Category: MIL-OSI

Source: US FBI

Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Danbury Police Chief Patrick Ridenhour today announced that the following four individuals have been charged by federal criminal complaint with offenses related to the sex trafficking of minors:

• OSWALDO ORDONEZ-ORTEGA, 39, of Danbury
• MARCO ROBLES, 40, a citizen of Ecuador residing in Brookfield
• EDWIN QUILLI-TACURI, 40, a citizen of Ecuador residing in Danbury
• BRYAN ISMAEL VASQUEZ-SALINAS, 23, a citizen of Ecuador residing in Danbury

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in February 2025, the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force and Danbury Police began investigating a Danbury-based organization believed to be involved in the sex trafficking of minors.  On March 11, 2025, after seeing a communication on a WhatsApp messaging account advertising the sale of two 15-year-old females for sexual encounters, investigators executed a state warrant at a residence in Danbury, found a 15-year-old female victim and a 16-year-old female victim, and arrested Ordonez-Ortega, Robles, Quilli-Tacuri, Vasquez-Salinas, and a fifth individual.  Quilli-Tacuri was located in a locked bedroom with the 15-year-old victim, and the fifth individual was found in a locked bedroom with the 16-year-old victim.  Ordonez-Ortega and Vasquez-Salinas were found together in the kitchen, and Robles was stopped after attempting to leave the area in his vehicle.

It is alleged that the minor victims were briefly interviewed by law enforcement and Connecticut Department of Children and Families investigators before being transported to a local hospital for medical care and evaluation.  The investigation, which has also included analysis of cell phones seized at the time of the defendants’ arrests, revealed that Ordonez-Ortega coordinated the transportation of the minor victims to Danbury, made appointments with Robles, Quilli-Tacuri, Vasquez-Salinas, and others to engage in sexual activity with the minors, and received payment from the men, a portion of which he returned to the minors.  Ordonez-Ortega scheduled 13 men to engage in sexual activity with the 15-year-old victim, and 11 men to engage in sexual activity with the 16-year-old victim, on March 10 and 11, 2025, in Danbury.

It is further alleged that Robles caused physical injury to the 15-year-old victim during his sexual encounter on March 11.

Each of the four defendants is charged with sex trafficking of children, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.

In addition, Ordonez-Ortega and Vasquez-Salinas are charged with attempted sex trafficking of children and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children.  Ordonez-Ortega is also charged with coercion and enticement of minors to engage in sexual activity, and with transportation of minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

Robles and Quilli-Tacuri were arrested on the federal charges yesterday.  They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport and currently are detained.  Ordonez-Ortega, who is in state custody, and Vasquez-Salinas, who is in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, will be presented in federal court at a later date.

Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force and the Danbury Police Department, with the assistance of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Brookfield Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel E. Cummings and Mary G. Vitale.

Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman thanked the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of Danbury for its close cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.

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.  Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

Source: US FBI

Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JENNIFER CORMIER, 45, of Naugatuck, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 25 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, for embezzling approximately $865,000 from her employer.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Cormier was employed at a family-owned business (“Company A”) offering plumbing, heating, and air conditioning services in Naugatuck, where she performed bookkeeping and other office-related tasks.  Between approximately 2017 and July 2023, Cormier stole from her employer by fraudulently creating approximately 1,000 checks made payable to her and to “cash.”  She forged the signature of Company A’s owner or used the owner’s signature stamp on the checks, and then cashed them or deposited them into her personal bank account.  After the checks were issued, she deleted the transaction in Company A’s accounting system.  Through this scheme, Cormier embezzled $865,106.17.

Judge Oliver ordered Cormier to make full restitution.

On September 27, 2024, Cormier pleaded guilty to bank fraud.

Cormier, who is released on a $50,000 bond, is required to report to prison on May 9.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Naugatuck Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. McGarry.

Source: US FBI

Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that RAFAEL ORLANDO GARCIA, 34, of Hartford, was arrested yesterday on a federal criminal complaint charging him with narcotics distribution offenses.

