Southern District of Georgia

SAVANNAH, Georgia: A defendant illegally inside the United States was sentenced to prison in federal court in the Southern District of Georgia.

The sentence was imposed by the Honorable Judge J. Randal Hall, District Judge for the Southern District of Georgia and announced by U.S. Attorney Margaret E. ‘Meg’ Heap.

Jose Hernandez-Perez, 41, of Tultepec, Mexico, was sentenced to 37 months in prison followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation, a charge applied to an illegal alien present in the United States after at least one prior removal. 

There is no parole in the federal system.

Court records and documents showed that Hernandez-Perez was apprehended during a traffic stop in Screven County and subsequently identified as an illegal alien utilizing biometric data. The defendant was shown to have extensive federal immigration violations dating back to 2010. 

“This case demonstrates that no matter how many times one may break our laws, criminals will be met with prosecution,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “We will continue to identify and bring to justice those who would completely disregard our laws and exploit our borders.”

In August 2010, Hernandez-Perez was convicted of Conspiracy to Transport an Unlawful Alien within the United States in the Southern District of Texas and was sentenced to 22 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

In July 2012 and again in January 2017, Hernandez-Perez was convicted of Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation, again in the Southern District of Texas, and was sentenced to 35 months and 15 months confinement, respectively. 

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Screven County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant United States Attorney Kelsey L. Scanlon.

SAVANNAH, Georgia: A Florida woman was convicted for her role in a multi-state scheme to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits.

Cheryl Galloway, 67, of Yulee, Florida, was convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud in U.S. District Court, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Galloway now faces up to 20 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and up to three years of supervised release when Judge Dudley H. Bowen convenes sentencing proceedings at a later date. 

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Using the postal system to advance a fraudulent scheme in order to enrich yourself will result in the harshest of consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “This case, and many others like it, demonstrate that federal investigators and prosecutors will identify these criminals and hold them accountable.” 

As described in court documents and testimony, over a two-year period, Galloway, along with her co-conspirators, electronically submitted fraudulent applications with agencies in at least 40 states.  The fraud scheme employed by Galloway and her co-conspirators involved filing for pandemic unemployment benefits around the country, stating they were impacted in those states, and lying about various material aspects of the applications. As a result, the conspirators received approximately $480,000 to which they were not entitled, and they attempted to obtain even more money through fraudulent and deceptive means. Some of the benefits were in the form of a debit card sent to Galloway through the U.S. Mail.

"After a five-day jury trial, Cheryl Galloway was found guilty for her role in a scheme that stole taxpayer-funded benefits. Galloway and her co-conspirators filed fraudulent claims with workforce agencies across the country, falsely claiming employment and pandemic-related unemployment to obtain benefits they never deserved,” said Anthony P. D'Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. “This conviction is a stark reminder that my office will continue to aggressively investigate, prosecute, and pursue anyone who steals from American taxpayers." 

In March 2020, Congress authorized additional funding and expanded eligibility for state-administered unemployment insurance programs as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In an effort to maintain the integrity of those benefits, the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor (OIG-DOL) investigates individuals attempting to fraudulently access unemployment insurance funds.

Anyone with information about attempted unemployment insurance benefits fraud can contact OIG-DOL at www.oig.dol.gov/hotline.htm. 

The case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey L. Scanlon and J. Bishop Ravenel. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Two previously convicted felons found in possession of a firearm face years in prison after sentencing in federal court. 

• Laron Allen, 39, of Savannah, was sentenced to 135 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police found Allen in possession of a firearm after attempting to elude police officers in May 2024.
• Jeffrey Ronald Moyer, 42, of Augusta, was sentenced to 27 months in prison and a $1,500 fine, followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Augusta University Police found Moyer in possession of a shotgun during a March 2025 traffic stop.

Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition. There is no parole in the federal system.

These cases were investigated by the Augusta University Police Department, Savannah Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry W. Syms Jr and L. Alexander Hamner. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Two previously convicted felons found in possession of a firearm face years in prison after sentencing in federal court. 

• Laron Allen, 39, of Savannah, was sentenced to 135 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police found Allen in possession of a firearm after attempting to elude police officers in May 2024.
• Jeffrey Ronald Moyer, 42, of Augusta, was sentenced to 27 months in prison and a $1,500 fine, followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Augusta University Police found Moyer in possession of a shotgun during a March 2025 traffic stop.

The sentences were announced by Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney Margaret E. ‘Meg’ Heap. 

Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition. There is no parole in the federal system.

The cases were investigated by the Augusta University Police Department, Savannah Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry W. Syms Jr and L. Alexander Hamner. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: A Tattnall County man awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to cashing disability payments intended for a deceased relative.

Danny Alan Guyton, 53, of Reidsville, pled guilty to Theft of Government Money, Property, or Records, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The guilty plea subjects Guyton to a statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison, along with substantial fines, restitution and up to three years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term.  

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Fraud against federal Social Security programs is a direct abuse of taxpayer-funded support intended for those who earned those benefits,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “We are committed to protecting government resources and holding accountable those who would fraudulently obtain Social Security benefits.”

As described in the plea agreement, from about June 2021 until April 2025, in Tattnall County, Guyton fraudulently received Social Security disability compensation issued on behalf of his deceased father-in-law, converting the proceeds to his own use through ATM cash withdrawals, retail store purchases and for his own living expenses. Guyton’s scheme resulted in a loss to the U.S. Government of approximately $60,170.

“Stealing benefits intended for vulnerable Americans by using the identity of a deceased individual is unacceptable,” said Norman Jenkins, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Atlanta Field Division, SSA Office of the Inspector General. “We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate those who fraudulently obtain Social Security funds and to protect the integrity of these vital programs for those who depend on them.”

U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall will schedule sentencing for Guyton upon completion of a presentence investigation by U.S. Probation Services.

The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Two Richmond County men have been sentenced to prison after investigators uncovered an illegal firearms accessory importation scheme.

Jafere Deshon Elliott, 23, and Korbynn Jevon Jackson, 23, both of Augusta, each pled guilty to Illegal Importation of Firearms or Ammunition and Illegal Possession of a Machinegun, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen sentenced both defendants to 48 months in prison, and each man also must pay a fine of $2,000 and serve three years of supervised release upon completion of their prison terms.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“The extensive collaboration between multiple law enforcement and investigative agencies in this case is a shining example of exemplary police work and was instrumental in holding these criminals accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “These devices have no place on the streets or in the hands of those that would cause harm in the community.”

In February 2024, investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were contacted by Homeland Security Investigations agents to inform them that U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers intercepted a package shipped from China that contained 13 Machinegun Conversion Devices (MCD’s). The MCD’s were destined for an apartment in Augusta and agents learned that two weeks prior to the initial seizure, a package addressed to the same address and recipient was intercepted at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

“The illegal importation and possession of machinegun conversion devices pose a significant threat to public safety, and Homeland Security Investigations is proud to have worked alongside our federal, state, and local partners to disrupt this dangerous scheme,” said Steven N. Schrank, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI remains committed to protecting our communities by preventing illegal firearms and accessories from reaching our streets and ensuring those who violate federal law are brought to justice.”

The investigation found that the defendants would order the MCD’s, commonly referred to as ‘auto sears,’ from a distributor to be packaged as toys and delivered to the defendants’ home. The MCDs were analyzed by the ATF and determined to meet the definition of an MCD.

"The interception of these weapon conversion devices demonstrates the vigilance and dedication of our CBP officers in preventing dangerous items from entering our communities," said Gregory Alvarez, Director of Field Operations for CBP’s Atlanta Field Office. "Through close collaboration with our federal partners, we are committed to protecting public safety and ensuring those who attempt to circumvent the law are brought to justice."

The case was investigated by the ATF, HSI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey L. Scanlon. 

• 3_indictment_gong.pdf
• 11_order_to_unseal_gong.pdf
• 1_complaint_for_forfeiture_bitcoin.pdf
• 6_order_to_unseal_civil_complaint.pdf
• 4_penalty_certification_gong.pdf

SAVANNAH, Georgia: A Chinese national has been indicted in the United States in a scheme to import hundreds of kilograms of drugs through the Port of Savannah.   

Wei Gong, a/k/a “David Gong,” 45, of Tianjin, China, is in custody in China since his arrest by Chinese authorities in February 2026 on related Chinese criminal violations.  The United States provided information to Chinese authorities through official channels, which they used to investigate and ultimately arrest Gong.

Gong is charged in a recently unsealed indictment in the Southern District of Georgia with Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances, Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Importation of Controlled Substances, and Distribution of Controlled Substances, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charges each carry statutory sentences of up to 20 years in federal prison, along with substantial financial penalties and a period of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

The United States is seeking forfeiture of cryptocurrency seized during the investigation through both the criminal indictment and a recently unsealed civil forfeiture case. 

“Wei Gong, through his ownership of a Chinese chemical company, imported more than 10 kilograms of dangerous drugs into the Southern District of Georgia and sought to bring in more than 1,000 kilograms through the Port of Savannah,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “He also advertised other drugs for sale, including deadly fentanyl analogues. We are thankful for the professionalism and hard work of the Chinese Ministry of Public Security’s Narcotics Control Bureau in developing their case and taking Gong into custody.”

The recently unsealed indictment and civil complaint in the Southern District of Georgia establish that Gong imported ethylone and N,N-dimethylpentylone, both schedule I controlled substances and synthetic cathinones, into the Augusta and Savannah areas. Gong sold at least 10 kilograms to an undercover agent working for the Drug Enforcement Administration, and to Conway Rhinehart, 45, of Hephzibah, Georgia, who in January 2024 was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to drug distribution charges.

The investigation alleges that Gong’s wide-ranging activities started in 2020 until his arrest by Chinese authorities in February 2026. Gong discussed his ambitions to import hundreds of kilograms of dangerous drugs into southern Georgia, ultimately settling on a scheme to import more than 1,000 kilograms through the Port of Savannah. Gong accepted payment through cryptocurrency, which the DEA seized during its investigation.

The investigation alleges that Gong identified the source city for his drug supply and operated out of another city in China. He actively sought to avoid customs delays and shipment seizures and used others to aid him in importing drugs from China into the United States.

Gong’s cryptocurrency records indicate he engaged in millions of dollars in transactions during the time of the scheme. The civil complaint, which seeks to forfeit the seized cryptocurrency, also alleges that Gong violated customs and money laundering statutes.

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

“The DEA Asia Pacific Division remains unwavering in its commitment to disrupting the drug supply chain that crosses borders and endangers American communities,” said David L. King, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Asia Pacific Division. “This coordinated action with the Chinese Ministry of Public Security reflects our shared resolve to hold traffickers accountable, seize their illicit proceeds, and dismantle networks that traffic fentanyl and other dangerous substances to the United States.”

“This arrest demonstrates the strength of international cooperation in disrupting global drug trafficking networks,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Working alongside our law enforcement counterparts in China, we were able to identify and hold accountable an individual responsible for attempting to exploit the Port of Savannah to introduce dangerous drugs into the United States. This case sends a direct message that those who traffic in poison, no matter where they operate, will be pursued through strong global partnerships.”

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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Southern District of Georgia Senior Litigation Counsel J. Bishop Ravenel is prosecuting the criminal case and representing the United States in the civil case. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: A previously convicted felon found in possession of ammunition faces years in prison after sentencing in federal court.

