Category: Security

Source: US FBI

Thurman Curley of Pueblo Pintado is facing murder charges in federal court for the fatal shooting of John Doe during an altercation.

Source: US FBI

The FBI and Albuquerque Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance to identify a pair of Black-Clad Bandits who robbed a Bank of America ATM machine.

Source: US FBI

ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking and firearms charges, agreeing to forfeit multiple weapons, vehicles, and over $64,000 in cash seized during a raid on his residence.

According to court records, on March 23, 2023, the FBI SWAT team executed a search warrant at Jerry Bezie‘s residence in the South Valley. During the operation, agents seized more than 16 pounds of methamphetamine and approximately 11,400 grams of fentanyl pills, multiple firearms, ammunition, and other items indicative of drug trafficking activities. In his plea agreement, Bezie admitted to possessing these substances with the intent to distribute and admitted that, as a convicted felon, he was legally prohibited from possessing firearms.

As part of his plea agreement, Bezie has agreed to forfeit numerous items, including:

• Firearms: A Glock 19 9mm pistol, a Glock 29 10mm pistol, an FN Five-seven 5.7×28 caliber pistol, a Sig Sauer P229 .357 sig caliber pistol, and a Steyr-Daimler Puch Aug/SA .223 caliber rifle.
• Ammunition and Accessories: Three .223 caliber magazines, approximately 308 rounds of .223 caliber cartridges, two 5.7×28 magazines, approximately 46 rounds of 5.7×28 cartridges, approximately 106 rounds of 9mm cartridges, two 9mm magazines, two 9mm casings, three 10mm magazines, and approximately ten rounds of 10mm cartridges.
• Vehicles and Trailers: A 2006 Hummer 4T vehicle, a 2018 Polaris Slingshot motorcycle, a 2018 Canam ATV, an Interstate Kingman Enclosed Trailer, and a 1984 Dump trailer.
• Cash and Jewelry: Approximately $64,333.93 in U.S. currency and certain jewelry seized on or about March 23, 2023, excluding specific items belonging to others.

2006 Hummer 4T vehicle

2018 Polaris Slingshot motorcycle

2018 Canam ATV

Firearms, ammunition and jewelry

The FBI’s investigation linked Bezie to Julian Leyba, with both men allegedly supplying fentanyl sold along Central Avenue in Albuquerque. On March 23, 2023, the FBI raided Leyba’s residence in Northeast Albuquerque as well. While no drugs were seized from Leyba’s home, investigators found six firearms, including a machine gun, which he was prohibited from possessing due to prior felony convictions.

Leyba pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession a machine gun on May 2, 2024, and was sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by three years of supervise release.

At sentencing, Bezie faces a mandatory 60 months for drug trafficking and an additional 60 months for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, for a total of 120 months, and up to life in prison. This sentence will be followed by not less than four years of supervised release. Additionally, Bezie faces a fine not to exceed $5 million or twice the pecuniary gain to the defendant.

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

The FBI’s Violent Gang Task Force (VGTF) investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Paul Mysliwiec is prosecuting the case.

Source: US FBI

WASHINGTON — A former candidate for the New Mexico House of Representatives was found guilty yesterday by a federal jury for a shooting spree targeting the homes of four elected officials and a subsequent plot to murder multiple witnesses to prevent their testimony at trial.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Solomon Peña, 40, ran for District 14 of the New Mexico House of Representatives during the November 2022 mid-term elections. After his November 2022 electoral defeat, Peña pressured members of the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners to refuse to certify the results of the election, but despite Peña’s pressure, the commissioners certified the results. Peña then organized and participated in shootings on the homes of two Bernalillo County commissioners who voted to certify the election and two New Mexico state legislators. The shootings, one of which involved a machine gun, were carried out between Dec. 4, 2022, and Jan. 3, 2023, with assistance from co-conspirators Demetrio Trujillo, 41; and Jose Trujillo, 24.

Jose Trujillo previously pleaded guilty on Jan. 9, 2024, to conspiracy, interference with federally protected activities, using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, discharging said firearm, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Jose Trujillo’s sentencing is set for April 14.

Demetrio Trujillo previously pleaded guilty on Feb. 1, 2024, to conspiracy, two counts of interference with federally protected activities, one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and discharging said firearm. Demetrio Trujillo’s sentencing is set for May 21.

