Eastern District of North Carolina

Raleigh. N.C.  – A federal judge sentenced Monted Quintrell Council, also known as “Rude,” 39, to 6 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams of fentanyl. On June 11, 2026, Council pleaded guilty in federal court. 

“Council flooded our communities with fentanyl, treating neighborhoods like hunting grounds without any regard to the families he left in shambles, broke and broken. Today’s sentence sends a stern warning across Eastern North Carolina; we will track every dealer who thinks they can slither through the weeds in the shadows, slash the smothering vines of their drug networks, and lock them away where they can’t spread poison. Simple Lesson: Drugs Kill, Prison Awaits – Do Right,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.

In November 2024, the ATF and the Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation into Council’s fentanyl‑trafficking operation. Investigators quickly gathered evidence, including a controlled purchase of fentanyl pills from Council. On December 12, 2024, officers moved in with a search warrant. As they breached his house, Council attempted to flush his stash of fentanyl pills down the toilet. He failed. Law enforcement recovered 55 grams of fentanyl from his septic tank, illustrating the lengths he would stoop to hide his crimes.

Council has multiple North Carolina state convictions, including a 2010 conviction for possessing a Schedule VI controlled substance, a 2010 conviction for possessing marijuana with intent to sell or deliver, and a 2017 conviction for maintaining a place for selling illegal drugs.

"Thank you to our community, narcotics team and our local, state, federal partners,” said Edgecombe County Sheriff Cleveland Atkinson. “We will remain committed to hold drug dealers accountable for the drugs they distribute in our community."

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The ATF and the Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office collaborated on this investigation. 

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:26CR0005D-1.

RALEIGH, N.C. –  A federal judge sentenced Danielle Melissa Staten, 40, to over 2 years in federal prison and one year of supervised release for aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return.  The Court also ordered Staten to pay $1,508,171 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.   

‘This is yet another example of crooks milking the system to simply defraud the hard-working taxpayers of this great country,” said U.S, Attorney Ellis Boyle. “This serves as a stark warning to those who think they can pad their pockets with stolen taxpayer dollars: we will find you, we will prosecute you, and a federal prison cell waits for you. Cheaters. Never. Win.”  

Staten engaged in a scheme to prepare and file false and fraudulent federal income tax returns (Forms 1040) for others from 2018 to 2023, resulting in approximately $1.5 million in fake tax losses.  Staten owned and operated Precise Tax Preparation, LLC, a tax return preparation in Greenville, North Carolina.  It was anything but precise. She prepared false tax returns for clients that reported phony information to increase her client’s tax refunds.  Many of the offending returns included false Schedules C, to report annual profit and loss from a small business.  Staten generated false Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) claims by making up the income and expenses on the Schedules C, which fraudulently allowed the taxpayer to maximize the EITC credit.

“Dishonest tax return preparers erode the integrity of the tax system by abusing their position of trust and placing honest taxpayers at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald ‘Trey’ Eakins of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Charlotte Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to expose these schemes and hold corrupt preparers accountable.”

W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after the Honorable James C. Dever III pronounced the sentence. IRS-CI investigated the case. 

 Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:26-CR-15-D.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. 

WILMINGTON, N.C.– A federal judge sentenced Lara Joy Ezell, 42, to over 14 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of meth and distribution of 50 grams or more of meth. Ezell pleaded guilty to the charges on June 10, 2026.

“After numerous state court convictions this repeat offender should have learned her lesson, but instead she returned to her criminal drug pushing ways,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Let me be clear, if you peddle poison for profit in EDNC we will catch you and we will send you to federal prison. Eastern North Carolina will be safer for it. Drugs kill. Prison awaits. Do right.”

In April 2025, ATF and the Dunn Police Department opened an investigation into Ezell’s drug‑trafficking activities. During the investigation, law enforcement officers conducted multiple controlled purchases of meth from Ezell. They also determined that between June 2024 and April 2025, Ezell possessed and distributed approximately 1.3 pounds of Ice, also known as crystal meth.

Ezell has several North Carolina state convictions, including driving while impaired, possession of drug paraphernalia, larceny and financial fraud, possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance, possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance, and larceny.

“This investigation demonstrates the importance of strong partnerships between federal, state, and local law enforcement,” said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “By working together, we were able to disrupt the flow of methamphetamine and bring this defendant to justice. His federal prison sentence is a direct result of those collaborative efforts.”

“The Dunn Police Department is committed to working side-by-side with our federal law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure that these investigations do not stop at the city limits or with a single arrest,” said Dunn Police Chief Lynn Gay. “We will follow the evidence wherever it may lead and pursue those responsible at every level. If you choose to sell poison in Dunn, you should know that we are coming after you.”

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The ATF and the Dunn Police Department collaborated on this investigation. 

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25CR00253M-001.

WILMINGTON, NC – A federal judge sentenced Aaron Cotten, 50, of Sanford, NC, to 10 and half years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribution and possession with intent to distribute 11 pounds or more of cocaine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of heroin, possession with intent to distribution 500 grams or more of cocaine, and 40 grams or more of fentanyl. 

“Cotten’s repeated traffic stops revealed large amounts of cocaine and fentanyl, along with cash and signs of armed associates, showing just how deeply he was involved in the dangerous drug game,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “His efforts to hide this poison, including stuffing a pound of fentanyl inside a car’s engine bay, put communities across Eastern North Carolina at serious risk. With prior convictions for violent crimes and a steady supply line stretching from Charlotte to Down East. This conviction shuts down a major pipeline of deadly drugs in our region. This Big Shark Bad Boy will no longer swim in the shallows threatening our children and communities. Simple Lesson: Drugs Kill, Prison Awaits – Do Right.”

On March 15, 2022, the Duplin County Sheriff’s Department stopped a vehicle with Cotten in the front passenger seat. Deputies detected a strong odor of marijuana and searched the vehicle, finding more than $15,000 in cash near Cotten’s seat. When deputies attempted to search Cotten, he became combative, resisting arrest. Deputies then searched Cotten and recovered more than a pound of cocaine and several ounces of fentanyl.

On April 3, 2024, the Lee County Sheriff’s Department conducted another traffic stop involving Cotten, who again sat in the front passenger seat. After a K‑9 alerted to narcotics, deputies searched the vehicle and discovered approximately one pound of fentanyl concealed in the engine bay of the car. Deputies also found a gun on another passenger.

The investigation revealed that Cotten distributed pounds and pounds of cocaine and fentanyl across Eastern North Carolina. He sourced the drugs from Charlotte. Cotten has prior convictions for robbery with a dangerous weapon and second‑degree burglary.

“Today’s sentence reinforces our commitment to holding drug traffickers accountable,” said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Cocaine and fentanyl trafficking threaten the safety of our communities, and combating these threats requires teamwork and strong partnerships across law enforcement. We will continue working together to disrupt the flow of dangerous drugs and make progress toward a Fentanyl Free America.”

“Wherever illegal narcotics are being sold, you find that the likelihood of violent crime greatly increases,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “Every drug trafficking network that gets taken down is an opportunity to prevent violent crime and better protect our communities.”

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II.  The ATF, DEA, Jacksonville Police Department, Beulaville Police Department, Goldsboro Police Department, Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, and Lee County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:24-CR-00068-M-RJ

First Assistant United States Attorney administered the oath of office to newly appointed personnel who will serve in the Eastern District of North Carolina, including three Assistant United States Attorneys and a Budget Analyst. The USAO EDNC is responsible for a broad range of federal criminal and civil matters and works closely with local communities and law enforcement partners by upholding the rule of law, protecting constitutional rights, and strengthening public trust throughout the eastern region of NC.

Raleigh, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Alexander Sandoval, 29, to thirty‑five years in federal prison for trafficking large quantities of fentanyl, meth, and cocaine throughout the Eastern District of North Carolina. On December 12, 2025, Sandoval plead guilty to conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of meth, distributing 50 grams or more of meth, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug‑trafficking crime.

“This depraved drug pusher pumped staggering amounts of fentanyl, meth, and cocaine into our communities, hiding his poison in furniture and moving it across Eastern North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Even up to the bitter end, armed with a revolver, fleeing at more than 100 miles an hour, and running from officers on foot, he refused to stop. But, in the end, he fought the law and the law won. Let this be a stark warning, we will put you in prison for decades. Simple Lesson: Drugs Kill, Prison Awaits – Do Right.” 

In 2022, investigators identified Sandoval as a narcotics supplier. As they expanded their investigation, law enforcement discovered his drug‑trafficking organization hid fentanyl, meth, and cocaine inside furniture and shipped to Fayetteville. Once the shipments arrived, he directed others to retrieve the packages, dismantle the furniture, and collect the drugs for distribution. Sandoval’s operation moved approximately 79 pounds of fentanyl, 1,817 pounds of meth, and 174 pounds of cocaine into Eastern North Carolina. Literally a ton of poison meant to kill citizens and their children so he and his minions could scam a few bucks. 

Between February and June 2023, investigators conducted several controlled meth purchases from Sandoval, who consistently carried a firearm during the drugs. When Hope Mills Police later attempted to stop him for speeding, he took off, leading officers on a high‑speed chase that exceeded 100 mph before he abandoned his vehicle and ran away on foot. As he fled, he unsuccessfully tried to toss a revolver and meth, but the cops eventually found those after they arrested him.

Despite his track history for criminal recklessness, the state judges just released him from state custody. Sandoval immediately returned to his criminal ways. Within just a few months, he again fled in a high-speed chase from police, eventually ditching his car, and attempted to toss his cocaine. Despite his arrest, Sandoval remained undeterred, shamelessly making multiple phone calls from jail to organize his drug distribution upon his release. All of those calls were recorded, and law enforcement followed all his plans.

“This sentence reflects the FBI’s unwavering commitment to protecting our communities from dangerous drug traffickers,” said the Reid Davis FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina. “In the past year alone, federal drug‑trafficking investigations led to thousands of arrests nationwide, including significant increases in cases involving fentanyl and methamphetamine. These arrests are the result of coordinated efforts with our federal, state, and local partners, and they underscore our intensified crackdown on the criminal networks driving the fentanyl epidemic. The FBI will continue to crush violent crime, dismantle these organizations, and hold those who threaten the safety of North Carolinians accountable.”

