District Not Recorded

Signal Diagnostics LLC (Signal) has agreed to pay the United States $20.5 million to resolve allegations that Signal violated the False Claims Act by knowingly retaining and improperly avoiding its obligations to repay the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) COVID-19 Claims Reimbursement to Health Care Providers and Facilities for Testing, Treatment, and Vaccine Administration for the Uninsured Program (the “Uninsured Program”) for overpayments for claims Signal submitted for patients who had health insurance.

“When companies knowingly retain federal healthcare program funds they were not entitled to receive, they violate the public’s trust and the law,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement reflects our commitment to protecting taxpayer dollars and ensuring that providers meet their obligations to return money to which they were not entitled.”

“Providers who receive federal program funds must meet their legal obligation to return money they are not entitled to. By knowingly avoiding repayment of overpayments, Signal Diagnostics undermined the integrity of a program designed to support uninsured patients during a national public health emergency,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS‑OIG). “HHS‑OIG will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure that entities that misuse federal health care dollars are held fully accountable.”

Between approximately May 2020 and April 2022, the Uninsured Program reimbursed eligible providers for COVID-19 tests, testing-related items and services, treatment, and vaccines performed on uninsured individuals. During the Public Health Emergency, Signal provided COVID-19 tests to individuals at public testing sites and on client sites.

The settlement announced today resolves allegations that from January 2022 to May 2023, Signal knowingly and improperly avoided obligations to repay HRSA for overpayments reimbursed to it from the Uninsured Program. Specifically, between October 2020 and March 2022, Signal submitted claims for COVID-19 testing services and specimen collection to the Uninsured Program. The United States alleges that starting in or around January 2022, Signal initiated an internal audit to determine whether it had submitted ineligible claims to the Uninsured Program. Through the audit, Signal determined that it had submitted claims to the Uninsured Program that were ineligible for payment because the individuals had insurance.

The audit identified errors that caused the submission of claims to the Uninsured Program for people who had insurance, including instance where Signal’s internal system had created multiple profiles for the same individuals with conflicting insurance information and claims were submitted to the Uninsured Program when there were alternative insurances listed on file. From January 2022 to May 2023, Signal continued to conduct its audit and calculated the amount of overpayment received from the Uninsured Program for ineligible claims, and knowingly and improperly avoided its obligation to repay HRSA for those overpayments.

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort by Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, with assistance from HHS-OIG. This matter was handled by Civil Division Fraud Section Trial Attorneys Elizabeth J. Kappakas, Lindsay DeFrancesco, and James Nealon.

This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.

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

Today, The Department of Justice filed a complaint of judicial misconduct against Hon. Patrick J. Schiltz, Hon. John R. Tunheim, and Anonymous District Judges at the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.

On September 17, 2026, the paper published an article titled Trump’s Minnesota Surge Threatened Democracy, Judge Warns. The article explains that Judge Patrick Schiltz of the District of Minnesota sat for a 90-minute interview.  Six other “members of Minnesota’s federal bench” also “agreed to speak to the New York Times about last winter’s tumult.”  This included “six of the seven judges who held active status in Minnesota last winter.”

Judges are ethically prohibited from commenting publicly on cases pending in any court and making political or policy statements concerning matters that are or have been before them. 

"Seven federal judges in the District of Minnesota talked to the New York Times about cases, some of which are on-going, in a manner that the Department of Justice views as a clear violation of their ethical duties," said Attorney General Todd Blanche. "Their conduct has undermined public confidence in an impartial judiciary in Minnesota."

“Our complaint alleges that federal judges in Minnesota used their official judicial office to pander to the press about immigration policies,” said Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter. “Judges who covet publicity rather than follow the rule of law by adjudicating cases or controversies undermine the public’s confidence in an impartial jury.” 

“An independent and honorable judiciary is indispensable to justice in our society,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. “But public confidence in judicial impartiality cannot survive if judges seek out media attention and pander to the press.  Regrettably, judges in the District of Minnesota have done just that—by disregarding their ethical duties and launching a partisan press campaign, these judges advance their policy preference, allowing criminal illegal aliens to run free in Minnesota.  This Department of Justice will not let that stand, and today’s complaint ensures we have a fair and impartial forum to continue to vigorously enforce our Nation’s immigration laws in court.”

The Department’s judicial misconduct complaint requests that the judges who spoke to the New York Times about immigration cases recuse themselves from any matters involving the U.S. Department of Homeland Security because the public now reasonably questions their impartiality in cases involving that agency. The complaint also requests that the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit initiate an investigation into the judges’ improper and unethical conduct.

The complaint can be viewed here.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia yesterday dismissed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2018 biological opinion and 2025 consultation determination for oil and gas activities in the Gulf of America. 

In March, the Endangered Species Committee voted unanimously to exempt oil and gas activities in the Gulf of America from the Endangered Species Act’s requirements. The Committee acted on the Secretary of War’s finding that the exemption was necessary for national security reasons. The ruling follows a similar decision in Maryland in June and a related April ruling in Louisiana, both giving effect to the exemption.

“This Department of Justice will never cease defending this Administration's efforts to ensure our Nation's security,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. “We are pleased that a third court has correctly applied the Endangered Species Committee’s national security exemption to dismiss challenges to biological opinions by FWS and NMFS. Make no mistake, under President Trump, American energy dominance is back.”

“The national security exemption for Gulf of America oil and gas activities means what it says, as another federal court has now confirmed,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “This decision removes another obstacle to energy production vital to our national security. The Department will keep defending President Donald J. Trump’s agenda to unleash American energy.”

The Endangered Species Committee, chaired by the Secretary of the Interior, may exempt federal agency actions from the Act’s requirements. The statute directs the committee to grant an exemption for any agency action if the Secretary of War finds it necessary for reasons of national security.

Attorneys with ENRD’s Wildlife and Marine Resources Section handled this matter.

Attorney General Todd Blanche, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, and United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that a federal grand jury indicted ten defendants separately on September 24, 2026, for voter fraud. All defendants have made their initial appearances in federal court.

“Today's charges allege that ten foreign nationals committed voter fraud in Minnesota, one voting illegally as recently as this August's primary,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The law is clear, only American citizens may vote in American elections, and enforcing this law is fundamental to our democracy. That should not be a partisan concept.”

“Our message to aliens who vote in American elections is clear: we will find you, arrest you, and you will face the consequences, including criminal charges and deportation,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “Under President Trump’s leadership, this administration will never allow the votes of American citizens to be cancelled out by non-citizens illegally voting in our elections. Only American citizens should be electing American leaders.”

“Voting in American elections is a privilege of American citizenship,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. “Stealing that privilege is a crime. When, in order to obtain a ballot, a non-citizen swears he or she is a citizen, we will prosecute.” 

Case details are as follows:

• Liberian national Bhator Konah Bryant, 61, a lawful permanent resident has been charged on one count of making a false claim of citizenship in order to vote. She is alleged to have falsely claimed United States citizenship when registering to vote on October 18, 2024. The defendant had her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elsa M. Bullard on September 29, 2026. 

• Lithuanian national Edvile Vaidoto Edmunds, 59, a lawful permanent resident has been charged on one count of voting by alien. She is alleged to have voted illegally as an alien in Minnesota on November 8, 2022. The defendant had her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elsa M. Bullard on September 29, 2026.

• Ghanaian national Joshua Frederick Kofi Edzie, 63, a lawful permanent resident has been charged on two counts of making a false claim of citizenship in order to vote and one count of voting by alien. He is alleged to have voted illegally as an alien in Minnesota on August 11, 2026, and falsely claimed United States citizenship in order to vote on October 23, 2024 and August 11, 2026. The defendant had his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elsa M. Bullard on September 28, 2026.

• Liberian national, Alan Barbu Kargbo, 48, a lawful permanent resident has been charged on one count of making a false claim of citizenship in order to vote and one count of voting by alien. He is alleged to have voted illegally as an alien in Minnesota and falsely claimed United States citizenship in order to vote on November 5, 2024. The defendant had his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elsa M. Bullard on September 28, 2026.

• German national Paul Kras, 78, a lawful permanent resident has been charged on one count of voting by alien. He is alleged to have voted illegally as an alien in Minnesota on November 5, 2024. The defendant had his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elsa M. Bullard on September 29, 2026.
• Bosnian national Fadil Rasim Ozegovic, 58, a lawful permanent resident has been charged on one count of making a false claim of citizenship in order to vote and one count of voting by alien. He is alleged to have voted illegally as an alien in Minnesota and falsely claimed United States citizenship in order to vote on November 5, 2024. The defendant had his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elsa M. Bullard on September 29, 2026.

• Brazilian national Aparecido Donizetti Padovan, 62, a lawful permanent resident has been charged on one count of making a false claim of citizenship in order to vote and one count of voting by alien. He is alleged to have voted illegally as an alien in Minnesota and falsely claimed United States citizenship in order to vote on November 5, 2024. The defendant had his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elsa M. Bullard on September 29, 2026.

• Liberian national Chis Adam Pettiquoi, 43, a lawful permanent resident has been charged on one count of making a false claim of citizenship in order to vote and one count of voting by alien. He is alleged to have voted illegally as an alien in Minnesota and falsely claimed United States citizenship in order to vote on November 5, 2024. The defendant had his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elsa M. Bullard on September 29, 2026.
• Canadian national Christian Liam Schenk, 47, a lawful permanent resident has been charged on one count of making a false claim of citizenship in order to vote and one count of voting by alien. He is alleged to have voted illegally as an alien in Minnesota and falsely claimed United States citizenship in order to vote on November 5, 2024. The defendant will have his initial appearance in the District of Massachusetts on September 30, 2026.
• South African national Hester Sophia Weihmann, 69, a lawful permanent resident has been charged on one count of making a false claim of citizenship in order to vote and one count of voting by alien. She is alleged to have voted illegally as an alien in Minnesota and falsely claimed United States citizenship in order to vote on November 5, 2024. The defendant had her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elsa M. Bullard on September 29, 2026.

The charge of false claim of citizenship in order to vote is a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1015(f) and carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum term of supervised release of three years, and a maximum fine of $250,000. Voting by aliens is a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 611 and is a class A misdemeanor and carries a maximum term of imprisonment of one year, a maximum term of supervised release of one year, and a maximum fine of $100,000.

These cases were the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations.

First Assistant United States Attorney Joseph S. Teirab is prosecuting these cases.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Today, the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division announced the results of a surge of criminal enforcement actions targeting fraud in the Social Security Administration (SSA)’s benefits programs, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI). 

Between Aug. 21 and Sept. 18, the Fraud Division and U.S. Attorneys in 11 districts, along with the assistance of the SSA Office of Inspector General (SSA OIG), brought charges against 17 defendants who are allegedly responsible for more than $1.3 million in intended loss to the United States.

“The Social Security Administration’s benefits programs are meant to safeguard America’s elderly and most vulnerable — not to bankroll fraudsters,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Every dollar stolen is a dollar taken from a retiree’s medicine, meals, or housing. These cases represent just a fraction of the fraud we are aggressively pursuing every day. The egregious facts uncovered in these cases underscore why our mission to combat fraud — large or small — is vital to protecting public trust and ensuring justice.”

“President Trump and Vice President Vance have given the federal government an unprecedented mandate — and the tools and resources to back it up — to find fraud wherever it exists and root it out,” said Commissioner Frank Bisignano of the Social Security Administration. “At Social Security, we are putting that mandate into action. Working hand-in-hand with the Department of Justice, we are aggressively pursuing fraud, safeguarding taxpayer dollars, and protecting Social Security.”

“Fraud involving Social Security’s retirement and disability programs will not be tolerated. Thanks to OIG’s partnership with the Department of Justice, those targeting taxpayer dollars and jeopardizing our most vulnerable populations will be held accountable,” said Michelle L. Anderson, Assistant Inspector General for Audit as First Assistant at SSA OIG. “These cases demonstrate the value of focusing resources to identify and prosecuting fraud schemes to ensure taxpayers dollars are paid only to those who are rightfully entitled.”

Notable Cases (Intended Loss Figures):

S. v. Eva Bratcher (Indictment) – $21,402 – Northern District of Illinois      

Bratcher allegedly concealed her mother’s body in a deep freezer in her garage for two years. During those two years, Bratcher assumed her mother’s identity, collected her mother’s SSA benefits, and used her mother’s SNAP benefits. The defendant also allegedly used an alternative Social Security Number to steal additional SNAP benefits to which she was not entitled.

Charges: 18 U.S. Code § 641 (Theft of Government Property); 42 U.S. Code § 408 (Fraud, Misrepresentation, or misuse of Social Security Benefits)

Maximum Penalties: 10 years; 5 years in prison

Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Parker Gardner-Erickson and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Niranjan Emani for the Northern District of Illinois. District Fraud Counsel AOR: Assistant U.S. Attorney Vincenza Tomlinson for Northern District of Illinois.  

S. v. David Darling (Indictment) – $ 109,746 – Northern District of New York

Darling had control of his deceased brother’s ATM card and began withdrawing money the day after death. SSA was unaware of the death and continued to pay into the account. Darling continued his scheme for a total of $109,746 in stolen social security benefits.

Charges: 18 U.S. Code § 1029 (Access Device Fraud); 18 U.S. Code § 641 (Theft of Government Property); 18 U.S. Code § 1028A (Aggravated Identify Theft)

Maximum Penalties: 15 years; 10 years; 2-year mandatory minimum in prison

Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Arne Soldwedel for the Northern District of New York. District Fraud Counsel AOR: Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Clark for the Northern District of New York.  

S. v. Debra Reed (Indictment) – $ 59,070 – Western District of Pennsylvania

On Nov. 23, 2020, Debra Reed’s father died. Between Nov. 24, 2020, and Oct. 26, 2023, the Social Security Administration continued to pay social security retirement payments to the father’s account, and Reed either personally stole the money or caused her daughter to take the money and transfer it to her directly.

Charges: 18 U.S. Code § 641 (Theft of Government Property)

Maximum Penalties: 10 years in prison

Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan J. McKenna for the Western District of Pennsylvania. District Fraud Counsel AOR: Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Stockey for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

United States v. Laura Whisenant – $ 121, 980 – Eastern District of Michigan (Complaint)

Laura Whisenant served as a representative payee for her elderly, mentally disabled uncle.  For seven years, she stole and misused nearly $121 K of her uncle’s SSA benefits — all while he lived in squalor, in a house without running water, electricity, or heat. 

Charges: 42 U.S.C. § 408(a)(5)

Maximum Penalties: 5 years in prison

Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne M. Lambert for the Eastern District of Michigan. District Fraud Counsel AOR: Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Norwood for the Eastern District of Michigan.

United States v. Keshaune Pace also known as Keshaune Jenkins – Southeast Michigan (Complaint)

Keshaune Pace served as representative payee for her minor son, who was a recipient of SSI benefits due to disability. In order to maintain the receipt of her son’s benefits after he left her custody, she lied to the SSA about her son’s living arrangements, going so far as to have another person impersonate her son during an SSA-initiated review. Pace stole and misused $30,000 of the benefits paid on behalf of her son; $6,000 of those benefits should have been used for her son’s needs and were not, $24,000 should have been paid to no one at all.

