Western District of North Carolina

cHARLOTTE, N.C. – A former U.S. Postal Service employee was sentenced yesterday for his role in a bank fraud scheme involving stolen mail, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Andre Whitehurst, 34, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 15 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release. Whitehurst agreed to pay a forfeiture money judgment for $74,000, and he remains liable to pay restitution to fraud victims.

“Checks stolen from the mail is a huge problem,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “Where checks are stolen by postal insiders it’s even worse, and we will be sure to hold them accountable.”

According to court records, from April 2022 to September 2024, Whitehurst conspired with Rashad Lowery, Aaron Grice, and others to execute a bank fraud scheme involving stolen mail. Whitehurst used his position as a U.S. Postal Service clerk to steal incoming and outgoing checks from the mail. Whitehurst then sold the stolen checks to Grice, Lowery, and others, who deposited the stolen checks into bank accounts in the names of fictitious identities and moved the stolen funds before the banks could determine that the checks were stolen. This fraudulent scheme led to attempted losses of over $364,000 to banks and bank account holders.

On June 17, 2025, Whitehurst pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and theft of mail by a postal employee. He will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. Grice and Lowery have each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and are awaiting sentencing.

When sentencing the defendant, U.S. District Judge Matthew E. Orso stated the sentence imposed should “deter others from committing this type of crime.”

In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General for its investigation of the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Smith of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict yesterday against a Charlotte man for carrying out an extensive cyber extortion scheme against a D.C.-based international technology company, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Cameron Curry, 27, was convicted of six counts of transmitting or willfully causing interstate communications with the intent to extort a victim company. U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell presided over the three-day trial.

According to filed documents, trial evidence, and witness testimony, Curry was contracted to work as a data analyst for approximately six months with the victim company. In that capacity, Curry had access to the victim company’s data files and other personnel and corporate information. Trial evidence established that Curry misused his position to access the victim company’s personnel and other sensitive corporate records, which he then used to carry out the cyber extortion scheme. Curry hatched his extortion scheme after he learned that his contract was not going to be renewed and that he would no longer be employed by the company.

According to evidence presented at trial, from December 11, 2023, to January 24, 2024, Curry, identifying himself online as “Loot,” sent over 60 email messages to company employees and executives, threatening to disclose sensitive information unless he was paid $2.5 million dollars in cryptocurrency. Trial evidence further established that the email messages contained threats to disclose sensitive corporate information and employee data, including employees’ personally identifiable information (PII), as well as threats to harm the reputation of the victim company by reporting a breach of its information and publishing the information publicly if the victim company failed to pay him via cryptocurrency.

According to trial evidence, on January 24, 2024, the FBI executed a search warrant at Curry’s residence, seizing various electronic devices. A forensic analysis of the evidence revealed that Curry was committing the extortion scheme under the “Loot” alias.

At sentencing, Curry faces up to two years in prison for each of the six charges. A sentencing date has not been set. 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A man and woman from South Carolina were sentenced today for carrying out a cyberstalking scheme targeting a vulnerable victim and his immediate family members using extortive and threatening text messages, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in North Carolina, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

Trysten Anthony Cullon, 27, and Jade Ashlynn Stone, 27, both of South Carolina, were sentenced to 41 months and 27 months in prison, respectively. They were also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after they are released from prison, and to pay restitution in the amount of $26,699.65. Cullon and Stone previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit cyberstalking.

“This case is heartbreaking,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson, “there was not a dry eye in the courtroom at sentencing. To fuel their drug addiction, Cullon and Stone turned to preying on the most vulnerable among us. Christopher had a developmental disability and lent his phone to a stranger out of kindness – only to have that stranger, Cullon, use the phone to steal Christopher’s money using financial apps. Even that wasn’t enough – Cullon and Stone then stole the phone and threatened to spread lies about Christopher, which drove him to suicide,” Ferguson added.

“This couple intentionally tormented a young man with intellectual disabilities for personal enrichment. While Christopher’s life is priceless and his family is forever changed, we hope a federal prison sentence will bring some form of justice and comfort for his loved ones,” said Special Agent in Charge Davis. 

According to court records, from September 5 to September 8, 2024, the defendants engaged in a cyberstalking scheme against Christopher Tsoulos, a 27-year-old with an intellectual disability who was classified as “Educable Mentally Disabled.” Because of his disability, Christopher relied heavily on the support of his immediate family and did not live on his own. Christopher was also employed at a fast-food restaurant in Charlotte.

Court documents show that, on September 5, 2024, Cullon visited the fast-food restaurant where he encountered Christopher while he was at work. Cullon obtained Christopher’s phone, and because the phone was unlocked, Cullon and Stone had unfettered access to the financial applications on the phone, including mobile payment apps and Christopher’s bank account. Between September 5 and September 7, Cullon and Stone made repeated unsuccessful attempts to obtain funds from Christopher’s accounts.

Court documents show that Cullon and Stone then began to send Christopher’s family members multiple harassing and intimidating text messages demanding money and threatening to provide derogatory and embarrassing information to Christopher’s employer unless they were paid. Their salacious claims included false allegations that Christopher was a pervert, that he harassed girls, and that he paid girls for sexual pictures.

As a result of the substantial emotional distress caused by the extortive and threatening text messages sent by Cullon and Stone and fearing he would lose his job or go to jail, Christopher died by suicide.

In handing down Cullon and Stone’s sentences, U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn, Jr. said, “this is a particularly egregious version of this crime, resulting in a victim killing themselves.”

Cullon and Stone remain in federal custody. They will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the FBI for their investigation of the case, along with substantial assistance from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte handled the prosecution.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte man was sentenced today for distributing methamphetamine, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Tony Lamar Carthran, 31, was sentenced to 126 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Estella D. Patterson of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

According court records, law enforcement began an investigation into Carthran for distributing methamphetamine in the Charlotte area. Between June and August 2023, Carthran sold methamphetamine to an individual working with law enforcement on five occasions. While selling drugs to an individual, Carthran also sold that individual a Ruger LC9s 9mm handgun with one live hollow point round chambered, and an empty magazine inserted, as well as 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

Carthran is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

The ATF and CMPD investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte was in charge of the prosecution. 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Honduran man illegally present in the United States was sentenced to prison yesterday for trafficking guns, including a firearm fitted with a machinegun conversion device known as a “switch,” and drugs, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. 

Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Sheriff Eddie Cathey of the Union County Sheriff’s Office, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

Michael Naun Antunez Vasquez, 22, was sentenced to 101 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to trafficking in firearms, possession of a machinegun, transfer of a machinegun, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. After serving his prison sentence, Vasquez will be removed from the country and is forbidden from returning to the United States.

“Vasquez was in the country illegally and profited by putting dangerous guns on our streets—including a firearm converted into a machinegun,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “When someone traffics guns and drugs and utterly disregards our nation’s laws and public safety, federal prison is the appropriate punishment.”

“Firearms trafficking makes our communities less safe by putting guns in the hands of prohibited and possibly dangerous individuals,” said Special Agent in Charge Jones. “ATF, along with all of our law enforcement partners, is committed to stopping the illegal exchange of firearms and making sure that those who threaten our communities are held accountable.” 

According to court documents, Vasquez was a Honduran national who was in the United States illegally. On July 9, 2024, Vasquez sold a Romarm/Cugir pistol with a 30-round magazine to an individual working with the ATF. Vasquez also told the individual that he was able to sell additional firearms, machinegun conversion devices, and controlled substances. On July 18, 2024, Vasquez met with an undercover ATF agent, who told Vasquez he was purchasing guns to resell in another state for profit. Vasquez sold the agent two firearms: a Glock Model 30, .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol with a 25-round magazine, and a Glock, Model 19, 9mm semiautomatic pistol. The Model 19 was assembled from different parts that were stolen.

Court documents show that on August 1, 2024, the ATF agent bought two more firearms from Vasquez. The first firearm was a Glock, Model 19, 9mm pistol that had been converted to a machinegun. The second firearm was a Glock, Model 48. During that meeting, Vasquez told the agent that he could also obtain pounds of methamphetamine. Vasquez agreed to sell the agent a machinegun, a Romarm/Cugir pistol, and a pound of methamphetamine. 

According to court records, Vasquez was riding in the front passenger seat of a car on the way to meet with the undercover agent when the vehicle was stopped by Union County Sherriff’s deputies. The deputies seized from the vehicle a machinegun conversion device, a Romarm/Cugir pistol, a Glock pistol, a Beretta pistol, a Palmetto State Armory pistol, several high-capacity magazines, ammunition, and approximately 28.7 grams of methamphetamine.

Vasquez will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the ATF and the Union County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Darius DeShawn Countee, 48, of Browns Summit, N.C. was sentenced yesterday to 70 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegal possession of a firearm, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Curtis Cheeks, III, of the High Point Police Department, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

According filed court documents and the sentencing hearing, Countee was previously convicted in North Carolina of Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury and Second Degree Murder. As a result, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

“Countee is the type of repeat violent offender federal firearms laws are designed to stop,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “Despite prior convictions for serious violent crimes, Countee got hold of illegal guns and used them, putting lives at risk. Time and again Countee has shown reckless disregard for the law and now he will face federal consequences.”

“Repeat offenders have a detrimental effect on the public safety of our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Jones. “ATF is proud to join our law enforcement partners in all efforts to identify and hold accountable those who disregard our laws and threaten our safety.”

Court documents show that on July 8, 2023, law enforcement responded to an altercation at a QuickTrip convenience store in Charlotte. A review of the store’s surveillance video showed Countee entering the convenience store where an individual was arguing with one of Countee’s associates. Countee then ran to a vehicle parked at a gas pump and retrieved a rifle. He then confronted the individual outside the store and stole his firearm.

The individual returned to his vehicle and attempted to flee but was pursued by Countee and his associates in two vehicles. Over the course of the pursuit, numerous shots were fired at the victim’s vehicle. Countee later returned to the convenience store and was detained by law enforcement. Law enforcement found inside the vehicle an American Tactical 5.56 caliber AR-type weapon with a high-capacity magazine, a black Taurus .40 caliber handgun, and a black Springfield .45 caliber handgun, which was stolen from the individual involved in the altercation.

Court documents show that Countee was later charged in the Middle District of North Carolina for illegal firearm possession in connection with a separate investigation. Countee pleaded guilty to that charge, and the case was transferred to the Western District of North Carolina. The 70-month sentence resolves both federal cases pending against Countee. 

Countee is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

The ATF and the High Point Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – An armed Mexican national with multiple illegal reentry convictions was sentenced to prison yesterday as part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) for trafficking more than 33 kilograms of cocaine and illegally reentering the United States after deportation, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. 

Mark M. Zito, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, Chief Estella D. Patterson of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), and Sheriff Van W. Shaw of the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

Raul Bello Rojas, 44, was sentenced to 135 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute five or more kilograms of a mixture of cocaine, and illegal reentry of a deported convicted felon.

“Rojas repeatedly violated our nation’s immigration laws and returned to the United States to traffic large quantities of cocaine. Armed with guns, he posed a serious threat to our community. This sentence ensures he’ll spend more than a decade in federal prison before being promptly deported,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson.

“Every time a dangerous criminal like Rojas returns to our streets and brings drugs and weapons into our neighborhoods, families and communities are put at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Zito. “This outcome shows that HSI and our partners are determined to stand between traffickers and the people they threaten. We’re committed to making Charlotte—and every community we serve—a safer place by taking action against those who repeatedly break our laws and endanger lives.”

“This investigation shows what is possible when local and federal agencies work side-by-side to keep our great city safe.  Rojas’s actions posed a serious threat to our community, and through strong partnerships we were able to hold him accountable,” said Chief Patterson. “CMPD will continue to work closely with our federal partners to protect our residents and ensure that those who conduct criminal acts in Charlotte are held responsible.”

