News from March 2023
Bakersfield Resident Pleads Guilty to Drug Sales from Smoke Shop
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 22, 2023
News Release: FRESNO, Calif. - Abraham Eduardo Navarro Mendez, 39, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
Former Credit Union Manager Sentenced to Three and a Half Years in Prison for Embezzlement
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 22, 2023
News Release: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A federal judge last week sentenced a former New Pilgrim Federal Credit Union (“NPFCU") manager for embezzling funds from the credit union where he was employed, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples.
District of Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Bribing Correctional Officer to Smuggle Drugs Into D.C. Jail
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 22, 2023
News Release: WASHINGTON - A District of Columbia man pleaded guilty today to bribing a public official to smuggle drugs into the D.C. jail. Keywaune McLeod, 28, of Washington D.C., pleaded guilty in United States District Court to one count of bribery. The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for...
Ex-Federal Correction Officer Pleads Guilty to Taking Bribes in Exchange for Smuggling Contraband into the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 22, 2023
News Release: Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, former federal correction officer Jeremy Monk pleaded guilty to receiving bribes in exchange for providing contraband to prison inmates detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn. Today’s proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge James R. Cho. When sentenced, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment.
Union County Man Admits Illegally Possessing Firearm and Drug Trafficking
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 22, 2023
News Release: NEWARK, N.J. - A Union County, New Jersey, man today admitted illegally possessing fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and oxycodone for distribution and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Clearwater Drug Dealer Sentenced to More Than 3 Years in Federal Prison
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 22, 2023
News Release: TAMPA, Fla. - U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday sentenced Terrel Lewis (26, Largo) to 3 years and 10 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Lewis had pleaded guilty on Dec. 21, 2022.
Lower Brule Man Sentenced for Assault of an Intimate Partner by Strangulation
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 22, 2023
News Release: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault of an Intimate Partner by Strangulation. The sentencing took place on March 13, 2023.
Armed Drug Trafficker With Prior Federal Conviction Is Sentenced To 25 Years In Prison
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 22, 2023
News Release: CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Lance Richardson Pagan, 52, of Gastonia, N.C., was sentenced to 25 years in prison today, followed by six years of supervised release for drug and gun offenses, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Florida Resorts Agree to Pay $325,000 to Settle False Claims Act Allegations Relating to False Certifications on a Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Application
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 22, 2023
News Release: Florida companies Kingwood Orlando Reunion Resort LLC (Orlando Reunion) and Kingwood Crystal River Resort Corp. (Crystal River) have agreed to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act (FCA) and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA) by knowingly providing false information in support of a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness application submitted by Crystal River.
Otsego County Woman Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Distributing Child Pornography
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 22, 2023
News Release: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Shelby Ortiz, age 30, of Maryland, New York was sentenced today to serve 15 years in prison and a 20-year term of supervised release to begin after imprisonment for distributing child pornography. Ortiz also will be required to register as a sex offender upon her release from prison.
Leader Of Multi-Kilogram Cocaine Conspiracy Sentenced To 15 Years In Federal Prison
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 22, 2023
News Release: Orlando, Florida - U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. today sentenced James Mirabal (46, St. Cloud) to 15 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. The court also ordered Mirabal to forfeit $124,598, traceable proceeds of the offense. Mirabal had pleaded guilty on Dec. 27...
California Man Charged with Conspiring to Make Death Threats Against Brooklyn-Based Journalist
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 22, 2023
News Release: Nicholas Welker, also known as “King ov Wrath," was arrested today in San Jose, California based on a complaint filed in Brooklyn federal court charging him with conspiring to make threatening statements. The complaint charges that Welker, the one-time leader of Feuerkrieg Division (FKD), an international...
Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl Crime
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 22, 2023
News Release: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Eddie Guy Jewell, 49, of Huntington, was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Two Men Sentenced for Role in Aggravated Assault
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 22, 2023
News Release: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced two South Dakota men convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on March 14, 2023, in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
United States Seeks Preliminary Injunction Against Denka Performance Elastomer to Immediately Reduce Chloroprene Emissions
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 22, 2023
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...
Athens, Georgia, Pain Medicine Owner, Practice Manager Agree to $5 Million Settlement Resolving Violations Under the False Claims Act
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 22, 2023
News Release: ATHENS, Ga. -A $5,000,000 civil settlement has been reached with Mark A. Ellis, M.D., and his practice, Ellis Pain Center (EPC), a pain management practice in the Athens area. Part of the civil settlement includes EPC’s practice manager, Patsy Allen.
Felon With Firearm and Extended Magazine Sentenced to Federal Prison
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 22, 2023
News Release: An Onawa, Iowa man, was sentenced March 14, to more than 4 years in federal prison.
Florissant Woman Sentenced to a Year in Prison, Must Repay $101,000 for Pandemic Loan Fraud
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 22, 2023
News Release: ST. LOUIS -A woman from Florissant, Missouri was sentenced to a year in prison for fraudulently obtaining two pandemic-era loans totaling more than $101,000.
Green Bay Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Manufacturing and Trafficking 3D-Printed Ghost Guns
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 22, 2023
News Release: United States Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on March 20, 2023, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach sentenced Mitchell J. Guerrero (age: 30) to a total sentence of 46 months’ imprisonment and three years’ supervised release for manufacturing and trafficking 3D-printed firearms, commonly referred to as “ghost guns" because they lack serial numbers and thus are untraceable.
Atlanta man sentenced to federal prison in connection with a multimillion-dollar international cyber and fraud scheme
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 22, 2023
News Release: ATLANTA - Christian Akhatsegbe has been sentenced for wire and computer fraud conspiracy, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft related to a multi-million-dollar cyber-fraud scheme perpetrated through email phishing, credential harvesting, and invoice fraud. His brother, Emmanuel Aiye Akhatsegbe, who is believed to be residing in Nigeria, was also charged in the scheme and remains a fugitive.