Two Defendants Plead Guilty in a Nationwide Racketeering Conspiracy Targeting the Elderly

Assistant U. S. Attorney Oleksandra “Sasha” Johnson (619) 546-9769 NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – March 9, 2022 SAN DIEGO – Two defendants charged in a nationwide “grandparent scam” have pleaded guilty to conspiracy…

State Agents ‘Raided’ Preschool And Interviewed 1-Year-Olds About Mask Policy

State Agents ‘Raided’ Preschool And Interviewed 1-Year-Olds About Mask Policy Laurel Duggan on March 9, 2022 California announced its plan to drop the state’s mask mandate for childcare centers and schools just…

Is that a snake in your pants? Border officers find 52 reptiles in man’s clothing

SAN DIEGO – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the San Ysidro port of entry thwarted a significant smuggling attempt after discovering 52 reptiles, tied up in small bags and hidden…

Stella Activates $71M in Funding for Women-led Startups, Launches National Oxytocin Tour

SAN DIEGO, March 4, 2022 — Stella, a San Diego-based organization that equips, champions and funds women-led startups, has reached a momentous milestone by helping to connect women-led startups with $71 million in…

Former Tungsten Heavy Powder & Parts CEO Arrested and Charged with Unlawful Exportation of Defense Articles including to The People’s Republic of China

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kareem A. Salem (619) 546-8904 and John Parmley (619) 546-7957 NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – March 4, 2022 SAN DIEGO – Joe Sery, former owner and chief executive officer of…

Vista Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining More than $300,000 in Unemployment Benefits

Assistant U. S. Attorneys Michael A. Deshong and Alicia Williams (619) 546-9290 NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY—March 4, 2022 SAN DIEGO – Darris Cotton of Vista pleaded guilty in federal court today to a…

Former El Cajon Tax Preparers Admit to Filing Hundreds of False Tax Returns

Assistant U. S. Attorneys Joseph J.M. Orabona (619) 546-7951 and Jennifer E. McCollough (619) 546-8773 NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – March 2, 2022 SAN DIEGO – Two former tax preparers based in El…

Lake Elsinore Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Bagman Role in Scheme to Defraud Elderly Victims with Threats of Arrest

LOS ANGELES – A Riverside County man was sentenced today to 108 months in federal prison for participating in an international fraud scheme in which he helped collect more than $550,000…

U.S. Marshals Offer up to $50,000 for Information on Former Marine Wanted for MurderFirst time in agency history fugitive debuts on list with $50K reward Washington, DC – The U.S. Marshals are…

Another ‘Fugitive of the Week’ Arrested Across the Country

Concord, NH – The U.S. Marshals – NH Joint Fugitive Task Force is happy to announce the arrest of federal fugitive, David Hall in San Diego, California on October 6, 2021. David…

Suspect in Burglary at Poway Weapons & Gear Charged with Federal Firearms Offenses

Assistant U. S. Attorneys Joseph Orabona (619) 546-7951 or Elizabet Brown (619) 546-8921 NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – March 1, 2022 SAN DIEGO – Jaime Angel Zamora was arraigned today in federal court…

CBP Officers Seize Meth Disguised as Onions

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at theOtay Mesa commercial facility discovered almost1,200 small packages of methamphetamine hiddenwithin a shipment of onions on Sunday. OTAY MESA, Calif. — U.S. Customs and Border…

Smugglers Caught In California With $3M Of Meth Disguised As Onions

American border authorities found $3 million of methamphetamine disguised as onions during an inspection in California, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). CBP officers referred a 46-year-old driver who claimed…

Founder of Fraudulent Cryptocurrency Charged in $2 Billion BitConnect Ponzi Scheme

Assistant U. S. Attorneys Daniel C. Silva, Mark W. Pletcher, Lisa Sanniti, and Carl Brooker NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – February 25, 2022 SAN DIEGO – A federal grand jury returned an indictment…

Prairie Grove Man Sentenced To 9 Years In Federal Prison For Drug Trafficking and Firearms Possession

FAYETTEVILLE – A Prairie Grove man was sentenced yesterday to 108 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Possession with Intent to distribute Methamphetamine. The…

Former Director of Finance for the La Jolla Music Society Admits to Embezzling Over Half a Million Dollars

Assistant U. S. Attorney Mark Conover (619) 546-6763 NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – February 23, 2022 SAN DIEGO – Chris Benavides of San Diego pleaded guilty in federal court today to wire fraud,…

Five Defendants Indicted for Pump-and-Dump Stock Fraud Scheme

Assistant U. S. Attorneys Aaron P. Arnzen (619) 546-8384 and Andrew J. Galvin (619) 546-9721 NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – February 17, 2022 SAN DIEGO – Five men from California, Nevada and Florida…

Guatemalan National is Extradited on International Cocaine Trafficking and Maritime Smuggling Charges

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari (619) 546-8402 NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – February 17, 2022 SAN DIEGO – Suspected drug trafficker Rafael Orlando Ramirez Barillas, a Guatemalan national who was extradited to the United…

Three Guatemalans Extradited to the United States on International Cocaine Trafficking Charges

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari (619) 546-8402 NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – February 17, 2022 SAN DIEGO – Three Guatemalan nationals who were extradited to the United States from Guatemala to face international cocaine…

Mexican Businessman Admits to Brokering Spyware Used to Monitor Political and Business Rivals

Assistant U. S. Attorney Sabrina L. Fève (619) 546-6786 NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – February 15, 2022 SAN DIEGO – Mexican businessman Carlos Guerrero pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he…

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