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Source: US FBI

AKRON, Ohio – Soumya Rudra, 41, of Whitehall, Pennsylvania, has pleaded guilty to traveling across state lines to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and to possession of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), also referred to as child pornography.

According to court documents, Rudra met the 14-year victim on a dating game app called “Kiss Kiss.” He then messaged her via Snapchat text and video calls throughout several months. Rudra drove more than 400 miles from Pennsylvania to Ohio in November 2023 to meet the victim. He transported her to a hotel where he proceeded to engage in criminal sexual activities. Investigators also discovered CSAM involving other minors on his electronic devices which were recovered at the hotel room.

Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 11, 2024. Rudra faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, Canton Field Office and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Toni Beth Schnellinger Feisthamel for the Northern District of Ohio prosecuted the case.

To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Source: US FBI

LAS VEGAS—Spencer L. Evans, Special Agent in Charge of the Las Vegas Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is warning the public that criminals are soliciting fake humanitarian donations during the Israel-HAMAS conflict. The FBI has received complaints of legitimate e-mail addresses of Israel-based individuals being hacked or possibly spoofed to solicit donations.

Charity scams are especially prevalent during times of increased conflict such as war, natural disasters, or epidemics. Criminals use these tragedies to exploit members of the public looking to support humanitarian efforts. This fraud, also known as “disaster fraud,” comes in many forms. Perpetrators may claim to be associated with established charities or creators of new charities associated with emergent conflicts.

Some perpetrators may prey on their own local communities by claiming to collect funds for victimized families abroad while actually using collected funds for their own personal expenses or in support of criminal enterprises domestically or internationally. Foreign terrorist organizations often establish fake charities using social media platforms to subsidize their operations. Solicitations may begin as a social media post, an e-mail, a cold call, or a crowdfunding website request.

Common red flags indicating possible fraudulent activity may include:

• Unsolicited e-mails seeking donations. If looking to fund a charity, visit the website directly rather than clicking on links in e-mails.
• “Charities” asking you to pay with cash, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Criminals will often encourage payment by methods that make it difficult to track or seek reimbursement.

To avoid charity frauds:

• Research new charities online and verify phone numbers or e-mail addresses before donating.
• If giving to a well-known, established charity, ensure that you are using the correct website. Criminals have been known to engage in “domain spoofing” or “URL hijacking” to create look-alike websites with URLs similar in appearance to those of known organizations. For more information on domain spoofing: https://www.ic3.gov/Media/Y2020/PSA201123
• Use the Internal Revenue Service’s website (https://www.irs.gov) to see if the charity you are using is registered.

Charity scams prey on both local communities and vulnerable populations devastated by life-altering catastrophes. FBI Las Vegas reminds the public that these scams are serious crimes with very real consequences and encourages the public to report violations of federal law via the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov) or 1-800-CALL-FBI.

For additional resources:

Source: US FBI

The Las Vegas Division of the FBI is launching an advertising campaign across Nevada to raise awareness about federal hate crimes and to encourage the public to report them to the FBI. The campaign, which begins this week, includes television and radio public service announcements raising awareness of Hate Crimes throughout Nevada. The announcements, which will be aired in English and Spanish, highlight the need for us all to work collaboratively to ensure no crime goes unreported.

A hate crime is a traditional offense like murder, arson, or vandalism with an added element of bias. The FBI defines a hate crime as a “criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity.”

“Launching our local public awareness campaign represents an investment in the communities we serve and enhances our continuing outreach and education efforts throughout Nevada,” said Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans of the FBI Las Vegas Division. “We understand that some individuals may be afraid to come forward to law enforcement, but I want to assure the community that the FBI works to protect all victims of crimes, regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity, country of national origin, or immigration status. Acts of hate and racism have no place here and will not be tolerated.”

Hate crimes are the highest priority of the FBI’s civil rights program because of the devastating impact they have on families and communities. Hate crimes are not only an attack on the victim—they are meant to threaten and intimidate an entire community.

The FBI works closely with its local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement partners in many hate crime investigations. To learn more about federal hate crime statutes and state hate crime laws, visit the United States Department of Justice website:  justice.gov/hatecrimes/laws-and-policies.

If you believe you are a victim or a witness of a hate crime, we encourage you to report it to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or submitting a tip at tips.fbi.gov.

Source: US FBI

CINCINNATI – A 44-year-old Cincinnati man, Mark A. Altherr, was arrested by FBI agents on Friday, July 26, and charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.

The affidavit in support of the criminal complaint and arrest warrant alleges that investigators found more than 262 posts Altherr made on a child pornography website over the past three years. Some of the posts included images that appeared to be minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The victims were alleged to be between the ages of five and 12. Altherr is a fitness education teacher in the Oak Hills Local School District.

“Investigators are now working to identify all of the victims in this case,” said Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. “Our office and the FBI encourage anyone who might have information about victims to report it to the FBI’s victim resource page listed below.”

“The FBI is always working to protect children in our community,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. “As we continue to investigate this matter, we appreciate the support of the public in coming forward with any information they may have about potentially inappropriate actions of Mr. Altherr.” 

Anyone who may have information about this case or who believes they may be a victim is encouraged to visit www.fbi.gov/MarkAltherrVictims and complete the short online form.

Altherr appeared in federal court in Cincinnati on July 29, 2024. He was temporarily detained. A detention hearing is set for August 1, 2024.

Distribution of child pornography is punishable by at least five years and up to 20 years in prison. Possession of child pornography is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Assistant United States Attorneys Danielle Margeaux and Kyle Healey are representing the United States in this case.

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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Source: US FBI

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident was sentenced today by United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro to 97 months in prison followed by lifetime supervised release for receiving over 125 images of child exploitation on his cell phone.