Charges: 18 U.S. Code § 641 (Theft of Government Property); 42 U.S.C. § 1383a(a)(4) (Social Security Representative Payee Fraud)

Maximum Penalties: 10 years; 5 years in prison

Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne M. Lambert for the Eastern District of Michigan. District Fraud Counsel AOR: Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Norwood for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Additional Charges During SSA Surge:

• United States v. Tammy Phillips - $65,000 – Western District of Pennsylvania
• United States v. Israel Gonzalez - $139,952 – Western District of North Carolina
• United States vs. John Zaccaria - $143,685 – District of Rhode Island
• United States v. Sherry Freude - $100,845 – Southern District of Texas
• United States v. Lisa Martinez - $50,501 – Western District of Texas
• United States v. Stacey L. Stoudermire - $31,237 – Northern District of Ohio
• United States vs. Ruthie M. Lewis - $33,131 – Northern District of Ohio
• United States vs. Lizbeth A. Reinhard - $170,166 – Northern District of Ohio
• United States vs. Carrie Miller - $50,658 – District of Idaho
• United States vs. Calandra Davis - $53,234 – Northern District of Indiana
• United States v. Tammy Hopkins - $98,879 – Eastern District of Michigan
• United States v. Darlette Williams - $46,844 – Eastern District of Michigan

U.S. Attorney Partners: District of Idaho, District of Rhode Island, Eastern District of Michigan, Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of New York, Northern District of Ohio, Southern District of California, Southern District of Texas, Western District of North Carolina, Western District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Texas.

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

James Vincent Campbell, 49, of Scottsdale, Arizona, pleaded guilty today in the District of Maryland to embezzling more than $8.8 million from an Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) benefit plan.

“Workers have a right to trust that when they contribute portions of their hard-earned wages into their health insurance and retirement accounts, those contributions will go to where they were intended – their health plans and 401(k) accounts,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. “Instead, James Vincent stole directly from these accounts by embezzling funds and putting more than $8 million into his own pocket. The Criminal Division is proud to partner with the Department of Labor to uncover and prosecute this fraud.”

“Private pensions make up a large portion of Americans’ wealth,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employee Benefits Security Daniel Aronowitz. “The U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) will continue to pursue those who try to steal pension assets as part of its efforts to prevent and fight fraud committed on both pension and healthcare plans. EBSA is grateful for the continued relationship with the DOJ in prosecuting pension fraud.”     

According to court documents, Campbell is the CEO and founder of Axim Fringe Solutions Group LLC (Axim), a company that processes employee benefits for employees of federal contractors. At the time the theft began, the company was headquartered in Maryland. In January 2022, Campbell moved Axim to Scottsdale, Arizona, where he continued his fraud.

According to the court documents, Axim’s clients sent funds to the company to pay for health insurance premiums and 401(k) retirement contributions. Axim was responsible for forwarding those funds to insurance carriers and retirement accounts. Before forwarding the funds, Campbell allegedly pooled them in a master trust account. Between 2015 and 2024, he made 135 unauthorized withdrawals — totaling $2,486,905 — beyond the legitimate fees owed to Axim. Campbell used a significant portion of the stolen funds for personal expenses including big game hunting trips in Alaska, Africa, and other locations; taxidermy fees; jewelry; casino gambling; and direct payments to his girlfriend. Once Campbell relocated Axim to Arizona, he continued the thefts by secretly charging clients up to five times the amount of fees they owed to Axim. In sum, Campbell unlawfully converted more than $8.8 million from Axim’s clients using both withdrawals from the master account and repetitively charging client fees.

The information to which Campbell pleaded guilty charges him with a single count of theft from an ERISA plan. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Federal District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

EBSA investigated the case. 

Trial Attorney Vincent Falvo of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section is prosecuting the case.

Today, the Justice Department announced charges and guilty pleas involving 12 individuals, including three illegal aliens, in connection with illegal voting, fraudulent voter registration, and related election crimes across the country. The cases include voting by aliens in federal elections, false claims of U.S. citizenship to register or vote, false statements on citizenship applications, and the alleged disposal of approximately 300 mail-in ballots by a former postal carrier.

Case details are as follows:

Middle District of Florida 

Christiane Vinette Young, 75, an illegal alien from Canada, was charged by information with three counts of voting by an alien. Young voted in three federal elections – the 2024 general election, 2022 general election, and 2022 primary – despite knowing that she was not a citizen of the United States.

Southern District of Florida 

Haitian national Valery Zidor, on Temporary Protected Status at the time of voting, falsely claimed to be a U.S. citizen to register to vote and voted in the 2024 General Election. Zidor pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of making a false claim of citizenship in order to vote and one count of voting by an alien.

District of Kansas 

Nigerian national George Olawunmi Johnson, a lawful permanent resident, was charged with one count of false claim to United States citizenship, one count of false claim to United States citizenship in order to vote, one count of fraudulent election conduct, and one count of voting by an alien in a federal election. Johnson is accused of falsely indicating that he is a U.S. citizen while registering to vote in February 2010 and allegedly cast a ballot in the November 2024 election.

District of New Jersey

Two aliens were charged with illegally voting in a federal election and making false statements while applying for United States citizenship.

• Jamaican national Patrick Terrance Reid, 61, a lawful permanent resident, voted in person in the presidential elections held in November 2012 and November 2016, and via mail-in ballot in the presidential elections in November 2020 and November 2024. Additionally, Reid was charged with making false statements while applying for U.S. citizenship.

• Venezuelan national Danubis Bernat, 49, a lawful permanent resident, voted in person in the 2024 general election. Additionally, Bernat was charged with making false statements while applying for U.S. citizenship.

Eastern District of Pennsylvania 

Four aliens, including two illegal aliens, were charged with election-related crimes.

• Cliff Sanon, 39, an illegal alien from Haiti who has been residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of submitting a fraudulent voter registration application. Sanon allegedly submitted a voter registration application in February 2026 prior to the May 2026 primary election, despite being a citizen of Haiti and not an American citizen. The complaint further alleges that this was among eight fraudulent voter registration applications submitted by Sanon, who also voted in the November 2022 election.

• Dilea Ochoa-Perez, 43, an illegal alien from Mexico who has been residing in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, was charged by information with two counts of voting as an alien. According to the information, Ochoa-Perez allegedly illegally voted in Chester County in the November 2022 and November 2024 general elections, even though she was a citizen of Mexico at the time of both elections and not a U.S citizen.
• Trinidad & Tobago national Sade Guppy, 37, a lawful permanent resident, was charged by information with one count of voting as an alien. According to the information, Guppy allegedly illegally voted in Philadelphia County in the November 2022 general election, even though she was not a U.S. citizen. 

• Mexican national Eduardo Gallardo Maldonado, 66, a lawful permanent resident, was charged by information with one count of voting as an alien. According to the information, Maldonado allegedly illegally voted in Philadelphia County in the November 2024 general election, even though he was not a U.S. citizen.

Western District of Texas 

Mexican national Imelda Magallanes, 51, a lawful permanent resident, was charged with one count of voting by an alien in a federal election. Voting records from the Midland County Elections Office indicate that Magallanes first registered to vote in October 2020 using her Texas driver’s license as identification. Voting records also reveal that Magallanes voted in the November 2024 general election.

District of Hawaii 

Filipino national Bernadette Acaso, 20, a lawful permanent resident, pleaded guilty to unlawfully voting as an alien. Acaso voted in the 2024 election by casting a mail-in ballot. 

District of Utah 

Damon Matai Seei, 34, of Payson, Utah with U.S. Postal Service (USPS) was charged with unlawful secretion, destruction, and delay of mail after he allegedly unlawfully threw away mail that he was entrusted to deliver – including approximately 300 mail-in ballots to registered voters in Utah.

A complaint, indictment, and information merely contain accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Last week, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York granted the United States’ motion for summary judgment and invalidated New York’s “Climate Change Superfund Act.” The court held the law is unconstitutional and enjoined the state from imposing $75 billion in penalties on global energy producers for the alleged local effects of climate change. Last month, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York also ruled against the state.

“New York’s woke climate change law is not only unconstitutional, it is harmful, jeopardizing every American’s access to affordable and reliable energy,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. “We are pleased with the district courts’ decisions finding New York’s law unlawful and recognizing that the Federal Sovereign, not the States, regulates our Nation’s energy market. This Department of Justice will take every step to stop those who wish to thwart President Trump’s agenda to unleash American energy dominance.”

“Both federal judges to consider New York’s Climate Change Superfund Act have held it unconstitutional,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Both hold that the federal government is responsible for setting national policy on global pollution, not states. This decision marks another significant step in advancing President Trump’s energy agenda and protecting American energy from state overreach. The Department of Justice will continue to fight for affordable, reliable energy for all Americans.”

New York enacted its law in 2024 seeking to impose billions of dollars in liability on domestic and foreign energy companies that extract fossil fuels or refine crude oil. 

In its ruling last week, the court held that the United States has standing to vindicate its sovereign authority to regulate interstate emissions and to promote its foreign affairs interests. The court also held the New York law is preempted on two independent grounds: first, because it is not authorized by the Clean Air Act, which displaced the federal common law governing interstate emissions; and second, because it is field-preempted under the foreign affairs doctrine. 

A federal jury in Fort Worth convicted a Texas licensed professional counselor yesterday for his role in a $26 million health care fraud, kickbacks, and money laundering scheme.

“Yesterday’s verdict makes clear that those who try to defraud the United States will be met with swift and decisive justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Department of Justice’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “This defendant exploited a critical health care program serving active-duty servicemembers and their families, diverting taxpayer dollars to bankroll personal luxuries ranging from hotel stays to a casino-themed party and even a gold‑plated Tesla Cybertruck. Such conduct is an affront to the military community and the American public. The Department of Justice will continue to aggressively pursue anyone who abuses federal programs for personal gain.”

“Kevin Curry shamelessly preyed on the trust of servicemembers, veterans, and their families, siphoning millions from TRICARE through lies and coercion, said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “He fabricated medical records, stole doctors’ identities and clogged the system with fraudulent claims, all while lining his pockets with kickback‑tainted money. This conviction sends an unmistakable message that those who manipulate our military community and defraud federal healthcare programs will face the full force of federal prosecution.”

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Kevin D. Curry, 64, of Frisco, Texas, orchestrated a scheme to bill TRICARE for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy that was medically unnecessary or not provided. Curry, the owner and operator of two purported mental health clinics in Texas, Acuity TMS of Plano LLC and Acuity TMS of Fort Worth LLC, and one purported mental health clinic in Florida, Emerald Coast TMS of Fort Walton Beach LLC (collectively, Acuity), offered and paid over $5.5 million in kickbacks to convince active-duty servicemembers, veterans, and their family members to consent to TMS therapy they did not qualify for and, in many instances, did not receive. Curry, who falsely held himself out to be a medical doctor, used actual doctors’ credentials without their knowledge and consent to bill TRICARE as part of the scheme.

In an effort to conceal his fraud, Curry directed employees to fabricate medical records that he submitted to TRICARE to justify his fraudulent billings. Acuity billed TRICARE over $26 million in false, fraudulent, and kickback-tainted TMS claims, based on which TRICARE paid approximately $17 million. Curry laundered some of the proceeds by spending his ill-gotten gains on hotels, a lavish casino-themed party, and a gold-plated Tesla Cybertruck worth over $100,000:

The jury convicted Curry of three counts of health care fraud, three counts of offering and paying illegal health care kickbacks, and three counts of engaging in monetary transactions in criminal derived property. He is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s Fraud Division; United States Attorney Ryan Raybould of the Northern District of Texas; Special Agent in Charge Chad Gosch of the Department of Department’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southwest Field Office; Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the FBI Dallas Field Office; Chief William Marlowe of the Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU); and Special Agent in Charge Kris Raper of the Department of Veteran’s Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG), South Central Field Office, made the announcement.

DCIS, FBI, MFCU, and VA-OIG investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan Womble for the Northern District of Texas and Trial Attorneys Adam Tisdall and Yael Mash of the Fraud Division’s Health Care Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

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

The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

On Thursday, the Attorney General gathered victims and survivor families together at the first Summit on Victims of Violent Crime ahead of a memorial on the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims. At the Summit, Justice Department officials also announced the “Assisting Neighborhoods and Governments with Enforcement of Laws” (ANGEL) Grant Program in honor of Americans killed by illegal aliens, violent offenders, and illicit drugs. Local law enforcement can apply by October 20, 2026 and are eligible to receive up to $500,000. Applicants can find more information here. 

“This event was extraordinarily helpful, insightful, and motivational,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “When victims of violent crime and surviving families share their testimonies, you make a difference. Our prosecutors are spending every day focused on violent crime and illegal immigration and for the first time in history, DEA, FBI, and Marshals are doing Title 8 work. This isn’t the end of the conversation, it is just the beginning.”

“This Summit brought us together to acknowledge and discuss our shared obligation to make our communities safer and ensure that fewer families have to carry the heavy weight of violent crime,” said Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter. “That mission is advanced every day by the leadership of Attorney General Blanche and President Trump, whose commitment to restoring public safety and the rule of law has resulted in historically low violent crime figures.”

“Our Angel Families are the most powerful advocates for building a brighter, drug-free future,” said Director Sarah Carter of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. “We want to empower your voices as they carry forth the memory of your children to save the lives of others. Through it all, you are making a difference and this Administration will stand beside you.”

“Angel Families remind us why we must be a nation governed by the rule of law and committed to law and order,” said Director Kash Patel of the Federal Bureau of Investigations. “The FBI will continue standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our state, local, tribal, federal, and international law enforcement partners to protect the American people, uphold the Constitution, and ensure our communities remain safe.”

“Every criminal alien we remove from this country makes our communities safer,” said White House Border Czar Tom Homan. “We're going to keep pushing. We're not going to apologize. We're not going anywhere. ICE will continue doing their job every day across this country, especially in sanctuary cities where we'll surge resources and flood the zone. We're going to enforce the law without apology, you have my word on that.”

“Few understand loss firsthand-- we must never forget the testimonies we've heard over the past two days,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. “Under the leadership of President Trump, the Department of Justice is committed to supporting communities impacted by violent crime and to cultivating a strong partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement in our continued effort to Make America Safe Again.”

“Today, we stood with the families and survivors whose lives have been forever changed by violent crime and the devastating loss of a loved one. For far too many Americans, that violence is connected to illicit fentanyl—a poison trafficked by cartels designated as foreign terrorist organizations and concealed in counterfeit pills and other drugs,” said Principal Deputy Administrator Daniel Salter. “The Drug Enforcement Administration is working tirelessly to identify and hold accountable those responsible for distributing this deadly poison. Through enforcement, prevention, and public awareness, DEA remains steadfast in its commitment to build a Fentanyl Free America.”

“On behalf of the 93 United States Attorneys, I want to reaffirm our collective commitment to work hand in hand with the victims of violent crime to bring the perpetrators to justice, and to develop strategies to prevent the next victim,” said US Attorney Tom Wheeler for the Southern District of Indiana.

Other speakers included:

Joe Abraham- Joe is a lifelong Illinois resident, husband, and father of three. A corporate finance professional at a Fortune 50 company, he has dedicated his life to family and community. Joe is also the father of Katie, who was killed by a drunk-driving illegal alien in January 2025. Since her death, he has spoken on national media, including Fox News, and published multiple op-eds to raise awareness about the impact of current policies on families like his.

Jennifer Bos- Jennifer lives in Illinois and is the mother of Megan Bos. Her daughter’s tragic and gruesome death exposed catastrophic failures in immigration enforcement and drug trafficking policy. The investigation into her death continues, but one truth is already painfully clear: dangerous gaps in our system allowed an illegal alien to exploit our laws—and her daughter paid the ultimate price. Jennifer speaks locally and nationally about the four crises that compounded her tragedy: illegal immigration, sanctuary policies, fentanyl, and cashless bail.

Michelle Esquenazi- Michelle is the President and CEO of Empire Bail Bonds, the largest bond company in New York State, offering bail bond services to clients in almost every area. She is a proud Mom of four children, a grandmother and a Domestic Violence Survivor and escapee. Michelle was thrust into the bail profession about three decades ago, as she became a single Mom of public assistance and saw a way to help people in need of navigating the criminal justice system. She speaks with victims at all hours of the night and equips them with resources, including safe housing and legal assistance. Michelle has been advocating for crime victims and accountable bail release policies since 2012.

