Source: United States Air Force
The decision follows analysis of industry information in response to a Sources Sought notice in August 2024, which gathered critical input from industry partners on the NGES program and allowed the program team to gain valuable insights and technical feedback from potential vendors.
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
Four people have been arrested and approximately 200kg of methamphetamine has been seized following a joint investigation between New Zealand Police and the New Zealand Customs Service.
Critically, an insider threat at the Port of Tauranga has also been identified and removed.
Customs officers became aware of a suspicious concealment on 11 December after a routine x-ray of a container at the port.
At about 3pm two men entered a restricted area and forced entry into the container. Police were alerted as the men loaded the suitcases into their car.
The vehicle left the port driving recklessly and at speed through heavy traffic on the East Link Toll Road towards Whakatāne.
Bay of Plenty District Police were able to stop the vehicle using road spikes on the toll road.
The occupants fled on foot but were apprehended a short distance from the vehicle.
Police recovered the five suitcases in the vehicle, along with other tools linked to the burglary.
The two men, both aged 28, have been charged with burglary, possession of methamphetamine for supply, failing to carry out obligations in relation to a computer search, and possession of instruments for burglary.
They have been remanded in custody and will appear in the Tauranga District Court, one on 20 January 2025, and the second on 7 March 2025.
On Wednesday 18 December, search warrants were executed at various locations around the Western Bay of Plenty, and a further two people were arrested in relation to the matter.
The two men, aged 33 and 36, have been charged with a number of offences, including importation of methamphetamine. Both appeared in the Tauranga District Court on Thursday 19 December.
It is believed members of this criminal operation may have been operating from within the port for some time.
The four arrested men all have associations with the Mongrel Mob, Comancheros and the Filthy Few.
Detective Inspector Albie Alexander of the National Organised Crime Group says this seizure will make a significant dent into the supply of methamphetamine in the Western Bay of Plenty.
“Even more significantly, we believe we have now shut down an insider threat at the port, and enquiries into this aspect will continue.”
It’s estimated the 200kg of methamphetamine equates to 10 million doses and its seizure has prevented up to $209.5m of social harm to the New Zealand economy.
While the retail value of 10 million doses may be as high as $75m, the wholesale value of the drugs is estimated to be between $14m and $32m.
“This illustrates another example of the continuing cooperation and strong partnerships we have with Customs and our local and domestic partners in targeting criminal activity at our borders and in the community,” says Detective Inspector Alexander.
Customs Investigations Manager Dominic Adams says that New Zealand continues to be an attractive market for organised criminal groups to smuggle drugs including methamphetamine and cocaine, as well as illicit tobacco.
Customs is seeing an increase in legitimate imports being targeted by overseas criminal groups who conceal illicit drugs within freight containers or container contents, which are later recovered by New Zealand-based criminals. This can involve attempted break-ins to collect the drugs.
“We know that criminal groups attempt to circumvent border and port security processes to intercept drugs. We work closely with port companies, their security teams and our Police colleagues to ensure people who intentionally attempt to breach port security measures are identified and apprehended. Our increased port and maritime presence is helping us face this threat,” Mr Adams says.
“Criminal infiltration of the supply chain is common overseas, and it is a threat that all supply chain businesses including port companies should be alert to. The Customs Border Protect team has a range of resources to support businesses to identify and report criminal infiltration in the supply chain.”
To report suspicious activity, call 0800 WE PROTECT (0800 937 768) confidentially or call CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. For more information, visit www.customs.govt.nz/report.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: United States Attorneys General 6
Sixteen separate cardiology practices and associated physicians, located across 12 states, have agreed to pay amounts totaling $17,761,564 to resolve allegations that they each violated the False Claims Act by overbilling Medicare for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals.
Diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals are radioisotopes bound to biological molecules that target specific organs, tissues or cells within the human body and are used to diagnose and, in some cases, treat certain cancers and diseases. In 13 states and the District of Columbia, Medicare Part B reimburses healthcare providers for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals based on the provider’s acquisition cost. In those jurisdictions, Medicare’s contractors have published guidance explaining the reimbursement methodology and providers’ obligation to accurately report their invoice costs for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals. The government alleged that the settling cardiology practices regularly reported inflated acquisition costs to Medicare for these drugs. In each of the settlements, the conduct occurred for at least a year, and in some instances, the conduct extended over a period of more than 10 years.
“The financial stability of federal healthcare programs depends upon providers complying with applicable billing rules,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We are committed to ensuring that Medicare funds are expended appropriately and to pursuing those who knowingly fail to do so.”
The settling medical practices and associated physicians have agreed to pay the following amounts:
“Practices and providers who overcharge the government and fail to return overpayments compromise our healthcare programs,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “When people see the wrong and report it, we have the tool we need to put a stop to this type of irresponsible conduct. So, I applaud the whistleblowers who came forward in this case.”
“These practitioners overbilled the Medicare program by grossly exaggerating the acquisition costs of drugs used in diagnostic imaging of the heart,” said U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky. “This office is committed to protecting our federal health care programs, and we will hold accountable anyone who seeks to exploit them.”
“Medicare providers are required to be honest and accurate in the costs they report for reimbursement,” said Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate alleged false claims act violations and ensure the integrity of the Medicare program. ”
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by relators Jasjit Walia and Preet Randhawa in the District of Columbia and the Western District of Kentucky. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The whistleblowers will receive a total of more than $2.7 million from the settlements announced today.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Columbia and Western District of Kentucky, with assistance from the HHS Office of Counsel to the Inspector General and Office of Investigations.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement, can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
Trial Attorney James Nealon of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ben Schecter, Matt Weyand, John Truong and Stephen DeGenaro for the District of Columbia handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the settlements are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
View the Heart Clinic of Paris settlement agreement here.
View the Leahey settlement agreement here.
View the Scranton settlement agreement here.
View the Metropolitan settlement agreement here.
View the Shannon Clinic settlement agreement here.
View the Family Medical Specialty Clinic settlement agreement here.
View the Taj Medical settlement agreement here.
View the TrustCare settlement agreement here.
View the Veinguard settlement agreement here.
View the Wellspring settlement agreement here.
View the White River settlement agreement here.
View the WKHL settlement agreement here.
View the Boulder Medical Center settlement agreement here.
View the CCNJ settlement agreement here.
View the Clovis settlement agreement here.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Defendant who raped 11-year-old child, found with child sexual abuse images after more than 10 years in prison and deviancy treatment
Seattle –A 53-year-old Des Moines, Washington, man, who is a registered sex offender, was sentenced today to ten years in prison for possession of images of child sexual abuse, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Edward James Creed was on Washington State Department of Corrections supervision when he was found to have unapproved electronic devices in his residence and images of child sexual abuse on his phone. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Kymberly K. Evanson said, “creating a market for this material perpetuates the horrific abuse of children.”
According to records filed in the case, Creed previously served more than ten years in state custody for a 2008 Kitsap County conviction for rape of a child. He was released in 2017 but was returned to custody for a time in 2019. In March of 2024, community corrections review of his phone revealed that he had collected seventy images of child sexual abuse. After his arrest, a search of his room at the sex offender residence revealed that he had a number of unapproved electronic devices.
In asking for the ten year sentence Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson wrote to the court, “In light of the defendant’s demonstrated sexualized interest in minors, it bears repeating that it is exceedingly troubling Creed successfully completed a sexual deviancy treatment program in prison and after two relatively short periods of time in the community was caught seeking out (2020) or successfully obtaining (2024) child sexual abuse material and unlawfully accessing the internet to do so…. He has proven history of deceiving those tasked with monitoring him in the community and has demonstrated a significant commitment to do so.”
