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High-Ranking MS-13 Leader Arraigned on Terrorism Indictment

Source: US FBI

Defendant Directed MS-13’s Transnational Criminal Operations and Coordinated Criminal Activity in the United States

Earlier today, Fredy Ivan Jandres-Parada, also known as “Lucky de Park View” and “Lacky de Park View,” a high-ranking leader of La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13, was arraigned at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, New York by United States Magistrate Judge Steven L. Tiscione.  Jandres-Parada and 13 other high-ranking MS-13 leaders were indicted in December 2020 on terrorism offenses relating to their direction of the transnational criminal organization’s criminal activities in the United States, El Salvador, Mexico and elsewhere over the past two decades.  Specifically, Jandres-Parada is charged with conspiracy to provide and conceal material support to terrorists, conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries, conspiracy to finance terrorism and narco-terrorism conspiracy.  For more than three years, Jandres-Parada was a fugitive, but he was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) earlier this month and made an initial appearance in federal court in the Southern District of California, where he was ordered to be transferred in custody to the Eastern District of New York.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York (EDNY); Mehtab Syed, Acting Assistant Director-in-Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office; and Ivan J. Arvelo, Special Agent-in-Charge, HSI’s New York Field Office announced Jandres-Parada’s arrest and arraignment.

“As alleged, Jandres-Parada, a high-ranking leader in MS-13, engaged in drug trafficking, public and private displays of violence, and terrorism — all in pursuit of power for the organization,” said United States Attorney Peace.   “This arrest is a monumental achievement for our Office and international partners, highlighting our dedication to dismantling MS-13 and their reign of terror wherever they hide.”

Mr. Peace expressed his thanks to the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office and Criminal Investigative Division’s Safe Streets Gang Unit, and HSI’s National Gangs and Violent Crime Unit and New York Field Office for spearheading the MS-13 leadership investigations.  Additionally, he thanked the FBI Legal Attachés in Mexico City and San Salvador, FBI and HSI’s San Diego Field Offices, HSI Attaché Mexico City and Assistant Attaché Tijuana, USMS Legal Attaché in Mexico City and the United States Customs and Border Protection Officers at the San Ysidro Port of Entry for the critical support provided in connection with the arrest, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the United States Marshals Service for the Southern District of California for coordinating the defendant’s initial appearance in San Diego.  Mr. Peace also thanked the numerous Department of Justice components that contributed to this indictment, including the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Executive Office.

“The arrest of Jandres Parada demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to protecting the American public by proactively targeting MS-13’s highest ranking leaders in order to dismantle this transnational criminal organization, which is among the most violent in the world,” said Mehtab Syed, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.  “This collaborative effort among many agencies spanned coast to coast and led to this successful capture.”

“Fredy Ivan Jandres-Parada, (a/k/a “Lucky”) has been a fugitive on HSI’s Most Wanted list since 2021.  As one of the founding members of the MS-13 street gang, Jandres-Parada is alleged to be responsible for ordering acts of violence against gang rivals, law enforcement, and civilians alike.  However, Jandres-Parada’s reign of violence came to an end when he was arrested in a joint operation by HSI and FBI,” said HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo.  “With the apprehension of one of HSI’s most wanted, I commend HSI New York, our Long Island Division, and our law enforcement partners for their steadfast commitment and resolve to securing justice for the countless victims whom have been impacted by MS-13’s violence.”

As set forth in the indictment and related court filings, Jandres-Parada and his co-defendants are part of MS-13’s command and control structure, consisting of the Ranfla Nacional, Ranfla en Las Calles, and Ranfla en Los Penales. They play significant leadership roles in the organization’s operations in El Salvador, Mexico, the United States, and throughout the world.  In total, 27 of the highest-ranking leaders of MS-13 have been charged in the Eastern District of New York in this indictment and the related indictment of United States v. Arevalo-Chavez, et al.

