Anchorage Man Charged in Bomb Hoax at a Federal Building

Source: US FBI

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging an Anchorage man with allegedly making a false bomb threat at a federal building.

According to court documents, on June 11, 2024, James Pearce, 40, falsely stated that he had placed explosive devices at the James Fitzgerald Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse and at six other locations around Anchorage. Pearce allegedly made these statements under circumstances where it may reasonably have been believed that the activity actually took place. He also allegedly made references to the terrorist groups Al-Qaeda and ISIS and the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City.

Pearce was arrested on-site, and the building was evacuated.

Pearce is charged with one count of a bomb hoax at a federal building, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1038(a)(1). The defendant will make his initial court appearance on a later date before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Anchorage Field Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Anchorage Field Office and Homeland Security Investigation, Federal Protective Service are investigating the case. The Anchorage Police Department provided significant law enforcement support the day of the incident.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Will Taylor and Mac Caille Petursson are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Philadelphia Businesswoman Sentenced to 20 Months in Prison for Multiple Fraud Schemes That Caused Over $600,000 in Losses

Source: US FBI

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Nyesha D. Paris, aka Nyesha D. Henderson and Nyesha D. Jackson, 47, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Joel H. Slomsky yesterday to 20 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for orchestrating a series of business fraud schemes. The Court also ordered Paris to pay victim restitution of $545,993 and a forfeiture money judgment of $84,008, and to complete 150 hours of community service.

Paris was indicted in February 2023 and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bank fraud, and health care fraud in January 2024.

Between at least 2018 and 2023, Paris engaged in multiple fraud schemes, which caused over $600,000 in losses to 15 different victims. In one scheme, Paris joined others in stealing over $40,000 in merchandise and gift cards from Lowe’s Home Improvement through use of a shell company and fraudulent business accounts.

In another scheme, Paris fraudulently obtained multiple pandemic assistance loans totaling over $120,000 through the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) by inflating payroll, submitting fake documents, and falsely certifying that her companies were in operation in February 2020, when they were not.

In a third scheme, Paris fraudulently billed Medicaid for nearly $150,000 in home health services allegedly provided by her business, but which were never actually provided.

In total, Paris committed more than a dozen fraud schemes, including some that took place after the FBI confronted her with evidence of fraud and informed Paris that she was under investigation.  

The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David Ignall and Samuel Dalke.

Anchorage Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Drug Trafficking, Gun Charges

Source: US FBI

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for possessing and distributing controlled substances and possessing a firearm illegally.

According to court documents, in November 2020, Mauricio Martinez, 22, was a drug dealer operating in Anchorage selling illicit drugs via a social media platform. Law enforcement became aware that, on at least one occasion, the defendant carried a firearm while selling drugs. Martinez was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2021 for distributing a controlled substance and for carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.

In August 2022, law enforcement located the defendant driving a vehicle and attempted to arrest him, but he tried to flee and discard a firearm in the process. He was arrested and officers found $4,000 in cash on his person and another firearm, roughly 10,000 counterfeit Xanax and Percocet pills, nearly 7,000 fentanyl tablets and cocaine in his vehicle.

In June 2023, while Martinez was in the Anchorage jail awaiting trial, guards searched his cell and found a large knife and meth packaged for sale that he admitted were his.

Martinez pleaded guilty in September 2023.

“Mr. Martinez is a serious danger to the public and has shown a disregard for the law since he was a teenager, and even while he was incarcerated,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Keeping individuals like Mr. Martinez out of our communities is a priority for our office. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute individuals who pose a risk of public safety due to their actions.”

“Mr. Martinez utilized firearms while dealing deadly drugs, including illicit fentanyl, in our community,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “This sentencing sends a message that illegal drug distribution and violent criminal behavior will not be tolerated.  The FBI will continue to work jointly with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who endanger the lives of Alaskans.”

The FBI Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Police Department investigated the case as part of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bradley prosecuted the case.

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Danville Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Fentanyl Conspiracy

Source: US FBI

WILLIAMSPORT – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Anthony D. Bressi, age 53, of Danville, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on April 15, 2025, to 30 years’ imprisonment by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute.

According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, from 2016 through June 2019, Bressi manufactured over 150 kilograms of fentanyl at a lab in East Buffalo Township, Union County, PA. Bressi would then distribute fentanyl and fentanyl analogues to two distributors: Terry Harris, in Philadelphia, PA and Damonico Henderson, in the Cleveland, Ohio area.  Bressi, Harris and Henderson developed their drug conspiracy in federal prison where Bressi had been serving a 20-year sentence for manufacturing methamphetamine and explosives.

Bressi was convicted by a jury on November 4, 2024, after a week-long trial.  Harris and Henderson previously pleaded guilty to their role in the conspiracy. Both Harris and Henderson were sentenced to 10 years in prison. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police.  Assistant United States Attorneys Geoffrey MacArthur, Jeffrey St. John, and Alisan Martin 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.