Terrell Polen, 37, of Augusta, was sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen Jr. sentenced Polen to 52 months in prison and a $1,500 fine, followed by three years of supervised release.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Our office has a zero-tolerance approach for convicted felons possessing guns or ammunition, particularly while committing another felony,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “If you’re prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition because of a history of committing crimes, we’ll work with our law enforcement partners to hold those violators accountable.”

As described in court records and testimony, Richmond County sheriff’s deputies responded in November 2024 to a report of a man pointing a rifle and found Polen in possession of ammunition. Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition, and Polen previously was convicted on state felony charges.

The case was investigated by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry W. Syms Jr. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Multiple defendants have been indicted by the May term of the federal Grand Jury in the Southern District of Georgia with Re-entry after Removal or Deportation, a charge applied to an illegal alien present in the United States after at least one prior removal.

Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced the indictments. Those facing federal charges include:

• Alejandro Mendoza-Hernandez, 39, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States, arrested in Long County.
• Didier Mora-Tino, 38, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States, arrested in Ware County.
• Marcos Saraya-Canales, 26, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States, arrested in Evans County.
• Porfirio Suarez-Olan, 40, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States, arrested in Atkinson County.
• Luis Angel Velasquez-Montes, 27, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States, arrested in Chatham County; and,
• Kenny Omar Diaz-Diaz, 35, a citizen of Honduras illegally present in the United States, arrested in Chatham County.

The charges carry statutory penalties up to two years in prison, followed by referral to immigration authorities for deportation. 

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The cases are being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy P. Dean, Lauren C. Olsen, and Makeia R. Jonese.

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Multiple defendants have been indicted by the May term of the federal Grand Jury in the Southern District of Georgia on federal drug trafficking charges.

Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced the indictments. Those facing federal charges include:

• Tyriquez McFadden, 39, and Nichael Lessey, 44, both of Augusta, charged in a five-count indictment with Possession with Intent to Distribute 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl; Possession with Intent to Distribute 28 Grams or More of Crack Cocaine;  Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• Jacquez Sturgis, 36, of Augusta, indicted for Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; and,
• Roman Kelly, 51, of Augusta, indicted for Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin; and Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine.

The charges carry statutory penalties up to life in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and a period of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. 

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The cases were investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency and local law enforcement partners and are being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant United States Attorneys Joshua Kyle Davis and Kelsey L. Scanlon.

STATESBORO, Georgia: A Laurens County man with a checkered criminal history has been sentenced to federal prison for distributing methamphetamine.

Bobby Akins, 55, of Dublin, Georgia, was sentenced to 90 months in prison after pleading guilty to Distribution of more than 50 Grams of Methamphetamine, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall also fined Akins $1,000 and ordered him to serve four years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Whether in our largest cities or our smallest communities, we will pursue those who peddle poison in our neighborhoods and send them to prison,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Deadly drugs like methamphetamine have no safe place in the Southern District of Georgia.”

As described in court documents and testimony, investigators identified Akins as a source of illegal drug distribution in the Toombs County area, primarily selling quantities of methamphetamine. During the investigation, and prior to his federal indictment in October 2025, he was arrested for violating probation on state charges of meth trafficking in Montgomery County and confined to serve the remainder of his state prison sentence.

Akins has a long criminal history including multiple convictions on state charges for drug trafficking, and in 2001 was convicted on federal charges in the Southern District of Texas for transporting illegal aliens hidden in a tractor trailer.

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 case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Deputy Criminal Chief Marcela C. Mateo and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey L. Scanlon.

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Six men have been indicted by the May term of the federal Grand Jury in the Southern District of Georgia for a variety of gun charges, including Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced the indictments. Those facing federal charges include:

• Jason Booz, 46, of Augusta, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
• Twain Frails, 36, of Augusta, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
• Naquan Brinson, 23, of Savannah, indicted for Possession of a Stolen Firearm and Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment.
• Thomas Hilliard, 39, of Savannah, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
• Nathaniel Williams, 46, of Savannah, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and
• Orlando M. Williams, 35, of Savannah, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

“We will prosecute those who illegally possesses firearms in the Southern District of Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “We value and commend our law enforcement partners, and we will continue to prioritize removing these dangerous weapons from individuals who are prohibited from possessing them.”

The cases listed above have been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, and the Savannah Police Department. These cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karl I. Knoche, Matthew Breedon, Henry W. Syms Jr. and Bradley R. Thompson.

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Three men, including a man charged after a Savannah mall shooting, have been sentenced to federal prison.

The sentences before U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker were announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include:

• Aujawan T. Hymon, 21, of Savannah, sentenced to 41 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and fined $1,200 after pleading guilty to Illegal Possession of a Machine Gun. Savannah Police officers responded July 2, 2025, to the Oglethorpe Mall after gunshots were reported. Three people were wounded during the exchange of gunfire, including Hymon, who was seen by witnesses and on surveillance cameras carrying a pistol. The footage also showed Hymon discarding a gun in a mall trash can where investigators later recovered the weapon, a .40-caliber Glock Model 22, modified with a “Glock switch” to convert it into a machine gun. Hymon, who was on state probation, did not appear to have fired the pistol.
• Antonio Owens, 30, of Savannah, sentenced to 39 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Owens was a passenger in a vehicle stopped for traffic violations in June 2025 when Savannah police found a pistol in his possession.
• Ishaq Williams, 44, of Savannah, sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah police officers found a pistol in a backpack belonging to Williams during a March 2024 traffic stop.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Getting guns out of the hands of felons, and keeping illegal machine guns off the streets, is fundamental to making our community safer,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “We applaud the work of our law enforcement partners for their vigilance in investigating these cases.”

The Savannah Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the cases, which were prosecuted for the United States of America by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Makeia R. Jonese, Bradley R. Thompson, and Darron J. Hubbard.

AUGUSTA, Georgia: Two men have been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to charges including mail theft.

Michael Jermaine Thompson, 24, of North Augusta, South Carolina, was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Stolen Mail Key and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall previously sentenced Thompson’s co-defendant, Robert Dean Plyler, 23, of Augusta, to a total of 38 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after he pled guilty to Possession of Stolen Mail, Bank Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“The security of the U.S. Mail is vital to commerce and communications, and mail theft is a serious matter,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “These sentences hold both men accountable, and deliver a timely warning that we will diligently pursue those who would violate the mail system.”

As described in court records and testimony, North Augusta police officers were alerted in December 2024 that two men were seen opening a mail “blue box” outside the Georgia Avenue post office and placing the mail in the trunk of their car. As officers were enroute they saw a vehicle matching the description and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle sped into Georgia and eventually crashed during the pursuit, and Thompson and Plyler were taken into custody.

Investigators from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office recovered a pistol and a large amount of mail from the vehicle. Personnel at the Richmond County jail also found a U.S. Postal Service key in Thompson’s possession.

A total of 131 pieces of mail were recovered, representing 29 victims. The investigation also discovered that Plyler had opened a bank account in his name and had been depositing checks taken from mail thefts into the account. Judge Hall ordered Plyler to pay restitution of $1,157.

“This sentencing is a statement that mail theft will not be tolerated, and the perpetrators will be brought to justice,” said Rodney M. Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Atlanta Division. “The Postal Inspection Service will continue to partner with other law enforcement agencies to collectively pursue criminals who victimize postal customers.”

“Stealing from the U.S. Mail is not a victimless crime – it disrupts lives, compromises financial security, and erodes trust in a system Americans rely on every day,” said Matt Ploskunak, Senior Supervisory Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Augusta office. “These defendants not only targeted that system, but one of them did so while unlawfully possessing a firearm, compounding the threat to the community. The FBI will continue to work with our partners to aggressively pursue those who exploit the mail for personal gain and hold them accountable under federal law.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the North Augusta Office of Public Safety. The case was prosecuted for the United States of America Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey L. Scanlon. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: A Chatham County woman has been sentenced to seven years in prison after admitting she set a fire that injured four people in a rooming house.

Tamekia Mumford, 50, of Savannah, was sentenced to 84 months in prison after pleading guilty to Arson Resulting in Personal Injury, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker also ordered Mumford to pay $2,190 in restitution and to serve five years of supervised release upon completion of her prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Arson is a senseless and often deadly crime,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “It’s a tribute to the quick response of the Savannah Fire Department that all of the occupants of this residence were rescued with only minor injuries.”

As described in the guilty plea, Savannah firefighters were called at approximately 7:31 a.m. on Oct. 21, 2024, to a house fire at 1834 Capital Street. The residence operated as a boarding house with up to 25 tenants, including Mumford. Firefighters and other first responders were met on the street by multiple residents who had evacuated and rescued two people from the second floor while fighting the fire. One of those residents was transported to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta and treated for smoke inhalation. Three others were treated for injuries they received while escaping the fire.

During the evacuation, Mumford stood outside the home while flicking a lighter and yelled that the house was “evil.” She later told investigators that she was angry with everyone in the house. Security footage from the morning of the fire showed Mumford lighting a mattress outside the open kitchen window of the house. It also showed her entering the home and exiting with additional material she then added to the fire. She did not alert any of the residents, many of whom were sleeping, as the blaze grew and smoke billowed into the house through the open window. 

“I’m thrilled to see this arsonist will not be on the streets and putting more lives in danger,” said Fred Anderson, chief investigator for the Savannah Fire Department Arson Unit. “This case was able to be solved quickly due to a strong working partnership with local and federal partners working together to keep Savannah safe from senseless crimes like this.”

“This incident could have resulted in loss of life. The deliberate nature of this act – targeting a residence with multiple occupants – demonstrates the serious threat arson poses to public safety,” said Charles M. Mulherin, special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. “ATF will continue to prioritize these cases and support efforts to prevent similar tragedies.”

The case was investigated by the Savannah Fire Department Arson Unit, the Savannah Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted for the United States of America by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey L. Scanlon and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank M. Pennington II.

SAVANNAH, Georgia: A U.S. Army retiree who crashed a stolen vehicle into a Fort Stewart office building has been sent to federal prison and ordered to pay substantial restitution.

Treamon Dominic Lacy, 42, of Warner Robins, Georgia, was sentenced to 33 months in prison after his conviction at trial in U.S. District Court on charges of Theft of Government Property and Damage to Government Property, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S District Court Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered Lacy to pay $579,868 in restitution and to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“As a former servicemember, Treamon Lacy used his knowledge of operations at Hunter Army Airfield to steal a vehicle and crash through the front doors of an occupied building,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “It’s a miracle no one was injured or killed, and this sentence holds him accountable for his actions.”

As described at trial, Lacy was a retired U.S. Army staff sergeant when in July 2023 he gained access to Fort Stewart, entered the motor pool and stole a high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle, known as a Humvee, and drove to the headquarters building of the U.S. Army’s Third Infantry Division. Lacy then drove the vehicle into the entrance of the building, causing extensive damage.

No one was injured, and military police took Lacy into custody. A federal grand jury indicted Lacy in August 2023, and he was convicted at trial in U.S. District Court in September 2025. After sentencing he was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

“The readiness and safety of our military installations rely on skilled special agents, a robust force protection, and the swift action of law enforcement,” said Special Agent in Charge Ryan O’Connor, Army CID, Southeast Field Office. “I commend the diligent work of our special agents and our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office who investigated and prosecuted this alarming incident.”

The case was investigated by the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division. and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley R. Thompson and Michael Z. Spitulnik. 

BRUNSWICK, Georgia: A federal inmate due for release from custody in July will instead spend two more years in prison for lewdly exposing himself to prison staff.

