Northern District of Ohio

AKRON, Ohio – As a result of an ongoing investigation into the criminal activities of a former U.S. Postal Service (USPS) worker, a Summit County man now faces additional accusations in a highly coordinated conspiracy to award USPS contracts to specific business entities.

In a superseding indictment filed Feb. 4, a federal grand jury charged Josef Ratcliff, 60, of Akron, with the following:

• Conspiracy to Commit Honest Services Mail and Wire Fraud
• Conspiracy to Commit Extortion Under Color of Official Right
• Honest Services Mail and Wire Fraud
• Extortion Under Color of Official Right
• Receipt of Bribes by Federal Official
• Concealment Money Laundering

Ratcliff was initially charged with receiving bribes in the original indictment filed in July 2025.

According to the allegations, Ratcliff was employed as a purchasing and supply management specialist with USPS. As part of his official duties he solicited, received, and reviewed bids from contractors, focusing on logistics services for transporting the mail. Some of the contracts were worth more than $10 million. In performing his duty to review bids, Ratcliff had access to highly confidential information which was not to be shared outside the USPS. After reviewing bids, he provided the contracting officer with his recommendations—which they typically followed—and contracts were awarded to the companies Ratcliff had chosen.

As described in the superseding indictment, Ratcliff conspired to provide confidential competing bid numbers, and other favorable treatment, to companies from across the country including Spokane, Washington; Las Vegas, Nevada; Raeford, North Carolina; Bronx, New York; and Middletown, New York. Some of these entities were not previously in the trucking or logistics business before connecting with the defendant. Examples include one that was a chemical company, and another that provided cellphone related services. Another company was only formed after the owner connected with Ratcliff. Nonetheless, these businesses were awarded USPS trucking contracts. In return for his guidance, Ratcliff’s co-conspirators regularly paid him bribes worth thousands of dollars in the form of checks, electronic money transfers, and cash.

Court documents further allege that the electronic transfers often included notes in attempts to conceal the true purpose of the payments. Note descriptions included “car oil leak,” “birthday present for big boy,” or “pop rocks for little daddy.” Other transfers were simply noted as “happy birthday” or “rent.” In less than a year, six of the bribes were designated for a birthday. One transfer in the amount of $3,500 was ostensibly for a “coffee maker and beans.” One co-conspirator alone sent 14 bribes totaling $38,900.

Ratcliff is also alleged to have been explicit about the scheme in his phone calls with co-conspirators. He provided specific bid information, including the amounts of the lowest and second-lowest bids. Ratcliff also explained plans for spending the bribe money on his car and buying a new house. Part of the scheme involved the co-conspirators, with Ratcliff’s help, getting extensions of time to submit their bids, so Ratcliff could provide the full picture of the competitors’ bids to help co-conspirators craft winning bids. On calls, he discussed how a co-conspirator should obtain such an extension, including how the co-conspirator should first reach out to the contracting officer alone, who would then bring Ratcliff in, making it appear that the extension request process started with the contracting officer and not the defendant. Later in the scheme, he warned that he would soon be losing access to some of the contract information, saying, “what we doin’, this s--t is about to dry the f--k up” because the co-conspirator “won’t be able to get no information from me on” those contracts. 

The following co-conspirators were charged separately in connection with their roles in the conspiracy and have all previously pleaded guilty. Sentencing dates are:

• William Michael Clark, 50, of Las Vegas, Nevada: April 7.
• Zoma M. Shaikh, 43, of Bronx, New York: TBD.
• Vakar Maniar, 70, of Raeford, North Carolina: April 21.
• Jilani Ahad, 66, of Bronx, New York: April 20.
• Rafeh Ahad, 26, of Fort Myers, Florida: April 20
• Eric Asante Wiredu, 57, of Middleton, New York: March 24

An indictment is merely an allegation. Defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendant sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, their role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.

The United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General leads the investigation.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elliot Morrison for the Northern District of Ohio.

TOLEDO, Ohio – Federal grand juries returned indictments charging four people from Honduras and one from Mexico with violating immigration laws. These are separate cases and not related.

The following were charged with illegal reentry of a previously removed alien, in violation of Title 8 U.S. Code 1326. They were found in the Northern District of Ohio without the consent of the U.S. Attorney General or the Secretary for Homeland Security for readmission.

• Marcos Bardales-Lopez, 26, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being Dec 6, 2019. He was found in Maumee, Ohio (Lucas County) on Jan. 12.
• Rigoberto Gomez-Arguijo, 45, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being Oct. 28, 2010. He was found in Marion (Marion County) on Jan. 8.
• Oscar Mendoza, 52, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being Jan. 17, 2008. He was found in Maumee, Ohio (Lucas County) on Jan. 12.

Additionally, the following defendants were charged with two counts of Possession of a Fraudulent Identification Document:

• Jimy Antonio Portillo-Ramirez, 23, a citizen of Honduras, was found in Vickery, Ohio (Sandusky County) on Jan. 6.
• Jose Alfredo Reyes-Gonzalez, 33, a citizen of Mexico, was found in Oak Harbor, Ohio (Ottawa County) on Jan. 18.

The investigations in these cases were conducted by U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ava Rotell Dustin, Dexter L. Phillips, and Frank H. Spryszak for Northern District of Ohio.

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

These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

AKRON, Ohio – A husband and wife from Willoughby Hills, Ohio, have been sentenced for devising a scheme to collect more than $2 million dollars in insurance money by conspiring to set insured houses on fire.

Lonnie White, 48, was sentenced to 53 months (4 years, 4 months) in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi after pleading guilty in August to the following charges as outlined in the indictment:

• Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud
• Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering Offenses
• Conspiracy to use Fire in Commission of a Felony

He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $2,375,861 in restitution. Chief Judge Lioi imposed the sentence Jan. 23.

White’s spouse, Lisa Ogletree, 48, was sentenced to five years of probation and 810 days of location-monitored home confinement after she pleaded guilty last August to Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud.  Chief Judge Lioi imposed the sentence Jan. 28.

“It’s traumatic for people to see a house in their neighborhood go up in flames, and these defendants shamelessly utilized devastating fires just to line their pockets with money,” said United States Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “Additionally, insurance companies paid out millions in claims—in good faith—only to learn that they were deceived by these fraudsters. We commend the outstanding efforts of the ATF agents on the case and their regional partners who spent countless hours connecting the dots which eventually led to justice being served.”

According to the indictment, White and Ogletree, either personally or through others, bought houses on the east side of Cleveland, transferred the properties to nominal owners with fake renters, insured the property for hundreds of thousands of dollars, arranged to set the house on fire, and submitted fraudulent insurance claims on the destroyed property. White arranged to intentionally set these houses ablaze to make them appear as if the fires were accidental.  

After receiving the insurance payments for the fire damage, nominal owners distributed the funds to White and Ogletree, who then transferred the money to other bank accounts for their own benefit and to further their scheme. According to court filings, the scheme involved at least six fires and more than $2.3 million in fraudulent claims from 2013 to 2019.

The investigation leading to the indictment was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Cleveland Field Office.

The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam J. Joines and Brian M. McDonough for the Northern District of Ohio.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio would like to acknowledge and thank the Cleveland Fire Investigation Unit; the Cuyahoga County Fusion Center; the Ohio State Fire Marshal; Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations; the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Office of the Inspector General for their assistance with this case.

ATF is the federal agency with jurisdiction for investigating fires and crimes of arson. Anyone who has information about an incidence of arson should contact ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (888-283- 8477). Individuals may also email ATFTips@atf.gov, or contact ATF through its website at www.atf.gov/contact/atf-tips.

CLEVELAND – A federal jury has convicted two brothers and a public official for their roles in a multi-layered, elaborate fraud and bribery conspiracy that spanned across multiple states and countries.

After a more than two-week-long trial in front of U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent, Zubair Al Zubair, aka Zubair Mehmet Abdur Razzaq, 42, recently of Bratenahl, Ohio; his brother Muzzammil Al Zubair, aka Muzzammil Ibn Muhammad, 31, recently of Pepper Pike, Ohio; and their associate Michael Leon Smedley, 56, of Cleveland, were found guilty of conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, and Hobbs Act conspiracy. The Al Zubair brothers were also both found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, multiple counts of wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, several counts of money laundering, theft of government funds, and aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. Zubair Al Zubair was also found guilty of willful failure to file tax returns.

According to court documents and evidence presented in court before the jury, from June 2020 through August 2023, the Al Zubair brothers used several deceptive strategies to obtain money and property from victims. Their schemes involved investment fraud, a fraudulent Small Business Administration COVID emergency business loan, cryptocurrency mining investments, and commercial and residential real estate transactions.

The Al Zubair brothers’ ill-gotten proceeds allowed them to acquire a trove of jewelry, luxury timepieces and vehicles, as well as more than 80 firearms including a custom made, gold-plated AK-47 style rifle. Luxury vehicles they acquired with the proceeds of their illegal activity included a Rolls Royce, Lamborghini, Porsche, Mercedes, and Range Rover. Domestic and international travel to multiple places—such as Aspen, Miami, London, Bucharest, and Madrid—included the use of private jets, staying at high-end hotels, and going on shopping sprees. Zubair Al Zubair also leased a residential property in an upscale neighborhood in Bratenahl, Ohio, before being evicted in August 2023.

The two brothers made exorbitant claims about their extraordinary wealth and government connections. Zubair Al Zubair claimed to be married to a United Arab Emirates princess. His brother, Muzzammil, claimed to be a hedge fund manager even though his only education on hedge funds was the result of watching YouTube videos. Under the illusion of being extremely educated, successful, and well-connected, the brothers befriended Smedley, a public official employed with the city of East Cleveland.

As the chief of staff to the mayor of East Cleveland, Smedley used his position to benefit the Al Zubair brothers. To reward and influence Smedley, the Al Zubair brothers bribed him with suite tickets to Cleveland Browns games, cigars, prized Japanese wagyu beef, and meals at high-end restaurants, as well as offers of future employment. There was also evidence presented at trial that the Al Zubair brothers were paying Smedley. In return, Smedley helped the Al Zubair brothers by attempting to secure state funding for their business; securing official letters on the city’s letterhead; having Zubair Al Zubair appointed as an International Economic Advisor to the city and obtaining business cards in his name; and providing the brothers with official police badges from the city of East Cleveland.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 5. The defendants face the maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison for each of the most serious offenses.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division and the IRS−Criminal Investigation. The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew W. Shepherd and Joseph H. Walsh for the Northern District of Ohio. 

CLEVELAND – A Cleveland-area career offender has been sentenced to prison for his role involving the distribution of controlled substances while he was out on parole for a previous offense.

Lamont Johnson, 43, was sentenced to 210 months (17.5 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after pleading guilty last October to the following charges in an indictment:

• Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance; these included fentanyl, cocaine, and xylazine.
• Felon in Possession of a Firearm; prior convictions include Drug Trafficking in 2022 and 2012.

He was also ordered to serve eight years of supervised release after imprisonment.  Johnson received a significant sentencing enhancement as a career offender. His criminal history dates back to 2001 and he was previously convicted of a number of drug and violent felonies. He also consistently failed to follow the conditions of his supervised release after previous imprisonments.

