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17 June 2026
Arkansas Pathology Laboratory and Its Owners Pay $30M to Settle Allegations of Kickbacks and Unnecessary Medical TestingRead the Press Release
Advanced Pathology Solutions PLLC (formerly known as Advanced Pathology Solutions LLC), an anatomic pathology laboratory headquartered in North Little Rock, Arkansas, and its management services organization, APS MSO LLC (together, “APS”), along with current and former owners Kevin Hannah, Donell Burkett, and Daniel Hunter Pledger have agreed to pay a total of $30 million to the United States to resolve allegations that APS and its owners furnished unlawful kickbacks and ordered medically unnecessary pathology testing services.
“Healthcare referrals must be based on the best decision for patients, not the influence of kickbacks,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This settlement demonstrates the Department’s commitment to hold accountable both corporations and individuals who profit from improper kickback arrangements and who burden federal healthcare programs with claims for medically unnecessary services.”
“Fraud against the taxpayer is rampant and insidious and when discovered must be held accountable. Engineering kickbacks to result in unnecessary medical testing which is then paid for by the United States taxpayer is unacceptable and once discovered as with APS, will result in lengthy investigation and review, and ultimately a significant settlement amount as demonstrated by this settlement,” said U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Ross for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “Our office will continue to work with Main Justice to detect and deter any similar schemes and then hold the wrongdoers accountable under the law.”
“Any entity that participates in health care and reaps illicit profits by taking advantage of and violating the trust given by Medicare and Medicaid programs must be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti for the Western District of Pennsylvania. “This settlement is notice that such illegal conduct simply will not be tolerated.”
“Kickbacks and medically unnecessary testing don’t just violate the law — they endanger patients and drain critical federal health care funds,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Schemes like this erode trust in the health care system and divert resources away from those who truly need care. HHS‑OIG will move swiftly and aggressively with our law enforcement partners to uncover these abuses and hold every responsible party accountable.”
The settlement resolves allegations made by the United States in a complaint filed on April 8, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. In its complaint, the United States alleged that, from 2015 through July 2022, APS and its owners violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by providing unlawful kickbacks to gastroenterology practices to induce the referral of pathology testing to APS resulting in false claims to federal healthcare programs. The government’s complaint focused on a business model developed by APS and its owners, in which APS set up and managed limited-purpose laboratories (known as “lean labs”) in gastroenterology practices nationwide that enabled the practices to bill for preparing and staining biopsy specimen slides. The complaint alleged that in exchange for various benefits furnished by APS, the gastroenterology practices agreed to exclusively refer their patients to APS by shipping their patients’ slides to APS’s lab in North Little Rock for pathologist interpretation and review. The United States alleged that the arrangements between APS and the gastroenterology practices were improper financial relationships through which APS provided kickbacks to induce the practices to steer their patients to APS.
The United States further alleged that APS and its owners submitted and caused the submission of claims to federal healthcare programs for unnecessary testing. Specifically, APS directed lean lab personnel to automatically order certain special tests (called “special stains”) before a pathologist reviewed a routine test (a hematoxylin and eosin stain) to determine whether additional testing was necessary. By following the special stain protocol, APS and the lean labs ordered special stains that were not medically reasonable and necessary and were ineligible for Medicare coverage or reimbursement. In many cases, APS would also order additional “confirmatory” immunohistochemical testing on patient samples it received from the lean labs, which was also not medically necessary.
In addition to resolving the allegations in the United States’ complaint, the settlement announced today also resolves allegations that from Nov. 1, 2018, to Nov. 30, 2020, APS and CEO Kevin Hannah knowingly and willfully provided unlawful kickbacks to an individual named Richard Sorgnard in the form of volume-based commission payments to induce the referral of patients to APS for epidermal nerve fiber density (“ENFD”) testing. Sorgnard, who previously entered into a settlement with the government to resolve related claims, encouraged medical providers and practices to order ENFD testing from APS for their patients, and in exchange, APS paid Sorgnard 4% of all payments APS collected for ENFD testing referred. The United States contends that this arrangement violated the Anti-Kickback Statute and resulted in false claims under the FCA.
In connection with the settlement, APS entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. The CIA requires APS to implement numerous auditing and accountability provisions, including implementation of a robust compliance program, new training and education requirements, and a review of physician referral relationships.
The complaint follows three lawsuits that were originally filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the FCA. Under the FCA, private parties can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the recovery. The FCA permits the United States to intervene in and take over the action, as it has done here. If a defendant is found liable for violating the FCA, the United States may recover three times the amount of its losses plus applicable penalties.
The Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas are handling the matter. The consolidated cases are captioned United States ex rel. Watkins v. Advanced Pathology Solutions, No. 4:20-cv-1110 (E.D. Ark.); United States ex rel. Aucoin v. Advanced Pathology Solutions, No. 4:21-cv-277 (E.D. Ark.); and United States ex rel. Paulsen v. Advanced Pathology Solutions, LLC, No. 3:22-cv-00652-JPG (E.D. Ark.). This settlement follows a $4.75 million settlement reached earlier this year with Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates, a gastroenterology practice and former client of APS.
The matter was handled by Fraud Section Attorneys Evan Ballan, Jeff McSorley, and Kelley Hauser of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Goss Dempsey for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Skirtich for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
The investigation and prosecution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the FCA. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Arkansas Pathology Laboratory and Its Owners Pay $30M to Settle Allegations of Kickbacks and Unnecessary Medical TestingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Advanced Pathology Solutions PLLC (formerly known as Advanced Pathology Solutions LLC), an anatomic pathology laboratory headquartered in North Little Rock, Arkansas, and its management services organization, APS MSO LLC (together, “APS”), along with current and former owners Kevin Hannah, Donell Burkett, and Daniel Hunter Pledger have agreed to pay a total of $30 million to the United States to resolve allegations that APS and its owners furnished unlawful kickbacks and ordered medically unnecessary pathology testing services.
“Healthcare referrals must be based on the best decision for patients, not the influence of kickbacks,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This settlement demonstrates the Department’s commitment to hold accountable both corporations and individuals who profit from improper kickback arrangements and who burden federal healthcare programs with claims for medically unnecessary services.”
“Fraud against the taxpayer is rampant and insidious and when discovered must be held accountable. Engineering kickbacks to result in unnecessary medical testing which is then paid for by the United States taxpayer is unacceptable and once discovered as with APS, will result in lengthy investigation and review, and ultimately a significant settlement amount as demonstrated by this settlement,” said U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Ross for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “Our office will continue to work with Main Justice to detect and deter any similar schemes and then hold the wrongdoers accountable under the law.”
“Any entity that participates in health care and reaps illicit profits by taking advantage of and violating the trust given by Medicare and Medicaid programs must be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti for the Western District of Pennsylvania. “This settlement is notice that such illegal conduct simply will not be tolerated.”
“Kickbacks and medically unnecessary testing don’t just violate the law — they endanger patients and drain critical federal health care funds,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Schemes like this erode trust in the health care system and divert resources away from those who truly need care. HHS OIG will move swiftly and aggressively with our law enforcement partners to uncover these abuses and hold every responsible party accountable.”
The settlement resolves allegations made by the United States in a complaint filed on April 8, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. In its complaint, the United States alleged that, from 2015 through July 2022, APS and its owners violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by providing unlawful kickbacks to gastroenterology practices to induce the referral of pathology testing to APS resulting in false claims to federal healthcare programs. The government’s complaint focused on a business model developed by APS and its owners, in which APS set up and managed limited-purpose laboratories (known as “lean labs”) in gastroenterology practices nationwide that enabled the practices to bill for preparing and staining biopsy specimen slides. The complaint alleged that in exchange for various benefits furnished by APS, the gastroenterology practices agreed to exclusively refer their patients to APS by shipping their patients’ slides to APS’s lab in North Little Rock for pathologist interpretation and review. The United States alleged that the arrangements between APS and the gastroenterology practices were improper financial relationships through which APS provided kickbacks to induce the practices to steer their patients to APS.
The United States further alleged that APS and its owners submitted and caused the submission of claims to federal healthcare programs for unnecessary testing. Specifically, APS directed lean lab personnel to automatically order certain special tests (called “special stains”) before a pathologist reviewed a routine test (a hematoxylin and eosin stain) to determine whether additional testing was necessary. By following the special stain protocol, APS and the lean labs ordered special stains that were not medically reasonable and necessary and were ineligible for Medicare coverage or reimbursement. In many cases, APS would also order additional “confirmatory” immunohistochemical testing on patient samples it received from the lean labs, which was also not medically necessary.
In addition to resolving the allegations in the United States’ complaint, the settlement announced today also resolves allegations that from Nov. 1, 2018, to Nov. 30, 2020, APS and CEO Kevin Hannah knowingly and willfully provided unlawful kickbacks to an individual named Richard Sorgnard in the form of volume-based commission payments to induce the referral of patients to APS for epidermal nerve fiber density (“ENFD”) testing. Sorgnard, who previously entered into a settlement with the government to resolve related claims, encouraged medical providers and practices to order ENFD testing from APS for their patients, and in exchange, APS paid Sorgnard 4% of all payments APS collected for ENFD testing referred. The United States contends that this arrangement violated the Anti-Kickback Statute and resulted in false claims under the FCA.
In connection with the settlement, APS entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. The CIA requires APS to implement numerous auditing and accountability provisions, including implementation of a robust compliance program, new training and education requirements, and a review of physician referral relationships.
The complaint follows three lawsuits that were originally filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the FCA. Under the FCA, private parties can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the recovery. The FCA permits the United States to intervene in and take over the action, as it has done here. If a defendant is found liable for violating the FCA, the United States may recover three times the amount of its losses plus applicable penalties.
The Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas are handling the matter. The consolidated cases are captioned United States ex rel. Watkins v. Advanced Pathology Solutions, No. 4:20-cv-1110 (E.D. Ark.); United States ex rel. Aucoin v. Advanced Pathology Solutions, No. 4:21-cv-277 (E.D. Ark.); and United States ex rel. Paulsen v. Advanced Pathology Solutions, LLC, No. 3:22-cv-00652-JPG (E.D. Ark.). This settlement follows a $4.75 million settlement reached earlier this year with Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates, a gastroenterology practice and former client of APS.
The matter was handled by Fraud Section Attorneys Evan Ballan, Jeff McSorley, and Kelley Hauser of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Goss Dempsey for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Skirtich for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
The investigation and prosecution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the FCA. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Ada Resident Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Donyaeh King McDowell, a/k/a/ Donyaeh Akeen McDowell, age 22, of Ada, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death, punishable by twenty years to life in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on March 2, 2024, McDowell knowingly and intentionally distributed a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, resulting in the death of the Victim from the use of the fentanyl.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the District 22 Drug Task Force, the Ada Police Department, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
McDowell will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche Appoints National Coordinator for Child Exploitation and Human TraffickingRead the Press Release
In a memo to all Department of Justice employees, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced today the establishment of a single National Coordinator to lead the fight against child exploitation and human trafficking, with the goal of preventing, prosecuting, and ending human trafficking and child exploitation in America.
Acting Attorney General Blanche appointed Alessandra Serano to serve as the National Coordinator and within 120 days, submit a report to the Deputy Attorney General updating the Department’s strategy for combatting child exploitation and human trafficking, and to serve as the Department’s liaison to both other federal agencies and outside stakeholders on the development and implementation of initiatives to fight human trafficking and child exploitation.
“Ending human trafficking and the exploitation of children has been and remains one of the highest priorities of the Department of Justice,” said Acting Attorney General Blanche. “With today's appointment of Ali Serano, we are sending a clear and unmistakable message to predators: we are coming for you. Ali’s outstanding record prosecuting those who engage in these heinous acts, together with her unwavering commitment to protecting victims, makes her the ideal choice for this critical role. To every victim: know that we stand with you and are committed to achieving justice for you.”
Human trafficking and child exploitation destroy lives and corrode our communities. They inflict profound pain on their victims and serve as immense revenue streams for criminal organizations. These crimes take many forms—from forced labor to sexual abuse—and affect thousands of people annually.
Human traffickers and child predators capitalize on the hidden nature of their crimes. They rely on the silence of their victims and a lack of information sharing among government agencies.
