Category: Security

Source: US FBI

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware II to seven years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for carjacking two people at gunpoint.

Steve Francis Pitchford Jr., 39, pleaded guilty on March 24, 2022, to use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

According to court documents, on June 17, 2019, Pitchford approached two people sitting in a car in the parking lot of a Las Vegas dentist’s office and pointed a firearm at them. Pitchford told them to get out of the car, then drove off in the car. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers arrested Pitchford on June 28, 2019.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Former Special Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Portz and Assistant United States Attorney Dan Cowhig prosecuted the case.

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Source: US FBI

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas attorney made his initial appearance on March 31, 2023, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah for allegedly orchestrating a Ponzi scheme causing more than 1,000 victim-investors to part with more than $460 million.

A federal grand jury returned the indictment on March 29, 2023, charging Matthew Wade Beasley (50) with five counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering. A detention hearing was scheduled for April 7, 2023, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cam Ferenbach. A jury trial was scheduled for June 6, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey.

According to allegations contained in the indictment, from about 2017 to March 2022, Beasley falsely represented to another person that he could find plaintiffs in personal injury lawsuits who wanted to borrow money against their pending settlements and would pay high interest rates to do so. He created fake contracts to lend money to purported personal injury plaintiffs. Beasley caused others to find investors to invest in these fake contracts.

The indictment further alleges that, Beasley caused victim investors to wire transfer their investments to Beasley’s IOLTA account, which is a bank account set up by an attorney to hold client monies. He used the money from the scheme to buy luxury homes, cars, and recreational vehicles.

“This indictment alleges the defendant devised and orchestrated a large-scale, multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme with thousands of victims across the country,” said United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “While the allegations are intolerable regardless of the defendant’s position, they are even more egregious when considering defendant’s position of trust as an attorney. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to pursue, investigate, and prosecute individuals who lure victims with a false promise and take advantage for their personal benefit.”

“Investment fraud can be crippling for its victims, with life savings obliterated in a flash,” said Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI. “The defendant used fraudulent means to mislead multiple victims into believing they were investing in legitimate legal contracts. The FBI is committed to identifying and working with anyone impacted by this brazen scheme. This indictment is only one piece of an ongoing investigation. We will continue to follow the facts and pursue anyone who seeks to defraud others through deceptive and illegal practices.”

If convicted, Beasley faces up to 160 years in prison and fines up to $2,750,000 or twice the value of property involved in the scheme, whichever is greater. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel R. Schiess and Eric Schmale are prosecuting the case.

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

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Source: US FBI

HOUSTON – A 40-year-old Houston man has been sentenced for wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Brett Michael Detamore pleaded guilty Aug. 23, 2024.

U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks has now ordered Detamore to serve 51 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a total of $2.3 million in restitution to over 10 victims. At the hearing, the court heard additional testimony from several victims who described how Detamore had abused their trust and devastated them financially.

Detamore, operating as a custom home builder under Detamore Development LLC, fraudulently obtained at least $1.5 million for his personal use as a result of misusing funds intended for the construction of private residences.

Detamore submitted false and fraudulent invoices to banks holding construction loans for single-family residences he was contracted to build. The false invoices caused the banks to send funds to bank accounts Detamore controlled. He then used the funds for his personal benefit.

He was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the West University Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Lansden and Suzanne Elmilady prosecuted the case.

Source: US FBI

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – RENARD SANTIAGO (“SANTIAGO”), age 19, was sentenced on May 13, 2025 by U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter to fifteen (15) years in prison, followed by four (4) years of supervised release, along with a mandatory $400 special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy, and possession with the intent to distribute, marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(D), and 846; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i); and possession of a machinegun, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o) and 924(a)(2).

According to court documents, in 2024, SANTIAGO was wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and the New Orleans Police Department.  Specifically, an arrest warrant had been issued for SANTIAGO for an armed robbery committed on October 10, 2023.  On December 25, 2023,he was captured on surveillance video firing a handgun with a drum magazine attached and then driving away in a stolen SUV.  During their investigation into his whereabouts, law enforcement officers saw stories on SANTIAGO’s social media account showing SANTIAGO in possession of a handgun equipped with a machinegun conversion device, posing with large amounts of cash, and advertising the sale of marijuana.  The next day, officers executed a search warrant at SANTIAGO’s residence.  SANTIAGO hid in the attic for four hours before he was finally forced out of the house.  Inside the attic, officers found SANTIAGO’s handgun, with the machinegun conversion device still attached, a distributable quantity of marijuana, and over $400 in cash.