According to court documents, on Nov. 15, 2023, agents observed suspected drug activity at a gas station on East 55th Street in Cleveland, involving a black Mercedes SUV driven by Johnson. Upon seeing this activity, agents attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle Johnson was driving. As the agents approached, Johnson put the vehicle in reverse but then fled on foot and was later apprehended. 

During the investigation, agents observed a handgun in plain view on the driver’s seat of Johnson’s vehicle, cash on the center console, and a clear plastic bag with suspected controlled substances. A second bag with suspected marijuana was located on the ground at the gas station where Johnson fled on foot. During a search of the vehicle, the agents recovered the firearm they saw on the driver’s seat, which was a loaded Glock, 9 mm caliber pistol.  The clear plastic bag contained multiple baggies with powdery substances. Agents also located a box of sandwich bags, a digital scale, and $53 cash. The powder substances were submitted for lab analysis and were confirmed to be fentanyl, xylazine, and cocaine.

This case was investigated by the Agents of Ohio Investigative Unit, assigned as Task Force Officers to the ATF Crime Gun Intelligence Center.  Task Force Officers work violent crime reduction initiatives Statewide.  These initiatives target violent high crime areas as well as armed violent offenders and drug traffickers.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott Zarzycki for the Northern District of Ohio.

AKRON, Ohio – The last of seven defendants has been sentenced to prison for his role in a trafficking conspiracy that peddled opioids and other drugs throughout communities in Summit County and the surrounding areas.

Jonnell L. Ammons, aka Nell, 36, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced to 125 months (10 years and four months) in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent after a federal jury convicted him in September 2025 of the following charges:

• Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl
• Use of a Communication Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense

In addition to the sentence on the drug charges, he was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment.

According to court documents, from about May 2023 to January 2024, Ammons was engaged in illicit activities with an Akron-area drug trafficking organization known for dealing in methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. As one of seven co-conspirators, he played a key role in pushing illegal drugs out into the communities of Northeast Ohio. The individuals in the conspiracy used residential and commercial buildings in Akron to store the illicit drugs before selling them. Members of the conspiracy also used firearms as a means of security to protect their drugs in storage before selling. Throughout the investigation, agents seized methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and three loaded firearms. More than $8,500 in cash, a Rolex watch, and a Chevrolet Corvette, were also seized by federal agents.

The following co-defendants in the case are currently serving sentences in federal prison for their roles in the conspiracy:

• Terrance D.N. McCormick, aka, TNasty, 41; 420 months (35 years)
• Jonez S. Ammons, aka, Nez, 34; 151 months (12 years and 6 months)
• Karim S. Davis, 33; 42 months (3 years and 6 months)
• Tyler J. Sands, 24; 140 months (11 years and 7 months)
• Ashley E. Steiner, 36, 102 months (8 years and 6 months)
• Jonte J. Averiett, aka, Sticks, 24, 30 months (2 years and 6 months)

All defendants resided in Akron.

This wiretap case was investigated by the DEA Cleveland Field Office.

Assistant United States Attorneys Peter E. Daly and Joseph P. Dangelo for the Northern District of Ohio led the prosecution.

TOLEDO, Ohio – A 24-year-old Venezuelan man residing unlawfully in Perrysburg, Ohio, who was enrolled as a student at a local high school, has been sentenced for lying on immigration forms and on applications to purchase a firearm.

Anthony Emmanuel Labrador-Sierra, was sentenced to 24 months in prison by U.S. District Judge James R. Knepp after pleading guilty in September to the following charges in an indictment:

• Possession of a Firearm by an Alien Unlawfully in the United States
• Making a False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm
• Making or Using False Writings or Documents.

He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. Labrador-Sierra is subject to a detainer from the United States Border Patrol and will be taken into administrative immigration custody following the completion of his sentence. Judge Knepp imposed the sentence Jan. 23.

According to the indictment, the defendant submitted a false date of birth to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on federal applications for Temporary Protective Status and Employment Authorization documents in 2024 and 2025.

In the original criminal complaint and underlying affidavit filed in May 2025, investigators learned that Perrysburg Schools made a report to local police that they received information indicating that Labrador-Sierra was posing as a student attending Perrysburg High School. Upon further investigation, agents found that he was not a minor but was instead a 24-year-old man who had enrolled under false pretenses.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection−Sandusky Bay Station, FBI Toledo Resident Agency, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the City of Perrysburg Police Department, with valuable assistance from the Wood County Prosecutor’s Office.

The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Melching and Tracey Tangeman for the Northern District of Ohio.

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

CLEVELAND – A 34-year-old man has been sentenced to prison for his role in a fentanyl and cocaine drug trafficking ring which he helped operate out of his grandmother’s basement.

Darnell Kief Beckham Bell, of Cleveland, was sentenced to 190 months (15 years, 8 months) in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after a jury convicted him in September of Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, law enforcement began to probe suspected narcotics trafficking—specifically fentanyl— in Northeast Ohio in 2024. On a number of occasions during the investigation, several individuals were observed coming and going from a house on West 137th Street. During a federal search warrant executed at the residence, Bell was taken into custody after agents found evidence of suspected drug activities in the basement of the home, which belonged to his grandmother. Among the items seized were:

• Two digital scales with fentanyl, fluorofentanyl, and cocaine residue
• A loaded HK .45 caliber pistol with magazine and ammunition (firearm was later found to be stolen)
• A Smith & Wesson .40 caliber magazine with ammunition
• 16 bags of narcotics that contained a total of 403.25 grams of cocaine base, “crack”
• Two plastic bags that contained 139.31 grams of fentanyl
• 124.29 grams of a mixture of Xylazine, fentanyl, and para-fluorofentanyl
• 81.76 grams of fentanyl
• 2.14 grams of cocaine
• Two credit cards with white powder residue

During the trial, evidence presented to the jury included a comment Bell made in jail in which he stated that “no one knew about Nana’s basement.”

Two co-conspirators also charged in the superseding indictment—Loundon Hardy, 30, and Kobe Bell- Beckham, 27, both of Cleveland—previously pleaded guilty to related drug conspiracy, distribution and possession charges and are currently awaiting sentencing.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI Cleveland Division, with assistance from the Cleveland Division of Police.

The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Marc D. Bullard and Scott Zarzycki for the Northern District of Ohio.

CLEVELAND – A Trumbull County man has been sentenced to prison in connection with a cross-country drug trafficking operation that transported controlled substances from California to Ohio.

Andre L. Bowers, 55, of Warren, Ohio, was sentenced to 128 months (10 years, 6 months) in prison by U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker after he pleaded guilty in September 2025 to Attempted Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Distribute. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release.

According to court documents, on Jan. 4, 2025, the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) conducted a traffic stop on a trailer truck hauling vehicles from California to Ohio. Troopers received consent from the driver to inspect two vehicles that were suspected of having controlled substances. The vehicles were found to be altered to conceal illegal drugs. Upon further inspection of the gas tanks on both cars, investigators seized a total of 36 brick-sized packages which later tested positive for cocaine and weighed in at just over 36 kilograms (nearly 80 pounds).

However, troopers allowed the truck to continue to its intended destination. Federal law enforcement officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) proceeded to track and observe the truck as it delivered the two vehicles to a location in Warren. Bowers was later seen arriving there and then proceeded to drive each vehicle that previously contained the cocaine packages, to a location on Park Avenue in Warren. Two days later, federal agents conducted a search warrant execution at that location and took Bowers into custody. Agents found that one of the back seats had been taken out and placed next to the vehicle along with gloves and tools used to remove it. Two residences connected to Bowers were subsequently searched and investigators seized 6 firearms, 1.4 kilograms of a fentanyl analogue and 136 grams of pure methamphetamine.

This case was investigated by the DEA Youngstown Resident Office, with valuable assistance from the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Vasile Katsaros and David M. Toepfer, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

CLEVELAND – A 52-year-old Lorain County man who trafficked a high-volume of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) has been sentenced to prison.

Robert L. Scarvelli, of Sheffield Lake, Ohio, has been sentenced to 107 months (8 years and 9 months) in prison by U.S. District Judge David A. Ruiz, after he pleaded guilty in September 2025 to receipt and distribution of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He was also ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $5,000 in restitution to a victim of his crimes.

According to court documents, from about June 6 to August 31, 2024, Scarvelli was engaged in knowingly receiving and distributing, and possessing digital files of children as they were being sexually abused. During a search warrant execution of Scarvelli’s residence, federal agents seized several electronic devices containing thousands of images and videos of CSAM. Many of these files included sadistic and masochistic depictions of children under the age of 12 or the exploitation of infants and toddlers. More than 100 videos were recordings of children being sexually abused for 10 minutes or longer. One video file showed a child being sexually abused for nearly one hour.

The investigation leading to the indictment was conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division.

The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer J. King for the Northern District of Ohio.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and 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 justice.gov/PSC.

To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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CLEVELAND – A Lorain County man has been sentenced to prison for his role in a healthcare billing conspiracy scheme that was intended to fraudulently bill Medicare for more than $14.5 million.

Timothy Sutton, 44, of North Ridgeville, Ohio, was sentenced to 64 months (5 years and 4 months) in prison by U.S. District Judge David A. Ruiz, after he pleaded guilty in April 2025 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, false statements related to health care matters, and aggravated identity theft. He was also ordered to serve 3 years of supervised release and pay nearly $6 million in restitution to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Judge Ruiz imposed the sentence Jan. 12.

“Mr. Sutton deliberately lied about performing patient examinations and then used his role as a trusted medical professional to line his pockets at the expense of taxpayers. We will not tolerate those who utilize their positions of authority to defraud Medicare, or any government agency,” said United States Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “Thanks to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Cleveland FBI’s thorough investigations, we have put a stop to this rampant fraud and abuse of power.”

According to court documents, Sutton used his position as a licensed medical doctor in the state of Ohio to cause submission of claims on behalf of patients who did not need the medical treatment. He was employed by two telemedicine companies based in Florida which provided him with pre-completed orders for durable medical equipment (DME), such as braces, and/or cancer genetic testing (CGX) for him to approve and digitally sign. In doing so, he affirmed that he had examined each patient using a telemedicine platform and then determined that they needed DME. He also falsely affirmed that he was the treating physician of the patients who he had signed orders to receive CGX testing. However, federal investigators found that Sutton never examined any of the patients whom he claimed to have examined.

“Violating a position of trust and abusing the privilege of serving as a healthcare provider by willfully defrauding the government and other entities for personal gain is cruel and calculating,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen. “When funds from programs like Medicare are not used as intended, taxpayers and people who are entitled to those funds suffer. The FBI will continue its commitment to work with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate criminals like Mr. Sutton and ensure that federally funded healthcare programs are not abused by providers.”

Once Sutton prescribed medical equipment or ordered testing through the telemedicine companies who had hired him, the orders were then either forwarded to other medical businesses, which were part of the conspiracy, or sold to other medical entities.

“When a physician knowingly violates their oath and exploits patients for personal financial gain, it erodes the very foundation of trust in our health care system,” said Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to safeguard taxpayer dollars and ensure that those who abuse these vital programs are held accountable.”

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI Cleveland Division.

Assistant United States Attorney Michael L. Collyer prosecuted the case.

To submit a complaint about healthcare fraud or abuse of services, visit oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud.

