Middle District of Pennsylvania

WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Robert E. Confer, Jr., age 37, of Lycoming County, was indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking and firearms charges.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment charges Confer with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine on October 11, 2025.  Confer is also charged with possession of firearms by a prohibited person and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.    

The FBI, Bellefonte Police Department, Lock Haven City Police Department, and the Centre County Drug Task Force investigated the case.  Assistant United States Attorney Alisan V. Martin is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for the most significant offense is life imprisonment and a fine.  A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged by indictment are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Josue Franco, age 30, an inmate at FCI Allenwood, was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 26, 2026, on a charge of possessing contraband in prison.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that on September 10, 2025, Franco possessed methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Robin Zenzinger is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for the offense is 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. 

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SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Nicholas Pecko, age 33, of Vandling, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of bank fraud and theft of mail.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Pecko, an employee of the U.S. Postal Service, stole two checks totaling $6,581.59 that were sent through the mail, intended to be delivered by the United States Postal Office. The indictment further alleges that Pecko executed a bank fraud scheme, whereby he presented the checks for deposit after they had been altered to falsely identify him as the intended payee.

The United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General investigated the case.  Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Lloyd is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is 35 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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HARRISBURG-The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Angel Vidal Reyes Guzman, age 33, a citizen of El Salvador, illegally residing in Dover, PA, was indicted on March 18, 2026, by a federal grand jury on the charge of illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed. 

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Reyes Guzman illegally reentered the United States and was found in York County, Pennsylvania, on March 4, 2026. Reyes Guzman was removed from the United States through Alexandria, Louisiana, on January 14, 2013, and reentered without having obtained permission to do so.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley K. McGraw is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF York comprises agents and officers from the Department of Homeland Security with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Nelson Geovany Pineda-Chacon, age 31, an alien illegally residing in the United States, was sentenced yesterday to 24 months’ imprisonment by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann for illegal possession of a firearm.

According to the United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, on May 7, 2024, authorities responded to Pineda-Chacon’s residence in Bloomsburg, Columbia County, Pennsylvania for a report of “shots fired.”  Upon arrival, officers located three spent 9-millimeter shell casings and a 9-millimeter bullet in Pineda-Chacon’s driveway.  Additional 9-millimeter ammunition was located in a truck parked in the driveway.  During an interview with law enforcement, Pineda-Chacon admitted to getting into an argument with his spouse and discharging a firearm several times into the ground to “relieve stress.”  Pineda-Chacon admitted to hiding the firearm in his basement.  Officers seized a loaded 9-millimeter Beretta handgun from the basement of Pineda-Chacon’s home.  As an alien illegally living in the United States, Pineda-Chacon was ineligible to possess a firearm.   

Pineda-Chacon is a citizen and national of Honduras.  In 2009, Pineda-Chacon illegally entered the United States.  At the time of the offense, he was in removal proceedings. 

The investigation was conducted by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Montour Township Police Department, and the Catawissa Police Department. The case was being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tatum Wilson. 

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.  

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SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Karen McGinnis, age 46, of Mountain Top, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on March 17, 2026, by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick to 20 months of imprisonment following her conviction for embezzling public funds.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, from March 2023 to January 2025, McGinnis was the tax collector for Fairview Township responsible for collecting property taxes from the residents of Fairview Township, including taxes payable to the Township, Luzerne County, and the Crestwood School District. During that timeframe, McGinnis embezzled more than $400,000 in property taxes and converted them to her own personal use by writing checks to herself from the tax collector bank accounts she maintained and controlled. Both Luzerne County and the Crestwood School District received more than $10,000 from the federal government via grants and other programs during this timeframe.

In addition to the sentence of imprisonment, Judge Mehalchick sentenced McGinnis to three years of supervised release following her term of imprisonment and ordered McGinnis to pay restitution in the amount of $367,088.35 to the victims of her crime. McGinnis previously paid approximately $40,000 back into the tax collector bank accounts prior to her crime being discovered.

Following McGinnis’s sentence, Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Philadelphia Field Office, noted, “IRS–Criminal Investigation is essential in embezzlement cases, where complex financial trails require expert investigation.”

The Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle A. Moreno prosecuted the case.

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SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Nicole Hilstolsky, age 48, of Swoyersville, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to eight months’ imprisonment and two years of supervised release by Senior United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani for one count of theft by a credit union employee.  She pleaded guilty to the charge in December 2025.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Hilstolsky admitted at her guilty plea that on October 15, 2018, while she was an employee of the now-defunct WOD Federal Credit Union, she stole $16,247 from the credit union’s teller drawer and safe and blamed the theft on two unidentified armed bank robbers.  Hilstolsky further admitted that she called 911 and lied to responding investigators claiming that WOD Federal Credit Union had been robbed, when in fact she had taken the money and hid the money inside the credit union until she could safely remove it days later.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Forty Fort Police Department investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Buchanan prosecuted the case.

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HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Matthew Bair, age 36, of Windsor, Pennsylvania, was indicted on March 4, 2026, by a federal grand jury for unlawfully possessing firearms as a previously convicted felon. 

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Bair unlawfully possessed an Aero Precision rifle and a Ruger pistol on February 28, 2025, in York County.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pennsylvania State Police investigated the case.  Assistant United States Attorney Carlo D. Marchioli is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 15 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.  A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations.  All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Sharion Motley-Lipscomb, age 29, of Cleveland, Ohio, was indicted on March 10, 2026, by a federal grand jury on one count of possessing contraband in prison.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Motley-Lipscomb, an inmate at Federal Correctional Institute Schuylkill, possessed a weapon, specifically a four-inch piece of plexi-glass sharpened to a point with a cloth handle on January 17, 2016, in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. 

The Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney James M. Buchanan is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 5 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Reneard Harris, age 67, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Harris either distributed or possessed with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine base on three separate occasions between February 18, 2026, and March 3, 2026, in Luzerne County.  Harris had been on pre-trial release in another federal drug trafficking case at the time of his distribution and possession with intent to distribute the cocaine base. 

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department, the Luzerne County Drug Task Force, and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney James M. Buchanan is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Ramsee Munoz, age 35, of Reading, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of possessing contraband in prison.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Munoz, an inmate at Federal Correctional Institute Schuylkill, possessed a weapon, specifically a 6- and 1/3-inch metal object, sharpened on both sides with one side being serrated, on September 18, 2025, in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. 

The Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney James M. Buchanan is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 5 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jackie A. Johnson, age 40, of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on March 5, 2026, to 180 months’ imprisonment by Senior United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion for distribution of methamphetamine.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, between March 19, 2024, and April 17, 2024, Johnson sold over 200 grams of pure methamphetamine in the Stroudsburg area to an undercover State Police Trooper.  At the time, Johnson was on federal supervised release for a prior heroin trafficking conviction which resulted in a five-year prison term.  Johnson is still pending a supervised release violation hearing based on the above methamphetamine sales which could result in an additional term of imprisonment.    

