USAO - Georgia, Northern News Update

Offices of the United States Attorneys   You are subscribed to USAO - Georgia, Northern news updates. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Atlanta film producer pleads guilty for $2.5 million cryptocurrency-based investment scams 07/21/2022 08:00 AM EDT Ryan Felton has pleaded guilty to multiple counts of wire fraud, securities fraud, and money laundering charges on the fourth day of his jury trial arising from his fraudulent promotion of two cryptocurrency investment schemes that cost investors millions in losses. Former Mayor of Stonecrest sentenced to prison for stealing COVID-19 relief funds 07/13/2022 08:00 AM EDT Jason Lary, the former Mayor of the City of Stonecrest, has been sentenced for using his elected office to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal COVID-19 relief funds allocated to the city. U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan appointed to serve on Attorney General Merrick B. Garland's Advisory Committee 07/11/2022 08:00 AM EDT Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has announced the appointment of U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan of the Northern District of Georgia to serve on the Attorney General's Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys (AGAC). The AGAC was created in 1973 and advises the Attorney General on matters of policy, procedure, and management impacting the Offices of the U.S. Attorneys and elevates the voices of U.S. Attorneys in Department of Justice policies. Buchanan, along with 12 other U.S. Attorneys from around the United States, will serve on the AGAC. Metro Atlanta man charged with money laundering related to COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance benefit fraud 06/29/2022 08:00 AM EDT Oluwagbemiga Otufale has been arraigned on federal charges of conspiracy and money laundering. Otufale was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 21, 2022 Sandy Springs man sentenced for Tricare and Medicare fraud scheme 06/29/2022 08:00 AM EDT Brett Sabado has been sentenced for his role in a scheme to defraud Tricare and Medicare by submitting fraudulent claims for compound medications and durable medical equipment (DME). Sabado also agreed to pay $950,000 as part of an "ability to pay" civil settlement in order to resolve violations of the False Claims Act for causing false claims for DME to be submitted to the Medicare Program. This resolution is the result of a global investigation involving the criminal and civil divisions of the Northern District of Georgia and the Southern District of California. Johns Creek man pleads guilty to defrauding elderly man 06/27/2022 08:00 AM EDT Aziz Choukri has pleaded guilty to wire fraud after admitting that he defrauded a 79-year-old retiree of approximately $650,000. North Georgia business owner pleads guilty to dumping hazardous waste 06/23/2022 08:00 AM EDT Amin Ali, who directed the dumping of over 100 drums and other containers of chemicals, including hazardous waste, has pleaded guilty to a charge of disposal of hazardous waste without a permit. Military contractors indicted for $7 million procurement fraud scheme 06/23/2022 08:00 AM EDT ATLANTA - A federal grand jury has indicted a company and three individuals in an alleged fraud scheme involving military contracts totaling over $7 million. The three-count indictment charges Envistacom LLC, its President Alan Carson, a vice president Valerie Hayes, and the owner of another company, Philip Flores, each with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and two counts of major fraud. Motocross coach indicted for child exploitation crimes 06/23/2022 08:00 AM EDT Ryan Meyung, a motocross instructor who traveled the country building motocross tracks and mentoring children was indicted for multiple child exploitation offenses. ADA settlement with Atlanta YMCA ensures equal opportunities for children with diabetes 06/23/2022 08:00 AM EDT The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia has entered into a settlement agreement with The Villages at Carver Family YMCA located in Atlanta, Georgia, to resolve allegations that the YMCA violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to reasonably modify policies and procedures for a child with diabetes. Georgia couple sentenced for carjacking, bank robbery, drug trafficking, and weapons crime spree 06/21/2022 08:00 AM EDT Quantavious Cedron Arnold and Ericka Brewster have been sentenced to federal prison for carrying out a two-week crime spree during which they robbed a bank and fled in a car Arnold had stolen at gunpoint just two days earlier. Former physician's assistant indicted for health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, and illegally prescribing controlled substances 06/10/2022 08:00 AM EDT Theresa Pickering has been arraigned on federal charges of health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, and distribution of controlled substances. Pickering was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 7, 2022. Former Bartow County EMT sentenced to prison for distributing child pornography 06/10/2022 08:00 AM EDT Bryan David Somers has been sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison for the receipt and distribution of child pornography. Prior to his arrest, Somers was an EMT and a substitute teacher at a local elementary school. North Georgia man charged with killing postal carrier 06/09/2022 08:00 AM EDT Larry Steven Grogan has been charged by a federal grand jury with the murder of U.S. Postal Service mail carrier Asa Wood, Jr. In connection to the murder, Grogan is also charged with assault on a federal employee using