Judge Evanson ordered Creed to be on 15 years of supervised release to follow prison.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Washington State Department of Corrections.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.
This case was also brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Memphis, TN – Tommie Conner, 49, of Memphis, has been sentenced to 200 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren announced the sentence today.
According to evidence presented in court, on March 4, 2021, an officer with the Memphis Police Department observed a Dodge Durango speeding on American Way. The Durango was pulled over and the driver, later identified as Conner, fled. Conner was later located by officers who arrived at the scene. While investigating the offense, officers saw a handgun in plain view in the Durango. Officers obtained a search warrant and recovered a loaded SCCY 9mm pistol.
Conner is a felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms. Specifically, in 1993, Conner pled guilty to two counts of robbery and three counts of aggravated robbery in state court and was sentenced to 10 years of incarceration. In 2005, Conner was convicted in federal court in the Western District of Tennessee for being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 15 years of federal imprisonment after he was determined to be an armed career criminal.
In September 2021, Conner was indicted in the Western District of Tennessee for being a felon in possession of a firearm. In June 2024, a jury found Conner guilty of that offense. It also found that at least three of Conner’s prior offenses occurred on different occasions, as required for him to be sentenced as an armed career criminal under the ACCA (Armed Career Criminal Act).
On December 19, 2024, United States District Court Senior Judge John T. Fowlkes sentenced Conner to 200 months in federal prison with three years of supervised release to follow. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of the Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) Initiative, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our communities safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the (PSN) Gun Task Force, the Memphis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Wagner and Jermal Blanchard who prosecuted this case on behalf of the government and the law enforcement partners who investigated this case.
###
For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Source: US State Government of Utah
A federal grand jury in the Western District of Texas charged a Chinese national with two counts related to alleged distribution of pill press equipment that can be used by criminals to manufacture illegal drugs laced with fentanyl.
Department of Homeland Security agents arrested the defendant, Xaiofei Chen, at a trade show in Las Vegas on Oct. 29. According to the criminal complaint supporting her arrest warrant, Chen sold pill press machines that can be used with molds, stamps or dies mimicking commonly prescribed controlled substances to produce counterfeit pills that appear indistinguishable from legitimate pharmaceutical drugs. Specifically, the criminal complaint alleges that Chen worked for a Chinese-based company that sold die molds and equipment, and that Chen sold pill press equipment and counterfeit die molds to buyers in the United States. The complaint further alleges that Chen avoided Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) disclosure requirements by dismantling equipment and shipping parts in separate packages into the United States. This equipment allegedly included counterfeit dies, including M30 dies meant to mimic a common prescription drug but which are regularly used to make fake opioid pills. The complaint alleges that the packages that Chen sent also were mislabeled to conceal the illegal equipment that they contained.
The Controlled Substances Act prohibits the sale of pill press equipment and counterfeit die molds to individuals who intend to use these machines unlawfully and requires reporting of certain equipment sales. Counterfeit pills made on such equipment can be laced with fentanyl and other dangerous drugs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fentanyl is a highly addictive synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Fentanyl and related substances have devastated communities across the United States and fuel the ongoing drug overdose epidemic, which the CDC recently estimated killed approximately 107,000 Americans in 2023. Fentanyl overdose is the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 49. In recent years, more than half of counterfeit pills tested have been found to have a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.
“The fentanyl epidemic has taken hundreds of thousands of American lives, and this case reflects the department’s unwavering commitment to prosecuting every level of the deadly fentanyl supply chain,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department will continue to protect Americans by prosecuting those involved in the unlawful sale of parts and equipment that can be used to manufacture counterfeit pills.”
“The defendant allegedly sold equipment that can be used to make dangerous opioid pills harmful to American families,” said Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “HSI is proud to work with our law enforcement partners to prevent the distribution of equipment commonly used in the manufacture of these destructive drugs.”
A federal court in Nevada ordered Chen, a foreign national, detained pending her trial in El Paso where the indictment was returned on Nov. 20. The indictment charges Chen with one count of conspiracy to distribute and import a tableting machine used to manufacture a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to distribute dies designed to imprint and reproduce the trademark, trade name and other identifying mark and imprint of another. If convicted, Chen faces a maximum penalty of four years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge would determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
HSI and Customs and Border Protection are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Edward E. Emokpae, Scott B. Dahlquist and Kaitlin Sahni of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Franco Gregory and Donna S. Miller for the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case. Attorneys Colin Trundle and Sarah Williams of the Consumer Protection Branch also provided valuable assistance.
An indictment or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today the resolution of False Claims Act violations against 16 separate cardiology practices and associated physicians, located across 12 states, and their agreement to pay a total of $17,761,564 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by overbilling Medicare for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia was involved in 14 of these settlements, resulting in a total of $10,601,970.97. The remaining amount was captured by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky. The Department of Justice also announced these settlements.
Diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals are radioisotopes bound to biological molecules that target specific organs, tissues or cells within the human body and are used to diagnose and in some cases, treat certain cancers and diseases. In 13 states and the District of Columbia, Medicare Part B reimburses healthcare providers for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals based on the provider’s acquisition cost. In those jurisdictions, Medicare’s contractors have published guidance explaining the reimbursement methodology and providers’ obligation to accurately report their invoice cost for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals. The government alleged that the settling cardiology practices regularly reported inflated acquisition costs to Medicare for these drugs. In each of the settlements, the conduct occurred for at least a year, and in some instances, the conduct extended over a period of more than 10 years.
“Practices and providers who overcharge the government and fail to return overpayments compromise our healthcare programs,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “When people see the wrong and report it, we have the tool we need to put a stop to this type of irresponsible conduct. So I applaud the whistleblowers who came forward in this case.”
“The integrity of federal healthcare programs depends upon compliance with billing rules that are used to determine reimbursement,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We are committed to ensuring that Medicare funds are expended appropriately.”
The settling medical practices and associated physicians have agreed to pay the following amounts:
• Heart Clinic of Paris, P.A. and Arjumand Hashmi ($2.6m)
• Scranton Cardiovascular Physician Services, LLC ($2,369,111)
• Shannon Clinic ($996,856)
• Edward W. Leahey M.D. Professional Association and Edward Leahey ($894,679)
• Metropolitan Cardiovascular Consultants, LLC and Ayim Djamson ($846,888)
• Cardiology Center of New Jersey, LLC, Mario Criscito, Frank Iacovone, and Sameer Kaul ($740,000)
• Clovis Cardiology Associates LLC and Mahamadu Fuseini ($600,000)
• James R. Higgins M.D., Inc. and James Higgins ($395,537)
• TrustCare Health, LLC ($279,407)
• Taj Medical, Inc. ($240,000)
• White River Diagnostic Clinic, PLC, Margaret Kuykendall, and Seth Barnes ($234,490)
• Boulder Medical Center, PC ($160,000)
• (USAO-WDKY) Western Kentucky Heart & Lung Associates PSC and Mohammed Kazimuddin ($6,750,000)
• (USAO-WDKY) Family Medical Specialty Clinic, PLLC, Melecio Abordo, and June Abadilla ($409,594)
“These practitioners overbilled the Medicare program by grossly exaggerating the acquisition costs of drugs used in diagnostic imaging of the heart,” said Michael A. Bennett, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky. “This Office is committed to protecting our federal health care programs, and we will hold accountable anyone who seeks to exploit them.”
“Medicare providers are required to be honest and accurate in the costs they report for reimbursement,” said Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon, for the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate alleged false claims act violations and ensure the integrity of the Medicare program.”
