title: Former Owner of ‘Timepiece Gentleman’ Luxury Watch Consignment Store in Beverly Hills Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Los Angeles man who ran a Beverly Hills luxury watch consignment business and was known as “The Timepiece Gentleman” was sentenced today to 70 months in federal prison for swindling dozens of his customers of out a total of at least $5.6 million. Anthony Farrer, 36, formerly of downtown Los Angeles, was sentenced by United States District Judge Josephine L. Staton. Farrer pleaded guilty in October 2024 to one count of wire fraud and one count of mail fraud. He has been in federal custody since November 2023. “This defendant stole millions of dollars from customers who trusted him and then used his ill-gotten gains to fund his exorbitant lifestyle,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally. “The sentence imposed today sends a message that those who defraud the public will be held accountable.” “The so-called ‘Timepiece Gentleman” was actually a con-man whose time living lavishly ran out when the high-end watch owners he victimized brought his crimes to the attention of law enforcement,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field. “This successful prosecution is the result of a joint collaboration among local and federal partners working together in order to bring Mr. Farrer to justice.” “Mr. Farrer exploited his clients’ trust for personal gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “Instead of making good on his business promises, Mr. Farrer swindled his clients out of money and property to fund his own extravagant expenditures, and now he’ll suffer the consequences. IRS-CI is committed to protecting clients and consumers from this sort of dubious behavior, and we are proud to have been a partner in this investigation.” From November 2022 to November 2023, Farrer used his business – also called “The Timepiece Gentlemen” – to connect purchasers and sellers of high-end watches. In a typical consignment sale, a client would ship a watch to The Timepiece Gentleman and Farrer would take possession of the watch, agreeing to display it at his Beverly Hills store and through online and social media marketing. The items involved in this case included luxury watches by Rolex, Richard Mille, and Patek Phillipe, among others. Once the watch was sold, Farrer was supposed to remit the sales proceeds back to the client, minus a consignment fee, which typically was approximately 5% of the sales price. If the watch did not sell within a specific time or for a specified price, Farrer was to return the watch to the client. But instead of remitting watch sales proceeds – or the unsold watches themselves – back to the clients, Farrer sold the client watches and kept the proceeds for himself. He also used client watches – without the client’s knowledge or permission – as collateral for loans that he took out from lenders. When a client asked about the status of a watch on consignment sale, Farrer lied and said that the watch had not yet been sold. In fact, Farrer already had sold the watch or otherwise disposed of it, keeping the funds for his own personal benefit. In addition to his consignment sale business, Farrer also purported to purchase watches on behalf of his clients. Typically, a client sent funds to Farrer, often by wire transfers to his bank accounts or through payment processors such as Zelle, for the purpose of Farrer locating and buying a specified watch on the client’s behalf. But Farrer took the clients’ money and used it for other purposes, including to fund his lavish lifestyle such as buying or leasing luxury automobiles, apartments, and other luxury goods. When a client who had sent him money asked Farrer about the status of a watch purchase, Farrer often sent another watch to the client to tide the client over or lull them into a false sense of security regarding the status of the purchase. Like a Ponzi scheme, the other watch Farrer sent to the client often belonged to other clients who had themselves sent him that watch for a consignment sale. These clients were unaware Farrer was using their watches for that purpose, rather than attempting to sell the watches on behalf of the clients. In total, Farrer fraudulently obtained money and property belonging to more than 40 victims and caused total losses of at least $5,691,005. Farrer also will be subject to a restitution order for payment owed to victims in amounts to be determined later. The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Beverly Hills Police Department investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua O. Mausner of the Violent and Organized Crime Section prosecuted this case.


title: Two Women Sentenced to Federal Prison for Roles in Separate Eastern Idaho Fentanyl Distribution Cases

component: U.S. Attorneys (USAO)

body_text: POCATELLO – U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced the outcomes in two separate eastern Idaho cases in which the defendants were sentenced to 6.5 years and over 4 years in federal prison, respectively, for fentanyl distribution. “These cases again demonstrate our unwavering commitment to tackling fentanyl trafficking and keeping this poison out of our communities, including tribal lands,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “I am grateful to the law enforcement partners and our prosecutors and staff who make these successes possible.” In one case, Rebecca Marie Lavatta, 33, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced on January 28, 2025, to 78 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court records, on May 17, 2023, following a year-long investigation, detectives with the Idaho Falls Police Department, Idaho State Police, and Pocatello Police Department, located Lavatta in Pocatello, and arrested her on outstanding warrants. During a search of her vehicle, law enforcement recovered two loaded handguns, suboxone, and a heat-sealed clear bag containing 5,000 fentanyl pills. Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Lavatta to serve five years of supervised release following her prison sentence. Lavatta pleaded guilty to the charge in July 2024. In a separate case, Kristen Nichole Meyer, 28, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced on January 29, 2025, to 57 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court records, on August 18, 2023, Fort Hall Police officers responded to the area of the Fort Hall Casino on a report of a couple who appeared to be fighting. Officers located Kristen Meyer, along with her husband, Andrew Meyer near their car, which had fentanyl pills in plain view. Bingham County Sheriff’s deputies searched the car and found over 12,000 fentanyl pills, along with other drugs. Both Kristen and Andrew Meyer admitted to selling the drugs. Andrew Meyer’s sentencing is scheduled for March 17, 2025. Chief Judge Nye also ordered Meyer to serve three years of supervised release following her prison sentence. Meyer pleaded guilty to the offense in September 2024. U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the Idaho Falls Police Department, the Idaho State Police, and the Pocatello Police Department for their work in the Lavatta case as well as the Fort Hall Police Department and the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office for the Meyer investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Paskett prosecuted the Lavatta case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Haycock prosecuted the Meyer case. ###


title: Informational: Federal Court arraignments

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt: Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. Desoto and pleading not guilty on Jan. 30 was: Oscar Gonzalez-Perez, 36, of Hesperia, California, on charges of distribution of methamphetamine. If convicted of the most serious crime, Gonzalez-Perez faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Gonzalez-Perez was released pending further proceedings. The Missouri River Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 23-12. Nolan A. Anselmi, 28, of Bozeman, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted of the most serious crime, Anselmi faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and three years of supervised release on the drug charges and a mandatory minimum of five years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the firearm charge. Anselmi was released pending further proceedings. The Missouri River Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-23. Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Jan. 30 was: David Alan Moorse, 39, of Helena, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, Moorse faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Moorse was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI’s Montana Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 25-3. The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html . To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl . XXX


title: Manassas man sentenced to 18 years in prison for sex trafficking a child and possession of child sexual abuse material

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Manassas man was sentenced today to 18 years in prison for providing drugs and alcohol to a child in exchange for sex acts and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting the same victim as well as other children. According to court documents, Olajide Benjamin Ayilaran, 24, met a 14-year-old girl during the summer of 2023 and began communicating with the victim via iMessage. In the messages, Ayilaran offered to provide the victim drugs, alcohol, and nicotine products in exchange for sex acts. Between at least Nov. 21, 2023, and Feb. 29, 2024, Ayilaran met the victim nine times, usually in the morning before the victim went to school, to exchange the products for sexual acts. Ayilaran would wait for the victim in his car in a nearby park. When the victim arrived, he gave her the drugs and alcohol and then had the victim perform sex acts on him in the car. Ayilaran recorded the sex acts on his cellphone. A forensic examination of Ayilaran's phone revealed 73 sexually explicit images and videos of the victim and approximately 1,000 images and videos depicting other minors, including prepubescent children, engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Ayilaran kept the majority of his CSAM in a folder that he titled with a smiley face emoji. Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Kai Wah Chan, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Halper and Vanessa Strobbe prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . 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-164.


