Category: MIL-OSI

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

ABERDEEN – United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a man from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact. The sentencing took place on November 3, 2025.

Chico Baker, age 24, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Baker was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2024.  He pleaded guilty on July 15, 2025.

Between December 10, 2023, and January 20, 2024, Baker had sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old girl without her consent and engaged in sexual contact with two 15-year-old girls.  The conduct occurred in rural McLaughlin, South Dakota, in the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. 

This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, authorizes certain crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country to be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.

This case was also brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.

Baker was immediately returned to the South Dakota State Penitentiary, where he is serving an eight year sentence for Reckless Burning (Aiding and Abetting). He will be remanded to federal custody following the completion of that sentence. 

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Two Connecticut dental providers have entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments to resolve allegations of violations of the federal and state False Claims Acts.  The settlements stem from a larger investigation into fraudulent activity by health care providers who submit kickback-tainted claims to the Connecticut Medical Assistance Program (“CTMAP”) for services rendered to Connecticut Medicaid patients referred by third-party “patient recruiting” companies.

It is alleged that, in violation of their CTMAP provider agreements and the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, DENT PLUS FAMILY DENTISTRY, PLLC, a now dissolved dental practice based in Stamford, L&M FAMILY DENTISTRY, LLC, a now dissolved dental practice based in New Haven, and their owners, IVAN MAKAR, DDS and OLEG LOSIN, DDS, submitted claims to the CTMAP, which includes the state’s Medicaid program, related to dental services rendered to Connecticut Medicaid patients referred to the businesses by a third-party patient recruiting company.  Dent Plus Family Dentistry and L&M Family Dentistry paid a patient recruiter for each Connecticut Medicaid patient the recruiter referred to the practices.  With each submitted claim, Dent Plus Family Dentistry, L&M Family Dentistry, and their owners impliedly certified that the conditions of receiving payment were met, including, but not limited to, that they did not pay kickbacks or violate any terms or provisions of the Connecticut Dental Health Partnership (“CTDHP”) provider manual concerning the submitted claim.

The CTDHP provider manual, which is an addendum to both the CTMAP provider agreement and the CTMAP provider manual, expressly prohibits per-patient compensation for individuals referred to CMAP providers.

To resolve the allegations under the federal and state False Claims Acts, Makar and Losin paid $714,446.27 to reimburse the Medicaid program for conduct occurring from January 1, 2019, through September 6, 2020.

In entering into the civil settlement agreement, the providers and their practices did not admit liability.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; the Connecticut Attorney General’s Office; and the Connecticut Department of Social Services.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Thidemann and Assistant Attorney General Joshua L. Jackson of the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General.

People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

PORTLAND, Maine: A Mexican national pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to illegally reentering the U.S. after a prior removal.

According to court records, on October 22, 2025, Juan Mendez-Morales, 43, was stopped by police for speeding. When a United States Border Patrol Agent arrived, Mendez-Morales admitted that he was a citizen of Mexico and had no immigration documents allowing him to be in the United States. Mendez-Morales was previously removed from the U.S. in October 2013 pursuant to an order from an immigration judge.

Mendez-Morales faces a maximum prison term of two years and a fine up to $250,000. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The United States Border Patrol investigated the case.

Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

BOSTON – A California company, and three individuals who owned and managed the company, were sentenced last week in connection with the shipment of facemasks that were misbranded as N95 respirators during the earliest phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.  

Advoque Safeguard LLC was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun to one year of probation. The company was also ordered to pay a fine of $700,000. Jason Azevedo, 34, of Cedar Creek, Texas and Andrew Stack, 53, of Santa Cruz, Calif. were each sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay a fine of $100,000. Paul Shrater, 52, of Simi Valley, Calif. was sentenced to six months’ probation and ordered to pay a fine of $100,000.

In October of 2024, Advoque Safeguard pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to introduce misbranded devices into interstate commerce with intent to defraud or mislead. Azevedo, Shrater and Stack pleaded guilty to one count of introduction of misbranded devices into interstate commerce.

A second company, JDM Supply LLC (JDM), and two individuals, Daniel Motha and Jeffrey Motha, also pleaded guilty and were sentenced in April 2025 to one year of probation. Each were also ordered to pay a $9,500 fine. Jason Colantuoni also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit price gouging and in July 2025 was sentenced to time-served and a fine of $3,000.

