Category: Security

Source: US FBI

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kristin Keeble, age 54, of Pageland, South Carolina, pled guilty today to transmitting a threat to injure another in interstate commerce.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

Keeble admitted that on October 26, 2023, she sent four threatening, profanity-laced and racially derogatory audio messages through Facebook Messenger to a man in Catskill, New York. Keeble threatened to kill the victim by hanging him, along with a woman the victim knew, and the woman’s children, from a tree. Keeble purported to be acting with members of the Ku Klux Klan. Keeble knew, from the victim’s Facebook profile photo, that the victim was Black.

At sentencing before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci on March 7, 2025, Keeble will face a maximum term of 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

The FBI investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting.

Source: US FBI

            WASHINGTON— A New York man was sentenced to prison today after he previously pleaded guilty to multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, including assaulting law enforcement, 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.

            Troy Weeks, 38, of Greenville, New York, was sentenced to 21 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution by U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras.

            Weeks previously pleaded guilty to two felony charges, including civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers. In addition to the felonies, Weeks pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor offenses, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, and impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or buildings.

            According to court documents, n Jan. 6, 2021, Weeks was present on the Lower West Terrace of Capitol grounds near an area known as the Tunnel, the site of some of the most violent attacks against law enforcement that day. At about 3:02 p.m., Weeks entered the Tunnel as a mob of rioters battled with police. Weeks made his way through the crowd and, after reaching the police line, turned around and called out to the crowd, “Alright! Get ready to push! C’mon!” Weeks and the other rioters then pressed in closer to police.

            Court documents say that Weeks then reached his arm past another rioter, through a broken window of a door, and grabbed a can of OC spray that was in the hands of a police officer. However, the officer was able to prevent Weeks from obtaining the spray. Seconds later, Weeks came around the door and made direct physical contact with the police on the other side and pressed his body up against police and their shields. At one point, Weeks grabbed onto one of the officer’s riot shields and was sprayed with OC spray.

            Weeks was expelled from the Tunnel at about 3:05 p.m. but remained in the area. At approximately 3:47 p.m., Weeks joined with other rioters in the Tunnel in a coordinated “heave-ho” push and rocking movement against an established police line defending the Tunnel.

            The FBI arrested Weeks on Jan. 10, 2023, in New York.

            The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York provided valuable assistance.

            The FBI’s Albany and Washington Field Offices investigated this case and listed Weeks as BOLO (Be on the Lookout) #85 in its seeking information images. The U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department provided valuable assistance.

            In the 45 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,532 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 571 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.

Source: US FBI

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Radu-Lucian Grigoras, 45, and Gheorghe Nistor, 42, both nationals of Romania, were indicted on two charges of financial institution fraud and two charges of aggravated identity theft.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

Grigoras and Nistor were arraigned in federal court last week on a 4-count indictment alleging that from no later than April 2024 through at least August 2024, the defendants participated in a scheme to defraud financial institutions. The indictment alleges that the defendants installed skimming devices and pinhole cameras within ATMs belonging to financial institutions. Those devices captured and stored the debit card information of unsuspecting individuals who conducted transactions at those ATMs. The pinhole cameras recorded the customers entering their PINs to conduct the ATM transactions. The indictment further alleges that after installation of these devices, the defendants returned within five days to remove these devices and caused the stolen account information to be encoded onto the magnetic strips of other cards, which they used at ATMs to fraudulently withdraw money from customers’ accounts. The indictment alleges that the defendants executed the scheme in multiple states, including New York, Kansas, Missouri, and Pennsylvania. The indictment alleges that as a result of the scheme to defraud, the defendants fraudulently withdrew in excess of $175,543.00 The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Each of the fraud counts in the indictment carries a maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment and a $1 million fine. The maximum sentence for aggravated identity theft is a mandatory consecutive 2 years’ imprisonment. The charges also carry a term of supervised release of up to 5 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case, with assistance from the New York State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, Town of Cicero Police Department, City of Auburn Police Department, Leavenworth, Kansas Police Department, St. Charles City, Missouri Police Department, and the St. Peters, Missouri Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. McCrobie and Paul Tuck are prosecuting the case.

Source: US FBI

Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office stated that James Plunkett, 39, of Burlington, Vermont, has been charged by criminal complaint with bank robbery.