“This investigation shows the importance of law enforcement agencies working together in our areas to arrest and convict violent repeat offenders. Through these partnerships, we ensure that our limited resources are utilized to the fullest extent,” said Sheriff Shaw.

According to court documents and the sentencing hearing, Rojas was involved in high-level cocaine trafficking in the greater Charlotte area. Court records show that between December 2024 and January 2025, Rojas sold cocaine to an undercover law enforcement officer on at least three occasions. Following the controlled purchases, on February 28, 2025, HSI agents and CMPD officers executed a search warrant at Rojas’s residence in Charlotte. During the search, investigators located a total of 34 bricks of cocaine weighing approximately 33 kilograms, including: 26 individual bricks of cocaine located in the attic and eight additional bricks located in the closet of the primary bedroom.

Investigators also located several additional items during the search including two firearms, an SCCY CPX-1 9mm handgun located in the primary bedroom nightstand, and a Bryco Arms .380 handgun located in a bag with a brick of cocaine. Investigators also located approximately $64,489 in U.S. currency, as well as digital scales and a drug ledger.

According to court records, Rojas has previously been deported from the United States on at least four occasions, frequently following criminal convictions. He was first deported on October 1, 2010, after an Assault on Family Member conviction in Virginia. Rojas was later deported from Texas in 2013 following an illegal entry conviction. In the ensuing years, Rojas was deported after felony illegal reentry convictions in Utah (2015) and Virginia (2019), before reentering the country again and trafficking cocaine.

Rojas is in the custody of the U.S. Marshals and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended HSI, CMPD, and the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney William Bozin with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

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

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson convened a summit focused on public safety and reducing violent crime in Mecklenburg County, bringing together leaders and representatives from federal and state law enforcement agencies, local police departments, prosecutors, and other stakeholders across the county.

“Violent crime in Mecklenburg County is getting more serious by the day, and we must do something to stop it,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “No one should go to sleep at night worried bullets are going to come through their window. But solving the problem is going to take all of us, and that is the point of this summit: to work together to keep our citizens safe.”

Participants discussed law enforcement initiatives, including past successes and future plans, and how to better coordinate to reduce violent crime. The group discussed all facets that play a role in reducing crime, including bond in state court cases, recidivism, juvenile crime, and crime prevention.

The summit also focused on safety on public transportation—the veins and arteries of our community.

And leaders at the summit addressed root causes of crime, such as the mental health crisis in our community that plays a long-term role in a large number of violent crime cases.

Federal representatives reiterated their commitment to local crime reduction efforts and explored ways the federal government can support partnerships to enhance public safety.

“The public is safest when we work together,” Ferguson said. “By sharing ideas and coordinating our efforts, we can better respond to crime and address its root causes and collateral effects, such as mental health issues.”

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Johnathan Trent Thomas, 27, of Linwood, N.C., was sentenced today to 15 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for making threats to murder federal officers to impede, intimidate, or interfere with the performance of their official duties, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Mark Zito, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

“Threatening the lives of law enforcement officers is a serious federal crime,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “We take every threat against law enforcement seriously. Today’s case sends a clear message: those who threaten violence against law enforcement will be held accountable in federal court.”

“Ensuring the safety of our law enforcement officers is paramount,” said Special Agent in Charge Zito. “Threats of violence against federal agents and our local partners undermine the rule of law and jeopardize the security of our communities. HSI remains committed to working with our partners to investigate and bring to justice those who seek to intimidate or harm officers in the performance of their duties.”

According to filed court documents and court proceedings, on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at approximately 12:00 p.m., a caller, later identified as Thomas, contacted the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) and threatened to kill Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and CMPD officers if immigration enforcement actions did not stop. During a second telephone call with a CMPD officer, Thomas warned that he was coming to Charlotte with armor piercing ammunition, night vision devices, and body armor to kill law enforcement officers and threatened to “shoot them all” if he observed anyone making arrests. Thomas was referencing arrests made previously by ICE federal agents on Albemarle Road in Charlotte.

Court documents show that Thomas stated that if a police officer pointed a gun at him, he was just going to open fire. He also said that he would “Swiss cheese” the officers if they were doing the same thing they did before, meaning making arrests.

Thomas additionally threatened that if law enforcement came to arrest him, he had Tannerite (an explosive) all around his house.  He threatened that he “could do a whole lot better than” April 29, 2024, the day four law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty in Charlotte.

Thomas’s threats did not deter law enforcement, who not only arrested him, but executed a search warrant at Thomas’s residence, seizing three rifles, a handgun, and a variety of ammunition.  

According to court records, Thomas has an extensive history of threatening law enforcement, to include the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office and CMPD, and had previously followed CMPD officers in marked patrol cars while they were performing their official duties.

Thomas is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended HSI for the investigation of the case and thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of North Carolina, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, the Waxhaw Police Department, and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department for their assistance.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Kelly and Stephanie Spaugh of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A former Gastonia police officer was sentenced to prison today for straw purchasing a firearm, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.  Xana Dayanae Dove, 28, was sentenced to 15 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release.

Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, and Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

“No one is above the law,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson.  “We stand behind our law enforcement officers and support them as they work hard to reduce violent crime in our community. But when they become criminals that instead contribute to that crime, they get no special treatment.”

“Law enforcement officers are entrusted with significant authority and very few choose to violate that trust, but those instances will not be tolerated. The FBI, and our law enforcement partners, remain committed to accountability and protecting the integrity of the criminal justice system. We thank the officers who proudly protect and serve their communities every day,” said Special Agent in Charge Davis.

According to filed documents and the court hearing, on May 25, 2023, Dove purchased a Springfield Hellcat Pro, 9mm pistol from Shooters Express, a licensed firearms dealer located in Belmont, North Carolina. As Dove previously admitted in court, in completing the purchase, she made a false and fictitious written statement when she falsely stated on ATF’s Firearms Transaction Record Form 4473 that she was the actual transferee/buyer of the firearm when the defendant knew this statement was false and fictitious.

At today’s sentencing hearing, the Court also ordered the forfeiture of a Springfield Hellcat Pro 9mm pistol. Dove will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the FBI and ATF for their work on the investigation, and thanked Homeland Security Investigations, the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction’s Community Supervision, and the Gastonia Police Department for their assistance with Dove’s apprehension.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dana Washington with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The leader of an organized and violent theft ring that carried out armed robberies of jewelry stores in multiple states has pleaded guilty mid-trial, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.

The federal trial of Deuntria Lamar Lyons, 45, of Valdosta, Georgia, began on Monday, March 2, 2026. After two days of testimony before U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth D. Bell, Lyons pleaded guilty without the benefit of a plea deal on Wednesday to the counts charged in the indictment, including conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and Hobbs Act robbery.

Lyons’ co-conspirators, Brandane Smith and Alzaah Wade, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and are awaiting sentencing.

“Robberies at gunpoint like Lyons and his crew carried out are terrifying,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson.  “Armed with guns and sledgehammers, they stormed jewelry stores, threatened employees, and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in merchandise.  We will do all that is necessary to put an end to these actions, and I am glad Mr. Lyons pled guilty before wasting more of the jury’s time.”

“After only a few days of trial, Mr. Lyons dramatically changed his tune and admitted his part in a multi-state violent jewelry theft ring. Despite the group’s use of heavy disguises and smash and grab tactics, the FBI and multiple field offices, local, state partners, and prosecutors identified them, uncovered their elaborate theft ring, and stopped them as they attempted to rob another store. While the criminals used hammers to break the jewelry displays, it is clearly the FBI who crushed violent crime in this case,” said Special Agent in Charge Davis.

According to filed documents, trial evidence, and witness testimony, on July 11, 2023, at approximately 11:50 a.m., three hooded and masked individuals entered FINK’s Jewelry in Huntersville. All three robbers were brandishing handguns. The robbers corralled the employees to one side of the store at gunpoint. Two robbers then began to break display cases with sledgehammers while the third robber stood guard on the business entrance. In total, the robbers stole approximately $500K in diamonds and watches before they fled the scene.

U.S. v. Lyons et al. – Robbery in Huntersville, North Carolina

During the investigation, investigators determined that the group was responsible for a string of armed robberies of jewelry stores in South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. Lyons was the leader who orchestrated the robberies with Wade, Smith, and others.

U.S. v. Lyons et al. – Robbery in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina

Ultimately, the FBI learned that Lyons was planning a robbery for the morning of December 1, 2023. in Dunwoody, Georgia. FBI agents in Atlanta and local law enforcement were waiting for the would-be robbers when they arrived at the location for the planned robbery. The crew had gloves, masks, firearms and sledgehammers.

U.S. v. Lyons et al. – Seized Evidence from Robbery Prevented in Dunwoody/Atlanta, Georgia

Lyons was remanded into federal custody following the guilty plea. At sentencing, he faces up to 20 years in prison for each charge. A sentencing date has not been set. 

The investigation was led by FBI Charlotte, assisted by the Columbia, Atlanta, Nashville, and Richmond Field Offices. In addition, several local law enforcement partners assisted both in investigative capacities as well as preventing further robberies including, the Huntersville Police Department; the Raleigh Police Department; the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office (SC); the Mount Pleasant Police Department (SC); the Brentwood Police Department (TN); the Mt. Juliet Police Department (TN); the Georgia State Patrol; the Georgia Department of Corrections; and the Atlanta Police Department; the Dunwoody Police Department (GA); the Gwinnet County Police Department (GA); and the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office (GA).

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is in charge of the prosecution. 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A South Carolina man was sentenced to prison today for distributing kilogram quantities of methamphetamine supplied by a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) with ties to the Sinaloa cartel, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Nicolas Yarcil Uribe-Tamayo, 26, of Easley, S.C., was ordered to serve 151 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Previously, on November 7, 2024, Uribe-Tamayo pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine.

According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, in 2023, law enforcement learned that a Mexico-based DTO with ties to the Sinaloa cartel was shipping kilogram quantities of methamphetamine into North Carolina. During the investigation, Uribe-Tamayo was identified as a local distributor for the DTO. While being surveilled by law enforcement, another member of the DTO met with Uribe-Tamayo and provided him with a kilogram of methamphetamine. After the drug delivery was completed, law enforcement observed Uribe-Tamayo’s vehicle as he traveled to Charlotte. Uribe-Tamayo drove recklessly and at a high rate of speed until stopping at a local restaurant on West Sugar Creek Road. Law enforcement approached Uribe-Tamayo to inquire about his driving and detected the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. Law enforcement conducted a search of the vehicle and found a kilogram of methamphetamine on the floorboard of the rear seat area. Law enforcement also found an AR-15 style rifle, a loaded hi-capacity magazine loaded with 32 rounds of ammunition, and digital scales.

“Cartels like Sinaloa are infiltrating our communities with drugs, not to mention guns and violence,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “We are committed to their total elimination.”

According to court records, during the investigation, law enforcement learned that Uribe-Tamayo had been involved with the DTO for nearly two years. On multiple occasions while working with the DTO, Uribe-Tamayo was provided with large quantities of narcotics that he would deliver to customers.

Uribe-Tamayo will remain in federal custody until he is transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. 

In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the Department of Homeland Security (HSI), the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, the Lexington Police Department, and the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, for their investigation of this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick J. Miller of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A federal jury in Asheville returned a guilty verdict yesterday against Sean Christopher Williams, 54, of Johnson City, Tennessee, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

According to filed documents, evidence presented at trial, and witness testimony, on April 29, 2023, at 2:12 a.m., an officer with the Western Carolina University campus police observed a vehicle parked in a Tuckasegee River Access parking lot near campus. The officer further observed an individual, later identified as Williams, in the driver seat who appeared to be passed out. The officer approached the vehicle and noticed an opened silver case in the passenger seat with various drug paraphernalia. Evidence established that the officer woke up Williams and asked him to step out of the vehicle.  After a short conversation, Williams was detained, and officers searched his vehicle. In a blue duffle bag in the passenger floorboard under a television, officers uncovered over 15 ounces of pure methamphetamine in five separate containers, over eight ounces of cocaine in two separate containers, and two digital scales. Four months later, Williams made two calls from the Laurel County Correctional Center in Kentucky where he admitted possessing the methamphetamine for distribution.