"This guilty plea and subsequent sentencing reflect our relentless commitment to removing violent, habitual offenders from the streets of Fayetteville. Drug trafficking and gun violence inflict deep, lasting harm on our neighborhoods, and our department will not stand by while violent actors endanger our residents and threaten the peace of our community,” said Assistant Chief Todd Joyce, Fayetteville Police Department. “This outcome demonstrates what is possible through seamless coordination between local officers, federal investigators, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. To those who choose to introduce dangerous narcotics and illegal firearms into Fayetteville; you will be met with the full weight of our combined resources, and you will be held accountable under federal law."

This prosecution is part of Operation Couch Potato, a component of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) established under Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole‑of‑government initiative committed to dismantling criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in the United States and abroad. Through unprecedented interagency coordination, HSTF directs federal law enforcement resources to investigate and prosecute the broad spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations. The HSTF places a particular emphasis on targeting offenders involved in crimes against children and uses all available legal authorities to identify, prosecute, and remove violent criminal aliens from the United States.

W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement following sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. FBI, the Fayetteville Police Department, and the Hope Mills Police Department investigated the case.

A copy of this press release is available on our website. Related court documents and additional information can be found at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-CR-89-D-BM-1.

RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal jury convicted a Raleigh man after three days of trial on nine counts for fentanyl and five counts for possessing a firearm stemming from his role directing a major fentanyl‑trafficking operation.

“This thug had a long history of pushing venomous poison and despite being locked up in the past, he immediately went back to his dirty work, orchestrating a violent drug‑peddling enterprise from right here in Raleigh, pumping our community full of deadly fentanyl, all while using illegal guns,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Working with a collaboration of men and women from local, state, and federal law enforcement, we dismantled his operation, seized his poison and guns, and removed him off our streets. This verdict delivers a clear message: Drugs destroy lives, and prison awaits—choose the right path.” 

Isiah Naaquan Weeks ran a drug‑trafficking operation that pushed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills from California and Arizona into Eastern North Carolina. He and his crew crisscrossed the country to grab massive loads of fentanyl, shipped those pills into Wake County, and flooded Raleigh with them. Investigators uncovered high‑volume deliveries, coordinated communications, and nonstop dealing from 2022 until Weeks’ arrest in 2024. Weeks constantly carried guns to assist his drug dealing and kept selling even as his associates were arrested with thousands of pills. When an associate was caught with one hundred thousand fentanyl pills tied to him, Weeks panicked and googled ‘Best place to live for Americans in Mexico’ and ‘no extradition countries’ just days before his arrest.

“Holding a drug dealer accountable for his dangerous and careless crimes sends a powerful message to anyone that threatens our public safety,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “ATF and our law enforcement partners will use every resource we have available to pull the plug on violent criminal networks.”

“The Raleigh Police Department extends its sincere gratitude to the exceptional public safety partners whose dedication, professionalism, and commitment throughout this case exemplify the very best of collaboration in modern law enforcement. Alongside our officers and detectives, their teamwork, coordination, and shared expertise were instrumental in advancing this investigation and furthering our collective mission to protect and serve our community. We are especially grateful for the strong partnership between the Raleigh Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The coordination and teamwork demonstrated throughout this investigation reflect the shared commitment of local, state, and federal agencies to working together to uphold justice and keep our community safe.”

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. 

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III accepted the jury’s verdict. The ATF, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the IRS – Criminal Investigation and Raleigh Police Department collaborated on this multi-year investigation.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-200-D.

RALEIGH, N.C. – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina took part in its first H.O.P.E. outreach event in support of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, 2026. U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle took the recommendation of the dedicated victim’s advocates to update the H.E.A.T. program to the Healing Opioid Prevention Education (H.O.P.E.) program. H.O.P.E. focuses on reducing the harm heroin and opiate abuse inflicted on North Carolina families by increasing community awareness of the epidemic.

During the event, staff from the Eastern District actively engaged with the public to explain how heroin and opiate abuse continue to harm North Carolina families and communities. They spoke with attendees about the severity of the epidemic, shared firsthand knowledge from their work across the district, and emphasized the importance of community awareness and prevention. In addition to these conversations, staff members distributed valuable resources, connected individuals with supportive services, and offered guidance to those seeking help for themselves or loved ones. Their efforts ensured that community members left the event better informed, better equipped, and more empowered to confront the challenges posed by opioid abuse.

The United States Attorney’s Office remains committed to supporting families and communities affected by opioids and individuals seeking treatment.

For more information or assistance with the H.O.P.E. Program, please contact our office at USANCE-VictimAssista@usa.doj.gov. 

RALEIGH, N.C. - On August 25, a federal grand jury indicted Miguel Angel Olivera‑Borda, 38, a Peruvian national illegally present in the United States, after reviewing evidence presented by federal prosecutors. The indictment alleges that Olivera‑Borda knowingly made false statements in his application to become a lawful permanent resident of the United States, a process that requires applicants to provide accurate information about their personal history and marital status. Prosecutors further allege that Olivera‑Borda falsely claimed in 2026 that he continued to reside with his United States citizen wife, even though the couple allegedly separated in 2020 and never re‑established a bona fide marital relationship.

If convicted, Olivera-Borda faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:26-CR-169-FL-BM.

An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Raul Ramirez, 44, to 15 years in federal prison for supplying hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills to Raleigh drug dealers. On September 15, 2025, Ramirez, also known as “Ralph,” pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

“Cartels and out‑of‑state criminals have remorselessly flooded Eastern North Carolina with poison for far too long. They piped hundreds of thousands of deadly fentanyl pills directly into our backyards and schools, destroying families and ruining lives. For what? A few measly bucks. Not under my watch. Law and order wins every time. We caught this high‑level bad hombre, exposed his network, and secured a 15‑year federal prison sentence. If you bring death and destruction to Eastern North Carolina, we will track you down, lock you up, and ensure you pay a very heavy price,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.

A multi‑agency investigation that began in January 2022 revealed that Ramirez supplied hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills to a Raleigh‑based drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing 77 pounds of pressed fentanyl pills. DTO members routinely flew to California to buy fentanyl pills from Ramirez, and then shipped them back to North Carolina. Investigators used controlled purchases, search warrants, interstate package seizures, electronic surveillance, and cooperator interviews to unravel the operation. Even though authorities arrested several dealers possessing thousands of fentanyl pills repeatedly during the investigation, Ramirez kept shamelessly selling pills right up until his arrest.

“Thanks to a collaborative effort, a cross-country network bringing deadly drugs into our communities has been wiped out,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “We greatly improve the safety of our communities when careless and dangerous drug traffickers are caught and put out of business for good.”

Ellis Boyle U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced the sentence after the Honorable U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III issued it. ATF, the Raleigh Police Department, and the United States Postal Inspection Service collaborated on the multi‑year investigation.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-200-D.

United States Attorney Ellis Boyle administered the oath of office to three Assistant United States Attorneys who will serve in the Eastern District of North Carolina. Covering 44 counties from the Triangle to the coast, the Eastern District handles a broad range of federal criminal and civil matters, partnering closely with local communities and law enforcement agencies. The newly appointed prosecutors will help uphold the rule of law, protect constitutional rights, and strengthen public trust across this diverse and expansive district.

NEW BERN, NC – A federal judge sentenced Kenneth Maurice Quick, Jr., age 26, of Laurinburg, to three life sentences and then to an additional 83 years in federal prison for murdering two service members in December 2020. In May 2026, a federal jury convicted Quick on eight charges after a full trial, including first‑degree murder, drug conspiracy, and obstruction of justice.

“This cold‑blooded murderer will never see the light of day again,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Understand this, if you commit depraved violence on federal property: we will hunt you down, we will prosecute you, and we will lock you away for a very long time. No excuses. No escape. When you take lives, we will come for you without hesitation. You get life for taking a life.”

Evidence presented at trial established a series of brutal actions. Quick murdered WL, an active‑duty soldier stationed at Fort Bragg, and TD, a former soldier. Leading up to these killings, he agreed to buy cocaine from WL, but he never intended to pay. TD supplied the cocaine to WL and joined him on the trip to deliver the drugs to Quick. The defendant met WL at a trap house in Laurinburg and remorselessly shot him in the back five times. Quick then forced TD to drive to a remote wooded area on Fort Bragg to help dispose of WL’s body. When the truck became stuck in the sand, Quick shot TD in the head and in the back, killing him at the scene. The next day, Quick and his co‑conspirators recovered the truck from woods, drove it to a country road in another county, ransacked, moved, and burned TD’s truck. About two months later, he arranged another drug deal and murdered another unsuspecting victim in cold blood. While cooling in jail awaiting trial, Quick also provided a fellow gang member with the name of a potential witness. That gang member took that informant and murdered the witness.

"Quick likely believed he evaded authorities in killing two men and discarding their bodies on Fort Bragg property. He clearly didn't consider the dedication and expertise of FBI Special Agents and the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division, who followed the evidence and put together a meticulous timeline of Quick's crimes. Three life sentences for eight federal crimes say very loudly and clearly, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will make certain violent criminals are always held accountable," said Reid Davis, the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina.    

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The FBI and U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division led the investigations in the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-CR-FL, Case No. 4:24-CR-46-M, and Case No. 4:24-CR-56-BO.

WILMINGTON, N.C. – Two Lenoir County women, Kendra Edmondson, 39, and Britteny Dryer, 35, each pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud after they and others defrauded the federal government of more than $187,000 by submitting fraudulent North Carolina Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions (NC HOPE) loan applications for emergency rental assistance. As part of the scheme, the defendants and their associates submitted fictitious tenant lease agreements for multiple Lenoir County properties to support those applications. Each faces up to thirty years in federal prison and a $1,000,000 fine when the court sentences them later this year.