TOLEDO, Ohio – Federal grand juries returned indictments on Jan. 7 charging three individuals with illegal reentry of a previously removed alien, in violation of Title 8 U.S. Code 1326. They were found in the Northern District of Ohio without the consent of the U.S. Attorney General or the Secretary for Homeland Security for readmission. These are separate cases and not related.

• Francisco Constancio-Mariscal, 37, a citizen of Mexico, was previously removed from the United States on at least two occasions with the most recent being April 28, 2011. He was found in Port Clinton (Ottawa County) on Jan. 4.
• Guillermo Gutierrez-Rivas, 35, a citizen of Mexico, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being June 29, 2024. He was found in Benton Township (Ottawa County) on Dec. 19, 2025.
• Alvaro Veliz-Gonzalez, 34, a citizen of Guatemala, was previously removed from the United States on at least four occasions with the most recent being Oct. 11, 2021. He was found in Toledo (Lucas County) on Dec. 8, 2025.

The investigations in these cases were conducted by U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Al-Sorghali, Robert N. Melching, and Alissa M. Sterling for Northern District of Ohio.

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

These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

CLEVELAND – A 24-year-old Cleveland man has been sentenced to prison for his role in two robberies of armored car vehicles in Cleveland.

Christion Yarnell Sims, 24, was sentenced to 228 months (19 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Bridget Meehan Brennan after pleading guilty to the following charges:

• Interference with Commerce by Robbery
• Carjacking
• Using and Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence

Sims was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $336,120 in restitution. 

According to court documents, Sims and several other assailants robbed armored car vehicles on two separate occasions. The robberies occurred July 29, 2024, and Sept. 23, 2024.

On both dates, employees with Vantage Technical Services (VTS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Brinks, were servicing an ATM at each retail establishment. As employees exited the stores and attempted to enter their armored vehicles, they were threatened at gunpoint. In both instances, the assailants took several bags filled with cash before speeding away in getaway vehicles.

During the investigation, agents discovered photographs of Sims holding a large sum of banded and unbanded cash. They also found a video of a car dealership employee counting stacks of cash during a transaction in which Sims bought a black BMW after the first robbery.

In total, more than $300,000 in cash was stolen from VTS armored vehicles by Sims and other perpetrators.

This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division and the Cleveland Division of Police.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler for the Northern District of Ohio.

CLEVELAND – A Cuyahoga County man has been sentenced to prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy committed while he was out on release after serving a prison sentence for a previous drug offense.

Deion Thompson, 39, of Cleveland, was sentenced to 180 months (15 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker after pleading guilty in July 2025 to the following charges:

• Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances

In addition to the sentence on the drug charges, he was also ordered to serve two years of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his federal supervised release, which he had been serving as a result of a 2014 conviction for Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin. Judge Barker imposed the sentences Jan. 5.

According to court documents, from about April 1 to July 12, 2023, Thompson and a co-conspirator knowingly conspired to traffic fentanyl, cocaine base (crack), and cocaine throughout the Greater Cleveland region. Federal agents executed search warrants at three residences related to the conspiracy and discovered numerous plastic bags containing several types of controlled substances. Among the drugs seized were more than 500 fentanyl pills, five pounds of methamphetamine, over one kilogram of fentanyl analogues, one kilogram of cocaine, and 28 grams of crack cocaine. Agents also seized five loaded handguns, a rifle, a shotgun, and related ammunition. Drug paraphernalia such as blenders, scales, pill presses and cutting agents were also found. Additionally, more than $19,000 in cash and a motorcycle were also seized.

Co-defendant Murray Foster, 38, also of Cleveland, pleaded guilty to his role in the drug conspiracy and is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence.

This case was investigated by the Southeast Area Law Enforcement Task Force and the FBI Cleveland Division.

The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Payum Doroodian for the Northern District of Ohio.

AKRON, Ohio – A Cuyahoga County man has been charged by criminal complaint with robbing a United States Postal Service (USPS) carrier while on her route.

According to the allegations in the criminal complaint and affidavit, on Dec. 29, a USPS letter carrier was robbed at gunpoint while delivering mail on West Long Street in Akron. The victim reported that several individuals wearing dark clothing and masks approached her and—under the threat of violence—demanded that she give them the postal keys. The assailants then stole several items, including her USPS satchel, multiple pieces of mail, and the postal vehicle keys before fleeing in a getaway car.

Later that afternoon, the getaway car was traced by police to a location on Kinsman Road in Cleveland, where a traffic stop was attempted. The driver, later identified as Delshawn Durval Legg, 19, of Cleveland, drove away from police at a high rate of speed and then fled on foot. Legg was subsequently apprehended following the deployment of a K9 unit. A second unidentified individual who was inside the car, remains at large. Investigators later learned that the getaway car was reported stolen from the Great Lakes Honda dealership in Akron earlier that day.

If convicted, Legg faces up to 10 years in prison for robbery of mail, money, or other property of the United States; and using or carrying a firearm during a crime of violence.

This case is being investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Cleveland Field Office with assistance from the Akron Police Department, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cleveland Division of Police.

The prosecution is being led by Assistant United States Attorney Kristen Rolph for the Northern District of Ohio.

The USPIS is the federal law enforcement arm of the postal service with jurisdiction for investigating crimes against postal carriers and crimes involving the U.S. Mail. Anyone having information about blue collection box thefts, or thefts or attempted thefts of mail carriers or mail, should contact USPIS at 1-877-876-2455. All information will be kept confidential.

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

CLEVELAND – The Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Relentless Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators. The nationwide crackdown resulted in over 205 child victims being located and the arrests of over 293 child sexual abuse offenders. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of two weeks by all 56 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Department’s Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorneys’ offices around the country.

“We will not allow evil criminals who prey on children to evade justice,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Our federal agents have worked tirelessly alongside our state and local partners to track down these vile predators, and now our prosecutors will ensure they receive severe punishments to match their horrific crimes."

“Operation Relentless Justice shows no child will be forgotten and that all predators targeting the most vulnerable amongst us will be held accountable,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This year, the FBI has led multiple nationwide surges across the U.S. to find and arrest hundreds of child predators. We will not stop until every child can live a life free of exploitation. We will utilize the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state, and local partners to protect communities across the nation from such horrific crimes.”

“Protecting children from sexual predators is one of our office’s highest priorities.  We will use all legal tools available to pursue, arrest, and aggressively prosecute anyone who seeks to exploit or harm a child,” said United States Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “We are grateful to the FBI Cleveland Division for their incredible work to find those who perpetuate these atrocious behaviors.”

“There is no place in our communities for those who prey on children. Through close collaboration with the USAO and our law enforcement partners, we are committed to protecting the most vulnerable and ensuring sexual predators are brought to justice,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Manganaro of the FBI Cleveland Division.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio has announced that federal grand juries returned indictments charging the following individuals with offenses against minors:

• Jeremy J. Miller, 34, of Maple Heights, Ohio, was charged with Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Real Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct, Possession of Child Pornography, and Obscene Visual Representations of the Sexual Abuse of Children. At least one image involved in the offense involved a prepubescent minor under age 12.
• Tevon J. Hunter, 30, of Lorain, Ohio, was charged with Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Real Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct and Transportation of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct
• Anthony C. Hayes Jr., 44, of Maple Heights, Ohio, was charged with Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Real Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct and Possession of Child Pornography. At least one image involved in the offense involved a prepubescent minor under age 12.

Those arrested are alleged to have committed various crimes, including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material; online enticement and transportation of minors; and child sex trafficking. Some of the alleged offenders include an airman out of Dallas, TX, who was arrested with his wife for producing child sex abuse material (CSAM), as well as a Police Officer from Raleigh, NC, who distributed CSAM to an undercover officer while discussing his interest in engaging in sexual contact with children. In another case involving enticement of a minor, the Miami Field Office arrested a Guatemalan national who was previously deported in 2011, and had previous arrests for battery, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and carrying a concealed weapon.

As sextortion cases continue to rise, this operation highlights arrests of individuals who target vulnerable children online including the five leaders of Greggy’s Cult, as well as a Virginia man who persuaded a 14-year-old to produce CSAM. The victim attempted suicide after he allegedly told her to kill herself.

This effort follows two other successful operations, including Operation Restore Justice in May, which resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sex abuse offenders and Operation Enduring Justice in August, which resulted in the rescue of 133 children and the arrests of 234 offenders.

The FBI's Victim Services Division (VSD) assisted victims during this operation and provided services, to include forensic interviews, referrals for medical and mental health resources, and coordination with partners. VSD's mission is to inform, support, and assist victims in navigating the aftermath of crime and the criminal justice process with dignity and resilience.

These operations underscore the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were 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 justice.gov/psc.

The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.

The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI's tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office at 216-522-1400.

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

TOLEDO, Ohio – A federal grand jury returned indictments on Dec. 17 charging four individuals with illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8 U.S. Code 1326. They were found in the Northern District of Ohio without the consent of the U.S. Attorney General or the Secretary for Homeland Security for readmission. These are separate cases and not related.

• Anastacio Escobar-Roblero, 33, a citizen of Mexico, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being Sept. 24, 2013. He was found in Huron (Erie County) on Dec. 5.
• Nixion Lopez-Peralta, 28, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being Feb. 10, 2020. He was found in Toledo (Lucas County) on Dec. 1.
• Wilson Lux-Solis, aka Jose Roberto Lemus-Solis, 25, a citizen of Guatemala, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being Oct. 2, 2019. He was found in Upper Sandusky (Wyandot County) on Dec. 10.
• Manuel Lux-Tum, 51, a citizen of Guatemala, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being March 9, 2016. He was found in Upper Sandusky (Wyandot County) on Dec. 10.

The investigations in these cases were conducted by U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Simko and Frank Spryszak for the Northern District of Ohio.

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

These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

TOLEDO, Ohio – The United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) has announced immigration enforcement actions in the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division. These are separate cases and not related.

The following individuals have pleaded guilty to illegal reentry (Title 8 U.S. Code 1326), after being found in the Northern District of Ohio without the consent of the U.S. Attorney General or the Secretary for Homeland Security for readmission.

• Ruben Luis-Garcia, 40, a citizen of Guatemala, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being Oct. 6, 2017. He was found in Sandusky (Erie County) on Oct. 30, 2025. Sentencing is set for Feb. 5, 2026.
• Ismael Ruiz-Sebastian, 34, a citizen of Mexico, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being March 26, 2010. He was found in Sandusky (Erie County) Ohio on Oct. 30, 2025. Sentencing is set for Jan. 27, 2026.
• Erick Ventura-Castellanos, 35, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being June 5, 2018. He was found in Danbury Township (Ottawa County) on Oct. 29, 2025. Sentencing is set for Jan. 27, 2026.

Additionally, Bersain Alvarez-Lopez, 37, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to time served after pleading guilty to possession of fraudulent identification documents, misuse of a social security number, and illegal reentry. He was previously removed from the United States on at least three occasions with the most recent being Jan. 15, 2019. He remains in federal custody pending deportation.

The investigations in these cases leading to the indictments were conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station.

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Gene Crawford, Tracey Tangeman and Ava Rotell Dustin for the Northern District of Ohio.

These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and to protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

CLEVELAND – A Portage County man has been sentenced to federal prison for obtaining government assistance by making false and misleading statements regarding his state of health.