As further alleged, in approximately 2002, Jandres-Parada, his co-defendants, and other MS-13 leaders began establishing a highly-organized, hierarchical command and control structure as a means to effectuate their decisions and enforce their orders, even while in prison.  They directed acts of violence and murder in El Salvador, the United States and elsewhere, established military-style training camps for MS-13 members and obtained military weapons such as rifles, handguns, grenades, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and rocket launchers.  Further, beginning in approximately 2012, Jandres-Parada and other members of the Ranfla Nacional negotiated with officials from the government of El Salvador (GOES) to obtain benefits and concessions from the government.  In order to extort those benefits and concessions, MS-13 engaged in public displays of violence to threaten and intimidate civilian populations, target GOES law enforcement and military officials, and manipulate the electoral process in El Salvador.

Additionally, as alleged, the Ranfla Nacional directed the expansion of MS-13 activities around the world, including the United States and Mexico, where Jandres-Parada and other high-ranking leaders were sent to organize operations, make connections to obtain narcotics and firearms from Mexican drug cartels such as the Zetas, Gulf Cartel, Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) and Sinaloa Cartel, and engage in human trafficking and smuggling. The Ranfla Nacional also directed MS-13’s large membership in the United States to engage in criminal activities, such as drug trafficking and extortion to raise money to support MS-13’s terrorist activities in El Salvador and elsewhere.  Jandres-Parada, who previously resided in the Los Angeles area before being deported to El Salvador, played a key role coordinating communication and criminal activity between the Ranfla Nacional and MS-13 leaders in the United States, Mexico and elsewhere.

Finally, the Ranfla Nacional and MS-13’s transnational leadership structure is alleged to have directed members in the United States to commit acts of violence to further its goals and implement rules enabling MS-13 to entrench itself in parts of the United States, including within the Eastern District of New York where, under the defendants’ leadership and rules, MS-13 has committed murders, attempted murders, assaults, kidnappings, drug trafficking, extortion of individuals and businesses, and obstruction of justice, and has sent dues and the proceeds of criminal activity by wire transfer to MS-13 leaders in El Salvador.  For example, this Office’s Long Island Criminal Division has prosecuted hundreds of MS-13 leaders, members and associates for carrying out more than 70 murders in the Eastern District of New York between 2009 and the present.

One of Jandres-Parada’s co-defendants, Cesar Humberto Lopez-Larios, also known as “El Grenas de Stoners” and “Oso de Stoners,” and two related defendants from the Arevalo-Chavez indictment, Jorge Alexander De La Cruz, also known as “Cruger de Peatonales,” and Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales, also known as “Veterano de Tribus,” remain at large.  Members of the public with information concerning their whereabouts are strongly encouraged to contact the FBI’s toll-free MS-13 tip line, 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713), or HSI’s tip line at (866) 347-2423 or https://www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form.  Together, FBI and HSI have offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the fugitives. 

These charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.  If convicted, Jandres-Parada faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

This case was brought by Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV), which was created to combat MS-13, led by Assistant United States Attorney John J. Durham of the EDNY, and comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the District of New Jersey; the Northern District of Ohio; the District of Utah; the District of Massachusetts; the Eastern District of Texas; the Southern District of New York; the Southern District of Florida; the Eastern District of Virginia; the Southern District of California; the District of Nevada; the District of Alaska; and the District of Columbia, as well as the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division.  Additionally, the FBI; HSI; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the USMS; the U.S. Bureau of Prisons; and the United States Agency for International Development, Office of Inspector General have been essential law enforcement partners and spearheaded JTFV’s investigations.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John J. Durham, Paul G. Scotti, Justina L. Geraci, and Megan E. Farrell from the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division.

