Southern District of Ohio

Note: the release has been updated to include only information about Morelli. Additional information about another individual who has been charged in the case has been removed.

A New Jersey man was sentenced to prison today in connection with his involvement with online groups dedicated to creating and distributing videos depicting acts of extreme violence and sexual abuse against monkeys.

Giancarlo Morelli, of Wharton, New Jersey, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for conspiring to create and distribute animal crush videos.

“Those making or sharing animal crush videos have reason to fear capture and swift justice in the form of sentences like today’s,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Congress has said clearly that this conduct has no place in our society. Beyond dark corners of the web, it is reviled. Anyone who sees it should turn in perpetrators to federal law enforcement. We will prosecute everyone we can, as we did with this chat group. If you’re involved in these groups, get out and get help.”

“If you pay others to torture animals or to share images of that horrific abuse, you can expect to be held accountable as if you committed the torture firsthand,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II for the Southern District of Ohio. “Today’s sentence shows our resolve to punish everyone who participates in these despicable and sadistic conspiracies.”  

“The acts of torture and abuse of young monkeys in this case are beyond disturbing,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Adam Lawson of FBI’s Cincinnati Field Office. “As a result of the work of the FBI, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and our Department of Justice partners, those involved in the creation and distribution of these repulsive animal torture videos are being held accountable for their criminal actions.”

“Those who produce or distribute animal crush videos should know that federal law enforcement is fully committed to identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting these offenders,” said Assistant Director Doug Ault of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement. “Such acts are universally condemned, and we commend vigilant members of the public who report these crimes when they are discovered. As demonstrated by this successful prosecution, we will aggressively pursue all who participate in these abhorrent acts.”

According to court documents, Morelli paid another individual 19 times for videos depicting the torture and abuse of monkeys. Morelli also kept up an extensive correspondence with the individual supplying him with the videos, providing feedback on the content of the videos, and offering suggestions for future videos. 

According to statements of facts signed by Morelli, the videos included depictions of baby and adolescent monkeys being tortured in a multitude of ways, including having their genitals burned and cut off.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and FBI investigated the case.

Senior Trial Attorney Adam C. Cullman of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section is prosecuting the case. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Oakley for the Southern District of Ohio also helped prosecute the case.

CINCINNATI – A Mexican national was sentenced in federal court here to 21 months in prison for illegally reentering the United States after being convicted of a felony crime.

Gelacio Macias-Olivares, 42, was found by law enforcement in Lebanon, Ohio, in April. The defendant has three prior felony convictions for illegal reentry of a removed alien. His prior convictions occurred in the Western District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, and the District of Arizona. Macias-Olivares had most recently been deported from Texas in April 2020.

Dominick S. Gerace, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Kevin Raycraft, Acting Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; announced the sentence imposed on Sept. 25 by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Susan J. Dlott. Assistant United States Attorney Ebunoluwa Taiwo is representing the United States in this case.

# # #

CINCINNATI – James River Phillips, 21, of Mason, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to illegally transporting explosive materials. 

Phillips was arrested in April 2025 by the FBI Cincinnati Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) after agents executed search warrants in Mason, Oxford and Liberty Township.

According to court documents, on Sept. 22, 2024, Phillips transported components of an improvised explosive device (IED) to a large soccer complex in Lebanon, Ohio. Phillips planned to detonate the IED but was stopped when a Lebanon police officer instructed him to leave the complex because it was closed. The officer discovered the live IED and it was seized by the Butler County Bomb Squad. Subsequent testing revealed that the IED contained Nickel Hydrazine Nitrate (NHN) and Erythritol Tetranitrate (ETN).

Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court at a future hearing.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati and officials with the Lebanon Police Department, Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Butler County Sheriff’s Office, Mason Police Department, Oxford Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Dayton Police Department and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole. Deputy Criminal Chief Emily N. Glatfelter is representing the United States in this case.

# # #

CINCINNATI – The final defendant in a national narcotics conspiracy was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 94 months in prison. The six other coconspirators were previously sentenced in federal court, and four of those defendants received sentences of more than 100 months in prison.

According to court documents, from at least July 2018 until March 2023, Juan-Jose Carrillo, 32, of Compton, California, and the six other defendants were responsible for the distribution of more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine from California into and throughout the Cincinnati area.  The methamphetamine supplier was connected to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG).  The defendants charged represent both high-level suppliers and local-level drug distributors.

The other defendants include Franklin Johnson (sentenced to 156 months in prison), Gerald Jeter, Jr. (132 months in prison), Anthony Clardy II (104 months in prison), Dre’Quan Christopher (102 months), Robert Day (72 months), and Tyrone Jordan (36 months).

Court documents detail that Carillo was a source of supply that coordinated deliveries of methamphetamine to Jeter, Johnson and/or Clardy, to be shipped to southern Ohio. Jeter, and later Johnson, would travel to the West Coast to obtain the methamphetamine, and ship it back to Cincinnati. Jeter and Johnson were both high-level distributors of methamphetamine, who would break down the large loads of methamphetamine for re-sale to mid-level distributors in the Cincinnati area. The mid-level distributors included defendants Clardy and Day. In addition, defendant Christopher was a street-level dealer who would sell the methamphetamine to his clients throughout the Cincinnati area.

The defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2023.

Dominick S. Gerace, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and officials with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Detroit, Cincinnati Police Department Narcotics Unit, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Regional Enforcement Narcotics Unit (RENU), and Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force (NKDSF) announced the sentence imposed on Sept. 17 by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas R. Cole. Deputy Criminal Chief Frederic C. Shadley represented the United States in this case.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The leader of a large-scale gun trafficking operation was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 72 months in prison.

Keith Davenport III, 22, of Columbus, and five others were indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2024 for conspiring to commit an offense against the United States by making false statements on federal firearms forms. At Davenport’s direction, he and the others conspired to use stolen credit card information to place orders online for straw purchase firearms.

According to court documents, as the leader of the conspiracy, Davenport obtained the stolen credit card information, ordered the firearms online, recruited straw purchasers and then helped arrange for the re-sale of the firearms on the back end.

Davenport and the others were responsible for at least 42 guns being transferred illegally, and the scheme involved the attempted fraudulent purchase of more than 200 firearms. One of the guns was found shortly after purchase when Columbus police SWAT officers executed a narcotics trafficking search warrant. Another handgun was found on an individual illegally present in the United States during a 2022 traffic stop.

The defendant also has pending charges in Medina County, Ohio, that pertain to him trying to break into a post office and involved him allegedly assaulting two police officers and a hospital security officer.

While on bond in this instant case, Davenport was charged with domestic violence and assault and as a result the Court revoked his bond.

Davenport pleaded guilty in this case in April 2025 to the firearms conspiracy and to aggravated identity fraud.

Dominick S. Gerace, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, John Smerglia, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the sentence imposed by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorneys S. Courter Shimeall and Damoun Delaviz are representing the United States in this case.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Latasha Collins-Ford, 50, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to bankruptcy fraud. 

Collins-Ford admitted to renting homes using stolen or fictitious identities, failing to pay rent, and then filing bankruptcy petitions to delay eviction. Once the bankruptcy petitions were discharged or dismissed, Collins-Ford would move on to a new rental home and use a new identity to repeat the scheme.

According to court documents, Collins-Ford committed bankruptcy fraud on at least three occasions between 2019 and 2023 while renting three separate residences and using three different identities.

She pleaded guilty today to bankruptcy fraud, a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison.

Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Tyler J. Aagard is representing the United States in this case.

# # #

CINCINNATI – Richard Opoku Agyemang, 41, of Cincinnati, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to laundering the proceeds of a romance fraud conspiracy involving more than $2 million in loss to dozens of victims. 

As part of the romance fraud scheme, other individuals used stolen photographs and false information to create profiles on dating websites and establish online romantic relationships with victims. Victims were tricked into sending money under the false pretense that doing so would support a romantic partner they had met online for things like medical expenses. 

According to court documents, victims sent more than $2 million by either wiring money or depositing checks to accounts controlled by Agyemang.

Agyemang was charged federally in April 2024.  He pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering stemming from a transfer of $32,000 of fraud proceeds in 2022.

His plea agreement recommends a sentence of up to 41 months in prison.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Pittsburgh Division, announced the guilty plea entered on Sept. 17 before U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Assistant United States Attorneys Julie D. Garcia and Ebunoluwa A. Taiwo are representing the United States in this case.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A member of the local violent criminal organization Third World Mob was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 310 months in prison. 

