Repeat Federal Drug Trafficker and Girlfriend Sentenced to Prison

 

Two fentanyl and methamphetamine traffickers were sentenced to prison, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. 

Jason Mills, 47, of Hendersonville, N.C., was sentenced to 135 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Mills pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Mills was on federal probation for a federal cocaine trafficking conviction in Florida when he reoffended. His 10-year sentence will run at the expiration of his federal probation sentence for violating his probation. 

Stephanie Hope Lindsey, 40, of East Flat Rock, N.C., was ordered to serve 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Lindsey pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl. “Fentanyl is a highly addictive and deadly drug, and today’s sentences reflect our commitment to protecting lives and combating this scourge across communities in the western district,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson.

According to court documents and the sentencing hearing, law enforcement initiated an investigation into Mills for supplying fentanyl and methamphetamine in Henderson and Buncombe Counties. His girlfriend, Lindsey, was also involved in Mills’s drug trafficking activities. Between January and February 2024, Mills and Lindsey were involved in multiple drug transactions, selling fentanyl and methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. At times, Lindsey executed the drug transactions coordinated by Mills. Other times, Mills sold the drugs while Lindsey drove him to the agreed locations. Mills also handled some of the drug transactions on his own.

On February 12, 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at Mills’s residence in Asheville, seizing 86.38 grams of fentanyl, 87 grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale, and $2,000 in U.S. currency. On the same day, law enforcement also searched Mills’s vehicle, where they found two magnetic boxes in the engine compartment containing 69 multi-colored pills containing methamphetamine, and two baggies that contained fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Both defendants are in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility.

In making the announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Asheville Police Department for their investigation of the case. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case. 

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

New Yorkers for Parks - 2026 Daffodil Project registration is LIVE 🌼

 

Registration for the 2026 Daffodil Project is LIVE!

The wait is over! It's finally time register for the 2026 Daffodil Project. Sign up now and reserve free daffodil bulbs and native seed to plant in your community.    Join New Yorkers for Parks (NY4P) for the 25th anniversary of the Daffodil Project, a living memorial and volunteer effort, a celebration of New Yorkers championing parks equity in their communities, and a catalyst for civic engagement advancing NY4P's call for transformative investment in our city's parks.   See the full list of 2026 distributions:

Saturday, October 3 – Prospect Park Plaza West, Brooklyn  Sunday, October 4 – Union Square North Plaza, Manhattan  Saturday, October 10 – 34th Ave Open Street, Queens  Sunday, October 11 – Willowbrook Park, Staten Island  Sunday, October 11 – 58-03 Rockaway Blvd at RISE HQ, Far Rockway   Saturday, October 17 – A. Philip Randolph Square, Harlem  Sunday, October 18 – St. Mary’s Park, Bronx

Whether you're a longtime participant or a newcomer, we hope you'll join us in stewarding and advocating for parks and open spaces this fall!  Interested in tabling at a distribution? Reach out to kparkprice@ny4p.org! Register Now! Volunteer at a distribution! Every year, New Yorkers for Parks depends on volunteers to help with all aspects of Daffodil Project distribution events. Responsibilities are wide ranging and include bagging bulbs, checking in participants, and collecting petition signatures, and can be adjusted to accommodate individual interest and ability. We hope you'll join the bulb brigade in 2026! Sign up to Volunteer Support the Daffodil Project The 2026 Daffodil Project wouldn't be possible without the generous support of our donors. Your contributions help us distribute daffodils and native seeds in every borough, beautifying communities and mobilizing advocates in services of a greener, more resilient city. Please consider making a donation today. Your support makes a lasting impact. Donate Today

Join TeamJZ for a FREE Food Giveaway Friday, August 21

 

Friends and Neighbors,

A key component of my community initiatives is ensuring that we care for those who are food insecure.

I am once again proud to offer the Brady Court Tenants and surrounding community a FREE food giveaway on Friday, August 21, 2026 starting at 11:00AM, while supplies last.

Event Details:

When: Friday, August 21, 2026 

Time: 11:00AM until supplies last

Where: Brady Court Community Center (corner of Antin Place and Holland Avenue)

Please see the flyer below for additional details. I look forward to spending some time with you on Friday, August 21st. 

Yours truly,

John Zaccaro, Jr.

NYCHCC Hispanic Heritage Month - Pioneer Award

 

Become a Sponsor Today

For More Information about this event Contact Hilda at Hildah@nychcc.com or Call 212-348-2339

Council Member Eric Dinowitz - ACTION ALERT: Pied-à-terre Tax

 

New York City Council Member

ERIC DINOWITZ

Proudly serving the neighborhoods of Bedford Park, Kingsbridge, Riverdale, Norwood, Van Cortlandt Village, Spuyten Duyvil, Wakefield, and Woodlawn in 

Council District 11.277 West 231st, Bronx, NY 10463 · Tel: (718) 549 - 7300

ACTION ALERT:

Pied-à-terre Tax

Dear Neighbor:

The state recently passed a pied-à-terre tax, taxing those who own second homes in NYC worth more than $5 million. While I believe this tax is a reasonable way to raise money for critical city services–taxing wealthy non-New Yorkers–its rollout has been confusing.