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Jenny P. Roberts prosecuted the case.

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HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on March 5, 2026, Xavier Melendez-Hernandez, age 41, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment to be followed by one year of supervised release by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for conspiring with others to distribute cocaine.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Melendez-Hernandez conspired with Victor Colon-Rosario, Hector Rayann Santos-Carasquillo, and Joseph Fontanez-Machuca to distribute kilogram quantities of cocaine in the greater Harrisburg area in 2021 and 2022.  Each of the defendants was indicted and later pleaded guilty. 

In 2024, Judge Wilson sentenced Colon-Rosario to 24 months in prison and Santos-Carasquillo to 60 months in prison.  In February 2026, Judge Wilson sentenced Fontanez-Machuca to time served after he had spent nearly two years in pretrial and presentence detention.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Christian T. Haugsby prosecuted the case.

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HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Darin Blackburn, age 43, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to a 231 months’ aggregate imprisonment sentence by United States District Judge Keli M. Neary for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and for violating terms of a previously imposed supervised release sentence.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, on November 17, 2021, Harrisburg Police Officers approached Blackburn as he sat in a car.  One of the officers observed a small bag of marijuana in plain view through the passenger window of Blackburn’s car.  Those officers summoned a K-9 unit and when the dog began sniffing the car for the presence of narcotics, Blackburn ran from the scene. Officers apprehended him a short distance later. Once Blackburn was taken into custody the owner of the car arrived at the car. The owner denied ownership of anything found in the automobile, but he gave police permission to conduct a search.

During the search police found a Hermann Weihrauch Arminus .38 caliber revolver. There were 6 rounds of ammunition in the gun and 13 loose rounds in a bag in the trunk. Blackburn had previously been convicted of an armed bank robbery and two serious drug offenses that were all committed on occasions different from one another. As such, Blackburn was not legally permitted to possess a firearm and was subject to a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence under the Armed Career Criminal Act. 

At the time of the offense, Blackburn was still serving a federal supervised release term for two armed bank robberies committed in 2001.  Those robberies resulted in a 211 months’ imprisonment sentence to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release.  Blackburn’s supervised release term commenced in July 2021 upon his release from prison.  The additional 51 months’ imprisonment term was imposed for his violation of the supervised release requirement that he not commit another crime.     

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.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Harrisburg Bureau of Police. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera prosecuted the case.

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HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jonah Allen Sassam Watt, age 32, of Dover, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on March 3, 2026, by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson to 30 years in federal prison for charges related to the production of child pornography and for his online enticement of minors to engage in illegal sexual activity.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, over the course of several months in 2022, Watt used various social media platforms to coerce children (ranging between the ages of 12-16) to create sexually explicit content of themselves. In some instances, Watt offered them payment for their images and in others, Watt threatened the children to create the images and videos, or he would “hack” their social media accounts. At the time he was intercepted by law enforcement in this case, Watt was in possession of additional images of child pornography, to include children as young as infants and toddlers being sexually assaulted.

In sentencing Watt, Judge Wilson echoed the statements of one of the victim’s mothers who called Watt’s conduct predatory, calculated, and evil.

Judge Wilson also ordered Watt to pay $54,710.00 in restitution and following Watt’s period of incarceration, he is to serve an additional 15 years on federal supervised release. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luisa Honora Berti is prosecuting the case.

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

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SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Gail Nossavage, age 62, of Harding, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on December 3, 2025, to 15 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick, for one count of wire fraud.  

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, from approximately April of 2020 through December of 2021, Nossavage was employed as an administrative assistant with a church located in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Part of her duties were to manage financial matters for the church, including, but not limited to, management of church monetary collections and deposits of such collections. An investigation by the FBI revealed that Nossavage had made at least 115 deposits into her own bank account that were unrelated to any legitimate funds or checks and were fraudulently obtained. Additionally, FBI learned that Nossavage had charged credit cards in the name of the church without the church representatives’ knowledge or permission and had unlawfully compensated herself with the church’s money for things that she titled, “bonuses,” “miscellaneous,” “vacation,” “travel.” FBI learned that much of the fraudulently obtained monies were paid by Nossavage into online gambling platforms.

Judge Mehalchick also ordered Nossavage to pay $184,724.68 dollars in restitution and to serve a 3-year term of supervised release following her incarceration.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Luisa Honora Berti prosecuted the case.

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HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Angel Lopez-Guzman, age 38, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 138 months of imprisonment by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Lopez-Guzman traveled from Lebanon to Scranton, where he purchased a kilogram of cocaine for distribution in the Lebanon area. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop as he returned to Lebanon. After obtaining a search warrant, law enforcement recovered the kilogram of cocaine and a handgun from the trunk of Lopez-Guzman’s car.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lebanon County Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera prosecuted the case.

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SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Stephen Dalton Fleming, Jr., age 49, of Creve Cour, Illinois, was indicted on February 24, 2026, by a federal grand jury for multiple criminal charges related to child exploitation, including the production of child pornography, online enticement, and the commission of a felony sex offense by an individual required to register as a sex offender. 

 According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that beginning on or about January 1, 2025 through on or about February 12, 2026, in Pike County, Pennsylvania, Fleming enticed at least one child to produce child pornography by engaging in sexually explicit conduct so that those acts could be memorialized and shared online.  At the time Fleming engaged in these acts, he was on lifetime supervision for a prior federal felony offense involving a minor.

The case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luisa Honora Berti is prosecuting the case.

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

The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Scott Eric Snyder, age 54, of Northumberland County, PA, was sentenced to 30 years of imprisonment followed by ten years of supervised release by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann on a charge of production of child pornography.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Snyder produced child sexual abuse material in July of 2012 and July of 2013 after entering the minor victim’s home at night. The victim and two members of the family addressed the Court at the sentencing hearing.

In imposing the maximum sentence, Chief Judge Brann referred to the case as “one of the most heinous crimes” he has encountered during his thirteen years on the bench.

The case was investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Alisan V. Martin prosecuted the case.

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

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HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Miguel Ortiz-Camacho, age 40, a citizen of Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury on the charge of illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed. 

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Ortiz-Camacho illegally reentered the United States and was found in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, on February 11, 2026, after being charged with the above felony. Ortiz-Camacho was removed from the United States through Laredo, Texas, on February 26, 2021, and reentered without having obtained permission to do so. 

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley K. McGraw is prosecuting the case.