Williams remains in federal custody. At sentencing, he faces a minimum of 10 years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set. Williams is facing additional charges in the Western District of North Carolina for alleged possession and transportation of child sexual abuse material.

In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Western Carolina University Police Department for their investigation of this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher S. Hess and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Annabelle Chambers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville are prosecuting the case. Ms. Chambers is a state prosecutor with the office of the 43rd Prosecutorial District and was assigned by District Attorney Ashley Welch to serve as SAUSA with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville. Ms. Chambers is sworn in both state and federal courts. The SAUSA position is a reflection of the partnership between the office of the 43rd Prosecutorial District and the United States Attorney’s Office. The SAUSA position helps ensure the effective and vigorous prosecution of federal court cases that impact the counties within the 43rd Prosecutorial District.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte man was sentenced to seven years in prison today for the armed robbery of a Wells Fargo bank, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Michael Malik Pringle, Jr., 32, of Charlotte, was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after he completes his prison term. On June 4, 2025, Pringle pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and aiding and abetting.

Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, Chief Estella D. Patterson of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, and Chief Michael Hudgins of the Pineville Police Department, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.

According to court documents and today’s court hearing, on May 2, 2024, Pringle picked up a 16-year-old minor in a rented vehicle. Pringle and the minor had previously discussed robbing a bank and had agreed to rob a bank on that date. After unsuccessfully trying to rob one bank, Pringle and the minor travelled to a Wells Fargo bank located at 9420 Pineville-Matthews Road and parked in a parking lot near the bank. Pringle gave the minor a firearm and a black bag and told the minor to demand $20,000 from the bank employees. Court records show the minor entered the bank wearing a hoodie and a face mask while Pringle waited in the car. Once inside the bank, the minor told a bank employee that he needed to make a withdrawal. Then the minor pulled out the gun and the bag and told the employee to “put $20,000 in this bag right now.” One of the tellers filled the bag with approximately $18,333. The minor fled the bank and ran to the getaway vehicle where Pringle was waiting, and the pair drove off.

Following the robbery, law enforcement located Pringle’s vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. Pringle and the minor were placed under arrest. Officers located a loaded Glock 43 handgun with an extended magazine in a pocket on the driver’s door. Officers also recovered cash from the robbery that had been scattered throughout the back passenger area of the vehicle.

Pringle is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the FBI, CMPD, and the Pineville Police Department for their investigation of the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dana Washington of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two leaders of the La Mara Salvatrucha gang (known as MS-13) were sentenced in federal court today as part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) for engaging in violent criminal conduct in support of the criminal organization, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Kyle Burns, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief Estella D. Patterson of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

Fredy Mauricio Buruca, a/k/a “Piranha,” “Machete,” and “Insoportable,” 27, of El Salvador, was sentenced to 30 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender. Buruca pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy and kidnapping a minor. Santos Guillermo Ramirez Mancia, a/k/a “Azazel,” “Timido,” and “Johnny,” 34, also of El Salvador, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Mancia pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy.

“MS-13 is one of the most dangerous and ruthless gangs in the country,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson.  “We are working to eliminate this gang from existence, and I am proud to say this prosecution has completely dismantled an entire MS-13 clique known as the Hollywood Locos Salvatrucha Clique that operated up and down the eastern seaboard.”

“MS-13 gang members feed on brutality, violence, and intimidation. No matter how committed they are to creating chaos in our communities, the FBI and our law enforcement partners remain laser focused to stop the threat. Today's sentences demonstrate our dedication to eradicate MS-13 from the top down,” said FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Davis.

According to filed court documents and court proceedings, Buruca and Mancia were leaders and members of the MS-13 sub-unit, or clique, known as the Hollywood Locos Salvatrucha Clique (the HLS clique), which operated in and around the Western District of North Carolina and other areas in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere. From at least December 2018 and continuing through November 2022, as leaders and members of the HLS clique, the defendants engaged in a pattern of racketeering activity in furtherance of the MS-13 enterprise.

The investigation into the gang’s criminal activity revealed that these criminal acts were committed to promote a climate of fear and intimidation within the gang; to maintain the gang’s control and to expand its territory; to enforce discipline within the gang and punish any acts of disrespect; to intimidate witnesses and discourage cooperation with law enforcement; and to retaliate against rivals.

According to court documents, Buruca was “First Word,” or the leader of the HLS clique in Charlotte. As First Word, Buruca participated in and sanctioned a pattern of racketeering activity in furtherance of the MS-13 enterprise, that consisted of multiple violent acts including extortion, robbery, and kidnapping. For example, on or about December 12, 2021, Buruca, in the presence of Mancia and other MS-13 members, threatened and demanded money from an individual identified as D.G.L. at a nightclub in Woodbridge, Virginia, in exchange for MS-13’s protection. When D.G.L. refused to pay the “protection money” and attempted to leave the nightclub, Buruca fired several shots at D.G.L., hitting bystanders. Then on February 19, 2022, Buruca, along with other MS-13 members, used firearms to rob A.Z.C. of his vehicle and other belongings in Monroe, N.C. On the same day, Buruca and other MS-13 members used firearms to rob three other victims in Charlotte. Buruca also kidnapped one of those victims, who was a minor, by forcing her into a vehicle at gunpoint. Buruca then made ransom demands for the kidnapped minor victim and instructed another individual on how to deliver the payment.

According to court documents, Mancia also engaged in criminal activity in furtherance of the MS-13 enterprise, including committing acts of violence against rival gang members. Court records show that, on December 2, 2018, Mancia shot and seriously injured an individual identified as J.G.J. because he was a rival, or “chavala,” with “Mara 18,” one of MS-13’s rival gangs. In late 2021, Mancia was promoted to “Frist Word” of the HLS clique, following Buruca’s arrest for the nightclub shooting incident in Woodbridge.

According to court records, on November 6, 2022, Mancia along with two co-defendants, Christian Alejandro Garcia Santa Cruz, a/k/a “Crimen,” and Aderly Jose Veliz-Ronquillo, a/k/a “Chanchin,” were at a nightclub in Charlotte. Over the course of the evening, Mancia, Santa Cruz, and Veliz-Ronquillo got into an argument with several men, including W.G.M., at the parking lot of the nightclub. During the argument, Mancia identified himself as MS-13 to the other men. At some point, W.G.M. and Mancia shoved each other. Ronquillo then shot W.G.M. once and Santa-Cruz shot the victim three times, causing the victim to sustain fatal gunshot wounds. Mancia was later arrested in Annapolis, Maryland, for his involvement in the shooting incident.

On April 16, 2025, Santa-Cruz and Veliz-Ronquillo were each sentenced to 35 years in prison for using a firearm during a crime of violence resulting in W.G.M.’s death.

A fifth co-defendant and MS-13 member, Luis Fernando Guardardo Moreno, a/k/a “Fantasma” and “Scrappy,” was previously sentenced to 20 years in prison followe =d by three years of supervised release for RICO conspiracy. A sixth MS-13 member charged in this case, Juan Francisco Sanchez Estrada, a/k/a “Nene” and “Turbo,” was sentenced to 14 years in prison in the Middle District of North Carolina, after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy, following a consolidation of federal cases against him in each district.

The defendants will remain in federal custody until they are transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the FBI, HSI, and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department for their investigation of the case, and thanked the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, the Kannapolis Police Department, the Monroe Police Department, the Prince William County (Virginia) Sheriff’s Office, and the Annapolis (Maryland) Police Department for their invaluable assistance.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erik Lindahl and David Kelly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the case. 

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

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A twice-convicted accountant was sentenced to prison today for embezzling more than $1.1 million from her employer, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Mandy Deann Urban, 49, formerly of Charlotte, was ordered to serve 41 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release, and to pay more than $1 million in restitution.

U.S. Attorney Ferguson is joined in making today’s announcement by Kyle Burns, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Chief Estella D. Patterson of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.

According to court records, from January 2019 to June 2022, Urban was employed as a senior staff accountant for a Charlotte-based company. In that capacity, Urban was responsible for maintaining the company’s general ledger, preparing financial statements, and reconciling the company’s accounts payable and receivable and bank statements. Court records show that Urban executed a scheme to defraud her employer by misusing her access to make multiple transfers from the company’s bank accounts to accounts under Urban’s control. Urban then falsified the company’s books and records to conceal the scheme. Urban made more than 245 fraudulent transfers from the accounts of the company totaling $1,115,344.73.

Urban was previously convicted of Grand Theft in Florida for stealing approximately $135,000 and was sentenced to five years of supervised probation in 2015. Urban was convicted again in Florida for a different scheme to defraud and sentenced to two years in prison in June 2022 and was ordered to pay approximately $283,000 in restitution.

On March 26, 2024, Urban pleaded guilty to wire fraud. She will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended HSI and CMPD’s Financial Crimes Unit for their investigation of the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney William Bozin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Texas man was sentenced to 30 years in prison today for traveling to North Carolina to engage in sexual activity, enticement, and production of child pornography with a child, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Rusty Joseph Whittaker, 44, of Austin, was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release and to register as a sex offender. A federal jury convicted Whittaker in September 2025, following a four-day trial.

Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, and Chief Estella D. Patterson of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

“Predators like Rusty Whittaker are a parent’s worst nightmare,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “This defendant traveled across state lines to exploit a child, used technology to conceal his crimes, and inflicted long-lasting trauma on a vulnerable victim. A lengthy sentence ensures that Whittaker will never have the opportunity to harm another child.”

“Whittaker intentionally targeted, groomed, and violated a child for his own sexual gratification. While it is difficult to understand how anyone could do something like this, it is the stark reality of the danger lurking online every day. We must talk to our children to prevent them from being victimized by disgusting predators like Whittaker,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Reid.   

According to filed court documents, evidence presented at trial, and witness testimony, Whittaker met the minor in an online platform called Antiland, which provides its users anonymity and automatically deletes messages and content shared by its users. Whittaker then moved the conversation to Snapchat, which also automatically deletes messages and content. Using these online messaging platforms, online payment platforms, and other means, Whittaker solicited and viewed sexually explicit images and videos of the victim while continuing to pressure the victim to meet him in person for illicit sexual activity. On May 20, 2023, Whittaker traveled from Nashville, where he was attending a conference, to Charlotte for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual activity with the minor. Trial evidence showed that Whittaker waited for the minor’s father to fall asleep, picked her up from her home, drove her to a hotel, and engaged in sexual activity with the minor. Whittaker provided the minor things of value before driving her back home and dropping her off a distance away from her home, leaving her to walk barefoot.

In sentencing Whittaker, Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr., said, “This is a case that is very serious. It involves planning and manipulation of a child. The word needs to go out that we won’t put up with this.”

Whittaker remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service until he is transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

The FBI investigated the case assisted by CMPD.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Cervantes of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting 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 the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – An illegal alien from Mexico and his co-conspirator have been indicted for trafficking fentanyl in a case that is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Samuel Aquino Chavez, 28, of Mexico, and Crystal Stroud, 34, of Charlotte, are charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, and distribution of fentanyl.

According to allegations in the indictment from July 2023 to June 2024, Chavez and Stroud knowingly and intentionally conspired to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance. It is further alleged that the pair distributed the fentanyl in and around Mecklenburg and Union Counties, and elsewhere.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson credited the Drug Enforcement Administration for the investigation of the case.