Newly Arrested Defendant in U.S. Custody:

FREDY IVAN JANDRES-PARADA (“Lucky de Park View” and “Lacky de Park View”)
Age:  47

Previously Arrested Defendant in U.S. Custody:

ELMER CANALES-RIVERA (“Crook de Hollywood”)
Age:  48

Fugitive Defendants:

CESAR HUMBERTO LOPEZ-LARIOS (“El Grenas de Stoners” and “Oso de Stoners”)
Age:   45

BORROMEO ENRIQUE HENRIQUEZ (“Diablito de Hollywood”)
Age:  45

EFRAIN CORTEZ (“Tigre de Park View” and “Viejo Tigre de Park View”)
Age:  54

RICARDO ALBERTO DIAZ (“Rata de Leewards” and “Mousey de Leewards”)
Age:  51

EDUARDO ERAZO-NOLASCO (“Colocho de Western” and “Mustage de Western”)
Age:  51

EDSON SACHARY EUFEMIA (“Speedy de Park View”)
Age:  49

JOSE FERNANDEZ FLORES-CUBAS (“Cola de Western”)
Age:  49

LEONEL ALEXANDER LEONARDO (“El Necio de San Cocos”)
Age:  44

JOSE LUIS MENDOZA-FIGUEROA (“Pavas de 7-11” and “Viejo Pavas de 7-11”)
Age:  59

HUGO ARMANDO QUINTEROS-MINEROS (“Flaco de Francis”)
Age:  51

SAUL ANTONIO TURCIOS (“Trece de Teclas”)
Age:  45

ARISTIDES DIONISIO UMANZOR (“Sirra de Teclas”)
Age:  46

E.D.N.Y. Docket No.: 20-CR-577 (JMA)

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Man Charged in $1.49 Million Scam Involving Bitcoin ATM Deposits and Bulk Gold Purchases; Victim is Retiree who Lost Life Savings

Source: US FBI

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – April 18, 2024

SAN DIEGO – Xilin Sun made his first appearance in federal court today to face charges that he participated in a multinational fraud conspiracy that targeted a 70-year-old retiree from Carlsbad who was tricked into handing over $1.335 million. 

According to the complaint, the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force learned of the fraud scheme after the victim reported to Carlsbad police that she was duped over a period of months by fraudsters posing as government, bank and tech-support employees. Specifically, she said she was using her computer when a pop-up window appeared, advising her to call for help because her computer had been hacked.

When she made the call, she was transferred through a series of co-conspirators pretending to work in tech support who told her to download software on her computer. She was also told her personal identifying and bank account information were compromised and was subsequently referred to co-conspirators posing as employees from her financial institutions. The victim was then told she needed to “secure” her assets. At the direction of someone posing as a bank employee, she deposited approximately $55,700 into Bitcoin ATMs located in North County San Diego.

The complaint further describes how once the scammers discovered the victim had substantial savings, they convinced her she could safeguard her funds by obtaining gold bars and sending them to the U.S. treasury, which would create a locker under her name. Over the course of two months, the victim sent approximately $1,335,000 via three separate wire transfers to a precious metal business located in San Marcos, California. Once each of the wire transfers were completed, the victim was instructed to pick up the purchased precious metals—consisting of mostly gold—and to package them. The victim was then directed to hand the package over to an individual under the false pretense that it was being “secured” for safekeeping. In reality, the victim was scammed out of her life savings. 

According to the complaint, in February 2024, the scammers reached out to the victim yet again and instructed her to purchase $100,000 worth of additional gold. This time, however, the victim contacted the FBI, which set up a controlled delivery of a package made to look like it contained $100,000 in gold.   

The complaint described how the victim met with one of the conspirators outside a bank in Carlsbad. After handing the package to the conspirator, task force agents followed the first conspirator, who traveled approximately two miles before handing the package to a second conspirator, later identified as defendant Xilin Sun. 

Sun was stopped by the California Highway Patrol, the complaint said. In Sun’s vehicle, investigators located the fake gold package and the victim’s receipt. Agents also located additional evidence linking Sun to the victim, including photos of the fake gold the victim had sent to the conspirators over the phone, a copy of an invoice, and the receipt for the gold.

“If you think you may have been scammed, report it immediately,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “These schemes are organized by sophisticated global networks with the ability to fool even the most savvy computer users. But if victims report quickly, we have a better chance of catching the scammers and retrieving stolen money.”

“Thousands of people fall victim to elder fraud every year. Many do not report the fraud because they are embarrassed or afraid; however, the best course of action is to report scams as early as possible,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge John Kim. “The San Diego Elder Justice Task Force is dedicated to relentlessly pursuing criminals who prey on innocent individuals for personal gain.”

