News from March 2023
Former Wells Fargo Executive Agrees to Plead Guilty to Obstructing Bank Examination Involving the Opening of Millions of Accounts Without Customer Authorization
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: LOS ANGELES - The former head of Wells Fargo Bank’s retail banking division has agreed to plead guilty to obstructing a government examination into the bank’s widespread sales practices misconduct, which included opening millions of unauthorized accounts and other products, federal authorities announced today.
Former Massachusetts Resident Admits to Methamphetamine Trafficking in Rhode Island
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: PROVIDENCE, R.I. - A former Pepperell, MA, man arrested during an FBI Safe Streets Task Force drug trafficking investigation that led to the seizure of more than 461 grams of pure crystal methamphetamine pleaded guilty in federal court in Providence to conspiracy and drug trafficking charges, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Leader of Boston Drug Trafficking Organization Pleads Guilty to Heroin and Fentanyl Conspiracy and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of Distribution Activities
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: BOSTON - A Boston man responsible for a leading large drug trafficking organization (DTO) pleaded guilty today to heroin and fentanyl conspiracy charges and possessing a firearm in furtherance of his organization.
Sitka Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: JUNEAU - Joshua Kane Wehnes was sentenced on March 7, 2023, to 90 months in prison and five years of supervised release for federal drug trafficking and firearm charges.
Tampa Man Pleads Guilty To Illegally Possessing A Firearm
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: Tampa, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Meccos Donta Allen (38, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a firearm. Allen faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. Allen has also agreed to forfeit the Glock pistol traceable to the offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
Local trafficker gets substantial sentence for distributing meth
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: HOUSTON - A 24-year-old Houston resident has been ordered to federal prison for his role in trafficking drugs in the metro area, announced Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Oxford Man Sentenced for Stealing Government Funds and Misusing Social Security Number
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: BOSTON - A Oxford man has been sentenced in federal court in Worcester for false representation of a Social Security number and theft of government funds.
Two San Xavier Men Charged with Carjacking and Using a Firearm During a Crime of Violence
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: TUCSON, Ariz. - James Moreno, 18, and Christopher Rodriguez, 18, both of San Xavier, Arizona, were charged by criminal complaint on Monday with Carjacking, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. Moreno and Rodriguez had been arrested the day before.
Colorado Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Broomfield, Colorado, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on March 3, 2023.
Staten Island Man Pleads Guilty to Baby Formula Fraud Scheme
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: BROOKLYN - Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Vladislav Kotlyar pleaded guilty to defrauding insurance plans and medical suppliers by fraudulently procuring specialty baby formula. When sentenced for mail fraud, Kotlyar faces up to 20 years in prison. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge William F. Kuntz, II.
Missouri Man Sentenced to 21 Years for Meth Trafficking, Illegal Firearm
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - A Marshfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm and methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
Army Servicemember Stationed at Fort Bragg Indicted in Connection With Romance Scams and COVID-19 Assistance Fraud
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: RALEIGH, N.C. - Sanda G. Frimpong, 33, was arrested Wednesday upon the unsealing of a 19-count indictment that included charges of Money Laundering, Fraud, Conspiracy, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Access Device Fraud in connection with multiple interstate and international fraud and money-laundering scams. Frimpong, an active duty servicemember stationed at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, faces between up to ten and up to twenty years in prison per count, and potential fines.
Hogansburg Man Sentenced for Alien Smuggling that Resulted in River Rescue Operation
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Brian Lazore, age 45, of Hogansburg, New York, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for conspiracy to commit alien smuggling and three counts of alien smuggling.
United States Obtains Warrant for Seizure of Airplane Owned by Russian Oil Company Valued at Over $25 Million
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: The United States of America obtained a warrant to seize a Boeing 737-7JU aircraft owned by PJSC Rosneft Oil Company (Rosneft), a Russian integrated energy company headquartered in Moscow, Russia headed by Igor Ivanovich Sechin. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York authorized...
Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Crime
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Damon Shawn Bailes Jr., also known as “Paper," 31, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Iranian National Charged With Illegally Exporting Electrical Equipment to Iran
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: WASHINGTON - A federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment today charging an Iranian national with the unlawful export of electrical cables and connectors from the United States to Iran, through Hong Kong. According to court documents, Mehdi Khoshghadam, a.k.a. “David Lei,"...
Davenport Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm Charges
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: DAVENPORT, IA - A Davenport man was sentenced on Feb. 28, 2023, to 106 months in prison for possessing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and possessing a firearm as a felon.
Union County Man Convicted of Multiple Armed Robberies and Firearms Offenses
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: NEWARK, N.J. - A Union County man was convicted today for participating in a multi-state armed robbery spree that spanned several months, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
California Men Admit Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl and Meth
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: NEWARK, N.J. - Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division Daniel J. Kafafian and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger announced two California men admitted conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine in New Jersey and elsewhere.
Suburban Houston man convicted for falsifying aircraft inspection
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: HOUSTON - A 52-year-old Pearland resident has pleaded guilty to making false statements in an aircraft maintenance log, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.