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by relators Jasjit Walia and Preet Randhawa in the District of Columbia and the Western District of Kentucky. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The whistleblowers will receive a total of approximately $2.2 million from the settlements announced today.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the United States Attorney’s Offices for the District of Columbia and Western District of Kentucky, with assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Counsel to the Inspector General and Office of Investigations.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The matter was handled by Trial Attorney James Nealon and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ben Schecter and Matt Weyand from Western District of Kentucky, and Stephen DeGenaro and John C. Truong from the District of Columbia.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Gustavo Erazo Is Charged with Conspiring to Distribute, and Possessing with Intent to Distribute, Large Quantities of Fentanyl, Heroin, and Cocaine
SAN FRANCISCO – The government of Honduras extradited Gustavo Erazo, a Honduran national, to the United States this week to appear on charges stemming from his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in the San Francisco Bay Area. The extradition marks the sixth extradition of an alleged drug trafficker from Honduras to the Northern District of California this year.
On Jan. 5, 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Erazo, 49, at the time a resident of Oakland, and two other defendants, on charges of conspiring to distribute fentanyl and possessing fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine with the intent to distribute those substances. Erazo was charged in four of the eight counts in the indictment:
| Count | Charge | Statute(s) | Statutory Maximum Prison Term |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl | 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A)(vi) |
Life |
|
2 |
Possession with Intent to Distribute 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl | 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A)(vi) |
Life |
|
3 |
Possession with Intent to Distribute 100 Grams or More of Heroin | 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(i) |
40 years |
|
4 |
Possession with Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine | 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(ii) |
40 years |
According to a criminal complaint filed before the indictment, Erazo was arrested in November 2022 outside an apartment in Berkeley, Calif. At the time of his arrest, Erazo was carrying a backpack in which he had nearly four pounds of suspected drugs, including almost a kilogram of suspected fentanyl and more than half a pound each of suspected heroin and suspected cocaine. Inside the apartment, law enforcement officers found nearly 21 pounds of suspected drugs, including nearly 15 pounds of suspected fentanyl, more than two pounds of suspected cocaine, and more than one pound of suspected heroin. Officers also found drug manufacturing equipment, two firearms, ammunition, and cash inside the apartment.
According to court documents, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) learned after Erazo was charged in federal court that he had traveled back to Honduras. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Honduran authorities and the DEA to secure the arrest and extradition of Erazo, who arrived back in the United States on Dec. 19, 2024. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim today for arraignment on the indictment and further proceedings. Erazo is next scheduled to appear in court for a status hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa J. Cisneros on Dec. 23, 2024.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Erazo faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a maximum fine of $10,000,000 on Counts 1 and 2, and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a maximum fine of $5,000,000 on Counts 3 and 4. He also faces a lifetime term of supervised release and a mandatory $100 special assessment on each count. Any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by a court only upon consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and DEA Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Parker is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Jessie Chelsea and Linda Love. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the DEA, with assistance from the San Francisco Police Department.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
SAN FRANCISCO – A Brentwood man was sentenced yesterday to 37 months in prison for defrauding the United States by obtaining approximately $300,000 in COVID-19 relief funds for his “nonprofit” that was an unlicensed marijuana distribution business. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Rita F. Lin, U.S. District Judge, following defendant’s guilty plea on two counts of wire fraud.
According to court documents, Thanh Duy Nguyen, 53, ran and was the sole officer of T&A Distribution, an unlicensed interstate marijuana trafficking scheme with grow houses around the Bay Area. Nguyen used T&A Distribution to obtain two Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act authorized the SBA to provide EIDL loans to small businesses experiencing substantial financial disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the first application, which he submitted in April 2020, Nguyen certified that he was not engaged in any illegal activity as defined by federal law, even though he knew that his marijuana distribution business was illegal under federal law. Nguyen fraudulently claimed that T&A Distribution was a nonprofit in the business of “Antiques/Collectibles,” when its business was marijuana distribution. Nguyen also made other false statements, including about T&A Distribution’s gross revenue and employee count. The true amount of T&A Distribution’s gross revenues in the 12 months before Jan. 31, 2020, was approximately $2.4 million.
On a second EIDL application, which he submitted in June 2020, Nguyen again falsely certified that he was not engaged in any illegal activity as defined by federal law, and misrepresented T&A Distribution as a nonprofit in the business of “Miscellaneous Services.” He also made false statements about the business’s gross revenues, cost of operations, and employee count.
As a result of the falsified applications, Nguyen received approximately $300,000 in EIDL funds. He used a significant amount of the loan funds for his marijuana distribution business and for gambling.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Lin sentenced Nguyen to three years of supervised release and to pay $300,000 in restitution and $300,000 in forfeiture. Nguyen will begin serving his sentence on Feb. 28, 2025.
United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris, and SBA Office of Inspector General (OIG) Special Agent in Charge of the Western Region Weston King made the announcement.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Tartakovsky prosecuted the case with the assistance of Sara Slattery. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by DEA and SBA OIG.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
ALEXANDRIA, La. – Kaelin Williams, 27, of Alexandria, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell for illegal possession of a machine gun, announced U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. Williams was sentenced to 30 months in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release.
Williams was charged in an indictment with one count of illegal possession of a machine gun and he pleaded guilty to the charge on August 21, 2024. On March 1, 2024, a federal search warrant was executed on Williams and his brother’s residence in Alexandria. At the time of the execution of the search warrant, Williams was the sole occupant of the residence and was found with two machine guns, both being Anderson Model AM-15 AR-Type multi-caliber pistols each containing a machine gun conversion device. In addition, law enforcement agents found several additional machine gun conversion devices, often referred to as “Glock switches.” Williams acknowledged to agents that he knew the “Glock switches” were illegal and that they turned a firearm into a machine gun.
The case was investigated by the ATF, Homeland Security Investigations and Alexandria Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren L. Gardner.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
# # #
Source: United States Attorneys General
A federal grand jury in the Western District of Texas charged a Chinese national with two counts related to alleged distribution of pill press equipment that can be used by criminals to manufacture illegal drugs laced with fentanyl.
Department of Homeland Security agents arrested the defendant, Xaiofei Chen, at a trade show in Las Vegas on Oct. 29. According to the criminal complaint supporting her arrest warrant, Chen sold pill press machines that can be used with molds, stamps or dies mimicking commonly prescribed controlled substances to produce counterfeit pills that appear indistinguishable from legitimate pharmaceutical drugs. Specifically, the criminal complaint alleges that Chen worked for a Chinese-based company that sold die molds and equipment, and that Chen sold pill press equipment and counterfeit die molds to buyers in the United States. The complaint further alleges that Chen avoided Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) disclosure requirements by dismantling equipment and shipping parts in separate packages into the United States. This equipment allegedly included counterfeit dies, including M30 dies meant to mimic a common prescription drug but which are regularly used to make fake opioid pills. The complaint alleges that the packages that Chen sent also were mislabeled to conceal the illegal equipment that they contained.
The Controlled Substances Act prohibits the sale of pill press equipment and counterfeit die molds to individuals who intend to use these machines unlawfully and requires reporting of certain equipment sales. Counterfeit pills made on such equipment can be laced with fentanyl and other dangerous drugs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fentanyl is a highly addictive synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Fentanyl and related substances have devastated communities across the United States and fuel the ongoing drug overdose epidemic, which the CDC recently estimated killed approximately 107,000 Americans in 2023. Fentanyl overdose is the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 49. In recent years, more than half of counterfeit pills tested have been found to have a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.
“The fentanyl epidemic has taken hundreds of thousands of American lives, and this case reflects the department’s unwavering commitment to prosecuting every level of the deadly fentanyl supply chain,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department will continue to protect Americans by prosecuting those involved in the unlawful sale of parts and equipment that can be used to manufacture counterfeit pills.”