“It is time for the information silos to come down, for the silence to break, and for justice to be done,” Acting Attorney General Blanche writes in the memo.
To report child or human trafficking crimes, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or contact us by text or message. File a file a confidential online report at https://humantraffickinghotline.org/report-trafficking. Your report will be forwarded to a law enforcement agency for investigation and action.
Read more information about other forms of child exploitation and abuse and how to report them, visit: www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-ceos/report-violations.
Additional Background on Alessandra Serano
Ms, Serano has an extensive history at the Department of Justice, currently serving as Senior Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General. Previously she served on detail to the Senate Judiciary Committee and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Cybercrime Section in the Eastern District of Virginia since 2023. She served on various special assignments within the Department of Justice from 2017-2021, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the U.S. Virgin Islands, and in the Office of Legal Policy, where she drafted policy memoranda related to human trafficking, child exploitation, immigration, and reduction of violent crime, among other duties. She served as the National Project Safe Childhood Coordinator for the Executive Office for United States Attorneys and is a subject matter expert in the areas of child exploitation, human and sex trafficking involving minors.
From 2003-2021, Ms. Serano was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of California. She is nationally recognized for her numerous prosecutions in human and sex trafficking and child exploitation cases. She tried over 45 federal felony trials and argued over a dozen appeals before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Ms. Serano received numerous national awards including the U.S. Attorney General’s Award, the Federal Bar Association’s Sarah T. Hughes Civil Rights Award, and Women in Federal Law Enforcement’s “Top Prosecutor” Award.
14 Defendants Indicted in Crack and Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy Operating Near D.C. Elementary SchoolRead the Press Release
4th_st_indictment_x.pdfWASHINGTON – A 21‑count federal Indictment was unsealed in U.S. District Court this morning charging 14 defendants in connection with a conspiracy that allegedly distributed crack and powder cocaine near Hendley Elementary School in Southeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Law enforcement officers from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Metropolitan Police Department executed residential search warrants this morning at 15 locations across the District and Maryland. Authorities arrested all of the 14 indicted defendants.
“Today my office took over a dozen drug traffickers off residential streets. These traffickers showed zero regard for the wellbeing of our community, even selling crack cocaine about 300 feet from an elementary school,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This office will continue to pursue serious sentences for defendants who treat their neighbors as exploitable prey, and dismantle any group putting the lives in our community at risk.”
The Indictment charges each of the 14 defendants with conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base and 500 grams or more of cocaine within 1,000 feet of the elementary school. Named as defendants are Tevin Moody, Geraldo Landy, Norman Moore, Lenon Wright, Ali McShay, Lonnell Thomas, Marquette Paris, Jeremiah Prince, Joseph Moore, Raekwon Womak, Kivarrie Greene, De’Lonte Jackson, Derrick Manuel and Malik Heard.
“This operation shows the FBI’s unwavering commitment to protecting our communities,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office. “Working with our law enforcement partners, we dismantled a violent crew responsible for guns, drugs, and fear in neighborhoods across Southeast D.C. and Prince George’s County. This takedown reflects focused investigative work through our Safe Streets and Homeland Security task forces, and we’ll continue to use every tool we have to hold violent offenders accountable and keep D.C. safe and beautiful.”
“Today’s federal indictments underscore the Metropolitan Police Department’s commitment to protecting our communities and dismantling violent criminal networks,” said Interim Chief Jeffery W. Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. “Through our strong collaboration with the FBI, the DEA, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and other law enforcement partners, we are ensuring that those who endanger our neighborhoods are held accountable.”
“Today’s arrests are a significant victory for law enforcement and our communities. The majority of those apprehended are known for their involvement with illegal drugs, firearms, and violent activities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Christopher Goumenis of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division. “Our dedicated efforts have undoubtedly saved countless lives. This successful operation is the direct outcome of strategic partnerships formed through executive initiatives like the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force and the Homeland Security Task Force. Together, we will relentlessly pursue and hunt down dangerous drug traffickers, no matter where they try to hide.”
Throughout the investigation, law enforcement executed multiple search warrants at locations associated with the defendants and their associates and recovered 28 firearms. Agents also recovered 2.4 kilos of crack cocaine, one kilo of powder cocaine, 29 grams of fentanyl, and 12 pounds of marijuana.
The Indictment alleges that the defendants routinely sold crack cocaine in the presence of school‑aged children walking to and from Hendley Elementary, in and around the 4th Street SE and Chesapeake Street SE corridor. The government’s evidence further alleges that the crew’s open‑air drug trafficking exposed children to persistent illegal activity in broad daylight and risked normalizing dangerous conduct.
Defendant Kivarrie Greene also is charged with unlawful possession of firearms.
This matter is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office, the Metropolitan Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division, with support from the Montgomery County, Maryland, and the Fairfax County, Virginia, police departments. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia’s Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section.
This operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, which seeks to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a collaborative and comprehensive response to the growing threat to public safety and national security. The HSTF integrates personnel, including law enforcement agents, intelligence analysts, and professional staff, from federal agencies to combat crime in our communities.
NAME
NICKNAME
AGE
LOCATION
Tevin Moody
“Fats”
32
Suitland, Md.
Geraldo Landy
“Nardo”
38
Washington, DC
Norman Moore
“Lee”
36
Washington, DC
Lenon Wright
“Penny”
34
Washington, DC
Ali McShay
“Che”
31
Suitland, Md.
Lonnell Thomas
“Syc”
27
Washington, DC
Marquette Paris
“Q”
34
Temple Hills, Md.
Jeremiah Prince
“My My”
21
Washington, DC
Joseph Moore
“Joe”
43
Annapolis, Md.
Kivarrie Greene
“Varrie”
22
Washington, DC
De’lonte Jackson
“Tay”
32
Washington, DC
Derrick Manuel
“D”
34
District Heights, Md.
Malik Heard
“Leek”
25
Washington, DC
Raeqwon Womack
“Ray Ray”
21
Washington, DC
Surveillance photo of one of the alleged drug sales.
School children walk through a group of men alleged to be members of the drug trafficking operation.
The drug trafficking operation allegedly operated near the intersection of Chesapeake Street SE and 4th Street SE.
Some of the firearms recovered during the investigation that were displayed during the news conference.
The charges in an Indictment are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
16 June 2026
Wichita man admits to distributing child pornographyRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man pleaded guilty to using a messaging application to distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Zachery Leslie, 25, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.
Zachery Leslie used a messaging app to send and receive CSAM including nine files in July 2024, which included images of prepubescent children subjected to sexual acts. He utilized his phone and the Internet to distribute the images.
Leslie is scheduled to be sentenced on September 14, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.###
Washington State Man Sentenced to Federal Prison After Conviction for Escaping from Federal CustodyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Washington state man was sentenced to federal prison yesterday after a jury found him guilty of escape after failing to report to the Northwest Regional Re-entry Center (NWRRC) in Portland.
Brandon Charles Nelson, 40, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Nelson was convicted of felon in possession of a firearm and sentenced to 36 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release. On Feb. 25, 2025, after violating his release conditions for a third time, Nelson’s supervision was revoked, and he was sentenced to 12 months in prison and 18 months of supervised release. While in custody at Victorville Federal Corrections Institute (FCI), Nelson met criteria for placement in a residential re-entry center and was referred to the NWRRC. Rather than report as required, Nelson absconded. The USMS arrested him on Dec. 5, 2025.
On Dec. 16, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Nelson with escape from custody.
On Feb. 25, 2026, following a two-day trial, a jury convicted Nelson with one count of escape from custody.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.
The USMS investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Arin Heinz prosecuted the case.
Violent Extremist Network “764” Member Sentenced to 30 Years for Sexually Exploiting Minors and CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A member of a violent extremist network learned his fate in federal court, today, for sexually abusing minors and other crimes.
U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Erik Lee Madison, 21, of Halethorpe, Maryland, to 30 years in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for sexually exploiting a child and cyberstalking. Madison sexually exploited at least 10 minor female victims. Judge Maddox also ordered Madison to pay $3,000 in restitution.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office; Chief Amal E. Awad, Anne Arundel County Police Department (AACOPD); and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD).
“Mr. Madison is a child predator who committed heinous acts. As a result, he is going to jail for a long time. This sentence sends a clear message to Madison, and others who abuse and terrorize the most vulnerable members of our community: we will find you, prosecute you, and bring you to justice,” Hayes said. “We’re committed to working with our law-enforcement partners to relentlessly pursue those who engage in these deplorable acts.”
“Erik Lee Madison, a member and associate of the nihilistic violent extremist group 764, has been sentenced today for sexually exploiting multiple female minor victims via the internet. Victimizing our most vulnerable members of society, is unacceptable,” Paul said. “FBI Baltimore will not stand for these monstrous acts and remains determined to stop these predatory criminals. FBI Baltimore will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold these violent online networks accountable.”
According to court documents, from November 2024 until November 2025, Madison, a member and associate of “764,” a criminal organization of Nihilistic Violent Extremists, used the internet to create and share extreme content — such as gore, violence, and child sexual abuse material — to extort and blackmail vulnerable teenagers. Madison used the internet to sexually exploit minor females and encourage them to engage in self-harm. The minor female victims were from various locations inside and outside of the United States.
Madison used the internet to cause minor females to produce or stream sexually explicit conduct, cut themselves with razors, and cut signs and words on their bodies. Additionally, Madison coerced the female minor victims into using their blood to write various signs, along with Madison’s monikers, on a wall and then they streamed it to Madison. He also encouraged the victims to injure animals.
Then Madison extorted the victims through a variety of methods, including threatening to harm them and their families, “leak” or disseminate depictions of the victims engaging in cutting and sexually explicit conduct, “dox” the victims and their family members, and “swat” victims and their family members.
Members of “764” use known online social media platforms to support the possession, production, and sharing of extreme gore media and child sex abuse material with vulnerable, juvenile populations. These individuals often conduct coordinated extortions of teenagers, blackmailing the victims to comply with the group’s demands.
This case is 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 Attorney’s 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 justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
The Justice Department remains vigilant against the threat of Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) networks, like 764, that operate within the United States and around the globe. NVEs often target vulnerable individuals, including minors, using social media platforms to share child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and gore material, and groom victims toward committing acts of violence. Victims are often extorted, coerced, compelled, and blackmailed into complying with NVE demands, including self-mutilation, online and in-person sexual acts, harm to animals, sexual exploitation of siblings and others, acts of violence, threats of violence, suicide, and murder. For more information on how to protect children and others, read about the online risks here: Parents, Caregivers, Teachers — FBI and the FBI’s March 2025 public service announcement.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, AACOPD, and BCPD for their work in the investigation.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
# # #
Urbandale Business Man Pleads Guilty to PPP Loan Fraud and Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – An Urbandale man pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026, to making false statements on a PPP loan application and false declarations during subsequent bankruptcy proceedings.
According to public court documents, Henry J. Schappert, 57, operated a business called Allied Exteriors. In May 2021, Schappert submitted a PPP loan application on behalf of Allied Exteriors that significantly overinflated Allied Exterior’s gross income, number of employees, payroll, and gross receipts. As a result, U.S. Bank approved a $265,567.00 PPP loan for Allied Exteriors—a loan Schappert would not have been entitled to absent his false statements to U.S. Bank.
Approximately three years later, in July 2024, Schappert filed for bankruptcy. In his bankruptcy petition, schedules, and statement of financial affairs he made multiple material false statements and declarations. These included denying ownership of business within the prior four years, claiming he had earned no income for the past two years, understating his employment, and claiming he had not closed financial accounts within the year prior to filing for bankruptcy and only had one bank account.
Schappert is scheduled to be sentenced on October 1, 2026, and faces a sentence of up to 30 years in prison for making false statements on a loan application, and up to five years in prison for making false declarations during bankruptcy proceedings. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the United States sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case with assistance from the Office of the United States Trustee. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Lubben prosecuted the case.
United States Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace Announces Appointment of Paul W. Kaufman as First Assistant United States AttorneyRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace announced today that Paul W. Kaufman has been appointed First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware. As First Assistant, Kaufman will serve as the Office’s second-ranking official and assist in leading the Office’s operations and mission throughout the District of Delaware.
