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16 June 2026
Juneau Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Sexually Abusing a Minor and Producing CSAMRead the Press Release
A Juneau, Alaska, man was sentenced today to 40 years in prison and lifetime supervised release for sexually abusing a young boy, producing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) depicting the boy, and posting 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 over 100 images and videos depicting the abuse. He posted some of these visuals to platforms on the dark web where he bragged about his sexual abuse and manipulation of the minor.
“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 (USSS) is unwavering in its commitment to pursue predators who exploit and harm children,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Andrew Forrest of the USSS 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.”
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 amassing a collection of CSAM that included 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.
The USSS’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated the case.
Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Caille Petursson for the District of Alaska 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 www.justice.gov/psc.
Journey to Hope Health and Healing and Former CEO Agree to Pay $10.2 Million to Resolve False Claims AllegationsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE: Journey to Hope, Health and Healing (Journey) and its former CEO, Kenneth L. Richardson, Jr., have agreed to pay $10.2 million to resolve allegations that the opioid treatment provider submitted false claims to the Rhode Island Medicaid program and Medicare for substance use disorder treatment services that were not provided.
Journey, when owned and led by Richardson, operated outpatient treatment facilities in Rhode Island that provided substance use disorder treatment services, including methadone-assisted treatment and mental health care services.
The settlement resolves allegations made by the State of Rhode Island and the United States in a complaint in intervention, that between January 2015 to July 2021, Journey and its management knowingly submitted false claims to the Rhode Island Medicaid program for millions of dollars.
In April 2023, the United States and the State of Rhode Island filed a complaint in intervention (complaint) under the federal and state False Claims Acts and alleged that Journey failed to provide required treatment plans and adequate counseling services to certain patients receiving methadone treatment. The complaint also alleged that Journey maintained patient caseloads at a volume so high that it was physically impossible for counselors to provide required counselling services.
The complaint further alleged that Journey and its management knowingly falsified documents by altering and backdating records to make it appear to accreditation officials and Rhode Island Medicaid auditors that they were complying with the accreditation requirements necessary to bill Rhode Island Medicaid.
Under the settlement agreement, Journey and its CEO will pay $10.2 million to the United States and the State of Rhode Island to resolve their alleged liability under the federal and state False Claims Acts. The settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Acts by former Journey employees Sara Quaresma and Michael Delmonico. Under those provisions, private parties may file civil actions on behalf of the government and receive a portion of any recovery. Under the settlement agreement, the whistleblowers will receive approximately $2.04 million of the settlement proceeds.
The matter was investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island, Peter Cote, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; the R.I. Office of the Attorney General; the R.I. Executive Office of Health and Human Services; and the R.I. Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals.
The case was handled by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Bethany Wong with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Bolan; Special Assistant Attorney General Kate Constance Brody of the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control and Patient Abuse Unit; and Genevieve M. Allaire Johnson, the former Director of the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control and Patient Abuse Unit.
Jewelry Robbers Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Gina Parra-Martinez (age 39) and Diego Ramirez-Aldana (age 29) have been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle for the robbery of an estimated $1.3 million of jewelry. Parra-Martinez was sentenced to seven years and three months in federal prison. Ramirez-Aldana was sentenced to five years and one month in federal prison. Both previously pleaded guilty. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court records and testimony at the sentencing hearing, in March 2024, Ramirez-Aldana, Parra-Martinez and at least four others robbed a jewelry vendor who was visiting Tampa to sell her jewelry at an exhibition at a hotel near the University of South Florida campus. The night of the exhibition, the victim and her sister took a rideshare from the exhibition back to their hotel. Surveillance video showed that as soon as they arrived, a vehicle pulled up, five masked individuals got out of the vehicle, rushed the victims, pushed them, and stole the victims’ bags. The estimated total value of the jewelry stolen was $1.3 million. The robbers also took $9,000 dollars in cash.
Investigators later tied four vehicles and numerous cellphones to the location of the robbery and vicinity surrounding the location. Ramirez-Aldana’s cellphone was traced to the immediate vicinity of the jewelry exhibition hours before the robbery. In one of the vehicles used in the robbery, law enforcement discovered loose gems on the floorboard. The robbery victim identified these gems as belonging to her. Forensic processing of the vehicle showed that a latent print on the false registration in the vehicle belonged to Ramirez-Aldana.
Parra-Martinez’s cellphone was traced to the vicinity of the jewelry exhibition on the day prior to the robbery. Surveillance footage from the jewelry exhibition showed a woman matching Parra-Martinez’s physical appearance walking through the exhibition wearing a baseball cap. Parra-Martinez’s fingerprint was recovered from a bag that contained bleach, wigs, and a ski mask located in another vehicle associated with the robbery.
