MIL Security Engine-1

Source: US FBI

NEWARK, N.J. – The owner of a New Jersey counseling center was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for her role in a health care fraud scheme involving hundreds of false claims, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Maria P. Cosentino, 61, of Garfield, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden to an information charging her with participating in a health care fraud scheme. Judge Hayden imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court,

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

Cosentino owned Bergen Alliance Counseling Services, which provided counseling services and mental health treatment to children, families, couples, and adults. She admitted that for years she submitted false claims to private health insurance plans for counseling sessions that she never provided. Cosentino falsely claimed that various individuals had received counseling at the center when in fact they had been out of the country, had ceased attending the practice, or had never visited the counseling center at all. The false claims caused insurance plans to issue reimbursement checks to the center even though the individuals had never received any treatment. Cosentino kept the illicit profits, which totaled more than $700,000.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Hayden sentenced Cosentino to three years of supervised release and ordered her to pay restitution of $708,038.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney DeNae Thomas of the Health Care Fraud Unit in Newark.

Source: US FBI

NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County man was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition, Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.

Lamar McCullough, 30, of Essex County, was convicted by a federal jury on June 7, 2024, of unlawful possession of ammunition by a convicted felon following a trial before U.S. District Judge Katherine Hayden, who imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

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

On March 5, 2021, members of the Newark Police Department responded to a report of a shooting victim at University Hospital. Surveillance video recorded at 7:22 p.m. showed McCullough shoot a victim four times at close range in the middle of Isabella Avenue in Newark. Four 9-millimeter shell casings were recovered from the area where McCullough discharged the firearm.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Hayden sentenced McCullough to three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger credited Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II, and special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado in Newark, with the investigation.

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 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 New Jersey Division, the U.S. Marshals, the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, 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. Attorneys Jessica Ecker of the Healthcare Fraud Unit and Katherine Calle of the Special Prosecutions Division.

Source: US FBI

NEWARK, N.J. – A Somerset County, New Jersey, disbarred attorney today admitted a wire fraud scheme that caused losses of more than $1 million, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Lawrence Coven, 61, of Hillsborough, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Robert Kirsch in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of wire fraud.

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

Coven operated and controlled Sunrise Enterprises LLC, which purported to provide financial services to investors. In reality, Coven induced victim investors into sending him funds by falsely representing that he would invest their money through Sunrise in exchange for large profits by providing short-term loans to borrowers who could not obtain standard loans. He falsely guaranteed investors returns of between 10 to 15 percent on their investments and told investors that their investments were risk-free. But instead of investing the money as he promised, Coven diverted investor funds for personal expenses, including utilities, entertainment, real estate, credit card bills, and cash withdrawals. And when investors began asking questions, Coven provided them with false assurances that their money was safe and used money from existing investors to make payments to other investors in a Ponzi-like fashion.

The wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain to the defendant or loss to the victim, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 13, 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, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olta Bejleri and Fatime Meka Cano of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.

Source: US FBI

NEWARK, N.J. – An Arizona man was sentenced today to 49 months in prison for conspiring to obtain over $4.4 million by defrauding the IRS, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Walid Khater, 38, of Mesa, Arizona, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to defraud the IRS. Walid Khater’s conspirator, Omar Khater, 33, of Fairfield, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty to the same charges and was sentenced on June 12, 2024, to 57 months in prison.

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

Walid and Omar Khater were relatives who worked together and with others to steal victims’ identities, which they used to file false tax returns and fraudulently receive tax refunds from the IRS. They electronically submitted tax documents to the IRS falsely claiming that the individual taxpayers listed on those documents had earned certain income or won thousands – and in some cases millions – of dollars in gambling and lottery winnings. The false filings also claimed tax withholdings on the purported income or gambling winnings that entitled the tax filer to refund payments from the IRS.

The Khaters and others typically submitted these fraudulent tax filings using the names and personal identifying information of individual taxpayers without their knowledge or permission. The fraudulent filings caused the IRS to pay lucrative tax refunds, totaling $4.49 million, which the Khaters and others directed to various bank accounts that they controlled.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Martinotti sentenced Walid Khater to three years of supervised release and ordered restitution of $4.49 million.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan, and special agents of FBI-Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado with the investigation leading to the sentencing. He also thanked the NJ Transit Police.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Fatime Meka Cano of the Economic Crimes Unit and Katherine M. Romano of the Health Care Fraud Unit in Newark.