“Paul Kaufman has been an exemplary advocate for the United States for nearly two decades,” said U.S. Attorney Wallace. “I am delighted that he has agreed to help me lead the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. The Office and the District will benefit immensely from Paul’s sharp mind, steady hands, and sound judgment.”
Kaufman has served as an Assistant United States Attorney since 2007 in the District of New Jersey and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. During that time, he specialized in civil fraud enforcement, leading teams of AUSAs and investigators that have recovered hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars and developing processes for streamlining parallel prosecution of criminal and civil matters, while also working on defensive and criminal matters. Kaufman has also served as an Electronic Discovery Office Coordinator, on the Executive Office of United States Attorneys’ Electronic Discovery Working Group, and on the Federal Electronic Discovery Working Group.
A respected teacher and published academic, Kaufman frequently trains other AUSAs in trial advocacy, pre-trial advocacy, motion practice, and eLitigation at the National Advocacy Center, and he has presented on substantive matters of affirmative civil enforcement to numerous Offices of Inspector General, to the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, and at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, the Temple University Beasley School of Law, and Rutgers-Camden Law School.
Kaufman is a graduate of the Yale Law School, the University of Chicago, and Saint Mark’s High School in Newark, Delaware. A veteran of the Delaware High School Mock Trial program, Kaufman remains a dedicated supporter of high school mock trial, having served since 2011 on the Board of Directors of the National High School Mock Trial Championship and from 2020-2025 as its Chair. In 2024, he received the Justice Gene Franchini Golden Gavel Award from that organization, and in 2025, Kaufman was inducted into the Saint Mark’s High School Hall of Honor. Kaufman is an Eagle Scout and remains active with Scouting America as a leader and merit badge counselor, and he is helping to develop its Public Service Academy program.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.
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U.S. Justice Department Moves to Intervene in Race Discrimination Lawsuit Challenging Reparations Program in Evanston, IllinoisRead the Press Release
Today, the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division moved to intervene in a lawsuit challenging a program by the City of Evanston, Illinois, that distributes cash payments and financial assistance for housing solely to black persons, and their descendants, and not to similarly situated persons of other races. The United States’ proposed complaint in intervention alleges that the city’s actions violate the Equal Protection Cause of the Fourteenth Amendment and the Fair Housing Act.
“Under the pretext of paying reparations for events more than 100 years ago, the City of Evanston has chosen to distribute millions of dollars in cash and housing benefits to people because of the color of their skin or the color of the skin of their parents, grandparents, or great grandparents,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “There are sound ways for a city to remedy past discrimination or direct resources to its most vulnerable citizens and neighborhoods. Simply handing out money based on race, however, is not the answer. It is race discrimination, pure and simple. And it is illegal.”
“The Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed that government actions classifying citizens by race are presumptively unconstitutional,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros for the Northern District of Illinois. “The Constitution demands that the government treat citizens as individuals, not as members of a racial class. Distributing public funds based on an individual's ancestry or race divides the citizenry and establishes the very hierarchy the Equal Protection Clause was designed to dismantle.”
In 2019, the city adopted the “Local Reparations Restorative Housing Program.” Under this program, black persons who lived in the City of Evanston as an adult at any time between 1919 and 1969, as well as their children, grandchildren, or great grandchildren, can receive $25,000 in the form of cash payments, which the recipient can use for any purpose, or financial assistance for purchasing, repairing, or maintaining a primary residence in the city. The city has not identified any specific acts of discrimination that violated the constitution or a statute that these payments are intended to remedy. Nor does the city require any evidence that recipients or their ancestors experienced discrimination when they lived in the city. Race alone determines whether a current or former resident or their descendant receives $25,000 in cash or financial assistance for housing. To date, the city has paid over $5 million and it plans to distribute millions more as funds become available.
In 2024, descendants of persons who had lived in Evanston between 1919 and 1969, but who were not black, filed a lawsuit, Flinn, et al. v. City of Evanston, No. 24-cv-4269 (N.D. Ill.), challenging their exclusion from the city’s program as a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The court denied the city’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit in March 2026. That same month, the United States opened an investigation of the program under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and the Fair Housing Act. The city refused to cooperate in the United States’ investigation. The United States now seeks to intervene in the lawsuit.
The United States alleges that the program violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. It also alleges that by offering and providing financial assistance for housing because of race, the city has violated the Fair Housing Act.
U.S. Attorney Honors Brenda Miller with Distinguished Service AwardRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey has presented Ohio County Circuit Clerk Brenda Miller with the “Distinguished Service Award” in recognition of her decades of dedication to Ohio County and the State of West Virginia.
“Brenda has dedicated her career to public service and has given much of her time and talents to the judicial system as Ohio County Circuit Clerk,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. “I am honored to present her this award, and I am grateful to call her a colleague and a friend.”
Miller will retire later this year after 28 years as Circuit Clerk. Throughout her tenure, she has earned a reputation for leadership, professionalism, and a deep commitment to strengthening the administration of justice in West Virginia.
She has served on numerous statewide committees, including the State Elections Committee and the Legislative Committee. The West Virginia Supreme Court has also appointed her to several key groups, such as the Circuit Court Liaison Committee—where she represents the nine Northern Panhandle counties—the Regional Fatality Review Board, where she has served for more than 15 years, and the Access to Justice Committee, where she is one of only two circuit clerks selected statewide.
Miller also served as President of the West Virginia Association of Counties from 2015 to 2016, representing 444 county-elected officials, including circuit clerks, county clerks, assessors, prosecutors, sheriffs, and county commissioners.
U.S. Attorney Harvey presented the award during the annual West Virginia Association of Counties dinner at Oglebay’s Wilson Lodge.
Two Inland Empire Men, Three Others Arrested and Charged in Plot to Kill Government Officials, Others Attending White House UFC EventRead the Press Release
RIVERSIDE, California – The Justice Department today announced federal criminal charges against five men – two of them from the Inland Empire – for an alleged plot to carry out an attack to kill government officials and others attending the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) held at the White House last Sunday.
Bryan Omar Roa, 24, of Calimesa, and Michael Alan Thomas, 32, of Pinon Hills, were arrested Saturday and made their initial appearances on Monday in United States District Court in Riverside.
Roa and Thomas are charged in a federal criminal complaint with conspiracy to commit murder, which carries a statutory maximum penalty of life in federal prison.
On Monday, United States Magistrate Judge David T. Bristow ordered Roa and Thomas jailed without bond. No pleas were taken. The arraignments for Roa and Thomas are scheduled for July 7 and July 21, respectively, in U.S. District Court in Riverside.
The FBI launched an investigation into the plot and identified a group of conspirators who procured weapons and made plans to carry out the attack. The FBI made arrests over the weekend in Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska, and California. The investigation remains ongoing.
“The FBI, our law enforcement partners and our U.S. Attorneys did what they do every day to make America Safe through quick response and vigilance in investigating, disrupting, and dismantling this alleged plan before it could be carried out,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “We will take immediate and aggressive action to identify and prosecute those who incite and plan acts of violence.”
“Thanks to the swift work of federal agents and prosecutors, a potential mass casualty attack was prevented,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “There is no place in our country for political violence. Those who plot violence against the President and Congressional leaders face serious consequences, including possible life sentences.”
“On June 10, FBI and our law enforcement partners became aware of a potential threat to the UFC America 250 event in Washington, D.C. involving individuals outside of the National Capital Region — and thanks to the rapid action of this FBI, our partners, and the Department of Justice in a multi-state operation, multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “While the result represented the best of investigative work, it was also nothing out of the ordinary for this law enforcement team — we are built to detect, respond to, and bring to justice those who threaten the lives of American citizens — particularly during large gatherings like the historic UFC 250 fight. That’s exactly what we did here. I want to thank our great agents and partners, this work remains ongoing and we will continue to update the public as permitted. We continue to encourage any American to report anything suspicious at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov.”
According to court documents, the defendants conspired to plan and execute a mass-casualty event targeting U.S. officials in attendance at the June 14 UFC Freedom 250 event hosted on the White House grounds. Proper amassed firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and tactical gear at his home in Ohio, and he identified potential targets, including multiple members of the United States Congress.
The conspirators allegedly planned to deploy drones armed with explosives in and around the UFC Freedom 250 event to force an evacuation of the event and then planned to deploy snipers to fire upon ‘high value targets’ within the fleeing crowd. Before executing the plan, Proper and other conspirators planned to rendezvous in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
According to an affidavit filed with a criminal complaint, law enforcement executed a search warrant ofRoa’s residence and his vehicle during which they seized a rifle, handgun, tactical belt, ammunition and a rifle magazine, a two-way radio, and an infrared laser target pointer.
A search of Roa’s phone found messages in a group with several other co-conspirators including Thomas, Proper, in which they planned an attack at the UFC event at the White House, with some users discussing using drones rigged with explosives in order to initiate the attack, with rooftop snipers killing individuals. Law enforcement also found Instagram videos Roa had posted of himself shooting guns.
Thomas participated in a group chat planning the attack at the UFC event at the White House. In a group chat, on June 7, he allegedly wrote “$1300 gets us the drones and the charges. Yes we should all pitch in and we need it asap…”
In another group chat, Thomas, under a pseudonym, allegedly described “tiers” of operators within their anti-government group, with tier 1 being operators on the ground, tier 2 being drivers and drone operators, tier 3 being logistical suppliers, and tier 4 being social media influencers. “Tier one status is not something to take lightly. … We will make sure they have…All the tier 2 support we can provide. We will try to break them out of jail if we need to.”
In the same group chats, Thomas discussed meeting with Roa in person in Southern California to conduct “marksmen training” and reflected that the group needed to train for “gorilla style warfare.”
FBI agents seized from Thomas’ residence a rifle, 30-round extended magazines for the rifle, 180 rounds of ammunition, and a pistol.
Charged in separate federal criminal complaints are Tycen C. Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio, Daniel K. Eskridge, 32, of Kidder, Missouri, and Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska.
Eskridge is charged with conspiracy to commit murder as well as conspiracy to commit violent or disruptive conduct on White House grounds. According to the complaint, the FBI identified Eskridge while reviewing electronic communications on Proper’s cellular phone.
The co-conspirators had electronic chats on a social media platform SimpleX. In those chats, members of the group allegedly discussed assassinating several United States Senators, Representatives and prominent business executives. Members of the group targeted some legislators based on the group’s perceived belief that the legislators accepted money from pro-Israel lobbies.
When discussing potential targets, Eskridge indicated that the target was “big and someone a majority of the country knows.” In the discussions, power grids were also identified as potential targets.
On May 22, 2026, Eskridge distributed a picture of tactical equipment, including a rifle, helmet, and ballistic vest.
In a separate chat group, a conversation allegedly took place in early June when Eskridge and some of the other chat group members discussed their plan to attack the UFC Freedom 250 event.
Specifically, Thomas stated, “Pensilvania [sic] avenue.” Eskridge said the group should obtain $1,300 in United States currency and they needed “5 teams of 3 each team consisting of 1 sniper, 1 tier one operator as support/ look out, [and] one drone operator.” Eskridge said the money would provide them the funding to purchase “drones and charges,” and encouraged the group to all “pitch in.”
On June 13, law enforcement officials executed a federal search warrant at Eskridge’s residence. Agents recovered rifles, a shot gun, pistol, and other tactical gear.
According to the charges filed in Nebraska, the FBI identified Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez as the individual using the name “Shepherd” in a Signal Group that was used to plan an attack on the UFC Freedom 250 event scheduled to be held at the Whtie House on June 14, 2026.
The FBI assessed that Alvarez, a/k/a “Shepherd” was responsible for planning, organizing and directing the planned attack, based on conversation excerpts in June when Shepherd posted, “This is the best action I see. Position your teams in the purple dots (counter sniper and drones) Long range (circled area) (great shot) Easy out into the river.”
The complaint further alleges Shepherd then provided direction for a safe zone and instructed the other members to take back roads or the river down to the “pick up location.” Later that same evening, Shepherd also provided locations in the area for drone launch points and sniper positions.
