component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: WASHINGTON – Bhagavan “Doc” Antle, 63, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., pleaded guilty today to a conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and a conspiracy to launder money. Antle is the owner and operator of The Institute for Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S.), also known as the Myrtle Beach Safari. The Myrtle Beach Safari is a 50-acre wildlife tropical preserve that offers tours and private encounters with exotic wildlife. Antle is also the Director of the Rare Species Fund, a nonprofit organization registered in South Carolina. The Lacey Act prohibits trafficking of illegally taken wildlife, fish or plants, including animals protected under the Endangered Species Act. Antle conspired to violate the Lacey Act between Sept. 2018 and May 2020 by directing the sale or purchase of two cheetah cubs, two lion cubs, two tigers and one juvenile chimpanzee – all of which are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Antle used bulk cash payments to hide the transactions and falsified paperwork to show non-commercial transfers entirely within one state. Antle also requested that payments for endangered species be made to his nonprofit so they could appear as “donations.” The investigation also uncovered evidence of money laundering between Feb. and April 2022, when Antle and a coconspirator conducted financial transactions with cash they believed was obtained from transporting and harboring illegal aliens. To conceal and disguise the nature of the illegal cash, Antle and his coconspirator would take the cash they received and deposit it into bank accounts they controlled. They would then write a check to the individual that had provided the cash after taking a 15% fee per transaction. “The defendant held himself out as a conservationist, yet repeatedly violated laws protecting endangered animals and then tried to cover up those violations,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “This prosecution demonstrates our commitment to combatting illegal trafficking, which threatens the survival of endangered animals.” “The defendant’s guilty plea is a testament to the dedication and perseverance of the FBI and our law enforcement partners in combating illegal financial activities,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Jensen of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “The FBI remains committed to upholding the integrity of our financial systems and ensuring justice is served.” “Wildlife crime is often connected with other criminal activity, including money-laundering," said Assistant Director Edward Grace of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. “This investigation revealed a pattern of illicit wildlife transactions orchestrated by the defendant under the guise of donations and false paperwork. The Service and our partners will continue to hold accountable those involved in wildlife trafficking and other related crimes to ensure the future of all federally protected species. The Service will continue to bring to justice individuals who profit from the illegal trafficking of big cats and endangered species.” “This plea is the product of exemplary collaboration between our law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “I commend our team for their work on this case who worked countless hours to unravel Antle’s sophisticated web of financial crimes and interstate wildlife trafficking. Our office remains committed to protecting endangered animals from those who would exploit them for profit.” For each count, Antle faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Joseph Dawson III for the District of South Carolina accepted Antle’s guilty plea. He will sentence Antle after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. The FBI and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are investigating the case. Senior Trial Attorney Patrick M. Duggan of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower for the District of South Carolina are prosecuting the case. ###


title: New Orleans Woman Sentenced for Transmitting Threatening Communications

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ZANDRA ELLIS, age 34, of New Orleans, was sentenced on October 31, 2023, to eighteen (18) months imprisonment by the U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. ELLIS previously pleaded guilty to transmitting threatening communications in interstate commerce in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(c). According to court documents, in June 2022, ELLIS submitted a request to a website to have a romantic rival killed. The website was, in fact, a parody website complete with its own web-based intake form for would-be solicitors to fill out, in their own words, the who, what, when, where, and why for requested services. The site boasts its own fictitious privacy statement known as HIPPA (Hitman Information Privacy & Protection Act of 1964) and is linked directly to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov). On July 5, 2022, ELLIS, communicated with an FBI undercover agent who was posing as a hitman. In those text message exchanges, ELLIS confirmed the ongoing feud with a romantic rival, reiterated her request to have that person killed, and agreed to pay the “hitman” $1,000. When ELLIS met the undercover agent on July 6, 2022, she provided a $100 down payment after which she was arrested. At the time of her arrest, ELLIS possessed a loaded Ruger .380 pistol. In addition to the term of imprisonment, ELLIS will serve three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment and pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Kennedy of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Jackson Woman Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison as Armed Career Criminal

body_text: JACKSON, MS – A Jackson woman was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison as an Armed Career Criminal for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents, on December 8, 2021, federal and state law enforcement executed a search warrant at Betty Butler’s home and found her in possession of a firearm. Butler, 56, had prior felony convictions, and felons are prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms. Four of Butler’s prior convictions were considered serious drug felonies, which triggered application of the Armed Career Criminal Act. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi, Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) made the announcement. This case was investigated by the ATF and the DEA, with assistance from the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Hinds County Sheriff’s Department. Criminal Chief Erin Chalk and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen prosecuted the case, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation targeting illegal methamphetamine and cocaine distribution in central, Mississippi. 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: St. Charles Parish Man Indicted  for Violating Federal  Controlled Substances Act

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – AMARYD DOWNING , age 37, a resident of Hahnville, Louisiana, was charged on November 2, 2023, in a three-count indictment, with distribution of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to court documents, on May 8, 2023, May 11, 2023, and May 22, 2023, DOWNING distributed a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. If convicted, DOWNING faces, as to each count, a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, at least three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit.


title: U.S. Attorney Office to Present Senior Fraud Prevention Seminar in Carmi

component: USAO - Illinois, Southern

body_text: CARMI, Ill. – To educate seniors on the latest scams targeting them online and over the phone, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with the Carmi Public Library to host a fraud prevention seminar. “Elder fraud is a major concern nationwide, as criminals target seniors who may be more susceptible to manipulation,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “To educate seniors on current fraud schemes, a prosecutor with experience charging these scammers will be at the Carmi Public Library to give an interactive and informational presentation on ways to avoid becoming a victim.” The presentation highlights information on online scams, fraud schemes targeting seniors and details on cases prosecuted in the Southern District of Illinois. The event will start at 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17 at the Carmi Public Library, located at 103 Slocumb St. in Carmi. The event is free and open to the public.


title: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Two Men in Connection With Robberies of Suburban Chicago Financial Institutions

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment against two men for allegedly robbing several banks and a credit union in the Chicago suburbs. CHARLES LAWLER and TARANDLE LEE committed the robberies in 2021 and 2022, according to a superseding indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The charges allege that the pair together robbed four financial institutions and that Lawler robbed another bank by himself. The indictment seeks forfeiture of $29,944 from the defendants. The indictment identifies the robberies as follows: Sept. 22, 2021: Lawler robbed BMO Harris Bank in Naperville, Ill. Sept. 28, 2021: Lawler and Lee robbed Old Second Bank in Lisle, Ill. Oct. 6, 2021: Lawler and Lee robbed Bank Financial in Westmont, Ill. Jan. 3, 2022: Lawler and Lee robbed BMO Harris Bank in Woodridge, Ill. April 14, 2022: Lawler and Lee robbed DuPage Credit Union in Downers Grove, Ill. Lawler, 53, of Villa Park, Ill., and Lee, 44, of Bolingbrook, Ill., are currently detained in law enforcement custody. Arraignments are set for Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman. The superseding indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Substantial assistance was provided by the Naperville, Ill. Police Department, Lisle, Ill. Police Department, Westmont, Ill. Police Department, Woodridge, Ill. Police Department, Downers Grove, Ill. Police Department, Skokie, Ill. Police Department, and Evanston, Ill. Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandro G. Ortega. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Lawler and Lee superseding indictment


title: Honduran Citizen Charged  with Illegal Firearm Possession

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – JUAN JOSUE CUEVAR-ALVARADO, 18, a native of Honduras, was indicted on November 2, 2023 for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(5)(A), announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to the indictment, on or about September 15, 2023, CUEVAR , an alien present illegally in the United States, was found in possession of a .22 caliber revolver and a nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol. If convicted, CUEVAR faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. 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 reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Kenner Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Providence Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison

body_text: PROVIDENCE, RI – A Providence man who took delivery of a locked case inside of which he expected to find thirteen kilos of cocaine, and who later participated in a scheme to smuggle contraband into the Wyatt Detention Center has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Emmanuel Nolasco, 37, previously admitted to a federal judge that, in June 2020, he travelled to Los Angeles where he obtained thirteen kilograms of cocaine that he stored inside a locked carrying case. Nolasco then hired an individual to drive the drugs to Rhode Island and deliver them to him at his Providence residence. According to information presented to the court, while en route to Rhode Island, the vehicle in which the cocaine was being transported was stopped by local police in Texas for a traffic violation. The police notified DEA agents in Texas of their discovery, and DEA agents in Texas and in Providence arranged for the driver continue driving to Providence to deliver the storage case which now contained thirteen replica “kilos” of cocaine. Upon delivery of the case to Nolasco on June 22, 2020, DEA agents arrested Nolasco and executed a court-authorized search of his residence, seizing four kilograms of heroin, three kilograms of various cutting agents, two loaded firearms, $108,760 in cash, a kilo press; a Porsche automobile, and various items used in the packaging and sale of drugs. In a separate matter, Nolasco admitted to the court that while being detained at the Wyatt Detention Center he participated in a scheme to smuggle contraband into the detention center. On February 15, 2021, members of the Wyatt Detention Center Professional Standards Unit searched Nolasco’s cell and seized controlled substances. On June 22, 2023, Nolasco pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute heroin; two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; two counts of possession with intent to distribute suboxone; and possession of contraband by an inmate. He was sentenced on Friday by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith to 108 months of incarceration to be followed by four years of federal supervised release. At the government’s request, the court ordered Nolasco to forfeit to the government the $108,760 in cash, the two loaded firearms and a Porsche Panamera seized at the time of his arrest. The cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr. ###


title: Readout of Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen’s Trip to Kyiv and Berlin

component: National Security Division (NSD)

body_text: Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division traveled to Kyiv, Ukraine, from Oct. 30 through Nov. 1 to reaffirm the Department’s close partnership with foreign counterparts to stop the flow of sensitive technologies to foreign adversaries. AAG Olsen was joined by the Disruptive Technology Strike Force co-lead Assistant Secretary (AS) Matthew Axelrod of the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security. AAG Olsen thereafter traveled to Berlin, Germany, where he met with German counterparts and gave remarks at the U.S. Embassy during a roundtable discussion hosted by the American Academy. The trip follows the creation of the Disruptive Technology Strike Force earlier this year. Co-led by AAG Olsen and AS Axelrod, the Strike Force is an interagency law enforcement effort targeting illicit actors, protecting supply chains and preventing critical technologies from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation-states. Senior officials from the FBI and Justice Department participated in the trip, including Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Counselor to the Attorney General for International Affairs Bruce Swartz and the Resident Legal Advisor in Kyiv, Jared Kimball. While in Kyiv, the Strike Force delegation met with foreign counterparts and their staff, including Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin; Deputies Andrii Haichenko and Iryna Mudra of the Ukraine Ministry of Justice; Deputy Head of Security Service Olsekandr Poklad; and Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, Oleksandr Lytvynenko. The delegation also visited the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise of the Ministry of Justice (KFI), a leading institution in the field of forensic examinations, housed within the Ministry of Justice and overseen by Director Oleksandr Ruvin and Deputy Director Dr. Nataliia Nestor. The visit to KFI gave the delegation the opportunity to view weapons recovered from the front lines, including ballistic missiles, air-guided missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Throughout the visit, AAG Olsen emphasized the U.S. government’s continued commitment to undermining the Russian government’s ability to obtain critical technology used in UAVs and other weapons systems to support its unprovoked and unjustified aggression in Ukraine. Olsen additionally described the Justice Department’s ongoing efforts to bring criminal prosecutions and other enforcement actions aimed at stopping the illicit transfer of export-controlled, military-grade technology. The two governments further discussed opportunities for the Ukrainian government to support this work, including through information sharing and the exchange of best practices of forensic analysis. From Berlin, AAG Olsen gave remarks at and participated in a roundtable discussion at the U.S. Embassy hosted by the American Academy. He also met with officials from the German Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community, including State Secretary Hans-Georg Engelke, and officials from the Germany Federal Ministry of Justice.


title: Richmond County man indicted on federal charges for bomb scare at Social Security office

body_text: AUGUSTA, GA: A Richmond County man has been indicted on federal charges for a bomb threat targeting the Social Security Administration’s Augusta office. Keyon Tishaye Dickens , 38, of Augusta, currently is being held in the Jefferson County Detention Center after being indicted for Using a Telephone to Make a Threat to Injure a Person or Damage a Building by Explosives, and two counts of False Information and Bomb Hoax, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The phone charge carries a statutory penalty upon conviction of up to 10 years in prison, and each of the hoax charges carry a statutory penalty of up to five years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and a period of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “We take seriously any threats of violence against government employees or other workers,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Actions intended to frighten and intimidate innocent people will not be tolerated.” The indictment alleges that Dickens called the Social Security Administration office in Augusta on Oct. 10, threatening to use an explosive device to harm the building and workers. Later, at the Social Security office, Dickens displayed a note with the handwritten message, “I have a bomb,” to a security officer who alerted the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office. The building was locked down and evacuated, and no bomb was found. Richmond County deputies took Dickens into custody. He awaits further court proceedings and is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case is being investigated by the FBI, the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney George J.C. Jacobs III.


title: Walterboro Couple Sentenced to Federal Prison for Loan Fraud Scheme

body_text: CHARLESTON, S.C. — A Walterboro couple, David Hiers, 45, and his wife Loretta Hiers 33, has been sentenced to three years and two years in federal prison, respectively, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud. Evidence presented to the Court showed that in May 2019, an individual named A.D. needed money to hire a lawyer for a jailed relative. The jailed relative advised A.D. to ask David Hiers for financial help. David Hiers told A.D. he would help and asked A.D. to provide his or her personal identifying information, including a picture of A.D.’s driver’s license and Social Security Account number. David Hiers also told A.D. that his or her credit would go bad. David Hiers advised A.D. that he would be able to repair A.D.’s credit in about six months because he had contacts to fix credit. David Hiers also said that he had done this many times with many people and for A.D. not to worry about it. Loretta Hiers informed A.D. that everything was going to be fine, and that A.D. was not going to be in trouble. The Hiers proceeded to use A.D.’s personal identifying information (PII) to execute a fraudulent loan scheme whereby they obtained money from various federally insured banks and credit unions and other lending corporations by submitting fraudulent automobile, motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle, and farming equipment loan applications in the name of A.D., and they obtained approximately $393,029.06 in fraudulent loan proceeds. To execute the fraud scheme, the Hiers utilized a used automobile dealership, namely Lowcountry Used Cars, LLC, located in Round O, S.C., that purported to be the seller of vehicles that were to be purchased with the fraudulent loans. The Hiers also set up bank accounts in the name of the dealership. The multiple false loan applications included fraudulent information about the details of the transactions, A.D.’s financial information, the purpose of the loans, and the collateral backing certain loans. The loans included A.D.’s PII even though A.D. was not actually purchasing vehicles or equipment, as well as false information concerning “ghost” vehicles that were purportedly going to be purchased with the loan proceeds, and fraudulent documents supporting the “ghost” automobile loans, including fictitious purchase orders. The Hiers used vehicle identification numbers (VIN) they obtained from the internet for the “ghost” automobile loans. The Hiers deposited checks from the lenders, which were written to Lowcountry Used Cars, LLC and/or to A.D., into banks in the name of the dealership and into bank accounts that were otherwise under the control of the Hiers or A.D. The Hiers gave some of the fraudulently obtained loan proceeds to A.D., while keeping a portion of the fraudulent loan proceeds for themselves. Around July 2019, A.D. confronted David Hiers and told him to stop doing what he was doing concerning A.D.’s credit. David Hiers then ended all contact with A.D.. Nevertheless, the Hiers continued to obtain fraudulent loans for motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, and farming equipment from lenders in the name of A.D., without A.D.’s knowledge. On many occasions, Loretta Hiers posed as A.D. and used A.D.’s PII, including a forged driver’s license of A.D. Ultimately, the fraudulently obtained loans defaulted, causing losses to the lenders. The Hiers obtained approximately $393,029.06 in fraudulent loan proceeds via the scheme. The FBI seized and liquidated assets that were applied to the restitution in the case. A restitution amount of $252,369.31 remains outstanding. United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks sentenced David Hiers to 36 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. Judge Hendricks sentenced Loretta Hiers to 24 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. Judge Hendricks also ordered that David Hiers and Loretta Hiers each pay $252,369.31 in restitution, jointly and severally. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Colleton County Sheriff’s Office assisted in executing search warrants and arrest warrants in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean H. Secor is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Six Sentenced in Federal Court for their Role in Columbia Heroin, Fentanyl, and Marijuana Trafficking Ring

