News and reports from the Department of Justice.

U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Francis C. Bynoe, 35, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Robert Bibbins, 50, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with receipt and possession of child pornography after having previously been convicted of a child pornography offense. The charges carry a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $250,000 fine.

A San Gabriel Valley woman was sentenced today to 240 months in federal prison for causing tens of millions of dollars in losses to investors who provided funds intended for a hotel and condominium complex in the Coachella Valley, and then using the money to finance her lavish lifestyle.

U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Bradley D. Knapp, 43, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

David Stanley, 46, of Bolt, was sentenced today to three years and five months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for retaliation against a government witness.

A federal jury sitting in McAllen has convicted a 52-year-old woman for conspiracy to commit murder for hire, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Due to the efforts of federal and local law enforcement agencies working together over the course of the past 18 months on an investigation targeting local criminal street gangs in Bakersfield, 12 defendants were indicted for drug trafficking and firearms offenses, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

Defendant Illegally Entered Capitol, Pushed Against Officers, Remained Inside for About 70 Minutes

Earnestine White, 48, of Evans, pleaded guilty today to delay or destruction of mail. White admitted to failing to process mail while a U.S. Postal Service employee assigned to the Post Office in Cottageville, Jackson County.

Brian Martell Smith, 43, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to three years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and for possessing a firearm with a removed, obliterated, or altered serial number.

Illegally Worked Using a Fraudulent Social Security Card and Permanent Resident Card

A Santa Clarita resident who invested in real estate and sold “coupon bonds” that promised regular interest payments on top of principal repayment was sentenced today to 77 months in federal prison for defrauding investors out of more than $1.7 million.

A Compton man was sentenced today to 111 months in federal prison for targeting and robbing Los Angeles-area gay men he met on the Grindr online dating application.

James Velissaris Inflated the Values of Numerous Positions in the Investment Funds Managed by Infinity Q and Falsified Documents to Infinity Q’s Auditors and the SEC in order to Hide the Fraud

A North Texas couple has been charged with defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program out of more than $684,000, announed U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.