A criminal complaint contains merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. Conspiracy to commit violence on White House grounds carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
The FBI and the United States Secret Service are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Colin S. Scott of the National Security Division is prosecuting this case.
Topsham Fugitive Sentenced for Failing to SurrenderRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Topsham man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for failing to surrender for service of a sentence imposed in a prior case.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Christopher Tucker, 34, to 37 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Tucker pleaded guilty on February 17, 2026.
According to court records, at a September 2025 hearing in U.S. District Court in Maine, Tucker was sentenced to a term of 75 months in prison for firearms offenses. Tucker was permitted to remain out on release and to self-surrender to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons at a later date but he failed to surrender as ordered. The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) subsequently located and arrested Tucker in Bath.
Tucker’s sentence will be served consecutively to the 75-month sentence imposed in the firearms case.
The USMS investigated the case.
Three New Attorneys Sworn in to Serve the DistrictRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ellis Boyle administered the oath of office to two Special Assistant United States Attorneys and one Assistant United States Attorney to serve the EDNC. Their appointments advance the office's mission of upholding the rule of law and serving the people of our district. We are pleased to welcome them aboard and look forward to their contributions to the office and community.
Three Individuals Sentenced for Scheme to Steal Money from Accounts Managed by the Department of the Interior Bureau of Trust Funds AdministrationRead the Press Release
Bismarck – United States Attorney Nichoas W. Chase announced that on June 16, 2026, Ranita Lynn Freeman, Age 32, Minot, North Dakota (and a member of the MHA Nation), appeared in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota and was sentenced before Judge Daniel L. Hovland to serve 42 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $51,500 in restitution, for the offenses of Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identify Theft.
Between 2020 and 2023, Freeman stole $51,500 from two MHA Nation tribal members’ Individual Indian Money (IIM) accounts. The Bureau of Trust Funds Administration (BTFA) manages the financial assets of American Indians held in trust by the Department of the Interior and an IIM account is an interest-bearing account managed by the BTFA on behalf of an individual who has money or other assets held in trust for them by the Federal government. Between August 2020 and January 2021, Freeman stole $42,000 from one tribal member’s IIM account and, again between January and April 2023, she stole $9,500 from a second tribal member’s IIM account. Throughout these two separate schemes, Freeman placed multiple calls to the BTFA, Fort Berthold Agency, where she fraudulently pretended to be these tribal members. During these calls, Freeman provided the BTFA with the names, dates of birth, and other identifying information of the tribal members to access, and obtain money from, their respective IIM accounts. Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General special agents identified Freeman as the caller when she called into the BTFA posing as one of these tribal members and they compared the caller’s voice to Freeman’s voice.
Additional Individuals Sentenced in a Separate BTFA IIM Fraud Scheme:
Between November and December 2022, Wareagle Rollingthunder Martin and Samantha Lynn Rebold stole $11,695.92 from an MHA Nation tribal members’ IIM account. To accomplish this theft, Rebold took photographs of the tribal member’s personal identifying information, including his social security card and tribal identification card. Thereafter, Rebold provided these photographs to co-defendant Martin who then called the BTFA, Fort Berthold Agency, pretended to be the MHA Nation tribal member and fraudulently requested that the BTFA send two monetary disbursements from this individual’s IIM account—in the amounts of $1,510.40 and $10,185.52—to a bank account that he controlled. Thereafter, Martin and Rebold spent the money that they fraudulently obtained from this tribal member’s IIM account. When Martin called the BTFA, he falsely used the MHA Nation tribal member’s name, date of birth, social security number, and tribal identification number to obtain money from this IIM account.
Wareagle Rollingthunder Martin: Age: 39. From: Fargo, North Dakota. Sentenced on October 21, 2025, before Judge Daniel M. Traynor, to 24 months’ imprisonment, 1 year of supervised release, and payment of restitution of $11,695.92 on a charge of Aggravated Identity Theft.
Samantha Lynn Rebold: Age: 38. From: Fargo, North Dakota. Sentenced on June 18, 2025, before Judge Daniel M. Traynor, to time served (7 days), three years of supervised release, and payment of restitution of $11,695.92 on a charge of Wire Fraud.
“Fraud is especially sinister because it hurts victims in many ways”, said US Attorney Nicholas W. Case. “As this case shows, when criminals steal money through fraud schemes, they often steal something even more personal, the identities of innocent people whose names, financial accounts, and personal information are exploited for criminal gain. Prosecuting fraud and identity theft offenses remains one of the highest priorities of this office because these crimes can cause lasting financial and emotional harm to victims. Today’s sentence reflects our commitment to holding fraudsters accountable and protecting the public from those who seek to profit through deception and the misuse of others’ personal information.”
“These sentences should serve as a deterrent to those who seek to exploit vulnerable account holders by stealing funds that are intended to support thousands of Native Americans and their communities. These funds, held in trust, are vital to the many individuals who rely on them as their sole source of income,” said Special Agent in Charge Jamie DePaepe. “We will continue working with the BTFA and our prosecutorial partners to protect account holders and hold those responsible fully accountable.”
This case was investigated by the Department of the Interior – Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan J. O’Konek, District of North Dakota.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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Three Defendants Indicted in Brooklyn Federal Court for Real Estate Investment SchemeRead the Press Release
Earlier today in federal court in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging John Christian Gelin, Heather Marquez, and Kaolee Vang-Thao with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. The charges arise from a multi-year and multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud financial institutions, investors, and prospective investors in connection with potential real estate transactions. Gelin was arrested today and will be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy. Marquez was arrested earlier today in Oceanside, California and will appear in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. Vang-Thao was arrested earlier today in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota and will appear in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. Marquez and Vang-Thao will be arraigned in the Eastern District of New York at a later date.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arrests and charges.
“As alleged, the defendants defrauded investors and lenders out of millions of dollars,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Because of their lies and greed, the defendants ruined the financial security of dozens of victims, leaving them on the hook for repaying loans they could not afford and causing some to declare bankruptcy. Our Office will vigorously prosecute those who abuse the trust of others and profit through fraud.”
“Through repeated lies, these defendants allegedly forced trusting investors into financial stress – and for some, ruin – to illegally route more than four million dollars to their personal accounts. The FBI’s Financial Crimes Task Force remains committed to apprehending fraudsters that steal from others to line their own pockets,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.
As alleged in the indictment, Gelin operated Kensington International, Inc. (Kensington), a purported real estate development company, and oversaw the Artist Financial Program (AFP), an affiliated entity that specifically targeted aspiring artists and musicians. Gelin marketed the companies as real estate investment firms focused on purchasing distressed real estate that would be rehabilitated and resold for profit.
The defendants raised investment capital by soliciting investors who generally had limited assets but high credit scores, and obtained loans and credit cards on behalf of the investors that they promised to repay. Marquez and Vang-Thao, through their firms the Funding Club Consulting and the Financial Saver Network, respectively, submitted loan and credit card applications on behalf of the investors. Unbeknownst to the investors, Marquez and Vang-Thao filed fraudulent applications with the lenders that often inflated the investors’ income to obtain higher loans. Investors were not shown the applications before Marquez and Vang-Thao submitted them, and Marquez and Vang-Thao advised investors to lie to the lenders. Additionally, Gelin used the alias “Christian” to conceal from investors and potential investors his criminal history, which included serving three years in prison for committing a similar fraud scheme.
Once the credit card and lending applications were approved, investors were instructed to wire 15% of the credit limit of the credit cards and loan proceeds to Marquez and Vang-Thao. The remaining 85% was transferred to bank accounts controlled by Gelin. Rather than using the loan proceeds entirely to invest in real estate as promised to investors, the defendants diverted investor funds to pay for their personal expenses and spent only a nominal amount of investor funds on buying and renovating homes.
Also contrary to their promises to the investors, the defendants did not pay the lenders back in full. As a result, the investors were unable to repay the full amount of the loans and credit cards taken out in their names. Some investors declared bankruptcy. In total, investors lost at least $4.2 million from the fraudulent scheme.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, they each face up to 30 years in prison.
If you believe that you or someone you know was victimized by the defendants, please contact the FBI by email at: KensingtonCase@fbi.gov or by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business & Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorney James R. Simmons is in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Melina Piatti-Chayan.
The Defendants:
JOHN CHRISTIAN GELIN
Age: 58
Brooklyn, New YorkHEATHER MARQUEZ
Age: 45
Oceanside, CaliforniaKAOLEE VANG-THAO
Age: 53
Brooklyn Center, MinnesotaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-CR-157 (CBA)
Tampa Man Sentenced to More Than Seven Years for Multiple Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – Jeffrey Hennig (60, Tampa) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell to seven years and nine months in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of firearms with altered serial numbers. He pleaded guilty in March 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents and proceedings, in March 2024, officers with the St. Petersburg Police Department coordinated the purchase of methamphetamine and a firearm from Hennig. An undercover officer purchased a .22 H&R Model 929 revolver from Hennig. The firearm had an obliterated serial number. Hennig also sold the officer 50 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition. Hennig then began weighing out 28 grams of methamphetamine and sold this to the undercover for $200.
Agents searched Hennig’s apartment later that month and seized two additional firearms, a Taurus .357 Magnum revolver and a Hi-Point JCP .40 caliber S&W with a loaded extended magazine. Both firearms were loaded, and the Hi-Point had an obliterated serial number. Hennig is a convicted felon and is therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.
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.
Tallahassee Serial Felon Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Forrest Alan Price, 32, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of synthetic cathinone and 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “With a dozen prior felony convictions, this serial offender has made a career out of terrorizing our communities and flooding our streets with deadly narcotics. Enough is enough. President Donald J. Trump and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche launched Operation Take Back America to deploy the full might of the Department of Justice toward incapacitating drug trafficking violent offenders, like this defendant, and that is exactly what my office will continue to do with successful prosecutions like this one until the citizens of the Northern District of Florida get the safe, drug-free streets they deserve.”
Court documents reflect that in February 2026, the Tallahassee Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle following surveillance of a suspected drug house. The defendant was the passenger in the vehicle, and officers observed him trying to conceal several baggies of drugs in his lap. The defendant briefly resisted officers’ commands when asked to step out of the vehicle but was eventually handcuffed. Officers found that the defendant tried to conceal baggies containing 13.3 grams of synthetic cathinone and 6.8 grams of pure methamphetamine. Officers used a key fob taken from the defendant to open the locked glove compartment and found a 9-millimeter pistol on top of a small safe. The safe was found to contain 24.16 grams of pure methamphetamine, additional synthetic cathinone, marijuana, Alprazolam pills, and items used to package drugs for street sale.
The defendant was prohibited from possessing firearms due to 12 prior felony convictions. His convictions included a prior federal case involving drug trafficking and firearm charges.
The defendant faces at least 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum potential sentence of Life for his current charges.
The case involved an investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 25, 2026, at 11:00 am, in the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
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 United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Suspended Ann Arbor Commodities Trader Pleads Guilty to Multi-Million-Dollar Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
DETROIT – Brian Mitchell pleaded guilty on Friday afternoon to defrauding investors in a multi-million-dollar commodities trading scheme, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. announced.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit field office.
Mitchell, 43, of Ann Arbor, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and admitted that he defrauded multiple third-party investors, causing a loss of over $2.7 million.
In entering his plea, Mitchell acknowledged that he caused false representations to be made regarding the security, profitability, and use of investor funds. Mitchell used various entities to solicit investor money, including “Young Pros Investment Group” (“YPIG”) and “My Nest Egg.” As part of his scheme, Mitchell made—and caused—repeated misrepresentations that investor principal was protected against loss and was “guaranteed.” Mitchell also made, and caused, misrepresentations that set earnings would occur and that investor funds would be available for return at certain points. After suffering significant trading losses, Mitchell lied to investors about why their investment principal was no longer guaranteed, as he had previously claimed. Mitchell falsely told investors that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) had seized assets that he described as “back-up money.”
While executing his fraud scheme, Mitchell entered into a settlement with the CFTC relating to earlier violations of the Commodity Exchange Act that occurred between January 2018 and January 2019. Under that settlement, Mitchell was barred for three years from engaging in commodity futures trading activity and from soliciting, receiving, and accepting funds for such activity. Despite that ban, Mitchell continued to solicit, accept, and trade third-party investment funds in commodity futures and failed to disclose his trading bar to investors.