Klegewerges Abate, 36, of Columbus was convicted by a jury in August 2024. After an 8-day trial before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr., jurors deliberated for less than six hours before finding him guilty on all counts.

Abate, who is also known as “Bells,” “Robell” and “Sosa,” was convicted of conspiring to traffic at least 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, firearms offenses, and wire fraud related to illegally obtaining COVID-19 pandemic relief funds.

According to court documents and trial testimony, Third World Mob members brought hundreds of pounds of marijuana into Ohio from other states like California and Georgia to sell in central Ohio. They used U-Haul trucks and rental cars to move the drugs.  Coconspirators used rental houses or houses leased or owned in other individuals’ names as “stash houses” or “trap houses” to facilitate the drug trafficking and to store significant amounts of cash from the drug proceeds.

For example, in August 2019, Abate and others possessed a suitcase with approximately $940,000 in cash in it in a house on Phlox Avenue in Blacklick.

During a November 2022 search of a residence on Chapel Stone Road in Blacklick, law enforcement officials found Abate and two of his co-conspirators, along with more than 700 kilograms of marijuana and three firearms.

Third World Mob leaders and members used violence and the threat of violence to maintain authority over their drug trafficking.

Surveillance video presented at trial showed Abate, a convicted felon, shooting a man at a restaurant in Columbus. Jurors also heard testimony about numerous shootings, a pistol-whipping, and other acts of intimidation.

Abate was also convicted of wire fraud for falsely applying for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, fraudulently claiming that he had been a self-employed landscaper during the time he trafficked drugs.

In total, seven members of the Third World Mob have been charged federally since 2021.

Co-defendant Abubakarr Savage, 36, was also convicted at trial with Abate. He was sentenced July 2025 to more than 15 years in prison. Fellow Third World Mob member Menelik Solomon pleaded guilty in November 2023 and was also sentenced to more than 15 years in prison.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Andrew Lawton, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detroit; and Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin announced the sentences imposed. U.S. Attorney Gerace recognized the assistance from the Columbus, and Whitehall, Ohio, and Tucson, Arizona, police departments and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth A. Geraghty and S. Courter Shimeall represented the United States in this case.

# # #

CINCINNATI – Treyvon Alexander, 21, of Georgetown, Kentucky, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 72 months in prison for orchestrating the largest known theft of checks from the mail in Cincinnati.

As part of his sentence, Alexander is ordered to pay more than half a million dollars in restitution.

According to court documents, Alexander conspired with others, including a postal employee, to commit bank fraud relating to checks stolen from the mail.

In total, law enforcement agents identified 1,480 stolen checks with a face value of approximately $7.4 million. Many of the checks were recovered during the execution of search warrants and delivered by the United States Postal Service to the intended recipient without any actual loss.

Court documents detail that former postal employee Destiny Neblett, 23, of Cincinnati, was stealing from a mail processing facility during her work hours and turning the checks over to her boyfriend, Lonnel Lucas, 23, of Cincinnati. Lucas then sold the stolen checks to Alexander, who processed them and converted the stolen funds. The stolen mail often included checks to various local companies.

Alexander pleaded guilty in February 2025 to conspiring to commit bank fraud. Neblett pleaded guilty in August 2025 and Lucas is scheduled to appear in federal court for a plea hearing on Sept. 30.

Dominick S. Gerace, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas R. Cole. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy S. Mangan is representing the United States in this case.

# # #

CINCINNATI – A Middletown man was sentenced in federal court in Cincinnati to 348 months in prison for sexually exploiting a toddler in Snapchat videos.

Daveion Wright, 32, was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024. He pleaded guilty in April 2025.

According to court documents, on at least five instances in January 2024, Wright sexually exploited a 2-year-old victim, uploaded videos of the explicit conduct, and shared one video on Snapchat. 

For example, one 54-second video depicted Wright and an adult female having vaginal intercourse as the toddler victim pushed on Wright’s hips. The other videos showed Wright exposing the toddler’s anus and vagina while Wright had intercourse with the adult female.

As part of Wright’s sentencing, the United States detailed in its court filings that local law enforcement received at least three other complaints against Wright involving different child victims between 2019 and 2023, including allegations of inappropriately touching victims at a sleepover.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division and Middletown Police Chief Earl Nelson announced the sentence imposed on Sept. 9 by Senior U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey is representing the United States in this case.

# # #

DAYTON, Ohio – A Trotwood man was charged federally today after he allegedly participated in a shootout at a local gas station last week.

Walter Rodgers, 35, is charged with illegally possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony crime.

According to charging documents, on Sept. 2, Dayton police officers were dispatched to the Sunoco gas station on E. Third Street in Dayton due to early afternoon calls of a shooting. Rodgers allegedly ran inside the gas station after being shot at, retrieved a firearm from his bag and exited the Sunoco to return fire.

It is alleged that Rodgers possessed a firearm that law enforcement recovered at the scene. The gun was covered in blood; Rodgers was hit during the gun fight.

Court documents also detail that, during the shootout, Rodgers allegedly stated, “I’m going to do ya’ll like I did Cierra,” potentially referring to his former girlfriend Cierra Chapman, who was reported missing in 2022 and is yet to be found.

Rodgers was previously convicted in Montgomery County of aggravated burglary and abduction. Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Thomas A. Greco, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Erica Lunderman is representing the United States in this case.

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

# # #

DAYTON, Ohio – A Sycamore Township man whose DNA implicated him in a 1989 rape pleaded guilty today to making false statements to federal agents.

Frederick Louis Tanzer, 66, admitted to three counts of the crime, each punishable by up to five years in prison.

Tanzer’s plea documents detail that on Aug. 1, 1989, Tanzer broke into a victim’s home in Cincinnati and violently raped the victim over the course of five and a half hours. Tanzer, masked and dressed from head to toe in black Lycra, held a knife to the victim’s throat, dragged her into her bedroom, blindfolded her with surgical tape, bound her hands and feet to her bed frame, and then repeatedly raped her vaginally, anally and orally.

In 2024, the FBI, working with the Cincinnati Police Department, confirmed Tanzer’s DNA matched the semen left by the victim’s attacker in 1989.

When approached about the rape, the defendant made several materially false statements to a federal agent and a Cincinnati Police Department detective, including denying having seen or interacted with the victim on the date she was raped.

Tanzer was arrested in December 2024 and will remain in custody pending sentencing.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cincinnati Division; and Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa A. Theetge announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Michael J. Newman. The IRS-Criminal Investigation Cincinnati Field Office assisted in the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly K. Rossi and Julie D. Garcia are representing the United States in this case.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Hilliard man is charged with trafficking in fentanyl that caused at least one overdose death. 

A second superseding indictment against Raymond A. McGhee, 37, was returned today. In addition to being charged with distributing fentanyl resulting in death – a crime punishable by at least 20 years and up to life in prison – McGhee is also charged with five other drug counts and two firearms crimes.

According to charging documents, McGhee, who is also known as “Red” and “Draco,” distributed the fatal fentanyl on Feb. 22.

McGhee was previously charged by criminal complaint in April after patrol officers with the Columbus Division of Police stopped McGhee for two traffic violations. They discovered a pistol and a sock filled with baggies of fentanyl and cocaine hidden under the carpet of the passenger side floorboard.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Thomas A. Greco, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Noah R. Litton and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

# # #

CINCINNATI – FBI Director Kash Patel, United States Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II, FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola and DEA Detroit Acting Special Agent in Charge Andrew Lawton announced today that a federal grand jury in Dayton returned charges against dozens of defendants, including Chinese nationals and companies, in narcotics and money laundering conspiracies involving illegal cutting agents.

“Protecting Americans from fentanyl is one of this Department’s most important missions — and it starts with dismantling the international pipelines that bring deadly drugs and precursor to our shores," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We will not rest until we stop Chinese companies from shipping poison to our citizens and bring everyone involved in this lethal trade to swift, complete justice.”

“Our indictment alleges that Chinese companies and affiliated foreign nationals intentionally and openly marketed, delivered, and exported to the United States controlled substances and other compounds that they knew would be used by domestic drug dealers to increase the yield and potency of fentanyl distributed in this country,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “As explained in court documents, these deadly drug mixtures were then sold directly into our communities here in southern Ohio.”