title: Dallas, Texas Man Admits Making Threats Of Violence Against Sikh Organization

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – A man from Dallas County, Texas admitted to a federal hate crime and for making interstate threats against the employees of a Sikh nonprofit organization, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna for the District of New Jersey and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Kathleen Wolfe of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced. Bushan Athale, 49, of Dallas, Texas, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Edward S. Kiel in Camden federal court to an Information charging him with one count of interfering with federally protected activities through the threatened use of a dangerous weapon and one count of transmitting an interstate threat to injure another person. Sentencing is scheduled for June 3, 2025. “Threats of violence have no place in our society,” said Vikas Khanna, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. “Every individual in this country must be free to practice their religion without fear of violence or persecution. We will continue to ensure the safety of our communities by prosecuting those who threaten our basic American freedoms.” “Every citizen has the right to feel safe, secure, and free from fear of violence or hate,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office. “We are deeply grateful to our law enforcement and community partners who stand with us daily. Together, we remain steadfast in pursuing those who threaten the safety and well-being of the people we are sworn to protect.” According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court: On or about September 17, 2022, Athale called the main number of an organization that advocates for the civil rights of Sikh individuals within the United States. Over the course of the next hour, Athale left seven voicemails expressing hatred toward Sikh individuals working at this same organization and threatening to injure or kill these individuals with a razor. Athale’s voicemails, which were filled with violent imagery and obscenity, contained references to places, people, and tenets that are particularly significant within the Sikh religion. Among other things, Athale stated his intention to “catch” the Sikhs at Organization 1, forcibly shave their “top and bottom hair,” use a “razor” to “cut” their hair and “make” them bald, “make” them smoke and eat tobacco, and “show [them] the heaven.” On March 21, 2024, Athale again called the same Sikh organization and left two more voicemails. In these voicemails, Athale again used violent, sexual imagery to express his hatred toward Sikhs as well as Muslims, and spouted antisemitic rhetoric. During his guilty plea, Athale also admitted to additional conduct reflecting his long history of making violent threats rooted in religious animus. For example, Athale admitted that on November 6, 2021 and November 7, 2021, he had sent electronic messages to a former co-worker, in which he stated that he “hate[d] Pakistan” and “hate[d] Muslims.” Athale wrote, “I hate you, I just don’t know how to kill your whole family including you? Tell me??? I will figure it out […] Probably I will hire a Jew, they will be most happy.” Athale also admitted that, from May 28, 2024 to May 31, 2024, he had sent threatening electronic messages to a recruiter who he believed to be a Muslim. Athale wrote statements such as “you will be dead, get out [expletive] Muslim” and “If you dont [sic] back off you are killed.” The charge of interfering with federally protected activities carries a maximum potential penalty of ten years in prison and the charge of transmitting an interstate threat carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison. Both charges also carry a maximum potential penalty of up to a $250,000 fine. The defendant also may be sentenced to a term of supervised release after any term of imprisonment imposed. Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited the special agents of the FBI of the Philadelphia Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs, with the investigation leading up to this guilty plea. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara A. Aliabadi of the Special Prosecutions Division in Camden, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason M. Richardson of the Civil Rights Division in Camden, and Trial Attorney Eric Peffley of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. ### Defense Counsel: AFPD Maggie Moy athale.information.pdf


title: Mexican National Indicted for Unlawful Entry to the U.S. After 3 Deportations

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: GREENVILLE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Greenville has returned a single-count indictment against Sergio Ixtepan-Toto, 36, of Mexico, for unlawfully entering the United States. Ixtepan has been deported from the U.S. three times. According to court documents, on Dec. 6, 2024, officers with the Pickens Police Department arrested Ixtepan on charges of driving under the influence. A check of Ixtepan’s immigration file showed that he was deported from the U.S. in May 2020, November 2022, and February 2024. In order to re-enter the U.S., Itepan would require permission from the Attorney General. There is no record that Ixtepan ever obtained such permission. Ixtepan has been charged with driving under the influence and domestic violence on multiple occasions. Ixtepan was arraigned yesterday before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin McDonald. This case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security and the Pickens Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Max B. Cauthen is prosecuting the case. All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Mexican National Charged With Illegally Reentering The United States

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Ever Lopez-Ortiz (40, Mexico) with illegal reentry by a deported alien. If convicted, Lopez-Ortiz faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison. According to the indictment, Lopez-Ortiz was previously deported from the United States on May 24, 2010. Following his previous removal, he did not receive the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States. On May 12, 2023, Lopez-Ortiz was found to be voluntarily in the United States in the Polk County Jail. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam W. McCall.


title: Honduran Man Sentenced for Illegal Re-entry

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that VICTOR MANUEL OSORTO-LOPEZ (“ OSORTO ”), age 40, was sentenced on January 30, 2025, after previously pleading guilty to illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a). According to court documents, OSORTO was removed from the United States on December 4, 2009 and, again on September 3, 2012. He was later found in the Eastern District of Louisiana on March 14, 2024, and had not received permission from the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reenter. He was sentenced by United States District Judge Barry W. Ashe to (6) six months of imprisonment, to be followed by (1) one year of supervised release and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Customs and Border Protection in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jon M. Maestri of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Arkansas Man Sentenced to More Than 11 years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Arkansas, Western

body_text: HOT SPRINGS – A Hot Springs man was sentenced yesterday to 140 months in Federal Prison for Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to Distribute. The Honorable Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearings, which took place in the United States District Court in Hot Springs. According to court records, on October 1, 2022, Cedric A. Mitchell , age 37, of Hot Springs, was a passenger in a white passenger vehicle stopped by the Hot Springs Police Department. Mitchell was determined to be on parole with an active Arkansas Search Waiver on file. Mitchell was searched by Officers and located in his right front jacket pocket was 551 grams of Methamphetamine. On September 13, 2024, Mitchell pleaded guilty to Possession of a more than five hundred grams of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes made the announcement. The Hot Springs Police Department Special Investigation Division investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Daniels prosecuted the case for the United States. Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov .


title: Two Mexican Nationals Charged in Conspiracy to Fraudulently Obtain Visas for Immigrant ‘Victims’ of Staged Crimes