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

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Luis Rosa-Hernandez, formerly of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for  possession of machine guns and conspiracy to manufacture firearms without a license and possess machine guns. 

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, between June and November of 2022, Rosa-Hernandez sold 31 machine gun conversion devices and two stolen handguns with reason to believe the recipient would possess or use them unlawfully.  Machine Gun Conversion Devices are firearm parts designed and intended to convert a firearm into a machine gun.

Rosa-Hernandez, originally from the Dominican Republic, is subject to deportation pending the completion of his sentence.

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.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Pennsylvania State Police investigated the case.  Assistant United States Attorney Scott F. Ford prosecuted the case.

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HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Terric M. Seay, age 24, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on charges of carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury and firearms possession.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Seay carjacked the victim, using a firearm to inflict serious bodily injury. The indictment also charges Seay with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), York City Police Department, and Lower Allen Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera is prosecuting the case.

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

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is up to life in prison, plus a fine and a term of supervised release. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Dorian Myles, age 37, a federal inmate incarcerated at FCI Schuylkill, Minersville, Pennsylvania, was indicted on February 24, 2026, by a federal grand jury on the charge of possession of a weapon.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that on or about January 30, 2026, Myles possessed an inmate manufactured weapon, specifically a sharpened four-inch piece of plexiglass, commonly referred to as a “shank.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Federal Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Service. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum R. Wilson is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Lesundre Zacharie, age 25, a federal inmate incarcerated at FCI Schuylkill, Minersville, Pennsylvania, was indicted on February 24, 2026, by a federal grand jury on the charge of possession of weapons.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that on or about January 30, 2026, Zacharie possessed two inmate manufactured weapons, specifically a six-inch piece of plexiglass sharpened to a point with a cloth handle, and a four-inch razor blade attached to a plastic pen, commonly referred to as “shanks.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Federal Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Service. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum R. Wilson is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Damonta King, age 19, a federal inmate incarcerated at FCI Schuylkill, Minersville, Pennsylvania, was indicted on February 24, 2026, by a federal grand jury on the charge of possession of a weapon. 

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that in January of 2026, a corrections officer conducting an inmate pat down discovered inmate King to be in possession of a prison-made weapon on his person, commonly referred to as a “shank.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Special Investigative Services of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luisa Honora Berti is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Richard Burke, age 76, of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann to one year of probation and ordered to pay $350,634.23 in restitution on a charge of wire fraud.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, from April 2005 until

March 7, 2022, Burke withdrew $350,634.23 of his deceased mother’s Social Security Retirement, Survivors and Disability (RSDI) benefits and Veterans Affairs death pension benefit payments from her bank account. Burke’s mother died in 2005, and no other individual was entitled to the benefits designated to her. Burke used his deceased mother’s bank card to make regular cash withdrawals over the years following her benefits deposits, never notifying the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) nor the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that she had died.

The Social Security Administration and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Zenzinger prosecuted the case.

# # #

SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Darnell Ney, age 42, of Attica, New York, was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment and 10 years’ supervised release by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick, for failure to register as a sex offender.    

According to the United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, in 2022 Ney was convicted of attempted rape and criminal contempt in New York.  As a result of his conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) for a period of twenty years.  Following his release from prison in New York, Ney fled to Pennsylvania and failed to register his change of address as required by law. 

On February 2, 2025, Ney was arrested by the Pennsylvania State Police in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania for assaulting an adult female.  On July 2, 2025, Ney was convicted of unlawful restraint and terroristic threats and was sentenced in the Susquehanna Court of Common Pleas to 10 to 120 months’ imprisonment.  Judge Mehalchick ordered that Ney’s federal sentence shall commence after service of his state sentence.     

The investigation was conducted by the United States Marshals Service (USMS); the Pennsylvania State Police, the Wyoming County Sherriff’s Department in Warsaw, New York; and the Wyoming County District Attorney’s Office in Warsaw, New York.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tatum R. Wilson.

# # #

SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Brandon Crum, age 39, of Hazle Township, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on dog fighting and drug trafficking charges. 

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Crum possessed and trained eight American Pit Bull Terriers for the purpose of having the dogs participate in an animal fighting venture, that is, dog fighting. The indictment further alleges that Crum distributed methamphetamine on several occasions and possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine base, and cocaine in Luzerne County. 

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Pennsylvania State Police investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle A. Moreno is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

# # #

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Brian D. Miller has been reappointed by the United States District Court to continue as the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.  Chief District Court Judge Matthew W. Brann administered the oath of office to Mr. Miller yesterday in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Miller was originally appointed by United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi on October 27, 2025, for 120 days.  This new order by the District Court Judges appoints Mr. Miller as United States Attorney until the vacancy is filled by the President.  In September 2025, President Trump nominated Mr. Miller to be the United States Attorney, and his nomination is pending before the United States Senate.

Previously, Mr. Miller was confirmed by the United States Senate to be the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery on June 2, 2020.  Mr. Miller’s prior positions include Senior Associate White House Counsel; Inspector General of the United States General Services Administration (Senate confirmed on July 22, 2005); Senior Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General; Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia; Special Counsel on Health Care Fraud for the Deputy Attorney General; and Counsel to the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.  He has also served as Acting General Counsel of the Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2025.

As a federal prosecutor, Mr. Miller litigated civil and criminal cases involving terrorism and terrorist financing, drug-related conspiracies and murder, and the False Claims Act.  As an inspector general, Mr. Miller is known for his investigation of a lavish GSA conference in Las Vegas.

Mr. Miller was honored to receive the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award, the EOUSA Director’s Award for Superior Performance as an AUSA, and the David M. Walker Excellence in Government Performance and Accountability Award, which recognizes and honors government audit professionals who have made sustained contributions to improve government performance and accountability through their leadership in transforming government organizations.

Mr. Miller received his bachelor’s degree from Temple University and his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law.  He resides in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

# # #

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Naim Mustafa House, age 28, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on February 24, 2026, to 144 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick for possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a machine gun.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, on July 8, 2024, Scranton Police Officers initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle that House was a passenger. House fled on foot and was found hiding under a rear porch of a residence. During a search incident to arrest, police found marijuana packed for resale on his person and inside his backpack found 30 additional grams of marijuana and a Glock 7, 9mm handgun equipped with a device to transition the firearm from a semiautomatic firearm into a fully automatic firearm. The firearm also had an extended magazine containing 10 rounds of ammunition. 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Scranton Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Jenny P. Roberts prosecuted the case.

          # # #

SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that David Feliciano-Seize, age 61, of Carbon County, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on February 20, 2026, to 18 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Julia K. Munley for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Feliciano-Seize attempted to purchase a firearm in 2021, but the purchase was denied based upon Feliciano-Seize’s prior conviction for armed robbery.  Feliciano-Seize thereafter illegally obtained a firearm, and on October 22, 2023, brandished that firearm and began shooting into the air during a dispute with his girlfriend’s family.  He then aimed the firearm at members of his girlfriend’s family.