After his arrest, Peña solicited several inmates in jail to coordinate the murder of multiple witnesses in order to prevent their testimony at trial.

The jury convicted Peña of one count of conspiracy; four counts of intimidation and interference with federally protected activities; four counts of using or carrying a firearm in connection with a crime of violence, including a machinegun in one instance; one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm; and three counts of solicitation to commit a crime of violence. Peña faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 60 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division Matthew R. Galeotti, Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin for the District of New Mexico, and Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated the case with the Albuquerque Police Department and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office.

Trial Attorney Bill Gullotta of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy Peña and Patrick E. Cordova for the District of New Mexico are prosecuting the case, with significant assistance from former Trial Attorney Ryan Crosswell.

Source: US FBI

Shaoping Wen and her son, Xu Wang, were sentenced on March 18, 2025, for their roles in operating massage parlors that operated as fronts for commercial sex operations, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.

In September 2024, Wen, 65, and Wang, 42, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Lubbock, Texas, for conspiracy to commit interstate travel and use of interstate facilities in aid of racketeering enterprises and other offenses related to the operation of illicit massage parlors in Texas and New Mexico and money laundering.   According to court documents, Wen owned and operated at least seven massage parlors where Asian women engaged in illegal commercial sex. Wang operated the parlors on Wen’s behalf when Wen was out of state.

Shaoping Wen pled guilty to conspiracy to commit interstate travel and use of interstate facilities in aid of racketeering enterprises in November 2024.  She was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk, to be followed by a one-year term of supervised release.  Wen was also ordered to forfeit $291,990.88 in U.S. currency and pay a money judgment of $1,771,360 to the United States.  

Xu Wang pled guilty to misprision of a felony in November 2024 and was sentenced by Judge Kacsmaryk to time served (362 days), to be followed by a one-year term of supervised release.

Court documents revealed that, on at least 10 occasions between June 2023 and February 2024, undercover officers purchased massages for varying dollar amounts at Wen’s parlors in Texas and New Mexico.  The officers were generally greeted by lingerie-clad women who agreed to have sex with them for an additional fee of between $140 and $200.  Several of the women used translation apps to negotiate for sexual services. When the women were arrested for prostitution, they identified themselves as Chinese citizens and listed their occupation as simply, “laborer.”  On several occasions, Wen or Wang facilitated payment of the arrested women’s cash bond.

Officers also observed Wen’s vehicle transporting Asian females directly from the airport to her massage parlors. Neighbors said the women never left the building. Searches of the premises revealed beds placed on the floors, suggesting the women lived at the massage parlors.

On at least one occasion, a passerby heard a woman screaming and entered the parlor to check-in.  He reported seeing three women between the ages of 30 and 50 dressed in provocative clothing.

Officers found the massage parlors advertised on sites often used to advertise for commercial sex. The ads included photos of partially naked women and promoted “100% sexy” girls who “like to spend time with nice upscale gentlemen.”  They advertised the “girlfriend experience,” “porn star experience,” and “fantasy outfits on request.”  Prostitution is illegal in Texas and New Mexico.

In March 2024, Wen’s seven illicit massage parlors were searched.  During the search, law enforcement located further evidence that the women were residing in the parlors, as well as condoms and other items indicative of sexual activity, and approximately $291,990.88 in U.S. currency. Casino records revealed that Wen frequently traveled to California to launder the proceeds of her illicit massage parlor businesses.  From between January 2018 and August 2023, Wen cashed out approximately $1,771,360 in chips from the casino.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office – Lubbock Resident Agency, Homeland Security Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Lubbock Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, HSI’s Albuquerque Field Office, the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Wolfforth Police Department, the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office, the Carlsbad Police Department, the Roswell Police Department, the Clovis Police Department, the Roswell Fire Department, the Carlsbad Fire Department, the Lubbock County District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorney Callie Woolam prosecuted the case. 
 

Source: US FBI

NEWARK, N.J. – A Hudson County man has been charged with enticing a minor to engage in criminal sexual conduct, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced.

Ryan Niksa, 34, of Jersey City, New Jersey, was charged in a one-count complaint with enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.  He had an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda Dunn Wettre in Newark federal court on January 29, 2025, and was ordered detained.

