Latest news with #U.S.DistrictAttorney'sOffice
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Feds describe fentanyl bust as largest in U.S. history
The U.S. Department of Justice said cash and drugs, pictured here, were seized in Santa Fe and Albuquerque New Mexico in the country's largest ever fentanyl bust in April, 2025 (Photo courtesy U.S. District Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico) The U.S. government this week announced drug trafficking and conspiracy charges against 17 people — at least six in New Mexico — in what U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi is calling the 'largest fentanyl bust in our nation's history.' At a news conference on Tuesday in Washington D.C., U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico Ryan Ellison said prosecutors have filed conspiracy, illicit fentanyl distribution, firearms and immigration charges as a result of the bust. He also said the alleged drug trafficking organization is 'one of the largest and most dangerous fentanyl operations in United States history' — spanning New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Utah — and distributes drugs 'throughout the western United States.' 'We will not tolerate those who profit from poisoning American citizens,' Ellison said. Bondi said the organization is affiliated with the Sinaloa Cartel operating out of Mexico, and when authorities arrested its alleged leader, Heriberto Salazar Amaya, they found millions of dollars in cash and vehicles. She said he 'insulated himself' from the drugs, which agents found in Albuquerque, Phoenix and Utah. Asked for specifics on how the defendants were captured, Bondi said the investigation is ongoing and she won't reveal police sources or methods. In court records, two Drug Enforcement Administration special agents characterized three New Mexico defendants David Anesi, Vincent Montoya and Francisco Garcia as 'high-volume drug traffickers' in the Albuquerque area, and Phillip Lovato as a 'significant customer' in Santa Fe. They also named Roberta Herrera as Montoya's significant other 'who has been observed participating in drug transactions' with him, and allege that Misael Lopez-Rubio rented out a storage unit in Albuquerque to use as a stash location. DEA Acting Administrator Robert Murphy noted that the organization's drug distribution had 'probably caused' someone to die. Since 2018, New Mexico has experienced a dramatic increase in drug overdose deaths associated with prescription drug use and, more recently, use of illicit fentanyl, according to the state Department of Health. Overall, deaths in the state attributed to drug overdose have fallen in the last two years. Overall, authorities seized 11.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder; approximately $4.4 million in cash; approximately 79 pounds of methamphetamine; approximately 7.5 kilograms of cocaine; approximately 4.5 kilograms of heroin; approximately 41 firearms; and approximately 4.1 million fentanyl pills, according to court records. Ellison said in Albuquerque alone, police found 2.7 million fentanyl pills; 11.5 kilograms of 'concentrated fentanyl powder;' seven pounds of methamphetamine; 'multiple kilograms of heroin and cocaine;' 41 firearms; more than $600,000 in cash and 'numerous luxury vehicles.' 'When we catch you — all of these individuals, if convicted, we will put you behind bars,' Bondi said. 'There will be no negotiating, and we will lock you up for as long as humanly possible. We will not negotiate with those who are killing our family members including brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, parents, friends.' Bondi said six of the people charged are living in the U.S. unlawfully. A detention order for Lopez-Rubio indicates that he will be held until trial, in part, because he lacks legal status in the U.S. and is subject to removal or deportation after any prison sentence. When asked how she's deciding whether to prosecute or deport any defendants who lack U.S. citizenship, Bondi said it's based on their potential prison sentences, if they're convicted. 'I want them to stay in our prisons as long as possible,' Bondi said. 'There's a very big risk — we all know — releasing someone, especially to Mexico. Sending them back to Mexico, who knows, they could attempt to get through our borders. Not under Donald Trump, I doubt. But they're also part of a major drug trafficking ring in Mexico, so sending them back to Mexico to continue on with their drug business isn't going to happen under this administration.' This article was first published by Source New Mexico, part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Source New Mexico maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Julia Goldberg for questions: info@
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Feds announce ‘largest fentanyl bust' in U.S. history