After the Tampa robbery, Parra-Martinez traveled back to New York. A search warrant was executed for an address where she was staying in April 2024. Parra-Martinez left that address and boarded a plane to California hours before agents executed the search warrant. Parra-Martinez changed clothes mid-flight, left her luggage at the baggage claim in California, and evaded capture for several months until her eventual arrest.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.
Jefferson County Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of Children After Jury Selected for His TrialRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Birmingham man has pleaded guilty to producing child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr.
After jury selection in a trial before Chief U.S. District Judge Madeline H. Haikala, Robert Lee Ford, Jr., 35, pleaded guilty to two-counts of sexual exploitation of children.
According to the plea agreement, on January 24, 2025, a deputy with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to Children’s of Alabama hospital after receiving a report of an assault on a child. The child’s mother reported that her 14-year-old daughter had been assaulted by Ford. After further investigation and with assistance from the FBI, deputies executed a state search warrant on Ford’s apartment and arrested Ford on state charges. The FBI continued investigating and executed federal search warrants on Ford’s online accounts. A review of these accounts revealed videos of child sexual abuse material Ford had produced using the minor victim on multiple dates in December 2024 and January 2025.
“Children deserve to be protected from those who seek to exploit and abuse them,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. “By pleading guilty, the defendant has admitted responsibility for his crimes and will now be held accountable for the harm he caused the victim. I am grateful for the dedication of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners who drove this case to a successful conclusion. This case is about protecting children and ensuring that those who exploit them are brought to justice.”
“The exploitation of a child is a heinous crime. Those who prey on children should know this: the FBI will use every available resource to identify you, find you, and hold you accountable,” said Mike Kochanowski, Acting Special Agent in Charge, FBI Birmingham. “We will never stop pursuing individuals who victimize children, and we will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure they face justice.”
If you suspect or become aware of a child being sexually abused or exploited, please contact law enforcement. To alert the FBI Birmingham Office, call 205-326-6166. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing 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 and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The FBI Birmingham’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case along with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys R. Leann White and J. Patrick Lamb are prosecuting the case.
Illegal alien and local man earn prison sentences after assaulting officersRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – Two men have been ordered to federal prison for smuggling illegal aliens and for assaulting federal agents in the course of their duties, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Adrian Isaac Pimentel-Garcia, a 20-year-old illegal alien from Mexico, and Juan Carlos Lopez Jr., 24, Laredo, both pleaded guilty March 3 in separate, but similar cases to bringing an alien to the United States and assault on federal officers.
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana has now ordered both Pimentel-Garcia and Lopez to serve a total of 36 months in federal prison. At the hearings, the court heard from the victims who described how their experiences would affect them for the rest of their careers but still expressed forgiveness. Lopez must serve a three-year-term of supervised release. Not a U.S. citizen, Pimentel-Garcia is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.
In handing down the sentence in the Lopez case, Judge Saldana emphasized that but for the Grace of God, no one died. She noted that his careless behavior could have led to the death of an agent, an alien or even himself but also complimented the agent’s professionalism.
On Dec. 5, 2025, Border Patrol agents discovered a group of aliens who had just crossed into the United States from the Rio Grande in south Laredo. Law enforcement found them in a nearby residential area where they were climbing fences around homes. Pimentel-Garcia had been leading the aliens and climbed a rooftop to escape. When the agent attempted to stop the attempt, Pimental-Garcia jumped off a fence and dropkicked a Border Patrol agent in the face, knocking him to the ground. Pimental-Garcia then tried to flee by foot.
Assisting agents then detained Pimental-Garcia and the three aliens he was illegally guiding into the United States.
The day prior, Border Patrol agents discovered Lopez was driving a vehicle picking up aliens as they exited the Rio Grande near southwest Laredo. Authorities attempted a traffic stop, but Lopez sped off and led law enforcement on a vehicle pursuit. Lopez drove his vehicle from paved roads onto dirt ones that ended at a cliff. When law enforcement stopped the patrol vehicle behind him, he exited to detain Lopez. However, Lopez soon revved his engine and sped back into the agent’s path. He was able to narrowly avoid being hit and severely injured. However, Lopez did strike the patrol vehicle of another agent and caused injury to that law enforcement officer.
Lopez attempted to flee on foot, but authorities soon took him and seven smuggled aliens into custody.
FBI and Border Patrol conducted both investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Manuel A. Cardenas Jr. prosecuted the cases.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Honduran National Sentenced to 7 Months in Prison for Immigration OffenseRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Nery Leonel Rivera, 49 years old, a felon from Honduras who had been previously removed from the United States in 2015, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to felony reentry of removed alien, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Rivera was sentenced to 7 months in prison.