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Three men and three women from the Midlands were sentenced after pleading guilty in federal court to their roles in a heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana trafficking conspiracy based in Columbia. Marcus Antonio Ashford, 44, of Columbia, was sentenced to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana. Debra Ann Thomas, 69, of Hopkins, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin and fentanyl. Tremeka R. Myers, 50, of Columbia was sentenced to five years of probation after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin. Rashad Naheem Myers, 45, of Columbia, was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin. Jemica Octavia Maxwell, 42, of Columbia, was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin and marijuana. Shaquan Maxwell, 26, of Columbia, was sentenced to more than two years in prison after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin. Evidence presented to the Court showed that Marcus Antonio Ashford was the leader of a heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana distribution ring operating in and around Columbia, S.C. Debra Ann Thomas, Jemica Octavia Maxwell. and Shaquan Maxwell were drug distributors working on behalf of Ashford. Tremeka R. Myers and Rashad Naheem Myers were facilitators in the conspiracy. The Myers’ home was used as a location for co-conspirators to prepare heroin for sale. Between Sept. 2019, and July 2020, law enforcement conducted a series of controlled buys of heroin and heroin/fentanyl mixture from Ashford and his co-defendants. Some of the drugs were sold directly by Ashford; others were sold by Ashford’s co-defendants working on his behalf. Based upon the controlled buys and related investigation, in approximately two years, Ashford and his organization were responsible for trafficking nearly one kilogram of heroin, 31 grams of fentanyl, and multiple kilograms of marijuana. Law enforcement conducted six controlled buys of heroin and heroin/fentanyl mixture from Debra Ann Thomas between Sept. 2019 and March 2020. Ashford was present at several of those sales and was ultimately identified as Thomas’s source of supply. On June 15, 2020, law enforcement contacted Ashford to set up a purchase of one ounce of heroin. At the time, Ashford was not in Columbia. Ashford contacted Tremeka and Rashad Myers and asked them to allow Shaquan Maxwell to come to their house to prepare the heroin for sale. Later that day, Shaquan Maxwell delivered approximately one ounce of heroin to the purported buyer. When Shaquan Maxwell met with the buyer to conduct the sale, Maxwell had Ashford on a video call and Ashford explained that Maxwell was delivering the heroin on his behalf. Approximately one month later, on July 10, 2020, law enforcement arranged for another buy of one ounce of heroin from Ashford. Ashford was again out of town and turned to Jemica Octavia Maxwell to prepare the heroin for sale at the home of Tremeka and Rashad Myers. In Sept. 2020, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a car belonging to Ashford and driven by Jemica Maxwell. In a subsequent search of the vehicle, law enforcement found 2.7 kilograms of marijuana. On Oct. 27, 2020, law enforcement executed search warrants at several homes around Columbia. At the home of Tremeka and Rashad Myers, which had been used by the conspiracy members to prepare heroin for sale, law enforcement found a quantity of marijuana, equipment for preparing heroin for sale, a Taurus 9mm handgun and ammunition. In the home of Jemica and Shaquan Maxwell, which had been frequented by conspiracy members throughout the investigation, law enforcement found nearly five kilograms of marijuana. In the kitchen cabinet, law enforcement found a loaded handgun next to a distribution-sized bag of marijuana. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced all six individuals. Marcus Antonio Ashford was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison. Debra Ann Thomas was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison. Tremeka R. Myers was sentenced to 60 months on federal probation. Rashad Naheem Myers was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment. Jemica Octavia Maxwell was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison. Shaquan Maxwell was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system. Ashford’s term of imprisonment will be followed by an eight-year term of court-ordered supervision. Thomas’s term of imprisonment will be followed by a four-year term of court-ordered supervision. Rashad Myers’s, Jemica Maxwell’s, and Shaquan Maxwell’s terms of imprisonment will be followed by three-year terms of court-ordered supervision. 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. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . This case was investigated by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn prosecuted the case. ###


title: GE Aerospace Agrees to Pay $9.4 Million to Resolve Allegations of False Claims Act Violations

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – GE Aerospace, an operating division of the General Electric Company, has agreed to pay $9,413,024 to resolve allegations that its Lynn, Mass. manufacturing plant (GEA Lynn) sold parts to the United States Army and the United States Navy that were either not properly inspected or were nonconforming, in violation of the False Claims Act. Headquartered in Evendale, Ohio, GE Aerospace manufactures aircraft engines that it sells to U.S. military customers. Engines that GEA Lynn sells to U.S. military customers must meet the requirements established by engineering drawings. To meet those requirements, GEA Lynn further requires employees to follow manufacturing planning instructions including parts inspections, among other requirements. GE Aerospace admits that, at times from July 24, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2019, GEA Lynn did not conduct required parts inspections and sold engines containing parts that did not meet certain required specifications to U.S. miliary customers. Specifically: Between July 24, 2014 and Aug. 11, 2017, GEA Lynn did not consistently use functional gauges to inspect features on certain parts; Between July 24, 2014 and Sept. 2018, GEA Lynn omitted at least two inspections of curvic features on certain part numbers; and Between July 24, 2014 and Dec. 31, 2019, GEA Lynn sold engines to the U.S Army and the U.S. Navy that contained unallowable metal fragments. “GE Aerospace failed to follow important inspections requirements on engines it sold to the military,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “These rules exist for a reason – making sure the men and women we depend upon to protect our national security have the highest quality equipment. Our office is committed to combatting and stopping defense contracting fraud, and we will aggressively pursue these cases.” “The Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Inspector General, is fully committed to protecting the DoD procurement process,” said Patrick J. Hegarty, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office. “Failing to inspect parts as required by contract specifications compromises military systems and potentially endangers the lives of U.S. service members. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice to investigate DoD contractors that submit false claims to DoD agencies and threaten the DoD supply chain.” “The provision of non-conforming parts for Department of Defense aircraft engines could pose a substantial threat to warfighter safety and readiness,” said Greg Gross, Special Agent in Charge Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), Economic Crimes Field Office. “We thank our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice for their significant efforts on this complex investigation. NCIS remains committed to ensuring the integrity of the DoD procurement process.” “The results of this investigation shows that our agents, and those of our partner law enforcement agencies, are relentless in their pursuit of those who attempt to defraud the U.S. Government and put our Warfighters lives at risk,” said Supervisory Special Agent John Scarlett, Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Major Procurement Fraud Field Office, Northeast Fraud Resident Agency. “This case should send a clear message to all who do business with the Department of the Army that we are committed to identifying and stopping contractor fraud.” Acting U.S. Attorney Levy, DCIS SAC Hegarty, NCIS SAC Gross, and DCIS SSA Scarlett Northeast Fraud Resident Agency made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey Ross and Alexandra Brazier of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit handled the matter.


