Stories by DOJ Newswire on Federal Newswire


Two Central Wisconsin Men Charged with Methamphetamine Trafficking

News Release: MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned an indictment today charging Devin Needham, 36, Wausau, Wisconsin, and Ari Lor, 30, Appleton, Wisconsin, with possessing methamphetamine for distribution. The indictment is announced by United States Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea.


Two Kentucky Real Estate Professionals Plead Guilty to Bid Rigging Farmland Auction

News Release: Two Kentucky real estate professionals pleaded guilty today for their roles in a conspiracy to rig bids at an estate auction for farmland and timber rights.


News Release: DENVER - The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Alexis Nicole Wilkins, age 27, of Colorado Springs pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl, resulting in death.


News Release: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that OLAJUWON HARRINGTON, also known as “OJ Harrington," 30, of Waterbury, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with fraud and identity theft offenses related to his alleged theft of pandemic unemployment benefits.


The US Justice Department published a two page notice on Dec. 2, according to the U.S. Government Publishing Office.


Raleigh County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

News Release: BECKLEY, W.Va. - Treyvon Pankey, 21, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to distribution of methamphetamine.


Career Drug Dealer Sentenced to Over 17 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Trafficking of Fentanyl While on Community Corrections

News Release: INDIANAPOLIS - Kevin Noel, 40, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.


News Release: Seattle - A 57-year-old Seattle woman who embezzled more than $2.1 million from her long-time employer was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to a year and a day in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Michele D. Sharar pleaded guilty on April 25, 2022, to wire fraud for the fraudulent...


News Release: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A former resident of Johnstown, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to a total of 60 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release on his conviction of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.


Springfield, Vermont Individuals Facing Drug Distribution Conspiracy and Illegal Firearms Possession Charges

News Release: The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced today that Jonathan Castro, a.k.a. “Jose," 33, of Springfield, Vermont and Springfield, Massachusetts; Anibal Castro, Sr., a.k.a. “Papi," 54, of Springfield, Vermont; and Derek Arie, 34, of Springfield, Vermont were indicted...


Maryland Man Sentenced to Prison Term for Stalking Former Co-Worker

News Release: WASHINGTON - Ranjith Keerikkattil, 34, of Catonsville, Maryland, who left the United States after he was found guilty of stalking a junior co-worker, and was finally re-arrested four years later, has been sentenced to an 11-month prison term.


News Release: Washington - A former police chief in Amite City, Louisiana and a forme Amite City councilmemberwew each sentenced yesterday to one year in prison for violating federal elction laws as part of a conspiracy to pay, or offer to pay, voters for voting in a federal election.


Federal jury convicts Albuquerque man of drug trafficking offenses

News Release: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that a federal jury returned a guilty verdict on Rafael Columbie on Dec. 1. The jury convicted Columbie, 53, of Albuquerque, on one count each of conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams and more of heroin.


News Release: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - Donald Edward Hunker, of East Berlin, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 41 months of incarceration for a sex offender registry violation, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.


News Release: WASHINGTON - The former Executive Director and the former Director of Operations and Finance of the now-defunct non-profit organization DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation (DC Trust) each pleaded guilty today to one felony charge relating to their personal use of the non-profit’s funds, which were intended for youth scholarship programs.


News Release: Jacksonville, Florida - Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Damien Deshaun Dennis (43, Jacksonville) to 12 years in federal prison for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Dennis was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims he defrauded. Dennis was arrested by the United States Secret Service Jacksonville Field Office on April 11, 2022, and ordered detained pending the outcome of his case. He had pleaded guilty on July 12, 2022.


News Release: A Webster City man who ordered a pound ice methamphetamine from a man he met in state prison was sentenced Nov. 29, 2022, to more than 15 years in federal prison.


Former Seattle Area Resident Convicted of Conspiracy and Multiple Counts of Mail and Wire Fraud Plus Various Bankruptcy Fraud Counts

News Release: Seattle - A former Bellevue, Washington, resident who relocated to Miami, was convicted today in U.S. District Court in Seattle of 26 counts related to his multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. The jury deliberated about 11 hours before returning the verdicts following...


Beckley Straw Firearms Purchaser Sentenced for Her Role in Beckley-to-Philadelphia Firearms Trafficking Conspiracy

News Release: BECKLEY, W.Va. - Lakeshia Nicole Simon, 23, of Beckley, was sentenced today to five years of federal probation for making false statements in acquisition of firearms. Simon admitted to a straw purchasing role in a conspiracy to traffic over 140 firearms from the Beckley area to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.


North Dakota Felon Charged with Threatening to Murder a United States Official

News Release: MINNEAPOLIS - A North Dakota man has been charged in a criminal complaint with threatening to murder a United States official, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.