title: Georgia man sentenced to prison for COVID-19 relief fraud two years after being sentenced by the same court for mortgage fraud

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - Maurice Lawson has been sentenced to federal prison for obtaining nearly a half a million dollars by submitting multiple fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) applications. “Congress enacted the Paycheck Protection Program to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lawson took advantage of a federal program that depended on self-reporting to get relief in the hands of American businesses as fast as possible,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “His crimes make it harder for the United States to provide disaster relief during the next large-scale emergency. This office, in coordination with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, is dedicated to holding individuals who sought to exploit this critical economic safety net accountable for their conduct.” “Lawson used his position during an unprecedented national pandemic to steal critical taxpayer money intended to provide relief to legitimate small businesses and employees who desperately needed it,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Jerome Winkle with the HUD Office of Inspector General. “HUD OIG remains steadfast in its commitment to working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who engage in activities that threaten the integrity of HUD and other federal programs.” “We remain committed to combatting fraud within the Paycheck Protection Program,” said Edwin Bonano, Special Agent in Charge of FHFA-OIG’s Southeast Region. “FHFA-OIG will pursue criminals who created fraudulent schemes to divert PPP funds from those it was meant to aid until they are held fully accountable.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Between April 2020 and March 2021, Lawson applied for at least seven PPP or EIDL loans for six different businesses. The applications contained an assortment of false information, including false Tax Forms 940 and 941, fake social security cards, fraudulent addresses, falsified average monthly payroll claims, and false claims of employing between five and 12 employees. In total, Lawson sought $537,120, and received $419,020, in loan proceeds. Among the businesses used to seek these loans was Coastal Drape, LLC – the same company that Lawson used during his mortgage fraud conspiracy, for which he was sentenced in March 2021 to three years of federal probation. Lawson received funds from one of the fraudulent COVID-19 loan applications days after being sentenced for mortgage fraud. Maurice Lawson, 39, of Lithia Springs, Georgia, has been sentenced to one year, nine months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $437,870.07. Lawson was convicted on these charges on May 16, 2023, after he pleaded guilty. This case was investigated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General and Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Prout prosecuted the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Corvallis Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Orchestrating Fraud Scheme Claiming to Support Christian Missionaries and Organizations

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: EUGENE, Ore.—A Corvallis, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for orchestrating an investment fraud scheme that falsely claimed to support various Christian missionaries and organizations. Erik J. Hass, 53, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. He was also ordered to pay more than $1.75 million in restitution to his victims. According to court documents, in January 2013, Hass founded Simply Gains, Inc., an organization he claimed supported Christian missionaries and organizations while offering significant returns for investors. Hass solicited members of his church, coworkers, and other acquaintances to invest in the organization via self-directed retirement and cash accounts. In exchange, he gave investors unsecured promissory notes and promised compounded annual returns of up to 30%. Hass also claimed he would only profit from the investment scheme if monthly returns were higher than 2%. Yet, from the start, Hass began taking a salary drawn from investors’ funds and used the proceeds to pay for personal expenses. Throughout the scheme, Hass sent investors account statements showing fictitious gains and account balances and false IRS 1099-INT forms. Hass continued accepting investments well into 2018, knowing he could not honor his investment claims. Instead, these new investments were used to fund Ponzi payments to older investors who had requested withdrawals from their accounts. In total, at least 20 investors lost more than $1.75 million combined investing in Hass’ scheme. On June 9, 2020, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned an 8-count indictment charging Hass with wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering. On February 21, 2023, he pleaded guilty to five counts of wire fraud and two counts of mail fraud. This case was investigated by the FBI and Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. It was prosecuted by Gavin W. Bruce, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.


title: North Carolina Man Sentenced to 168 Months in Prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Keith Wigfall, 57 years old, of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty on his plea of guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Wigfall was sentenced to 168 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. According to documents in this case, in January 2021, law enforcement executed a traffic stop of a vehicle Wigfall was driving and recovered $47,500 in cash as well as controlled substances. A search of his residence resulted in the seizure of over 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 9.5 kilograms of marijuana, fentanyl, cocaine, morphine, 9 other types of controlled substances, 3 firearms, and $30,000 cash. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the South Bend Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Molly E. Donnelly and former AUSA Frank E. Schaffer. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. ###


title: Huntington Man Sentenced to 145 Months in Prison

body_text: FORT WAYNE –Bryon Fisher, 42 years old, of Huntington, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Fisher was sentenced to 121 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. The Court also revoked Fishers’ supervised release on his prior conviction for mail theft and sentenced him to an additional 24 months in prison. The Court ordered these sentences to be served consecutively for a total term of 145 months in prison. According to documents in the case, from about July 2022 through August 2022, law enforcement conducted 6 controlled buys of methamphetamine from Fisher. A search of his residence resulted in the recovery of evidence indicating drug trafficking, including a drug ledger. In total, Fisher delivered and possessed with intent to deliver over 244 grams of methamphetamine. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department and the Huntington Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith. ###


title: Wood County Man Sentenced to 138 Months for Drug & Gun Offenses

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that John W. Andereggen, 56, Vesper, Wisconsin was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 138 months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm as a felon. Andereggen pleaded guilty to these charges on May 11, 2023. In September 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a controlled buy of methamphetamine from Andereggen at a camper that Andereggen kept in the rural woods of Wood County. Officers obtained a search warrant for the camper and discovered over 600 grams of methamphetamine and 100 grams of cocaine in and around the camper. They also discovered four firearms and ammunition. At the time of the search, Andereggen was a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms. Andereggen was interviewed and admitted to selling large amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine in the months leading up to the search. At sentencing, Judge Peterson noted the highly aggravating circumstances of the offenses, including the heavy drug amounts and the presence of dangerous weapons, including a sawed-off shotgun. The large amounts of drugs in this case had a significant negative impact on a small community. He also noted Andereggen’s long criminal history, which spanned 33 criminal offenses from age 21 to age 56. Ultimately, Judge Peterson ruled that a long sentence was needed to address the severe nature of the drug and gun offenses and to protect the public from Andereggen’s criminal nature. The charges against Andereggen were the result of an investigation conducted by the Wood County Sheriff’s Department; the Marathon County Sheriff’s Department; Marshfield, Wisconsin Rapids, Nekoosa, Stevens Point, and Plover Police Departments; the Central Wisconsin Drug Task Force; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anita Marie Boor prosecuted this case. This case was prosecuted in part as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.


title: Second Oklahoma Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Racially Motivated Hate Crime

