title: Jeffersonville Husband and Wife Sentenced for Making False Statements in Acquisition of Firearms

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on December 17, 2024, Jacob McKenna, 38, of Jeffersonville, Vermont was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to time served to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Jacob McKenna previously pleaded guilty to making false statements in connection with his acquisition of a firearm. According to court records, on October 28, 2022, Jacob McKenna went to a federal firearms licensee (FFL) in Williston, Vermont. There, he filled out a written ATF Form 4473 in connection with the purchase of a nine-millimeter pistol. On the form, Jacob McKenna falsely stated he was not a user of illegal drugs. Based on that false statement, Jacob McKenna obtained the pistol. On January 5, 2023, Jacob McKenna returned to the same FFL and tried to buy two more nine-millimeter pistols. When confronted about this conduct on January 6, 2023, Jacob McKenna admitted to purchasing firearms on several occasions intended for persons prohibited from lawfully possessing firearms. On July 26, 2024, United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford sentenced Jacob McKenna’s wife, Tamira McKenna, 36, also of Jeffersonville, to time served to be followed by a two-year term of supervised release. Tamira McKenna also previously pleaded guilty to making false statements in acquisition of a firearm. For her part, on March 10, 2022, Tamira McKenna went to the same FFL in Williston, Vermont, where, like her husband, in the course of acquiring a handgun, she filled out paperwork falsely stating she was not a user of illegal drugs. On January 5, 2023, Tamira McKenna returned to the same FFL and tried unsuccessfully to buy two more nine-millimeter pistols, and again lied on an ATF Form 4473. The next day, during an interview with law enforcement Tamira McKenna admitted to her use of controlled substances and that she intended to purchase the firearms to give them to a person prohibited from lawfully possessing firearms. United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Burlington Police Department, the South Burlington Police Department, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, the Milton Police Department, and the United States Marshal Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig. Tamira McKenna was represented by Lisa Shelkrot, Esq. Jacob McKenna was represented by Robert Behrens, Esq. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: United States Attorney Breon Peace Announces Upcoming Resignation from Office

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Breon Peace is resigning as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York on January 10, 2025. Mr. Peace has served in the position since October 15, 2021. First Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn Pokorny will become Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York upon Mr. Peace’s departure. Statement from United States Attorney Peace: “It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as United States Attorney, to be at the forefront in protecting the over eight million residents of this great district from harm, in upholding the rule of law and promoting civil rights and dignity for all people. As United States Attorney, I have had the singularly rewarding experience of being called to public service and leadership in a district that is filled with people of different backgrounds and life experiences – yet share a common bond of humanity. Throughout my tenure I have also had the good fortune to work with some of the most talented prosecutors and staff to be found anywhere in the country and this district and our nation are the better for their skill, sacrifice and service. As I leave the Office, I will always be grateful for the extraordinary work we have done together in furthering our mission, doing the right thing always and in achieving justice with honor and integrity. And, I look forward to the Office’s continued courageous commitment to pursuing justice, fairly and ethically, without bias, without fear or favor, and with compassion and empathy for our fellow human beings.”


title: New York City Resident Pleads Guilty to Operating Secret Police Station of the Chinese Government in Lower Manhattan

body_text: BROOKLYN, NY – Today in federal court in Brooklyn, Manhattan resident Chen Jinping pleaded guilty to conspiring to act as an agent of the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), in connection with opening and operating an undeclared overseas police station in lower Manhattan for the PRC’s Ministry of Public Security (MPS). Today’s proceeding was held before United States District Judge Nina R. Morrison. When sentenced, the defendant faces up to five years in prison. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; and James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the guilty plea. “A priority of my Office has been to counteract the malign activities of foreign governments that violate our nation’s sovereignty by targeting local diaspora communities in the United States,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Today, a participant in a transnational repression scheme who worked to establish a secret police station in the middle of New York City on behalf of the national police force of the People’s Republic of China has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to act as an illegal agent. We will continue our efforts to protect the rights of vulnerable persons who come to this country to escape the repressive activities of authoritarian regimes.” “Today’s guilty plea holds the defendant accountable for his brazen efforts to operate an undeclared overseas police station on behalf of the PRC’s national police force — a clear affront to American sovereignty and danger to our community that will not be tolerated,” stated Assistant Attorney General Olsen. “The Department of Justice will continue to pursue anyone who attempts to aid the PRC’s efforts to extend their repressive reach into the United States.” “Today, Chen Jinping admitted to his role in audaciously establishing an undeclared police station in the heart of New York City and attempting to conceal the effort when approached by FBI New York,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy. “This illegal police station was not opened in the interest of public safety, but to further the nefarious and repressive aims of the PRC in direct violation of American sovereignty. The FBI is unwavering in our duty to protect both the freedoms enshrined in the Constitution and the security of our nation from oppressive hostile governments.” As alleged in court filings and facts presented at the plea proceeding, Chen Jinping and co-defendant Lu Jianwang conspired to act as illegal agents of the PRC government and also obstructed justice by destroying evidence of their communications with an MPS official (the MPS Official). While acting under the direction and control of the MPS Official, the defendants worked together to establish the first known overseas police station in the United States on behalf of the Fuzhou branch of the MPS. The police station—which closed in the fall of 2022—occupied an entire floor in an office building in Manhattan’s Chinatown. Chen and Lu helped open and operate the clandestine police station. None of the participants in the scheme informed the U.S. government that they were helping the PRC government open and operate an undeclared MPS police station on U.S. soil. In October 2022, the FBI conducted a judicially authorized search of the illegal police station. In connection with the search, FBI agents interviewed both defendants and seized their phones. In reviewing the contents of these phones, FBI agents observed that communications between the defendants, on the one hand, and the MPS Official, on the other, appeared to have been deleted. Lu Jianwang has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is awaiting trial. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander A. Solomon and Antoinette N. Rangel are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Scott A. Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. The FBI has created a website for victims to report efforts by foreign governments to stalk, intimidate, or assault people in the United States. If you believe that you are or have been a victim of transnational repression, please visit https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/counterintelligence/transnational-repression . The Defendant : CHEN JINPING Age: 60 Manhattan, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-316 (NRM)


title: Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms Offense

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WASHINGTON – Corey Whittico, 21, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty yesterday to a federal firearms offense stemming from his possession of a loaded Glock firearm equipped with a machine gun conversion device in December 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves; FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division; and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Whittico pleaded guilty on December 17, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. The Honorable John D. Bates scheduled a sentencing hearing for March 24, 2025. According to court papers, on December 19, 2023, MPD officers familiar with Whittico observed him broadcasting live video over Instagram. The video showed Whittico in the front passenger seat of a moving vehicle in Northeast Washington, D.C. During the live broadcast, Whittico brandished a black Glock handgun that was equipped with an aftermarket machine gun conversion device, which has the effect of converting the firearm to fully automatic and is colloquially known as a “switch.” As part of the same live broadcast, Whittico reached into the backseat of the vehicle and displayed black and clear plastic bags containing a green leafy substance consistent in appearance with marijuana. Officers located the vehicle in the Clay Terrace neighborhood of Northeast Washington and conducted a traffic stop. Following a search of the vehicle, officers recovered over three pounds of suspected marijuana and two Glock firearms: a Glock 27 equipped with a machinegun conversion device and loaded with 17 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition, and a Glock 45 loaded with 26 rounds of 9mm ammunition. Officers had observed Whittico brandishing one of those firearms—the Glock 27—on the Instagram live broadcast just minutes earlier. Federal law prohibits Whittico from possessing a firearm because he has previously been convicted of crimes punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. For example, in 2023, Whittico was convicted of robbery in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland. Whittico was on probation for that offense at the time he possessed the firearm charged in this case. The case was initially charged in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. In January 2024, a federal grand jury empaneled by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia returned an indictment charging Whittico with the December 2023 offense. Whittico has remained in custody since his December 19, 2023, arrest. Whittico faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentence imposed in this case will be determined by the Court after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The case was investigated by MPD’s Sixth District Crime Suppression Team and the FBI Washington Field Office’s Safe Streets Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul V. Courtney and Kyle R. Mirabelli, with valuable assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Tepfer and former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Cloherty and Omeed Assefi. 24cr13