In the spring of 2020, during the earliest phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, ASG and JDM conspired to ship facemasks that were misbranded as National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-approved, N95 respirators. One hospital accepted and paid for hundreds of thousands of purported N95 masks that were manufactured by ASG and sold to the hospital by JDM. The hospital did not use the masks, which were eventually returned to ASG. ASG and JDM misled the hospital into believing that the ASG masks were NIOSH-approved N95s, when in fact they were not. In August 2020, a NIOSH lab tested a sample of the ASG masks that had been shipped to the hospital and all 10 ASG masks tested between 83.94% and 93.24% filtration efficiency and thus fell under the 95% minimum level of filtration efficiency required for N95 respirators.  

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; Fernando McMillan, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie Queenin prosecuted the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

RAPID CITY – United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Kyle, South Dakota, man convicted of two counts of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.  The sentencing took place on October 31, 2025.

Channing Little Whiteman, 39, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Little Whiteman was indicted on six counts of assault by a federal grand jury in March 2025.  He pleaded guilty on July 16, 2025.  Little Whiteman pleaded guilty to two of the assaults, occurring on different days.

On May 13, 2024, Little Whiteman and his girlfriend were drinking when an argument ensued in which Little Whiteman accused her of cheating on him.  Law enforcement was dispatched to their residence.  Little Whiteman assaulted the victim with a bat and a cigarette resulting in a fractured leg and a cigarette burn to the victims’ thigh.

On November 5, 2024, Little Whiteman and his girlfriend were drinking when an argument ensued.  Little Whiteman again accused his girlfriend of cheating on him.  Little Whiteman grabbed a metal chair and struck the victim in the face with the chair, causing her orbital bone and maxillary sinus to fracture.  The victim suffered a large laceration under her eye and was unable to see until the swelling decreased as her eye was nearly swollen shut.  At the time the victim was injured she was seven months pregnant.

This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.

This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.

Little Whiteman was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Four drug traffickers responsible for distributing thousands of fentanyl pills in the Charlotte area were sentenced to prison today, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Ezekiel Lee Suber, 26, of Forest City, N.C. was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Darien Akiel Brown, 24, also of Forest City, was sentenced to 72 months in prison and four years of supervised release. Elija McDowell, 22, of Charlotte was ordered to serve 57 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release, and Jocelyn Marie Hamilton, 26, of Charleston, West Virginia, was sentenced to five years of probation.

According to court documents and court proceedings, between 2023 and 2024, the defendants, led by Suber, operated as a drug conspiracy trafficking fentanyl in Charlotte and elsewhere. Court documents show that during the investigation undercover law enforcement officers made multiple purchases of fentanyl-laced pills from Suber and his co-defendants. The pills were yellow in color and had a “T-189” imprint, which is the same as color and imprint as 30 milligram Oxycodone Hydrochloride tablets. In addition, court documents show that during some of the undercover drug buys law enforcement observed that Suber was armed with a firearm. On February 27, 2024, law enforcement arrested Suber at his residence in Charlotte. During a subsequent search of the residence, they seized two loaded firearms, two loaded magazines, multiple rounds of ammunition, and more than $4,200 in U.S. currency. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement purchased over 7,000 fentanyl-laced pills from the co-conspirators, containing over a kilogram of fentanyl.

In making the announcement U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dana Washington prosecuted the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

TULSA, Okla. – A Salina man was sentenced today for Possession of Child Pornography and being a Felon in Possession of Ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Michael Allen Dean, 40, to 120 months imprisonment, followed by 15 years of supervised release. Upon his release, Dean will also be required to register as a sex offender. Judge Hill further ordered Dean to pay $45,000 in restitution. That money goes directly to the victims identified in the child sexual abuse material that Dean possessed.

In May 2023, a social media application reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children that child sexual abuse material was uploaded. The investigation revealed that the IP address and phone number associated with the social media account were linked to Dean. Based on the cybertip, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Dean’s home and cellphone.

When agents searched Dean’s home, they found several rounds of ammunition. After searching Dean’s cellphone, agents found more than 424 videos and 213 images of minor children engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Court documents show that some of the minors were under 12 years old, including material that showed toddlers and infants being sexually abused.

According to court documents, Dean was convicted in 2011 in state court for possessing child pornography. He was sentenced to a 10-year suspended sentence and spent 60 days in jail.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) is the nation’s centralized reporting system for suspected child sexual exploitation. Because of the growth of technology, Child Sexual Abuse Material images and videos can be found in any online realm, causing the children who were initially sexually abused to be revictimized, over and over, with each share.