Mitchell admitted that his conduct violated his prior settlement agreement with the CFTC and the regulatory requirements of the Commodity Exchange Act.
As part of his plea agreement, Mitchell has agreed to pay restitution of $2.7 million to his victims.
Potential victims are encouraged to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at: https://forms.fbi.gov/victims/YPIG-MyNestEggVictims
Sentencing is set for October 7, 2026, at 2:00 pm before United States District Judge Laurie J. Michelson. Mitchell faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment.
“The FBI refuses to let scammers get away with perpetually stealing from and betraying hardworking Americans. This scheme caused significant financial harm to investors who placed their trust in the defendant, and today’s guilty plea is another reminder that those who commit these crimes will be held accountable," said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. "I am grateful for the exceptional work of our FBI Ann Arbor Resident Agency, whose meticulous investigative efforts were critical to bringing financial justice to the victims of his crimes.”The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Yahkind
Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Trafficking Firearms and DrugsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to 16 years in federal prison for trafficking firearms and drugs.
In the fall of 2024, EFRAIN JACOBO sold methamphetamine, cocaine, and seven firearms in a series of transactions in Joliet, Ill. Unbeknownst to Jacobo, the buyers were undercover law enforcement officers.
On Dec. 17, 2024, Jacobo shared tracking information with the undercover officers for a truck containing meth that was traveling to Illinois from Texas. At Jacobo’s direction, the truck arrived at a shipping facility in Bolingbrook, Ill., the following day. Law enforcement searched inside the truck and discovered more than 150,000 grams of meth. A subsequent search of a storage facility leased by Jacobo in Wheeling, Ill., turned up more than 1,800 grams of fentanyl.
Jacobo, 44, of Prospect Heights, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal firearm and drug charges. On June 11, 2026, U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly sentenced Jacobo to 16 years in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosive, and Todd C. Smith, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The Bolingbrook, Ill. Police Department provided valuable assistance.
“Defendant plainly was a powerful and high-level drug dealer,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie C. Stern argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Drug sellers of any illegal narcotics have a negative impact on society. They help fuel a drug trade that can devastate lives, families, and communities.”
Stamford Man Sentenced to 100 Months in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking, Gun Possession OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that OMAR PARRA, also known as “D” and “Dee,” 39, of Stamford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 100 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for narcotics trafficking and firearm possession offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and Stamford Police Department identified Jimmy Arce as a distributor of fentanyl in southwestern Connecticut. During the investigation, investigators regularly observed Arce supplying Parra with fentanyl for redistribution, and made multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl, as well as crack cocaine, from Parra.
Parra was arrested on March 14, 2024. On March 15, 2024, a search of Parra’s residence and vehicle revealed distribution quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and crack; items used to process and package narcotics; a loaded .380 caliber semiautomatic handgun; and $16,574 in cash.
Parra has been detained since his arrest. On December 9, 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and a quantity of heroin; possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon; and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Parra’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for drug and arson offenses.
Arce pleaded guilty and on January 12, 2026, was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment.
This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the Stamford Police Department, the Bridgeport Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Connecticut State Police, and the Norwalk, Danbury, and Darien Police Departments. The DEA HIDTA Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford, and Danbury Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia Stolfi Collins and Geoffrey M. Stone.
Springfield Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Distribution and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Springfield, Illinois, man, Peyton C. Dagenais, 29, was sentenced on June 11, 2026, to 204 months in prison, to be followed by a 15-year term of supervised release, for distribution and possession of child pornography. Restitution was ordered for each of the victims in the case.
At the sentencing hearing, the government established that Dagenais had a long history of child pornography possession and distribution and that his behavior had escalated to possessing physical items related to his sexual interest in children and expressed a desire to rape a child.
Also at the hearing, U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless described the number of images possessed by Dagenais as rather extraordinary and said that the images were egregious. Judge Lawless also noted the defendant’s escalation in conduct and emphasized the need to protect the public from further acts of the defendant in crafting her sentence.
In February 2026, Dagenais pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography. Dagenais remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service where he has been since his arrest in September 2025.
The statutory penalties for distribution of child pornography are not less than five years and up to 20 years’ imprisonment, up to a life term of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and restitution. The statutory penalties for possession of child pornography are not more than 10 years’ imprisonment, five years to a life term of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.“Any individual who shares, receives, and possesses child sexual abuse material contributes to the irreparable harm suffered by these victims,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. “This behavior poses a risk to all children as these predators constantly seek new images and that desire creates a greater risk of potential hands-on offenses.”
“This case highlights the reality of how digital exploitation can escalate into an imminent physical threat to children,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge Ryan Presley. “By intercepting this defendant before his expressed desires turned into physical violence, we successfully protected the community from a dangerous predator. This lengthy sentence ensures that the defendant can no longer exploit children or threaten their safety. The FBI and our partners will remain relentless in pursuing these predators and ensuring they face justice.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, investigated the case with assistance from the Lewiston, Maine Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner K. Jacobs represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Dagenais was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Springfield Man Sentenced for Leading Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his leadership role in a drug trafficking conspiracy involving four defendants and millions of dollars’ worth of controlled substances.
Keith L. Rayford, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 25 years in federal prison without parole for one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and ecstasy after a prior drug felony conviction. Rayford pleaded guilty on Aug. 6, 2025. Because Rayford committed the offense while on federal supervised release following a prior federal drug trafficking conviction, Judge Wimes sentenced Rayford to an additional five years in federal prison without parole, for a total sentence of 30 years in federal prison.
According to court documents, on June 8, 2023, officers with the Springfield, Mo., Police Department were conducting surveillance on Ted Tyson’s residence when they observed a cream-colored Chevrolet Avalanche pull into the driveway. Tyson walked out of the residence carrying a white plastic sack and approached the vehicle. Tyson walked back to the residence without the sack and the Avalanche left. Officers conducted a traffic stop on the Avalanche in a parking lot and identified the driver as Rayford. Rayford consented to a search of his vehicle, and officers located the white plastic sack, which was found to contain approximately $21,004 in U.S. currency. Officers then executed a search warrant at Tyson’s residence, where they located and seized a black trash bag containing three gallon-size Ziploc bags of methamphetamine, five firearms, assorted ammunition, digital scales and plastic baggies. Investigators later learned that Tyson was conspiring with Rayford, Corey Williams, and Shannon Wells to distribute controlled substances.
On Sept. 1, 2023, officers executed a search warrant at Corey Williams’ residence in Springfield. Search of the residence yielded approximately 97.76 grams of cocaine, approximately 326.95 grams of fentanyl, approximately 104.78 grams of heroin, approximately 330 fentanyl pills, four firearms, and approximately $54,500 in U.S. currency. On Sept. 6, 2023, officers arrested Williams in possession of approximately 37 pounds of methamphetamine and approximately 930 grams of cocaine. Investigators later discovered that Williams paid Rayford between $80,000 and $85,000 for the drugs, and that Williams was obtaining similar amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine from Rayford on a weekly basis. In total, Rayford was found to be responsible for the distribution of 3,085 pounds of methamphetamine, 97.61 pounds of cocaine, six kilograms of fentanyl, and 330 fentanyl pills.
Rayford is the third defendant to be sentenced in this case. Corey Williams was sentenced on Apr. 6, 2026, to 276 months in federal prison without parole for one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and ecstasy, and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Shannon Wells was sentenced on June 15, 2026, to 124 months in federal prison without parole for one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and ecstasy, and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Ted Tyson has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and ecstasy, and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and is awaiting sentencing.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, and the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office.
Homeland Security Task Force
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.
Southport Man Federally Indicted for Child Exploitation CrimesRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – John Massimiani, III, 46, of Southport, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on one count of transportation of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of destruction of property to prevent its search and seizure. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
Massimiani appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for July 20, 2026, at 8:30 am, before District Judge Mark E. Walker in Tallahassee, Florida.
If convicted, Massimiani faces a minimum of 5 years’ imprisonment, and up to 20 years’ imprisonment, on the transportation of child pornography count. Massimiani also faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the possession of child pornography count, and up to 5 years’ imprisonment for the destruction of property count.
The case is being jointly investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Southeast Missouri Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. District Judge John A. Ross on Tuesday sentenced a man caught with more than four pounds of meth to 10 years in prison.
Craig M. Perkins, now 55, pleaded guilty in March to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He admitted as part of his plea that during a court approved search of his home in Howardville, in New Madrid County, on May 21, 2025, investigators found about 4.2 pounds of meth. They found half an ounce of meth and 36 rounds of ammunition in a vehicle in the driveway. His phone contained text messages indicative of drug trafficking and photos of firearms and Perkins displaying large stacks of cash.
A motion filed in July of 2025 seeking to have Perkins held in jail until trial says that he has been a drug dealer in New Madrid County since at least 2002, and supplied dealers who sold meth to customers. The search of Perkins’ home followed seven purchases of meth from two of those dealers, the motion says.
The Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force and the Missouri State Highway patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Shelton prosecuted the case.
Southeast Missouri Felon Caught with Machine Gun Sentenced to 46 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. District Judge John A. Ross on Tuesday sentenced a man caught with a fully automatic pistol to 46 months in prison.
Jadiah Dawontra Hines, 20, pleaded guilty in March to two counts: possession of a machine gun and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted possessing a stolen Glock .40-caliber pistol with a “switch,” or machine gun conversion device, attached, rendering it a fully automatic weapon. Hines had posted a photo on social media of himself with a small child seated between his legs and pointing the Glock in the air over the child’s head. When confronted by a woman about the picture, Hines threatened her, saying he would “shoot her in the face,” Hines’ plea says. The gun had been reported stolen in Scott County. Hines has prior convictions for stealing firearms in New Madrid and Mississippi counties and for stealing a vehicle in Scott County, and awaits sentencing in circuit court for violating his probation in those cases.
The Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Willis 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 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 and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Southbridge Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Drug Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON –A Southbridge man pleaded guilty on June 11, 2026 in federal court in Worcester to conspiring to distribute cocaine in Central Massachusetts.
Luis Sastre Pagan, 37, of Puerto Rico and formally of Southbridge, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for Sept. 15, 2026. Pagan was charged in November 2024, along with co-conspirators Eric Rivera and Miguel Lopez.
From in or about April 2023 through April 2024, Sastre Pagan participated in a conspiracy that shipped kilograms of cocaine into Central Massachusetts from Puerto Rico. Evidence showed that the defendant was in communication with co-conspirators before and after the deliveries and that Sastre Pagan was directing the activity of his co-defendants and other co-conspirators as to the activity of the drug trafficking organization in and around Southbridge and Worcester. Over the course of the investigation, four packages related to the drug trafficking organization were seized, each of which were found to contain cocaine. In total, between 15-50 kilograms of cocaine is attributable to Sastre Pagan as part of his participation in the conspiracy.
The charge of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
In August 2025, Rivera pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine. In November 2025 he was sentenced to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In April 2026, Lopez was sentenced to six years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Jason Buckley, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the DEA Puerto Rico and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin Brown of the Worcester Branch Office 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 Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Seven people sentenced to prison for their roles in $31M coupon fraud schemeRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Sherise Williams, 40, of Palmetto, Florida, was sentenced today to three years and five months in prison for mail fraud. She is the final defendant to be sentenced for a multi-million-dollar fraudulent coupon scheme.
According to court documents, from at least April 2017 through May 2020, Lori Ann Talens, of Virginia Beach, used a computer to design, create, and produce a wide variety of counterfeit coupons in her Virginia Beach home, and used social media and apps to find groups of coupon enthusiasts and sell them the counterfeit coupons. These counterfeit coupons were often created with inflated values to receive items for free or at a greatly reduced price. Lori Ann Talens’ husband, Pacifico Talens Jr., 43, assisted in and profited from the operation.
Lori Ann and Pacifico Talens pleaded guilty to mail fraud, and Lori Ann also pleaded guilty to wire fraud and health care fraud for a separate scheme. Pacifico was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison. Lori Ann was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Williams and others purchased the counterfeit coupons from Lori Ann Talens in bulk quantities. For example, Williams purchased counterfeit coupons from Lori Ann Talens on 274 occasions for a total of $19,821.34. For every dollar paid to Lori Ann Talens, her customers received an estimated $50 in counterfeit coupons, at which ratio Williams caused an estimated total loss of $991,067 to retailers and manufacturers.