Garcia appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson in Hartford and was ordered detained.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force identified Garcia, who has a prior federal conviction, as a significant Hartford-area narcotics trafficker.  Between February and April 2025, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl and cocaine from Garcia.

The complaint charges Garcia with possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.

Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean P. Mahard.

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.  Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

Source: US FBI

DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Jonathan Arvay, 38, of Denver, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison after being found guilty by a federal jury on one count of conducting an illegal gambling business and one count of conspiracy to conduct an illegal gambling business.

According to the facts established at trial, Arvay operated Player One Arcade in Denver, part of a network of gambling parlors extending from Greeley to Pueblo.  These parlors offered several electronic forms of gambling through games made to resemble arcade games, as well as virtual slot machines in which customers attempted to earn credits.  Upon completing their game of choice, customers would exchange any credits won for a purported cryptocurrency, Obsidian Digital Asset Coin (ODAC), whose only function was to be exchanged for cash at an ATM-like “cryptocurrency teller machine” next door to or within the gambling parlor.  Customers were required to pay a transaction fee to exchange the ODAC for U.S. currency.

“This was a modern version of old-fashioned illegal gambling,” said Acting United States Attorney Matt Kirsch. “I am grateful for our local and federal partners who helped put this criminal in prison.”

“This sentence reflects an appropriate resolution to a complicated case: When you launder money and commit fraud against the government, the FBI and our partners will track you down across jurisdictions,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek.

“IRS-CI remains on the cutting edge of cybercrime investigations as financial crimes continue to become more sophisticated,” said Tom Demeo Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation Denver Field Office. “We are committed to staying one step ahead of criminals and leveraging our partnerships with federal and local law enforcement agencies to protect the U.S. tax system.”

United States District Judge Gordon P. Gallagher presided over the trial. The FBI Denver Field Division, the IRS Criminal Investigation Denver Field Office, and the Pueblo Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Cyrus Y. Chung, Alison Connaughty, and Jena Neuscheler handled the prosecution.

Case Number: 23-cr-00222-GPG

Source: US FBI

DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Mitchell Leland Baca, 33, of Denver, and Jaki Ravion Joseph Martin-Birch, 28, of Denver, were sentenced to 224 months and 170 months in prison respectively for their roles in a series of bank robberies in the Denver area.

Baca pled guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, and four counts of bank robbery. Martin-Birch pled guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and four counts of bank robbery.

The plea agreements show that between June 14, 2023, and July 24, 2023, Baca and Martin-Birch robbed five banks in Denver and Aurora in which they used weapons to threaten employees for cash.  Baca and Martin-Birch left each bank robbery with thousands of dollars.

“Bank robberies are violent, brazen crimes that we will not tolerate,” said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Matt Kirsch. “These sentences should send a message to other potential bank robbers that they will be caught and prosecuted.”

“Together, the defendants are responsible for at least five bank robberies involving handguns across the metro area,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “The FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force is uniquely positioned to investigate these types of cross-jurisdictional crimes and leverage federal prosecution to ensure violent offenders are kept off our streets, preventing further harm to the public.”

The defendants were sentenced by United States District Court Judge Nina Y. Wang.  The FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force and the Denver Police Department handled the investigation. Special United States Attorney Leah Perczak handled the prosecution.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Case Number: 23-cr-00370-NYW

Source: US FBI

CHEYENNE⎯ U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced Joseph Beecher, 51, of Craig, Colorado to 264 months in federal prison with five years of supervised release to follow, for the kidnapping of a woman from Michael Bloomberg’s ranch in February 2022.

