WASHINGTON—The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is warning the American public of a sharp increase in the trafficking of fentanyl mixed with xylazine. Xylazine, also known as “Tranq,” is a powerful sedative that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved for veterinary use. “Xylazine is making the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, fentanyl, even deadlier,” said Administrator […]
BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown this week, in partnership with the Maryland Department of the Environment, announced a proposed settlement (consent decree) has been reached with freight carrier ABF Freight System, Inc. to resolve allegations that it violated requirements of the Clean Water Act (CWA) relating to industrial stormwater at locations across the country, including one located in […]
BALTIMORE, MD—A Maryland health care facility will pay more than $2 million to resolve a False Claims Act case regarding the billing of services to Medicare and Medicaid. Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center, Inc., (“DCMC”), and Diagnostic Imaging Associates, LLC (“DIA”), both located in Lanham, have agreed to pay the United States $2,002,052.17 to resolve allegations that they violated […]
GREENBELT, MD—Two MS-13 gang members have pleaded guilty to racketeering and conspiracy charges. Hernan Yanes-Rivera, a/k/a “Recio,” 22, of Adelphi, and Agustin Eugenio Rivas Rodriguez, a/k/a “Terrible,” 25, of Silver Spring, pleaded guilty this week to their participation in a racketeering conspiracy, including murder, related to their activities as part of the MS-13 gang. The guilty pleas were announced by […]
GREENBELT, MD—A Maryland man has been convicted for preparing false tax returns. A federal jury this week convicted Ronald Eugene Watson, also known as Sabir Muhammad, 59, of Brandywine, on 23 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. The guilty verdict was announced by Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland; […]
BALTIMORE, MD—A Maryland MS-13 gang member has been sentenced to life in prison. U S. District Judge Paula Xinis this week sentenced Jose Domingo Ordonez-Zometa, a/k/a “Felon,” 33, of Landover Hills, to life in federal prison for racketeering and murder in aid of racketeering conspiracies, for committing murder in aid of racketeering, and for conspiracy to destroy and conceal evidence […]
BALTIMORE, MD—A previously convicted Baltimore County man has been sentenced to prison on child pornography charges. U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher has sentenced August Candeloro III, a/k/a “Nick,” 35, of Catonsville, to 15 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for a federal charge of possession of child pornography. The sentence was announced by United States Attorney […]
GREENBELT, MD—Two men are facing a federal indictment in Maryland for an arson conspiracy targeting convenience stores. A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Stephen Kennedy, 33, of Temple Hills, Maryland, and Donnell Kelly, 33, of Washington, D.C., for conspiracy to commit arson, arson affecting interstate commerce, commercial robbery, and use of a destructive device in furtherance of […]