“Today’s announcement marks a first-of-its-kind international operation for the FBI targeting the fentanyl plague that has killed tens of thousands of Americans and indicting the companies and individuals in mainland China that manufacture the precursor chemicals fueling the destruction of our communities,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This operation has already seized enough fentanyl powder to kill 70 million Americans and enough fentanyl pills to kill another 270,000. And we have now indicted the Chinese precursor companies and exposed the funding streams that facilitate this deadly trade.”

“The FBI is using an aggressive investigative strategy to target businesses in China which are sending lethal drugs to the streets of our cities,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. “The FBI will continue to relentlessly pursue these companies and drug distributors as we work to crush violent crime and keep people safe from the dangers of illicit narcotics.”

According to charging documents, from at least 2022 until present, Eric Michael Payne, 39, of Tipp City, Ohio, served as a main supplier of illegal cutting agents to fentanyl traffickers operating in southern Ohio. Payne allegedly purchased several kilogram shipments of the cutting agents from multiple Chinese companies purporting to be online pharmacies and legitimate chemical companies.

It is believed that the U.S. defendants purchased from the Chinese companies at least 10 kilograms of fentanyl cutting agents, which, in turn, could yield more than 150 kilograms of fentanyl mixture bound for street-level sales in southern Ohio. The cutting agents included animal tranquilizers up to 200 times more powerful than morphine.

The companies allegedly used a series of Chinese foreign nationals located overseas to solicit, negotiate, and secure payments for illegal cutting agents from U.S. customers. It is alleged the foreign nationals generally directed U.S. customers to pay for the cutting agents using cryptocurrency transferred to crypto wallets under the foreign national’s control for ultimate deposit into financial institutions located overseas.

Payne’s significant other, Auriyon Tresan Rayford, 24, also of Tipp City, Ohio, and Ciandrea Bryne Davis, 39, of Atlanta, allegedly assisted Payne in transferring more than $60,000 in cryptocurrency to Chinese foreign nationals associated with the Chinese companies since 2022. Rayford also allegedly allowed illegal substances to be stored at her residence in Ohio.

All the defendants are charged with conspiring with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl mixture and conspiring to launder money internationally. Payne is also charged with possessing with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl mixture and tampering with evidence. Rayford is charged with maintaining a drug-involved premises.

The Chinese companies and nationals charged include:

• Guangzhou Tengyue Chemical Company, Ltd.,
• Guanghzou Wanjiang Biotechnology Co., Ltd.,
• Hebei Hongjun New Material Technology Co., Ltd.,
• Hebei Feilaimi Technology Co., Ltd.,
• Lihui Zhao,
• FNU LNU a/k/a “Anna Sofia,”
• Shanhong Jiang,
• Yan Yang,
• Fengdi Zhang,
• Dehui Xia,
• Xing Wu Chen,
• Qing Lin Wang,
• Xiaojun Huang,
• Meixiang Yao,
• Zhanpeng Huang,
• Yuqing Feng,
• Dongjing Sun,
• Chengqi Nong,
• Tiduo Wei,
• Zhisong Nie,
• Jichao Zhu,
• Zhengzhe Yin,
• Changgen Du,
• Hongfei Wang,
• Huatao Yao, and
• Xuening Gao.

Concurrent with the charges brought against this network, the U.S. Department of the Treasury today has imposed sanctions on one of these Chinese companies, Guangzhou Tengyue, and two of its representatives, Zhanpeng Huang and Xiaojun Huang, targeting them pursuant to Treasury’s counternarcotics authorities.

Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi and Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth McCormick are representing the United States in this case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A New Jersey man who owns fast-food restaurants in multiple states pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to conspiring to commit tax fraud.

As part of his plea, Ali Shahid Butt, 56, of Princeton Junction, New Jersey, has agreed to pay more than $2.4 million in restitution to the IRS.

According to court documents, from 2015 through 2021, Butt partially owned several fast-food restaurants throughout the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic, including in Zanesville. He frequently controlled the relationship with the restaurant franchisor.

With Butt’s knowledge, his franchise co-owners and managers paid certain employees in cash and did not report or pay over tax withholdings for those employees. In many cases, these employees were paid in cash because they were illegal aliens without work authorization.

For example, co-conspirator Bahadar “Sam” Durrani and Butt caused a tax loss of more than $1.2 million by failing to withhold, account for and pay over employment taxes on cash wages for employees at several restaurants, including in Zanesville.

Butt was charged by a bill of information on Aug. 11 and pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit tax fraud.

Durrani has also pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced in October.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney David J. Twombly is representing the United States in this case.

# # #

CINCINNATI – A second Cincinnati man charged locally for his involvement in the July 26 brawl in downtown Cincinnati has been indicted by a federal grand jury.

Jermaine Mathews, 39, is one of four men charged in a superseding indictment with conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl.

According to the superseding indictment, Mathews is responsible for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. He is also charged with operating a premises on Kenton Street in Cincinnati for the purpose of trafficking narcotics.

Mathews, who was described as a primary “coordinator” of the July 26 brawl in downtown Cincinnati, was on bond after being charged locally with aggravated riot and assault. He was arrested today by federal agents and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office RENU officials on the superseding indictment.

The others charged in this case include Jerome Mitchell, 41, Terence Huff, 41, and Clarence Williams, 42, all of Cincinnati.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey and Andrew Lawton, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Detroit announced the new charges. Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Springer is representing the United States in this case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A local tax preparer was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to the statutory maximum, 36 months, in prison for aiding in the preparation of false and fraudulent tax returns. 

Ali Kasimu Alston, 48, of Columbus, aided in the filing of thousands of fraudulent tax returns. He is ordered to pay more than $1.7 million in restitution to the IRS.

According to court documents, from at least 2015 through at least 2022, Alston owned and operated a tax return preparation business in Columbus named Overtime Ventures, LLC that did business as Raining Cash Tax Service.

Alston systematically falsified client tax returns to maximize refunds from the IRS. He filed Schedule Cs with fake businesses to maximize tax credits. For example, one false tax return for calendar year 2021 reported false losses for a home healthcare company that did not exist. The false business losses reduced the client’s taxable income, thereby decreasing the tax due and increasing the client’s claimed tax refund.             

The defendant also attempted to bribe one of his former employees with $4,000 in cash to provide false information to law enforcement, which he knew at the time was investigating his tax preparation business. Even after entering his guilty plea, the defendant continued to assist in the filing of false tax filings. 

Alston was charged by a bill of information in September 2024 and pleaded guilty in October 2024. 

Aiding in the preparation of a false and fraudulent tax return is a federal crime punishable by up to three years in prison. Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence. 

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Cincinnati Field Office, announced the sentence imposed today by Senior U.S. District Judge James L. Graham. Assistant United States Attorney David J. Twombly is representing the United States in this case.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man pleaded guilty in federal court here today to altering the odometers on vehicles he sold at his former Whitehall car dealership.

Simon C. Nwaru, Jr., 38, who owned and operated S. Automotive Ltd., was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2025. 

It is estimated that approximately 60 percent of all vehicles sold by Nwaru at S Automotive since October 2014 had their odometers tampered with or replaced to fraudulently reflect a false low mileage.

According to the plea agreement, a review of vehicle sales between January 2021 and January 2023 documented at least 300 vehicles that were sold to customers with rolled back odometers. The changes accounted for at least 31 million miles being removed from odometers.

Court documents also detail that Nwaru listed false sales prices on documents submitted to the State of Ohio, causing a loss of tax revenue to the State.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the guilty plea entered today before Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison.

This case was investigated by the United States Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Odometer Fraud Investigation and the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles Investigations Section. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Prichard is representing the United States.

NHTSA estimates that odometer fraud costs U.S. consumers over $1 billion every year. Odometer tampering is a serious crime that can mislead buyers about a vehicle’s true mileage and condition, leading to costly repairs and safety risks. NHTSA encourages the public to report odometer fraud by emailing odometerfraud@dot.gov or calling 800-424-9393. Learn how to spot signs of odometer tampering by visiting: https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/odometer-fraud/topic.

Odometer fraud is a federal crime punishable by up to three years in prison. The Court will impose a sentence at a future hearing based on the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

# # #

DAYTON, Ohio – A Franklin County man has been charged federally after he allegedly shot at deputies with the United States Marshals Service, FBI agents and task force officers from inside a Springfield hotel room when they attempted to execute an arrest warrant on him for murder charges. 

On Aug. 8, an arrest warrant was issued for Andre Jordan II, 34, of Reynoldsburg, for murder.

The Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST), a federal task force, adopted the fugitive investigation, which led officials to the Quality Inn in Springfield.

