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Criminal Prosecution

Former Scranton Police Sergeant Sentenced To Imprisonment For Federal Program Fraud

News Release: SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Jeffrey J. Vaughn, age 50, a former patrol sergeant in the Scranton Police Department, was sentenced on May 4, 2023, to 6 months’ imprisonment and a 2-year term of supervised release by United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani for theft concerning programs receiving federal funds.


Criminal Prosecution

Russian National Charged with Ransomware Attacks Against Critical Infrastructure

News Release: NEWARK, N.J. - The Justice Department today unsealed two indictments charging a Russian national and resident with using three different ransomware variants to attack numerous victims throughout the United States, including law enforcement agencies in New Jersey and Washington, D.C., as well as victims in healthcare and other sectors nationwide.


Criminal Prosecution

Delaware Man and Woman Charged with Sex and Labor Trafficking of 13 Victims

News Release: A federal grand jury in the District of Delaware returned an indictment charging a Delaware man and woman with sex trafficking, labor trafficking and related charges. The defendants are charged with aiding and abetting one another in committing sex trafficking and forced labor trafficking against 13 victims.


Criminal Prosecution

Haitian National Found Guilty of Biting ICE Officers on Deportation Aircraft

News Release: SAN ANTONIO - A federal jury convicted a Haitian national in a federal court in San Antonio Tuesday for two counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees and inflicting bodily injury and one count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees involving physical contact.


Criminal Prosecution

Former Mental Health and Community Residence Facility Director Sentenced for Financial Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult and Elderly Person

News Release: WASHINGTON -Latonja Dashawn Carrera, also known as Latonja Dashawn Martin, 48, of Camp Springs, Maryland, was sentenced today to twelve months incarceration, ten months suspended, and three years of probation for a felony charge of financial exploitation of a vulnerable or elderly adult in violation of D.C. Code §§ 22-933.01(a)(3) and 22-936.01(a)(1).


Criminal Prosecution

KINGSPORT WOMAN SENTENCED TO 21 MONTHS FOR LYING ON ATF FORM TO PURCHASE FIREARMS AND PROVIDING FIREARMS TO A FELON

News Release: GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - On May 1, 2023, Tonya Rae Saine, also known as Tonya Rae Bowles, 56, currently of Kingsport, Tennessee, was sentenced to 21 months in prison by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville.


Criminal Prosecution

Bronx, New York Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

News Release: United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Felix Pena, 34, of Bronx, New York, was sentenced today in Omaha, Nebraska, by Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Pena was sentenced to 60 months in prison and will also serve 3 years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Additionally, Pena was ordered to pay $404,069 in restitution.


Criminal Prosecution

Final Defendant in Multi-State Dog Fighting, Drug Conspiracy Case Pleads Guilty

News Release: MACON, Ga. - The 13th and final defendant involved in a multi-state dog fighting and drug distribution conspiracy based out of Middle Georgia pleaded guilty to his crimes on Friday.


Criminal Prosecution

Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession, Manufacture, and Sale of Firearms

News Release: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, today announced that ANDREW FRANCOEUR, 36, of Manchester, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday in Hartford federal court to offenses related to his illegal possession, manufacture, and sale of firearms.


Criminal Prosecution

Former Indianapolis Police Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Using Excessive Force During Arrest

News Release: A former Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Sergeant pleaded guilty today to violating the civil rights of an arrestee by using excessive force.


Criminal Prosecution

Fresno Men Charged for Series of Vehicle Pipe-Bombings

News Release: FRESNO, Calif. - A federal grand jury returned an indictment today against Scott Eric Anderson, 43, and Paul New, 55, both of Fresno, charging them with conspiracy to destroy by means of an explosive device and malicious destruction by means of an explosive device, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Anderson was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.


Criminal Prosecution

Gymnastics coach gets max in disturbing child pornography case

News Release: GALVESTON, Texas - A 55-year-old McKinney resident has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for transportation of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.


Criminal Prosecution

Mexican National Admits Illegally Reentering U.S.

News Release: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JOSE GUADALUPE CASTILLO LARA, also known as Jose Castillo, Jose Latta, Francisco Rodriguez, and Jose Ruiz, 41, a citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford federal court to illegally reentering the United States after being deported.


Criminal Prosecution

Former U.S. Army Employee Arrested In Bribery And Kickbacks Scheme Involving Defense Contracts

News Release: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and L. Scott Moreland, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division’s (“Army CID") Major Procurement Fraud Field Office, announced today the arrest YOUNG BEOM KIM...


Criminal Prosecution

Laplace Woman Sentenced to Over Two Years for Church Embezzlement

News Release: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - ANITA WILLENE HOBDY, age 68, of LaPlace, was sentenced to 27 months in prison on May 11, 203 for wire fraud, stemming from fraudulent charges made from First Baptist Church of LaPlace, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.


Criminal Prosecution

Justice Department Strengthens Efforts to Address the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons

News Release: OKLAHOMA CITY - The Justice Department joins its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5, 2023 as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day. Responding to the unacceptable levels of violence that have led to the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) is a priority of the Department of Justice every day.


Criminal Prosecution

Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Turtles

News Release: Stanlee Fazi, 41, of Louisa, Virginia, pleaded guilty in federal court in Alexandria to trafficking turtles in violation of the Lacey Act. Sentencing is scheduled for July 26.


Criminal Prosecution

Durham Man Sentenced for Firearms Charges after Fleeing from Highway Patrol

News Release: GREENSBORO - A Durham man was sentenced today to 5 years in prison, after pleading guilty to firearms charges stemming from two incidents in 2022, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston.


Criminal Prosecution

St. Petersburg Man Indicted For Possessing A Controlled Substance With Intent To Distribute And Possessing A Firearm As A Convicted Felon

News Release: Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Jason Washington (42, St. Petersburg) with three counts of distribution of a controlled substance, one count of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute it, and one count of possession...


Criminal Prosecution

United States Attorney Names Long-Time Federal Prosecutor Arvo Q. Mikkanen to Serve in Newly Created Role as Senior Counsel for Tribal Relations

News Release: OKLAHOMA CITY - Today, United States Attorney Robert J. Troester named Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Arvo Q. Mikkanen to serve in a newly created role as Senior Counsel for Tribal Relations for the Western District of Oklahoma, as part of the office’s strong commitment to Indian country.