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – A second Oklahoma man, Brandon Wayne Killian , 31, of Midwest City, Oklahoma, was sentenced Monday to serve 72 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $43,007.76 of a total restitution amount of $113,644.40 for his role in a racially-motivated attack in Shawnee, Oklahoma. On January 18, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Killian, 31, of Midwest City, and co-defendant Devan Nathanial Johnson, with physically assaulting a Black man, as well as the Black man’s white friend, in the parking lot of a Shawnee business on June 22, 2019. According to the indictment, the assault occurred because of the Black man’s race and color. Both Killian and Johnson are white. Killian pleaded guilty to one count of committing a hate crime in September 2022, and was sentenced on August 14, 2023. Co-defendant Johnson was sentenced to 10 years in prison, and ordered to pay $68,186.64 in restitution on July 25, 2023. “The sentencing of both defendants responsible for this racially-motivated and violent assault secured justice for the victim and the community,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Civil Rights Division. “Preventing, investigating and prosecuting bias-motivated crimes remains a top priority for the Justice Department, and we will continue our enforcement efforts around the country, holding individuals accountable for committing violent hate crimes.” “The defendants targeted a Black victim for a brutal attack simply because of the color of his skin," said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. "Hate-fueled criminal conduct cannot be tolerated in a civilized society and my office will remain steadfast in our mission to protect those victimized by hate. I commend the work done by our law enforcement partners and prosecutors who continue to seek justice in these cases.” “The FBI worked in close partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring justice for the victim of this horrific attack,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “Defending the civil rights of every American citizen is one of the FBI’s highest priorities, and we simply won’t tolerate acts of violence fueled by hate.” Assistant General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Troester, and Special Agent in Charge Gray made the announcement. The FBI Oklahoma City Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia E. Barry for the Western District Oklahoma and former Trial Attorney Avner Shapiro of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case. Reference is made to public filings for more information.


title: Ohio man sentenced for methamphetamine trafficking

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA - An Ohio man was sentenced to prison today on federal drug trafficking charges. Anthony Dwayne Mack, age 42, of Zanesville, Ohio, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, Mack traveled from Ohio to Elkins, supplying methamphetamine to others to sell in the area. During a traffic stop, officers found a large amount of methamphetamine in the car, along with nearly $2,000, a digital scale, and baggies. In a separate case, William Albert Flinn, Jr., age 44, of Moorefield, West Virginia, pled guilty to a possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime. According to court documents, Flinn had possessed a large quantity of methamphetamine and a semi-automatic rifle during his drug trafficking crime in Hardy County. Flinn faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison for the drug charge and faces at least 5 years and up to life in prison for the firearms charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government. The Mountain Region Drug Task Force investigated the Mack case. The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated the Flinn case. U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided over the Mack hearing. U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided over the Flinn hearing.


title: Three Shreveport Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of Narcotics and Firearms

body_text: SHREVEPORT, La. – Three Shreveport, Louisiana men have been sentenced for illegal possession of narcotics and firearms, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote conducted these sentencing hearings. Tremaine Zyshun Russell , 28, of Shreveport, was sentenced to 60 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release. According to evidence presented to the court, officers with the Shreveport Police Department observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on February 24, 2022, around 4 a.m. and conducted a traffic stop. The vehicle was being driven by a female and Russell was in the passenger seat. The officer detected the smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle and the driver and passenger were asked to step outside the car. The officer was given consent by the female driver to search the vehicle and inside he found a Glock firearm with an extended magazine and a Glock switch (a conversion device) attached. Behind the driver’s seat was a backpack containing two digital scales, marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine and two Adderall pills. After being read his Miranda rights, Russell admitted that the backpack, narcotics, and firearm belonged to him. The seized narcotics were sent to the North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory and confirmed to be 125 grams of marijuana, 14.92 grams of methamphetamine, and 6.35 grams of cocaine. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) examined and tested the firearm and found it to be a functioning firearm which had been manufactured in Austria and traveled in interstate commerce. Russell pleaded guilty on May 3, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute over 5 grams of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and illegal possession of a machine gun. He was previously convicted of illegal possession of stolen things in 2019 and knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. The case was investigated by the ATF and Shreveport Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford. In a separate case, Christian D. Price , 20, and Devon Charles Price , 23, brothers who lived in Shreveport, were sentenced yesterday. Christian Price was sentenced to 33 months in prison, and Devon Charles Price was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Both will serve 3 years of supervised release following their release from prison. The charges in this case stem from a visit to their residence by Louisiana Probation and Parole agents in June 2021 for a routine residence check. Upon entering the residence, agents found that Christian Price had a Glock Model 19X semiautomatic pistol loaded with 29 rounds in an extended magazine in his bedroom, as well as a 50-round drum magazine underneath his bed. While checking Devon Price’s bedroom, agents found a small bag of suspected marijuana and other small baggies commonly used in the drug trade. In addition, they discovered a Glock Model 27 .40 caliber pistol which was chambered with one round and had 13 rounds loaded in the magazine. Both brothers had prior felony convictions which prohibited them from having a firearm or ammunition. Christian Price has a felony conviction for attempted aggravated burglary and Devon Price has a felony conviction for theft of motor vehicles and illegal possession of stolen firearms. Both defendants pleaded guilty to one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and admitted to knowing they were prohibited from possessing said firearms and ammunition. Agents with the ATF examined and tested the firearms and determined they were functioning firearms which had traveled in interstate commerce. The case was investigated by the ATF and Louisiana Probation and Parole and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moody. # # #


title: California Man Sentenced to 26 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine and Guns in Eastern Idaho

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

body_text: POCATELLO – Ramon Morales Jr., 41, of Compton, California, was sentenced to 26 years in federal prison for importing and distributing methamphetamine in Eastern Idaho in exchange for firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit today. According to court records, Morales was initially arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol when he was caught attempting to smuggle two pounds of methamphetamine into the United States from Mexico at the San Ysidro Port of Entry on April 7, 2021. While Morales was pending those charges, he supplied large amounts of methamphetamine, along with other drugs, to local drug distributors Lynne Marie Boswell, 52, of Pocatello, and Jenny June Manzanares, 40, of Rexburg. In exchange for methamphetamine, Boswell and Manzanares obtained firearms on Morales’s behalf by using a network of straw purchasers. A straw purchaser is an individual who knowingly purchases firearms intending to provide them to someone else in violation of federal law. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) estimates at least 250 firearms were trafficked through this illegal drug trafficking organization. Firearms purchased by these straw purchasers have been recovered at crime scenes in Idaho and states across the region. On July 27, 2021, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), ATF, and local agency task force officers learned that Morales arranged to purchase 12 firearms from a gun store in Idaho Falls using a straw purchaser. Investigators were able to intercept the firearms during the transaction. After further investigation, law enforcement seized 15 pounds of methamphetamine and arrested Jonathan Ramirez-Gutierrez, 29, of Los Angeles, for drug trafficking. There was evidence Morales directed Ramirez-Gutierrez to transport the methamphetamine to Idaho and to return to California with firearms. On August 14, 2023, Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill sentenced Morales to over 26 years in federal prison. In January 2023, Judge Winmill sentenced Boswell to over 15 years in federal prison for her role in the drug and gun trafficking conspiracy. In March 2023, Manzanares was sentenced to 10 years for her role in the offense. In August 2022, Ramirez-Gutierrez was sentenced to over 8 years in federal prison. “This series of cases, and the resulting sentences, reflect success in our ongoing battle to disrupt the flow of illegal drugs and illegally-obtained firearms into and out of Idaho,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “I am grateful for the work of our many law enforcement partners in this investigation, which led to dismantling a very dangerous criminal operation.” Specifically, U.S. Attorney Hurwit thanked the following law enforcement agencies for their collaboration on this investigation: the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), Idaho State Police, Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, Pocatello Police Department, Fort Hall Police Department, Bingham County Sheriff’s Office, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, and the Idaho Falls Police Department. Many of these agencies are members of the BADGES Task Force. The BADGES Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force that identifies, disrupts, and dismantles local, multi-state, and international drug trafficking organizations using intelligence-driven, multi-agency prosecutor-supported approach. The BADGES Task Force is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) which is composed of members from the Idaho State Police, Pocatello Police Department, Bannock County Sheriff’s Department, Chubbuck Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blythe H. McLane prosecuted these cases, including during her prior role as the U.S. Attorney Office’s specially-deputized Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA), funded by the Eastern Idaho Partnership (EIP) and the State of Idaho. The EIP is a coalition of local city and county officials in eastern Idaho as well as the Idaho Department of Correction. The EIP SAUSA program allows law enforcement to utilize the federal criminal justice system – through the EIP SAUSA – to prosecute, convict, and sentence violent, armed criminals and drug traffickers. These criminals often receive stiffer penalties than they might in state courts. This program was created in January 2016. Since that time, approximately 200 defendants have been indicted by the EIP SAUSA. Of these defendants, 146 have been indicted on drug trafficking charges. The defendants indicted under the program have been sentenced to 10,525 months (approximately 877 years) in federal prison, representing an average prison sentence of 57.6 months (4.8 years). Defendants indicted for drug trafficking offenses serve, on average, approximately 64 months (5.33 years) in federal prison. ###