“The defendant allegedly sold equipment that can be used to make dangerous opioid pills harmful to American families,” said Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “HSI is proud to work with our law enforcement partners to prevent the distribution of equipment commonly used in the manufacture of these destructive drugs.”
A federal court in Nevada ordered Chen, a foreign national, detained pending her trial in El Paso where the indictment was returned on Nov. 20. The indictment charges Chen with one count of conspiracy to distribute and import a tableting machine used to manufacture a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to distribute dies designed to imprint and reproduce the trademark, trade name and other identifying mark and imprint of another. If convicted, Chen faces a maximum penalty of four years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge would determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
HSI and Customs and Border Protection are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Edward E. Emokpae, Scott B. Dahlquist and Kaitlin Sahni of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Franco Gregory and Donna S. Miller for the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case. Attorneys Colin Trundle and Sarah Williams of the Consumer Protection Branch also provided valuable assistance.
An indictment or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
Washington, D.C. – Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), and U.S. Representatives Adam Smith (D, WA-09) and Pramila Jayapal (D, WA-07), released the following joint statement urging the Biden Administration to immediately launch an investigation into the fatal shooting of U.S. Citizen Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi in the West Bank:
“On September 6, Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi was fatally shot in the West Bank while she was peacefully participating in a demonstration against Israeli settlements in the Palestinian village of Beita. Since then, we have requested an independent, thorough, credible, and transparent investigation into what happened that day to both better understand the circumstances of her death and ensure that if any laws were broken those who were responsible are held to account.
“This week, Ms. Eygi’s family came to D.C. to discuss the challenges they’ve faced and the questions they still have about what happened. The lack of answers they have received is unacceptable.
“We call on Israel to complete their investigation and release their report on the cause of her death. Secretary Blinken must insist on the release of any Israeli investigation results. We also continue to urge the U.S. Department of Justice to initiate an independent, U.S.-led investigation into Ms. Eygi’s death. If the Justice Department isn’t going to investigate, then the State Department should release their own findings and seek accountability.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government have exacerbated tensions in the West Bank with their promotion of rapid Israeli settlement expansion. This dangerous situation in the West Bank has claimed the lives of far too many civilians, including Ms. Eygi.
“We applaud the sanctions that President Biden has imposed thus far on extremist Israeli settlers, including the settler organization Amana. Clearly, more must be done. The policies of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government undermine the viability of a Palestinian state and Israel’s security, violate the rights of Palestinians living in the West Bank, and put the region at even greater risk of further destabilization.
“It is time for the Biden Administration to thoroughly investigate the shooting of Ms. Eygi.”
Source: US Congressional Budget Office
Division A would provide for the continuation, through March 14, 2025, of the appropriations and authorities contained in the 12 regular appropriation acts for 2024, which were contained in divisions A through F of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law 118-42) and divisions A through F of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (P.L. 118-47). Estimates are annualized—that is, estimated as if appropriations were provided for the entire fiscal year.
Division B would provide supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2025 for a broad range of federal agencies to respond to recent natural disasters and provide related assistance. The legislation would designate those amounts as emergency requirements in keeping with section 251 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
Source: US State of Maryland
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2024
Government Relations and Public Affairs
187 Harry S. Truman Parkway
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Circuit Courts:
The Clerk of the Court at the Circuit Court of Baltimore City informed the Maryland Judiciary Friday morning, December 20, 2024, that a member of his staff is suspected of having been exposed to Legionella Pneumonia. The Maryland Judiciary leadership, Baltimore City courts leadership, and Baltimore City leadership met and were informed by City of Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott that the Mitchell and Cummings circuit courthouses tested positive for Legionella bacteria.
The Mitchell and Cummings courthouses were closed this afternoon to implement safety protocols and begin remediation steps. Following recommendations from health officials, Administrative Judge Audrey J.S. Carrion issued an Administrative Order to close the Michell and Cummings courthouses on Monday, December 23, and Tuesday, December 24, for remediation by the City of Baltimore Department of General Services. Both courthouses are scheduled to reopen on Thursday, December 26, 2024, at 8 a.m. Emergency matters will be heard on Monday, December 23, and Tuesday, December 24, at the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center, 300 N. Gay Street, Baltimore.
The Baltimore City circuit courthouses will be providing signage in all public bathrooms. Hand sanitizer and bottled water will be available for employees and visitors.
District Courts:
The Maryland Judiciary was informed on December 6, 2024, that the Wabash and Patapsco district courthouses had tested positive for legionella bacteria. Since that time, the water supply systems at both courthouses were flushed and treated and additional tests were performed. Drinking fountains were blocked, signage notifying employees and visitors was posted in all bathrooms, and hand sanitizer and bottled water were made available for both employees and the public.
In addition, tests were performed at the Civil building on December 9, 2024, and the North Avenue courthouse on December 17, 2024. We were notified of positive test results for the Civil courthouse today, December 20, 2024. The Civil courthouse will be closed Monday, December 23, and Tuesday, December 24, for remediation by the City of Baltimore Department of General Services. Both courthouses are scheduled to reopen on Thursday, December 26, 2024, at 8 a.m. All emergency housing matters typically handled at the Civil courthouse will be moved to the Wabash District Court on Monday, December 23, 2024, and Tuesday, December 24, 2024. Wabash, Patapsco, and North Avenue courthouses will continue normal operations.
The Maryland Judiciary was informed late yesterday, December 19, 2024, that the results from the testing at both Wabash and Patapsco continued to show positive results of the legionella bacteria. The Maryland Department of General Services has confirmed that an updated remedial plan has been put in place at these courthouses. The Maryland Department of General Services, after consultation with Maryland Department of Health, has provided health guidance to the District Court of Maryland regarding Legionella bacteria. The same guidance applies to the Circuit Court for Baltimore City.
Based on the information provided by the Maryland Department of General Services and the Maryland Department of Health, the precautions that have been taken at the Baltimore City courthouses are sufficient to safely remain open.
Please contact the Maryland Judiciary, Government Relations and Public Affairs Division, at [email protected] or 410-260-1488, for questions.
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Source: United States Navy
Lt. Cmdr. Adam Sandifer was relieved of his duties as NRC Shreveport’s commanding officer by Rear Adm. Michael Steffen, the commander of Navy Reserve Forces Command.
The Navy maintains the highest standards for commanding officers and holds them accountable when those standards are not met.
Lt. Cmdr. John Perez has been temporarily assigned as NRC Shreveport’s commanding officer. Sandifer has been temporarily reassigned to Navy Personnel Command. He assumed command of NRC Shreveport in March 2024.
For questions related to this release, contact Cmdr. Robert Myers, Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Public Affairs at CNRF_PAO@us.navy.mil.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a jury in Bridgeport federal court has found LUIS SALAMAN, also known as “Bebe,” 42, and JESUS SEGUINOT, also known as “Chuchi,” 34, guilty of fentanyl trafficking offenses. A trial before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill began on December 9 and the jury returned guilty verdicts on multiple counts of a superseding indictment late yesterday afternoon.
According to the evidence presented during the trial, in October 2021, the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force learned that Salaman was distributing large quantities of narcotics throughout New Haven. The investigation revealed that Salaman worked with Seguinot and others to distribute fentanyl. Between November 2021 and March 2022, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of distribution quantities of fentanyl from Salaman, Seguinot, and their associates.
The jury found Salaman and Seguinot guilty of conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and Salaman guilty of three counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 40 grams or more of fentanyl. The jury found Salaman not guilty of four counts, and Seguinot not guilty of one count, of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
At sentencing, which is scheduled for March 13, Salaman faces a term of imprisonment of at least 10 years, and Seguinot faces a term of imprisonment of at least five years. Salaman faces enhanced penalties because of a prior conviction for a serious violent felony.