title: Armed Robbery of Three Postal Workers Leads to 21+ Years in Prison

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Wednesday sentenced a man who robbed U.S. Postal Service letter carriers in St. Louis County as part of a conspiracy to steal checks from the mail to 21 years and three months in prison. Xavier Sean Boyd, 20, of Jennings, was one of five people involved in a conspiracy in the summer of 2022 to rob postal workers of the arrow keys that unlock mail collection boxes, use those keys to steal checks and then use those checks to commit fraud. Boyd robbed a postal carrier at gunpoint on June 1, 2022, on Chambers Road in St. Louis County. The conspirators used that key four days later to steal mail from collection boxes in Berkeley, West Florissant, Normandy, Overland and Ferguson. Boyd and co-conspirator Roy Lee Jones deposited $19,199.60 in stolen checks into Jones' credit union account on June 7, 2022. They next day, they tried to withdraw the entire amount, but were only able to obtain $8,500. They also deposited checks into Xavier Boyd 's bank account but were not able to withdraw any of the stolen funds. Jones robbed a second postal carrier of his arrow key on June 9, 2022. Boyd robbed a third carrier less than 20 minutes later. Both were in Boyd’s mother’s SUV at the time. The third postal carrier noted the license plate of the SUV and police spotted the vehicle within minutes. Boyd initially pulled over and then sped away, sparking a high-speed chase that ended when Boyd crashed. Both men fled, carrying pistols. Police tackled Boyd within feet of the SUV and arrested Jones on the front steps of a nearby day care center. In a video call from jail after his arrest, Boyd warned one of his co-conspirators to try and thwart the investigation, according to court documents. Boyd had just graduated from a prestigious local high school and had at least one college acceptance at the time he was terrorizing postal workers. “Postal Service employees play an integral role in our communities delivering mail to the American people. As public servants, postal employees must be allowed to do their job safely and securely. Postal Inspectors will aggressively investigate anyone who brings harm to these invaluable public servants,” said Inspector in Charge, Ruth Mendonça, who leads the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which includes the St. Louis Field Office. Boyd pleaded guilty in September to three counts of robbery and two counts of possession and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a robbery. Last month, Judge Schelp sentenced Jones, 22, to 84 months in prison. Jones pleaded guilty in August to one count of robbery, one count of theft of a mail key and one count of possession and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a robbery. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the St. Louis County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Dunkel prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Defendant Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Violent Spree Of Gunpoint Carjackings

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Edward Y. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Bryan Miller, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”); and Jessica Tisch, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced that ROBERT FELIX-ARACENA was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels to 10 years in prison for conspiring to commit a series of gunpoint carjackings in Manhattan, the Bronx, and elsewhere in 2020, and for a related firearms offense. Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim said: “Robert Felix-Aracena and his co-defendants engaged in a violent, armed carjacking spree that endangered lives and terrorized victims. Felix-Aracena, like his co-defendants, is now being held accountable for his actions. Today’s sentence is a reminder that this Office will relentlessly investigate and prosecute those who seek to inflict violence on our communities.” ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller said: “This sentencing for these brazen armed carjackings should serve as a clear warning that such criminal acts will never be tolerated. ATF remains steadfast in its commitment to working together with our partners to identify, investigate, and apprehend the most violent offenders in our communities. I want to thank the men and women of the ATF/NYPD SPARTA Task Force, the NYPD Manhattan Robbery Squad, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for bringing these individuals to justice. We will dedicate all necessary resources to continue collaboration with our local, state, and federal partners to ensure our streets remain safe.” NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said: “This sentencing marks the final dismantling of an organized criminal network that instilled fear in New York City motorists. It is also a testament to the collaborative efforts of the dedicated NYPD investigators and ATF agents on the SPARTA task force. Their tireless work, day and night, is making people safe, making them feel safe, and enhancing the quality of life for all New Yorkers.” According to the Indictment and statements made in public court documents and proceedings: In October and November 2020, FELIX-ARACENA and a group of other individuals participated in a series of armed carjackings in Manhattan, the Bronx, and elsewhere. That group also included co-defendant CHRISTIAN CRUZ, who was sentenced earlier this year to 10 years in prison; co-defendant ANDRES CAICEDO, who was sentenced last month to four years in prison; and co-defendant JOSE LAVANDIER, who was previously sentenced to three years in prison. In particular: On October 22, 2020, CAICEDO and others participated in a gunpoint carjacking in the Bronx. As a co-conspirator brandished a firearm at the victim, CAICEDO took marijuana, cash, and the victim’s car keys from the victim. On November 1, 2020, FELIX-ARACENA, CRUZ, and others participated in a gunpoint carjacking from two victims in the Bronx. FELIX-ARACENA, armed with a TEC-9 firearm, and another carjacker took the vehicle from the victims, with FELIX-ARACENA brandishing a firearm and firing a shot near the foot of one of the victims in the process. On November 3, 2020, FELIX-ARACENA, CRUZ, and others participated in a gunpoint carjacking from two victims in Brooklyn. The group was driving the vehicle they had carjacked two days earlier, and CRUZ was armed with, and brandished, the TEC-9. That same day, the stolen vehicle was recovered in the Bronx by law enforcement, after FELIX-ARACENA, CRUZ, and the other carjackers fled from law enforcement in the stolen vehicle and on foot. On November 7, 2020, FELIX-ARACENA and others participated in a gunpoint carjacking from multiple victims in Manhattan. The other carjackers, armed with a firearm, approached the victims and took their vehicle, while FELIX-ARACENA and another carjacker remained in the getaway vehicle. During the evening of November 10, 2020, and the early morning hours of November 11, 2020, FELIX-ARACENA, CRUZ, and others participated in three gunpoint carjackings and an attempted carjacking. Finally, on November 13, 2020, FELIX-ARACENA, LAVANDIER, and others participated in a gunpoint carjacking from two victims in Manhattan. FELIX-ARACENA, armed with a defaced firearm, and another individual took the vehicle from the victims, while the other carjackers remained in the getaway vehicle. The stolen vehicle was located a few hours later, at which time FELIX-ARACENA, LAVANDIER and the others attempted to flee in the stolen vehicle before crashing into a nearby parked car. FELIX-ARACENA, LAVANDIER, and the others then fled on foot. * * * In addition to the prison term, FELIX-ARACENA, 24, a citizen of the Dominican Republic residing in the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release. Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the ATF and the NYPD, in particular, the Strategic Patterned Armed Robbery Technical Apprehension Task Force, which is composed of agents and officers of the ATF and the NYPD. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Z. Margulies and Jonathan L. Bodansky are in charge of the prosecution.


title: CEO of mergers and acquisition advisory firm pleads guilty to defrauding clients of over $2M