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two Mexican nationals in the Kansas City area have been charged in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to stage numerous armed robberies so that the purported victims of these crimes, who were immigrants to the United States, could use their status as crime victims to apply for visas. Oscar Gutierrez, 35, of Independence, Mo., and Jose Luis Morales Salgado, 36, of Kansas City, Mo., both of whom are citizens of Mexico, were charged in a criminal complaint filed under seal in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., on Thursday, Jan. 30. The federal criminal complaint, which was unsealed and made public following Salgado’s arrest and initial court appearance, charges both men with participating in a conspiracy to fraudulently obtain immigration visas. Gutierrez is already in custody on state charges in a separate case. The complaint alleges that immigrants contacted Salgado to arrange for themselves to become “victims” of staged robberies so they could submit applications for U-Visas, which are granted to crime victims. These immigrants, who were either illegally present in the United States or in the United States legally through work visas, paid Salgado thousands of dollars to participate. In exchange, Salgado directed them to the location of a planned staged robbery on a particular day and time. Salgado allegedly recruited individuals to pose as robbers during the staged robberies and provided directions to those individuals. One of the persons Salgado recruited to pose as a robber, says the complaint, was Gutierrez. According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, each incident involved immigrants who later told police they had car trouble and pulled over and got out of their vehicle to diagnose the car trouble. Soon after stopping, another vehicle would arrive and park next to, or in front of, the purported victim’s vehicle. The robber, wearing a medical mask over his face and brandishing a firearm, would strike the purported victims in the head or face, take their cash, and typically fire two rounds into the purported victim’s vehicle. Investigators with the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department initially identified 11 incidents in which the reported robberies followed this pattern. These cases were linked to each other, based in part, on leads generated from the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN utilized ballistic imaging technology to compare cartridge case markings on the expended cartridges from each crime scene. Detectives determined there was likely one firearm used in the commission of all of the robberies. Detectives gathered information from city cameras and license plate readers to identify the vehicles used in the robberies, the affidavit says, which led them to Gutierrez. Salgado allegedly instructed the immigrants to falsely report to law enforcement officials how the robberies occurred, and advised them how to make these false reports in an effort to bolster their applications for U-Visas. The Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act strengthens the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute certain crimes while also protecting victims of crimes who are willing to help law enforcement authorities in the investigation or prosecution of the criminal activity. Foreign nationals are eligible for a U-Visa if they were the victim of qualifying criminal activity, suffered substantial physical or mental abuse as a result of having been a victim of the criminal activity, possessed information about the criminal activity, and were likely to be helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of the crime. According to the affidavit, a source told investigators the number of purported victims involved in the scheme was well over 100. The complaint specifically cites 11 robberies involving 33 purported victims that occurred as part of the conspiracy between Dec. 29, 2021, and July 13, 2024. Of those 33 immigrants, 18 have submitted U-Visa applications claiming to be victims of violent crimes. An undercover federal agent and a law enforcement source met with Salgado on Jan. 22, 2025, according to the affidavit, and recorded their meeting. The undercover agent made arrangements to pay Salgado $4,000 for the robbery to be staged in order to fraudulently obtain a U-Visa. Salgado told the undercover agent he would “put on a grand show.” Once the plans were agreed upon, the undercover agent paid Salgado $500 with a promise to pay the balance later. The undercover agent met with Salgado again on Thursday, Jan. 30, and Salgado was arrested. The charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Homeland Security Investigations.


title: Arkansas Man Sentenced to 14 Years in federal Prison for Methamphetamine and Firearms Possession

body_text: HOT SPRINGS – A Hot Springs man was sentenced yesterday to 170 months in Federal Prison for Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to Distribute and Possession of a Firearm in furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense. The Honorable Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearings, which took place in the United States District Court in Hot Springs. According to court records, on September 13, 2023, Deangelo Michael Lover , age 34, of Hot Springs, sold 24 grams of Methamphetamine to a Confidential Informant. On September 15, 2023, Lover again contacted the Informant to sell additional Methamphetamine. Hot Springs Police Investigators with the Special Investigation Division contacted Arkansas State Police and requested that a traffic stop be conducted on the vehicle occupied by Lover. A traffic stop was conducted, and Lover was arrested on an outstanding warrant. A search of the vehicle yielded 46 grams of Methamphetamine and a handgun. On September 30, 2024, Lover pleaded guilty to Possession of a more than five grams of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute and Possession of a firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes made the announcement. The Hot Springs Police Department Special Investigation Division investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Daniels prosecuted the case for the United States. Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov .


title: Sabine Parish Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of Methamphetamine

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Huey P. Scott, Jr. , 63, of Many, Louisiana, has been sentenced for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Scott was found guilty of the charge by a federal jury on September 18, 2024, following a three-day trial. United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. sentenced Scott to 151 months (12 years, 7 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, on the drug trafficking charge. Evidence at the jury trial established that agents with the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office’s Tactical Narcotics Team conducted controlled buys of methamphetamine from Scott at his residence in Many, Louisiana, on three separate occasions in 2022. Agents learned that Scott was a frequent user and distributor of methamphetamine, and it was proven that he sold the drugs. After law enforcement conducted multiple controlled buys, agents executed a search warrant and arrested Scott at his residence. During the search of Scott’s property, agents found and seized a duffel bag containing a clear plastic bag which had approximately 139.31 grams of methamphetamine. In another bag, agents found what appeared to be smaller baggies containing smaller quantities of methamphetamine. The seized drugs were tested by the North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory and found to be methamphetamine. The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office’s Tactical Narcotics Team and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mike Shannon and Earl M. Campbell. # # #


title: Jennings Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of Firearm

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

body_text: LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Brandon James Willridge , 41, of Jennings, Louisiana, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays to 84 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to information presented in court, in January 2023, law enforcement officers were familiar with Willridge and aware of his drug trafficking activities in the area and had an active arrest warrant for him. On January 30, 2023, officers with the Vermillion Parish Sheriff’s Office and Gueydan Police Department conducted a traffic stop of Willridge as the result of the active arrest warrant for him. During the traffic stop, officers found Willridge to be in possession of a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun underneath the driver’s seat of the vehicle. In addition, Willridge had a bottle containing several orange pills in the driver door console of the vehicle, which were confirmed to be Alprazolam, a controlled substance. Other evidence indicated Willridge had been trafficking in narcotics during this time in the Gueydan and Lake Arthur areas. Willridge pleaded guilty to a Bill of Information on October 18, 2024, charging him with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Willridge has prior felony convictions for false representation of a controlled substance in 2003 and possession with intent to distribute marijuana in 2010. The case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Vermillion Parish Sheriff’s Office and Gueydan Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Myers P. Namie. # # #


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects More than $4M in Civil and Criminal Actions Plus Nearly $2M in Forfeited Assets in Fiscal Year 2024

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson announced today that the Northern District of Oklahoma (NDOK) collected $4,029,804.93 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2024. Of this amount, $2,572,450.48 was collected in criminal actions, and $1,457,354.45 was collected in civil actions. Additionally, the NDOK worked with partner agencies and divisions to collect $1,726,442 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2024. “The Asset Recovery Unit and Asset Forfeiture teams consist of federal prosecutors, investigators, and professional support staff. In 2024, they collected more than $4 million on behalf of victims and collected nearly $2 million in assets, said U.S. Attorney, Clint Johnson. “Both teams diligently work to recover court ordered restitution to victims and process court ordered forfeiture. This funding not only impacts the Crime Victims Fund, but also goes towards law enforcement programs.” Examples of Asset Recovery… In March 2024, the Northern District recovered $106,994.94 in U.S. v. Shane Hannaford, 21-CR-111. A veteran of the U.S. Marines, Hannaford devised a fraudulent investment scheme, defrauding fellow veterans he had served with in Iraq. Hannaford pled guilty to Bank Fraud, and the Court ordered him to pay $806,607.14 in restitution to his victims. The Northern District captured a significant payment towards restitution by intercepting proceeds from Hannaford’s sale of his home. In September 2024, the Northern District recovered $287,521.53 in U.S. v. Keven Ellis Partin, 19-CR-121 . Partin pled guilty to Offering or Paying Healthcare Kickbacks. The Court ordered him to pay $338,805 in restitution to Department of Labor, TRICARE, Department of Veteran Affairs, and Medicare. Through liens and other enforcement tools, the Northern District recovered full restitution for these federal agencies. In May 2024, the Northern District of Oklahoma recovered $62,000 in U.S. v. Leslie Ellen Mansfield, 23-CR-170 . Mansfield, an attorney, oversaw special needs trust accounts for intellectually challenged adults. Mansfield pled guilty to Bank Fraud, and the Court ordered her to pay $137,240.95 in restitution. The Northern District recovered full restitution for the living victims. Examples of Asset Forfeiture… In March 2024, the Northern District recovered $35,000 in U.S. v. Jesus Salazar-Lares, et al., 22-CR-339. In Aug. 2024, Salazar-Lares and others, traveled from Chicago to Tulsa and delivered more than 10 pounds of methamphetamine. Salazar-Lares pled guilty to distribution of methamphetamine. The court authorized the seizure of $35,000 in cash. In April 2024, the Northern District recovered $84,788.42 in U.S. v. Melvin Brown, 22-CR-419. From July 2020 through May 2021, Brown conspired with others to distribute cocaine. Brown pled guilty to drug conspiracy. The court authorized the seizure of Brown’s bank account that had approximately $84,788.42. In June 2024, the Northern District recovered $620,000 in U.S. v. Jose Romero, et al., 22-CR-339. From Oct. 2019 through Oct. 2022, Romero conducted financial transactions with funds received through drug trafficking. Romero pled guilty to 18 counts of money laundering. The court authorized the forfeiture of $20,297 in cash, 18 vehicles, one firearm, approximately $50,076.31 from seized bank accounts, and four real estate properties. The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.