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

The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney William Wiseman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.

The charges against the defendants are allegations and they are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two home repairmen were sentenced to prison today for failing to report more than $1.5 million in income they earned from overcharging elderly customers for home repair services, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

David Angelo Quick, 43, of Charlotte, and Tony Joshua Christo, 34, formerly of Charlotte, now residing in Florida, previously pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return. 

Quick was sentenced to 20 months in prison followed by a year of supervised release and was ordered to pay $296,300 in restitution to IRS. Christo received 15 months imprisonment, one year of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $227,548 in restitution to the IRS.

Rodney Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) which oversees North Carolina, and Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Charlotte Field Office, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

According to plea documents and the court hearings, from 2018 to 2021, Quick and Christo provided home repair and improvement services, as well as car repair services, to elderly clients. During that time, the defendants collectively received more than $1.5 million from elderly customers but failed to report any of this income on their federal income tax returns filed with the IRS. Quick, who was not a licensed contractor, owned and operated David Quick Home Improvements, which provided roofing, painting, driveway construction and other home services; Christo, Quick’s brother, worked with him.

Filed documents show that the defendants defrauded some of the elderly clients by overcharging them for repairs. According to court records, Quick would generally approach elderly people about fixing damage to their cars, often in the supermarket parking lot. Once they hired him to do this work, Quick would eventually convince the elderly clients that they had all sorts of problems around their homes and that he and Christo could fix those problems. Then, the repairmen charged the elderly clients outrageous amounts to fix the purported problems, such as painting garage floors, paving a driveway, and replacing windows.

Court records also show that the defendants received payment for their services, but they failed to report their income to the IRS.

The defendants will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

The IRS-CI and the USPIS investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A previously convicted armed fentanyl trafficker was sentenced to prison today on gun and drug charges, announced the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina. Shamel Malik Dove, 32, of Charlotte, was ordered to serve 13 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release.

Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Estella D. Patterson of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join the U.S. Attorney’s Office in making the announcement.

According to court documents and court proceedings, in 2016, Dove was convicted of illegal firearm possession and was sentenced to 23 months in prison. In February 2023, CMPD officers were investigating a shooting incident and executed a search warrant at an apartment in Charlotte. Dove was in the apartment when the officers found three firearms, including a Glock model 23 .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a Glock model 27 .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, and a Ruger AR-15 pistol with a binary trigger. At the time, Dove denied any knowledge of the firearms. On May 8, 2023, CMPD officers arrested Dove, who had a firearm on his person. The officers also discovered a bag of fentanyl pressed into small, round, blue pills marked with an “M” on one side and “30” on the other, located on the rear passenger seat of an SUV nearby. Prior to his arrest, a CMPD officer saw Dove next to the open door of the rear passenger seat of the SUV. The pills were chemically analyzed and determined to be 89.5 grams of fentanyl.

Dove pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Dove remains in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

The ATF and CMPD conducted the investigation.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Three men were sentenced to prison today for conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their involvement in an international multi-million dollar technical support fraud scheme, announced the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina.

Reid Davis, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Field Office, and Joseph E. Carrico, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, Nashville Field Office, join the U.S. Attorney’s Office in making the announcement.

Nachiket Banwari, 36, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Hunter G. Mello, 42, of Sandwich, Massachusetts, was ordered to serve 40 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Richard Paul Nolan, 60, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.  The Court ordered the defendants to collectively forfeit $3,711,000 in proceeds from the scheme.

According to court records, Banwari, Mello, Nolan, and others were part of a conspiracy that carried out an international internet technical support fraud scam targeting victims, many of whom were elderly, in the United States and elsewhere. Internet pop-up “ads” were a central part of the conspiracy’s tech support scam. The malicious pop-ups suddenly appeared on victims’ screens and froze their computers.  The pop-ups contained misrepresentations designed to trick the victims into believing their computers had been infected with a virus and needed technical support to fix the problem. The pop-ups instructed victims to call the number in the pop ups to receive technical support. The numbers connected the victims to various Republic of India-based call centers who misrepresented themselves as Microsoft and further misrepresented the presence of viruses or other computer issues to induce the victims to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars for technical support to “fix” the non-existent computer problems. No technical support was actually provided.  The scheme tricked millions of U.S.-based computer users into calling the call centers.

Banwari worked for Capstone Technologies (Capstone), a company headquartered in Charlotte.  Capstone used malicious pop-ups and a Republic of India-based call center to commit technical support fraud as described above. Through this scheme, Capstone defrauded thousands of victims throughout the United States of more than $7 million. For his participation in the scheme, Banwari received three percent of the Capstone revenue, or $222,334.

Mello was a broker of pop-up call leads to call centers in the Republic of India. In other words, Mello worked with the pop-up creators or “publishers” to sell pop-up calls to various call centers, including Capstone. Mello was paid a fee by the pop-up publishers for his sales. Mello generated over $20 million in sales of pop-ups to call centers. Mello also used his financial accounts to transfer proceeds of tech support fraud to publishers’ overseas bank accounts. Mello profited as much as $2 million from the scheme.

Nolan participated in the tech support scheme by creating and operating a platform called TrackDrive to route technical support fraud calls to the call centers, including Capstone. Nolan worked with pop-up publishers to ensure that the pop-ups effectively locked victim computers and displayed the correct call center routing numbers. Nolan’s TrackDrive platform routed approximately 15 million calls to call centers from the pop-ups. Nolan received a fee per call routed on his platform. Nolan also used his financial accounts to transfer proceeds of tech support fraud to publishers’ overseas bank accounts. Nolan profited approximately $2 million from the scheme. The total loss amount associated with Nolan in this scheme is approximately $19 million.

The FBI Charlotte Field Office conducted the investigation into Banwari. The FBI Nashville Field Office – Knoxville Resident Agency, led the investigation into Mello and Nolan.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Warren of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the cases. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Frick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office assisted in prosecuting Banwari. 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Chaiya Maley-Jackson, 26, of Concord, N.C., was sentenced to 21 months in prison today for selling fake Social Security Cards, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Maley-Jackson was under federal court supervision when she reoffended and was indicted on new charges. As a result of the new indictment and other probation violations, the Court found that Maley-Jackson violated the conditions of probation of her 2023 conviction and revoked her probation imposing a six-month prison sentence in that case, consecutive to the sentence in the 2024 case, for a total of 27 months imprisonment.

Reid Davis, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

According to plea documents and the court hearing, between October 2023 and October 2024, Maley-Jackson earned more than $49,000 in fees from producing, selling, and transferring various types of fraudulent documents, including Social Security Cards. Maley-Jackson had a Facebook page under the name of Yaya Ling which advertised the sale of false and fraudulent documents. Maley-Jackson communicated with customers via email and messages to obtain the information needed to create the false documents, to provide updates and samples on their orders, and to send the finalized fake documents.

Maley-Jackson produced the fake documents while she was serving a probationary sentence for a 2023 federal conviction for a similar scheme.  According to court records in that case, as early as January 2020, Maley-Jackson was the owner and operator of Diva Documents/CPN Services (Diva Documents). Diva Documents advertised the sale of false and fraudulent documents on Facebook as well as two websites, divadocuments.com and divadocuments.onuniverse.com. Maley-Jackson used her personal Facebook page under the name Yaya Flowers to advertise the types of documents she could produce and a pricelist for the fake documents. The documents listed on the document pricelist that Maley-Jackson could produce and transfer included paystubs, lease agreements, COVID-19 hardship letters, bank statements, W2 forms, Social Security Cards, and driver’s licenses, both digital and hard copies, among others. The prices for the fake documents ranged from $15 to edit a paystub to $150 for a hard copy of a driver’s license. Maley-Jackson required customers to pay half of the payment upfront and the balance upon completion of the fabricated documents.

According to court documents, Maley-Jackson was aware that she was producing and transferring fake documents and knew that customers would use the fake documents for PPP loan applications, car loan applications, and apartment rentals, among others. Maley-Jackson admitted that between January 2020 and August 2022, she created at least 400 Social Security Cards, eight driver’s licenses, and six COVID vaccine cards, and earned more than $320,000 in fees from producing, selling and transferring false documents.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson credited the FBI in Charlotte for the investigation which led to the charges and thanked the United States Probation Office for the Middle District of North Carolina for their assistance in this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley and Special Assistant United States Attorney Eric Frick with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are in charge of the prosecution.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Brian Shane Haigler, 43, of Mint Hill, N.C., was sentenced today to 33 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for a fraud scheme that targeted individual investors, a church, and a federal COVID-19 relief program, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

“Haigler exploited friends, stole from his church, and defrauded a federal relief program meant to provide economic assistance during a national crisis,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “This rampant fraud must be stopped, and my office is committed to investigating and prosecuting those that take advantage of others.”

According to court documents, in or around February 2019, Haigler began to recruit friends and acquaintances to invest money in what he represented were real estate transactions. Haigler promised his investors that their funds would be used to purchase or improve specific properties and that they would receive fixed returns by a certain date. Instead of investing the money as promised, Haigler used little, if any, of the investor funds for legitimate real estate purposes. A significant portion of the money was used for personal expenditures or to make payments to earlier investors. To cover up the fraud, when investors inquired about their investments or sought repayment, Haigler made numerous false statements to conceal the scheme.

Then, according to court records, in July 2019, Haigler embezzled funds from a church where he served as a Treasurer. Following the death of the church’s pastor in early 2019, Haigler was the sole signatory on the church’s bank accounts. From 2019 to 2021, Haigler wrote 53 checks and made three cash withdrawals from the church’s bank account totaling over $389,000. In one instance, Haigler wrote a $160,000 check from the church account payable to himself and then used most of those funds to pay an investor.

After that, in April 2021, Haigler submitted an application through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) online portal for a $311,000 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) in the name of the church, without the church’s knowledge and consent. The SBA approved the EIDL loan and after the funds were deposited into the church’s account Haigler transferred $300,000 to his personal account. The loss associated with Haigler’s embezzlement scheme is between $550,000 and $1.5 million.

On July 14, 2024, Haigler pleaded guilty to wire fraud. He will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

The case was investigated by the SBA and the U.S. Secret Service.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Frick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Walter Adonai Rivera Chinchilla, 25, of Charlotte, was sentenced today to seven years in prison followed by two years of supervised release for trafficking firearms, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.

“This Administration is committed to completely eliminating transnational criminal cartels,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson.  “A key aspect of that effort is ending the smuggling of firearms abroad, where they end up in the hands of those criminal networks and fuel violence and instability overseas.  My office will not tolerate those who exploit our lawful gun market to arm criminals—whether here or abroad.”

According to filed court documents and the sentencing hearing, law enforcement were conducting an investigation into Chinchilla’s gun trafficking activities. Investigators determined that between August 2023 to October 2024, the defendant purchased 115 firearms from federal firearms licensees (FFLs) in North Carolina. On all purchases, Chinchilla represented to the sellers that he was purchasing the firearms for himself. Court records show that on August 1, 2024, law enforcement intercepted six Glock handguns along with 17-round high-capacity magazines hidden in a shipment destined for Honduras. All six firearms had been purchased by Chinchilla in previous months.

Additionally, and according to court documents, Chinchilla agreed to buy a gun for an undercover agent posing as a buyer. On October 2, 2024, Chinchilla met the undercover agent at an FFL. Chinchilla entered the FFL and purchased two firearms which he then sold to the undercover agent. The undercover agent and Chinchilla then discussed shipping firearms to Mexico, and Chinchilla told the undercover agent that he could coordinate that shipment for a fee. On October 16, 2024, Chinchilla met again with the undercover agent at another FFL, where Chinchilla bought three firearms that he then sold to the undercover agent. Chinchilla was arrested on October 31, 2024, after he showed up for a meeting with the undercover agent about smuggling firearms out of the country.