title: Member of Violent Bridgeport Gang Pleads Guilty

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: AMIRE NEWSOME, also known as “Mire,” 20, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to a racketeering offense stemming from his involvement in a violent Bridgeport street gang. Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick. According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence. Newsome was a member of the Original North End (“O.N.E.”), a gang based in the Trumbull Gardens area of Bridgeport that committed acts of violence against rival gangs, including the East End gang, the East Side gang, and the PT Barnum gang. O.N.E. members also robbed drug dealers, customers and others, sold narcotics, and stole cars from inside and outside Connecticut, often using the cars to commit crimes. They frequently used social media to promote and coordinate their criminal activities. Analysis of numerous social media posts and text messages revealed that Newsome possessed firearms, including firearms with extended magazines, and that he sold a variety of drugs. He also participated with other O.N.E. members in the theft and possession of stolen vehicles, some of which were used to commit gang-related shootings. The investigation also revealed that on March 25, 2020, Newsome and O.N.E. member Tyiese Warren stole a car that was in front of the Citgo 6M Service Station and Quik Mart located at 2000 Barnum Avenue in Stratford. During the theft, they dragged the car’s driver, who was trying to stop the theft and was hanging onto the car, several hundred yards before he let go. Warren and Newsome then engaged in a carjacking involving a Toyota Corolla in Bridgeport, holding the owner at gunpoint and ultimately driving away in the car. Minutes later, Warren and Newsome committed a gunpoint robbery of the Citgo in Stratford, taking cash from the store and a cellphone from a store employee. On March 7, 2021, Newsome and O.N.E. members were involved in a shooting of the mother of an East End gang member. Newsome has been detained since his arrest on August 10, 2021. Newsome pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. A sentencing date is not scheduled. Warren pleaded guilty to the same charge. On March 9, 2022, he was sentenced to 40 years of imprisonment . This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory and the Naugatuck Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck, Tara E. Levens, Patrick J. Doherty, Rahul Kale, and Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis. This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs. PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state, and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Pryor man sentenced to 37 months in prison for domestic assault

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: BILLINGS — A Pryor man convicted of beating a woman on the Crow Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 37 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Christian Aaron Monroy, 25, pleaded guilty in March to an indictment charging him with domestic assault by a habitual offender. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court also ordered $1,000 restitution. In court documents, the government alleged that in June 2021, the victim, identified as Jane Doe, was driving a car with Monroy as a passenger. Monroy began to tease Jane Doe, who accidently hit Monroy in the face with her elbow. Later, with Monroy now driving, Jane Doe threw a bottle of Monroy’s alcohol out of the window. Monroy stopped the car and began assaulting Jane Doe. Monroy continued assaulting the victim after they arrived at his home. Jane Doe received treatment for injuries at a Billings hospital. Monroy and Jane Doe were in a dating relationship at the time. Monroy had been convicted in January 2020 and June 2021 of partner or family member assault for assaulting previous girlfriends. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeanne Torske prosecuted the case. The FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Burlington County Man Admits $4 Million Money Laundering Scheme

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – A Burlington County, New Jersey, man admitted today that he illegally laundered the proceeds of a mail fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Pablo Estrada, 26, of Florence, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb in Camden federal court to an information charging him with one count of money laundering. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From August 2020 through January 2023, Estrada received money from victims of various scams, including a lottery scam – an advance fee fraud which begins with victims receiving an unexpected notification that they have won large sums of money in a lottery, but are required to pay various fees and expenses before their winnings can be released to them. Estrada deposited the money into various bank accounts that he maintained for purposes of receiving criminal proceeds. He transferred the funds to other bank accounts, keeping a percentage for himself. Estrada laundered more than $4 million in this manner. The money laundering charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross profits or gross loss, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 19, 2023. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited postal inspectors with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, Philadelphia Division; special agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas Mahoney; and special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked the Burlington County Prosecutors Office under the direction of LaChia L. Bradshaw and the Florence Township Police Department under the direction of Brian Boldizar for their assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel A. Friedman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Camden. estrada.information_.pdf


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced for Violating Federal Gun Control Act

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MICHAEL CRAWFORD , age 27, from New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced yesterday in United States District Court on one count of Possession of a Firearm After a Felony Conviction, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). According to court documents, CRAWFORD exchanged gunfire with an individual at the intersection of Chef Menteur Highway and Louisa Street and sustained gunshot wounds. Moments later, law enforcement encountered CRAWFORD in possession of a firearm that matched ballistics to the scene of the shooting. CRAWFORD was prohibited from firearm possession because he had been previously convicted of Possession of Tramadol in 2019. U.S. District Court Judge Darrel James Papillion sentenced CRAWFORD to serve 86 months in prison, to be followed by three (3) years of supervised release. Judge Papillion also imposed a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Maria Carboni of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Jenison Man Sentenced To  30 Years In Prison For Producing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Michael John Batt, age 36, of Jenison, Michigan, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for creating and distributing pornographic images of a three-year-old child he abused. In imposing the maximum permitted sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Janet T. Neff emphasized the “abhorrent” nature of Batt’s offense, as well as his “extensive collection” of child sexual abuse material. Batt will be on supervised release for 10 years when he gets out of prison, and was also ordered to pay $19,000 in restitution to victims depicted in his child pornography stockpile and over $15,000 in special assessments. “It is difficult to imagine a crime more heinous than the sexual abuse of a child,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “These are among the most sensitive and serious cases my office takes, and we will continue to prioritize finding and prosecuting child sexual predators.” Batt was caught after creating child pornography and sending five pornographic images to an undercover police officer. Leading up to his sentencing, Batt admitted the “egregious” nature of his conduct and that his victims would “never fully heal.” Batt also acknowledged his role in “increas[ing] the demand for child pornography with further and future victimization of children.” “Our community is safer with this predator behind bars,” said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar . “We will continue to prioritize the safety and security of children by investigating online sexual offenses involving minors and working with our partners to hold offenders accountable for the severe harm they cause.” This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan; county prosecutor’s offices; HSI; ICAC; the West Michigan Based Child Exploitation Task Force (WEBCHEX); and federal, state, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. Anyone with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement. For more information about Project Safe Childhood in West Michigan, including resources for children and parents, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmi/project-safe-childhood . This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Michigan State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Castle. ###


title: Honduran National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry of Deported Alien