a deadly weapon, discharge of a firearm resulting in death, and felon in possession of a firearm. Violent recidivist sentenced to 10 years in prison for using a stolen identity to buy guns 06/08/2022 08:00 AM EDT Dawuan Na'jee Williams, a multi-convicted felon, has been sentenced to federal prison for using another person's name and date of birth to purchase more than two dozen firearms, some of which were later used in a shooting and other crimes. Pharmacist sentenced to over 15 years in prison 06/08/2022 08:00 AM EDT Thomas Ukoshovbera A. Gbenedio has been sentenced for illegally dispensing and distributing controlled substances from his pharmacy. After Gbenedio was found guilty by a jury, he attempted to flee the country to avoid prison. Reality TV stars convicted of fraud and tax evasion 06/07/2022 08:00 AM EDT Following a three-week trial, a federal jury found Todd and Julie Chrisley guilty of conspiring to defraud community banks out of more than $30 million of fraudulent loans. The jury also convicted Todd and Julie Chrisley and their accountant, Peter Tarantino, of a number of tax crimes, including conspiring to defraud the IRS. The Chrisleys were found guilty of tax evasion, and Peter Tarantino was found guilty of filing two false corporate tax returns on behalf of the Chrisleys' company. The jury also found Julie Chrisley guilty of wire fraud and obstruction of justice. Third defendant sentenced for trafficking guns to Barbados 06/06/2022 08:00 AM EDT Rashad Sargeant has been sentenced for his role in trafficking firearms to Barbados. Together with [his co-defendant], David Johnson, Sargeant shipped at least 30 firearms to Barbados after obliterating the serial numbers from the firearms and packing them inside false compartments in boxes. Justice Department secures settlement against DeKalb County, Georgia, after officials terminated a sexual harassment complainant 06/03/2022 08:00 AM EDT The Department of Justice announced it has reached a settlement agreement with DeKalb County, Georgia, that will resolve its lawsuit alleging the county violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when it retaliated against former administrative assistant Cemetra Brooks, first by extending her probationary period and then by terminating her employment during the extended period, because she made a sexual harassment complaint. Title VII is a federal statute that prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex and religion and prohibits retaliation against employees for opposing employment practices that are discriminatory under Title VII. U.S. Attorney's Office and Fulton County District Attorney launch Summer Initiative to support youth as part of violence-prevention strategy 05/31/2022 08:00 AM EDT The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia and the Fulton County District Attorney's Office are hosting the second annual Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Credible Messenger Youth Summer Violence Intervention (the "Summer Mentorship Program") at the Atlanta Police Foundation's At-Promise Center. U.S. Attorney's Office secures agreement in race discrimination lawsuit involving Atlanta-based property owners and management company 05/26/2022 08:00 AM EDT The U.S. Attorney's Office announced that the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia has approved a consent decree resolving the department's Fair Housing Act lawsuit alleging race discrimination in housing by the owners and manager of two rental properties in Cedartown, Georgia. The defendants are Crimson Management LLC; Benefield Housing Partnership (doing business as Cedartown Commons); and Cedartown Housing Associates (doing business as Cedarwood Village). Gang leader convicted of federal charges in connection with nightclub shooting and subsequent murder of 17-year-old witness 05/20/2022 08:00 AM EDT A federal jury found Maurice Antonio Kent guilty of RICO Conspiracy, violent crime in aid of racketeering, discharging a firearm during the commission of those violent crimes, and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. Federal inmate and Alabama correctional officer sentenced for attempting to smuggle methamphetamine into federal prison 05/20/2022 08:00 AM EDT Julius Stoudemire and Jennifer Deramus have each been sentenced after their convictions for attempting to smuggle methamphetamine into United States Penitentiary Atlanta ("USP Atlanta"), a federal prison. Former Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine charged with health care fraud and money laundering scheme 05/20/2022 08:00 AM EDT John W. Oxendine has been arraigned on federal charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Oxendine was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 17, 2022. Mastermind of $11.1 million Paycheck Protection Program fraud scheme sentenced to fifteen years 05/19/2022 08:00 AM EDT Darrell Thomas has been sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud and to money laundering for masterminding a scheme to obtain 14 fraudulent loans totaling approximately $11.1 million from the Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP"). To date, a total of twenty-three individuals have been charged in connection with the fraudulent scheme. You have received this e-mail because you have asked to be notified of changes to the Offices of the United States Attorneys website. GovDelivery is providing this service on behalf of the Executive Office for United States Attorneys, Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW · Washington, DC 20530 · 202-514-2000 and may not use your subscription information for any other purposes. 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