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Arlington-based business owner pled guilty yesterday to wire fraud in connection with his scheme to defraud eight companies of over $2 million. According to court documents, from at least January 2020 through December 2022, Kiel Brendan Brandt, 34, owned and operated Epsilon Acquisition Services, a mergers and acquisitions advisory firm. From at least February 2021 through December 2022, Brandt defrauded companies and individuals by lying about the status of deals and the state of Epsilon’s finances, by falsely claiming that Epsilon would refund fees if deals did not close, and by falsely claiming that refunds had been or imminently would be issued. When Brandt failed to secure funding and deals did not close, Brandt falsely claimed that the deals were delayed because the lenders and/or partners needed additional due diligence materials, insurance records, or other documentation. For example, a client company in Argentina paid Epsilon approximately $275,000 in refundable payments and fees to find a buyer to purchase the company. Brandt never closed the deal, but rather than repaying the funds, he told the company that the bank was having payment processing issues, that there were delays in the money posting to the account, that the bank was unable to timely send the funds because of a bank holiday, and that the delays were because of technical complications in transferring funds overseas. To make his supposed efforts appear legitimate, Brandt initiated a transfer from his bank and obtained a confirmation order, but he then canceled the transfer before any of the money was sent from his account. Brandt, nonetheless, sent the confirmation number to the company. Brandt further obfuscated the scheme by suggesting there had been an internal miscommunication at Epsilon with an employee named “Steph” regarding from which account the transfer should be initiated. In truth, “Steph” was a fictitious employee who did not exist. Brandt also suggested that the company could help facilitate the transfer of funds by opening a U.S. bank account. When that did not result in a refund payment, Brandt communicated that he would open a bank account in Central America from which he would make payment. Approximately a year-and-a-half after the company first sought repayment of its funds, Brandt signed and executed a contract acknowledging that Epsilon had failed to return money held in escrow as well as other refundable fees. Brandt again falsely promised to repay a portion of the $225,000 that he owed the company by September 9, 2022, but did not send any money. In September 2021, another company agreed to provide Epsilon with a $1 million bridge loan to facilitate transactions for the company. In the loan agreement, Brandt falsely represented Epsilon’s debts, hiding that Epsilon owed hundreds of thousands of dollars to other victims. Rather than using the funds for their intended purpose, Brandt directed over $700,000 in repayments to other clients to whom he owed money and used the remaining funds primarily for transfers to employees and payments to personal accounts. Brandt also solicited upfront fees by various names including “good faith deposits,” “loan commitment fees,” “insurance fees,” and “prepayments of commissions.” As with the bridge loan, however, rather than directing the funds towards their intended uses, Brandt directed payments to Epsilon’s operating expenses, and made sizeable payments to his personal bank accounts. Brandt also used payments from victims to pay other victims and clients. In total, Brandt defrauded eight companies of $2,002,750 and he repaid the victims only $193,323. Epsilon also failed to repay $175,000 in advances to a ninth company. In his plea agreement, Brandt agrees to pay $1,984,426 in total restitution. Brandt is scheduled to be sentenced on April 3, 2025, and faces up to 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Sean Ryan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jack A. Morgan and Kenneth R. Simon Jr. are prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-250.


title: Columbus Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Firearms, Including a Machine Gun

body_text: A Columbus resident who was advertising the sale of fully automatic weapons on social media—including ghost guns and machine guns—pleaded guilty to trafficking firearms resulting from a Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation. Matthew Azor, 19, pleaded guilty to firearms trafficking before U.S. District Judge Clay Land on Dec. 17. Azor faces a maximum of 15 years in prison to be followed by at least three years of supervised release and a maximum $250,000 fine. Sentencing will be determined by the Court. There is no parole in the federal system. “Matthew Azor illegally sold machine guns and ghost guns on social media, making the deadliest of weapons readily available to dangerous individuals,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Our office and law enforcement partners continue to prioritize prosecutions against those responsible for gun violence in Columbus and across the Middle District of Georgia.” “The illegal trafficking of machine guns and ghost guns poses an unacceptable threat to the safety of our neighborhoods,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “ATF will not waver in its mission to stop dangerous weapons from falling into the hands of criminals and will relentlessly pursue those who profit from this lawlessness.” “Illegal firearms, especially machine guns and ghost guns, are a direct threat to public safety,” said Columbus Police Chief Stoney Mathis. “We remain committed to working alongside our federal partners to remove these dangerous weapons from the streets and hold those responsible accountable.” According to plea agreement and other statements referenced in court, on Jan. 18, investigators with the Columbus Police Department’s Gang Unit contacted Azor, who was advertising Glock switches and firearms equipped with machine gun conversion devices for sale on social media. On Jan. 26, an undercover agent (UC) with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) contacted Azor and arranged for the purchase of machine guns. Azor confirmed with the UC that he had firearms which functioned as machine guns available; specifically, an AR pistol and a Glock. The UC met Azor in Columbus and paid $1,100 for the following: a Glock model 17 9x19mm caliber firearm with an attached switch to convert the semi-automatic pistol to a rapid-fire machinegun; a privately made AR-styled pistol also known as a ghost gun; and three rounds of assorted 9mm ammunition. ATF agents examined the firearms and determined the Glock model 17 was able to fire fully automatic and the ghost gun was semi-automatic. A few weeks later, the UC arranged for the purchase of a fully automatic firearm and a Glock machine gun conversion device (MCD) that Azor claimed he had for sale. On Feb. 29, the UC met Azor and purchased the following: a PA-15 AR-pistol with a loaded magazine and a purported Glock MCD. ATF agents later examined those firearms and determined both were not machine guns. These cases are 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 of Justice 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 Columbus Police Department’s Gang Unit and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Williams is prosecuting the case for the Government.


title: Sacramento Man Sentenced To 39 Months Prison For Using Stolen Credit Card Numbers To Buy Gift Cards

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO , Calif. — Steven Raymon Waller, 46, of Sacramento, was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to 39 months in prison for access device fraud. According to court documents, between November 2017 and March 2019, Waller used stolen credit card numbers to buy at least $927,000 worth of gift cards from a national retailer. In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Drozd ordered Waller to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $927,000 in restitution to the retailer. This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas M. Fogg prosecuted the case.


title: Glade Valley Man Is Sentenced To 22 Years In Prison For Producing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – James Matthew Johnson, 36, of Glade Valley, N.C., was sentenced to 22 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release today for producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Johnson was also ordered to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison. Cardell T. Morant, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Chief Andy LeBeau of the Boone Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to court documents and the sentencing hearing, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a tip that an individual later identified as Johnson was uploading CSAM to a cloud. Law enforcement initiated an investigation and identified the defendant. In June 2023, law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant, seizing Johnson’s electronic devices. A forensic analysis of the devices revealed that Johnson possessed CSAM, including more than 200 images and 300 videos depicting the sexual abuse of children as young as toddlers. The cell phone analysis further revealed that Johnson had also produced CSAM of a minor victim that included images and videos where the minor victim appeared to be intoxicated. Court records show that, during an interview with law enforcement, Johnson admitted that the minor victim was unaware that Johnson was producing CSAM of the sexual abuse. On March 22, 2024, Johnson pleaded guilty to production of child pornography. He is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In announcing Johnson’s sentence, U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell said, “these offenses are serious, and the Court takes them seriously.” The investigation was handled by HSI and the Boone Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Cervantes of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte 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 Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Two Men Sentenced for Firearms Illegally Possessed

