Anonymous ID: f30d94 May 24, 2021, 2:43 p.m. No.13744738   🗄️.is 🔗kun   >>4785 >>4820

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Eastern District of California

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, May 24, 2021

High-Ranking Nuestra Familia Gang Member Sentenced to 17.5 Years in Prison for Leading a Drug Trafficking Ring from Inside Pleasant Valley State Prison

 

FRESNO, Calif. — Salvador Castro Jr., 51, of Fresno, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to 17 years and six months in prison for conspiring to sell over 500 grams of methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

 

Castro was one of more than 50 individuals charged in June 2019 as part of Operation Red Reaper, a federal, state, and local law enforcement operation targeted at dismantling the criminal activities of the Nuestra Familia Prison Gang in the counties of Kings and Tulare. At the conclusion of the operation, federal charges were brought against 23 of those defendants, with the remaining being charged by the local District Attorney’s Office.

 

According to court documents, Castro is a high-ranking Nuestra Familia prison gang member, who was serving a 26-year-to-life sentence for a third-strike offense. In 2019, from inside his cell in Pleasant Valley State Prison, Castro used contraband cellphones to organize and lead a group of Norteno street gang members in Kings and Tulare Counties. Castro recruited gang members, encouraged them to commit robberies, and coordinated the transportation, delivery, and resale of pounds of cocaine and methamphetamine. He pleaded guilty on Jan. 12, 2021. Judge Drozd ordered that his federal sentence be served consecutive to the state sentence he had been serving when he committed the offense.

 

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kings County Gang Task Force, the California Highway Patrol Special Operations Unit, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Kings County District Attorney's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin J. Gilio, Katherine E. Schuh, and Kimberly A. Sanchez are prosecuting the case.

 

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

 

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/high-ranking-nuestra-familia-gang-member-sentenced-175-years-prison-leading-drug

Anonymous ID: f30d94 May 24, 2021, 2:45 p.m. No.13744755   🗄️.is 🔗kun   >>4785 >>4820

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Western District of Pennsylvania

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, May 24, 2021

Former Erie City Council President Sentenced for Defrauding the Non-Profit She Founded to Cover Her Gambling and Personal Expenses

 

ERIE, Pa. - The former president of Erie City Council and founder of an Erie non-profit organization has been sentenced in federal court to one year and a day in prison on her conviction of wire fraud and false writing or document to the government, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.

 

Senior United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Sonya Arrington, 54, of Erie, Pennsylvania.

 

According to information presented to the court, Arrington diverted funds donated to Mothers Against Teen Violence (MATV), a non-profit organization she created to help prevent violence among teenagers, to pay for her gambling and personal expenses. Specifically, from December 2011 to March 2018, Arrington engaged in a scheme to defraud MATV of at least $70,000. She solicited donations from individuals and entities in person and by email; received donations to MATV in cash and checks payable to MATV and deposited a portion of the donations into MATV bank accounts and kept a portion in cash for herself; and did not deposit cash but kept cash donations for herself. She also used the debit card for the MATV bank accounts to make purchases unrelated to the organization’s purposes, for things like personal items of clothing, groceries, car washes and food at restaurants; used the debit card for MATV to pay personal bills for T-Mobile, State Farm, First Energy and others; and deposited checks to MATV into personal bank accounts and kept a portion for personal use.

 

Further, on at least 113 occasions from April 2012 to January 2018, Arrington used the MATV debit card to withdraw MATV funds at Presque Isle Downs & Casino. She would also on occasion leave the casino to travel to a nearby Sheetz for the purpose of using the MATV debit card to withdraw MATV funds and then immediately return to the casino to gamble with those funds. Arrington also fraudulently received approximately $29,558 in Social Security disability benefits and submitted a document to the Social Security Administration that contained a false statement which falsely claimed that she had submitted wage documentation to the Social Security Administration.

 

"Sonya Arrington solicited donations for a non-profit organization she founded, Mothers Against Teen Violence, only to steal over $70,000 of the funds to take vacations, pay her bills, and support her gambling habit," said Acting U.S. Attorney Kaufman. "We will continue to pursue and prosecute individuals, including those in positions of public trust, who steal money that doesn’t belong to them and divert it to personal use."

 

"Ms. Arrington treated her non-profit organization like it was her personal bank account," said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Mike Nordwall. "Her greed and selfishness

 

shortchanged the community’s efforts to help prevent teen violence. Ms. Arrington knew the importance of this charity’s efforts in the community since she was a public servant and a mom who lost a child to violence. The FBI will always hold people accountable who are foolish enough to believe they are above the law and won’t get caught."

