District of Arizona

The Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division) today announced the formation of the West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force, a multi-district enforcement initiative uniting the Division’s Health Care Fraud Section with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Arizona, District of Nevada, and Northern District of California.  The Health Care Strike Force model has proven to be one of the most powerful tools in the federal enforcement arsenal, responsible nationally for the prosecution of over 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion.

“Driven by data showing a significant and accelerating increase in health care fraud across all three districts, the Strike Force builds on a foundation of recent landmark prosecutions — including the successful prosecution of digital health technology executives in the Northern District of California and the dismantling of Medicaid, sober home, and wound care fraud schemes in the District of Arizona,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s Fraud Division. “The Fraud Division is committed to bringing that same relentless, data-driven prosecutorial force to bear across every corner of this region, making unmistakably clear that no scheme is too sophisticated, no network too large or small, and no fraudster too distant to escape federal accountability.”

“Silicon Valley has become ground zero for technology-driven health care fraud schemes that seek to cheat taxpayer-funded programs like Medicare,” said Craig H. Missakian, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California. “The Health Care Strike Force announced today is a powerful partnership that brings together the resources and expertise needed to detect and dismantle even the most sophisticated fraud schemes.”

“Defrauding the government steals from Americans who need help the most. In Arizona alone, federal law enforcement and the United States Attorney’s Office have disrupted fraud schemes worth over a billion dollars of taxpayer money,” said Timothy Courchaine, U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona. “Our mission as part of the West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force is to ensure Americans who need critical services are not used as pawns to make bad actors rich.  Through excellent investigations, trial work, and seizures of ill-gotten gains, the District of Arizona will continue safeguarding those services.”

“The dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys and professional staff in the District of Nevada are working in coordination with our partners at the FBI, HHS, DEA and other federal, state, and local agencies to unravel fraud schemes and to hold criminals fully accountable,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “With each indictment and conviction, we are achieving justice for victims who were taken advantage of by these fraudsters. We are proud to be part of the newly created West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force and we are committed to bringing our skill and expertise to the Justice Department’s fight against fraud.”

This expansion brings enhanced federal enforcement resources to one of the nation’s most significant health care technology hubs in the Northern District of California and what data analytics show is the migration of fraud schemes to Arizona and Nevada.  Late last year in San Francisco, the CEO and Chief Medical Officer of a digital technology company were convicted for an over $100 million scheme to commit health care fraud and distribute over Adderall over the internet, resulting in addiction and patient harm.  These convictions followed other recent high-impact prosecutions that were jointly prosecuted by the Strike Force and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices prosecutors: 

• United States v. Gehrke and King (DAZ): Two wound graft company owners pled guilty and were sentenced to 15.5 and 14 years in prison for a $1.2 billion wound graft fraud scheme targeting Medicare and Medicaid.  The Government seized $126 million in assets, including cash, luxury vehicles, and gold bars, related to this case.
• United States v. Ali (DAZ): The owner of a Pakistan-based medical billing company was indicted in June 2025 for an alleged scheme involving the exploitation of substance abuse patients at over 41 substance abuse treatment clinics that fraudulently billed Arizona Medicaid over $650 million.  The defendant is a Pakistani national and fugitive from justice.
• United States v. Schena (NDCA): The president of a Silicon Valley-based medical technology company was convicted at trial and sentenced to eight years in prison in  the first criminal securities fraud case related to COVID-19 charged by the Justice Department, the first criminal COVID-19 health care fraud case brought to trial, and a significant prosecution delineating the scope of the Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act.  United States v. Schena, No. 23-2989 (9th Cir. 2025).

As part of the expansion, Health Care Fraud Acting Chief Jacob Foster and Acting Assistant Chief Gary Winters will coordinate closely with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to establish the Strike Force.  The Strike Force will work in partnership with the HHS Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other law enforcement partners, reflecting the Department’s determination that the need for coordinated, aggressive action in this region is urgent and undeniable.  Health care fraud in these districts imposes an enormous and growing burden on American taxpayers and undermines the integrity of Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE.  The victims are real: elderly patients denied access to legitimate care, disabled individuals whose benefits are stolen by criminal networks, and low-income families who rely on these programs for basic medical services.  The Strike Force’s west coast expansion makes clear that the Fraud Division will use every available legal tool to identify, investigate, and prosecute these offenses.  Members of the public are encouraged to report wrongdoing in the health care industry, and the new Department-wide corporate enforcement policy for criminal matters creates incentives for companies to voluntarily disclose when misconduct occurs.

“DEA’s involvement in the West Coast Fraud Task Force demonstrates our continued commitment to work across government to safeguard the health and safety of our communities. Our message to health care professionals who profit their patients’ pain is clear: if you use your license to harm the public, you will be held accountable,” said Assistant Administrator Cheri Oz, DEA Diversion Control Division. “Whether you are a medical professional who diverts controlled substances, like Adderall or Xanax, or a criminal enterprise that defrauds federal health care programs and private insurers, DEA will continue its pursuit of those who exploit our health care system and poison our communities.”

“The FBI is proud of the work we do to combat health care fraud, and we are eager to continue investigating those who illegally abuse our systems,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “This Strike Force allows for further joint actions that will prevent more criminals from lining their pockets at the expense of the American taxpayer. We look forward to playing our part in this whole-of-government approach to combating these schemes.”

“Strike Force partnerships between HHS-OIG, DOJ, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, the FBI, and the DEA are a proven force multiplier that utilizes a coordinated and data-driven approach to identifying, investigating, and prosecuting fraud,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS‑OIG). “Recent enforcement actions across Arizona, Nevada, and California have revealed emerging threats targeting billions of taxpayer dollars from federal health care programs. Many of these schemes are driven by sham operations designed to appear legitimate while exploiting patients and inflating claims through increasingly sophisticated methods. The expansion of the West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force ensures that HHS‑OIG can apply our investigative tools and coordinated enforcement capabilities to identify these threats earlier and act with strategic precision.”

The establishment of the West Coast Strike Force builds on the recent expansion of the Strike Force program to the District of Massachusetts and a record-setting year for health care enforcement in 2025—leading the largest ever National Health Care Fraud Takedown, charging more than $15 billion in alleged loss, forfeiting and returning to the public fisc more than $560 million, and bringing four corporate matters.  A third-party consulting group analyzed return on investment and showed that the average return on investment (FY21-24) from funding the Health Care Fraud Section by year 10 is $106.76 per $1 spent, and over $4.5 billion in projected savings. 

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division.  The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people.  The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona joined communities nationwide in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 19-25.

As part of that observation, the Office recognized individuals and organizations from Arizona for their dedicated work to support victims of crime. The Salt River Police Department Honor Guard began the ceremony with the posting of the colors. Afterward, U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Macdonald, guest speaker for the event, thanked those in attendance for their commitment to the justice system and for their work with victims.

“The Crime Victims’ Rights Act gives victims the legal right to be heard, to be informed, to be present, and to be treated with fairness and respect," said U.S. Magistrate Judge Macdonald. "These are not courtesies. They are rights—enforceable, codified, and hard won through decades of advocacy by people like all of you in this room.” 

“To our survivors,” he said, “Your voice has shaped every reform in this space. Every meaningful change in how this country treats victims of crime has been driven at its core by someone who refused to be silenced. You are not peripheral to this movement. You are its foundation.”

Following the judge’s remarks, U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine and his leadership team recognized the following individuals and advocacy groups for their work in support of victims of crime:

• FBI Victim Specialist Katie Lawler received the Advocacy and Direct Services Award. Katie Lawler was recognized for her commitment to ensuring victims receive essential services, are afforded their rights, and are treated with dignity and respect during periods of vulnerability. She works with compassion and builds trust with victims as an investigation moves forward and eventually enters the federal court system. Her exemplary advocacy and professionalism have been lauded by FBI special agents, victim specialists, and federal prosecutors.
• Team members from Homicide Survivors, Inc. were recognized with the Service Coordination Award. Homicide Survivors, Inc., located in Tucson, advocates for and supports families who have suffered the loss of a loved one to murder. The team provides compassionate, trauma-informed response to survivors, linking families to critical resources and tools to help them in their healing journey. Through their understanding that grieving is a lifelong journey, Homicide Survivors, Inc. has created a safe space for survivors to grieve, heal and transform.
• Julian Garcia, Founder and CEO of the Bryan Brown Foundation, received the Leadership Award. Julian Garcia leads the Bryan Brown Foundation, named after Tohono O’odham Nation Police Officer Bryan Brown, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty as he neared retirement in 2020. For nearly 20 years, Officer Brown was a mentor and leader, believing strongly in community policing and the importance of guiding the next generation toward success. Through the foundation, Garcia, a retired detective for the Tohono O’odham Nation, continues Officer Brown’s mission. Through outreach, to include community gatherings and the Bryan Brown Academy, the foundation seeks to foster youth and leadership development, to promote careers in public service, and to address mental health challenges faced by Native American youth today.
• Vida and Alexus Garbo, founders of the Michael Garbo Foundation, received the Courage in Action Award.  Vida, wife of DEA Special Agent Michael Garbo, and their daughter, Alexis, started the Michael Garbo Foundation in 2022 in honor of Agent Garbo after he made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty in 2021. The two women were recognized for the foundation’s work that brings awareness to the devastating effects of drug trafficking on children, families, and the American people. The foundation also offers educational and Jiu-Jitsu scholarships to young people and carries on Agent Garbo’s fight to improve security on public transportation.
• Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Simon received the Sustained Excellence Award. Assistant U.S. Attorney Simon was recognized for being a driving force and advocate for victims of violent crime in Indian Country, consistently explaining federal court processes and providing dignity to victims and their families. He is often described as empathetic, responsive, relentless, and fair and as an expert at navigating difficult cases.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Simon values input from victims, their advocates, law enforcement, and other prosecutors.
• Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Powell and FBI Special Agent L. N. received the Brett Day Legacy Award. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Day was a relentless advocate for exploited children and a steady leader and mentor to young federal prosecutors. The award that was created to carry on his legacy recognizes federal prosecutors and law enforcement who go above and beyond the call of duty, specifically in support of vulnerable victims. Both men were honored for their work during an especially complex murder investigation and prosecution. Withstanding countless challenges, the two men remained persistent and relentless in their pursuit of justice on behalf of the vulnerable victim. They garnered second degree murder convictions in the case, with one defendant being sentenced to 26 years and the other 30 years in federal prison.

In 1981, Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first Victims’ Rights Week, putting crime victims' rights, needs and concerns in a prominent spot on the American agenda. He also established the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime, which laid the groundwork for a national network of services and legal safeguards for crime victims.

The Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, supports victim assistance programs and victim compensation programs in every state and U.S. territory. Funds for these programs come from the Crime Victims Fund, which is made up of federal criminal fines and penalties.

Learn more about the Office for Victims of Crime and the assistance it provides for victims here.

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-068_National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from April 17 through April 24, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 288 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 147 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 113 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 24 cases against 28 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Recent matters of interest include:

United States v. Jesus Jose Alvarez-Ramirez. On April 24, 2026, Jesus Jose Alvarez-Ramirez was charged by criminal complaint with Bringing an Alien to the United States Unlawfully. On April 23, a U.S. Border Patrol Agent responded to a radio call about three individuals traveling near Dateland, Arizona. When the agent approached the group, which included Alvarez-Ramirez, another adult male, and an unaccompanied male juvenile, they were attempting to conceal themselves in brush to avoid detection. Agents determined that Alvarez-Ramirez acted as a foot guide for the group, bringing them from Mexico into the United States. They also learned that Alvarez-Ramirez’s fee for crossing was waived and that he would eventually receive payment for acting as a foot guide. It was determined the three individuals were citizens of Mexico, all unlawfully present in the United States. [Case number: 26-MJ-01328]

These cases are 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-067_April 24, 2026, Immigration Enforcement

(note PR originally sent out as #068 to media)

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – A Pinal County man was sentenced last week in federal court for distribution of child pornography from 2016 to 2017.