Some New Yorkers received notices about the tax even though they do not own a second home, and extremely short deadlines have changed, adding to the confusion.

The City Council is holding a hearing on the rollout of the tax TOMORROW, August 18th at 1:00 pm. Sign up to testify here.

The administration has refused to send a representative to testify or answer questions. Your voice is more critical than ever. Sign up to testify here.

Sincerely,

Council Member Eric Dinowitz

ICE Arrests Illegal Alien Drug Trafficker With 126 Kilograms of Methamphetamine

 

This criminal illegal alien had previously been deported from the United States TWICE

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested a criminal illegal alien and convicted drug trafficker with 126 kilograms of methamphetamine.

On August 13, HSI Atlanta carried out a controlled delivery to a residence where Pedro Guadarrama-Loza, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, was observed retrieving the packages. When HSI Atlanta arrested Guadarrama-Loza, they also seized 126 kilograms of methamphetamine.

Pedro Guadarrama-Loza

Guadarrama-Loza’s criminal history includes a prior conviction for felony drug trafficking and a prior arrest for driving without a valid driver’s license in Georgia.

“This criminal illegal alien from Mexico was arrested with 126 kilograms of methamphetamine, has prior convictions for drug trafficking, and has already been deported from our country TWICE,” said a DHS Spokesperson. “Thanks to the hard work of the brave men and women of HSI, this drug trafficker is off our streets and will soon be removed from our country. He will no longer be able to peddle his poison on American streets and endanger American lives.”

Guadarrama-Loza claims to have illegally entered the United States through Texas, near Austin, in 2004. A Department of Justice (DOJ) Immigration Judge issued Guadarrama-Loza a final order of removal on May 8, 2008, and he was deported on May 15, 2008. He then claimed to have illegally re-entered the United States – a felony – at an unknown date through Texas, near Eagle Pass. He was deported for a second time by the Trump Administration on June 22, 2017. He then illegally entered the United States for a THIRD time at an unknown date and location.

New York Attorney General Letitia James today secured $6 million from three nursing homes in the Buffalo region, Safire Rehabilitation of Northtowns, Safire Rehabilitation of Southtowns, and Williamsville Suburban Nursing Home (the Safire homes), for submitting tens of thousands of fraudulent claims to Medicaid to boost their revenue. A joint investigation between the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York (WDNY) revealed that from July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2020, the Safire homes submitted false data that artificially increased their reimbursement rates from Medicaid, allowing them to earn millions of dollars more than they should have by filing fraudulent claims. Under settlements with OAG and WDNY, the Safire homes will repay a total of $9 million and implement new procedures to prevent false billing and ensure all residents get the proper services they need. “Nursing homes that commit financial fraud are stealing funds meant to provide care for our most vulnerable,” said Attorney General James. “The Safire homes used fraudulent data to rake in millions of dollars from Medicaid without regard for the needs of the residents they were supposed to be serving. My office has rooted out fraud and resident neglect in nursing homes throughout New York, and we will continue to investigate Medicaid fraud to protect New Yorkers.” “Medicare and Medicaid fraud drains taxpayer funds and weakens these vital government programs,” said U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York Michael DiGiacomo. “This settlement reinforces our commitment to safeguarding federal funds and ensuring seniors receive the care they deserve.” Nursing homes are required to submit data accurately reflecting the care required by their residents to the New York Department of Health (DOH). The DOH uses that data to calculate the nursing homes’ Medicaid reimbursement rates for all claims submitted within the following six months. The OAG’s investigation found that for years, the Safire homes falsely inflated the amount of rehabilitative services certain residents needed during periods that impacted their Medicaid reimbursement rates. During periods that did not impact the Medicaid reimbursement rates, the Safire homes reduced the amount of rehabilitation services provided to certain residents, regardless of their need. As a result of their fraud, the Safire homes received millions of dollars from Medicaid at inflated rates. Under the settlement announced today, the Safire homes admit wrongdoing and will pay $6 million to Medicaid, of which $3.6 million will go directly to New York. The remaining $2.4 million will be paid to the federal government. The Safire homes will also pay an additional $3 million to the federal government for defrauding Medicare. In addition, the facilities must adopt new policies and procedures to ensure that residents covered by Medicaid receive all the services they need and that services are properly documented to prevent future fraud. The OAG and WDNY began this investigation after a whistleblower filed a complaint in December 2020 under the qui tam provisions of the New York False Claims Act and the federal False Claims Act in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. The New York False Claims Act allows individuals to file actions on behalf of the government and share in any recovery. Reporting Medicaid Provider Fraud: MFCU defends the public by addressing Medicaid provider fraud and protecting nursing home residents from abuse and neglect. If an individual believes they have information about Medicaid provider fraud or about an incident of abuse or neglect of a nursing home resident, they can file a confidential complaint online or call the MFCU hotline at (800) 771-7755. If the situation is an emergency, please call 911. The MFCU investigation was conducted by Auditor-Investigator Rebecca Whitescarver, under the supervision of Regional Chief Auditor Mary Henry. Support was provided by Data Analytics Team members Si Lok Chao and Elise Roche. Chief Auditor Dejan Budimir supervised the audit and data analytics teams. The settlement was handled by Special Assistant Attorneys General Jill D. Brenner and Amanda L. Raimondi, under the supervision of Chief of Civil Enforcement Alee Scott and Buffalo Regional Director Paul C. Parisi. MFCU is led by Director Amy Held and Assistant Deputy Attorney General Thomas O’Hanlon. MFCU is part of the Division for Criminal Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General José Maldonado and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Meghan Faux. New York MFCU’s total funding for federal fiscal year (FY) 2026 is $70,793,651. Of that total, 75 percent, or $53,095,240, is awarded under a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $17,698,411 for FY 2026, is funded by New York State.