title: MEXICAN NATIONAL RESIDING IN GEORGIA CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED PRODUCTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF OBSCENE MATERIAL TO A MINOR

component: USAO - Louisiana, Middle

body_text: United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that a federal grand jury recently returned a two-count indictment charging Victorino De La Cruz, age 42, of Mableton, Georgia, with attempted production of child pornography and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. De La Cruz appeared for his arraignment and pled not guilty to the pending charges. According to the indictment, between August 8, 2024 and November 22, 2024, De La Cruz knowingly attempted to employ, use, persuade, entice, and coerce an individual he believed was a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. Additionally, according to the indictment, on August 11, 2024, De La Cruz, using a means of interstate commerce, knowingly attempted to transfer obscene material to an individual he believed had not attained the age of 16 years old. Attempted production of child pornography is punishable by a maximum penalty of 15 – 30 years in prison, depending on sentencing enhancements. Attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor is punishable by a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. De La Cruz also faces potential sex offender registration, supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin Anderson. NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.


title: Texas Man Admits to Making Violent Threats Against Sikh Nonprofit Organization

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A man from Dallas, Texas, admitted to a hate crime and making interstate threats against the employees of a Sikh nonprofit organization. Bushan Athale, 49, pleaded guilty today to one count of interfering with federally protected activities through the threatened use of a dangerous weapon and one count of transmitting an interstate threat to injure another person. “Threats of violence have no place in our society,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna for the District of New Jersey. “Every individual in this country must be free to practice their religion without fear of violence or persecution. We will continue to ensure the safety of our communities by prosecuting those who threaten our basic American freedoms.” “Every citizen has the right to feel safe, secure, and free from fear of violence or hate,” said Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs of the FBI Philadelphia Field Office. “We are deeply grateful to our law enforcement and community partners who stand with us daily. Together, we remain steadfast in pursuing those who threaten the safety and well-being of the people we are sworn to protect.” According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about Sept. 17, 2022, Athale called the main number of an organization that advocates for the civil rights of Sikh individuals within the United States. Over the course of the next hour, Athale left seven voicemails expressing hatred toward Sikh individuals working at this same organization and threatening to injure or kill these individuals with a razor. Athale’s voicemails, which were filled with violent imagery and obscenity, contained references to places, people, and tenets that are particularly significant within the Sikh religion. Among other things, Athale stated his intention to “catch” the Sikhs at Organization 1, forcibly shave their “top and bottom hair,” use a “razor” to “cut” their hair and “make” them bald, “make” them smoke and eat tobacco, and “show [them] the heaven.” On March 21, 2024, Athale again called the same Sikh organization and left two more voicemails. In these voicemails, Athale again used violent, sexual imagery to express his hatred toward Sikhs as well as Muslims and spouted antisemitic rhetoric. During his guilty plea, Athale also admitted to additional conduct reflecting his long history of making violent threats rooted in religious animus. For example, Athale admitted that on Nov. 6, 2021 and Nov. 7, 2021, he had sent electronic messages to a former co-worker, in which he stated that he “hate[d] Pakistan” and “hate[d] Muslims.” Athale wrote, “I hate you, I just don’t know how to kill your whole family including you? Tell me??? I will figure it out […] Probably I will hire a Jew, they will be most happy.” Athale also admitted that, from May 28, 2024 to May 31, 2024, he had sent threatening electronic messages to a recruiter who he believed to be a Muslim. Athale wrote statements such as “you will be dead, get out [expletive] Muslim” and “If you dont [sic] back off you are killed.” Athale is charged with interfering with federally protected activities which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and with transmitting an interstate threat which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Both charges also carry a maximum penalty of up to a $250,000 fine. The defendant also may be sentenced to a term of supervised release after any sentence served. Athale is scheduled to be sentenced June 3. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Kathleen Wolfe of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced the case. The FBI Philadelphia Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara A. Aliabadi and Jason M. Richardson for the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorney Eric Peffley of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.


title: BATON ROUGE MAN SENTENCED TO 211 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING AND FIREARMS VIOLATIONS

body_text: United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced Demarlo Brown, age 42, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 211 months in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The Court further sentenced Brown to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered that the proceeds from his drug trafficking crimes, as well as firearms and ammunition seized by law enforcement, be forfeited. This case was the result of an extensive federal, state, and local investigation by the Middle District Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) aimed at a drug trafficking network based and operating in East Baton Rouge Parish and surrounding areas. According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea,from March through September 2019, Brown operated a drug distribution organization in the Baton Rouge area where he and others distributed methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin. When law enforcement raided his home and other locations associated with Brown, they seized over 27 ounces of methamphetamine, 2.7 ounces of heroin, and 1.6 ounces of fentanyl. Two firearms and 38 rounds of ammunition were also seized from Brown that he illegally possessed to protect himself, his drugs, and his cash proceeds from drug sales. In total, six firearms and 168 rounds of ammunition were seized in the raids. Brown was a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing the firearms and ammunition. In April 2024, prior to possessing the two firearms and ammunition, he was convicted in the 19 th Judicial District Court of armed robbery and was sentenced to 10 years at hard labor. This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Baton Rouge City Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lyman E. Thornton, III and Jessica Jarreau, who also serves as Deputy Chief of the Organized and Violent Crime Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.


title: Former University Employee Charged with Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Mohammad Ebrahim Torki Harchegani, 38, has been charged with attempted enticement of a minor for sexual activity. During a contested bond hearing, an FBI special agent testified that on Dec. 3-4, 2024, multiple agencies participated in an online chat operation targeting child sex offenders where an officer posed as a 14-year-old female. Torki, a legal permanent resident of the United States and Iranian citizen, engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the alleged 14-year-old girl. Torki ultimately traveled to the residence where he believed the girl was home alone to engage in sexual activities with her. He was arrested thereafter. Testimony was also presented that Torki was a researcher at the University of South Carolina at the time of the chat. Upon his arrest, his employment was suspended and his contract with the university was not renewed. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc . Torki was ordered detained at the hearing. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. The FBI Columbia Field Office, the South Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department participated in the online chat operation and investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle E. Klein and Winston Holliday are prosecuting the case. All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Thomaston Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Possessing a Machinegun and Possessing Controlled Substances

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine : A Thomaston man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland today to unlawful possessing a machinegun and possessing controlled substances with intent to distribute. According to court records, in April 2024, the Thomaston Police Department received a tip that Chandler Breen , 34, was selling drugs behind a local business. A search of Breen’s vehicle revealed a firearm modified with a machinegun conversion device, 9mm ammunition, a large amount of cash, approximately 62 grams of cocaine, approximately 5 grams of methamphetamine, and at least 6 grams of fentanyl. Breen faces up to 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release on the firearms charge; and up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1 million and a minimum of three years of supervised release on the drug charge. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case with assistance from the Thomaston Police Department. ###


title: Fairbanks man sentenced to 12 years for attempted production of child pornography, enticement of minor