Stephen M. Patterson, 37, an inmate at Federal Correctional Institution Jesup, was sentenced to 24 months in prison after being found guilty on three counts of Public Indecency in a bench trial before U.S. Magistrate Judge Benjamin W. Cheesbro, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Staff members at our federal institutions are there to safeguard inmates and the public and unfortunately are too often subjected to assault and abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “This sentence demonstrates that we will not tolerate such loathsome behavior.”

As described in court, Patterson was being held at FCI Jesup after a conviction in Kentucky on a federal charge of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. His criminal record, including the felonies which precluded him from legally possessing a firearm, consists of multiple convictions for assaults, drug distribution and domestic violence.

While at FCI Jesup in December 2023, April 2024, and May 2024, Patterson “unlawfully performed a lewd act by exposing his sexual organ and appearing in a state of partial nudity in a public place,” exposing himself to three separate female prison staff members.

Magistrate Judge Cheesbro ordered Patterson’s sentence to be served consecutively to his current sentence, which was set to end on July 3. Patterson also must serve three years of supervised release after completion of his sentence.

“This investigation emphasizes the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ commitment to maintaining the safety and security of our facilities and holding individuals accountable for criminal activity, especially while housed at our BOP facility,” said William K. Marshall III, Director for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. “BOP will continue to work closely with law enforcement partners to ensure that our federal prisons remain a safe and secure environment for both staff and inmates.”

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Prisons and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey L. Scanlon and L. Alexander Hamner. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Two Chatham County men have been sentenced to federal prison in separate cases after pleading guilty to firearms possession.

The sentencings before U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker were announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include:

• Javell D. Wright, 35, of Savannah, sentenced to 63 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah police officers responded in February 2025 to reports of a domestic dispute with shots fired, and later arrested Wright during a traffic stop and found a pistol in his vehicle. Wright’s criminal history includes multiple state convictions for illegal gun possession.
• Amir Rashad Shaheed-Ali, 29, of Savannah, sentenced to 55 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah police found Shaheed-Ali in possession of a pistol during a December 2024 traffic stop.

Judge Baker also ordered each of the men to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of their prison terms. There is no parole in the federal system.

“We commend the officers of the Savannah Police Department for their continued vigilance in removing violent criminals from the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “The message to convicted felons is clear: If you carry a gun, you’re going to prison.”

The cases were investigated by the Savannah Police Department with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Makeia R. Jonese and Ryan E. Bondura. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Two Chatham County men have been sentenced to prison after investigators caught them stealing mail from blue collection boxes.

Brandon Chavonte Mincey, 34, and Antwan Williams, 52, both of Savannah, each pled guilty to Possession of a Stolen Mail Key, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker sentenced Mincey to 40 months in prison, and Williams to 15 months in prison, and each man also must pay a fine of $1,200 and serve three years of supervised release upon completion of their prison terms.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“This case is an excellent example of good police work stopping a crime in progress and holding the criminals accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “These sentences should send a warning to mail thieves: We will find you and put you in prison.”

In July 2025, investigators from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducting proactive surveillance observed a vehicle pull up to a blue collection box at 10701 Abercorn Street in Savannah and later to another box at 1348 Eisenhower Avenue. In each incident, one of the occupants of the vehicle opened the box, removed the mail and dumped it in the rear of the vehicle.

Police pulled the vehicle over, with Mincey and Williams inside, and recovered a trash bag full of mail and a U.S. Postal Service key used to access the collection boxes. Investigators determined that checks recovered from 310 pieces of mail from 58 businesses or individuals added up to more than $58,000 in potential losses. All of the mail was returned to the victims.   

“The theft of mail has consequences, and the sentencing of these defendants sends a message that if you steal mail then you will go to jail,” said Rodney M. Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division. “Postal Inspectors have a duty to protect the integrity of the mail and will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to combat mail theft.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the Savannah Police Department and the Chatham County Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan E. Bondura. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Three men have been sentenced to substantial prison terms in separate cases for illegally possessing firearms.

The sentencings before U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker were announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include:

• Benjamin Greene, 39, of Savannah, was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, and fined $1,500. Greene was convicted at trial in January on a charge of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah police officers found a pistol in Greene’s possession in February 2024 after he stole a car at a gas station and crashed while running from police. Greene has a substantial history of felony criminal convictions and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
• Yeiker Luis Arevalo-Hernandez, 21, a Venezuelan national illegally present in the United States, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and ordered to be deported after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien. In June 2025, Savannah Airport Police officers were called for assistance at a hotel near the airport. A dispute among several men caused a disturbance at the hotel, and police officers reviewing security footage determined Arevalo-Hernandez possessed two pistols and hid them behind the hotel’s dumpsters before officers arrived. Illegal aliens are prohibited from possessing firearms.
• Arkeem Myers, 36, of Savannah, was sentenced to 77 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. In December 2024, Savannah police officers arrested Myers, a passenger in a vehicle pulled over for a traffic violation, after determining he was in possession of a pistol found under his seat. Myers has a record of repeated felony convictions, including gun charges, and is prohibited from possessing firearms.

“Previously convicted felons and illegal aliens are prohibited from possessing guns – period,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “We are in lockstep with our law enforcement partners in making our communities safer by taking these gun-carrying criminals off our streets.”

The cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Savannah Police Department, and the Savannah Airport Police, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Makeia R. Jonese, Darron J. Hubbard, Timothy P. Dean, and Ryan E. Bondura. 

AUGUSTA, Georgia: The owner of a McDuffie County behavioral therapy service faces up to 10 years in federal prison and substantial financial penalties after pleading guilty to submitting fraudulent insurance reimbursement claims.

Mira Stallings, 41, of Thomson, Georgia, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of Health Care Fraud, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The plea subjects Stallings to a statutory sentence of up to 10 years in prison, payment of restitution and fines, and up to three years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Our health insurance programs, particularly those that provide benefits to our military servicemembers and their dependents, are vital to those who need assistance for medical treatment,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “With our law enforcement partners, we will aggressively pursue those who fraudulently access those funds for their own personal gain.”

As described in court documents and testimony, Stallings is a licensed behavioral therapist and owner of ABAscape LLC, a Thomson, Georgia, agency that provided behavioral therapy services to individuals with developmental disabilities. A parent of patients who received services from ABscape reported concerns about billing discrepancies to TRICARE, the health care and insurance program serving active duty servicemembers and their families.

The resulting investigation determined that from June 2020 through May 2023, Stallings submitted false and fraudulent billing claims to TRICARE for individual and group therapy services that were not provided, or were not provided as presented. The investigation determined that the fraudulent billing for more than $652,000 resulted in TRICARE payments of more than $572,000. 

In addition, Stallings, through ABAscape, applied for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, under the guise of seeking funding for working capital to alleviate economic injury from the COVID-19 pandemic. She received nearly $1 million, and while certifying in her application that the funds would not be used for personal or household purposes, Stallings instead spent tens of thousands of dollars on personal credit card debts and to a debt collector, salary payments to a family member for fraudulent services, personal purchases from online vendors and retail stores, and nearly $50,000 for the construction of a dog-breeding compound. 

“The reach of this investigation extends beyond healthcare into the deliberate manipulation of federal programs designed to support honest small businesses,” said Special Agent-in-Charge, Jason J. Sargenski, Defense Criminal Investigative Service Southeast Field Office. “By allegedly utilizing wire fraud to siphon resources from the Small Business Administration while simultaneously defrauding TRICARE, the defendant demonstrated a pattern of deceit that harms both the taxpayer and the integrity of our nation's essential support systems. We remain dedicated to following the trail of fraud wherever it leads to ensure those who prioritize personal greed over public service are held fully accountable.”

U.S. District Court Judge J. Randall Hall will schedule sentencing for Stallings after U.S. Probation Services submits a presentencing investigation report.

The case was investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and prosecuted for the United States of America by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia G. Rhodes and Jennifer S. Thompson. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: A logistics company employee and a trucking company owner have been sentenced to prison and ordered to pay restitution after pleading guilty to a scheme that paid for fake transportation invoices.

Philip Charles Smith, 41, of Richmond Hill, Georgia, was sentenced to 27 months in prison and ordered to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term, while Antonio J. Evans Sr., 41, of Sylvania, Georgia, was sentenced to 13 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Both men pleaded guilty to Wire Fraud. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood also ordered Smith and Evans to be held equally responsible for paying $821,899 in restitution.

“Private companies that serve the transportation needs for the Port of Savannah, like all companies, deserve to expect honesty and integrity from their employees and service providers,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Philip Smith betrayed the trust of his employer in order to funnel fake work to Antonio Evans so the two of them could line their pockets, and they’re now being held accountable for their dishonesty.”

As described in court documents and testimony, Smith previously was employed by a national logistics and transportation company that served the Port of Savannah, while Smith was the owner of a local trucking company that served as a licensed carrier for Smith’s employer. One of Smith’s duties was to award contracts on behalf of the company to such third-party carriers to move freight from the port to other destinations.

From about July 2021 to August 2024, Smith devised a scheme in which he used his employee access to create fake freight-hauling jobs that he assigned to Evans. The company then would unwittingly pay Evans for work that didn’t exist, and Evans would kick back a portion of the funds to Smith. The $821,899 in restitution represents the total amount of the company’s loss from the three years of the scheme.

“Schemes like this exploit positions of trust and undermine the integrity of critical supply chain operations supporting the Port of Savannah,” said Brad Snider, Senior Supervisory Resident Agent of FBI Georgia’s Savannah office. “The FBI is committed to holding accountable those who use fraud and deception for personal gain, and we will continue working with our partners to protect businesses from financial crimes that impact commerce and the broader economy.”

The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted for the United States of America by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darron J. Hubbard and L. Alexander Hamner. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: One man caught carrying a gun in Savannah’s mall and another who fired shots in a neighborhood face years in prison on firearms charges after sentencings in federal court.

Herman Lamont Dessasure, 43, of Savannah, and Darvin Prest Morris, 41, of Ludowici, Georgia, each were sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood determined that Dessasure was an armed career criminal because of at least three prior violent felony convictions, and under enhanced sentencing guidelines sentenced him to 170 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release.

Judge Wood sentenced Morris to 110 months in prison, fined him $1,000 and ordered him to serve three years of supervised release.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Our commitment to safe communities means absolutely no tolerance for convicted felons carrying guns,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “If you’re prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a history of committing crimes, we’ll work with our law enforcement partners to take you off the streets.”

Dessasure, who has a substantial criminal history, was arrested in November 2021 when an Oglethorpe Mall security guard spotted what appeared to be the outline of a firearm under Dessasure’s shirt and alerted Savannah police. An officer found a pistol tucked in Dessasure’s waistband in violation of mall rules, and determined that Dessasure’s prior felony convictions prohibited him from possessing firearms.

Morris, who previously was convicted in federal court for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, was indicted after an April 2021 incident in which citizens of a McIntosh County neighborhood detained Morris for police after he drove through a man’s yard, brandished a firearm and fired multiple shots.

The cases were prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Makeia R. Jonese, John P. Harper III, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren C. Olsen. 

SAVANNAH, GA: Federal investigators and attorneys halted a fraud scheme targeting individuals’ bank accounts and recovered more than $800,000 on behalf of victims in the case.

Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney Margaret E. “Meg” Heap announced the forfeiture on behalf of the United States $834,592 from facilitators of a wide-ranging bank fraud scheme involving more than 1,100 financial institutions. 