James Stacey Porter, 59, was sentenced April 13, 2026, by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 129 months in prison. Porter previously pleaded guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography on Oct. 10, 2025.

“Child Sexual Abuse Material causes significant emotional distress to the children depicted in the images and videos,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Every offender in a file sharing network, like BitTorrent used in this case, is able to grow his collection exponentially with a click of the button at the expense of the minors depicted. We are committed to focusing on not only the producers, but on those who participate in distributing and receiving such illegal materials and bring them to justice.”

“The actions perpetrated by this defendant are reprehensible and will not be tolerated,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge, Rebecca Day. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain resolute in keeping children in our communities safe, and those who prey on children will be pursued, investigated, and held accountable – no matter how long it takes.”

Porter was detected in the BitTorrent file sharing network during a proactive FBI investigation in 2016 through 2017. Law enforcement connected to Porter’s computer in Phoenix, Arizona, and received child pornography files that Porter’s computer was sharing. Porter gave a statement where he admitted to using search terms specific for finding child pornography files. He also stated he had sought out child pornography for several years. Porter was in possession of approximately 3,509 image files and 175 video files of child pornography.

The federal sentence followed a separate conviction in Pinal County Superior Court for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor for a different case, in which he was sentenced in August 2024 to 10 years in prison.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, local, and tribal resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC. 

The FBI’s Phoenix field office, as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:            18-CR-00240

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-066_Porter

(note PR originally sent out as #067 to media)

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – On April 17, 2026, Francisco Juan Acevedo, 35, of Chandler, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to two consecutive life sentences plus additional prison time related to the shooting of three victims.

On Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022, at a family gathering on the Gila River Indian Community, Acevedo shot and killed his uncle, shot and seriously injured another uncle, and shot and seriously wounded a third victim. On Oct. 23, 2025, Acevedo was found guilty at trial of eight charges: one count of First Degree–Premeditated Murder, one count of Assault with Intent to Commit Murder, two counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, three counts of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and one count of Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.  

“My thoughts are with the victims of this terrible crime and their families, as they continue to deal with heartbreak and long-term injuries. Mr. Acevedo’s sentence of life in prison is just,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “This week is National Crime Victims’ Rights week, where we recognize those affected by unthinkable crimes as well as the individuals who advocate for them. I am especially proud of the dedicated work of Tribal police, special agents, victim specialists, and assistant U.S. attorneys who fight every day to give voice to victims and mete out justice on their behalf.”

"The toll of these crimes has a devastating and long-lasting impact on tribal families,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day. “Collaborating with our partners, FBI Phoenix will continue to aggressively investigate the most serious offenses on tribal lands and pursue justice for victims in Indian Country."

The investigation was conducted by the Gila River Police Department and the FBI’s Phoenix Division. The prosecution was handled by Raynette Logan and Vinnie Lichvar, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            22-CR-01040

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-065_Acevedo

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from April 11 through April 17, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 240 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 152 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 68 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 17 cases against 19 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. Protecting law enforcement officers is a key part of border vigilance, and federal prosecutors also charged one defendant for assaulting a Border Patrol agent.

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Recent matters of interest include:

United States v. Rae Ashley Paya. Rae Ashley Paya was charged by criminal complaint on April 13, 2026, with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit. On April 11, U.S. Border Patrol agents attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a suspicious vehicle near Why, Arizona. The driver abruptly stopped before fleeing at a high rate of speed. Agents pursued the vehicle as it reached speeds of 100 mph. About four miles later, the driver abruptly stopped again, and four subjects exited the vehicle and ran. Agents apprehended the subjects. The driver was identified as Rae Ashley Paya. The three other subjects were determined to be citizens of Mexico, illegally present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-04565]

United States v. Jose Ivan Solano-Perez. Jose Ivan Solano-Perez was charged by complaint with Bringing Aliens to the United States Unlawfully, on April 15, 2026. On April 13, U.S. Border Patrol agents discovered multiple individuals at the summit of the Sierra Pinta Mountains near Wellton, Arizona. Agents in a helicopter observed two individuals inside a cave with several tree branches covering the opening and additional individuals further up the mountain. Agents located and apprehended five individuals—including Solano-Perez—all wearing camouflage clothing. Agents learned that Solano-Perez acted as a foot guide, leading the group from Mexico into the United States. Immigration checks confirmed that two of the four individuals traveling with Solano-Perez were citizens of Mexico, one was a citizen in Honduras, and one was a citizen of El Salvador, all unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-1289]

United States v. Carlos John Peters. Carlos John Peters was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of Illegal Aliens, on April 13, 2026. On April 11, a Pinal County Sheriff’s Office sergeant observed a white Dodge Durango traveling westbound on I-10 near mile marker 207 and conducted a routine registration check on the vehicle. The check showed that the vehicle’s registration was suspended, so the sergeant initiated a traffic stop. When the sergeant approached the vehicle, he observed Peters in the driver’s seat and two individuals asleep in the rear passenger seats. He also saw two camouflage backpacks and a smaller camouflage bag containing camouflage clothing on the floorboard between the front and second row seats of the vehicle. When U.S. Border Patrol agents arrived on the scene, they learned the passengers were citizens of Guatemala, unlawfully present in the United States. Agents also learned that the passengers had crossed into the United States from Mexico and had walked through the desert until they met up with Peters. [Case Number: 26-MJ-3018]

These cases are 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-064_April 17, 2026 Immigration Enforcement

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Gary Christopher, 59, of Port Saint Lucie, Florida, was arrested on April 10, and charged by criminal complaint with conspiring to launder money for his role as a courier in a broader fraud scheme that targeted an elderly victim in Phoenix. Christopher made his initial appearance in federal court on April 13.

According to the complaint, Christopher’s co-conspirators contacted the elderly victim, falsely claiming that she was the victim of identity theft. A co-conspirator, impersonating a former United States Attorney, instructed the victim to purchase gold with the funds in her account and turn it over for safekeeping. The victim transferred over $400,000 in assets to the co-conspirators before discovering she had been defrauded. Christopher, acting as a courier, then traveled to Arizona on April 9 to retrieve an additional $600,000 in gold bullion from the victim. Law enforcement intercepted Christopher when he arrived at the victim’s residence to collect the gold. Investigators recovered evidence that Christopher received instructions outlining the steps for picking up and transferring the gold from the victim to a co-conspirator.

FBI’s Phoenix Division is conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adriana Genco, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.

Phantom hacker scams and government impersonation scams are increasingly prevalent and disproportionately affect elderly victims. Fraudsters in these schemes typically pose as government agents and pressure victims to act quickly to transfer their money to the perpetrators.

The public is urged to remain vigilant, verify the identity of anyone requesting financial transactions, and report suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately. The government will never call individuals to instruct them to transfer funds to the government without written documentation.

The government will never instruct individuals to transfer assets into gold bullion. The government will never instruct an individual to deliver funds to a “courier” who comes to the individual’s residence. Educating potential victims and their families is a key component in preventing these crimes and minimizing financial harm.

If you or someone you know is a victim of elder fraud, we encourage you to call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311). The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. eastern time. Services are available for speakers of English, Spanish, and other languages. Victims can also report the fraud to the FBI by filing a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (“IC3”) at https://www.ic3.gov/ by clicking the red “File A Complaint” button. Victims should be sure to include all available information about the scam.

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

CASE NUMBER:            26-mj-6086

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-063_Christopher

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Leslie Victor Gentry, 54, of Peoria, Arizona, pleaded guilty on April 8 to Filing False Claims for Refund. Sentencing is scheduled for July 13, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich.

According to the plea agreement, Gentry knowingly prepared and submitted 14 false Form 941 tax returns for tax years 2020 and 2021. Gentry filed the tax returns on behalf of two businesses that he and his wife owned, but that were not in operation during that time. The tax returns claimed false COVID-related tax credits based on fictitious wages paid to fictitious employees. Gentry admitted that, in reality, the companies did not have any employees and did not pay any of the reported wages. Through the false filings, Gentry fraudulently sought and received more than $1.8 million in COVID-related tax credits.

A conviction for Filing False Claims for Refund carries a maximum term of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and restitution to the IRS.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars.  Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

IRS-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:            26-CR-00263

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-061_Gentry

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – The owner of Virtus Armament and The Armory, Virtus Armament, a federal firearms licensee (FFL), was indicted last week on charges related to aiding and abetting straw purchases of firearms and failing to report cash transactions over $10,000.

On April 8, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned an 8-count indictment against Esteban Yanez, 34, of Gilbert, Arizona, for False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm, Straw Purchasing of Firearms, and Failure to File Forms 8300 Relating to Cash Received in Trade or Business. Yanez was arraigned April 14.

The indictment alleges that on three occasions, Yanez aided and abetted individuals who knowingly made false statements to Yanez’s FFL when submitting the ATF Form 4473, misrepresenting the actual purchaser of the firearms. In two instances, the firearms were being purchased for an individual convicted of a felony. Federal law prohibits felons from possessing firearms. Finally, Yanez is also alleged to have failed to file the IRS Form 8300, reporting the receipt of over $10,000 in a trade or business related to the sale of firearms.

A conviction for False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. A conviction for Straw Purchasing of Firearms carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. A conviction for Failure to File Forms 8300 Relating to Cash Received in Trade or Business carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, or both.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

CASE NUMBER:            26-CR-00326

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-062_Yanez

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

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TUCSON, Ariz. – Ivan Wilbur Seales, 58, a resident of New York and citizen of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, was found guilty of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering on Tuesday, following a six-day jury trial.

Seales laundered nearly $1 million in proceeds of a fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims from around the country including Arizona, with numerous victims losing significant portions of their life savings to the scam.

Seals kept a portion of the ill-gotten gains for himself and helped the scammers launder the remaining funds through a maze of financial transactions he conducted either through crypto currency transfers or other financial transfers offshore, to include to India.

The scam organization targeted elderly victims using “phishing attacks” such as fraudulent emails, text messages, pop-ups, or websites impersonating trusted entities like banks and software or tech companies.

Some victims observed a “pop-up” display causing their computer to freeze. These victims were directed to call other scammers who claimed to be representatives of legitimate companies such as Apple or Microsoft. Other victims received “phishing” emails or text messages indicating they had received a charge on their account from Geek squad, PayPal, or an antivirus software company.

These charges never occurred but were sent to the victims to lure them into the scheme. Once the victims called the fraudsters, they were led to believe that these “legitimate companies” erroneously transferred an over-refunded amount to the victims’ bank accounts. As instructed, victims then transferred their own money back to the scammers believing they were returning the scammers the “over-refunded amounts.”

Victims were also lied to and informed that their bank accounts had been hacked or were compromised. Some were also told that money from their bank accounts was directed to child sexual abuse material, pornography, or a gambling site. To further the scam, the fraudsters directed the victims to transfer their money to various locations to “protect” their accounts and/or to “catch” the scammers.

