Southern District of Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Jaime Fernandez-Alacron, 48, was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with illegally reentering the United States after being convicted of an aggravated felony.

According to charging documents, the defendant was previously removed from the United States in 2011 and 2020. Fernandez-Alacron was deported after being convicted in New York of federal kidnapping conspiracy and firearms crimes.

Court documents detail that Fernandez-Alacron was most recently arrested in May by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. He was charged locally with felony possession of drugs and driving violations, including driving while intoxicated and without a valid license.

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 10 years in prison, and if the offender has been previously convicted of an aggravated felony, like Fernandez-Alacron is in this case, the defendant faces up to 20 years in prison.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Robert Lynch, Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; and Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Charles A. Jones announced the indictment filed today. Deputy Criminal Chief Brian J. Martinez 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.

These cases were 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 – A Westerville woman who claimed affiliation with Dayton-area pizza restaurants to obtain nearly $1.9 million in COVD-19 relief funds was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 70 months in prison.

Lorie A. Schaefer, 63, also assisted a co-defendant in fraudulently receiving more than $980,000 pandemic relief loans in exchange for payment, causing a total of $2.8 million in fraud.

According to court documents, Schaefer opened new bank accounts in December 2020 prior to registering a fictitious business name with the State of Ohio in March 2021.

Schaefer fraudulently claimed affiliation with the Flying Pizza restaurants in Dayton, Centerville and Fairborn. When notified that a Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loan for nearly $1.9 million had been filed in the name of Flying Pizza, individuals at the family-owned business said their restaurants could not justify such a large loan.

Schaefer claimed to have 98 employees and submitted altered bank records as part of her application. Schaefer also claimed the business was established in March 2021, even though the original Flying Pizza was established in 1984. Additionally, she claimed not to be under indictment despite having pending theft charges in Meigs County. Schaefer attached multiple fraudulent documents to her PPP application, including a bank statement, tax records, and a letter from the IRS.

Bank records indicate Schaefer improperly used PPP funds for personal expenses, for example, nearly $26,000 on liposuction, a $10,000 check for a “newborn baby gift,” and more than $900,000 to purchase and renovate a home in Westerville. Schaefer also made purchases at Wayfair, Lamps Plus, Kroger, KFC, Burger King, Arby’s, McDonald’s and Olive Garden. Evidence also suggests Schaefer used the fraud proceeds to purchase vehicles in Ohio and property in Australia.

After being charged in this case, Schaefer committed new offenses and violated her pre-trial release multiple times, leading to the revocation of her bond.

She pleaded guilty in July 2024 and twice attempted to withdraw her guilty plea.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Anthony Licari, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Midwestern Region; and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney David J. Twombly is representing the United States in this case.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Stephen Chinn, 41, of Columbus, was sentenced in federal court here today to 96 months in prison for receiving and possessing child pornography.

According to court documents, in May 2023, Chinn uploaded child pornography to the internet that depicted prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct including sex acts with adults and animals. These uploads were flagged by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

When investigators executed a search warrant in August 2023 at Chinn’s Grandview Heights residence, they discovered a desktop computer containing more than 4,000 child sexual abuse images.

In addition, a forensic analysis of Chinn’s computer revealed he had downloaded and saved other child sexual abuse material in August 2023. The material included prepubescent children engaged in bestiality and sexual intercourse with adults, as well as minor victims subjected to sadistic and masochistic abuse. Forensic data revealed that much of this content was downloaded from a Russian social media site known to be used for the download and exchange of child sexual abuse material.

At the time, Chinn was employed as a public defender in Franklin County.

Chinn was initially arrested and charged locally with Pandering Sexually Oriented Matter Involving a Minor and Pandering Obscenity. Chinn was released on bond in that matter. He was charged federally in September 2023, and the federal indictment superseded the charges in his local case. Chinn pleaded guilty to federal charges in August 2024.

The case was investigated by the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; Grandview Heights Police Chief Ryan Starns; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and Franklin County Prosecutor Shayla D. Favor announced the sentence imposed today by Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Noah R. Litton are representing the United States in this case.

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CINCINNATI – A West Chester couple pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to committing wire fraud to obtain pandemic relief funds. The husband and wife were owners or associates of multiple transportation firms. 

Ajay Chawla, 60, and his wife, Ruhi Chawla, 50, admitted that they fraudulently received more than $900,000 in pandemic relief funds. Specifically, they received four Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) loans and three Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).

According to their court documents, on their loan applications, the Chawlas falsely reported the number of employees and gross revenues for their businesses: Prime Transportation and Logistics Inc., ABC Trucking Inc., Apex Truck Lines LLC and A1 Diesel Truck Repair LLC. Ajay Chawla also submitted a false statement to Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regarding the ownership of Apex Truck Lines.

“The investigative efforts of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and its partners, along with the prosecutorial work of the U.S. Attorney's Office, demonstrate the commitment to pursuing, capturing, and prosecuting those who try to defraud the American people," said TIGTA Special Agent-in-Charge Kelly Moening. 

“Today’s guilty pleas underscore our steadfast commitment to identifying and addressing fraud that undermines the integrity of Department of Transportation programs and requirements,” said Anthony Licari, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Midwestern Region. “Greed has no place in pandemic relief programs, and together with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, we will continue to hold offenders accountable.”

The couple were charged in March 2025 by a bill of information.

Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Congress sets minimum and maximum statutory sentences. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Springer is representing the United States in this case, which was investigated by the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – A social media finance influencer pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to federal crimes related to a real estate Ponzi scheme. 

Tyler Bossetti, 31, of Columbus, received more than $23 million in investments from victim investors throughout the United States and abroad. In total, dozens of investors lost more than $11 million.

He pleaded guilty today to wire fraud and aiding in a false tax filing.

According to court documents, from 2019 until 2023, Bossetti widely publicized what he described as a real estate investment program. The defendant, through his company Boss Lifestyle LLC, guaranteed large rates of return for short-term investments. He advertised the investments, often promising thirty percent or more rate of return, through social media, especially Facebook and YouTube.

The plea agreement further details that Bossetti also caused the issuance and filing of approximately 14 false and fraudulent 1099-INT tax forms. The defendant filed the IRS forms to report interest income for investors who did not earn interest. Bossetti claimed he had reinvested victims’ interest earnings when in fact he did not.

Bossetti admitted to misappropriating investor funds to further his lifestyle and make purchases like rental payments on a condo in downtown Columbus, frequent travel, a $150,000 Mercedes SUV and various cryptocurrency investments.

Bossetti was charged by a bill of information in April 2025.

Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and aiding in a false filing carries a potential maximum penalty of up to three years in prison. Congress sets minimum and maximum statutory sentences and sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

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 Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation; announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney David J. Twombly is representing the United States in this case.

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Note: see indictment here.

A federal grand jury in Ohio has returned a three-count indictment unsealed today charging Rwandan national Vincent Nzigiyimfura, also known as Vincent Mfura, 65, of Dayton, Ohio with lying on his U.S. immigration and naturalization applications. Specifically, the indictment alleges that he concealed his role as a perpetrator of the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, among other misrepresentations. Nzigiyimfura was arrested Wednesday in Dayton and made his initial appearance yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.

According to the indictment, Nzigiyimfura participated in the genocide that took place between April and July 1994, when members of Rwanda’s majority Hutu population killed hundreds of thousands of the country’s minority Tutsi ethnic group in an attempt to eradicate the ethnic group. An estimated 500,000 to 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed during the three-month genocide. Nzigiyimfura, a Rwandan businessman and butcher, was allegedly a leader and organizer of the genocide against Tutsis in the area in and around Gihisi and Nyanza. Nzigiyimfura allegedly provided weapons, transportation, and material inducements to other Hutus and directed them to search for and apprehend people to be killed based on their status as Tutsis. He allegedly set up roadblocks to detain and kill Tutsis, using his personal vehicle to transport materials to build the roadblocks. According to the indictment, Nzigiyimfura devised a scheme to trick Tutsis in hiding to believe that the killings had stopped only to have them rounded up and murdered. 

“As alleged, Vincent Nzigiyimfura directed and encouraged murders during the genocide in Rwanda and then lied to U.S. authorities to start a new life in this country,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The United States is not a safe haven for human rights violators. Those, like the defendant, who commit immigration fraud to hide their violent pasts will be charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Mr. Galeotti thanked the prosecutors from the Criminal Division's Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP), agents from HSI Cincinnati and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio for their work in bringing this important prosecution.

“The indictment alleges this defendant facilitated the killings of Tutsis during the Rwandan genocide and then lied about it on immigration applications in the United States,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Norris for the Southern District of Ohio. “This egregious conduct will not be tolerated.”

“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) is committed to pursuing justice for victims of genocide by ensuring that those who committed atrocities in foreign lands cannot hide in Ohio or any other community in the United States,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey of ICE HSI Detroit. “No one wants a war criminal as their neighbor and these allegations paint a grim picture of the horror Nzigiyimfura inflicted on the Tutsi people. His indictment and arrest is a step toward justice for those victims. ”

When the genocide ended in 1994, as alleged, Nzigiyimfura fled Rwanda and later lived in Malawi. While living in Malawi in 2008 to 2009, Nzigiyimfura allegedly submitted materially misleading applications for an immigrant visa and alien registration, including by falsely representing that he was not an alien who had engaged in genocide. In the presence of a U. S. Consular Officer, Nzigiyimfura affirmed he understood that any willfully false or misleading statement or willful concealment of material facts could subject him to criminal prosecution. Additionally, according to the indictment, Nzigiyimfura submitted an affidavit in which he misleadingly claimed he “left Rwanda in 1994 due to the Genocide,” when in fact, he fled the country because of his participation in the persecution and massacre of Tutsis. His alleged misrepresentations and omissions yielded an immigrant visa to enter the United States in 2009.

