News

Fresh Mark, Inc, has entered into a Non-prosecution Agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio in connection with its hiring manager’s involvement in an identity theft scheme and subsequent obstruction of justice. 

A look back at the unit’s notable achievements in 2024.

A federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland, Ohio, has returned an indictment charging an Ohio man for sexual abuse of a person being held in police custody. According to the indictment, Damon K. Perry, 52, of Youngstown, sexually abused a female inmate under federal detention at the Mahoning County Jail on two dates in November 2023. 

Darmani Hawkins, 21, of Aurora, was sentenced to 60 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud; conspiracy to commit bank fraud; and mail theft as part of schemes to fraudulently obtain COVID-era state unemployment benefits and, separately, to steal checks from the mail, alter them, and deposit them. 

A look back at the division’s notable achievements in 2024. 

Ronald Rendon-Luna, 37, a Mexican national residing in Painesville, Ohio, has been sentenced to 151 months in prison after he pled guilty to engaging in a drug-trafficking conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and being an alien in possession of firearms. 

Timothy Hyatt, 36, of Akron, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of interference with commerce by means of robbery, and two counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

A federal court has entered a consent decree to prevent the Mt. Hope Auction Company from conducting business or exhibiting animals without a license. The Millersburg, Ohio company was a holder of a class B dealer license from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). However, its license renewal was denied due to failing two relicensing inspections and failure to schedule a third, and final, inspection. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio today unsealed a second superseding indictment against 18 members and associates of a Cleveland-based, violent street gang known as the Fully Blooded Felons or “FBF.” The defendants charged are alleged to have committed numerous federal crimes, including Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, kidnapping in aid of racketeering, assault in aid of racketeering, firearms violations, conspiracy, and drug trafficking. 

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio (USAO) has filed a civil complaint in forfeiture against 947,883 Tether (USDT) cryptocurrency, valued at approximately $947,883, in connection with a cryptocurrency fraud scam. 

Basheer Jones, 40, of Cleveland, Ohio, has been charged in a two-count information with conspiring to commit wire fraud and honest services fraud for using his role as a public official for personal financial gain by seeking to defraud multiple community stakeholders out of more than $200,000. He previously served as an elected Cleveland city council member representing Ward 7.

Seth Hoover, Age 39, of Republic, Ohio, has been sentenced to 35 years in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after being found guilty at a jury trial of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.