Patti Fox- Patti is a Colorado mother, speaker, and advocate for lawfulness, public safety, and victims’ rights. After her daughter, Carissa, was critically injured in a hit-and-run by an unlicensed, uninsured illegal alien who fled the scene, Patti left her career in marketing to become a full-time caregiver. She now speaks out on the real-world consequences of failed sanctuary policies, the cost of selective law enforcement, and the urgent need to uphold the rule of law to keep American communities safe. 

Stephen Federico- Stephen Federico is the father of Logan Hailey Federico, a 22-year-old from Waxhaw, North Carolina, who was killed during a home invasion in Columbia, South Carolina, in May 2025. Since Logan's death, Stephen has become an advocate for changes to how repeat violent offenders' criminal histories are tracked and handled. His advocacy has led him to testify before lawmakers and speak publicly about Logan’s case. Stephen has also worked with lawmakers, including Rep. Russell Fry, on proposed legislation commonly referred to as Logan's Law, aimed at creating a nationwide registry/database containing information about people convicted of serious offenses.

Anne Fundner- Anne is a mother, advocate, public speaker and national voice in the fight against the fentanyl crisis. Her advocacy began after the devastating loss of her 15-year-old son, Weston, who died in 2022 after taking a counterfeit pill containing fentanyl. Since Weston’s death, Anne has dedicated herself to raising awareness about fentanyl, counterfeit pills, youth drug exposure and the devastating consequences of the nation’s addiction and illicit-drug crisis. She founded the Forever Weston Foundation in honor of her son and works to educate families and communities while advocating for policies intended to prevent other families from experiencing the loss she endured. Anne gained national attention in 2024 when she spoke at the Republican National Convention, sharing Weston’s story with a national audience. She has subsequently testified before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, where she urged policymakers to recognize the human cost of the fentanyl crisis and take action to prevent additional deaths.

Anne Giaritelli- Anna is an investigative journalist who joined the Washington Examiner in 2015. As homeland security reporter, she spearheads coverage of immigration and national security. She has deployed to the nation's borders on more than 60 occasions, delivering on-the-ground reports on complex cartel infrastructure, shifting migration dynamics, domestic terrorism, the multi-front war on drugs and aviation security. Her dedicated reporting made her a finalist for the 2024 Dao Prize for Excellence in Investigative Journalism. Beyond her reporting on federal law enforcement, Anna is a prominent victim advocate and the author of the memoir, “Under Assault: A Crime Reporter's True Story of Overcoming Sexual Trauma and Exposing Injustice.” The book details her personal survival of a violent daylight attack in Washington, D.C. and chronicles her investigation into how local law enforcement manipulated crime data to erase cases like her own from public statistics.

Jessica Gorman- Jessica Gorman is a grieving mother, victims’ advocate and national voice for public safety following the tragic death of her 18-year-old daughter, Sheridan Grace Gorman. Sheridan was a freshman at Loyola University Chicago with a bright future ahead of her. On March 19, 2026, Sheridan was shot and killed near Chicago’s lakefront while out with friends. In the months following her daughter’s death, Jessica has courageously shared Sheridan’s story and called for meaningful changes to policies and systems that she believes failed to protect her daughter. Jessica recently spoke at the 2026 Republican National Midterm Convention in Dallas with her husband, Tom Gorman, and daughter Madelon.

Jennifer Harrison- Jennifer serves as the executive director of Victims Rights Reform Council. She was forced to become an expert on victims' rights and criminal justice issues when both her boyfriend of 6 years and his best friend were murdered on January 15, 2005. Ultimately only one person served just 9.5 years for killing two people. Jessica has dedicated her life to helping other victims ever since, connecting with support groups on both the national and local level. She has become an advocate against some of the atrocities she witnessed and helps other survivors of homicide victims connect with the resources they need to navigate through their endless nightmare. Jennifer continues to advocate against dangerous criminal justice reforms that have been implemented in multiple states across the country, such as Bail Reform, along with other dangerous social justice initiatives.

Nicole Kiprilov- Nicole is a Republican political operative and strategist. A native New Yorker, she graduated in 2019 from Duke University with a double B.A. in Political Science and French, a specialization in political theory, a minor in Philosophy, and a certification in Philosophy Politics and Economics (PPE). Nicole is the Executive Director of The American Border Story (TABS), the President of the Coalition for Military Excellence (CME), and leads several initiatives at The America Fund focused on fighting for the America-First movement. Nicole is also an Independent Women’s Forum Fellow. Nicole frequently appears on Newsmax, One America News, and Real America’s Voice. She is a contributor at Daily Caller and writes for several other publications. 

Connie Sheely- Connie has served as the president of the National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children since 2005. She became involved in the organization following the murder of her brother, Joel Holbrook who was found murdered in his home in Kansas City, Missouri in 1999.  His case remains unsolved.  Connie found POMC to be a tremendous help in dealing with her brother’s murder.  She values the importance of POMC, its members and advocating for other survivors.  She has shared her experience with community groups, promoting public awareness of POMC and has spoken to prison inmates on victim impact.

The United States filed an application to intervene in the captioned cases, X Internet and X Holdings v. Commission, Case No. T-114/26 and Musk v. Commission, Case No. T-121/26, before the General Court of the Court of Justice of the European Union (GCEU) in Luxembourg in support of the applications to annul the Dec. 5, 2025, Decision of the European Commission that found them liable for violations of the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) and imposed a fine of €120,000,000 jointly and severally, based on “the total worldwide annual turnover of the single economic unit ultimately controlled by Elon Musk or that of X Holdings Corp.”

“The European Commission inappropriately attempted to expand its regulatory authority to reach American companies not present or operating within its jurisdiction,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will not tolerate the European Commission engaging in regulatory overreach to try and control American engines of innovation and economic growth.” 

Article 40 of the Statute of the Court of Justice of the European Union provides that a natural or legal person, including a State, may intervene in disputes before the Court where that person “can establish an interest in the result of the case to the Court.” 

This is the first case challenging an enforcement action under the DSA to reach the General Court. The Department of Justice coordinated with the Department of State in preparing the intervention application, given the broad interest in protecting American companies from foreign extraterritorial enforcement action and the implications for U.S.-EU relations. The United States has a clear interest in ensuring that the effect of any judgment concerning the Commission’s Decision is consistent with how territorial jurisdiction is generally understood in international law, and does not otherwise prejudice, U.S.-headquartered digital services companies, which contribute significantly to the U.S. economy. The United States has significant concerns about the European Commission’s approach to determining who is the “provider” of digital services for the purposes of attributing liability under the DSA, and whether this approach is consistent with established principles and limitations on the appropriate reach of extraterritorial jurisdiction and the “corporate veil” principle, which is fundamental to the U.S. economic and legal system, and many others, which provides that that there is, in general, no entitlement to look behind the corporate structure in order to take action against shareholders. Critically, the Commission’s approach extended legal scrutiny to Mr. Musk himself as a private individual and implicated entirely separate and unrelated American corporate entities under his ownership, despite those entities having no connections to the digital services at issue.

If the approach in the European Commission Decision is upheld, this may have significant implications for “very large online platforms” and other similar entities operating in the digital services sector within the EU, many of which are domiciled (at parent level) within the United States. The United States looks forward to the opportunity to address these concerns and issues in detail before the General Court.

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced today the dismissal of more than fifty desegregation cases — from Waterbury, Connecticut, to Flagler County, Florida — ending matters that had remained on court dockets for more than half a century.

“In this administration, we are ending prolonged federal oversight of these school districts because the effort does not reflect the reality of those classrooms today,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “In some cases, school districts have been under federal control for more than 60 years. Now these local school districts can redirect taxpayer dollars back to benefitting students, instead of funding onerous and outdated consent decrees.”

The Department is undertaking a thorough case-by-case review of pending school desegregation cases, which were filed in connection with the unlawful operation of a dual school system based on race. Cases still on the docket in federal courts were filed in the 1960’s and 70’s. After concluding that a school district has achieved unitary status, the Department will seek dismissal of the case.

Fort Wayne – Gerald Martin, 52, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was sentenced by Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to Sexual Exploitation of Children, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.

Martin was sentenced to 180 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Restitution will be determined at a later date.

“Martin used, persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct.  Gerald Martin will spend the next fifteen years in prison for his actions. Child exploitation and production of child pornography cases are a parent’s worst nightmare.  These offenses have life-altering, lasting impacts on victims and their families and require severe punishment to deter others from engaging in this heinous behavior.  The United States Attorneys’ Office will use whatever resources at our disposal to aggressively prosecute these offenders and get justice for their victims.” Said U.S. Attorney Mildred.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley J. Miller Lowery

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

Today, the Justice Department announced the “Assisting Neighborhoods and Governments with Enforcement of Laws” (ANGEL) Grant Program.

This initiative seeks to protect American citizens from being victimized, harmed, or killed by violent criminal illegal aliens. No additional families should endure the trauma and life altering devastation experienced by victims of violent crime and Angel Families. This funding opportunity will support state, local, and tribal government’s activities to identify, disrupt, and prevent violent crime and enhance public safety through coordinated, intelligence-led law enforcement operations. 

“This funding opportunity is a way for local law enforcement to honor victims and counter the dangerous sanctuary policies that have decimated public safety in so many states,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. “The Trump Administration and this Department of Justice want to ensure local law enforcement have the resources they need to ensure the deaths of innocent Americans never happen again. To the departments whose states have failed to provide you with the support you need to conduct law enforcement or immigration enforcement and to protect your communities from murders and trafficking: this program is for you.”

Funding must be used by local law enforcement for:

1. Locating and apprehending aliens who have committed a crime under federal, state, or local law, in addition to being unlawfully present in the United States (hereafter referred to as “criminal illegal aliens”).
2. Collection and analysis of law enforcement investigative information within the United States to counter gang or other criminal activity.
3. Investigating and prosecuting (a) crimes committed by aliens within the United States; and (b) drug and human trafficking crimes committed within the United States.
4. Court operations related to the prosecution of (a) crimes committed by aliens; and (b) drug and human trafficking crimes.
5. Temporary criminal detention of aliens.
6. Transporting aliens described in paragraph (1) within the United States to locations related to the apprehension, detention, and prosecution of such aliens.
7. Vehicle maintenance, logistics, transportation, and other support provided to law enforcement agencies by a state agency to enhance the ability to locate and apprehend aliens who have committed crimes under federal, state, or local law, in addition to being unlawfully present in the United States.

Eligible local law enforcement Awards from this program will be used to support significant participation in and support of Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) activities and other DOJ efforts to combat gangs, cartels, and other violent crime. 

This program is authorized under the BIDEN Reimbursement Fund established by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Public Law 119-21, Title X, Subtitle A, Part II (codified at 34 U.S.C. § 61101), provides funding for grants to eligible States, State agencies, and units of local government and tribal governments, pursuant to their existing statutory authorities to support the seven statutory purposes outlined in 34 U.S.C. § 61101. 

Local law enforcement can apply here.

SHREVEPORT – On September 17, 2026, United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr., sentenced Jamison Keontai King, 35, of Wallisville, Texas, to 60 months in federal prison after his guilty plea for Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense.  

On September 18, 2026, United States District Judge David C. Joseph sentenced  Alonzo Deshaun Young, 41, of Monroe, to 60 months in federal prison after his guilty plea for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon.

KING

According to court documents, King was taken into custody by Many, Louisiana, police officers (MPD) on October 23, 2024, after officers responded to a call made by a person who identified King as the suspect in a disturbance. Officers found methamphetamine and a Romarm/Cugir Micro Draco 7.62x39mm firearm in his possession at the time he was taken into custody. King admitted he intended to distribute the methamphetamine and that he possessed the firearm to further and advance his drug trafficking activities.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and MPD investigated this case. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Gaskins with assistance from Legal Assistant Emily Favrot.

YOUNG

According to court documents, on May 28, 2025, Louisiana State Police (LSP) responded to a single car crash along Interstate 20 in Monroe. Young, the sole occupant of the vehicle, appeared unaware that he had been in an accident. Troopers found a partially burnt cigarette soaked in PCP on the driver’s floorboard and a loaded Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield (M2.0) pistol on the passenger floorboard. Young admitted possessing the firearm and acknowledged that his prior felony conviction made it illegal for him to do so.  

ATF and LSP investigated this case. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheyenne Y. Wilson with assistance from Legal Assistant Amanda Morgan.

U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcements.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 5:26 cr 00042 01 (King) and 3:26 cr 00006 (Young.)

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

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CONTACT: Public Affairs: Cara.Alexander@usdoj.gov
United States Attorney’s Office: www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
X: @USAO_WDLA
Facebook: USAO_WDLA
(337) 262-6704

The Justice Department issued the following statements regarding the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan’s decision yesterday in People of the State of Michigan vs. BP, P.L.C., et al., which was an antitrust lawsuit brought by the state against energy companies.The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division and Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) had previously filed a statement of interest to inform the court of legal doctrines that limited the state’s claims. 

“This dismissal should make states rethink the use of lawfare to enact climate change policy,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. “We are committed to upholding antitrust and environmental law. Michigan’s case would have accomplished neither. That is what we highlighted in our statement of interest.”

“Last May, we filed a complaint against Michigan to prevent it from suing energy companies for climate change under state law theories that are preempted by federal law,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of ENRD. “After we filed our complaint, Michigan pivoted to the novel antitrust claims that the court dismissed yesterday. We are pleased that the district court has rejected another aggressively anti-energy lawsuit, and we are committed to protecting American energy from this sort of state overreach.”

“Antitrust law protects competition and thereby consumers; it is not a tool to advance societal goals unrelated to competition,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General G. Charles Beller of the Antitrust Division. “The court’s dismissal of Michigan’s novel antitrust claims reiterates the bedrock principle that State plaintiffs, like other private parties, must establish antitrust standing. This standing doctrine ensures that the relief provided to private parties is appropriately tailored to redress harms to competition. On behalf of the American people, we are proud to have worked with ENRD to protect and defend the proper application of federal law.”

NEW BERN N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Mijuel Taylor, also known as “Mthang,” 24, of Wilson to almost 12 years in federal prison for possessing meth with intent to distribute it and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

“Stashing a loaded gun in your waistband while standing in a house tied to gang shootings, with a pocket full of meth, is a fast track to federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Wilson has seen far too many gang‑related shootings and lawlessness. This conduct only fuels more violence in a vicious cycle. The rules for staying out of trouble are simple: no gangs, no illegal guns, and don’t sell drugs. These young thugs destroy their families and communities with guns and drugs and the inevitable violence that follows. If you somehow avoid getting shot, you go to prison to rot. Get smart. Choose better.”

In the summer of 2024, Wilson experienced at least 12 gang‑related shootings. Investigators determined the violence fueled from a dangerous rivalry between two local hybrid gangs; the “600/Snail/Taliban,” tied to the Nine Trey Gangster Bloods, and “D.M.G.,” linked to the 52 Hoover Gangster Crips. During the investigation, law enforcement learned that the gang banger stored firearms tied to the gang shootings at a residence in Wilson.

On July 25, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at that residence suspected of hiding guns tied to gang‑related shootings. As they moved in, officers confronted Taylor near a side door and immediately detained him. During the search, they found a loaded 9‑millimeter handgun tucked into his waistband and more than 48 pills containing meth in his pocket.

“This sentencing underscores the FBI’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the public and dismantling the violent criminal networks that undermine community safety. Gang-related violence remains a significant driver of violent crime nationwide, with federal assessments showing that criminal gangs are responsible for a substantial share of shootings and gun trafficking activity across the United States. Through close coordination with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to disrupt the organizations that fuel this violence, remove illegally possessed firearms from our streets, and ensure that individuals who traffic in narcotics and weapons are held fully accountable under federal law," said Reid Davis, the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina. 