The U.S. Department of Justice said cash and drugs, pictured here, were seized in Santa Fe and Albuquerque New Mexico in the country's largest ever fentanyl bust in April, 2025 (Courtesy U.S. District Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico) The U.S. government on Tuesday announced drug trafficking and conspiracy charges against 17 people in what U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi is calling the 'largest fentanyl bust in our nation's history.' At a news conference in Washington D.C., U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico Ryan Ellison said prosecutors have filed conspiracy, illicit fentanyl distribution, firearms and immigration charges as a result of the bust. He also said the alleged drug trafficking organization is 'one of the largest and most dangerous fentanyl operations in United States history' — spanning New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Utah — and distributes drugs 'throughout the western United States.' 'We will not tolerate those who profit from poisoning American citizens,' Ellison said. Bondi said the organization is affiliated with the Sinaloa Cartel operating out of Mexico, and when authorities arrested its alleged leader, Heriberto Salazar Amaya, they found millions of dollars in cash and vehicles. She said he 'insulated himself' from the drugs, which agents found in Albuquerque, Phoenix and Utah. Asked for specifics on how the defendants were captured, Bondi said the investigation is ongoing and she won't reveal police sources or methods. The U.S. Department of Justice said cash and drugs, pictured here, were seized in Santa Fe, New Mexico in the country's largest ever fentanyl bust in April, 2025 (Courtesy U.S. District Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico) DEA Acting Administrator Robert Murphy noted that the organization's drug distribution had 'probably caused' someone to die. Overall, authorities seized 11.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder; approximately $4.4 million in cash; approximately 79 pounds of methamphetamine; approximately 7.5 kilograms of cocaine; approximately 4.5 kilograms of heroin; approximately 41 firearms; and approximately 4.1 million fentanyl pills, according to court records. Ellison said in Albuquerque alone, police found 2.7 million fentanyl pills; 11.5 kilograms of 'concentrated fentanyl powder;' seven pounds of methamphetamine; 'multiple kilograms of heroin and cocaine;' 41 firearms; more than $600,000 in cash and 'numerous luxury vehicles.' In Layton, Utah, authorities seized approximately $780,000 and a Dodge TRX Mammoth valued at approximately $150,000, according to a news release. 'When we catch you — all of these individuals, if convicted, we will put you behind bars,' Bondi said. 'There will be no negotiating, and we will lock you up for as long as humanly possible. We will not negotiate with those who are killing our family members including brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, parents, friends.' DOJ prosecuting, not deporting, defendants who aren't citizens Bondi said six of the people charged are living in the U.S. unlawfully. A detention order for Lopez-Rubio indicates that he will be held until trial, in part, because he lacks legal status in the U.S. and is subject to removal or deportation after any prison sentence. When asked how she's deciding whether to prosecute or deport any defendants who lack U.S. citizenship, Bondi said it's based on their potential prison sentences, if they're convicted. 'I want them to stay in our prisons as long as possible,' Bondi said. 'There's a very big risk — we all know — releasing someone, especially to Mexico. Sending them back to Mexico, who knows, they could attempt to get through our borders. Not under Donald Trump, I doubt. But they're also part of a major drug trafficking ring in Mexico, so sending them back to Mexico to continue on with their drug business isn't going to happen under this administration.' Source New Mexico is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Source New Mexico maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Julia Goldberg for questions: info@
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Longmeadow man pleads guilty in $19 million loan fraud scheme
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A Longmeadow businessman pleaded guilty in federal court to orchestrating a wide-ranging conspiracy to defraud lenders out of nearly $20 million through fraudulent real estate loan applications. Two women arrested after shoplifting at Hadley JC Penny Louis R. Masaschi, 59, entered guilty pleas to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. According to the U.S. District Attorney's Office, Masaschi and his wife, Jeanette Norman, who is also charged and awaiting trial, engaged in a scheme that involved falsifying rent rolls and forging lease agreements to fraudulently secure commercial loans for properties they controlled in Springfield and East Longmeadow, as well as Enfield, Conn. Prosecutors said the fraudulent activity occurred between May 2016 and November 2018 and involved approximately $50 million in loan applications, ultimately resulting in $19.3 million in losses to financial institutions and lenders. Masaschi and Norman operated through various limited liability companies, including LL Realty Developers, LLC, which owned a portfolio of commercial and residential properties. Authorities alleged that the pair misrepresented the income of these properties by fabricating tenant information and lease agreements to make the building appear more profitable, thereby deceiving lenders into issuing multi-million dollar loans. Masaschi faces a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison for each wire fraud charge, up to five years for the conspiracy charge, and a mandatory minimum of two years for the aggravated identity theft charge, which must run consecutively. He also faces significant fines and restitution requirements. Norman, who has pleaded not guilty, is currently scheduled to stand trial in October 2025 and has a scheduled sentencing date of July 23, 2025. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tarrant Co. concrete company agrees to pay $1.8M in COVID fund settlement