Chinchilla pleaded guilty to gun trafficking. He remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals until he is transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

The ATF conducted the investigation.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A former U.S. mail carrier was sentenced to prison today for participating in a conspiracy to commit bank fraud involving mail she stole from her postal route, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Kiara Padgett, 31, of Charlotte, was ordered to serve a six-month active prison sentence followed by six months of home detention.

Padgett’s husband, Dominique Dunlap, was previously sentenced to 70 months in prison and ordered to pay $1,650,921.70 as restitution. A third co-conspirator, Terrell Alexander Hager, Jr., was sentenced to three years in prison in connection with the scheme.

Rodney Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) which oversees North Carolina, Kathleen Woodson, Special Agent in Charge, United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General (USPS-OIG) for the Mid-Atlantic Area Field Office (MAAFO), which overseas Charlotte, and Chief Estella D. Patterson of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

“As I have said before, I am sick and tired of checks being stolen from the mail – which we too often see from employees of the Postal Service,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “We are working tirelessly to catch these thieves and bring them to justice.”

According to court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, from August 2021 to November 2022, Padgett conspired with Dunlap, Hager, and others to execute a scheme involving stolen checks. Padgett used her position as a mail carrier to steal checks of businesses and individuals from her postal route. Acting as an intermediary, Dunlap sold the stolen checks to Hager and other individuals. The stolen checks were then deposited into bank accounts controlled by co-conspirators and quickly withdrawn as cash before the financial institutions or the victims detected the fraud. Court documents show that the total face value of checks stolen from Padgett’s postal routes was over $8.5 million.

On September 15, 2023, Padgett pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the USPIS, USPS-OIG, and CMPD for their investigation of the case.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Frick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte man was sentenced to prison today for a string of armed robberies, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Andrew Marquis Jackson, 33, of Charlotte, was ordered to serve 394 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.

Jackson was previously convicted at trial of three counts of Hobbs Act robbery; three counts of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; two counts of possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence; and one count of possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Reid Davis, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, and Chief Estella D. Patterson of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

According to filed court documents, trial evidence, and witness testimony, Jackson and his co-conspirators, Joshua Jon’tavious Blount and Messiah Lynn Blair, robbed at least three businesses in Charlotte at gunpoint. The first robbery occurred on January 24, 2023. The defendants entered a Dunkin Donuts located on Beatties Ford Road. Jackson approached the counter and demanded cash from the register. He then fired a shot into the ceiling. Blair jumped over the counter and searched the back office for money. Jackson held an employee at gunpoint while taking money from the registers. Blount was the getaway driver.

U.S. v. Jackson et al. – Armed Robbery at Dunkin Donuts

The second armed robbery occurred three days later, on January 27, 2023. Evidence presented at trial showed that Jackson entered a 7-Eleven located on Brookshire Blvd.

Upon entering the store, Jackson fired a shot into the ceiling with a handgun. He then pointed a gun at a store employee ordering him to hand over all the money in the register. Jackson took the money and ran out the store.  Blount was inside the store pretending to be a customer during the robbery.

U.S. v. Jackson et al. – Armed Robbery at 7-Eleven

The third robbery took place on February 1, 2023. Blount went into the Family Dollar store located on Beatties Ford Road store to survey the number of people present. Jackson and Blair then entered the store, armed with firearms. The men pointed their guns at the employee behind the counter and demanded money from the register and safe. The robbers proceeded to take all the cash from the registers before they fled the scene. 

U.S. v. Jackson et al. – Armed Robbery at Family Dollar

Jackson remains in federal custody. He will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the FBI and CMPD for their investigation of the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Kelly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – An armed drug trafficker was sentenced to prison today for selling a machinegun conversion device (or “Glock switch”) and possessing over 6,000 fentanyl pills, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Jalein Young, 27, of Charlotte, was ordered to serve 138 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.

Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.

According to court records, Young sold a firearm fitted with a Glock switch to an undercover law enforcement agent in 2024. The firearm was a Glock model 19 pistol converted from a semiautomatic weapon to one capable of fully automatic fire. In March 2024, Young agreed to sell 5,000 fentanyl pills to an undercover law enforcement agent. Investigators intercepted Young and found over 5,000 pills in his vehicle. A laboratory chemical analysis identified the pills to contain at least 504 grams of fentanyl. An additional 1,532 pills weighing approximately 358 grams were found in Young’s garage. In late March 2024, Young contacted the undercover agent offering to sell 4,000 additional fentanyl pills. In May 2024, Young was arrested while trying to fly to the Dominican Republic on a one-way ticket.

Young pleaded guilty to transfer of a machinegun and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

He is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

The ATF conducted the investigation.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Mooresville man was sentenced to 41 months in prison today for stealing more than $1.9 million from his employer, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Gene Christopher Acuff, 62, was ordered to serve one year of supervised release after he is released from prison, to pay restitution in the amount of $1,997,150.29, and to forfeit $400,000 as a penalty for his crimes.

Steven Gutierrez, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Charlotte Field Office, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.

According to court documents and court proceedings, Acuff was employed as a senior manager by Company A, a large retailer with stores throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. As part of his duties, Acuff was responsible for reviewing property tax assessments on Company A’s stores and retaining real estate appraisers and other professionals to evaluate tax assessments on company stores. Businesses that provided those services to Company A would submit invoices which Acuff paid through Company A’s bill pay system.

According to court records, between January 2020 and June 2024, Acuff created five businesses with names related to real estate appraisal and consulting services. As part of the scheme, Acuff submitted false and fraudulent invoices to Company A in the names of his businesses for appraisals and other services that were never provided to Company A. Acuff then used his authority and access to Company A’s billing system to authorize payments of the false invoices. Through this scheme, Acuff issued payments totaling more than $1.9 million, which he deposited into bank accounts he controlled.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. District Judge Matthew E. Orso said, “A slap on the wrist in a case like this won’t establish true deterrence.”

Acuff pleaded guilty to mail fraud and money laundering. He will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bain-Creed with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A previously-convicted Bloods gang member on federal supervised release was sentenced today to 51 months in prison for illegal gun possession, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Christopher O’Brien Moore, 30, of Shelby, N.C., was also ordered to serve three years under court supervision upon completion of his prison sentence.

Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Sheriff Alan Norman of the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

According to court records, in January 2019, Moore was convicted of RICO conspiracy in the Western District of North Carolina and sentenced to prison and a term of supervised release. Court documents show that, on June 6, 2024, while Moore was under court supervision, Cleveland County Sheriff’s deputies attempted to initiate a traffic top of his vehicle after Moore picked up another individual who ran from deputies earlier that day. Moore initially refused to stop, but after a short pursuit he pulled over his vehicle. Deputies detained Moore. During a search of Moore, deputies retrieved a hidden .40 caliber magazine loaded with 10 rounds of Winchester, .40 S&W caliber ammunition and five rounds of CCI, .40 S&W caliber ammunition from his crotch area. Inside the vehicle, deputies located a Glock, model 22, .40 caliber pistol with a loaded extended magazine under the driver’s side floormat. The magazine from the .40 caliber pistol had 21 rounds of ammunition. Deputies also discovered 14 rounds of New Republic, .357 magnum ammunition in the driver’s side door. As a convicted felon, Moore is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. 

On November 26, 2025, Moore pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. He is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the ATF and the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case.

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

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office unsealed an indictment today, charging a Charlotte man with tax fraud for filing fraudulent income tax returns and failure to file income tax returns on money he transferred from a charitable organization he founded and controlled, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Michael Kahn, 65, is charged with two counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return, and two counts of failure to file a tax return. He appeared in court this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Omar J. Alboulhosn.

Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Charlotte Field Office (IRS-CI), joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.

According to the indictment, the defendant established The Michael A. Kahn Family Foundation (The Foundation) in 2010 as a tax-exempt organization purportedly dedicated to advancing charitable, religious, and educational purposes. Kahn held all leadership roles within The Foundation, including Director, President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Chairman of the Board of Directors, and The Foundation had no other officers, board members, or employees. The indictment alleges that, between 2020 and 2023, Kahn transferred over $4.5 million from The Foundation to himself and failed to report those funds as income on his 2020 and 2021 tax returns filed with the IRS. The indictment also alleges that Kahn failed to file tax returns for calendar years 2022 and 2023, despite receiving income in excess of $25,900 and $27,700, respectively.

Following the court hearing, Kahn was released on bond. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return, and up to one year in prison for each count of failure to file a tax return. A federal district court judge will determine the ultimate sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The IRS-CI handled the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges against the defendant are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Steven L. Mendelsohn, a medical doctor specializing in rheumatology, has agreed to pay $549,554.26 to resolve False Claims Act allegations arising from the submission of reimbursement claims to Medicare for prescription arthritis drugs that were not approved by the Food & Drug Administration for marketing and distribution in the United States, U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson announced today.

This settlement resolves allegations that, in 2019, Dr. Mendelsohn sought reimbursement from Medicare for immunosuppressive drugs that were administered intravenously to his patients to treat rheumatoid arthritis that were not purchased from a licensed or authorized drug distributor.  The United States alleged that the drugs were intended for foreign markets. Those drugs were thus not approved by the FDA for marketing and distribution in the United States.   

“When patients receive intravenous drugs, they have no insight into what is being put inside their bodies. The FDA plays an important role in ensuring only safe and proper pharmaceuticals are used,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “Dr. Mendelsohn sidestepped that oversight to buy cheaper drugs abroad yet receive full reimbursement from Medicare at the expense of the American taxpayer. This settlement holds him accountable and ensures that Medicare funds are only used for FDA-approved drugs.”

“Health care professionals are legally obligated to uphold the integrity of the Medicare program,” said Kelly Blackmon, Special Agent in Charge at the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Protecting the safety of Medicare patients is essential, and HHS-OIG is committed to ensuring taxpayer dollars are not spent on unapproved or unauthorized treatments that put patients at risk.”

“The FDA’s comprehensive regulatory framework is designed to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of drugs distributed to American consumers,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Juan Berrios, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office. “We commend the efforts of the Department of Justice to protect public health and hold accountable those who place profits over patient safety.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Holly H. Snow handled this affirmative civil enforcement matter with assistance from the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services and the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations.

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

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte drug trafficker was sentenced to 262 months in prison today following a federal investigation that resulted in the seizure of large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, two firearms, more than $10,000 in cash, and a stolen vehicle, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison term imposed, Deontaye Smith, 32, was ordered to serve five years of supervised release. Smith pleaded guilty to three counts of distributing methamphetamine.

Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.

According to court documents and the sentencing hearing, on March 27, 2024, investigators became aware that an individual known as “Taye,” later identified as Deontaye Smith, was selling large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and firearms in the Charlotte area. Using a confidential informant, investigators arranged multiple drug buys with Smith, during which they purchased significant quantities of methamphetamine. Court records show that, on July 16, 2024, Smith was indicted by a federal grand jury. On July 25, 2024, ATF agents arrested Smith at his residence. During a subsequent search, investigators recovered approximately 1.6 kilograms of methamphetamine, 633 grams of fentanyl, $10,099 in cash, two scales, and a stolen Dodge Charger parked at the residence. In addition to the drugs, law enforcement recovered powder used to dilute the drugs. Law enforcement further seized two firearms and several rounds of assorted caliber ammunition. One of the firearms was fitted with a machinegun conversion device, or “Glock switch,” and was equipped with a 31-round extended magazine.

Smith is in federal custody and will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prison upon designation of a federal facility.