“These two lowdown fraudsters chose to milk the system by lining their pockets while hardworking taxpayers rolled up their sleeves during the pandemic.  Do what your parents taught you, don’t steal. Cheaters. Never. Win,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. 

Between November 2020 and December 2021, Edmondson, Dryer, and others submitted 23 fraudulent applications and collected more than $187,000 in federal government housing funds for their personal benefit.

On March 27, 2020, Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans suffering economically from the Covid-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized $5 billion in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs, giving states and localities flexible federal funding to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the pandemic. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers the CDBG program, which supports economic and community development and provides long‑term recovery funding to states and localities during disasters and emergencies.

The State of North Carolina’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR), a division of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, used CARES Act federal funds to help North Carolina renters remain in their homes during COVID‑19 by preventing evictions and loss of utility services. The NC HOPE program used an initial $51.5 million allocation of CDBG funds from the CARES Act to provide housing and utility assistance. North Carolina also received CRF funds from the CARES Act, including $66 million allocated for administrative costs associated with the NC HOPE program.

"This case reflects the strength of our partnerships with the USAO-EDNC and HUD-OIG in fighting fraud, waste and abuse that hurts our most vulnerable citizens,” said NCSBI Director, Chip Hawley. “Thanks also to USMS and the Kinston Police Department for their help. We will continue to aggressively target those who steal from hardworking taxpayers."

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II accepted the plea. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development – OIG (USHUD-OIG), and NCSBI are investigating the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:26-CR-14-M.

WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Alexander Trowbridge, also known as “Snow,” 41, of Henderson, NC, to almost 27 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl and more than 2.2 pounds of heroin; possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and possession of a firearm by a felon. 

“Drug trafficking organizations can no longer hide in Eastern North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “We shut down this network, and we are coming for the rest to clean these predators off our streets and protect the citizens. If you sell drugs, we will find you, prosecute you, and put you in prison for a long time. Simple lesson: Drugs kill; prison awaits—do right.”

In August 2019, the DEA, ATF, and other state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Henderson Police Department, initiated an investigation into a drug trafficking organization (DTO) in Henderson, North Carolina. 

The DTO obtained kilogram-level quantities of heroin and fentanyl from New Jersey and sold the drugs throughout Vance, Durham, Warren, Wake, Wilson, Franklin, and Granville counties. They regularly distributed fentanyl in baggies marked with a “Toy Story” stamp; a trademark they used to identify their product.

Law enforcement identified Trowbridge as the leader of the organization and, through controlled purchases along with physical and electronic surveillance, pinpointed several locations in Henderson used by the group, including 56 Kelly Road, 100 Kelly Road, and 66 Pinecone Lane.

The group would hide heroin and fentanyl in various places inside residences, as well as in buckets, stacks of tires, or in the woods out around the property. Drone footage showed that members of the DTO regularly drove back and forth between 66 Pinecone Lane to 56 Kelly Road, from the stash house to the trap house. They conducted hand-to-hand transactions selling drugs to customers at the trap house. Trowbridge often used numerous drug mules to transport and sell his drugs. In one instance, authorities stopped one of his mules in Maryland and found more than 2 pounds of fentanyl in the mule’s car.

The investigative findings set the stage for the next phase of the operation, culminating on November 17, 2022, when law enforcement simultaneously executed search warrants at 66 Pinecone Lane, 56 Kelly Road, and 100 Kelly Road. During those searches, authorities seized the following:

• 66 Pinecone Lane:

• 38 grams of a heroin/fentanyl mixture stamped with a “Toy Story” emblem (found in a bucket in the wood line)

• Four shotguns

• Four rifles

• A loaded 9mm handgun

• A 31‑round magazine

• A .45‑caliber handgun

• Multiple firearm magazines, including a drum magazine

• More than 2,000 rounds of assorted ammunition

• 56 Kelly Road:

• A .40‑caliber firearm

• A large‑capacity magazine

• 25 rounds of .40‑caliber ammunition

• Four rounds of .38‑caliber ammunition

• $10,304 in U.S. currency

• A stolen firearm

• 100 Kelly Road:

• A loaded rifle

• $88,931 in U.S. currency

• A loaded 9mm handgun with an extended magazine

• 80 grams of heroin and fentanyl stamped with a “Toy Story” emblem (found in a bucket in the woods between 56 Kelly Road and 100 Kelly Road)

Several DTO members have already been convicted and sentenced in federal court for their roles in the drug trafficking organization. Bridgett Burrows; seven and a half years in federal prison; Marques D. Gray eight years; Daquan Lovely; eight years and one month; Joseph Trowbridge; seven years; and Dwayne Trowbridge eight years. To view press conference go to: https://youtu.be/F0447PvHZ3Q?si=7maFYBu9KpHnyEa3

“This sentence reflects the commitment of law enforcement agencies working together to hold those who traffic fentanyl accountable,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Through strong partnerships and coordinated enforcement, we will continue disrupting the flow of this deadly drug and doing everything we can to keep our communities safe. Together, we are working toward a Fentanyl Free America.”

“This investigation is another example of what can be accomplished when local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies work together toward a common mission. Partnerships make our communities safer and send a clear message to drug traffickers: there is no jurisdictional boundary that will protect you from our unified law enforcement efforts,” said Marcus Barrow, Henderson Police Chief. 

This prosecution is part of Operation TYM 2 Block the Bridge of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. This case was investigated by the ATF, DEA, NCSBI, Henderson Police Department, and Vance County Sheriff’s Office.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-CR-332-M-1. 

RALEIGH, N.C. –United States Attorney Ellis Boyle, along with several federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, will hold a press conference to announce the sentencing of Alexander Trowbridge, 41, of Henderson, NC who was sentenced on August 20, 2026, for fentanyl and heroin trafficking.  USA Boyle will also discuss the EDNC and our federal partners’ efforts to combat drugs and guns in Eastern North Carolina. 

WHERE: U.S. Attorney’s Office, 150 Fayetteville Street, Suite 2100, Raleigh, NC 27601

WHEN: Monday, August 24, 2026, at 10:30 AM

Media, please arrive at the U.S. Attorney’s Office by 10:00 AM for set up.

For logistical information in advance of the media availability, please contact Jeff Gordon at jeffrey.gordon@usdoj.gov or 919-856-4172. No case specific information is available until the press conference.

United States Attorney Ellis Boyle administered the oath of office to three Assistant United States Attorneys who will serve in the Eastern District of North Carolina. Covering 44 counties from the Triangle to the coast, the Eastern District handles a broad range of federal criminal and civil matters, partnering closely with local communities and law enforcement agencies. The newly appointed prosecutors will help uphold the rule of law, protect constitutional rights, and strengthen public trust across this diverse and expansive district.

RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Trimaine Rshad Williams, age 35, to 15 and half years in federal prison for Interference with Commerce by Robbery. On February 20, 2026, Williams pleaded guilty in federal court. Williams’s five prior robbery convictions resulted in his sentencing as a Career Offender.

“Williams is exactly the kind of repeat offender who keeps terrorizing hard-working honest people of Eastern North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Even after five prior convictions, he spent an entire day hitting one store after another, scaring employees and terrifying customers who were just trying to work and live their lives the honest way. Thanks to great work of law enforcement, the people of Nash County won’t have to deal with Williams’s chaos any longer. Steal, gets steel.”

On March 20, 2024, Williams carried out a crime spree that targeted at least five convenience stores and gas stations in Rocky Mount. At one location, he pressed a hard object against a clerk’s back and threatened to shoot him. Although the clerk discovered Williams was not armed and escorted him out, Williams lingered nearby and accepted food the clerk offered after he claimed he was down on his luck. Despite this act of compassion, Williams continued his crime spree throughout the day and night.

At 6:30 a.m., Williams entered the Speedway store in Rocky Mount, ordered everyone to the ground, and stole about $200 while clutching his waistband as if he had a gun. Five hours later, he entered a gas station on Wesleyan Boulevard, told the clerks he was armed, stole roughly $300, and fled. His crime spree escalated that evening when he entered a nearby Dollar General, climbed over the counter, demanded cash, and threatened to kill the clerk. Shortly thereafter, Willaims entered his final store, the Bi‑Rite Market in Sharpsburg, demanded money, and once again grabbed his jacket as if he had a weapon before fleeing with the cash. The Nash County Sheriff’s Office apprehended Williams later that day, ending his community-wide crime spree.

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. This case was investigated by Sharpsburg Police Department, Rocky Mount Police Department, and Nash County Sheriff’s Office. 

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-330.

WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Sharon Lynn Jones, 46, to 14 years in federal prison for selling meth throughout the Eastern District of North Carolina. Jones pleaded guilty on May 5, 2026, to one count of distributing 50 grams or more of meth.

“Jones repeatedly chose to flood this community with meth, and her history shows she had every opportunity to stop,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Our office moved decisively with our law enforcement partners to shut down her operation and protect Duplin County from poison she pushed into Eastern North Carolina.”

In May 20125, the DEA and Duplin County Sheriff’s Office identified Jones as a major meth distributor. Investigators conducted four controlled purchases from her during May and June 2025. Later, they stopped her for a traffic violation and found a substantial quantity of crystal meth. Jones agreed to cooperate with law enforcement and was not charged. Over the next two and a half months, Jones continued to sell and possess meth with the intent to distribute. Before these latest convictions, she had two state court convictions in 2024 and 2025 for possessing with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver drugs and eventually received only probation. As a result of those convictions, the federal court system classified her as a career offender.

“The Duplin County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA to better serve the citizens of Duplin County, remove drug dealers that are selling large quantities of illegal narcotics, and help stop these deadly drugs from making it to our streets and communities,” said Duplin County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Chuck Weaver. “I am grateful for the cooperation and working relationships we have with local, state, and federal agencies.”

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers, II. DEA and the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office partnered in the investigation.

A copy of this press release is located on our website.  Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:25-CR-00103-M-KS.