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Physician Convicted at Trial for Illegal Distribution of Opioids and Health Care Fraud Conspiracies

Source: US FBI

A federal jury convicted a medical doctor yesterday for his participation in conspiracies to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and to unlawfully distribute controlled substances.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Neil K. Anand M.D., 48, of Bensalem, Pennsylvania, conspired to submit false and fraudulent claims to Medicare, health plans provided by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Independence Blue Cross (IBC), and Anthem, for “Goody Bags” of medically unnecessary prescription medications, which were dispensed to patients by in-house pharmacies owned by Anand. As the evidence at trial showed, the conspirators required patients to take the Goody Bags, which they did not need or want, to receive prescriptions for controlled substances. In total, Medicare, OPM, IBC, and Anthem paid over $2.3 million for the Goody Bags. Anand also conspired to distribute oxycodone outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. In furtherance of the conspiracy, unlicensed medical interns wrote prescriptions for controlled substances using blank prescriptions that were pre-signed by Anand. Anand prescribed 20,850 oxycodone tablets for nine different patients, as part of the scheme. After learning that he was under investigation, Anand concealed the proceeds of the fraud by transferring approximately $1.2 million into an account in the name of his father and for the benefit of his minor daughter.

Anand was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud; three counts of health care fraud; one count of money laundering; four counts of unlawful monetary transactions; and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 19 and faces a statutory maximum penalty of 130 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Special Agent in Charge Kathleen Woodson of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (U.S. Postal Service OIG); and Special Agent in Charge of Investigative Operations Derek Holt of the OPM-Office of the Inspector General (OPM-OIG) made the announcement.

The HHS-OIG, U.S. Postal Service OIG, and OPM OIG investigated the case.  FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office provided valuable assistance.

Trial Attorneys Paul J. Koob, Patrick J. Campbell, and Arun Bodapati of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

Damascus Woman Federally Indicted for Filing Fraudulent Small Claims in Circuit Courts Throughout Oregon

Source: US FBI

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Damascus, Oregon woman was arraigned in federal court Monday after she was indicted for filing twenty fraudulent small claims in circuit courts throughout Oregon and receiving at least $190,000 in garnished funds from victims.

Sharon Neal has been charged with five counts of mail fraud.

According to the indictment, between August 2018 and November 2022, Neal is alleged to have devised and carried out a scheme wherein she filed multiple fraudulent small claims, in circuit courts throughout Oregon, on behalf of fictitious companies in order to obtain monetary judgments against victims. Neal made false allegations against victim companies saying they provided low quality products and services or failed to provide products and services, when in fact, the victim companies did not conduct business with Neal’s sham companies, and many did not offer the products or services alleged in the small claims.

As part of the scheme, Neal then filed certificates of service, including copies of signed certified mail return receipts, falsely certifying that she served the claim and summons on the victims by certified mail. Instead, Neal sent empty envelopes to the victim companies so they were unaware of any small claims filed against them. Since victims were unaware of the pending cases, they did not respond to the claims and Neal was able to obtain default judgments and writs of garnishments. Neal would then provide the writ of garnishment to a victim’s bank and receive a check for the judgment amount. Victims would only learn of these small claims after being notified of the garnished funds by their bank.

Neal made her initial appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. She was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered released pending a four-day jury trial scheduled to begin on February 18, 2025.

If convicted, Neal faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, three years’ supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.

This case was investigated by the FBI. It is being prosecuted by Andrew T. Ho, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Washington State Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Traveling to Oregon to Sexually Abuse a Minor He Met Online

Source: US FBI

EUGENE, Ore.—A Washington State man pleaded guilty and was sentenced to federal prison today for traveling to Oregon to sexually abuse a minor he met online.

Seth Lee Fabry, 34, pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor and was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison and 20 years’ supervised release.

According to court documents, in April 2022, Fabry messaged a minor through Discord, a social media platform, after meeting on MeetMe, another social media platform. Undeterred by the minor’s age, Fabry engaged in explicit discussions with the minor and persuaded them to send sexually explicit images. In May 2022, Fabry traveled from Washington to Oregon two times and sexually abused the minor.

On May 29, 2022, Fabry again traveled to the victim’s residence in Oregon but was met by the minor’s mother. She contacted law enforcement and Fabry was arrested.

On October 4, 2022, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a two-count indictment charging Fabry with sexually exploiting a child and traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Eugene Police Department. It was prosecuted by Jeffrey S. Sweet, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

The FBI CETF conducts sexual exploitation investigations, many of them undercover, in coordination with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. CETF is committed to locating and arresting those who prey on children as well as recovering and assisting victims of sex trafficking and child exploitation.

Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.