In making the announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the ATF.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Three drug traffickers from California who were arrested after they tried to smuggle six kilograms of methamphetamine and a kilogram of fentanyl through the Charlotte Douglas International Airport have been sentenced to prison, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Dericc Milford Adams, 35, of Long Beach, California, was sentenced to 132 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Anthony Quintin Boyd, 30, of Compton, California, was ordered to serve 120 months in prison followed five years of supervised release. David Anton Stallworth, 37, also of Compton, California, was sentenced to 108 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

According to court documents and court proceedings, on August 1, 2023, Adams, Boyd, and Stallworth boarded a flight from California to Charlotte, with fentanyl and methamphetamine hidden in luggage. When they arrived at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a drug detecting canine alerted the presence of narcotics in two checked suitcases. One of the suitcases was checked by Boyd and the other by Adams. Law enforcement discovered hidden in the luggage more than six kilograms of methamphetamine and nearly a kilogram of fentanyl. Included in the seizure were gallon-sized plastic baggies of methamphetamine hidden in Welch’s Fruit Snack boxes.

In addition to the conduct described above, Stallworth was also convicted and sentenced for trafficking approximately three and a half kilograms of methamphetamine and 100 grams a fentanyl in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Adams and Boyd pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess and distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Adams also pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Stallworth pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to possess and distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. One count for the North Carolina conduct and a second count for the Arkansas offense. The defendants are in federal custody and will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

In making the announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Field Office in Arkansas.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte handled the prosecution. 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A repeat mail thief who fled to Mexico to avoid prosecution appeared in court today on new federal charges, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Erik Magana, 41, of Charlotte, is charged with bank fraud and two counts of receipt and possession of stolen mail.   

In 2020, Magana was convicted of stealing thousands of pieces of mail in North and South Carolina, and was sentenced to prison followed by a term of supervised release. Beginning in 2024, after Magana was released from prison and no longer was under court supervision, he allegedly began to steal large quantities of mail, from mailboxes around Mecklenburg, Union, and Gaston Counties, and elsewhere. Magana allegedly stole business and individual checks, credit cards, tax forms, financial statements, packages, and other documents containing victims’ personal identifying information. Magana used the stolen mail to engage in a bank fraud scheme by depositing stolen and forged business and individual checks into bank accounts he controlled and then withdrawing as much of the funds as possible before the fraud was detected.

Magana fled to Mexico prior to being indicted in September 2024. The U.S. Marshal’s Service facilitated Magana’s arrest and return from Mexico to the United States to face prosecution.

Following today’s arraignment in federal court, Magana was remanded into custody. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison for each mail theft charge, and up to 30 years in prison for the bank fraud offense. A federal district court judge will determine the ultimate sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their investigation of the case. Ferguson also commended the U.S. Marshals Service for securing Magana’s return to the Western District of North Carolina and recognized the Union County Sheriff’s office for assisting in this case.

The charges against the defendant are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – An 18-year-old man has been indicted by a Charlotte grand jury for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. The formal indictment comes after Christian Sturdivant, of Mint Hill, was arrested and charged on December 31, 2025, by criminal complaint after the FBI learned he was planning to use knives and hammers to execute a deadly New Year’s Eve attack at a grocery store and a fast- food restaurant. Sturdivant’s alleged plan was to harm as many people as possible until he was killed by law enforcement.

James C. Barnacle, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Charlotte Field Office, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.

According to allegations in filed documents and court proceedings, the FBI launched an investigation after receiving information that Sturdivant had been communicating with an online undercover law enforcement agent whom Sturdivant thought was an ISIS member. Over the course of their communications, Sturdivant told the undercover agent he was going to “do jihad soon,” and proclaimed he was “a soldier of the state,” meaning ISIS. On December 29, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Sturdivant’s residence, where they discovered handwritten documents indicating he was planning an attack. Law enforcement also seized from Sturdivant’s bedroom two hammers and two butcher knives, a list of targets, as well as tactical gloves and a vest, all acquired as part of the defendant’s alleged planned attack.

Sturdivant remains in federal custody. If convicted, Sturdivant faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine the ultimate sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI Charlotte Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, the Matthews Police Department, the Monroe Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Air Marshal Service, the Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, with the assistance of the NYPD, additional FBI Field Offices, the FBI Counterterrorism Division, and the Mint Hill Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Gleason for the Western District of North Carolina and DOJ Trial Attorney Elisa Poteat with the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

The charges against the defendant are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte man was sentenced to 78 months in prison today for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), some of which was AI-generated, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison term imposed, U.S. District Judge Matthew E. Orso ordered Daniel Joseph Broadway, 54, to serve a lifetime of supervised release, to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison, and to pay $17,000 in special assessments and $15,000 in restitution.

“Child sexual abuse material is harmful in all of its forms, and my office has the experience, expertise, and resolve to keep up with the technology as criminals use new methods to exploit children,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “Using AI to generate harmful imagery of children is illegal and we will aggressively prosecute those who do so.”

According to court documents and court proceedings, in April 2023, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a cybertip that an individual later identified as Broadway was uploading CSAM to an online account. In December 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Broadway’s residence, seizing nine electronic devices. A forensic review of the devices revealed that they contained more than 30,000 images and videos of AI-generated CSAM and over 8,600 images and videos of CSAM. The forensics further showed that Broadway used an AI platform to generate original images of CSAM, including images depicting prepubescent minors. He further used the AI platform to nudify existing images of real people.

In sentencing Broadway, Judge Orso said, “Congress has observed that child pornography is a permanent record of a child’s abuse,” and “those wounds get ripped back open” every time people view the content depicting their abuse.

On April 23, 2025, Broadway pleaded guilty to possession and access with intent to view child pornography involving a prepubescent minor who had not attained 12 years of age, and obscene visual representations of sexual abuse of children involving a prepubescent minor who had not attained 12 years of age. Broadway is in federal custody and will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prison upon designation of a federal facility.

The case was investigated by the FBI in Charlotte and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Cervantes with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Aviel Gonzalez-Ruiz, 41, of Mexico, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to illegal reentry by an alien and unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, Kyle D. Burns, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Chief Justin J. Jacobs of the Murphy Police Department, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.

According to court records and the sentencing hearing, on April 20, 2025, Gonzalez-Ruiz illegally possessed a firearm which he fired twice into the air at a motel parking lot in Murphy. Law enforcement responding to the incident recovered the firearm from Gonzalez-Ruiz’s motel room. Video surveillance from the motel’s video system shows Gonzalez-Ruiz firing the gun out the window of his car, while other people, including at least two children, were nearby. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement determined that Gonzalez-Ruiz had been deported from the United States to Mexico on two occasions: once on or about March 2, 2010, at or near Nogales, Arizona, and again on or about September 24, 2018, at or near Brownsville, Texas.

In announcing the sentence, Chief U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger noted Gonzalez-Ruiz’s many previous reentries after deportation, and the recklessness of firing a gun into the air near children.

Gonzalez-Ruiz remains in federal custody and will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

In making the announcement U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the ATF, HSI, and the Murphy Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Gast of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.

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

A Charlotte, North Carolina, man was sentenced today to 40 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for a federal civil rights violation after he threatened eight individuals with force because of their race, color, religion and national origin. Maurice Hopkins, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of interference with federally protected activities on Aug. 19, 2025.

According to filed court documents and the sentencing hearing, on June 8, 2024, Hopkins threatened eight individuals with a firearm inside a pizza restaurant in Charlotte. When Hopkins first encountered the victims, who were a group of friends getting pizza at the time, he asked if they were American. Hopkins then proceeded to harass the victims calling them terrorists, demanding they speak English, telling them to go back to their country, and making other statements because of the victims’ race, color, religion, and national origin. Court records show that Hopkins made multiple threats, telling the victims, “If you say one more thing I’m going to punch you in the face,” and threatened to “Shoot the place up,” and “kill all of them.” Hopkins then left the restaurant and returned minutes later, walking through the doorway with a loaded AR-15 style rifle. The victims immediately fled through the door in the rear of the restaurant.

With his guilty plea, Hopkins admitted that he threatened the eight individuals with force because of their race, color, religion and national origin and because they were enjoying the goods, services and facilities of the restaurant.

“This defendant targeted people enjoying a simple night out and threatened them with violence because of their race and national origin,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This was an outrageous act motivated by nothing other than racial bigotry. Today’s sentence makes clear: if you threaten people with violence because of who they are — or where they come from — you will be met with the full force of federal law.”

“You ought to be able to get pizza with your friends without being harassed due to your race or national origin and certainly without being threatened with an AR-15,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson for the Western District of North Carolina. “Incidents like this should never happen, but when they do, my office will act swiftly to bring justice.”

Hopkins remains in federal custody and will be transferred to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

The FBI Charlotte Field Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick J. Miller for the Western District of North Carolina and Trial Attorney Chloe Neely of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal grand jury has returned a criminal indictment charging a Charlotte man with a felony for assaulting federal officers conducting immigration enforcement operations, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Miguel Angel Garcia Martinez, 24, is charged with a felony offense of assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, and interfering with federal officers engaged in their official duties.

According to allegations in filed documents and information shared in court, on November 16, 2025, federal law enforcement officers attempted to make contact with Martinez after his van was observed at two different locations where federal officers were conducting immigration related operations. When the officers approached Martinez’s van, he fled the scene, driving aggressively and at a high rate of speed. Law enforcement used sirens and lights attempting to stop Martinez, but he allegedly continued to evade law enforcement, driving erratically and swerving in and out of traffic, crossing medians and sidewalks, and driving into oncoming traffic down University Boulevard. Ultimately, Martinez’s van struck a government vehicle that had its lights and sirens activated and was occupied by four federal officers. After striking the government vehicle, Martinez continued to flee until he was stopped and taken into custody.

If convicted, Martinez faces a maximum penalty of eight years in prison for the felony offense. A federal district court judge will determine the ultimate sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is joined in making the announcement by U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement, U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI.

The charges against the defendants are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte man was sentenced today to 40 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for a federal civil rights violation after he threatened eight individuals with force because of their race, color, religion and national origin, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Maurice Hopkins, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of interference with federally protected activities on August 19, 2025.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Special Agent in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. of the FBI Charlotte Field Office join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.

According to filed court documents and the sentencing hearing, on June 8, 2024, Hopkins threatened eight individuals with a firearm inside a pizza restaurant in Charlotte. When Hopkins first encountered the victims, who were a group of friends getting pizza at the time, he asked if they were American. Hopkins then proceeded to harass the victims calling them terrorists, demanding they speak English, telling them to go back to their country, and making other statements because of the victims’ race, color, religion, and national origin. Court records show that Hopkins made multiple threats, telling the victims, “If you say one more thing I’m going to punch you in the face,” and threatened to “Shoot the place up,” and “kill all of them.” Hopkins then left the restaurant and returned minutes later, walking through the doorway with a loaded AR-15 style rifle. The victims immediately fled through the door in the rear of the restaurant.

With his guilty plea, Hopkins admitted that he threatened the eight individuals with force because of their race, color, religion and national origin and because they were enjoying the goods, services and facilities of the restaurant.

“This defendant targeted people enjoying a simple night out and threatened them with violence because of their race and national origin,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This was an outrageous act motivated by nothing other than racial bigotry. Today’s sentence makes clear: if you threaten people with violence because of who they are — or where they come from — you will be met with the full force of federal law.”

“You ought to be able to get pizza with your friends without being harassed due to your race or national origin and certainly without being threatened with an AR-15,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “Incidents like this should never happen, but when they do, my office will act swiftly to bring justice.”

Hopkins remains in federal custody and will be transferred to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

The FBI Charlotte Field Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick J. Miller for the Western District of North Carolina and Trial Attorney Chloe Neely of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A former bookkeeper from Topton, N.C., was sentenced today to 57 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for orchestrating an embezzlement scheme that stole $1 million from three businesses, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Jeraldine Agnes Geldner, 73, was also ordered to pay $1,131,293.94 in restitution. She previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud and filing a false tax return.

Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Charlotte Field Office (IRS-CI), and Sheriff Chuck Owenby of the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement. 