“The Defendant is a convicted felon and his repeated violations of our nation’s borders laws are not victimless crimes in that he was caught trying to steal an identity that would allow him to perpetuate his violations. He was convicted of possession of cocaine in 2013, removed from the United States and returned to his home country of Honduras in March 2015. He violated our nation’s borders and laws when he reentered the United States a few months later and was removed a second time in September 2015. He violated our nation’s borders and laws yet again and progressed in his disregard for our nation’s laws. Investigators found Rivera in Indiana while investigating a report of stolen identity. Rivera had paid cash to purchase the identity of another person and used a fake Social Security card and forged birth certificate to misrepresent to his employer that he was a United States citizen. Thanks to the efforts of the US Department of Homeland Security, the Indiana State Police, and AUSA Jerome W. McKeever, the Defendant was prosecuted and convicted for his crimes,” U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred said.
This case was investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security with assistance from the Indiana State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jerome W. McKeever.
Hohenwald Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Transporting Tennessee Teen Across State Lines for Illegal Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – A Hohenwald, Tennessee, man was sentenced June 12, 2026, to 108 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for coercing and enticing a 16-year-old girl to travel with him from Tennessee to Kentucky and then to Texas so that he could continue an illegal sexual relationship with her.
Drew Roden, 25, pleaded guilty on July 28, 2025, to coercion and enticement to travel in interstate commerce to engage in illegal sexual activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(a).
According to court documents and admissions made in connection with the plea, Roden, then 22 years old, met the minor victim in December 2022. He was informed at the time that she was 16 years old but continued to pursue contact with her. Roden eventually purchased a cell phone for the minor victim and encouraged her to leave her family's home in Spring Hill, Tennessee, at night to meet him.
In late January 2023, Roden drove the victim from Tennessee to Bowling Green, Kentucky, and ultimately to Houston, Texas, so that he could continue the illegal sexual relationship.
While the minor victim was missing, Roden repeatedly lied to her family, his own family, and concerned acquaintances about her whereabouts, despite being urged by multiple people to bring her home safely. The minor victim's family contacted the Spring Hill Police Department, which referred the matter to the FBI. Agents with the FBI's Nashville Field Office traced Roden's location to Houston and coordinated with the FBI's Houston Field Office, where Roden was located and arrested on Feb. 2, 2023, approximately one week after the victim was last seen at her family's home.
“Adults who exploit children for their own sexual gratification are among the most serious offenders,” said U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee. “By sexually victimizing a teenager sentence, the defendant’s conduct warranted a sentence that reflects our unwavering commitment to pursuing those who prey on children. Thanks to our valued law enforcement partners for their hard work.”
This case was investigated by the Spring Hill Police Department and the FBI's Nashville and Houston Field Offices.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica R. Morrison for the Middle District of Tennessee prosecuted the case, with assistance from Trial Attorney Adam Braskich of the Department of Justice's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.
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Guatemalan Illegal Alien Sentenced for Role in Firearms Trafficking Conspiracy in HSTF CaseRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Guatemalan illegal alien, unlawfully in the United States, received a federal prison term, today, for charges stemming from a federal firearms investigation.
Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Lester Ramos Perez, 29, to 78 months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for his role in a firearms trafficking conspiracy and possessing a firearm as a prohibited person. Ramos Perez is prohibited from possessing firearms due to his citizenship status.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Special Agent in Charge Akil Baldwin, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland; Steven Schrank, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Atlanta; Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD); and Chief Marc R. Yamada, Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD). This prosecution is part of the Trump Administration’s Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative.
According to the guilty plea, in July 2024, ATF and HSI special agents began investigating Ramos Perez after suspecting that he was trafficking firearms from Alabama to Baltimore. Then in September 2024, Ramos Perez started living in Waldorf, Maryland.
During the investigation, through various law enforcement techniques, agents learned that Ramos Perez conspired with others to traffic firearms. Ramos Perez and a co-conspirator conspired to sell firearms during a controlled recorded transaction in Alabama and Maryland.
At least two of the firearms Ramos Perez sold to law enforcement were stolen. Additionally, at least two of the firearms Ramos Perez sold to law enforcement are classified as machineguns. Ramos Perez was also advised during this investigation that the individual he was selling firearms to possessed a criminal record and that they were purchasing the firearms on behalf of someone else. Ramos Perez knew he was selling the firearms to a prohibited person and that the person he was selling them to was not the ultimate owner/end-user/possessor of the firearms that he was illegally selling.