On November 4, 2024, Plunkett appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle, who ordered Plunkett detained during the pendency of this matter.

According to court records, on the morning of October 26, 2024, Plunkett is alleged to have robbed the M&T Bank on Pine Street in Burlington. Plunkett is alleged to have entered the bank, told the bank tellers that he had a bomb in his fanny pack, and ordered them to give him money. Plunkett did not conceal his face during the robbery. Plunkett received $683.00 in cash and left the area.

Plunkett was identified from the M&T bank robbery video footage after review by law enforcement and community members who knew Plunkett and provided tips to law enforcement.

The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Plunkett is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Plunkett faces up to 20 years if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.

United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the Burlington Police Department, the Winooski Police Department, the South Burlington Police Department, the Vermont State Police’s Northern Vermont Drug Task Force, the Colchester Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Milton Police Department.

The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Thomas J. Aliberti. Plunkett is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Steven Barth.

Source: US FBI

Rutland, Vermont – The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on Friday, November 1, 2024, Nasir Hussain, also known as “Sonu”, 31, of Orlando, Florida was convicted in U.S. District Court in Rutland of wire fraud conspiracy after a four-day jury trial. U.S. District Judge Joseph N. Laplante ordered that Hussain remain in jail pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. Hussain has been held without bail since his arrest in July 2023.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Hussain recruited a number of people to open bank accounts using false information. Those bank accounts were used to funnel proceeds from defrauded victims who lived in Vermont, California, and elsewhere in the United States. Under the fraud scheme, the victim would receive calls, emails or both – purportedly from well-known retail establishments about charges to the victim’s account. The victim was asked to call a certain number and eventually download software to enable the caller to view the screen of the victim’s computer to “refund” the charge if the victim desired.

In reality, however, that software enabled the caller to access the victim’s computer remotely – not just view the screen. The caller then pretended to cancel the requested service at the victim’s request and provide the requested refund. The caller made it look like they had provided too large of a refund, often by moving around money from the victim’s own accounts. When the victim went to return what they thought was the over-refund, they were actually giving away their own money. The callers told their victims to send their money to the bank accounts that Hussain and his conspirators had opened. From there, Hussain and his conspirators funneled the victims’ funds to various individuals in India.

Based on the jury’s verdict, Hussain faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. In a separate case still pending, Hussain faces charges of knowingly making false statements in connection with his application for permanent residence status. Hussain faces a maximum of 10 years in prison on that charge. The actual sentence will be determined with reference to Federal Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.

“Fraud schemes like the one perpetrated by Hussain are complex and tend to prey on vulnerable victims,” said United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest. “These fraud schemes are also far too common and require vigilance by community members and law enforcement alike. This case demonstrates that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our partners hold perpetrators of cybercrime accountable. Moving forward, we will continue to investigate and prosecute these fraud schemes and also provide education to the community on how to avoid becoming a victim.”

“Mr. Hussain is a scam artist involved in a sophisticated criminal network that targeted innocent victims and robbed them of their hard-earned money,” said Craig Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albany Field Office.  “The FBI will continue to work with our partners at the United States Attorney’s Office to identify and disrupt any individual or criminal organization looking to use technology to scam our citizens.”

United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest also commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and thanked the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance during trial.

At trial, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eugenia P. Cowles and Colin Owyang represented the government. Kevin Henry, Esq. of Primmer, Piper, Eggleston & Cramer, PC represented Hussain.

Source: US FBI

ALBUQUERQUE – A Mexican national was extradited from Mexico to the United States to face federal drug trafficking charges in New Mexico.

Guillermo Amaro-Rodriguez, 42, made his initial appearance last week in federal court after being extradited from Mexico on a charge of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

A federal grand jury indicted Amaro-Rodriguez on October 12, 2022.  According to the indictment, Amaro-Rodriguez conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in Bernalillo County and elsewhere.

Mexican law enforcement authorities arrested Amaro-Rodriguez at the request of the United States in Chihuahua on October 3, 2024.  The FBI assumed custody of Amaro-Rodriguez from Mexican authorities on March 7, 2025.