According to court documents, on March 14, 2022, Joshua Kenneth Eshe (34) visited a website known for prostitution advertisements and contacted the poster of an advertisement entitled “Young and Tight.” He solicited who he believed was a 15-year-old child to have sex with him and agreed to pay $100 for sex with the child. Eshe arranged to meet the child at a hotel and he was arrested by law enforcement upon arriving at the room. During a search of Eshe’s cell phone, investigators discovered that Eshe had received 126 images and four videos of child pornography.

Eshe pleaded guilty in June 2023 to one count of receipt of child pornography. He is required to register as a sex offender and keep the registration current.

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 FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney 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-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or https://report.cybertip.org.

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Source: US FBI

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man made his initial appearance in federal court on October 27, 2023, for making threatening communications to a United States Senator from Nevada.

According to allegations contained in a criminal complaint, between October 11, 2023 and October 19, 2023, John Anthony Miller, 43, left numerous threatening voicemails at the office of a United States Senator. On October 17, 2023, Miller threatened to assault, kidnap, or murder the United States Senator with intent to impede, intimidate, or interfere with the United States Senator while engaged in the performance of official duties, or with intent to retaliate against the United States Senator on account of the performance of official duties.

Additionally, on October 18, 2023, at the Lloyd D. George Courthouse in Las Vegas, Miller stated that he was going to see the United States Senator. He refused to fully cooperate with a Court Security Officer and was denied entry into the courthouse. After being refused entry, he became agitated and started yelling and shouting profanities.

Miller was arrested on October 26, 2023. He is charged with one count of threatening a Federal official. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for November 13, 2023, before United States Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah.

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

This case was investigated by the FBI Las Vegas Division with valuable assistance provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Capitol Police. Assistant United States Attorney Jacob Operskalski is prosecuting the case.

To report suspected threats or violent acts, contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or file an online complaint at www.tips.fbi.gov. If someone is in imminent danger or risk of harm, contact 911 or your local police immediately.

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

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Source: US FBI

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to crimes related to armed robberies of United States postal carriers.

Anthony J. “A.J.” Williams, 20, admitted to brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, committing aggravated robbery of United States property and conspiring to commit an offense against the United States.

Williams’s plea includes a recommended sentence of 84 to 108 months in prison.

According to court documents, on Nov. 9, 2022, Williams committed an armed robbery of a USPS letter carrier who was delivering mail on Michigan Ave. in Columbus. The postal carrier was delivering mail to an apartment complex’s “cluster box” at the time.

After borrowing a Glock19 from one co-conspirator and being driven by another co-conspirator, Williams approached the mail carrier and brandished the handgun directly at the victim. Williams demanded the victim’s postal keys and then yanked the postal keys off of the carrier’s belt.

Williams sent photos of the stolen key to another co-conspirator who was orchestrating the robbery.

The defendant also worked with that same co-conspirator to plan a postal robbery for Christmas Eve 2022 and repeatedly “fished” for stolen mail with stolen postal keys.

Williams was indicted by a federal grand jury and arrested in January 2024.

Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the guilty plea entered today before Chief U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Noah R. Litton is representing the United States in this case.

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Source: US FBI

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Arturo Navarrete-Juarez, 29, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to sexually exploiting a minor.

Navarrete-Juarez faces a potential sentence of at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison.

According to court documents, between October 2021 and December 2022, Navarrete-Juarez sexually abused at least one minor and created child pornography of the abuse. Specifically, the defendant raped a 6-year-old girl.

In March of 2023, the FBI investigated child sexual abuse material on a Tor network that featured Navarrete-Juarez. The defendant’s face was visible in the videos. Investigators also linked Navarrete-Juarez’s identity to the videos by distinctive tattoos on his hands, arms and chest and by the apartment depicted in the background of the videos.

Navarrete-Juarez was charged federally by a criminal complaint in March 2023. He will be sentenced at a future hearing. Congress sets the minimum and maximum statutory sentences. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Rausch and Emily Czerniejewski are representing the United States in this case.

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Source: US FBI

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Fairfield County man was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 100 months in prison for crimes related to child pornography and sextortion.

Devin Bailey, 27, of Millersport, Ohio, distributed child pornography of a minor victim and used those images, in addition to others, in interstate communications to extort an adult victim for images of herself.

According to court documents, Bailey used multiple personas online to solicit sexually explicit photographs of the adult victim and then used the images he obtained to threaten and extort her for more explicit photographs of herself.

Bailey also sent messages containing child pornography to the adult victim. The victim recognized one of the girls, who was approximately 12 years old at the time, in the images she received.

The minor victim believed she had sent the explicit images and videos to a female in Florida, who in reality was another persona of Bailey’s. Bailey had kept the child pornography for more than five years before sending the photos to the adult victim to coerce her into taking sexually explicit photos of herself.

Bailey also threatened to distribute the child pornography of the known minor female to family members of the adult victim and across the internet if the adult victim did not comply with his demands.

In May and June 2022, Bailey also used numerous email addresses, cell phone numbers and Snapchat accounts to harass the adult victim, threatening to share pornographic images of her and the minor victim she knew. He said if the victim did not send him new explicit photos or videos, he would use the older materials against her.

Bailey’s threats persisted for weeks. He consistently and aggressively messaged the adult victim and, when she indicated she would involve law enforcement, Bailey responded, “Go ahead, they are untraceable numbers, and I can get hundreds more lol.”

A forensic review of Bailey’s electronic devices revealed that they contained approximately 200 images and 20 videos of child sexual abuse material.

Bailey was charged federally in February 2023 and pleaded guilty in October 2023.

Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Lancaster Police Chief Nicholas H. Snyder announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.

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