Seales, a lawful permanent resident of the United States, was remanded into custody after the jury’s verdict. Sentencing is set for June 18, 2026.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and New York State Police conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.

Learn more about the Justice Department’s efforts to protect older Americans from exploitation here.  

CASE NUMBER:            24-CR-0419

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-059_Seales

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from April 4 through April 10, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 171 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 99 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 62 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 10 cases against 10 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Recent matters of interest include:

United States v. Cesar Arturo Herrera-Moreno, Ernesto A. Vargaz-Ramirez. Herrera-Moreno and Vargaz-Ramirez were charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of Illegal Aliens, on April 4, 2026. On April 2, a Pinal County Sheriff’s sergeant observed a vehicle driving near mile marker 214 on I-10 that had multiple items hanging from the rearview mirror. The sergeant ran a search on the vehicle’s license plate, which indicated the vehicle did not have insurance. The sergeant initiated a vehicle stop, approached the car and observed a driver, Herrera-Moreno; a front seat passenger, Vargaz-Ramirez; and three males in the backseat of the car. When Border Patrol agents arrived on the scene, they noticed camouflage clothing and carpet shoes on the backseat floorboard. Immigration checks confirmed that the passengers were citizens of Mexico and Guatemala, all unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-5144]

United States v. Ernesto Carrillo-Gonzales. Carrillo-Gonzales was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit on April 8, 2026. On April 7, Border Patrol agents conducting surveillance in Nogales, Arizona, observed a subject concealed in the brush less than a mile north of the border. Agents watched the subject run from the brush and get into a vehicle. They followed the vehicle to a Motel 6 and observed both the subject and the driver, later identified as Carrillo-Gonzales, enter a motel room. An hour later, Carrillo-Gonzales drove to an area just north of the border and then returned to the motel room with a second individual. After another hour, Carrillo-Gonzales left and returned to the same motel room with two additional subjects. Twenty minutes later, Carrillo-Gonzales left again and was observed picking up another individual from the brush. He drove briefly before coming to a stop, and the individual got out of the vehicle. Agents apprehended both Carrillo-Gonzales and his passenger and learned that the passenger was a citizen of Mexico, illegally present in the United States. Finally, agents conducted an immigration inspection at the motel room and determined that the individuals inside were citizens of Mexico and Guatemala, all illegally present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-07395]

These cases are 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-060_April 10, 2026 Immigration Enforcement

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – Mutoh America, Inc. (Mutoh), a manufacturer in the large format printing industry and a technology distributor of drafting machines operating in Arizona, has admitted to making material misrepresentations in its applications to receive and have forgiven a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. Mutoh also agreed to pay $900,000 to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by making those material misrepresentations.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief under the CARES Act was the authorization of hundreds of billions of dollars in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. The PPP was expanded and modified by the Economic Aid Act (EAA) in December 2020 and the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) in March 2021.

ARPA provided new restrictions on PPP loans, including limiting loans to applicants who, together with their domestic and foreign affiliates, collectively employed 300 or fewer persons. ARPA clarified that second draw PPP loans required applicants to include employees working overseas at foreign affiliates in calculating the total number of employees.

Mutoh is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mutoh Holdings, Inc., a publicly traded company in Japan. In the settlement agreement, Mutoh admitted the following facts:

• Together with its foreign affiliates, Mutoh had more than 300 employees at the time of its second PPP loan.
• Mutoh Holdings, Inc., collectively had approximately 684 employees in March 2019, approximately 693 employees in March 2020, and approximately 674 employees in March 2021.
• Mutoh applied for a second draw PPP loan, which Mutoh received on or about March 18, 2021.
• Mutoh did not disclose its affiliated entities’ employees in its computation of the total number of employees on the application as otherwise required.
• Before Mutoh’s application was submitted, a high-ranking Mutoh official seriously doubted Mutoh’s eligibility for the loan but decided to proceed with the application anyway and run the risk of a repayment obligation.
• On or about September 29, 2021, Mutoh applied for forgiveness of the loan, which the SBA later approved.
• The United States was unaware of the misrepresentations regarding the number of employees in Mutoh’s applications to receive the loan and have it forgiven, and these misrepresentations were material to the United States’ decision to pay and forgive Mutoh’s PPP loan in the amount of $584,012.

“The overarching purpose of the PPP was to help people keep their jobs, but some people abused the program and misused taxpayer money,” said Timothy Courchaine, United States Attorney for the District of Arizona. “This settlement underscores my office’s continued efforts to pursue recoveries from individuals and businesses that unlawfully took advantage of the federal government’s COVID-19 assistance at the expense of other Americans’ welfare.”

“The favorable settlement in this case is the product of enhanced efforts by federal agencies such as the Small Business Administration working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, other federal law enforcement agencies, as well as financial institutions or private individuals who uncover misconduct to recover the lending program’s damages,” said SBA’s General Counsel Wendell Davis.

The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act.  Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery.  The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Verity Investigations, LLC v. Mutoh America, Inc., CV-25-01647-PHX-SPL (D. Ariz.). Verity Investigations, LLC will receive $90,000 as its share of the settlement.

Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud affecting COVID-19 government relief programs or any other potential fraud against the federal government can be reported here.  Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can also report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form, which can be found here.

CASE NUMBER:            CV-25-01647-PHX-SPL

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-058_Mutoh America, Inc.

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from March 28 through April 3, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 226 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 117 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 95 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 14 cases against 14 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Recent matters of interest include:

United States v. Porfirio Astorga-Rivera. Astorga-Rivera was charged by criminal complaint on April 1, 2026, with Bringing an Alien to the United States Unlawfully for Profit. On March 31, Border Patrol agents were alerted to the presence of a potential group of illegal aliens near Tule Road in Wellton, Arizona. The agents apprehended three individuals, including Astorga- Rivera, attempting to conceal themselves and wearing camouflage clothing and carpet shoes. Agents learned that Astorga-Rivera led the group through an opening in the border wall and that he would receive $1,000 per illegal alien he led into the country. Astorga-Rivera and the two other individuals are citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-1255]

United States v. Idefonso Beltran-Aispuro. Beltran-Aispuro was charged by criminal complaint on April 1, 2026, with Bringing an Alien to the United States Unlawfully for Profit. On March 30, a Border Patrol agent discovered a group of five individuals wearing camouflage clothing and carrying camouflage backpacks between the Cabeza Prieta Mountains and Copper Mountains in Wellton, Arizona. Border Patrol agents apprehended four of the individuals in brush and later located Beltran-Aispuro hiding in a tree. Agents learned that Beltran-Aispuro guided the group of four into the United States and that he was promised $1,000 per individual he led into the country. [Case Number 26-MJ-1248]

These cases are 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-057_April 3, 2026 Immigration Enforcement

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TUCSON, Ariz. – Jefte Monell Diaz, 28, of Caguas, Puerto Rico, was sentenced on Tuesday by Chief U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 60 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release. Diaz previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.

On July 1, 2024, Diaz and his co-conspirators traveled from Tucson to Phoenix with approximately 100 pounds of methamphetamine, which they intended to deliver to another individual that evening. Diaz was indicted for his role in the conspiracy on Aug. 21, 2024.

This investigation 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. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.

This HSTF Tucson led investigation comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS). Assistant U.S. Attorney David Petermann, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:            24-CR-5415

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-056_Auz-Vasquez, et al.

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – Wyatt Op Maloney, 24, of Tuba City, Arizona, was sentenced on March 26, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 144 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Maloney previously pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.

On July 14, 2023, Maloney assaulted the victim by striking and kicking him multiple times in the head and face, causing the victim to sustain fatal blunt force trauma injuries. Maloney, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted the victim in Tuba City on the Navajo Nation. The victim was also an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation.

The FBI Phoenix office in Flagstaff and the Navajo Nation Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina J. Reid-Moore, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. 

CASE NUMBER:            CR-23-08099-PCT-DLR

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-053_Maloney

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – On March 17, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging a tax preparer in Peoria, Arizona, with 17 counts of tax evasion.    

Butoyi Mechack, 38, of Peoria, is charged with three counts of Making and Subscribing a False Tax Return and 14 counts of Willfully Aiding and Assisting in the Preparation of False or Fraudulent Tax Returns. 

According to the indictment, from 2019 to 2023, Mechack prepared and assisted in the preparation of numerous false and fraudulent tax returns on behalf of clients of his business, PTPS Tax Services, LLC. In helping prepare these returns, Mechack overstated and misrepresented tax credits, deductions, income, and expenses to fraudulently reduce the taxpayers’ tax liability and claim refund amounts to which they were not entitled. Mechack also filed individual tax returns for himself for tax years 2021, 2022, and 2023, that substantially underreported his income.

Mechack’s arraignment was held on March 26, where he pleaded not guilty to charges and was released on conditions.

A conviction for Making and Subscribing a False Tax Return carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. A conviction for Willfully Aiding and Assisting in the Preparation of False or Fraudulent Tax Returns carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin M. Rapp, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

As we head into the final weeks of tax season, IRS Criminal Investigation wants to remind the public to protect themselves when choosing a tax preparer. Keep these tips in mind:

• Be wary of tax return preparers who claim they can obtain larger refunds than others can.
• Avoid tax return preparers who base their fees on a percentage of the refund or who offer to deposit all or part of your refund into their financial accounts.
• Ensure you use a preparer with a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). Paid tax return preparers must have a PTIN to prepare all or substantially all of a tax return.
• Use a reputable tax professional who enters his or her PTIN on the tax return, signs the tax return, and provides you a copy of the return (as required).
• Consider whether the individual or firm will be around for months or years after filing the return to answer questions about the preparation of the tax return.
• Never sign a blank tax form.
• Good preparers will ask to see your records and receipts. They’ll also ask questions to determine your total income, tax deductions and credits.
• Check the preparer’s history. Taxpayers can ask the local Better Business Bureau about the preparer.
• Check the preparer’s credentials. Only attorneys, CPAs, and enrolled agents can represent taxpayers before the IRS in all matters, including audits, collections, and appeals. Other tax return preparers who participate in the IRS Annual Filing Season Program have limited practice rights to represent taxpayers for audits of returns they prepared and signed. See Annual Filing Season Program for more information.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-26-00247-PHX-KML (JZB)

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-054_Mechack

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – An illegal alien who shot at Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) special agents attempting to arrest him during a fentanyl sale on Feb. 24, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for attempted murder.

Eduardo Valenzuela Lopez, 33, of Cajeme, Sonora, Mexico, has been charged with Attempted Murder of a Federal Officer; Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding a Law Enforcement Officer; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of/Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Offense; Possession of a Firearm by an Alien Unlawfully Present in the United States, Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and two counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl.

His codefendant, Jael Gonzalez Banuelos, 22, of Phoenix, was also indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. The two men were arraigned today in federal court.

“Under the leadership of President Trump and Attorney General Bondi, we are driving a nationwide effort to choke off the flow of fentanyl at every level- from transnational criminal organizations to street-level distribution,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “We continue to stand by our federal agents as they confront these violent criminal networks head on.”

The indictment alleges that the men conspired to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl on Feb. 24, 2026. According to court documents, from Jan. 30, 2026, through Feb. 24, 2026, Valenzuela Lopez negotiated and coordinated the sale and delivery of approximately 50,000 fentanyl pills. Law enforcement officers became aware of the deal and tried to arrest Valenzuela Lopez and Gonzalez Banuelos as they delivered the pills. When agents approached their Dodge Ram truck, Valenzuela Lopez opened fire on officers. In response, officers returned fire. No injuries or fatalities resulted, and law enforcement officers subsequently arrested Valenzuela Lopez and Gonzalez Banuelos. Investigators then discovered a firearm on the ground by the driver’s side of the truck, as well as approximately 50,000 fentanyl pills in the truck’s passenger compartment. Later, law enforcement also located a brick of fentanyl powder weighing approximately 1 kilogram at Valenzuela Lopez’s residence.