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MARTIR PERDOMO CHAVEZ (“PERDOMO”) , age 44, a citizen of Honduras, pleaded guilty to one-count indictment charging him with illegal reentry of deported alien in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a). According to the indictment, PERDOMO was encountered in the United States on or about January 5, 2023, after having been previously deported from the country in 2008. U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance scheduled sentencing in the matter for November 15, 2023. At sentencing, PERDOMO faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years, a maximum fine of $250,000, a maximum term of supervised release of one year, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: 14 Minneapolis Gang Members Charged with Possession of Machine Guns, Fentanyl Trafficking, and Firearms Violations

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – Fourteen members of Minneapolis-based street gangs have been charged in federal court for various crimes including illegal possession of firearms, possession of machine guns, and fentanyl trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. “These charges present a chilling picture of the violence inflicted by the Highs, the Lows, the Bloods and other gangs on our city’s streets,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger. “Violent crime levels in Minneapolis have begun to come down and I believe our strategy is playing a role in the reduction, but we still have more work to do, and we will continue to charge violent offenders.” Fourteen members of the Minneapolis-based street gangs are charged in federal criminal complaints with firearms violations, possession of machine guns, and fentanyl trafficking. The following defendants are alleged members of the Lows gang: Michael Marshawn Dalton, 29, is charged with possessing a firearm as a felon. Marquez Demar Hill-Turnipseed, 21, is charged with possession a firearm as a felon and possession of a machine gun. Shannon Aaron Kapriece Jackson, 31, is charged with possession of a firearm as a felon and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Cartrell Ismail Smith, 27, is charged with possession of a firearm as a felon and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Kaprice Richards, 22, is charged with possession of a firearm as a felon. Ohagi Charles Walker, 27, is charged with possession of a firearm as a felon. Clenest Demon Wells, Jr., 26, is charged with possession of a firearm as a felon. The following defendants are alleged members of the Highs gang: Jermaine William Jackson, Jr., 26, is charged with possession of a firearm as a felon and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Adrion Kelley, 19, is charged with possession of a firearm as a felon. Joe Lee Rudolph-Meeks, 28, is charged with possession of a firearm as a felon. James Edward Hollman, Jr., 32, is charged with possession of a firearm as a felon. The following defendants are alleged members of the 10z/20z gang: Devon Lamont Holt, 33, is charged with possession of a firearm as a felon. Marvin Miller, Jr., 35, is charged with possession of a firearm as a felon and possession of a machine gun. The following defendant is an alleged member of the Bloods gang: Dante Joseph Tyus, 29, is charged with possession of a firearm as a felon. These cases are the result of investigations conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, Minneapolis Police Department, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigations, Minnesota Department of Corrections, and Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Bejar, Tom Calhoun-Lopez, David Green, Harry Jacobs, Rachel Kraker, Will Mattessich, Esther Mignanelli, Mary Riverso, Jordan Sing, Ruth Shnider, Joseph Teirab, and Melinda Williams. These charges are merely allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: After a Six-Day Trial, Federal Jury Convicts Holy Health Care Services, LLC Program Administrator for a Health Care Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland – A federal jury yesterday convicted Lambert Mbom, age 50, of Riverdale, Maryland, for conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and for conspiracy to make false statements relating to health care matters in connection with a scheme to fraudulently bill Medicaid. The defendant’s conviction stems from a scheme involving services purportedly provided by Holy Health Care Services, LLC (“Holy Health”), a mental health services provider with locations in Washington, D.C. The jury acquitted Mbom of conspiring to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute. The guilty verdict was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division; Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon, Office of Investigations, Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS OIG”); and Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia. According to evidence presented at Mbom’s six-day trial, he was a program administrator at Holy Health. Holy Health entered into Medicaid Provider Agreements with the District of Columbia’s Department of Health Care Finance (“DHCF”), to provide healthcare services to D.C. Medicaid recipients and was certified by the District of Columbia’s Department of Behavioral Health (“DBH”) to provide mental health services as a freestanding clinic and as a Mental Health and Rehabilitation Services (“MHRS”) provider. As a certified MHRS provider, Holy Health had authority to provide and bill for a variety of mental health services including “community support” – a service for which community support workers (“CSWs”) provide rehabilitative and educational support to mental health patients both in clinical settings and in the community. According to evidence presented at trial, Mbom and his co-conspirators paid to Medicaid beneficiaries to induce the beneficiaries to visit Holy Health for mental health services. As detailed in trial testimony, Mbom and his co-conspirators caused claims to be submitted by Holy Health to Medicaid for services, including community support services, purportedly provided to Medicaid beneficiaries. As detailed in trial testimony, Mbom and his co-conspirators paid individuals to come into the office and then used their personally identifiable information (“PII”) to bill Medicaid for services that were not rendered or were not rendered as billed. The evidence proved that Mbom made up fake Holy Health employees who were purportedly Community Support Workers so that he could bill Medicaid for services provided by these fake employees. Witnesses testified that during the investigation, sources posing as mental health patients were sent to Holy Health to obtain community support services. Not only did the sources not receive the services as billed, but Holy Health billed for CSW services for those patients for visits that never happened. Mbom faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud; and a maximum of five years in federal prison for conspiracy to make a false statement regarding health care matters. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis has not yet scheduled sentencing. The owners of Holy Health, Julius Bakari, age 45, and Mboutchock Kabiwa a/k/a “Eugenie Bakari” or “Eugenie Kabiwa,” age 45, both of Silver Spring, Maryland, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with a scheme to pay bribes and kickbacks to Medicaid beneficiaries to induce the beneficiaries to visit their company. Judge Paula Xinis has scheduled sentencing for Bakari on November 6, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. and for Kabiwa on November 21, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, the HHS OIG, and the District of Columbia Office of Inspector General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher M. Sarma, Jessica C. Collins, and Megan S. McKoy, who are prosecuting the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao/md . # # #


title: Mexican national heads to prison for trafficking narcotics in batteries

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 40-year-old man illegally residing in Edinburg has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of trafficking meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Pedro Castillo-Lopez pleaded guilty March 9 to possession with intent to distribute approximately 31.83 pounds of meth. U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now ordered Castillo-Lopez to serve 96 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, Castillo-Lopez is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Castillo-Lopez will now have a felony conviction for and could spend the rest of his life in prison if he commits another felony or drug crime. On Oct. 26, 2021, law enforcement observed Pedro Castillo-Lopez arrive at a hardware store parking lot located in Harlingen. Castillo approached another vehicle and transferred two commercial vehicle batteries from his vehicle to that one. Authorities were able to confiscate the batteries. They broke one open and found what tested positive for the characteristics of heroin and meth. Further analysis later confirmed both drugs. Castillo-Lopez had been previously removed from the country and did not have lawful presence in the United States. He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Coronado prosecuted the case.