Five years later, Nzigiyimfura submitted an application to naturalize as a U. S. citizen. Here, too, according to the indictment, he knowingly made false statements and omitted material facts, including claiming he had never persecuted any person, never committed a crime or offense, and never lied to any U. S. Government official to gain entry to the United States. In a November 2014 interview with a U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer, Nzigiyimfura verbally reaffirmed these false statements, as well as others, according to the indictment. His application for naturalization has not been granted. Nzigiyimfura has lived in the United States since 2009.

In 2018, according to the indictment, Nzigiyimfura submitted an application and supporting documentation for a replacement Permanent Resident Card (green card) that was due to expire in 2019 and obtained a new fraudulently procured green card with an expiration date in 2029. On July 27, 2021, Nzigiyimfura allegedly used his fraudulently procured replacement green card in connection with an application for an Ohio driver’s license.

Nzigiyimfura is charged with one count of visa fraud and two counts of attempted naturalization fraud. If convicted, he faces a statutory maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U. S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

HSI Cincinnati is investigating the case, with assistance from the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC). Established in 2009, the HRVWCC furthers the government’s efforts to identify, locate, and prosecute human rights abusers in the United States, including those who are known or suspected to have participated in persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, female genital mutilation, and the use or recruitment of child soldiers. 

Trial Attorney Brian Morgan of the Criminal Division’s HRSP and Assistant U. S. Attorney Rob Painter of the Southern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case, with assistance from HRSP Historian/Analyst Dr. Christopher Hayden and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.

Members of the public who have information about former human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U. S. law enforcement through the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also email HRV. ICE@ice. dhs. gov or complete its online tip form at http://www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp.

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

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Three men have been convicted of conspiring to commit federal program fraud. A former Ohio State University employee sold surplus university assets for artificially low prices in exchange for kickbacks. He and two of his customers have been charged federally and have pleaded guilty.

According to court documents, from 2009 until 2020, Michael Brammer, 59, of Pataskala, was employed by Ohio State University’s surplus department. As part of Brammer’s duties, he evaluated and classified used surplus university assets like computers.

Brammer falsely classified equipment as recyclable and sold them to two recycling vendors – Abraham Amira, 60, and Robert Howard, 73, both of Columbus – for artificially low prices. In return, Amira and Howard made cash payments directly to Brammer.

In total, Brammer received at least $650,000 in cash from Amira and Howard that would have been revenues to the surplus department.

Throughout the course of the conspiracy, The Ohio State University received more than $10,000 in federal benefits each year through grants. 

Amira pleaded guilty today to crimes related to the surplus fraud and to separate COVID-19 related fraud schemes. Amira admitted to fraudulently receiving and spending more than $800,000 from various COVID-19 relief programs. He pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit federal program fraud and wire fraud.

Brammer and Howard both previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit federal program fraud.

Conspiracy to commit federal program fraud is a crime punishable by up to five years in prison. Wire fraud carries a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Congress sets minimum and maximum statutory sentences. Sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

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; The Ohio State University Police Division Chief Dennis Jeffrey; and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphy; announced the guilty pleas. Assistant United States Attorney David J. Twombly is representing the United States in these cases, which were investigated by the FBI’s Southern Ohio Public Corruption Task Force.

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DAYTON, Ohio – An indictment unsealed today charges a Dayton man with lying on his applications for a green card and United States citizenship by concealing his past role as a leader and perpetrator of the genocide in Rwanda in 1994.

According to court documents, Vincent Nzigiyimfura, 65, was a prominent businessman and shop owner in Rwanda in 1994 when the genocide began. He allegedly used his wealth and leadership position in Rwandan society to organize violence against and killings of Tutsis, the minority population persecuted in the genocide.

“The indictment alleges this defendant facilitated the killings of Tutsis during the Rwandan genocide and then lied about it on immigration applications in the United States,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Norris for the Southern District of Ohio. “This egregious conduct will not be tolerated.”

“As alleged, Vincent Nzigiyimfura directed and encouraged murders during the genocide in Rwanda and then lied to U.S. authorities to start a new life in this country,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The United States is not safe haven for human rights violators. Those, like the defendant, who commit immigration fraud to hide their violent pasts will be charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” 

“ICE HSI is committed to pursuing justice for victims of genocide by ensuring that those who committed atrocities in foreign lands cannot hide in Ohio or any other community in the United States,” said ICE HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “No one wants a war criminal as their neighbor and these allegations paint a grim picture of the horror Nzigiyimfura inflicted on the Tutsi people.  His indictment and arrest is a step toward justice for those victims.”

As alleged in the indictment, Nzigiyimfura directed groups of armed Hutus – the majority population – to kill Tutsis. He allegedly set up roadblocks during the genocide to detain and kill Tutsis, including a roadblock directly in front of his home, where Tutsis were allegedly killed at his direction. Nzigiyimfura also allegedly participated in killings. According to court filings, the defendant was subsequently convicted in absentia by a Rwandan court for genocide.

Court documents detail that Nzigiyimfura applied for a visa to enter the United States and was granted lawful permanent resident status in 2008. In 2014, he submitted an application for naturalization. Nzigiyimfura allegedly lied to U.S. immigration officials in his immigration applications, including by falsely denying any involvement as a perpetrator of the Rwandan genocide.

Nzigiyimfura was arrested yesterday and is charged with one count of visa fraud and two counts of attempted naturalization fraud. If convicted as charged, he could face up to 30 years in prison.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit is investigating this case, with assistance from the interagency Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.

Assistant U.S. Attorney George Painter of the Southern District of Ohio and Trial Attorney Brian Morgan of the Justice Department’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) are representing the United States in this case. 

Members of the public who have information about potential former human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE. They can also email HRV.ICE@ice.dhs.gov or complete the online tip form at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp.

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

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Morrow County man was arrested this morning and charged with committing two armed bank robberies.

James Travis Scurlock, 44, of Cardington, is charged with bank robbery and using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

According to charging documents, on March 6 and May 16, Scurlock robbed the same bank near the Polaris mall while carrying a firearm. Scurlock allegedly wore a black sweatshirt, jeans, white Nike shoes, black gloves and a white camouflage mask during both robberies.

An affidavit details that the first time Scurlock robbed the Huntington Bank on Gemini Place, he initially inquired about opening a bank account. After the teller asked him for two forms of identification, he allegedly pointed a handgun at the teller and told the teller to put money in his backpack. Scurlock allegedly stole approximately $13,700.

During the May robbery, Scurlock allegedly pointed the handgun at a teller before walking to two tellers’ drawers and taking cash. It is alleged that he then ordered the tellers to the vault and placed more cash into his backpack. Scurlock allegedly stole approximately $27,700 during the second robbery.

Scurlock appeared in federal court this afternoon and his case was unsealed at that time.

Bank robbery is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence carries a penalty of at least five years and up to life in prison.

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 Noah R. Litton 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.

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CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury indicted a Green Township man today, charging him with federal crimes related to explosive devices. 

Robert Gilb, 50, was arrested yesterday.

“The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force arrested Robert Gilb for possessing an unregistered destructive device and transporting explosive materials,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. “This alleged activity posed a serious risk to public safety. The FBI worked closely with our law enforcement partners to neutralize this potential danger and protect the community.” 

According to charging documents, Gilb allegedly detonated three improvised explosive devices (IED) in Hamilton and Butler counties in March and April.

A complaint affidavit details that on April 12, Hamilton County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Miami Township for a report of a loud explosion. They discovered what appeared to be a blast crater and components of an improvised explosive device (IED).

Further investigation revealed that there were two prior incidents in Morgan Township

that allegedly had similar characteristics to the incident in Miami Township. Butler County sheriff’s deputies had responded to incidents there on March 23 and March 28.

Witnesses allegedly saw Gilb in his white BMW near the site of at least one of the devices when it exploded.

Gilb is charged with three counts of possessing an unregistered destructive device and three counts of transporting explosive materials.

Possessing an unregistered destructive device and transporting explosive materials are federal crimes punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

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, as well as the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, Butler County Sheriff's Office, Ohio State Fire Marshalls Office, Greater Cincinnati HAZMAT, Green Township Police Department and Green Township Fire Department, announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy S. Mangan 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.

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A grand jury indictment was unsealed today charging two individuals for their alleged involvement with online groups dedicated to creating and distributing videos depicting acts of extreme violence and sexual abuse against monkeys.

The indictment alleges that Katrina D. Favret, of Tennessee, and Robert M. Craig, of North Carolina, conspired with previously charged defendant Ronald P. Bedra, of Etna, Ohio, to create and distribute so-called “animal crush videos.” Favret is also charged with creating and with distributing animal crush videos.

According to court documents, the defendants conspired with others to create and distribute videos depicting acts of sadistic violence against juvenile and adult monkeys. The conspirators used encrypted chat applications to direct money to individuals in Indonesia willing to commit the requested acts of torture on camera.