This case was investigated by the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force and its member agencies, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, Carlsbad Police Department, San Diego Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). You can also report fraud to any local law enforcement agency or on the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

The FBI requests victims report:

  • The name of the person or company that contacted you.
  • Methods of communication used, including websites, emails, and telephone numbers.
  • Any bank account number(s) to which you wired funds and the recipient name(s).
  • The name and location of the metal dealer company and the account to which you wired funds, if you were instructed to buy precious metals.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari.

DEFENDANT                                               Case Number 24MJ1502-BLM                               

Xilin Sun                                                         Age: 35                                   Ontario, California

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349

Criminal Forfeiture – Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 981(a)(1)(C), 982(a)(2)(A), and Title 28, U.S.C., Section 2461(c)

Maximum Penalties: Thirty years in prison; $1 million fine

AGENCIES

Federal Bureau of Investigation

San Diego Elder Justice Task Force

Carlsbad Police Department

California Highway Patrol

San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
San Diego Police Department

*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

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Fresno Man with Prior Fraud Conviction Pleads Guilty to Running a $4.2 Million Fraud Scheme Through His Technology Startup

Source: US FBI

FRESNO, Calif. — Royce Newcomb, 62, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud and money laundering charges today for a long-running fraud scheme where he stole $4.2 million from investors, lenders, and the federal government, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

According to court documents, from 2017 through 2022, Newcomb owned Strategic Innovations, which was a technology startup company that purported to make smart home and business products meant to stop package theft, prevent weather damage to packages, and make it easier for emergency responders and delivery services to find homes and businesses. Newcomb developed prototypes of his products and received local and national media attention for them. For example, Time Magazine included his eLiT Address Box & Security System, which used mobile networks to pinpoint home and business locations, on its Best Inventions of 2021 list.

Newcomb made several false representations to his investors to deceive and cheat them out of their money. The false representations included that he had been awarded a grant by the National Science Foundation and that he would use the investors’ money to further develop and bring his products to market. That was not true. Instead, Newcomb used the money to pay for gambling, a Mercedes and Jaguar, and a mansion. He also used the money to pay for refunds to other investors who wanted out, and to pay for new, unrelated projects without the investors’ authorization.

During this period, Newcomb also received a fraudulent COVID-19 loan for more than $70,000 from the Small Business Administration and fraudulent loans for more than $190,000 from private lenders. He lied about Strategic Innovations having hundreds of thousands and even millions in revenue to get these loans.

Newcomb was previously convicted federally in 2011 for running a real estate fraud scheme in Sacramento. He was sentenced to more than five years in prison for that offense, and he was on federal supervised release for that offense when he committed the offenses charged in this case.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Barton and Jeffrey Spivak are prosecuting the case.

Newcomb is scheduled to be sentenced on May 5, 2025. Newcomb faces maximum statutory penalties of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the wire fraud charge, and 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the money laundering charge. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

This effort is part of a California COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force operation, one of five interagency COVID-19 fraud strike force teams established by the U.S. Department of Justice. The California Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources in the Eastern and Central Districts of California and focuses on large-scale, multistate pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces use prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. 

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FBI Sacramento Offers 25 Tips to Defend Against Cyber Crime This Holiday Season

Source: US FBI

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Sacramento Field Office is providing 25 tips to help residents of Northern and Central California stay safe while navigating the online environment this holiday season. The internet conveniently puts the world at our fingertips, but that connectivity can leave us vulnerable to cybercriminals who develop schemes to steal our money.

“Every person should be aware of how cybercriminals are targeting the American public and have a good defensive plan to stay safe while online,” said Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel of the FBI Sacramento Field Office. “Our goal is to empower the public to thwart cybercriminals’ attempts but we also encourage the public to get more information and report cybercrime to ic3.gov.”

In 2023, The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 880,418 complaints, with potential losses exceeding $12.5 billion. This is a nearly 10% increase in complaints received and represents a 22% increase in losses as compared to 2022.