Convictions for Attempted Murder of a Federal Officer and Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding a Law Enforcement Officer each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Convictions for Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of/Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Offense; Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl; and Possession with Intent to Distribute 400 grams or more of Fentanyl each carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. The maximum sentence for Possession of a Firearm by an Alien Unlawfully Present in the United States is 15 years in prison.

The FBI Phoenix Division investigated the assault on a federal officer. DEA Phoenix conducted the drug investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

CASE NUMBER:         26-CR-00284

RELEASE NUMBER:   2026-055_Valenzuela Lopez, Gonzalez Banuelos

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from March 21 through March 27, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 256 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 155 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 86 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 12 cases against 15 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Recent matters of interest include:

United States v. Pedro Martinez-Ruiz. Pedro Martinez-Ruiz was charged by criminal complaint on March 23, 2026, with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit. On March 21, 2026, a Border Patrol camera operator observed a group of subjects walking north in the Santa Cruz River area, east of Nogales, Arizona. Camera operators then watched as a Chevrolet Silverado pulled into the same area and the subjects got into the truck. Border Patrol Agents (BPAs) nearby initiated a traffic stop to conduct an immigration inspection. In the truck, BPAs found 16 subjects wearing camouflage clothing who were sweating and breathing heavily. The subjects were determined to be citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. The driver, the only individual not wearing camouflage clothing, was identified as Pedro Martinez-Ruiz, a Mexican citizen who was also in the United States illegally. [Case Number: 26-MJ-00171]

United States v. Thompson, et al. Tyler Daniels Thompson and Yasmine Desire Marie Matthews were charged by criminal complaint on March 27, 2026, with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit, Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person. On March 25, 2026, National Park Service (NPS) law enforcement officers requested a Border Patrol canine handler for a vehicle sniff at the campground road inside Organ Pipe National Monument. When BPAs arrived, NPS officers notified them that they had seen fresh footprints coming from the mountain pass and going directly to a black Volkswagen Jetta nearby. The temperature outside was approximately 100 degrees. The Jetta was occupied by Tyler Daniels Thompson, the driver, and Yasmine Desire Marie Matthews, the front seat passenger. After the BPA canine alerted to the vehicle, BPAs opened the trunk and discovered two people hiding inside, drenched in sweat. BPAs pulled out one subject who was passing out, carried him to a shaded area, and cut off his clothes to begin cooling him. BPA EMTs then arrived and administered aid. Initially the EMTs reported that the man was unconscious and they could not detect a pulse, but they were eventually able to cool him off. The subject regained a pulse and was transported to a hospital for further care. The other subject in the trunk required water to revive him. Both subjects were determined to be citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-00354]

United States v. Kristie Elizabeth Pablo. On March 23, 2026, Kristie Elizabeth Pablo was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. On March 22, 2026, a deputy with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office observed Pablo driving a black Chevrolet Tahoe below the speed limit on I-10 Westbound in Eloy, Arizona. The deputy matched speed with the Tahoe, observed the vehicle’s tires cross into his lane, and initiated a traffic stop. The deputy learned that Pablo was engaged in human smuggling, and called BPAs to the scene. Immigration checks confirmed that one of the passengers in Pablo’s car was a citizen of Mexico and another passenger was a citizen of Guatemala, both unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-9091]

These cases are 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-052_March 27, 2026 Immigration Enforcement

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – The owner of Grips By Larry, a former federal firearms licensee (FFL) was indicted last week on charges related to providing material support to Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (“CJNG”) and Cartel de Sinaloa (“CDS”), Mexican cartels that were designated as foreign terrorist organizations in 2025.

On March 17, 2026, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned a superseding indictment against Laurence Gray, 65, of Hereford, Arizona, for Attempting to Provide Material Support to a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Conspiracy to Provide Support to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. Gray was arraigned on the indictment in federal court today.

Gray, the owner of Grips by Larry, a federally licensed firearms dealer in Arizona, was previously indicted for firearms trafficking offenses in 2025, alongside a second individual, Barrett Weinberger, 73, of Tucson, Arizona. The original charges against both men included trafficking in firearms, aiding and abetting the straw purchasing of firearms, and aiding and abetting material false statements during the purchase of a firearm. In addition to more firearms charges, last week’s superseding indictment added material support to terrorism charges against Gray.

The indictment alleges that Gray knowingly attempted to provide firearms to CJNG in May of 2025, and knowingly conspired to provide firearms to both CJNG and CDS that same year. Both cartels were designated by the U.S. Secretary of State as foreign terrorist organizations pursuant to Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act on Feb. 20, 2025.

Convictions for Conspiracy to and Attempting to Provide Material Support to a Designated Terrorist Organization each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. A conviction for Trafficking in Firearms carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. A conviction for Aiding and Abetting the Straw Purchase of Firearms carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. A conviction for Aiding and Abetting a Material False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both.

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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcus Shand, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-25-00835-PHX-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-051_Weinberger, et al.

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from March 14 through March 20, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 185 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 108 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 53 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 20 cases against 24 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Recent matters of interest include:

United States v. Ruby Chaidez. On March 14, 2026, Ruby Chaidez was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. A deputy with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Department observed a vehicle traveling westbound on I-10 and conducted a records check on the vehicle, which showed that its registration had expired. The deputy began driving behind the vehicle and watched as the driver briefly veered off the highway. The deputy turned on his emergency lights and tried to initiate a vehicle stop, but the driver continued for about half a mile before pulling off the road. The deputy then learned that the driver, Chaidez, had two valid arrest warrants out of Maricopa County Superior Court. He placed Chaidez under arrest and searched Chaidez and the vehicle. According to the complaint, the deputy found both drug paraphernalia and an adult male hiding in the vehicle’s trunk. Immigration checks revealed the individual in the trunk to be a citizen of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-9085MJ]

United States v. Esteban Caldera-Serrato. Esteban Caldera-Serrato was charged by criminal complaint with Re-entry of Removed Alien on March 17, 2026. Caldera-Serrato was previously removed from the United States on Feb. 11, 2005, after being convicted of 2nd Degree Forgery, a felony, in Hall County Superior Court, State of Georgia. In that case, Caldera-Serrato was sentenced to two years in prison. [Case Number: 26-MJ-8088]

United States v. Aaron Cruz-Valderas. On March 16, 2026, Aaron Cruz-Valderas was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien for Profit. On March 13, 2026, Border Patrol agents attempted to stop Cruz-Valderas on suspicion of alien smuggling. Cruz-Valderas initially pulled over on State Route 86. However, when agents walked up to his truck and asked Cruz-Valderas to turn the truck off, he instead accelerated and fled. He eventually drove into the desert, going through cacti and brush. Additional Border Patrol agents also responded, ultimately locating the truck and apprehending Cruz-Valderas. The agents also found a passenger in Cruz-Valderas' vehicle who was determined to be a citizen of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-1609]

These cases are 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-049_March 20, 2026, Immigration Enforcement

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from Mar. 7 through Mar. 13, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 197 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 132 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 59 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 6 cases against individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Recent matters of interest include:

United States v. Marcos Antonio Arguelles-Miranda. On Mar. 6, 2026, Marcos Antonio Arguelles Miranda was charged by criminal complaint with Bringing in Illegal Aliens. According to the complaint, Horse Patrol Unit (HPU) agents were called that day to assist Field Training Units in tracking three sets of footprints near Gila Bend, Arizona. HPU agents ultimately located three individuals, including Arguelles-Miranda, under a tree. The two other individuals in the group identified Arguelles-Miranda as their foot guide and stated that Arguelles-Miranda had abandoned another illegal alien traveling with them because he could no longer walk. Immigration checks confirmed that all three subjects are citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-3083]

United States v. Saul Rodriguez-Vazquez. Saul Rodriguez-Vazquez was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit, Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person. On Mar. 10, 2026, Border Patrol Agents (BPAs) attempted to stop a driver suspected of alien smuggling. The driver, Rodriguez-Vazquez, failed to yield to BPAs and a pursuit ensued. At one point, someone opened the passenger side door and a female subject jumped from the moving vehicle. Several BPAs disengaged from the vehicle pursuit to apprehend her while other BPAs continued to pursue the vehicle. Agents finally arrested Rodriguez-Vazquez after a vehicle immobilization device was deployed as he drove through an immigration checkpoint. In an interview with the female subject who had jumped from Rodriguez-Vazquez’s vehicle, she admitted to being a citizen of Guatemala, illegally present in the United States. She stated that when BPAs started chasing Rodriguez-Vazquez, he told her to jump out. She refused because the vehicle was still moving, but he argued with her and became aggressive. Rodriguez-Vazquez told her, "salta a la verga," so when the vehicle slowed down, she jumped out even though it was still moving. [Case Number: 26-MJ-5900]

These cases are 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-048_March 13, 2026 Immigration Enforcement

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Note, View settlement here.

Tri-City Cardiology, P.C., a physician group based in the metro area of Phoenix, Arizona, and three individual physicians, have agreed to pay $4.75 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by performing medically unnecessary vein ablations.

“Physicians should not prioritize profit over patient needs,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Medicare and other federal programs pay only for medical care that meets accepted standards, and the falsification of medical records undermines efforts to assess whether medical care was appropriate.”

“Paying for unnecessary medical procedures reduces federal programs’ capacity to pay for truly necessary procedures,” said Timothy Courchaine, United States Attorney for the District of Arizona. “When medical providers do not respect the difference between the two and bill in the interest of their own bottom line instead of their patients, the United States Attorney’s Office has pursued and will continue to pursue appropriate recoveries to protect taxpayer funds.”   

The civil settlement announced today resolves allegations that, from January 1, 2017, to April 27, 2022, Dr. Jaskamal Kahlon, Dr. Joshua D. Cohen, and Dr. M. Joshua Berkowitz knowingly performed ablations on perforator veins that did not qualify for treatment under accepted standards of medical practice. Perforator veins are small veins that connect deep and superficial leg veins and require treatment only in certain circumstances. The United States contends that Tri-City and the physicians acted knowingly in incorrectly measuring or documenting in medical records the duration of outward blood flow, the diameter of veins, patient symptoms, and conservative therapy measures, which gave the appearance that the ablations met accepted medical standards and were justified.

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, with assistance from HHS-OIG.

The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

The matter was handled by Senior Trial Counsel Nicholas C. Perros of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lon Leavitt of the District of Arizona.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. 

PHOENIX— Tri-City Cardiology, P.C., a physician group based in the metro area of Phoenix, Arizona, and three individual physicians, have agreed to pay $4.75 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by performing medically unnecessary vein ablations. 

“Physicians should not prioritize profit over patient needs,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Medicare and other federal programs pay only for medical care that meets accepted standards, and the falsification of medical records undermines efforts to assess whether medical care was appropriate.”

“Paying for unnecessary medical procedures reduces federal programs’ capacity to pay for truly necessary procedures,” said Timothy Courchaine, United States Attorney for the District of Arizona. “When medical providers do not respect the difference between the two and bill in the interest of their own bottom line instead of their patients, the United States Attorney’s Office has pursued and will continue to pursue appropriate recoveries to protect taxpayer funds.”   