An analysis determined that the scheme caused a total loss of approximately $31,817,997 to retailers and manufacturers.
Amber Lynn Teague, aka Amber Johnson, 32, of Louisville, Kentucky, pled guilty on June 18, 2025, to mail fraud. On Dec. 16, 2025, Teague was sentenced to six months in prison.
Jennifer Irene Snyder, 38, of Lavon, Texas, pled guilty on July 11, 2025, to mail fraud. On Dec. 15, 2025, Snyder was sentenced to a year and three months in prison.
Melissa Kay Apodaca, 41, of Thornton, Colorado, pled guilty on June 30, 2025, to mail fraud. On Dec. 16, 2025, Apodaca was sentenced to a year and six months in prison.
Cindi Suzette Swindle, 56, of Jacksonville, Florida, pled guilty on Aug. 11, 2025, to mail fraud. On Dec. 11, 2025, Swindle was sentenced to a year in prison.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and FBI’s Norfolk Field Office investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph L. Kosky prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:24-cr-137 and 2:21-cr-39.
Serbian National Extradited to Face Charges of Transporting over $1 Million Worth of Stolen Luxury WatchesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Serbian national was extradited to the United States on June 5, 2026 to face charges for allegedly assisting in the possession and transportation of over 260 stolen luxury watches valued at $1.4 million. The defendant was arrested by Dutch authorities at an airport in Amsterdam while attempting to flee to his native Serbia.
Dusan Pericic, 41, was charged with possession and sale of stolen goods, transportation of stolen goods and conspiracy to possess, sell, and transport stolen goods. The defendant made his initial appearance in federal court in Boston on June 6, 2026 and is detained pending trial.
According to the charging documents Pericic allegedly obtained 36 luxury watches stolen from the Territorial Collectivity of Saint-Barthelemy. These watches were traced back to a retail burglary in Saint-Barthelmy of 269 luxury watches valued at $1.4 million. Pericic allegedly transported and arranged for the transportation of the stolen watches into the United Sates for sale to luxury watch dealers. He is alleged to have sold one of the stolen watches to an identified watch dealer for $34,300 in Florida. On Dec. 21, 2021, Pericic allegedly transported 36 of the stolen watches from Miami to Peabody, Mass. and enlisted a watch dealer to assist him in selling the watches.
The charges of possession and sale of stolen goods and transportation of stolen goods provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to possess, sell, and transport stolen goods provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Marshal Service. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Dutch authorities in securing Dusan Pericic’s arrest and extradition. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of the Organized Crime and Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
San Diego Man Admits Role in Alien Smuggling Scheme that Held Migrants for Ransom; Distraught Families Paid Thousands but Two Remain MissingRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Isaac Jimenez, a U.S. citizen and San Diego resident, pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting his role in an alien smuggling conspiracy that held would-be migrants hostage in Mexico while demanding ransom payments from distraught families who paid tens of thousands of dollars in vain.
As part of his plea, Jimenez acknowledged that he coordinated alien smuggling events that brought migrants to the United States from Mexico illegally for a price. Jimenez further admitted he collected ransom payments from family members of migrants who, instead of being smuggled into the U.S., were held against their will in Tijuana, never to be seen again. In at least two cases, the victims—a father of four U.S. citizen children and a young woman from Tijuana—disappeared after their families made multiple ransom payments to secure their freedom.
According to his plea agreement, although Jimenez did not personally hold migrants captive, he knew his coconspirators were committing these acts in furtherance of the broader smuggling scheme. Despite that knowledge, he continued to participate in the conspiracy and committed acts to advance it.
For example, in September 2024, Jimenez personally collected $15,000 in ransom payments from the U.S. citizen wife of the father of four who was being held against his will in Mexico by the smuggling organization. Jimenez admitted he later transported the $15,000 to Mexico and delivered it to his coconspirators. Afterward, additional ransom demands were made by the organization, some of which the man’s spouse and other family members were able to pay. Despite these payments, the smuggling organization threatened to kill the man unless his family made additional payments. After the family could give no more money, all communications from the smuggling organization ceased. The man’s whereabouts remain unknown. According to his plea agreement, to the best of Jimenez’s knowledge, the man was killed in Mexico.
In December 2024, Jimenez agreed to coordinate the smuggling of a 20-year-old woman from Tijuana, Mexico, for a smuggling fee of $7,000. Before the woman was smuggled into the United States, however, Jimenez’s coconspirators in Mexico held her against her will and demanded $30,000 from her family in exchange for her release. The smuggling organization then sent video calls to the woman’s fiancé and family members showing them pointing firearms at her and kicking her in the chest and head. The conspirators threatened to kill the woman if their ransom demands were not met. Despite the woman’s family sending an additional $10,000 to the smuggling organization, she was still not released. To the best of Jimenez’s knowledge, the woman was killed in Mexico.
As part of his guilty plea, Jimenez has agreed to pay $24,500 to the family members of the missing migrants, for funeral and related expenses and as restitution for a portion of the ransom payments made to the smuggling organization in the course of the conspiracy.
Jimenez is scheduled to be sentenced on September 11, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Miller and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Samson Schatz.
DEFENDANT Case Number 25cr2648-JLS
Isaac Jimenez Age: 30 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Bring in Certain Aliens – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371, and Title 8, U.S.C., Section 1324(a)(2)(B)(ii)
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine
Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain – Title 8, U.S.C., Section 1324(a)(2)(B)(ii)
Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison (and a mandatory minimum three years) and $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Homeland Security Investigations
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 and prosecuted by the California Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Record-breaking Tallahassee Police Department Drug Bust Leads to Federal Indictment of Drug TraffickerRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Chandale Maurice Mills, 42, of Tallahassee, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for possession with intent to distribute multiple controlled substances including more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, 500 grams of methamphetamine, 40 grams of fentanyl, and 50 kilograms of marijuana; possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking; and possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
Mills appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for July 27, 2026, at 8:30 am before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Tallahassee, Florida.
If convicted as charged, Mills faces ten years’ to Life imprisonment on the drug trafficking count, five years to Life for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and up to 15 years’ imprisonment for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
The case was investigated by the Tallahassee Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
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 United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Recidivist Fraudster Sentenced to 160 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton announced that MATTHEW BLAKE MORROW-WU, a/k/a “Blake Wu,” a/k/a “Blake Ho,” a/k/a “Blake Morrow,” a/k/a “Matthew Wu,” a/k/a “Matthew Ho,” a/k/a “Matthew Blake Morrow,” was sentenced today to 160 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein for perpetrating a scheme to defraud a Manhattan architecture firm during the COVID-19 pandemic, after which he obstructed justice and pled from prosecution. On April 28, 2025, MORROW-WU pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, substantive wire fraud and mail fraud, impersonation of a federal officer, falsification of records, and obstruction of justice.
“Morrow-Wu, a recidivist, preyed on a small business during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent proceeds,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “When he was caught, Morrow-Wu then tried to cover up his crimes and fled from prosecution. Today’s sentence should make clear to fraudsters that there are significant consequences for their crimes.”
According to the charging documents and other filings and statements made in court proceedings:
Between approximately 2020 and January 2023, MORROW-WU defrauded a Manhattan architecture firm (“Firm-1”) and its owners of nearly $400,000 through fraudulent check deposits and credit card transactions. MORROW-WU carried out his scheme by using inside information obtained from Firm-1, which he used to steal money from Firm-1 and its clients, including by depositing Firm-1’s funds directly into his own bank accounts and accruing tens of thousands of dollars in fraudulent charges on Firm-1’s credit cards.
This scheme was the latest in MORROW-WU’s lengthy history of fraud, including prior convictions for identity theft, check fraud, credit card fraud, passport fraud, and obstruction of justice. In addition to these convictions, MORROW-WU—despite not being a licensed attorney—misappropriated the state bar license of an attorney with a similar name, which he used to fraudulently obtain legal employment and to fraudulently incorporate various law offices.
MORROW-WU also undertook significant efforts to conceal his fraudulent scheme, including by forging correspondence by Firm-1 and using his fake law practices as cover. Moreover, in October 2022, MORROW-WU sent the victims a forged target letter purporting to be from the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, which threatened the victims with criminal prosecution for committing fraud.
MORROW-WU was arrested and charged with fraud offenses in January 2023. In February 2025, while on bail pending trial, MORROW-WU submitted to the Court a false letter from a purported doctor claiming, inaccurately, that MORROW-WU had metastatic cancer, in an effort to delay his then-upcoming trial. Thereafter, MORROW-WU was charged with obstruction offenses and, after failing to appear for a scheduled court conference, fled to California, where he was apprehended by law enforcement.
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In addition to the prison term, MORROW-WU, 42, of Jersey City, New Jersey, was sentenced to 3 years of supervised release, ordered to forfeit $406,788.08, and ordered to pay $197,965.38 in restitution.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the U.S. Postal Inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and thanked the U.S. Marshals Service and the Solano County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance with the apprehension of MORROW-WU.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jerry J. Fang, Michael R. Herman, Henry L. Ross, and Angela Zhu are in charge of the prosecution.
Prichard Police Officer Arrested on Charges of Civil Rights Violations, Bribery, Evidence Tampering, and ExtortionRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Prichard police officer has been arrested on a criminal complaint charging him with federal crimes he is alleged to have committed in his capacity as a law enforcement officer.
According to court documents, Emmanuel Naman Dotch, II, a police officer with the Prichard Police Department (PPD), has been charged with multiple criminal counts, including civil rights violations, conspiracy, taking bribes, tampering with evidence, and extortion.
The criminal complaint alleges that Dotch covered up crimes and concealed evidence for violent individuals to assist them in avoiding prosecution. The complaint affidavit further alleges that Dotch conspired with other PPD officers to conduct unlawful traffic stops and detentions of victims to deprive them of rights secured by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Finally, the charges allege that Dotch extorted individuals for bribes in exchange for letting them go free from arrest and agreed to accept corrupt payments to commit illegal acts, including transporting bulk marijuana, all while acting under the color of law as a police officer. As with all charges, this defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
This case was the result of the outstanding collaboration and coordination of the Alabama Homeland Security Task Force, along with state and local partners. United States Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama said, “I would like to thank the talented and dedicated law enforcement agents of the HSTF and our partner agencies who brought this investigation forward. The success of this case demonstrates the strength of interagency cooperation and the unwavering commitment of law enforcement partners to protecting the community and holding criminals accountable – no matter who they may be.”
This Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation collected information from numerous sources and spanned a substantial timeframe. Members of the public with information that may be relevant to this case should reach out to the FBI online at www.tips.fbi.gov or by phone at 251-438-3674. Information may be submitted anonymously.
This arrest 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 Mobile comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, ATF, the United States Marshals Service, DEA, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, Mobile Police Department, and the Mobile District Attorney’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama.
Pensacola Felon Indicted on Narcotics and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – James Darnell Shoemo, Jr., 30, of Pensacola, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges.
Shoemo appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Charles A. Stampelos for his initial appearance at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida. Trial is scheduled for September 8, 2026, at 8:30 am in Pensacola before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
If convicted, Shoemo, Jr. faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute marijuana count; up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon count; and a minimum mandatory 5 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, consecutive to any other sentence on the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
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 United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Operation Viper Results in 39 Arrests, the Seizure of 35 Firearms, Large Quantities of Narcotics, Money, and Nine Federal IndictmentsRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—In coordination with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas and Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Little Rock Field Office announce the results of Operation Viper. Operation Viper, a high-intensity fugitive apprehension initiative, resulted in 26 warrants executed, the arrests of 39 individuals, a seizure of 35 firearms, the seizure of $74,400 in illegal proceeds, approximately 100 pounds of marijuana, and large quantities of fentanyl and other illicit pills. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has indicted nine of individuals arrested for federal firearms violations.