title: Thibodaux Man Sentenced for Failing to Account for and Pay Taxes

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on August 15, 2023, U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan sentenced CORNEL MARTIN, SR. (“ MARTIN ”), age 63, of Thibodaux, Louisiana, to serve 12 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, for failing to account for and pay over federal income taxes and Federal Insurance Contributions Act (“FICA”) taxes, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7202. Judge Morgan also ordered that MARTIN pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) in the amount of $2,681,379.96, and imposed a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. According to court documents, MARTIN operated several businesses in Terrebonne Parish that provided temporary labor to shipyards and offshore oil rigs. MARTIN was the sole owner of each of the companies and controlled the companies’ finances. From 2012 to 2021, MARTIN’s various businesses withheld taxes from its employees’ paychecks, but MARTIN failed to pay over the withheld taxes to the IRS as required. All told, MARTIN’s willful failure to account for and pay trust fund and other taxes associated with his businesses between 2012 and 2021 resulted in a loss amount to the IRS between $1,500,000 and $3,500,000. The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the work of the Internal Revenue Service on this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Long of the Financial Crimes Unit.


title: South Texan gets max for possessing videos showing abuse of child

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 27-year-old Cotulla resident has been ordered to prison for possessing child pornography, including content he created from his abuse of a minor victim, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Jose Luis Lara pleaded guilty Feb 1, 2022. U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo has now imposed a 20-year-term of imprisonment, the maximum allowed under the statute. In handing down the sentence, the Judge noted the extremely disturbing nature of Lara’s acts toward a minor child, remarking that she would have given him more time if she could. Authorities identified Lara in 2021 after they learned of an individual sharing child pornography online who may have also abused a child. On July 21, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his home in Cotulla and discovered and seized several electronic devices. They also showed him a photo of a minor child whom Lara then acknowledged he knew. Lara admitted to filming videos of him abusing that child. He said he filmed them in Big Wells before moving to Cotulla. Law enforcement ultimately identified a total of 1,151 images and 699 videos containing child pornography, including the videos Lara had filmed himself. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michal Makens prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced for Federal Gun and Drug Offenses

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – LANCE STEVENS , age 27, of New Orleans, Louisiana was sentenced on August 15, 2023 after pleading guilty to a six-count indictment charging him with federal firearm and drug trafficking offenses. United States District Court Chief Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown sentenced STEVENS to 132 months of imprisonment after granting his motion for a downward variance from the United States Sentencing Guidelines. Chief Judge Brown also sentenced STEVENS to serve 3 years of supervised release following his imprisonment and to pay $600 in mandatory special assessment fees. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crimes Unit handled the prosecution.


title: Thurmont Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a Child

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – Jose Alexander Diaz-Rodriguez, age 23, of Thurmont, pleaded guilty today sexual exploitation of a child, after he broke into his neighbor’s home and took sexually explicit photographs of a child. The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Chief Greg Eyler of the Thurmont Police Department; Chief Jason Landon of the Frederick Police Department; and Frederick County State’s Attorney J. Charles Smith, III. According to his guilty plea, on July 26, 2021, Diaz-Rodriguez broke into his neighbor’s home and entered the bedroom where Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 were sleeping. Diaz-Rodriguez got into bed with Jane Doe 1, who was eight years old, and produced a series of four images intending to create sexually explicit images of Jane Doe 1. DNA from Diaz-Rodriguez was found on swabs from Jane Doe 1. Jane Doe 1’s mother heard a noise and went into the room where she found Diaz-Rodriguez on the ground next to the bed. Diaz-Rodriguez fled and was arrested a short time later at his residence. A search warrant executed at his residence and his cell phone was seized. A forensic examination of the phone located over 1,000 files depicting the sexual abuse of children, including the four images of Jane Doe 1, which Diaz-Rodriguez had deleted prior to police arrival. Diaz-Rodriguez further admitted that he distributed child sex abuse material on his social media account, specifically an image documenting the sexual abuse of a child. As part of his plea agreement, upon his release from prison, Diaz-Rodriguez will be required to register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”). Diaz-Rodriguez and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Diaz-Rodriguez will be sentenced to 18 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for November 20, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, the Thurmont Police Department, the Frederick Police Department and the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joyce King, who prosecuted the federal case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Denver Woman Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison for CARES Act Fraud

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that DeJane Reaniece Lattany was sentenced to four years in federal prison for receiving more than $3.3 million of fraudulent COVID-19 loans. On March 27, 2020, the President of the United States signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, which provided emergency assistance to small business owners suffering adverse economic effects caused by the Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic. Two sources of funding for small businesses were the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDL”) program. The CARES Act mandated that only businesses in operation on February 15, 2020, for PPP, or before February 1, 2020, for EIDL, were eligible under the programs. In addition, the CARES Act authorized the Small Business Administration to issue advances of up to $10,000 to small businesses, known as Economic Injury Disaster Grants (“EIDG”). The amount of the EIDG was determined by the number of employees the applicant certified having. The EIDGs did not need to be repaid. According to court documents, beginning in June 2020, and continuing through January 2022, the defendant prepared and submitted fraudulent EIDL applications to the Small Business Administration on behalf of business entities that she purportedly owned. In these fraudulent EIDL applications, Lattany made false statements regarding the entities’ number of employees, gross revenues, and cost of goods sold; she further falsely certified that the information provided in the EIDL applications was true and accurate and that the funds would be used to pay payroll and other permissible expenses when, in fact, she used the bulk of the proceeds for her personal benefit. The Small Business Administration approved and funded five EIDL applications and three EIDGs for a total of $430,000 in EIDLs and $20,000 in EIDGs. From June 2020 through December 2021, Lattany submitted fraudulent PPP applications to participating lenders on behalf of business entities that she purportedly controlled and obtained $2,887,976.94 in PPP loans as a result of the scheme. These PPP applications contained a number of false and fraudulent certifications and representations regarding Lattany’s ownership of other businesses, as well as the businesses’ average monthly payroll and number of employees. Lattany falsely represented that all PPP funds would be used to pay eligible business expenses, when, in fact, the bulk of the proceeds were used for her personal benefit. She also submitted false and fraudulent documentation in support of the PPP applications to the participating lenders. Lattany also sought loan forgiveness for PPP loans by submitting loan forgiveness applications. In total, $3,337,976.94 of PPP, EIDL, and EIDG proceeds were paid out as a result of the scheme. “Taxpayers were generous during the pandemic, saving struggling businesses with loans and grants provided by the Small Business Administration,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan. “This defendant stole from the taxpayers, cheating them out of millions. For these crimes she’ll now pay with years of her life in federal prison, and she’s been ordered to pay every penny back with interest.” “Federal CARES Act dollars were meant to keep families, businesses, and the economy afloat during the pandemic. Instead, this fraudster lied in her applications and used more than $3.3 million to live the high life,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “The FBI continues to investigate those who so eagerly defrauded the government and we’re committed to holding each and every one accountable.” United States District Court Judge Nina Y. Wang sentenced the defendant on August 15, 2023. In addition to the period of incarceration, the defendant was ordered to pay $3,437,072.81, plus interest, in restitution. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Denver Division. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole C. Cassidy and Rebecca S. Weber. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . Case Number: 23-cr-00074-NYW


title: Hardin man admits assault of woman on Crow Indian Reservation

body_text: BILLINGS — A Hardin accused of striking a woman in Lodge Grass, on the Crow Indian Reservation, admitted to an assault charge today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Sergio Antonio Lopez, 33, pleaded guilty to assault by striking, beating or wounding, a misdemeanor, as charged in a superseding information. Lopez faces a maximum of one year in prison, a $100,000 fine and one year of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The court set sentencing for Dec. 15. Lopez was released pending further proceedings. In court documents, the government alleged that on Aug. 20, 2022 in Lodge Grass, bounty hunters, accompanied by Lopez, arrested an individual with outstanding state warrants at the home of the victim, identified as Jane Doe. The arrest occurred sometime after midnight. Jane Doe heard knocking at her door and it was Lopez. During the arrest, the individual was resisting, and Jane Doe assisted the individual in trying to stop the arrest. Lopez assaulted Jane Doe by pulling her hair, hitting and kicking her. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek is prosecuting the case. The FBI conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Arsonist Pleads Guilty to Fire Bombing Donut Hole