The case was investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd prosecuted the case.

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

# # #

HARRISBURG -The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Trinidad Amaya-Montoya, A/K/A Bernardo Cardana, age 39, a citizen of Honduras, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on the charge of illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed.  

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Mendoza-Hernandez illegally reentered the United States and was found in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, on January 27, 2026. Mendoza-Hernandez was removed from the United States through Brownsville, Texas, on May 18, 2016, and reentered without first obtaining legal permission to do so. 

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley K. McGraw is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) 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. 

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

# # #

HARRISBURG -The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Marvin Cornejo Hernandez, age 40, a citizen of Honduras, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on the charge of illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed.  

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that on or about January 27, 2026, Mendoza-Hernandez was found in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, after previously having been removed from the United States.  The indictment also alleges that Mendoza-Hernandez had been removed from the United States through Brownsville, Texas on April 29, 2019, and reentered without first obtaining legal permission to do so.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kelley K. McGraw is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) 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. 

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

# # #

HARRISBURG—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Gregory Strickland, age 45, of Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, was indicted on February 18, 2026, by a federal grand jury for production, receiving, and possessing child pornography.  

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Strickland used a minor to produce child pornography on 12 separate occasions in 2022, 2023, and 2024.  The indictment further alleges that Strickland received child pornography via the Kik application in 2022 and 2025 and possessed child pornography in 2025. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Christian T. Haugsby is prosecuting the case.

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

The maximum total penalties for the offenses charged are 420 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release of up to life following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

# # #

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that John Durkin, age 52, of Kingston, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on February 13, 2026, to 20 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release by United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani for one count of possession of firearms by an unlawful user of a controlled substance.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Durkin previously pled guilty to possessing multiple firearms, including an illegally purchased Heritage Roughrider .22 caliber revolver and a stolen Keltec 9mm handgun while he was an unlawful user of methamphetamine. Both firearms had moved in interstate commerce prior to their recovery by police in Durkin’s vehicle after a January 28, 2025, single-car accident.  Durkin also possessed a quantity of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, including multiple needles, spoons, and a digital scale.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kingston Police Department, the Newport Township Police Department, and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Buchanan prosecuted the case.

# # #

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Eric Raheem Pierce, age 38, of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on February 13, 2026, to 151 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Julia K. Munley for distribution of fentanyl and possession of a stolen firearm.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, during the course of several controlled drug purchases, Pierce distributed approximately 35 grams of fentanyl before attempting to discard 25 bricks of heroin and another 23 grams of fentanyl on the date of his arrest. During a prior interaction with law enforcement, Pierce was found to be in possession of a stolen firearm.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) 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.

This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.

# # #

HARRISBURG-The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jorge Alberto Santamaria-Cortes, age 47, a Mexican national who was residing in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, at the time of his arrest, was sentenced today to serve six months in prison for illegal reentry by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick.

Santamaria-Cortes was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 22, 2025. He subsequently pleaded guilty to illegally reentering the United States. 

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Santamaria-Cortes most recently illegally reentered the United States sometime after he had been deported in July 2014. Santamaria-Cortes was found again in the United States after being arrested on October 10, 2025, on unrelated state charges in Franklin County. Those charges are still pending. 

Judge Mehalchick explained that she imposed a sentence at the high-end of the applicable sentencing guideline range due to Santamaria-Cortes’ repeated instances of illegally reentering the United States and the three drunk driving offenses he committed while he was illegally in the country between 1998 and 2011. The judge cited the defendant’s lack of respect for the law and the need to deter others from committing similar crimes, among other factors, as reasons for the sentence. 

The case was investigated by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) 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).     

Santamaria-Cortes faces deportation after serving his prison sentence.

# # #

HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on February 10, 2026, United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson sentenced Joshua White, 44, previously of Yoe, Pennsylvania, to 96 months’ imprisonment for bank fraud.  As part of the sentence, Judge Wilson also ordered Mr. White to pay more than $2.3 million in restitution to victims and ordered him to serve five years of supervised release following his release from prison.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Joshua White was the fourth and final defendant to be sentenced in a prosecution of a multi-year conspiracy to defraud the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, which were intended to provide financial support to businesses and employers during the COVID-19 pandemic.  In October 2025, Judge Wilson sentenced Joshua White’s father, Creed White, 67, formerly of Freeland, Maryland, to 10 years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, and sentenced one of his employees, Joseph Bailey, 54, formerly of York, Pennsylvania, to 46 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy.  In December 2025, Judge Wilson sentenced another of Creed White’s employees, Kester Murray, 40, of Emigsville, Pennsylvania, to two years of probation for his role in the fraud scheme.   In total, United States Attorney Miller said the defendants obtained more than $11.5 million in PPP and EIDL proceeds, making this one of the largest PPP and EIDL frauds prosecuted in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.  Each of the defendants eventually pleaded guilty.  As part of their sentences, Judge Wilson ordered each of the defendants to pay millions of dollars in restitution.

United States Attorney Miller explained that the federal investigation initially focused on Creed White, who owned Aluminum Alloys Manufacturing, an aluminum smelting and processing business in Yoe, Pennsylvania.  Aluminum Alloys received disaster loans in early 2020, shortly after the outbreak of the pandemic.  Thereafter, between the spring of 2020 and the fall of 2022, Creed White submitted approximately 120 fraudulent applications for PPP and EIDLs on behalf of 18 other dormant businesses he owned or controlled, which had no actual operations or employees.  Approximately 40 of the applications were approved, resulting in the disbursement of more than $11.5 million in loan proceeds into bank accounts that Creed White controlled, and which he later transferred among other accounts and used to pay for unauthorized expenses and for his personal enrichment.  To carry out the scheme, Creed White filed applications in the names of numerous knowing and unwitting individuals whom he fraudulently represented to own the various businesses that he controlled.  Creed White relied on Joshua White to obtain personally identifying information from these third parties and relied on Bailey and Murray to create fraudulent business, banking, and tax records that were furnished to banks and lending officials in support of the loan applications. Joshua White separately submitted a fraudulent PPP loan application on behalf of a dormant business that he owned, obtaining $175,000, which he spent on unauthorized expenses and a spree to Las Vegas.