“Together with our law enforcement partners, our office seeks to remove as many violent and repeat offenders from our communities as possible,” said U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Ross, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “The success of this collaboration reflects the ongoing commitment of our office, law enforcement, and first responder partnerships to lower violent crime and the consistent pursuit of violent offenders across Arkansas.”
“The success of Operation Viper reflects the unwavering commitment of the FBI and our strong partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies throughout Arkansas,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason Van Goor, FBI Little Rock Field Office. “Violent crime will not be tolerated in our state, and we will continue to aggressively target and hold accountable those who endanger our communities.”
On June 2, 2026, nine individuals arrested as part of Operation Viper were indicted by a federal grand jury, as follows:
Werrick Baines, 19, Jacksonville, Arkansas,
Kenny Lamar Branson, 41, Little Rock, Arkansas,
Ynohtna W. Carroll, 25, North Little Rock, Arkansas,
Leon Harris, 20, Little Rock, Arkansas,
Charles Edward Layton, III, 40, North Little Rock, Arkansas,
Jeffery Wayne Murdock, 41, Little Rock, Arkansas,
Terjun Tramaine Parker, 49, Alexander, Arkansas,
Zavier Marqise Rhodes, 23, North Little Rock, Arkansas, and
Kaylon Roshon Robinson, 27, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Federal charges for these individuals include felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a machinegun, and possession with intent to deliver marijuana.
In addition to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Arkansas, and FBI’s Little Rock Field Office, additional agencies involved in Operation Viper include, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, Arkansas State Police, Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, White County Sheriff’s Office, Little Rock Police Department, North Little Rock Police Department, Pine Bluff Police Department, Arkansas Community Correction, and the STAR Team from the Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services.
*An Indictment is an allegation and all individuals named in the Indictment are innocent until proven guilty in a federal court of law.
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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
X (formerly known as Twitter):
@USAO_EDAR
North Carolina Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Violating the Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification ActRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – – James Terry Lawson Jr., 43, pleaded guilty today to failing to register and update his registration as a sex offender as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) after traveling in interstate commerce and relocating to West Virginia.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from on or about October 1, 2024, through on or about May 1, 2025, Lawson resided in Vienna, West Virginia, without registering as a sex offender. Lawson was convicted of indecent liberties with children in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, Superior Court on December 3, 2003, and is required to register under SORNA.
Lawson has a criminal history that also includes prior convictions for failing to register as a sex offender on May 27, 2004, September 21, 2009, and July 14, 2017.
Lawson is scheduled to be sentenced on October 5, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police and the United States Marshals Service (USMS).
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the case.
SORNA is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 and provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs, in part by requiring registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-3.
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Newport News felon sentenced to four years in prison for firearm possession and gate crashing at Naval Station NorfolkRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man was sentenced today to four years in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and unlawful entrance upon a naval installation.
According to court documents, during a traffic stop on Dec. 16, 2024, Newport News Police found Malik Rashun Hughes, 27, in possession of a stolen handgun loaded with a large-capacity magazine containing sixteen rounds of ammunition. As a previously convicted felon, Hughes cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
On July 19, 2025, Hughes stole a vehicle in Virginia Beach. He crashed into another vehicle near Naval Station Norfolk. As he fled the scene of the collision, Hughes illegally entered the installation, ignoring directions from a sentry at the entry control point. When police attempted to stop the vehicle, Hughes attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended in possession of an air soft gun and a half-consumed bottle of tequila.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division investigated this case with assistance from the Newport News Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mack Coleman 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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:25-cr-55.
New York City Public School Teacher Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Joseph Taylor McKeel, a public school teacher at a high school in New York City, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. The proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Cross-Goldenberg. When sentenced, McKeel faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the guilty plea.
“McKeel possessed graphic images of child sexual abuse, including sexual abuse of infants and toddlers, all while employed in a position of trust as a high school biology teacher,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Prosecuting those who victimize children by feeding the market for child pornography will always be a top priority of our Office and our law enforcement partners.”
“Joseph McKeel, a New York City public-school teacher, exploited children by obtaining child pornography that included infants and toddlers. This is not just a horrific violation of law and abuse of children, but a profound betrayal of the trust placed in him as a teacher. Our FBI/NYPD Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Task Force will relentlessly pursue those who engage in such despicable conduct,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.
As set forth in court filings, McKeel, a high school biology teacher, possessed hundreds of images of child pornography. McKeel was arrested in March 2026 on his way to work carrying a backpack that contained a thumb drive with over 150 images of child sexual abuse, along with a pipe used for smoking methamphetamine. An additional device containing child sexual abuse material was found during the execution of a search warrant at McKeel’s residence.
This prosecution is 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca Sussman and Samuel Rackear are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
JOSEPH TAYLOR MCKEEL
Age: 33
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-CR-148 (RPK)
Modesto Dark Web Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Devlin Hosner, 37, of Modesto, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to 10 years in prison for a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Hosner and co-defendant Holly Adams, 36, made hundreds of thousands of dollars selling fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills and methamphetamine on the dark web, and laundered the proceeds through cryptocurrency mixers, wallets, and other online tools. In September 2021, state law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at their residence. Hosner tried to block their entry while Adams destroyed pills by pouring them into a chemical solution. Both were arrested, released, and soon resumed selling fentanyl on the dark web while unknowingly under federal investigation.
In March 2022, federal law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at a hotel room in Riverside County where Hosner and Adams were staying and seized nearly a kilogram of fentanyl-pressed pills and 60 grams of methamphetamine.
On Dec. 9, 2026, Hosner pleaded guilty. Adams pleaded guilty on June 18, 2024, and was sentenced to 12 years in prison on June 3, 2025.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Northern California Illicit Digital Economy (NCIDE) Task Force, which includes agents from the IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The NCIDE Task Force is a federal task force focused on targeting all forms of illicit dark web and cryptocurrency activity in the Eastern District of California and beyond. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stefanki prosecuted the case.
Mexican national sentenced for role in large-scale international cocaine trafficking offenseRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Mexican national was sentenced today to 14 years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to import approximately 1,900 kilograms of cocaine into the United States.
According to court documents, Jesus Rauda-Avila was a member of a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) led by Marisela Flores-Torruco that was responsible for importing multi-hundred-kilogram quantities of cocaine into the United States.
The DTO, which had operations in New York, Texas, and elsewhere in the United States, sourced its cocaine from Colombia and provided logistical and financial support to coordinate the narcotics’ passage through Central America and Mexico and into the United States. During the investigation, law enforcement made several cocaine seizures, including approximately 971 kilograms of cocaine on April 21, 2017, and 500 kilograms of cocaine on May 10, 2017, nearly all of which was attributable to the DTO.
From 2016 to October 2017, in coordination with Flores-Torruco’s DTO, Rauda-Avila arranged and directed the transportation of funds, drivers, and vehicles from northern Mexico to southern Mexico to purchase and pick up cocaine, which was subsequently transported into the United States for distribution. Rauda-Avila conducted at least ten such narcotics purchases in partnership with Flores-Torruco’s DTO, each involving between 100 and 400 kilograms of cocaine.
Rauda-Avila pled guilty to conspiring to import cocaine to the United States. Two of Rauda-Avila’s and Flores-Torruco’ co-conspirators, Qiyun Chen, and Jose Francisco Mendoza-Gomez, have been convicted in the Eastern District of Virginia for their roles within the DTO, as have several individuals involved with the related Chinese money laundering network. Flores-Torruco pled guilty to possession, manufacture, or distribution of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison. Chen pled guilty to money laundering conspiracy and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Mendoza-Gomez pled guilty to conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit, investigated the case, with assistance from DEA’s offices in Cartagena (Colombia), Bogota (Colombia), Panama City, Mexico City, and Guatemala City. U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service provided substantial assistance in the investigation. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition from Mexico.
Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher M. Carter and Edgardo J. Rodriguez for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Chelsea R. Rooney of the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section of the Criminal Division prosecuted 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 Washington, D.C., comprises agents and officers from the FBI; Homeland Security Investigations; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; DEA; Diplomatic Security Service; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service; Naval Criminal Investigative Service; Transportation Security Administration Federal Air Marshals Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Enforcement and Removal Operations; and Washington Baltimore HIDTA, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section's (MNF) mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.
MNF’s Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit investigates and prosecutes sophisticated money laundering schemes involving financial facilitators, gatekeepers, and other individuals and entities laundering criminal proceeds, and litigates complex civil forfeiture cases to recover assets on behalf of victims.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:17-cr-147.
Mexican National Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Role in Large Scale International Cocaine Trafficking OffenseRead the Press Release
A Mexican national was sentenced today to 14 years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to import approximately 1,900 kilograms of cocaine into the United States.
According to court documents, Jesus Rauda-Avila, 46, was a member of a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) led by Marisela Flores-Torruco that was responsible for importing multi-hundred-kilogram quantities of cocaine into the United States.
“Jesus Rauda-Avila conspired with a drug trafficking organization to import almost 2,000 kilograms of cocaine into the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This level of Mexican DTO importation is the root of the injection of drugs and violence into our communities. Because of people like this defendant, countless Americans lives are ruined, and their families are left picking up the pieces. The Criminal Division will pursue drug traffickers at this level and remove them from our law-abiding society.”
“This case highlights DEA’s global reach and commitment to justice for those who threaten the safety and security of the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Cindy Marx of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Special Operations Division. “The case against Rauda-Avila exposes the scope of international drug conspiracies, and today's sentence reflects what's possible when DEA, as part of HSTF, works hand-in-hand with our federal and international partners to dismantle the criminal organizations that threaten Americans."
The DTO, which had operations in New York, Texas, and elsewhere in the United States, sourced its cocaine from Colombia and provided logistical and financial support to coordinate the narcotics’ passage through Central America and Mexico and into the United States. During the investigation, law enforcement made several cocaine seizures, including approximately 971 kilograms of cocaine on April 21, 2017, and 500 kilograms of cocaine on May 10, 2017, nearly all of which was attributable to the DTO.
From 2016 to October 2017, in coordination with Flores-Torruco’s DTO, the defendant arranged and directed the transportation of funds, drivers, and vehicles from northern Mexico to southern Mexico to purchase and pick up cocaine, which was subsequently transported into the United States for distribution. The defendant conducted at least ten such narcotics purchases in partnership with Flores-Torruco’s DTO, each involving between 100 and 400 kilograms of cocaine.
Rauda-Avila pleaded guilty to conspiring to import cocaine to the United States. Three of the defendant’s co-conspirators — Marisela Flores-Torruco, Qiyun Chen, and Jose Francisco Mendoza-Gomez — have been convicted in the Eastern District of Virginia for their roles within the DTO, as have several individuals involved with the related Chinese money laundering network. Flores-Torruco pleaded guilty to possession, manufacture, or distribution of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 16 years and 8 months in prison. Chen pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Mendoza-Gomez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The DEA’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit, investigated the case, with assistance from DEA’s offices in Cartagena (Colombia), Bogota (Colombia), Panama City, Mexico City, and Guatemala City. U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service provided substantial assistance in the investigation. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition from Mexico.
Trial Attorney Chelsea R. Rooney of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edgardo J. Rodriguez and Christopher M. Carter for the Eastern District of Viriginia prosecuted 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 Washington, D.C., comprises agents and officers from the FBI; Homeland Security Investigations; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; DEA; Diplomatic Security Service; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service; Naval Criminal Investigative Service; Transportation Security Administration Federal Air Marshals Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Enforcement and Removal Operations; and Washington Baltimore HIDTA, with the prosecution being led by the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
MNF’s mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.
MNF’s Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit investigates and prosecutes sophisticated money laundering schemes involving financial facilitators, gatekeepers, and other individuals and entities laundering criminal proceeds, and litigates complex civil forfeiture cases to recover assets on behalf of victims.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
McAlester Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that John Edward Peasha, II, a/k/a John Edward Peasha, Jr., age 44, of McAlester, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment charged Peasha with knowingly possessing one 9mm semi-automatic pistol and 11 rounds of ammunition on February 6, 2026, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the McAlester Police Department, and the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Peasha will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin Knutson represented the United States.
Maryland Brothers Plead Guilty to Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Maryland twin brothers pled guilty to tax-evasion charges in federal court, today, for their roles in a tax-fraud scheme.