 

"My office will continue to aggressively pursue those who defraud or attempt to defraud the Social Security Administration’s benefit programs," Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General of the Social Security Administration. "I want to thank the FBI for their collaboration and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for its support of this investigation and its efforts."

 

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Cercone noted the impact on other charitable giving because of her actions.

 

Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

 

Acting United States Attorney Kaufman commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Arrington.

 

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdpa/pr/former-erie-city-council-president-sentenced-defrauding-non-profit-she-founded-cover

 

> https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdpa/pr/acting-us-attorney-kaufman-announces-hidta-designation-erie-county

Anonymous ID: f30d94 May 24, 2021, 2:48 p.m. No.13744774   🗄️.is 🔗kun   >>4820

Office of Public Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, May 24, 2021

Charges Unsealed Against Former Chadian Diplomats to the U.S. Charged in Connection with International Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme

 

Founder of Canadian Company Pleaded Guilty to Conspiring to Violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)

 

An indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. was unsealed on May 20, 2021, charging the Republic of Chad’s former Ambassador to the United States and Canada and Chad’s former Deputy Chief of Mission for the United States and Canada with soliciting and accepting a $2 million bribe from a Canadian start-up energy company, and conspiring to launder the bribe payment in order to conceal its true nature.

 

According to court documents, Mahamoud Adam Bechir and Youssouf Hamid Takane engaged in this scheme between August 2009 and July 2014, while serving as diplomats based out of the Embassy of Chad located in Washington, D.C. According to the indictment, Bechir and Takane demanded the bribe from the Canadian start-up energy company in exchange for a promise to misuse their official positions and their influence with the government of Chad to assist the start-up energy company in obtaining oil rights in Chad. Naeem Tyab, a citizen of Canada and founding shareholder of the start-up energy company, who served as a director of the company from 2009 through 2011, is also charged in the indictment for allegedly arranging for the bribe to be paid to Bechir’s wife, co-defendant Nouracham Bechir Niam, via a sham contract for consulting services that she never actually provided. In addition to the $2 million bribe payment, the start-up energy company also issued shares in the company to Niam, to Takane’s wife, and to a third Chadian individual, as part of the bribe, according to the indictment.

 

“These defendants allegedly engaged in a multimillion dollar bribery scheme while in the United States and then used the U.S. financial system to launder the bribes to conceal their conduct,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The charges unsealed today demonstrate the department’s determined commitment to investigate and prosecute corruption wherever it occurs and the officials who use our financial system to launder their bribes. Corruption undermines trust in governments and prevents the free market from functioning fairly for law-abiding people and companies.”

 

“The bribery and corruption of foreign officials causes grave harm to both the global economy and the interests of the United States,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips of the District of Columbia. “My office and the Justice Department are committed to prosecuting these violations and efforts to launder the proceeds of these crimes.”

 

“Accepting and soliciting bribes seriously threatens the integrity of our economic system,” said Assistant Director in Charge Steven M. D’Antuono of the FBI’s Washington Field Office. “When corrupt foreign officials launder funds through the United States in furtherance of their criminal activity, the FBI will work tirelessly to hold those officials accountable and send a message that we will not relent in our efforts to uphold the law.”

 

All four defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, and Bechir, Takane, and Niam are also charged with money laundering, each of which carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison. Niam and Tyab are also charged with conspiracy to violate the FCPA, which carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison. The indictment in this case was returned by the grand jury in February 2019. Tyab was arrested in the Southern District of New York on Feb. 9, 2019, and subsequently, on April 30, 2019, he entered a guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to violate the FCPA. As part of his guilty plea, Tyab agreed to forfeit criminal proceeds of approximately $27 million. The Honorable Richard J. Leon will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The remaining three defendants remain at large.

 

The FBI’s Washington Field Office is investigating the case.

 

Trial Attorneys Katherine Raut and Tarsha Phillibert of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, Trial Attorney Steven Parker of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Rakoczy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in this matter.

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/charges-unsealed-against-former-chadian-diplomats-us-charged-connection-international-bribery

Anonymous ID: f30d94 May 24, 2021, 2:49 p.m. No.13744784   🗄️.is 🔗kun   >>4820 >>4827

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Southern District of Ohio

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, May 24, 2021

Miamisburg man who solicited more than 170 minors online sentenced to 25 years in prison

 

DAYTON – A Miamisburg man was sentenced in federal court in Dayton today to 300 months in prison for attempting to coerce a minor while registered as a sex offender.

 

 

Steven Shawn Smith, 48, pleaded guilty to the crime in January 2021.