Awareness and prevention are essential for a good defense against cybercriminals. To keep your holidays happy, the following 25 tips will help you and your family defend against cyber criminals:

1) There is no substitute for password security. Use unique, complex passwords for each account – using a password management tool, when possible – and secure accounts with multi-factor authentication, when available.

2) If you receive a device with a factory-set password for the holidays, reset the password with a unique, complex password.

3) Never store your credit card info online. The convenience is not worth potential compromise of your account.

4) Scrutinize all URL addresses and email addresses. Criminals often use addresses that are close to legitimate accounts to confuse potential victims.

5) Ignore unsolicited emails, texts, and calls. Criminals spam multiple accounts and numbers in the hope of hooking victims. When in doubt, contact the known, legitimate creditor, business, bank, or shipper using the numbers on your statements or official websites. Do not call numbers offered during unsolicited communication.

6) Never post travel plans or photos of tickets online. These posts offer information about your absence from your home and criminals can steal information from the bar codes of tickets. Post comments and photos when you get home.

7) Cross-check charities prior to donating. To ensure your money serves people truly in need and not someone taking advantage of your goodwill, ensure the charity is a registered nonprofit organization.

8) Be careful what you click. Clicks can initiate downloads of malware or send you to a false website.

9) Be cautious about what you download. Some apps may provide a criminal with more access to your device than you may realize.

10) Beware of too good to be true offers on hard-to-find goods on unfamiliar sites. These sites may be interested in your credit card information, not your business.

11) Do not buy animals online from distant, unregistered breeders. Cross-check the breeder’s information with breeders’ associations to determine legitimacy. The animal you may think you are purchasing may not exist and may never be delivered.

12) Never make a large purchase for delivery such as a vehicle sight-unseen on the internet. Criminals may make false claims about a vehicle that may not exist and its alleged delivery to steal your money.

13) Beware of purchasing online vouchers, gift cards, and tickets through social media or third-party auction sites.

14) When purchasing gift cards from a rack, carefully inspect the gift card to ensure it has not been tampered with in any way.

15) Be cautious of work-from-home or secret shopper job offers. In some cases, criminals are using these offers to steal your personal information or trick you into making gift card or banking transactions.

16) Beware of remote money management jobs that involve receiving and redistributing funds. You may be an unwitting participant in a criminal scheme, acting as a money mule.

17) Completing a transaction with a gift card is like completing it with cash. It is untraceable, unsecured, and cannot be recovered. Beware of anyone who asks you to obtain gift cards to complete a transaction or pay a fee.

18) When dating online, never send money to anyone you have not met in real life for any reason. Criminals often leverage dating sites to exploit well-meaning but vulnerable victims.

19) Be cautious with cryptocurrency investment schemes, especially those requiring an application download promoted by someone you recently met.

20) Beware of individuals who claim to be located overseas and need your assistance with sending or receiving money on their behalf.

21) Ignore pop-up messages or unsolicited phone calls from individuals purporting to be law enforcement or tech support. Do not give anyone remote access to your computer.

22) Locking your credit is free and can prevent someone from opening a credit account in your name without your knowledge.

23) Always hang up on calls purporting to be law enforcement that involves any form of financial transaction. Law enforcement will not demand fines to be paid over the phone or for you to open accounts to transfer money into.

24) Scrutinize social media posts before sharing them. Your post may legitimize a criminal’s fake charity or business post for your network.

25) Always report suspected scams to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov.

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) provides a portal for reporting cybercrime, offers public service announcements regarding current cybercrime concerns, and collects data regarding cybercrime. When the individual complaints are combined with other data, the FBI connects complaints, investigates reported crimes, tracks trends and threats, and, in some cases, even freezes stolen funds. The IC3 also shares reports of crime throughout its vast network of FBI field offices and law enforcement partners.

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Madera Pharmacist Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison for Illegally Trafficking Hundreds of Thousands of Opiate Pills

Source: US FBI

FRESNO, Calif. — Ifeanyi Vincent Ntukogu, 49, of Fresno, was sentenced today to seven years and three months in prison for illegally distributing oxycodone and hydrocodone, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

Ntukogu was a pharmacist in Madera who dispensed more than 450,000 oxycodone and hydrocodone pills based on fraudulent prescriptions, all in exchange for cash.

