U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman
Recent News About U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman
-
Mercer Island man convicted of sexual assault on aircraft
A 72-year-old Mercer Island, Washington man was convicted Friday in U.S. District Court in Seattle of Attempted Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Special Aircraft Jurisdiction and Abusive Sexual Contact in Special Aircraft Jurisdiction, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Munir Walji was convicted following a four-day jury trial. Jurors deliberated for about five hours before reaching the guilty verdicts. U.S. District Judge Tana Lin scheduled sentencing for December 11, 2024.
-
Justice Department collaborates with local partners against domestic violence
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has approved an initial set of 78 communities across 47 states, territories, and the District of Columbia for designation under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022.
-
Second Canadian resident pleads guilty in COVID-19 benefit fraud scheme
Tacoma – The second of two Nigerian men residing in Canada pleaded guilty on Thursday, September 12, 2024, in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for his role in a scheme that stole more than $1.3 million in federal funds, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Fatiu Ismaila Lawal, 45, was extradited from Canada in mid-July. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Bryan scheduled his sentencing for December 12, 2024.
-
Drug traffickers sentenced for roles linked to Aryan Family prison gang
Two men indicted in March 2023 as part of a drug distribution organization associated with an Aryan prison gang were sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma for drug and gun crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Ronaldo McComb, 59, of Ridgefield, Washington, was sentenced to 13 years in prison. Isaac Cervantes, 32, of Phoenix was sentenced to 9 years in prison.
-
Seattle man sentenced to five years for armed drug trafficking
A 56-year-old Seattle man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to five years in prison for dealing drugs while armed with a handgun, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Cuong Quoc Cao pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
-
Six people charged in $345K bank fraud involving insider sharing account data
Six individuals have been indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, six counts of bank fraud, and six counts of aggravated identity theft. The scheme allegedly resulted in the theft of over $345,000 from a credit union in western Washington, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman.
-
Tulalip Tribes member pleads guilty to manslaughter for fatal shooting on tribal land
A 38-year-old member of the Tulalip Tribes pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to voluntary manslaughter and using a firearm in a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Abdul Qasim Ray Zahir admitted that he shot and killed a friend who had been helping him work on a car in a detached garage at his home on the Tulalip reservation. Zahir stated he shot the victim amid a sudden quarrel over noise from the auto work.
-
Former Mexican lawyer sentenced for major role in meth distribution network
A former attorney from Mexico was sentenced on June 21, 2024, to 90 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Gustavo Castellanos-Tapia, 38, of Burien, Washington, was a significant supplier of methamphetamine to a drug trafficking organization with ties to the prison gang known as the “Aryan Family.” Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo rejected defense arguments that Castellanos-Tapia played a minor role in the drug ring.
-
Sex offender arrested for alleged travel to Oregon for assaulting teen
Seattle – A 27-year-old registered sex offender on supervision with electronic monitoring was brought into federal custody today for allegedly traveling to Oregon to sexually assault a teen, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman. The criminal complaint charging James Harrison Newcomer alleges that between February and April 2024, Newcomer assaulted three different teens he met via Snapchat. Newcomer will appear today at 2:00 in U.S. District Court in Seattle.