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A Fairbanks man was sentenced today to 12 years in prison and will serve 25 years on supervised release for attempting to produce child pornography and entice a minor. According to court documents, on July 7, 2023, a law enforcement official, acting in an undercover capacity and posing online as a 12-year-old girl, posted an ad in an Alaskan chat group on a social media application known to law enforcement to be utilized by individuals seeking sexual encounters with minors. A short time after the posting, Dahkota Mitchell, 32, messaged the undercover official. Between July 7 and Nov. 28, 2023, Mitchell and the undercover official discussed multiple things, including Mitchell’s requests that the undercover official send him explicit content, plans to meet in-person, and sexual interactions if an in-person meeting occurred. Mitchell decided to meet with the undercover official for sex and requested she bring an 11-year-old friend for the sexual encounter. Mitchell made plans with the undercover official to meet in Anchorage on Nov. 17, 2023, but the defendant abruptly stopped communicating with the official and the meeting did not occur. On Nov. 25, 2023, Mitchell resumed communicating with the undercover official and explained that his mother had found out about their communications. Mitchell made another plan to meet with the undercover official and the alleged minor friend on Nov. 28, 2023, and provided the address of his hotel and his room number. Mitchell was arrested at an Anchorage hotel on Nov. 28, 2023. He pleaded guilty to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor on Oct. 25, 2024. “Child predators target Alaska’s most vulnerable, leaving lasting harm in their wake. Mr. Mitchell attempted to meet with an individual he thought was a 12-year-old girl and encouraged her to bring a minor friend for an in-person sexual encounter,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “His actions were both dangerous and reprehensible. This sentence ensures that he will be closely monitored for many years, safeguarding our communities. Our office remains committed to working with law enforcement to hold perpetrators accountable and protect Alaska’s children.” “Protecting children from online predators is a priority for the FBI and our law enforcement partners across Alaska,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “As demonstrated in this case, predators using the Internet for sexual exploitation of children will be identified and held accountable for their reprehensible crimes.” The FBI Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Police Department investigated this case as part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Vosacek prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Former NYCHA Superintendent Sentenced To 48 Months In Prison For Accepting More Than $300,000 In Bribes

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Danielle R. Sassoon, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JUAN MERCADO, a former superintendent for the New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”), was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for soliciting and accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from contractors in exchange for awarding those contractors no-bid contracts or approving payment on previously awarded contracts at NYCHA developments. MERCADO’s sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni, who also presided over his guilty plea. U.S. Attorney Danielle R. Sassoon said: “As a public housing superintendent, Juan Mercado held a position of public trust. For years, Mercado abused his position by demanding and accepting more than $300,000 in bribes in connection with repair work at NYCHA developments – money that should have gone to improving the lives of NYCHA residents. As today’s sentence shows, corruption will not be tolerated at any level of government.” According to the Information and Complaint, the plea agreement, and evidence presented during a multi-day evidentiary hearing: NYCHA is the largest public housing authority in the country, providing housing to New Yorkers across the City and receiving over $1.5 billion in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) every year. When repairs or construction work at NYCHA housing require the use of outside contractors, services must typically be purchased via a bidding process. However, when the value of a contract was under a certain threshold, designated staff at NYCHA developments, including superintendents, could hire a contractor of their choosing without soliciting multiple bids. With either type of contract, a NYCHA employee needed to certify that the work was satisfactorily completed in order for the contractor to receive payment from NYCHA. From at least 2014 through at least July 2023, MERCADO served as a superintendent at multiple NYCHA housing developments in Queens. For approximately nine years, MERCADO demanded and received hundreds of thousands of dollars from multiple contractors in exchange for arranging for those contractors to receive contract work at developments where MERCADO was employed or in order for MERCADO to sign off on work that had been completed. Although MERCADO initially demanded that contractors pay him 10% of the contract value in order to receive the work, MERCADO eventually doubled the amount that contractors had to pay from 10% to 20% of the value of the contract. The contractors typically paid MERCADO between $500 and $2,000 for each contract on hundreds of occasions. In total, MERCADO accepted approximately $329,300 in bribes in connection with at least $1,886,000 in contract work at NYCHA developments. Of the 70 individual NYCHA employees charged with bribery and extortion offenses in February 2024, 60 have pled guilty, and three have been convicted after trial. If you believe you have information related to bribery, extortion, or any other illegal conduct by NYCHA employees, please contact OIGNYCHA@doi.nyc.gov or (212) 306-3356. If you were involved in such conduct, please consider self-disclosing through the SDNY Whistleblower Pilot Program at USANYS.WBP@usdoj.gov. * * * In addition to the prison term, MERCADO, 50, of West Babylon, New York, was sentenced to 3 years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $329,300 and forfeit $329,300. Ms. Sassoon praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Department of Investigation, U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), the HUD Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, which work together collaboratively as part of the HSI Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, as well as the Special Agents and Task Force Officers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (“OCDETF”) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jerry J. Fang, Jacob R. Fiddelman, Catherine Ghosh, and Meredith C. Foster are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Nandita Vasantha.


title: New Orleans Man Guilty of Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –LaMICHAEL JACKSON (“JACKSON”) , age 26, pled guilty on January 30, 2025 before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). According to court documents, New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) officers on patrol in Hollygrove saw JACKSON holding a Palmetto State Armory Model PA-15 pistol. JACKSON fled in a vehicle before being stopped by NOPD. Inside the vehicle officers recovered a second gun belonging to JACKSON , a Glock Model 43x, nine-millimeter handgun. Both firearms were loaded when recovered. JACKSON is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior felony convictions for aggravated assault with a firearm and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. JACKSON faces up to 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Venezuelan Man Charged With Conspiracy To Distribute Methamphetamine, Possession Of A Firearm In Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Crime

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Jose Manuel Guerra-Caballero, 37, of Venezuela, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to the complaint, Guerra-Caballero, described by a co-conspirator as a member of the Tren de Aragua criminal organization, conspired with six other individuals to provide armed protection for a drug transaction involving ten pounds of methamphetamine. Guerra-Caballero arranged the protection remotely and confirmed over the phone that his co-conspirators were armed and ready to serve in the operation. The drug deal was a ruse created by undercover ATF agents after Guerra-Caballero and his associates had offered their services for various illegal and violent activities. The undercover operation came on the heels of multiple purchases of firearms by ATF undercover officers that Guerra-Caballero believed would be trafficked to Mexico. The defendant was arrested in Indiana and made his initial appearance in front of Judge Colin H. Lindsay in the Western District of Kentucky. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Homeland Security Investigations are handling the investigation. The prosecution is being handled by the Violent Crimes and Immigration Enforcement Section of the United States Attorney’s Office in the District of Colorado. Case Number: 25-mj-17


title: DENHAM SPRINGS MAN SENTENCED TO 78 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR DISTRIBUTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

body_text: United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Barry Paul Vining, age 57, of Denham Springs, Louisiana, to 78 months in federal prison following his conviction for distribution of child pornography. Vining must serve five years of supervised release upon completing his term of imprisonment. The Court also ordered Vining to pay $357,000 in restitution and ordered him to register as a sex offender upon his release. According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, on November 27, 2022, Vining knowingly distributed the two images of child pornography when he uploaded them to a file sharing service accessed via the internet, and that allowed other users of the service around the world to download and share the images. In addition, at the time Vining distributed the child pornography, he possessed files that contained numerous images and videos of child pornography. This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul L. Pugliese. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Arizona Couple Pleads Guilty to $1.2B Health Care Fraud