Raleigh, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Alexander Jules Pawluk, 29, to seven years in federal prison for trafficking large quantities of meth and firearms throughout the Eastern District of North Carolina. On May 10, 2026, Pawluk pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 or more grams of meth, distribution of 50 grams or more of meth, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

“While it is tragic to see a Marine betraying his oath to protect and serve his country, nobody gets away with crime in Eastern North Carolina. Drugs kill families and communities,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Marines should not dishonor themselves by hurting Americans. Simple Lesson; drugs kill, prison awaits, do better.”

In 2024, investigators identified Pawluk—then an active-duty Marine—as a drug dealer operating in the greater Jacksonville area. That December, federal and local law enforcement conducted three controlled meth purchases from him. During two of those transactions, he also sold firearms. After completing the controlled buys, law enforcement arrested Pawluk and placed him in state custody.

Following his arrest and subsequent discharge from the Marine Corps, a state judge released Pawluk from custody. Unfortunately, he returned to his drug dealing ways. In June 2025, investigators conducted another controlled meth purchase from him. After that transaction, they searched Pawluk’s home and found more meth and firearms.

“Mr. Pawluk’s relentless distribution of lethal drugs and firearms despite devastating outcomes demonstrates his complete and callous disregard for human life and the safety of our community,” said Special Agent in Charge Kelly Parrish of the NCIS Carolinas Field Office. “NCIS and our law enforcement partners remain unwavering in our mission to protect our Navy and Marine Corps communities.  We will continue to conduct thorough investigations to ensure individuals complicit in crimes are held accountable for the grave consequences of their actions.” 

This prosecution is part of Operation Moral Turpitude, a component of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) established under Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole‑of‑government initiative committed to dismantling criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in the United States and abroad. Through unprecedented interagency coordination, HSTF directs federal law enforcement resources to investigate and prosecute the broad spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations. The HSTF places a particular emphasis on targeting offenders involved in crimes against children and uses all available legal authorities to identify, prosecute, and remove violent criminal aliens from the United States.

W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement following sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. NCIS, ATF, and the Jacksonville Police Department, and the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:25-CR-63-D-BM-1.

Raleigh, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced James Nadel Taylor, 31, to 12 and half years in federal prison for trafficking large quantities of meth along the east coast. On May 5, 2026, Taylor pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of meth and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of meth.

“Here is another fine example of law enforcement protecting and serving the citizens of Eastern North Carolina. Through one officer’s keen eye for discerning criminal activity, law enforcement sniffed out the drug mule and his Big Shark Bad Boy co-conspirator.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “To those who think they can bring their venomous drugs into Eastern North Carolina: you are dead wrong! Will we find you; we will prosecute you; and we will throw you under the jail.” 

On January 14, 2025, a Selma Police Department detective stopped a Kia Optima for following a tractor trailer too closely. The detective questioned the driver, Erminio Ferri, about his travel plans and noticed a nervous Ferri gave an implausible story. Taylor, the owner of the car, sat next to him as a passenger. Detectives searched the car and found over four pounds of meth. They later learned that Ferri and Taylor had driven from Delaware to South Carolina the previous day to pick this meth and were returning to Delaware when police stopped the car.

"This sentence reflects the outstanding work and dedication of our detectives, whose attention to detail during a routine traffic stop led to the seizure of a significant quantity of methamphetamine and ultimately the dismantling of a drug trafficking operation,” said Justin R. Vause, Selma Police Chief. “Cases like this demonstrate that proactive policing and strong partnerships with our federal law enforcement partners continue to play a critical role in keeping dangerous narcotics out of our communities. Having firsthand knowledge of this investigation from its inception, I can say this outcome sends a clear message to those who seek to traffic illegal drugs through our town and across North Carolina: law enforcement agencies are committed to identifying, investigating, and holding offenders accountable. Protecting our residents and preventing dangerous substances from reaching our neighborhoods, families, and especially our children remain a top priority for the Selma Police Department. I am proud of the work conducted by our detectives and grateful for the collaborative efforts of the ATF and the United States Attorney's Office in bringing this case to a successful conclusion." 

W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement following sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The ATF and the Selma Police Department investigated the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-CR-202-D-BM-2.

NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Donnie Dontez Jeffreys, 35, to 22 years in federal prison for leading a large-scale cocaine and fentanyl distribution operation throughout the Eastern District of North Carolina. On May 12, 2026, Jeffreys pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 11 pounds or more of cocaine, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and possessing with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine.

“Donnie Jeffreys traded human lives for drug money, poisoning our streets with fentanyl and cocaine.  This sentence sends a stark message: we will hunt down every Big Shark Bad Boy pushing deadly poison, tear up the roots of their kudzu crew, and put them where they belong - behind bars.  Don’t mess around with these dedicated sheriffs and cops, you will find out. Simple Lesson: Drugs Kill, Prison Awaits – Do Right,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.” 

In February 2024, investigators identified Jeffreys as the leader of a drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of cocaine, powder fentanyl, and pressed fentanyl pills. Federal and local law enforcement employed a range of methods, including traffic stops, freight interdictions, interviews, federal wiretaps, and controlled drug purchases to investigate his crimes and built the case against him.

As a result, investigators executed search warrants at multiple stash houses tied to Jeffreys’ organization and seized significant amounts of narcotics and firearms. Their searches uncovered a freight shipment containing 52 pounds of cocaine concealed in desk chair boxes, more than 33 pounds of fentanyl pills and over 35 pounds of cocaine stored in a duffle bag inside a stash house, along with $400,000 in cash from a car outside. A subsequent search warrant recovered even more cocaine, marijuana, and 32 weapons.

“Today’s 22-year federal prison sentence is the result of the unwavering collaboration between DEA and our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Together, we dismantled a significant drug trafficking operation responsible for distributing cocaine and fentanyl in our communities. This sentence sends a clear message, those who choose to profit from poisoning our neighborhoods will be identified, investigated, and brought to justice.”

"The Wake County Sheriff's Office makes it clear that illegal drugs and drug trafficking have no place in our communities. I thank the men and women who worked diligently to hold Donnie Jeffreys accountable. This investigation and sentencing highlight the value of our strong partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies," Sheriff Willie Rowe said.

W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. DEA, SBI, Wake County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Raleigh Police Department, and Wake Forest Police Department investigated the case. 

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-CR-147-FL-1.

WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Rocky Mount woman, Angela Dickens, 54, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns resulting a tax loss of approximately $3,900,000. Dickens faces a maximum penalty of 36 months in prison when sentenced in November 2026. She has agreed to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

“What a shocking abuse of trust for a tax return preparer to file hundreds of fraudulent federal income tax returns. No longer will we tolerate the petty misery of the destruction of society by vicious selfishness. Let this sentence serve as a warning to others considering the same dirty deeds: We will find you and prosecute you. Cheaters. Never. Win,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. 

Dickens operated Empire Tax Service, later renamed K&J Tax Service, in North Carolina. From 2017 to 2023, Dickens and at least one co‑conspirator fraudulently filed hundreds of tax returns by inflating “Other 1099 Withholding” amounts. Their scheme inflated taxpayer refunds and allowed them to take excessive fees from those refunds. A tax return preparation business gathers clients’ financial information, organizes it, and files their federal and state tax returns accurately. It aims to guide clients through the tax process efficiently, lawfully, and with as little stress as possible.

“Tax return preparers who try to defraud the tax system should be aware that IRS Criminal Investigation will expose these schemes and work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold those responsible accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Charlotte Field Office. “Today's plea is a reminder to those who might consider preparing false tax returns that IRS-CI will continue their aggressive pursuit of those who attempt to defraud the United States tax system.”

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

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II accepted the plea. The Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations is investigating the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:26-CR-126-M-1.

RALEIGH, N.C. - Ellis Boyle, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, joined the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division in announcing sweeping fraud enforcement actions alongside a new, dedicated, federal and state anti-fraud task force in North Carolina and across the Southeast. Following a major strategic roundtable emphasizing the partnerships forged amongst federal and state prosecutors, regulators, and law enforcement agencies, DAG Colin McDonald, the National Fraud Czar heading the DOJ efforts in this battle, led a press conference in Columbia, S.C. In support, 18 U.S. Attorneys' Offices, including the EDNC, seven State Attorneys General, five federal law enforcement agencies, and over 50 state officials announced their ironclad efforts in exposing and prosecuting systemic fraud. Press Conference Link: https://youtu.be/RaJJlIlaIWU

The DOJ’s National Fraud Enforcement Division established this joint taskforce to aggressively track, investigate, and prosecute regional financial fraud stealing federal taxpayer dollars. The sweeping southeast regional initiative targets 17 distinct cases currently prosecuted across seven Southeastern states, highlighting more than $350 million in attempted theft perpetrated against American taxpayers. Prosecutors prioritize systemic public program abuse involving SNAP benefits, Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, federal housing assistance, and tax fraud. Showing immediate results, federal prosecutors surged enforcement actions, charging crimes in cases that account for over $90 million in losses and indicting 12 named defendants since July 4 alone.

"This office is fully COMMITTED to protecting federal funds intended for the communities, families, and small businesses of Eastern North Carolina," said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. "By combining forces with our state, local, and federal law enforcement partners and launching this new anti-fraud task force, we will ensure that those who attempt to line their pockets through deception face swift federal justice. If you steal from the American people: we are looking for you; we will find you; we will convict you; and you will hibernate behind cold steel bars. Cheaters. Never. Win."

To illustrate recent crackdown efforts in the EDNC, Mr. Boyle described a June conviction where a Robeson County woman, who owned a North Carolina tax filing franchise, pleaded guilty to a massive Covid tax fraud scheme in federal court. Nejlai Mitchell, 48, admitted to preparing false returns claiming fraudulent refunds based on COVID-19 tax credits and submitting false tax returns. The conspiracy resulted in the IRS paying out almost $14 MILLION in fraudulent tax refund claims. Mitchell faces a maximum term of eight years in prison and a $500,000 fine when a federal judge sentences her later this year. Seven other tax return preparers who worked for her have already pleaded guilty for their roles in the same multi-million-dollar fraud scheme$25M Pandemic-Relief Fraud Scheme. 

WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Tracey Dixon Perry, 51, to 16 months in federal prison, 12 months of home confinement, two years of supervised release, and to repay $425,146 in restitution for concealing bankruptcy assets.

“This individual meticulously and purposefully hid her greedy milking from the U.S.  government. She pocketed hundreds of thousands of ill-gotten dollars, exploiting a system that exists to help relieve companies in times of economic need,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Play games, get the prize you deserve, and in this case, a one-way ticket straight to federal prison. Cheaters. Never. Win”

Perry owned and operated Dixon Paving, Inc., an asphalt milling and paving business based in Raleigh. On February 14, 2020, Perry signed and filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition on behalf of Dixon Paving in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

While the bankruptcy court permitted Dixon Paving to maintain business operations as a debtor in possession (DIP), the court required that the company establish new DIP bank accounts to deposit all business receivables. Investigators discovered that Perry circumvented these requirements through multiple fraudulent actions. Four days prior to the bankruptcy filing, Perry directed the opening of a secret bank account for an affiliated entity, Dixon Contracting, LLC, and later established a second concealed bank account for Dixon Paving on February 28, 2020.

Perry deposited a substantial corporate check into one of the secret accounts on the day of the bankruptcy filing and continued to divert checks payable to Dixon Paving into unmonitored accounts throughout the proceedings. On February 28, 2020, Perry executed the corporation's schedule of assets and liabilities under penalties of perjury but intentionally omitted the secret accounts. In subsequent monthly operating reports, she falsely declared that Dixon Paving had deposited all income into the designated DIP accounts.

On May 6, 2020, while the bankruptcy case was pending, Perry secured a $183,500 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan by checking "no" on the application question asking if the company was involved in an active bankruptcy. She later submitted false monthly bankruptcy reports denying the receipt of third-party financing. Perry bypassed statutory requirements for court approval by entirely hiding the PPP loan from the bankruptcy court, and she used the same deceptive methods to conceal an additional loan from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The U.S. Department of Transportation and Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Valuable assistance was provided by the Office of the U.S. Bankruptcy Administrator for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. 

RALEIGH, N.C. – United States Attorney Ellis Boyle announced criminal charges against Ronald Ray Brock II, 50, of Fayetteville, North Carolina. A federal grand jury indicted him for defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of almost $1 million. 

Brock allegedly carried out a scheme in which he obtained $996,668.50 in PPP loans using the names of three businesses: MedCom Medical Messaging, Inc., Physicians Answering Group Exchange, Inc., and Answer Pronto, Inc. He secured the loans by falsely claiming these companies employed between 14 and 57 people and paid them between $32,000 and $121,000 per month, even though the companies had no real operations, no employees, and no payroll. The indictment alleges that Brock supported these false claims with fabricated tax returns and other falsified documents, and that he obtained duplicate loans for one company by applying through two different participating lenders. It also alleges that Brock made additional false statements to obtain forgiveness for one of the loans with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Brock is charged with six counts of wire fraud involving disaster-related benefits. If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison on each count.

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

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case. 

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:26-CR-141-D-RN.

An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Kobe Alexander Scott, 26, to over 9 years in federal prison. Scott pleaded guilty on April 28, 2026, to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

“We appreciate the hard work of our federal and local partners for stopping armed, drug dealing felons who threaten the safety of our communities. This Big Shark Bad Boy will not threaten his community with illegal firearms for the better part of a decade,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.

In October 2023, the Raleigh Police Department (RPD) began investigating Scott after receiving information he was selling illegal narcotics and had access to firearms. Scott and several other known drug dealers were using a Raleigh-area recording studio for illegal activity and that he was the primary supplier of a high-end marijuana brand known as “Dessertz,”.  For years, Scott used social media to advertise and sell marijuana, often posting numerous photos and videos of himself displaying firearms and large quantities of marijuana.

On December 13, 2023, RPD officers conducted a search at the recording studio where they found two 9‑millimeter firearms inside his office desk drawer. Scott is a convicted felon and a member of the Bloods street gang. His most recent convictions include possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana in 2022 and felony breaking and entering and larceny in 2015.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to making our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Raleigh Police Department and the ATF investigated the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:25-CR-44-D.

RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Keavin Jawahn Thompson, 42, to 15 and a half years in federal prison for selling large quantities of fentanyl throughout the Eastern District of North Carolina. On January 29, 2026, Thompson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of para‑fluorofentanyl. Para-fluorofentanyl is similar to fentanyl but is highly potent and is a significant contributor to overdose deaths in the United States. 

“This Big Shark Bad Boy drug pusher will no longer sling poison that ruins so many lives of Eastern North Carolinians,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Here is a stark warning, we will put you in prison for decades. Simple Lesson: Drugs Kill, Prison Awaits – Do Right.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.”

Thompson was identified in early 2020 as a large‑scale fentanyl trafficker operating across eastern North Carolina. In 2022, federal and local law enforcement conducted five purchases of fentanyl from Thompson. After these purchases, investigators executed search warrants at two Fayetteville homes used as drug stash houses. Inside, they recovered 840 grams of fentanyl, 642 grams of para‑fluorofentanyl, cocaine, crack cocaine, and meth, along with packaging materials, a digital scale, and a cutting agent used to prepare narcotics for distribution. Through the investigation, law enforcement determined Thompson had trafficked over 48 pounds of fentanyl between 2019 and his arrest on August 22, 2022.

“This sentence stresses the strength of our federal and state partnerships in dismantling trafficking networks that are flooding North Carolina with fentanyl,” said Mark M. Zito, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Carolinas. “Through close collaboration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, the Fayetteville Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, HSI is unwavering in its commitment to pursue those who threaten the safety of our communities with illicit narcotics.”

“Drug trafficking poses a double threat to our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “Illegal narcotics destroy lives and the violence associated with drug trafficking wreaks communities. ATF is proud of the work the Homeland Security Task Force is accomplishing, and we remain committed to the goal of keeping our neighborhoods safe.”

This prosecution is part of Operation Eight Ball, a component of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) established under Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole‑of‑government initiative committed to dismantling criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in the United States and abroad. Through unprecedented interagency coordination, the HSTF directs federal law enforcement resources to investigate and prosecute the broad spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations. The HSTF places a particular emphasis on targeting offenders involved in crimes against children and uses all available legal authorities to identify, prosecute, and remove violent criminal aliens from the United States.

W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement following sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, and Fayetteville Police Department investigated the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-125-D-KS-1.

United States Attorney Ellis Boyle administered the oath of office to two Assistant United States Attorneys appointed to serve in the Eastern District of North Carolina. Their work supports the safety and well‑being of their communities, safeguards constitutional rights, and reinforces trust in the justice system.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the EDNC administers the oath of office to the newest member of the district. The appointment of the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney advances the office's mission of upholding the rule of law and serving the people of our district. We are pleased to welcome him aboard and look forward to his contribution to the office and community in which he serves

RALEIGH, N.C. – On July 22, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging an illegal alien born in Mexico, Jaime Santiago-Corona, also known as “Jaime Guzman Corona,” 33, with illegal reentry of a previously removed alien. The indictment alleges that Santiago illegally reentered the United States without permission from immigration authorities after he had previously been deported multiple times. 

On July 3, 2026, authorities arrested Santiago after he allegedly ran a stop sign at County Home Road and Warren Jones Road in Pitt County and crashed into a car driven by a mother with her two children, ages 4 and 6. The mother and her 4‑year‑old daughter suffered serious injuries. In an unspeakably tragedy, 6‑year‑old Calli died at the scene. The State Highway Patrol charged Santiago with several crimes, including misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. ICE issued a detainer asking North Carolina officials to keep Santiago in custody.

Santiago has a long history of violating immigration laws; deported three separate times: October 9, 2019, June 12, 2023, and again on June 17, 2024. The federal grand jury charged him with violating 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a). If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 2 years in federal prison and deportation.

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.

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (“ICE-ERO”) is investigating the case. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) is the federal division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) responsible for identifying, arresting, detaining, and removing individuals who are subject to removal or unlawfully present in the United States.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:26-CR-00031-FL-KS-1.

An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Alexander Douglas Kuhn, age 35, to 40 years in federal prison for Production and Possession of Child Pornography.  On November 21, 2025, Kuhn pleaded guilty.

“This disgusting pervert will no longer target the young and vulnerable. There is a special place for him in this world, it’s called prison,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “We will continue to hunt down and stomp out all these spiders.” 

In June 2023, Department of Homeland Security Investigators identified Kuhn on the social media apps of Gridr and Discord. Through online conversations with undercover agents, Kuhn claimed to abuse a 3-year-old child and offered the child up for future abuse. In addition, he asked to sexually abuse a fictional 12-year-old child that an undercover agent pretended to offer. 

On July 13, 2023, law enforcement officials obtained a federal search warrant for Kuhn’s residence and electronic devices. Six days later, HSI agents and Craven Couty Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Kuhn at his home in New Bern. Kuhn admitted to sexually abusing a 3-year-old child for over a year, taking photos and videos of the child, and sending those to others online. Investigators corroborated Kuhn’s admission, when they located numerous photos and videos of Kuhn sexually abusing the child, and criminal images of other children, on his electronic devices. 

“This case represents the dedication and resolve of Homeland Security Investigations and our partners to protect children and hold offenders fully accountable,” said Mark M. Zito, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Carolinas. “The actions uncovered were deeply disturbing, and our agents worked tirelessly to ensure the victims received justice and support. We thank NCIS, SBI, and the Craven County Sheriff’s Office for their collaboration throughout this investigation. HSI remains committed to pursuing those who exploit children and bringing them before the law.”

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

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Department of Homeland Security Investigations and Craven County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-CR-00023-D.

RALEIGH, N.C. -  A federal judge sentenced Tony Michael Crisco, 35, to 50 years in federal prison for Production and Distribution of Child Pornography. On January 29, 2026, Crisco pleaded guilty to the charges.

“This sick individual will no longer be able to harm those who cannot protect themselves. He preyed on vulnerable children by abusing and manipulating them to produce explicit content for his own gratification,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyles. “This spider will now spin his web stuck behind cold steel bars.”