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: TULSA, Okla. - A Tulsa man who firebombed a popular donut shop with a Molotov Cocktail pleaded guilty today in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. Coby Dale Green, 24, pleaded guilty to malicious use of explosive materials. In his plea agreement, Green admitted that in the early morning hours of Halloween, 2022, he broke the glass front door, lit the wick of the Molotov Cocktail, and then threw the Molotov Cocktail through the broken front door, into the Donut Hole. “The Molotov Cocktail that Green threw into the Donut Hole was fueled by bias and had the power to burn down several businesses,” said U.S. Attorney Clinton Johnson. “I want to thank our law enforcement partners and the prosecution team for holding the defendant accountable for his actions.” Green faces between 5 and 20 years in federal prison, and a fine of not more than $250,000, or both. A federal district court judge will determine sentencing after considering sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A date for sentencing has not been set. Green has been and will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is the investigating agency with assistance from Tulsa Police and Fire Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan E. Michel and Christopher J. Nassar are prosecuting the case.


title: Bloomfield Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Narcotics Trafficking Offenses

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KENSTON HARRY, 42, of Bloomfield, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for drug trafficking offenses. This matter stems from an investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force into a drug trafficking organization headed by Tajh Wiley, also known as Yung, of Norwalk. The investigation, which included a court-authorized wiretap of Wiley’s phone, revealed that Wiley conspired with Harry and others to distribute fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana throughout Connecticut. Harry was arrested on June 9, 2021. In association with his arrest, investigators searched his Bloomfield residence and his Hartford business, Action Audio. The search of his residence revealed more than one kilogram of fentanyl, more than one kilogram of cocaine, and kilogram presses and other items used to process and package narcotics for distribution. The search of Harry’s business resulted in the seizure of marijuana and other items. On October 18, 2022, a jury found Harry guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and marijuana; one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams of fentanyl; one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Harry, Wiley and six others were charged as a result of this investigation. On July 26, 2022, a jury found Wiley guilty of multiple offenses. On December 28, 2022, he was sentenced to 144 months of imprisonment . As part of the investigation, law enforcement seized from Wiley jewelry valued at more than $100,000, and a 2021 Mercedes-Benz valued at approximately $146,000. Harry, who is released on a $250,000 bond, is required to report to prison on October 25. This investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bridgeport Police Department, Fairfield Police Department, Norwalk Police Department, Stamford Police Department, Stratford Police Department, Yonkers (New York) Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service. The HIDTA Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford, and Danbury Police Departments. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick J. Doherty, Robert S. Dearington, Margaret M. Donovan and Elena L. Coronado through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Shiprock Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact of a Minor and Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Allan Wilson was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Wilson, 64, of Shiprock, New Mexico, pled guilty in federal court on March 22, 2023, to abusive sexual contact of a minor in Indian Country and possession of child pornography. According to court documents, in the fall of 2019, Wilson engaged in abusive sexual contact with a minor while she was spending the night in the home Wilson shared with his sister on the Navajo Nation. The victim, who is a member of the Navajo Nation, was less than twelve years old at the time. During the resulting investigation, the FBI conducted a search of Wilson’s phone. The search revealed pornographic pictures of another minor victim under the age of eighteen years old. Wilson admitted that he knew the images were on his phone. Upon his release from prison, Wilson must register as a sex offender and he will be on supervised release for ten years. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and the New Mexico Regional Computer Forensics Lab. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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 http://www.justice.gov/psc/. # # # 23-183


title: KC Chiefs ‘Superfan’ Indicted for Bank Theft, Money Laundering

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A man popularly known as Kansas City Chiefs superfan “ChiefsAholic” was indicted by a federal grand jury today for robbing several financial institutions and laundering the proceeds through area casinos. Xaviar Michael Babudar, 29, was charged in a 19-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Babudar on May 24, 2023, and includes additional charges. Babudar, who lived a nomadic existence at various locations around the Kansas City metropolitan area, enjoyed a robust social media presence as Kansas City Chiefs superfan Twitter user @ChiefsAholic, attending most games dressed as a wolf in Chiefs clothing. According to the indictment, Babudar’s ability to attend these games and sustain this lifestyle was funded by his perpetration of a string of bank and credit union robberies throughout 2022. Babudar laundered the robbery proceeds through area casinos, and used the robbery proceeds to attend numerous Chiefs home and away games. He also placed various wagers on the outcomes of Chiefs games. During this time, the indictment says, Babudar did not report any wages earned in the states of Missouri or Kansas. Today’s indictment charges Babudar with three counts of armed bank robbery, one count of bank theft, 11 counts of money laundering, and four counts of transporting stolen property across state lines. Babudar allegedly stole $70,000 from the Clive, Iowa, branch of Great Western Bank on March 2, 2022. He then carried this money to Missouri, depositing it in two separate transactions into his personal savings account. Babudar allegedly stole $170,860 from the Omaha, Nebraska, branch of First National Bank of Omaha on April 28, 2022. Omaha police officers recovered $163,560 following the theft. Babudar allegedly stole $303,845 from the West Des Moines, Iowa, branch of First Class Community Credit Union on July 13, 2022. In the course of this robbery, Babudar allegedly brandished what appeared to be a silver and black firearm, jumped over the teller counter, and demanded that the bank employees open the bank vault. He carried this money back to Missouri, and the next day deposited $23,000 into his savings account. He used some of the proceeds to make various casino chip purchases over the next three months at casinos in Missouri and Illinois, then cashed out his winnings and deposited them into his savings account. Babudar allegedly stole $125,900 from the Nashville, Tennessee, branch of The Tennessee Credit Union on Nov. 17, 2022. In the course of this robbery, Babudar allegedly brandished what appeared to be a silver and black firearm, climbed over the teller counter, and demanded that the bank employees take him to the bank vault. A few days later, he used some of the stolen money to purchase $20,000 in casino chips in multiple transactions from a local casino. Babudar allegedly stole $25,000 from the Clive, Iowa, branch of First Interstate Bank on Nov. 30, 2022. Following two unsuccessful robberies of the Wings Financial Credit Union in Savage, Minn., and the Royal Credit Union in Apple Valley, Minn., on Nov. 29, 2022, the indictment says, Babudar returned to Clive, Iowa. The Great Western Bank that he had robbed on March 2, 2022, had become a branch of First Interstate Bank. In the course of this robbery, Babudar allegedly brandished what appeared to be a silver and black firearm, jumped over the teller counter, and ordered the bank employees at gunpoint to open the bank vault. Babudar then carried the stolen money back to Missouri, where he deposited a portion of it into his personal checking account. Babudar was charged in Tulsa County, Okla., with the robbery of the Tulsa Teachers Federal Credit Union on Dec. 16, 2022. Babudar was released on bond in February 2023. Months earlier, the indictment says, Babudar had placed two winning bets at the Argosy Casino in Alton, Ill. On June 10, 2022, Babudar bet $5,000 that Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes II would win the Most Valuable Player at Super Bowl LVII, which would pay out $45,000 should that occur. Babudar also bet $5,000 that the Kansas City Chiefs would win Super Bowl LVII, which would pay out $55,000 should that occur. When the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl on Feb. 12, 2023, and Mahomes won the Most Valuable Player award, Babudar won $100,000. Argosy Casino mailed Babudar a $100,000 check in early March 2023. Days later, the indictment says, Babudar cut his ankle monitor and fled from Oklahoma. Babudar evaded law enforcement until his arrest in Sacramento on July 7, 2023. He remains detained in federal custody without bond. Following Babudar’s arrest in Oklahoma last December, FBI investigators began reviewing bank records, casino transaction records, and sensitive financial reporting to determine the breadth and scope of additional potential criminal activities. According to the affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Babudar purchased and redeemed more than $1 million in chips from various casinos in Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois between April and December 2022. Investigators also reviewed previously unsolved bank robberies throughout the Midwest during that time frame. Babudar’s cell phone was placed in the same cities and locations for these previously unsolved bank robberies and attempted robberies, the affidavit says. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick D. Daly and Stephanie C. Bradshaw. It was investigated by the FBI. The Placer County, Calif., Sheriff’s Department and the Lincoln, Calif., Police Department assisted in the arrest.