Michael W. Honaker, 55, of Windham, Ohio, was sentenced to 31 months in prison by U.S. District Judge David A. Ruiz, after he pleaded guilty in December 2024 to wire fraud and theft of government property. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and pay restitution of $432,254.07 to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, $82,400.20 to the Social Security Administration (SSA), and $22,417.00 to the Portage Metropolitan Housing Authority. Judge Ruiz imposed the sentence Dec. 12.

“Mr. Honaker’s deception was truly shameless. He had no problem going to great lengths to hide his deceitful behavior and reap the benefits from programs that are meant for people who truly need them,” said United States Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “We are thankful to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation who identified the fraud, and to the Housing and Urban Development and Social Security investigators who were able to put a stop to this waste of taxpayer money.” 

According to the indictment, Honaker began to receive workers’ compensation benefits in 1998 due to an on-the-job injury he sustained. The following year, he applied for—and received—Social Security disability benefits in the form of monthly cash payments. Later, he was accepted into a housing program administered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and began to receive subsidized-housing benefits in March 2012. In 2014, he began to reside at a residence on Greenmeadow Road in Windham. While there, he misrepresented information about himself for the purpose of receiving increased workers’ compensation benefits. In one application submitted, he falsely claimed that “going up and down the stairs several times a day is very painful” and, therefore, needed a lump-sum payment to renovate his home to be handicap-accessible. During a doctor appointment, Honaker pretended to have difficulty walking and dragged his right leg and indicated that he required a wheelchair to maneuver. In another instance, he falsely told an investigator with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation that he used crutches all day and had a “brain injury.” In all instances, the defendant admitted to knowing that these statements were not truthful.

“Honaker’s selfish actions put HUD’s housing assistance programs at significant risk and jeopardized the amount of available funding to low-income families who rely on these programs,” said Special Agent in Charge Shawn Rice with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General. “HUD OIG will continue to work with its prosecutorial and law enforcement partners to vigorously pursue those who seek to profit by abusing HUD-funded programs.”

“By falsely portraying himself as disabled and continuing to collect Social Security benefits, Michael Honaker committed a serious fraud that cost taxpayers more than $82,000,” said Special Agent in Charge Stephanie Rodriguez with the Social Security Administration-Office of the Inspector General, Chicago Field Division. “Cases like this demonstrate our continued commitment to identifying, investigating, and holding accountable those who exploit programs designed to help the most vulnerable.”

"Our Special Investigations Department did an exceptional job uncovering and securing the conviction in this complex fraud scheme," said Administrator/CEO Stephanie McCloud of the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. "Their collaboration with local police and federal agencies was instrumental in saving money for the State Insurance Fund."

Co-defendant Nichole E. Johnson, 42, also of Windham, began to reside at the Greenmeadow Road residence in 2016 without HUD authorization to do so. She was previously sentenced to 24 months of probation for her role in facilitating the scheme, after she pleaded guilty to making a false statement to the SSA regarding Honaker’s state of health. She was also ordered to pay $4,624 in restitution.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-Office of Inspector General Cleveland Field Office, the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, and the Windham Police Department investigated this case.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Jason W. White prosecuted the case for the Northern District of Ohio.

CLEVELAND – A Summit County man has pleaded guilty to wire fraud after defrauding his employer, a police organization, and an online fundraising company out of millions of dollars.

According to court documents, from about March 2022 to November 2024, Jonathan Leissler, 44, of Stow, Ohio, worked at an industrial supply company in Warrensville Heights, Ohio, as its chief financial officer (CFO). This role allowed him access to sensitive data such as payroll, expenditures, accounts payable, and company credit cards. He created fake payroll records to receive unauthorized payments, with amounts ranging from about $5,000 to $20,000 per transaction in addition to his regular salary.

In December 2023, he began his bid for a seat on the Ohio Senate representing District 28. He utilized an online fundraising platform to collect donations toward his election campaign which were deposited into a designated “Leissler for Ohio” bank account. Using his employer’s company credit cards, Leissler proceeded to make unauthorized donations to his own election campaign. Then, he would request a refund of the donation. The refund request would trigger the fundraising platform to withdraw funds from the “Leissler for Ohio” bank account. However, Leissler changed the bank account associated with his campaign to a different, non-existent bank account before the funds could be withdrawn to process the refund.

Leissler also had access to a second source of funds through a local fraternal order of police (FOP). From about December 2021 to November 2024, he was the treasurer for the organization and held a debit card and checkbook for the FOP account, which he used to make numerous unauthorized withdrawals and expenditures. He regularly reported to FOP leadership that the account balance was significantly higher than he knew it to be.

Federal investigators found that Leissler used embezzled funds to charter private planes, travel, provide a down payment for a vacation property in South Carolina, and make mortgage payments for the vacation property as well as his residential home. He also used funds to pay for credit cards, vehicles, cryptocurrency mining equipment, and to start up a side business. He also paid for advertising to encourage voters to support his election to the Ohio Senate.

Leissler’s actions resulted in victims being defrauded of approximately $4.5 million in combined losses.

Leissler was charged by a bill of information on Nov. 12 and pleaded guilty Dec. 17 to three counts of wire fraud. Leissler faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for April 8, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This investigation was conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division.

Assistant United States Attorney Megan R. Miller is leading the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio.

Note:

Updated 2-5-26 with sentencing date.

CLEVELAND – A 44-year-old Lorain man, Tiawan Taylor, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison and for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.  He previously plead guilty to an indictment alleging that on July 31, 2024, he possessed with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine and another count of possessing with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing cocaine.  After he serves his prison sentence, the court ordered that he be subject to 20 years of federal supervised release.  Taylor has a lengthy criminal history with numerous prior convictions for violent offenses, theft offenses, and drug trafficking offenses. 

“This kind of behavior is a direct threat to the safety of our communities.  Drug dealers bring violence and poison wherever they operate, and we are pleased to see this defendant taken off the streets for the next decade.  I commend the efforts of the FBI and Lorain Police Department for their hard work and continued partnership,” said United States Attorney, David Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio.

This case was investigated by the Lorain Police Department and FBI Cleveland Division.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott Zarzycki for the Northern District of Ohio.

CLEVELAND – A federal grand jury has returned a 2-count indictment charging a Ghanaian National with defrauding elderly victims out of over $8 million.

According to a recently unsealed indictment, Frederick Kumi, aka Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng, aka Abu Trica, 31, of Swedru, Ghana was part of a criminal network that targeted elderly victims in romance scams across the United States since 2023.  Kumi was arrested in Ghana on December 11, 2025.

According to the indictment, perpetrators of this romance scam used Artificial Intelligence software to assume false identities and form close personal relationships with victims.  They gained victims’ trust to obtain money and valuables, often targeting individuals through social media and online dating platforms under false pretenses.

Victims were often elderly and engaged in romantic but physically distant relationships with perpetrators.  The perpetrators built trust through frequent, intimate conversations by phone, email, and messaging platforms.  They then requested money or valuables under false pretenses, such as urgent medical needs, travel expenses, or investment opportunities.  Relying on these misrepresentations, victims were persuaded to send funds or valuables, which were then directed to co-conspirators posing as third parties. 

The indictment also alleges that after the victims transferred funds, Kumi worked with a network of co-conspirators to distribute the money from Ohio and across the United States to associates in the Republic of Ghana and other locations.

Kumi has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and a forfeiture specification, and faces up to 20 years in prison.

If convicted, a defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including a defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, his role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentences will not exceed the statutory maximum, and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. McDonough for the Northern District of Ohio.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio would like to acknowledge and thank the Ghana Attorney General’s Office, EOCO – Ghana Economic Organised Crime Office, GPS – Ghana Police Service, Ghana Cyber Security Authority, NACOC – Ghana Narcotics Control Commission, Ghana National Intelligence Bureau, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Sensitive Investigation Unit, U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and FBI Legal Attaché Office in Accra for their cooperation with this matter.

The investigation and prosecution of this case is in response to the Elder Justice Initiative Program originating from the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017 (EAPPA). The mission of the EAPPA and Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department of Justice’s enforcement efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect, financial fraud, and scams that target the nation’s elderly population.

To submit a report of suspected elder financial abuse, visit tips.fbi.gov/home or justice.gov/elderjustice/financial-exploitation.

CLEVELAND – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio announced the unsealing of a federal indictment Dec. 9 charging four individuals allegedly involved in an international drug trafficking conspiracy.

According to the allegations in the indictment, from about February 2023 to August 2024, Calvin Locke, aka Uncle, aka Tio, 53, sold narcotics to various redistributors throughout the northern Ohio region and then used a business entity, Locke and Goldstein, to launder the proceeds. Co-conspirator Josue Melendez, aka Jay, aka Bananas, 35, facilitated multi-kilogram shipments of methamphetamine from Sonora, Mexico, with Carlos Escareno, aka J, 30, serving as courier to transport the pound quantities of drugs across state lines from Arizona to Ohio. A fourth co-conspirator, Shamese Maddox, 37, was Locke’s fentanyl supplier.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio and Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen of the FBI Cleveland Division.

Calvin Locke, aka Uncle, aka Tio, 53, of Cleveland, is charged with:

• Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
• Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl.
• Attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
• Possession with the Intent to Distribute of Fentanyl.
• Money Laundering.

Josue Melendez, aka Jay, aka Bananas, 35, of Yuma, Arizona, is charged with:

• Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

Carlos Escareno, aka J, 30, of Yuma, Arizona, is charged with:

• Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

Shamese Maddox, 37, of Akron, Ohio, is charged with:

• Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl.
• Distribution of Fentanyl.

If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to the case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, their role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

The investigations leading to the indictment were conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division and partner members of the Cartel, Gang, Narcotics and Laundering Task Force:

• Cleveland Division of Police
• North Royalton Police Department
• Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department
• Brooklyn (Ohio) Police Department
• Ohio State Highway Patrol
• Ottawa County Prosecutors Office
• Ohio Bureau of Crime Investigations
• Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority Police
• IRS-Criminal Investigations

Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Crook is leading the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio. The assistance of the U.S. Marshals is also acknowledged for providing related support for this crime reduction initiative.

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

CLEVELAND – A Cleveland man has been sentenced to prison for attempting to smuggle contraband into a prison where he was employed.

James P. Jackson, 40, was sentenced to 30 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Dan Aaron Polster after pleading guilty in July to Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right for accepting money to smuggle two packages into a prison using his capacity as an employee of the facility. Jackson was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment. Judge Polster imposed the sentence on Dec. 4th.

According to court documents, Jackson was employed by the Trumbull Correctional Institution (TCI) in Leavittsburg, from 2022 through 2024, where he served as a corrections officer and later, as a general maintenance worker. His work duties and responsibilities allowed him full access to non-public areas including prison cells where he interacted regularly with inmates. Jackson was found to be communicating with a female associate of a TCI inmate. They eventually agreed to meet so she could give Jackson packages to deliver to the inmate, who was serving a sentence inside the facility. In return, Jackson accepted an initial bribe of $1,000 from her and was promised an additional $1,000 after the contraband was successfully delivered to the intended recipient. Upon attempting to take the packages into TCI, Jackson was intercepted by law enforcement. The investigation revealed that the packages Jackson received−and attempted to smuggle into the prison−contained 97.67 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, 207.63 grams of synthetic cannabinoid, 32.85 grams of phencyclidine (aka PCP or angel dust), various other drugs, a cellphone, and SIM cards.