The civil settlement announced today resolves allegations that, from January 1, 2017, to April 27, 2022, Dr. Jaskamal Kahlon, Dr. Joshua D. Cohen, and Dr. M. Joshua Berkowitz knowingly performed ablations on perforator veins that did not qualify for treatment under accepted standards of medical practice. Perforator veins are small veins that connect deep and superficial leg veins and require treatment only in certain circumstances. The United States contends that Tri-City and the physicians acted knowingly in incorrectly measuring or documenting in medical records the duration of outward blood flow, the diameter of veins, patient symptoms, and conservative therapy measures, which gave the appearance that the ablations met accepted medical standards and were justified.

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, with assistance from HHS-OIG.

The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

The matter was handled by Senior Trial Counsel Nicholas C. Perros of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lon Leavitt of the District of Arizona.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-047_TriCity Cardiology

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TUCSON, Ariz. – Samuel Lopez-Ozuna, 20, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced to 10 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Angela M. Martinez after pleading guilty to Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit, Resulting in Death, stemming from a deadly crash in 2024.

On Aug. 9, 2024, U.S. Border Patrol agents attempted to pull over a Chevrolet Tahoe on suspicion that the driver, Lopez-Ozuna, was smuggling illegal aliens near Arivaca, Arizona, about five miles north of the border. Instead of yielding to law enforcement, Lopez-Ozuna fled at a high speed, causing the Tahoe to crash and roll almost immediately. Lopez-Ozuna was smuggling seven aliens, all of whom were ejected from his vehicle during the crash. One person died and three others were seriously injured.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:            24-CR-6035-TUC-AMM (EJM)

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-047_Lopez-Ozuna

PHOENIX, Ariz. – A Mexican national who overstayed his visa and illegally possessed a semi-automatic pistol and ammunition was convicted by a federal jury on Feb. 26, 2026.

Luis Donaldo Garcia Lopez, 31, of Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico, was found guilty of Alien in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, following a three-day trial. Sentencing is scheduled for May 21, 2026, before U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, ICE-ERO officers learned that Garcia was unlawfully present in the United States. On Feb. 21, 2025, officers pulled Garcia over. During the stop, officers asked if he had any weapons, and Garcia stated that he had a firearm in a lunchbox inside his vehicle. Officers checked the lunchbox and found a Glock semi-automatic handgun loaded with five rounds of ammunition. An agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was called and took custody of the firearm while Garcia was arrested for immigration violations.

At trial, federal prosecutors presented evidence that Garcia was knowingly present in the United States after his period of authorized stay expired. The expiration of his period of authorized stay made him unlawfully present in the United States, and due to that status, he was not permitted to possess a firearm. Record checks showed that Garcia had a B1/B2 Border Crossing Card visa that he used to enter the United States on 27 separate occasions. Garcia’s last lawful entry into the United States was July 26, 2020, when his Mexican passport was stamped with a one-year permit that expired July 24, 2021. In addition, Garcia’s visa expired in March 2023. Prosecutors showed that Garcia never renewed his entry permit, never applied for a new visa, and never lawfully entered the United States after his permit and visa expired.

A conviction for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 and a maximum term of three years of supervised release. 

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.

The Phoenix Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations; and the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:          CR-25-00339

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-046_Garcia Lopez

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from Feb. 28 through Mar. 6, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 177 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 124 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 35 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 17 cases against 18 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Recent matters of interest include:

United States v. Iven Jair Jonathan Monjaraz-Perez, Gabriel Garcia-Lopez, and Alvaro Ojeda-Gomez. Monjarez-Perez, Garcia-Lopez, and Ojea-Gomez were charged by complaint with Conspiracy to Transport an Illegal Alien on Mar. 4, 2026. In 2025, HSI opened an investigation into a human smuggling organization operating out of Phoenix, Arizona. According to the complaint, on Mar. 2, 2026, HSI agents executed a federal search warrant on an apartment in Phoenix, located 19 smuggled illegal aliens, and arrested two alleged load drivers, Garcia-Lopez and Ojeda-Gomez, who acted as caretakers of the apartment. Agents also learned that Garcia-Lopez and Ojeda-Gomez were citizens of Mexico unlawfully present in the United States. HSI agents then executed a federal search warrant on a second apartment connected to the smuggling scheme and saw two individuals, including Monjarez-Perez, leave the apartment and get into a car associated with the smuggling scheme. Agents arrested Monjarez-Perez, who is alleged to have received money to transport aliens in the United States and receive them at the drop house. Case Number: 26-MJ-3055.

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-045_March 6, 2026 Immigration Enforcement

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – Three Phoenix area men were recently sentenced for their roles in a sophisticated fraud scheme against Amazon. Mughith Faisal, 29, of Glendale, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John Tuchi on Feb. 5, 2026, to 18 months in prison. His brother, Basheer Faisal, 28, of Glendale, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane Humetewa on Feb. 17, 2026, to 18 months in prison. A third defendant, Abdullah Alwan, 28, of Surprise, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan Brnovich on March 2, 2026, to 6 months in prison. All three defendants previously pleaded guilty to Wire Fraud. The three defendants were also each ordered to pay $1.5 million in restitution to Amazon.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Alwan was an employee of Amazon working in the company’s logistics division. After leaving the company in 2021, Alwan used his knowledge of Amazon's proprietary system that created and tracked transportation loads of Amazon products to increase the standard rates for transportation deliveries assigned to Amazon’s third-party carrier companies. Basheer and Mughith Faisal operated Blue Line Transport, an Arizona based transportation company approved by Amazon as a third-party carrier. Blue Line Transport knowingly received the fraudulently increased transportation rates that Alwan input into Amazon’s system, working with him to defraud Amazon of approximately $4.5 million.

FBI Phoenix Division conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aron Ketchel and Adriana Genco, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office appreciate Amazon for referring the matter to the FBI and for the company’s cooperation throughout the investigation.

CASE NUMBER: CR 25-01048- PHX-SMB, CR 25-01095- PHX-DJH, CR 25-01092- PHX-JJT.

RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-043_Mughith Faisal, Basheer Faisal, and Abdullah Alwan

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – A man convicted of posting threats against then President Biden and Vice President Harris on the social media site X was sentenced March 2, 2026, in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine.

Michael David Hanson, 44, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 27 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Hanson previously pleaded guilty to making Threats Against the President and Successors to the Presidency.

On December 22, 2023, Hanson, posted “#joeAndKamala I’m asking you to resign on Monday your alternative is death brutally murdered…” on one of his X accounts. Hanson admitted that his threat was directed at President Joseph Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and that he intended to communicate a threat of violence.

“Online death threats made against leaders of the United States are criminal acts, not protected speech,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “The U.S. Secret Service and Phoenix Police Department are to be commended for quickly identifying and arresting Mr. Hanson, whose 27-month sentence should serve as a warning that there are real-world consequences for threatening elected officials.”

”The U.S. Secret Service has zero tolerance for threats against our protectees. Let this serve as a warning. If you threaten the President of the United States, we will find you, we will arrest you and you will face justice,” said William Mack, the Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Phoenix Field Office. “We want to thank the Phoenix Police Department as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona for their assistance in this case.”

The U.S. Secret Service and Phoenix Police Department conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-24-0312-PHX-SPL

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-044_Hanson

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TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned a five-count indictment against Patrick Gary Schlegel, 34, of Tucson, Arizona, for Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit, Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, Assault on a Federal Officer, and Attempted Murder of a Federal Officer.

“Federal agents serve with integrity to protect all Americans and uphold our nation’s laws,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Any assault or attempted murder of a federal officer will be met with the full weight of the law. My office will pursue all appropriate charges and sentences for individuals who would cause harm to these brave men and women.”

“This indictment is a reminder that assault on law enforcement officers will not be tolerated. Officers who are sworn to protect and serve our communities must be able to do their jobs free from intimidation,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke. “The FBI alongside our local, state and federal partners will continue to vigorously investigate those who harm, or threaten to do harm, to those who wear the badge.”

"Our Air and Marine Agents put themselves in harm's way every day to protect our nation's borders and communities” said Director Jose Muriente, Tucson Air and Marine Branch. “Any act of violence against our federal agents will be met with swift action and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law."

According to a complaint filed in the case, Schlegel was transporting two illegal aliens on Jan. 26, 2026, when he was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol agents. Schlegel fled to avoid apprehension and left the illegal aliens in the desert.

The following day, Border Patrol agents again located Schlegel’s Dodge Ram in a remote desert area. Before he could be stopped, Schlegel drove into the desert, got out of his truck and fled on foot. To assist agents in locating Schlegel, an Air and Marine Operations Pilot flew his helicopter over the area. When Schlegel fired shots from a .45 caliber handgun at the pilot, an agent on the ground returned fire, striking Schlegel in the leg and head. Schlegel was then arrested and provided medical care.

A conviction for Attempted Murder of a Federal Officer carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison. A conviction for Assault on a Federal Officer carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison. A conviction for Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A conviction for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person carries a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison.

An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson office conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:          CR-26-00819

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-042_Schlegel

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – Thvoughn Lynden Curry, 34, and Alexis Daneen Curry, 34, both of New River, Arizona, were recently convicted in federal court based on their scheme to defraud the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Arizona’s Medicaid Agency, of over $12 million. Following a four-day bench trial before Senior U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow, both defendants were convicted of one count of Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud, three counts of Health Care Fraud, and eight counts of Transactional Money Laundering. Their sentencings are scheduled for May 4, 2026.

“Individuals, like the Currys, who exploit and undermine government healthcare programs for personal gain will be identified, investigated and held accountable in federal court,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “The men and women of IRS Criminal Investigation follow the money with precision and persistence, tracking every dollar stolen through fraud, corruption and other illicit means. I appreciate their work along with the AHCCCS Office of Inspector General and the Mesa Police Department, who were critical to bringing these two fraudsters to justice.”

According to the evidence presented at trial, the Currys defrauded AHCCCS through “1 Family Clinic, LLC,” their purported outpatient behavioral health clinic in Mesa, Arizona. They first defrauded AHCCCS by submitting a fraudulent application to enroll as an AHCCCS provider. In so doing, they falsely stated that Alexis Curry was the 100% owner and only managing employee of 1 Family Clinic. They falsely omitted that Thvoughn Curry, who had an active, outstanding warrant for felony fraud charges at the time, was also an owner and managing employee of 1 Family Clinic.

Once approved by AHCCCS based on the fraudulent application, the Currys engaged in fraudulent billing practices. Between approximately Feb. 1, 2021, and March 31, 2023, the Currys routinely billed AHCCCS in a uniform, nearly identical pattern for services that were not actually provided. Throughout the course of the scheme, 1 Family billed an average of more than 12 hours of service per member per day—despite being open just eight hours per day on weekdays, five hours on Saturdays, and closed on Sundays. As a result of their fraudulent billings, AHCCCS paid 1 Family Clinic more than $12 million—funds that were intended to be used for legitimate healthcare services for low-income individuals. 

The evidence at trial showed that the Currys spent much of the money they received from AHCCCS on themselves. They purchased properties and luxury vehicles, including a 2019 Lamborghini Urus for more than $300,000.

