceal their inadequacy. His actions, a grave breach of integrity, endangered the lives of those sworn to protect and serve. Let today’s sentencing serve as a call to fortify our vigilance against nefarious actors who seek to compromise the safety of our nation’s defenders.” “Mr. Meining’s sentencing culminates his illicit scheme to defraud various local, state, and federal government entities, including the Department of Defense,” said Bryan D. Denny, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Western Field Office. “He falsely claimed that the protective equipment he sold to the government, such as helmets and body armor, met specified testing standards and were made in the United States. Mr. Meining’s actions put U.S. servicemembers at risk, degraded American warfighter readiness, and undermined the missions of our military services.” “This General Services Administration (GSA) contractor supplier made false claims about the country of origin and ballistic protection levels of their products that law enforcement and fire department personnel rely on for safety,” said Terry Pfiefer, Special Agent in Charge of the GSA Office of Inspector General Western Division. “This is unacceptable, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold vendors accountable for such fraudulent acts.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the General Services Administration Office of Inspector General with assistance from CBP, the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Army Criminal Investigation Division Major Procurement Fraud Unit, and the Offices of Inspectors General from the Department of Justice, Department of State, Department of Interior, and Department of Veterans Affairs. It was prosecuted by Quinn P. Harrington, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.


title: Operator of Key West Labor Staffing Companies Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Tax and Immigration Charges

body_text: MIAMI – On March 18, the operator of several Key West, Florida, labor staffing companies – including PSEB Specialty Service Inc., Perfect Service Excellent Benefits Services Inc., Starline Hospitality Inc., Norbert Janitorial Service Inc., E.S.F. Services Inc. and Expert Services F.S. Inc. – was sentenced to four years in prison for tax and immigration-related crimes. According to court documents and statements made in court, at various times between January 2011 and January 2021, Petr Sutka and others helped run a series of labor staffing companies that facilitated the employment in hotels, bars and restaurants in Key West and elsewhere of non-resident aliens who were not authorized to work in the United States. These labor staffing companies did not withhold federal income taxes and Social Security and Medicare taxes from these workers’ wages and did not report the wages to the IRS. In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Jose E. Martinez ordered Sutka to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $3,551,423.84 in restitution to the United States. Sutka’s co-conspirators Vasil Khatiashvili and Zdenek Strnad are scheduled to be sentenced on April 22. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami and Special Agent in Charge Matthew D. Line of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Office made the announcement. HSI Miami and IRS-CI, Miami Field Office investigated the case. Senior Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Clark, Senior Litigation Counsel Sean Beaty and Trial Attorneys Jessica A. Kraft, Nicholas J. Schilling, Jr., Matthew C. Hicks and Wilson Rae Stamm of the Justice Department’s Tax Division prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov . ###


title: Apple Valley Man Sentenced to 13.5 Years in Prison for Possession of Narcotics, Firearms

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – An Apple Valley man has been sentenced to 162 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for possession of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, on July 23, 2023, law enforcement attempted to arrest Timothy Allen Torell Wetzstein, 31, on outstanding warrants. Wetzstein fled from police officers but was arrested after a short foot chase. During the chase, Wetzstein threw away a Springfield Armory .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. Police searched Wetzstein’s backpack and vehicle and recovered quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, more than $11,000 in cash, and three additional firearms. As part of his guilty plea, Wetzstein also admitted to possessing methamphetamine, fentanyl, and firearms on multiple other occasions between October 2020 and July 2023. On November 9, 2023, Wetzstein pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl with the intent to distribute. He was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, Ramsey Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Dakota County Drug Task Force, and Minneapolis Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Campbell Warner prosecuted the case.


title: St. Paul Felon Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm Following Bar Shootout

body_text: ST. PAUL, Minn. – A St. Paul man has been sentenced to 108 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for the illegal possession of a firearm following a 2021 shootout near a St. Paul bar, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on the afternoon of September 18, 2021, Anthony Charles Deberry, 42, also known as “Peanut,” got into a verbal altercation with a man inside a bar in St. Paul and, as a result, was forced to leave and prohibited from re-entering the bar. Deberry remained in the vicinity of the bar. Later that evening, Deberry waited outside the bar, followed a group of men down the sidewalk after they left the bar, and brandished a 9mm handgun with an activated laser site. Shortly thereafter, gunfire broke out, including one shot fired by Deberry. Deberry suffered from multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to Regions Hospital. Surveillance video footage from the bar showed Deberry hide his firearm under a parked car after the shooting. Responding law enforcement officers recovered Deberry’s firearm as well as multiple discharged cartridge casings on the sidewalk. Because Deberry has prior felony convictions, he is prohibited from lawfully possessing firearms or ammunition at any time. On June 20, 2023, Deberry was convicted by a federal jury on one count of possession of a firearm as a felon. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Eric C. Tostrud. In sentencing Deberry, Judge Tostrud applied a 2-level enhancement for obstruction aimed at intimidating trial witnesses. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Paul Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey E. Middlecamp and Craig R. Baune prosecuted the case.