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

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Denzel Givens, 31 years old, and Christopher Rucker, 34 years old, both of South Bend, Indiana, were sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty this week after each previously pled guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Givens was sentenced to 92 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. Rucker was sentenced to 84 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, in January 2024, Givens drove to an apartment complex parking lot in South Bend and backed the car into a parking spot facing a lane. Rucker was in the car with Givens. When a specific car drove down the lane, Givens started shooting two firearms at the car, and that car’s occupant returned fire. Givens fired nearly 20 rounds, with some entering the occupied car and some entering the occupied apartment buildings behind the car. After the shooting was over, Rucker took both guns fired by Givens and hid them in a nearby apartment. Both Givens and Rucker had previously been convicted of felony offenses, and as such, both were prohibited from possessing the firearms in this case. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the South Bend Police Department, the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office, and Indiana State Police Laboratory Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Katelan McKenzie Doyle and Joseph P. Falvey. 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: Two South Carolina Women Convicted of Human Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Monesha Tatayana Lapri Gary, 24, of Clinton, and Rebecca Melanie Perry, 30, of Columbia, have pleaded guilty to human trafficking conspiracy in federal court in Columbia. According to evidence presented in court, from at least December 2022 through August 2023, Gary and Perry worked together with co-defendants Antonio Marquis Nicholson and Terrell Counts to exploit three minors in the commercial sex trade, despite several members of the conspiracy knowing they were minors. Nicholson and Perry recruited one minor victim when they encountered her at a hotel as a runaway. They drove her across state lines, told her that she was going to work in commercial sex, bought her lingerie, took photos of her, advertised her for commercial sex on the internet, and arranged for customers to exploit her at hotels in the Columbia area and elsewhere in the state. Nicholson set prices, collected proceeds, decided which minor victims would receive some portion of the proceeds, and how much they would receive. Gary chatted with customers as if she was a minor victim, transported a minor to another city to be exploited, collected proceeds, and turned them over to Nicholson, and intervened with customers when problems arose, all while the minor was multiple states away from her family. Perry helped in a similar way. Two additional minor victims were recruited near a high school, and they were exploited on days they were not in school. Members of the conspiracy used the internet to advertise the minors, communicate with customers, arrange encounters, and collect proceeds. The conspiracy exercised high levels of control over the operation, one minor victim was subjected to physical assault, and several of the members of the conspiracy carried firearms and distributed drugs around the minor victims. Gary and Perry face a penalty of up to life in prison. They also face a fine of up to $250,000 and lifetime supervision to follow a term of imprisonment and mandatory sex offender registry requirements. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Gary and Perry agreed to pay restitution to the victims. United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Gary and Perry after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. The indictment remains pending against Nicholson and Counts. Charges in an indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, with assistance from the Columbia Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, West Columbia Police Department, Darlington County Sheriff’s Office, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Horry County Sheriff’s Office, Myrtle Beach Police Department, and Jefferson County (Alabama) Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and Ariyana N. Gore are prosecuting the case. ###


title: International Drug Traffickers Indicted On Charges Of Importing And Distributing Fentanyl And Methamphetamine Precursor Chemicals

body_text: Edward Y. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Anne Milgram, the Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), announced an Indictment charging XIANG GAO, OLEKSANDR KLOCHKOV, and IGORS KRICFALUSIJS with conspiring to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine in the U.S., conspiring to import fentanyl precursor chemicals and a methamphetamine precursor chemical with intent to manufacture fentanyl and methamphetamine in the U.S., importing a fentanyl precursor chemical, and conspiring to commit money laundering. GAO, KLOCHKOV, and KRICFALUSIJS were arrested in Morocco by Moroccan authorities on April 17, 2024, extradited to the U.S. on December 11, 2024, and made their initial appearances in the Southern District of New York before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn F. Tarnofsky on December 12, 2024. Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim said: “Fentanyl and fentanyl analogues continue to wreak catastrophic damage on the lives of New Yorkers. The defendants are alleged to have aggressively pursued methods to circumvent our ability to stem the flow of the poisons into this country and to bring tons of potentially deadly chemicals to the United States. This Office will continue to work relentlessly to detect and charge international drug traffickers bringing deadly drugs to our borders and to stop the danger long before it arrives.” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said: “Those responsible for flooding our country with fentanyl must answer for their crimes. These three international chemical brokers are charged with conspiring to send fentanyl and methamphetamine precursor chemicals into the United States -- now they will face justice in an American courtroom.” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said: “Today’s actions reflect our commitment to holding accountable those who peddle the poison responsible for fentanyl deaths in our communities, including those who import the precursor chemicals needed to manufacture these deadly drugs. No matter where in the world these individuals operate, the Department will find them and bring them to justice.” DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said: “Today’s announcement of charges against three high-level fentanyl chemical brokers highlights DEA’s commitment to attack every part of the global fentanyl supply chain. The defendants indicted today brokered ton-quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine precursor chemicals from China, knowing that these chemicals would be used to flood American communities with deadly drugs. These defendants also coached drug traffickers on how to use different precursor chemicals to make finished fentanyl destined for the United States. Today’s indictment should serve as a warning to drug traffickers operating across the globe that DEA will stop at nothing to save American lives and bring those responsible to justice.” As alleged in the Indictment, other court filings, and statements made during court proceedings: [1] Fentanyl is the single deadliest drug threat that the U.S. has ever encountered. It is the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 49. Fentanyl analogues, similar in chemical makeup and effect to fentanyl, can be even more potent and lethal than fentanyl. Fentanyl and its analogues have ruined countless lives, devastated entire communities, and killed Americans at an unprecedented rate. The manufacture of fentanyl and its analogues begins with raw chemicals, known as precursors. Today, fentanyl precursor chemicals are principally sourced from China-based chemical manufacturers. These China-based chemical manufacturers ship fentanyl-related precursor chemicals around the world, including to the U.S., Europe, and elsewhere, where clandestine laboratories use the precursor chemicals to synthesize finished fentanyl and fentanyl analogues at scale, and distribute the deadly narcotics into and throughout the U.S. Aware of sanctions placed on chemical precursors by the U.S. and other nations, Chinese manufacturers have adapted to create and export fentanyl precursor chemicals that are not yet banned, but that are specifically designed to imitate other prohibited chemicals or that can produce finished fentanyl and other drugs. The chemists working at such factories pursue chemical modifications to create new chemical compounds not yet subject to controls but capable of producing novel versions of narcotics that are as deadly or more than fentanyl. These new chemical compounds are marketed to international drug traffickers through broker networks with direct access to the chemical manufacturers, who take custom orders from buyers seeking to create fentanyl and evade customs and law enforcement agencies around the world. XIANG GAO, OLEKSANDR KLOCHKOV, and IGORS KRICFALUSIJS are international drug traffickers who used their connections with China-based chemical manufacturers to broker deals for fentanyl and methamphetamine precursor chemicals for further distribution in the U.S. and elsewhere. During this investigation, GAO, KLOCHKOV, and KRICFALUSIJS conspired to sell ton-quantities of fentanyl precursor chemicals; provided more than five kilograms of fentanyl precursor chemicals and more than 50 kilograms of methamphetamine precursor chemicals; and shipped those chemicals to New York, Austria, and Spain, intending that the chemicals would be used to manufacture fentanyl and methamphetamine in New York for further distribution there. Throughout the course of the conspiracy, the defendants repeatedly offered access to factories capable of producing tons of deadly narcotics precursors at a time, and consistently acknowledged that the precursors were designed to evade sanctions on narcotics importation but were purpose-built to make fentanyl and methamphetamine. For example, during one meeting, when GAO acknowledged that fentanyl is illegal in the U.S. and China, KLOCHKOV explained that, as a result, fentanyl “must be created, not purchased.” The defendants further provided instructions, including chemical formulas, to turn the precursors into finished fentanyl destined for distribution throughout New York. * * * GAO, 35, a Chinese national; KLOCHKOV, 34, a Ukrainian national; and KRICFALUSIJS, 32, a Latvian national, are charged in the Indictment with: one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of conspiracy to import fentanyl precursor chemicals and a methamphetamine precursor chemical with intent to manufacture fentanyl and methamphetamine, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of importation of a fentanyl precursor chemical, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge. Mr. Kim praised the outstanding efforts of the Bilateral Investigations Unit of the DEA Special Operations Division, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and Moroccan and Spanish authorities for their ongoing assistance. This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda C. Weingarten is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and Complaint, and the description of the Indictment and Complaint set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.


title: After-Market Firearm Accessory Manufacturer and Distributor Sentenced for Illegal Distribution of Firearm Silencers