According to charging documents, on Aug. 14, SOFAST tracked Jordan to a room at the hotel and set up to apprehend him. Law enforcement announced their presence to Jordan, who then looked out the window of the room. Following additional announcements, Jordan allegedly fired a shot through the window toward the pool area in the vicinity of officers and then fired an additional round through the front door of the room toward positioned officers.

An affidavit details that officers withdrew to stairwells at the end of the hall for cover. Several occupants of the hotel room, including young children, then exited, after which Jordan allegedly fired several additional rounds.

The Springfield Police Division SWAT Team responded to the scene and hostage negotiators established communication with Jordan. After an hours-long standoff, Jordan surrendered without further incident and was taken into custody.

Jordan was transported to the Clark County jail on his local murder charge and will be transferred into federal custody. He will appear in U.S. District Court in Dayton today at 1:30pm.

Jordan is charged with assault of a federal officer with a deadly weapon, attempted murder of a federal agent, discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; United States Marshal Michael D. Black; Springfield Police Chief Allison Elliott and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth McCormick and Rob Painter are representing the United States in this case.

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

# # #

DAYTON, Ohio – Nykiha Astin, 42, of Dayton, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 135 months in prison for purchasing an opioid cutting agent from China.

According to court documents, Astin knowingly conspired with others to purchase at least one kilogram of metonitazene from a source in China. Astin intended to market the drug, what he termed “juice,” in the United States as a cutting agent that, when mixed with fentanyl, would boost the strength and yield of the fentanyl. Astin worked with others to distribute the “juice” in ounce quantities to drug dealers in the Midwest.

Astin was charged federally in May 2024 and pleaded guilty in April 2025. He is one of four defendants convicted in this case.

Dominick S. Gerace, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Andrew Lawton, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Detroit, announced the sentence imposed by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Thomas M. Rose. Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi and Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders are representing the United States in this case.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Miami County man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court here today to committing a hate crime against Jewish students at The Ohio State University. 

Timur Mamatov, 20, of Tipp City, Ohio, admitted to violating the Hate Crimes Prevention Act when he physically assaulted two students for their religion, causing bodily injury.

“Violence against people of faith is illegal and unacceptable,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This Department of Justice will aggressively enforce federal laws to ensure that all Americans feel safe in practicing and expressing their faith.”

“Mamatov admitted in court today that he assaulted victims because they were Jewish. No American should fear being violently attacked based on their religious beliefs,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “This office, along with our law enforcement partners, will aggressively pursue violence motivated by hate.”

“Antisemitic violence has no place in our society,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. “Crimes motivated by hate spread fear throughout the community and deeply impact the sense of safety of all residents. We appreciate the Ohio State University Police Division and the Columbus Division of Police who had important roles in this investigation. We will continue to work together to protect our community.”

According to court documents, on Nov. 10, 2023, Mamatov and a friend engaged in an altercation with five students outside of a bar on North High Street in Columbus. One student was wearing a “Chai” pendant around his neck – a piece of jewelry commonly associated with Judaism. Mamatov asked the students if they were Jewish, and when they answered that they were, Mamatov punched one victim, fracturing his jaw. A second victim was injured, suffering a fractured nose, as the fight poured over into the street.

Mamatov was charged by a bill of information on July 3.

Violating the Hate Crimes Prevention Act is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division; Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Ohio State University Police Chief Dennis Jeffrey and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Noah R. Litton and Department of Justice Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Cameron Bell are representing the United States in this case.

# # #

An Ohio man pleaded guilty today to committing a hate crime against Jewish students at The Ohio State University.

Timur Mamatov, 20, of Tipp City, Ohio, admitted to violating the Hate Crimes Prevention Act when he physically assaulted two students for their religion, causing bodily injury.

“Violence against people of faith is illegal and unacceptable,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This Department of Justice will aggressively enforce federal laws to ensure that all Americans feel safe in practicing and expressing their faith.”

“Mamatov admitted in court today that he assaulted victims because they were Jewish,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II for the Southern District of Ohio. “No American should fear being violently attacked based on their religious beliefs. This office, along with our law enforcement partners, will aggressively pursue violence motivated by hate.”

“No one should have to live in fear because of their religion,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “These college students were targeted by Mr. Mamatov simply because they were Jewish. Hate crimes not only impact the victims but have a devastating impact on our entire community. The FBI works tirelessly with our federal, state and local partners to thoroughly investigate many types of hate crimes, hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions and bring justice to the victims.”

According to court documents, on Nov. 10, 2023, Mamatov and a friend engaged in an altercation with five students outside of a bar on North High Street in Columbus. One student was wearing a “Chai” pendant around his neck – a piece of jewelry commonly associated with Judaism. Mamatov asked the students if they were Jewish, and when they answered that they were, Mamatov punched one victim, fracturing his jaw. A second victim was injured, suffering a fractured nose, as the fight poured over into the street.

Mamatov was charged by a bill of information on July 3.

Violating the Hate Crimes Prevention Act is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI Cincinnati Field Office is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Noah R. Litton for the Southern District of Ohio and Trial Attorney Cameron Bell of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.

CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati man who was arrested in July after he allegedly made multiple threats online to shoot and kill ICE officers has now been indicted by a federal grand jury.

Anthony Marcus Kelly, 38, is charged in a two-count indictment with making threats to assault or murder a United States official and with making threatening interstate communications.

According to charging documents, from June 26 through July 17, Kelly allegedly used the social media username “Slab” and made multiple social media posts calling for the killing of ICE officers and detailing his acquisition of firearms to carry out that threat.

In one of his alleged posts, Kelly wrote “Why even bother with these damn courts anymore. #Gestapedos don’t deserve anything but the smoke coming for them anyway. #RevolutionIsTheSolution #DestroyICE they’re rabid dogs that need to be put down. Including #KristiNoem #DogmeatWalking.”

In another, he wrote, “You come here for me, you’re getting shot. And I’m not looking to disable […] I’m shooting for the kill. I won’t give a **** about your names, who you are, or anything else”.

Kelly was arrested on July 22 and remains in federal custody.

Threatening to assault or murder a United States official is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Making threatening interstate communications carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey and FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. Criminal Chief Christy L. Muncy is representing the United States in this case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

# # #

CINCINNATI – A Mexican national was indicted by a federal grand jury today and charged with sexually exploiting a 12-year-old girl in the Southern District of Ohio.

Victor Juarez, 26, allegedly created videos of his sexual abuse of the minor victim on at least 13 instances in October and November 2024.

He is charged with 13 counts of sexual exploitation of children.

In February 2025, Juarez was charged with rape in Hamilton County. The federal charges will now supersede his local ones.

Sexually exploiting children is a federal crime punishable by at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison.

The FBI’s Cincinnati Division and police departments in Cincinnati, Sharonville and Springdale are investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey is representing the United States in this case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

# # #

CINCINNATI – Federal agents arrested a Cincinnati woman today in Louisville, Kentucky, on charges alleging she misappropriated money that she was managing on behalf of four United States military veterans.

Ishwanzya Rivers, 46, also allegedly made false statements to the federal government to cover up her theft.

According to charging documents, Rivers stole more than $133,000 from one elderly, dying veteran who lived at the VA hospital in Cincinnati. Rivers allegedly misappropriated the victim’s money at least 45 times from June 2021 through November 2022.

It is also alleged that she stole smaller amounts of money from three other elderly or infirm veterans totaling more than $15,000.

Rivers allegedly used the money for shopping, restaurants and to travel to New Orleans, Montego Bay, Cancun, London, Panama, Zurich, Vienna and Maldives.

Misappropriating funds as a fiduciary and making false statements are federal crimes each punishable by up to five years in prison.

The case is being investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Central Field Office. Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Landry is representing the United States in this case.

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

# # #

CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati man charged locally as part of the July 26 brawl in downtown Cincinnati now also faces a federal firearms charge.

A federal grand jury today indicted Montanez Merriweather, 34, with illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon.

According to the indictment, on July 2, Merriweather illegally possessed a 9mm pistol. As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms.

“There is no place for violence in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “Those who commit violent acts can expect to be scrutinized and they will be held accountable for violations of federal criminal law.”

Acting Special Agent in Charge Thomas A. Greco of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) stated: “Violence, in any form and under any circumstance, has no place in a civilized society. When warranted, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, in close coordination with our law enforcement partners, will employ the full extent of our legal authority and resources to identify, apprehend, and remove violent offenders from our communities.”

