MARQUETTE, Mich. - U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Miles, Jr. announced today that Damon Ramone Belcher, 43, of Detroit, Michigan, Corrie Venta Ruth, 36, of Flint, Michigan, and Stephanie Rae Hatch, 41, of Lake Linden, Michigan, were sentenced to prison by U.S. District Judge R. Allan Edgar for their roles in...

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Lance Green, 36, formerly of Columbus, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to one count of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of murder in aid of racketeering. Green was scheduled to stand trial on July 11 in the second of three trials involving the organized criminal...

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Tysin L. Gordon, 30, of Columbus, was sentenced to 96 months in prison in connection with a racketeering case involving the organized criminal enterprise known as the Short North Posse. Benjamin C. Glassman, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Timothy J. Plancon, Special...

FRESNO, Calif. - Natalie Middleton, 30, of Clovis, pleaded guilty today to laundering proceeds from the sale of synthetic drugs, commonly known on the street as “spice,” Acting United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge John J. Martin announced. “Spice” refers to a...

FRESNO, Calif. - Patrick Mara, 36, of Bakersfield, a former detective with the Bakersfield Police (BPD), pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, Acting United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, between June 14, 2012, and October 2013...

FRESNO, Calif. - Walter Watts Jr., 47, of Madera, was sentenced on Monday by United States District Judge Anthony W. Ishii to 2 ½ years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, Acting United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in...

FRESNO, Calif. - Luis Fernando De La Rocha-Carlon, 26, of Stockton, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge John J. Martin and Acting United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert jointly announced the plea. According to...

SAN FRANCISCO - Kia Zolfaghari, King Edward Harris II, and Candelaria Dagandan Vazquez were named in a federal criminal complaint alleging that they conspired to run an illegal fentanyl pill manufacturing operation out of an apartment in the Sunset District of San Francisco, announced United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch...

COLUMBUS, Ohio - A United States District Court convicted five Short North Posse gang members of racketeering and murder today following a two-month trial. Robert B. Ledbetter, 37, Christopher A. Harris, 28, Rashad A. Liston, 26, Deounte Ussury, 31, and Clifford L. Robinson, 38, all of Columbus, were convicted on...

FRESNO, Calif. - Damacio Diaz, 44, of McFarland, formerly a detective with the Bakersfield Police Department, pleaded guilty today to bribery, possession and attempted possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and making and subscribing a false income tax return, Acting United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert and Drug Enforcement...