NCMEC reports that its CyberTipline has received more than 195 million reports related to Child Sexual Abuse Material, commonly referred to as CSAM. NCMEC’s Child Victim Identification Program has reviewed more than 425 million images and videos and identified more than 30,000 victims. 

Dean will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

Homeland Security Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Mayes County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cherokee National Marshal Service assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Wright prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis County, Missouri on Wednesday admitted carjacking a 72-year-old man in 2023.

Kirk Hall, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He admitted being one of two men who stole a BMW X5 on July 7, 2023. Shortly before 1:00 a.m., the victim parked the BMW in a St. Louis County apartment complex. Hall and the other gunman ordered the driver and passenger out. The other gunman then stole the vehicle, taking the driver’s cell phone and other personal items. Hall followed in another vehicle. The BMW was found, unoccupied, a few hours later.

At Hall’s Feb. 18, 2026 sentencing, he faces at least five years in prison for the gun charge, consecutive to the carjacking charge. Carjacking is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine.

The St. Louis County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nichole Frankenberg is prosecuting the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Phoenix, Ariz. – Jose Guadalupe Tapia-Quintero, 54, of San Francisco de Tacuichamona, Sinaloa, Mexico pleaded guilty on November 17, 2025 for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine with Intent to Import into the United States and Conspiracy to Commit Concealment Money Laundering. Sentencing is scheduled for February 2, 2026, before United States District Judge Michael T. Liburdi.

Jose Guadalupe Tapia-Quintero was a leader of a narcotics trafficking organization based in Sinaloa, Mexico commonly known to its members, associates, and the public as the “Sinaloa Cartel” beginning in December 2006 and continuing through March 2012.  He admitted that he acted as a major coordinator – organizing the transportation and distribution of ton quantities of controlled substances, including methamphetamine, for importation from Mexico into the United States for the Sinaloa Cartel.

During this time, he was also involved in the concealment of the ownership of the proceeds stemming from the sale of methamphetamine and other drugs in the District of Arizona. He oversaw the collection of proceeds from the drug sales in the United States. After the drugs were sold, the proceeds were collected and stored in the organization’s stash houses in Arizona and elsewhere. A large portion of the drug proceeds were picked up by couriers working at his direction and transported back to Mexico, where they were eventually received by him and other members of the Sinaloa Cartel.

“This case is a great example of our partnership with DEA in targeting, prosecuting, and convicting the members of the Sinaloa Cartel operating deep within Mexico.” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine.

“This investigation showcases the strength of our partnerships, working as one team,” said DEA Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Cheri Oz.  “DEA will continue to target and arrest top cartel members in our relentless pursuit of justice.”

A conviction for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine with Intent to Import into the United States carries a maximum penalty of up to life in prison, a fine up to $10,000,000, or both, and a term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life. A conviction for Conspiracy to Commit Concealment Money Laundering carries a maximum penalty of a fine up to $500,000 or twice the amount of laundered funds, a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, or both, and a term of supervised release of up to three years.

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-13-00179-PHX-MTL
RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-163_Tapia-Quintero

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

 

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte man was sentenced to prison yesterday for robbing a Family Dollar store at gunpoint, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Belton Lamont Davis, 44, was ordered to serve 117 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for Hobbs Act Robbery and firearms offenses.

Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Estella Patterson of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

According to filed documents and the sentencing hearing, on April 30, 2024, Davis entered a Family Dollar store located at 3618 Beatties Ford Road in Charlotte and robbed the store at gun point. Court documents show that Davis robbed the store after an individual associated with the defendant had a dispute with the store clerk about a monetary transaction. Upon entering the store, Davis retrieved a firearm from his waistband, pointed it at the store clerk and demanded money from the register. The store clerk complied. After stealing the money, Davis fled the scene in his vehicle. A witness on the scene observed the vehicle’s license plate which the store clerk provided to the 9-1-1 operator. CMPD officers quickly located and stopped the vehicle, and Davis was taken into custody. Upon a search of the vehicle and the defendant, the officers found a loaded Smith and Wesson SD40 VE .40 caliber pistol and cash. Davis has a prior conviction for second degree murder, and he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

On November 26, 2024, Davis pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act Robbery, possession and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He will remain in federal custody until he is transferred to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the ATF and CMPD for their investigation of the case.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.