“Medicaid provides an essential service to some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” said IRS-CI Phoenix Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Jarom Gregory.  “For these fraudsters to exploit this system and steal millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars is unconscionable. This guilty verdict marks a significant step toward justice for those victimized by the Currys and serves as a reminder that IRS Criminal Investigation special agents are experts at following the money. We remain steadfast in our commitment to uncovering fraud and ensuring fraudsters are held fully accountable for their crimes.”

“AHCCCS remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting the safety of our members and safeguarding the integrity of our programs, which rely on federal and taxpayer resources,” said Roberta Harrison, Interim Director of AHCCCS. “The AHCCCS Office of Inspector General continues to vigorously investigate fraud, waste, and abuse and will carry out its responsibilities in full compliance with federal, state, and agency regulations.”

“This case is a great example of how agencies work in cooperation with the common goal of holding offenders accountable for their crimes,” said Mesa Police Chief Dan Butler. “We are thankful for the relationships we have built with our partner agencies. It is rewarding to see the impressive results of everyone coming together to see justice served.”

Both defendants face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison per count of conviction, a fine, and restitution owed to AHCCCS.

IRS-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation with substantial assistance from the Mesa Police Department and AHCCCS-Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Corbet and Lindsay Short, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-23-1293-PHX-GMS

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-040_Curry

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – Eric Riley, 39, and Britney Gooch, 38, both of Mesa, were recently sentenced by U.S. District Judge Krissa M. Lanham for defrauding the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Arizona’s Medicaid agency.

Riley was sentenced on Feb. 6, 2026, to 24 months of imprisonment. Gooch was sentenced on Feb. 20, 2026, to 12 months and one day of imprisonment. Riley and Gooch were also ordered to pay $3.3 million in restitution to AHCCCS. Both defendants previously pleaded guilty to Healthcare Fraud.

Riley and Gooch defrauded AHCCCS through their company, New Horizons Behavioral Health, a behavioral health clinic in Mesa. Through New Horizons, they exploited AHCCCS’s American Indian Health Program (AIHP) between 2020 and 2022 by falsely billing for services that were not provided to AIHP patients. As a result of the fraudulent billing submissions, Riley and Gooch obtained approximately $3.3 million in illegitimate proceeds from AHCCCS.

“This case is about protecting American taxpayers, restoring the public’s trust, and safeguarding critical health care resources for the communities that truly need them,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Working with our FBI and AHCCCS-OIG partners, we not only secured convictions in this case, but also maximized the recovery of stolen money through the $3.3 million restitution order.”

FBI Phoenix conducted the investigation with substantial assistance from the AHCCCS Office of Inspector General. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-24-01794

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-041_Riley, Gooch

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from Feb. 21 through Feb. 27, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 156 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 106 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 40 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed nine cases against 10 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Recent matters of interest include:

United States v. Jose Leonel Medina-Angulo. Medina-Angulo was charged by complaint with Transportation of Illegal Aliens, Feb. 23, 2026. A Border Patrol agent observed four individuals walking in remote terrain and dense brush approximately 14 miles south of Exit 87 on I-8. As the Border Patrol agent approached the group, which included Medina-Angulo, they fled and attempted to conceal themselves in bushes but were ultimately apprehended. The agent noticed the individuals were wearing camouflage clothing and carpet booties over their shoes and carrying camouflage backpacks. Later that day, Border Patrol received a report of two additional individuals believed to be a part of the same group apprehended earlier walking northbound through the desert. A Border Patrol agent located the individuals and apprehended them. Some of the individuals in the group positively identified Medina-Angulo as the foot guide. Immigration checks confirmed that all six of the individuals, including Medina-Angulo, are not U.S. citizens and are all unlawfully present in the United States. 26-01142MJ, Phoenix.

United States v. Jario Isaias Ventura-Jocol. Ventura-Jocol was charged by complaint with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit, Feb. 25, 2026. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agents were identifying vehicles involved in human smuggling when they were notified that a vehicle registered from Phoenix was traveling westbound from the checkpoint without a valid driver's license associated with the vehicle's registration. HSI notified the Tohono O'odham Police Department (TOPD). TOPD observed the vehicle as it was traveling toward an area that is common for drivers to pick up illegal aliens. It then traveled back several minutes later. TOPD then observed the vehicle fail to stop at two stop signs. TOPD attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver, later identified as Jario Isaias Ventura-Jocol, failed to yield. The vehicle began traveling more than 100 mph. HSI joined in the pursuit. At one point, Ventura-Jocol lost control of the vehicle and spun around in the road but was able to regain control and continued fleeing. Ventura-Jocol eventually pulled off to the side of the road, and two subjects fled from the vehicle into the desert. Agents apprehended Ventura-Jocol, the two subjects, and an additional subject hiding in the backseat. The subjects were determined to be citizens of Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, illegally present in the United States. 26-02936MJ, Tucson.

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-039_February 27 Immigration Enforcement

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – Eduardo Valenzuela Lopez, 33, of Cajeme, Sonora, Mexico, and Jael Gonzalez Banuelos, 22, of Phoenix, Arizona, were arrested on the morning of Feb. 24, 2026, by members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for conspiring to distribute fentanyl. Valenzuela Lopez and Gonzalez Banuelos were charged by criminal complaint with conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Valenzuela Lopez and Gonzalez Banuelos had their respective initial appearances on Feb. 25, 2026.

From early February 2026 through February 24, 2026, Valenzuela Lopez allegedly negotiated and coordinated the sale and delivery of approximately 50,000 fentanyl pills. Law enforcement officers became aware of the deal and tried to arrest Valenzuela Lopez and Gonzalez Banuelos as they delivered the pills. When agents approached their vehicle, Valenzuela Lopez, who is illegally present in the United States, allegedly opened fire on law enforcement officers. In response, law enforcement officers returned fire. No injuries or fatalities resulted, and law enforcement officers subsequently arrested Valenzuela Lopez and Gonzalez Banuelos. Investigators discovered a firearm on the ground by the driver’s side of the fentanyl pill transport vehicle, as well as approximately 50,000 fentanyl pills in the passenger compartment.

A conviction for possessing 400 grams or more of fentanyl for distribution carries a 10-year minimum-mandatory sentence, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least five (5) years, up to life.

The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

CASE NUMBER:            2:26-mj-5079-DMF

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-038_Valenzuela Lopez, Gonzalez Banuelos

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Phoenix, Ariz. – A man convicted of sexually abusing two young children on Navajo Nation was sentenced Feb. 17, 2026, in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine.

Avery Cody Billy, 30, of Tuba City, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 188 months in prison, followed by 180 months of supervised release. Billy previously pleaded guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child.

Billy sexually abused two young girls who lived on Navajo Nation. The victims were in first grade when Billy began to abuse them, and he continued the abuse repeatedly over many years. Billy is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation.

“Avery Cody Billy degraded, hurt and betrayed the trust of two little girls,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Our Justice system must protect the most vulnerable and hold predators fully accountable for the harm they cause to children. I am grateful for the dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys, victim specialists, FBI agents and tribal partners who joined forces to secure this sentence of nearly 16 years. Their commitment also ensures that survivors of abuse receive the critical support and resources they need to heal.”

“Protecting our nation’s kids is one of the most formidable missions of the FBI,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke. “This defendant’s unspeakable actions will not be tolerated. This sentencing reflects the dedication of the FBI and our tribal law enforcement partners in assuring offenders like this are held accountable and brought to justice."

The FBI Phoenix Division’s Flagstaff office and the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-25-8029-PCT-SPL

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-036_Billy

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from Feb. 14 through Feb. 20, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 179 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 112 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 53 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 13 cases against 14 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Recent matters of interest include:

United States v. Kevin Salguero-Chacon. Salguero-Chacon was charged by complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien, Feb. 19, 2026. An Arizona Department of Public Safety trooper observed Salguero-Chacon driving on I-10 westbound. The trooper conducted a vehicle registration check, which confirmed that the car’s registration was expired, and the trooper initiated a traffic stop. The trooper observed Salguero-Chacon in the driver’s seat and several individuals dressed in camouflage lying in the vehicle’s rear cargo area. Border Patrol agents arrived and observed seven passengers inside the vehicle, including two juveniles. Immigration checks confirmed that the seven passengers in the vehicle are citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States, and that Salguero-Chacon is a citizen of Guatemala. 26-8062MJ, Phoenix.

United States v. Joel Portillo-Saucedo. Portillo-Saucedo was charged by complaint with Bringing in Illegal Aliens and Re-entry of Removed Alien, Feb. 17, 2026. A Border Patrol agent observed four individuals traveling northbound to I-8, near mile marker 100. The agent encountered the four individuals concealed under large bushes, and upon identifying himself as a Border Patrol agent, two of the individuals fled but were ultimately apprehended. It was found that Portillo-Saucedo acted as the foot guide for the group, receiving $1,000 USD for each illegal alien. The three individuals and Portillo-Saucedo are citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. 26-01116MJ, Phoenix.

United States v. Armando Gomez-Talavera. Gomez-Talavera was charged by complaint with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit, Feb. 17, 2026. On Feb. 16, 2026, Border Patrol agents were notified that there was a blue Ford F150 suspected of loading illegal aliens near the border. Agents attempted to stop the vehicle to conduct an immigration inspection, but the truck failed to yield. The agents were later able to locate the vehicle and utilized a Vehicle Immobilization Device (VID) to immobilize the truck. Although the truck had two flat tires due to the deployment of the VID, the driver continued to try to evade the agents. The truck eventually came to a stop and all occupants fled on foot. Border Patrol agents searched the area and apprehended the driver, Gomez-Talavera, and five other subjects, who are citizens and nationals of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. 26-07212, Tucson.

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-037_February 20 Immigration Enforcement

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TUCSON, Ariz. –A federal grand jury has returned an indictment, charging a Tucson couple with a years long scheme to defraud the U.S. Department of War of millions of dollars, while using the illicit proceeds to curate and maintain a luxurious lifestyle, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine.

On Feb. 11, 2026, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned a 12-count indictment against U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Richard Stefon Ramroop, 35, and his spouse, Manuel George Madrid, 32, both of Tucson, for Conspiracy to Commit Theft of Government Property, Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Money Laundering. 

“The defendants allegedly stole millions in taxpayer dollars from the U.S. Department of War to bankroll a lavish lifestyle, diverting critical resources away from their intended purpose,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Every dollar taken through fraud is a dollar denied to the mission it was meant to support. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal and local law enforcement partners will hold accountable any individual who profits illegally at the expense of the American people.”

“Military servicemembers hold a unique position in our society, where they are entrusted with large amounts of taxpayer dollars to ensure the defense of our nation,” said IRS-CI Phoenix Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Jarom Gregory. “When a servicemember abuses their position for personal gain, it erodes trust in the tax system and harms the very citizens they have sworn an oath to protect. IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to investigate allegations of theft of taxpayer funds and government property, ensuring the integrity of our nation’s tax system.”

“This indictment reflects the outcome of a coordinated effort between AFOSI and our federal counterparts,” said Special Agent Richard Kautz, AFOSI Detachment 217 Commander. “Fraud of this level is not just a financial crime, it undermines public trust, diverts resources, and threatens the integrity of our force. Every dollar lost to fraud is a dollar taken away from the security of our nation.”

The indictment alleges that from January 2022 through on or about December 2025, Staff Sgt. Ramroop utilized his position in the pharmacy at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to defraud the U.S. government by purchasing thousands of medical devices using taxpayer funds, and thereafter, stealing and reselling those devices with Madrid for their own personal gain.

