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August 14, 2023 ¡ª Martin Leonel Perez Castro, also known as ¡°Richard,¡± pleaded guilty today in federal court in Brooklyn to conspiracy to distribute cocaine internationally, intending and knowing that the cocaine would be illegally imported into the United States. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Brian M. Cogan. Perez Castro, the commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) 30th Front, a group that operated in southwestern Colombia, was extradited to the Eastern District of New York in June 2022. When sentenced, he faces up to life in prison.

August 14, 2023 ¡ª John David was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to bribing Albert Morrison, a former school board president of Madison District Public Schools, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.

August 14, 2023 ¡ª A Union County contractor was arrested today for tax evasion, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

August 14, 2023 ¡ª Gholam ¡°Tony¡± Kowkabi and Karen Kowkab of Vienna, Virginia, pleaded guilty in federal court today to tax offenses relating to their failure to pay more than $1.35 million in taxes, arising from their operation of several restaurants in the Washington, D.C. area. Gholam Kowkabi also pleaded guilty to stealing more than $738,000 from the emergency small business relief funds his Georgetown restaurant¡ªRistorante Piccolo¡ªreceived during the COVID pandemic. As part of his plea, Mr. Kowkabi acknowledged having spent money, which was intended to help his business, on a waterfront condo in Ocean City, Maryland, as well as personal investments, vacations for his family, and college tuition for his child.

August 14, 2023 ¡ª Austin Martin Siampwizi has been arraigned on federal charges of concealment money laundering, money laundering conspiracy, and wire fraud.

August 15, 2023 ¡ª Today, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), in coordination with IRS Criminal Investigation (CI), issued a Notice to financial institutions calling attention to a concerning increase in state and federal payroll tax evasion and workers¡¯ compensation insurance fraud in the U.S. residential and commercial real estate construction industries. Every year, state and federal tax authorities lose hundreds of millions of dollars to these schemes, which are perpetrated by illicit actors primarily through banks and check cashers.

August 15, 2023 ¡ª U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Julie Dotton of Orchard Park, NY, pleaded guilty to willful failure to truthfully account for and pay over employment taxes before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

August 15, 2023 ¡ª A Certified Nurse Assistant who owns and operates a home health care company has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty to underreporting his income to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

August 15, 2023 ¡ª The United States Attorney¡¯s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Leidi M. Paulino owner of LP Multiservices, a tax preparation business located in Freeland, PA, pleaded guilty on Monday, August 14, 2023, before United States District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner, to aiding and assisting clients in the preparation and filing of false tax returns.

August 16, 2023 ¡ª Fourteen members of Minneapolis-based street gangs have been charged in federal court for various crimes including illegal possession of firearms, possession of machine guns, and fentanyl trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.