Dennis March, 55, and Greg March, 55, both of Berlin, each pled guilty to one count of tax evasion for concealing income and failing to pay business and individual taxes.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty pleas with Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington D.C. Field Office. This prosecution is part of the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.
According to their guilty pleas, from 2017 until April 2023, Dennis and Greg March both willfully evaded paying the lawful taxes they owed on their business and personal income-tax returns for 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. During this time, the March brothers committed multiple affirmative acts in Maryland that constituted tax evasion and attempted tax evasion. In total, the March brothers each unlawfully concealed more than $4.5 million in income generated from 2017 to 2023, and each failed to pay nearly $1.8 million in taxes on that income.
Beginning in 2017, and continuing into 2023, the March brothers, along with a third business partner, jointly owned and controlled various business entities and ventures, including Elite Marketing Group LLC, Elite MG LLC, and Principal Law Group. Through the operation of Principal, Elite, Elite MG, and their other entities, the March brothers and their business partner generated significant revenues and income from 2017-2023.
Instead of paying the taxes they owed, the March brothers worked to hide their incomes. They concealed their incomes by arranging payments to a shell entity that they controlled. This allowed the brothers to treat payments as expenses or costs of their businesses, when in reality, these payments were effectively distributions of income to themselves. The brothers also failed to file numerous legally required IRS forms, including required business and personal tax returns.
In September 2021, the March brothers sought to use the income generated through the tax-evasion scheme to purchase various real-estate properties, including in Florida, which they jointly controlled with their business partner. Their purchases included several Florida real-estate properties worth more than $2 million and payments to a Florida building company for the construction of two homes on undeveloped Florida lots. From 2017 to 2022, the March brothers withdrew more than $3.5 million in currency from business bank accounts.
The brothers are each facing five years in federal prison for tax evasion. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is set for Friday, November 6, at 1 p.m.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the IRS-CI for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ari D. Evans and Harry M. Gruber who are prosecuting this federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Man Sentenced to More Than 33 Years in Prison for Operating Online Chat Group That Shared Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man has been sentenced to more than 33 years in federal prison for operating an online chat group that shared large amounts of child pornography.
CHRISTOPHER MARTIN operated and led a group chat on the instant-messaging mobile application Kik. Martin moderated the chat and enforced the rules. The primary rule was that if members wanted to stay in the group, they had to constantly share photos and videos of child pornography. For example, when a prospective user wanted to join the group, Martin wrote, “Send what you got. Anything young is fine for group trade . . . Send youngest.” If group members were slow to share child pornography, Martin would pressure them to do so, writing, “If you don’t send [images to the group] you will be removed [from the group].” Martin was also a prolific sharer and trader of child pornography in his group chat.
Martin, 46, of Markham, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal charges of transportation of child pornography. On June 11, 2026, U.S. District Chief Judge Virginia M. Kendall sentenced Martin to 33 years and nine months in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.
“Defendant’s offense is extremely serious,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Elie Zenner argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Defendant’s facilitation of the sharing of hundreds of images and videos of young children being abused helped to drive the creation of those images and videos, and the creation of future images and videos of other abused children.”
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Lehigh Valley Man Sentenced to over Six Years in Prison for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Fraud and Defrauding Local Car DealershipsRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Justin Heimbach, 34, of Bath, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 76 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and $598,257 in restitution by United States District Judge John M. Younge for schemes to defraud the federal government and multiple local car dealerships.
The defendant was charged by indictment in August 2024 and pleaded guilty in February of this year to six counts of mail fraud and four counts of wire fraud.
In March of 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which created the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program (PUA). The PUA program provided unemployment benefits to individuals not eligible for regular unemployment compensation, or extended unemployment benefits.
As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, Heimbach, who operated a construction company called TeamKJ Construction, engaged in a scheme that caused fraudulent PUA applications to be filed in the names of individuals allegedly no longer employed by TeamKJ as a result of COVID-19.
In reality, the applications contained a number of materially false statements, including that the applicant had lost their job with TeamKJ as a result of COVID-19 and the date the applicant lost their job with TeamKJ due to the pandemic.
In addition, Heimbach defrauded multiple Lehigh Valley car dealerships by purchasing vehicles in the names of other construction companies registered to or associated with him, and writing checks for those vehicles on bank accounts that had an insufficient balance to cover the transaction.
This case was jointly investigated by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, and FBI Philadelphia’s Allentown Resident Agency and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney S. Chandler Harris.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Lawrence Man Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Prison for Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence, Mass. man was sentenced on June 12, 2026 in federal court in Boston for distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Jhonatan Monegro Rosario, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 30 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In March 2026, Monegro Rosario pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Over a five-month period, on the North Shore of Massachusetts, Monegro Rosario distributed thousands of counterfeit Oxycodone pills made with fentanyl. Additionally, the investigation revealed that Monegro Rosario possessed a pill press which could be used to manufacture large quantities of counterfeit pills.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Dell’Anno and Brad A. Rocheville of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted 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 Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Justice Department Requires OhioHealth to Stop Using Anticompetitive Healthcare Contract Terms That Raise Costs for Ohio PatientsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division filed a proposed settlement today to resolve the United States’ civil antitrust lawsuit against OhioHealth Corporation (OhioHealth) challenging the company’s anticompetitive contract restrictions. The proposed settlement would make healthcare more affordable by forbidding OhioHealth from imposing terms in its contracts with commercial health insurers that deter budget-conscious healthcare plans that would lower costs for Ohio consumers and employers.
“Since day one, President Trump and this administration have been laser focused on affordability and cutting costs for the American people,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Today’s settlement is another example of how this Department of Justice is bringing down healthcare costs for consumers and fighting the anti-competitive behavior that drove them up in the first place.”
“Providing affordable healthcare to Americans is uncontroversial and this Department of Justice will not tolerate corporate prioritization of revenue in contravention of our antitrust laws,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “This settlement reduces costs and brings back competition in the healthcare system and we are proud of the work of the Antitrust Division in reaching this successful outcome.”
This litigation and the proposed settlement, which the State of Ohio joined, are part of the Antitrust Division’s ongoing enforcement efforts to promote competitive healthcare markets.
“As I stated when we filed this lawsuit, healthcare competition is critical,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Omeed A. Assefi of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “This settlement will secure lower healthcare costs for Ohioans, and ending these anticompetitive contract terms will restore competition for patients in the Columbus area.”
“The Antitrust Division is fully committed to our important work in making healthcare affordable for our nation’s patients and employers,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole Sarrine of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “We are incredibly proud to have achieved this strong result for Ohioans.”
As alleged in the United States’ complaint, OhioHealth has used its market power to enact contractual restrictions that encumber or fully preclude insurers from offering innovative and budget-conscious health-insurance plans or plan features. OhioHealth has made insurers include OhioHealth in all of the networks for the commercial insurance products they offer, irrespective of OhioHealth’s prices versus those of its competitors. Purchasers of health insurance in Ohio have therefore been left with fewer choices and higher prices.
If approved by the court, the proposed consent judgment would:
- Void OhioHealth’s existing contract provisions that prohibit or deter insurers from offering innovative and budget-conscious health-insurance plans or plan features;
- Prevent OhioHealth from seeking or obtaining such contract provisions in the future;
- Prevent OhioHealth from penalizing or threatening to penalize health insurers from offering innovative and budget-conscious health-insurance plans or plan features; and
- Appoint a monitor for a five-year term and impose obligations on OhioHealth to submit regular reports to the Antitrust Division to ensure compliance with these remedies.
As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with a competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any interested person should submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement within 60 days following the publication to Jill Maguire, Acting Chief, Healthcare and Consumer Products Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 4100, Washington, DC 20530. At the conclusion of the public comment period, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio may enter the final judgment upon finding it is in the public interest.
OhioHealth owns or manages 16 hospitals and outpatient facilities throughout the State of Ohio.
Justice Department Files to Intervene and Dismiss Lawsuit that Would Hamper America’s AI Innovation and SecurityRead the Press Release
Note: View motion for intervention and dismissal here.
Yesterday, the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) filed a motion to intervene and to dismiss a private citizen lawsuit seeking to power down a large artificial intelligence (AI) facility in Southaven, Mississippi.
The filings concern a case where private litigants sued xAI and its subsidiary MZX Tech LLC, alleging violations of Clean Air Act permitting requirements, even though the State of Mississippi — which is charged with administering the permitting program — decided no permit was required. Plaintiffs’ allegations concern the power source for an AI data facility which trains and develops new AI models that are critical to the economy and the Department of War. The private litigants seek an injunction and damages.
“Ultimate responsibility for enforcing federal law belongs to the Executive Branch, not private interest groups,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “The Department of Justice is committed to maintaining that constitutional order while protecting national security and promoting American energy and innovation.”
“The Department of Justice will not sit idly by while private organizations use environmental laws to undermine our national security,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of ENRD. “This case reflects the important work of the Environment and Natural Resources Division to unleash American energy for the sake of innovation and security.”
President Donald J. Trump’s recently issued executive order Promoting Advanced Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Security tasks federal agencies, committees, and officials to prioritize the promotion of AI innovation and security across the federal government. The Department of War is one of many agencies that protect Americans by utilizing AI. Overly burdensome regulation, including private lawsuits that seek to implement their own environmental enforcement, can threaten technological growth, American energy independence, and national security.
The Clean Air Act gives the federal government authority to intervene in citizen suits, and the Constitution gives responsibility for enforcing the laws to the President. That includes the power to exercise enforcement discretion in the national interest. In its filing, ENRD asked the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi to dismiss the lawsuit, which would turn off critical power during an energy emergency and hinder the War Department’s use of AI for national defense.
xAI Motion to Intervene - ENRD.pdfJuneau man sentenced to 40 years for sexually abusing a minor to produce child pornographyRead the Press Release
JUNEAU, Alaska – A Juneau man was sentenced today to 40 years in prison for sexually abusing a young boy to produce child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) and post the visuals on the dark web.
According to court documents, from March to August 2024, William Steadman, 35, manipulated and groomed a vulnerable 10-year-old boy he had access to in his community. He sexually abused the minor and produced 43 images and 63 videos depicting the abuse. He posted some of these visuals to platforms on the dark web. Steadman bragged about his sexual abuse and manipulation of the minor on the platforms.
Prior to the charged offense, Steadman was previously convicted of possessing child pornography in Alaska state court in 2018, requiring him to register as a sex offender. Following his release from state custody, Steadman began a dark web collection of thousands of visuals depicting child sexual abuse and eventually distributing CSAM he produced of the minor victim. Steadman possessed over 3,300 images and over 1,100 videos of CSAM, representing thousands of additional minor victims.
On Sept. 6, 2024, Steadman was arrested on a criminal complaint in Juneau. Roughly two weeks later, Steadman was indicted by a federal grand jury for his crimes. On March 31, 2025, Steadman pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography. At sentencing, the Court also ordered Steadman to spend the rest of his life on supervised release once he completes his prison sentence. The Court ordered restitution to be determined on a later date. In handing down the sentence, the Court emphasized the defendant’s long track record of recidivism and the need to protect the public from Steadman for a significant amount of time.
“Today’s sentence holds William Steadman accountable for his depraved, sustained, and repeated sexual abuse and production of CSAM with a young child who had been entrusted to his care,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Protection of America’s children and the prosecution of those who abuse and take advantage of them will always be at the forefront of the Criminal Division’s mission.”
“Mr. Steadman’s conduct in this case was evil, and his desire to repeat and escalate his heinous offenses garnered a weighty prison sentence to protect the community from him for as long as possible,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “My office has a phenomenal team of prosecutors dedicated to seeking justice against those who prey on the most vulnerable. Anyone who targets Alaska’s children will be found and held accountable for their perverse crimes.”
“The U.S. Secret Service is unwavering in its commitment to pursue predators who exploit and harm children,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Andrew Forrest of the U.S. Secret Service Criminal Investigative Division. “We will continue to work tirelessly alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure that anyone that commits these vile crimes is held fully accountable and their victims receive the justice they deserve.”
The Secret Service’s Internet Crimes Against Children Team investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mac Caille Petursson and Jack Schmidt, and Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
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