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A New Hampshire company was sentenced for violating the National Firearms Act (NFA) by distributing interoperable components for firearm silencers. KBC Capital, LLC d/b/a “Lethal Eye” was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to three years’ probation and ordered to pay a $260,000 fine. In September 2024, KBC pleaded guilty to 26 counts of transferring a firearm in violation of the NFA. “Silencers allow for the proliferation in criminal activity by reducing the sound of gunfire and affecting the ability to identify the location and source of a shot. By knowingly misbranding these devices, KBC flooded our streets with dangerous devices and impeded law enforcement,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners take all gun crimes seriously and will continue to work together to hold those accountable who violate our gun laws.” “ATF takes violations of the National Firearm Acts very seriously, and suppressors in the wrong hands possesses significant threats to public safety. Today’s sentence, reinforces ATF’s commitment to arresting and prosecuting individuals who violate the NFA statutes,” said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division “Each and every illicit silencer has potential for violent use and today’s sentence accounts for each transfer of a silencer made by KBC confirmed by this investigation. Companies in the firearms trade have a duty to follow regulations to ensure a safe, lawful firearms industry. This case brings together several of our law enforcement partners and underlines our commitment of holding sellers accountable when they try to subvert the law,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “Postal inspectors are committed to ensuring the U.S. Postal Service is not a mechanism to distribute illicit firearms or firearm components,” stated Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service. “The sentence handed down in this case serves as a reminder that postal inspectors, along with our law enforcement partners, remain steadfast in our resolve to protect our communities from dangerous weapons.” “This investigation is an example of DEA’s dedication to working with our local, state and federal partners in identifying, targeting and investigating those who are involved in selling dangerous devices,” said Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to stop illegal activities so our communities can be safe places to be.” KBC operated a website using the trade name “Lethal Eye,” selling a variety of firearms accessories. Despite marketing one of these products as a “muzzle break,” the product actually served as a principal part of a firearm silencer. This part was interoperable with other KBC products that, together, along with other generally available consumer products, could be combined to generate a firearm silencer. According to court documents, while doing business as “Lethal Eye,” KBC sent 26 illegal suppressor parts to Massachusetts residents. On Aug. 18, 2023, a search of Lethal Eye’s principal place of business resulted in the recovery of 327 items classified as illegal firearm silencers. At no time, was KBC an FFL and at no time did KBC pay the appropriate tax to manufacture a single silencer. The NFA imposes taxes on the making and transfer of NFA Firearms, as well as a special occupational tax on Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) engaged in the business of importing, manufacturing and dealing in NFA firearms. Only certain classes of FFLs may lawfully manufacture NFA weapons. The NFA requires registration of all NFA firearms with the Attorney General in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. The purpose of the NFA is to regulate transactions which are deemed to be more dangerous than those not regulated by the NFA due to their proliferation in criminal activity at the time the NFA was enacted. United States Attorney Levy; ATF SAC Ferguson; HSI SAC Krol; USPIS INC Larco-Ward; and DEA Acting SAC Belleau made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Nashua (N.H.) and Hollis, (Mass.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Panich of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.


title: Ukrainian National Sentenced to Federal Prison in “Raccoon Infostealer” Cybercrime Case

body_text: AUSTIN, Texas – Ukrainian national Mark Sokolovsky was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison for one count of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion. According to court documents, Sokolovsky, 28, conspired to operate the Raccoon Infostealer as a malware-as-a-service or “MaaS.” Individuals who deployed Raccoon Infostealer to steal data from victims leased access to the malware for approximately $200 per month, paid for by cryptocurrency. These individuals used various ruses, such as email phishing, to install the malware onto the computers of unsuspecting victims. Raccoon Infostealer then stole personal data from victim computers, including log-in credentials, financial information, and other personal records. Stolen information was used to commit financial crimes or was sold to others on cybercrime forums. In March 2022, concurrent with Sokolovsky’s arrest by Dutch authorities, the FBI and law enforcement partners in Italy and the Netherlands dismantled the digital infrastructure supporting the Raccoon Infostealer, taking its then existing version offline. Sokolovsky was extradited from the Netherlands in February 2024 after being indicted for crimes related to fraud, money laundering and aggravated identity theft. As part of his plea in October, Sokolovsky agreed to forfeit $23,975 and pay at least $910,844.61 in restitution. "Mark Sokolovsky was a key player in an international criminal conspiracy that victimized countless individuals by administering malware which made it cheaper and easier for even amateurs to commit complex cybercrimes,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “Today’s outcome is the result of tireless investigative efforts by multiple law enforcement agencies in several countries and we reiterate our thanks to our international partners for their essential work. My office will not stop in its efforts to hold cybercriminals accountable for their misdeeds." “Sokolovsky’s infostealer was responsible for compromising more than 52 million user credentials, which were then used in furtherance of fraud, identity theft, and ransomware attacks on millions of victims worldwide,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBI’s San Antonio field office. “We want to thank our Cyber Task Force and international partners for their assistance in bringing Sokolovsky to justice. Cases like this are a priority for the FBI and we encourage anyone who has been a victim of a financial scam to go to www.IC3.gov .” The FBI’s Austin Cyber Task Force investigated the case with the assistance of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, the Austin Police Department, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Round Rock Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Karthik Srinivasan prosecuted the case. Victims of the Raccoon Infostealer can find more information at www.justice.gov/usao-wdtx/victim-assistance-raccoon-infostealer . ###


title: Baltimore Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting 16 Children

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – Today, Chief U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III, sentenced Gary Rocky Jones, 43, of Baltimore, Maryland, to life in federal prison followed by lifetime supervised release, for the sexual exploitation of 16 minors. Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Baltimore Field Office, and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department. Already a twice-convicted sex offender, Jones was found guilty in September 2023 of 27 counts of sexually exploiting a child. Additionally, Jones was convicted of 15 counts of using an interstate commerce facility — specifically the internet — to entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, commissioning a felony crime involving a minor by a registered sex offender, and distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material. According to the evidence presented at trial, between 2014 and 2015, twice, Jones produced images and videos of a minor male — who was 14 to 15 years old at the time — engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Additionally, as detailed during the trial, from September 2018 through August 2020, Jones used social media accounts to persuade, entice, and coerce an additional 15 minor males, who were from several different states and ranged from eight to 17 years old, to engage in sexually explicit conduct. During these internet-based communications, Jones convinced the victims to produce livestreamed and recorded visual depictions of themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct, alone and with others. Then Jones had the boys send him the sexually explicit images and videos via the internet. On April 2, 2018, Jones used a social media account to distribute child sexual abuse material. Additionally, from December 2, 2014, through January 31, 2020, and from May 29, 2017, through July 14, 2020, respectively, Jones possessed child sexual abuse material, in connection with two separate email addresses and related storage accounts. The jury found that, based on the evidence presented at trial, between 2015 and 2020, Jones committed felony offenses involving minors while he was required to register as a sex offender under Maryland law. 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. U.S. Attorney Barron commended the FBI Baltimore Field Office and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul E. Budlow and Colleen E. McGuinn, 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/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Arizona Man Indicted For Sending Antisemitic Death Threats And Stalking