The videos alleged to have been created as part of the conspiracy included depictions of monkeys being sodomized with a heated screwdriver and a monkey having its genitals cut with scissors.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Norris for the Southern District of Ohio, Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola of FBI’s Cincinnati Field Office, and Assistant Director Douglas Ault of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Office of Law Enforcement made the announcement.

The FBI and USFWS investigated the case.

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

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A former Columbus police officer was sentenced in federal court here today to 36 months in prison for destroying or altering records related to a criminal investigation.

Nicholas P. Duty, 36, of Commercial Point, Ohio, pleaded guilty in January to two counts of the crime.

According to court documents, on two occasions, Duty destroyed, altered or falsified records by purposefully deactivating or removing his police body worn camera. Duty’s actions were intended to impede, obstruct or influence a federal investigation.

In February 2024, Columbus police officers were working street-level prostitution crimes in the area of Sullivant Avenue on the west side of Columbus when a witness expressed concerns about Duty’s on-duty activities with sex workers. Duty was positively identified during the administration of a blind photo array.

Further investigation revealed that, on Oct. 31, 2023, and March 22, 2024, Duty deactivated or removed his body worn camera during interactions with two women, including during a sexual encounter.

During the incidents, Duty was on duty, wearing a police uniform, in a marked police vehicle and assigned a body worn camera. He knew he was required to comply with Columbus Division of Police policies for wearing the division-issued camera.

On Halloween 2023, the first woman had called Columbus police and asked for assistance, stating her boyfriend was attempting to kill himself. Duty transported the woman following the call and disabled his body worn and in-car cameras when he was alone with her. Duty made sexual advances toward the woman while his cameras were deactivated, and they exchanged phone numbers.  Duty continued to reach out to her, including in April 2024, a few days before his arrest.

On March 22, 2024, body worn camera footage shows Duty speaking with the second woman near the Sunoco station at Sullivant and Clarendon avenues. The woman confirmed that Duty had money with him and asked if he wanted to go to their “normal spot.” Duty drove away in his police vehicle, relocated to a different alley, and met up with the woman. Duty removed his body worn camera and blocked it from recording video. The camera, however, still recorded audio from the incident. The audio recording reveals Duty asking the woman several times to have sex. She declines but performs oral sex on Duty. The two discuss meeting up later for sex and Duty paid the woman $20 for the sex act. During this time, he was marked “out,” indicating that he was actively working on a police call.

Further review of Duty’s digital devices revealed numerous conversations in which Duty would seek out sex from various women, including victims of crime, whom he met while working on duty as a Columbus Police Officer. He would also send messages to sex workers while working and then meet up with them in his police cruiser, engage in sex acts with them, and then pay them for the sex acts.

Duty was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024. He had been employed with the Columbus Division of Police since June 2018.

Acting United States Attorney Kelly A. Norris, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) Acting Special Agent in Charge Thomas A. Greco,  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphy, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola announced the sentence imposed today by Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison.

Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Kevin W. Kelley are representing the United States in this case, which was investigated by the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission’s Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force.

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A Delaware corporation with a manufacturing facility in Ohio was sentenced today to pay a $500,000 fine, the statutory maximum, after pleading guilty to willfully violating an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rule. In addition to the fine, Fabcon will serve two years of organizational probation and comply with a Safety Compliance Plan. The criminal charge is related to an incident where an employee was killed when a pneumatic door closed on his head.

Fabcon Precast LLC makes precast concrete panels at its facility in Grove City, Ohio. Batch operators were employees responsible for operating and cleaning the facility’s only concrete mixer, which discharged concrete from its bottom through a pneumatic door. The mixer had an exhaust valve that, by design, released the pneumatic energy which powered the discharge door to make it inoperable.

The valve’s handle broke off, and was not replaced, prior to June 6, 2020. On that day, batch operator Zachary Ledbetter was injured trying to close the discharge door due to the broken valve. Ledbetter was eventually freed from the door, but he died at a hospital five days later.

“Today’s sentencing reflects Fabcon’s willful failure to implement measures to protect its workers,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Sadly, this led to Zachary’s death. This tragedy shows the importance of following safety standards.”

“Fabcon Precast LLC willfully failed to adhere to OSHA safety regulations which resulted in the tragic and preventable loss of a worker’s life. This sentencing highlights our steadfast commitment to continue working with OSHA and our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who jeopardize workers’ safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Megan Howell of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, Great Lakes Region.

Federal law makes it a class B misdemeanor to willfully fail to follow an OSHA safety standard, where the failure causes the death of an employee. The class B misdemeanor is the only federal criminal charge covering such workplace safety violations.

The Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General investigated the case.

Senior Trial Attorney and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Cullman, of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and for the Southern District of Ohio respectively, prosecuted the case.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A former Franklin County sheriff’s deputy pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to depriving an inmate of his civil rights. Matthew Carey, 28, of Grove City, admitted to depriving an individual of their right to be free from a deputy’s deliberate indifference to a substantial risk of serious harm, while acting under color of law. 

According to court documents, in March 2022, Carey intentionally disclosed a pretrial detainee’s pending charge of rape of a minor to Gmier McCall, another pretrial detainee. Carey knew that disclosing the victim’s charges created a substantial risk that he would be assaulted by others in the jail, and in fact inmates did assault the victim.

Carey faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. McCall previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to deprive the victim of his civil rights and also faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at future hearings.

Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Norris for the Southern District of Ohio, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola of the FBI Cincinnati Field Office and Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin announced the plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate for the Southern District of Ohio and Trial Attorney Cameron A. Bell of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A leader in a case with 23 defendants involved in narcotics and human trafficking conspiracies was sentenced in federal court here today to 360 months in prison for drug, gun, human trafficking and money laundering crimes.

From 2008 until June 2022, Cordell Washington, 38, of Pickerington, ran a large-scale drug trafficking organization in Columbus with co-defendant Patrick Saultz. Their operations also included sex trafficking, labor trafficking, fraud and money laundering.

A multi-agency law enforcement task force initially announced the case in July 2022 after a federal grand jury indicted 11 defendants for distributing bulk amounts of fentanyl, cocaine and crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a Columbus elementary school. In October 2022, the government added 12 defendants and 28 new charges. 

Court documents detail that the drug trafficking organization brought large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, oxycodone, alprazolam and marijuana into Columbus. These drugs were sold or used to coerce individuals into sexual activity for some members of the drug ring and their profit.

As part of this case, local, state and federal law enforcement officers have executed more than 20 search warrants at various locations throughout Central Ohio and seized more than $1.7 million in drug proceeds. For example, while executing a search warrant at a local storage unit, law enforcement officials discovered approximately one million dollars in bulk United States currency. Searches of additional residences yielded 47 firearms, diamonds, Rolex watches and additional bulk amounts of cash.

The drug trafficking organization sold drugs to customers out of more than 20 Columbus residences and distributed larger amounts to regional drug traffickers who then trafficked those narcotics to places such as West Virginia and the Northern District of Ohio. Saultz began the drug trafficking organization by distributing heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine from his residences on Vida Place and South Hague Street in Columbus as early as 2008.

Most of the drug dealing took place within 1000 feet of Burroughs Elementary School in Columbus at a residence on South Burgess. For example, one of Washington and Saultz’s numerous subordinates sold approximately $18,000 worth of narcotics per day from the location on South Burgess.

The case also involves the overdose death of at least one individual and the violent death of a second victim.

As part of his plea in April 2024, Washington admitted to labor trafficking male drug addicts. The defendant provided the men with their drug of choice after the men completed construction or cleaning projects at residences owned by the drug trafficking organization. The men were recruited by Washington and some completed the work for him under serious threat of harm.

Washington would provide the addicts with advances on small amounts of drugs so that they were well enough to perform physical labor. If Washington was not pleased with their work product, he would not complete the final drug payment and would threaten violence against them.

Washington used numerous methods to launder the group’s drug trafficking proceeds, including establishing front businesses that purported to be rental, repair and construction companies.

As of today, 18 of the 23 defendants have been sentenced, including six defendants who were sentenced to more than 10 years in prison. Saultz was sentenced in March 2025 to 30 years in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Norris commended the investigation coordinated by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes Columbus Division of Police Chief Elaine Bryant; Jared Murphy, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Andrew Lawton, 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.

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

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

# # #

CINCINNATI – Mason Meyer, 32, of Cincinnati, was sentenced in federal court here today to 300 months in prison. Meyer is the final of 16 defendants charged in this case for their roles in narcotics and firearms conspiracies.

The case originated with Meyer and another individual involved in an Aug. 7, 2020, police chase through Cincinnati that resulted in the deaths of two bystanders in Newport, Kentucky. Meyer and Kirsten Johnson, 26, of Cincinnati, were charged federally in August 2020. Ongoing investigation led to the additional 14 defendants and charges.

According to court documents, officials with the ATF, Cincinnati Police and the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force were surveilling Meyer in Cincinnati on Aug. 7, 2020, when Meyer drove away. Cincinnati police officers attempted to stop Meyer when he fled, causing a police chase through Cincinnati and into Covington and Newport, Kentucky.

Local court documents detail that Meyer’s vehicle struck and killed a couple dining on the patio of Press on Monmouth in Newport, Kentucky. Two other pedestrians were struck and suffered minor injuries.

