News from March 2023


Wichita Woman Sentenced to Prison for Bank Fraud

News Release: WICHITA, KAN. - A Kansas woman was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for bank fraud and tax fraud in connection to a scheme to defraud her former employers of millions of dollars.


Midland Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Meth Distribution and Firearm Charge

News Release: MIDLAND, Texas - A Midland man was sentenced last week to 360 months in prison for possessing approximately 1,000 grams of methamphetamine and possessing a handgun in furtherance to a drug activity.


Stockton Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of Ammunition

News Release: SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Clayton Howard, 47, of Stockton, was sentenced today to seven years and two months in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.


U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary Takes Oath of Office at Community Investiture Ceremony

News Release: MACON, Ga. - U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary took the oath of office at a community-attended formal investiture ceremony at the William Augustus Bootle Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Macon this afternoon.


CEO of Nevada-Based Publicly Traded Health Care Company Charged with Federal Crimes for Alleged Insider Trading Scheme

News Release: LOS ANGELES - An indictment was unsealed today charging Terren S. Peizer, the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ontrak Inc., a Henderson, Nevada-based publicly traded health care company, for allegedly engaging in an insider trading scheme in which he fraudulently used Rule 10b5-1 trading plans to trade Ontrak stock.


Santa Domingo man charged with aggravated sexual abuse 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 Santiago Quintana, Jr. was arraigned on a criminal complaint charging him with aggravated sexual abuse...


Miami-Based Social Media Influencer Pleads Guilty to $1.5 Million COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme

News Release: BOSTON - A Miami woman pleaded guilty today to fraudulently obtaining over $1 million in pandemic-related loans using the stolen identities of more than 10 individuals, and then using those funds for personal expenses, including chartering a private jet and rental of a luxury apartment.


New Orleans Woman Charged for Theft of More Than $88,000 in Government Funds

News Release: NEW ORLEANS, LA - U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that ALINE JAMES, a/k/a “Aline Foster" (“JAMES"), age 50, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was indicted on March 10, 2023 for Theft of Government Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.


Former United States Congressional Candidate Pleads Guilty in Conduit Campaign Contribution Case

News Release: WASHINGTON - A former primary candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives pleaded guilty today to violating the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) by accepting a conduit campaign contribution.


Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of an Infant

News Release: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Benjamin Munson, age 32, of Syracuse, pled guilty in United States District Court today to all counts of a thirteen-count Indictment charging him with six counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Commission of a Felony Involving a Minor by a Registered Sex Offender, four counts...


Union County Man Admits Role in Scheme to Steal Mail, Commit Credit Card Fraud, and Defraud United States

News Release: NEWARK, N.J. - A Union County, New Jersey, man admitted his role in a scheme to receive stolen credit cards and pandemic relief debit cards sent through the mail, commit bank fraud, and defraud the U.S. Postal Service and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.


Ericsson to Plead Guilty and Pay Over $206M Following Breach of 2019 FCPA Deferred Prosecution Agreement

News Release: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Ericsson), a multinational telecommunications company headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, has agreed to plead guilty and pay a criminal penalty of more than $206 million after breaching a 2019 Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA).


Todd County Man Sentenced for Sexual Abuse of a Minor

News Release: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Todd County, South Dakota, man convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor. The sentencing took place on March 13, 2023.


United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell Announces Implementation of New Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy

News Release: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell has announced the implementation of the new United States Attorney’s Offices’ Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy. The policy, which is effective immediately, details the circumstances under which a company will be considered to have made a voluntary...


Colorado Springs Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of Explosive Devices

News Release: DENVER - The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Dakota Ryan Halley, age 28, of Colorado Springs has pleaded guilty to possession of unregistered firearms, specifically explosive devices.


New York Man Sentenced On Felony Charge For Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

News Release: Defendant Opened Door to Capitol, Directed Rioters Inside.


Former Niskayuna Surgeon To Pay $42,000 For Defrauding Medicare

News Release: ALBANY, NEW YORK - Steven A. St. Lucia has agreed to pay $42,000 to the United States to resolve allegations that he caused Union Foot Solutions, LLC, d/b/a Union Orthotics and Pedorthics (Union Foot Solutions), to submit false claims for payment to Medicare in violation of the False Claims Act, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman. St. Lucia has pled guilty to state health care fraud charges and is scheduled for sentencing on March 17, 2023.


Man Admits Methamphetamine Sales, Gun Charge

News Release: ST. LOUIS - A man arrested at a St. Charles County motel with an assault rifle and a ballistic vest labeled “Police" pleaded guilty to drug and gun charges Thursday.


FBI Releases Supplemental 2021 Hate Crime Statistics

News Release: FBI Releases Supplemental 2021 Hate Crime Statistics.


St. Louis County Realty Company Employee Admits $487,000 Fraud

News Release: ST. LOUIS - An employee of a St. Louis County realty company on Tuesday admitted embezzling $487,000 from her employer.