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. 

W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The FBI’s Raleigh Durham Safe Streets Task Force and the Wilson Police Department investigated the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-00325-FL.

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced today its finding that the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine (UCSF Medical School) discriminated based on race in granting and denying admission to its 2023-2025 incoming classes. UCSF Medical School’s discriminatory conduct violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, and the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (SFFA), which banned race discrimination in higher education.

“Unfortunately, at UCSF Medical School, MCAT scores and undergraduate GPAs have taken a backseat to race,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Aspiring doctors should be admitted based on their qualifications. The Supreme Court has spoken clearly — federally funded medical schools may not admit students based on misguided and illegal notions of diversity.”

UCSF Medical School’s application process has three stages: the Primary Application, the Secondary Application, and the interview. The Department’s investigation found that race is used to determine which students will advance from one stage to the next, and ultimately be admitted. The Primary and Secondary Applications prompt applicants to identify and discuss their race. And while less than 10% of Secondary Applications advance to the interview stage, black and Hispanic applicants were invited to interview at far higher rates than white and Asian applicants, despite having lower MCAT scores and undergraduate GPAs.

From 2023-2025, UCSF Medical School admitted black and Hispanic applicants who academically underperformed the average rejected white and Asian student. But even where MCAT score, undergraduate GPA, and socioeconomic traits were the same when compared to white applicants, UCSF Medical School was 4.6 times more likely to admit Hispanic applicants and 12.6 times more likely to admit black applicants. When compared to Asian applicants, black and Hispanic applicants had similarly higher chances of admission.

Medical schools receive substantial federal financial assistance and are subject to federal non-discrimination laws. The Department will continue to investigate their compliance with Title VI, as interpreted by SFFA’s prohibition on race-conscious admissions. Where a violation has been found, the Department is engaging in settlement negotiations to ensure the school’s admissions practices are brought into compliance. If those efforts fail, the Department will file suit.

Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov.

Note: Read the Department’s Findings Letter here.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas yesterday allowed a land exchange to proceed between the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and SpaceX in South Texas. The court denied a preliminary injunction request, finding that the plaintiffs failed to establish an injury in fact to support standing and they failed to establish irreparable harm. 

“This land exchange is a win-win for the American people that achieves significant benefits for conservation and national security,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of ENRD. “The United States will acquire several hundred acres of high-quality habitat in the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge that the Fish and Wildlife Service seeks to protect, and SpaceX will acquire land with a lower biological value that will help it achieve its mission for NASA and the Air Force.”

Attorneys in ENRD’s Natural Resources Section handled this matter.

LAFAYETTE-On September 21, 2026, and September 24, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana will host the 2026 Louisiana Law Enforcement Gun Crime Summit in both Shreveport and Lafayette. The event is designed  to strengthen collaboration and effectiveness among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in the critical effort to combat illegal gun possession and gun crime throughout Louisiana.

U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller will address attendees with remarks addressing the “Benefits of Federal Prosecution: What to Expect from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.” His remarks will highlight how federal investigative and prosecutorial tools can support and enhance local and state efforts to reduce gun violence. 

The summit will also feature addresses by Assistant U.S. Attorneys and law enforcement leaders addressing prosecution challenges and remedies. Attendees will participate in workshops and focus groups discussing investigative protocols, best practices, information‑sharing strategies, and coordinated approaches in the quest to keep Louisiana communities safe.

Training seminars will include “Drafting Affidavits and Inclusive Report Writing,” “Fourth Amendment Refresher: Traffic Stops & Seizure of Evidence,” “Suppression Hearings & Trial Testimony,” “Highway Interdiction,” and “Investigation, Evidence Handling, Documentation, and Testimony in Firearms Cases.”   

Shreveport:  Date: Monday, September 21, 2026
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: LSUS Shreveport Auditorium
One University Place
Shreveport, LA 71115

Lafayette: Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office
Public Safety Complex, Building 2
1825 W. Willow Street
Lafayette, LA 70583

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CONTACT: Public Affairs: Cara.Alexander@usdoj.gov
United States Attorney’s Office: www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
X: @USAO_WDLA
Facebook: USAO_WDLA
(337) 262-6704

NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Kenji Chiba Jerkins, 31, to over 10 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute large quantities of meth in Lenoir County. Jerkins pled guilty to these crimes on June 18, 2026.

“Once again we have caught and federally prosecuted a Big Shark Bad Boy who will no longer push his poisonous product in Eastern North Carolina to pad his pockets,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Despite trying to outrun and dump his illegal drugs, he soon discovered the long arm of the law always wins. He will now sit behind the cold bars of steel for over a decade. Simple Lesson: Drugs Kill, Prison Awaits – Do Right.” 

During a joint narcotics investigation, the DEA and the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office identified Jerkins as a major meth dealer in Lenoir County. On August 11, 2025, law enforcement tried to stop a vehicle in which he was a passenger, but the driver refused to pull over. A high‑speed chase ensued. Officers saw Jerkins throw large amounts of meth out the passenger window before the vehicle crashed into a tree in a local citizen’s yard. Jerkins tried to run from the scene, but officers quickly caught him. After searching the vehicle and the chase path, officers recovered 292 grams of crystal meth, two torn bags containing meth, and 1 gram of marijuana. Jerkins has a long record of criminal convictions and repeatedly violated the terms of his probation and supervised release from prior state convictions.

“This defendant was held accountable for distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute significant quantities of methamphetamine,” said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “That outcome would not have been possible without the commitment and cooperation of our law enforcement partners. Together, we followed the evidence, built the case, and ensured this dangerous drug trafficker faced the consequences of his actions.”

“This case is a great example of what can happen when law enforcement agencies work together. The Lenoir County Sheriff Office and our federal partners will continue to go after those who bring dangerous drugs into our community,” said Lenoir County Sheriff, Jackie Rogers. “This defendant made the choice to sell poison, and now he will spend more than a decade paying the price for that choice. Drugs destroy lives, and if you choose to sell them in Lenoir County, we will find you.”

W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The DEA and Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:26-CR-00003-FL-RN.

The Justice Department has selected seven additional federally recognized Tribes to participate in the continued expansion of the Tribal Access Program for National Crime Information (TAP), a program that provides Tribal governments with means to access, enter, and exchange data with national crime information systems, including those maintained by the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division.

“The Justice Department is pleased to continue its expansion of the Tribal Access Program, which equips Tribal governments with federal crime data to solve crimes, conduct background checks, and identify wanted predators,” said Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter.  “These are the tools Tribal governments need to protect and serve their communities, which in turn strengthens the rule of law and public safety for families and children in Indian Country.”

TAP provides training as well as software and biometric/biographic workstations to process fingerprints, take mugshots, and submit information to FBI CJIS systems.

The Justice Department began TAP in 2015 in response to concerns raised by Tribal leaders about the need to have direct access to federal systems. Using TAP, Tribes have shared information about missing persons; registered convicted sex offenders; entered domestic violence orders of protection for nationwide enforcement; entered orders that prevent dangerous prohibited persons from obtaining firearms; run criminal histories; identified and arrested fugitives; entered bookings and convictions; and completed fingerprint-based record checks for non-criminal justice purposes such as screening employees or volunteers who work with children.

“The Tribal Access Program has been an immense support to our work serving the members of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community,” said Adrienne Haines, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Social Services Program Manager. “It has allowed us to efficiently process fingerprints and obtain important background information regarding potential caregivers in a timely manner, which helps us provide safe and responsive services to our families. The system is easy to use, reliable, and fits well into our daily work processes. Having minimal delays in receiving background information has greatly improved our department’s efficiency and ability to make informed decisions quickly. Overall, the Tribal Access Program has been a valuable resource for our team and has positively impacted the work we do for our community.”

The following additional Tribes have been selected for participation in TAP:

1. Cahuilla Band of Indians (California)
2. Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians (Maine)
3. Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma (Oklahoma)
4. Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe (Minnesota)
5. Pechanga Band of Indians (California)
6. Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation (Nevada & Idaho)
7. Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians of California (California)

TAP is managed by the Justice Department’s Office of the Chief Information Officer and the Office of Tribal Justice. It is funded by the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART), the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).

For more information on TAP, visit www.justice.gov/tribal/tribal-access-program-tap.

Today, the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel released a legal opinion concluding that the federal prohibition may not be enforced against licensed dealers selling handguns to otherwise law-abiding adults ages 18 to 20 consistent with the Second Amendment.

The Office of Legal Counsel’s new opinion explains that federal statutes 18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(1) and (c)(1) are inconsistent with the Second Amendment as interpreted by the Supreme Court in District of Columbia v. Heller, New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n v. Bruen, and subsequent decisions including Wolford v. Lopez. These statutes generally prohibit federally licensed dealers from selling handguns or handgun ammunition to individuals under 21.

The Office of Legal Counsel determined that 18 to 20-year-olds are among “the people” protected by the Second Amendment. “Eighteen-year-olds may vote, serve on juries, be drafted, and face adult criminal penalties, including capital punishment,” said Assistant Attorney General T. Elliot Gaiser for the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel. "The Constitution protects the people’s right to keep and bear arms. The Department of Justice may not constitutionally seek to impose criminal penalties on dealers who sell handguns to law-abiding adults who, in nearly every other relevant respect, are members of the political community.”

Because the restrictions burden the ability of members of “the people” to acquire commonly used arms, they fall within the Amendment’s plain text and are presumptively unconstitutional. The Office of Legal Counsel found no Founding era history or tradition of precluding legal adults from purchasing firearms to protect public safety. To the contrary, at the Founding, militia statutes overwhelmingly required service beginning at 18 and required enrollees to furnish their own arms.

The Office of Legal Counsel concludes that Section 922(b)(1) and (c)(1) may not be enforced to impose criminal penalties on dealers who sell handguns to a class of law-abiding adults who, in nearly every other relevant respect, are members of the political community.

Read the full opinion here.

RALEIGH N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Linc Oshea Brooks, 56, to over 3 years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.

“Each day, thousands of men and women courageously put on the badge, kiss goodbye to their families, step into harm’s way, and protect the community from criminal ne'er-do-wells. Unfortunately, a select few choose wrong; breaking the law they swore to enforce,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “This traitor thought he could outsmart the system. Thought the law didn’t apply to him. But instead, he will now sit behind the cold bars of a prison cell and reflect on how treacherously he behaved. Simple Lesson: Drugs Kill; Prison Awaits – Do Right.” 

In early 2022, DEA investigators uncovered Brooks’ connection to a cocaine trafficker in Richmond, Virginia. Later that year, another drug trafficker told agents Brooks had been selling up to 5 kilograms of cocaine at a time since 2021.

Investigators continued building their case, and by January 11, 2023, determined that Brooks would be driving up I‑95 to Roanoke Rapids to deliver 9 ounces of cocaine. Nash County Sheriff’s Deputies spotted him commit several traffic violations and pulled him over. During the stop, a K‑9 alerted to drugs in the car, leading deputies to discover 191 grams of cocaine. Brooks became combative at this point, forcing deputies to restrain him.

Following the arrest, law enforcement continued their investigation by searching Brooks’ home. In a shed on the property, deputies found two digital scales with white residue, plastic baggies, and two guns. Inside the house, they located two additional guns in the master bedroom, along with marijuana.

The DEA investigation also revealed that cooperating witnesses had linked Brooks to large‑scale cocaine trafficking dating back to the early 2000s. Although Brooks retired from the Rocky Mount Police Department in 2006, investigators noted that when deputies arrested him in January 2023, he still carried his police shield and law enforcement ID card; revealing how long he hid his illegal ways had remained hidden behind his tarnished badge.

“Law enforcement officers are entrusted with protecting their communities, not exploiting their positions to facilitate drug trafficking,” said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “When an officer becomes involved in drug trafficking, that conduct not only violates the law, but it also betrays the public trust. Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of those actions and the commitment of law enforcement to hold accountable anyone who chooses to traffic dangerous drugs.”

"Sheriff Keith Stone extends his sincere gratitude to each agency involved in this investigation for their dedication and hard work. Law enforcement professionals are held to the highest standards in order to provide the level of public service our communities deserve. Mr. Brooks violated that trust by swearing an oath to uphold the law and then engaging in the very criminal activity he was entrusted to prevent. Our mission is to keep our citizens and communities safe from crime. When law enforcement and citizens work together, it enhances the community by reducing illegal narcotics, crime, and provides a safe environment for all. "

W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The DEA, ATF, and Nash County Sherriff’s Office investigated the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-00310-FL.

The Department of Justice is returning approximately $2.5 million in corruption proceeds to the Republic of The Gambia to be used to compensate victims of the Jammeh regime. Yahya Jammeh, the former President of The Gambia, and his wife, Zineb Jammeh, used criminal proceeds and misappropriated Gambian public funds to purchase a mansion in Potomac, Maryland, for their personal use. The Department of Justice forfeited and liquidated that property in United States v. Real Property Located in Potomac, MD, Commonly Known as 9908 Bentcross Drive, 8:20-cv-2071 (D. Md.). As alleged in the complaint, Yahya Jammeh corruptly obtained millions of dollars through the embezzlement of public funds and the solicitation of bribes from businesses seeking to obtain monopoly rights over various sectors of the Gambian economy. Jammeh conspired with his family members and close associates to utilize a host of shell companies and overseas trusts to launder his corrupt proceeds throughout the world. 

“This case is an important example of international cooperation to hold accountable those who use our financial system to attempt to hide illicit criminal proceeds,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Returning these funds forfeited from the former leader to compensate his victims demonstrates our commitment to recover funds taken in violation of the rule of law and to return them for the benefit of victims in a lawful process.”

“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) remains committed to protecting the integrity of the U.S. financial system by ensuring that corrupt foreign officials cannot use the United States to hide, move, or enjoy the proceeds of bribery, embezzlement, and abuse of office,” said Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon of HSI. “This return of approximately $2.5 million to The Gambia demonstrates the impact of HSI’s illicit finance investigations and our enduring partnerships to identify, seize, and return stolen assets for the benefit of victims harmed by corruption.”

The recovered funds from the sale of the mansion in Potomac, Maryland, resulted in the return of $2,507,911.73 in net proceeds to The Gambia based on the valuable assistance of officials of The Gambia in cooperation with the United States, which facilitated the successful forfeiture. The agreement entered into with The Gambia provides that it will use these funds to compensate eligible victims of the Jammeh regime, as defined under the Gambian Victims Reparations Act of 2023, which was established to benefit the people harmed by former President Jammeh’s acts of corruption and abuse of office. 

The investigation was conducted by HSI’s Illicit Proceeds and Foreign Corruption Group in Miami, with the assistance of HSI Baltimore and the HSI Attaché Office in Dakar. HSI established this group in 2003 to conduct investigations into the laundering of proceeds emanating from foreign public corruption, bribery, and embezzlement. HSI’s goal is to prevent foreign-derived, ill-gotten gains from entering the U.S. financial infrastructure.

The case was handled by Trial Attorneys Steven Parker and Kaycee Sullivan of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section. Substantial assistance was provided by the government of The Gambia, the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury.  

The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section's (MNF) mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.

MNF’s International Unit investigates and prosecutes cross-border money laundering schemes involving transnational criminal organizations, cartels, foreign official corruption and related money laundering affecting the U.S. financial system and prosecutes criminal cases and civil forfeiture matters to recover the proceeds of those crimes. 

HSI Miami Illicit Proceeds and Foreign Corruption Investigations Group was established in 2003 to target corrupt foreign officials around the world that attempt to utilize U.S. financial institutions to launder illicit funds. Since inception, the group has seized over $500 million in ill-gotten gains traced to foreign corruption. To report suspicious activity, reach out to your local HSI office or call 1-866-347-2423.

WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Justice announced agreements with two of the nation’s largest health care systems—New York University Langone Hospitals (“NYU”) and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (“UPMC”)—that resolve investigations into potential violations of federal law arising from their provision of sex-rejecting procedures on children, often euphemistically referred to as “gender-affirming care.” Under the agreements, NYU and UPMC will cease providing these dangerous interventions to minors, which include administering puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones and performing surgical procedures. Each hospital will also pay a monetary amount as part of the resolutions, with NYU agreeing to pay $8.5 million and UPMC $950,000.

“The Department of Justice is fighting to protect our nation’s children and working tirelessly to reach agreements with hospitals to end so-called ‘gender affirming care’ for minors,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Today’s resolutions send a clear message: hospitals that target children in these practices and then fraudulently obtain payment for the procedures will be held to account.”

Today’s announcement follows similar agreements with Mount Sinai Health System in New York, Texas Children’s Hospital, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and Connecticut Children’s Hospital. In working towards these resolutions, the United States acknowledged that both NYU and UPMC took significant steps entitling them to credit for cooperation with the Department in its investigation, including ongoing cooperation in the Department’s investigation of other entities potentially violating federal law in connection with the provision of sex-rejecting procedures to minors. At all times during the investigation, NYU and UPMC remained cooperative and solutions-driven.

“We appreciate that some of the nation’s largest and most prestigious hospital systems have agreed to cease harming minors under the guise of ‘gender-affirming care’ and agreed to pay for potential violations of federal law when they did so,” said Brett Shumate, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division. “But I want to be clear: our efforts and investigations into other providers are ongoing.  Those that have broken the law and not resolved their potential liability will be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.”

“My office’s foremost priority is protecting children. The resolutions announced today reflect the close collaboration across the Department of Justice and our continued commitment to ensuring that minors are safeguarded,” said Ryan Raybould, US Attorney for the Northern District of Texas. “These investigations are ongoing, and my office will continue to follow the evidence, act decisively when the well-being of minors is at stake, and fully pursue wrongdoers who have broken federal law.”

The resolutions obtained in this matter were the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch and the Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations.

In 2025, President Trump directed the Department of Justice to prioritize investigations and enforcement actions involving violations of federal law in the provision of so-called “gender-affirming care” to children. Acting on that directive, the Civil Division launched a nationwide investigation into the child gender-transition industry. The investigation examines potential violations of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the False Claims Act, and other federal health care laws, including fraudulent billing practices such as the use of false diagnosis codes to obtain payment from federal health care programs and private insurers. These schemes compound the harm inflicted on vulnerable children by fraudulently shifting the cost of potentially unlawful medical interventions to taxpayers and insurers. Today’s agreements are the results of that nationwide investigation. The Civil Division’s Enforcement & Affirmative Litigation Branch and Commercial Litigation Branch will continue to pursue these cases across the country, stop unlawful conduct, recover funds obtained through fraud, and hold accountable those who profit by violating federal law at children’s expense.

The claims resolved by the United States in these agreements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. NYU and UPMC have expressly denied all allegations.

WASHINGTON -- Today, the Department of Justice announced revisions to the Justice Manual to strengthen its fight against fraud under the False Claims Act through clearer standards that promote fair and effective enforcement. These revisions clarify the limits on the use of sub-regulatory guidance across Department litigation and when the Department will seek dismissal of qui tam actions that do not serve the interests of the United States.

“The Department of Justice should enforce the law, not make law through enforcement,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. “These updates reflect the Department’s commitment to fair notice, transparent enforcement, and the rule of law.”

“The Civil Division will continue to focus on cases that advance the interests of the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate. “Evaluating qui tam cases for potential dismissal ensures our enforcement efforts remain aligned with those interests and promotes the efficient use of government resources.”

“The False Claims Act is one of the government’s most powerful tools for combatting fraud,” said Associate Deputy Attorney General Paul Perkins.  “These revisions will help ensure the Department uses its enforcement authority fairly and effectively—holding fraudsters accountable for violations of binding legal or contractual obligations while seeking dismissal of meritless qui tam actions that waste taxpayer resources and impose unjustified burdens on businesses.”

The first revision reinstates and builds upon the Department’s 2017 policy that sub-regulatory guidance cannot impose legal obligations beyond those established by statute or regulation. This revision reflects the Department’s commitment to fair notice and the rule of law—individuals and businesses should be held accountable for violating binding legal obligations, not agency guidance that lacks the force and effect of law. It also ensures that the Department focuses its enforcement resources on violations of those binding obligations.

The second revision makes clear that the Department should consider exercising its dismissal authority when it declines to intervene in a qui tam action and, where it does not seek dismissal, revisit that assessment as appropriate during litigation. The Department will continue to exercise this authority judiciously, with an emphasis on seeking dismissal of qui tam actions that lack legal or factual merit and focusing Department resources on matters that advance the interests of the United States. 

The Justice Manual revisions may be found here and here.

The Department of Justice announced today that it is transferring $29.7 million to Curaçao in three installments. The funds represent the proceeds of an eight-year fraud and money laundering scheme against the government of Curaçao involving the operation of an unlicensed lottery and failure to pay taxes on the income from the lottery and other sources. 

According to court documents, Robertico A. Dos Santos orchestrated the scheme and was prosecuted in Curaçao. At Curaçao’s request, the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics, and Forfeiture Section (MNF) obtained an order from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia enforcing a pre-trial restraining order issued by a Curaçao court against the illegal proceeds. Those proceeds were deposited in investment accounts in a Miami bank opened by Dos Santos in the names of companies he controlled. After Dos Santos was convicted and sentenced in Curaçao, at Curaçao’s request, MNF obtained an order from the U.S. court enforcing the final forfeiture order issued by the Curaçao court against the restrained funds. 

According to the transfer document, the forfeited funds are being returned in recognition of Curaçao’s losses and its valuable assistance to the United States, which substantially facilitated the successful forfeiture of the illicit proceeds through the enforcement of Curaçao’s court orders. The return of the funds is also intended to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the investigation and prosecution of transnational financial crime, money laundering, corruption, human trafficking and other crimes, as well as the forfeiture of criminal proceeds. 

The recovered funds transferred to Curacao will be used over a period of time for various law enforcement purposes. The disposition of the transferred funds will be audited regularly by a non-profit accounting firm in Curaçao and annually by an external auditor. None of the funds may be disbursed to the defendant, Robertico Dos Santos, or his family and any businesses he controls. The transfer terms and the audit reports will be posted on public websites in Curaçao and provided to Curaçao’s Minister of Justice and the United States.   

This case was handled by Senior Trial Attorney Teresa Turner-Jones of MNF. Substantial assistance was provided by the government of Curaçao, the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, and the U.S. Department of State.  

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Department’s Criminal Division made the announcement.

MNF’s mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.

MNF’s International Unit investigates and prosecutes cross-border money laundering schemes involving transnational criminal organizations, cartels, foreign official corruption and related money laundering affecting the U.S. financial system and prosecutes criminal cases and civil forfeiture matters to recover the proceeds of those crimes. 

A Phoenix woman was sentenced to 14 years in prison in connection with her role in fraudulently billing Arizona’s Medicaid agency more than $69 million in less than one year for addiction treatment therapy. Many of the patients the defendant used to fuel her scheme were Native Americans covered by Arizona Medicaid under a specific program that reimbursed at higher rates than other Medicaid programs. In addition to the prison sentence, the defendant was ordered to pay almost $55 million in restitution, and to forfeit almost $9.5 million in fraud proceeds seized from seven bank accounts she controlled and almost $7 million in real estate properties. 

“The Fraud Division is determined to hold accountable individuals who exploit the Medicaid system and Native American health care programs,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “This sentence sends a clear message — if you take advantage of vulnerable populations to steal from the American taxpayer, you will pay the price.” 

“Ms. Anagho’s scheme manipulated a program that was intended to help Native Americans in Arizona,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine for the District of Arizona. “The fourteen-year sentence that she received is a sign of how serious and damaging health care fraud is to our society, and how important it is that we stop individuals who undermine the value of these programs.”

“The FBI will investigate and hold those who target, defraud, and exploit our healthcare programs accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Phoenix Field Office “We will continue to work with our partners to stop imposters like Ms. Anagho in their tracks and bring them to justice.”

“Medicaid funds exist to support some of our nation’s most vulnerable individuals. Exploiting this program for personal gain steals taxpayer dollars and undermines a critical safety net relied on by millions,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG and our law enforcement partners will continue to pursue those who defraud Medicaid and ensure they are held fully accountable.”

According to court documents, Rita Ntusa Anagho, 54, of San Tan Valley, Arizona, owned and operated Tusa Integrated Clinic, LLC (Tusa), an addiction treatment center that fraudulently billed the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) over $69 million from approximately May 2022 through March 2023. AHCCCS paid Tusa approximately $54.9 million based on these false and fraudulent claims.

Anagho, a licensed nurse practitioner, coordinated and carried out this massive health care fraud scheme by exploiting vulnerable substance abuse treatment patients. Anagho enrolled patients whose health care coverage was provided by the AHCCCS in her fraudulent clinic, Tusa. Indeed, Anagho and her co-conspirators deliberately targeted AHCCCS patients who were covered under the American Indian Health Care Program (AIHP) fee-for-service plan available to Native Americans. Anagho and her co-conspirators often deliberately sought such patients because the AIHP provided higher reimbursement rates than other AHCCCS health care plans. Anagho orchestrated this scheme to defraud AHCCCS by submitting false claims for purported addiction treatment services that were either not provided at all or not provided as billed. In addition, Anagho and her co-conspirators paid illegal kickbacks to owners of numerous area sober homes for patients who were referred to her clinic. Anagho and others falsified the treatment notes and records related to the purported addiction treatment services to conceal the scheme. Anagho then laundered the proceeds of her fraud and obstructed the investigation of her crimes by instructing her former employees to create fake medical records when Tusa received a subpoena for documents.

In May 2025, Anagho pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud. 

FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case. 

Assistant Deputy Chief James V. Hayes and Trial Attorney Sarah Edwards of the Fraud Division’s Health Care Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Williams for the District of Arizona prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph F. Bozdech for the District of Arizona assisted with forfeiture matters.

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

The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

The Department of Justice would like to remind the public of federal laws that require individuals to register as foreign agents when they act in the United States at the direction or control of a foreign government or foreign principal, and that they will face civil and criminal liability if they fail to do so. 

The Department recognizes and protects the First Amendment rights of those who seek to express their opinions publicly. The Department will not take action to inhibit anyone’s constitutionally protected right to free speech and free expression. Nor will any decisions be illegitimately influenced by anyone’s political associations, activities, or beliefs.  

At the same time, the Department is committed to upholding the rule of law and keeping our country safe against all enemies, both foreign and domestic. It does so by holding to account those who violate federal law. Two such federal laws — the Foreign Agents Registration Act, known as FARA, and 18 U.S.C. § 951 — impose disclosure or notification obligations when a person acts in the United States as an agent of a foreign principal or foreign government. These obligations aid in stopping foreign governments or their representatives from using undisclosed agents, intermediaries, false affiliations, covert funding, or other deceptive activities to illegally influence public debate, suborn sedition, or interfere with official proceedings. 

Both citizens and noncitizens are reminded that anyone who violates FARA or § 951 may face federal civil or criminal liability. If a person acts as an agent of any foreign power to carry out any public activity, including (but not limited to) public demonstrations designed to further the propaganda or other goals of the foreign power, he or she must register with or notify the appropriate federal authorities. Failure to do so may result in significant civil or criminal sanctions, up to and including a maximum of five years in prison. 

More information about FARA is available from the Department’s FARA Unit. Individuals with questions about potential obligations under FARA or 18 U.S.C. § 951 should consult legal counsel or seek an Advisory Opinion from the Department’s FARA Unit under 28 C.F.R. § 5.2. Members of the public who believe they have information about undisclosed foreign government direction or control may contact the FBI or their local U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Today, the Justice Department filed suit against the City of San Jose, California, and the San Jose Police Department for charging private individuals unreasonable fees to exercise their Second Amendment right to lawfully carry a firearm. At nearly $1,600 per license, the City’s application fee to carry a firearm is the highest in the nation. Indeed, San Jose’s fee towers over those imposed by the country’s biggest cities. New York, Washington, D.C., Boston, and Chicago all charge a small fraction of San Jose’s fee. The Supreme Court has held that “exorbitant fees” such as San Jose’s violate the Second Amendment because they deny ordinary citizens their right to carry firearms for self-defense. 

"All law-abiding Americans have a constitutional right to bear arms for self‑defense. This right is not a luxury reserved for a privileged few, but a fundamental element of our republic,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “You don’t need a law degree to recognize that charging a fee several times higher than the cost of the firearm itself is illogical, and an unconstitutional attempt to impede Americans’ Second Amendment rights."

The Civil Rights Division’s Second Amendment Section enforces the Second Amendment, the Police Pattern or Practice Act (34 U.S.C. § 12601), and Executive Order 14206. If you are a current or prospective gun owner and believe that a state or local government has infringed your right to keep or bear arms, please submit a complaint through https://www.justice.gov/crt/second-amendment-section.

The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division won substantial relief in its monopolization case against Google in advertising technology markets. In United States et al. v. Google LLC, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ordered significant behavioral relief, including requiring close integration between Google’s products and products offered by rivals, including the open-source solutions offered by Prebid. The court ordered further relief that will help to pry open these markets to competition.

“The Court’s ruling in the Google ad tech case marks a significant victory for this Department’s efforts to protect and restore competition,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. “We will continue to review the opinion to consider the Department’s options. Under President Trump’s and Attorney General Blanche’s leadership, we will never cease fighting for fair competition.”

As a direct result of the work of the Department’s trial team, Google’s executives repeatedly offered new pledges of injunctive relief while on the stand during the remedies trial. This extended after the trial, when Google offered a further-revised proposed final judgment with additional concessions. For example, Google committed that AdWords, its advertiser tool, would not engage in discriminatory bidding to the detriment of both advertisers and publishers. Because of the Department’s efforts during the remedies phase, Google also agreed to broaden the categories of advertising inventory covered by the final judgment, disclose how its black-box advertising auctions work, and provide new technical support and data to its competitors and customers. These actions highlight the strong case the Department put on at trial.

The court’s decision recognizes that it must seek to terminate Google’s monopolies, unfetter the markets from Google’s anticompetitive conduct, ensure that there remain no practices likely to result in monopolization, and deny Google the fruit of its unlawful actions: its monopoly power, scale, and profits.  In so holding, the court rejected Google’s argument that the termination of monopolies is not a proper objective for monopolization cases.

The court confirmed the Department’s position that it is not enough to order Google to cease its prior anticompetitive behavior. The court imposed interoperability and data-sharing requirements, anti-discrimination remedies, and prohibitions on Google’s self-preferencing bidding behavior. This ruling underscores the need for antitrust remedies to be forward-looking and comprehensive, and it reiterates that remedies can include conditions on products beyond the monopolized product markets. In addition to prohibiting Google’s past anticompetitive conduct, the court ordered the following relief:

• Required Integrations with Prebid and Competing Publisher Ad Servers. The court recognized the importance of injecting new competition and breaking Google’s unlawful tie between AdX and DFP. Google must create and support integrations between AdX and Prebid, and DFP and Prebid. Prebid is an open-source industry standard for real-time bidding. In addition, AdX will be required to submit real-time bids to other publisher ad servers. These integrations will give publishers more control over the sale of their inventory and offer access to important, unique demand without publishers being forced to use both DFP and AdX.
• Data Sharing. The court also imposed meaningful data-sharing requirements on Google. Google will be required to allow publishers to access and export their own data from DFP and AdX, which will make it easier for publishers to switch ad tech providers.
• AdWords Must Bid in Non-Discriminatory Fashion. The court recognized the importance of AdWords to Google’s unlawful scheme. The court rejected Google’s arguments that remedies could not touch AdWords, Google’s “golden goose,” and ordered that AdWords cannot bid preferentially into AdX or other Google ad tech tools because of Google’s ownership of those tools. AdWords also cannot bid directly into DFP.
• Monitor. A monitor will be put in place to facilitate enforcement of Google’s compliance with the Final Judgment. Google will be subject to the oversight of this monitor and a technical committee for six years, the length of the Final Judgment.