“The Asset Forfeiture Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in coordination with the FBI, worked diligently to locate and forfeit these funds,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Our office remains committed to recovering fraud proceeds and mitigating the damage these criminal organizations inflict on Georgia communities.”

As described in the civil complaint and court order, in late 2023, scammers sought out individual bank account owners across the country to launder the proceeds of illicit activity. The FBI was able to track more than $3 million in fraud proceeds laundered through the fraud scheme, much of which has already been returned to the victims through the efforts of several banks. 

As an example, fraudsters informed an unwitting person in south Georgia that they sold insurance policies identified as theft protection plans provided via Lifelock, a nationally branded identity theft and recovery service. Fraudsters used the person’s bank account to receive payments, falsely stating the money was legally earned when, in fact, the fraudsters were drawing remotely created checks (RCCs) from victims’ bank accounts.

The FBI was able to quickly investigate the case and seize the money before the fraud ring could collect on their criminal efforts.

“Fraudsters rely on speed, deception, and the misuse of legitimate financial systems to steal from innocent people,” said Matthew J. Ploskunak, Senior Supervisory Special Agent of FBI Georgia’s Augusta Office. “In this case, the FBI moved faster. By identifying the scheme and seizing the funds before they could be dispersed, we were able to significantly disrupt this criminal operation and protect victims. Anyone considering participating in these schemes should know the FBI will find you and work to recover every possible dollar.”

This case was investigated by the FBI. The United States was represented by Southern District of Georgia Senior Litigation Counsel J. Bishop Ravenel.

The proceeds of forfeited assets are deposited in the Justice Department’s Assets Forfeiture Fund (AFF) and used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of other law enforcement purposes. To learn more about the AFF, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/afp/assets-forfeiture-fund-aff.

WAYCROSS, Georgia: The final two of 35 defendants in a south Georgia drug trafficking operation have been convicted after a four-day trial in federal court.

Marquan Jenkins, aka “Anna Brooke,” aka “Mary Thompson,” 31, and Christopher Hawkins, aka “Rayshon Hawkins,” 30, of Douglas, Georgia, were convicted in a jury trial in U.S. District Court in Waycross, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Jenkins was convicted on a charge of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, and one count of Distribution of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, up to life. Hawkins was convicted on a charge of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, 11 counts of Distribution of a Controlled Substance, and one count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, up to two life sentences. There is no parole in the federal system.

“These drug traffickers operated inside and outside Georgia’s prison system, distributing dangerous, illegal drugs throughout communities in rural Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “These guilty verdicts confirm our commitment to the relentless pursuit of drug traffickers, whether they are in big cities or small towns, and keeping our neighborhoods safe.”

Jenkins and Hawkins were the remaining defendants in USA v. Brinson et al., a sweeping, 60-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in January 2025. The indictment alleged the participation of 37 defendants in a conspiracy to import and distribute large amounts of illegal drugs in the Douglas, Georgia, community and in surrounding counties during a roughly four-year period from early 2021 through the time of the indictment.

Much of the conspiracy was directed from inside Georgia state prisons using contraband cell phones, and the indictment included a notice of seizure of 21 illegally possessed firearms.

Testimony during the trial before U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood showed that Jenkins led the drug conspiracy from inside the walls of the Georgia State Department of Corrections where he has been serving a custodial sentence for Georgia state robbery convictions since 2012. Hawkins was identified as a major distributor in the drug conspiracy.

Of the other defendants, 35 were convicted or entered guilty pleas to various drug- and gun-related charges, with 17 of them sentenced to terms of up to 126 months in prison and the others awaiting sentencing. One defendant passed away before adjudication; and another was acquitted at trial.

Judge Wood will schedule sentencings for Jenkins and Hawkins after completion of pre-sentence investigations by U.S. Probation Services.

“The FBI and our law enforcement partners uncovered a dangerous drug trafficking network that brazenly operated both on the streets and from inside a prison cell, fueling the spread of methamphetamine across rural Georgia,” said Brad Snider, Senior Supervisory Resident Agent of FBI Georgia’s Savannah office. “These convictions send a clear message that no matter where offenders attempt to hide or operate – from behind bars or within our communities – the FBI remains committed to dismantling criminal organizations and protecting the public from the violence and addiction they drive.”

“A person in possession of a firearm with the intent to distribute illegal drugs is a serious threat to public safety,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “ATF and our law enforcement partners are focused on stopping those who endanger our communities, and we’ll continue to utilize every resource we have to keep our streets safe.”

Agencies conducting the investigation in USA v. Brinson et al. include the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit, the Georgia State Patrol, the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office, the Waycross Police Department, and the Jacksonville (Florida) County Sheriff’s Office. The case is prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley R. Thompson, Ryan E. Bondura and Joshua K. Davis. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Four defendants have been sentenced to federal prison on separate charges involving illegal firearms possession.

The sentencings before U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker were announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include:

• Devin Jenkins, 26, of Savannah, sentenced to 103 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Jenkins was charged in March 2025 after a domestic disturbance at a Savannah apartment complex when he fired multiple shots into his girlfriend’s unoccupied, parked vehicle.
• Anthony Rasheen Greene, 34, of Savannah, sentenced to 60 months in prison, fined $1,200, and ordered to serve five years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term after pleading guilty to Carrying a Firearm During, or In Relation To, a Drug Trafficking Crime. Savannah police officers found a pistol in Greene’s possession during a May 2024 traffic stop.
• Terrance Delan Parker, 26, of Ludowici, Georgia, was sentenced to 36 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Liberty County sheriff’s deputies found two pistols in Parker’s vehicle during a May 2025 traffic stop.
• Ronmel Eduardo Garcia-Correa, 33, a citizen of Honduras illegally present in the United States, was sentenced to 11 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien. Police in Garden City found a pistol in Garcia-Correa’s possession in June 2025. Garcia-Correa will be released into the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement immediately upon completion of his prison sentence and processed for removal from the United States.

“Removing guns from the hands of criminals is a vital part of protecting our community from violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “With our law enforcement partners, we will relentlessly pursue and prosecute individuals whose criminal histories or immigration status makes it clear that they are prohibited from possessing firearms.”

Agencies investigating the cases include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Savannah Police Department, the Garden City Police Department, and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office. The cases were prosecuted for the United States of America by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Makeia R. Jonese, Timothy P. Dean, and Kelsey L. Scanlon. 

SAVANNAH, GA:  A Hinesville man who threatened to kill employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs has been sentenced to federal prison.

Alexis Beatles, 44, of Hinesville, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for his conviction on two counts of Interstate Communications with Threats to Injure Another, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker also fined Beatles $1,500 and ordered him to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Alexis Beatles directed threats of death and violence to VA employees, U.S. citizens and even the families of police officers,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “We commend our law enforcement and investigative partners for making our community safer by holding Beatles accountable.”

As described in court, Beatles called a Department of Veterans Affairs hotline in December 2024 and made demands to the phone operator wherein he threatened to kill federal employees and others. Beatles made numerous threats, including threatening to crash his car into the Savannah VA Clinic, to “destroy” U.S. citizens, to rig his home with explosives to kill any police officers that came to his home, and to kill the children of any officers who attempted to arrest him.

The FBI, with assistance from the Savannah Police Department’s SWAT and Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams, arrested Beatles on a criminal complaint in January 2025. He later was formally indicted by a federal grand jury, and in September 2025, a jury convicted Beatles in U.S. District Court after a two-day trial.

Evidence introduced during Beatles’ sentencing included social media posts in which Beatles declared himself to be a terrorist and celebrated other terrorist attacks.

“This sentence demonstrates the VA-OIG’s commitment to protecting veterans, VA employees, and federal property,” said Special Agent in Charge David Spilker with the VA Office of Inspector General’s Southeast Field Office. “The VA-OIG thanks the US Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their efforts in this investigation.”

“Alexis Beatles’ reckless and violent threats against Department of Veterans Affairs employees and law enforcement officers were deeply disturbing and have no place in our society,” said Brad Snider, Senior Supervisory Special Agent of FBI Georgia’s Savannah office. “This conviction sends a clear message that threats of violence, especially those targeting our veterans and first responders, will not be tolerated.”

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant United States Attorneys L. Alexander Hamner and Darron J. Hubbard.

AUGUSTA, Georgia: Three men have been sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty to their roles in a nationwide scheme that enabled North Korean workers to access U.S.-based computer networks.

Each defendant pleaded guilty to a criminal Information charging them with one count of Wire Fraud Conspiracy, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

The defendants were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall. Alexander Paul Travis, 35, of Augusta, was sentenced to 12 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to forfeit $193,265. Jason Salazar, 30, of Clovis, California, and Audricus Phagnasay, 25, of Fresno, California, were sentenced and ordered to forfeit $409,876 and $681,926, respectively.

“These men practically gave the keys to the online kingdom to likely North Korean overseas technology workers seeking to raise illicit revenue for the North Korean government – all in return for what to them seemed like easy money,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “These schemes present a significant challenge to our national security, and we applaud our investigative partners working to secure our digital borders.”

Since 2003, United States and United Nations sanctions cut off North Korea “from the U.S. marketplace and financial systems and restricted the ability of U.S. persons and companies from doing business” with North Korean institutions.

North Korea responded with “a variety of schemes” to evade those sanctions, including “the use of highly skilled information technology (IT) workers to obtain remote, pseudonymous employment with companies around the world, including the United States, using false or stolen identities.” The revenues from those schemes contribute to North Korea’s weapons programs in violation of U.S. and U.N. sanctions.

Each defendants’ guilty pleas describe how they were contacted by overseas IT workers, and each defendant allowed those workers to create resumes in the defendants’ names with false information about their experience; to use those false representations and identities to obtain remote employment with U.S. companies; to pass employer vetting procedures, including video interviews, drug testing, and fingerprinting; and, to open bank accounts in the defendants’ names to receive payment from the U.S. companies.

In each case, the defendant would receive a laptop computer from the company that hired the fictitious worker, and then would install unauthorized software to enable the overseas IT worker to access the computers remotely while appearing to work from the defendant’s address in the United States.

Travis, who was an active-duty member of the United States Army stationed at Fort Gordon at the time, received at least $51,397 for his participation in the scheme. Phagnasay and Salazar earned at least $3,450 and $4,500, respectively. The fraudulent scheme earned approximately $1.28 million in salary payments from the victim U.S. companies, the vast majority of which were sent to the IT workers overseas.

“These defendants facilitated a scheme to deceive U.S. companies into hiring foreign remote IT workers,” said FBI Georgia Acting Special Agent in Charge Peter Ellis. “The FBI will continue to work with our partners to expose and mitigate these fraudulent IT schemes and provide support to victims of North Korean cyber actors.”

The FBI Augusta (Georgia) Resident Agency is investigating the cases, along with the National Security Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, Assistant U.S. Attorney L. Alexander Hamner for the Southern District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Jacques Singer-Emery of the NSD National Security Cyber Section are prosecuting the cases.

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Multiple defendants face felony charges in indictments filed in the Southern District of Georgia during the March term of the Grand Jury.

Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced the indictments. Those facing federal charges include:

• Corey Corley, 34, of Savannah, charged with Interference with Commerce by Robbery, for an Oct. 14, 2025 incident at Mary Jane’s CBD Dispensary in Savannah;
• Kyle Ashley Edmunds, 43, of Augusta, charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
• Calvin King, 20, of Savannah, charged with Illegal Possession of a Machine Gun, referring to a pistol equipped with a “Glock switch” conversion device; and,
• Josiah Tate, 22, of Savannah, charged with Illegal Possession of a Machine Gun, referring to a pistol equipped with a “Glock switch” conversion device.