Addressing the sentences that Judge Wilson imposed for each of the defendants, IRS-CI Philadelphia Field Office Special Agent in Charge Yury Kruty said, “These individuals deliberately and repeatedly defrauded the PPP and the EIDL programs, which were designed to help small business owners during the COVID pandemic,” said Philadelphia Field Office Special Agent in Charge Yury Kruty.  “These sentencings should be a deterrent to other would-be criminals, knowing that Special Agents from IRS-CI and our law enforcement partners are fully committed to bringing offenders like this to justice.”

Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, Special Agent in Charge of the Eastern Regional Office for the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General made a similar observation, noting, “When individuals manipulate pandemic relief programs for personal gain, they undermine public trust and divert critical resources from legitimate small businesses. These sentencings underscore that fraud against federal relief programs will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted. SBA OIG will continue to protect taxpayer dollars and uphold the integrity of SBA programs.”

“Treasury OIG welcomes the opportunity to contribute our expertise in combating fraud in these important programs”, said Department of the Treasury Deputy Inspector General Loren Sciurba, “We remain committed to protecting the taxpayer through detection, investigation, and prosecution of such frauds with other members of the law enforcement community.”

The matter was investigated by agents with the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, the Small Business Administration-Office of Inspector General, and United States Treasury-Office of Inspector General.  Assistant United States Attorney Christian T. Haugsby prosecuted the case.

# # #

SCRANTON, The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Akilees Kadeem Hobson, age 27, of Edwardsville, Pennsylvania, and Armand Kierran Hobson, age 28, of Plymouth, Pennsylvania, were sentenced on February 10, 2026, by Senior United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Akilees Hobson was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment and Armand Hobson was sentenced to time served after being incarcerated since September 25, 2024. 

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, in August and September 2024, the brothers conspired to distribute fentanyl. On fourteen occasions, Akilees Hobson sold drugs, which included fentanyl and crack cocaine, to a confidential informant. At the time, Akilees Hobson was on federal supervised release for previous conviction charging him with possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking in 2017. On one occasion, Armand Hobson sold fentanyl to a confidential informant.  On September 25, 2024, search warrants were executed at their residences and additional drugs were seized. In total, Akilees Hobson was responsible for distributing and possessing with intent to distribute 27 grams of fentanyl and 39 grams of crack cocaine. Armand Hobson was responsible for distributing and possessing with intent to distribute at least 4 grams but less than 8 grams of fentanyl and less than a kilogram of marijuana. 

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Kingston Police Department and the Luzerne County Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

# # #

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Nicholas Dombek, age 55, of Thornhurst Township, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on February 10, 2026, to 120 months’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release, and to pay restitution in the amount of $2,753,266.3, by Senior United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion for conspiracy, theft of major artwork, concealment/disposal of major artwork, and the interstate transportation of stolen property.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, a jury found Dombek guilty of eight counts following a nearly month-long trial earlier this year.   The jury found that, along with his co-defendants and other co-conspirators, Dombek was responsible for stealing or concealing/disposing the following:

• “Le Grande Passion” by Andy Warhol and “Springs Winter” purportedly by Jackson Pollock stolen in 2005 from the Everhart Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania;
• Six championship belts, including four belonging to Carmen Basillio and two belonging to Tony Zale stolen in 2015 from the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York;
• The Hickok Belt and MVP Trophy belonging to Roger Maris, stolen in 2016 from the Roger Maris Museum in Fargo, North Dakota;
• Nine World Series Rings, seven championship rings, and two MVP plaques belonging to Yogi Berra, stolen in 2014 from the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center in Little Falls, New Jersey;
• The U.S. Amateur Trophy and a Hickok Belt awarded to Ben Hogan, stolen in 2012 from the USGA Golf Museum & Library;
• Fourteen trophies and other awards worth approximately $300,000 stolen in 2012 from the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame in Goshen, New York;
• Five trophies worth over $350,000, including the 1903 Belmont Stakes Trophy, stolen in 2013 from the National Racing Museum & Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York;
• Three antique firearms stolen in 2006 from Space Farms: Zoo & Museum in Wantage, New Jersey;
• “Upper Hudson” by Jasper Crospey, worth approximately $120,000, stolen in 2011 from Ringwood Manor in Ringwood, New Jersey; and
• Antique firearms worth over $150,000, stolen in 2011 from Ringwood Manor in Ringwood, New Jersey
• Numerous trophies, including the Milwaukee Open Trophy, Eastern Open Trophy, and Pennsylvania Amateur Cup belonging to Art Wall, Jr., stolen in 2011 from the Scranton Country Club, located in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania;
• Gold nuggets and other precious metals worth over $100,000, stolen in 2011 from a safe in the Sterling Hill Mining Museum, in Ogdensburg, New Jersey;
• Gems and other minerals stolen in 2017 from the Franklin Mineral Museum, in Franklin, New Jersey;
• Jewelry, coins, and other valuables stolen between 2018 from the Antique’s Exchange in Hawley, Pennsylvania, Cade’s Coins, in Exeter, Pennsylvania, Basic Irish Luxury, in Newport, Rhode Island, and the Bertoni Galler, located in Chester, New York.

Dombek acted as a leader in the eight-person conspiracy to commit the above thefts.  After a month-long trial held in 2025, co-conspirators Damien Boland, age 49, of Covington Township, Pennsylvania and Joseph Atsus, age 51, of Roaring Brook, Pennsylvania were convicted alongside Dombek of conspiracy to commit theft of major artwork, concealment and disposal of major artwork, and interstate transportation of stolen property, as well as multiple related substantive offenses. In December of 2025, Judge Mannion sentenced Damien Boland to 108 months’ imprisonment, as well as a term of supervised release and restitution.  In January of 2026, Judge Mannion sentenced Joseph Atsus to 48 months’ imprisonment, as well as a term of supervised release and restitution.

Additional co-conspirators pled guilty pursuant to felony informations and were sentenced by Judge Mannion earlier in 2025. They include:

• Thomas Trotta, age 50, of Dunmore Pennsylvania, who was sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment for theft of major artwork;
• Dawn Trotta, age 53, of Dunmore, Pennsylvania who was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit theft of major artwork, concealment and disposal of major artwork, and interstate transportation of stolen property;
• Frank Tassiello, age 52, of Taylor, Pennsylvania, who was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit theft of major artwork, concealment and disposal of major artwork, and interstate transportation of stolen property; and
• Ralph Parry, age 47, of Springbrook Township, Pennsylvania, who was sentenced to three years of probation as well as a period of home-confinement for conspiracy to commit theft of major artwork, concealment and disposal of major artwork, and interstate transportation of stolen property.

After stealing the above-described items, the conspirators would transport the stolen goods back to Northeastern Pennsylvania, often to the residence of Dombek, and melt the memorabilia down into easily transportable metal discs or bars.  The conspirators would then sell the raw metal to fences in the New York City area for hundreds or a few thousands of dollars, significantly less than the sports memorabilia would be worth at fair market value.