title: Four Sentenced for Multi-Kilogram Crack Cocaine Conspiracy

body_text: ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – The last four men in a six-man crack cocaine conspiracy were sentenced on August 8, 2023, before Chief District Court Judge Sara L. Darrow. The conspiracy covered a period of time from 2017 until mid-2020, and occurred in and around Rock Island County, Illinois. In addition to the conspiracy, some men were charged with individual counts of distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine. All six defendants involved in the conspiracy pleaded guilty and were sentenced as follows. Rasheem Damonte Bogan, a/k/a “Sheem” , 31, of the 1800 block of West 8 th Street, Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced to 180 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release. Raheem Jacques Houston, a/k/a “Heem” , 30, of the 800 block of 21 st Street, Rock Island, Illinois, was sentenced to 120 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release. Devell Carl Lewis , 35, of Brown Court Street, Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced to 126 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release; Christopher William Pullman, a/k/a “Dime” , 35, of the 2700 block of 6 th Avenue, Rock Island, Illinois, was sentenced to 180 months of imprisonment and ten years of supervised release. Based on Pullman’s prior criminal history, his statutory penalties were enhanced to a mandatory minimum term of fifteen years up to a maximum of life in prison, followed by at least ten years of supervised release. Two other co-defendants had previously been sentenced in March of 2022 for their involvement in the conspiracy. Brandon Jerome Pullman, a/k/a “Tall B.” a/k/a “B” , 32, of the 2700 block of 6th Avenue, Rock Island, Illinois, was sentenced to 120 months’ of imprisonment and five years of supervised release. Cortez Deangelo Cooper, Jr., a/k/a “Tez” , 29, of the 900 block of West 14th Street, Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced to 125 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release. The statutory penalty for conspiracy to distribute at least 280 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base, “crack” is a mandatory minimum term of ten years, and up to a maximum of life in prison, followed by at least five years of supervised release. The statutory penalty for distribution of at least 28 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base, “crack” is five years to 40 years in prison, followed by at least five years of supervised release. The statutory penalty for distribution of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine or cocaine base, “crack” is up to 20 years in prison, followed by at least three years of supervised release. Each charge also carries a $100 special assessment. At the sentencing hearing, the government presented commentary about the multi-year nature of the conspiracy and the impact that the drug distribution had on the Quad Cities community. Additionally, three of the men, Rasheem Bogan, Devell Lewis, and Raheem Houston, were also charged in May of 2023, by federal indictment in the Southern District of Iowa, Davenport Division, for a Racketeering Conspiracy. It is alleged that the three men and others, were members of a criminal organization known as the “Arsenal Courts Posse, a/k/a Zone Fifth, a/k/a, Fifth Street Mafia, a/k/a Rock Town Money Getters, a/k/a Money Team. According to that indictment, the organization’s purpose was to distribute controlled substances, obtain money and things of value, and earn and maintain respect in the Quad Cities. It is alleged that Bogan, Lewis and Houston, as well as the other members of the organization, conspired to engage in a years-long pattern of violence, including murder, attempted murders, robbery, and drug trafficking. Additional information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdia/pr/defendants-charged-joint-federal-state-and-local-investigation-firearms-trafficking The Rock Island Police Department, and the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Mathew and former Assistant United States Attorney Alyssa Raya represented the government in the prosecution. This case was brought as 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


title: U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez announces $2M Grant to the Albuquerque Community Safety Department and its Violence Intervention Program

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded a $2,050,000.00 grant to the Albuquerque Community Safety Department and its Violence Intervention Program as part of the Byrne Discretionary Grant Program, which assists local communities in improving the capacity of local justice systems and provides for national support efforts including training and technical assistance programs strategically targeted to address local needs. “Everyone deserves to feel safe our community,” said U.S. Attorney Uballez. “With this funding, the Violence Intervention Program will intervene to address root causes of the violence which has plagued our streets. By centering the safety of those who are most at risk of shooting and being shot, we make the community safer for us all. To those young men in our community who are spiraling out of control, trapped in a world of hatred and fear: We want you to be safe, alive, and free, but the shooting must stop. We will help you if you let us and stop you if you make us.” "We know that by sending our responders out into the community and meeting people where they are, we can interrupt cycles of violence and ultimately change lives for the better," said Mayor Tim Keller. "This investment in ACS's Violence Intervention Program helps address violence at its root and is an important piece of our multifaceted approach to reducing violent crime." “We thank the Department of Justice for investing in the next phase of Community Safety and Violence Intervention in the City of Albuquerque,” said ACS Director Mariela Ruiz-Angel. “By expanding that work, and exploring how we can grow our Division of Violence Prevention and Intervention, we will build upon our work to break cycles of violence in our community and schools." Beginning as a community-led initiative, Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) is a cabinet-level public safety department, meaning they operate independently from and in collaboration with the Albuquerque Police Department and Albuquerque Fire Rescue. The department launched on September 8, 2021, and provides crisis aid, welfare checks, and referrals for people in need. ACS responders also offer transportation to providers of mental health, addiction, shelter, and case management services. The Violence Intervention Program (VIP) is a gun violence reduction program that focuses on those at the highest risk of becoming part of the gun violence cycles in the City. VIP Program implementation began in late March 2020, in the midst of the pandemic. The first year was a pilot year where multiple components were implemented. Components encompass a public health approach to gun violence reduction and a focused deterrence law enforcement approach to gun violence. VIP currently falls under Albuquerque Community Safety’s Violence Prevention and Intervention Division. ACS and VIP will use the discretionary earmark funding to expand the scope of these programs. This will enhance service in violence prevention, intervention, and support within Albuquerque. In addition to an expansion of the existing work, this funding can help with exploring the establishment of an Office of Violence Prevention for the City of Albuquerque. In exploring the establishment of an Office of Violence Prevention, the goal would be to bring together numerous programs in a highly effective way. Included within a possible Office could be the Violence Intervention Program, a School-Based Violence Intervention Program, Trauma Recovery Center, Community Oriented Response Assistance, an Opioid Prevention Program, and a possible Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program. This would be modeled after successful Offices in other areas, such as Newark and Philadelphia, but made unique to Albuquerque. The ultimate goal is to combine assertive outreach, advocacy, evidence-based mental health services, and comprehensive case management specific to the person or the community. Through a diverse staff, ACS and VIP will be able to better support individuals who have been victims of violence, physical assault, sexual assault, opioid abuse, domestic violence, and more. ### 23-184