In addition, four men are charged with Re-entry After Removal or Deportation, a charge applied to an illegal alien present in the United States after at least one prior removal:

• Randy Reinery Almendarez-Romero, 47, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States, arrested in Chatham County;
• Francisco Guzman-Encinos, 40, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States, arrested in Chatham County;
• Jose Hernandez-Hernandez, 33, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States, arrested in Glynn County; and,
• Oscar Rabadan, 36, a citizen of Mexico, illegally present in the United States, arrested in Richmond County.

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The cases are being prosecuted on behalf of the United States of America by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia. 

AUGUSTA, Georgia: A South Carolina woman was sentenced to prison and ordered to pay substantial restitution for her role in a multi-state scheme to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits.

Ricki Johnson, 42, of Trenton, South Carolina, was sentenced to 54 months in prison after pleading guilty to Mail Fraud, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen also ordered Johnson to pay restitution and criminal forfeiture of $104,632 and to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of her prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Relaxed rules during the pandemic era made it easier for individuals to access many government-provided services, but unfortunately it opened the floodgates for scammers who took advantage of the system to enrich themselves,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “This case, and many others like it, demonstrate that federal investigators and prosecutors will identify these criminals and hold them accountable.”

In March 2020, Congress authorized additional funding and expanded eligibility for state-administered unemployment insurance programs as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In an effort to maintain the integrity of those benefits, the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor (OIG-DOL) investigates individuals attempting to fraudulently access unemployment insurance funds.

As described in court documents and testimony, over a two-year period Johnson electronically submitted false unemployment insurance benefit applications to approximately 18 states.  Seven of those states (Georgia, South Carolina, West Virginia, Rhode Island, Mississippi, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania) paid out approximately $104,632 in benefits to her.  Some of the benefits were in the form of a debit card sent to Johnson through the U.S. Mail.

Johnson and her mother, Cheryl Galloway, 66, of Yulee, Florida, subsequently were named in a seven-count indictment in the Southern District of Georgia in May 2025, alleging their participation in a scheme to fraudulently obtain unemployment benefits in multiple states.

Galloway, who is charged with one count of Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud and three counts of Mail Fraud, awaits further court proceedings. She is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Her son and Johnson’s brother, identified in court as the late Nick Morrison, was listed as an unnamed co-conspirator in the indictment.

“Ricki Johnson and her co-conspirators stole from American taxpayers – filing fraudulent unemployment claims across multiple states and abusing programs meant to help workers in need,” said Anthony D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “At the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, we are relentless in pursuing fraud. Working alongside our law enforcement partners, we will continue protecting the integrity of the unemployment insurance system and ensuring criminals who exploit it are held accountable.”

Anyone with information about attempted unemployment insurance benefits fraud can contact OIG-DOL at www.oig.dol.gov/hotline.htm.

The case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney George J.C. Jacobs III. 

SAVANNAH, Georgia: An illegal alien who participated in a scheme to sell fictitious farm equipment in Georgia and across the country has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud.

Viorel Cristea, 33, a Romanian citizen illegally present in the United States, was sentenced to 21 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of Wire Fraud, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker also ordered Cristea to pay restitution to victims of $679,100, and to be deported upon completion of his prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Farmers in Georgia and around our nation already face enormous challenges to provide our citizens with food and fiber. Getting ripped off by unscrupulous scam artists – especially those who are illegal aliens – shouldn’t be one of those hardships,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “We applaud the exceptional work of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations in bringing Cristea to justice.”

A co-conspirator in the case, Bogdan Alexandru Gherghevici, a/k/a “Victor Zema,” 27, also was illegally in the United States and fled when the investigation began. He is considered a fugitive and believed to be in Romania, where he is a citizen. Gherghevici is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The investigation began in May 2025 when a victim contacted the Pierce County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office regarding suspicious activity from a farm equipment dealer purported to be located in Blackshear, in the Southern District of Georgia. Sheriff’s Office investigators and Homeland Security Investigations agents determined the company was fraudulent, and HSI agents identified Cristea and Gherghevici as conspirators.

Both men were named in a 14-count federal indictment in August 2025, alleging that at least as early as March 2025, and up to and including May 2025, the two participated in an extensive scheme falsely claiming to sell used farm equipment. This fraudulent scheme victimized more than a dozen prospective purchasers across the country, many of them elderly, and resulted in a total loss of more than $600,000.

As described in the plea agreement, Cristea and the conspirators “employed a host of false representations to induce victims to ‘purchase’ the fictitious farming equipment,” inducing the buyers to wire transfer large sums of money to bank accounts owned by Cristea and co-conspirators. The victims were told their equipment would be delivered in the coming days and weeks, and when the machinery didn’t arrive the “sellers” would no longer respond to inquiries.

“When hardworking farmers are targeted by scams like this, it’s not just their livelihoods that are threatened – it’s the communities and families who depend on them,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI is committed to protecting honest people from fraudsters who prey on trust and vulnerability. This case shows that, together with our law enforcement partners, we will pursue those who exploit others and ensure they are held accountable for their actions.”

“We appreciate the help of our federal partners in this prosecution,” said Pierce County Sheriff Ramsey Bennett. “It’s refreshing to see a con artist prosecuted for stealing from hard-working Americans. Thank you to the investigators and prosecutors who made this happen for the victims.”

The HSI Savannah Field Office is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Bondura for the Southern District of Georgia is prosecuting the case.

BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA: United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi presented awards to Emanuel County law enforcement personnel and prosecutors Monday, March 9, 2026, at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Brunswick following her remarks at graduation ceremonies for the first 2026 trainee class for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Policing recognized the cooperative efforts of the Emanuel County Sheriff’s Office, the Middle Judicial Circuit (MJC) District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia in identifying and charging five individuals in a child sexual exploitation and trafficking operation in Swainsboro, Georgia, leading to a 16-count superseding federal indictment returned in January in USA v. Williams et. al. The presentation included MJC Chief Investigator Rocky Davis (from left); Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri A. Stephan; AG Pam Bondi; MJC District Attorney Tripp Fitzner; Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney Margaret E. “Meg” Heap; Emanuel County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Sgt. Michael Reddish; and, Emanuel County Sheriff Jeffrey Brewer. 

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA:  One of the individuals identified in a July 2025 shootout at a crowded Savannah mall has pled guilty to illegally possessing a machine gun.

Aujawan T. Hymon, 21, of Savannah, faces up to 10 years in prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release and substantial financial penalties after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court to Illegal Possession of a Machine Gun, said Margaret E. Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“This prosecution symbolizes our continued resolve to remove illegal firearms from our communities, and hold accountable those who would threaten the safety of law-abiding citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to make our streets and businesses safer.”

As described in court and in the guilty plea, Savannah Police officers responded July 2, 2025, to the Oglethorpe Mall after gunshots were reported. Three people were wounded during the exchanges of gunfire, including Hymon, who was seen by witnesses and on surveillance cameras carrying a pistol. The footage also showed Hymon discarding a gun in a mall trash can where investigators later recovered the weapon, a .40-caliber Glock Model 22. Hymon did not appear to have fired the gun.

Technicians from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) determined the pistol was equipped with a functional “Glock switch,” an illegal device that converted the weapon to fully automatic fire. In his plea, Hymon admitted possessing the weapon and knowing that it had been converted into a machine gun. Hymon also face state charges in the shooting, along with other defendants who were not determined to have violated federal law.

Hymon remains in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker will schedule sentencing upon completion of a presentence investigation by U.S. Probation Services.

“The guilty plea in this case underscores our unwavering commitment to removing illegal firearms from our communities,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistance Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the ATF. “Together with our local and state partners, we are dedicated to ensuring public safety and holding accountable those who endanger it.”

The case is being investigated by the Savannah Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Makeia R. Jonese. 

Savannah, GA:  A federal judge has ordered a local woman to be confined for 24 months and to pay back nearly $180,000 in restitution after she spent years stealing from her employer.

Robin Stell, age 55, of Savannah, GA, was charged in August 2025 with one count of Wire Fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343 said U.S. Attorney Margaret E. Heap.  On February 13, 2026, following a guilty plea, Stell was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, by the Honorable R. Stan Baker, Chief Judge for the Southern District of Georgia.

“This defendant abused the trust placed in her by a local law firm and its clients and betrayed that trust for her own personal benefit,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Crimes like this harm not only the direct victims, but also the public’s confidence in the honesty and integrity of the legal profession. We are committed to holding those who commit such breaches of trust accountable.” 

According to court documents and in court testimony, Stell was the office manager of a local law firm from 2021 to 2024.  During that time, she routinely used company credit cards to make unauthorized purchases for her own use and benefit, to include booking cruises and other vacations, purchasing concert tickets, and spending tens of thousands of dollars on Amazon. In total, Stell defrauded the local firm of nearly $180,000.

“When company insiders abuse the trust that their institutions place in them, they will be held accountable,” said Brad Snider, FBI Georgia Supervisory Senior Special Agent who leads the Savannah Resident Agency. “The FBI remains steadfast in our commitment to root out financial fraud.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Darron J. Hubbard.  

STATESBORO, GA: A Toombs County resident with two prior drug trafficking convictions has been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to distribution of fentanyl. 

Frank Jamal Rashad Curry, age 36, of Toombs County, GA, was charged in May 2025 with three counts of distribution of a fentanyl in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), said U.S Attorney Margaret E. Heap.  On February 4, 2026, following a guilty plea, Curry was sentenced to 155 months of imprisonment by the Honorable J. Randal Hall, District Court Judge for the Southern District of Georgia. Curry was sentenced to an additional, consecutive 18 months for committing the crimes while on supervised release.

“Fentanyl is a horrific and deadly drug. Holding those who distribute it accountable is profoundly important to keeping our community safe.” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Georgia will continue to prosecute those who profit from this deadly substance.”

According to court documents and in court testimony, Curry, who was being supervised by the United States Probation Office for a prior drug-trafficking conviction, distributed pressed fentanyl pills over the course of several months in 2024.

“This investigation targeted a repeat drug trafficker who continued distributing fentanyl despite prior convictions and federal supervision,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “By holding Frank Jamal Rashad Curry accountable, we are reinforcing our commitment to stopping the flow of fentanyl into Georgia communities. The GBI will continue working alongside our local, state, and federal partners to investigate and dismantle fentanyl distribution networks.”

This case was investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Darron J. Hubbard.  

AUGUSTA, GA:  A Columbia County, Georgia woman was sentenced to federal prison for using stolen and counterfeit business checks to commit Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft.  

Dechanta Benning, 35, was sentenced to 70 months in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and five years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term, said Margaret E. Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Randall Hall also ordered Benning to pay a $2,500 fine and $300 in special assessments. There is no parole in the federal system.

As described in court documents and at sentencing, the Defendant obtained business checks stolen from the United States Postal Service, altered them, deposited the altered checks into the bank accounts of co-conspirators as well as her own accounts, then withdrew the money. The money was withdrawn before the banks were able to recognize the checks as fraudulent. The Defendant stole approximately $1,000,000 through this scheme.