title: KC Man Pleads Guilty to Cyberstalking That Resulted in Murder

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former Kansas City, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to using a GPS tracking device to surveil another man who was shot to death in a grocery store parking lot. Dontay Campbell, 34, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to one count of cyberstalking resulting in death. By pleading guilty today, Campbell admitted that he aided and abetted his co-conspirators in the use of a GPS tracking device to surveil Dontayus Wiles, and that he did so with the intent to kill, injure, harass, and intimidate Wiles. Campbell also admitted that their conduct resulted in the shooting death of Wiles. Conspirators placed a GPS tracking device on Wiles’s red Chevrolet Tahoe. On March 16, 2019, Campbell and two co-conspirators surveilled Wiles as he and his wife drove to Happy Foods grocery store, located at 4019 E. 31st Street, Kansas City, Mo. When Wiles and his wife left the grocery store and walked back to the Tahoe, through the parking lot crowded with people, including children, Campbell and a co-conspirator pulled up next to the Tahoe in a Chrysler Sebring. Campbell’s co-conspirator exited the Sebring and shot at Wiles several times with a Ruger .40-caliber handgun that belonged to Campbell. During the shooting spree, Campbell attempted unsuccessfully to remove the GPS tracker from Wiles’s vehicle. Campbell and the co-conspirator then ran back to the Sebring, briefly drove around the parking lot, and parked again near Wiles’s Tahoe. Campbell’s co-conspirator again fired multiple shots into Wiles’s Tahoe while Campbell again tried unsuccessfully to retrieve the GPS tracker. Campbell and his co-conspirator then sped out of the parking lot in the Sebring. Wiles died from multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators recovered 17 expended .40-caliber shell casings near Wiles’s vehicle, all of which were determined to be fired by the same weapon. Investigators also recovered the GPS tracker underneath the vehicle and determined that the tracker had been purchased and activated in February 2019. Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, the maximum sentence cannot exceed 30 years in federal prison without parole. The sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Trey Alford, Nicholas Heberle, and Matthew Wolesky. It was investigated by the FBI and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.


title: Former D.C. Government Employee  Sentenced for Role in Bribery Schemes

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Dawne Dorsey, 40, a former employee of the District of Columbia Department of Housing and Community Development, was sentenced today for accepting bribes in return for giving out confidential information held by the D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs, of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia. Dorsey pleaded guilty to bribery in June 2019 and agreed to cooperate with the Government’s investigation. She was sentenced to 36 months’ probation by United States District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. According to court documents, Dorsey, former a program specialist with DHCD, accepted bribes in exchange for giving real estate developers Frederick Silvers and Brian Bailey confidential, un-redacted Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) offer of sale notices, which included the names of tenants holding TOPA rights. TOPA provides tenants living in the District of Columbia with the right to purchase their residence should the owner decide to sell the property. Under TOPA, tenants can re-assign their right to purchase to a third party. TOPA requires the owner (seller) to provide the DHCD with offer of sale notices before the proposed real estate transaction. The offer of sale notices include - among other things - information not released to the public, such as the names of tenants residing at the property. Bailey and Silvers paid bribes to obtain the tenant names so they could attempt to buy the tenants’ TOPA rights, and in turn, put the property up for sale, at an advantageous price. In a related part of the scheme, former FBI Agent David Paitsel and Bailey were both found guilty of one count of bribery and one count of conspiracy because Bailey paid Paitsel bribes to look up the contact information of the tenants holding TOPA rights, which he did using a database he had special access to as an FBI Agent. This is the fourth and final sentencing relating to Dorsey’s corrupt conduct. Last month, Paitsel, 42, a resident of North Carolina, was sentenced to 24 months in prison; and Bailey, 53, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was sentenced to 48 months in prison. A jury convicted both defendants of bribery, and conspiracy charges on October 7, 2022. In a related case, Frederick Silvers, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to bribery and was sentenced to five months in prison for bribes paid to Dorsey. This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the District of Columbia Office of the Inspector General. If you have information about fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in District government programs and operations, please call the D.C. OIG at 202-724-TIPS [202-724-8477]. The trial of the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Aloi and John Borchert, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Lisa Abbe and Quiana Dunn-Gordon of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.


title: St. Louis Man Admits $150,000 Pandemic Fraud

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis, Missouri on Monday admitted fraudulently obtaining a $150,000 loan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Demetrice Black, 53, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one felony count of misuse of a Social Security number and one felony count of theft of government property. As part of his plea, he admitted applying for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration on July 24, 2020 using a Social Security number that was not his own and a fraudulent Missouri driver’s license. Black, who was acting with another person, transferred some of the money to a separate checking account and withdrew some of the money in cash. The EIDL loans were intended to help business owners who had been negatively affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Black is scheduled to be sentenced February 8, 2024. The charge of misusing a Social Security number is punishable by up to five years in prison and the theft charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Both also carry a potential fine of up to $250,000. The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Klocke is prosecuting the case.


title: Justice Department Finds Multiple Texas County Election Websites Inaccessible to People with Disabilities

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today its findings that four Texas counties violated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by maintaining election websites that discriminate against individuals with vision or manual disabilities. In public letters issued to Colorado County , Runnels County , Smith County and Upton County , the department detailed its findings following its investigation and asked the counties to work with the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas to resolve the identified civil rights violations. “Voting is fundamental to American democracy,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “It is imperative that all eligible voters with disabilities across the country have the information they need to access the ballot and exercise their right to vote in state and federal elections.” The election websites for these four Texas counties provide important information about how to vote, such as registration requirements, identification requirements and voting information for people with disabilities. The websites also link to other critical information, including details about early voting and voting on election day. The department found that the websites are not accessible to individuals who are blind or have low vision, or who cannot grasp a mouse, and use screen readers, keyboards or other assistive technology. For example, on all four of the election websites, menus and links do not function properly for people who use a keyboard to navigate, and posted documents are inaccessible to people who use assistive technologies. Because the election websites are inaccessible, the counties deny people with vision and manual disabilities equal access to election programs and online services provided through these websites and fail to ensure effective communication with people with disabilities. These four investigations are part of the department’s ADA Voting Initiative, which focuses on protecting the voting rights of individuals with disabilities. People with information about these findings are encouraged to contact the department via email at TXWebsites@usdoj.gov , through the Civil Rights Division’s Civil Rights Portal, available at www.civilrights.justice.gov/ , or by calling 888-473-2780. To read more about the ADA and how it applies to voting, please visit www.ada.gov/topics/voting/ .


title: El Departamento de Justicia Halla que los Sitios Web Electorales de Cuatro Condados en Texas Son Inaccesibles para las Personas con Discapacidades

body_text: El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy sus hallazgos que cuatro condados en Texas, violaban el Título II de la Ley para Estadounidenses con Discapacidades de 1990 (ADA por sus siglas en inglés), manteniendo sitios web electorales que discriminan contra individuos con discapacidades manuales o visuales. En cartas públicas dirigidas a los Condados de Colorado , Runnels , Smith , y Upton , el departamento detalló los resultados de su investigación y les solicitó trabajar junto a la División de Derechos Civiles y las Fiscalías Federales para las regiones del Este, Norte, Sur y Oeste de Texas con el objetivo de resolver las violaciones de derechos civiles identificadas. “El derecho al voto es fundamental para la democracia estadounidense” dijo Fiscal General Auxiliar Kristen Clarke de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. “Es imperativo que todas las personas con discapacidades elegibles para votar en todo el país, tengan la información que necesitan para acceder a la papeleta y ejercer su derecho en elecciones estatales y federales.” Los sitios web electorales de estos cuatro condados tejanos brindan información importante sobre cómo votar. Por ejemplo, cuáles son los requisitos para el registro y la identificación del volante, así como, cuál es la información que necesitan las personas con discapacidades para votar. Los sitios web también contienen enlaces a información crítica, incluidos detalles sobre votación temprana y la votación el día de las elecciones. El departamento determinó que los sitios web no son accesibles para individuos ciegos o que tienen visión reducida, o para los que no pueden agarrar un ratón de computadora y usan lectores de pantalla, teclados, u otra tecnología de apoyo. Por ejemplo, en todos los cuatro sitios web electorales, los menús y enlaces no funcionan correctamente para las personas que usan un teclado para navegar, y los documentos publicados son inaccesibles para aquellos que usan dichas tecnologías de apoyo. Debido a la inaccesibilidad de los sitios web electorales, los condados están negando a las personas con discapacidades visuales y manuales igual acceso a los programas electorales y a los servicios en línea proveídos a través de estos sitios. De ese modo, no logran los sitios web electorales asegurar una comunicación efectiva con las personas con discapacidades. Estas cuatro investigaciones son parte de la Iniciativa de Votación ADA, la cual se enfoca en proteger los derechos de voto de los individuos con discapacidades. Se recomienda a las personas que tengan información sobre estos hallazgos que se comuniquen con el departamento por el correo electrónico TXWebsites@usdoj.gov , a través del Portal de la División de Derechos Civiles disponible en: www.civilrights.justice.gov/ , o por teléfono al 888-473-2780. Para conocer más sobre el ADA y cómo esta se aplica a la votación usted puede visitar el sitio web a www.ada.gov/topics/voting/ .


