News from 2023
Two Men Plead Guilty to $1.3 Million Penny-Stock Scheme
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Two men pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud in connection with a penny-stock manipulation scheme.
Mexican citizen admits to alien smuggling resulting in death of child
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: BROWNSVILLE, Texas - A 30-year-old Mexican citizen has pleaded guilty to attempted alien smuggling resulting in death, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Kentucky Man is Last of Six Sentenced in Anabolic Steroids and Pill Distribution Conspiracy
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Justin T. Hail, 37, of Somerset, Kentucky, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids, methamphetamine, N-Ethylhexedrone, and Alprazolam, and conspiracy...
Honduran National Indicted for Illegal Re-Entry
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: NEW ORLEANS - DARLIN AMINADAK BANEGAS-CRUZ, a/k/a “Darlis Mindak Banegas-Cruz," age 28, was indicted on March 10, 2023 for illegal reentry of a removed alien in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
United States & Tennessee Settle False Claims Act Allegations Against Three Medical Providers
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: NASHVILLE - Three Tennessee medical providers have agreed to settle allegations of False Claims Acts violations relating to the submission of claims seeking reimbursement for autonomic nervous system testing, announced U.S. Attorney Henry C. Leventis and Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Distribution of Methamphetamine
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Eric D. Waller, 54, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on March 10, 2023, in federal court in Omaha for distribution of methamphetamine. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Waller to 60 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a four-year term of supervised release.
Grand Junction Man Sentenced to Prison for Enticing Children Online
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: DENVER - The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Benjamin David Harbin, age 33, of Grand Junction, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison and a life term of supervised release for enticing minors to engage in the production of child pornography.
Court Sentences Colombian Drug Smuggler Caught with Nearly Five and a Half Tons of Cocaine
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: On March 2, 2023, United States District Court Chief Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Fernando Preciado, a Colombian national, to 210 months imprisonment for smuggling 4,951 kilograms of cocaine in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Preciado had previously pled guilty to the offense.
Former Employee Federally Charged with Embezzling $150,000 from Jasper Healthcare Nonprofit Over Nearly a Decade
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: EVANSVILLE- A federal grand jury indicted Michele Rose, 61, of Jasper, Indiana, on twelve counts of wire fraud and twelve counts of forging checks related to an alleged near-decade-long scheme to embezzle over $150,000 from a nonprofit healthcare organization headquartered in Jasper. The indictment was unsealed on Feb. 28, 2023, following Rose’s arrest and initial appearance.
Former embassy employee sentenced to imprisonment for domestic violence against his spouse
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: ATLANTA - - Ilirjan Shema has been sentenced for the violent assault of his spouse, a U.S. diplomat serving overseas in the U.S. embassy housing in Moldova.
Man Sentenced to 42 Months in Federal Prison For Cape Girardeau County Gun Store Burglary
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: CAPE GIRARDEAU - U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. on Tuesday sentenced Chayce Harrell, 21, of Cairo, Illinois, to 42 months in federal prison for his role in a 2020 gun store burglary in Cape Girardeau County and ordered him to pay $1,700 in restitution.
Battle Creek Woman Charged In $3,500,000 Computer Scam
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: Lavonne Kemp alleged to be cash clearinghouse for nationwide “mistaken refund" fraud.
Justice Department Investigation Leads to Takedown of Darknet Cryptocurrency Mixer that Processed Over $3 Billion of Unlawful Transactions
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: The Justice Department announced today a coordinated international takedown of ChipMixer, a darknet cryptocurrency “mixing" service responsible for laundering more than $3 billion worth of cryptocurrency, between 2017 and the present, in furtherance of, among other activities, ransomware, darknet market...
St. Louis Lawyer Admits Faking Legal Documents for At Least 30 Clients
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: ST. LOUIS - A lawyer from St. Louis, Missouri on Thursday admitted faking legal documents and forging judges’ signatures in cases involving at least 30 clients.
Fitchburg Man Pleads Guilty to Wide-Ranging Cocaine Conspiracy
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: BOSTON - A Fitchburg man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to his role in a wide-ranging fentanyl, heroin, crack and cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
Gladstone Couple Pleads Guilty to Producing, Distributing Child Pornography
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Gladstone, Mo., husband and wife pleaded guilty in federal court today to producing and distributing pornographic images of two child victims.
Virginia Beach Naval Nurse Sentenced for Attempted Coercion of a Minor
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: NORFOLK, Va. - A Virginia Beach man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for attempting to coerce and entice a 14-year-old minor to have sex with him.
Kouts Woman Convicted of Tax Offenses
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: HAMMOND- Kathy Lynch, age 64, of Kouts, Indiana, was found guilty following a 3-day jury trial presided over by United States District Court Judge Philip P Simon, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Mexican Citizen Sentenced for Drug Trafficking Conspiracy
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Neri Mendoza-Rodriguez, 31, was sentenced on March 10, 2023, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for his participation in a methamphetamine and fentanyl drug conspiracy. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Mendoza-Rodriguez...
Recidivist Mail Thief Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft
By DOJ Newswire | Mar 17, 2023
News Release: MOBILE, AL - A Jackson man was sentenced to three years in prison for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft relating to his repeated theft of mail and use of stolen debit and credit cards.