“There were hundreds of citizens and businesses in this District and nationwide, who were victimized by this Defendant. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting and defending the nation’s mail system from theft and aggressively pursuing those who would commit fraud in this district. With the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners, fraudsters who use stolen mail to steal will be brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Heap.

“Financial fraud schemes like this don’t just impact banks — they devastate small businesses, families, and entire communities,” said Matthew Ploskunak, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta's Augusta office. “By exploiting stolen mail and stolen identities, the defendant attempted to steal nearly $1 million and left hundreds of victims in her wake. The FBI remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable anyone who uses deception and theft for personal gain.”

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is responsible for protecting the sanctity of the nation’s mail system. We remain resolute in our investigative efforts to bring those to justice who defraud the U.S. Postal Service, or those who fraudulently use the nation’s mail system in the furtherance of their deceptive schemes. Make no mistake, those who choose this path, will be held responsible for their actions in sentencing,” said Rodney M. Hopkins, Postal Inspector in Charge, Atlanta Division.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigations and prosecuted by First Assistant U.S. Attorney David H. Estes.

For any questions, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422. 

Former BOP Officer Admitted to Receiving Over $80,000 in Bribes

BRUNSWICK, GA:  Former BOP Officer pleaded guilty in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia to bribery and money laundering charges related to a prison contraband trafficking conspiracy operating in Federal Correctional Institution – Jesup in the spring and summer of 2022.

Ashley Brown, 36, of Hinesville, GA, a former Bureau of Prisons Corrections Officer, pleaded guilty in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia to 24 counts of Public Official Accepting a Bribe and 16 counts of Laundering of Monetary Instruments for her role in a prison contraband trafficking conspiracy that operated within Federal Correctional Institution – Jesup (FCI Jesup) in the spring and summer of 2022. Brown was the final defendant to plead guilty in the case of United States of America v. Ashley Brown et. al., which originally charged Brown and 7 current or former inmates of FCI Jesup with drug trafficking, money laundering, and attempted possession of contraband charges. All charged individuals have now been adjudicated guilty for their respective roles in the offense.

“In collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we are committed to protecting the integrity of our nation’s prison system from those who would exploit them for profit,” said U.S. Attorney Heap for the Southern District of Georgia.

As described in court documents and testimony, Brown accepted bribes sent to her by individuals closely associated with FCI Jesup inmates through the financial transaction service Cash App utilizing three accounts bearing the fictious names “Bonnie Bonnie,” “Clyde Clyde,” and “Honey Honey.” In total, Brown received over $80,000 in bribes in exchange for allowing contraband such as methamphetamine, K2, cell phones, postage stamps, and cigarettes into FCI Jesup against her duties as a correctional officer. Brown then transferred the ill-gotten funds to her personal Cash App account to obscure the source and ownership of the funds. 

Investigators with the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General identified numerous inmates providing money to Brown through Cash App records. Following the investigation, the Department of Justice brought charges against the following individuals, all of whom pleaded guilty to the listed charges, and were sentenced to the listed sentence (if sentence has been imposed).

• Ashley Brown – 24 Counts of Public Official Accepting a Bribe, 16 Counts of Laundering Monetary Instruments – Awaiting Sentencing
• Navarus “Tez” Bryant - 24 Counts of Bribing a Public Official, 24 Counts of Laundering Monetary Instruments – Awaiting Sentencing
• Adrian “Abe” Sims - 1 Count of Possession of Contraband by a Prisoner – Awaiting Sentencing
• Eric Reyes – Attempting to Possess Contraband in Prison – 3 years’ probation
• Larry Andrews – Attempting to Posses Contraband in Prison – 5 years’ probation
• Demarcus Bell – Attempting to Possess Contraband in Prison – 1 month imprisonment consecutive to current sentence
• Quinton Davis – Attempting to Possess Contraband in Prison – 1 month imprisonment consecutive to current sentence
• Joshua Whigan – Attempting to Possess Contraband in Prison – 1 month imprisonment consecutive to current sentence

“Brown violated her sworn duty as a Correctional Officer by allowing drugs and other contraband into FCI Jesup, putting inmates and her fellow correctional officers at risk,” stated Eric Fehlman, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Southeast Region. “The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General is committed to bringing to justice any Correctional Officer that violates their oath and smuggles contraband into federal prisons.”

The case was investigated by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant United States Attorneys Bradley R. Thompson and Ryan E. Bondura.

For any questions, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422. 

SAVANNAH, GA: A Savannah man has been found guilty at trial for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and for being an Armed Career Criminal following an incident that occurred on June 13, 2023.

Duane B. Smith a/k/a “Flex” of Savannah, was convicted following a two-day jury trial in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, said Margaret E. Heap, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

As described at trial, on June 13, 2023, officers with the Savannah Police Department responded to the Goodwill Store at 220 Eisenhower Drive, Savannah, Georgia in response to a missing person report. Upon their arrival, the missing individual was located with Smith. Officers learned that Smith drove the missing person to the Goodwill Store in his vehicle. Based on witness interviews, officers obtained a search warrant, and located a Cobra, .380 caliber firearm hidden under the backseat of the vehicle. Smith was arrested later by the Savannah Police Department SWAT team. Smith was prohibited from possessing firearms because of three previous felony convictions in the Superior Court of Chatham County and one federal felony conviction.

The case was referred to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution. In addition to charging Smith with illegally possessing the firearm, prosecutors sought an enhanced penalty under the Armed Career Criminal Act. The Armed Career Criminal Act requires imposition of a mandatory minimum 15-year term of imprisonment for recidivists convicted of illegally possessing a firearm, who have three prior state or federal convictions for violent felonies or serious drug offenses.

The jury found Smtih illegally possessed the firearm and was, in fact, an Armed Career Criminal. Smith is now subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years.

“With our law enforcement partners, we continue the work of removing firearms from the hands of those who can’t legally possess them – especially those convicted of prior felonies,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “This effort is a vital step in reducing gun violence in our communities.” 

“Duane Smith posed a serious threat to the public,” said FBI Atlanta Acting Special Agent in Charge Peter Ellis. “The FBI will continue to work with our partners at all levels to protect the public from gun violence and repeat violent offenders.”

“I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their amazing work on this case,” said Lenny B. Gunther, Savannah Chief of Police.  “Their efforts, along with those of our officers, have removed a dangerous individual from our community.”

This investigation took place under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer.

The case was investigated by the Savannah Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted for the United States by the Southern District of Georgia Special Assistant United States Attorney Makeia R. Jonese and Criminal Chief Patricia G. Rhodes. 

Faces a Sentence of 20 Years to Life Imprisonment

BRUNSWICK, GA: British national facing a possible life sentence following his jury trial conviction in the Southern District of Georgia for conspiring to distribute and import fentanyl analogues and other novel controlled substances on a dark web platform called “Dream Market.” The importation and distribution of these substances led to the death of two members of the United States Navy.

Paul Anthony Nicholls, 47, of Great Britain, was convicted of one count of Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances Resulting in Death and one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances Resulting in Death following a 4-day jury trial in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia. When a sentence is imposed by the Honorable Lisa Godbey Wood, United States District Judge, Defendant Nicholls faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 20 years imprisonment, with a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment, as well as significant monetary penalties. There is no parole in the federal system.

“This conviction was achieved through the hard work and cooperation of our law enforcement officers and Canadian law enforcement. Two of our navy sailors died because of Nicholl’s distribution of lethal drugs. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who harm people in our communities.” said U.S. Attorney Meg Heap.

As described in court documents and testimony, Defendant Nicholls conspired with at least one other person to run a drug trafficking organization titled “Canada1” on the now-defunct dark web marketplace “Dream Market.” “Canada1” advertised various controlled substances for sale on “Dream Market” including the synthetic opioid U-47700 and the fentanyl analogue Methoxy acetyl fentanyl. “Canada1” advertised that they would ship these substances anywhere in the world from their basis of operation in Vancouver, British Columbia. Investigators, utilizing surveillance and other investigative methods, identified Defendant Nicholls as routinely interacting with his conspirator and taking numerous packages bearing the logo for a shell company named “East Van ECO Tours” to be sent out via Canada Post, the Canadian mail system. Following weeks of surveillance, investigators intercepted over 40 packages bearing the “East Van ECO Tours” markings and found them all to contain dangerous fentanyl analogues in both nasal spray and powder form.

After confirming the “East Van ECO Tours” packages contained controlled substances, investigators executed search warrants at Defendant Nicholls’ home, Defendant Nicholls’ car, and the car and home of Defendant Nicholls’ conspirator. Expert witness testimony at trial valued the fentanyl analogues recovered from Defendant Nicholls’ conspirator’s home at $24,000,000 and indicated that there were enough substances present to kill 375,000 people.

Also located in the home were receipts bearing tracking numbers for thousands of packages sent out by the conspirators to addresses all over the world. Among those receipts, were tracking numbers for two packages that traveled to Kingsland, Georgia in October 2017. Following delivery of those packages, United States Navy submariners B.T.J. and T.L.B. consumed the contents of the packages and each died of opioid overdoses at T.L.B.’s home approximately 4 days apart in October 2017.

"This conviction reflects the FDA’s commitment to holding accountable those who peddle illicit narcotics, including fentanyl and its analogues, to Americans,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Juan Berrios, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office. "No matter where in the world these individuals operate, the FDA will work with our law enforcement partners to find them and bring them to justice.”

“The overdose deaths associated with this investigation are a tragic reminder of the dangers of illegal narcotics being shipped by transnational criminal organizations,” said Bladismir Rojo, Inspector in Charge, Miami Division. “The United States Postal Inspection Service remains committed to work with our state, local and international partners in the pursuit of those who traffic in poison.”

“Those who disregard the highly toxic nature of fentanyl by heartlessly distributing it for personal gain must be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Norman Dominesey of the NCIS Southeast Field Office. “NCIS and our partners are committed to aggressively investigating any individual or entity complicit in illicit distribution of substances that would threaten national security, undermine warfighter readiness, and endanger Department of the Navy communities.”

“Drug traffickers who operate on the dark web often believe their crimes are detached from real-world consequences. This conviction proves that couldn’t be further from the truth,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “The defendant’s role in this international conspiracy contributed to the deaths of two Navy submariners, an outcome that underscores the deadly reach of these criminal networks. DEA will continue working with our state and local partners in pursuing those who endanger lives for profit.”

“This conviction sends a clear message that those who use the dark web to traffic deadly drugs will be held accountable, no matter where they operate,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “The deaths of these two U.S. Navy submariners in this case is a tragic reminder of the dangers of synthetic opioids and fentanyl. Through coordinated international and federal partnerships, we will continue to pursue those who profit from poisoning our communities and bring them to justice.

“Our department remains committed to strong partnerships with our community and our local, state, and federal agency partners,” said Chief of Police Rick M. Evans. “By working together, we are better equipped to target those who distribute and possess illegal drugs, reduce crime, and enhance the safety and quality of life for our residents. Collaboration is key to protecting our community and keeping our neighborhoods safe.”

Defendant Nicholls’ conspirator, not named herein, has not been tried on his indictment. Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Customs and Border Protection, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada Post, the Canadian Border Services Agency, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Kingsland (GA) Police Department, and the Surrey (Canada) Police Department. Additionally, Health Canada and the Pasco County (FL) Sheriff’s Office provided logistical and trial support. The case was prosecuted for the United States of America by Assistant United States Attorneys Bradley R. Thompson and Timothy P. Dean and former Assistant United States Attorneys Frank M. Pennington, II and E. Greg Gilluly, Junior. 