Dombek burnt the painting “Upper Hudson” by Jasper Crospey, valued at approximately $125,000, to avoid the painting being recovered by investigators and used as evidence against the members of the conspiracy. The whereabouts of many of the other paintings and stolen objects are currently unknown, however, several antique firearms stolen from the Space Farms: Zoo and Museum and the Ringwood Manor Museum, both in New Jersey, were recovered by investigators, including an antique gun which Damien Boland had earlier hidden at a relative’s house in a different state.

After a search warrant was conducted at Dombek’s house in the summer of 2019, he travelled to the homes of two of his fellow co-conspirators and threatened them if they cooperated with the police. In the summer of 2023, after being indicted on the instant federal case, Dombek fled from FBI agents trying to place him under arrest and he remained a fugitive for nearly six months before turning himself into the Lackawanna County Jail on New Years Day, 2024.

"Investigating art crime demands skill and persistence as these cases often cross jurisdictions and may span many years" said Wayne A. Jacobs, special agent in charge of FBI Philadelphia. "This sentence sends a clear message: those who steal art or cultural property will be held accountable. Working across our local, state, federal law enforcement partnerships, alongside cultural institutions which play a critical role in these investigations, the FBI will continue to diligently investigate these crimes, identify offenders, recover stolen works, and ensure those responsible face justice."   

The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Pennsylvania State Police, the New Jersey State Police, the New York State Police, the New Jersey State Park Police, the Newport Police Department (Rhode Island), the Fargo Police Department (North Dakota), the Chester Police Department (New York), the Exeter Borough Police Department (Pennsylvania), the Scranton Police Department, the Franklin Police Department (New Jersey), the Village of Goshen Police Department (New York), the Metropolitan Police Department (Washington, D.C.), the West Milord Township Police Department (New Jersey), the Montclair Police Department (New Jersey), the Saratoga Springs Police Department (New York), the Canastota Police Department (New York), the South Abington Police Department (Pennsylvania), the Bernards Township Police Department (New Jersey), the Salisbury Township Police Department (Pennsylvania), the Montclair State University Police Department (New Jersey) the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office (Pennsylvania), the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office (New Jersey), the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office (New Jersey), the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (New York), and multiple other local law enforcement agencies from across the country.  Assistant United States Attorneys James M. Buchanan and Jenny Roberts prosecuted the case.

# # #

HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jose Domingo Aguilar, age 38, a citizen of Guatemala, who has been living illegally in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Malachy Mannion to time served (approximately six months) and possible deportation based upon his guilty plea to Illegal Reentry.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Domingo Aguilar illegally reentered the United States and was found in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, on September 23, 2025, after being charged and pleading guilty to one count of Driving Under the Influence (DUI), one count of DUI (Blood Alcohol Content +0.16), two summary counts of driving with a suspended license, and one summary count of disregard for traffic laws.  Those DUI related charges were filed by the Chambersburg Police Department in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Domingo-Aguilar was previously removed three times from the United States, most recently through Texas in 2015, and reentered without first obtaining legal permission to do so.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) 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 Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley K. McGraw prosecuted the case. 

# # #

HARRISBURG – United States Attorney Brian D. Miller announced today that the Middle District of Pennsylvania collected $8,601,498 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2025. Of this amount, $7,245,806 was collected in criminal actions and $1,355,692 was collected in civil actions.

The Middle District of Pennsylvania also worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $599,066 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $13,065 was collected in criminal actions and $586,001 was collected in civil actions.   

The United States Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.

Examples of the civil and criminal debts collected for the Middle District are:

• General Dynamics Ordnance Tactical Systems, Inc. (GD-OTS) (both as successor in interest to Medico Industries, and as the owner of GD-OTS-WB) submitted vouchers/invoices, and related documents and statements for payment for production of 60mm, 81mm, and 120mm shell bodies that did not receive phosphate tests with the frequency required by the contracts. After it discovered the problems, GD-OTS took prompt corrective action and disclosed the matter to United States government contracting personnel.  A settlement agreement was entered in which GD-OTS paid $838,125.
• Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania, PC paid $790,000.00 to resolve False Claims Act allegations of civil liability for submitting claims to Medicare for Evaluation & Management (E&M) services that violated Medicare rules and regulations.
• Defendants Adam Rashwan and former spouse Mervat Gharib owned and operated a small food market and convenience store, Capital City Family Market, in Harrisburg, PA. The store was approved to participate in SNAP. The defendants traded SNAP benefits in exchange for cash.  The defendants diverted approximately $1,091,922.05.  The Defendants were ordered to pay that amount in restitution to the USDA SNAP program. Rashwan paid a total of $680,523.57 thus far.  This includes Gharib’s payment of $100.
• Florentina Mayko conspired to defraud Medicare by submitting payment for medically unnecessary urine drug tests for chronic opioid patients at medical clinics where she was the chief executive officer. Mayko was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,409,076.48 and to forfeit to the United States several properties.  Mayko paid a total of $859,139.79 thus far.

Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $1,488,197 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2025. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.

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HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Hector Colon, age 35, of Annville, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson to serve 30 months’ imprisonment, 12 months’ supervised release, and $100 in financial penalties based upon his guilty plea to conspiracy to engage in the business of selling firearms without a license.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, from August 5, 2021 through January 5, 2022, Colon and Samuel Snader sold 28 Privately Made Firearms (PMFs), commonly referred to as ghost guns, and 420 rounds of ammunition without a federal firearms license.  Colon negotiated the sales and Snader built the firearms using kits purchased over the internet.  The firearms were sold for cash and provided in person by Snader in the parking lot of a Walmart.  The Court found that under the circumstances, Colon had a reason to believe the firearms would be possessed by a prohibited person or used in a felony offense and exhibited, “a blind indifference to public safety.”  All 28 firearms and ammunition were recovered by law enforcement.

PMFs are firearms, including a frame or receiver, that was completed, assembled, or otherwise produced by a person other than a licensed manufacturer. PMFs may be manufactured using a 3D printing process or any other process and require a serial number or register to be added to legally sell the firearm for livelihood or profit. The licensee must mark PMFs with a unique serial number within seven days or prior to disposition. PMFs are commonly referred to as “ghost guns” because of the difficulty in tracking them.  From 2016 to 2021, approximately 45,240 suspected PMFs were recovered by law enforcement from potential crime scenes.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) 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.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Scott F. Ford prosecuted the case.

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HARRISBURG — United States Attorney Brian D. Miller and the Justice Department today announced an agreement with the Borough of Kingston, Pennsylvania, to resolve allegations that it violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) by enacting and enforcing a 2023 zoning ordinance that treats religious land uses worse than comparable secular uses and unreasonably limit religious land use.