title: Oklahoma City Man Sentenced to Serve 20 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Robberies Across Oklahoma City

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – Last week, MARCUS CLAYTON HARRIS , 40, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 20 years in federal prison for multiple armed robberies of businesses in Oklahoma City, announced U. S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On January 3, 2023, Harris was charged by a four-count Superseding Information. Counts 1 & 3 charged Harris with interference with commerce by robbery. Count 2 charged Harris with possessing and brandishing a firearm during a robbery, and Count 4 charged him with possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during a separate robbery. According to court records, in June 2022 law enforcement began investigating a string of armed robberies around the Oklahoma City area. Their investigation led them to Harris, who authorities say repeated certain behaviors during his robberies. According to court documents, on July 3, 2022, Harris robbed a Family Dollar, where he isolated an employee with a firearm and ordered those in the store to not call police. During another robbery, at a Cricket Wireless store on July 7, 2022, Harris brandished and discharged a firearm. Harris was taken into custody on July 8, 2022, after having either committed or attempted two other armed robberies that same day. Court documents show that Mr. Harris ultimately committed a total of nine robberies during this spree. On January 9, 2023, Harris pleaded guilty to the four-count Superseding Information. As part of his plea, Harris admitted to robbing both the Family Dollar and Cricket Wireless stores, and to discharging his firearm during the Cricket Wireless robbery. At the sentencing hearing on November 2, 2023, U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced Harris to serve 20 years in federal prison. In announcing the sentence, the court noted Mr. Harris’s serious and extensive conduct in this case, including nine total robberies where he brandished a firearm or other dangerous weapon, multiple instances of discharging a firearm, and multiple instances of making threats toward victims. The court also recognized that Mr. Harris had a past conviction for attempted robbery in Oklahoma County District Court Case No. CF-2017-7456, yet continued to engage in this activity. This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan J. West prosecuted the case.


title: Knoxville Police Officer Arrested For Production Of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Tennessee, Eastern

body_text: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Dan Roark, 47, an officer with the Knoxville Police Department, was arrested today in Knoxville on federal charges involving the production of child pornography. An initial appearance was held on Monday, November 6, 2023, at 2:30 p.m., in United States District Court in Knoxville before the Honorable Jill E. McCook, United States Magistrate Judge. Details of the charges are outlined in the Criminal Complaint and Affidavit in Support of Criminal Complaint, Case No. 3:23-MJ-2201, which are filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. The Criminal Complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Scott County Sheriff, Virginia, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), and the Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Kolman will represent the United States. Members of the public are reminded that these are only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. ###


title: Fatal crash on Blackfeet Indian Reservation sends Great Falls man to prison for more than three years

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Great Falls man who admitted to driving while under the influence of alcohol when he crashed his vehicle near Browning, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, and killed his passenger, was sentenced today to three years and two months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Emil Saunders Day Chief, 42, pleaded guilty in May to involuntary manslaughter. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. In court documents, the government alleged that on July 19, 2022, Day Chief was driving and picked up a passenger, identified as Jane Doe, in Heart Butte. Soon thereafter, a witness saw Day Chief drive by at approximately 90 mph. Day Chief’s car then veered off the road, overcorrected and rolled two times before coming to a stop on the driver’s side. Jane Doe went through the windshield and the vehicle rolled over her. Witnesses got Day Chief out of the vehicle, and an ambulance took him to the hospital in Browning. Law enforcement found Jane Doe deceased in the road. Officers saw beer cans in the car and scattered around the scene and an empty jar from a marijuana dispensary. An investigation determined that Day Chief had a blood alcohol content of .335 percent and that his blood was positive for THC. Jane Doe died of blunt force injuries. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Betley prosecuted the case. The FBI, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, Montana Highway Patrol and Glacier County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. XXX


title: El Departamento de Justicia monitoreará los lugares de votación en varias jurisdicciones para asegurar el cumplimiento de las leyes federales de derechos electorales

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que monitoreará las elecciones generales el 7 de noviembre de 2023 en varias jurisdicciones para asegurar el cumplimiento de las leyes federales de derechos electorales. El Departamento asignará observadores federales para monitorear las elecciones en Union County, New Jersey, para asegurar el cumplimiento con la Ley de Derechos Electorales. El 12 de junio de 2023 una corte federal aprobó un decreto por consentimiento para resolver las alegaciones del Departamento bajo las secciones 203 y 208 de la Ley de Derechos Electorales sobre la disponibilidad de asistencia electoral y materiales en español para votantes hispanos con conocimientos limitados del idioma inglés en Union County. El decreto por consentimiento también dispone que observadores federales pueden monitorear las actividades el Día de Elecciones en los lugares de votación en el condado. Además, la División de Derechos Civiles monitoreará las actividades en los lugares de votación en Madison County y Panola County, Mississippi; las ciudades de Pawtucket y Woonsocket, Rhode Island; y Prince William County, Virginia, para asegurar el cumplimiento de las leyes federales de derechos electorales. La División de Derechos Civiles hace cumplir las leyes federales de derechos electorales que protegen el derecho de acceso a las urnas de todos los ciudadanos. La División envía personal del departamento periódicamente a monitorear elecciones en comunidades a través de todo el país. Además, la División envía observadores federales de la Oficina de Administración de Personal de EE.UU. según autorizado por una orden judicial federal. La Sección de Votación de la División de Derechos Civiles vela por el cumplimiento de las leyes federales civiles que protegen el derecho al voto, incluyendo la Ley de Derechos Electorales, la Ley de Votación para los Uniformados y los Ciudadanos en el Extranjero, la Ley Nacional de Inscripción de Votantes, la Ley Ayudemos a Estados Unidos a Votar, y las leyes de derechos civiles. Personal de la División de Derechos Civiles estará disponible para recibir denuncias relacionadas a posibles vulneraciones de las leyes federales de derechos electorales mediante el formulario en línea en https://civilrights.justice.gov/ o por teléfono al (800) 253-3931. Para obtener más información sobre la Ley de Derechos Electorales y otras leyes federales electorales, visite el portal del Departamento de Justicia en www.justice.gov/crt/voting/ . Información adicional sobre las leyes federales de derechos civiles está disponible en el sitio web de la División de Derechos Civiles en https://justice.gov/crt .