Merriweather, who has been identified as a participant in the July 26 brawl in downtown Cincinnati,  is currently in state custody on local charges that include assault, felonious assault and aggravated riot.

Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Thomas A. Greco, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and Cincinnati Police Chief Theresa A. Theetge announced the new charge. Assistant United States Attorney Ashley N. Brucato is representing the United States in this case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

# # #

CINCINNATI – A former children’s hospital doctor is charged federally with transporting and possessing child pornography.

Howard M. Saal, 73, of Cincinnati, appeared in federal court in Cincinnati this afternoon. Saal was previously employed as a geneticist and dysmorphologist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. 

According to charging documents, a Hamilton County Sherriff’s Office detective working on the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force investigated a cyber tip regarding image searches for child pornography that originated from Saal’s IP address. The cyber tip image depicted two naked females, approximately 10 years old, engaged in sexual conduct.

To date, as part of an ongoing review of Saal’s electronic devices, the FBI has thus far identified more than 153,000 images and 470 videos of child sexual abuse material. Some of the child pornography involves child victims as young as a newborn.

At this time, investigators have not located any evidence of child pornography involving patients or children associated with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

“I am incredibly proud of the work of our Regional Electronics and Computer Investigations unit and their diligence in investigating this individual,” said Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey. “We encourage anyone who thinks they may be a victim of Dr. Saal to contact our detectives. We will continue to seek out dangerous individuals and bring justice to victims’ families.”

“The FBI and our partners will continue to fiercely investigate those who attempt to sexually exploit children,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. “I want to thank the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office for their work on this investigation and for their strong partnership. Law enforcement is always more effective when we work together to address crime issues impacting our community.”

Transporting child pornography is a federal crime punishable by at least five and up to 20 years in prison. Possessing child pornography carries a potential maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola. Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey and other members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force and Ohio ICAC announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Danielle E. Margeaux is representing the United States in this case.

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

# # #

CINCINNATI – A former children’s hospital doctor is charged federally with transporting and possessing child pornography.

Howard M. Saal, 73, of Cincinnati, appeared in federal court in Cincinnati this afternoon. Saal was previously employed as a geneticist and dysmorphologist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. 

According to charging documents, a Hamilton County Sherriff’s Office detective working on the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force investigated a cyber tip regarding image searches for child pornography that originated from Saal’s IP address. The cyber tip image depicted two naked females, approximately 10 years old, engaged in sexual conduct.

To date, as part of an ongoing review of Saal’s electronic devices, the FBI has thus far identified more than 153,000 images and 470 videos of child sexual abuse material. Some of the child pornography involves child victims as young as a newborn.

At this time, investigators have not located any evidence of child pornography involving patients or children associated with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

“I am incredibly proud of the work of our Regional Electronics and Computer Investigations unit and their diligence in investigating this individual,” said Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey. “We encourage anyone who thinks they may be a victim of Dr. Saal to contact our detectives. We will continue to seek out dangerous individuals and bring justice to victims’ families.”

“The FBI and our partners will continue to fiercely investigate those who attempt to sexually exploit children,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. “I want to thank the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office for their work on this investigation and for their strong partnership. Law enforcement is always more effective when we work together to address crime issues impacting our community.”

Transporting child pornography is a federal crime punishable by at least five and up to 20 years in prison. Possessing child pornography carries a potential maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola. Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey and other members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force and Ohio ICAC announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Danielle E. Margeaux is representing the United States in this case.

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

# # #

CINCINNATI – Today, Dominick S. Gerace II took the oath of office to serve as United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. Mr. Gerace was formally sworn in this afternoon in Cincinnati by U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland following his appointment as interim United States Attorney by U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi.

In July, President Donald J. Trump nominated Mr. Gerace to the position and his nomination remains pending in the United States Senate.

As U.S. Attorney, Mr. Gerace will serve as the chief federal law enforcement officer representing the United States in all federal criminal and civil litigation in the Southern District of Ohio. The district covers the 48 southern-most counties in the state of Ohio and is home to more than five million people. Mr. Gerace leads a staff of approximately 100 prosecutors, civil litigators, and support personnel across three offices in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Dayton.

“It is the honor of my lifetime to serve the people of Southern Ohio as United States Attorney, and I look forward to working closely with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to protect our communities and uphold the rule of law,” said United States Attorney Gerace. “I am extremely grateful for the trust that President Trump and Attorney General Bondi have placed in me, and I thank Senators Moreno and Husted for their support in the confirmation process.”

Mr. Gerace is a former federal prosecutor with nearly a decade of experience in both the Southern District of Ohio and the Eastern District of Virginia, where he prosecuted cases involving national security, domestic and international terrorism, international drug trafficking, violent crime, bank and wire fraud, public corruption, tax evasion and money laundering. He previously served as Deputy Criminal Chief of the district’s Dayton office.

During his time as a federal prosecutor, Mr. Gerace received the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security for his work in the federal investigation and prosecution arising from the August 2019 mass shooting in Dayton. He also received the U.S. Attorney’s Award for Outstanding Performance for his service as counsel in the first international terrorism trial held in the district.

Most recently, Mr. Gerace was a Partner at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, where he practiced in the areas of white-collar criminal defense, government investigations, compliance, and civil litigation.

Mr. Gerace earned his law degree, magna cum laude and Order of the Coif, from Georgetown University, where he was a senior board member of The Georgetown Law Journal and Editor-in-Chief of The Georgetown Law Journal’s Annual Review of Criminal Procedure. Following graduation from law school, Mr. Gerace clerked for the Honorable John M. Rogers of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Mr. Gerace earned his undergraduate degree in economics from the United States Military Academy and served as a tank platoon leader and company executive officer in the United States Army prior to attending law school.

For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, visit justice.gov/usao-sdoh.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal grand jury has charged a Columbus man with committing five armed robberies at local businesses within six days in January 2025. He and a co-defendant also allegedly stole firearms from a gun shop.

Dequan M. Keys, 30, is charged with crimes related to seven total robberies and one attempted robbery during January 2025. Keys allegedly possessed a firearm during five of the robberies. As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms.

Marwan H. Muhammad, 33, also of Columbus, is charged with taking part in one of the robberies.

According to the 14-count indictment, Keys committed the robberies between Jan. 12 and Jan. 26. In the first two alleged incidents, Keys stole a handgun from federal firearms licensee Vance Outdoors on Jan. 12 and Jan. 17. Muhammad allegedly participated in the Jan. 17 robbery.

Between Jan. 21 and Jan. 26, it is alleged Keys brandished a firearm and robbed Little Caesars Pizza on Harrisburg Pike in Columbus, Turkey Hill on South Hamilton Road in Whitehall, Turkey Hill on Stringtown Road in Grove City, Dollar General on West Broad Street in Columbus and Turkey Hill on Morse Road in Columbus. He allegedly attempted to rob the Turkey Hill on Cleveland Ave. in Columbus on the same day as the Little Caesars Pizza armed robbery.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Thomas A. Greco, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Noah R. Litton is representing the United States in this case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

# # #

An Ohio man pleaded guilty today to federal dog fighting and drug crimes.

Joel Brown, 38, admitted to possessing and training dogs for fighting purposes and possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, Brown kept 11 pit bull-type dogs for fighting purposes at his residence in Franklin County. The dogs on his property were chained with heavy tow chains attached to tire axels buried in the ground. The dogs were within eyesight of each other but housed just out of reach — a housing style typical with organized dogfighting.

On one of Brown’s Facebook accounts, he posted a video of a black pit bull with visible scarring running on a slatmill. After responding to complaints about dogs being left outside at the property and obtaining search warrants, Columbus Humane rescued the dogs, working with the Columbus Division of Police. Authorities also recovered tools and supplies commonly used in the training and keeping of dogs for fighting. Under federal law, it is illegal to possess, train, transport, deliver, receive, buy, or sell animals intended for use in an animal fighting venture.

While conducting search warrants, law enforcement officers also discovered approximately 52 grams of methamphetamine in Brown’s home.

Brown will be sentenced at a later date. He faces a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison for the drug charge, as well as a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the animal fighting charge.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) made the announcement.

Columbus Humane, the Columbus Division of Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case.

Senior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole Pakiz and Kevin W. Kelley for the Southern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case. 

CINCINNATI – A Loveland, Ohio, man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to sexually exploiting an 11-year-old. 

Jonathan Travis Mackey, 46, of Loveland, admitted to exploiting a child victim in person while employed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). As part of his plea, Mackey immediately resigned from the FDIC.