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

Former Homewood Finance Director Charged with Embezzling Nearly $950,000

Source: US FBI

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The former finance director for the City of Homewood has been charged with, and agreed to plead guilty to, crimes related to his embezzling nearly $950,000 from Homewood’s coffers. United States Attorney Prim Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton Peeples made the announcement.

An information filed today in federal district court charges Robert Winston Burgett, 64, of Hueytown, with three counts of wire fraud. Also filed today was a plea agreement indicating that Burgett has agreed to plead guilty to the charges.

According to the information and plea agreement, Burgett worked for the City of Homewood as its finance director. Between at least May 2023 and about March 2024, Burgett used that position to embezzle almost $950,000 from City of Homewood bank accounts. 

Burgett concealed his conduct by first moving the City’s funds into a commercial bank account he controlled before transferring the funds into his personal account. Burgett also altered City bank account statements and made false journal entries in City accounting records. Burgett ultimately used the embezzled funds for personal purposes.

The Court will set a date for Burgett to enter his guilty plea.

The FBI and the Homewood Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts. Assistant U.S. Attorney J.B. Ward is prosecuting the case.

An information contains only charges.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Former Centre Police Officer Charged in Connection with Drug-Planting Scheme

Source: US FBI

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A former Centre police officer has been charged in connection with a scheme to plant drugs on innocent motorists in order to manufacture drug arrests, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples.

A one-count information filed in U.S. District Court charges Michael Kilgore, 40, of Centre, with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, specifically methamphetamine.  A plea agreement was filed with the information, indicating that Kilgore has agreed to plead guilty to the charge.

According to the information and plea agreement, Kilgore’s scheme began in early January 2023, when he stopped a car and found various drugs. Kilgore offered the driver the chance to avoid drug charges by working for Kilgore.  The driver accepted and became a co-conspirator in Kilgore’s drug-planting scheme.

Kilgore and his co-conspirator then arranged for a package containing methamphetamine, oxycodone, and marijuana to be attached to the undercarriage of a certain vehicle.  On January 31, 2023, Kilgore performed a sham traffic stop of that vehicle and “discovered” the drug package where he knew it had been planted.  The vehicle’s driver and passenger were detained for drug possession.

Kilgore and his co-conspirator planned to repeat the scheme on another vehicle.  But after buying the drugs to be planted, Kilgore’s co-conspirator discarded the drugs and reported the scheme to law enforcement.

The Court will set a date for Kilgore to enter his guilty plea. 

The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett A. Janich is prosecuting the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Osborne assisted.

An information contains only charges.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Oregon Man Sentenced for Assaulting Law Enforcement and Other Offenses During January 6 Capitol Breach

Source: US FBI

           WASHINGTON – An Oregon man was sentenced to prison today after he previously pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement and other offenses during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

           Jonathanpeter Allen Klein, 24, of Pendleton, Oregon, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss to nine months in prison, 36 months of supervised releases, and ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution. Klein previously pleaded guilty to one count of civil disorder and one count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers.

           According to court documents, on Dec. 27, 2020, Klein informed his employer via text that he and his brother, Matthew Leland Klein, were attending the “Stop the Steal” rally in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021, and requested time off from January 4th to January 8th. The brothers traveled from Portland, Oregon, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 4th and returned on January 8th.

           On January 5th, Klein attended a rally wearing attire associated with the Proud Boys, including a black shirt with the Portland chapter’s initials, an American flag neck gaiter, and a black baseball cap. He wore the same clothing on January 6th.

           On January 6th, Klein attended the “Stop the Steal” on the National Mall and afterward marched toward the U.S. Capitol building and entered the restricted grounds. At about 2:00 p.m., Klein threw an audio-visual equipment container lid at Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers. The lid struck an officer’s helmet, causing the officer to stumble and require assistance. Court documents say that the officer momentarily lost consciousness and later reported emotional and mental distress, believing their helmet saved their life.

           Klein later entered the Capitol building at approximately 2:16 p.m., shortly after rioters breached windows near the Senate Wing Door. Inside, he embraced other rioters, displayed a Proud Boys hand signal, and recorded events with his cell phone. Klein traversed various parts of the Capitol, including the Rotunda, Crypt, and House Wing.

           After exiting the building, Klein reunited with his brother and joined others at the Capitol’s North Door. Together, they forcibly opened the door, causing over $10,000 in damage and exposing Capitol Police to further violence.

           The FBI arrested the two men in Oregon on March 23, 2021.

           Matthew Klein was sentenced on Nov. 14, 2024.

           This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

           This case was investigated by the FBI’s Portland and Washington Field Offices. Matthew Klein was identified as BOLO (BE on the Lookout) #127R and Jonathanpeter was identified as BOLO #127L and. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

           In the 46 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,561 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 590 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

           Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.