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

Since in or around August 2024, Niksa communicated with a minor victim located in another state through social media applications and text messages. Niksa and the minor victim exchanged sexually explicit photos and videos.  Niksa expressed his desire to live with the minor victim, discussed traveling to the minor victim’s home state to be with her, and discussed running away with the minor victim to another country where they could evade law enforcement.   

Enticement of a minor carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, as well as a $250,000 fine.

Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly in Newark, the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Director James Shea, and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Esther Suarez, with the investigation leading to the charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Thompson of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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Defense counsel: Shaiba Rather, Assistant Federal Public Defender

Source: US FBI

NEWARK, N.J. – A Newark man has been charged with firearm and narcotics offenses, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced.

Khalif Irving, 25, of Newark, New Jersey, was charged in a three-count complaint with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  He had an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court on January 24, 2025, and was ordered detained.

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

Irving, a/k/a “Kah Kah,” has been advertising narcotics for sale on social media and posting photos depicting firearms.  On January 23, 2025, Irving stowed a loaded firearm in a utility box affixed to the side of a building at the Janice Kromer Village apartments.  Minutes later, law enforcement recovered the firearm, arrested Irving, and recovered suspected narcotics from Irving’s person.

The offense of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon charged in Count One of the Complaint carries a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.  The offense of possession with intent to distribute narcotics charged in Count Two of the Complaint carries a maximum penalty of 20 year’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $1 million.  The offense of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime charged in Count Thee of the Complaint carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of life imprisonment, which must run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.   

Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited special agents and task force officers of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks Jr., the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda, and the North Bergen Police Department, under the direction of Chief Robert Farley with the investigation leading to today’s charges.

The investigation was conducted as part of the Newark Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). The Newark VCI was formed in August 2017 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Newark’s Department of Public Safety for the sole purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Newark. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the DEA, the DHS/HSI, the USMS, the Newark Department of Public Safety, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Parole, Union County Jail, New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, New Jersey Department of Corrections, the East Orange Police Department, and the Irvington Police Department.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Thompson of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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Defense counsel: Michael Thomas, Assistant Federal Public Defender

Source: US FBI

NEWARK, N.J. – A Union County, New Jersey man was sentenced to 57 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to receive, retitle, and “re-VIN” stolen vehicles, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced.

Nathaniel Bell, 27, of Linden, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before Senior U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler to a seven-count information charging him with one count of conspiracy to receive stolen vehicles, five counts of altering or removing motor vehicle identification numbers (VINs) and one count of transportation of stolen vehicles.

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

Bell was the leader of a criminal conspiracy that obtained stolen vehicles from New Jersey, New York, Florida, and other states, obtained fraudulent titles for the stolen vehicles, and altered vehicle identification numbers to conceal the fact that the vehicles were stolen. Bell and his co-conspirators then sold the stolen cars to dealerships or individual purchasers so they could make a profit. In at least two instances, the co-conspirators sold a stolen car to an individual purchaser and then stole it back so they could sell it again. Bell also knowingly altered or removed the VIN numbers on five vehicles and knowingly transported a stolen vehicle between New York and New Jersey.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Chesler sentenced Bell to three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution.

Bell’s co-conspirators, Johnathan Tanksley, 31, of Orange; L’Hubermane Felix, 25, of Miami, Florida; and Dayanna Sarango-Hidalgo, 29, of Newark, have all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen vehicles. Felix was previously sentenced to 24 months in prison. Tanksley and Sarango-Hidalgo await sentencing.

Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly in Newark, with the investigation that led to the sentencing. He also thanked the New Jersey State Police Auto Theft Task Force; the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission; the Union County Prosecutor’s Office; the National Insurance Crime Bureau; the Jersey City Police Department; the Belleville Police Department; the Rahway Police Department; the Linden Police Department; the Roselle Police Department; the Eatontown Police Department; the Freehold Police Department; the Elizabeth Police Department; the Miami Police Department (Florida); the Florida Highway Patrol; Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; the Howard County Police Department (Maryland); the New York Police Department; the Nassau County Police Department (New York); the Georgia Department of Revenue; the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice; the Deputy Attorney General’s Office; the FBI Miami Office; the FBI Cleveland Office; and the FBI Milwaukee Office

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Kober of the Organized Crimes/Gangs Unit in Newark.