Source: US FBI

LAS VEGAS – A Henderson resident was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to 65 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.

Brian Scarborough (47) pleaded guilty in September 2022 to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance – methamphetamine. Scarborough was the ninth defendant to plead guilty for his role in a large-scale conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Las Vegas.

According to court documents, from a date unknown to April 17, 2019, Scarborough conspired with others – including Miriam Elizabeth Suarez-Contreras, aka “Ella” and “Liz,” who was an organizer of the criminal conspiracy – to distribute methamphetamine in the Las Vegas area. As part of the conspiracy, Suarez-Contreras, a Mexican national, received methamphetamine orders via telephone while she was living in California, and dispatched different drug couriers to deliver the methamphetamine in Las Vegas. On April 3, 2019, the FBI executed a search warrant of Scarborough’s hotel room after he had ordered methamphetamine from Suarez-Contreras via telephone and discovered about 130 grams of methamphetamine and a 9mm handgun.

Co-defendants Suarez-Contreras was sentenced to 135 months in prison; Roberto Blancas-Mata, aka “Carlos Delgado,” of Las Vegas, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison; Rahdsma Henderson, aka “Weezy,” of Las Vegas, was sentenced to 41 months in prison; Stephen Lloyd, of Las Vegas, was sentenced to time served; Doug Stumpf, of Henderson, was sentenced to 46 months in prison; Renea Barnes, aka “Renea Valdez,” of Las Vegas, was sentenced to 48 months in prison; Quentin Armstrong, of Sandy Valley, Nevada, was sentenced to 90 months in prison; and Jose Guillermo Tello-Albarran, of Las Vegas, was sentenced to time served. Charles Parr, aka “Charles Magnuson,” of Salt Lake City, Utah, awaits sentencing.

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.

The case was investigated by the Safe Streets Gang Task Force, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Melanee Smith is prosecuting this case.

This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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Source: US FBI

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan to four years and nine months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for carrying out a series of commercial robberies while on supervised release.

Alfonzo Dale Lobas (34) pleaded guilty in November 2022 to three counts of interference with commerce by robbery.

According to court documents, on November 19, 2021, Lobas began a term of supervised release after an earlier conviction for a series of robberies. He admitted that, between January 16 and 28, 2022, he brandished an air pistol to intimidate cashiers at three gas station and convenience stores. During a robbery on January 20, 2022, Lobas told the cashier to “empty the register and hurry up,” and on January 24, when asked by a witness why he was robbing the store, he replied “because it’s fun.” At each of the robberies, he approached the cashier and demanded money while holding what the cashier believed to be a handgun.

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.

The FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Dan Cowhig prosecuted the case.

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Source: US FBI

LAS VEGAS – A member of the Pomona Sur Lokotes (PSL) drug trafficking organization was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Kent J. Dawson to 14 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for his leadership role in trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine from California and Mexico to Nevada.

Luis Arellano, aka “Lewis Arellano” and “Laughter,” (31) pleaded guilty in September 2022 to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

According to court documents, in December 2019, law enforcement began investigating Arellano and other members of PSL. The evidence showed that Arellano was responsible for distributing over 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, in Las Vegas. He also directed other members to import methamphetamine from California and Mexico to Las Vegas.

Co-defendants Jacqueline Martinez (31) pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 78 months in prison; Amelio Che Medina (45) pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 97 months in prison; Anna Barrios (34) pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 90 months in prison; and Victor Manuel Rodriguez, aka “Smokey” (39) pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 100 months in prison. Co-defendants Ivan Salazar, aka “Evil,” (40) and Domingo Montes, aka “JR,” (36) pleaded guilty and await sentencing.

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.

The FBI’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Sokolich prosecuted the case.

This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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Source: US FBI

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan to 24 years and four months in prison followed by lifetime supervised release. In June 2022, a jury convicted Barry Allen Gabelman (52) of coercion and enticement. Under the Sex Offender Registration Notification Act, Gabelman is required to register as a sex offender after completion of his prison term.