component: Criminal Division

body_text: An Arizona couple pleaded guilty for causing over $1.2 billion of false and fraudulent claims to be submitted to Medicare and other health insurance programs for expensive, medically unnecessary wound grafts that were applied to elderly and terminally ill patients. According to court documents, Alexandra Gehrke, 39, and her husband, Jeffrey King, 46, both of Phoenix, conspired with others to orchestrate the massive scheme. Gehrke ran two companies, Apex Medical LLC and Viking Medical Consultants LLC, that contracted with medically untrained “sales representatives” to locate elderly patients, including hospice patients, who had wounds at any stage and order amniotic wound grafts from a specific graft distributor. Gehrke instructed and financially incentivized the sales representatives to order grafts only in sizes 4x6 centimeters or larger, even if the wound was much smaller, to maximize health insurance reimbursement. Gehrke, through companies she owned and controlled, received over $279 million in illegal kickbacks from the distributor of the grafts in exchange for the orders. Gehrke in turn paid the sales representatives tens of millions of dollars in unlawful kickbacks. Gehrke then referred the patients to a company co-owned by King, which contracted with nurse practitioners to apply the grafts. King’s company fraudulently billed Medicare, TRICARE (the health care program for U.S. service members and their families), CHAMPVA (the health care program for spouses and children of permanently disabled veterans), and commercial insurance plans for the grafts. Gehrke and King, who had no medical training, directed the nurse practitioners to suspend their own medical judgment and apply all grafts ordered by the sales representatives, even when medically unreasonable and unnecessary, which resulted in the application of grafts to infected wounds, wounds that had already healed, and wounds that were not responding to the grafts. From November 2022 through May 2024, Gehrke, King, and others, through companies they owned, operated, and controlled, submitted $1,212,005,778 in false and fraudulent claims to health insurance plans. This included over $960 million in false and fraudulent claims to the federal health care programs — Medicare, TRICARE, and CHAMPVA. The federal and private health care insurers paid $614,990,420 based on the false and fraudulent claims. In their plea agreements, Gehrke and King agreed to pay restitution in the amounts of $614,990,420 and $605,690,110, respectively. They also agreed collectively to forfeit over $410 million in funds that they obtained from the fraud. To date, the government has seized nearly $100 million in assets that Gehrke and King accumulated from the scheme, including bank account balances exceeding $68 million, four luxury vehicles valued over $980,000, $22 million of life insurance annuities, and jewelry and precious metals. Gehrke pleaded guilty on Oct. 24, 2024, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 11 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. King pleaded guilty on Jan. 31 to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. His sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Gary M. Restaino for the District of Arizona; Acting Special Agent in Charge Sean Burke of the FBI Atlanta Field Office; Deputy Inspector General Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Director Kelly Mayo of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS); and Special Agent in Charge Kris Raper of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG) South Central Field Office made the announcement. The FBI, HHS-OIG, DCIS, and VA-OIG investigated the case. Trial Attorney Shane Butland of the National Rapid Response Strike Force of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Williams for the District of Arizona are prosecuting the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: Oklahoma City Man Sentenced to Serve More Than Three Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of Machinegun Conversion Devices

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – JOHN ANTHONY OWEN , 24, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 46 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of machineguns, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On June 3, 2024, Owen was charged by Information with unlawful possession of machineguns. According to public record, on April 4, 2024, officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department executed a search warrant at Owen’s residence. During the search, officers recovered two firearms which had been modified with machinegun conversion devices (MCDs). When installed, MCDs convert semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic machineguns. Possession of these devices violates federal law. On July 3, 2024, Owen pleaded guilty and admitted he knowingly possessed two MCDs. At the sentencing hearing on January 30, 2025, U.S. District Judge Jodi W. Dishman sentenced Owen to serve 46 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, the Court noted the nature and circumstances of the offense. This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hoch 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. This case is also part of “Project Switch Off,” the Western District of Oklahoma’s local implementation of PSN. “Project Switch Off” targets illegal machinegun conversion devices to address the significant danger these illegal devices present and to remove them from our streets. For more information about PSN, please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok . Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Utah and California Businessmen Indicted for Defrauding Millions of Dollars from Investors

body_text: ST. GEORGE, Utah – An indictment was unsealed today after a fraudster was arrested following a federal grand jury’s return of an indictment this week charging him and his business partner with multiple financial crimes. According to court documents, Thomas Paul Madden, 66, of Washington City, Utah; and Jeremy Tyler Grabow, 54, of Ladera Ranch, California, engaged in a scheme from September 2017 to the present, to defraud investors in Cascade IR, LLC and Savitar Systems LLC. Using his entity, Cascade, Madden lied to investors about his ability and intent to sell them penny stocks, repeatedly using investors’ money for Ponzi payments and personal expenses. This part of the scheme resulted in Madden taking in over $23 million from over 200 investors. Beginning in 2021, Madden and Madden and Grabow used their entity Savitar, to further defraud investors. They told investors that Savitar was working with various partners on a large casino and resort project in Mexico that would generate high returns on investments. But Savitar did not have the represented business partnership and lacked any legitimate business operations. Instead, Madden and Grabow diverted investors’ money to the Ponzi scheme. The Savitar scheme resulted in Madden and Grabow obtaining over $2 million from at least 10 investors. Madden is charged with four counts of wire fraud. Madden and Grabow are both charged with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. Madden’s initial appearance on the indictment is February 3, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in St. George. Grabow’s initial appearance is scheduled for February 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in St. George. United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated jointly by the Utah Division of Securities and the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen P. Dent and Joseph M. Hood of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah are prosecuting the case. If you think you are a victim in this case, information can be found on the U.S. Attorney’s Office Victim Witness Assistance page. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Virginia Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Conspiracy