This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Trumbull Correctional Institutions-Office of Investigations, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol-Office of Criminal Investigations Prison Drug Unit, and Investigative Services for the Warren District.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chelsea S. Rice for the Northern District of Ohio.

AKRON, Ohio – A Lake County man has been sentenced to federal prison for not paying required employment taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Michael Roberts, 38, of Mentor, Ohio, was sentenced to 24 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams, after a federal jury convicted him in April of failure to account for and pay taxes. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and pay $322,718.56 in restitution. Judge Adams imposed the sentence Dec. 3.

According to court documents, Roberts was the executive director and co-owner of Progressive Alternatives, an in-home care business that served individuals with developmental disabilities throughout Lake and Ashtabula Counties. The business was initially purchased by Roberts’s spouse, Larry Keith Gildersleeve III, 43, also of Mentor, in February 2011.

Federal investigators found that the payroll checks that Roberts issued did reflect the correct withholdings from employees’ wages. The withholdings were also reflected on W-2 forms that the employees received. But upon further investigation, it was discovered that the business never filed W-2 forms for employees, nor did they submit quarterly payments. When an employee was preparing to retire in 2017, she learned that her employer, Progressive Alternatives, had not paid the required payroll taxes over to the IRS.

Gildersleeve was previously sentenced to 24 months in prison for his role, after pleading guilty to eight counts of failure to account for and pay over taxes. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and pay $692,697.50 in restitution.

The IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Division investigated this case.

Assistant United States Attorneys Erica D. Barnhill and Brett S. Hammond prosecuted the case for the Northern District of Ohio.

IRS-CI is the law enforcement arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. IRS-CI special agents are the only federal law enforcement agents with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code, obtaining a 90% federal conviction rate. The agency has 19 field offices located across the U.S. and 14 attaché posts abroad.

CLEVELAND – A Cleveland man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after he terrorized employees at a bank and several local businesses during armed robberies.

Reginald J. Wimberly, Jr., 24, was sentenced to 216 months (18 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Bridget Meehan Brennan after pleading guilty in August to:

• Four counts of Hobbs Act violations for Interference with Commerce by Robbery.
• Two counts of Using, Carrying, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to Crime of Violence.
• One count of Bank Robbery.

Wimberly was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $1,426 in restitution. Judge Brennan imposed the sentence Dec. 4.

According to court documents, Wimberly brazenly entered several places of business in December 2022 and used a firearm to threaten employees and demand money. During one robbery, a frightened bank teller handed over cash after she received a note that read “GIVE ME 20K OR I’M SHOOT THE PERSON NEXT 2 ME.” Wimberly dropped a cellphone and was temporarily trapped by the bank’s security doors but managed to escape and flee.

Wimberly confessed to committing all five robberies during an interview with law enforcement.

Victim businesses that were affected were:

• Dollar General, Broadway Ave., Dec. 27, 2022
• Dollar General, East 116th St., Dec. 27, 2022
• Dollar General, St. Clair Ave., Dec. 27, 2022
• Family Dollar, Miles Ave., Dec. 28, 2022
• Citizens Bank, Broadway Ave., Dec. 30, 2022

This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division and the Cleveland Division of Police.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristen Rolph for the Northern District of Ohio.

CLEVELAND — A Guatemalan national unlawfully residing in the United States and previously convicted of sexual battery pleaded guilty today in federal court in Cleveland to encouraging and inducing an unaccompanied alien child (UAC) to illegally enter the United States and to submitting a sponsorship application with false statements to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to gain custody of the UAC.

“This defendant directed a 14-year-old child to commit criminal conduct and then obtained custody of the child by defrauding a government program intended to help vulnerable children,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Through Joint Task Force Alpha, the Criminal Division is fully committed to prosecuting those who take advantage of children and lie to undermine the integrity of government programs. We will strive to end the exploitation of these children and stop the manipulation of government programs by fraudsters, smugglers, and others engaged in serious criminal conduct.”

“Mr. Tiul Xi engaged in layers of deception. Committing one federal crime after another, he showed no regard or respect for this girl’s human dignity,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “We greatly appreciate the dedication of the investigative teams with Homeland Security Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Cleveland FBI, to protect minors from being victimized by the likes of these ruthless individuals.”

According to court documents, 26-year-old Juan Tiul Xi helped a 14-year-old female Guatemalan UAC enter the United States illegally with the permission of her family. Tiul Xi helped the UAC and her family find someone from whom the family could borrow money to pay a “coyote” to transport the UAC to the United States. Tiul Xi instructed the UAC to use the name and birth certificate of Tiul Xi’s minor sister to enter the United States so that Tiul Xi could falsely state in his UAC sponsorship application that he was the UAC’s brother. Tiul Xi then made these false representations in an application that he signed under the penalty of perjury. ORR relied on Tiul Xi’s misrepresentations, approved his application to sponsor the UAC, and released the UAC to Tiul Xi’s care in September 2023.

Tiul Xi was indicted on April 17, 2025, and pleaded guilty today to all counts: one count of encouraging or inducing illegal entry for the purpose of financial gain; one count of making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement; and one count of aggravated identity theft. Tiul Xi faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison on the illegal-entry count, up to five years in prison on the false-statement count, and a mandatory consecutive two-year sentence on the aggravated-identity-theft count. Tiul Xi’s sentencing is scheduled to take place March 19, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The investigation and indictment were coordinated and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions (HRSP) Section and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant United States Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/ HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 425 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 375 U.S. convictions; more than 325 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.

ICE HSI and FBI Cleveland field offices jointly led the investigation with assistance from HSI’s Attaché team in Guatemala. Additionally, HSI’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking in Washington, D.C., and ORR have provided valuable assistance.

Acting Deputy Chief Christian Levesque of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, Joint Task Force Alpha detailee/Trial Attorney Spencer M. Perry of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney/Senior Litigation Counsel Carol Skutnik and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael L. Collyer for the Northern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case, with assistance from HRSP Analyst/Latin America Specialist Joanna Crandall.

A Guatemalan national unlawfully residing in the United States and previously convicted of sexual battery pleaded guilty today in federal court in Cleveland to encouraging and inducing an unaccompanied alien child (UAC) to illegally enter the United States and to submitting a sponsorship application with false statements to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to gain custody of the UAC.

“This defendant directed a 14-year-old child to commit criminal conduct and then obtained custody of the child by defrauding a government program intended to help vulnerable children,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Through Joint Task Force Alpha, the Criminal Division is fully committed to prosecuting those who take advantage of children and lie to undermine the integrity of government programs. We will strive to end the exploitation of these children and stop the manipulation of government programs by fraudsters, smugglers, and others engaged in serious criminal conduct.”

“Mr. Tiul Xi engaged in layers of deception. Committing one federal crime after another, he showed no regard or respect for this girl’s human dignity,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “We greatly appreciate the dedication of the investigative teams with Homeland Security Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Cleveland FBI, to protect minors from being victimized by the likes of these ruthless individuals.”

According to court documents, 26-year-old Juan Tiul Xi helped a 14-year-old female Guatemalan UAC enter the United States illegally with the permission of her family. Tiul Xi helped the UAC and her family find someone from whom the family could borrow money to pay a “coyote” to transport the UAC to the United States. Tiul Xi instructed the UAC to use the name and birth certificate of Tiul Xi’s minor sister to enter the United States so that Tiul Xi could falsely state in his UAC sponsorship application that he was the UAC’s brother. Tiul Xi then made these false representations in an application that he signed under the penalty of perjury. ORR relied on Tiul Xi’s misrepresentations, approved his application to sponsor the UAC, and released the UAC to Tiul Xi’s care in September 2023.

Tiul Xi was indicted on April 17, 2025, and pleaded guilty today to all counts: one count of encouraging or inducing illegal entry for the purpose of financial gain; one count of making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement; and one count of aggravated identity theft. Tiul Xi faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison on the illegal-entry count, up to five years in prison on the false-statement count, and a mandatory consecutive two-year sentence on the aggravated-identity-theft count. Tiul Xi’s sentencing is scheduled to take place on March 19, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The investigation and indictment were coordinated and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant United States Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/ HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 425 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 375 U.S. convictions; more than 325 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.

ICE HSI and FBI Cleveland field offices jointly led the investigation with assistance from HSI’s Attaché team in Guatemala. Additionally, HSI’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking in Washington, D.C., and ORR have provided valuable assistance.

Acting Deputy Chief Christian Levesque of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, Joint Task Force Alpha detailee/Trial Attorney Spencer M. Perry of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney/Senior Litigation Counsel Carol Skutnik and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael L. Collyer for the Northern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case, with assistance from HRSP Analyst/Latin America Specialist Joanna Crandall.

CLEVELAND – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio announced the unsealing of a federal indictment Dec. 3 charging 11 people allegedly involved in connection with a drug trafficking organization operating in Cuyahoga County.

According to the indictment, from about August 2023 to April 2024, members of the conspiracy are accused of supplying and/or distributing controlled substances that included fentanyl, oxycodone, and alprazolam pills, as well as methamphetamine and cocaine.

Conspiracy members operated throughout Greater Cleveland, with a significant amount of illegal activity taking place at an apartment complex in Euclid. Money and illegal drugs were collected from various individuals and then transported to and from Michigan and Pennsylvania.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio and Special Agent in Charge Joseph O. Dixon of the DEA Detroit Field Division.

All defendants are from Cleveland unless otherwise noted:

• Dionte Dykes, aka Dots, 31, is charged with:
  • Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances
  • Distribution of Fentanyl.
  • Distribution of Cocaine.
  • Felon in Possession of a Firearm; Prior convictions include Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs in 2012, and Delivery/Manufacture of Narcotic or Cocaine in 2018.
  • Use of a Communications Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense.
• Javian Hearns, aka Skeens, 34, is charged with:
  • Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.
  • Distribution of Fentanyl.
• Clarence Jackson, aka Cino, 33, is charged with:
  • Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.
  • Distribution of Methamphetamine.
  • Distribution of Fentanyl.
• Trevaughn Bassett, 26, is charged with:
  • Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.
  • Distribution of Fentanyl.
• Michael Chambers, aka Do-Do, 26, is charged with:
  • Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.
  • Distribution of Methamphetamine.
• Akia Bailey, aka Ky Free, 32, is charged with:
  • Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.
  • Distribution of Fentanyl and Oxycodone.
• Raveona Carter, 30, of Detroit, is charged with:
  • Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.
  • Use of a Communications Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense.
• Keith Dykes, aka Beefy, 29, is charged with:
  • Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.
  • Distribution of Cocaine.
  • Use of a Communications Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense.
• Robert Avery, aka Black, 31, is charged with:
  • Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.
  • Distribution of Cocaine.
  • Use of a Communications Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense.
• Liam Walsh, 36, is charged with:
  • Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.
  • Use of a Communications Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense.
• Amber Slone, 32, is charged with:
  • Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.
  • Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine.
  • Use of a Communications Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense.

If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to the case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, their role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

The investigations leading to the indictments were conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), along with the Euclid Police Department, the Independence Police Department, the Mayfield Heights Department, and SPAN Narcotics.