title: Former Fayette County High School Teacher Pleads Guilty To Production and Possession of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, Kevin Daniel Lentz, 49, pleaded guilty on Monday, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Stinnett, to the production and possession of child pornography. Lentz admitted in his plea agreement that he began an online conversation with the 9-year-old victim, on March 19, 2023. Within minutes, Lentz sent the victim 85 images or videos of adult pornography, including sexually explicit images and videos of Lentz. Lentz also persuaded the victim to create and send multiple sexually explicit videos and images of himself to Lentz via the internet. Lentz acknowledged that, at the time, he knew the victim was a minor. A search warrant was executed at Lentz's residence in Lexington, on August 8, 2023. The search resulted in the seizure of numerous electronic devices, including a computer, a cellular phone, and multiple hard drives. A search of these devices revealed several hundred additional images and videos of prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct that Lentz obtained from the internet. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Rana Saoud, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the guilty plea. The investigation was conducted by HSI and Lexington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. Lentz is scheduled to be sentenced on a date yet to be determined. He faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison on for production of child pornography and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for possession of child pornography. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing 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 — END —


title: Texas Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Advertising Child Pornography

body_text: BOSTON – A Texas man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for advertising child sexual abuse material on the dark web. Neal Staton Grubert, 35, of Bertram, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathanial M. Gorton to 15 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. On July 12, 2023, Grubert pleaded guilty to one count of advertising child pornography. In May 2020, Swedish law enforcement authorities determined that a Swedish citizen was producing images and videos of himself sexually abusing his three-year-old niece and distributing them on various dark websites. The investigation identified Grubert as an administrator of one of the websites. Following the Swedish individual’s arrest, a forensic examination of their phone revealed several images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children, including images and videos in which Grubert’s face could be seen watching the exploitation as it happened via webcam while logged onto this dark website. Specifically, Grubert was masturbating while directing the Swedish individual how to molest his niece. A subsequent undercover investigation located images and a video uploaded and published by Grubert in his role as an administrator on the dark website. The other individual pleaded guilty to charges in Sweden and was sentenced to seven years in prison. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Swedish Police Authority; Swedish National Operations Department; Swedish National IT Crime Centre; Swedish Prosecution Authority; Swedish National Public Prosecution Department; and Swedish National Unit against Organized Crime. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Luke A. Goldworm and Benjamin Tolkoff of the Major Crimes Unit 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: District Man Sentenced to Four-Year Prison Term for a February Knifepoint Robbery on the Metro

body_text: WASHINGTON – Nwabueze Igwe, 32, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to four years in prison for robbing a man at knifepoint on the Metro, in February of 2023, in Northwest Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Michael Anzallo, of the Metropolitan Transit Police Department (MTPD). Igwe was found guilty on June 7, 2023, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia of armed robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon, and carrying a dangerous weapon. In addition to the prison sentence, the Honorable Jason Park ordered Igwe to serve five years of supervised release. According to the government’s evidence, on the evening of Feb. 13, 2023, Igwe approached a stranger on the Metro, and yelled at him multiple times as the pair were travelling in the same car on the Green Line. As the train stopped at the Gallery Place-Chinatown Station, Igwe entered the stranger’s personal space and took his North Face backpack. When the victim asked Igwe to return the backpack, Igwe opened a switchblade and warned the victim to back away. Igwe and the victim both exited at the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station. The victim ran for help and found nearby MTPD officers. Igwe looked in both directions before jumping back on the train as the doors were closing. After reboarding the train, Igwe hid the backpack in a translucent trash bag. An hour later, Igwe returned to the Gallery Place-Chinatown Station, still carrying the victim’s pack. Metro surveillance footage captured Igwe in the immediate moments after the robbery and confirmed his flight path. MTPD officers apprehended Igwe at Gallery Place-Chinatown that night and charged him with armed robbery. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Transit Police Department. It was investigated, prosecuted, and tried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Omeed A. Assefi and Sabena Auyeung, of the Major Crimes Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Valuable assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Nielsen and Kathleen Kern, Paralegal Specialists Debra McPherson and Carolyn Carter-McKinley, and Litigation Technology Specialist Charlie Bruce. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Anzallo commended the work of those who investigated the case from the MTPD.


title: Xavier Pelkey Sentenced to 15 Years for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to Terrorists

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Waterville man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for conspiring to provide material support to terrorists. U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Xavier Pelkey , 20, to 15 years in federal prison followed by 20 years of supervised release. Pelkey pleaded guilty on April 7, 2023. According to court records, beginning in November 2021, Pelkey conspired with two minors, one located in Chicago and one in Canada, to conduct a mass shooting at a Shia mosque in the Chicago area. Pelkey and his coconspirators were subscribers to a radical form of Sunni Islam and supporters of the foreign terrorist organization the Islamic State, also known as ISIS. Pelkey planned to contribute firearms, ammunition and explosives to be used in the attack. In February 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant at Pelkey’s Waterville residence and discovered three handmade explosive devices. Investigators observed a hand-painted version of the flag used by ISIS on the wall of Pelkey’s bedroom and recovered written statements intended to be released just prior to the planned attack claiming the attack in the name of ISIS. The FBI investigated the case. “The threat of a mass casualty shooting is all too real and fresh for the people of Maine today, as is the case for far too many communities across our nation,” said Darcie N. McElwee, U.S. Attorney, District of Maine. “Mr. Pelkey bought into hate and rhetoric he found online, and it cost him his future. I commend the quick work of the FBI to stop this conspiracy before it was able to cause any death, fear or destruction.” "Xavier Pelkey self-radicalized, pledged loyalty to ISIS, and plotted with two others to commit a mass shooting at a mosque in Illinois. Thankfully, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force was able to thwart these plans,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “This case highlights the very real threat posed by homegrown violent extremists who self-radicalize and are prone to attack with little to no warning. Rest assured, the FBI will use every investigative tool available to us to identify and disrupt terrorists like Mr. Pelkey in order to keep our communities safe.” ###


title: Federal Jury Finds Brooklyn Center Felon Guilty of Illegal Possession of Ammunition

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: ST. PAUL, Minn. – A federal jury found a Brooklyn Center felon guilty of illegally possessing ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to evidence presented at trial, on August 28, 2022, a Bloomington police officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Damien Kent Hallmon, 40, for multiple traffic violations and noticed several indicators of marijuana use. The occupants of the vehicle were asked to step out of the vehicle so it could be searched, and officers found a 9mm firearm with a loaded magazine and no serial number in Hallmon’s girlfriend’s purse. Following a three-day trial before Judge Kate M. Menendez in U.S. District Court, Hallmon was found guilty on one count of possessing ammunition as a felon. He will be sentenced at a later date. Because Hallmon has prior felony convictions, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time. The firearm seized in this case, a Polymer 80, is commonly referred to as a “ghost gun” or a “privately made firearm” (PMF). This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bloomington Police Department, the Hennepin County Sherriff’s Office Forensic Science Lab, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary S. Riverso and Ruth S. Shnider tried the case.


title: Over 220 Pounds of Suspected Controlled Substances Seized Including Pills Shaped to Resemble Heart Shaped Candy