On May 23, 2023, Crisco’s mother contacted law enforcement in Citrus County, Florida after an individual alerted her of an online video showing him raping a 2-year-old child. After his mother alerted law enforcement, they quickly contacted authorities in Wilmington where Crisco lived.

“This lengthy federal prison sentence makes one thing clear: anyone who exploits children will be found, prosecuted, and removed from society for a very long time. The FBI will relentlessly pursue predators and ensure they face the maximum consequences for harming a child,” said Reid Davis, the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina.

Law enforcement officials from the FBI, Wilmington Police Department, and New Hanover County Sheriff’s Department immediately jumped into the investigation, executing a warrant on Crisco’s residence and digital devices. The search revealed numerous images and videos of him sexually abusing a toddler. He also communicated with a 14-year-old female teenager online after meeting her through friends. Crisco began grooming the teenager to send him sexually explicit photos and videos, eventually meeting and engaging in sexual intercourse. Crisco then distributed the images and videos she produced of this crime to others online. During the investigation, over 1,000 images and 348 videos of child pornography and sexual abuse material, investigators discovered.

"Today's guilty plea is the result of a thorough investigation and the unwavering commitment of the men and women dedicated to protecting children in our community. Cases involving the production and possession of child sexual abuse material are among the most disturbing crimes we investigate, and we remain steadfast in our mission to identify offenders, hold them accountable, and seek justice for every victim. This case is a testament to the strength of our partnerships. The New Hanover County Sheriff's Office is grateful for the collaborative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Attorney's Office, the New Hanover County District Attorney's Office, the Wilmington Police Department, New Hanover County Child Protective Services, the Carousel Center, and Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Each of these agencies plays a vital role in ensuring child victims receive the protection, care, advocacy, and resources they deserve while helping bring offenders to justice. The New Hanover County Sheriff's Office remains unwavering in its commitment to aggressively investigating crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children. We will continue working alongside our local, state, and federal partners to pursue those who prey on the most vulnerable members of our community and ensure they are held fully accountable for their actions. Protecting children will continue to be one of our highest priorities."

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III.  The FBI, Wilmington Police Department, and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:24-CR-00097-D.

WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Kenneth Mark Rosado, age 40, to 15 years in federal prison for selling guns and fentanyl that led to the fentanyl overdose death of a 21-year-old Cary man.  On October 21, 2025, Rosado pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. 

Between 2023 and 2024, he sold 57 guns, knowing those weapons would end up in the hands of criminals on the streets. On November 20, 2024, he was federally charged in Charlotte with trafficking guns. A judge released him and placed him into a drug treatment center while that case was pending. On April 7, 2026, Rosado pleaded guilty to dealing in firearms without a license after his firearms case was transferred from the WDNC to the EDNC.

“The arrest and prosecution of this drug and gun dealing thug should give people of Eastern North Carolina a sense of relief,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “We will not tolerate despicable bottom-feeders who push poison and guns into our communities. Simple Lesson: Drugs Kill, Prison Awaits – Do Right.” 

In January 2025, while in the treatment center awaiting trial, Rosado met and befriended a 21-year-old Cary man. Through their relationship, he indicated to the Cary man that he provides drugs. Rosado then absconded, fleeing to Charlotte where he met the 21-year-old victim in a hotel room. He sold fentanyl to the victim, who returned to Cary, used the fentanyl, and died. The victim’s parents discovered his dead body in his bedroom in the family room the following day. 

Despite the fatal episode, Rosado continued selling drugs without remorse. Undercover officers subsequently carried out a controlled purchase of fentanyl from him, during which he admitted to routinely acquiring dealer‑level quantities of the drug. 

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Cary Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department investigated this case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-CR-63-M and 5:26-CR-1-M.

WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Mark Anthony Cavello, 52, of Dallas, Texas, to 18 years in federal prison. He had previously pleaded guilty on May 30, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of meth, distribution of more than 50 grams of meth, and money laundering.

“This is another example of federal, state, and local law enforcement working together to rid the poison that Cavello pushed into Eastern North Carolina.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “The residents of Eastern North Carolina will be safer while he’s locked up. Simple Lesson: Drugs Kill; Prison Awaits – Do Right.”

The investigation began in March 2021 after federal law enforcement identified Cavello as a key supplier, who led a drug trafficking organization (DTO) based in Dallas, TX. Cavello’s drug trafficking spanned at least a decade. Cavello regularly handled large quantities of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and meth. His DTO ran its drug business through mailing packages, wire transfers, and phone communication, with occasional in‑person meetings. To evade detection, Cavello used multiple homes to conceal his locations, used a post office box to handle money, changed phone numbers often, and worked a regular construction job during the day. He used his lawful business, and even a bank account under a relative’s name, to hide and launder his drug money. Cavello relied heavily on family members within his DTO and sometimes using drug runners to deliver drugs and collect cash. From 2017 to 2022, Cavello was a major supplier of meth traveling from Texas to Eastern North Carolina.

Between September 2021 and March 2022, ATF made three controlled drug purchases from Cavello, totaling about 11 pounds of highly potent meth. He mailed the drugs from Texas to Eastern North Carolina in the mail and received money payments back in the mail to various locations in Texas.

“Drug dealing and violent gun crimes are always closely connected,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “When we take down a drug trafficking network, we’re cutting off the flow of dangerous drugs and reducing the level of violence and gun crimes that threaten our communities.”

“This investigation highlights the reach and impact of interagency cooperation.  This is a testament to the hard work, dedication and commitment of our local, state and federal partners to keeping our communities safe,” said Chief Ashley L.  Weaver, Jacksonville Police Department.

This prosecution is part of Operation Polar Bear which is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. 

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II.  ATF, DEA, Jacksonville Police Department, and Goldsboro Police Department   investigated the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for 5:24-CR-121-M

RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Carlos Todd, 31, of Raleigh to one year and three months in federal prison for escaping from the South Raleigh Residential Reentry Center (RCC).

Todd began serving the last part of his previous prison sentence at the reentry center on July 8, 2025. The facility is a contracted halfway house operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The reentry program helps by gradually transitioning inmates from prison at the end of their term back into the community by supporting work, treatment, and personal responsibility. However, less than two weeks after arriving, Todd tested positive for marijuana, and the BOP recommended removing him and returning him to prison.

“At the end of their time in BOP, Federal inmates have an excellent opportunity to adjust to their return to society by successfully completing a stay in a RCC. These RCCs provide an opportunity for them to reintegrate and land on their feet,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Inmates who abuse this process and escape by leaving without permission will be pursued and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Take your time and learn from it, or we will add years onto your federal prison stay.”

On July 30, 2025, officials from the Riverside Regional Prison in North Prince George, Virginia arrived at the halfway house to transfer several inmates including, Todd, to prison because of his noncompliance, but Todd refused to leave and board the bus. After the officials departed, Todd absconded from the center without permission. He remained at large until U.S. Marshals apprehended him on February 27, 2026.

“Our deputies responded quickly, worked collaboratively, and safely apprehended the fugitive without incident. This successful outcome reflects the professionalism, preparedness, and unwavering commitment of the men and women of the United States Marshals Service and our law enforcement partners,” said Glenn M. McNeill, Jr., United States Marshal. “Every successful apprehension strengthens public safety and reinforces our commitment to protecting the communities we serve. I am proud of the outstanding work performed by our team and grateful for their dedication to the mission every day.” 

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after the sentencing before U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan.  This investigation resulted from collaboration between the United States Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and the South Raleigh Residential Reentry Center.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:26-CR-00028-FL

RALEIGH, N.C. – LS Cable & System USA, Inc., agreed to pay $4 million to the United States to resolve allegedly false claims for payments under Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and PPP loan forgiveness. 

“This civil fraud settlement demonstrates our commitment to protect taxpayer money and to guard the integrity of our federal programs,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.  “Our office will zealously pursue those who wrongfully take funds in violation of program requirements.”

The settlement arises from allegations that LS Cable knowingly misrepresented the number of its employees and affiliated personnel and unlawfully sought and obtained Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan funds and loan forgiveness totaling 

over $2,004,414 for which it was not legally eligible.

The False Claims Act allows the Government to seek recovery of three times the amount of falsely obtained money, plus substantial penalties for each false claim submitted, and attorneys’ fees to the whistleblower who initiated this action.  It should be noted that the civil claims resolved by settlement here are allegations only, and that there has been no judicial determination or admission of liability. LS Cable denies the fraud allegations.

This matter was addressed through close partnership and coordinated efforts between the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

A copy of this press release can be located on our website. Related court documents and information can be located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or PACER by searching for Case No. 4:25-CV-130-BO.

NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced, Fernando Chaidez, 46, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. On April 1, 2026, a federal jury convicted Chaidez of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams of meth, possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of meth, possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a firearm used to help selling drugs.

On November 8, 2023, Customs and Border Enforcement intercepted a package coming from Guerrero, Mexico to Duplin County, North Carolina. The package contained flip‑flops with approximately 2.2 pounds of meth hidden inside the lining. A week later, the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, HSI, and NCSBI carried out a controlled delivery of the package at the home of Stephen Darden in Duplin County. Darden accepted the package and they arrested him. Shortly after that, Chaidez arrived at Darden’s home, picked up the package, and they arrested him too. When they searched Chaidez’s car, they found meth and a garage door opener for his home in Wayne County. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, along with HSI, executed a search warrant where they found several cut open flip-flops that appeared to have previously contained drugs. They also found several firearms, including an AR‑15, a 5.7 semi‑automatic handgun, and a large 5.7‑caliber drum magazine. 

“Cartels spread evil from south of the border and destroy our communities in Eastern North Carolina. Drug thugs like this Big Shark Bad Boy pose a serious threat to public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “We will continue partnering with our local, state, and federal teams to shut down these operations, clean these villains off our streets, and protect our citizens. If you sell drugs, we will find you, prosecute you, and throw you in prison for a long time.”  

