News from June 2023


Muskegon Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Stalking His Ex-Wife and Possessing Firearms

News Release: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN -U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten announced today that Mitchell Pierce, 45, of Muskegon was sentenced to 180 months in the Bureau of Prisons after he pleaded guilty to stalking and being a felon in possession of firearms. U.S. District Court Judge Robert J. Jonker also ordered that when Pierce is released from prison, Pierce will be on supervised release for 3 years.


Oregon Man Found Guilty of Felony and Misdemeanor Charges Related to Capitol Breach

News Release: WASHINGTON - An Oregon man was found guilty in the District of Columbia today of 11 felony and misdemeanor charges related to his actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.


Lab Billing Company Settles False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Unnecessary Respiratory Panels Run on Seniors Receiving COVID-19 Tests

News Release: VitalAxis Inc., a Maryland-based billing company for diagnostic laboratories, has agreed to pay $300,479.58 to resolve False Claims Act allegations that it caused the submission of false claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary respiratory pathogen panels run on seniors who received COVID-19 tests.


Jefferson Parish Man Sentenced for Violating Federal Gun Control Act

News Release: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - SHAWN RABATHALY, age 22, of Harvey, Louisiana, was sentenced on June 6, 2023 by U.S. District Court Judge Susie Morgan to 46 months of imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee after previously pleading guilty to being ...


Four Indicted For St. Petersburg Drug Conspiracy

News Release: Tampa, Florida -United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Eric L. Lemon (44, New Port Richey), Eric Lekent Lemon, Jr. (20, St. Petersburg), Dominic Giannantonio (46, St. Petersburg), and Tryon Metteria Byrd IV (43, St. Petersburg) with conspiring to possess ...


Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm

News Release: MINNEAPOLIS - A Minneapolis felon has been sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegally possessing a firearm as an armed career criminal, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.


Man Convicted of $54M Bribery and Kickback Scheme Involving Fraudulent Prescriptions

News Release: A federal jury convicted a Florida man for his role in a $54 million bribery and kickback scheme involving TRICARE, a federal program that provides health insurance benefits to active duty and retired service members and their families.


Modesto Man Sentenced to over 12 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking, Illegal Firearms Possession

News Release: FRESNO, Calif. - Joshua Harrington, 36, of Modesto, was sentenced Monday to 12 years and seven months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.


Fort Myers Man Sentenced To Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing Firearm as a Convicted Felon

News Release: Fort Myers, Florida - U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Alphonso Lataurean James (29, Fort Myers) to seven years and eight months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. The court also ordered James to forfeit the firearm and ammunition possessed during the offense. James had pleaded guilty on March 7, 2023.


Officers Seize 82 Firearms, Machine Guns, During Arrest of Three Men Charged With Gun Trafficking Conspiracy, Drug Trafficking

News Release: KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Law enforcement officers seized 82 firearms, including machine guns, during the arrest of three Kansas City, Mo., metropolitan area men charged with participating in a conspiracy to traffic firearms, including machine guns, and with drug trafficking.


Sacramento Area Group Charged for Shipping Fentanyl Pills Across the United States

News Release: SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A federal grand jury returned a 17-count indictment Thursday against Sacramento residents Marcus Miller, 33; Reginald Jones, 33; Felicia Shaw, 31; Jimmy Van II, 38; and Jazzmine Campbell, 30; charging them with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, in addition to other drug and gun charges, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.


Illinois Man Sentenced to 108 Months in Prison

News Release: FORT WAYNE -Justin Davis, 65 years old, of Maywood, IL, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after his plea of guilty to possessing with intent to distribute cocaine, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.


Illinois Man Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison

News Release: HAMMOND- Alexander Greene, 27 years old, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Senior Judge James T. Moody after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.


Canadian Man Convicted in Multimillion-Dollar Psychic Mass-Mailing Fraud Scheme

News Release: A federal jury in the Eastern District of New York convicted a Canadian man today for perpetrating a decades-long mass-mailing fraud scheme that stole more than $175 million from victims in the United States.


Court Sentences Mobile Man to Ten Years’ Imprisonment for Armed Robbery of Dollar Tree Store

News Release: MOBILE, AL - On June 1, 2023, United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Carlos Dominick Balams of Mobile to 120 months’ imprisonment for robbery and brandishing a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence.


Repeat Domestic Abuser Sentenced to Over 15 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms During Domestic Assault

News Release: INDIANAPOLIS- Harold Sanders, 34, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced to 188 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm.


New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Felony Charge for Actions During January 6 Capitol Breach

News Release: WASHINGTON - A New Jersey man pleaded guilty today to a felony charge for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.


Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Felony Charge for Actions During January 6 Capitol Breach

News Release: WASHINGTON - A Virginia man and self-proclaimed member of the Proud Boys pleaded guilty today to a felony charge related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.


New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Carjacking and Weapons Charges

News Release: NEW ORLEANS, LA - United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that FURRELL JOHNSON, age 33, of New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Lance M. Africk to a two-count indictment charging him with Carjacking and violating the Federal Gun Control Act.


Former Long Beach First Responder Sentenced to More Than 29 Years in Prison for Drug and Gun Crimes, Including Selling Fentanyl That Resulted in Coworker’s Fatal Overdose

News Release: LOS ANGELES - A former first responder who worked at a Long Beach hospital was sentenced today to 352 months in federal prison for selling fentanyl to two of his co-workers who thought they were buying cocaine, one of whom later died of an overdose after ingesting the powerful opioid.