U.S. Attorneys News News Update

Offices of the United States Attorneys   You are subscribed to U.S. Attorneys News news updates. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Cornell Student Arrested for Making Online Threats to Jewish Students on Campus 10/31/2023 08:00 AM EDT Rancho Cordova Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Importation and Money Laundering Offenses 10/31/2023 08:00 AM EDT Adan Navarro, 29, of Rancho Cordova, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to import heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl pills, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl pills, and conspiracy to launder money to Mexico. Sacramento County Men Indicted for Money Laundering Conspiracy 10/31/2023 08:00 AM EDT A federal grand jury returned a single-count indictment last week against brothers Denis Gutsu, 31, of Antelope, and Maxim Gutsu, 26, of Rancho Cordova, charging them with conspiracy to commit money laundering. Dallas Man Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child Pornography from Butte County 10/31/2023 08:00 AM EDT Cameron Andrew Garcia, 29, of Dallas, Texas, pleaded guilty today to two counts of receipt of visual depictions of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct Second Wiregrass Region Defendant Sentenced for Wire Fraud and Identity Theft 10/31/2023 08:00 AM EDT Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison 10/31/2023 08:00 AM EDT U.S. Attorney's Office for The Eastern District of Louisiana Announces Funding Awards During Domestic Violence Awareness Month 10/31/2023 08:00 AM EDT NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans joins The Department of Justice, survivors, victim service providers, advocates, and communities nationwide in recognizing October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). This is a time to center the experiences of survivors, honor those who lost their lives to domestic violence; express gratitude to the countless individuals in the movement to end violence; and raise awareness on the issues of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. As part of its monthlong observance of DVAM, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana (EDLA) is proud to announce that the Department's Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) awarded $949,920 to EDLA to bolster coordinated community responses aimed at bringing an end to domestic violence, as well as sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. Two Men Charged After Smuggling 22 Undocumented Noncitizens in a Water Truck 10/31/2023 08:00 AM EDT YUMA, Ariz. – Antonio Varela-Verdugo, a U.S. citizen, and Gilberto Villalva, a citizen of Mexico, were charged by complaint on October 25, 2023, with Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens. Nevada Man Charged for Using Art Appraisal to Conceal Fraud 10/31/2023 08:00 AM EDT NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - The United States Attorney's Office announced today that Nevada resident, MICHAEL JON SCHOFIELD, age 76, has been charged on October 30, 2023 with misprision of a felony. Massachusetts Man Sentenced for Straw Purchase Conspiracy 10/31/2023 08:00 AM EDT Antoine Montrond and a co-conspirator used a straw purchaser to buy two firearms from a store in Kittery. U.S. Attorney's Office and Justice Department's Civil Rights Division Hold Forum on Civil Rights Protections for Religious Land Use 10/31/2023 08:00 AM EDT NEWARK, N.J. – The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey and the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division held an outreach forum yesterday on combatting religious discrimination and promoting religious liberty through enforcement of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). U.S. Attorney's Office for District of Arizona to Collaborate With Colorado River Indian Tribes on Domestic Violence Cases 10/31/2023 08:00 AM EDT PHOENIX, Ariz. ⸺ The Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women awarded the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) $830,000 to prosecute domestic violence and sexual assault occurring on tribal lands. Among other things, this grant will fund a Tribal Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA). Unlicensed Wholesaler Sentenced To Prison For Distributing Foreign Unapproved New Drugs And Mail Fraud 10/31/2023 08:00 AM EDT Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven today sentenced Marina Sievert (58, Dunedin) to two years in federal prison for mail fraud and introduction into interstate commerce of a foreign unapproved new drug. As part of her sentence, the court entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $1.5 million, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct, and ordered Sievert to pay $20,000 in criminal fines. Sievert had pleaded guilty on June 21, 2023. Alameda Resident Pleads Guilty To Four Counts Of Wire Fraud, Admits Operating A Ponzi Scheme To Dupe Victims Out Of Millions Of Dollars 10/31/2023 08:00 AM EDT SAN FRANCISCO - Long Nguyen, a resident of Alameda, California, has pleaded guilty to charges related to his scheme to defraud at least 20 individuals out of approximately $2 million, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. Nguyen's guilty plea was accepted by the Hon. Trina L. Thompson, United States District Judge. Clewiston Felon Charged With Multiple Firearm And Drug Trafficking Offenses 10/31/2023 08:00 AM EDT Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Javier Velasquez, Jr. (37, Clewiston) with two counts of distribution cocaine, three counts of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, illegal possession of a machinegun, and carrying of firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. If convicted on all counts, Velasquez, Jr. faces a minimum mandatory penalty of five years, up to life, in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Velasquez, Jr. that the United States intends to forfeit the firearms which are alleged to have facilitated some of the offenses. Oregon Woman Pleads Guilty to Union Embezzlement 10/31/2023 08:00 AM EDT BOSTON – An Oregon woman, formerly of Middleborough, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to embezzling nearly $40,000 from a labor union. KC Man Pleads Guilty to Gun Trafficking, Drug Trafficking 10/31/2023 08:00 AM EDT A Kansas City, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in a conspiracy to traffic firearms, including machine guns, and to drug trafficking. Baltimore Man Sentenced to 24 Months in Federal Prison for Scheme to Obtain More Than $550,000 in Fraudulent Covid-19 CARES Act Loans 10/31/2023 08:00 AM EDT Used CARES Act Loan Proceeds to Purchase a Mercedes-Benz and to Lease and Fully Furnish a Luxury Apartment in Downtown Baltimore U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Lawrence A. Walker, age 64, of Baltimore, Maryland, today to 24 months in federal prison, followed by 6 months of home confinement, and 3 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and fraudulently obtaining more than $262,000 through the Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP"), intended to provide financial assistance to small businesses under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security ("CARES") Act.  Judge Bennett also ordered that Walker must forfeit the cash seized during the search, a Mercedes-Benz, and pay a money judgment and restitution of $232,152. Two sentenced for drug trafficking in the Eastern Panhandle 10/31/2023 08:00 AM EDT MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Four people have been sentenced for their roles in a drug trafficking operation in Hampshire and Mineral Counties. Houston felon sentenced to federal prison for firearms violation in Jefferson County 10/31/2023 08:00 AM EDT A Houston man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.   Yuma Man Sentenced to 52 Months in Prison for Conspiracy 10/31/2023 08:00 AM EDT PHOENIX, Ariz. – Omar Molina-Galeana, 22, of Yuma, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge David G. Campbell to 52 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Molina-Galeana pleaded guilty on June 13, 2023, to Conspiracy.   Phoenix Man Sentenced to 37 Months for Selling Machine Gun to Undercover Agent 10/31/2023 08:00 AM EDT PHOENIX, Ariz. – Carlos Negrete Farias, 27, of Phoenix, was sentenced on October 2, 2023, by United States District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 37 months in prison, followed by three years supervised release. Farias pleaded guilty on February 8, 2023, to Possession of a Machine Gun.   St. Louis Man Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Aiding $666,656 in Pandemic Fraud 10/31/2023 08:00 AM EDT Jacob Eldridge solicited at least 20 friends and acquaintances to file fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program loans. California Man Sentenced for Making Threatening Calls 10/31/2023 08:00 AM EDT BOSTON – A California man has been sentenced for making threatening communications to the Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) in May 2021. Hardin County man sentenced to federal prison for bank robbery 10/31/2023 08:00 AM EDT A Kountze man has been sentenced to federal prison for bank robbery in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. 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