According to court records from 2022 through 2025, bank accounts controlled by Ramroop and Madrid received over $11 million in fraud proceeds through wire transfers, Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposits, and other credits from companies engaged in the resale of medical test strips and devices. Meanwhile, the orders of these diverted medical devices cost the U.S. Department of War over $3 million.

The indictment also alleges that Ramroop and Madrid used the fraud proceeds to purchase luxury vehicles and real estate. Further, these purchases were allegedly made directly from the personal bank accounts of Ramroop and Madrid, the same bank accounts that had received fraud proceeds from the medical device sales.

For example, the proceeds were allegedly used to purchase, among other items, a million-dollar home in Tucson in February 2024, a new 2024 Porsche Cayenne Sport Utility Vehicle for $141,443.34 and a new BMW i7 Sport Utility Vehicle for $195,397.59.

According to the indictment, the vehicles, and others, were seized by law enforcement during the execution of a search warrant on Jan. 15, 2026.   

A conviction for Conspiracy to Commit Theft of Government Property carries a maximum penalty of up to 5 years imprisonment. Each conviction for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Wire Fraud carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment. Each conviction for Money Laundering carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment.

U.S. Attorney Courchaine commended the investigatory efforts of IRS–Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) and members of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) to include Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), the Counter Narcotics Alliance (CAN), and the Marana, Mesa, and Tucson Police Departments.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

CASE NUMBER:            4:26-cr-00601-AMM-JEM

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-032_Ramroop et al. 

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – A Polacca woman convicted of drunk driving and killing her 14-year-old son was sentenced on Feb.17, 2026, in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine.

Marian Marsha Josytewa, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 51 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release. In August 2025, following a six-day trial, a federal jury found Josytewa guilty of one count of Involuntary Manslaughter, one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, two counts of Child Abuse, and one count of Driving Under the Influence.

On Dec. 10, 2021, Josytewa consumed several beers before picking her two teenage sons up from school in Flagstaff, Arizona, and attempting to drive them back to the Hopi Indian Reservation. While traveling on a highway on the Navajo Nation Reservation, Josytewa rolled her car. Her unbuckled 14-year-old son was ejected and crushed to death as the car rolled. Josytewa’s blood was drawn and tested at a crime lab, which showed a BAC level of approximately .113.

FBI Phoenix, Flagstaff office, and the Navajo Nation Police Department jointly conducted the investigation with assistance from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, and the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-24-08083-PCT-SPL

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-033_Josytewa

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TUCSON, Ariz. – Jesus Guillermo Valenzuela-Ramirez, 30, of Imuris, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced on Feb. 17, 2026, by Chief U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 90 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Valenzuela-Ramirez was convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.

As part of this conspiracy, on July 1, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona, Valenzuela-Ramirez and his co-conspirators possessed approximately 100 pounds of methamphetamine, which they intended to deliver to another individual that evening.

This investigation 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. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.

This HSTF Tucson led investigation is comprised of agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) with the prosecution being led by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Petermann of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-24-5415-JGZ-2

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-035_Valenzuela-Ramirez

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TUCSON, Ariz. – Jonathan Mora-Leon, 27, of Mexico, was sentenced on Feb. 6, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Scott H. Rash to 84 months of imprisonment. Mora-Leon previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine.

Between February and November 2023, Mora-Leon organized three drug deals involving methamphetamine and fentanyl with an undercover agent. Each time, Mora-Leon arranged for coconspirators to deliver the drugs on his behalf. During the fourth and final transaction on Jan. 18, 2024, Mora-Leon met with the undercover agent to distribute more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine. Agents intercepted the drugs and arrested Mora-Leon and two coconspirators.

This investigation 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 toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders.

This HSTF Tucson led investigation comprises agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:            CR24-00681-TUC-SHR (LCK)

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-034_Mora-Leon

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TUCSON, Ariz. – Michael Dino Peraino, 64, of Willcox, Arizona, was sentenced on Feb. 9, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Scott H. Rash to 156 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Peraino previously pleaded guilty to Bank Robbery.

On July 10, 2025, Peraino entered a Chase Bank located in Safford, Arizona, and handed a note to the victim teller, directing the teller to give him $10,000.00 in cash. Peraino further told the teller to hurry and stated he had a firearm, while motioning toward his waistband.

FBI Phoenix, Sierra Vista office, and the Safford Police Department conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-25-3532

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-029_Peraino

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – The owner of a motel known for serving as a hub for prostitution and drug activities has been sentenced in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine.

Varsha Patel, 57, of Chino Hills, California, was sentenced on Feb. 4, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to five years of probation, forfeiture of the Royal Inn motel, forfeiture of $744,000, and a $5,000 fine. Patel previously pleaded guilty to Using a Facility of Interstate Commerce in Aid of Racketeering Enterprises.  

“When federal and local law enforcement team up it’s a force multiplier. In this case, the Phoenix Police Department, FBI and U.S. Marshals joined forces to shut down the Royal Inn, making an immediate and significant impact on public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Together, we will take decisive action to ensure Arizonans live in communities where families, schools, and businesses can thrive.”

“This sentencing is the culmination of several years of hard work by both the FBI and the Phoenix Police Department. The defendant knowingly and willingly operated the Royal Inn to facilitate the sexual exploitation of people and the sale of drugs,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge, Heith Janke. “The defendant essentially operated a marketplace of illicit activity and profited for years while turning a blind and uncaring eye to the families that live in that neighborhood. That ended when the FBI seized the hotel, and this defendant will now pay the price for her actions.”

"Our partnerships with federal agencies are critical in dismantling organizations that allow criminal behavior to affect the quality of life of our community members,” said Phoenix Police Chief Matt Giordano. “By working together, we ensure that those who profit from illegal enterprises are held accountable. This case demonstrates that when law enforcement agencies work together, we can restore safety and security to the areas most impacted by crime."

A search warrant was executed in September 2024 at the Royal Inn, located at 2510 W. Palo Verde Drive in Phoenix, Arizona, following an extensive coordinated investigation by the Phoenix Police Department and the FBI. The high volume of criminal activity at the Royal Inn was well known in the community where residents, business owners, and two schools, witnessed around-the-clock prostitution and drug dealing. Following the execution of a search and seizure warrant, the U.S. Marshals Service shuttered and fenced off the premises, ending the neighborhood blight.

“The United States Marshals Service is committed to supporting safe and stable communities across Arizona,” said United States Marshal Van Bayless. “Through strong collaboration with our federal and local law enforcement partners, we were able to address criminal activity that had long impacted this neighborhood. The closure of the Royal Inn reflects what can be accomplished when agencies work together toward a shared goal of protecting the public and restoring confidence in the communities we serve.”

The Phoenix Police Department, FBI Phoenix, and the U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:          CR-24-01529-001-PHX-SMB

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-031_Patel

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – A man convicted of killing his significant other with his vehicle near McNary, Arizona, was sentenced on Feb. 5, 2026, in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine.

Termane Billy Celaya, 20, of McNary, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sharad H. Desai to 97 months in the Bureau of Prisons. Celaya previously pleaded guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter.  

Celaya was seated in his pickup truck while he argued with the victim, who was his significant other, while she stood outside of the vehicle. During the argument, Celaya backed up the truck and drove it forward, running over and killing the victim. Celaya fled the scene in the vehicle and was later captured by police after leading them on a pursuit. 

FBI Phoenix, Pinetop-Lakeside office, and the White Mountain Apache Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Church, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:          CR-24-08095-PCT-SHD

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-030_Celaya

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from Feb. 7 through Feb. 13, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 155 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 99 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 40 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 13 cases against 16 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Recent matters of interest include:

United States v. Luis Miguel Salas-Blanco. Salas-Blanco was charged by complaint with Reentry of Removed Alien, Feb. 10, 2026. The defendant was previously removed from the United States on Oct. 7, 2021, after being convicted of Possession of a Weapon by a Prohibited Person and Forgery-Possession of a Forged Instrument, both felonies, in the Superior Court of Arizona, Maricopa County. In that case, Salas-Blanco was sentenced to two and a half years of imprisonment for each count, with the sentences to be served concurrently. 26-9011MJ, Phoenix.

United States v. Fileman Gomez-Casteneda. Gomez-Casteneda was charged by complaint with Bringing an Alien to the United States Unlawfully. A Border Patrol Agent first observed five suspected illegal aliens walking northbound near exit 87 on I-8. Another BPA located the five individuals—one of whom was later identified as Gomez-Casteneda—hiding under a tree and wearing camouflage shirts and pants. Immigration checks confirmed that Gomez-Casteneda and the four others are citizens of Mexico, all unlawfully present in the United States. 26-01114MJ, Phoenix.

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-028_February 13 Immigration Enforcement

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – On Feb. 5, 2026, a federal jury found Derick Lee Myron, 45, of Tuba City, Arizona, guilty of one count of Second-Degree Murder, three counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, two counts of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, four counts of Discharging a Firearm During and In Relation to a Crime of Violence, and one count of Robbery. The guilty verdict followed an eight-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Michael T. Liburdi. Sentencing is scheduled for May 19, 2026.

On April 29, 2024, Myron shot and killed an unarmed victim and shot and seriously injured two others, on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation. Myron then stole a truck, ran over the victim he had killed, and fled the crime scene. He later disposed of the truck in a canyon in Cameron, Arizona. Over the next two days, Myron hid the firearm he used to shoot the victims, and evaded arrest by hiding in the Moenkopi Wash.

A conviction for Second Degree Murder carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, a fine of $250,000, and not more than five years of supervised release. The remaining convictions include additional penalties that could amount to more than 10 years in prison.

The FBI Phoenix Division’s Flagstaff office and Navajo Nation Police Department jointly conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Flagstaff Police Department, and Coconino County Sherrif’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Genevieve A. Ozark (Phoenix) and Dimitra H. Sampson (Flagstaff), District of Arizona, handled the prosecution. 

CASE NUMBER:       CR-24-08050-PCT-MTL

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026- 026_Myron

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – An Arizona man who came to law enforcement’s attention as part of an investigation into the murder of two police officers and one civilian in Queensland, Australia, was sentenced yesterday in federal court to three years in prison for illegally possessing firearms and ammunition.

Donald Day, Jr., 61, of Heber, Arizona, was sentenced on Feb. 12, 2026, by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 36 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Day previously pleaded guilty to being a Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition.

“Donald Day Jr. chose to use online platforms to advocate for violence against law enforcement and public officials, disregarding the danger his actions created,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Day regularly shared the same rhetoric with a family in Australia, who tragically took the lives of their neighbor and two constables. Our thoughts continue to be with the colleagues and families of those lost in Queensland. I’m proud of the work done by this justice team to hold Day accountable for his crimes.”

"Donald Day Jr.'s use of social media to encourage attacks on law enforcement officers and government officials around the world was despicable," said Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke. "This case exemplifies the lengths FBI Phoenix will go to avenge law enforcement partners, including those murdered overseas. Day's crimes were as harmful as the attacks they incited. Today's sentence shows that threats posted online will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted, and we'd like to thank the Queensland Police Service and the United States Attorney's Office for their dedication to ensuring justice was served."

“The tragic events of 12 December 2022 will forever be marked as a dark day for the QPS and Queensland communities. The loss of constable Matthew Arnold and constable Rachel McCrow, and neighbour, Alan Dare, continues to weigh heavily on the QPS family and the broader Queensland community, and our thoughts remain with their families, friends, and colleagues,” said Queensland Police Service Deputy Commissioner Cheryl Scalon. “The QPS deeply values the strong partnership with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, whose collaboration has been instrumental in bringing this matter to justice. The sentencing of Donald Day Jr. and legal proceedings highlight the importance of international cooperation in addressing serious crimes that transcend borders. We remain committed to working closely with our national and international law enforcement partners to ensure justice for the victims and their families.”