Salaman has been detained since his arrest on April 5, 2022. Seguinot was arrested on April 10, 2023, and is released on a $100,000 bond.
This investigation has been conducted by FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, which includes members from the FBI, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, and the New Haven, Milford, East Haven, West Haven, and Wallingford Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Ruff and David T. Huang.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Just 12 months after an Amarillo methamphetamine trafficker received a life sentence, his twin brother was sentenced to life in prison for similar crimes, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Landis Charles Barrow, 46, was charged in February 2023. After a six-day trial, a jury convicted Mr. Barrow of one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, three counts of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of possession of intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in August. Landis Barrow was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk.
His twin brother, Mandis Barrow, was convicted at a separate trial of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of distribution methamphetamine, and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was sentenced in January by the same judge.
According to evidence presented at Landis’ trial, Landis sold, or facilitated the sale, of large quantities of methamphetamine to a confidential source on three occasions in late 2022.
During a February 2023 search of Landis’ residence, DEA agents discovered pound quantities of methamphetamine, two large baggies of cocaine, drug scales and paraphernalia, $7,000 in cash, a firearm, and a drug ledger with Landis’ name written in it. During a call made from the Randall County Detention Center, he admitted to being part of a criminal organization.
During his trial testimony, Landis admitted to distributing approximately 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) of controlled substances for a Mexican Cartel. Landis admitted to running a “crew” of individuals, and that he was a “gangster.” Landis admitted to carrying a firearm with him at all times.
Court documents and trial testimony reflect that Landis Barrow is a suspect in a murder investigation involving his alleged retaliation for the theft of a large quantity of drugs and money that occurred in November 2022 at second residence associated with him.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Kacsmaryk ruled that Landis had, in fact, made credible threats of violence to shoot or harm people he believed were involved in the robbery. Judge Kacsmaryk further found that Landis had perjured himself during his trial testimony.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division – Amarillo Resident Agency conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Potter County Sheriff’s Office, the Randall County Sheriff’s Office, the Amarillo Police Department, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna Marie Bell and Sean Long prosecuted the case.
Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
CAMP ASAKA, Japan –
America’s First Corps serves as the U.S. Army’s primary executor of Operation Pathways working with Allies and partners across a vast Indo-Pacific driving readiness in this complex region.
As a campaigning initiative, Operation Pathways reflects the U.S. Army’s broader objective of ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Each year, Pathways can result anywhere from 30-40 major exercises spanning across more than 10 countries working in various training locations, environments and time zones.
Due to the demands and requirements to accomplish mission success, the Joint Base Lewis-McChord-based command calls upon the U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard respectively to support such a vital mission with national security implications.
Most recently, this level of integration was on full display during Yama Sakura 87, the trilateral scenario-driven command post exercise held each year in Japan.
U.S. Army Reserve units across the world were brought together to support, sustain and protect elements across Japan during the concurrent Yama Sakura 87 and Warfighter 25-02 exercise, elevating the combined joint effort with their partners in First Corps and across Allied forces in the Australian Army and Japan Ground Self Defense-Force.
First Corps understands the importance and value the Army’s Reserve and National Guard components offer to increase capacity and capabilities to Pathways exercises like Yama Sakura, and they depend on the unique skill sets these formations and Soldiers bring to the table.
“We have five mission support commands just supporting America’s First Corps for this mission,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Carol Balderas, the Army Reserve Affairs Senior Enlisted Advisor at First Corps. “Of that, there are upwards of 324, plus or minus, that are participating in this Operation Pathways exercise.”
Sgt. Maj. Balderas continued, stating this number represents U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers assigned from the 200th Military Police Command, Army Reserve Civil Affairs personnel, U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command, as well as several Main Command Post-Operational Detachments brought to improve logistics, operations and communication with interpreters working with Japanese counterparts.
“Being able to integrate the COMPO 3, the Army Reserve Soldiers, into Pathways allows the Soldiers to apply those critical thinking skills firsthand with their Active Component counterparts and they learn from them,” stated Balderas.
One of these Soldiers, Sgt. 1st Class Naohau Tsuboi, who serves as an interpreter assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve’s 9th Mission Support Command Japan Detachment, was a vital part of mission success helping coordinate efforts between key players and functions in the exercise by translating briefs, meetings and documents.
“I was born and raised in Japan, so I understand the Japanese culture,” said Tsuboi. “But I spent a long time in the states of course, and now I’m an American citizen so I understand the American culture as well.”
Tsuboi reflected how his experiences across both walks of life improved coordination and planning functions in the face of language barriers, and helped facilitate cultural exchanges between each nation’s forces.
“I’m always excited to talk about the mutual cooperation, the mutual understanding,” said Tsuboi. “Especially, I’m excited that I can help them [U.S. and Japanese] service members understand each other – that’s the biggest part I enjoy.”
It is not just the U.S. Army components that employed these reserve forces to support Yama Sakura. Military reservists from the U.S. Navy were brought out to help coordinate efforts to make the training as realistic as possible.
U.S. Navy Cmdr. Andrew Thornburg, a reserve anti-submarine officer with 7th Fleet, acted as a liaison officer during the exercises, working with components across the Japan Ministry of Defense, Australian Defence Force, and U.S. personnel, to contextualize the realities of coordination in large-scale operations in the Indo-Pacific during the exercise.
“We brought people with expertise in sustainment, we brought people with expertise in surface operations,” Thornburg said. “Several of us are submarine experts and know maritime planning. Of course, we have the air component as well, so we brought some pilots out. They were extremely helpful.”
For several of these reservists, Yama Sakura 87 and Warfighter 25-02 provided the first opportunity for them to serve beyond the United States’ border bringing a unique experience to their Army experience and personal fulfillment.
For U.S. Army Spc. Alvin Corado, a military policeman assigned to U.S. Army Reserve’s 396th Military Police Detachment, based in Denver, Colo., this was a unique opportunity to support efforts at Camp Asaka, Japan.
“This is my first time being out [of] the country,” Corado said. “Working with different countries and how they establish their work has been an amazing experience.”
Corado’s patrol partner, Spc. Cole Schuymanski, share similar sentiments when speaking about his experiences during the exercise.
“The best part is just getting to work with our Japanese and Australian Allies,” reflected Schuymanski. “Getting to work with our policing, getting to work with our dialog, seeing the differences on their methods.”
Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
CAMP ASAKUSA, Japan –
American Soldiers and Army civilians from the U.S. military’s premier Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command participated in Exercise Yama Sakura from Japan and Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington.
Highly specialized units from the 20th CBRNE Command took part in the 44th iteration of trilateral exercise that brought together forces from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, the Australian Defence Force and the U.S. Army in Japan, Dec. 7 – 15.
The 3rd Ordnance Battalion (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) and 20th CBRNE Command supported Exercise Yama Sakura, which means “Mountain Cherry Blossoms” in Japanese.
Soldiers and Army civilians from the 20th CBRNE Command deploy from 19 bases in 16 states to confront and defeat the world’s most dangerous hazards in support of joint, interagency and multinational operations.
Headquartered on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in Northeast Maryland’s science, technology and security corridor, the 20th CBRNE Command is home to 75 percent of the U.S. Army’s active-duty Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) specialists and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians, as well as the 1st Global Field Medical Laboratory, CBRNE Analytical and Remediation Activity, Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordination Teams and Nuclear Disablement Teams (Infrastructure).
Exercise Yama Sakura is designed to increase joint force lethality, enhance procedural and technical interoperability, and strengthen alliances and partnerships, while focusing on collaboration across multi-domain and cross-domain operations.