Chaidez had a page full of prior convictions for manufacturing and selling meth dating as far back as 2010. Chaidez spent time in prison until his release in 2022, but he went right back to selling drugs by distributing more than 154 pounds of meth from 2022 until the time of his federal arrest in 2023. Darden eventually received a sentence of three years and four months for his involvement. 

"The successful prosecution of Fernando Chaidez removes a significant quantity of methamphetamine and multiple firearms from our streets," said Mark M. Zito, special agent in charge of HSI Carolinas. "This investigation highlights the grave dangers posed by the illicit drug trade and the tenacity of our agents to hold offenders accountable. This sentence sends a clear message that Homeland Security Investigations will continue to relentlessly pursue those who attempt to profit from the distribution of poison in our neighborhoods."

"This is the result of hard work and strong partnerships between every agency involved in this investigation. When we work together, we send a clear message that crime won't be tolerated in our communities. I'm grateful to everyone who worked on this case, and we'll continue working every day to keep Wayne County safe,” said Wayne County Sheriff Larry Pierce

"This case is a great example of why strategic partnerships are so effective. HSI Wilmington brought federal resources, our SBI Coastal District agents brought the local knowledge, and the Duplin and Wayne County Sheriff's Offices were partners from day one. Four agencies, one case, one Cartel trafficker who was moving meth through eastern North Carolina and is now going to prison for 30 years. This is what great partnerships and outstanding teamwork does,” said SBI Director Chip Hawley.

This prosecution is part of Operation Tsunami Rising which is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. 

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. HSI, Custom and Border Patrol Enforcement, FBI, Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, and NCSBI investigated the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:24-CR-102-FL

A North Carolina man was sentenced today to 42 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for the possession of child sexual abuse material. 

According to court documents, Blace Arthur Nalavany, 59, of Winterville, North Carolina, possessed images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Nalavany pleaded guilty to the charge on March 11.

According to evidence presented at the sentencing hearing, Nalavany was an associate professor of social work at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC, and a licensed clinical social worker, at the time of his arrest. His research publications include research into children who had experienced child sexual abuse. According to evidence in the case, the crime Nalavany was convicted of was committed at his home and was not connected to his employment or to any work as a licensed clinical social worker.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney W. Ellis Boyle for the Eastern District of North Carolina, and Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis of the FBI's Charlotte Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Charlotte Field Office, Greenville Resident Agency and the FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit investigated the case in collaboration with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. 

Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen K. Haughton for the Eastern District of North Carolina prosecuted the case.

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

NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Debbie Norris Woodell, 64, to two years in Federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to commit federal program theft. Woodell was also ordered to repay $238,448 to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

“In limited circumstances, HUD pays for citizen’s housing with taxpayers’ dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Woodell stole those dollars robbing both taxpayers and indigent recipients of America’s generosity. We will continue to hold greedy fraudsters accountable and ensure that criminals who exploit public programs face serious consequences. Cheaters. Never. Win.” 

Woodell became the Executive Director of the Dunn Housing Authority (DHA) in 2014. DHA is a federally funded agency that provides affordable housing to qualifying low‑income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities in Dunn, North Carolina. Between 2016 and 2021, Woodell exploited her position, working with others to steal more than $200,000 from DHA. As part of the scheme, she issued checks from DHA accounts to co‑conspirators for unapproved landscaping and maintenance work that they never ever started. She funneled most of the money back to her personal use. To carry out the fraud, she fabricated bid documents, created fake invoices, forged signatures, and provided false information to DHA’s board of commissioners. Woodell also misused DHA credit cards to make thousands of dollars in unauthorized personal purchases, including ATV gear and home renovations for her house. She concealed the theft by creating false receipts and altering DHA’s accounting records.

“Debbie Woodell violated the trust placed in her, orchestrating multiple fraud schemes and compromising the federal procurement process by stealing more than $200,000 intended to support vulnerable members of the community,” said Special Agent in Charge Jerome Winkle of HUD’s Office of Inspector General. “Her actions were especially damaging given the limited resources available. HUD OIG will continue working with law enforcement partners to thoroughly investigate and hold accountable those who misuse public funds for personal gain.”

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. HUD’s Office of Inspector General investigated the case. 

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or PACER by searching case for Case No. 5:25-CR-103-FL-RN-1.

NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Kevin Tyrone Eure, 37, to 14 years in federal prison for conspiracy to sell and selling cocaine and crack and possessing guns as a convicted felon and while selling crack.

Kevin Tyrone Eure, AKA “Boo Dro,” dealt drugs in the Craven County area. Law enforcement confirmed this by covertly purchasing cocaine and crack from him. They followed up by executing a search warrant at his home in Grifton. Investigators found crack packaging materials, digital scales, and vacuum sealed bags, that he used to package his drugs for sale. Investigators also located a bullet proof vest, over 37 pounds of ammunition, and 12 guns of various sizes throughout his home.  He hid the guns in random spots around his home, including in the slot of a toaster and a Draco inside a dryer.  When interviewed, Eure admitted to selling cocaine and crack for the past eight years throughout eastern North Carolina.

“Selling crack and cocaine is illegal.  Stashing a bunch of guns in your house while slinging drugs makes the crime that much worse.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.  “It’s really easy to avoid this type of trouble: don’t sell drugs; don’t have guns if you are a felon.  I hope he learns his lesson and doesn’t commit any more crimes when he eventually gets out of prison.  He will have a long time to reconsider these bad choices. Drugs kill. Prison awaits. Do right.”

W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. ATF, the North Carolina SBI, the Craven County Sherrif’s Office, and the New Bern Police Department investigated the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-CR-00007-FL.

NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Kerby Pata, 40, of Miramar Florida, to over 12 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute more than 11 pounds of cocaine and conspiracy to possess with the intent to sell more than 50 grams of meth.

In August 2022, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and DEA, along with multiple state law enforcement agencies including the Nash County Sheriff’s Office and the Nashville Police Department, learned Pata had sold pounds and pounds of cocaine throughout multiple states, including Florida, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. Pata shipped drugs from the west coast to the east coast and then up and down the eastern seaboard. As part of his scheme, Pata utilized numerous drug couriers, often referred to as “drug mules”, to transport and sell his product. 

“Drug thugs like Pata can’t hide in Eastern North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “We will continue to leverage law enforcement partnerships and federal resources through the Homeland Security Task Force to clear the streets of deadly illegal drugs and the greedy criminals who profit from destroying our homes, families, and communities.” 

In April 2022, the Virginia State Police caught Pata, with more than six pounds of cocaine in his car. The Virginia court released Pata pending trial. Six months later, Pata and Stacey Phillipe flew to California where they purchased more than 13 pounds of cocaine. Phillipe then drove a rental car with Pata’s cocaine from California towards North Carolina. Fortunately, the Arkansas State Police stopped Phillipe on the way. 

Pata continued using his drug mules unabated. Simoneka Neal drove eight pounds of Pata’s cocaine in February 2023.  Officers attempted to stop Neal, but she recklessly sped off, eventually crashing. Officers searched her car and found the cocaine.  

In February 2023, Pata was arrested in Florida on federal charges, but the Florida court released him pending trial.  He immediately returned to his criminal ways, selling drugs again.

In September 2025, Pata mailed more than ¾ of a pound of methamphetamine to Aaron Barner in Virginia from Florida.  Pata told Barner to deliver the meth to an individual in Nash County, North Carolina. Law enforcement conducted surveillance, observed Barner’s drug transaction, and arrested him. 

Pata had previously served time in a federal prison for Aggravated Identity Theft in 2012. Neal received 60 months and Barnes received 24 months in federal prison for their roles in Pata’s drug distribution organization.

“This investigation is another example of what can be accomplished when local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies work together toward a common mission. Partnerships make our communities safer and send a clear message to drug traffickers: there is no jurisdictional boundary that will protect you from our unified law enforcement efforts.” said Nashville Police Department Chief, Caleb Shockley. 

“This case is a testament to what can be accomplished when local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies work together toward a common goal, said Nash County Sheriff, Keith Stone. “Let this serve as a clear message to those who choose to traffic dangerous narcotics: there is nowhere to hide. We will continue working together across jurisdictions and agencies to relentlessly disrupt the flow of dangerous narcotics into our communities because the safety of our citizens remains our highest priority. I am grateful for the dedication, professionalism, and tireless efforts of every investigator, agent, prosecutor, and officer involved in this investigation. Together, we are making our communities safer and sending a strong message that criminal activity will not be tolerated in Nash County."

“This sentence sends a strong message that individuals who traffic kilogram quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine into our communities will be held accountable,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division.  “Working alongside our local law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate, prosecute, and dismantle those who threaten the safety and well-being of our communities.”

This prosecution is part of Operation Bandit of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. 

W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after the sentencing before U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. This investigation came from partnerships between DEA, HSI, Nash County Sherriff’s Office and Nashville Police Department. 

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-CR-00278-FL.

RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Timarcus Lavonnte Britt, 29, to 35 years in federal prison for robbing four gas stations while brandishing a gun. 

“Britt and his crew of thugs terrorized hard-working citizens as they prowled around Eastern NC one late night in July 2023. These men traded decades of their lives to steal a few bucks and cheap cigars. For the next 35 years, he can sit behind federal bars, living with the weight of his crimes and reflecting on the consequences of his actions: steal, gets steel.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. 

Three individuals including Britt, Jaliek Grant, and a juvenile, engaged in a spree of four armed robberies on July 11, 2023, between 1:00 and 4:00 a.m. in Greenville, Williamston, and Robersonville. Britt’s crew started by driving over 50 miles from their homes in Northampton County to Greenville and robbed a woman at gunpoint in the parking lot outside of a Speedway on Highway 264. The victim described how two masked men ran up on each side of her car, pointed guns at her, and took her cell phone.

Next, they drove to another Speedway in Greenville. Two masked men burst into the store waving guns with extended magazines. They pushed behind the counter, shoved the guns into the cashier’s face, and demanded money. After emptying the register and stealing the cashier’s phone, they ran out of the store.