At the time of the chase, Meyer and Johnson possessed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, two loaded handguns and a loaded rifle.

A grand jury indicted all 16 defendants in the federal case in July 2021, charging the defendants in a firearms conspiracy and in a narcotics conspiracy involving 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and cocaine and 10 grams or more of LSD, as well as detectable amounts of MDMA, DMT, marijuana and ketamine.

In total, as part of this case, law enforcement seized 11 firearms and more than one kilogram of methamphetamine, more than 200 pounds of DMT, more than five kilograms of marijuana, more than 15 kilograms of hashish and hashish oil, more than one kilogram of MDMA, more than 19,000 dose units of LSD, fentanyl, cocaine, and other synthetic and counterfeit drugs.

Meyer’s source of supply of methamphetamine, Ryan Haskamp, 36, of Cincinnati, was sentenced in February to 27 years in prison. Haskamp used at least five Cincinnati residences as stash houses to store and sell drugs. He also had others rent Airbnb locations and hotel rooms to further his drug trafficking. Haskamp had packages of drugs delivered to the Airbnb rental properties. Haskamp supplied drugs for redistribution in Cincinnati and Dayton via numerous co-defendants.

Others convicted in this case include:

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Thomas A. Greco, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Andrew Lawton, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa A. Theetge and agencies with the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force and Drug Abuse Reduction Task Force (DART) announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Jeffery P. Hopkins. Assistant United States Attorney Ashley N. Brucato is representing the United States in this case.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Two Mexican nationals pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court here today to illegally reentering the United States. 

Juan Carlos Garcia-Vazquez, 45, was convicted in Franklin County in 2024 for cocaine trafficking. The defendant was previously removed from the United States in 2004 and 2013.

Previous convictions for Lino Mendiola-Vanegas, 45, include cocaine trafficking and forgery in Franklin County. He admitted to illegally reentering the United States after being ordered removed in 2010.

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 Robert Lynch, Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office announced the guilty pleas entered today before Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Kenneth F. Affeldt is representing the United States in both cases.

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 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.

Congress sets minimum and maximum statutory sentences and sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

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).

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal grand jury charged a Mexican national with federal immigration and drug crimes, as well as assaulting a federal officer.

Jose Adin Benjume-Gutierrez, 45, is charged in a three-count indictment that was filed this morning.

According to the indictment, on Feb. 3, Benjume-Gutierrez intentionally and forcibly assaulted a special agent of the federal government. Specifically, the defendant assaulted an agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

It is further alleged that, in April, the defendant distributed cocaine.

Benjume-Gutierrez had been previously deported from the United States in 2011 and 2016. 

If convicted as charged, the defendant faces up to 20 years in prison for distributing cocaine and assaulting a federal officer, and up to two years in prison for illegally reentering the United States.

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 Robert Lynch, Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; and Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Tyler J. Aagard 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 Romanian national who was convicted in Michigan of illegally reentering the United States pleaded guilty in federal court in Cincinnati today to a federal crime related to ATM skimming.

According to court documents, Danut Valentin Urseiu, 32, conspired with others to commit bank fraud in the Southern District of Ohio in January and February 2023.

Urseiu’s plea agreement, which recommends a sentence of one year and one day in prison, details that he conspired with others to place skimming devices onto a financial institution’s ATMs in the greater Cincinnati area, including in Cincinnati, Green Township and Liberty Township.

Co-conspirators used the fraudulent access devices to steal information from cardholders and defraud financial institutions.

The financial institution reported that multiple ATM locations were victimized during the timeframe Urseiu and his co-conspirators were operating in the Southern District of Ohio.

Fingerprints on cameras placed with the skimming devices in Ohio matched Urseiu’s prints from arrests in New York in Michigan.

Urseiu’s cell phones contained photos of ATM skimming devices, recording devices and large amounts of cash.

The Court will determine Urseiu’s sentence at a future hearing.

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 today before Senior U.S. District Court Judge Susan J. Dlott. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Keefe is representing the United States in this case.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Becky Gillespie, 29, of Columbus, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 276 months in prison for sexually assaulting a 3-year-old victim, recording the abuse and distributing it to other exploiters.

Specifically, Gillespie was sentenced for sexual exploitation of a minor and distribution of child pornography.

According to court documents, on numerous dates in December 2023, Gillespie sent Snapchat videos or offered to send videos to other users that depicted Gillespie engaged in sex acts or sexually explicit conduct with the 3-year-old victim.

Law enforcement also discovered a photo of a second young victim, who was posed on Gillespie’s nude breasts in an image on her electronic devices.

One user with whom Gillespie communicated was under investigation in Australia for numerous child pornography related offenses. Gillespie and the other Snapchat user traded sexually explicit videos including the content Gillespie created of the 3-year-old.

As a result of information obtained by Australian Federal Police, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Canberra and the South Australian Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team, local HSI initiated an investigation into Gillespie.

Gillespie was charged in January 2024 and pleaded guilty in December 2024.

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 on May 27 by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Rausch and Emily Czerniejewski are representing the United States in this case.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal jury convicted a Chicago man with three crimes involving the possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and cocaine base.

The verdict was announced yesterday following a trial that began on May 19 before U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley.

Kenneth D. Triplett, 38, was found guilty on all counts as charged in a superseding indictment.

According to court documents and trial testimony, in April 2024, the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office received a tip that Triplett was in the county to distribute drugs. Triplett had traveled to Guernsey County with distributable amounts of drugs after being in the Columbus area.

Within 12 hours of receiving the tip, law enforcement observed Triplett’s vehicle at a Quality Inn in Cambridge, Ohio, and arrested the defendant nearby. Triplett had an active full-extradition warrant for his arrest from Minnesota.

After arresting Triplett, officers searched his hotel room and discovered hidden throughout the room: cocaine and more than 230 grams cocaine base, an open vacuum sealed bag of fentanyl mixed with heroin, and a digital scale.

Triplett faces five to 40 years in prison and will be sentenced at a future hearing.

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 Guernsey County Sheriff Jeffrey D. Paden announced today’s guilty verdict. Assistant United States Attorneys Tyler J. Aagard and Kevin W. Kelley are representing the United States in this case.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Lancaster man was arrested yesterday afternoon on federal child pornography charges and appeared in federal court in Columbus today.

It is alleged that Carson A. Bigham, 23, possessed, distributed or received child pornography.

According to charging documents, law enforcement received two separate Cybertips from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) related to a Columbus man who was charged with federal child pornography crimes in March, including exploitation of a minor.  One report was from Kik messenger regarding the distribution of 13 child pornography files. The second report was from Sniffies LLC, a map-based hookup application for gay, bisexual and bicurious men.

As part of their investigation, devices were seized from the Columbus man. Law enforcement’s forensic review of the devices revealed conversations between the Columbus man and Bigham. In the conversations, Bigham allegedly uses the screenname “daddy.” The conversations between the two men were sexual in nature and included discussions about engaging in sex with minors. Bigham also allegedly received child pornography during these discussions, including files which depicted prepubescent minors engaged in sex acts with adults.

Law enforcement officers learned that Bigham is employed as a Columbus firefighter and photographs of Bigham match those sent to the Columbus man during their conversations.

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; other members of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force; and officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Columbus Airport Group and Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski 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 company that contracted with the United States Air Force to produce a pod for military aircraft paid the United States $512,000 to settle False Claims Act and related allegations. 

The KeyW Corporation (KeyW) was awarded a contract in August 2020 to produce a prototype of an AgilePod variant for the Air Force, the AgilePod-26. The AgilePod-26 was designed to be a multi-mission pod capable of carrying intelligence, surveillance and communications equipment on military aircraft. 

The settlement resolves allegations that KeyW made false representations or omitted material information regarding the adequacy of the adhesive curing procedures that its subcontractor used for the prototype’s endcones, and the anticipated effectiveness of proposed testing procedures that the company used to investigate or address concerns regarding the prototype’s endcones.

“The manufacturing of defective products, including ones intended for use in military aircraft, creates a significant risk to America’s warfighters,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Christopher Silvestro of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Northeast Field Office. “DCIS remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners and the Justice Department to hold accountable those who commit fraudulent activity that impacts the Department of Defense.”

“This investigation shows our commitment to work with our partner agencies and the Department of Justice to safeguard Air Force systems. OSI will continue to protect warfighter readiness by pursuing individuals and corporations who jeopardize the safety and effectiveness of those critical systems and equipment" stated William Rouse, Special Agent in Charge, Procurement Fraud Det 4, Wright Patterson AFB.

Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. Horwitz represented the United States in this matter. Air Force Material Command Law Office, Procurement Fraud Law Division attorneys Sarah Schild and Kate Rottmayer also helped pursue this matter.

The settlement agreement is neither an admission of liability by KeyW nor a concession by the United States this its claims are not well founded.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – An alleged transnational gang member pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to illegally reentering the United States.

Milton Guevara-Cruz, 31, of El Salvador, illegally reentered the country after being convicted of a felony.

Charging documents in this case state that Guevara-Cruz is believed to be a member of the violent 18th Street transnational gang from El Salvador. He is described as a member of the gang’s Tyni Locos Surenos clique who has been arrested in El Salvador three times for related criminal activity.