title: Owner of Garfield Counseling Center Admits Orchestrating Health Care Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – The owner of a New Jersey counseling center today admitted her role in a health care fraud scheme involving hundreds of false claims, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Maria P. Cosentino, 60, of Garfield, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden in Newark federal court to an information charging her with participating in a health care fraud scheme. “Patients need to be able to use their health insurance plans to obtain needed services. This defendant admitted today that she falsified claims in order to boost her payments, in some cases, making up visits for counseling and other treatments out of whole cloth. My office is determined to root out those who would try to rig the system for ill-gotten profits.” U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger “Fraudsters compromise the integrity of our health care system and necessary treatment programs,” FBI – Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. “Cosentino now admits she billed private health insurance companies for sessions with patients who no longer attended her practice, were out of the country, or didn't even exist. Everyone ends up bearing the cost of these scams which drain billions of dollars annually from the healthcare industry. We ask if you have any information about similar fraud, call the Newark FBI so we can take action.” According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court: Cosentino owned Bergen Alliance Counseling Services, which provided counseling services and mental health treatment to children, families, couples, and adults. She admitted that for years she submitted false claims to private health insurance plans for counseling sessions that she never provided. Cosentino falsely claimed that various individuals had received counseling at the center when in fact they had been out of the country, had ceased attending the practice, or had never visited the counseling center at all. The false claims caused insurance plans to issue reimbursement checks to the center even though the individuals had never received any treatment. Cosentino kept the illicit profits, which totaled more than $700,000. The charge of health care fraud is punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of either $250,000 or twice the gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for July 23, 2024. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney DeNae Thomas of the Health Care Fraud Unit in Newark. cosentino.information.pdf


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced to 37 Months for Being a Felon  in Possession of a Firearm

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that TORIN JENKINS , age 29, of New Orleans, was sentenced on March 12, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan to 37 months imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee after previously pleading guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). According to court filings, on December 3, 2021, NOPD officers arrested JENKINS based on outstanding arrest warrants. After failing to cooperate with officers during the arrest process, JENKINS was observed throwing an object of the window of his residence. After his arrest, officers discovered the object was a Glock Model 36, .45 caliber firearm. 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. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Owners of China-Based Company Charged With Conspiracy to Send Trade Secrets Belonging to Leading U.S.-Based Electric Vehicle Company