“Mexican authorities’ efforts have ensured that the defendant will face justice in the United States for his alleged crimes,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin. “We thank our partners at the Fiscalía General de la República for their commitment to combating drug trafficking and holding those responsible accountable. Our continued collaboration guarantees that international boundaries will not shield criminals from prosecution.”

“The extradition of Mr. Amaro-Rodriguez is an example of how the FBI will pursue justice no matter how long it takes,” said Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. “Thank you to our determined FBI agents and the help of our federal, local and foreign partners for your hard work to hold this man accountable for his actions.”

Amaro-Rodriguez will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted, Amaro-Rodriguez faces up to life in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Albuquerque Police Department and the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office in Mexico City. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and extradition of Amaro-Rodriguez. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Hirsch is prosecuting the case as 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 (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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

Source: US FBI

ALBUQUERQUE – A To’Hajiilee man was sentenced to 72 months in prisonfor voluntary manslaughter in connection with the death of John Doe in May 2022.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, on May 27, 2022, Cole Ray Shorty, 21, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, went to John Doe’s residence bringing other people with him including a juvenile. Upon arrival, Shorty found John Doe sitting in his car outside his residence.

Shorty approached Doe’s car and opened the back door. In response, Doe exited the vehicle with a bat and a struggle ensued. Doe was taken to the ground and was disarmed of the bat. Instead of leaving the scene, Shorty struck Doe in the head with the bat, leaving him injured and unconscious at the scene.

John Doe died from their injuries at the University of New Mexico Hospital on May 30, 2022. The Office of the Medical Inspector confirmed that the cause of death was blunt head trauma and classified it as a homicide.

Upon his release from prison, Shorty will be subject to three years of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany DuChaussee, Zachary Jones, Mark Probasco, and Meg Tomlinson prosecuted the case.

Source: US FBI

ALBUQUERQUE – A Navajo man pleaded guilty in federal court to second degree murder and firearms charges stemming from a fatal shooting in 2022.

According to court documents, on July 26, 2022, officers from the Navajo Nation Police Department responded to reports of a shooting near Ojo Encino. Upon arrival, officers discovered John Doe deceased at the scene with a gunshot wound to his chest and right arm. Witnesses identified Jason Lee Martinez, 51, a member of the Navajo Nation, as the shooter, who fled immediately after the incident.

Investigators recovered seven .40 caliber bullet casings from the scene, and the autopsy confirmed fatal gunshot wounds consistent with a single bullet that traveled through John Doe’s chest, heart, lung, and liver.

On August 26, 2022, FBI agents interviewed Martinez, who admitted to shooting John Doe.

According to the plea agreement, Martinez faces between 17 and 28 years in prison at sentencing followed by three years of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Investigation and Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Pecoraro is prosecuting the case.

Source: US FBI

ALBUQUERQUE – A federal jury has convicted two former Jal Police Department officers of violating the civil rights of an individual, identified as John Doe in the indictment, during a July 2021 incident, after which John Doe died. The verdict came after a seven-day trial and approximately 13 hours of deliberation.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on July 31, 2021, former Jal Police Officer Corey Patrick Saffell, 35, stopped John Doe for driving without headlights at the Pilot Gas Station in Jal, NM. Former Jal Police Officers Ceasar Enrique Mendoza, 28, and Robert Edward Embly, 43, arrived shortly thereafter.

The situation quickly escalated when Saffell accused John Doe of presenting false identification. John Doe was subsequently handcuffed and forced into a small cage in Saffell’s K9 unit, where an aggressive dog was barking. When John Doe struggled to enter the small space, Mendoza deployed his taser on John Doe 13 times while Saffell yelled at him to keep tasing John Doe. The men then moved John Doe to Embly’s patrol car with a full backseat, where he was tased a 14th time.

At no point during the incident did John Doe, who was handcuffed throughout the entire encounter, attempt to flee, make threats or aggressive statements, or act combatively to Saffell, Mendoza, or Embly.  After placing John Doe in the back of Embly’s unit, none of the officers checked on John Doe or monitored him, as they were trained to do after deploying their taser on him.

At the jail, the men dragged John Doe’s limp, unconscious body into a cell and laid him on his stomach while still handcuffed. Despite John Doe’s deteriorating condition, including appearing unconscious and having urinated on himself, the men did not seek medical attention. The first time any of the officers requested medical attention for John Doe was only after it was determined John Doe stopped breathing and had no pulse, at which time the officers finally commenced life-saving measures. John Doe was pronounced dead at 1:15 a.m. on July 31, 2021.