Assistant United States Attorney Margaret A. Sweeney is leading the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio.

The assistance of the U.S. Marshals is also acknowledged for providing related support for this crime reduction initiative.

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

CLEVELAND – A Cuyahoga County man has been sentenced to prison for his role in a large-scale drug trafficking operation that mass produced thousands of illegal pills which were then distributed throughout Ohio.

Thomas Taylor, 43, of Cleveland, was sentenced to 210 months (17.5 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent after pleading guilty in July to the following charges as outlined in the second superseding indictment:

• Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
• Distribution of a Controlled Substance.
• Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
• Maintaining Drug Premises.
• Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition; prior convictions include Felon in Possession of a Firearm in 2019; and Drug Trafficking in 2013 and 2007.

Taylor was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $10,000 in fines. Judge Nugent imposed the sentence Dec. 3.

According to court documents and evidence presented in court, Taylor led a major drug trafficking operation in northern Ohio. He recruited numerous individuals to help run his manufacturing operation to make fentanyl pills using ingredients he sourced from contacts in Mexico. Taylor maintained pill pressing equipment at several residences throughout the Greater Cleveland area that could make hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills each day. During the investigation, agents seized several firearms and ammunition, large sums of cash, and drug paraphernalia such as scales and plastic bags. In total, more than 3 kilograms of fentanyl, 2 kilograms of methamphetamine, and ½ kilogram of cocaine was also seized.

Co-defendant Noreece Young, 53, also of Cleveland, previously pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and is currently serving a 180-month (15 year) prison sentence.

This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division and the Southeast Area Law Enforcement Narcotics Task Force.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Payum Doroodian for the Northern District of Ohio.

CLEVELAND – A trucking company operator from Stark County who hid income from the U.S. government in attempts to not pay taxes has been sentenced to federal prison.

Alice F. Martin, 66, of Louisville, Ohio, was sentenced to 30 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent, after pleading guilty in August to Attempt to Evade and Defeat Income Tax, and Attempt to Evade and Defeat Payment of Tax. She was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment and to pay $1,971,660.86 in restitution. Judge Nugent imposed the sentence Dec. 2.

According to court documents, Martin attempted to evade the payment of taxes, penalties, and interest tied to a trucking company that she owned and operated under the name of Martin Logistics. The tax evasion scheme consisted of a plan to phase out the company after it became burdened with tax debt as a strategy to avoid paying taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

However, Martin intended to continue operating her trucking business through a new company, TSA Transportation. Income that TSA Transportation received was then deposited into a bank account for another business entity that Martin owned and controlled, A.F. Martin. In addition, she placed Martin Logistic’s assets, such as trucks and trailers, under the name of yet another company she established, Martin Global. IRS investigators found that from around 2013 to 2018, Martin directed approximately $18 million in gross receipts from TSA Transportation to be deposited into the bank account of a different company, A.F. Martin. The investigation concluded that she did not report $3.6 million in taxable income and failed to pay approximately $1.2 million in federal taxes due between 2013 and 2018.

IRS Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI) conducted the investigation leading to the indictment.

The prosecution in this case was led by Assistant United States Attorney Edward Brydle for the Northern District of Ohio.

IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) is the law enforcement arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. IRS-CI special agents are the only federal law enforcement agents with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code, obtaining a 90% federal conviction rate. The agency has 19 field offices located across the U.S. and 14 attaché posts abroad.

CLEVELAND – A Portage County man who orchestrated a financial conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has been sentenced to prison.

Mustafa Ayoub Diab, 42, of Ravenna, Ohio, was sentenced to 132 months (11 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr., after a federal jury found him guilty in March on 12 counts of theft of government funds, 12 counts of bank fraud, 11 counts of wire fraud, 6 counts of aggravated identity theft, and 1 count each of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud and to launder monetary instruments. Diab was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release after imprisonment and to pay $1,213,860 in restitution. Judge Oliver imposed the sentence Dec. 1.

According to court documents, Diab owned and operated a tax return preparation business in Akron, Ohio, along with co-conspirator, Elizabeth Lorraine Robinson, 34, also of Ravenna. From around June 2020 to August 2021, Diab submitted fraudulent applications for pandemic unemployment benefits and small business assistance for many of his business clients. Without their knowledge, he lied about their employment and their status as small business owners on applications to qualify for pandemic funds and benefits such as the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program and the Paycheck Protection Program.

When the pandemic relief funds were deposited into bank accounts that he opened and controlled for his clients without their knowledge, he immediately withdrew the funds in cash for his personal use. Diab bought real estate, cars and took international trips. Among the evidence presented at the nearly week-long trial, were fraudulent applications that he submitted using the names of nearly 80 victims. These applications caused the federal government to pay out more than $1.2 million in pandemic benefits that were deposited into the various bank accounts that Diab controlled.

Co-defendant Robinson previously pleaded guilty to her role in the conspiracy and was sentenced to nine months in prison and ordered to serve three years of supervised release thereafter. She was also ordered to pay $183,450 in restitution both joint and severally with Diab.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI Akron Field Office.

The prosecution in this case was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Vanessa V. Healy and Brenna L. Fasko.

A federal grand jury in the Northern District of Ohio returned an indictment today charging an Ohio man with four counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with minors in Haiti.

According to court documents, Jeriah Mast, 44, of Millersburg, Ohio, traveled from the United States to Haiti on multiple occasions between 2002 and 2019, including with the organization Christian Aid Ministries (CAM), and sexually abused minors in that country. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement obtained flight records showing that Mast had taken over 30 flights from the United States to Haiti between November 2002 and August 2018. Each count of the indictment is premised on his sexual abuse of a different minor in Haiti.

“As alleged, this defendant traveled abroad to commit heinous, unspeakable crimes against vulnerable children living in an impoverished nation,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Despite the fact that the defendant’s alleged crimes occurred abroad, our law enforcement partners and prosecutors will continue to relentlessly seek justice on behalf of the minor victims.  Wherever the Criminal Division has jurisdiction, we are committed to investigating and prosecuting those who engage in the intolerable crime of abusing and exploiting children.”

“Crimes against children, like those mentioned in these allegations, are reprehensible. Such appalling and morally corrupt behavior will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “We commend the work of Homeland Security Investigations and the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office, whose thorough work led to these federal charges being filed today.”

“This case highlights the vital role HSI plays in identifying and investigating individuals —  especially those in positions of trust — who exploit children, regardless of where these heinous crimes occur,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Stentz. “HSI Cleveland, in collaboration with the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Justice, worked diligently to ensure that those who prey on children abroad are held accountable here in the United States. We remain steadfast in our commitment to pursuing justice for victims and ensuring that predators face the full weight of the law wherever our investigations lead.”

HSI Cleveland is investigating the case and received substantial assistance from the Holmes County (Ohio) Sheriff’s Office.

Trial Attorney Jessica L. Urban of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret Kane and Jennifer King for the Northern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case.

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.

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

CLEVELAND – A Holmes County man who traveled internationally to sexually abuse children abroad now faces federal charges.

On Dec. 2, a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging Jeriah Mast, 44, of Millersburg, Ohio, with attempted and actual engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place.

The indictment alleges that on at least four separate occasions—2004, 2007, and twice in 2011— Mast embarked on trips to the Caribbean and sexually abused minors.

As outlined in the original federal criminal complaint filed Nov. 4, 2025, Mast repeatedly traveled to Haiti, during which time he both attempted and engaged in illicit sexual conduct with minors. Foreign travel records obtained by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) show that Mast took more than 30 flights from the United States to Haiti.

Mast faces a penalty of up to 30 years in prison and $250,000 in fines per count if convicted. He also faces up to a lifetime of supervised release after imprisonment. His sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, his role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.

“As alleged, this defendant traveled abroad to commit heinous, unspeakable crimes against vulnerable children living in an impoverished nation,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.  “Despite the fact that the defendant’s alleged crimes occurred abroad, our law enforcement partners and prosecutors will continue to relentlessly seek justice on behalf of the minor victims.  Wherever the Criminal Division has jurisdiction, we are committed to investigating and prosecuting those who engage in the intolerable crime of abusing and exploiting children.”

“Crimes against children, like those mentioned in these allegations, are reprehensible. Such appalling and morally corrupt behavior will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said United States Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio.  “We commend the work of Homeland Security Investigations and the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office, whose thorough work led to these federal charges being filed today.”

“This case highlights the vital role HSI plays in identifying and investigating individuals—especially those in positions of trust—who exploit children, regardless of where these heinous crimes occur,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Stentz. “HSI Cleveland, in collaboration with the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Justice, worked diligently to ensure that those who prey on children abroad are held accountable here in the United States. We remain steadfast in our commitment to pursuing justice for victims and ensuring that predators face the full weight of the law wherever our investigations lead.”

An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by HSI and the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant United States Attorneys Margaret Kane and Jennifer King are leading the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio, with assistance from Trial Attorney Jessica Urban of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS).

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

Anyone with knowledge and information about this case may call the HSI tip line at 1-877-4-HSI-TIP or visit report.cybertip.org.

###

CLEVELAND – A Lorain County man who pretended to own a modeling agency has been sentenced to prison for grooming children into sending him sexually explicit images through the social media platform, Snapchat.

Joshua R. Glover, 36, of Elyria, Ohio, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Dan Aaron Polster after pleading guilty in July to receipt and distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and to possession of child pornography, which is also known as child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Glover was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after imprisonment and to pay $2,000 in assessments toward a monetary reserve for victims of CSAM. Judge Polster imposed the sentence Nov. 25, 2025.

“Glover’s vile and despicable manipulation of underage girls has come to an end. He will no longer commit these heinous and horrendous crimes against vulnerable children,” said United States Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “We are immensely grateful to the FBI Cleveland for the thorough investigation that led to Glover’s three-decades-long sentence to keep him behind bars where he cannot continue this predatory behavior.”

According to court documents, from January 2022 to January 2024, Glover used Snapchat to engage with hundreds of minor girls under the guise of owning a modeling agency. His typical victims ranged in age from 12-15 years old and were located throughout the country. Investigators found that Glover repeatedly sent requests for sexually explicit photos and videos to young girls with the lure of joining his modeling agency and receiving payment for their images and videos. Glover initiated over 18,000 chats and conversed with some victims for years—building relationships where he directed the type of sexual activity the minors engaged in and offered to meet with them in person to engage in sex.

“Contacting, coercing, and preying on young girls through social media to gain their trust and elicit inappropriate behavior is cold and callous,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen. “This sentence underscores the commitment of not only the FBI, but also our federal, state, and local partners who will ensure a full and thorough investigation that leads to taking predators like Glover offline and out of our neighborhoods. The FBI will continue to work collaboratively to combine resources and share expertise to identify those who commit these appalling crimes and find justice for the victims.”

Federal search warrants of Glover’s digital devices and online accounts revealed Glover possessed approximately 100 files of CSAM. By his own admission, Glover estimated he received images and videos of CSAM from over 90 different minors.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division.

The prosecution in this case was led by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer King.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices throughout the country and 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.

To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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TOLEDO, Ohio – A Canadian citizen has been sentenced to prison after admitting to having possession of 90 pounds of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), or ecstasy, a Schedule I controlled substance that is typically used as a party drug and intended for distribution.