The Department continues to review the court’s opinion and will determine appropriate next steps to ensure that competition is restored to these markets that Google has unlawfully dominated for far too long.

A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Michigan returned an indictment charging Emory Matthews, 62, of Farmington Hills, Michigan, with conspiring to bill Medicare for psychotherapy services that were never provided to patients of an adult day care center owned by his wife. He was arrested yesterday. 

According to court documents and evidence presented in court, Emory Matthews was a managing employee and administrator of New Beginnings Adult Center Inc. (New Beginnings), an adult day care center in Detroit depicted below:

Matthews was previously convicted of soliciting and receiving illegal health care kickbacks and bribes stemming from his earlier operation of the adult day care center. As a result of that conviction, he was excluded from billing Medicare. 

As alleged in the indictment, Matthews and his wife, Yolanda Matthews:

• Submitted false and fraudulent claims for individual and group psychotherapy services that were not provided; 
• Billed Medicare for services purportedly provided to beneficiaries at New Beginnings when in fact those beneficiaries were hospitalized at the time and could not have received the services; 
• Billed Medicare for services purportedly provided to beneficiaries at New Beginnings when those beneficiaries were deceased;
• Used the names of former employees on false claims submitted to Medicare; and
• Fraudulently concealed Matthews’ exclusion from Medicare by failing to disclose his role as a managing employee of New Beginnings as required by the rules. 

From January 2020 through June 2025, Matthews allegedly participated in submitting over $4.75 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare. 

Yolanda Matthews pleaded guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud on July 27. 

Emory Matthews is charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and three counts of health care fraud. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each count.

Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan of the FBI Detroit Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Thomas Ethridge of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.

The FBI Detroit Field Office and HHS-OIG investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Jeffrey A. Crapko of the Fraud Division’s Health Care Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.

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

The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This week the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights entered a voluntary settlement agreement with Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) to end discrimination against its Jewish students. The settlement agreement resolves the joint investigation conducted under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin, and Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

“Students of all ethnic and religious backgrounds — including Jewish students — should receive the same treatment at our nation’s universities,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “As its Jewish students prepare this week to observe Yom Kippur, we commend Lincoln Memorial University for its swift action addressing the Department’s concerns regarding discrimination and unequal treatment.”

“HHS’ Office for Civil Rights is committed to eliminating antisemitism and religious discrimination—a commitment we underscored earlier this month by issuing guidance on discrimination rooted in antisemitism to entities that receive HHS funding,” said Director Paula M. Stannard of the HHS Office for Civil Rights. “Our nation’s future healthcare professionals should be able to pursue their training without compromising their faith or their civil rights. Through our joint action with the Department of Justice, Lincoln Memorial University is ending practices that penalized Jewish students and will establish clear protections for religious accommodations moving forward.”

The joint investigation revealed that during the 2025-26 school year, LMU’s DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM) denied requests by Jewish students to reschedule classes, exams, and other academic assignments so they could celebrate or observe their religious holidays, but granted requests by non-Jewish students who sought the same accommodations. In January 2026 — after Jewish students challenged LMU-DCOM’s double standard — DCOM adopted a policy that it would not accommodate any religious observance requests, but would permit excused absences for “professional student leadership obligations” and other non-religious reasons. In February 2026, DOJ and HHS opened their joint investigation.

Under the settlement agreement, LMU-DCOM will revise its absence policy to allow excused absences for religious reasons on the same basis as non-religious reasons. When an excused absence is approved, the student will not suffer any penalties because of the absence. LMU-DCOM will also educate students, administrators, professors, faculty, and staff regarding the revised absence policy. Finally, LMU will reverse all penalties previously imposed on Jewish students who were wrongly denied religious accommodations during the 2025-26 school year.

Because of LMU’s cooperation, LMU will remain eligible for federal funding. The Civil Rights Division will close the investigation once LMU has completed its commitments under the settlement agreement.

Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov.

Scott Keith Baldwin Jr., 58, a dual resident of San Jose, California, and Reston, Virginia, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM). 

According to court documents, Baldwin Jr. was an active member of an invite-only online group on an encrypted messaging platform dedicated to sharing live links and files of CSAM. Around July 2024, following an online investigation into the group where law enforcement agents identified Baldwin as a member, agents executed a residential search warrant at Baldwin’s home in San Jose. A hard drive seized from this residence was found to contain images and videos from over 150 known child exploitation series, including images of prepubescent minors.

Baldwin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute CSAM. Sentencing is set for Jan. 12, 2027. Baldwin faces a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California; and FBI Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division made the announcement.

Trial Attorney Nadia Prinz of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Marissa Harris for the Northern District of California are prosecuting the case. 

The FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit investigated the case, with substantial assistance from both the FBI Washington, D.C. and San Francisco Field Offices. 

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

Yesterday, The U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska rejected a challenge to a Clean Water Act permit issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Johnson Tract mineral exploration project in South Central Alaska. The court granted summary judgment to the United States on every claim and left the permit in place. The permit allows JT Mining to build an access road and upgrade an existing airstrip serving an exploratory drilling site on private land the company owns inside Lake Clark National Park.

“This decision protects responsible mineral exploration on private land,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “The court’s decision reaffirms that federal agencies are entitled to deference when they make scientific and predictive judgments, and it keeps an important Alaska project moving forward.”

The Johnson Tract is a 20,942-acre private inholding at the headwaters of the Johnson River. JT Mining applied for a Section 404 permit in 2023 to build access to an upland exploratory drilling site. The Corps solicited and reviewed public comment, consulted several Alaska Native Tribes, and issued the permit in September 2024. The permit authorizes the discharge of 67,800 cubic yards of general embankment fill and 5,200 cubic yards of surfacing material into 5.14 acres of waters of the United States to construct a 2.3-mile access road and to realign and expand the existing airstrip to 5,000 feet. Fill will be sourced locally from material sites located in uplands, avoiding wetland and stream fill.

Plaintiffs argued principally that the Corps violated Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act by defining the action area too narrowly and declining to consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service about the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale. The whale’s designated critical habitat includes Tuxedni Bay, roughly ten miles east of the project area.

The court rejected that claim. It held the Corps reasonably defined the action area to reach the project footprint, a 300-foot buffer marking the outer limit of detectable noise disturbance, and three miles of downstream aquatic environment, and that the agency gave a reasoned explanation for those boundaries. The court noted that the permit authorizes the discharge of fill, not flights, and that it conveys no right to fly aircraft over Tuxedni Bay; air traffic over the national park is regulated by the National Park Service. The court further held the Corps acted reasonably in treating a future mine, and any flights a mine might generate, as speculative. Because no listed species or critical habitat is present in the action area, no consultation was required.

The court likewise upheld the Corps’ work under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Clean Water Act, rejecting arguments that the agency failed to verify the applicant’s acid rock drainage and metals leaching data and failed to resolve uncertainty about jurisdictional waters at the material sites. Quoting the Supreme Court’s decision in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, the court reiterated that “[t]he bedrock principle of judicial review in NEPA cases can be stated in a word: Deference.”

Trial attorneys from ENRD's Wildlife and Marine Resources Section, Natural Resources Section, and Environmental Defense Section handled this matter, with support from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Alaska.

Today, the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division along with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the SBA Office of Inspector General, as part of a Heartland Fraud Surge announced the results of Operation No Doze, a surge of criminal enforcement actions targeting fraud in SBA’s small business COVID-era loan programs.

During the summer surge between June 12 and Sept. 1, SBA-OIG and federal prosecutors in the Fraud Division and across over 40 U.S. Attorney’s Offices, with assistance from various partners, obtained felony charges against nearly 80 fraud defendants responsible for approximately $100 million dollars in intended loss to the United States. These charges target a range of individuals who allegedly exploited COVID-era SBA loan programs at the height of the pandemic.

Beyond newly charged defendants, as part of Operation No Doze, approximately 43 defendants pleaded guilty to SBA-related COVID fraud, reaching approximately $44 million in intended loss.  And approximately 40 defendants were sentenced for SBA-related COVID fraud, reaching nearly $100 million in intended loss.

Together, this targeted surge resulted in fraud enforcement actions spanning over 160 criminal defendants and involved approximately $245 million dollars in intended loss to American taxpayers.

Operation No Doze is a direct result of President Donald J. Trump’s creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division at the DOJ, the first new division in the DOJ in twenty years.

“Pandemic loan relief was meant to keep American small businesses alive during government lockdowns—not line the pockets of fraudsters,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The defendants charged during our summer surge allegedly fabricated businesses, submitted false payroll and revenue claims, stole identities, and concealed foreign ties on their applications— but they will now be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

“This summer surge shows what is possible when dedicated public servants across the country work together with a single purpose,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Our mission is clear: protect taxpayer funds, safeguard the integrity of federal relief programs, and deliver justice to those who exploited them. We will remain steadfast every day—standing shoulder‑to‑shoulder with our partners—to identify fraud, pursue those responsible, and restore confidence in the programs meant to help American small businesses thrive.”

“Today’s announcement represents the largest-ever action against perpetrators of SBA fraud, with 870,000 suspended borrowers tied to $39 billion in suspected fraudulent PPP and COVID EIDL activity. In partnership with Vice President Vance and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud,  we’re putting fraudsters on notice: the federal government will no longer turn a blind eye to those who stole from taxpayers and exploited programs designed to sustain small businesses during the pandemic,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “With demand letters going out to suspected fraudsters, we’re also sending a clear message that they must repay their debts or face Treasury collections and possible federal law enforcement. Under this Administration, the free ride is over. We are restoring accountability, recovering taxpayer dollars, and protecting SBA programs for the legitimate small businesses they were created to serve.”

“Operation No Doze brings a focused and coordinated approach to pursuing fraud in SBA’s pandemic relief programs,” said SBA Inspector General William Kirk. “By concentrating our investigative resources and working closely with SBA and our law enforcement partners, we are strengthening our ability to identify fraud, recover taxpayer funds, and hold accountable those who exploited programs created to help small businesses in a time of extraordinary need. This initiative makes clear that the passage of time does not diminish our commitment to accountability.”

“We are proud to stand with our federal and state partners in rooting out criminal activity of all kinds, especially defrauding the public,” said Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe. “Fraud is not a victimless crime. Every dollar stolen is a dollar taken from hardworking taxpayers or from someone who depends on the programs those dollars are meant to support. In Missouri, we will continue working at every level to hold fraudsters accountable and protect those they seek to exploit.”

Federal and State Partners Participating in Operation No Doze

U.S. Attorney Partners:

Central District of California, District of Kansas, District of Idaho, District of Maryland, District of Massachusetts, District of Montana, District of New Mexico,  District of Oregon, District of Rhode Island, Eastern District of California, Eastern District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Eastern District of Michigan, Eastern District of Missouri, Eastern District of New York, Eastern District of Texas, Eastern District of Virginia, Eastern District of Wisconsin, Middle District of Florida, Middle District of Louisiana, Northern District of California, Northern District of Florida, Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of Indiana, Northern District of Iowa, Northern District of Ohio, Northern District of Texas, Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of Alabama, Southern District of California, Southern District of Florida, Southern District of Indiana, Southern District of Ohio, Southern District of West Virginia, Western District of Kentucky, Western District of Michigan, Western District of Missouri, Western District of New York, Western District of North Carolina, Western District of Oklahoma, Western District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Tennessee, Western District of Texas, Western District of Washington.

Federal and State Investigative Partners:

Amtrak, Office of Inspector General; City of Jacksonville, Office of Inspector General; Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General; Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General; Export-Import Bank of the United States; FBI; Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General; Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General; Federal Housing Administration; Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Office of Inspector General; HSI; Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation; National Science Foundation, Office of Inspector General; Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General; Social Security Administration; Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; U.S. Agency for International Development, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Secret Service; Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General; West Virginia State Police; Tampa Police Department.

Heartland Fraud Partnership Summit: In tandem with the results of Operation No Doze, the Fraud Division announced three new federal-state cooperation agreements with the Missouri Secretary of State, Nebraska Treasurer, and Kansas Treasurer to strengthen ongoing fraud enforcement efforts. On September 14, 2026, over twenty-five federal and state officials gathered for the Heartland Partnership Fraud Summit in Kansas City, Missouri, including representatives from 6 U.S. Attorney’s Offices, 3 State Attorneys General Offices, 3 State Financial Offices, 3 Secretaries of State, 3 federal law enforcement partners, and 2 Members of Congress.

Federal and State Partners at the 2026 Heartland Fraud Partnership Summit

U.S. Attorney Partners:

U.S. Attorneys Office Partners (In-Person Attendance):

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri Matthew Price

U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri Thomas Albus

U.S. Attorney for District of Nebraska Lesley Woods

U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa Leif Olson

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa David Waterman

U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas Ryan Kriegshauser

State Partners:

Iowa: Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate

Kansas: Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab

Nebraska: Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, Nebraska Auditor Mike Foley, Nebraska Treasurer Joey Spellerberg

Missouri: Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick, and Missouri Department of Social Services Jessica Bax

United States Congressional Representation:

Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) and Congressman Mark Alford (R-MO)

These partnerships and actions demonstrate how state and federal partners can work together to strengthen fraud detection, share information, and accelerate enforcement efforts nationwide. The Department encourages every state across the country to partner with the Fraud Division on similar efforts.

Notable Cases (Intended Loss Figures)

1.) United States v. Jamie Gray (Indictment) – $55,931,875 – Western District of Missouri

Jamie Gray is charged with wire fraud and money laundering. According to the indictment, Gray submitted Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications claiming to own dozens of businesses that were operating before the COVID-19 pandemic. In every instance but one, the businesses Gray allegedly claimed to own were not in operation on or before February 15, 2020 (eligibility deadline). The only claimed business that actually existed was “Fur Lives Matter,” a Texas company that allegedly had no knowledge of Gray. The indictment alleges that Gray’s representations regarding ownership, employees, gross revenue, and business operations were entirely fabricated.

Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney for the Western District of Missouri. District Fraud Counsel AOR: Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Eggert for the Western District of Missouri.

2.) United States v. Adrian Pupo Perez et al. (Indictment) – $2,400,000 – Northern District of Iowa

On July 9, 2026, a grand jury in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, charged Adrian Rafael Pupo Perez and Helen Yaima Leyva Santiesteban with 47 counts of wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy. Beginning in July 2020, Pupo Perez, Leyva Santiesteban, and more than 100 other individuals originally from Cuba allegedly sought fraudulent PPP loans and EIDLs by falsely claiming they were self-employed, among other allegedly false representations. The co-conspirators allegedly submitted approximately 470 fraudulent PPP loan applications in the names of more than 100 individuals across the United States. They allegedly fraudulently sought more than $4.5 million in PPP funds, with approximately $2.4 million disbursed. Pupo Perez and Leyva Santiesteban are fugitives at this time.

Prosecuted by District Fraud Counsel Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek for the Northern District of Iowa.