Guevara-Cruz’s plea agreement details that ICE officers encountered the defendant on March 11 in Columbus. He was physically removed from the United States on multiple prior occasions, including in 2014, 2017 and 2019. His most recent removal occurred after he was convicted of illegal reentry in federal court in New Mexico.

Illegally reentering the United States after a felony conviction is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

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

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  Robert Lynch, Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; announced the guilty plea entered on May 20 before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Deputy Criminal Chief Brian J. Martinez 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).

# # #

CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati man was sentenced in federal court here today to 99 months in prison for conspiring in the distribution of drugs out of a house on Vine Street.

Terrell Kirkland, 40, conspired to possess with the intent distribute cocaine.

According to court documents, Kirkland would broker drug transactions that took place at the house on Vine Street. The defendant would meet customers at a separate location and then bring them to the residence. Kirkland received a cut of the profits for brokering the transactions.

In April 2024, law enforcement made two controlled purchases of cocaine at the residence.

Kirkland and co-defendant Ricky Cannon, 37, of Cincinnati, were indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024. Kirkland pleaded guilty in January. Cannon has also pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.

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), Columbus Field Division, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Keefe is representing the United States in this case.

# # #

CINCINNATI – An indictment was unsealed today charging 11 defendants from across the United States for their alleged involvement with online groups dedicated to creating and distributing videos depicting acts of extreme violence and sexual abuse against monkeys.

The indictment alleges the individuals conspired with previously charged defendant Nicholas T. Dryden, of Cincinnati, to create and distribute so-called “animal crush videos.”

The indictment details 79 overt acts in which defendants allegedly paid Dryden who then paid a minor in Indonesia to commit the requested acts on camera.

The videos alleged to have been created as part of the conspiracy depicted, among other things, monkeys having their genitals burned and cut with scissors, as well as being sodomized with a wooden skewer and a spoon.

Those charged include:

“The acts of torture and abuse of young monkeys alleged in this case are beyond disturbing,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. “As a result of the work of the FBI, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and our partners, those involved in the conspiracy to create and distribute these repulsive videos are being held accountable.”

If convicted as charged, these defendants face maximum penalties of five years in prison.

Acting United States Attorney Kelly A. Norris for the Southern District of Ohio; Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Department of Justice’s Environmental & Natural Resources Division (ENRD); and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; made today’s announcement.

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

Senior Trial Attorney Adam C. Cullman of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy D. Oakley for the Southern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case.

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

# # #

An indictment was unsealed today charging 11 defendants from across the United States for their alleged involvement with online groups dedicated to creating and distributing videos depicting acts of extreme violence and sexual abuse against monkeys.

The indictment alleges the individuals conspired with previously charged defendant Nicholas T. Dryden, of Cincinnati, to create and distribute so-called “animal crush videos.”

The indictment details 79 overt acts in which defendants allegedly paid Dryden who then paid a minor in Indonesia to commit the requested acts on camera.

The videos alleged to have been created as part of the conspiracy depicted, among other things, monkeys having their genitals burned and cut with scissors, as well as being sodomized with a wooden skewer and a spoon.

Those charged today include:

• Ernest D. Chavez — also known as Lax — from Arizona;
• Hugh T. Campbell — also known as Tim Templeton — from Pennsylvania;
• Carter G. Fawcett — also known as Captain — from Colorado;
• Brady O. Shellhammer — also known as Beglu or Bbbeglu — from Louisiana;
• Jimmy Wong — also known as Yasser Lopez — from New York;
• Kimberly A. Anglin — also known as Kim Anglin — from Connecticut;
• Mark M. Sampieri — also known as The Chef or SainT — from Connecticut;
• Victoria S. Haskins — also known as Cat Face or Sparkles Fancy Pants — from Louisiana;
• Vance H. Beadles — also known as Mr. Green — from Kentucky;
• Mary L. Longoria — also known as R6 or R6ex — from North Carolina; and
• Patrick C. Naylor — also known as YANTF or YANTF 2x — from North Carolina.

If convicted as charged, these defendants face maximum penalties of five years in prison.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Norris for the Southern District of Ohio, Assistant Director Douglas Ault of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Office of Law Enforcement, and Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola of the FBI Cincinnati Field Office made today’s announcement.

The USFWS Office of Law Enforcement and FBI investigated the case.

Senior Trial Attorney Adam C. Cullman of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy D. Oakley for the Southern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case.

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

CINCINNATI – The owner of a local Mexican market pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to money laundering what she believed were narcotics proceeds. 

Teodora Meza, 52, of Cincinnati, owns and operates La Marketa, a specialty market on Fields Ertel Road in Cincinnati. Meza uses the store to act as an agent for an international money service business.

Meza admitted to sending what she believed were proceeds of drug trafficking via international wire transfers on behalf of clients.

According to her plea agreement, from October to December 2023, Meza sent wire transfers to Mexico on behalf of an individual claiming to be a drug trafficker. Meza educated the individual on how to conceal the transfers by structuring them to avoid reporting requirements. The defendant both accepted and provided false information and identities to conceal the nature and source of the funds.

In total, Meza laundered $20,000 from the individual throughout a series of wire transfers.

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 guilty plea entered today before Senior U.S. District Judge Susan J. Dlott. Assistant United States Attorney Ashley N. Brucato is representing the United States in this case.

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

# # #

DAYTON, Ohio – A federal grand jury has charged a former local AMVETS Post commander with 15 counts of wire fraud related to embezzling money from the non-profit organization’s bank accounts.

Danny Dale Gordon, 48, of Kettering, served as the commander for AMVETS Post #24 on Leo Street in Dayton from January 2022 until May 2024.

According to the indictment, during that timeframe, Gordon fraudulently transferred money from the veterans organization’s fundraising and scholarship bank accounts into its primary bank account before withdrawing the funds for his own use.

It is alleged that Gordon defrauded AMVETS of approximately $622,000. The indictment details that Gordon allegedly used the money at various local gambling casinos, for travel and hotel expenses, and frequenting a Dayton-area “gentlemen’s club.” Gordon allegedly made numerous fraudulent financial transactions ranging between $200 and $900 each.

Wire fraud is a federal crime punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

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; Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal; and Lt. Col. Seth Newfang, Commander of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, 10th Field Investigations Squadron; announced the charges returned yesterday. Assistant United States Attorney Dwight K. Keller 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 – Leo Shimizu, 39, of San Francisco, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 64 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $10.6 million in restitution for leading a nationwide money laundering conspiracy involving the proceeds of fraudulent online vehicle sales.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio previously prosecuted four other co-conspirators in this scheme, including a Columbus man who helped lead the conspiracy.

According to court documents, the online car sales scam cheated at least 850 victims around the country out of more than $10.6 million total. Co-conspirators were part of a network that attracted online customers through fraudulent postings for vehicle sales.

Shimizu, who is also known as “Lil Droppy,” posted and directed other individuals to post listings on websites like Craigslist and Cars.com for vehicles they were alleging to sell. In truth, the co-conspirators did not have the vehicles they claimed they were selling. 

Shimizu and others communicated with victims through email and phone, posing as employees of eBay, and used third parties to open bank accounts in the names of shell corporations that appeared to be affiliated with eBay. They instructed victims to wire funds to various third-party bank accounts they set up. They claimed to be affiliated with eBay’s Buyer Protection Program, when in fact, no such relationship existed.

Shimizu pleaded guilty in November 2024 to conspiring to commit money laundering.

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 by U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Noah R. Litton is representing the United States in this case.

Acting U.S. Attorney Norris recognized the assistance of United States Secret Service in Toledo, Ohio and Miami, Florida; the FBI’s Baltimore field office; United States Postal Inspection Service in Detroit; New York State Police; the Canton, Ohio, Butler Village, Ohio, Mayfield Heights, Ohio, Bloomfield Township, Michigan, Marlboro Township, New Jersey and Janesville, Wisconsin police departments; and the Walworth County, Wisconsin and Clarke County, Alabama sheriff’s offices.

# # #

CINCINNATI – Two men alleged to have committed child exploitation crimes were arraigned in federal court today in Cincinnati in two separate cases. 

Jonathan Travis Mackey, 46, of Loveland, allegedly exploited child victims both online and in person while employed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Mackey was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 30 and charged with sexually exploiting a child and receiving child pornography.

According to his court documents, Mackey chatted online with whom he believed to be an approximately 13-year-old girl and enticed her to send him sexually explicit photos. Mackey sent messages on Discord that were sexual in nature and allegedly planned to meet in person at a hotel near her home. Mackey’s Discord activity also allegedly included messages with an adult woman in which Mackey and the woman discuss their desires to sexually abuse minors.

It is also alleged that Mackey exploited a second victim through hands-on sexual abuse.

If convicted as charged, Mackey could face up to 50 years in prison.

Kyle Rist, 38, of Cincinnati, was also indicted by a federal grand jury on April 30. He is charged with coercion and enticement, 16 counts of sexually exploiting minors, receiving child pornography and possessing child pornography.

According to his charging documents, in September 2023, the grandparents of a teenaged victim alerted law enforcement in Oregon that their granddaughter had been sending and receiving sexually explicit videos of herself and of Rist, who is also known as Jeremy Hadley, through Facebook.

A publicly-filed affidavit details that Rist referred to himself as daddy to the victim and also told the victim they were in a relationship. It is alleged that Rist – pretending to be another man by the name of Jeremy Hadley – had ongoing online discussions with the same teenage victim. 