U.S. Army Pacific, Japan Ground Self Defense Force, Ground Component Command, I Corps, Western Army, 11th Airborne Division, Australian 1st Division, Eastern Army, 7th Infantry and U.S. Army Japan took part in the exercise.
The 20th CBRNE Command supports military operations overseas and civil authorities at home.
The multifunctional and deployable 20th CBRNE Command also routinely works to strengthen allies around the world.
Brig. Gen. W Bochat, the commanding general of 20th CBRNE Command, visited Japan during the exercise.
“This exercise was an excellent opportunity to build readiness and focus on training with a valuable ally to our nation. The goal is to strengthen our collective defensive posture and improve our interoperability in the Indo-Pacific theater,” said Bochat, a career U.S. Army Chemical Corps officer who speaks Japanese fluently.
Source: United States Attorneys General 2
A former corrections officer of the Maury County, Tennessee, Jail was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Nashville, Tennessee, to 60 months in prison and two years of supervised release.
James Stewart Justice was previously convicted of falsifying a record in a federal civil rights investigation for a report he wrote in response to allegations that he had sexually abused an inmate in his custody.
“Everyone who serves in law enforcement knows of their duty of candor,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “That duty of candor is at its highest when responding to serious allegations such as the sexual abuse of an inmate in the officer’s care. The Civil Rights Division will continue to vigorously prosecute officers who disregard that duty and obstruct federal civil rights investigations.”
“When he authority that corrections officers are given is abused, it’s not just the civil rights of prison inmates that are threatened, but the public’s trust,” said Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “This sentencing should be a reminder that the FBI will vigorously investigate these kinds of cases and bring to justice any law enforcement officer who violates the constitution and trust of the people.”
According to court documents, Justice, formerly known as James Stewart Thomas, wrote an official report for the Maury County Jail in response to allegations that he sexually abused an inmate he guarded in a hospital room while the inmate recovered from major surgery. In his report, the defendant 1) falsely claimed that he had reported to two Maury County Jail supervisors that an inmate had made sexual advances toward him while the inmate was in his custody at the hospital; 2) falsely claimed that those two Maury County Jail supervisors both advised him not to write a report about those alleged sexual advances by the inmate; and 3) omitted a claim he later made to criminal investigators that he had a sexual relationship with the inmate after the inmate’s release from custody.
The FBI Nashville Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nani Gilkerson for the Middle District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney Kyle Boynton of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.
Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
NEW YORK — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in New York City arrested unlawfully present Mexican citizen Jose Hernandez Sachez, Dec. 19. Hernandez has convictions for third degree sexual abuse among other charges.
Fugitive operations officers arrested the 42-year-old sexual predator outside a residence in Brooklyn. He is currently in ERO custody pending removal proceedings.
“We will not tolerate predators taking advantage of public services such as the MTA to violate women and girls,” said ERO New York City Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo. “ERO officers will find these criminal noncitizens and seek their removal from the United States.”
The U.S. Border Patrol arrested Hernandez following three separate attempts to unlawfully enter the U.S. near Nogales, Arizona, between Jan. 7 and Jan. 9, 2003. Hernandez voluntarily returned to Mexico on each occasion but later unlawfully entered the U.S. on an unknown date and location without admission by an immigration official.
The New York Police Department arrested Hernandez Jan. 13, 2023, for third degree sexual abuse and other charges. The Queens County Criminal Court in Kew Gardens convicted Hernandez of those charges May 30. The victim in this case was a 15-year-old girl.
Hernandez was arrested again on sex abuse charges by the NYPD Nov. 17, 2023. The Kings County Criminal Court in Brooklyn convicted him On June 12 on those charges and sentenced him to one year probation with conditional discharge and required him to register as a sex offender. The victim in this case was a 40-year-old woman.
Noncitizens placed into removal proceedings receive their legal due process from federal immigration judges in the immigration courts, which are administered by the Executive Office for Immigration Review. The Executive Office for Immigration Review is an agency within the U.S. Department of Justice and is separate from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case. ERO officers carry out the removal decisions made by the federal immigration judges.
ERO is one of ICE’s three operational directorates and is the principal federal law enforcement authority in charge of domestic immigration enforcement. ERO’s mission is to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of U.S. communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws, and its primary areas of focus are interior enforcement operations, management of the agency’s detained and non-detained populations, and repatriation of noncitizens who have received final orders of removal.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-347-2423 or completing ICE’s online tip form.
Learn more about ERO New York’s mission to preserve public safety on Twitter @ERONewYork.
Source: US State of Vermont
The Justice Department filed a federal lawsuit today against the State of Louisiana and Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections (LDOC) alleging that the state and LDOC maintain a pattern or practice of confining incarcerated people for weeks and months after they have fully completed their prison sentences and are legally entitled to be released, in violation of the 14th Amendment.
“Every person in the United States, whether incarcerated or otherwise, enjoys certain fundamental rights,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Foremost among them is the right to individual liberty. The Founders were keenly aware of the potential abuse of power when government can arbitrarily take away a person’s freedom without a lawful court order specifying the period of their confinement. In this context, the right to individual liberty includes the right to be released from incarceration on time after the term set by the court has ended. To incarcerate people indefinitely, as LDOC does here, not only intrudes on individual liberty, but also erodes public confidence in the fair and just application of our laws. The Justice Department looks forward to proving its case in court.”
The lawsuit is the result of a multi-year investigation into allegations of systemic overdetention in LDOC’s system conducted by the department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle, Eastern and Western Districts of Louisiana.
As required by the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), the department provided the state with written notice of the supporting facts for these alleged conditions, and the minimum remedial measures necessary to address them in a report issued on Jan. 25, 2023. CRIPA authorizes the department to act when it has reasonable cause to believe there is a pattern or practice of deprivation of constitutional rights of individuals confined to correctional facilities operated by or on behalf of state or local government.
Today’s lawsuit seeks injunctive relief to remedy deficient conditions identified by the department’s investigation. The lawsuit does not seek monetary damages. While the State has made marginal efforts to address the systemic deficiencies leading to overdetention, these steps are inadequate to address the deficiencies, which are longstanding and well-known to the State.
The Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle, Eastern and Western Districts of Louisiana are handling the case. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the department by phone at 1-833-492-0097 or by email at community.louisianadoc@usdoj.gov.
For more information about the Civil Rights Division and the Special Litigation Section, please visit www.justice.gov/crt/special-litigation-section. Additional information about the Eastern, Middle and Western U.S. Attorneys’ Offices is available at www.justice.gov/usao-edla, www.justice.gov/usao-mdla and www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Source: US State of Vermont
A former corrections officer of the Maury County, Tennessee, Jail was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Nashville, Tennessee, to 60 months in prison and two years of supervised release.
James Stewart Justice was previously convicted of falsifying a record in a federal civil rights investigation for a report he wrote in response to allegations that he had sexually abused an inmate in his custody.
“Everyone who serves in law enforcement knows of their duty of candor,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “That duty of candor is at its highest when responding to serious allegations such as the sexual abuse of an inmate in the officer’s care. The Civil Rights Division will continue to vigorously prosecute officers who disregard that duty and obstruct federal civil rights investigations.”
“When he authority that corrections officers are given is abused, it’s not just the civil rights of prison inmates that are threatened, but the public’s trust,” said Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “This sentencing should be a reminder that the FBI will vigorously investigate these kinds of cases and bring to justice any law enforcement officer who violates the constitution and trust of the people.”