title: St. Louis Man Sentenced to 120 Years in Prison for Producing Child Pornography

body_text: ST. LOUIS –U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Wednesday sentenced a man from St. Louis, Missouri who produced child pornography involving three children to 120 years in prison. Anthony Lemicy, 44, was found guilty in March by a jury in U.S. District Court in St. Louis of four counts of producing child pornography. Witnesses and evidence showed that in 2019, Lemicy sexually abused a 7-year-old that he was babysitting and took pictures and videos of the abuse. He also took videos of two other children in the shower. “This sentence will ensure that Missouri children will now be safe from Anthony Lemicy’s predatory behavior,” said U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming. “It should also serve as a notice to others that those who prey on children will be punished severely.” After police were alerted and before Lemicy was arrested, he fled to Tacoma, Washington. He was later found by FBI agents hiding in a clothes dryer and returned to St. Louis. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colleen Lang and Nathan Chapman prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.justice.gov/psc .


title: Former Mayor of Anaheim Agrees to Plead Guilty to Federal Charges Stemming from Attempted Sale of Angel Stadium

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: SANTA ANA, California – The former mayor of Anaheim has agreed to plead guilty to federal felony charges for obstructing an FBI public corruption investigation by destroying evidence and for making false statements to FBI agents, the Justice Department announced today. In court documents filed today in United States District Court, Harish “Harry” Singh Sidhu, 66, of Anaheim, also admits cheating California tax authorities and making false statements to the Federal Aviation Administration in relation to his purchase of a helicopter. Federal prosecutors today filed a criminal information charging Sidhu with one count of obstruction of justice, one count of wire fraud, and two counts of making false statements to the FBI and the FAA. In a plea agreement also filed today, Sidhu agreed to plead guilty to the four offenses. According to his plea agreement, Sidhu – a longtime member of the Anaheim City Council who was elected mayor in 2018 – admitted that while the City of Anaheim was negotiating the sale of Angel Stadium to the Los Angeles Angels Major League Baseball club, he sought out and became a member of the city’s negotiating team for the stadium sale. While on the negotiating team, Sidhu provided confidential information belonging to the city to people working for the Angels, so that the Angels could buy Angel Stadium on favorable terms for the baseball club. After secretly providing the information he had received in his position as mayor, Sidhu later was recorded saying he expected a $1 million campaign contribution from the Angels after the baseball club purchased Angel Stadium, the plea agreement states. “While serving as Anaheim’s mayor, Mr. Sidhu took a series of actions that compromised the city’s negotiating position by providing confidential information and secretly working to influence the city’s decision-making process – all of which had a detrimental effect on the city and its residents,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally. “Public confidence in the integrity of public officials is critical to our society. This office will continue to root out public officials who compromise their integrity.” “Mr. Sidhu was elected by and pledged to work for the residents of Anaheim, but he violated that pledge and their trust on numerous occasions to look out for special interests,” said Donald Alway, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “Mr. Sidhu deceived his colleagues and weakened the city’s official strategy by divulging intellectual property, then lied to the government when his corruption was discovered. I’m proud of the hard work put in by agents and prosecutors which resulted in today’s plea agreement.” “The public places a lot of trust and confidence in elected officials, which Mr. Sidhu violated,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “Working with our law enforcement partners, we were able to prevent Mr. Sidhu from causing greater harm to the Anaheim community.” Sidhu admitted that he knowingly destroyed evidence by deleting multiple email messages and documents with the intent to impede and obstruct the FBI’s investigation of public corruption related to the city’s attempted sale of Angel Stadium. In the plea agreement, Sidhu specifically admitted he deleted an email message he had sent on July 21, 2020, with an attachment drafted by lawyers for the city, which contained confidential negotiation information related to the potential sale of Angel Stadium, including a discussion of issues related to price. Sidhu also admitted in his plea agreement that he deleted a September 2020 email message about secret mock Anaheim City Council meetings involving Sidhu, two other City Council members and representatives of the Angels – including the team president and a team lawyer. Those mock City Council meetings would precede the scheduled public City Council meeting about the city’s proposed sale of Angel Stadium. The deleted email message had an attachment titled “Angels Council Debate Prep,” which detailed the topics on which each participant of the mock City Council meetings should focus, and it added “[Angels] team available to help develop ‘zingers’, responses, and other points to improve performance.” Sidhu also admitted he had provided a confidential appraisal range to the Angels in 2019, months before the appraisal was made public. During the investigation, FBI agents secretly recorded multiple statements by Sidhu about the $1 million campaign contribution that he expected to receive after the City of Anaheim sold Angel Stadium to the Angels, the plea agreement states. Sidhu also admitted that he lied about the Angel Stadium sale negotiations and related matters when FBI agents interviewed him on May 12, 2022. For example, during that interview, Sidhu falsely stated that he was expecting “nothing” from the Angels after the Angel Stadium sale, when in truth, he was expecting to receive a $1 million campaign contribution for his election after the sale. Sidhu also admitted to lying about using his personal email for city business. “Not only did [Sidhu] conduct City business using his personal email, but he also communicated with some City staff using that staff’s personal email, purposely avoiding using the staff member’s official City email address,” the plea agreement states. In his plea agreement, Sidhu also admitted that in late 2020, he tried to defraud the State of California of approximately $16,000 in sales tax revenue by using an Arizona address to register a helicopter he had just purchased, even though he lived in Anaheim. Sidhu admitted that he fraudulently used a mailing address in Scottsdale, Arizona that actually belonged to an Anaheim businessperson. Sidhu also admitted that he provided false information for the helicopter to the Federal Aviation Administration when he submitted an “Aircraft Registration Application” that he signed and certified as true, but which falsely claimed his permanent mailing address was in Arizona. Sidhu is expected to make his initial appearance in United States District Court in Santa Ana later this month. Once Sidhu enters his guilty pleas, he will face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for the obstruction of justice count, up to 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud count, and up to five years in federal prison for each false statements count. The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation are conducting the ongoing investigation in this matter. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations – Riverside Air Unit, provided substantial assistance in the investigation of Sidhu’s helicopter tax fraud. Assistant United States Attorneys Charles E. Pell and Melissa S. Rabbani of the Santa Ana Branch Office are prosecuting this case.


title: Point Marion Man Pleads Guilty to Interstate Domestic Violence

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Point Marion, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of interstate domestic violence, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Kristopher Lee Holmes pleaded guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge David Stewart Cercone. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on August 30, 2020, Holmes restrained his dating partner while he led police on a high-speed chase from West Virginia into Pennsylvania, with speeds exceeding 100 miles an hour. Meanwhile, the victim was trying to escape the car, including by attempting to open the passenger door to exit the vehicle while it was moving. In keeping the victim in the car against her will, Holmes gave the victim a black eye and left long bruises in the shape of fingerprints on the victim’s left arm. Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for December 5, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 5 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Pending sentencing, the court continued Holmes on bond. The Pennsylvania State Police and Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Holmes.