It is alleged that between August and November 2024, Rist sexually exploited a second 7-year-old child in person by producing visual depictions of the victim engaging in and assisting another person in sexually explicit conduct.

If convicted as charged, Rist could face up to life 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; 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.

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

# # #

CINCINNATI – A Honduran national who was arrested in Hamilton County for stealing products from a local Kroger was sentenced in federal court here today to 10 months in prison for illegally reentering the United States.

According to court documents, in August 2024, Jorge Alberto Marroquin Membrano, 47, was arrested locally under an alias and fingerprinted at the county jail.

The defendant is an alien without legal status in the United States and has been previously removed on numerous occasions. He has three prior convictions for illegal reentry.

Membrano pleaded guilty in December 2024.

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 U.S. District Court Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Assistant United States Attorney Danielle E. Margeaux 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).

# # #

DAYTON, Ohio – A man who operates kiosks at a local mall pleaded guilty in federal court here to trafficking counterfeit goods.

Emre Teski, 25, is a citizen of Turkey and illegally entered the United States from Mexico in September 2022. Teski admitted to illegally crossing the international boundary without being inspected by an immigration officer at a designated Port of Entry. On Jan. 3, 2024, Teski was ordered removed from the United States, but has since appealed this decision and was permitted employment authorization while his appeal is pending. Teski operates kiosks selling alleged counterfeit goods at the Mall at Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek.

According to court documents, Teski ran one kiosk that primarily sold replica professional soccer jerseys and hats containing trademarked soccer teams, including FC Barcelona, Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami, Manchester City and Arsenal. Teski operated another kiosk that sold primarily oversized slippers that look like sneakers and included Nike and Air Jordan trademarks. 

Teski allegedly sold an investigator counterfeit Nike slippers that illegally used the trademark Nike Swoosh. It is alleged that he also sold a counterfeit pink Messi jersey.

The total domestic value for all items seized by federal agents is nearly $150,000.

Teski was arrested in March 2025. Trafficking counterfeit goods is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 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 plea entered on May 8 before Senior U.S. District Judge Walter H. Rice. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is representing the United States in this case.

# # #

A New Albany, Ohio, man has been charged with federal crimes related to sending at least 65 letters and emails to 34 victims, including state public officials, a local TV station and law enforcement, threatening to kill Ohio public officials. Many of the letters included a white powder and one letter included a bullet etched with the victim’s last name.

Ronald Lidderdale, 39, appeared in federal court in Columbus this afternoon. He is charged with making interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure, mailing threatening communications, false information and hoaxes, and cyberstalking.

According to charging documents, Lidderdale allegedly sent the threatening communications to publicly elected officials holding statewide office in Ohio, elected officials holding office in the federal government, and individuals involved in Ohio politics.

It is alleged that Lidderdale sent at least 49 letters containing suspicious white powders, which at times the sender claimed to be Ricin. To date, 29 victims received the white powder letters.

One letter contained a 9mm bullet with the last name of the public official etched on it.

For example, between July and early August 2024, it is alleged that Lidderdale sent a dozen threatening letters via the mail in five different mailings. The return labels on the letters contained mailing information for individuals who were either currently or previously employed by the targeted public official.

Lidderdale allegedly threatened violence against the letter recipients in each of the letters, including language like, “I will kill you for your ignorant loyalty to your pedophilic party” and “I will kill you for the good of The People. Your death will come when you least expect it.”

Last week, Lidderdale allegedly sent letters to eight victims containing a hitlist of eight individuals he said he would kill in the month of May.

Court documents allege that Lidderdale sent a letter to a local TV station and emails to federal and local law enforcement outlining his plans.

It is further alleged that Lidderdale sent threatening emails to public officials stating, “Each [victim] will receive the gift of their names etched onto a single bullet. Their skull is the target the bullet is the gift.”

On May 8, Lidderdale allegedly told FBI agents that he had sent the letters and emails with the intent to incite fear, including the fear of bodily injury, and to make threats with the goal of changing behavior.

Mailing threatening communications carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Making interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure, mailing threatening communications, conveying false information and hoaxes, and cyberstalking are all federal crimes punishable by up to five years in prison.

Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Norris for the Southern District of Ohio; Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola of the FBI Cincinnati Field Office; and Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); as well as the U.S. Capitol Police, Ohio State Highway Patrol and several Ohio police departments announced the charges filed today.

Deputy Criminal Chief Brian J. Martinez and Assistant U.S.  Attorneys Damoun Delaviz and Jessica W. Knight for the Southern District of Ohio, and Trial Attorney James Donnelly of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are representing the United States in this case.

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

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A New Albany man has been charged with federal crimes related to sending at least 65 threatening letters and electronic communications to approximately 34 victims, including public officials, a local TV station and law enforcement. Many of the letters included a white powder and one letter included a bullet etched with the victim’s last name.

“Perpetrators who violate federal law by sending such serious threats in the mail or online will not remain anonymous. Actual or threatened political violence in any form must be condemned,” said Acting United States Attorney Kelly A. Norris. “We will work with our law enforcement partners to identify these bad actors and prosecute them.”

“Targeting public officials with threatening messages and substances is a serious federal crime that won’t go unpunished,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. “FBI agents have worked closely with our local, state, and federal partners to investigate these incidents and arrest the suspected offender.”

Ronald Lidderdale, 39, appeared in federal court in Columbus this afternoon. He is charged with making interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure, mailing threatening communications, false information and hoaxes, and cyberstalking.

According to charging documents, Lidderdale allegedly sent the threatening communications to publicly elected officials holding statewide office in Ohio, elected officials holding office in the federal government, and individuals involved in Ohio politics.

It is alleged that Lidderdale sent at least 49 letters containing suspicious white powders, which at times the sender claimed to be Ricin. To date, 29 victims received the white powder letters.

One letter contained a 9mm bullet with the last name of the public official etched on it.

For example, between July and early August 2024, it is alleged that Lidderdale sent a dozen threatening letters via the mail in five different mailings. The return labels on the letters contained mailing information for individuals who were either currently or previously employed by the targeted public official.

In the letters, Lidderdale allegedly threatened violence against the letter recipients, including language like, “I will kill you for your ignorant loyalty to your pedophilic party” and “I will kill you for the good of The People. Your death will come when you least expect it.”

Last week, Lidderdale allegedly sent letters to eight victims containing a hitlist of eight individuals he said he would kill in the month of May.

Court documents allege that Lidderdale sent a letter to a local TV station and emails to federal and local law enforcement outlining his plans.

It is further alleged that Lidderdale sent threatening emails to public officials stating, “Each [victim] will receive the gift of their names etched onto a single bullet. Their skull is the target the bullet is the gift.”

On May 8, Lidderdale allegedly told FBI agents that he had sent the letters and emails with the intent to incite fear, including the fear of bodily injury, and to make threats with the goal of changing behavior.

Mailing threatening communications carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Making interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure, conveying false information and hoaxes, and cyberstalking are all federal crimes punishable by up to five years in prison.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); as well as the U.S. Capitol Police, Ohio State Highway Patrol and several Ohio police departments; announced the charges filed today. Deputy Criminal Chief Brian J. Martinez and Assistant United States Attorneys Damoun Delaviz and Jessica W. Knight, National Security Division Counterterrorism Section Trial Attorney James Donnelly and Trial Attorney Aaron L. Jennen of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section 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 – Antel Braden, 24, of Dayton, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute bulk amounts of methamphetamine. 

According to his plea agreement, in August 2024, Braden was the intended recipient of a United States postal package from California containing more than three kilograms of methamphetamine.

Law enforcement intercepted the mail package and replaced the drugs with sham narcotics before having an undercover agent deliver the package to an address in Dayton.

Braden arrived at the residence and received the package. After receiving the package of what he believed to be methamphetamine, Braden drove to another location in Dayton to pick up his brother and co-conspirator, Giovantae Braden, 30.

When law enforcement endeavored to stop Braden’s vehicle on E. Dorothy Lane, he attempted to flee. Braden ran a red light at E. Dorothy Lane and E. Stroop Road, causing a crash and significant damage to both vehicles. The sham narcotics were thrown from the vehicle and the Braden brothers attempted to flee on foot. They were both apprehended by law enforcement.

Braden faces up to 20 years in prison. Congress sets minimum and maximum statutory sentences. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); announced the guilty plea entered on May 8 before U.S. District Judge Michael J. Newman. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is representing the United States in this case.

# # #

CINCINNATI – Yaw Mintah Afari, 47, of Cincinnati, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 27 months in prison for fraud. He used a stolen identity for decades, compiling an extensive criminal record, getting married and fathering a child all under the assumed identity. 

Court documents detail that the victim of Afari’s identity theft has significantly suffered from having his identity stolen. For example, the victim was arrested in 2009 for a warrant in Georgia for a crime that Afari committed while using his identity. The victim later had to take a DNA test to prove that he was not liable for child support payments for a child that Afari fathered under the victim’s name. Further, the victim lost his job as an Uber driver because of the criminal record Afari compiled under his identity.

Afari was born in Ghana in 1977 and entered the United States on a visitor’s visa in 1999. Afari obtained a Virginia driver’s license in 1999. In July 2001, he was charged with assault in Fairfax, Virginia.

After his assault charges, Afari stole the identity of an acquaintance that lived on his road.

