News from March 2023


Repeat Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal Prison for Meth Trafficking in Kokomo

News Release: INDIANAPOLIS- Jerry Glenn, 36, of Kokomo, Indiana, was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.


Navajo man charged with aggravated sexual abuse of a child in Indian Country

News Release: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Pedro Lee Benally made an initial appearance in federal court facing two charges of aggravated sexual...


The United States Recovers Money Stolen from Embassy Baku by Former Employee

News Release: COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - A former employee of the United States Embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan, has paid the United States $128,000 to resolve allegations that he stole money from the State Department while employed at the embassy.


Defendants Convicted And Sentenced In Long-Term Methamphetamine And Oxycodone Drug Trafficking Investigation In Bay County

News Release: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA - A federal judge sentenced the seventh defendant in a large-scale methamphetamine and oxycodone trafficking organization operating primarily in Bay County. The convictions and sentences were announced by Jason R. Coody United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.


Prolific Drug Trafficking Organization Dismantled

News Release: JOHNSTOWN - Fifty-seven defendants have been charged in two separate, but related Indictments, and by Criminal Complaint, with violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.


Heart Butte man admits murdering woman on Blackfeet Indian Reservation

News Release: GREAT FALLS - A Heart Butte man today admitted to murdering a woman after an argument on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.


Former Raleigh County Housing Director Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Crime

News Release: BECKLEY, W.Va. Laquenta Lowe, 45, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to conversion of public money exceeding $1,000. Lowe admitted to stealing at least $7,978.91 in federal funds while employed by the Raleigh County Housing Authority (RCHA).


Springfield, Illinois, Man Sentenced to 100 Months for Distributing Heroin

News Release: SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - A Springfield, Illinois, man, Kenneth Neal, 32, of the 1800 block of Stanhope Road, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough to 100 months in prison, to be followed by six years of supervised release, for distributing 110 grams of heroin between December 2019 and February 2020.



USAO-Kansas City Warns Public About Spoofing Scams

News Release: KANSAS CITY, KAN. - The U.S. Attorney’s Office - District of Kansas is warning the public about phone scams in which callers spoof or fraudulently display themselves as having numbers belonging to government agencies in attempt to defraud victims of money.


Laredo resident indicted on charges of fraud and aggravated identity theft

News Release: LAREDO, Texas - A 52-year-old woman who used multiple aliases has been charged with using someone else’s identity on multiple occasions and lying to authorities in connection with obtaining a passport, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.


Owner of Boston Pizzeria Chain Arrested on Forced Labor Charges

News Release: BOSTON - The owner of Stash’s Pizza was arrested this morning on forced labor charges for allegedly employing a victim who lacked immigration status and forcing him to work for years while threatening him with deportation and subjecting him to repeated verbal and physical abuse.


Sioux City Man Sentenced to Prison for Meth and Gun Convictions

News Release: A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine while illegally possessing firearms was sentenced March 6, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City.


Two Charged in Robbery Spree in Chicago and Oak Park

News Release: CHICAGO - A federal grand jury has indicted two Chicago residents on a total of five counts of robbery affecting interstate commerce.



Browning man sentenced for assaulting teenage girl

News Release: GREAT FALLS - A Browning man who admitted to assaulting and kicking a teenage girl in the face during an argument on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was sentenced on March 8 to five months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.


Tribe Member Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison For The Death Of A Child

News Release: RENO - An enrolled member of the Ely Shoshone Tribe was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Larry R. Hicks to 15 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release, the maximum sentence, for voluntary manslaughter of a three-year-old girl.


Army Reservist Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Theft of Government Funds

News Release: NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that on March 2, 2023 former United States Army reservist LYNEA SANDERS has pled guilty to conspiracy to commit theft of government funds, having stolen $21,780.18 from the United States Department of the Army by claiming reimbursement for the performance of military funeral honors ceremonies that never happened.


Buffalo Man Going To Prison On Multiple Drug, Gun And Covid-19 Fraud Crimes

News Release: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Joseph Bella, 50, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, being a drug user in possession of a firearm, and wire fraud, was sentenced to serve 42 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.


Fresno Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting a Court Security Officer

News Release: FRESNO, Calif. - Carlos Perez, 46, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to assaulting a federal contractor, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.