According to court documents, Justice, formerly known as James Stewart Thomas, wrote an official report for the Maury County Jail in response to allegations that he sexually abused an inmate he guarded in a hospital room while the inmate recovered from major surgery. In his report, the defendant 1) falsely claimed that he had reported to two Maury County Jail supervisors that an inmate had made sexual advances toward him while the inmate was in his custody at the hospital; 2) falsely claimed that those two Maury County Jail supervisors both advised him not to write a report about those alleged sexual advances by the inmate; and 3) omitted a claim he later made to criminal investigators that he had a sexual relationship with the inmate after the inmate’s release from custody.
The FBI Nashville Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nani Gilkerson for the Middle District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney Kyle Boynton of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.
Source: United States Attorneys General 12
The Justice Department filed a federal lawsuit today against the State of Louisiana and Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections (LDOC) alleging that the state and LDOC maintain a pattern or practice of confining incarcerated people for weeks and months after they have fully completed their prison sentences and are legally entitled to be released, in violation of the 14th Amendment.
“Every person in the United States, whether incarcerated or otherwise, enjoys certain fundamental rights,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Foremost among them is the right to individual liberty. The Founders were keenly aware of the potential abuse of power when government can arbitrarily take away a person’s freedom without a lawful court order specifying the period of their confinement. In this context, the right to individual liberty includes the right to be released from incarceration on time after the term set by the court has ended. To incarcerate people indefinitely, as LDOC does here, not only intrudes on individual liberty, but also erodes public confidence in the fair and just application of our laws. The Justice Department looks forward to proving its case in court.”
The lawsuit is the result of a multi-year investigation into allegations of systemic overdetention in LDOC’s system conducted by the department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle, Eastern and Western Districts of Louisiana.
As required by the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), the department provided the state with written notice of the supporting facts for these alleged conditions, and the minimum remedial measures necessary to address them in a report issued on Jan. 25, 2023. CRIPA authorizes the department to act when it has reasonable cause to believe there is a pattern or practice of deprivation of constitutional rights of individuals confined to correctional facilities operated by or on behalf of state or local government.
Today’s lawsuit seeks injunctive relief to remedy deficient conditions identified by the department’s investigation. The lawsuit does not seek monetary damages. While the State has made marginal efforts to address the systemic deficiencies leading to overdetention, these steps are inadequate to address the deficiencies, which are longstanding and well-known to the State.
The Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle, Eastern and Western Districts of Louisiana are handling the case. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the department by phone at 1-833-492-0097 or by email at community.louisianadoc@usdoj.gov.
For more information about the Civil Rights Division and the Special Litigation Section, please visit www.justice.gov/crt/special-litigation-section. Additional information about the Eastern, Middle and Western U.S. Attorneys’ Offices is available at www.justice.gov/usao-edla, www.justice.gov/usao-mdla and www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Source: United Nations 4
By Vibhu Mishra
In a landmark mission to Syria, the UN probe into the most serious rights violations committed in the country since 2011 has called on caretaker authorities to take immediate measures to protect mass grave sites and preserve critical evidence.
A team from the Independent International Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on Syria visited former prisons and detention centres, including the notorious Sednaya and the Military Intelligence Branch 235 prisons.
It is the first time the team has been able to access Syria, as the former regime denied all previous requests to gather evidence.
The team was dismayed to see that much evidence and documentation had been damaged, taken or destroyed – information which in some cases could have helped families trace disappeared loved ones.
“Utmost care must be taken to protect mass grave sites and to safeguard all documents and evidence across Syria,” it said, warning that well-meaning but premature actions by individuals or organizations could hinder long-term forensic efforts.
The Commission are recommending the setting up of a a specialized unit to coordinate the protection and preservation of mass grave sites and related documents, until forensic experts can assess them.
The independent rights experts call on authorities to discourage any interference and for any documents already removed to be returned. Many national and international rights bodies and organizations have offered assistance to secure evidence and support the families of missing persons.
“This critical juncture in Syria’s history, and at a time of great expectations by the Syrian people, the Commission reiterate its full solidarity with the entire Syrian people and stands ready to support in any capacity it can,” it stated.
Established by the UN Human Rights Council in 2011, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry is mandated to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law since March 2011 in Syria.
Separately, a group of over 30 independent human rights experts – including Special Rapporteurs – stressed the need for unified international support to ensure Syria’s transition is grounded in democratic principles and human rights.
They emphasised that justice, reconciliation, and respect for Syria’s sovereignty are paramount to the country’s recovery following the fall of the Assad regime.
The experts highlighted the importance of addressing the rights of marginalized groups, including women, children, minorities, and displaced persons, while ensuring the political process remains Syrian-led and Syrian-owned.
“Justice should be pursued for all crimes committed, regardless of the perpetrator, through a credible judicial system focused on accountability, reparations, reconciliation and not revenge,” the experts stated.
“It is vital that such processes conform fully with international human rights standards…The involvement of civil society and human rights defenders in a just transition is crucially important for the process to be credible,” they added.
The experts urged the international community to support Syria’s rebuilding while ensuring the process remains free from foreign interference or aggression, warning that the country has endured major foreign interventions, transforming the country into the site of an extensive and protracted proxy war.
Continuing military interventions, such as the recent unprovoked and illegal attacks by Israel – its occupation of more Syrian territory in the Golan Heights and other air-attacks and incursions into north-east and central Syria – are grave obstacles to effective rehabilitation.
“All foreign occupying military forces should leave Syria, and all territorial incursions and attacks should cease without delay,” the experts stated.
The experts included several Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups on key rights issues, who are appointed and mandated by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council.
They are not UN staff, do not draw a salary, and serve in their individual capacity, independent of the UN Secretariat.
Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
OKINAWA, Japan –
Amphibious Combat Vehicles with 4th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division, completed the first open-water amphibious movement in the Kushi Crossing, Dec. 10, 2024.
ACVs are the Marine Corps’ newest amphibious vehicle platform and were first fielded in Fleet Marine Force units on Camp Pendleton, California, November 2022. The ACV was developed for the Marine Corps to replace the Assault Amphibious Vehicle, having began its long period of service in 1972. The ACV underwent close to nearly two years of trials and tests before the platform would make its debut overseas in Okinawa with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit June 24 of this year.
Less than a week later on June 29 III Marine Expeditionary Force units received ACVs of their own when the first vehicles participating in the Unit Deployment Program arrived in Okinawa as part of 4th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division. UDP units stationed in the continental United States rotate to Okinawa for six-month deployments to maintain experience operating in the Indo-Pacific region while providing assurance to allies and partners as well as deterring potential adversaries from conflict. Now as the second ACV platoon is participating in the UDP to 4th Marines, they are breaking new ground for amphibious operations on the island.
“Since the ACV has been fielded here in July, these training areas have not yet been transited by ACVs or validated,” said 1st. Lt. Jacob Yehl, the 4th Marines ACV platoon commander. “Our mission here today, and on this rotation, is to make sure all of those training areas and BLS’s (Beach Landing Sites) are trafficable and supportable for ACV operations in the future.”
Marines and their ACVs spent three days at the beach to validate amphibious operations with the new platform during low tide, high tide, and low-light conditions.
“Kushi Crossing is the only landing site in Okinawa that allows entry into the Central Training Area of Okinawa,” said Yehl. Validation that ACVs can operate in the Kushi Crossing ensures they can integrate seamlessly with other training units in Okinawa. The ACV platoon’s central mission, stated by Yehl, is “to provide ship-to-shore lift for the infantry and reinforcement of their assault to inland objectives.”
After a long period of operating the outdated AAV, experienced Marines are able to bring their tactical knowledge to bear in mastering the new vehicle. Staff Sergeant Juwan White, one of the unit’s section leaders, said “I remember eight years ago I was driving an AAV from Recon Beach, Camp Schwab here to Kushi, regularly. Now here I am today doing the same thing with an ACV for the very first time for the next generations of Marines to do.”