Dontavius Forbes, 27, was sentenced to 36 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick after pleading guilty in June to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Judge Helmick imposed the sentence Nov. 21. Forbes will be deported to Canada upon completion of his prison sentence.

According to court documents, on Aug. 7, 2024, a U.S. Border Patrol agent observed a compact sport utility vehicle with Canadian license plates parked in a service plaza parking lot near the interstate 80/90 Ohio turnpike in Sandusky County. After further investigation, the agent proceeded to have an encounter with Forbes who was the driver of the vehicle. During a consensual search of the SUV, agents observed what appeared to be modifications to a section of the cargo area. Agents discovered two hidden compartments packed with vacuum sealed packages of suspected illegal drugs. A field test of one of the packages tested positive for MDMA. Agents also seized nearly $3,000 in U.S. currency from the vehicle.

The remaining packages recovered from the vehicle were submitted to a forensic laboratory for analysis which confirmed the accuracy of the field test indicating the presence of MDMA.

This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Assistant United States Attorney Frank H. Spryszak prosecuted the case for the Northern District of Ohio.

CLEVELAND – A Lucas County man has been sentenced to more than a decade in prison for his role in soaking the pages of books in illegal drugs to ship to inmates at a local prison.

Austin Siebert, 30, of Maumee, Ohio, was sentenced to 140 months (approximately 11 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent after pleading guilty in August to the following charges as outlined in the indictment:

• Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; prior convictions include Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs in 2018 and Robbery in 2021.
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

Siebert was also ordered to serve four years of supervised release after imprisonment. Judge Nugent imposed the sentence Nov. 18.

According to court documents, prison officials at the Grafton Correctional Institution in Lorain County discovered that Siebert was in regular communication with several inmates and mailing books to them. Prison investigators seized suspicious book packages which were then sent to a forensic lab for analysis. The seized contraband tested positive for the presence of synthetic cannabinoids such as 5-Fluoro-ADB and MDMB-4en-PINACA. Subsequently, a federal search warrant was executed at Siebert’s residence in Maumee where agents seized a paperback book suspected of being soaked with narcotics; a loaded Bersa Thunder, .380 semiautomatic pistol; several bags containing suspected drugs in pill and powder forms; a book binding machine; and package mailing labels.

This case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), with assistance from the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Grafton Correctional Institution.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Segev Phillips for the Northern District of Ohio.

CLEVELAND – A Cleveland man with a history of violence and drug crimes has been sentenced to prison for his role in running an illegal drug trafficking scheme.

Clarence Payne, 40, was sentenced to 170 months (14 years and 2 months) in prison by U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker after a federal jury found him guilty of the following charges:

• Distribution of Cocaine.
• Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.
• Felon in Possession of a Firearm; prior convictions include Drug Trafficking in 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2011, and Aggravated Assault and Drug Possession in 2011.
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine.
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin and Fentanyl.

Payne was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release after imprisonment. Judge Barker imposed the sentence Nov. 18.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, during the summer of 2023, Payne regularly supplied co-conspirator Harold Pearl, 41, of Cleveland, with cocaine that Pearl sold on the west side of Cleveland. Pearl arranged deals with buyers before he met with Payne to secure the drug amounts needed. Once he sold the drugs, Pearl returned to Payne’s home with the drug proceeds. Payne supplied Pearl with cocaine which was sold to undercover agents six separate times in June, July, and August 2023. Payne was arrested at his home, where multiple bags of cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl were located. Law enforcement also seized a firearm and drug paraphernalia from the home.

Co-defendant Pearl pleaded guilty to his role in the drug trafficking. In January 2025, he was sentenced to 46 months in prison and ordered to serve three years of supervised release.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the Cleveland Division of Police and numerous regional and federal agencies as part of a summer violent crime reduction effort in 2023.

Assistant United States Attorneys Adam J. Joines and Jennifer King led the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio.

CLEVELAND – An Ohio man now faces additional charges—including attempted murder of a federal officer—in connection with an Oct. 15 incident that resulted as federal officers attempted to serve an arrest warrant.

On Oct. 29, a federal grand jury in Cleveland returned a four-count indictment charging Larry Leon Dwight Wiley, 55, of Cleveland, with:

• Count 1 - Attempted Murder of a Federal Officer
• Count 2 - Assault on Federal Officers with a Deadly Weapon
• Count 3 – Using, Carrying, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence
• Count 4 - Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, for prior convictions that include Felonious Assault in 2010; Domestic Violence in 2009; Aggravated Robbery with Firearm Specification in 2000; Burglary in 1999; and Assault on a Police Officer in 1998.

According to the criminal complaint affidavit, on Oct. 15, members of the U.S. Marshals Service Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force went to an apartment unit in Cleveland to execute an arrest warrant on Wiley, who was wanted for felonious assault. Officers announced their presence as law enforcement and breached the door of the unit. Wiley, who was inside, allegedly fired a handgun in the direction of the officers, striking a deputy U.S. Marshal in the arm with a .380 caliber round. The deputy U.S. Marshal was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where he received treatment for his injuries. Wiley then barricaded himself in the apartment, leading to a standoff that lasted several hours until he surrendered and was taken into custody.

If convicted, Wiley faces up to 20 years in prison for Counts 1 and 2; up to life in prison for Count 3; and up to 15 years in prison on Count 4. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including prior criminal record, role in the offense, and characteristics of the violation.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Cleveland Division of Police. The Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office also provided valuable assistance. The prosecution is being led by Assistant United States Attorneys Margaret A. Sweeney, Scott Zarzycki, and James P. Lewis for the Northern District of Ohio.

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

CLEVELAND – A Summit County man has been sentenced to prison for his role as a supplier of illegal substances in Summit and Portage counties and the surrounding region.

Leverne Eugene Fortson, 51, of Akron, was sentenced to 210 months (17.5 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after a federal jury found him guilty in August of the following charges:

• Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Cocaine.
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

Fortson was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after imprisonment. In addition, the court ordered that he serve an additional 30 months for a supervised release violation, bringing the total to 240 months (20 years) in federal prison. Judge Adams imposed the sentence Oct. 28.

Court documents show that from about January to July 2024, Fortson and co-conspirator Jeffery Scott Goldbach, 54, of Mantua, Ohio, operated a drug trafficking scheme that distributed methamphetamine and cocaine throughout Summit and Portage counties and the surrounding region.  Search warrants were executed at each of their homes. At Fortson’s home in Akron, investigators seized 54.7 grams of pure methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and several mason jars containing fake urine. At Goldbach’s residence, agents seized a semi-automatic rifle, 22 grams of cocaine, approximately 55.5 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Co-conspirator Goldbach pleaded guilty in August to his role in the conspiracy and was sentenced to 78 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release.

This drug trafficking organization was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the Portage County Sheriff’s Office, and Akron Police Department.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph P. Dangelo and Yasmine Makridis for the Northern District of Ohio.

An Ohio man was taken into custody and charged with assaulting a federal officer who was engaged in the performance of official duties.

According to the criminal complaint, on Oct. 15, Larry Leon Dwight Wiley, 55, of Cleveland, barricaded himself in his apartment for several hours after members of the Cleveland U.S. Marshals Service arrived to execute an arrest warrant for a previous federal law violation. Wiley took aim at the federal officers and began firing as they entered the unit. One deputy U.S. Marshal was struck in the arm with a .380 caliber round and was transported to a nearby hospital to receive treatment for his injuries. Wiley made his initial appearance Oct. 16 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer Dowdell Armstrong. He was ordered to remain in custody while the matter is pending, following a motion made in court by U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio.

“Law enforcement officers risk everything to protect us, and this case is a stark reminder of the dangers they face in the line of duty,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful that our deputy U.S. Marshal will make a full recovery and I will ensure that this heinous crime is prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent of the law. Any attack on law enforcement is an attack on our society itself.”

“An assault on federal law enforcement is an assault against society. We will aggressively prosecute anyone who harms a federal law enforcement officer who is pursuing the mission of protecting the public,” said U.S. Attorney Toepfer. “I would like to thank the Cleveland Police Department, FBI, and ATF for their rapid response to this situation. I also commend the officers on scene who quickly rendered first aid to their wounded colleague.”

“The swift and decisive actions by the United States Marshal’s Service, Cleveland Division of Police, ATF, and the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office to prevent additional harm to the people in the community underscores the collaboration and partnership among our local, state, and federal agencies,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen.  “We are united in our resolve to take the most dangerous criminals and repeat offenders off the streets and keep our neighborhoods safe places to live and work. The FBI will conduct a thorough investigation into the assault of a federal officer and ensure justice is served.”

Wiley is charged with assault on a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon and faces up to 20 years in prison. If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including prior criminal record, role in the offense, and characteristics of the violation.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Cleveland Division of Police. The Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office also provided valuable assistance. The prosecution is being led by Assistant United States Attorneys Margaret A. Sweeney, Scott Zarzycki, and James P. Lewis for the Northern District of Ohio.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

CLEVELAND – An Ohio man was taken into custody and charged with assaulting a federal officer who was engaged in the performance of official duties.

According to the criminal complaint, on Oct. 15, Larry Leon Dwight Wiley, 55, of Cleveland, barricaded himself in his apartment for several hours after members of the Cleveland U.S. Marshals Service arrived to execute an arrest warrant for a previous federal law violation. Wiley took aim at the federal officers and began firing as they entered the unit. One deputy U.S. Marshal was struck in the arm with a .380 caliber round and was transported to a nearby hospital to receive treatment for his injuries. Wiley made his initial appearance Oct. 16 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer Dowdell Armstrong. He was ordered to remain in custody while the matter is pending, following a motion made in court by United States Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio.

“Law enforcement officers risk everything to protect us, and this case is a stark reminder of the dangers they face in the line of duty,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful that our deputy U.S. Marshal will make a full recovery and I will ensure that this heinous crime is prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent of the law. Any attack on law enforcement is an attack on our society itself.”

“An assault on federal law enforcement is an assault against society. We will aggressively prosecute anyone who harms a federal law enforcement officer who is pursuing the mission of protecting the public,” said U.S. Attorney Toepfer. “I would like to thank the Cleveland Police Department, FBI, and ATF for their rapid response to this situation. I also commend the officers on scene who quickly rendered first aid to their wounded colleague.”

“The swift and decisive actions by the United States Marshals Service, Cleveland Division of Police, ATF, and the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office to prevent additional harm to the people in the community underscores the collaboration and partnership among our local, state, and federal agencies,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen.  “We are united in our resolve to take the most dangerous criminals and repeat offenders off the streets and keep our neighborhoods safe places to live and work. The FBI will conduct a thorough investigation into the assault of a federal officer and ensure justice is served.”

Wiley is charged with assault on a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon and faces up to 20 years in prison. If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including prior criminal record, role in the offense, and characteristics of the violation.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Cleveland Division of Police. The Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office also provided valuable assistance. The prosecution is being led by Assistant United States Attorneys Margaret A. Sweeney, Scott Zarzycki, and James P. Lewis for the Northern District of Ohio.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

CLEVELAND – A Summit County man has been sentenced to prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy involving approximately 7,000 fentanyl pills and 10 pounds of methamphetamine.