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.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.

Source: US FBI

McALLEN, Texas – A 45-year-old Mission man has made an appearance in McAllen federal court on wire fraud charges, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

According to the four-count indictment, Sergio Efrain Zamora Jr. sold multiple homes by forging signatures on the documents and transferring titles to his business.

The charges allege, beginning in June 2021, Zamora orchestrated a real estate fraud scheme by selling multiple homes without the homeowners’ authorization. He allegedly forged signatures on documents and transferred property titles to his business.

The victims-some of whom were his own family and friends-were unaware their homes were being sold, according to the charges. Zamora allegedly created fraudulent documents, including warranty deeds and contracts of sale, to make the transactions appear legitimate.

According to the indictment, he forged paperwork as part of the scheme. He allegedly profited illegally by using the proceeds to pay off debts and, in some cases, by receiving funds directly from the fraudulent closings.

The charges allege the scheme caused a total loss of $655,000 to the victims and the title company.

If convicted, Zamora faces up to 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda McColgan is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

Source: US FBI

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Overland Park, Ks., pediatric physician was sentenced in federal court today for producing child pornography and possession of child pornography.

Brian Aalbers, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Brian C. Wimes to 25 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Aalbers to serve supervised release for Life following his incarceration.

Aalbers, a pediatric neurologist at Overland Park Regional Hospital in Overland Park, Ks., had pleaded guilty to using concealed video cameras to secretly record 13 child victims for the purpose of producing child pornography over a three-year period.  Aalbers also had admitted that he was in possession of child pornography.

Concerns were received by both the FBI and the United States Attorney’s Office regarding the potential victimization of patients of Aalbers’s pediatric practice. During the investigation, it was determined there was no evidence to indicate any current or former patients were victimized by Aalbers. To protect and maintain the privacy of Aalbers’s victims, no additional information regarding the victims will be released.

According to the plea agreement, Kansas City, Mo., police officers investigated a report regarding concealed video cameras that had been found on Oct. 28, 2023. A witness later contacted officers to report that Aalbers was sending suicidal text messages. Lenexa, Ks., police officers located Aalbers and transported him to a local hospital to obtain voluntary mental health treatment. The hospital took possession of two laptop computers, two iPad tablets, and a cell phone that were inside a backpack Aalbers brought with him when he entered the facility.

Investigators obtained search warrants for those devices, as well as other cameras and electronic devices owned by Aalbers. Investigators found more than 50,000 video files associated with the hidden video cameras used by Aalbers, including more than 1,000 videos that contained pornographic depictions of the 13 child victims.

Investigators also obtained a search warrant for Aalbers’s iCloud account, which contained 1,000 additional images and 163 additional videos of child pornography, which included videos of the identified child victims that had been produced by Aalbers.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, and Lenexa, Kansas Police Department.

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

Source: US FBI

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Columbia, Mo., man has been indicted in federal court for transportation and possession of child pornography.

Andrew Charles Nicholls, 38, previously charged by complaint, was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 13, 2025.  The indictment alleges that Nicholls, who has a prior conviction for child molestation in the second degree, transported and possessed child pornography images and videos depicting pre-pubescent children engaging in sexually explicit conduct using TOR, a dark web browser intended to conceal one’s online activities.   

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

Under federal statutes, if convicted, Nicholls faces federal prison sentence of up to 40 years to be served without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Turner. It was investigated by the Boone County Sheriff’s Cyber Crime Task Force with assistance from the FBI.

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

Source: US FBI

Spokane, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced David Velasquez Jr., age 32, to 200 months in federal prison for Conspiracy to Distribute 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl. Judge Rice also imposed 5 years of supervised release.

According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, In November 2022, The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) developed information that Velasquez was the source of supply for a large amount of illegal drugs in Eastern Washington. FBI agents later learned that Velasquez and a man named David Fulmer had met multiple times in Utah for the purpose of transporting drug shipments from Arizona to Eastern Washington. Velasquez provided Fullmer with at least 10,000 fentanyl-laced pills during each meeting. Fullmer later was arrested and sentenced to federal prison on drug trafficking charges.