body_text: Edward Y. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Nelson I. Delgado, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) Newark Field Office, announced the return today of a three-count Indictment charging DONOVAN HALL with making interstate threats and interstate stalking. HALL was arrested on November 22, 2024, in Mesa, Arizona, and was subsequently presented in federal court in the District of Arizona. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Jennifer H. Rearden. Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim said: “Donovan Hall allegedly unleashed a campaign of terror against several Jewish New Yorkers, allegedly sending scores of hateful, violent, and antisemitic death threats. No individual deserves to be at the receiving end of these types of threats or to be targeted because of their religion. This Office is committed to aggressively prosecuting hate crimes of all kinds and seeking justice for the victims of these offensive and harmful acts.” Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado said: “We allege Hall used graphic and hate-filled rhetoric to terrorize several victims in New York City and around the U.S. These malicious phone calls escalated to text messages brazenly displaying his weapons, furthering his victims' worst fears. The FBI has ZERO tolerance for hate-filled speech, threats and violent actions. We will not rest until those who commit these types of crimes are held accountable.” According to the Complaint, the Indictment, and other documents and statements in the public record: Over a period of three months, HALL contacted several individuals located in New York, New York, (the “Victims”) approximately 1,000 times and made anti-Semitic and violent threats to torture, mutilate, and murder them and their families. In particular, starting in August 2024, HALL made dozens of threatening phone calls—many of which were anti-Semitic in nature—to the owner of a hotel located in Manhattan, the owner’s family members, and hotel staff. During these calls, HALL threatened numerous times to kill the Victims. In October 2024, HALL escalated his threatening conduct by texting photographs of two firearms and a machete to the hotel owner, along with threats to use those weapons to harm the owner and his family. During a search of HALL’s residence in Arizona conducted on November 22, 2024, the firearms depicted in the text messages, among other weapons and ammunition, were recovered. The two firearms—neither of which is registered in HALL’s name—were located alongside his wallet in his backpack. One of the firearms was loaded. HALL’s threats toward the Victims were part of a larger pattern of death threats sent to various other individuals. The targets of his threats are located throughout the U.S. In these communications, HALL consistently used violent and threatening language, and often targeted Jews. * * * HALL, 34, of Mesa, Arizona, has been charged with two counts of making interstate threats, which each carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and one count of interstate stalking, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI’s Newark Field Office. Mr. Kim also thanked the New York Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, the FBI Phoenix Field Office, the Mesa Police Department, and the Clifton Police Department in Clifton, New Jersey. This case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Unit in the Criminal Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Adelsberg is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Two Members Of Drug Trafficking Organization Admit Fentanyl Analogue Distribution And Money Laundering

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – Two Essex County men today admitted their respective roles as members of a drug trafficking organization responsible for the importation and distribution of hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl analogues, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Defendants Thomas Padovano, 50, and Bartholomew Padovano, 72, of Newark, New Jersey pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court to drug trafficking conspiracy and international promotional money laundering conspiracy. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Thomas Padovano and Bartholomew Padovano admitted that from approximately January 2014 through September 2020, they and other members of the drug trafficking organization agreed to import and distribute various controlled substances and controlled substance analogues, including fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, methylone, and ketamine. Members of the conspiracy placed orders with a source in China and agreed to distribute, and did distribute, the controlled substances and analogues in New Jersey, both in bulk and in the form of counterfeit pharmaceutical pills that actually contained fentanyl analogues. The Padovano defendants additionally admitted to having engaged in financial transactions aimed at concealing the origin and true ownership of more than $500,000 in drug proceeds. The charge of drug trafficking conspiracy to which Thomas Padovano pleaded guilty carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of drug trafficking conspiracy to which Bartholomew Padovano pleaded carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of domestic concealment money laundering conspiracy to which both Padovano defendants pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000. Sentencing for both defendants is scheduled for May 6, 2025. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) – Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked HSI in Philadelphia, the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Newark Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Newark Police Department, and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office for their assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sammi Malek and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Hasapidis-Sferra of the Criminal Division in Newark and Trial Attorney Stephen Sola, Chief of the Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit of the Justice Department’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section. The case is being prosecuted jointly by the United States Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey and the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) of the United States Department of Justice. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. padovano.sinformation.pdf padovanoetal.3rdsindictment.pdf


title: Priest Sentenced for Sending His Sister $100,000 in Stolen Church Funds

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A retired priest in Jefferson City, Mo., who admitted to writing himself a $200,000 check from the bank account of the Wardsville, Mo., church he pastored, was sentenced in federal court today for sending his sister a check for $100,000 stolen from the church’s account. The Rev. Ignazio C. Medina, also known as “Ignatius,” 73, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to three months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Medina to pay a fine of $7,500. On July 9, 2024, Medina pleaded guilty to transporting stolen property across state lines. Medina, a Catholic priest, was pastor at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Wardsville from 2013 to 2021. Some financial irregularities arose at St. Stanislaus in 2018, and in the course of investigating the diocese discovered the parish had a bank account that was not previously reported on the budget or annual report. Medina was asked to include this bank account in the parish’s annual report, and in 2020 he reported an account balance of about $358,000. After Medina was transferred to a different parish in 2021, it was discovered that he had emptied that bank account. While some expenditures from the account appeared to be church-related, on June 10, 2021, Medina had written a $100,000 check to his sibling in Tucson, Arizona. The next day, he had also written a $200,000 check payable to himself. Medina, when confronted, claimed the bank account was funded by donations that were not intended for the parish itself, but rather were intended for his own discretionary use. Donors who had contributed checks deposited into the bank account contradicted Medina’s statement. Several individuals told investigators the checks they wrote to St. Stanislaus were intended for parish purposes, and that they never had any conversations with Medina authorizing a different use of the funds. One donor told investigators he intended his donation to be used in the school in memory of a deceased friend. Medina also claimed he was refunding donations and that his sibling in Tucson was one of the donors. In fact, his sibling was not a source of donations to the account, and told investigators that Medina had said that the money was intended to care for their ailing mother. This case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Kummerer. It was investigated by the FBI.


title: Rupert Man Sentenced to 13.5 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Distribution

component: U.S. Attorneys (USAO)

body_text: POCATELLO – Jose Luis Arteaga, 39, of Rupert, was sentenced to 13 and a half years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. According to court records, on August 22, 2023, detectives with the Mini-Cassia Drug Task Force served a search warrant at Arteaga’s home in Rupert and located 368 grams of methamphetamine and a firearm in Arteaga’s bedroom. Detectives also located smaller amounts of cocaine, marijuana, and fentanyl in Arteaga’s bedroom. Arteaga was previously convicted of federal drug trafficking and firearms offenses in the District of Idaho. In 2011, Arteaga was sentenced to five years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of an unregistered firearm, and in 2016, he was sentenced to 32 months forpossession of a firearm by a prohibited person. A federal grand jury sitting in Pocatello indicted Arteaga on March 26, 2024. He pleaded guilty on September 19, 2024. On December 17, 2024, as part of his sentence, U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Arteaga to serve five years of supervised release following his prison term. U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the work of the Mini-Cassia Drug Task Force, which is made up of detectives from the Minidoka and Cassia County Sheriff’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blythe H. McLane prosecuted the case. ###


title: Level 1 Sex Offender from Attleboro Arrested and Charged with Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: BOSTON – An Attleboro man, who is a Level 1 sex offender, has been arrested and charged in connection with possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Eric Brault, 31, was charged with possession of child pornography and will appear in federal court in Boston at 3 p.m. today. According to the charging documents, an investigation into an internet-based communications application used for the trafficking of CSAM allegedly identified Brault as a likely user of the application who participated in groups where CSAM was disseminated. During a search of Brault’s residence this morning, a review of his phone allegedly revealed that Brault was a member of several groups on the platform that exchanged CSAM. Additionally, more than 200 video and image files, most of which appear to depict CSAM, were allegedly located within a photo album on Brault’s phone. Brault was previously convicted in Attleboro District Court to Indecent Assault and Battery on a Child Under 14 Years Old and was subsequently sentenced to 18 months of probation. Brault faces a sentence of at least 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Attleboro Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Soto of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Man Who Robbed Martha's Vineyard Bank at Gunpoint Sentenced to Decade in Prison