“This defendant displayed a blatant disregard for public safety and the law,” U.S. Attorney Talbert said. “It took the effort of agents, investigators, undercover officers, and medical professionals to bring an end to this illicit prescription-writing racket. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue our pursuit of those who fuel the opioid epidemic for their own personal benefit.”

“As a licensed pharmacist, Mr. Ntukogu was trusted to dispense medications safely, supporting positive health outcomes. He intentionally exploited his trusted role, dispensing hundreds of thousands of fraudulently prescribed oxycodone and hydrocodone pills, knowing his greed-fueled actions would put opioids in the hands of drug dealers and could cause grave harm to the public. Working closely with our state and federal law enforcement partners, we dismantled this operation and held those who chose profit over public safety accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel, who leads the FBI Sacramento field office.

“Ntukogo thought he could outsmart the system by rejecting red flag prescriptions all while conducting drug deals on the side for cash. His illicit scheme led to the distribution of nearly half a million highly addictive opioids in Tennessee, Texas and beyond; fueling the fire of prescription drug misuse and endangering American lives,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris. “This lengthy sentence underscores the serious consequences for medical practitioners who place profits above people. DEA will continue to work with our counterparts to investigate, arrest and prosecute individuals who abuse their positions and threaten public safety.”

According to court records, from December 2014 through November 2018, Ntukogu dispensed more than 450,000 oxycodone and hydrocodone pills based on fraudulent prescriptions delivered to him by his co-conspirators and co-defendants in the case, Kelo White and Donald Pierre. The prescriptions were from more than 10 different physicians whose signatures were forged.

Ntukogu reviewed each prescription and rejected the ones that he believed regulators may deem suspicious. For example, he rejected prescriptions that were supposedly written by certain doctors or that were written for individuals who were having prescriptions filled at other pharmacies because he believed those prescriptions may raise red flags.

Ntukogu dispensed the pills through his New Life Pharmacy in Madera. Upon doing so, he required cash payments from White and Pierre and increased the price that he charged over time. White and Pierre then illegally sold the pills in Tennessee, Texas, and elsewhere.

Ntukogu received hundreds of thousands of dollars for his participation in the scheme. His sentence was also enhanced because he used his special skills as a pharmacist to help commit the crime.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the California Department of Health Care Services. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Antonio Pataca and Joseph Barton prosecuted the case.

The case was investigated under the DOJ’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about OCDETF, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.

This case was also part of the DOJ’s Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), which is a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers.

White is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 24, 2025. He faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

Pierre, the remaining defendant in the case, was previously convicted and sentenced to nine years and four months in prison.

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Fresno Man Sentenced for Embezzling More Than $1.5 Million From His Employer in Nearly Decade-Long Scheme

Source: US FBI

FRESNO, Calif. — Gabriel Ruiz De Chavez, 47, of Fresno, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley to two years and nine months in prison for a multiyear embezzlement scheme and ordered to pay over $1.5 million in restitution, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

In July 2024, Ruiz De Chavez pleaded guilty to wire fraud. According to court documents, from 2004 to 2020, Ruiz De Chavez worked as an operations manager for a Fresno-based trucking company. Between 2012 and 2019, Ruiz De Chavez used his position to generate fake invoices, purportedly created by genuine vendors for goods and services. He presented these fake invoices and corresponding checks made out to the real vendors with his employer’s signature. He would then deposit the checks into his own personal bank account.

Once in his personal bank account, Ruiz De Chavez used the funds to pay for personal expenses including credit card payments, cash withdrawals, mortgage payments, vacations, and car loans. He was able to continue the scheme without notice because of the trusted position he held at the company. Ruiz De Chavez created more than 600 fake invoices and checks, causing $1,561,000 to be transferred into his account from his employer.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple prosecuted the case.

