News from April 2023
Justice Department Announces Nationwide Coordinated Law Enforcement Action to Combat COVID-19 Health Care Fraud
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 26, 2023
News Release: The Department of Justice today announced criminal charges against 18 defendants in nine federal districts across the United States for their alleged participation in various fraud schemes involving health care services that exploited the COVID-19 pandemic and allegedly resulted in over $490 million in COVID-19 related false billings to federal programs and theft from federally funded pandemic programs.
ATF National Response Team Joins Oklahoma City Church Fire Investigation
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 26, 2023
News Release: WASHINGTON - The Dallas Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives requested ATF’s National Response Team join the investigation into a church fire that occurred Monday morning at 7200 S. Walker Ave. in Oklahoma City.
Prohibited Person Sentenced to Seven Years for Possessing a Gun and Ammunition
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 26, 2023
News Release: WASHINGTON - Decondi Mayo, 46, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 84 months in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Weddel, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
New Britain Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl Distribution and Firearm Possession Offenses
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 26, 2023
News Release: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RAFAEL MARTINEZ, 31, of New Britain, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 108 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release for fentanyl distribution and firearm possession offenses.
Anchorage Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Heroin Trafficking
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 26, 2023
News Release: ANCHORAGE, ALASKA - U.S. District Judge Joshua M. Kindred sentenced an Anchorage man on April 19, 2023, to 10 years and 5 months imprisonment followed by eight years of supervised release for distributing heroin.
Fort Myers Felon Sentenced After Brandishing a Firearm on Social Media
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 26, 2023
News Release: Fort Myers, Florida - U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced Terry Kristopher Flournoy (23, Fort Myers) to two years and six months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Flournoy to forfeit the firearm and ammunition he illegally possessed. Flournoy had pleaded guilty on Dec. 21, 2022.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Violations of the Federal Gun Control and Controlled Substances Acts
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 26, 2023
News Release: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - On April 11, 2023, BURNEAL ELLIOTT, age 21, of New Orleans, pleaded guilty to a four-count indictment for possession of a machinegun, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
Citrus County Man Found Guilty of Possessing a Short-Barrel Rifle
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 26, 2023
News Release: Ocala, Florida - Senior U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has found David Robinson, Jr. (24, Tampa) guilty of possessing an unregistered National Firearms Act (NFA) firearm. Robinson faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 20, 2023. Robinson had been indicted on Oct. 11, 2022.
Jefferson Parish Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun and Drug Offenses
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 26, 2023
News Release: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - LANCE STEVENS, age 27, a resident of Gretna, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on April 20, 2023 before Chief U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown to a six-count indictment charging him with violations of the Federal Gun Control Act and the Federal Controlled Substances Act.
Bronx, New York, Man Sentenced to 43 Years in Prison for Multistate Kidnapping, Assault, and Arson Rampage
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 26, 2023
News Release: NEWARK, N.J. - A Bronx, New York, man was sentenced today to 516 months in prison for a multistate crime spree during which he kidnapped and sexually assaulted his former girlfriend, assaulted a federal employee, set fire to a used car dealership, and rammed multiple police vehicles before being apprehended, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms Used in Two Shootings
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 26, 2023
News Release: DETROIT - A Detroit man was sentenced yesterday to 8 years in prison for charges relating to his possession of firearms involved in two shootings in 2021, including one where he indiscriminately fired over thirty rounds at the home occupied by his domestic partner, other adults, and two children, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.
Durbin Statement on Supreme Court’s Decision to Preserve Access to the Abortion Pill Mifepristone
By DOJ Newswire Report | Apr 26, 2023
U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s decision to preserve access to the abortion pill mifepristone:
Man Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Firearm at a Casino When He Shot a Security Guard
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 27, 2023
News Release: LAS VEGAS - A Henderson resident was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm in 2021, during which he shot a security guard.
Readout of Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta’s Meeting with Uvalde Families
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 27, 2023
News Release: On Wednesday April 26, Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta traveled to Uvalde, Texas, where she and members of the Critical Incident Review team from the Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) met with families and community members to hear from them and ...
Sacramento Man Charged With Methamphetamine Distribution Crimes and Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 27, 2023
News Release: SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment Thursday against Efrain Valentin, 54, of Sacramento, charging him with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
New Jersey Doctor Admits Health Care Fraud Targeting Amtrak
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 27, 2023
News Release: NEWARK, N.J. - A New Jersey doctor today admitted participating in a health care fraud scheme to defraud Amtrak, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Oklahoma City Man Charged With Setting Fire to Local Church
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 27, 2023
News Release: OKLAHOMA CITY - Yesterday, a criminal complaint was unsealed that charges OSCAR REYNALDO GOMEZ, 54, of Oklahoma City, with arson of the God of No Limits Church located at 7200 South Walker Avenue, in Oklahoma City, announced United States Attorney Robert J. Troester.
Fort Myers Felon Sentenced After Brandishing a Firearm on Social Media
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 27, 2023
News Release: Fort Myers, Florida - U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced Terry Kristopher Flournoy (23, Fort Myers) to two years and six months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Flournoy to forfeit the firearm and ammunition he illegally possessed. Flournoy had pleaded guilty on Dec. 21, 2022.
Four Men Charged in Conspiracy To Steal and Illegally Traffic Over Two Hundred Firearms From an Indianapolis Shipping Company
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 27, 2023
News Release: Indianapolis- Bruce A. Williams II, 31, Zackary Dean Doss, 26, and Kevin Todd Jones, Jr. 21, have been charged in a federal indictment with Conspiracy to Receive, Possess, Store, or Sell Stolen Firearms. Williams and Doss have also been charged with Possession of Firearms by a Felon, and Jones has been ...
USDOJ-OJP-OVC offers new grant application process starting April 27
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 27, 2023
OVC FY 2023 Targeted Training and Technical Assistance for VOCA Victim Assistance and Compensation Administrators grant opened on April 27.