Beecher was convicted of kidnapping, carjacking, using/carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, and transportation of stolen firearms following a three-day trial that ended on Aug. 28 with a guilty verdict.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Beecher lived and worked at an apartment complex in Craig, Colorado. In the early morning hours of Feb. 2, 2022, Beecher was informed by his employer that his services were no longer needed. Beecher broke into his employer’s home and stole two firearms, including a Bushmaster AR-style rifle. Beecher then drove to a ranch in Colorado owned by Michael Bloomberg, intent on killing Mr. Bloomberg, but finding only a female employee present on the property. Beecher took the woman hostage at gunpoint and forced her to drive him to various locations to locate and kill another media mogul in Colorado. Unable to find his second target, Beecher eventually forced the woman at gunpoint to drive him to the Stage Coach Motel in Cheyenne, where Beecher could rest and figure out his next criminal act. In the early morning hours of February 3, 2022, SWAT officers with the Cheyenne Police Department rescued the woman and arrested Beecher at the motel. The woman was physically unharmed.

Beecher was indicted on March 17, 2022, and pleaded not guilty on March 21, 2022. The FBI, Cheyenne Police Department, Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and the Craig Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Vierbuchen prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction

strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN

Case No. 22-CR-00028

Source: US FBI

Defendant Submitted False Claims for Medicare Payment and Attempted to Thwart FBI Investigation

Source: US FBI

Defendant Also Admitted to Disaster Relief Loan Fraud and Destroying Evidence to Obstruct Government Investigation

Source: US FBI

“San Diego’s arrest demonstrates the FBI’s unwavering commitment to bringing criminals to justice, regardless of how far they flee or how much time passes,” said FBI San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. “Today’s successful announcement is a testament to the relentless efforts by the FBI and the invaluable support of our federal and international partners. It is because of this collaborative effort that we are finally able to hold San Diego accountable for his alleged actions.”

Source: US FBI

With the holiday season in full swing, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is urging the public to remain vigilant against an uptick in scams targeting holiday shoppers and charitable donors. Criminals are exploiting the busy shopping period, using increasingly sophisticated tactics to steal money and personal information.

“Criminals don’t take holidays off,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp. “We’re seeing scammers employing aggressive and creative schemes to take advantage of the season’s generosity and high online shopping activity.”

The FBI has identified several prevalent scams this holiday season, including:

1. Online Shopping Scams

• Fraudulent websites or ads offering goods at unrealistic discounts.
• Items purchased through third-party marketplaces using stolen credit cards or accounts.
• Puppy scams involving fake advertisements for pets, with losses reported at $5.6 million so far this year.

2. Charity Scams

• Fake charities soliciting donations through phone calls, emails, crowdfunding platforms, and social media.
• Copycat organizations mimicking legitimate charities to steal funds.

3. Cryptocurrency Investment Scams

• Fraudsters posing as trusted individuals convincing victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms. Losses are often substantial, with victims unable to retrieve their funds.

4. Gift Card Scams

• Scammers requesting gift card purchases for alleged emergencies, work-related functions, or as payment.
• Tampered cards with compromised security stickers or altered barcodes.

5. Social Media Scams

• Posts offering fake gift cards or event tickets designed to steal personal information.
• Fraudsters duplicating ticket barcodes for resale.

Tips to Protect Yourself

To avoid becoming a victim, the FBI advises the following precautions:

• Verify Websites and Offers: If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Avoid clicking on suspicious links or ads.
• Secure Your Accounts: Use strong, unique passwords for banking, shopping, and rewards accounts.
• Inspect Gift Cards: Check for signs of tampering, such as misaligned packaging or scratched-off security codes.
• Donate Wisely: Verify charities through trusted sources and avoid those soliciting donations via gift cards or wire transfers.
• Be Skeptical of Requests: Government agencies or law enforcement will never demand payments via phone, email, or gift cards.

Report Fraud

If you believe you are a victim of a scam, the FBI urges you to:

• Immediately contact your bank or financial institution.
• Report the incident to law enforcement.
• File a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov.

The FBI is committed to protecting the public from fraud and ensuring a safe holiday season. By staying informed and vigilant, shoppers and donors can help stop scammers in their tracks.

For more information or media inquiries, please contact the FBI San Francisco division at media.sf@fbi.gov.