The Brief Tarrant County-based Speed Fab Crete agreed to pay the U.S. government $1.8 million to settle a lawsuit accusing them of fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 loans. The government claimed the company took out a $1.17 million loan while the company's owners were facing criminal charges, a violation of the Paycheck Protection Program. In 2020, the company's three owners and its chief financial officer pleaded guilty to hiring undocumented migrant workers. A Tarrant County concrete company has agreed to pay back more than $1.8 million in fraudulently obtained COVID-19 funds, the U.S. District Attorney's Office said. The backstory Speed Fab Crete Corporation, a precast manufacturer in Kennedale, Texas, agreed to pay back more than $1.8 million to settle a lawsuit claiming it fraudulently received loans through the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program. Prosecutors claimed the company applied for, and received $1.17 million in loans, while the company's owners were facing criminal charges in violation of the program's rules. What they're saying "This office is committed to finding and recovering PPP funds that were obtained by ineligible recipients during the pandemic," Acting United States Attorney Chad E. Meacham said. "We will continue to investigate and take action as necessary to reclaim those funds on behalf of the American taxpayer." The lawsuit was filed in the District Court of Northern Texas under the whistleblower clause of the False Claims Act. The False Claims Act allows the government to go after persons that make false claims to the government for up to three times the amount of damages caused to the government. "This settlement highlights the enhanced efforts of the SBA, working with the Department of Justice, SBA's Office of Inspector General, and other Federal law enforcement agencies, as well as private individuals who have information about possible fraud in connection with PPP loans, to pursue those who violated PPP program requirements and holding them accountable," SBA General Counsel Wendell Davis said. In 2020, Speed Fab Crete agreed to pay the federal government $3 million in connection with a scheme to hire undocumented migrants illegally. The company's three owners, its chief financial officer and the owner of a staffing company all pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme. The company's CFO was later sentenced to three months in prison and fined $69,000. The Source Information in this article comes from the U.S. District Attorney's Office of Northern Texas. Information on the False Claims Act comes from the U.S. Department of Justice. Information about the 2020 hiring scheme comes from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Information on the 2020 sentencing and fine of Speed Fab Crete comes from the Department of Justice.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Yahoo
Man sentenced to 20 years for grooming, taking WA girl to Michigan home
The Brief A registered sex offender in Michigan was sentenced to 20 years for grooming and taking a Mount Vernon teen from her home. Keith Freerksen, 31, was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Seattle. The 20-year sentence will run concurrent to a 15-to-70 year state sentence in Michigan. SEATTLE - A man was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for grooming a 14-year-old girl online, taking her from her Mount Vernon home and bringing her back to his Michigan home. Keith Freerksen, 31, was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Seattle. Timeline Back in January 2024, law enforcement discovered that a 14-year-old girl was being transported via multiple Uber rides, purchased by an unknown person. Investigators eventually identified Freerksen, a registered sex offender in Michigan, as a potential suspect. Using license plate readers, law enforcement traced Freerksen's movements across the northern tier of the U.S., capturing his return trip through Idaho and Illinois in the days after the teen went missing. Through a search warrant from the FBI, the teen was recovered and Freerksen was arrested. He was charged with intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor and enticement of a minor. "What happened in this case is every parent's nightmare – a predator comes into the home via social media and computer screens and manipulates your child to run away," said U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. "This defendant secreted a child away, leaving a distraught family searching desperately for their loved one. When the victim should have been involved in normal teenage activities, the teen was instead manipulated and ensnared by the defendant." The victim's parents thanked law enforcement for finding and rescuing their child, saying, "I never imagined a predator would travel across the country to steal (my child)." The 20-year sentence will run concurrent to a 15-to-70 year state sentence in Michigan. Freerksen will also have to register as a sex offender again. The Source Information in this story is from the U.S. District Attorney's Office and FOX 13 Seattle reporting. Seattle mom beats 14-year-old son to death, causing over 1K wounds: docs Seattle high school principal on leave after DUI, reckless endangerment arrest First electric fire truck in WA unveiled in Redmond King County Metro purchase of 120 Teslas faces scrutiny as anti-Tesla sentiment in WA grows Could new tariffs cost Washington State $4.1B? What we know To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily Fox Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