According to court records and the sentencing hearing, Geldner worked as a contracted bookkeeper for three small businesses. As part of her duties, Geldner was responsible for handling the businesses’ accounts payable, payroll, and filing of tax returns. From 2019 through 2024, Geldner engaged in a scheme to defraud and embezzle from the businesses, by making unauthorized wire transfers from the companies’ bank accounts to her own personal bank accounts. To conceal the fraud, Geldner created phony vendors and falsified accounting entries in the victim companies’ ledgers. The scheme resulted in a total loss of $975,670.94. Geldner used much of the stolen money to gamble at casinos.

According to filed court documents in addition to the embezzlement scheme, Geldner filed false tax returns for tax years 2019 through 2022, that grossly underrepresented the income she received from the embezzlement scheme. The total estimated tax due and owing relative to the unreported income was approximately $155,623.

Geldner will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

The IRS-CI and the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case with the assistance of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville handled the prosecution. 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Hickory man was sentenced today in federal court after pleading guilty to carjacking and aiding and abetting, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Matthew E. Orso ordered Marcus Mayfield, 32, to serve 100 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release.

Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Estella Patterson of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

According to filed documents and court proceedings, on January 11, 2023, Mayfield and his co-conspirator, Kaionta Dabney, were driving together when they began to follow a Dodge Hellcat driven by R.P., who owned the vehicle. When R.P. parked and exited his vehicle, Dabney and Mayfield approached the victim on foot. Mayfield brandished a firearm and held R.P. at gunpoint, while Dabney took the victim’s car key. While Mayfield continued to hold R.P. at gunpoint, Dabney got in the vehicle’s driver’s seat. Mayfield then got into the passenger seat and the two drove away. Court records show that Mayfield later recorded videos of himself posing with the stolen vehicle.

At the sentencing hearing, Judge Orso ordered Mayfield’s federal sentence to be served in addition to a 14-year state term of imprisonment for Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon. 

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson credited the ATF and CMPD for the investigation of the case.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte handled the prosecution.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A convicted drug trafficker pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute more than 63 kilograms of cocaine, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Matthew Gerard Hendy, 42, of Charlotte, was on federal supervised release for a previous drug conviction when he reoffended.

Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Sheriff Eddie Cathey of the Union County Sheriff’s Office, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.

According to the plea documents and other court filings, in 2012, Hendy was convicted in federal court in the Eastern District of North Carolina of drug trafficking, money laundering, and firearms offenses and was sentenced to five years in prison followed by a term of supervised release. In 2023, and while Hendy was still under court supervision for the prior offense, law enforcement learned that he had arranged a large delivery of narcotics. On December 9, 2023, law enforcement intercepted the delivery when the tractor trailer loaded with the drugs arrived at the meeting location. When Hendy saw law enforcement on the scene he attempted to flee. Hendy later admitted he had ordered 63 kilograms of cocaine.

Hendy remains in federal custody. At sentencing, he faces a minimum of 15 years in prison due to the prior offense, and a maximum of life in prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

In making the announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the ATF and the Union County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case, and the U.S. Probation Office for its invaluable assistance.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.

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

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A couple formerly living in Midland, N.C., has pleaded guilty to federal charges for stealing more than one million dollars in COVID-19 relief funds by defrauding the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Tatiana Vazquez, 39, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler today and pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy affecting a financial institution and conspiracy to defraud the government. Marquise Highsmith, 41, pleaded guilty to the same charges on October 7, 2025.

Joel Weaver, Special Agent in Charge of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), Southeast Field Division, and Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS CI), Charlotte Field Office, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.

According to court documents, from May 2020 to January 2022, Highsmith, Vazquez, and their co-conspirators submitted multiple fraudulent applications to financial institutions and to the SBA to obtain loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The defendants submitted applications for several purported businesses that they or other co-conspirators controlled. These applications contained fraudulent information related to the businesses’ tax filings, number of employees, and other fabricated financial information. As a result, Highsmith and Vazquez personally received more than $450,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. After receiving the funds, the defendants filed loan forgiveness applications that also contained misrepresentations, and as a result some of the loans were subsequently forgiven.

In addition, from July 2022 to February 2023, Highsmith and Vazquez engaged in a separate but related conspiracy to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 relief funds through other federal programs administered by the IRS, including the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) program and the Sick Leave and Family Leave Credit (SFLC) program. The ERC and SFLC programs enabled certain businesses to receive federal tax credit for employment taxes or wages, a certain portion of which were refundable. The defendants and their coconspirators defrauded the IRS by preparing and filing fraudulent forms that falsely claimed millions of dollars in tax credits and other corresponding tax refunds. As a result, the defendants and their coconspirators improperly received more than $1 million in COVID-19 related tax refunds.

Both Vasquez and Highsmith are released on bond. A sentencing date has not been set.

In making the announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked TIGTA and IRS-CI for leading the investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department for their assistance.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Bozin and Daniel Ryan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the case. 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal jury in Charlotte convicted Kareem Hicks, 45, and a member of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) known as “Getting Money Brothers” (GMB), of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Kyle D. Burns, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI in North Carolina and South Carolina, James C. Barnacle, Jr. Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, and Chief Estella Patterson of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.

Four other individuals have pleaded guilty in connection with this case and are awaiting sentencing. Mandella Quinshawn Wolfe, 36, of Charlotte, pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine base. His brother, Campton Conway Wolfe, 39, pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine. Whynell Jason Rodriguez, 41, of Charlotte, pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine base. And Dwight LaQuelle Hallman, 42, of Charlotte, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

According to evidence presented at trial, filed court documents, and witness testimony, from 2023 to 2025, GMB was a DTO that distributed large amounts of cocaine, cocaine base, and other narcotics in the greater Charlotte area, as well as operated multiple drug houses. During the course of the two years GMB operated, information obtained by investigators indicated the DTO had dealt more than 50 kilograms of cocaine and crack. Investigators ultimately seized more than 20 kilograms of methamphetamine, six kilograms of cocaine, and a kilogram of fentanyl. The interdiction of the group also led to the seizure of more than 30 firearms from various individuals.

Trial evidence established that, on March 18, 2024, Hicks travelled to Charlotte from New Jersey to purchase a large amount of cocaine from Wolfe. Following his meeting with Wolfe, officers executed a federal search warrant and located approximately 200 grams of cocaine in Hick’s suitcase.

“This case wasn’t just about one defendant,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “It was about dismantling an entire drug trafficking organization that flooded our community with dangerous drugs and weapons. Our office is committed to pursuing drug traffickers from the street level to the top of the organization and working with our law enforcement partners to shut them down completely.”

“This verdict sends a clear message: Homeland Security Investigations, alongside our law enforcement partners, will not tolerate criminal organizations that endanger our communities with drugs and violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Burns. “Through coordinated investigations and strong partnerships, we are committed to dismantling drug trafficking networks and keeping dangerous narcotics and firearms off our streets.”

After the verdict, Hicks was remanded into custody. At sentencing, he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended HSI, the FBI, and CMPD for their investigation of the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney William Wiseman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the case. Mr. Wiseman is a state prosecutor with the office of the 26th Prosecutorial District and was assigned by District Attorney Spencer Merriweather to serve as a SAUSA with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte. Mr. Wiseman is sworn in both state and federal courts. The SAUSA position is a reflection of the partnership between the District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, a federal jury in Charlotte found Mitchell Clydero Patterson, 38, of Spring Lake, N.C., guilty of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, Sheriff Eddie Cathey of the Union County Sheriff’s Office, and Chief Estella Patterson of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.

“Felons are prohibited from carrying firearms for a reason,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “Defendants like Patterson wreak havoc on our communities when they continually resort to gun violence and shoot innocent people in the process. We will continue to aggressively prosecute these repeat offenders.”

“The danger of a prohibited individual in possession of a firearm cannot be understated,” said Special Agent in Charge Jones. “ATF and our local, state and federal partners are committed to keeping firearms out of the hands of those who should not have them.”

Sheriff Cathey said, "The outstanding work of our deputies and our law enforcement partners made it clear that criminals cannot outrun accountability in Union County. We will not tolerate violent offenders bringing illegal guns into our communities, and we will pursue anyone who thinks they can evade justice by crossing into Union County.”

According to filed documents, trial evidence, and witness testimony, on July 23, 2024, Patterson was involved in an argument in front of a Charlotte-based business. Patterson left but soon returned and fired several shots striking a bystander’s vehicle. 

Later, on August 14, 2024, Patterson was involved in another altercation at a take-out restaurant in Charlotte. Following that altercation, Patterson left but returned a short time later and fired several shots striking a young woman in the leg.

The following day, on August 15, 2024, CMPD officers followed Patterson into Union County. Deputies with the Union County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop Patterson’s vehicle, who traveled at a high rate of speed. While fleeing in his vehicle, Patterson threw a bag out of the window before crashing. Deputies recovered and searched the bag thrown from Patterson’s car and found a stolen Smith & Wesson model SD0, 9mm caliber semiautomatic pistol. Lab analysis connected the stolen firearm to the evidence from the July 23rd shooting.

Patterson remains in federal custody. At sentencing, he faces a maximum of 15 years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the ATF, the Union County Sheriff’s Office, and CMPD for their investigation of the case.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Wynn A.D. Charlebois, 55, of Charlotte, was sentenced to six years in prison today for orchestrating a Ponzi scheme that caused millions of dollars in losses, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge David Norton also ordered Charlebois to serve two years of supervised release and to pay more than $5.7 million in restitution.

James C. Barnacle, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, and Rodney Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), which oversees Charlotte, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making this announcement.

According to court records, from 2015 to 2022, Charlebois used companies he owned and controlled, including WC Private, Wilcox Hybrid, Damon Investments, and others, to perpetrate a multi-million-dollar fraudulent investment scheme. Charlebois used his past employment at a reputable hedge fund to con his victims into trusting him with their hard-earned savings, falsely promising their money would be invested in risk-free investments, subscription agreements, and loans. Contrary to Charlebois’s claims, instead of investing the victims’ money as promised, he used the funds to make Ponzi-style payments and on personal expenditures. Court documents show that Charlebois continued to solicit additional funds even after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission brought an enforcement action against him.

Charlebois defrauded more than 40 victims around the country, including friends, family, fellow church members, veterans, and retirees. The victims, some of whom were in or nearing retirement, sustained approximately $6 million in losses, and as a result have suffered substantially. In explaining the sentence imposed, Judge Norton emphasized, among other things, the “devastating effect” that Charlebois’s fraud had on his victims, both financially and emotionally.

“Those who lie and cheat others out of money will eventually be caught and face the full force of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson.  “As this case shows, fraud carries serious consequences, including significant prison time.”

“Those who seek to maximize profits by misleading investors should expect to pay a heavy price,” said Inspector in Charge Hopkins. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is proud to work alongside our law-enforcement partners to protect the integrity of our financial markets and bring to justice trusted insiders who abuse their position.”

On July 31, 2023, Charlebois pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. He will be ordered to report to a federal facility upon designation by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

The FBI and USPIS investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Ryan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Dominique Dunlap, 30, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release today for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and possession of stolen mail, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison sentence, Dunlap was ordered to pay $1,650,921.70 as restitution.

Rodney Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) which oversees North Carolina, Kathleen Woodson, Special Agent in Charge, United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General (USPS-OIG) for the Mid-Atlantic Area Field Office (MAAFO), which overseas Charlotte, and Chief Estella Patterson of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

Dunlap’s wife and co-conspirator, Kiara Padgett, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and is awaiting sentencing. Dunlap’s other co-conspirator, Terrell Alexander Hager, Jr., was sentenced to three years in prison in connection to the scheme.

“I am sick and tired of checks being stolen from the mail,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson, “particularly where it is done internally by an employee.  We will aggressively prosecute these cases to put an end to this crime.”