According to court documents, from October 31 to December 6, 2019, Gabelman exchanged sexually explicit messages and photos via social media and a messaging account with individuals whom he believed to be an 11-year-old girl and her stepfather. During their communications, Gabelman discussed having sex with the girl, requested nude images of the girl, and sent the girl photos of his genitals. On December 6, 2019, he traveled to a pre-arranged location in Las Vegas intending to have sex with the girl, but instead he was arrested by law enforcement.

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 Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bianca Pucci and Supriya Prasad prosecuted the case.

The 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and for information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org.

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Source: US FBI

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas business owner and operator who pleaded guilty to wire fraud was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to 34 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for fraudulently soliciting more than $5 million in investments for his digital advertisement business.

According to court documents, Robert Cortez Marshall, 43, operated a Ponzi scheme between January 2014 and April 2015 by fraudulently soliciting over $5 million for his business R.B.J. Generational Wealth Management LLC d/b/a Adz on Wheelz from more than 200 unwitting investors. He devised a scheme to defraud victims by falsely claiming that: (1) Adz on Wheelz owned and operated a fleet of luxury vehicles that could be customized for digital advertising; (2) Adz on Wheelz had already received millions of dollars in contracts from advertisers; (3) investors would receive a guaranteed weekly royalty payment; and (4) investors could cancel at any time or receive a refund of their investment.

In reality, Marshall would use money solicited from new investors to make the “royalty payments” owed to prior investors. He also transferred investor funds to other accounts under his control and used investor money for his own personal expenses. Through this scheme, investors lost approximately $3.5 million.

“The defendant wined and dined his investors, and he promised annual returns of more than 200% on investments,” said U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting individuals who take advantage and defraud others for profit.”

“Financial crimes like Ponzi schemes may not be violent, but they certainly are not victimless,” said Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI. “Under the guise of an established business Mr. Marshall solicited investments from individuals and secured their trust, swindling more than 200 victims out of more than $5 million for his personal benefit. The FBI will continue to work with our partners to investigate financially devastating schemes and seek justice for victims of fraud.”

The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jim Fang and Tony Lopez prosecuted the case.

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Source: US FBI

On Monday, May 12, 2025, the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program released the “Officers Killed and Assaulted in the Line of Duty, 2024 Special Report” and data from the Law Enforcement Employee Counts on the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer (CDE) at cde.ucr.cjis.gov.

“Officers Killed and Assaulted in the Line of Duty, 2024 Special Report” provides preliminary counts of law enforcement officers killed and assaulted in 2024, as well as an in-depth analysis of law enforcement officers who were killed or assaulted from 2015 through 2024, based on the data voluntarily provided by law enforcement agencies to the FBI’s UCR Program.

In 2024, 64 officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty. That is consistent with the number of officers feloniously killed the previous two years; however, the rate of assaults against officers increased from 2022 to 2024. Firearms were the most reported weapon used in fatal incidents.

Information about offenders of officer felonious killings in 2024 show there were 61 offenders reported for the felonious deaths. Of these offenders, 95.9% were male, 57.9% were white, and 32 offenders were reported to have a prior criminal record.

For each of the 10 years under consideration, the South region had the most line-of-duty deaths. There was a 45% increase in the deaths in that region in 2024 (29 deaths) compared to 2023 (20 deaths).

Agencies reported 85,730 officer assaults in 2024 indicating a rate of 13.5 assaults per 100 officers, marking the highest officer assault rate in the past 10 years.

The number of officers assaulted and injured by firearms has climbed over the years, reaching a 10-year high in 2023 with approximately 500 officers assaulted and injured by firearms. In 2024, the number of officers assaulted and injured by firearms dropped to approximately 457 officers.

Most accidental deaths of law enforcement officers from 2020 to 2024 can be attributed to motor vehicle accidents.

Also released today was the 2024 information from the Law Enforcement Employee Counts Data Collection. Law enforcement agencies provide these counts to the FBI annually and account for all full-time sworn law enforcement officers and civilian employees. This information may be used by city, county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to establish manpower needs, and to provide effective enforcement and protection.

The full report may be found in the Special Reports section on the FBI’s CDE.