Afari used the stolen identity in connection with various arrests, including on fraud, theft and forgery charges in Georgia in 2007 and 2009. The defendant was convicted and sentenced to prison terms for the crimes in Georgia and was paroled in 2012.

In 2018 or 2019, Afari moved to Cincinnati and then married a woman, using the stolen identity for a marriage certificate in Hamilton County. He also fathered a child while using the assumed identity.

Afari applied for a passport in Cincinnati using the victim’s name in February 2022, which led to an investigation into his true identity.

The defendant was charged and arrested in March 2024. He pleaded guilty in October 2024.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the sentence imposed today by Senior U.S. District Judge Susan J. Dlott. The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), U.S. Social Security Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Marshals, and Ohio BMV Investigations. Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy A. Landry is representing the United States in this case.

# # #

CINCINNATI – Ronald Scott Daley, 53, of Miamisburg, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to wire fraud and tax evasion related to a scheme to defraud clients, including elderly victims. 

According to his plea agreement, which includes a recommended sentence of up to 60 months in prison, Daley was employed by a life insurance brokerage firm and advised several elderly clients with respect to life insurance and annuity products.

From at least 2012 until 2020, Daley fraudulently convinced client victims to withdraw certain assets from the insurance brokerage firm and to deposit the funds into their own personal accounts. Daley then influenced the victims to make payments to a bank account for an entity that Daley controlled.

For example, Daley defrauded three victims of more than $707,000 in total.

Furthermore, Daley failed to file and pay taxes on the fraudulent income.

As part of his conviction, he will repay the approximately $707,000 in restitution.

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 Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigations; announced the guilty plea entered on May 5 before U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy S. Mangan is representing the United States in this case.

# # #

CINCINNATI – A previously convicted felon was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 60 months in prison for illegally possessing firearms, including a fully automatic weapon.

Justin Ervin, 35, of Hamilton, possessed a machinegun-conversion device, known as a switch. The device converts a semi-automatic weapon into a fully automatic weapon.

According to court documents, in May 2024, Hamilton police officers executed a search warrant at a residence in which Ervin had been living. Officers were originally called to the house in response to a strangulation incident, for which Ervin has pleaded guilty in state court. Officers discovered seven firearms, one conversion device and more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition at the residence.

As a previously convicted felon for robbery and arson, Ervin is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.

Ervin was indicted by a federal grand jury and arrested in June 2024. He pleaded guilty in October 2024.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting 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), Columbus Field Division; and Hamilton Police Chief Trent Chenowith announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Keefe and Criminal Chief Christy L. Muncy are representing the United States in this case.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Cameron D. Newton, 21, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 240 months and one day in prison for his roles in four armed robberies against postal carriers.

According to court documents, between December 2022 and May 2023, Newton aided and abetted the aggravated robberies of mail and the use of a firearm during the crimes of violence.

Newton, who was on probation and consequently wearing a GPS ankle monitor at the time, recruited two juveniles to assist with an armed robbery in German Village on Dec. 22, 2022. Newton also arranged for the use of the handgun that his co-conspirator used during the crime.

On Jan. 23, 2023, Newton provided surveillance for an armed postal robbery on East Columbus Street. Newton was in his vehicle nearby, using the cover of making DoorDash deliveries to evade his home confinement.

Later that same day, Newton provided surveillance again for a third postal robbery and worked to arrange buyers for the stolen postal keys.

Newton also obtained a firearm for a co-conspirator to use in the May 11, 2023, robbery of an elderly female postal worker. He picked up accomplices near Goodale Park following the robbery. Newton then paid the robbers several hundred dollars via CashApp.

On May 18, 2023, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Newton’s residence and discovered $22,000 in cash, hundreds of washed and altered checks and money orders totaling more than $590,000, two Postal keys and hundreds of pieces of stolen mail.

A total of six defendants have been charged in connection with six separate armed robberies of postal carriers in central Ohio.

“Newton and his accomplices terrorized postal workers in an effort to steal their keys and loot mailboxes,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. “Through the hard work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, local police, and the FBI, we were able to arrest those responsible for these violent crimes and ensure they are held accountable.”

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; Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant; Westerville Police Chief Charles Chandler and Whitehall Police Chief Mike Crispen announced the sentence imposed this afternoon by U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Noah R. Litton is representing the United States in these cases.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio announced today two new immigration convictions and charges filed against an additional defendant. Two of the three defendants have a criminal history of domestic violence.

Eduardo Hernandez-Lopez, 37, is an illegal alien from Mexico who was previously arrested by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office for domestic violence, assault and violating a protection order. He pleaded guilty in federal court in Columbus on Wednesday to illegally reentering the United States after deportation.

In Dayton, Gustavo Rodriguez-Piedra, 45, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to illegally reentering the United States after deportation. The defendant was previously deported from Texas in 2010. Rodriguez-Piedra was also sentenced on Tuesday to time served and will face deportation.

Luis Callejas-Rosas, 54, of Mexico, was arrested in Shelby County for domestic violence and strangulation. He was then taken into federal custody and charged with illegally reentering the United States after deportation.

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 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; Robert Lynch, Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; and Andrew Lawton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Detroit Field Division; announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Tyler J. Aagard, Elizabeth Geraghty and Erica Lunderman are representing the United States in these cases.

Charging documents merely contain allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

These cases were 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).

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man has been charged with 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 today. 

According to the eight-count indictment, between November 2020 and May 2022, Nwaru knowingly disconnected, reset and altered the mileage registered by the odometer on vehicles, changing them from high mileage to lower mileage, before selling them to customers.

The charging document details eight vehicles that allegedly had their mileage illegally reduced by approximately 80,000 to 100,000 miles.

Odometer fraud is a federal crime punishable by up to three years in prison.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the charges returned today. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Prichard is representing the United States. 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. 

NHTSA estimates that odometer fraud in the United States costs consumers more than $1 billion annually.  NHTSA encourages the public to report odometer fraud by emailing odometerfraud@dot.gov or calling 800-424-9393.

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

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio announced today charges pending against 11 new defendants for allegedly violating federal immigration laws and one new conviction. The defendants include a previously convicted sex offender, a man who allegedly opened fire near a local taco restaurant and a man who is alleged to be part of a transnational gang.

A criminal complaint was filed in Columbus on April 18 charging Abel Velasquez-Avecedo, 29, of Mexico, with illegally possessing a firearm as an illegal alien. 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 suspected cocaine. The defendant has prior convictions including operating a vehicle while intoxicated and assault.

A federal grand jury indicted Adiel Hernandez-Orellana, 39, of El Salvador, with illegally reentering the United States after being convicted of an aggravated felony. Hernandez-Orellana was previously convicted of sexual assault in Arkansas.

Milton Guevara-Cruz, 31, of El Salvador, was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly reentering the United States illegally after deportation. Charging documents filed against Guevara-Cruz detail that he is a member of the violent 18th Street transnational gang from El Salvador. It is alleged that he is a member of the gang’s Tyni Locos Surenos clique and has been arrested in El Salvador three times for related criminal activity.

A federal grand jury also indicted Sergio Diego-Sevilla, 35, of Mexico, for illegally reentering the United States.

Diego-Sevilla was a passenger in a vehicle being driven by Adalberto Calixto-Tolentino, 21, who pleaded guilty in federal court in Columbus last week to two counts of transporting illegal aliens. Calixto-Tolentino admitted to being paid cash to pick up illegal aliens near the Mexico border in Arizona and transport them throughout the United States.

Juan Jacobo Ortega-Guevara, 36, also allegedly transported illegal aliens. He was charged yesterday by criminal complaint. Ortega-Guevara was stopped by law enforcement while in a vehicle in Guernsey County with six other individuals. The defendant had $3,000 in cash on him and is alleged to have transported illegal aliens from the southwest toward the midatlantic for pay.

Six other defendants were charged by criminal complaint with illegally reentering the United States after deportation. They include Carlos Garcia Carillo, 47, of Mexico; Saul Lopez-Rojas, 39, of Mexico; Gelacio Macias-Olivares, 42, of Mexico; Anselmo Munguia Martinez, 36, of Mexico; Zenaido Neri Perez, 31, of Mexico and Jose Gonzalez-Rodriguez, 28, of Mexico.

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 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 Robert Lynch, Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; announced the charges. Deputy Criminal Chief Brian J. Martinez and Assistant United States Attorneys Tyler J. Aagard, Elizabeth Geraghty, Peter K. Glenn Applegate, Ryan A. Keefe, Noah R. Litton, Ebunoluwa Taiwo and David J. Twombly are representing the United States in these cases.

Charging documents merely contain allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

These cases were 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).

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – David Hamilton, 27, of Heath, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 293 months in prison for child pornography related crimes.

According to court documents, Hamilton and a co-defendant communicated extensively and graphically about their intent to sexually abuse young boys, including boys to whom they could gain access. Their messages on the Telegram app discussed Hamilton’s plans to babysit an approximately 6-year-old boy and then drug him with an anti-depressant and sexually abuse him. Hamilton and his co-defendant also discussed starting a family of all boys whom they could sexually abuse together.

When law enforcement officers executed search warrants at Hamilton’s home, they discovered a bag belonging to Hamilton containing two types of anti-depressants, children’s overnight diapers in a variety of sizes, lubricating jelly, condoms and stuffed animals.