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: An estimated 10 million doses of controlled substances have been seized, including eight million doses of fentanyl and methamphetamine laced pills and powder. The total street value of the drugs seized is upwards of $8 million. Three men have been arrested in connection with allegedly running this large-scale drug trafficking organization (DTO) on the North Shore of Massachusetts. Emilio Garcia, also known as 6, 25, of Lynn, Massachusetts, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possess controlled substances with intent to distribute and one count of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute; Sebastien Bejin, also known as Bash, 33, of Lynn, Massachusetts, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possess controlled substances with intent to distribute and one count of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute; and Deiby Felix, 40, of Lynn, Massachusetts, was charged with one count of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute. The defendants will appear in U.S. District Court on Nov. 13. According to the charging documents, in July 2023, an investigation into an overdose death in Salem, Massachusetts, led investigators to a DTO allegedly led by Garcia, Bejin, and Felix. The defendants were surveilled for three months, which culminated in search warrants at locations identified in the investigation, and their arrests on Wednesday, Nov. 1. On Nov. 1, searches were conducted at four locations in Lynn. These were identified as locations frequented by Garcia and Bejin. The searches resulted in, what is believed to be, one of the largest single-location seizures of fentanyl and methamphetamine in Massachusetts and the region. Over 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of controlled substances were seized. The seizure included nine kilograms (20 pounds) of pink heart shaped fentanyl-laced pills pressed to look like candy. In total, an estimated eight million individual doses of fentanyl and methamphetamine laced pills and powder was seized. The street value is believed to be upwards of $8 million. More specifically, according to the charging documents, the following drug quantities were seized from the basement of a two-family residential home that was occupied by multiple families and small children: More than 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of white powder and rock like substances which field tested positive for methamphetamine and cocaine base; More than 17 kilograms (37 pounds) of suspected raw methamphetamine which equates to approximately more than 3.5 million individual doses; Approximately 280,000 counterfeit Percocet pills, believed to contain fentanyl, weighing 28 kilograms (61 pounds) with a street value in the range of approximately $1.4 million to over $7 million; More than 27 kilograms (59 pounds) of counterfeit Adderall pills, believed to contain methamphetamine; and Approximately 1.8 kilograms (four pounds) of brown rock and powder-like substances, which tested positive for cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. This quantity of fentanyl equates to about 900,000 individual doses. Additional narcotics and five firearms were also seized during the searches. “The only thing more depraved than trafficking deadly fentanyl is trafficking deadly fentanyl designed to look like candy to appeal to teenagers,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department is focused on attacking every link in the global fentanyl trafficking chain, and we will not stop until those responsible for the fentanyl poisoning epidemic are brought to justice. We also continue to urge families to have open and honest conversations about the urgent threat posed by this epidemic, and the fact that just one pill can kill.” “This seizure by the FBI’s North Shore Gang Task Force saved lives in communities throughout Massachusetts,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Not only was this seizure one of the largest in the history of Massachusetts, but some of the pills were created to look like candy, potentially presenting an enormous risk to children. The FBI will continue to relentlessly pursue those involved in narcotics trafficking to keep drugs off our streets, and out of the hands of children.” “The doses of controlled substances seized in this case exceed the number of residents in Massachusetts,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts. “The fact that we now are seeing fentanyl-laced pills pressed to resemble candy only underscores the urgency of this fentanyl crisis.” Surveillance during the investigation revealed that Garcia and Bejin would travel to the Broadway stash location on a daily basis and then bring quantities of suspected from the premises to supply lower-level dealers. One such location that appeared to be supplied from the main stash location was an address at 341 Western Avenue in Lynn, where Deiby Felix is alleged to reside. A search of 341 Western Avenue revealed more than three kilograms (6.6 pounds) of pressed pills containing methamphetamine and fentanyl, consistent with those found in the Broadway stash location and a firearm. The charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and conspiracy to do the same, each provide for a sentence of a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after reviewing the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI Boston Field Office investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts State Police, Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Boston Division, IRS-Criminal Investigation in Boston, and the Chelsea, Lynnfield, Salem and Lynn Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit for the District of Massachusetts is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Third Man Arrested for Cocaine and Firearms Trafficking

body_text: BOSTON – A third man has been arrested in connection with a conspiracy to traffic cocaine and illegal firearms in and around the Boston metro area. Alan Robinson, 25, of Littleton, was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, firearms trafficking, and knowingly and intentionally possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Robinson was arrested on Nov. 3, 2023 and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, was detained pending a hearing set for Nov. 7, 2023. According to the charging documents, Robinson engaged in a controlled purchase with a cooperating witness to sell them four firearms – which included two ghost guns, one of which was an assault rifle, knowing that the cooperating witness was a prohibited individual. Subsequently, a search warrant was executed at Robinson’s residence, where approximately 3.3 kilograms of powdered cocaine was recovered, as well as several firearms and accessories including a ghost gun assault rifle. The charge possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of firearms trafficking provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000, The charge of knowingly and intentionally possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime provides for a sentence of a minimum of five years and up to life in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Justice Department finds multiple Texas county election websites inaccessible to people with disabilities

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON — The Justice Department announced today its findings that four Texas counties violated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by maintaining election websites that discriminate against individuals with vision or manual disabilities. In public letters issued to Colorado County , Runnels County , Smith County and Upton County , the department detailed its findings following its investigation and asked the counties to work with the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas to resolve the identified civil rights violations. “My 80-year-old mother’s arthritis means she can’t grasp a computer mouse like she used to, increasingly relying on keyboard accessible websites. And, her failing vision makes it hard for her to navigate a website that lacks clear and correct titles,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. “Despite her disabilities, my mother’s fundamental right to vote is the same as any other’s. All voters should have full access to election information, including individuals with disabilities.” “Voting is fundamental to American democracy,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “It is imperative that all eligible voters with disabilities across the country have the information they need to access the ballot and exercise their right to vote in state and federal elections.” The election websites for these four Texas counties provide important information about how to vote, such as registration requirements, identification requirements and voting information for people with disabilities. The websites also link to other critical information, including details about early voting and voting on election day. The department found that the websites are not accessible to individuals who are blind or have low vision, or who cannot grasp a mouse, and use screen readers, keyboards or other assistive technology. For example, on all four of the election websites, menus and links do not function properly for people who use a keyboard to navigate, and posted documents are inaccessible to people who use assistive technologies. Because the election websites are inaccessible, the counties deny people with vision and manual disabilities equal access to election programs and online services provided through these websites and fail to ensure effective communication with people with disabilities. These four investigations are part of the department’s ADA Voting Initiative, which focuses on protecting the voting rights of individuals with disabilities. People with information about these findings are encouraged to contact the department via email at TXWebsites@usdoj.gov , through the Civil Rights Division’s Civil Rights Portal, available at civilrights.justice.gov/ , or by calling 888-473-2780. To read more about the ADA and how it applies to voting, please visit www.ada.gov/topics/voting/ .


title: Grosse Pointe Park Pharmacist Convicted on Drug Charges

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT - Hasna Bashir Iwas, 62, of New Baltimore, who owned and operated the former Beacon Pointe Pharmacy in Grosse Pointe Park, was convicted last week by a federal jury on 26 charges related to the unlawful distribution of Schedule II, III, IV and V prescription drug-controlled substances. The verdict was announced by United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. Joining Ison in the announcement were Orville Greene, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent-In-Charge, United States Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General. The charges resulted from the defendant’s operation of Beacon Pointe Pharmacy, in Grosse Pointe Park, during the time period of 2013-2018. Evidence at trial showed she engaged in several interrelated criminal schemes. The defendant regularly filled forged prescriptions for controlled substances presented to her by one or two individuals. The 1,291 forged prescriptions were presented in the names of over 50 different “patients.” The defendant received over $640,000 in cash in exchange for filling the forged prescriptions. Although the defendant initially insisted each of the individual patients was present in her pharmacy when the forged prescriptions were filled, evidence at trial showed that several of the patients were dead, in prison, or were actually never in the pharmacy at all. Video evidence revealed the defendant distributing controlled drugs to the pill dealers/forgers in prescription pill bottles without required labeling. Without a label containing the pharmacy name, patient’s name, drug strength, quantity and directions for use, the pills could not be traced back to her pharmacy when they were sold on the street. The defendant shredded the labels that should have been on the pill bottles. An audit of the defendant’s pharmacy showed massive shortages of controlled substances that left the pharmacy without any prescriptions at all. Over 70,000 dosage units of Oxycodone 30mg and over 36,000 dosage units of Xanax 2mg were purchased, delivered to the pharmacy, and not dispensed under any prescription. Iwas is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Laurie Michelson on February 20, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. Iwas was convicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and 25 individual counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances. After the conviction Judge Michelson remanded the defendant to custody pending sentencing. “My office is dedicated to stemming the tide of opioid addiction and the terrible consequences to our families in the Eastern District,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison. We will pursue these drug dealers whether they are distributing drugs in the streets or through a pharmacy.” “The conviction of Ms. Iwas exemplifies DEA’s determination to combat the diversion of prescription medication. Iwas abused her pharmacist license to enrich herself and in so doing, she knowingly fueled the deadly opioid epidemic currently gripping our nation,” said Orville Greene, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration. "Medical professionals, and others engaged in the delivery of healthcare services, who exploit opioid addiction and facilitate the diversion of highly addictive medications for financial gain, undermine critical efforts to suppress and eliminate the opioid crisis throughout the country.” said Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG will continue working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that bad actors are held accountable for such egregious disregard for public safety.” The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the Detroit Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Wayne F. Pratt and Jihan Williams