The plea document recommends a prison sentence of 180 to 262 months in federal prison.

According to his court documents, in May 2024, Mackey sexually exploited an 11-year-old and created photos of the abuse. For example, the defendant created a digital photo that depicted Mackey directly engaged in sexual conduct with the victim.

Mackey was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 30. 

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Jason J. Scalzo, Special Agent in Charge of the FDIC Office of Inspector General Electronic Crimes Unit; and officials with the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle J. Healey and Danielle E. Margeaux are representing the United States in this case.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man pleaded guilty in federal court here today to federal dogfighting and drug crimes.

Joel Brown, 38, admitted to possessing and training dogs for fighting purposes and possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents, Brown was keeping 11 pit bull-type dogs for fighting purposes at his residence in Franklin County. The dogs on his property were chained with heavy tow chains attached to tire axels buried in the ground. The dogs were within eyesight of each other but housed just out of reach – a housing style typical with organized dogfighting. On one of Brown’s Facebook accounts, he posted a video of a black pit bull with visible scarring running on a slatmill – a type of treadmill often used by dogfighters.

After responding to complaints about dogs being left outside at the property and obtaining search warrants, Columbus Humane rescued the dogs. They worked in conjunction with the Columbus Division of Police. Authorities also recovered tools and supplies commonly used in the training and keeping of dogs for fighting. Under federal law, it is illegal to possess, train, transport, deliver, receive, buy or sell animals intended for use in an animal fighting venture.

While conducting search warrants, law enforcement officers also discovered approximately 52 grams of methamphetamine in Brown’s home.

Brown was indicted in December 2024.

Brown will be sentenced at a later date. He faces five to 40 years in prison for the methamphetamine crime and up to five years in prison for animal fighting.

Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Pakiz and Kevin W. Kelley and Senior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section are representing the United States in this case. Columbus Humane, the Columbus Division of Police and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case.

# # #

DAYTON, Ohio – Federal agents arrested a Dayton man on charges related to threatening to kill a United States Congressman. 

Jeffrey Dorsey, 60, formerly of Columbus, was arrested yesterday evening and his case was unsealed this morning. He appeared in U.S. District Court in Dayton today at 1:30pm.

According to charging documents, Dorsey left a voicemail on the Congressman’s main office line threatening to kill the representative if he voted to make cuts to Medicaid. 

He stated, in part, “If you vote to take my f***ing Medicaid away, I’m gonna cut your f***ing head off…But I tell you this, clearly to your brain, if you f*** with my Medicaid, you’re a dead f***.”

Making interstate communications with a threat to injure is a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison.
"The FBI takes all threats seriously," stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. "Threats to harm others, including public officials, will never be tolerated.”

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is representing the United States in this case.

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Federal agents arrested a Columbus man Tuesday on charges alleging he received and laundered more than $1 million in proceeds of a business email compromise scam.

A federal grand jury charged Benjamin O. Alexander, 42, with 29 counts of money laundering crimes.

According to the indictment, Alexander laundered proceeds from a scheme related to a contract for personal protective equipment (PPE) for a health-care provider in response to COVID-19. In June 2020, workers at the health-care provider received email messages purporting to be from the contracted safety-equipment supplier and requesting payments be sent to a new bank account.

It is alleged that the new bank account where the health-care provider was directed to send payments was one controlled by Alexander in the name of a business he established in April 2019 called BOA Building Maintenance and Cleaning Services LLC.

As a result of the business email fraud scheme, four ACH transfers were sent to Alexander’s bank account totaling approximately $1.1 million.

Alexander then allegedly made multiple financial transactions to conceal the source of the money.

Conspiring to commit money laundering and committing concealment money laundering are both crimes punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Monetary transaction money laundering carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate is representing the United States in this case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

# # #

CINCINNATI – Herman Brunis, 62, of Cincinnati, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 12 months and one day in prison for conspiring to commit wire fraud. Brunis was also ordered to pay nearly $300,000 in restitution.

According to court documents, in June and August 2020, Brunis submitted false applications for COVID-19 relief funds. Brunis applied for two Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for two business entities, G Max Design and Construction and G Max LLC. Both entities were held in the name of his wife at the time, Gina Brunis.

Brunis used a co-conspirator in Texas to prepare the applications with a design towards maximizing the chances of approval. His applications contained false information about the businesses, their payroll and their financials. In total, Brunis received $299,800 in funds that he then spent on personal items.

Gina Brunis was also charged federally in the Southern District of Ohio. The application preparer in Texas has been identified and law enforcement in Texas is handling the criminal matters related to the co-conspirator’s larger fraud scheme.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation, announced the sentence imposed on July 15 by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Susan J. Dlott. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy S. Mangan is representing the United States in this case.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Two Mexican nationals illegally present in the United States were indicted by a federal grand jury in Columbus. 

Cristian Melendez, 42, and Ismerio Garcia-Ontivaro, 39, were allegedly transporting more than three kilograms of cocaine in a hidden compartment in a car when they were pulled over by law enforcement on I-70 in June for a window tint violation.

Melendez and Garcia-Ontivaro allegedly received the Honda Accord from a car hauler traveling from Arizona to Columbus. The Accord had a hidden compartment from the console to the rear seats.

Both men were in the United States illegally after previously being removed and previously being convicted of aggravated felony offenses. Melendez had former convictions for trafficking heroin and illegally possessing firearms. Garcia-Ontivaro’s prior crimes include cocaine trafficking in North Carolina.

The defendants are each charged with conspiring to possess and possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and illegally reentering the United States after being convicted of an aggravated felony. The indictment was returned yesterday.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Kevin Raycraft, Acting Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Geraghty is representing the United States in this case.

This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Southern District of Ohio Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

# # #

CINCINNATI – A Middletown man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to 11 counts of federal child exploitation crimes. The plea agreement includes a recommended sentence of 26 years in prison.  

William Scott Elam, 53, connected with girls between the ages of 10 and 16 on various online chatting apps. He pretended to be a 14-year-old male and coerced or attempted to coerce the minor victims into creating nude images and videos that involved sexual conduct.

For approximately four years, Elam began online relationships with numerous minor females in at least seven states. Law enforcement officers have identified at least 10 victims to date. He admitted to coercing victims into masturbating on live video calls with him.

He manipulated at least one victim into complying by threatening to harm himself if she did not do as he asked. He instructed another victim to self-harm via cutting on live video after learning the victim had a history of self-harm.

Elam coerced victims into sending him live sexual material by threatening to leak naked images he obtained of them.

The defendant was arrested in October 2023. He pleaded guilty today to 10 counts of coercion and enticement and one count of sexual exploitation of children.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the guilty plea entered on July 14 before U.S. District Judge Jeffery P. Hopkins. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey is representing the United States in this case.

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DAYTON, Ohio – The lead defendant in a $1.5 million chop shop conspiracy pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court. 

Kahrese Tracey Scott Lee, 28, of Cincinnati, pleaded guilty to conspiring to transport stolen vehicles in interstate commerce and to knowingly operating a chop shop. He faces up to 15 years in prison.

According to court documents, between at least October 2023 and October 2024, Lee, who is also known as “Reese Lee” and “Bennett Jones,” knowingly worked with others to orchestrate an interstate stolen car ring. The defendant operated a garage in Dayton and received dozens of stolen vehicles. For example, during May 2024 alone, Lee’s Dayton chop shop housed within it more than half a million dollars in stolen cars and vehicle parts.

Lee often disassembled stolen vehicles and removed their parts for resale or for placement in another vehicle. He both received and traded or sold vehicles out of state.

On occasion, Lee also stole vehicles himself or worked with others to do so. During one planned theft incident, Lee and others traveled from Ohio to Indiana, where they stole three vehicles valued at more than $200,000 total from an auto lot.

Law enforcement ultimately discovered Lee and others in possession of the stolen vehicles in Alabama, where Lee planned to establish a new garage. Officers confiscated the cars and returned them to the Indiana dealership that owned them.

Lee and his accomplices had placed a tracking device on one of the stolen cars and tracked it back to Indiana. Lee traveled back to the Indiana dealership and attempted to steal the vehicle again; however, law enforcement apprehended him as he attempted to do so.

Lee and six others were charged by a federal indictment in November 2024.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal announced the guilty plea entered on July 11 before Senior U.S. District Judge Walter H. Rice. Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi and Assistant United States Attorney Rob Painter are representing the United States in this case.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Sa’d Watkins, 44, of Columbus, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 180 months in prison for his role as a multi-kilogram fentanyl and fentanyl analogue supplier to mid and low-level drug traffickers in central Ohio.

