News from August 2022


Alleged Russian Cryptocurrency Money Launderer Extradited to United States

News Release: Defendant Extradited from Greece to Face Charges Stemming from the Operation of BTC-e, an Illicit Bitcoin Exchange Alleged to Have Received Deposits Valued at Over $4 Billion


Four Defendants Indicted in Little Rock Mail Theft

News Release: LITTLE ROCKFour defendants have been indicted for their alleged involvement in stealing mail from mail receptacles. Byrannia Burks, 20, James Miller, 26, Kobe Powell, 24, and Eshawn Tucker, 21, all of Little Rock, have been charged by a grand jury with possession of stolen mail. Tucker and Burks were also charged with unlawful possession of a mail receptacle key.


Defendant Sentenced to More Than 18 Years in Multi-State Mother-Son Fraud Scheme Involving Identity Theft, Stolen Vehicles, and a Firearm

News Release: FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA Quinae Shamyra Stephens, 41, of Douglasville, Georgia, was sentenced to more than 18 years in federal prison after she was convicted by a jury for multiple charges relating to a multi-state identity theft and fraud ring she was running with her son. Specifically, Stephens was ...


Leader of Lottery and Romance Fraud Scheme Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison

News Release: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that FAROUQ FASASI, 28, of Manchester, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 168 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in lottery and romance scams that defrauded primarily elderly victims across the country of millions of dollars.


Nigerian National Pleads Guilty to Role in Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme

News Release: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. A Nigerian national pleaded guilty today to receipt of stolen money in connection with a fraud and money laundering scheme that defrauded at least 200 victims, many of whom are elderly, of at least $2.5 million.


Operation Titan Fall Charges Thirteen In Central Florida Large-Scale Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

News Release: Orlando, Florida United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of two indictments charging 13 individuals in 2 drug conspiracies in the Orlando area. According to the redacted indictments, the below individuals are in custody and charged with conspiring with each other, and others, ...


Southfield Resident Sentenced In COVID-19 Fraud Scheme

News Release: DETROIT- Southfield resident Mykia King was sentenced today to 34 months in prison after having pleaded guilty earlier this year to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft arising out of a pandemic-related unemployment insurance fraud scheme, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.


Houston woman charged for helping others falsely apply for government assistance

News Release: HOUSTON A 22-year-old Houston resident is set to appear in federal court for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.


Two Men Convicted of Laundering Proceeds of a Business Email Compromise Scheme

News Release: ALEXANDRIA, Va. A federal jury convicted two individuals yesterday on charges of money laundering as part of a business email compromise (BEC) scheme.


Two Defendants Charged With Firearms And Narcotics Trafficking

News Release: Cesar Vasquez and Micky Colon Conspired to Traffic Narcotics and More Than 50 Firearms From Ohio to New York


St. Augustine Man Pleads Guilty To Remotely Deleting Contents Of His iPhone After Federal Agents Seized It During The Execution Of A Search Warrant

News Release: Jacksonville, Florida United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Gabriel Basart (33, St. Augustine) today pleaded guilty to destroying evidence with the purpose of preventing and impairing the United States lawful authority to take and search that evidence pursuant to a lawful search warrant. Basart faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.


Federal Jury Finds Man Guilty in Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme

News Release: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. After three days of trial, a federal jury convicted Abdul Inusah, 31, of Ghana, for his role in a Huntington-based scheme that defrauded individuals in multiple states through the use of false online personas.


Evansville Man Sentenced to 16 Months in Prison for Using his Accounting Position to Embezzle More than $87,000 from his Gibson County Employer

News Release: EVANSVILLE Patrick Garrett,33,ofEvansville, Indiana,was sentenced to 16 monthsin federal prison after pleading guilty tocharges of wire fraud, bank fraud and money laundering.


Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Structuring Financial Transactions

News Release: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. An Ohio man pleaded guilty today to structuring financial transactions to evade reporting requirements.


Ex-employee sentenced for stealing $284,000 from St. Louis County bank

News Release: ST. LOUIS The former assistant manager of a bank in Wellston, Missouri on Tuesday was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White to a year and a day in prison for stealing $284,000 in cash.


Spokane Man Sentenced to Probation for COVID-19 Relief Fraud

News Release: Spokane, Washington Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Roshon Edward Thomas, age 42, of Spokane, was sentenced to a 5-year term of probation in federal court for fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 relief funding for small businesses.


Tulsa Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Sending Emails Threatening to Kill President Biden

News Release: A Tulsa man was sentenced Monday in federal court for sending threatening emails to KOTV Channel 6 directed at President Joseph Biden and unnamed members of the Congress and their families, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.


Former Washington Woman Sentenced for Role in Forged Stimulus Check Conspiracy

News Release: Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Courtney Laparele Clark, age 35, formerly of Tacoma, Washington, was sentenced today by United States District Judge John M. Gerrard to a sentence of time served for Conspiracy to Pass and Utter Forged United States Treasury Checks and two counts ...


Batavia Woman And Buffalo Woman Both Going To Prison In Separate COVID Fraud Cases

News Release: ROCHESTER/BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Danielle Tooley, 37, of Batavia, NY, who was convicted of wire fraud, was sentenced to serve six months in prison and pay approximately $18,000 in restitution by Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.


Fort Myers Woman Sentenced For PPP Fraud

News Release: Fort Myers, Florida U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Edrica Leann Watson (40, Lehigh Acres) to 15 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for making a false statement to a financial institution. As part of her sentence, the court also entered an ...