3. United States v. Pu Wang and Rui Li (Indictment) – $102,397 – Northern District of Indiana

Pu Wang and Rui Li are charged with fraudulently obtaining federal grant funds for their company, Vibronix, by falsely representing that the company had no Chinese affiliates and by certifying that the funded work was performed in the United States when most of the work was allegedly performed in China. In addition to allegedly defrauding the Small Business Innovation Research federal grant program, Wang also allegedly certified in PPP loan applications that all covered employees had their primary residence in the United States. Wang was himself a covered employee and, according to the allegations, lived in China during the relevant period. Wang further allegedly certified that none of Vibronix’s board members were residents of the People’s Republic of China. Public SEC filings identified Wang as a Vibronix board member who was known to live in China at the time of the application for federal funds.

According to the indictment, Wang had received an award in 2014 sponsored by the PRC to encourage Chinese citizens who study in the United States to return to China.

Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis Sohn for the Northern District of Indiana. District Fraud Counsel AOR: Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Lupa Northern District of Indiana. 

4. United States v. Eve Zou (Information) – $319,800 – Western District of Texas

Eve Zou is charged with making false and fraudulent representations to the U.S. Small Business Administration to obtain EIDL funds and grants purportedly for legitimate business purposes. At the time of the charged offense, Zou was an employee of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, a state agency designed to protect children, the elderly, and adults in Texas with disabilities from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

The information alleges that Zou instead used EIDL proceeds for personal benefit, including the purchase of real estate in Austin, Texas and investments in brokerage accounts. Zou also allegedly made multiple false statements in the applications, including using her daughter’s identity without her daughter’s knowledge or permission, falsely claiming to have 50 employees, and falsely claiming lost rental income. Zou allegedly obtained three SBA loans totaling $319,800.

Zou has agreed to plead guilty to the charges against her. Zou also agreed to forfeiture of all assets purchased with the fraud proceeds, which have grown in value.  As a result, the government intends to recoup more than Zou stole.

Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandy Gann for the Western District of Texas. District Fraud Counsel AOR: Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Chung for the Western District of Texas.

5. United States v. Melissa Fireside (Indictment) — $1,573,350 – District of Oregon

Melissa Fireside, a former Clackamas County Commissioner, allegedly attempted to fraudulently obtain approximately $1.6 million in PPP and EIDL funds associated with her claimed businesses. The State of Oregon has charged Fireside with eight felony counts — including first-degree forgery, first-degree aggravated theft, computer crimes, and identity theft.

Fireside was charged in the District of Oregon with two counts of wire fraud. According to prosecutors, Fireside submitted an EIDL application using the identity of another person, G.F., without G.F.’s authorization. Fireside was alleged to be G.F.’s caregiver and manager of G.F.’s finances. Fireside allegedly also submitted a fraudulent PPP application supported by fabricated tax documents and bank records, falsely represented that the business was operating and had employees and substantial revenues, and then diverted the loan proceeds for her personal use. Fireside is believed to have fled the country and remains an international fugitive subject to an INTERPOL Red Notice in connection with the federal charges.

Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey A. Barrow for the District of Oregon. District Fraud Counsel AOR: Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Meyers for the District of Oregon.

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

An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

Accenture Federal Services (AFS), Accenture plc, and Accenture LLP (Accenture) have agreed to pay the United States $25 million to resolve alleged violations of the False Claims Act for failing to comply with anti-discrimination requirements in federal contracts and discriminating against employees and applicants for employment because of race or sex.

Most federal contracts contain a provision that requires contractors to provide equal opportunity to employees and applicants for employment. As a condition to being a federal contractor, the company must certify that it will not discriminate against an employee or applicant for employment because of race or sex and must further certify that it will take steps to ensure that applicants are employed, and employees are treated during employment, “without regard to” race or sex. The settlement resolves allegations that from 2017 to the present, AFS falsely certified compliance with these conditions, while engaging in discriminatory employment practices.

“Opportunity and promotion in the workplace must be earned through merit,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. “Today’s resolution makes unmistakably clear that the Department will continue to aggressively pursue unconstitutional discriminatory employment practices.”

“Federal contractors have a straightforward obligation: make employment decisions without regard to race or sex,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “A company cannot take taxpayer dollars, certify that it is following that simple principle, and then use race or sex as a factor in deciding who gets an opportunity.”   

The United States alleged that AFS took race or sex into account when making hiring decisions to achieve progress toward non-public workforce composition goals. Business unit leaders within AFS received monthly summaries of the specific percentage of each race and sex within the unit, with the figures highlighted green, yellow, or red to indicate whether representation was at or exceeded AFS’ goal, was within 5 percent of AFS’ goal, or was below 5 percent of AFS’ goal, respectively. These demographic goals were designed to, and did, drive changes in hiring practices based on race and sex. For example, at the end of 2020 and beginning of 2021, AFS engaged in a round of entry level employee hiring to make further progress towards the company’s racial representation goals.   

The United States further alleged that AFS took race or sex into account when making promotion decisions. For example, when considering managing director promotions, AFS conducted a separate discussion of candidates who furthered AFS’ race or sex demographic goals to ensure that these candidates received extra visibility with AFS leaders responsible for making promotion decisions. AFS also highlighted in color the names of candidates who furthered the company’s demographic goals to distinguish them from other candidates during the promotion review process and developed a separate “pipeline” of potential promotion candidates who would advance AFS’ demographic goals.

Finally, the United States alleged that AFS offered certain training, mentoring, leadership development programs, and educational opportunities where eligibility for these resources was limited by race or sex. For example, from August 2022 to February 2025, AFS ran the Amplify to Elevate training program, which reserved participation for employees based on race and was designed to boost the career prospects of these employees over others through mentorship and networking. 

This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division. 

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois.

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

Abbott Laboratories (Abbott), an Illinois-based healthcare company that manufactures and sells infant formula and nutritional therapy products, has agreed to pay $384,999,040 to resolve allegations that it caused false claims to be submitted between Jan. 1, 2018, and Dec. 31, 2022, to federal and state programs arising from its failure to manufacture certain powder infant formula and nutritional therapy products at its Sturgis, Michigan, and Casa Grande, Arizona, facilities in compliance with federal and state statutory, regulatory, and contractual requirements.

On Nov. 13, 2025, the United States filed its Complaint in Intervention alleging that Abbott caused government programs to purchase powder infant formula manufactured at the Sturgis facility despite the products’ failure to meet statutory, regulatory, and contractual requirements. The Complaint alleged that Abbott knowingly manufactured infant formula purchased with taxpayer dollars in an environment that put the products at unacceptable risk of microorganism contamination and significantly impacted the products’ reliability, quality, and safety.

“Today’s settlement is a victory for American families and makes clear the safety of our children is not negotiable,” said Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter.  “Abbott will pay a substantial sum to resolve serious allegations it violated federal health and safety requirements designed to protect babies. The Justice Department will act decisively against anyone who puts American families at risk and ensure misconduct carries serious consequences.”

“No company should be gambling on the health and safety of our Nation’s infants by allowing unsanitary conditions to persist at a facility manufacturing baby formula,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. “The Department will hold accountable bad actors that knowingly misrepresent compliance with essential health and safety standards designed to protect American families.”

 “It is critical that infant formula manufacturers adhere to regulatory and contractual requirements to ensure that the products they manufacture are safe for the babies who consume them,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey for the Western District of Michigan. “This settlement demonstrates our commitment to holding manufacturers accountable when the United States pays for noncompliant products.”

“Parents rely on companies like Abbott Laboratories to responsibly follow the rules and ensure their products – especially baby formula – are safe. USDA OIG remains vigilant against those that would compromise public health and safety by failing to comply with legal standards and put infants at risk,” said USDA Inspector General John Walk.  “This behavior is inexcusable and will not be condoned.”

As described in the complaint, roof leaks were a common occurrence in the Sturgis plant, leading to water running and dripping over equipment. Rather than permanently addressing the root causes, Abbott used temporary solutions, such as roof leak umbrellas, to try to divert leaks in product processing areas even though Abbott corporate leadership understood that the wet environment put the products at increased risk of microorganism contamination.  Similarly, the complaint alleged that Abbott continued to run spray dryers, where liquid formula was transformed into a dry powder, even after Abbott documented cracks and pits in the dryers, which also increased the risk of “micro” contamination, particularly in the presence of moisture. 

Further, the Department alleged that Abbott made its spray dryer conditions worse by lengthening the number of product batches that passed through the dryers between cleaning cycles — enabling Abbott to increase production. The complaint also alleges that Abbott intentionally did not test for bacterial growth to avoid obtaining positive test results showing contamination, and that in certain instances where testing demonstrated “micro” contamination, Abbott failed to disclose the test results when responding to requests from FDA during 2019 and 2022 inspections at the Sturgis facility.

Under the civil settlement agreement, Abbott will pay $348,700,868 to the United States to resolve the False Claims Act allegations and an additional $36,298,172 to certain States for claims settled by their State Medicaid and WIC programs.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture funds and regulates the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, which provides nutritional support — including infant formula — to eligible participants. More than half of all infant formula purchased in the United States is paid for with USDA funds through WIC. State Medicaid Programs also cover and pay for certain infant formula.

The civil settlement resolves claims brought under the False Claims Act’s qui tam provisions, which allow private individuals to bring suit on behalf of the United States for false claims submitted to federal programs and to share in any recovery. Relators Scott Millard, Kristine Cooper, and Loren Cooper, who were Abbott employees, will receive $69 million as their share of the federal settlement. The qui tam action, filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, is captioned United States, et al., ex rel. Scott Millard, et al., v. Abbott Laboratories, No. 1:22-cv-994 (W.D. Mich.).

The resolution was the product of a coordinated effort by the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan, with assistance from USDA’s Office of Inspector General.

This year, the Trump Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s False Claims Act enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. False Claims Act matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s False Claims work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.

The matter was handled by Civil Fraud Section Trial Attorneys Asha Natarajan and Erin Colleran of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Whitney Schnurr and Jacob Carlton for the Western District of Michigan.

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

Hagåtña, Guam – United States Attorney Shawn N. Anderson, serving the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announces the results of Operation Protektot Y Famagu’on (Defender of Children). This law enforcement initiative was led by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Guam, with support from HSI Saipan, HSI Honolulu, HSI Atlanta Special Agents, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and HSI Task Force Officers from the Guam Police Department, Guam Customs & Quarantine Agency, and Guam Airport Police.

The operation, conducted from August 22 through August 27, involved a coordinated online undercover effort within the District of Guam aimed at identifying individuals attempting to engage in unlawful sexual conduct with minors. This initiative reflects the continued commitment of federal law enforcement agencies nationwide to protect children, hold offenders accountable, and prevent internet facilitated offenses.

As a result of Operation Protektot Y Famagu’on, five individuals were arrested for Attempted Enticement of a Minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2422(b) and 2:

• Mike Ybanez Balbuena, 44-year-old, a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines

• Eli Valentine, 21-year-old, an active-duty U.S. Navy service member

• Keola Joaquin H. Flores, 30-year-old, a United States citizen

• Peter John San Nicolas, 36-year-old, a United States citizen

• Augusto Bagat Anselmo, 44-year-old, a Lawful Permanent Resident of the U.S. and citizen of the Republic of the Philippines

If convicted, the defendants each face a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. There is no parole in the federal system. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. 

This prosecution 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. HSTF Guam comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, ATF, CBP, CGIS, DCIS, DEA, IRS-CI, NCIS, USMS, USSS, USPIS, USCIS and local law enforcement with prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

In the first-ever case before the United States Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC), Nazira Haji Zada, 47, an Afghan national previously residing in Fort Worth, Texas, was removed from the United States after conceding that she is an alien terrorist. As the matriarch in her family, she supported a plot to commit an ISIS-inspired mass shooting on Election Day in 2024 for which her son, Abdullah Haji Zada, and son-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, were previously arrested and convicted. The ATRC issued an order of removal on Aug. 20 that was unsealed earlier today following her return to her country of origin. This was the first case ever brought before the ATRC, which Congress established decades ago, and which no previous administration had used. Zada is now permanently inadmissible to the United States.

The application to remove Zada, certified by Attorney General Todd Blanche, was filed on July 15, and Zada appeared in open court for the first time on July 30. ATRC Chief Judge Joan N. Ericksen presided over that hearing and later signed the removal order. In compliance with the ATRC statute, the government used classified information to establish that Zada is an alien terrorist. Additionally, the government provided Zada and her lawyers, two federal public defenders, with approximately half a terabyte of documents supporting the government’s case. With her lawyers, Zada conceded that she is an alien terrorist and waived appeal of the removal order, terminating her previous status.

“This landmark case, resulting in the prompt removal of this alien terrorist to her country of origin, is a win for national security and the rule of law,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Those who support and condone terrorism should not be living in the United States, and this first-ever case before the ATRC shows how the Department will use every tool at its disposal to protect our country.”

“This is a historic and vitally important step in our work to protect the U.S. homeland from terrorism,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “An individual who supported a plot by ISIS-sympathizing family members to commit an attack in America has paid the price for that. She came to our country, betrayed it, and has now lost the right to live here and enjoy our democratic freedoms. This FBI and our Justice Department partners will protect the American people from the threat of terrorism, using all means necessary.”

“From the moment President Trump took office, he made clear that his Administration would put the safety and security of the American people first,” said Secretary Markwayne Mullin of the Department of Homeland Security. “The President’s direction to use the Alien Terrorist Removal Court to expel Nazira Haji Zada, an Afghan national who plotted with members of her family to carry out an ISIS-inspired attack on American soil, delivers on that promise. Thanks to the President’s leadership and the coordinated efforts the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice and State, Nazira Haji Zada’s final order of removal is now FINAL. Those who plot acts of terrorism against the United States have no place in our country. We will find them, and we will use every lawful tool available to remove them.”

“Zada supported her sons’ terrorist plot to attack the United States while she enjoyed the privilege of residing here as a resident alien,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “She abused our Nation’s hospitality and represented a clear threat to our national security. The United States is a safer place now that her sons are in custody and she has been deported.”

“Those who support terrorism against the American people will face the consequences,” said State Department Spokesman Tommy Pigott. “We will secure our borders, and we will use every tool to stop those who intend us harm from entering or remaining at-large in our country. Under the leadership of President Trump, the State Department, alongside the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, will always work tirelessly to ensure the safety of our people and the security of our nation.” 

Tawhedi and Abdullah Haji Zada were arrested on Oct. 7, 2024, after purchasing firearms and ammunition to be used in an Election Day terrorist attack from an undercover FBI employee. Nazira’s son Abdullah, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, entered his guilty plea as an adult and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. As part of the plea agreement, Abdullah stipulated to the entry of a judicial order of removal from the United States to Afghanistan following his term of incarceration. Abdullah acknowledged that the order of removal would terminate his lawful permanent resident status, and waived his right to appeal the conviction except in limited circumstances or seek any form of appeal or relief from his removal and deportation, including but not limited to, seeking asylum. Tawhedi, 28, pled guilty to two terrorism-related offenses: conspiring and attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization, and receiving, attempting to receive, and conspiring to receive firearms and ammunition in furtherance of a federal crime of terrorism on June 13, 2025, and is awaiting sentencing. 

According to court documents, Tawhedi admitted that between June 2024 and October 2024, he conspired with at least one other individual to purchase two AK-47 rifles, 500 rounds of ammunition, and 10 magazines, with the intent to carry out a mass-casualty attack on or around Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024, on behalf of ISIS. According to a criminal complaint affidavit filed in the case, Tawhedi communicated with an ISIS facilitator about his plan to purchase firearms for use in the terror plot, including asking the individual whether 500 rounds of ammunition would be sufficient.

According to the criminal complaint, to raise funds for their attack, in 2024, the family started selling off their property, including furniture, computers, a mobile phone, and the family’s two vehicles. Zada signed a contract to sell the family house. The family also purchased one-way airfare for travel to Kabul, Afghanistan shortly before Election Day 2024 for its members, including for Zada and other minor children but not Abdullah and Tawhedi. 