Court documents also detail that the FBI received an additional report from another minor male about Hamilton’s online exploitation activities. Law enforcement learned that Hamilton requested the minor produce images of child pornography for him. Hamilton gave the minor male his username and password to various platforms to upload the created content there, threatening the minor male if he did not comply. The minor male confirmed Hamilton was in online groups that raped, hurt, drugged and killed minors.

On his electronic devices, Hamilton possessed thousands of videos and images of child sexual abuse, including exploitation material involving babies, toddlers and children.

Hamilton pleaded guilty in August 2024 to making a notice for child pornography and possessing child pornography.

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 Licking County Sheriff Randy Thorp announced the sentence imposed on April 21 by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski and Tyler Aagard are representing the United States in this case.

# # #

DAYTON, Ohio – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) announced today that the United States filed a civil forfeiture complaint against assets related to an investigation into a potential $126 million illegal staffing and money laundering operation. 

In July 2024, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, in collaboration with IRS Criminal Investigations and other law enforcement agencies, executed federal search warrants at Fuyao Glass America (“FGA”) in Moraine, Ohio, and 27 other locations in the Dayton area.

The civil complaint alleges that multiple suspects created roughly 40 entities (the “target entities”) that facilitate the harboring, transportation and employment of illegal aliens at various factories.   The suspects used these target entities to augment the workforces of several factories with individuals who illegally entered the United States, who are unlawfully present in the United States and/or who are working without required employment authorizations. One of these factories is FGA in Moraine. 

It is alleged that many of the workers were illegally smuggled into the United States, primarily through Mexico, and encouraged to travel to the Dayton area to be employed by one of the target entities and serve as a workforce at the various factories. Most of the workers are of Chinese or Hispanic nationality. Workers allegedly lived at “family style hotels” (boarding houses) owned by the target entities and were driven to and from work in transportation provided by the target entities.

“We will continue to investigate allegations of unfair labor practices,” said ICE HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “Collaboration across multiple law enforcement agencies helps to ensure accountability for both employers and the workforce.”

The 74-page complaint details that the target entities allegedly engaged in money laundering to conceal the multi-million-dollar income generated by the workers. Within days of receiving direct payments from FGA, the suspects would extensively wire funds between their various LLCs. In total, FGA has paid more than $126 million to LLCs controlled by the suspects. The money was allegedly used by the suspects for private financial gain and to purchase real estate, vehicles and luxury goods.

In the civil complaint filed on April 2, the United States alleges that the following property is subject to forfeiture: seven bank accounts, 12 properties in the Dayton area, two properties outside of Ohio, 15 vehicles and luxury goods, including a Cartier watch.

The related criminal investigation remains ongoing.

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 Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigations; announced the filing. The FBI, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Ohio State Highway Patrol and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office have assisted in the criminal investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Adam C. Tieger and Deborah D. Grimes are representing the United States in the civil forfeiture action.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – A New York man was sentenced in federal court here today to 46 months in prison for crimes related to laundering hundreds of thousands of dollars from a Columbus strength training equipment manufacturer. 

Alex Bogomolny, 53, of Brooklyn, pleaded guilty in November 2024 to conspiring to commit and committing money laundering. 

According to court documents, in 2021, a malicious banking Trojan had infected a computer of an employee of Rogue Fitness, which is headquartered in Columbus. The specific Trojan is known by the FBI to steal banking credentials and usually targets corporate victims. As a result of the Trojan, the company lost nearly half a million dollars.

The stolen money was transferred to 22 different card numbers, including to Bogomolny’s Bank of America card.

Further investigation of Bogomolny’s bank account revealed that between December 2019 and July 2021, he laundered more than $247,000 in additional criminal proceeds through his account.

While executing a search warrant at the defendant’s Brooklyn residence, agents found documents that included more than 341,000 unique identifiers like names, addresses, dates of birth and Social Security numbers. The search also discovered images of driver’s licenses, U.S. passports and full lists of full credit card numbers.

Bogomolny also used the online gambling site FanDuel to conspire to launder money. He and others would steal a victim’s identity and use it to create a FanDuel account. Then criminal proceeds were deposited into the account and later withdrawn. In total, Bogomolny and others used this scheme to deposit nearly $572,000 and withdraw more than $485,000 of the criminal proceeds.

Finally, Bogomolny’s plea documents detail that, in 2023, the defendant met with undercover FBI agents and agreed to launder $20,000 for a six percent fee. The funds were represented as proceeds of illegal drug activities.

Between November 2023 and March 2024, Bogomolny sent $18,800 of the original $20,000 back to the undercover FBI agents through multiple ACH transactions.

Bogomolny later agreed to accept another $50,000 from the undercover agents. He met up with the agents in April 2024 and accepted the money, after which he was arrested.

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 sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate is representing the United States in this case.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – A previously convicted sex offender who resides in Vinton County was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly committing child pornography and obscenity crimes that involve the use of computer-generated content.

Cody L. Prater, 27, of McArthur, Ohio, is charged with receiving and possessing child pornography and obscene visual representations of child sexual abuse. He is also charged with transporting obscene matters.

According to the indictment, between August 2023 and July 2024, Prater allegedly committed numerous child pornography and obscenity crimes. He also allegedly attempted to hide his various crimes by using a computer operating system that leaves no traces of internet activity on the digital devices it is connected too.

Prater allegedly received child pornography depicting children as young as infants and toddlers that included sadistic and masochistic abuse.

It is also alleged that Prater received digital files of computer-generated minors engaged in bestiality and sex acts with adults and subjected to sadistic and masochistic abuse. Prater also allegedly possessed online visual depictions of child mutilation and torture.

If convicted as charged, Prater could face up to 40 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; announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Tyler Aagard 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.

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DAYTON, Ohio – A repeat sex offender was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 300 months in prison for coercing two minor victims and producing child pornography. 

Christopher Jewett, 26, of Dayton, met adolescent and teenage girls on an online, virtual world and social networking site.

According to court documents, in summer 2023 and spring 2024, while on supervised release for similar prior sex offenses, Jewett communicated with minor victims online. The defendant sent the victims explicit videos and asked for explicit content in return.

Jewett lied regarding his registered address and possessed cell phones, violating the terms of his probation. Jewett’s prior sex offenses included local convictions for unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.

The defendant was charged federally in July 2024 and pleaded guilty in October 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 Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; announced the sentence imposed on April 7 by U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. Newman. Assistant United States Attorneys Jahan S. Karamali and Christina Mahy are representing the United States in this case.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Sally Njume-Tatsing, 47, formerly of Pickerington, was sentenced in federal court here today to 42 months in prison for committing Medicaid fraud. Njume-Tatsing was found guilty in September 2024 on all 13 counts as charged following a jury trial.

According to court documents and trial testimony, in 2017, Njume-Tatsing owned and operated three home healthcare businesses named Labelle Home Health. The agencies were located in Reynoldsburg, Mt. Vernon and Parma.

Njume-Tatsing resided in California during the majority of the time she owned the businesses, and despite not being involved in Labelle’s daily operations, she did all of the Medicaid billing for nursing services.

While billing Medicaid for health aide services to individuals in their homes, the defendant inflated the hours of services provided, billed for registered nurses when licensed practical nurses completed the care, and billed for care for patients who were either deceased or ineligible to receive Medicaid.

Njume-Tatsing was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2023 and charged with one count of health care fraud and 12 counts of making false health care statements.

As part of her sentence, Njume-Tatsing is ordered to pay $5.7 million in restitution to Medicaid.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and the Ohio Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU); the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; announced the sentence imposed today by Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Kenneth A. Affeldt and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan L. Metzler of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office are representing the United States in this case.

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DAYTON, Ohio – An Atlanta-area man was arrested this morning by IRS Criminal Investigation special agents on federal charges alleging he fraudulently converted two businesses’ IRS accounts to his name and address. The defendant received tax refund checks – including one for more than $32 million – that were to be paid out to these two businesses.

Christopher Dowtin, 48, of Jonesboro, Georgia, will appear in federal court in Atlanta today. He is charged with wire fraud and theft of public money.

According to charging documents, Dowtin fraudulently submitted IRS forms claiming to be the responsible party for two separate companies.

In December 2024, the IRS processed eight Change of Address or Responsible Party-Business forms associated with Dowtin. Dowtin’s requests for changes were completed and accepted. He ultimately received two tax refund checks for those companies: one in the amount of $32,495,888.58 and one in the amount of $26,156.50.

Dowtin allegedly traveled from Georgia to Ohio with the two checks to open an account in the Southern District of Ohio.

On Feb. 13, Dowtin allegedly took the checks to a Morgan Stanley office in Beavercreek, Ohio, and attempted to negotiate the funds into a brokerage account in a trust in his name. The affidavit details that Dowtin told the Morgan Stanley financial advisor that the two companies were paying him for illegally using his “personhood.” He said the payments owed to him had been transferred to him from the IRS. The financial advisor verified that the checks were valid U.S. Treasury checks.

On Feb. 19, an executive director at Morgan Stanley contacted the United States Secret Service and IRS Criminal Investigation regarding the suspicious nature of the checks and Dowtin’s supporting paperwork. The checks were seized by law enforcement.

Wire fraud is a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Theft of public funds carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); and Yvonne DiCristoforo, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service; announced the arrest and charges. Assistant United States Attorney Amy M. Smith 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.

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