According to court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, from August 2021 to November 2022, Dunlap conspired with Padgett, Hager, and others to execute a scheme involving stolen checks. Padgett was employed by the U.S. Postal Service and used her position as a postal carrier to steal incoming and outgoing checks of businesses and individuals. Acting as an intermediary, Dunlap sold the stolen checks to Hager and other individuals. Court documents show that the total face value of checks stolen from Padgett’s postal routes was over $8.8 million.

On September 15, 2023, Dunlap pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and four counts of possession of stolen mail.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the USPIS, USPS-OIG, and CMPD for their investigation of the case.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Frick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

Today, the Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina announced that a Mint Hill, North Carolina man that allegedly planned to use knives and hammers to execute a deadly New Year’s Eve attack at a grocery store and a fast food restaurant in support of the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) has been arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. The criminal complaint was filed on Dec. 31, 2025, and was unsealed today after Christian Sturdivant, 18, appeared in federal court in Charlotte.

“This successful collaboration between federal and local law enforcement saved American lives from a horrific terrorist attack on New Year’s Eve,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Department of Justice remains vigilant in our pursuit of evil ISIS sympathizers — anyone plotting to commit such depraved attacks will face the full force of the law.”

“The accused allegedly wanted to be a soldier for ISIS and made plans to commit a violent attack on New Year’s Eve in support of that terrorist group, but the FBI and our partners put a stop to that,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “It is essential to work closely with our law enforcement partners and to quickly share information about potential threats, as demonstrated in this case. The message from the FBI is clear — anyone who supports ISIS or other terrorist groups cannot hide and will be held accountable in our justice system.”

“As alleged, Sturdivant aspired to become a ‘martyr’ for ISIS and was in the final stages of planning a mass-casualty attack on New Year’s Eve. Notes recovered from his home appear to reflect intent to harm as many people as possible and terrorize the Nation,” said Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg of the Justice Department's National Security Division. “We commend the extraordinary work of our partners in neutralizing this threat.”

“Americans deserve to celebrate New Year’s Eve without worrying about their personal safety,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson for the Western District of North Carolina. “That is why we worked non-stop to thwart this alleged violent terrorist attack. I am proud of the work done here and thankful for the time spent by law enforcement away from their families during the holidays to ensure public safety.”

“The FBI’s mission is to protect the American people, and this case demonstrates our dedication to do everything we can to protect the residents of North Carolina,” said Special Agent in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. of the FBI Charlotte Field Office. “We worked closely with the Department of Justice, NYPD, Mint Hill Police Department, and our FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force partners to investigate and disrupt this serious threat of a violent attack. We will never stop working to hold people accountable who seek to harm and terrorize our community.”

“Christian Sturdivant allegedly swore allegiance to an international terrorist organization and plotted deadly attacks in its name,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “But the New York City Police Department has a long reach, and our undercover cybersecurity investigators once again identified threats of extremist behavior and thwarted them before they could be carried out. Public safety knows no borders, and we will continue to work with all our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to pursue and hold accountable anyone who seeks to spread fear and violence.”

“Now more than ever, partnerships between law enforcement agencies are paramount,” said Chief Joseph Hatley of the Mint Hill Police Department. “This disruption is a testament to all involved, working as one to thwart an attack and hold accountable anyone planning such a horrific act of violence against our community.”

According to allegations in the arrest affidavit, on Dec. 18, 2025, the FBI in Charlotte received information that an individual later identified as Sturdivant was making multiple social media posts in support of ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization. In early December 2025, Sturdivant posted an image depicting two miniature figurines of Jesus with the on-screen text that read, “May Allah curse the cross worshipers.” The post is allegedly consistent with ISIS’s rhetoric calling for the extermination of all non-believers, including Christians, Jews, and Muslims who do not agree with ISIS’s extreme ideology.

The criminal complaint alleges that on or about Dec. 12, 2025, Sturdivant began communicating with an online covert employee, or “OC,” whom Sturdivant thought was an ISIS member. Sturdivant told the OC, “I will do jihad soon,” and proclaimed he was “a soldier of the state,” meaning ISIS. On Dec. 14, 2025, Sturdivant allegedly sent an online message to the OC with an image of two hammers and a knife. This is significant because an article in the 2016 issue of ISIS’s propaganda magazine promoted the use of knives to conduct terror attacks in western countries. The same article inspired actual attacks in other countries. Later, Sturdivant told the OC that he planned to attack a specific grocery store in North Carolina. Sturdivant also told the OC about his plans to purchase a firearm to use along with the knives during the attack, according to the arrest affidavit.

In addition, on Dec. 19, 2025, Sturdivant allegedly sent the OC a voice recording of Sturdivant pledging “Bayat,” a loyalty oath to ISIS.

On Dec. 29, 2025, law enforcement conducted a search warrant at Sturdivant’s residence, where they discovered handwritten documents, one of which was titled “New Years Attack 2026.” The document listed items such as a vest, mask, tactical gloves, and two knives allegedly to be used in the attack. It also described a goal of stabbing as many civilians as possible, with the total number of victims to be as high as 20 to 21. The note also included a section labeled as “martyrdom op,” that described a plan to attack police responding to the site of the attack so Sturdivant would die a martyr.

The complaint alleges that Sturdivant lived with a relative, who secured knives and hammers away so Sturdivant could not use them for harm. Yet, law enforcement seized from Sturdivant’s bedroom a blue hammer, a wooden handled hammer, and two butcher knives which appeared hidden underneath the defendant’s bed. These items appear to be the same as the ones depicted in the online message Sturdivant previously sent to the OC.

Law enforcement also seized from Sturdivant’s bedroom a list of targets, as well as tactical gloves and a vest, acquired as part of the defendant’s planned attack.

Sturdivant remains in federal custody. If convicted, Sturdivant faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine the ultimate sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI Charlotte Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, the Matthews Police Department, the Monroe Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Air Marshal Service, the Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, with the assistance of the NYPD, additional FBI Field Offices, and the Mint Hill Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Gleason for the Western District of North Carolina and DOJ Trial Attorney Elisa Poteat with the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

The charges against the defendant are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Mint Hill man that allegedly planned to use knives and hammers to execute a deadly New Year’s Eve attack at a grocery store and a fast food restaurant in support of the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) has been arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. The criminal complaint was filed on December 31, 2025, and was unsealed today after Christian Sturdivant, 18, appeared in federal court in Charlotte.

James C. Barnacle, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.

“This successful collaboration between federal and local law enforcement saved American lives from a horrific terrorist attack on New Year’s Eve,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Department of Justice remains vigilant in our pursuit of evil ISIS sympathizers — anyone plotting to commit such depraved attacks will face the full force of the law.”

“The accused allegedly wanted to be a soldier for ISIS and made plans to commit a violent attack on New Year’s Eve in support of that terrorist group, but the FBI and our partners put a stop to that,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “It is essential to work closely with our law enforcement partners and to quickly share information about potential threats, as demonstrated in this case. The message from the FBI is clear—anyone who supports ISIS or other terrorist groups cannot hide and will be held accountable in our justice system.”

"As alleged, Sturdivant aspired to become a ‘martyr’ for ISIS and was in the final stages of planning a mass-casualty attack on New Year’s Eve. Notes recovered from his home appear to reflect intent to harm as many people as possible and terrorize the Nation,” said John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. “We commend the extraordinary work of our partners in neutralizing this threat.”

“Americans deserve to celebrate New Year’s Eve without worrying about their personal safety,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “That is why we worked non-stop to thwart this alleged violent terrorist attack. I am proud of the work done here and thankful for the time spent by law enforcement away from their families during the holidays to ensure public safety.”

“The FBI’s mission is to protect the American people, and this case demonstrates our dedication to do everything we can to protect the residents of North Carolina. We worked closely with the Department of Justice, NYPD, Mint Hill Police Department, and our FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force partners to investigate and disrupt this serious threat of a violent attack. We will never stop working to hold people accountable who seek to harm and terrorize our community,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Barnacle.

“Christian Sturdivant allegedly swore allegiance to an international terrorist organization and plotted deadly attacks in its name,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “But the New York City Police Department has a long reach, and our undercover cybersecurity investigators once again identified threats of extremist behavior and thwarted them before they could be carried out. Public safety knows no borders, and we will continue to work with all our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to pursue and hold accountable anyone who seeks to spread fear and violence.”

“Now more than ever, partnerships between law enforcement agencies are paramount,” said Chief Joseph Hatley of the Mint Hill Police Department. “This disruption is a testament to all involved, working as one to thwart an attack and hold accountable anyone planning such a horrific act of violence against our community.”

According to allegations in the arrest affidavit, on December 18, 2025, the FBI in Charlotte received information that an individual later identified as Sturdivant was making multiple social media posts in support of ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization. In early December 2025, Sturdivant posted an image depicting two miniature figurines of Jesus with the on-screen text that read, “May Allah curse the cross worshipers.” The post is allegedly consistent with ISIS’s rhetoric calling for the extermination of all non-believers, including Christians, Jews, and Muslims who do not agree with ISIS’s extreme ideology.

Sturdivant’s social media post in early December 2025

The criminal complaint alleges that on or about December 12, 2025, Sturdivant began communicating with an online covert employee, or “OC,” whom Sturdivant thought was an ISIS member. Sturdivant told the OC, “I will do jihad soon,” and proclaimed he was “a soldier of the state,” meaning ISIS. On December 14, 2025, Sturdivant allegedly sent an online message to the OC with an image of two hammers and a knife. This is significant because an article in the 2016 issue of ISIS’s propaganda magazine promoted the use of knives to conduct terror attacks in western countries. The same article inspired actual attacks in other countries. Later, Sturdivant told the OC that he planned to attack a specific grocery store in North Carolina. Sturdivant also told the OC about his plans to purchase a firearm to use along with the knives during the attack, according to the arrest affidavit.

December 14, 2025, Sturdivant’s online message to undercover law enforcement with image

of two hammers and a knife

In addition, on December 19, 2025, Sturdivant allegedly sent the OC a voice recording of Sturdivant pledging “Bayat,” a loyalty oath to ISIS.

On December 29, 2025, law enforcement conducted a search warrant at Sturdivant’s residence, where they discovered handwritten documents, one of which was titled “New Years Attack 2026.” The document listed items such as a vest, mask, tactical gloves, and two knives allegedly to be used in the attack. It also described a goal of stabbing as many civilians as possible, with the total number of victims to be as high as 20 to 21. The note also included a section labeled as “martyrdom op,” that described a plan to attack police responding to the site of the attack so Sturdivant would die a martyr.

Handwritten document titled “New Years Attack 2026”

The complaints alleges that Sturdivant lived with a relative, who secured knives and hammers away so Sturdivant could not use them for harm. Yet, law enforcement seized from Sturdivant’s bedroom a blue hammer, a wooden handled hammer, and two butcher knives which appeared hidden underneath the defendant’s bed. These items appear to be the same as the ones depicted in the online message Sturdivant previously sent to the OC.

Items seized from Sturdivant’s bedroom on December 29, 2025,

pursuant to a federal search warrant

Law enforcement also seized from Sturdivant’s bedroom a list of targets, as well as tactical gloves and a vest, acquired as part of the defendant’s planned attack.

Additional items seized from Sturdivant’s bedroom acquired

for the alleged planned attack

Sturdivant remains in federal custody. If convicted, Sturdivant faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine the ultimate sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI Charlotte Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, the Matthews Police Department, the Monroe Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Air Marshal Service, the Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, with the assistance of the NYPD, additional FBI Field Offices, the FBI Counterterrorism Division, and the Mint Hill Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Gleason for the Western District of North Carolina and DOJ Trial Attorney Elisa Poteat with the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

The charges against the defendant are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.