Day, who had previously been convicted of multiple felonies, was residing on a rural property outside Heber, Arizona, when he began communicating anti-law enforcement sentiments via social media with the Trains, three Australian family members who murdered two police officers and a neighbor on their rural Queensland property. In a video post shortly after the killings, the Trains stated “[t]hey came to us, and we killed them.  If you don’t defend yourself against these devils and demons, you’re a coward.” They specifically mentioned Day in their video, saying “We’ll see you when we go home. We’ll see you at home, Don. Love you.” The Trains died later that day after a standoff with Australian law enforcement.

When Day learned of their death, he made an online post stating, “[w]ell, like my brother…, like my sister…, it is no different for us. The devils come for us, they [expletive] die.” Day made this statement after publicly posting on a social media platform that he is an “x-con, who’s armed to the teeth”. A later search of Day’s property revealed nine firearms, including a short-barreled rifle, and more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition, a shooting range, and an elevated shooting position.       

FBI Phoenix conducted the investigation with assistance from the Queensland Police Service, Australia. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Pimsner, Abbie Broughton, and Glenn McCormick, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided assistance.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-23-08132-PCT-JJT

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-027_Day

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

TUCSON, Ariz. – A California man charged with transmitting a demand for ransom made an initial appearance today in federal court in Tucson, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine.

Derrick Callella, 42, of Hawthorne, California, is charged with transmitting a demand for ransom in interstate commerce, and without disclosing his identity, utilizing a telecommunications device with intent to abuse, threaten or harass a person.

According to the criminal complaint, Callella is alleged to have sent the demands via two text messages to a missing person’s family on Feb. 4, 2026. He is also alleged to have made a 9-second phone call to a family member.

Through the course of the investigation, it was found that Callella was acting as an imposter, trying to take advantage of the ongoing situation.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI will continue to hold this defendant accountable and any other individuals who seek to interfere with federal investigations or profit from the victim family’s grief.

A criminal complaint is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

CASE NUMBER:            26-04209MJ

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026- 025_Callella

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Timothy Courchaine, U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona, today announced that, through a court-ordered judgment in a civil asset forfeiture action, the government has secured approximately $6,550,729 in stolen taxpayer money.

Through diligent investigation and the effective use of civil forfeiture, federal agents and prosecutors recovered the taxpayer funds stolen through pandemic-related schemes.

As set forth in the civil complaint, COVID-19 pandemic-related unemployment insurance funding was distributed through several federal programs, including the CARES Act, the Continued Assistance Act, and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. This funding was administered through state workforce agencies, including the Arizona Department of Economic Security (ADES). Fraudsters, using stolen personal information of U.S. citizens and fabricated employment information, applied for and obtained unemployment insurance payments through ADES. The fraudsters routed the payments to bank accounts they opened using the stolen personal information, then withdrew the funds or transferred them to other accounts. Investigators identified over 2,000 fraudulent accounts that contained over $6 million in payments obtained from ADES. Using civil forfeiture authority, federal prosecutors and investigators were able to seize and recover the funds.

The District of Arizona brought this civil forfeiture case in cooperation with the broader national DOJ-led COVID Fraud Task Force–a multi-agency collaboration among prosecutors and law enforcement from various agencies that has, to-date, charged numerous individuals and entities who exploited COVID fraud relief programs and seized and forfeited over $1.4 billion in COVID fraud proceeds.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Secret Service. The U.S.  Marshals Service assisted in the seizure and forfeiture.  The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Bozdech and LaTanya Wateland.

CASE NUMBER:            CV-24-00331-PHX-SHD

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-024_over $6million in US Currency

Today, Peter Biar Ajak, 42, of Maryland, was sentenced by United States District Judge Sharad H. Desai for the District of Arizona to 46 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Ajak’s co-defendant, Abraham Chol Keech, 46, of Utah, was sentenced on Dec. 18, 2025, by Judge Desai to 41 months in prison and three years of supervised release.  Both defendants previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Violate the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and Conspiracy to Violate the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA).

“From a suburb of our Nation’s capital, Ajak conspired to export U.S. weaponry to South Sudan, where he planned to lead a coup and install himself in power,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Ajak discussed ways to conceal his conduct, which he knew was illegal, including by misrepresenting financial transactions as attempts to provide humanitarian aid. The National Security Division is committed to prosecuting violations of U.S. export control laws to ensure that U.S. weapons do not fall into the wrong hands.”

“The defendants in this case sought to bypass U.S. export control laws, with Mr. Ajak directing a conspiracy that amassed a $4M arsenal of military-grade weapons intended to effect a coup d'état in South Sudan,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine for the District of Arizona. “Thanks to federal prosecutors, agents and investigators from across the spectrum of U.S. government agencies, the plot was thwarted and the defendants were brought to justice, safeguarding our national security interests.”

“By disrupting an attempt to unlawfully export advanced weapons systems, this investigation helped protect U.S. forces from weapons that could potentially be utilized against them on future battlefields,” said John Helsing, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s Western Field Office. “As the investigative arm of DoD’s Office of Inspector General, DCIS remains fully committed to safeguarding DoD equities and ensuring that military-grade weapons do not fall into the hands of those who would endanger American service members.”

“The defendants in this investigation knowingly sought to undermine national security by violating U.S. laws related to illegal arms trafficking and the export of weapons,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Murphy of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona. “As part of HSI’s core mission to investigate illicit transfers of arms to countries in turmoil, these conspirators attempted to destabilize national and international peace and security. HSI and our partners remain committed to pursuing charges against those who violate these laws.”

As defendants admitted in their plea agreements, between at least February 2023 and March 2024, Keech and Ajak sought to illegally purchase and export nearly $4 million worth of export-controlled, military grade weapons and ammunition from the United States to South Sudan without the required export licenses. Defendants sought to provide these weapons and ammunition — which included ten Stinger missile systems, two hundred grenade launchers, more than a thousand machine guns and rifles, and over 3.5 million rounds of ammunition — to opposition groups in South Sudan seeking to topple the current South Sudanese government.  Defendants planned to install Ajak as the country’s new president after the regime change.

Defendants knew South Sudan was subject to an arms embargo and that exporting weapons and ammunition from the United States to South Sudan without a license from the U.S. government would violate U.S. law. To facilitate their smuggling scheme, defendants discussed paying bribes and disguising the weapons as humanitarian aid. Defendants also created a fake invoice to conceal from financial institutions and others the source and purpose of the funds used to purchase and smuggle the illicit arms. As part of their plea agreement, defendants agreed to forfeit nearly $2 million they raised to pay for the weapons, which was seized by the United States.

HSI, the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy C. Chang, Raymond K. Woo, M. Bridget Minder, and Joseph F. Bozdech for the District of Arizona, and Trial Attorney Leslie C. Esbrook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case.

PHOENIX, Ariz. –  Today, Peter Biar Ajak, 42, of Maryland, was sentenced by United States District Judge Sharad H. Desai for the District of Arizona to 46 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Ajak’s co-defendant, Abraham Chol Keech, 46, of Utah, was sentenced on December 18, 2025, by Judge Desai to 41 months in prison and three years of supervised release.  Both defendants previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Violate the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and Conspiracy to Violate the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA).

“From a suburb of our Nation’s capital, Ajak conspired to export U.S. weaponry to South Sudan, where he planned to lead a coup and install himself in power,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Ajak discussed ways to conceal his conduct, which he knew was illegal, including by misrepresenting financial transactions as attempts to provide humanitarian aid. The National Security Division is committed to prosecuting violations of U.S. export control laws to ensure that U.S. weapons do not fall into the wrong hands.”

“The defendants in this case sought to bypass U.S. export control laws, with Mr. Ajak directing a conspiracy that amassed a $4M arsenal of military-grade weapons intended to effect a coup d'état in South Sudan,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine for the District of Arizona. “Thanks to federal prosecutors, agents and investigators from across the spectrum of U.S. government agencies, the plot was thwarted and the defendants were brought to justice, safeguarding our national security interests.”

“By disrupting an attempt to unlawfully export advanced weapons systems, this investigation helped protect U.S. forces from weapons that could potentially be utilized against them on future battlefields,” said John Helsing, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s Western Field Office. “As the investigative arm of DoD’s Office of Inspector General, DCIS remains fully committed to safeguarding DoD equities and ensuring that military-grade weapons do not fall into the hands of those who would endanger American service members.”

“The defendants in this investigation knowingly sought to undermine national security by violating U.S. laws related to illegal arms trafficking and the export of weapons,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Murphy of HSI Arizona. “As part of HSI’s core mission to investigate illicit transfers of arms to countries in turmoil, these conspirators attempted to destabilize national and international peace and security. HSI and our partners remain committed to pursuing charges against those who violate these laws.”

As defendants admitted in their plea agreements, between at least February 2023 and March 2024, Keech and Ajak sought to illegally purchase and export nearly $4 million worth of export-controlled, military grade weapons and ammunition from the United States to South Sudan without the required export licenses. Defendants sought to provide these weapons and ammunition—which included ten Stinger missile systems, two hundred grenade launchers, more than a thousand machine guns and rifles, and over 3.5 million rounds of ammunition—to opposition groups in South Sudan seeking to topple the current South Sudanese government.  Defendants planned to install Ajak as the country’s new president after the regime change.

Defendants knew South Sudan was subject to an arms embargo and that exporting weapons and ammunition from the United States to South Sudan without a license from the U.S. government would violate U.S. law. To facilitate their smuggling scheme, defendants discussed paying bribes and disguising the weapons as humanitarian aid. Defendants also created a fake invoice to conceal from financial institutions and others the source and purpose of the funds used to purchase and smuggle the illicit arms. As part of their plea agreement, defendants agreed to forfeit nearly $2 million they raised to pay for the weapons, which was seized by the United States.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy C. Chang, Raymond K. Woo, M. Bridget Minder, and Joseph F. Bozdech of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, and Trial Attorney Leslie C. Esbrook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-24-394

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-022_AJAK

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from Jan. 31 through Feb. 6, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 139 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 84 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 40 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 13 cases against 15 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Recent matters of interest include:

United States v. Pedro Nunez-Espino. Nunez-Espino was charged by complaint with Re-entry of Removed Alien, Feb. 6, 2026. The defendant was previously removed from the United States on May 3, 2015, and was previously convicted of Possession of Narcotic Drugs for Sale, a felony, in the Superior Court of Arizona, Maricopa County. In that case, Nunez-Espino was sentenced to six months of imprisonment followed by three years of probation. 26-6046MJ, Phoenix. 

United States v. Pedro Cazares-Diaz. Cazares-Diaz was charged by complaint with Re-entry of Removed Alien, Feb. 4, 2026. The defendant was previously removed from the United States on May 18, 2010, after being convicted of Assault with a Deadly Weapon/Force Likely to Cause Great Bodily Injury, and Receiving Stolen Property, felonies, in the Superior Court of California, San Diego, South County Division. In that case, Cazares-Diaz was sentenced to two years of imprisonment and one year and four months of imprisonment, respectively for each count, to be served concurrently. 26-6036MJ, Phoenix.

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-023_February 6 Immigration Enforcement

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

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