The proposed consent order, which was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and must still be approved by the Court, would resolve a lawsuit the United States also filed today alleging that the 2023 zoning ordinance dramatically restricted how and where religious land uses can locate, which particularly impacted Kingston’s growing Orthodox Jewish Chabad community and prevented it from developing places needed for religious worship.   

“Time and time again, local governments enact zoning laws that treat places of worship and religious schools worse than comparable secular places of assembly, and unreasonably limit where religious land uses can locate. And too often the Jewish community bears the brunt of those restrictions,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will relentlessly pursue and prosecute jurisdictions that violate RLUIPA.”   

As alleged in the lawsuit, Kingston’s zoning ordinance violates RLUIPA because it requires that places of worship obtain discretionary special exception use permits, while comparable nonreligious assembly uses like theaters, bowling alleys, recreational facilities, and libraries are permitted as of right. The ordinance also restricts places of worship to one-acre or more parcels, while no acreage restriction is placed on comparable nonreligious assembly uses. These restrictions unreasonably limit religious land uses to only a tiny fraction of existing parcels in the entire Borough such that, in practice, there are essentially no available qualifying parcels on which to develop a new place of worship. As a result, Kingston’s Chabad community has struggled to find sufficient suitable places for prayer, religious study, religious schools, and mikvahs (ritual baths).

Under the consent order, the Borough will revise its zoning ordinance to allow places of worship and religious schools as a permitted use in commercial districts and as a special use in residential districts; eliminate the acreage requirements for places of worship and religious schools; and treat places of worship on comparable terms to nonreligious places of assembly with respect to other zoning concerns like parking and landscaping. The consent order also requires the Borough to train its officials and employees on RLUIPA’s requirements, establish a procedure for receiving and resolving RLUIPA complaints, and undertake other injunctive relief.

The Civil Rights Division’s Housing & Civil Enforcement Section handled this matter in collaboration with Middle District of Pennsylvania Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Butler, Civil Rights Coordinator.

RLUIPA is a federal law that protects persons and religious institutions from unduly burdensome, unequal, or discriminatory land use regulations. More information about RLUIPA and the Department’s efforts to enforce it can be found on the Place to Worship Initiative’s webpage.  Individuals who believe they have been subjected to discrimination in land use or zoning decisions may contact the Civil Rights Division Housing and Civil Enforcement Section at (800) 896-7743, or through the online RLUIPA complaint portal. Anyone in the Middle District of Pennsylvania may also report civil rights violations to the Civil Rights Coordinator of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania by calling 717-614-4911 or emailing usapam.civil.rights@usdoj.gov. 

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The Justice Department today announced an agreement with the Borough of Kingston, Pennsylvania, to resolve allegations that it violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) by enacting and enforcing a 2023 zoning ordinance that treats religious land uses worse than comparable secular uses and unreasonably limit religious land use.

The proposed consent order, which was filed yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and must still be approved by the Court, would resolve a lawsuit the United States also filed yesterday alleging that the 2023 zoning ordinance dramatically restricted how and where religious land uses can locate, which particularly impacted Kingston’s growing Orthodox Jewish Chabad community and prevented it from developing places needed for religious worship.

“Time and time again, local governments enact zoning laws that treat places of worship and religious schools worse than comparable secular places of assembly, and unreasonably limit where religious land uses can locate. And too often the Jewish community bears the brunt of those restrictions,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will relentlessly pursue and prosecute jurisdictions that violate RLUIPA.”

As alleged in the lawsuit, Kingston’s zoning ordinance violates RLUIPA because it requires that places of worship obtain discretionary special exception use permits, while comparable nonreligious assembly uses like theaters, bowling alleys, recreational facilities, and libraries are permitted as of right. The ordinance also restricts places of worship to one-acre or more parcels, while no acreage restriction is placed on comparable nonreligious assembly uses. These restrictions unreasonably limit religious land uses to only a tiny fraction of existing parcels in the entire Borough such that, in practice, there are essentially no available qualifying parcels on which to develop a new place of worship. As a result, Kingston’s Chabad community has struggled to find sufficient suitable places for prayer, religious study, religious schools, and mikvahs (ritual baths).

Under the consent order, the Borough will revise its zoning ordinance to allow places of worship and religious schools as a permitted use in commercial districts and as a special use in residential districts; eliminate the acreage requirements for places of worship and religious schools; and treat places of worship on comparable terms to nonreligious places of assembly with respect to other zoning concerns like parking and landscaping. The consent order also requires the Borough to train its officials and employees on RLUIPA’s requirements, establish a procedure for receiving and resolving RLUIPA complaints, and undertake other injunctive relief.

RLUIPA is a federal law that protects persons and religious institutions from unduly burdensome, unequal, or discriminatory land use regulations. More information about RLUIPA and the Department’s efforts to enforce it can be found on the Place to Worship Initiative’s webpage. Individuals who believe they have been subjected to discrimination in land use or zoning decisions may contact the Civil Rights Division Housing and Civil Enforcement Section at (800) 896-7743, or through the online RLUIPA complaint portal. Anyone in the Middle District of Pennsylvania may also report civil rights violations to the Civil Rights Coordinator of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania by calling 717-614-4911 or emailing usapam.civil.rights@usdoj.gov. 

HARRISBURG-The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Sean Allicock, age 53, a citizen of Guyana, who was illegally residing in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday to 65 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick for illegally reentering the country after having previously been removed. 

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Allicock was indicted by a federal grand jury after being arrested for Theft by Unlawful Taking and related charges in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, on June 18, 2025. Allicock was previously convicted of illegal reentry in 2007.  Allicock had previously been removed from the United States pursuant to a court order in 1998 and 2015.   Allicock pleaded guilty to illegal reentry before being sentenced.

The ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kelley K. McGraw prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) 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.

Allicock still faces pending state charges in Franklin County, Pennsylvania.

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A Florida man was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for tax evasion in connection with substantial legal fees he earned.

The following is based on court documents and statements made in court: Robert J. Powell, of Palm Beach, Florida, and formerly of Pennsylvania, carried out his tax evasion scheme by using nominee bank accounts, causing an accountant to file a request for a filing extension that falsely reported zero estimated tax liability for 2016, and by making false statements during a subsequent IRS audit.

After his suspension and disbarment from the practice of law, Powell retained the right to collect a portion of future fees collected by his former firm for representing thousands of plaintiffs in a mass tort litigation that settled for approximately $5.15 billion in 2015. Powell’s firm was expected to receive approximately $120 million in attorneys’ fees from that settlement.

