Stories by DOJ Newswire on Federal Newswire


Portland Man with 18 Prior Felony Convictions Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

News Release: PORTLAND, Ore.-On January 9, 2023, a Portland man with a criminal history spanning decades was sentenced to federal prison after he was arrested for discharging a firearm into the air outside a local restaurant during an altercation with his girlfriend.


Five Narcotics Traffickers Extradited From Curaçao to Face International Cocaine Distribution and Importation Charges

News Release: Later today, Jo-Andy Christepher Marie Balentina, Joell Charles Marie Balentina, Sheriann Ann Marie Bryan, Leon George Hall, and Edlyson Reuel Elias Sophia will be arraigned at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn on international cocaine distribution conspiracy and related cocaine importation charges. Jo-Andy Balentina is also charged with money laundering conspiracy for his role in laundering the proceeds of cocaine sales generated by the trafficking.


News Release: NEWARK, N.J. - In a civil complaint filed today, the Department of Justice alleges that AmerisourceBergen Corp. and two of its subsidiaries, AmerisourceBergen Drug Corp. and Integrated Commercialization Solutions LLC (AmerisourceBergen), collectively one of the country’s largest wholesale pharmaceutical...


Central California Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Abducting and Sexually Abusing an Oregon Minor He Met Online

News Release: EUGENE, Ore.-A Mariposa, California man was sentenced to more than 15 years in federal prison today after he abducted and repeatedly sexually abused an Oregon minor he met online.


Niagara Falls Man Pleads Guilty To Gun Charge

News Release: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Lazarus R. Hayes, 33, of Niagara Falls, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $250,000 fine.


Florida Doctor Sentenced for Substance Abuse Treatment Fraud Scheme

News Release: MIAMI - A Florida doctor was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for engaging in a massive multi-year scheme to bill health care benefit programs for fraudulent tests and treatments for vulnerable patients seeking treatment for drug and/or alcohol addiction. This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Sober Homes Initiative.


News Release: BOISE - U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit along with the College of Idaho, the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights, DOJ Community Relations Service, and the FBI are convening a United Against Hate meeting on January 16 at College of Idaho in Caldwell, Idaho. The event is free and is open to the public. The registration link can be found here: www.eventbrite.com/e/united-against-hate-tickets-492001348277.


Former Old Forge Borough Council President Sentenced To One Year Of Imprisonment For Bribery

News Release: SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Robert Semenza, Jr., age 47, of Old Forge, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion, to 12 months of imprisonment for committing bribery.


Woman Arrested for Interfering with Security Screening Personnel at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport

News Release: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - A federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging Nathalia Carolina Rosado with Interfering with Security Screening Personnel at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in Carolina, Puerto Rico. The indictment was unsealed upon her arrest on January 4, 2023.


Father And Son Owners Of Jacksonville Construction Firms Sentenced To Federal Prison For Conspiring To Defraud The IRS

News Release: Jacksonville, Florida - U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard today sentenced Jacksonville residents Raul Solis (52) and Raul Solis-Martinez (33) to 33 months and 21 months in federal prison, respectively, for conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and to unlawfully employ workers...


News Release: Tampa, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Brian Carroll (46, Tennessee) has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.


News Release: ALEXANDRIA, Va. - A Herndon man made his first court appearance today on charges of production and attempted production of child sexual abuse material.


News Release: LOS ANGELES - A resident of the Westside of Los Angeles pleaded guilty today to federal criminal charges for using websites and apps such as Snapchat to meet and entice children to engage in sexually explicit conduct via video-chat then take screen shot images and videos of them.


News Release: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that WILLIAM CHEN, 49, of West Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 18 months of imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release, for operating an extensive tax fraud scheme involving Connecticut and Massachusetts restaurants that he owned and operated. Judge Underhill also ordered Chen to pay a $20,000 fine.


EDVA Collects Over $25 M in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2022

News Release: ALEXANDRIA, Va. - U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber announced today that the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) collected over $25 million in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2022. Of this amount, roughly $14 million was collected in criminal actions and almost $11 million was collected in civil actions.


News Release: COVINGTON, Ky.- A Covington man, Anthony Michaelis, 34, and an Alexandria, Ky., man, Blake Barnes, 23, were sentenced to 258 months and 60 months in federal prison, respectively, on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for possession of controlled substances, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, with intent to distribute them, and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of their drug trafficking.


News Release: Tacoma - An unlicensed “investment advisor" from Vancouver, Washington, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 75 months in prison for mail fraud in connection with his scheme to defraud investors, including friends and family members, out of more than $4 million, announced U.S. Attorney...


Ecuadorian National Sentenced To Over 16 Years For Trafficking Cocaine On The High Seas

News Release: Tampa, FL - U.S. District Judge Charlene E. Honeywell has sentenced Jose Luis Pinargote-Baquerizo (37, Ecuador) to 16 years and 4 months in federal prison for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute over 2,700 kilograms of cocaine. Pinargote had pleaded guilty on Aug. 23, 2022.


News Release: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that Everett Paquin was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison. Paquin, 59, of Bosque Farms, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Isleta, pleaded guilty on Sept. 6 in federal court to assault with a dangerous weapon and being felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.


News Release: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Faith Nicholle Sullivan was sentenced on Jan. 9 to five years and ten months in prison. Sullivan, 28, of Shiprock, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty on July 12 to assault with a dangerous weapon in Indian Country.