Mendoza and Embly were convicted on three counts of deprivation of rights under color of law each, specifically use of unreasonable force, failure to intervene, and deliberate indifference to John Doe’s serious medical need.

Following the verdict, the Court ordered that Mendoza and Embly remain on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, Mendoza and Embly each face up to 10 years in prison per count of conviction.

On September 10, 2024, Saffell pled guilty to three counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, specifically unlawful arrest, failure to intervene, and deliberate indifference to serious medical needs. At sentencing, Saffell faces up to 10 years in prison per count of conviction. Saffell remains on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been set.

Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Hobbs Police Department, Carlsbad Police Department, Lea County Sheriff’s Office, Jal Police Department, and New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matilda McCarthy Villalobos and Marisa A. Ong are prosecuting the case.

Source: US FBI

NEWARK, N.J. – Pantaleo “Leo” Pellegrini, the former Hoboken Director of Health and Human Services and Director of the Department of Environmental Services, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz in Newark federal court to an information charging him with embezzling money from the City of Hoboken and filing a false tax return.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

While working for the City of Hoboken, Pellegrini embezzled money from the City of Hoboken by diverting payments intended for the City of Hoboken to bank accounts he controlled. Pellegrini also embezzled money from the City of Hoboken by submitting invoices for his personal business expenses, which City of Hoboken unknowingly paid.  Additionally, Pellegrini did not report the embezzled money on his personal tax returns, and thereby made and subscribed a false personal tax return.

Pellegrini had oversight over the City of Hoboken’s Division of Cultural Affairs’ Division of Health; Division of Parks, Recreation & Public Works; Division of Rent Leveling and Stabilization; and Division of Senior Services.  He therefore had oversight responsibilities related to certain public recreational facilities, including soccer fields that could be reserved by both Hoboken and non-Hoboken residents for a fee paid to the City of Hoboken.   Through this arrangement, the City of Hoboken Department of Parks, Recreation & Public Works sponsored a non-profit recreation soccer league open to all Hoboken residents aged 5 to 13 (the “Youth Soccer League”), which was funded by the City of Hoboken and participant fees.  Also during the charged time period, an adult soccer league open to Hoboken and non-Hoboken residents (the “Adult Soccer League”) was in operation, which was funded from participant fees.

Pellegrini developed a scheme to divert the Adult Soccer League’s participant fee payments intended for the City of Hoboken to a business account on which he was a signatory (the “Pellegrini Soccer Business Account”) and which was registered to a soccer-related entity linked to him (the “Pellegrini Soccer Business Entity”).  At various times, Pellegrini told an individual who operated the Adult Soccer League–“Individual-1”—to sign checks for the rental of public recreation facilities but leave the payee blank for Pellegrini to fill in later.  Pellegrini later filled in the name of the Pellegrini Soccer Business Entity and deposited the checks into the Pellegrini Soccer Business Account, without the knowledge of Individual-1.

During the relevant time period, Pellegrini was also the Owner and President of a private travel soccer club that was open to Hoboken residents and non-Hoboken residents (the “Pellegrini Private Soccer Club”).  Pellegrini also submitted or caused the submission to the City of Hoboken invoices associated with the Pellegrini Private Soccer Club, which Pellegrini falsely or fraudulently represented to the City of Hoboken as invoices eligible for reimbursement by the City of Hoboken.  As a result, the City of Hoboken—at Pellegrini’s direction—unknowingly paid tens of thousands of dollars to the Pellegrini Private Soccer Club’s vendors for the Pellegrini Private Soccer Club’s expenses, and also unknowingly paid tens of thousands of dollars directly to Pellegrini through the Pellegrini Private Soccer Club.

Pellegrini intentionally did not disclose and report the income from the above-described embezzlement scheme, thereby causing his tax returns to understate a substantial amount of the income he received.

The count of embezzlement carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain to the defendant or loss to the victim, whichever is greatest.  The count of filing a false tax return carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain to the defendant or loss to the victim, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for April 29, 2025.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado in Newark and special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark J. McCarren and Matthew Specht of the Special Prosecutions Division.