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United States Obtains Consent Decree with Kings County Man for Alleged Mail and Wire Fraud

Source: US FBI

FRESNO, Calif. — The United States has entered a consent decree with Dale Lake of Hanford to resolve a lawsuit brought by the United States pursuant to the Anti-Fraud Injunction Statute, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced today.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, alleged that Lake was a “money mule” who was facilitating a mail and wire fraud scheme that primarily victimized senior citizens. According to the complaint, Lake received funds or gift cards obtained via fraud, then transmitted those funds to accomplices in Jamaica. Other participants in the fraud scheme contacted potential victims; falsely claimed that those victims had won a lottery, sweepstakes, or prize; and induced victims to transmit money to Lake, supposedly in order to receive the falsely promised winnings.

The consent decree announced today, approved by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston, permanently prohibits Lake from assisting, facilitating, or participating in any prize promotion fraud or any money transmitting business. The decree also authorizes the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) to monitor Lake’s incoming mail for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the decree.

“Money mules facilitate fraud against vulnerable populations,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will hold accountable anyone who engages in schemes to defraud the public. Our office is committed to educating the public about how fraudsters use money mules to receive and transfer money to third parties.”

“Postal Inspectors will continue to use all the tools of law enforcement, including civil remedies, to protect the public from fraud schemes employing money mules,” said Inspector in Charge Stephen M. Sherwood of the USPIS San Francisco Division.

This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the USPIS. It is part of a larger effort by the Justice Department, USPIS, FBI, and other federal law enforcement agencies to identify, disrupt, and prosecute networks of individuals who transmit funds from fraud victims to international fraudsters. Such fraudsters rely on money mules to facilitate a range of fraud schemes, including those that predominantly impact older Americans, such as lottery fraud, romance scams, and grandparent scams, as well as those that target businesses or government pandemic funds. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Fuentes handled this case for the United States.

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California Man Arrested for Assaulting Law Enforcement and Other Charges During January 6 Capitol Breach

Source: US FBI

          WASHINGTON – A California man has been arrested for allegedly assaulting law enforcement and other charges related to his alleged conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His alleged 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.

          Dane Christoffer Thompson, 45, of Granite Bay, California, is charged with felony offenses of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and civil disorder.

          In addition to the felonies, Thompson is charged with five 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, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings.

          The FBI arrested Thompson on Nov. 22, 2024, in California, and he will make his initial appearance today in the Eastern District of California.

          According to court documents, on the morning of Jan. 6, 2021, Thompson attended the “Stop the Steal Rally” in Washington, D.C., near the National Mall. After the rally, Thompson walked with a large crowd along Pennsylvania Avenue toward the U.S. Capitol building. Thompson initially arrived on the Capitol’s West Front and moved through the crowd to the front of the mob, where police officers had arranged bicycle rack barricades near the Inaugural Stage.

          Open-source images and videos captured Thompson directly in front of these barricades, adjacent to a media tower that had been erected for the upcoming presidential inauguration. Here, Thompson allegedly joined with other rioters as they attempted to bypass police, the barricades, and physically interfere with police. Open-source video footage captured Thompson as he grabbed a bike rack at the front of the police line and wrestled it away from an officer.

          At approximately 2:28 p.m., the police line on the West Plaza collapsed after rioters overcame officers, forcing officers to fall back toward the Capitol building. It is alleged that Thompson then surged forward with other rioters, moved past a police barricade, and grabbed the right arm of a police officer. As Thompson moved past police, he tripped and fell over a step. Another rioter shoved a police officer backward, who then fell over Thompson’s body on the ground. Moments later, it is alleged that Thompson stood up and lunged at police, forcing officers to use their batons to repel the attack.

          These actions did not repel Thompson, who then proceeded to turn around and, with another rioter’s assistance, drove his back into a police officer, pushing the officer toward the Capitol and against the side of an elevated platform on the West Plaza. Body-worn camera footage then captured Thompson reaching toward a police officer before being grabbed by a Capitol Police officer.