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Sherry Ozmore, age 56, of Richmond, Virginia, pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud in connection with her role as a “runner” for a nationwide conspiracy to impersonate customers of financial institutions to fraudulently obtain cash, checks, loans, and credit. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. Ozmore was indicted in October 2024 as part of a superseding indictment charging the alleged ringleader of the conspiracy, Oluwaseun Adekoya, 39, a Nigerian citizen living in New Jersey, as well as David Daniyan, 60, a Nigerian citizen who according to prosecutors has lived in the United States under stolen identities for decades, with orchestrating a conspiracy to steal the identities of people who resided all over the country and impersonate those people at banks and credit unions to fraudulently obtain cash, checks, loans, and credit. According to documents previously filed in court, the conspirators also allegedly opened bank accounts in the names of identity theft victims, which were then used to deposit and access the funds from checks they had fraudulently obtained from banks and credit unions by impersonating other individuals. The conspirators’ conduct allegedly involved nearly $3 million in intended losses, over $1.7 million of which was successful. Ozmore admitted that she was recruited to join the conspiracy as a runner in or around January 2023 and fraudulently obtained over $195,000 over a five-month period that year from banks and credit unions by impersonating identity-theft victims whose personal identifying information was supplied to her by supervisors. Ozmore was paid a small portion of the money she fraudulently obtained. The following defendants are charged as follows in the superseding indictment: Adekoya is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and nine counts of aggravated identity theft; Daniyan is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and four counts aggravated identity theft; Kani Bassie, 36, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft; Davon Hunter, 27, of Richmond, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft; Jermon Brooks, 20, of Richmond, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft; Christian Quivers, 20, of Richmond, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft; and Crystal Kurschner, 44, of Brooklyn, is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. The prosecution is the result of an ongoing investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI-Albany, which began after the May 2022 arrest of Daniyan, Gaysha Kennedy, 46, of Brooklyn, and Victor Barriera, 64, of the Bronx, by the Cohoes Police Department after the trio had allegedly traveled to the Capital Region to commit bank fraud. Adekoya, Daniyan, Kennedy, and Barriera were originally indicted, along with coconspirators Jerjuan Joyner, 50, of Brooklyn, Akeem Balogun, 56, of Brooklyn, Danielle Cappetti, 46, of the Bronx, and Lesley Lucchese, 53, of Brooklyn. At sentencing on May 6, 2025, Ozmore faces a maximum term of 30 years’ incarceration, an order of restitution in the amount of $195,500, and a term of supervised release of up to 5 years. Kennedy, Barriera, Joyner, Balogun, Cappetti, and Lucchese have pled guilty to bank fraud conspiracy and are pending sentencing. The charges in the superseding indictment are merely accusations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. FBI Albany is investigating the case, with assistance from the FBI Field Offices in New York, Newark, Richmond and Resident Agencies in Westchester, New York; Brooklyn/Queens, New York; Garrett Mountain, New Jersey; and Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Additional assistance was provided by other law enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement & Removal Operations (New York Field Office & Albany sub-office); U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service (Buffalo Field Office & St. Albans Resident Office); U.S. Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General; New York law enforcement agencies including the New York State Police; Cohoes PD; Colonie PD; Elmira PD; Corning PD; Plattsburgh PD; Florida law enforcement agencies including the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office; the Pennsylvania State Police; Alabama law enforcement agencies including the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, Gasden PD, and Rainbow City PD; Georgia law enforcement agencies including the Georgia State Patrol, Bartow County Sheriff’s Office, and Morrow PD; Kansas law enforcement agencies including Lawrence PD and Overland Park PD; New Hampshire law enforcement agencies including Rochester PD, Manchester PD, and Amherst PD; the Delaware State Police; Maryland law enforcement agencies including the Maryland State Police, Harford County Sheriff’s Office and Baltimore County Sheriff’s Office; Wisconsin law enforcement agencies including Onalaska PD and Eau Claire PD; and Indiana law enforcement agencies including the Allen County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin S. Clark and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting this case.


title: Two members of multi-state drug trafficking rings linked to Aryan prison gangs sentenced to lengthy prison terms

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Tacoma – Two members of drug trafficking organizations linked to Aryan prison gangs were sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to twelve- and seven-year prison terms, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Eric Smith,54, of Tacoma, was sentenced to twelve years in prison and Sara Thompson, 39, of Bonney Lake, Washington, was sentenced to seven years in prison. Both defendants were arrested in connection with the investigation of drug trafficking organizations connected to the Aryan Family and Omerta prison gangs. At the sentencing hearing for Smith, Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo said, “These drugs, particularly fentanyl, are creating a mess in our community. It creates people who can no longer function and leads to overdose and death.” “Both of these defendants served as trusted coconspirators for the leaders of distribution cells identified in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “As such they are responsible for distributing hundreds of thousands of doses of potentially deadly fentanyl and methamphetamine. The damage done to our communities is severe.” “Every Fentanyl pill introduced into our communities has the potential to destroy lives.” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “The defendants conspired with others, including with individuals already incarcerated, to traffic these deadly pills into Washington state. The FBI and our partners will continue our efforts to keep these poisons off the streets and out of our neighborhoods.” According to records filed in the case, Eric Smith served as a trusted drug customer and redistributor for the leader of the criminal conspiracy, Jesse Bailey. Smith helped Bailey wash over 50 kilograms of methamphetamine to prepare it for distribution. Smith carried and was caught with various firearms while engaged in the drug trade. On November 1, 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Sara Thompson pleaded guilty in August 2024 to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Thompson is in a romantic relationship with the leader of the drug distribution cell, 39-year-old Yehoshua Kilp. Thompson served as Kilp’s proxy for major narcotics deals. Law enforcement raided the Airbnb she stayed at with Kilp immediately after one of these deals and seized nearly 45 kilograms of methamphetamine, and over 5 kilograms of fentanyl in powder and pill form. Thompson continued to sell drugs on behalf of the drug trafficking organization even after Kilp was arrested on state charges. At her sentencing Chief Judge Estudillo said, “The crime that’s associated with controlled substances, the violence that’s sometimes associated with it . . . It’s just a path of destruction for everybody around it. . . . These things have impact and there’s a reason why there’s significant consequences for this type of conduct.” “Mr. Smith and Ms. Thompson helped a hate group distribute over a million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl into our neighborhoods,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “We, at the Drug Enforcement Administration, and our partners will do everything in our power to stop those who try to poison and destroy our communities with drugs, violence, and hate.” Law enforcement made two dozen arrests on federal charges on March 22, 2023. The coordinated takedown involved ten swat teams and more than 350 law enforcement officers. On that day law enforcement seized 177 firearms, more than ten kilos of methamphetamine, 11 kilos of fentanyl pills and more than a kilo of fentanyl powder, three kilos of heroin, and more than $330,000 in cash from eighteen locations in Washington and Arizona. Earlier in the investigation law enforcement seized 830,000 fentanyl pills, 5.5 pounds of fentanyl powder, 223 pounds of methamphetamine, 3.5 pounds of heroin, 5 pounds of cocaine, $388,000 in cash, and 48 firearms. The top-level leader of the drug trafficking ring, Jesse Bailey, is scheduled to be sentenced on May 16, 2025, and his wife and co-conspirator Candace Bailey, is scheduled for sentencing on June 13, 2025. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. This investigation was led by the FBI with critical investigative teamwork from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Washington State Department of Corrections and significant local assistance from the Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, led by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. Throughout this investigation the following agencies assisted the primary investigators: Washington State Patrol, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Lakewood Police Department, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Dillon, Max Shiner, and Jehiel Baer.


title: Former Senior Adviser for the Federal Reserve Indicted on Charges of Economic Espionage