 

Pearish Pierre Pretty, 43, of Columbia, has been sentenced to more than 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. 

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Pretty was a major cocaine and methamphetamine supplier for a drug trafficking organization operating in the Columbia and Lexington County areas. Pretty was held responsible for distributing more than 18,000 grams of methamphetamine and 9,000 grams of cocaine between November 2022 and December 2024. 

Pretty has prior federal convictions for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Pretty committed the offenses while on federal supervise release.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Pretty to 250 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. 

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the City of Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case.

Attorney General James Secures $6 Million from Three Buffalo Nursing Homes for Years-Long Fraudulent Billing Scheme

 

New York Attorney General Letitia James today secured $6 million from three nursing homes in the Buffalo region, Safire Rehabilitation of Northtowns, Safire Rehabilitation of Southtowns, and Williamsville Suburban Nursing Home (the Safire homes), for submitting tens of thousands of fraudulent claims to Medicaid to boost their revenue. A joint investigation between the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York (WDNY) revealed that from July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2020, the Safire homes submitted false data that artificially increased their reimbursement rates from Medicaid, allowing them to earn millions of dollars more than they should have by filing fraudulent claims. Under settlements with OAG and WDNY, the Safire homes will repay a total of $9 million and implement new procedures to prevent false billing and ensure all residents get the proper services they need. 

“Nursing homes that commit financial fraud are stealing funds meant to provide care for our most vulnerable,” said Attorney General James. “The Safire homes used fraudulent data to rake in millions of dollars from Medicaid without regard for the needs of the residents they were supposed to be serving. My office has rooted out fraud and resident neglect in nursing homes throughout New York, and we will continue to investigate Medicaid fraud to protect New Yorkers.”

“Medicare and Medicaid fraud drains taxpayer funds and weakens these vital government programs,” said U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York Michael DiGiacomo. “This settlement reinforces our commitment to safeguarding federal funds and ensuring seniors receive the care they deserve.”

Nursing homes are required to submit data accurately reflecting the care required by their residents to the New York Department of Health (DOH). The DOH uses that data to calculate the nursing homes’ Medicaid reimbursement rates for all claims submitted within the following six months. The OAG’s investigation found that for years, the Safire homes falsely inflated the amount of rehabilitative services certain residents needed during periods that impacted their Medicaid reimbursement rates. During periods that did not impact the Medicaid reimbursement rates, the Safire homes reduced the amount of rehabilitation services provided to certain residents, regardless of their need. As a result of their fraud, the Safire homes received millions of dollars from Medicaid at inflated rates.

Under the settlement announced today, the Safire homes admit wrongdoing and will pay $6 million to Medicaid, of which $3.6 million will go directly to New York. The remaining $2.4 million will be paid to the federal government. The Safire homes will also pay an additional $3 million to the federal government for defrauding Medicare. In addition, the facilities must adopt new policies and procedures to ensure that residents covered by Medicaid receive all the services they need and that services are properly documented to prevent future fraud.

The OAG and WDNY began this investigation after a whistleblower filed a complaint in December 2020 under the qui tam provisions of the New York False Claims Act and the federal False Claims Act in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. The New York False Claims Act allows individuals to file actions on behalf of the government and share in any recovery.

Reporting Medicaid Provider Fraud: MFCU defends the public by addressing Medicaid provider fraud and protecting nursing home residents from abuse and neglect. If an individual believes they have information about Medicaid provider fraud or about an incident of abuse or neglect of a nursing home resident, they can file a confidential complaint online or call the MFCU hotline at (800) 771-7755. If the situation is an emergency, please call 911.

The MFCU investigation was conducted by Auditor-Investigator Rebecca Whitescarver, under the supervision of Regional Chief Auditor Mary Henry. Support was provided by Data Analytics Team members Si Lok Chao and Elise Roche. Chief Auditor Dejan Budimir supervised the audit and data analytics teams.

New York MFCU’s total funding for federal fiscal year (FY) 2026 is $70,793,651. Of that total, 75 percent, or $53,095,240, is awarded under a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $17,698,411 for FY 2026, is funded by New York State.