News from March 2023


United States Files Complaint Alleging that Rite Aid Dispensed Controlled Substances in Violation of the False Claims Act and the Controlled Substances Act

News Release: WASHINGTON - The Justice Department announced on March 13, 2023, that the United States filed a complaint in intervention in a whistleblower lawsuit brought under the False Claims Act (FCA) against Rite Aid Corporation and various subsidiaries (collectively Rite Aid) alleging that Rite Aid knowingly...


Rip Crew Co-Conspirator Sentenced to 117 Months for Robbery, Drug Trafficking, and Firearms Offenses

News Release: TUCSON, Ariz. - Abelardo Rodriguez-Arvizu, 38, of Mexico, was sentenced on March 3, 2023, by United States District Court Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 117 months in prison. Rodriguez-Arvizu was found guilty following a bench trial of one count each of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, and Possession of a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Offense.


New Orleans Man Sentenced for Violating the Federal Gun Control Act

News Release: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - PAUL THOMAS, age 34, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on March 2, 2023 by United States District Judge Eldon E. Fallon on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of the Federal Gun Control Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.


“Suicide Squad” sentenced for trafficking drugs worth over $1.6M

News Release: McALLEN, Texas - Three individuals have been sent to prison for conspiracy to import heroin and fentanyl into the United States from Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.


Florida Man Sentenced on Three Felony Charges for Actions in January 6 Capitol Breach

News Release: Defendant Used Chemical Spray Against Law Enforcement Officers.


Former Chicago Public Schools Employee Sentenced to 18 Months of Probation

News Release: CHICAGO - A federal judge has sentenced a former Chicago Public Schools employee to 18 months of probation after he pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.



Winchester Man Sentenced for Making Straw Purchases of Firearms

News Release: CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - A Winchester, Virginia man, who lied when he purchased a firearm that was later used by a close relative in a Washington, D.C. homicide, was sentenced recently to 24 months in federal prison.


U.S. Marshals Offer Groundbreaking Training to State and Local Police Officers

News Release: Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Marshals Service, in collaboration with the Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, offers its 5-day Officer Safety Training - Human Performance (OST-HP) course to state and local law enforcement officers through the agency’s new Center of Excellence for Officer Safety and Wellness in Birmingham, Alabama, March 20-24.


Othello Woman Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison for Firearm Offense

News Release: Spokane, Washington - United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Alondra Yanez, age 25, of Othello, Washington, to 46 months in federal prison after Yanez had pleaded guilty on Dec. 14, 2022 to being a Felon in Possession of Firearms. Judge Rice ordered that Yanez’s 46 month federal sentence...


Federal Grand Jury Indicts Tennessee Man and Kentucky Woman for Sex Trafficking Conspiracy

News Release: A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned an indictment on March 8, charging a Tennessee man with sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion. The indictment further charged that the defendant conspired with a Kentucky woman to commit that crime.


Suburban Man Found Guilty of Robbing Three Banks and Additional Firearms Charges

News Release: CHICAGO - A federal jury has found a suburban Chicago man guilty of three counts of bank robbery, three counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy to commit bank robbery, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and conspiracy to transfer a firearm to a felon.


United States Seeks Preliminary Injunction Against Denka Performance Elastomer to Immediately Reduce Chloroprene Emissions

News Release: Today, the Department of Justice, on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), filed a motion for preliminary injunction under the Clean Air Act (CAA) requesting that the court order Denka Performance Elastomer LLC (Denka) to require significant pollution controls to reduce chloroprene emissions, ...


Florida Man Charged with Federal Hate Crimes for Racially Motivated Attack Against Group of Black Men

News Release: A federal grand jury in Gainesville, Florida, returned a six-count indictment charging David Emanuel, 61, with committing hate crimes for his racially motivated attack on a group of Black men who were surveying land along a public road in Cedar Key, Florida.


North Carolina Man Sentenced for Assaulting Officers During January 6 Capitol Breach

News Release: Defendant Used Chemical Irritant Against Officers, Also Used a Baseball Bat to Shatter a Window.


Rapid City Man Indicted for Illegal Possession of Firearm

News Release: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Rapid City, South Dakota, man for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.


Last individual admits role in nationwide fraud scheme targeting elderly victims

News Release: HOUSTON - A 25-year-old Indian citizen has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.


The FBI is Seeking Information Leading to the Arrest of a Suspect Responsible for the Armed Robbery of an Armored Vehicle in El Segundo in February

News Release: The FBI is Seeking Information Leading to the Arrest of a Suspect Responsible for the Armed Robbery of an Armored Vehicle in El Segundo in February.


National Freight Carrier to Pay Civil Penalties and Implement Stormwater Compliance Measures for Clean Water Act Noncompliance

News Release: ABF Freight System Inc. (ABF), a freight carrier that operates more than 200 transportation facilities in 47 states and Puerto Rico, has resolved allegations that it violated requirements of the Clean Water Act (CWA) relating to industrial stormwater at locations across the country. Under the proposed ...


“Nomination of Jessica G.L. Clarke (Executive Session)” published by the Congressional Record in the Senate section on March 16

“Nomination of Jessica G.L. Clarke (Executive Session)” was published on page S818 of the Congressional Record on March 16.