On September 19, 2023, the FBI obtained a federal arrest for Velasquez and on October 13, 2023, Velasquez’s phone was tracked to Iowa. He was subsequently pulled over driving a truck near Dallas County, Iowa. He was arrested and law enforcement recovered 39,095 fentanyl pills hidden in the truck’s tailgate. Two loaded handguns were found in the glove compartment and a third handgun was found under the rear seat.

“Fentanyl is a deadly drug that continues to devastate communities across Eastern Washington and the nation,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Barker. “Mr. Velasquez trafficked tens of thousands of fentanyl-laced pills into our region, putting numerous lives at risk. My office will continue to hold drug traffickers accountable, and we are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to keep Eastern Washington communities safe.”

“Mr. Velasquez was the source of large amounts of Fentanyl flowing into the Spokane area.” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “Knowing this poison can easily kill its users, countless lives may have been saved by taking him off the streets. The FBI and our partners will continue the work of keeping these illegal drugs out of the communities we all call home.”

This case was investigated by the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nowles Heinrich and Patrick J. Cashman.

2:23-cr-00102-TOR

Source: US FBI

HOUSTON – The final man charged in a large-scale conspiracy to commit wire fraud in relation to the sale of hundreds of thousands of fraudulent Texas paper license plates has pleaded guilty, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Emmanuel Padilla Reyes, 35, was a fugitive until authorities apprehended him in September 2024. 

Reyes and co-conspirators used the internet, email and iMessage to sell fraudulent state-issued buyer tags and deliver them to buyers nationwide. As part of his plea, Reyes admitted to using at least two aliases, including another person’s name and Social Security number, to get used car dealer licenses. He used them in a scheme to fraudulently issue and sell at least 550,000 Texas temporary buyer tags without selling any vehicles. 

The illegal tags pose a danger to the public and law enforcement as buyers use them to avoid registration, safety inspections and liability insurance. They can also be used to conceal identities from law enforcement. The investigation revealed fake vehicle tags gave criminals the means to create ghost cars that were invisible to law enforcement and used to commit crimes ranging from driving with no insurance to committing robberies and drive-by shootings. 

In Texas, used car dealers must obtain an independent General Distinguishing Number (GDN) license via the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles’ online eLicensing portal to legally buy, sell or exchange vehicles. Licensed dealers can access the secure eTag portal to create temporary buyer tags and may add other users to their account. At the time of the original indictment in the case, there were no restrictions on the data entered into the portal. 

Reyes provided false information, such as fake identities, drivers licenses, lease agreements and business signs, in an online application portal to obtain GDN licenses for two fictitious dealerships “King’s Ranch Autoland” and “Texas Motor Company.” Reyes and his co-conspirators then advertised Texas buyer tags for sale on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks will impose sentencing July 23. At that time, Reyes faces up to five years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

He has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.

Co-defendants Leidy Areli Hernandez Lopez, 44, Octavian Ocasio, 53, and Daniel Christine-Tani, 36, were also charged and convicted in the scheme and were sentenced to prison. Lopez, also in the United States illegally, failed to report to prison. A federal grand jury returned an indictment Feb. 20 charging her with failure to surrender. Lopez is considered a fugitive, and a warrant remains outstanding for her arrest. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI at 713-693-5000.

The FBI conducted the investigation with assistance from Travis County Constable Office – Precinct 3, Houston Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police and New York Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Belinda Beek and Adam Goldman are prosecuting the case.

Source: US FBI

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Richmond, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for receiving child pornography, after having a prior state conviction for possession of child pornography.

Derek Shain, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 25 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Shain to serve supervised release for Life following his incarceration.

On January 16, 2025, Shain pleaded guilty to one count of receiving child pornography, after having a prior state conviction for possession of child pornography. According to court documents, Shain communicated with a 15-year-old minor female on a social media platform.  He requested and received an image of child pornography from the minor female.  A background investigation of Shain confirmed that Shain was a registered sex offender at the time of this offense. Shain also has prior state convictions for attempted child molestation in the first degree and age misrepresentation with intent to solicit a minor.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sugar Creek, Missouri Police Department.

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”