Between September 2021 and July 2024, Watkins conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

According to court documents, he had others lease stash houses for him, where he processed and distributed narcotics. Watkins also supplied drugs to co-conspirators who sold out of various other residences throughout Columbus for him.

For example, at one of Watkins’s stash houses, law enforcement discovered more than 2.5 kilograms of fentanyl and fentanyl analogue, 10 firearms, ammunition, extended magazines, a Tyvek suit and other drug packaging materials. Law enforcement officers also seized more than $120,000 in cash from Watkins.

Watkins was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2024 and pleaded guilty in February 2025.

The defendant has decades of prior criminal history, including involuntary manslaughter, aggravated robbery, and firearms and drug crimes.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; Delaware County Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer and other members of the Delaware County Drug Task Force, as well as Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the sentence imposed today by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Pakiz and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case.

Watkins was a target of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation, which is now part of Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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CINCINNATI – Myron Billups, 46, of Cincinnati, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. He faces at least 10 years in prison. 

According to court documents, on July 27, 2024, law enforcement officers observed Billups near a residence on Drew Avenue in Cincinnati receiving a plastic storage bin. Billups placed the bin in the trunk of a red Lexus that belonged to another individual and then went back inside the residence.

Later that morning, Billups, driving the red Lexus, was stopped by law enforcement for a traffic violation. A K9 alerted at the vehicle, and officers discovered approximately 26 pounds of methamphetamine in the storage bin.

During a subsequent search of the Drew Avenue residence, law enforcement discovered $3,000 in cash, drug paraphernalia and two baggies of fentanyl.

Billups was charged federally in August 2024.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Andrew Lawton, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detroit; and Springfield Township Police Chief Chris Niehaus announced the guilty plea entered on July 10 before Senior U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Keefe is representing the United States in this case.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – A previously convicted sex offender was sentenced in federal court to 600 months in prison. The defendant sexually exploited two minor females and forced one of the girls to engage in commercial sex acts with men at hotels. 

Anthony Sims, 56, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in March – less than two weeks before he was scheduled to begin trial – to two counts of sexually exploiting a minor and one count of sex trafficking a minor.

Sims raped a 12-year-old girl 40 to 50 times throughout six months in 2020. Sims provided the girl marijuana and alcohol and talked her into getting high and drinking. At times, during the sexual assaults, Sims would hold down the victim’s arms or hold her in place.  During these encounters, he forced the girl to pose for photos in sexual positions while nude or while wearing lingerie.

Sims convinced another victim, a 13-year-old girl, to smoke marijuana with him and once she was high, Sims raped her. He routinely held this victim down to facilitate these acts. Sims would also take nude photos of her, and he made her pose with stuffed animals or pillows.

Sims also took the 13-year-old to various hotels and forced her to have sex with men who paid Sims. The victim was forced to have sex with approximately 50 different men. Sims also sold pornographic photos of the victim.

At the time of his most recent crimes, Sims was a registered sex offender with two convictions out of Michigan.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission’s Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI); and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the sentence imposed on July 8 by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Tyler J. Aagard are representing the United States in this case.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – David Price, 56, of Columbus, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to life plus a consecutive 65 years in prison for his role in a narcotics distribution ring involving bulk amounts of fentanyl, crack cocaine, cocaine, methamphetamine and other narcotics. The defendant purposefully provided a narcotics mix to cause the overdose death of an adult female because she was talking to the police about his drug trafficking. Price also sex-trafficked victims through drug withdrawals and violence.

A federal jury found Price guilty on all counts following a trial in January and February before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr.

As part of this case, which charged 25 total defendants, the government seized more than $1.7 million, 50 firearms and nine vehicles, including a motorcycle.

A multi-agency law enforcement task force initially announced the case in July 2022 after a federal grand jury initially indicted 11 defendants for distributing bulk amounts of fentanyl, cocaine and crack cocaine in central Ohio within 1,000 feet of a Columbus elementary school.

A superseding indictment returned in October 2022 charged additional co-conspirators with distributing those same drugs in addition to methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, Xanax and Oxycodone.

Price, who is also known as “DP,” was charged in a third superseding indictment in December 2024 with 11 drug, firearm and sex trafficking crimes.

According to court documents and trial testimony, Price was part of a conspiracy to distribute and possess to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, five kilograms or more of cocaine, 280 grams or more of “crack” cocaine and 100 grams or more of heroin, as well as marijuana, oxycodone and alprazolam. The drug trafficking organization operated from January 2008 until it was dismantled by law enforcement in 2022.

Drug offenses took place at residences on Burgess and Harris avenues, which are within 1,000 feet of Burroughs Elementary School.

In July 2021, Price distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine that resulted in the overdose death of an adult female. The testimony at trial indicated he purposefully killed her because she was talking to the police about his drug business.

The government also proved beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that Price conspired to commit sex trafficking. From 2016 until 2022, Price and other members of the conspiracy would force and/or coerce adult female drug addicts into performing commercial sex acts by providing, withholding, or threatening to withhold controlled substances and lodging. Investigation showed that various women would be allowed to stay at a drug residence associated with Price, receive a front of drugs so they were not in active withdrawal, go to Sullivant Avenue and have sex for money, pay the debt from the front drugs, and then be allowed to remain at the house.

Price was also found guilty of three counts of sex trafficking related to his violence and coercion of three adult females. The testimony at trial indicated that he would lock the females inside his residence for days or weeks at a time and refuse to let them leave, forcing them to engage in sex acts. One victim was locked in a dog cage, shot and stabbed by Price. Another was restrained. A third was beaten and choked and left with a black eye. Price would refuse to provide them drugs unless or until they engaged in the sex acts, forcing them into withdrawal if they did not comply.

Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Norris commended the investigation coordinated by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission task force, which includes Columbus Division of Police Chief Elaine Bryant; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Andrew Lawton, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Other agencies that have assisted the task force with the investigation include the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, HIDTA Task Force, IRS-Criminal Investigation, FBI, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI), Ohio National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, Pickerington Police Department, New Albany Police Department, and the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office SWAT Team.

Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy Prichard and Emily Czerniejewski are representing the United States in this case.

This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation, which is now part of Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – An illegal alien from El Salvador pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to illegally reentering the United States after being convicted of a felony. 

Adiel Hernandez-Orellana, 39, was previously convicted in Arkansas of sexual assault.

In 2003, Hernandez-Orellana was arrested for unlawfully entering the United States. In 2004, he was ordered removed from the United States after failing to appear for an immigration court hearing. In 2010, he was convicted of sexual assault in Sebastian County, Arkansas, and sentenced to seven years in prison. Following his prison sentence, he was removed from the United States.

In March 2025, the defendant was detained at the Delaware County jail in Ohio for outstanding traffic warrants. He was then processed for the instant immigration offense of illegally reentering the United States after being convicted of a felony.

Illegally reentering the United States is a federal crime punishable by up to two years in prison. If the offender has a prior felony conviction (or multiple prior misdemeanor convictions of certain types), the penalty is increased to up to 10 years in prison, and if the offender has been previously convicted of an aggravated felony, the defendant faces up to 20 years in prison. Transporting illegal aliens is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Possessing a firearm as an illegal alien is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Kevin Raycraft, Acting Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; announced the guilty plea entered today before Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Noah R. Litton is representing the United States in this case.

This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Southern District of Ohio Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Dennis Stopar, 65, of Flushing, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 720 months in prison for sexually exploiting minors and possessing child pornography.

According to court documents, between 2022 and 2023, Stopar sexually assaulted at least nine minor victims, both male and female, and created hundreds of videos and images of the horrific abuse. At the time of the sexual assaults, most of the minor victims were in foster care of a family member of Stopar.

In December 2023, while investigating a CyberTip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding child pornography being uploaded to a Dropbox account at an address in Belmont County, law enforcement encountered Stopar. Further investigation revealed Stopar, a convicted sex offender, possessed child pornography he had created of one of the minor victims on his phone. Stopar was arrested and his electronic devices were subsequently processed via a federal search warrant, and he was charged federally in April 2024.

Forensic examinations on his devices revealed Stopar had filmed the sexual assaults of at least seven of the minor victims he had access to.  Approximately 160 images and 12 videos of the identified victims being sexually assaulted by Stopar were recovered.

Stopar’s prior sex offense is a rape conviction for sexually abusing a victim beginning when the victim was approximately 6 years old until the victim was 16 years old.