title: Nevada Man Sentenced in Prize Notice Scheme

component: Civil Division

body_text: A Nevada man was sentenced today in Las Vegas for perpetrating a prize-notification scheme that defrauded thousands of elderly and vulnerable victims. Edgar Del Rio, 56, of Las Vegas, was sentenced to 51 months in prison. Del Rio previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud. According to court documents, Del Rio and other co-conspirators printed and mailed millions of fraudulent prize notices that led their victims to believe that they could claim a large cash prize if they paid a fee of $20 to $25. This was false; victims who paid the fees did not receive anything of value. Once victims fell prey to the scheme, Del Rio and his co-conspirators bombarded them with more fraudulent mail. Del Rio and his partners received millions of dollars from victims. “Today’s sentence holds Edgar Del Rio accountable for using lies to steal from the elderly and vulnerable,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department is committed to protecting consumers from predatory mass-mailing schemes.” The scheme operated from 2010 to February 2018, when postal inspectors executed multiple search warrants and the Justice Department obtained a court order shutting down the fraudulent mail operation. Del Rio operated one of several printing and mailing businesses that sent the fraudulent mail and shared the profits from the fraudulent prize notices. “The defendant is being held fully accountable for his role in perpetuating a multi-year fraud scheme and stealing millions of dollars from thousands of elderly victims,” said U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “Working together with the Consumer Protection Branch and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, we will pursue and shutdown perpetrators who prey on vulnerable citizens for financial gain and bring them to justice.” “Thousands of vulnerable older Americans were scammed by Edgar Del Rio and his cohorts,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Services (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group. “Postal inspectors work hard investigate and apprehend scammers, but also to prevent these scams. The best defense is to not respond to prize-winning correspondence in the first place, and if you have to pay money to claim a prize, you can be sure it’s a scam.” Three other people previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud in connection with this prize notice scheme: Patti Kern, 66, of Henderson, Nevada; Andrea Burrow, 53, of Las Vegas; and Sean O’Connor, 54, of Las Vegas. Three other members of the scheme were found guilty by a jury and sentenced earlier this year. Mario Castro, 55, of Las Vegas, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Miguel Castro, 58, of Las Vegas, was sentenced to 19 years and six months in prison. Jose Luis Mendez, 49, of Henderson, was sentenced to 14 years in prison. USPIS investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Timothy Finley and Daniel Zytnick of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mina Chang for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available. More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage at www.justice.gov/elderjustice . For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov .


title: Houston men convicted for roles in cartel related kidnapping

body_text: HOUSTON – Two Houston men have admitted to holding a victim hostage at gunpoint, beating and threatening him with death, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Noe Hernandez, 39, helped kidnap and hold the victim for nearly 24 hours on May 3, 2019. He also used a taser to inflict electric shocks to the victim while his hands were tied behind his back. Homero Gallegos, 43, entered his plea in June. High-level drug traffickers in Mexico connected to the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) ordered the kidnapping. Mexican cartel members called the victim’s family members and demanded $400,000 for his release. Law enforcement executed a staged pick up of the ransom money in Houston and were able to rescue the victim. “The Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) is one of the most violent cartels in Mexico, responsible for trafficking tons of cocaine, meth and fentanyl into the United States,” said Hamdani. “It’s power comes from a willingness, almost an eagerness, to commit unspeakable acts, including murder. Kidnapping and using a taser to torture exemplifies the level of brutality associated with one of the world’s most dangerous transnational criminal organizations, one that ravages communities from Mexico to Houston…and beyond.” U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen will impose sentencing March 24, 2024, at which time both men face up to life imprisonment, a possible $250,000 maximum fine. They will remain in custody pending that hearing. The Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI and the Houston Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anibal J. Alaniz and Casey N. MacDonald are prosecuting the case.


body_text: BOSTON - An estimated 10 million doses of controlled substances have been seized, including eight million doses of fentanyl and methamphetamine laced pills and powder. The total street value of the drugs seized is upwards of $8 million. Three men have been arrested in connection with allegedly running this large-scale drug trafficking organization (DTO) on the North Shore of Massachusetts. Emilio Garcia, a/k/a “6”, 25, of Lynn, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possess controlled substances with intent to distribute and one count of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute; Sebastien Bejin, a/k/a “Bash”, 33, of Lynn, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possess controlled substances with intent to distribute and one count of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute; and Deiby Felix, 40, of Lynn, was charged with one count of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute. The defendants will appear in U.S. District Court on Nov. 13, 2023. According to the charging documents, in July 2023, an investigation into an overdose death in Salem, Mass., led investigators to a DTO allegedly led by Garcia, Bejin and Felix. The defendants were surveilled for three months, which culminated in search warrants at locations identified in the investigation, and their arrests on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. On Nov. 1, 2023, searches were conducted at four locations in Lynn, Mass. These were identified as locations frequented by Garcia and Bejin. The searches resulted in what is believed to be, one of the largest single-location seizures of fentanyl and methamphetamine in Massachusetts and the region. Over 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of controlled substances were seized. The seizure included nine kilograms (20 pounds) of pink heart shaped fentanyl-laced pills pressed to look like candy. In total, an estimated eight million individual doses of fentanyl and methamphetamine laced pills and powder was seized. The street value is believed to be upwards of $8 million. More specifically, according to the charging documents, the following drug quantities were seized from the basement of a two-family residential home that was occupied by multiple families and small children: More than 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of white powder and rock like substances which field tested positive for methamphetamine and cocaine base.; More than 17 kilograms (37 pounds) of suspected raw methamphetamine which equates to approximately more than 3.5 million individual doses; Approximately 280,000 counterfeit Percocet pills, believed to contain fentanyl, weighing 28 kilograms (61 pounds) with a street value in the range of approximately, $1.4 million to over $7 million; More than 27 kilograms (59 pounds) of counterfeit Adderall pills, believed to contain methamphetamine; and Approximately 1.8 kilograms (four pounds) of brown rock and powder-like substances, which tested positive for cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine. This quantity of fentanyl equates to about 900,000 individual doses. Additional narcotics and five firearms were also seized during the searches. “The only thing more depraved than trafficking deadly fentanyl is trafficking deadly fentanyl designed to look like candy to appeal to teenagers,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department is focused on attacking every link in the global fentanyl trafficking chain, and we will not stop until those responsible for the fentanyl poisoning epidemic are brought to justice. We also continue to urge families to have open and honest conversations about the urgent threat posed by this epidemic, and the fact that just one pill can kill.” “This seizure by the FBI's North Shore Gang Task Force saved lives in communities throughout Massachusetts," said FBI Director Christopher Wray. "Not only was this seizure one of the largest in the history of Massachusetts, but some of the pills were created to look like candy, potentially presenting an enormous risk to children. The FBI will continue to relentlessly pursue those involved in narcotics trafficking to keep drugs off our streets, and out of the hands of children." “The doses of controlled substances seized in this case exceed the number of residents in Massachusetts,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “The fact that we now are seeing fentanyl-laced pills pressed to resemble candy only underscores the urgency of this fentanyl crisis.” “Today, we’re announcing the arrests of three alleged drug traffickers and what we believe to be the largest seizure of fentanyl and methamphetamine from a single location in New England history. We believe this crew’s constant churn of drug transactions has kept the Bay State awash in dangerous and deadly narcotics and is tied to the overdose death of at least one person from Salem, Massachusetts,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “The overdose epidemic has-and does-to this day—wreak devastation on all our communities. There is no demographic this does not touch. Let this case serve as a warning that if you, or a loved one, are buying pills off the street, or getting them from a friend, or from anywhere that is not a pharmacy or physician, they might not be what you think, and it could cost you your life.” Surveillance during the investigation revealed that Garcia and Bejin would travel to the Broadway stash location on a daily basis and then bring quantities of suspected from the premises to supply lower-level dealers. One such location that appeared to be supplied from the main stash location was an address at 341 Western Avenue in Lynn, where Deiby Felix is alleged to reside. A search of 341 Western Avenue revealed more than three kilograms (6.6 pounds) of pressed pills containing methamphetamine and fentanyl, consistent with those found in the Broadway stash location and a firearm. The charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and conspiracy to do the same, each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Attorney General Garland; FBI Director Wray; Acting U.S. Attorney Levy; FBI SAC Cohen; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; and Lynn Police Chief Christopher P. Reddy made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Division; the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; and the Chelsea, Lynnfield and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.