Before those attorneys’ fees were disbursed, Powell’s firm used the fees as collateral to obtain a series of loans totaling over $125 million. Instead of depositing the loan proceeds into firm bank accounts and using them to pay firm expenses, Powell directed the loans to nominee bank accounts under his control. He then used the loan proceeds to pay his personal debts and expenses, as well as for the personal benefit of his former law partner and himself.

In June 2016, most of the attorneys’ fees were finally disbursed and the loans repaid. Powell did not file a personal income tax return and pay taxes on those fees, even though he personally received an additional $3.6 million of the fees.

For the tax years 2010 through 2022, Powell did not file personal tax returns even though he earned income during each of those years and was required to file.

In 2019, the IRS audited Powell. During the audit, Powell made false statements in an attempt to conceal his income and expenditures. Specifically, Powell falsely informed the IRS that his only source of funds were loan advances, he and his spouse did not have signature authority or control over other bank accounts, and he had no ownership in any corporations. All of these statements were false.

In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Malachy E. Mannion for the Middle District of Pennsylvania ordered Powell to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $3.5 million in restitution to the United States and a $100,000 fine.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller for the Middle District of Pennsylvania made the announcement.

IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Alexandra K. Fleszar of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Sharma for the Middle District of Pennsylvania prosecuted the case.

SCRANTON, Pennsylvania – Robert J. Powell, age 65, of Palm Beach, Florida, was sentenced today to 48 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for tax evasion in connection with substantial legal fees he earned.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Powell sought to evade a substantial tax that was due and owing the IRS for 2016 by using “nominee” bank accounts (i.e., accounts in others’ names), causing an accountant to file a request for a filing extension that falsely reported zero estimated tax liability for 2016, and making false statements during an IRS audit in 2019. At sentencing, the Government put forth evidence that Powell did not file taxes for a period of approximately fifteen years, during which he earned over $18 million in income.

“Today’s sentencing holds Mr. Powell accountable for his criminal actions” said Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation for the Philadelphia Field Office.  “Mr. Powell’s fraudulent scheme to evade income taxes is unfair to every taxpayer who obeys the law and pays their fair share.  IRS CI is committing to working with our partners at the United States Attorney’s Office to see that criminals like this are stopped.”

In 2009, Powell pleaded guilty to multiple federal felony offenses for paying bribes to two judges of the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas and assisting those judges in concealing the bribe payments from tax authorities. In 2011, Powell was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for these offenses. The conduct for which he was sentenced today began around the time that he pleaded guilty to the earlier offenses and continued throughout the time of his imprisonment and beyond.

Powell’s license to practice law was suspended in 2009, and he was subsequently disbarred in 2015, in connection with his earlier convictions. As a result, in 2009 he relinquished his ownership of The Powell Law Group. He nevertheless retained the right to collect 90% of the remainder of any future fees collected by the firm after the payment of firm expenses. Specifically, The Powell Law Group represented thousands of plaintiffs in a mass tort litigation that settled for approximately $5.15 billion in 2015, and The Powell Law Group was expected to receive approximately $120 million in attorneys’ fees from that settlement.

Prior to the disbursement of the attorneys’ fees, The Powell Law Group and its co-counsel used those future legal fees as collateral to obtain a series of loans totaling over $125 million. Instead of depositing the loan proceeds into The Powell Law Group’s bank accounts and using them to pay firm expenses, Powell instead directed the loans to nominee bank accounts that were under his control. He then used the loan proceeds for his personal debts and expenses, as well as his and his former law partner’s personal benefit. Powell’s personal expenses included multiple luxury vehicles, a $1.25 million sportfishing yacht, and tuition and living expenses for private high schools and universities for his children. Powell’s personal expenses also included buying a $2.65 million home in Palm Beach Gardens, to which he then made more than $1 million in renovations. Once Powell was informed that he was the focus of a federal investigation, he transferred ownership of the home to a business partner, but Powell and his wife have continued to live in that home—now worth more than $6 million-rent-free.

In June 2016, most of the attorneys’ fees were finally disbursed and the loans were repaid. Nevertheless, Powell did not file a personal income tax return and pay taxes on the receipt of the fees in that year. After the initial disbursement and through October 2019, an additional $12 million in attorneys’ fees was distributed, and The Powell Law Group’s share continued to be directed into nominee bank accounts that Powell controlled. Powell personally received an additional $3.6 million of the fees during that time.

In 2019, when the IRS commenced an audit of his tax liabilities, Powell made false statements to the interviewing agents to conceal his income and expenditures. Namely, Powell falsely stated that, for tax years 2014 through 2016, his only sources of funds were loan advances, that he and his spouse did not have signature authority or control over other bank accounts, and that he had no ownership in any corporations.

Powell agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $3,500,000, to the IRS. Powell also agreed that the IRS may later determine that he owes even more in taxes, plus penalties and interest, beyond what he has agreed to pay.

Assistant Attorney General Tyson Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller for the Middle District of Pennsylvania made the announcement.

IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Alexandra K. Fleszar of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Romel Sharma of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania prosecuted the case.

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HARRISBURG- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Rick Goodling, age 69, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, plead guilty before United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson, to tax evasion.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Goodling admitted to underreporting his taxable income in Tax Years 2019-2022. Goodling began working as a compliance officer with Pace-O-Matic, a Georgia-based “skill machine” company, as a compliance officer in 2018.  As part of his guilty plea, Goodling admitted that while working as a supervisory compliance officer, he received cash payments from skill machine operators throughout Pennsylvania in return for allowing those operators to improperly continue to use Pace-O-Matic products against the company’s rules and regulations. Goodling and others then formed consulting businesses to falsely claim these cash payments were business travel expenses, thereby underreporting his taxable income in the years 2019-2022.  Overall, Goodling’s actions led to a tax loss of over $100,000 to the United States. 

“Conspiring to defraud the government with an elaborate scheme to underreport taxable income is unlawful,” stated Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Philadelphia Field Office.

“Today's plea serves as yet another reminder of the consequences which come to those who commit acts of fraud against the United States," said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. "Our mission remains clear: together with our law enforcement partners, the FBI will relentlessly pursue fraud at every level - aggressively investigating, dismantling criminal schemes, and pursuing those responsible."

The case was investigated by the Income Revenue Service (IRS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Pennsylvania State Police.  Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Buchanan is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

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WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Brad Daniel Swink, age 41, of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on a six-count indictment. 

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Swink produced child pornography on April 10, 2025, and distributed child pornography on January 27, 2023.  The indictment also alleges that Swink possessed images of child sexual abuse between January 2023 and April of 2025, and that he specifically received images or videos on three separate times from July 2023 to April 2024. 

The FBI and the Pennsylvania State Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alisan V. Martin is prosecuting the case.

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

The maximum penalty under federal law for the most serious offense is up to thirty years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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