The defendant pleaded guilty in this case in December 2024.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Belmont County Sheriff James G. Zusack announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – A registered sex offender was sentenced in U.S. District Court here today to 360 months in prison for sexually assaulting, exploiting and victimizing children both in person and online.

Brian J. Roberts, 44, of Washington Court House, sexually abused a young boy and shared child pornography of infants and toddlers.

According to court documents, federal agents began investigating Roberts because of his activity across various dark web sites dedicated to the sexual abuse of children.

Roberts sexually exploited an approximately 3-year-old boy from November 2022 until August 2023 and uploaded videos and photos of the abuse. For example, one video titled Preview.mp4 showed more than three minutes of Roberts sexually abusing the child and ended with the words “NEXT TIME…POTTY FUN!”

The defendant uploaded 195 images to one dark web site, more than 100 of which focused on child sexual abuse of babies and toddlers as young as 3 weeks old.

Roberts was a twice-convicted sex offender at the time of his online conduct. He has prior convictions in Madison and Clark counties and, at the time of his arrest, had an active warrant in Highland County for telecommunications harassment toward a family member of the 3-year-old boy based on his alleged attempts to contact the child.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit, announced the sentence imposed today by Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to three consecutive life sentences plus an additional 60 consecutive months in prison for murdering three victims as part of a narcotics conspiracy to rob a local marijuana dealer of drugs and cash. The defendant, who was also sentenced to five other life sentences to run concurrently to all other counts, had others dismember and bury two of the bodies to dispose of evidence of his crimes.

Following a three-week trial in December 2024, a jury found Larry J. Williams, Jr., 44, also known as “J Streets” and “J”, guilty of all 16 counts as charged against him in a second superseding indictment in September 2021. 

According to court documents and trial testimony, Williams was a leader of a narcotics conspiracy in 2018 to rob a local marijuana dealer of drugs and cash in his residence, which ultimately resulted in the shooting death of another person within that house. To cover up for this murder, Williams murdered a man and a woman with knowledge of the first murder.

On June 27, 2018, defendants robbed at gunpoint a drug premises at 847 E.N. Broadway in Columbus. The co-conspirators planned and carried out the robbery to steal one of the resident’s marijuana and cash and then profit from the sale of the drugs; they recruited Williams to help in the robbery. During the robbery, Williams murdered a different individual present at the residence, Connor Reynolds, a 23-year-old from Grove City. 

In August 2018, Williams then murdered Henry Watson, a 52-year-old from Columbus, to prevent him from providing information regarding Connor Reynolds’s murder to law enforcement.

On the same day, and immediately following the murder of Henry Watson, Williams murdered Tera Pennington, a 48-year-old from Columbus, to prevent her from serving as a witness to the previous crimes.

Williams then instructed individuals to clean the crime scene with bleach and other chemicals. Williams conspired to obstruct justice by concealing the bodies of Henry Watson and Tera Pennington. He directed others to dismember and remove the bodies from the crime scene and bury the victims’ remains at another location.

Williams used a residence at 121 Stevens Ave. as a drug premises to sell fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine and allow addicts to use narcotics. On more than one occasion, users overdosed in the basement of the home and co-conspirators provided Narcan to revive the users. 

A total of 13 defendants have been convicted and sentenced in this case. 

Co-defendant Patrick Foster, 41, of Columbus, was sentenced today to 70 months in prison. Foster directed three other co-defendants working for him to assist Williams in moving and disposing of two dead bodies. The co-conspirators jackhammered through the concrete in the basement floor of a residence on Sullivant Avenue owned by Foster. They then buried the dismembered bodies by pouring new concrete.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit: Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the sentences imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth A. Geraghty and Timothy D. Prichard are representing the United States in this case.

The joint investigation includes assistance from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), Franklin County Coroner’s Office, Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center (ONIC), U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Columbus Division of Fire and the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kelly A. Norris announced criminal charges against a defendant in connection with an alleged scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid. The charges filed in the Southern District of Ohio are part of the Department of Justice’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. 

“This record-setting Health Care Fraud Takedown delivers justice to criminal actors who prey upon our most vulnerable citizens and steal from hardworking American taxpayers,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Make no mistake – this administration will not tolerate criminals who line their pockets with taxpayer dollars while endangering the health and safety of our communities.”

Terry Hill, Jr., 59, of Dayton, was charged by indictment with health care fraud, false statements relating to health care matters and conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

Hill allegedly illegally owned and operated a Dayton substance abuse treatment recovery facility, Recovery Street Central, after being excluded from participating in government health care benefit programs, including Medicare and Medicaid. As alleged, Hill was excluded in 2021 from participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs after being convicted of Medicaid fraud. Notwithstanding his exclusion, Hill allegedly continued to own and operate Recovery Street Central, which submitted more than $4 million in claims to Medicaid for counseling services that were not provided or were provided in violation of Medicaid rules and regulations.

All the cases announced today are part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and illegal drug diversion schemes that involved the submission of more than $14.6 billion in intended loss and more than 15 million pills of illegally diverted controlled substances. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets. The United States has seized more than $245 million in cash, luxury vehicles and other assets in connection with the takedown.

The Hill case is being prosecuted in the Southern District of Ohio by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth F. Affeldt and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Walter, who is the Principal Assistant Ohio Attorney General for the Ohio Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Cincinnati Division and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) also investigated the case.

The national takedown includes cases being prosecuted by the Health Care Fraud Unit’s Rapid Response Texas, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, New England and Northeast Strike Forces as well as U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Districts of Columbia, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont; Northern and Western Districts of Texas; Central, Northern and Southern Districts of California; Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Florida; Middle District of Georgia; Northern District of Illinois; Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky; Eastern and Middle Districts of Louisiana; Eastern District of Michigan; Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi; Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of New York; Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina; Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio; Northern and Western Districts of Oklahoma; Eastern District of Pennsylvania; Middle and Western Districts of Tennessee; Eastern District of Virginia; Western District of Washington; Northern District of West Virginia. State Attorney Generals’ Offices for Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania are also contributing to the prosecutions with assistance from the Health Care Fraud Unit’s Data Analytics Team.

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

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CINCINNATI – A father and son who lived an extravagant lifestyle from proceeds of their drug trafficking organization were sentenced in U.S. District Court to 180 months and 150 months in prison respectively.

Stephen Wheeler, 49, was sentenced on June 20 and his son Romello Wheeler, 30, was sentenced on April 17.

According to court documents, between July 2022 and February 2023, the Wheelers operated a multi-kilogram drug trafficking organization involving fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana.

The two men shared a luxury apartment downtown Cincinnati for more than $4,000 per month in rent. They rented a separate house for approximately $1,000 to use as a drug premises. Throughout the eight-month investigation, the defendants drove nine different high-end vehicles, traveled extensively throughout the United States and internationally, and purchased front-row tickets with field passes for the Halftime Show for the Super Bowl in Los Angeles. When they and their residences were searched by law enforcement, they had approximately 1,317.9 grams of fentanyl, 1,678.3 grams of 95% pure crystal methamphetamine (or “Ice”), 962.5 grams of cocaine, $190,000 in bulk cash, and more than $395,000 worth of assorted jewelry, along with a loaded armor-piercing pistol.

The defendants pled guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of cocaine.

A third co-defendant, Mikelle D. Hill, was convicted and sentenced to four months in prison for her role in helping the drug trafficking organization, which included a truck and storage unit registered to her name.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Andrew Lawton, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announced the sentences imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jeffery P. Hopkins. Assistant United States Attorney David P. Dornette, Criminal Chief Christy L. Muncy, and Deputy Criminal Chief Frederic Shadley are representing the United States in this case.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Mexican national who opened fire in a local taco restaurant parking lot was indicted by a federal grand jury. 

Abel Velasquez-Avecedo, 29, was charged with illegally possessing a firearm as an illegal alien and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine.

According to charging documents, on April 11, Velasquez-Avecedo and another individual allegedly had an argument at Taco Nice restaurant in Columbus. It is alleged that the defendant fired multiple shots from a vehicle while driving near the restaurant.

Local law enforcement authorities found Velasquez-Avecedo to be in possession of a pistol and 30 to 40 small baggies of narcotics.

The defendant has prior convictions including assault and operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

Possessing a firearm as an illegal alien is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Jared Murphey, acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; announced the indictment returned on June 17. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Geraghty is representing the United States in this case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Southern District of Ohio Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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