 

 

According to court documents, Smith created nine online dating profiles with the names “Sammy” and “Shaw.” From April 2020 through October 2020, Smith communicated with an undercover FBI agent posing as a minor online and by text messages. Smith requested nude images from the undercover agent on multiple occasions. The defendant also sent images of his nude genitalia to the undercover agent.

 

 

In one communication, when the undercover agent refused to send nude photos, Smith said, “I know that you don’t want to send me those pictures but I was hoping that you would understand just how much it would mean to me and how close it would bring us.”

 

 

Court documents detail that Smith discussed meeting with the purported minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct and sent the officer $75 via Cash App so that the purported minor could buy a one-way bus ticket to Ohio. Smith was arrested in October 2020, shortly after sending the money to the undercover agent.

 

 

In addition to communicating with the undercover agent, Smith messaged more than 170 other online users who identified themselves as minors. He received sexually explicit images from at least 21 of the purported minors and sent nude images of himself to at least 70 users.

 

 

Smith was convicted in 1994 in Athens County Common Pleas Court of one count of rape of a child, and as a result, is required to register as a sex offender.

 

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael J. Newman. Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Laura I. Clemmens and Assistant United States Attorney Rob Painter are representing the United States in this case.

 

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdoh/pr/miamisburg-man-who-solicited-more-170-minors-online-sentenced-25-years-prison

Anonymous ID: f30d94 May 24, 2021, 2:52 p.m. No.13744792   🗄️.is 🔗kun   >>4820

U.S. Attorney’s Office

District of Massachusetts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, May 24, 2021

Granby Man Sentenced for Child Exploitation Offenses

 

BOSTON – A Granby man was sentenced on Friday, May 21, 2021 in federal court in Springfield for child exploitation offenses.

 

Jonathan Monson, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 40 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release. In October 2020, Monson was convicted by a federal jury of four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, eight counts of distribution of child pornography, two counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.

 

At trial, the evidence established that Monson produced sexually explicit images and videos of a child on four occasions in 2017 and 2018. The images and videos were later found on his cell phone. In addition, in June 2017, Monson distributed additional child pornography files to a group on social media. In fact, Monson was trading child pornography videos on social media at 3:30 in the morning with another user, just a few hours before federal agents executed a search warrant at his home. Agents found additional child pornography files on Monson’s phone as a result of the search.

 

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia Kurt R. Erskine; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Granby Police Chief Alan Wishart made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Mendell’s Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.

 

The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/granby-man-sentenced-child-exploitation-offenses

Anonymous ID: f30d94 May 24, 2021, 2:57 p.m. No.13744841   🗄️.is 🔗kun

https://gnews.org/1269454

 

Likewise, you look at the situation of the world, about the virus. Early this morning, our best partner, who I can’t say his name, a bigwig of American politics, sent me a message talking about someone who previously opposed the three reports of our Dr. Yan most, on several different occasions in the public. He said, “Have you noticed the recent speech of XXX? Recently this guy has changed his narrative privately.” He also said that the things that Dr. Li-Meng Yan had talked about were of great value and credibility.

 

So this friend asked me, “Do you think the congress hearing will happen?” I said “We will definitely make it happen. The congress hearing will definitely happen. The U.S. Congress hearings are determined by the will of the American people, not represented by any rogue politicians. It will definitely happen.” He said, “No way. As long as the Democratic Party still exists, it will never let it happen.” I said, “Let’s wait and see.”

 

As you saw yesterday, Politico, the website, a political website claiming to be able to make diagnosis for the US, which attacked our scientist (Dr. Yan) early on, has two journalists who are absolutely pro-CCP and have attacked us many times. Recently it changed its tone and quietly removed those so-called news reports that attacked our scientist from its website. Have you noticed that? In Britain and Germany, there were several so-called big names, scientists, who attacked our scientist Dr. Li-Meng Yan on their social media, who posted their so-called reports of the truth about the virus to claim the virus was originated from nature but not lab. They have withdrawn all those reports.

 

Not only that, Stanford University, which, in the United States, is the absolute authority in biological research, and MIT – Harvard is a rogue political university, so just ignore it – these two schools, you can go check what is the most discussed by their insiders now? [They were discussing] the truth about the CCP virus coming from the Wuhan lab. All these people have the three reports of our scientist (Dr. Li-Meng Yan) on their hands and have analyzed them thoroughly. And most importantly, our scientist showed to the media the CCP’s own text book, regarding the unnatural origin of SARS which was self-evident, proofing CCP’s long term planning for this and that this is unrestricted biowarfare. Now this concept has been widely recognized by the world, which was defined by our scientist – called “unrestricted biowarfare”.