The ATRC is a specialized federal court, which Congress established in 1996. The court has jurisdiction to swiftly remove alien terrorists from the United States when the government establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that an alien is a terrorist. See Title 8 of the United States Code, Sections 1227(a)(4)(B), 1531(1), and 1534(g). It is run and staffed by U.S. federal district court judges confirmed to the judiciary pursuant to Article III of the Constitution and then appointed to the ATRC by the Chief Justice of the United States. See Title 8 of the United States Code, Sections 1531 to 1537. 

The court allows the government to use classified information where disclosing that information to the public would pose risks to national security. The statutory provisions that establish the court provide paid counsel to the aliens if necessary and also permit either party to appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. 

This removal proceeding reflects the coordinated efforts of multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, the FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service, as well as the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Hayden O’Byrne of the National Security Division led the litigation with assistance from Deputy Chief Larry Schneider and Trial Attorneys Anna Donnell, Garrett Coyle and Evan Schultz.

For more information on the ATRC and to view court documents visit: www.atrc.uscourts.gov/. The Department of Justice previously announced the arrest here: www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-files-first-case-us-alien-terrorist-removal-court-deport-afghan-alien-who

Today, the Department of Justice filed its final four lawsuits against three states and the District of Columbia who seek to undermine federal law by placing illegal aliens over citizens in clear defiance of Congress’s commands. The Department filed complaints against Hawaii, the District of Columbia, Arkansas, and Utah, challenging their state laws that provide in-state tuition and financial assistance for illegal aliens.

Our filings hold that these laws unconstitutionally discriminate against U.S. citizens who are not afforded the same reduced tuition rates or scholarships, create incentives for illegal immigration, and reward illegal aliens with benefits that U.S. citizens are not eligible for, all in direct conflict with federal law. These final lawsuits come after the United States District Court for the District of Kansas ruled yesterday that Kansas’ state law allowing in-state tuition for illegal aliens is unconstitutional.

“No more placing illegal aliens over American citizens on this Department of Justice’s watch,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. “We have now sued every state across our Nation that has a state law or regulation granting illegal aliens in-state tuition. We look forward to favorable court rulings and will continue to deliver on President Trump’s promise: illegal aliens will not receive benefits denied to American citizens.”

“This is a simple matter of federal law: colleges cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This Department of Justice will not tolerate American students being treated like second-class citizens in their own country.”

In the complaints, the United States seeks to enjoin enforcement of Hawaii, DC, Arkansas, and Utah laws and regulations that require colleges and universities to provide in-state tuition rates for all aliens who maintain in-state residency, regardless of whether those aliens are lawfully present in the United States. Additionally, the complaint seeks to enjoin Hawaii, DC, Arkansas, and Utah from enforcing their state laws and regulations that afford financial assistance and scholarships to illegal aliens.

Today’s lawsuits bring the Department’s total to 25 lawsuits challenging in-state tuition for illegal aliens. Under the leadership of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, the Department’s efforts have already delivered wins for the American people, as six lawsuits in Texas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Illinois, and Kansas have resulted favorable orders permanently enjoining and declaring unconstitutional similar laws that gave reduced tuition to illegal aliens, including an order from the Fifth Circuit.

Lawsuits against other states whose state laws similarly put illegal aliens ahead of U.S. citizens are pending across the across the country in Minnesota, Virginia, California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maryland, Colorado, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington.

The Justice Department, on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), today lodged a proposed settlement agreement with Environmental Resource Holdings LLC (ERH) to perform critical work to support the cleanup of the Diamond Alkali Superfund site, including the lower 17 miles of the Passaic River. The work is estimated to cost $125 million and focuses on the next steps needed to get the in-river work started. 

Under the proposed consent decree, ERH would construct an upland processing facility and several upland support facilities that would enable dredging and capping work in the Lower Passaic River. The construction would include a facility to handle sediment dredged from the river before it is sent for off-site disposal. The upland support facilities would provide land and infrastructure needed to support future in-river construction work. ERH would sample the lower 8.3 miles of the river to establish a baseline and reimburse EPA for future oversight costs related to this work.

“Over many decades, industrial activity contaminated the Lower Passaic River,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “This settlement is a significant step toward cleaning up a site that has been a longstanding priority for EPA.  We will continue to partner with EPA to promote public health by ensuring that responsible parties remediate Superfund sites.”

“The construction ordered in this consent decree is the next step in cleaning up the Lower Passaic River and finally remediating one of the oldest Superfund sites,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Jeffrey Hall. “This settlement demonstrates this Administration’s commitment to expediting work through cooperative engagement and well-tailored agreements.”

“This is a huge step in cleaning up one of New Jersey’s most complex Superfund sites,” said Regional Administrator Michael Martucci of EPA Region 2. “The work laid out in this proposed settlement gets shovels in the ground and lays the foundation for dredging and that brings us one important step closer to a cleaner and restored Passaic River.”

ERH is a potentially responsible party for the site and a corporate successor to Occidental Chemical Corporation and to Diamond Alkali Company/Diamond Shamrock Corporation, which owned and operated the former Diamond Alkali facility in Newark.

The proposed consent decree was filed in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and is subject to a 30-day comment period. The complaint and the proposed consent decree are available on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees. 

Attorneys with ENRD’s Environmental Enforcement Section are handling this matter.

A federal grand jury in the District of Minnesota returned a two-count indictment today charging Mukeshkumar Somabhai Chaudhari, an Indian national, with knowingly making a false claim of United States citizenship in order to vote in the Nov. 5, 2024 general election.

According to the indictment, on or about Nov. 5, 2024, Chaudhari signed the voter signature certificate required by Minnesota law in order to vote in the general election. The certificate required him to swear or affirm that he was a citizen of the United States. The indictment alleges that Chaudhari was not a U.S. citizen and that he knowingly made the false citizenship statement in order to vote.

“The right to vote is a sacred privilege of American citizenship, and every lawful voter deserves an election system in which that right is protected,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department will hold accountable those who knowingly make false claims of citizenship in order to vote. The integrity of our elections depends on ensuring that only eligible citizens cast ballots and that every lawful vote is counted.”

Chaudhari is charged with one count of false information in voting, in violation of 52 U.S.C. § 21144(b), incorporating 18 U.S.C. § 1015(f), and one count of making a false claim of citizenship in order to register to vote or vote, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1015(f). If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case, with assistance from the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office.

Trial Attorneys Flavio Abreu and William Rubens of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

A Maryland woman was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison for attempting to steal more than $1.1 million from the IRS by filing false tax returns.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between December 2019 and March 2020, Kendra Scarborough, of Oxon Hill, filed three false tax returns in the names of purported trusts that she controlled. In total, these tax returns sought more than $1.1 million in refunds that the trusts were not entitled to receive. Scarborough’s scheme resulted in the IRS issuing a refund of $412,000 to one of the purported trusts. Scarborough used these funds to pay for, among other things, the mortgage on her personal residence and other creditors. 

Scarborough pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Debrorah L. Boardman ordered Scarborough to pay $410,117.44 in restitution to the IRS and forfeit to the government the proceeds from the tax refund that remain in her bank account. 

IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Melissa Siskind of the Fraud Division’s Tax Section prosecuted the case.

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

Today, the Department of Justice announced an agreement with Mount Sinai Health System (“Mount Sinai”) that resolves an investigation into potential violations of federal law arising from its provision of sex-rejecting procedures on children—often described as “gender-affirming care.”  Under the agreement, Mount Sinai, one of the largest health care providers in the state of New York, will cease providing these interventions to minors, including by administering puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones and performing surgical procedures.  Mt. Sinai will also pay a monetary penalty and dedicate $2 million to providing free medical care to individuals suffering harmful consequences of “gender affirming care” they received as children.

This announcement follows similar agreements with Texas Children’s Hospital, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and Connecticut Children’s Hospital.  In working towards this resolution, the United States acknowledged that Mount Sinai took significant steps entitling it to credit for cooperation with the Department in its investigation.  At all times during the investigation, Mount Sinai remained cooperative, proactive, and solution-driven, as evidenced by its multimillion-dollar commitment to detransition care.

“The Department of Justice is committed to holding accountable medical providers that violate federal law and endanger children through so-called gender-affirming care,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche.  “This agreement puts an end to these practices at Mount Sinai and provides meaningful relief for individuals who have already suffered harm.”

“A growing number of hospitals, like Mount Sinai, have recognized the medical scandal of sex-rejecting procedures,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate of the Civil Division. “While we are grateful when we secure resolutions to end this discredited practice and protect children, we must not and will not rest in our pursuit of justice for the victims it has left behind.”

“The Northern District of Texas remains committed to holding medical providers, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies accountable for unsound medical practices and procedures that put our kids at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould for the Northern District of Texas. “This settlement is a step in the right direction, and we will continue to use all of our civil and criminal tools to hold these actors and entities accountable when they violate federal law when providing this so-called care.”

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch and the Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations.

In January 2025, President Trump issued an order "Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation," directing the Department of Justice to prioritize investigations and enforcement actions involving violations of federal law in the provision of so-called “gender-affirming care” to children. In April 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memorandum on "Preventing the Mutilation of American Children."

Acting on these directives, the Civil Division launched a nationwide investigation into the child gender-transition industry.  The investigation examines potential violations of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the False Claims Act, and other federal health care laws, including fraudulent billing practices such as the use of false diagnosis codes to obtain payment from federal health care programs and private insurers.  These schemes compound the harm inflicted on vulnerable children by fraudulently shifting the cost of potentially unlawful medical interventions to taxpayers and insurers.

Today’s agreement is one result of that nationwide investigation.  The Civil Division’s Enforcement & Affirmative Litigation Branch and Commercial Litigation Branch will continue to pursue these cases across the country, stop unlawful conduct, recover funds obtained through fraud, and hold accountable those who profit by violating federal law at children’s expense.

The claims resolved by the United States in the agreements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. Mount Sinai has denied all allegations.

The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division filed a proposed consent decree today to resolve the United States’ claims against Pinnacle Property Management Services LLC, as part of its ongoing enforcement action in the Middle District of North Carolina against algorithmic coordination, the use of competitors’ competitively sensitive data, and other anticompetitive practices in rental markets across the country that artificially increase housing costs for the American people. Today’s proposed decree builds on the Justice Department’s success in obtaining settlements in the same enforcement action against RealPage Inc. and four other large landlords, Cortland Management LLC, Greystar Management Services LLC, LivCor LLC, and Willow Bridge Property Company LLC.

“This administration will not tolerate illegal actions by corporate landlords that inflate housing prices for Americans,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. “The Department of Justice will fight for every American who is being taken advantage of by corporate greed.”

“The Antitrust Division is diligent in our work of protecting consumers in housing markets, including by putting an end to practices by corporate landlords that illegally prevent honest competition that benefits renters,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole Sarrine of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “This consent decree is an important step in achieving affordable housing for Americans.”

The United States, along with state co-plaintiffs, filed a complaint on Jan. 7, 2025, alleging that Pinnacle, with five other co-defendant landlords, actively participated in a scheme to set their rents using each other’s competitively sensitive information through pricing algorithms. Pinnacle and other landlords shared competitively sensitive data to generate pricing recommendations using RealPage’s algorithms, which also included anticompetitive rules that aligned pricing. Pinnacle and other landlords also conferred on competitively sensitive topics, such as pricing strategies, rents, and selected parameters for RealPage’s software.

If approved by the court, the proposed consent decree would require Pinnacle to:

• Refrain from using any anticompetitive algorithm that generates pricing recommendations using its competitors’ competitively sensitive data or that incorporates certain anticompetitive features;
• Refrain from sharing competitively sensitive information with competitors;
• Accept a court-appointed monitor if it uses a third-party pricing algorithm that is not certified pursuant to the terms of the consent decree;
• Refrain from attending or participating in RealPage-hosted meetings of competing landlords; and
• Cooperate with the United States’ claims against other defendants.

As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with a competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any interested person should submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement within 60 days following the publication to Danielle Hauck, Acting Chief, Technology and Digital Platforms Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 7050, Washington, DC 20530. At the conclusion of the public comment period, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina may enter the final judgment upon finding it is in the public interest.

Pinnacle is a residential property manager headquartered in Frisco, Texas.

Note: Read the Proposed Final Judgement here, the Stipulation and Order here, the Explanation of Procedures here, and the Competitive Impact Statement here.

A Minnesota man pleaded guilty yesterday to filing a false claim with the IRS.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Philip Nelson Green filed false individual income tax returns with the IRS for the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. Each of these tax returns reported multiple false or fraudulent items, including false wage information, itemized deductions, withholding amounts and child and dependent care expenses. For the years 2021 and 2022, Green filed false tax returns that collectively sought more than $500,000 in refunds he was not entitled to receive.

Green pleaded guilty to one count of making a false claim. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 28, 2027 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen for the District of Minnesota made the announcement.

IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Charles A. O’Reilly and Daniel R. Glenn of the National Fraud Enforcement Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the case.

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

The Justice Department has issued a letter urging the Maryland Department of Transportation to stop efforts to collect nonresident vehicle permit fees from servicemembers and their spouses that violate the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). 

Under Maryland’s current policy, military families across the state are effectively taxed twice when they register a vehicle in their home state and then relocate to Maryland for military service.

“Relocation for military service is already a costly endeavor,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “If a vehicle belonging to a servicemember or their spouse is registered in their home state, then that family has already paid their fair share. They should not also be required to pay additional taxes or fees in each state that they move to in compliance with military orders.”

The Department is asking Maryland, consistent with the SCRA, to exempt servicemembers and their spouses from the Motor Vehicle Administration’s nonresident vehicle permit fees, refund amounts they have already collected, and update their policies and trainings to ensure that military families are not subject to such fees going forward.

For more information about the Department’s enforcement efforts under the SCRA and other laws that protect the rights of servicemembers and their families, please visit www.servicemembers.gov.

Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations may be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil.

Note, a press release posted earlier today, Sept. 3, was mistakenly a reprint of an Aug. 21 press release about a related decision. Below is the correct press release regarding a decision issued on Monday, Aug. 31, in this matter.

On Monday, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California dismissed with prejudice the complaint in Center for Biological Diversity v. Burgum — one of several cases challenging Sable Offshore Corp.’s oil and gas operations at the Santa Ynez Unit in the Santa Barbara Channel. This ruling follows another, related ruling issued last month.

“States cannot stop the Executive Branch from acting pursuant to Congress’s authorization, especially when it comes to ensuring American energy dominance,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. “The Department is pleased with the court’s decision. This Department of Justice will never allow California or ideological groups to undermine our Nation’s national security and economic prosperity interests in ensuring availability of this critical resource for Americans.”

“This is another victory for American energy independence,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Two weeks ago, this same court affirmed the federal government’s authority to protect energy security from state overreach through a Defense Production Act order restarting this critical domestic source of oil. This week’s decision protects this critical resource against special interest groups who sought to stymie that same oil production through a lawsuit alleging violations of federal law. We are committed to unleashing American energy, as President Donald J. Trump has directed the Department of Justice and all federal agencies to do.”

Following a decade of inactivity, Sable last year sought to restart offshore oil and gas production on Platform Harmony in the Santa Ynez Unit. Plaintiff environmental groups sued, challenging the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)’s April 2025 decision not to require revision of the development and production plan for Platform Harmony related to Sable’s restart plans. In its decision dismissing the case for lack of standing, the court held that the plaintiffs have not alleged a procedural injury and their theory of causation is “far too hypothetical and attenuated” and “not fairly traceable to BOEM and Sable.” 

The court instead explained that plaintiffs’ asserted injuries stem from offshore oil and gas operations generally, not from BOEM’s decision. The court further held that the plaintiffs’ injuries are not redressable because BOEM has substantial discretion in deciding whether to require revision of the plan.

Attorneys with ENRD’s Natural Resources Section handled this matter.