body_text: BOSTON – An Edgartown, Mass. man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for arranging the November 2022 armed bank robbery of a Martha’s Vineyard bank. Miquel Anthonio Jones, 33, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. In March 2023, Jones was indicted by a federal grand jury, and additional charges were brought in a superseding indictment in April 2023. Jones conspired with co-defendants Omar Odion Johnson, of Canterbury, N.H., Romane Andre Clayton, of Jamaica, and Tevin Porter, of Bridgeport, Conn., to commit the Nov. 17, 2022 armed robbery of the Rockland Trust bank branch in Vineyard Haven. As the only member of the crew from Martha’s Vineyard, Jones led the robbery conspiracy. Specifically, Jones identified the bank they would be robbing, obtained and provided all the necessary items for the robbery to his co-conspirators – including dark-colored clothing, plastic masks that resembled an elderly man with exaggerated facial features, zip ties and duct tape – and chose which bank to rob and when. Jones also paid Johnson to bring a gun. On Nov. 16, 2022, Jones met Johnson and Clayton in Martha’s Vineyard and provided them with details of his plan before driving himself and his co-conspirators to the Rockland Trust bank in Vineyard Haven, where he assured them he had obtained information about the bank and its security. The defendants then slept at Jones’ residence in Edgartown the night before they committed the robbery. On the morning of Nov. 17, 2022, Jones drove the group to the bank. After arriving, Jones, Johnson and Porter hid in bushes near the rear of the bank while Clayton drove to a nearby state forest to park the car, before bicycling back to the bank. As the bank’s three employees arrived that morning, Jones, Johnson and Porter – wearing the plastic masks and displaying two handguns – approached them and forced their way through the rear door. Once inside the bank, one of the individuals held a gun to the head of one of the bank employees, forced the employee to open the bank’s vault and took approximately $39,100. The bank employees were bound with duct tape and plastic zip ties while their belongings were searched and the robbers demanded access to one of their vehicles. Jones, Porter, and Johnson then left the bank in an employee’s car, picked up Clayton outside the bank, and drove to the Manuel Correllus State Forest, where they abandoned the vehicle in a parking lot. They then fled in another vehicle that Clayton had left there for purposes of their escape. Later that morning, Porter and Clayton left Martha’s Vineyard together on a ferry. Meanwhile, Jones and Johnson drove to a local farm associated with Jones’s landscaping job to dispose of the equipment that had been used during the bank robbery. At the farm, they buried the two firearms used in the robbery in a hole in the ground and burned the remainder of the robbery equipment, including the plastic masks. After the evidence was disposed of, Jones returned home to his residence where he hid the approximately $39,100 that had been stolen from the bank, in his bedroom under a bureau. Johnson left Martha’s Vineyard, reconvened with Porter and Clayton in Woods Hole, and then drove them to the area of Johnson’s home in New Hampshire. “Protecting the people of Massachusetts from criminal conduct comes in many forms, and this case highlights some of the most old-fashioned, blatant and terrifying criminal behavior we face: armed bank robbery. Miquel Antonio Jones orchestrated and led a calculated and violent robbery that terrorized bank employees and the surrounding community. His conduct left lasting emotional scars, and today, he is paying a significant price for his actions,” said United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy “This decade-long sentence sends a clear message: such violent and calculated crimes have no place in our communities. We will not tolerate those who threaten the safety of others, and we will continue to pursue justice to ensure Massachusetts remains a safe place for all who live and work here.” “This was a bold and brazen armed robbery carried out on a picturesque island at the start of the day. The ringleader of this robbery crew, Miquel Antonio Jones, showed up armed with loaded firearms, zip ties, duct tape, and plastic masks and forced employees into the bank at gunpoint, making them fear for their lives,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “It’s incredibly fortunate no one was hurt before the armed robbers opted to flee. Today’s sentence makes it clear that bank robbery is not an easy payday, it’s a federal crime, and the FBI and our partners will ensure perpetrators like Jones are held fully accountable.” Clayton, Johnson and Porter have each pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy and are scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 8, 2025, Jan. 9, 2025 and Jan. 28, 2025, respectively. U.S. Attorney Levy and FBI SAC Cohen made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office; the Massachusetts State Police; the Tisbury, West Tisbury, Edgartown, Chilmark, Oak Bluffs, Aquinnah, Canterbury (N.H.) and New Haven (Conn.) Police Departments; the United States Postal Inspection Service; the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and United States Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan C. Cleary of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.


title: D.C. Accountant Pleads Guilty to Mortgage Fraud and Tax Crimes

component: Tax Division

body_text: A Washington, D.C. CPA pleaded guilty today to making a false statement on a mortgage loan application and failing to file an income tax return. According to court documents and statements made in court, Timothy Trifilo worked in tax compliance for several large accounting and finance firms. In recent years, Trifilo was managing director at a tax firm where he specialized in transaction structuring and advisory service, tax compliance and tax due diligence. Nevertheless, for a decade, Trifilo did not file federal income tax returns or pay all the taxes that he owed despite earning more than $7.7 million during that time. He caused a tax loss to the IRS of $2,057,256.40. In February 2023, Trifilo sought to obtain a $1.36 million bank-financed loan to purchase a home in D.C. and was working with a mortgage company to do so. After the mortgage company told Trifilo that the bank would not approve the loan without copies of Trifilo’s filed tax returns, Trifilo provided the mortgage company with fabricated documents to make it appear as if he had filed tax returns and provided copies of tax returns for 2020 and 2021 that Trifilo never filed with the IRS. On these returns and other documents that he submitted to the mortgage company, Trifilo listed a former colleague as the individual who prepared the returns and uploaded them for filing with the IRS. This individual did not prepare the returns, has never prepared tax returns for Trifilo and did not authorize Trifilo to use his name on the returns and other documents that Trifilo submitted to the mortgage company. Based on Trifilo’s false representation, the bank approved the loan and Trifilo purchased the home. Sentencing is scheduled for May 19, 2025. Trifilo faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison on the charge of making a false statement on a loan application and a maximum penalty of one year in prison on the charge of failure to file a tax return. He also faces a period of supervised release, monetary penalties and restitution. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Melissa S. Siskind and Alexis Fleszar of the Justice Department's Tax Division are prosecuting the case.


title: Bristol Man Pleads Guilty to Making Interstate Threats

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DENNIS JOHN HERNANDEZ, also known as “DJ Hernandez” and “Jonathan Hernandez,” 38, of Bristol, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to making interstate threats. According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 6 and 7, 2023, Hernandez communicated with an individual via Facebook Messenger and made multiple statements threatening to carry out a shooting incident at UConn. The statements included “I would recommend remaining away from there because when I go I’m taking down everything And don’t give a f--- who gets caught in the crossfire. I’ve died for years now and now it’s others people turn. I’m prepared to give my life. So if I don’t get to see you on the outside know I love you always Not all shootings are bad I’m realizing. Some are necessary for change to happen.” Court documents allege that Hernandez’s vehicle was identified on UConn’s campus on July 7. On July 18 and 19, 2023, Hernandez made multiple Facebook posts threatening to harm or kill three individuals who reside out of state, including a state court judge. In addition, on July 19, in a conversation via text message with one of the victims, Hernandez stated “We’re taking lives if s--- isn’t paid up. It’s been years in planning just taking notes, names and locations. They talked their way into this and it’s almost point game. I know we don’t play in my family. If we have to take lives or buildings we will. So just letting you know so you can be prepared for a media circus one way or another.” Hernandez pleaded guilty to transmitting interstate communications containing a threat to injure, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. Judge Nagala scheduled sentencing for February 6. Hernandez has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on July 19, 2023. This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bristol Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.