Terrance Rucker, 43, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced to 276 months (23 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Bridget Meehan Brennan after a federal jury found him guilty in April of the following charges as outlined in the indictment:

• Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances
• Attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
• Attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

Rucker was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release after imprisonment. Judge Brennan imposed the sentence Oct. 9.

According to the original criminal complaint, underlying affidavit and evidence presented in court, in November 2023, postal inspectors intercepted a suspicious package mailed from Phoenix, Arizona, that was destined for a home in Summit County.  The residence was found to be associated with Rucker’s co-defendant, David R. Collins, 44, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, who was known to law enforcement for having a history of drug violations.

Federal law enforcement agents with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) obtained a warrant to search the package in question. In it, they found 10 plastic bags filled with an off-white crystalline material. Inspectors also found a second vacuum packed bag containing blue pills marked with “M” on one side and “30” on the other. The package contents were submitted to a forensic lab for analysis and tests confirmed that the white substance was approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine. The blue tablets were confirmed to be 2.5 pounds of pressed fentanyl which were made to look like pharmaceutical-grade oxycodone hydrochloride pills. After the discovery of the narcotics in the package, agents searched the home that it was destined for and located Rucker with the package that once contained the narcotic substances, as well as a loaded revolver, three cellphones, a box cutter used to open the package, and anti-surveillance equipment.

Collins was previously sentenced to 36 months in prison. A third co-defendant, Javay Cox, 37, of Phoenix, Arizona, was previously sentenced to 70 months in prison. Both Collins and Cox were also ordered to serve three years of supervised release each.

The investigation was conducted by the USPIS, DEA, HSI, and the Summit County Drug Unit, with assistance from the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Segev Phillips and Stephanie Wojtasik and for the Northern District of Ohio.

USPIS is the law enforcement branch of the United States Postal Service. To report mail theft or other crimes committed through, or towards, the United States Postal Service, call the USPIS at 1-877-876-2455 or visit uspis.gov/report.

CLEVELAND – An Ivorian national has been extradited to the United States for his role in a conspiracy to smuggle goods out of the United States, involving dozens of firearms allegedly headed for Africa.

Bile Jean Philippe Assemian, 49, a citizen of Côte d’Ivoire, made his first appearance in U.S. District Court Sept. 26. He was arrested in Kenya June 26, by Kenyan authorities at the request of the United States and surrendered to the United States pursuant to an extradition request.

His alleged co-conspirator Koffi Andrea Versaint Taregue, 45, an Ivorian national with permanent resident status, remains at large.

According to the superseding indictment, from November 2018 to October 2020, the men obtained at least 58 firearms in Northern Ohio and elsewhere by coordinating with others to buy on their behalf or by purchasing themselves. The firearms were allegedly packaged and concealed in household goods.  The defendants utilized an export company to deliver the items out of the country but did not disclose that the pre-packaged shipments in fact contained firearms and related parts, such as suppressors. The defendants did not have the required written approvals or licenses from the U.S. Department of Commerce or U.S. Department of State to export the items.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio and Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen of the FBI Cleveland Division.

Assemian is charged with conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States and faces a maximum of up to five years in prison.

Taregue is charged with conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States, six counts of smuggling goods from the United States, six counts of control of arms exports and imports, and one count each of unlicensed dealing in firearms, making a false statement to the FBI, and making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. He faces a combined maximum of up to 205 years in prison.

If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, their role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.

The investigation leading to the indictment was conducted by the Cleveland Joint Terrorism Task Force, including agents from the FBI Cleveland Division, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations also provided assistance.

Assistant United States Attorney Segev Phillips for the Northern District of Ohio is leading the prosecution with substantial assistance provided by Trial Attorney Yifei Zheng of the U.S. Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing Assemian’s arrest and extradition from Kenya. His extradition was possible due to an extensive coordinated effort between the United States and the Republic of Kenya. Kenyan agencies that provided valuable assistance include the Kenya Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and its Directorate of Criminal Investigations; Kenya Directorate of Immigration Services; Kenya Aviation Authority; and the Kenya Police Service as well as the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office in Nairobi.

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

AKRON, Ohio – An Akron-area career criminal has been sentenced to prison for his role in distributing controlled substances throughout Northeast Ohio.

Antoine D. Cook, 46, of Akron, was sentenced to 420 months (35 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent after a federal jury found him guilty in June of the following charges as outlined in the indictment:

• One count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine,
• One count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine,
• One count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition; prior convictions include Domestic Violence in 1996, 2010, 2012, and 2014; Distribution of a Controlled Substance in 2002; Aggravated Assault in 2012 and 2015; and Felonious Assault in 2018.

Cook was also ordered to serve eight years of supervised release after imprisonment. 

According to court documents, on May 1, 2024, Cook knowingly possessed and intended to distribute two Schedule II controlled substances. He was found with approximately 25 grams of methamphetamine as well as three grams of cocaine, all packaged for sale. Cook also unlawfully possessed more than 80 rounds of ammunition. Because Cook was previously convicted of a number of serious drug and violent felonies, he received a significant sentencing enhancement as a career offender and an armed career criminal.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the Ohio Adult Parole Authority.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter E. Daly for the Northern District of Ohio.

TOLEDO, Ohio – The United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) has announced immigration enforcement actions in the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division. These are separate cases and not related.

The following individuals have been sentenced to time served by U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick after each previously pleaded guilty to illegal reentry (Title 8 U.S. Code 1326), after being found in the Northern District of Ohio without the consent of the U.S. Attorney General or the Secretary for Homeland Security for readmission. They remain detained pending deportation from the United States.

• Gonzalo Diaz-Resendiz, 29, a citizen of Mexico, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being Sept. 6, 2013. He was found in Putnam County, Ottawa, Ohio.
• Edin Oneil Carrillos-Rodriguez, 36, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed from the United States on at least two occasions with the most recent being Dec. 11, 2014. He was found in Sandusky County, Clyde, Ohio.
• Raul Samano-Fuerte, 49, a citizen of Mexico, was previously removed from the United States on at least four occasions with the most recent being March 10, 2009. He was found in Huron County, Norwalk, Ohio.

Additionally, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Jaime Sanchez-Tlehuactle, 43, a citizen of Mexico, with illegal reentry. He has previously been removed from the United States with the most recent being April 21, 2021. He was found in Wood County, Bowling Green, Ohio.

The investigations in these cases were conducted by U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Gene Crawford, Matthew Simko, and Ava Rotell Dustin for Northern District of Ohio.

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

These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

TOLEDO, Ohio – A Wood County man has been sentenced to prison for defrauding a computer technology support company of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Blake Underwood, 45, of Perrysburg, Ohio, was sentenced to 24 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary after pleading guilty in May to wire fraud. Underwood was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment. 

According to court documents and evidence presented in court, Underwood was employed by Nemsys, LLC, a Toledo-based information technology company. After the Nemsys business owners relocated to Florida to focus their efforts on a second company, Underwood became the CEO and ran the business on behalf of the owners. Court documents show that Underwood devised a scheme to defraud the company from December 2019 until April 2023. Even though he was not permitted to do so, Underwood used Nemsys funds intended for the revitalization of a historic Toledo property to purchase building supplies for his personal home. In 2023, the owners examined why Nemsys was underperforming financially and discovered that Underwood was using company funds to pay his personal credit cards, purchase personal vehicles, golf club memberships, jewelry, and more.

This investigation was conducted by the FBI Toledo Field Office prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Melching for the Northern District of Ohio.

CLEVELAND – A former Ohio deputy employed at a detention facility has been sentenced to prison for sexually abusing a female inmate in his custody.

Damon K. Perry, 53, of Youngstown, was sentenced to 112 months (approximately 9.3 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent after he pleaded guilty in May to two counts of sexual abuse of a detainee and two counts of sexual abuse.

“Mr. Perry’s abusive and appalling actions against a detainee were a violation of her basic human rights. Using his power of authority to deliberately take advantage of a woman, who he was charged with supervising, is dishonorable and despicable,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “We thank the DOJ’s Office of the Inspector General for investigating this matter.”

According to the plea agreement, Perry admitted to engaging in a sexual act with a female inmate under federal detention at the Mahoning County Jail on two dates in November 2023. The correctional facility, located in Youngstown, Ohio, serves under contract with a federal law enforcement agency to house detainees at their direction as needed.

The first sexual act committed without the victim’s consent occurred Nov. 9, 2023, when the inmate was under Perry’s supervision while she was being held in custody. A second incident occurred Nov. 30, 2023, when Perry again engaged in a non-consensual sexual act with the same federal detainee placed under his authority.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yasmine Makridis for the Northern District of Ohio.

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TOLEDO, Ohio – A 24-year-old Venezuelan man residing unlawfully in Perrysburg, Ohio, and who was enrolled as a student at a local high school has pleaded guilty to lying on immigration forms and on applications to purchase a firearm.

In June, a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging Anthony Emmanuel Labrador-Sierra, a Venezuelan national, with possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully in the United States, making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm, and two counts of making or using false writings or documents. The defendant pleaded guilty to all charges Sept. 22 before U.S. District Judge James R. Knepp.

According to the indictment, the defendant submitted a false date of birth to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on federal applications for Temporary Protective Status and Employment Authorization Documents in 2024 and 2025.

In the original criminal complaint and underlying affidavit filed in May, investigators found that Perrysburg Schools reported to the Perrysburg Police Department that they received information that Labrador-Sierra, a student attending Perrysburg High School, was not a minor, but was instead a 24-year-old man who had enrolled under false pretenses.

If convicted, Labrador-Sierra faces up to 15 years in prison for possession of a firearm by an alien; up to 10 years in prison for making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm; and up to five years in prison for using false documents. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 23, 2026.

This case is being investigated by the City of Perrysburg Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection−Sandusky Bay Station, the FBI Toledo Field Office, the ATF, with assistance from the Wood County Prosecutor’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Melching and Tracey Tangeman for the Northern District of Ohio.

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

A Lucas County man has been sentenced to prison for robbing and threatening a U.S. postal carrier with violence while the carrier was on an official delivery route at an apartment complex.

Damere Wilson, 21, of Toledo, was sentenced to 20 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary after pleading guilty in June to robbery of mail, money, or other property of the United States, stealing mail collection box keys, and mail theft. Wilson was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment.

According to court documents, Wilson drove an unidentified individual to the Piccadilly Apartments in Oregon, Ohio on March 12, 2024. The unidentified individual approached a United States Postal Service letter carrier who was on a delivery route, pushed a hard object into the letter carrier’s back and demanded the key for the mailboxes. Under the threat of violence, the letter carrier provided the key to this unidentified individual, who then quickly fled the scene. Wilson drove the unidentified individual away from the Piccadilly Apartments after the robbery was committed.

During a search warrant execution of Wilson’s residence in Toledo, investigators found the postal key that was stolen from the letter carrier during the robbery, as well as more than 200 checks totaling thousands of dollars from more than 100 mail theft victims throughout northern Ohio.

The investigation preceding the indictment was a collaborative effort conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the City of Oregon Police Division.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank H. Spryszak for the Northern District of Ohio.

To report mail theft or other crimes committed through, or towards, the United States Postal Service, call the USPIS at 1-877-876-2455 or visit https://www.uspis.gov/report

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