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Defense counsel: Jason F. Orlando 

Source: US FBI

NEWARK, N.J. – A Maryland man was convicted yesterday for money laundering offenses related to funds that were obtained through unlawful computer intrusions that targeted a victim’s 401(k) retirement plan, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced.

Oladapo Sunday Ogunbiyi, 43, of Bowie, Maryland, was convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering, two counts of money laundering, and two counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity.  The jury returned the verdict following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court.

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

Ogunbiyi conspired with others to launder funds obtained through an unlawful computer fraud scheme in which they obtained unauthorized access to a 401k account belonging to the victim. The co-conspirators then added a bank account belonging to another individual to the victim’s 401k account without the victim’s knowledge or authorization. This account was designated as the account to receive withdrawals from the victim’s 401k account. Thereafter, $246,390 was transferred to the bank account belonging to the account that had been added without the victim’s knowledge or consent.

Ogunbiyi’s co-conspirator directed that the fraud proceeds be converted into cashier’s checks, which were provided to Ogunbiyi. Ogunbiyi then deposited the cashier’s checks into business bank accounts under his control and withdrew the funds in a series of ATM and counter withdrawals designed to conceal the source of the money, which he used for personal expenditures.

The counts of money laundering and money laundering conspiracy carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000, or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater. The counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater. Sentencing is scheduled for July 7, 2025.

Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited special agents of the FBI, including the FBI’s Cyber Crimes Task Force, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Kober of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit and Peter A. Laserna of the Bank Integrity, Money Laundering, and Recovery Unit in Newark.

25-019                                                 ###

Defense counsel: Jason A. Seidman, Esq., Freehold, New Jersey

Source: US FBI

NEWARK, N.J. – A California man was sentenced on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, to 87 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas for his role in a $50 million internet-enabled fraud scheme, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced.

Allen Giltman, 59, of Irvine, California, previously pleaded guilty in Newark federal court to a two-count Information charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit securities fraud.

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

Between 2012 and October 2020, Giltman and others engaged in an internet-based financial fraud scheme, which generally involved the creation of fraudulent websites to solicit funds from investors. At times, the fraudulent websites were designed to closely resemble websites being operated by actual, well-known, and publicly reputable financial institutions; at other times, the fraudulent websites were designed to resemble legitimate-seeming financial institutions that did not exist.

Victims of the fraud scheme typically discovered the fraudulent websites via internet searches.  The fraudulent websites advertised various types of investment opportunities, most prominently the purchase of certificates of deposit, or CDs.  The fraudulent websites advertised higher than average rates of return on the CDs to lure potential victims.

The fraudulent websites used a variety of means to appear legitimate and to gain and maintain the trust of prospective investors, including by (a) displaying the actual names and logos of real financial institutions;  (b) purporting that the institutions were members of and/or regulated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, or New York Stock Exchange; (c) claiming that deposits made to the institutions associated with the fraudulent websites were FDIC insured; and (d) using FINRA and/or FDIC member identification numbers issued to real financial institutions and real FINRA broker-dealers.

After discovering one of the fraudulent websites, victims would contact an individual via telephone or email as directed on the sites.  As alleged in the Information, this individual was Giltman.  During his communications with victims of the fraud scheme, Giltman impersonated real FINRA broker-dealers by using their names and FINRA CRD numbers.  Giltman would then provide the victims with applications and wiring instructions for the purchase of a CD.  The funds wired by the victims would then be moved to various domestic and international bank accounts, including accounts in Russia, the Republic of Georgia, Hong Kong, and Turkey.  None of the victims received a CD after wiring the funds.

To date, law enforcement has identified at least 150 fraudulent websites created as part of the scheme.  At least 70 victims of the fraud scheme nationwide, including in New Jersey, collectively transmitted funds that they believed to be investments in the aggregate amount of at least approximately $50 million.

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In addition to the prison term, Judge Salas sentenced Giltman to 3 years of supervised release and ordered forfeiture of numerous assets seized from Giltman at the time of his arrest in 2020.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) previously filed a civil complaint against Giltman based on the same conduct.

Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited special agents of the FBI under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly in Newark.  He also thanked the SEC for the assistance provided by its Enforcement Division.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony P. Torntore, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Cybercrime Unit in Newark.

25-020                                                              ###

Defense counsel:

Nina Marino, Esq. and Jennifer Lieser, Esq, Beverly Hills, California