body_text: A complaint was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Klaus Pflugbeil, a resident of the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC” or “China”) and Canadian national, and Yilong Shao, a Chinese national, with conspiring to send trade secrets that belonged to a leading U.S.-based electric vehicle company (“Victim Company-1”). Pflugbeil and Shao are operators of a PRC-based business (“Business-1”) that sold technology used for the manufacture of batteries, including batteries used in electric vehicles. The defendants built Business-1 using Victim Company-1’s sensitive and proprietary information, and even marketed their business as a replacement for Victim Company-1’s products. Pflugbeil was arrested this morning after he sent multiple Victim Company-1 trade secrets to an undercover agent and traveled to Nassau County for a meeting with what he believed to be Long Island-based businesspeople, who in reality were undercover law enforcement agents. Pflugbeil is scheduled to make his initial appearance today before United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo. His co-defendant Shao remains at large. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arrest and charge. “As alleged, the defendants set up a company in China, blatantly stole trade secrets from an American company that are important to manufacturing electric vehicles, and which cost many millions of dollars in research and development, and sold products developed with the stolen trade secrets,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Rather than invest their own resources into competitive technology, the defendants looted Victim Company-1’s trade secrets for their own financial gain. Today’s arrest demonstrates that this Office will prosecute those who engage in theft of trade secrets that places U.S. businesses at a competitive disadvantage, undermines innovation and creates a potential national security risk.” Mr. Peace also thanked the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) for its assistance. “The defendants stand accused of stealing valuable proprietary technology from a U.S. electric car manufacturer and using it to set up a rival business overseas,” stated Assistant Attorney General Olsen. “This blatant theft of advanced trade secrets relating to battery components and assembly blunts America’s technological edge, and the Justice Department will hold accountable those who would so try cheat our country of its economic potential and threaten our national security.” “Klaus Pflugbeil and Yilong Shao allegedly used stolen confidential information—developed by their previous employers—to establish their own Chinese-based competitor. When American economic intelligence is stolen by foreign businesses, it not only harms the victim companies, but also threatens our financial infrastructure. The FBI will bring to justice anyone who steals our proprietary trade secrets in an effort to both safeguard the American economy and our national security,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Smith. Victim Company-1 is a U.S.-based leading manufacturer of battery-powered electric vehicles and battery energy systems. In 2019, Victim Company-1 acquired a Canada-based manufacturer of automated, precision dispensing pumps and battery assembly lines (the “Canadian Manufacturer”). Prior to its purchase by Victim Company-1, the Canadian Manufacturer sold battery assembly lines to customers who manufactured alkaline and lithium-ion batteries for consumer use. The battery assembly lines contained or utilized a proprietary technology now owned by Victim Company-1: continuous motion battery assembly (the “Battery Assembly Trade Secret”). [1] The proprietary technology provided a substantial competitive advantage to Victim Company-1 in the battery manufacturing process. Victim Company-1 spent at least $13 million developing the Battery Assembly Trade Secret. Both Pflugbeil and Shao are former employees of the Canadian Manufacturer. The evidence reveals that, by no later than 2019, Pflugbeil and Shao planned to make use of Victim Company-1 trade secrets for their own business activities. For example, between October and November 2019, Pflugbeil and Shao discussed “set[ting] up” a company in Canada and China that would rely on the sensitive and confidential information needed to make and sell their own battery technology. Pflugbeil told Shao that he had “a lot of original documents” related to the technology, and sought out more “original drawings” from Victim Company-1 that they could copy for their planned business. Shao subsequently confirmed that “we have all of original assembly drawings by PDF.” In or about July 2020, Pflugbeil and Shao opened Business-1, which has since expanded to locations in China, Canada, Germany, and Brazil. Business‑1 makes the same precision dispensing pumps and battery assembly lines that Victim Company-1 manufactured using its proprietary technology. Business-1 is marketed by Pflugbeil as an alternative source for the sale of products that rely upon Victim Company-1 trade secrets, publishing online advertisements that state, for example, “Are you looking for [Victim Company-1] Metering pumps and spare parts? Look no further.” In operating Business-1, Pflugbeil and Shao relied upon the Battery Assembly Trade Secret. For example, in September 2020, Pflugbeil emailed a series of drawings to a gear manufacturer in order to produce several parts, and wrote, “please keep the attached information confidential.” The attachment contained drawings belonging to Victim Company-1 related to the Battery Assembly Trade Secret. The drawings that Pflugbeil sent were identical to Victim Company-1’s drawings, except the name of the company was changed, the date of the drawing was changed, and the drawing identifying number was written in reverse of Victim Company-1’s drawing identifying number. On or about September 11, 2023, undercover agents attended a trade show for the packaging and processing industries (the “Trade Show”) in Las Vegas, Nevada. The undercover agents posed as businesspeople who were interested in purchasing a battery assembly line from Business-1 to manufacture batteries at a facility on Long Island. The undercover agents were introduced to Shao at the trade show and later to Pflugbeil via email. Subsequently, on or about November 17, 2023, Pflugbeil sent, via email, a detailed 66-page technical documentation proposal (the “Proposal”) to an undercover agent (“UC-1”) while UC-1 was in the Eastern District of New York. The Proposal notes, “this technical documentation package contains [Business-1] proprietary information which must be kept confidential.” In reality, the Proposal contained Battery Assembly Trade Secret information belonging to Victim Company-1: at least half a dozen drawings Pflugbeil used in the Proposal and sent to UC-1 were, in fact, Victim Company-1’s information related to the Battery Assembly Trade Secret. The charge in the complaint is an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Pflugbeil faces up to 10 years in prison. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section and Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Ellen H. Sise and Samantha Alessi are in charge of the prosecution, along with Trial Attorney Scott A. Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, with assistance from Litigation Analyst Joseph Levin. Today’s actions were coordinated through the Justice and Commerce Departments’ Disruptive Technology Strike Force. The Disruptive Technology Strike Force is an interagency law enforcement strike force co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce designed to target illicit actors, protect supply chains, and prevent critical technology from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation states. The Defendants : KLAUS PFLUGBEIL AGE: 58 Ningbo, China YILONG SHAO AGE: 47 Ningbo, China E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-MJ-226 [1] Although some of the conduct described in the Complaint occurred before the Canadian Manufacturer was acquired by Victim Company-1, the Battery Assembly Trade Secret belongs to, and is the proprietary information of, Victim Company-1. Accordingly, unless otherwise indicated, the government refers to Victim Company-1 even where relevant conduct occurred when the Canadian Manufacturer was an independent entity.