title: Two Colorado Men Charged with Operating Multi-Million-Dollar Investment Fraud Scheme

body_text: A grand jury in Denver returned an indictment, unsealed today, charging two Colorado men with wire fraud, conspiring to commit wire fraud and money laundering related to their operation of a multi-million-dollar investment fraud scheme called the “ROI Cash Flow Fund.” According to the indictment, from about January 2023 to February 2024, Timothy McPhee, of Estes Park, Colorado, and Heath Posey, of Denver, caused more than 50 investors to send approximately $8 million to bank accounts they controlled based on the false representation that the investors’ money would be sent to a borrower and leveraged for foreign exchange or “forex” trading. McPhee and Posey also allegedly told ROI Cash Flow Fund investors that they would receive a 3% monthly return on their principal investment from the forex trading profits. As the indictment further alleges, however, McPhee and Posey did not send the investors’ funds to a borrower to be leveraged for forex trading. Instead, they allegedly used investor funds to make monthly payouts to other investors and misappropriated millions of dollars in investor funds for their own financial gain. From about June 2023 to December 2023, McPhee and Posey allegedly transferred more than $2 million in investor funds to a bank account McPhee controlled. McPhee then spent those funds on personal expenses and investments. Likewise, in February, McPhee and Posey allegedly transferred nearly half a million dollars to a bank account they controlled and used for expenses related to their other mutual business endeavors, including to pay Posey’s salary. If convicted, McPhee and Posey face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for conspiring to commit wire fraud and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count of money laundering. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. The FBI is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Lauren K. Pope and Amanda R. Scott of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Indictment - U.S. v. McPhee et al._0.pdf


title: Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Indicted for Drug Distribution Conspiracy

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment today charging Special Agent David Cole of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), 50, of South Jordan, Utah, with conspiring with another HSI special agent to sell alpha-PHP, a drug commonly referred to as “bath salts,” in Utah. According to court documents, Cole and another HSI special agent used their status as federal law enforcement officers to acquire bath salts by representing to others in HSI and in other law enforcement agencies that they were going to use the bath salts to conduct legitimate HSI investigations. Cole and his co-conspirator then sold bath salts to HSI confidential human sources for thousands of dollars and allowed those sources to resell the bath salts on the streets of Utah for a profit. Cole and his co-conspirator profited hundreds of thousands of dollars through their illegal drug sales. “The indictment alleges that David Cole abused his position as a federal law enforcement agent to obtain and sell dangerous drugs for profit,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “A drug dealer who carries a badge is still a drug dealer — and one who has violated an oath to uphold the law and protect the public. Today’s indictment reflects the department’s commitment to holding accountable law enforcement officers who engage in criminal conduct, because no one is above the law.” “David Cole took an oath to protect and serve. Instead, he allegedly distributed dangerous drugs in our communities for profit,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office. “Cole’s alleged actions not only helped fuel an already devastating drug crisis but also undermines the public’s trust in law enforcement. The FBI remains committed to holding accountable those who violate the law, regardless of their position.” “Today’s arrest sends a clear message that federal employees who violate the trust of the public and break the law will be prosecuted,” said Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari of the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG). “DHS OIG is grateful for our continued partnership with our law enforcement partners as we continue fighting corruption.” Cole is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI and DHS-OIG are investigating the case , with support from HSI Executive Management. Trial Attorneys Jordan Dickson, Alexander Gottfried, and Blake Ellison of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Illinois Man who Transported Child Sexual Abuse Material Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – An Illinois man, who is a registered sex offender and was convicted of transporting numerous images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of three minor children, was sentenced on Dec. 13, to 180 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas, who sits in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. According to court record, William Ahart, 42, of Ill., arrived into the Port Everglades cruise ship terminal in Fort Lauderdale from the U.S. Virgin Islands on June 15. Due to Ahart being a registered sex offender, United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers conducted an examination of Ahart’s smartphone and discovered numerous images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Fort Lauderdale responded and further reviewed Ahart’s smartphone and discovered the CSAM images were sent to Ahart on messaging applications by three minor females who Ahart had been communicating with over several months. HSI Fort Lauderdale agents arrested Ahart, who admitted to communicating with minor females and receiving and viewing the CSAM images. Further investigation by HSI revealed that during sexually charged conversations between Ahart and one of the minor victims, Ahart encouraged the minor victim to engage in self-harm. Evidence was also uncovered during the investigation that Ahart mailed the minor victim a “fun package” containing knives, candles for hot wax, thumb tacks, and a shock collar so that the victim could continue to engage in self-harm. On Sept. 20, Ahart pled guilty to transportation of child sexual abuse material. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of HSI Miami made the announcement. HSI Miami and the South Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated the case with the assistance from CBP and HSI Albany, N.Y. Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Catherine Koontz prosecuted it. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 the PSC initiative and for information regarding Internet safety, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-60118. ###


title: Tencent Removes Two Directors from Epic Games and Relinquishes Its Right to Unilaterally Appoint Directors or Observers in Response to Justice Department Scrutiny

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that two directors of Epic Games Inc. (Epic), who had been appointed by Tencent Holdings Ltd. (Tencent), resigned from the Epic board after the Antitrust Division expressed concerns that their positions on both the Epic and Tencent boards violated Section 8 of the Clayton Act. Tencent owns a minority interest in Epic. The interlock was created because Tencent also is the parent company of a gaming competitor to Epic, Riot Games Inc. Tencent also decided to amend its shareholder agreement with Epic to relinquish its unilateral right to appoint directors or observers to the Epic board in the future. This is the latest of the division’s ongoing Section 8 enforcement efforts, which to date have unwound or prevented interlocks involving at least two dozen companies. “Scrutiny around interlocking directorates continues to be an enforcement priority for the Antitrust Division,” said Deputy Director of Civil Enforcement Miriam R. Vishio of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Due to the hard work of our tremendous staff, our increased enforcement around Section 8 over the last few years has achieved substantial results and become part of our fabric.” Section 8, which Congress made a per se violation of the antitrust laws, prohibits directors and officers from serving simultaneously on the boards of competitors, subject to limited exceptions. No company or individual has admitted to liability in connection with this investigation. The division will continue to monitor the industry, and other industries, for violations of the antitrust laws, including Section 8. Tencent is one of the largest multimedia and video game companies in the world. It is incorporated and domiciled in the Cayman Islands and has its headquarters in Shenzhen, China. Tencent owns Riot, is a minority shareholder in Epic and has equity investments in other video game and media companies. Epic is a privately held video game and software developer and publisher based in Cary, North Carolina. Riot is an American video game developer, publisher, and esports tournament organizer with headquarters in Los Angeles. Anyone with information about potential interlocking directorates or any other potential violations of the antitrust laws is encouraged to contact the Antitrust Division’s Citizen Complaint Center at 1-888-647-3258 or antitrust.complaints@usdoj.gov .


title: Worcester Man Sentenced for Unlawful Firearm Possession

body_text: BOSTON – A Worcester man was sentenced today for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Joan Rosado Maldonado, 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to five years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Rosado Maldonado was also ordered to forfeit a firearm and ammunition. In March 2024, Rosado Maldonado pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition. Shortly after midnight on Sept. 10, 2021, law enforcement observed Rosado Maldonado standing on Main Street in Worcester, outside of a high-rise apartment building located across the street from the federal courthouse. Officers observed Rosado Maldonado raise his arm to the sky and, as they drove away, heard the ring of a gunshot. The officers immediately turned around and returned to the apartment building, where they apprehended Rosado Maldonado as he attempted to enter an elevator. During a subsequent search of his person, Rosado Maldonado was found in possession of a semi-automatic .40 caliber pistol with its serial number removed, loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition, including one in the chamber. The spent casing from the shooting was found on the street outside of the apartment building. Rosado Maldonado is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to multiple prior convictions of crimes punishable by more than one year in prison, including armed assault to murder and assault and battery by dangerous weapon and cocaine trafficking. United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Paul B. Saucier, Interim Chief of the Worcester Police Department made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen M. Noto, Chief of the Worcester Branch Office, prosecuted the case.