          Police eventually retreated from this area and gathered in a passageway that led from the Lower West Terrace – where the inaugural stage was being built – to the interior of the Capitol building known as the Tunnel. The Tunnel was the site of some of the most violent attacks against law enforcement on January 6th.  At approximately 2:56 p.m., video footage captured Thompson entering the Tunnel as other rioters hurled objects at officers, including a large construction marker. It is alleged that Thompson then immediately joined rioters in a coordinated effort to break through the police line by rocking their bodies and using their collective force to push against the officers in the Tunnel.

          At approximately 3:00 p.m., Thompson helped pass a police riot shield from the entrance of the Tunnel to other rioters. He then moved to the front of the crowd in the Tunnel and participated in another concerted “heave-ho” push by the mob against the police. Court documents say that Thompson participated in this coordinated push for several minutes and, at approximately 3:05 p.m., stopped shoving, turned around, and exited the Tunnel.

          This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.

          This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Sacramento and Washington Field Offices. Thompson was identified as AFO (Assault on Federal Officer) #292 on the FBI’s seeking information images. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

          In the 46 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,561 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 590 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.

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

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Tulare Man Sentenced to Over Five Years in Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking

Source: US FBI

Aaron Iribe, 35, of Tulare, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta to five years and 10 months in prison and for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, on July 27, 2020, Iribe coordinated the delivery of 16 pounds of methamphetamine to an undercover officer. The methamphetamine was seized from a vehicle driven by Iribe’s co-defendant, Daniel Lopez. The undercover officer arranged to purchase 20 pounds of methamphetamine for $80,000 from Iribe’s Mexico-based co-conspirator.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT). Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer is prosecuting the case.

Co-defendant Daniel Lopez pleaded guilty on Aug. 8, 2024, and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 19, 2024.

This prosecution is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. The Sacramento Strike Force is a co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The specific mission of the Sacramento Strike Force is to identify, investigate, disrupt, and dismantle the most significant drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) shipping narcotics, firearms, and money through the Eastern District of California, thereby reducing the flow of these criminal resources in California and the rest of the United States. The Sacramento Strike Force leads intelligence-driven investigations targeting the leadership and support elements of these DTOs and TCOs operating within the Eastern District of California, regardless of their geographic base of operations.

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Madera Man Previously Convicted in Washington D.C. for January 6 Capitol Breach Offenses Sentenced in Fresno for Illegally Possessing Firearms and Ammunition

Source: US FBI

FRESNO, Calif. — Benjamin Martin, 46, of Madera, was sentenced today to three years and two months in prison today for illegally possessing several firearms and ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced today.

Martin was convicted of the firearms charges following a one-day trial in Fresno. According to evidence presented at the trial and other court records, in September 2021, the FBI executed a search warrant at Martin’s residence in Madera and arrested him on charges filed by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia for the breach of the United States Capitol that occurred on Jan. 6, 2021. During the search, the FBI found eight firearms, including an AR‑15‑style rifle, multiple high-capacity magazines for the AR-15, and more than 500 rounds of ammunition. Martin was prohibited from possessing these items because of his prior domestic violence conviction, and resulting restraining order, for choking his then girlfriend and dragging her back into the house after she tried to flee.

Shortly after his arrest, Martin was caught on a recorded jail call where he instructed his current fiancée to lie to authorities and tell them that the firearms seized from his residence belonged to her and her father and that he did not know about them. She agreed to do so. Martin received an enhancement to his sentence for this witness tampering.

Martin also recently went to trial in the Capitol breach case in Washington, D.C., where the evidence showed that he held a door to the Capitol open while officers tried to close it. He kept the door open so that other rioters could spray chemical irritants and throw objects at the officers. Martin was convicted on five counts.

This case was the product of an investigation by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Barton, Robert Veneman-Hughes, and Michael Tierney prosecuted the case.

Martin is scheduled to be sentenced in the Capitol breach case in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 20, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras. Martin faces additional imprisonment and fines in that case. The actual sentence will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

The press release for Martin’s conviction in the Capitol breach case can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/california-man-convicted-felony-and-misdemeanor-charges-actions-during-jan-6-capitol.