body_text: John Harold Rogers, 63, of Vienna, Virginia, a former Senior Adviser for the Federal Reserve Board of Governors (FRB), was arrested today on charges that he conspired to steal Federal Reserve trade secrets for the benefit of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). In furtherance of the conspiracy, allegedly made false statements to the Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (FRB-OIG), and those false statements had a material impact on its investigation. “As alleged, the defendant violated the trust placed in him by the Federal Reserve Bank by putting U.S. trade secrets in the hands of his PRC co-conspirators, knowing full well that such information would benefit the PRC Government and PRC instrumentalities,” said Devin DeBacker, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department will continue to use all the tools at its disposal to disrupt economic espionage and protect our national security.” “President Trump tasks us with protecting our fellow Americans from all enemies, foreign and domestic. As alleged in the indictment, this defendant leveraged his position within the Federal Reserve to pass sensitive financial information to the Chinese government, a designated adversary,” said U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. for the District of Columbia. “Let this indictment serve as a warning to all who seek to betray or exploit the United States: law enforcement will find you and hold you accountable.” “As alleged in the indictment, Rogers betrayed his country while employed at the Federal Reserve by providing restricted U.S. financial and economic information to Chinese government intelligence officers,” said Assistant Director Kevin Vorndran of the FBI Counterintelligence Division. “This information could allow adversaries to illegally gain a strategic economic advantage at the expense of the U.S. This indictment sends a clear message that the FBI and our partners will hold accountable those who threaten our national security.” “The Chinese Communist Party has expanded its economic espionage campaign to target U.S. government financial policies and trade secrets in an effort to undermine the United States and become the sole superpower,” said Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office. “Today's indictment represents the FBI’s unwavering commitment to protect U.S. national security interests and U.S. jobs and bring to justice those who are willing to betray their country for personal gain.” “This indictment sends a clear message that those who deliberately misuse sensitive Federal Reserve information for their own personal gain and lie about it to investigators will be held accountable for their actions,” said Special Agent in Charge John T. Perez of the FRB-OIG, Headquarters Operations. According to the indictment, Rogers, a U.S. citizen with a Ph.D. in economics, worked as a Senior Adviser in FRB’s Division of International Finance of the FRB from 2010 until 2021, where he was entrusted with confidential FRB information. The confidential information that Rogers allegedly shared with his Chinese co-conspirators, who worked for the intelligence and security apparatus of China and who posed as graduate students at a PRC university, is economically valuable when secret. China holds a large amount of U.S. foreign debt (approximately $816 billion as of October 2024). The data Rogers shared with his co-conspirators could allow China to manipulate the U.S. market, in a manner similar to insider trading. Gaining advance knowledge of U.S. economic policy, including advance knowledge of changes to the federal funds rate, could provide China with an advantage when selling or buying U.S. bonds or securities. The indictment alleges that, from at least 2018, Rogers allegedly exploited his employment with the FRB by soliciting trade-secret information regarding proprietary economic data sets, deliberations about tariffs targeting China, briefing books for designated governors, and sensitive information about Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) deliberations and forthcoming announcements. He passed that information electronically to his personal email account, in violation of FRB policy, or printed it prior to traveling to China, in preparation for meetings with his co-conspirators. Under the guise of teaching “classes,” Rogers met with his co-conspirators in hotel rooms in China where he conveyed sensitive, trade-secret information that belonged to the FRB and the FOMC. In 2023, Rogers was paid approximately $450,000 as a part-time professor at a Chinese university. On Feb. 4, 2020, in response to questioning by the FRB-OIG, Rogers lied about his accessing and passage of sensitive information and his associations with his co-conspirators. Rogers is charged with conspiracy to commit economic espionage and with making false statements. The FBI Washington Field Office and FRB-OIG are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Paschall for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorneys Nicholas Hunter and Steve Marzen of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export 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: U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects Over $12.9M in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2024

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins announced today that the District of Utah collected $12,954,017.21 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2024. Of this amount, $8,385,272.13 was collected in criminal actions and $4,568,745.08 was collected in civil actions. Additionally, the District of Utah worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $2,978,609.99 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $12,350.00 was collected in criminal actions and $2,966,259.99 was collected in civil actions. For example: • A Washington County man paid the remaining balance of $2,139,926.35 in restitution in FY2024 after he was ordered by the court in 2022 to pay $3.2 million dollars. The defendant was sentenced to 33 months’ imprisonment after he failed to file financial reports with the United States Treasury after bringing currency in excess of $10,000 back into the United States from China. See press release: Washington Man Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison and Ordered to Pay $3.2 Million Dollars for Kickback Scheme • In July 2024, A Utah businessman was sentenced to imprisonment and ordered by the court to pay $10,250,834.53 in restitution after he admitted to defrauding hundreds of trusting investors throughout the United States out of millions of dollars in his smartphone company, SAYGUS. See press release: Smartphone Fraudster Sentenced to 29 Months’ Imprisonment After Cheating Investors Out of $10M The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs. Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Utah, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $4,625,653 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2024. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.


title: Albany County Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Sexual Exploitation of a Child

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Thomas Berrington, age 33, of Colonie, New York, was sentenced today to 25 years in federal prison for his repeated sexual exploitation of a child announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). As part of his prior guilty plea, Berrington admitted that between June of 2023 and January of 2024, he repeatedly sexually abused a minor female child for the purpose of photographing and video recording the abuse. The victim was eight years old when Berrington’s abuse of her began. United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also sentenced Berrington to a 25-year term of supervised release, to begin following his term of imprisonment. Berrington will also be required to pay a special assessment of $200, an additional special assessment of $5,000, and register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, comprised of FBI Special Agents, and state and local police investigators, including from the New York State Police and Colonie Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Oklahoma City Man who Possessed Firearms while on Federal Supervised Release Sentenced to Serve Six Years in Federal Prison

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – ROBERT KESHIAN NORWOOD , 72, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 72 months in federal prison for illegal possession of firearms after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On April 2, 2024, a federal Grand Jury charged Norwood with being a felon in possession of firearms. According to public record, on February 1, 2024, officers of the United States Probation Office made contact with Norwood at his apartment to conduct a search pursuant to conditions of his supervised release. Norwood was on supervised release following his previous federal conviction for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. In Norwood’s apartment, officers found ten firearms and numerous rounds of ammunition. On July 1, 2024, Norwood pleaded guilty, and admitted he possessed the firearms despite his previous felony conviction. At the sentencing hearing on January 29, 2025, U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton sentenced Norwood to serve 72 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Heaton noted Norwood’s lengthy criminal history. Public record reflects that Norwood’s criminal history includes federal felony convictions in the Western District of Oklahoma for possession of methamphetamine after two or more prior convictions and knowingly carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime in case number CR-94-010063-001, and possession with intent to distribute a schedule II controlled substance in case number CR-13-43-HE-1. Norwood’s criminal history also includes felony convictions in Oklahoma County District Court for: second degree burglary in case number CF-1980-3241; possession of a controlled dangerous substance in case number CRF-1982-5111; first degree robbery in case number CRF-1984-2497; possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a firearm after former conviction, and concealing stolen property after former conviction in case number CRF-1987-3021; unauthorized use of a motor vehicle after former conviction in case number CF-1988-5321; two counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, maintaining a vehicle where a controlled dangerous substance is kept, and possession of drug paraphernalia in case number CF-2001-1140; unlawfully possessing a signed and unsigned credit card and larceny of merchandise in case number CF-2005-5469; and possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and possession of proceeds derived from a violation of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substance Act in case number CF-12-2446. This case is the result of an investigation by the United States Probation Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary E. Walters prosecuted the case. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Fentanyl and Illegal Firearm Possession Lands Oklahoma City Man in Federal Prison for More Than Three Years

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – ABEL JOSE FARIAS , 21, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 46 months in federal prison for possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and illegal possession of two firearms after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On July 18, 2024, a federal Grand Jury returned a four-count Indictment against Farias, charging him with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. According to public record, in December 2023, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents received information regarding a subject selling fentanyl pills. The agents arranged to meet with the subject to buy fentanyl at a gas station in Moore, Oklahoma, where they encountered and ultimately arrested Farias. In his vehicle, agents discovered a bag of fentanyl pills, as well as a firearm. After executing a federal search warrant, law enforcement found another firearm at Farias’s residence. On November 13, 2024, Farias pleaded guilty to counts 1, 2, and 4 of the Indictment, and admitted he possessed fentanyl which he intended to distribute, as well as two firearms, which he could not possess because of his felony convictions. At the sentencing hearing on January 28, 2024, U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton sentenced Farias to serve 46 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, the Court noted the dangerous nature of fentanyl, and that firearms were involved in Farias’s previous convictions, leading Judge Heaton to the conclusion that the sentence needed to promote respect for the rule of law. Public record further reflects that Farias has previous felony convictions in Oklahoma County District Court, including those for first-degree burglary in case number CF-2022-2403 and being a felon in possession of a firearm in case number CF-2022-1866. This case is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the 21 st District Attorney Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan J. West prosecuted the case. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.