WASHINGTON — On Jan. 15, 2026, Sergey Nechaev, a dual U.S.-Russian citizen, was sentenced in federal court to 41 months in prison with three years of supervised release for his role in attempting to illegally export aircraft to Russia. Nechaev, 49, was arrested in December 2024 and pleaded guilty in September 2025 to attempting to export controlled goods without a license in violation of the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA), smuggling goods contrary to U.S. law, and causing the submission of false and misleading information in Electronic Export Information paperwork submitted through the Automated Export System.

“Export control laws exist to protect our national security and prevent sensitive items from falling into the wrong hands,” said U.S. Attorney Margaret E. Heap for the Southern District of Georgia. “When individuals evade these laws, they undermine the safety of our country and its allies. The Southern District of Georgia will continue to aggressively prosecute those who do so.”

According to court documents, between September 2022 and March 2023, Nechaev engaged in a scheme to violate and evade U.S. export control laws and regulations by attempting to smuggle two Cessna aircraft from the United States to Russia by transshipping them through Armenia. Specifically, after the U.S. government imposed stricter controls on Russia in February 2022, Nechaev attempted to export a 1968 Cessna 172K and a 1973 Cessna, valued together at approximately $170,000, to a purported Russian flight school, without the required license or authorization from the Department of Commerce. Nechaev wrote to a Russian co-conspirator (Russian Co-Conspirator 1): “I continue the dialogue (fight) with brokers. I have an idea to send it on our own to Turkey, but I’m afraid it can get stuck.” Nechaev’s co-conspirator told him: “Maybe don’t risk it?”

To conceal the true end user and destination of the aircraft, Nechaev falsely represented that the end user and destination were in Armenia. Specifically, Nechaev first told a U.S. based freight forwarder that the end user of the planes would be a company in Türkiye. When questioned, Nechaev changed the end user to another company in Türkiye, and then to a company located in Armenia. The U.S.-based freight forwarder noted that “the only company with this name is in Moscow,” and Nechaev replied “I am on the phone with them now . . . [C]ompany is registered in Armenia, definitely I agree with you 100% with that Moscow reference. is not good at all.”

Nechaev then sent the finalized falsified export paperwork to co-conspirators at a Russia-based shipping company and communicated with the Russian shipping company employees about trans-shipping the aircraft to Russia from Türkiye or Armenia. In that correspondence, Nechaev provided the Russian shipping company with Co-Conspirator 1’s contact information and wrote “Please include [Co-Conspirator 1] in the correspondence” and “He will conclude the contract.”

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darron Hubbard and L. Alexander Hamner for the Southern District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Leslie Esbrook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case, with valuable assistance from the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Aviation Administration.

03-26

SAVANNAH, GA:  Margaret E. Heap, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, today announced that, based on joint criminal investigations conducted by federal, state, and local partners in the Southern District of Georgia, the federal government has disbursed $3,072,605 in equitable sharing of forfeited assets to over 50 local law enforcement partners and federal agencies for the 2025 fiscal year.

“The Asset Forfeiture Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in coordination with the FBI, DEA, IRS, USPIS, and our local and state law enforcement partners, worked diligently to locate and forfeit these assets,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “These ill-gotten gains included cash, money in bank accounts, and real estate, and were connected to a wide variety of criminal activity, including domestic and international drug trafficking, illegal pill mills, money laundering, and wildlife trafficking.  Once taken from the hands of criminals, these funds will now be used to enhance South Georgia law enforcement departments and investigations.”

The following local and state law enforcement partners received proceeds from forfeited assets, which were seized by the FBI and DEA:

• Appling County Sheriff’s Office
• Atkinson County Sheriff’s Office
• Baker County Sheriff’s Office
• Blackshear Police Department
• Burke County Sheriff’s Office
• Camden County Sheriff’s Office
• Chatham County Police Department
• Chatham County Sheriff’s Department
• City of Alpharetta Police Department
• City of Douglas Police Department
• City of Pooler Police Department
• City of San Jose Police Department
• Clay County Sheriff’s Office
• Coffee County Sheriff’s Department
• Columbia County Sheriff’s Office
• Dekalb County Police Department
• Effingham County Sheriff’s Office
• Fernandina Beach Police Department
• Florida Department of Law Enforcement
• Georgia Bureau of Investigation
• Georgia Department of Community Supervision
• Georgia National Guard
• Georgia Ports Authority Police Department
• Glynn County Police Department
• Glynn County Sheriff’s Office
• Green Cove Springs Police Department
• Greenwood Police Department
• Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office
• Gwinnett County Police Department
• Heard County Sheriff’s Office
• Jacksonville Beach Police Department
• Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office
• Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Office
• Jonesboro Police Department
• Laurens County Sheriff’s Office
• Liberty County Sheriff’s Office
• McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office
• Mesa County Sheriff’s Office
• Metter Police Department
• Nassau County Sheriff’s Office
• Oconee District Attorney’s Office
• Putnam County Sheriff’s Office
• Redwood City Police Department
• Richmond County Sheriff’s Office
• Riverdale Police Department
• Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department
• Santa Clara Police Department
• Savannah Police Department
• Spalding County Sheriff’s Department
• Taliaferro County Sheriff’s Office
• Treutlen County Sheriff’s Office
• Ware County Sheriff’s Office; and
• Waycross Police Department

“Asset forfeiture ensures that criminals do not profit from their crimes, while directly strengthening the law enforcement agencies that protect our communities,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Through close collaboration with our federal, state, and local partners, the FBI is committed to dismantling criminal enterprises and reinvesting seized assets into the tools, training, and resources needed to keep South Georgia safe.”

The Department of Justice’s (Justice) Asset Forfeiture Program encompasses the seizure, forfeiture, and disposition of assets that represent the proceeds of, or were used to facilitate, federal crimes.  The Attorney General exercises statutory authority to manage the Program.  See 28 U.S.C. § 524(c)(1) (establishing the Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund (AFF), managed by the Attorney General).  One of the ancillary benefits of asset forfeiture is the potential to share federal forfeiture proceeds in appropriate cases with cooperating state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies through equitable sharing.  The Program enhances cooperation among federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement by providing valuable additional resources to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies assisting with investigations into violations of federal laws.  However, the Program is designed to supplement and enhance, not supplant, appropriated agency resources.

For any questions, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422. 

Savannah, GA: A Savannah man has been found guilty at trial for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person following an incident that occurred in February 2024.

Benjamin Michael Greene, 39, of Savannah, was convicted following a one-day jury trial in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia announced Margaret E. Heap, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

As described at trial, on February 12, 2024, while a man was putting air in the tires of his vehicle on Augusta Avenue, Greene jumped into the driver’s seat and took off with the vehicle. Officers with the Savannah Police Department were in the area and immediately responded. Greene led officers on a vehicle pursuit before wrecking the vehicle into a telephone pole. Greene then exited the wrecked vehicle, leading officers on a foot pursuit. A K-9 officer with the Savannah Police Department was able to apprehend Greene. Officers then had to wrestle the firearm out of Greene’s hands. Officers located an additional firearm and controlled substances on the scene. Greene was prohibited from possessing firearms because of previous felony convictions in the Superior Court of Chatham County.

“Our commitment to removing firearms from the hands of convicted felons is unwavering. I would like to especially recognize K-9 Zulu, whose work directly led to the safe recovery of this firearm” said Margaret E. Heap, U.S. Attorney.

"The successful outcome of this case underscores the vital partnerships between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Together, we are making significant strides in combating gun violence and ensuring that our communities remain safe,” said ATF RAC Robert Davis.

This investigation took place under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer.

The case was investigated by the Savannah Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted for the United States by the Southern District of Georgia Special Assistant United States Attorney Makeia R. Jonese and Assistant United States Attorney Darron J. Hubbard.

For any questions, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422. 

Scheme caused IRS to issue over $1.5 million in fraudulent tax refund

AUGUSTA, GA:  On December 15, 2025, a truckdriver who operated a “ghost” tax preparation business on the side was sentenced to federal prison for making claims for refunds of false COVID-19 related employment tax credits.

Dantavious Jackson, 39, Union City, Georgia, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for executing a mail fraud scheme to defraud the United States by making claims for refunds of false COVID-19 related employment tax credits announced Margaret E. Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.  Jackson was also ordered to pay over $1.5 million in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service by U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen Jr.  There is no parole in the federal system.

“Tax preparers have a responsibility to accurately prepare tax returns on behalf of their clients.  Jackson not only undermined the American tax system and the trust of taxpayers relying on his expertise,” said U.S. Attorney Heap, “but he also took advantage of pandemic relief funds that were intended to help individuals harmed by the pandemic.  The sentence imposed by the Court reflects the serious nature of Jackson’s conduct.  The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia works closely with our partners at IRS Criminal Investigation to protect the law-abiding American public and the treasury by stopping this fraud.”

According to court documents, Jackson owned and operated a trucking business in Union City, Georgia.  He also had a side business preparing tax forms for a fee.  By law, any individual who assists in preparing federal tax returns for a fee is required to obtain a preparer identification number (“PTIN”) from the IRS.  Jackson prepared and filed tax returns as a “ghost preparer,” omitting his identity by PTIN or by any other means on the returns he filed for clients.

In addition, Jackson applied for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (also known as the CARES Act), enacted on March 27, 2020. This Act provided for an employee retention credit (“ERC”), designed to encourage businesses to keep employees on their payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Jackson executed a scheme to defraud the United States by preparing and filing thirty-five IRS Forms 941 for himself and two clients that falsely claimed they were entitled to receive $4,112,297 in tax refunds based on fraudulently claimed ERCs. Jackson fabricated wages and employees to claim ERCs inducing the U.S. Treasury to mail $1,567,855 in fraudulent tax refunds to himself and his clients.

“IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and our law enforcement partners will continue investigating and forwarding for prosecution, individuals like Dantavious Jackson, who defrauded American taxpayers at a time when businesses needed funds to help keep employees on their payrolls,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “During FY25, IRS Criminal Investigation initiated 588 investigations involving more than $5.6 billion of potentially fraudulent Employee Retention Credits related to tax years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.”

This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney George J.C. Jacobs, III.

SAVANNAH, GA: Margaret E. Heap will continue to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia after her appointment by the U.S. District Court judges of the Southern District. U.S. Attorney Heap took the oath of office Monday, December 15th, in the courtroom of U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker. The appointment is effective immediately.

The excellent staff in the Southern District of Georgia and our outstanding law enforcement partners continue to work together to keep our communities safe,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “I am honored to serve alongside these dedicated professionals on behalf of our citizens as we work together to uphold the law and defend access to justice throughout this district.”

Margaret “Meg” Heap was sworn in as the U. S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, by U.S. District Judge J. Randal Hall, on August 18, 2025.  Attorney General Pamela Bondi appointed Mrs. Heap as the interim U.S. Attorney effective August 18.

Mrs. Heap served as the Chairman and Vice Chair of Georgia’s State Board of Pardons and Paroles.  She was appointed to the Board on January 19, 2021, by Governor Brian Kemp.   In 1986, Mrs. Heap began her legal career as a Volunteer Coordinator and Victim Advocate with the Chatham County District Attorney’s Victim-Witness Assistance Program. After attending Mercer University Law School, she received her Juris Doctorate in 1992 and went on to serve as an Assistant District Attorney in the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit, where she prosecuted felonies in the Superior and Juvenile Court.