Then the crew drove to a Speedway on NC 33 in Greenville, wearing the same outfits and armed with guns. Again, they pointed their guns at the cashier’s head, emptied the register, and stole cigarettes and Backwoods cigarillos. They repeated the same pattern at Speedway stores in Williamston and Robersonville—two suspects, same outfits, same guns, shoved in the cashiers’ faces, and stole money, cigarettes, and Backwoods cigarillos.

Britt’s gang ended their spree at a Speedway in Oak City. After the spate of other robberies, Martin County Sheriff’s Deputies thankfully called ahead to employees at the Oak City store with a timely warning: lock the doors. When the criminals arrived at the Oak City store at 4:15 a.m., they could not figure how to open the glass doors, so they just tucked their tails and ran away.

W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. The FBI, ATF, Greenville Police Department, Pitt County Sheriff’s Office, Williamston Police Department, Martin County Sheriff’s Office, and Robersonville Police Department investigated the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-CR-00068-C-2.

NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Juarez Sanchez-Montiel, 41, an illegal alien born in Mexico, to 7 months in federal prison followed by 3 years supervised release. On March 16, 2026, Sanchez pleaded guilty to immigration fraud.

“This despicable rapist will no longer prey on our vulnerable and innocent young children.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “The taxpayers of Eastern North Carolina should have comfort knowing that we will stomp out spiders like this who cheat and manipulate the system. He better stay out.” 

On December 11, 2023, in Montgomery County, North Carolina Superior Court, a grand jury returned two indictments against Sanchez, charging him with first-degree statutory rape, statutory rape of a child 15 years of age or younger, and sex by a substitute parent or custodian. He committed those crimes against the first victim on May 1, 2016, and the second victim on September 11, 2023.  On August 19, 2024, a jury convicted Sanchez of statutory rape of a child 15 years of age or younger, statutory sex offense with child 15 years of age or younger, and two counts of sex act by substitute parent or custodian. He was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of between 18 and 26 years and ordered to register as a sex offender. Both victims were children under the age of 13, and his sexual abuse crimes resulted in the birth of two children.   

Sanchez confessed to knowingly making materially false statements under penalty of perjury on his application to obtain a U-Visa when he submitted it to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) in November of 2021. In response to the questions “Have you EVER committed a crime or offense for which you have not been arrested?” and “Have you EVER ordered, incited, called for, committed, assisted, helped with, or otherwise participated in any of the following:…[e]ngaging in any kind of sexual conduct or relations with any person who was being forced or threatened?” he answered “No.”

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced the defendant. ICE ERO investigated the case as part of Operation False Haven - an ongoing initiative designed to aggressively target child molesters and other egregious felons who fraudulently obtain immigration benefits. Upon completion of his prison sentence, Sanchez will be transferred to ICE custody for removal from the US.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:25-CR-114-FL.

NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced David Kyle Rivenbark, 42, to 10 years in federal prison for selling methamphetamine. On March 16, 2026, Rivenbark pleaded guilty to conspiring to selling meth.

“Instead of seeking lawful, productive ways to earn a living, this criminal chose what he thought was easy money,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “But peddling poison into our communities is an easy way to spend a decade behind bars.  If you choose to deal drugs in the Eastern District of North Carolina, rest assured a prison cell awaits with your name on it. Drugs kill. Prison awaits. Do right.”

Duplin County Sheriff’s Deputies began investigating Rivenbark in April 2025 following information a tip that he was selling meth in Wallace. The Sheriff’s Office, partnering with the DEA and ATF, used surveillance and multiple controlled purchases of meth in April and May 2025. Law enforcement determined that Rivenbark sold over 2 pounds of methamphetamine over the course of a year.
Rivenbark had a checkered history of criminal conduct with State criminal convictions for Possession with Intent to Sell drugs in 2018 and selling Meth in 2019. Rivenbark’s prior criminal history made him a career offender in federal court, which led to a mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. ATF, DEA, and the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website.  Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:25-CR-00109-FL-KS.
 

NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Jeffry Jose De Pena, 39, an illegal alien born in the Dominican Republic, to 7 months in federal prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. On March 11, 2026, De Pena pleaded guilty to immigration fraud.

“We will not let child molester spiders take advantage of our society’s most precious treasures, our children.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “This DACA illegal alien will no longer cheat to prey on the citizens of Eastern North Carolina. He better stay out.”

On February 20, 2023, in Wake County, North Carolina Superior Court, a grand jury returned three indictments against De Pena which collectively charged him with having committed five counts of indecent liberties with a child and seven counts of first-degree sex offense with a child by an adult from January 1, 2007, through January 1, 2012.  On March 21, 2024, a jury convicted De Pena for the crimes of indecent liberty with a child and first-degree sex offense with a child by an adult. The victim was a 3-year-old toddler. He was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of between 25 and 35 years and ordered to register as a sex offender. 

De Pena confessed to knowingly making a materially false statement under penalty of perjury when he submitted his Form I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) in December of 2021. He responded “NO” to the question: “Have you EVER engaged in, ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in any of the following:…[a]ny kind of sexual contact or relations with any person who was being forced or threatened? CIS approved the application on January 5, 2022. Immigration officials did not know about his crimes prior to approving his application. 

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced the defendant. ICE ERO investigated the case as part of Operation False Haven - an ongoing initiative purpose-built to target child molesters and other egregious felons who fraudulently obtain immigration benefits. Upon completion of his prison sentence De Pena will be transferred to ICE custody for removal from the U.S.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-CR-00288-FL.

RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Roderick Michael Bates, 56, to over 4 years in federal prison. He pleaded guilty to identity theft and wire fraud for stealing from a local farm machinery and equipment business in Salemburg.

“This Georgia criminal chose poorly coming up here to steal from a local business in Sampson County,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Let this be a message to out-of-state criminals who think they can swindle the good people of the Eastern District of NC.  We will find you, no matter where you are, and put you behind bars. Cheaters.Never.Win.”

Bates used stolen identities with fake driver’s licenses to secure financing for farm machinery and equipment from a local Sampson County business. Using these identities, he fraudulently purchased high-value items totaling more than $65,000, including a zero-turn mower, an Evolution D5 Ranger golf cart, and 12-foot and 16-foot dump trailers. He then had the business ship the items to him hundreds of miles away, outside the state of North Carolina. The law enforcement officers arrested him during the delivery and recovered the stolen equipment.

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Sampson County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI collaborated on this investigation.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:25-CR-00117-D.

RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Jessica Latoya Staten, 41, to 2 years in federal prison and one year of supervised release for aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return.  The Court also ordered Staten to pay $3,097,568 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.  

“What a shocking abuse of trust for a tax return preparer to file hundreds of fraudulent federal income tax returns. No longer will we tolerate the petty misery of the destruction of society by vicious selfishness. Let this sentence serve as a warning to others considering the same dirty deeds: We will find you and prosecute you. Cheaters. Never. Win.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. 

“Dishonest tax return preparers use various schemes to defraud the government,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins of the IRS Criminal Investigation's Charlotte Field Office. “Today’s sentencing serves as a warning to anyone considering filing false tax returns. Both IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office remain committed to actively pursuing individuals who try to defraud the U.S. tax system.”

Staten engaged in a scheme to prepare and file hundreds of false and fraudulent federal income tax returns (Forms 1040) for others between approximately 2018 and 2025, resulting in more than $3 million in tax losses. Staten owned and operated “Luckie Ones Tax Professionals,” a tax return preparation based in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.  During the offense period, Staten prepared false tax returns for clients in eastern North Carolina that artificially increased certain credits to which her clients were not entitled to inflate the tax refund amounts, including the Earned Income Tax Credit, the American Opportunity Tax Credit, and the Lifetime Learning Credit. As part of the scheme, Staten also reported false self-employment income and expenses for non-existent businesses that she attributed to her clients.     

W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after the Honorable James C. Dever III pronounced the sentence. IRS-CI investigated the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:26-CR-00008-D.

NEW BERN, N.C. – A Robeson County man Phillip Collins, 47, stole from the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) by submitting false loan applications which resulted in the disbursement of $170,833 in loan proceeds. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and faces a maximum term of 30 years in prison, and a $1,000,000 fine when sentenced later this year. He will also be ordered to pay a Forfeiture Money Judgment of $170,833.

“Although the government may have stopped doling out Covid money, our government continues to hand out billions in other loans, subsidies, and programs. This office will continue to hold accountable anyone who defrauds any of our taxpayer funded programs. Crime Doesn’t Pay! Cheaters. Never. Win.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Collins submitted fraudulent EIDL and PPP loan applications for a business located in Robeson County. Collins made false representations of the number of employees and gross revenues. He also submitted false and fraudulent tax forms and bank statements. Following approval of each of the loan applications, funds were disbursed into a personal account controlled by Collins. 

W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Jones accepted the guilty plea from the defendant. The FBI and IRS-CI investigated the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:26-CR-24-FL.

WILMINGTON, N.C. –A federal judge sentenced Deshaune White, a Wayne County man, to 6 months in federal prison and 6 months home confinement, followed by 3 years of supervised release for his role in a scheme to defraud more than $100k in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and managed by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, and county Division of Social Services (DSS). He also must pay a Forfeiture Money Judgment of $102,733.80. 

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

“We are proud to prosecute this case as a part of the President’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. This office will continue to hold accountable anyone who defrauds any of our taxpayer funded programs. This SNAP benefits fraudster is now a felon and will have to pay back his ill-gotten gains. Hopefully, he has learned the lesson – Cheaters. Never. Win.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.

“It is an unconscionable betrayal of the public trust for a county employee responsible for administering federal food assistance to needy North Carolinian families to exploit his privileged access to recipient information to steal from those in need for his personal gain. USDA OIG is committed to working with the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud under VP Vance’s leadership to hold everyone who defrauds American taxpayers and exploits the vulnerable to account.  OIG will relentlessly pursue insider threats who try to abuse their position for profit.” – Inspector General John Walk.

White, using his position and privileges as a Lenoir County Social Services case worker, unlawfully accessed the SNAP accounts of qualified individuals and converted $102,733.80 in government funds for his own personal benefit and use.   

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II sentenced the defendant. The USDA-OIG and the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:25-CR-48-M.