ACVs with 4th Marines will also be attached to the 31st MEU based on Camp Hansen, Okinawa to provide another capable ship-to-shore connector for the Marine Corps’ most rapid response force in the region.
In the Indo-Pacific, ACVs deliver commanders the ability to deploy a landing force to respond to crisis or conflict. When asked about the significance of the training’s completion, White said “The primary message of the training we conducted is that we’ve proven and shown that ACVs belong here in Okinawa for III MEF to have at their disposal.”
Source: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union
AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm President Joe Biden’s 235th judicial nominee:
“Today it’s official: the Senate has officially confirmed 235 of President Biden’s judicial nominees, making the federal bench more demographically and professionally diverse than ever before. These highly qualified nominees include a record number of judges who are people of color, women and labor lawyers, and the first Black woman to sit on the Supreme Court, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
“While this achievement is significant, we urge the Senate to continue the important work of confirming fair-minded and qualified individuals and to stay in session as long as is required. We especially encourage the confirmation of the three remaining Circuit Court nominees, particularly labor lawyer Karla Campbell for the 6th Circuit. President Biden’s nominees haven proven their commitment to upholding the rule of law. Our democracy will be stronger with their confirmation.”
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
WASHINGTON — A Florida man was arrested yesterday morning and charged with assaulting law enforcement with a weapon and other counts related to his alleged conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His alleged actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.
Joel Linn O’Donnell, 44, of Clearwater, Florida, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with seven offenses, including assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon; assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers; obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; and engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon.
In addition to the felonies, O’Donnell is charged with two misdemeanor offenses of disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and an act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings.
The FBI arrested O’Donnell December 19, in Clearwater. He made his initial appearance in the Middle District of Florida.
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, O’Donnell attended a rally near the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., and afterward, joined a large crowd marching toward the U.S. Capitol building. Once on Capitol grounds, O’Donnell positioned himself at the Lower West Plaza.
O’Donnell, accompanied by an associate, moved closer to the Capitol building, transitioning from the West Front to the Upper West Terrace. There, he joined a mass of rioters on temporary stadium-style risers as objects were hurled at police officers nearby. The crowd reportedly chanted “TRAITORS!” at law enforcement officers attempting to control the unrest.
At approximately 4:54 p.m., it is alleged that O’Donnell advanced toward the Lower West Terrace Tunnel, the site of some of the most violent attacks against law enforcement that day, while carrying a large step and two long poles. Moments later, O’Donnell allegedly used these items as weapons, hurling all three of the objects at police officers defending the Tunnel.
At approximately 5:02 p.m., it is alleged that O’Donnell returned to the police line armed with a baseball bat and repeatedly struck a Metropolitan Police Department officer, hitting the officer’s riot shield. Court documents say that O’Donnell only retreated from the tunnel area after police deployed riot control munitions to disperse the crowd.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Tampa and Washington Field Offices which identified Gonzalez as AFO (Assault on Federal Officer) BOLO (Be on the Lookout) #352 on its seeking information images. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 47 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,572 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 590 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
WASHINGTON – A Pennsylvania man was sentenced to prison today after he previously pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement with a weapon during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.
Joshua Lee Atwood, 31, of Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 48 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution by U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss. Atwood previously pleaded guilty to a felony charge of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon.
According to court documents, Atwood traveled from his home in Burgettstown to Washington, D.C., to attend the Jan. 6, 2021, “Stop the Steal” rally on the National Mall. After the rally, Atwood made his way toward the U.S. Capitol building and, by approximately 4:22 p.m., arrived at the Lower West Terrace Tunnel, the site of some of the most violent attacks against law enforcement on January 6th. There, Atwood observed law enforcement officers actively attempting to prevent members of the crowd from entering the building.
At approximately 4:35 p.m., Atwood climbed into the Capitol building through a broken window next to the Tunnel and entered into a Senate room near the Lower West Terrace exterior doors. Atwood exited the building and, by approximately 4:51 p.m., joined the mob gathered around the Tunnel entrance, which law enforcement officers were actively defending. Atwood started throwing several objects at officers in the Tunnel, including a plastic bottle and a metal pole, both of which struck police officers.
Atwood then picked up a wooden pole and used it to forcibly strike at the riot shields of officers in the police line. Atwood then used the pole to strike an officer’s helmet before throwing the pole at the police line. Next, at approximately 4:56 p.m., Atwood drew a canister of pepper spray and continuously sprayed the officers guarding the Tunnel entrance until the canister was depleted. Atwood then threw the canister at police. Atwood then threw additional items at the police, including a baseball bat and a plastic bottle.
Atwood then used a police riot shield to strike at officers guarding the Tunnel, including by thrusting the bottom edge of the shield into the officer’s shields. When striking police with the riot shield, Atwood yelled, “F— off, you guys are all pieces of s—”, and “Everyone of you should be ashamed of yourself. Everyone of you m—f—are pieces of s—. Betraying your country like this, why would you betray your country. Do you love your country, or do you want civil…communist f—.”
Shortly after, Atwood picked up a metal scaffolding pipe and threw it at police. The pipe bounced off a riot shield and struck another officer in the head and neck. Moments later, Atwood picked up a heavy black speaker and threw it toward the group of officers.
The FBI arrested Atwood on April 17, 2024, in Pennsylvania.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania provided valuable assistance.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Pittsburgh and Washington Field Offices. Atwood was listed as BOLO (Be on the Lookout) #229 in the FBI’s seeking information images. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 47 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,572 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 590 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
24-cr-0199
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
RENO – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada has entered into an agreement with the Washoe County Board of Commissioners to resolve a compliance review that identified numerous physical barriers at polling sites. The agreement resolves the United States’ investigation into Washoe County’s compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by a state or local government in any of its programs or services. The agreement will be in place through the 2026 and 2028 election cycles.
“We must continue to protect the rights of all Nevadans to participate in one of the most fundamental rights we possess, voting rights,” said Sue Fahami, First Assistant United States Attorney, District of Nevada. “That is why we are proud to protect the rights of voters with disabilities to cast their ballot in person, privately, independently and without barriers. We are grateful for Washoe County’s commitment to helping accomplish this mutual goal.”
On June 11, 2024, during Nevada’s primary election, the United States surveyed 10 polling locations in Washoe County. The surveys found a multitude of architectural and equipment barriers both in the exterior of polling sites and inside voting rendering the facilities inaccessible. These physical barriers included obstructions at accessible voting stations, unreachable voting machine controls, missing accessibility signage at parking spaces, surface openings from the public sidewalk to the accessible entrance, gaps and level changes.
As part of the agreement, Washoe County will train poll workers on the County’s obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and how to employ temporary measures if necessary. It will also use the technical assistance of an accessibility expert and an evaluation form for each current and prospective polling place based on ADA architectural standards. Washoe County will also survey polling locations for accessibility throughout the term of the agreement. Importantly, when selecting future polling sites, Washoe County will ensure that new locations are ADA accessible. The United States Attorney’s Office will monitor the agreement and provide technical assistance.
The Washoe County investigation is part of the Department of Justice’s ADA Voting Initiative, which focuses on protecting the voting rights of individuals with disabilities across the country. A hallmark of the ADA Voting Initiative is its collaboration with jurisdictions to increase accessibility at polling places.
The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Ednin D. Martinez.
If you believe you have been discriminated against based on disability, please submit a report www.civilrights.justice.gov. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (TTY 1-833-610-1264) or visit www.ada.gov.