From 1995-2010, Mrs. Heap served the citizens in the Eastern Judicial Circuit as an Assistant District Attorney and later served two terms as the District Attorney. In 2019, she was named the “District Attorney of the Year” by the District Attorneys’ Association of Georgia.

As U.S. Attorney, Mrs. Heap is the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Southern District of Georgia, which covers 43 of Georgia’s 159 counties and a population of more than 1.6 million people. The district includes the cities of Savannah, Augusta, Brunswick, Statesboro, Dublin, and Waycross. She leads a team of approximately 70 attorneys and staff prosecuting federal crimes in the district and defending the United States in civil cases in the U.S. District Court.

SAVANNAH, GA: On December 3, 2025, a Savannah man was sentenced to Statutory Maximum for Possession of Ammunition following a shooting.

Charlie Sapp, 58, of Savannah, was sentenced to 120 months in prison by U.S.  District Court Judge Randal Hall after being convicted at trial on the charge of Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person said Margaret E. Heap, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Sapp received the maximum sentenced allowed by law. Judge Randal Hall also ordered Sapp to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term, in addition to a $1,500 fine. There is no parole in the federal system.

“This prosecution should send a clear message to those that violate the law in the Southern District of Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Margaret Heap. “This office will work tirelessly to ensure the community is protected from violent felons.”

According to trial documents, on October 8, 2021, Sapp retrieved a loaded firearm from a vehicle, confronted an individual in an apartment complex parking lot, pointed the firearm at that individual, and then fired three shots. The individual Sapp shot died on the scene. While the weapon used in the shooting was never recovered, officers with the Savannah Police Department recovered two shell casings on the scene. Those shell casings were enough to convict Sapp in the U.S. District Court. Sapp was prohibited from possessing ammunition because of previous felony convictions in the Superior Court of Chatham County.

At sentencing, Judge Hall agreed to the Government’s request to enhance Sapp’s sentence on the ammunition charge because his conduct constituted second-degree murder. Due to Sapp illegally possessing ammunition, a Savannah man lost their life.

Sapp was previously tried for this conduct in November 2022 by the Chatham County District Attorney’s Office. That trial did not result in a conviction.

“Every bullet represents a potential threat to public safety; we will continue to work diligently to prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands,” said ATF Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Robert Davis.

The case was being investigated by the ATF, Savannah Police Department and prosecuted for the United States by Special Assistant United States Attorney Makeia R. Jonese and Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Bondura.

Savannah, GA:  A former employee of a manufacturing company with a plant in Savannah, GA, was sentenced to 96 months of confinement for embezzlement of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

John Laakso, also known as John Trebesch, age 57, of Savannah, GA, was charged in November 2024 with one count of Wire Fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343. On December 2, 2025, following a guilty plea, Laakso was sentenced to 96 months of imprisonment by the Honorable R. Stan Baker, Chief Judge for the Southern District of Georgia.

“Our business partners in this District are the bedrock of our community,” said U.S. Attorney Margaret E. Heap. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Georgia will continue to ensure that those who abuse trust for personal gain will face justice, and that our community will be protected.”

According to court documents and in court testimony, Laakso was a former Engineering Manager for the local company.  Using that position, he defrauded his employer of nearly $500,000. He did so by secretly awarding lucrative contracts to his own pass-through companies, both for services that Laakso never provided, and for goods and services that Laakso secretly billed to his employer at a fraudulent rate.   

“John Laakso betrayed his employer and fellow employees in this secretive and organized effort,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “Anyone who steals funds and unlawfully profits at the expense of others will be held accountable.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Darron J. Hubbard and Bradford C. Patrick. 

For any questions, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422. 

WASHINGTON – A Georgia man was sentenced today to 46 months in prison and ordered to pay over $7.2 million in restitution for his role in a scheme to pay and receive illegal kickbacks in exchange for inducing Medicare beneficiaries to accept medically unnecessary genetic tests.

According to court documents, Patrick C. Moore Jr., 48, of Peachtree City, engaged in a kickback scheme in which he instructed a network of recruiters to target and induce Medicare beneficiaries to accept genetic tests that were not medically necessary, not provided as represented or not eligible for reimbursement. Moore received approximately $4.3 million in kickbacks and bribes from his co-conspirators in exchange for the referral of beneficiary insurance information, DNA specimens and accompanying doctors’ orders for genetic testing. Moore, in turn, paid illegal health care kickbacks and bribes to his network of beneficiary recruiters. To conceal the scheme, Moore created sham invoices documenting fabricated numbers of hours worked instead of the per-referral payments he received in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute. Laboratories associated with Moore and his co-conspirators billed Medicare approximately $24 million and were paid approximately $7.2 million on the kickback-induced claims for the unnecessary genetic tests.

In May 2025, Moore pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive illegal health care kickbacks.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Margaret Heap for the Southern District of Georgia; Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Dallas Regional Office; Special Agent in Charge Kelly Blackmon of the HHS-OIG Atlanta Regional Office; and Special Agent in Charge Paul W. Brown of the FBI Atlanta Field Office made the announcement.

The HHS-OIG and FBI investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Ethan Womble and Benjamin Smith of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Thompson for the Southern District of Georgia prosecuted the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

A Georgia man was sentenced today to 46 months in prison and ordered to pay over $7.2 million in restitution for his role in a scheme to pay and receive illegal kickbacks in exchange for inducing Medicare beneficiaries to accept medically unnecessary genetic tests.

According to court documents, Patrick C. Moore Jr., 48, of Peachtree City, engaged in a kickback scheme in which he instructed a network of recruiters to target and induce Medicare beneficiaries to accept genetic tests that were not medically necessary, not provided as represented or not eligible for reimbursement. Moore received approximately $4.3 million in kickbacks and bribes from his co-conspirators in exchange for the referral of beneficiary insurance information, DNA specimens and accompanying doctors’ orders for genetic testing. Moore, in turn, paid illegal health care kickbacks and bribes to his network of beneficiary recruiters. To conceal the scheme, Moore created sham invoices documenting fabricated numbers of hours worked instead of the per-referral payments he received in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute. Laboratories associated with Moore and his co-conspirators billed Medicare approximately $24 million and were paid approximately $7.2 million on the kickback-induced claims for the unnecessary genetic tests.

In May 2025, Moore pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive illegal health care kickbacks.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Margaret Heap for the Southern District of Georgia; Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Special Agent in Charge Kelly Blackmon of the HHS-OIG Atlanta Regional Office; and Special Agent in Charge Paul W. Brown of the FBI Atlanta Field Office made the announcement.

The HHS-OIG and FBI investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Ethan Womble and Benjamin Smith of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Thompson for the Southern District of Georgia prosecuted the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

SAVANNAH, GA:  Margaret E. Heap, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, today announced that, through a civil asset forfeiture action, the government has forfeited, liquidated, and returned approximately $84,327.50 to a victim of cryptocurrency theft.

“The Asset Forfeiture Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in coordination with the FBI and the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, worked diligently to locate, seize, and forfeit these funds, and thereafter, return money to the victim,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “This case demonstrates my office’s commitment to helping victims of crime.  By using civil asset forfeiture, we can expeditiously recover as much stolen money as possible and return this money to victims.  Although it can be difficult to come forward and admit that you were a victim of a crime, we stand ready to help you to the fullest extent possible.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office will work with the victims in these cases and with the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section to properly return forfeited assets to eligible victims.  If you think you have been a victim of a cybercrime, file a detailed complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.”

As set forth in the civil complaint, in October 2024, a resident of Richmond Hill, Georgia, noticed several unauthorized transactions in a cryptocurrency address the resident owned and controlled.  As a result of the illegal transactions, approximately $124,000 was stolen from the Richmond Hill resident.  Upon discovering the theft, the victim reported the crime to local law enforcement and to the FBI.  The FBI thoroughly investigated the case, tracing the location of the majority of the stolen cryptocurrency, charting the pathway of the ill-gotten crime proceeds, and identifying the involvement of overseas actors, including in Cambodia. The FBI, working with the Asset Forfeiture Unit, quickly seized the traced cryptocurrency.  Earlier this year, the property was forfeited through a federal civil forfeiture case in Savannah.  Throughout the investigation and court proceedings, the FBI worked with the victim to advance the investigation and to return the net proceeds of the cryptocurrency after forfeiture and liquidation.

“The FBI is committed to pursuing justice for victims of cybercrime, no matter where the trail leads,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “In this case, our agents used advanced investigative techniques to trace stolen cryptocurrency across international borders and recover funds that otherwise might have been lost forever.  We’ll continue working alongside our partners to identify cybercriminals, seize their illegal gains, and restore assets to those they’ve harmed.”

The Internet Crime Complaint Center is run by the FBI and serves as the country’s hub for reporting cybercrime.  Visit www.ic3.gov to report a crime, and for updated information and other cyber fraud schemes.

This case was investigated by the FBI.  The United States was represented by Senior Litigation Counsel J. Bishop Ravenel.

Attachments:

SAVANNAH, GA:  Margaret E. Heap, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, today announced that, through a civil asset forfeiture action, the government has seized and forfeited approximately $1,185,922.91 of cryptocurrency, which was recently liquidated into U.S. currency, as a result of a financial investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit and United States Secret Service (USSS).

“The Asset Forfeiture Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and United States Secret Service worked diligently to locate, seize, and forfeit these funds, and are now working to identify eligible victims who may be compensated with forfeited funds,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “This forfeiture is a testament to the drive and ingenuity of the investigative team, and the partnership between our office and the United States Secret Service.”

The case was opened following a report of a sophisticated fraud attempted against a real estate agent in Richmond Hill, Georgia, near Savannah.  The Secret Service had previously spoken with realtors in the area about fraud targeting the real estate industry and received the report based on their outreach. The investigation exposed a global fraud and money laundering operation and resulted in the disruption of an international criminal organization.  

“With the continued evolution of cryptocurrency fraud, our outreach efforts are crucial to preventing unsuspecting Americans from falling victim to these crimes,” said USSS Savannah Resident Office Agent in Charge James Reno. “It was through these outreach efforts that the fraud in this case was identified, and we remain committed to educating the public and working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring perpetrators of these crimes to justice.”

As set forth in the civil complaint, in April 2023, a real estate agent and resident of Richmond Hill, Georgia, contacted the USSS Savannah Resident Office regarding communication with a person claiming to be a potential home buyer.  The purported home buyer made out to have an extensive financial background with cryptocurrency.  The real estate agent recognized the hallmarks of fraud and contacted the Secret Service.  Using the information the fraudster gave to the real estate agent and the Internet Crime Complaint Center referenced below, the Secret Service identified another real estate agent in North Carolina who had more than $200,000 in cryptocurrency stolen by the same criminal organization.  The North Carolina victim was persuaded to download a cryptocurrency application, which was a fake version of a real cryptocurrency exchange.  The Secret Service traced the cryptocurrency transactions and identified a larger money laundering operation involving more than $100 million laundered over a short period, leading to the United States seizing over $1 million.

In 2024, the property was forfeited through a federal civil forfeiture case in Savannah. The Secret Service is continuing its investigation and is working to identify victims eligible for consideration for compensation with the forfeited funds.  

The Internet Crime Complaint Center, is run by the FBI and serves as the country’s hub for reporting cybercrime.  Visit www.ic3.gov to report a crime, and for updated information and other cyber fraud schemes.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service.  The United States was represented by Senior Litigation Counsel J. Bishop Ravenel.