title: Sharon Drug Trafficker with Prior Convictions for Armed Robbery Sentenced to More Than 15 and a Half Years for Dangerous Cocaine Trafficking Violations

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Sharon, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 188 months in federal prison for his conviction on cocaine trafficking crimes, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Zachariah Owens, 37. Judge Bissoon also ordered Owens to serve six years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Owens previously pleaded guilty in this case to (1) conspiring to distribute cocaine and crack in October 2021 and (2) possessing cocaine and crack with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school and a playground. Prior to imposing sentence, the Court was informed that Owens, in October 2021, operated a cocaine trafficking scheme from his apartment in Sharon, where several children resided. In doing so, he placed both his cocaine and his loaded pistol in locations where the children easily could have accessed them, in addition to exposing the children to other well-known dangers of drug trafficking. Owens had spent nearly all of the preceding 15 years in state prison or on state parole for two violent armed robbery convictions in 2015 and 2006. Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. United States Attorney Olshan commended the Mercer County Drug Task Force, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the prosecution of Owens.


title: Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Scheme to Steal Money from U.S. Bank Accounts

component: Civil Division

body_text: A Maryland man pleaded guilty today in Baltimore federal court to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. According to court documents, Theodore Sapperstein, 66, of Pikesville, and his coconspirators unlawfully debited money from the bank accounts of unknowing U.S. victims without their authorization. Sapperstein and his coconspirators created shell companies and then falsely represented that debits against consumer-victims’ bank accounts were authorized as payment for services allegedly provided by those shell companies. The unauthorized debits against consumer-victim accounts resulted in returned transactions and high return rates that could generate scrutiny from banks. To both conceal and continue making unauthorized debits, Sapperstein and his coconspirators caused “micro debit” transactions (i.e., a large number of low-value sham transactions) to be made against other bank accounts that they controlled and/or funded, and which they knew would not result in returns. The “micro debits” were therefore used to artificially lower return rates to levels that Sapperstein and his coconspirators believed would reduce bank scrutiny and potential termination of banking services. Sapperstein helped broker payment processing for the fraud scheme, securing a payment processor who processed the unauthorized debits and the fraudulent micro debits. As part of his guilty plea, Sapperstein admitted that more than $1.5 million in loss was reasonably foreseeable to him. “Those who knowingly participate in schemes to use personal and financial information about American consumers to steal money from their accounts will be held accountable,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We are committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals who facilitate such schemes.” “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) will not tolerate schemes aimed at draining the accounts of innocent people trying to create financial stability for themselves and their families,” said Inspector in Charge Carroll N. Harris of USPIS' LA Division. “Postal Inspectors along with their law enforcement partners will tirelessly investigate these crimes, ensuring these criminals face the maximum penalties for their illegal activities.” “We formed the Maryland Financial Intelligence Task Force to identify financial fraudsters, whose actions impact victim-account holders here in Maryland and beyond,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland. “Our goal is to aggressively protect the financial information of public consumers.” A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 15. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Cases against related scheme participants have previously been filed in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Las Vegas. In May 2023, a grand jury in Los Angeles returned an indictment in United States v. Courdy, et al. charging 14 defendants with RICO conspiracy and other charges in the Central District of California. The indictment alleges that the defendants and associates debited consumer-victims’ bank accounts without authorization and used shell entities and “micro debits” to conceal the activity from banks. The “Information for Victims in Large Cases” section on the Consumer Protection Branch’s website contains additional information on United States v. Courdy, et al . In December 2023, scheme participant Luis Ramirez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit access device fraud in federal court in San Diego, and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 22. A related scheme participant, Harold Sobel, pleaded guilty to bank fraud conspiracy in federal court in Las Vegas. In December 2022, Sobel was sentenced to 42 months in prison. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Wei Xiang, Meredith Healy and Amy Kaplan of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Darryl Tarver for the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . Consumer complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov .


title: Georgia Man Sentenced to Nearly Six Years in Prison for Cocaine Distribution Conviction

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Atlanta, Georgia, has been sentenced in federal court to 71 months of incarceration, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for his conviction on charges of conspiring to distribute and distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Gerard Riley, 52. According to information presented to the Court, Riley conspired with others to distribute kilograms of cocaine to co-defendants in the Western District of Pennsylvania and to transmit the proceeds from the sale of that cocaine to another co-defendant. This included 10 kilograms of cocaine that Riley delivered to a co-defendant on September 27, 2021, which later that same day were seized by the DEA after execution of a search warrant. Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Bissoon stated that the defendant participated in a very serious crime and that his sentence was meant to reflect the serious nature of the case. Assistant United States Attorney Katherine C. Jordan prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Olshan commended the Drug Enforcement Administration for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Riley. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Member of “Noir’s Luxury Refunds” Telegram Channel Pleads Guilty to Fraud

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A member of “Noir’s Luxury Refunds” pled guilty today to participating in a fraud conspiracy, organized through the cloud-based messaging service Telegram, that targeted retailers across the country, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples. Brian Nicklaus Buchanan, 28, of Clayton, North Carolina, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Corey L. Maze to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. According to court documents, Buchanan was a member of Noir’s Organization, a group that operated the Telegram channel “Noir’s Luxury Refunds,” as well as other fraud-based Telegram channels. Noir’s Luxury Refunds was dedicated to refund fraud, a type of fraud where a purchaser claims to return an item, receives a refund, but keeps the product. Customers would pay Noir’s Organization a percentage of the product price in exchange for the organization fraudulently refunding the item on the customer’s behalf. Noir’s Organization marketed itself as having the expertise to defraud retailers across the world in a wide range of industries. At one point, the Noir’s Luxury Refunds channel had over 5,900 followers. Noir’s Organization operated from July 2020 until July 2022. Documents reflect that the group obtained refunds or attempted to obtain refunds for millions of dollars’ worth of products, including electronics, designer clothing and apparel, home furnishings, and appliances. Noir’s Organization used a variety of tactics to commit refund fraud, including social engineering to manipulate customer services representatives into issuing refunds, manipulating shipping labels to deceive a retailer into believing they had received a returned product when it had not, and recruiting customer service representatives as “insiders” to perform refunds on the conspiracy’s behalf. Noir’s Organization also developed malware that would target retailers’ websites to facilitate refund fraud by circumventing fraud prevention measures. Ten other individuals who are alleged to have been members of Noir’s Organization have been indicted in related cases pending in the Northern District of Alabama: Aiman Akram Kaif, also known as “Dior,” 19, from New York, New York; Damion Wayne Scarlett, also known as “Dash,” 23, from Deer Park, New York; Dhruv Gargi, also known as “Panda,” 24, from Newark, New Jersey; David James Park, also known as “Plutus,” 22, from Phoenix, Arizona; Andre Johannes Ischler Simonet, also known as “Chief,” 22, from Northfield, Minnesota; Nicholas John Caruso, also known as “Deaf,” 31, from Dallas, Texas; Jennifer Mireya Palma, also known as “Bianca,” 23, from Los Angeles, California; CK Chikong Tran, also known as “Radiant,” 28, from New York, New York; Tyree Samuel Tinsley, also known as “Tysamtin,” 30, from Richmond, Virginia; and Jason Seib, also known as “Waynor,” 42, from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The FBI investigated the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John M. Hundscheid and Edward J. Canter are prosecuting the cases. Assistance was provided by Target Corporation; Amazon.com, Inc.; Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.; Wayfair Inc.; Dell Technologies; Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.; American Airlines Group Inc.; Hewlett Packard Incorporated; Adidas AG; eBay Inc.; and Google’s CyberCrime Investigation Group. The Sûreté Nationale of Morrocco also provided valuable assistance to the investigation. This case was brought as part of Operation Chargeback, an FBI investigation into organized refund fraud groups across the United States and internationally. Cases have also been brought in the Western District of Washington and the Northern District of Oklahoma as part of the initiative. For more resources on cybercrime, visit www.ic3.gov . An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.