The Homeland Security Task Force (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 Baltimore comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI); the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the District of Maryland; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); the United States Marshals Service (USMS); the Washington/Baltimore HIDTA (W/B HIDTA); the Maryland State Police (MSP); the Baltimore Police Department (BPD); and the Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD) with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF, HSI, BPD, and MCPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Y. Hagan who is prosecuting the federal case.
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 .
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Former Senior Airman sentenced to 25 years for sexually exploiting childrenRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a former Senior Airman stationed at Scott Air Force Base to 25 years in federal prison after he admitted to sexually exploiting minors and distributing images and videos of child sexual abuse material.
Michael E. McCay, 33, pleaded guilty in January to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of distribution of child pornography. Following imprisonment, he will serve the rest of his life on supervised release.
“Our brave servicemembers protect the vulnerable and serve our nation with honor. McCay’s conduct is deeply shocking because it betrays everything it means to serve,” said United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “His 25-year sentence highlights our commitment to protect vulnerable children from this type of exploitation.”
According to court documents, a review of McCay’s electronic devices in February 2023 identified over 22,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse material. McCay also used his devices to communicate with purported minor victims. During these communications, McCay would purport to be a minor and request sexually explicit images from them. McCay’s conduct occurred in numerous locations as McCay was previously stationed in the United Kingdom, Turkey, and the Southern District of Illinois.
In January 2024, a review of McCay’s new electronic devices occurred after McCay sent money via CashApp to a suspected minor. During this second search, law enforcement found thousands of additional images and videos of child sexual abuse material along with additional communications with suspected minors.
From April 2023 through January 2024, McCay communicated with two minor victims and requested sexually explicit images from them. The child victims were 11 and 12 at the time. McCay had nearly two-dozen videos and images of the minor victims on his electronic device and McCay distributed some of those files to others.
“The exploitation of children has a lasting and profound effect on everyone involved, from the victims to the investigators,” said Special Agent Elijah Bell, with the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations. “Through the collaboration between our agents, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, our local law enforcement partners, and the Northamptonshire Police Department in the United Kingdom, we were able to swiftly pursue justice.”
The U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ali Burns 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.
Former Postal Service Employee Pleads Guilty to Failing to Deliver 14,700 Pieces of MailRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former United States Post Office employee pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to failing to deliver approximately 14,700 pieces of mail to U.S. Postal customers in Brighton, Dorchester and Mattapan.
Khalea Turner, 29, of Hull, pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of mails. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Turner was charged in May 2026.
From approximately November 2022 to January 2026, Turner worked as a full-time letter carrier and covered routes in the three Boston neighborhoods, as well as the Fort Point neighborhood. During his time as a letter carrier, Turner obstructed approximately 14,700 pieces of mail by storing the mail in a U-Haul storage locker that he rented in Weymouth, Mass. On Jan. 9, 2026, the mail was recovered by law enforcement. Included in the recovered mail were U.S. passports, jury notifications, government checks, education documents and immigration paperwork, addressed to USPS customers along Turner’s delivery routes in Brighton, Dorchester and Mattapan.
The charge of obstruction of mail provides for a sentence of up to six months in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $5,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon statutes that govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lucy Sun and Colin T. Missett of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
Former Police Officer Convicted of Federal Charge in Connection with Insurance Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal jury convicted a Maryland man for his role in conspiring to commit an insurance fraud scam.
The jury found Davion Percy, 40, of Suitland, guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in connection with the auto-insurance fraud scheme.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty verdict with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office; and Chief George Nader, Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).
According to court documents, between December 2019 and February 2020, Percy, then the Chief of the Marlow Heights Special Police Department, conspired with PGPD officer Michael Anthony Owen, Jr., 37, of Accokeek, Maryland, and Maryland National Capital Park Police officer Conrad D’Haiti, 56, La Plata, Maryland, and others to engage in mail and wire fraud designed to obtain money in the control of Liberty Mutual Insurance.
In late 2019, Percy, Owen, and D’Haiti devised a scheme to help D’Haiti avoid paying the loan balance on a 2007 Jaguar XKR that D’Haiti purchased earlier that year. Then the vehicle subsequently developed significant mechanical issues.
The three co-conspirators committed insurance fraud by fabricating the vehicle’s theft and associated loss. Specifically, Percy agreed to arrange for another co-conspirator to stage the Jaguar’s theft for the purpose of creating a total insurance loss.
On January 4, 2020, at Percy’s direction, D’Haiti parked and left the Jaguar at the rear of the Marlow Heights Shopping Center. Later that day, also at Percy’s direction, D’Haiti provided Percy with $350 at National Harbor, Maryland, to assist with staging the car theft. Then on January 23, a Liberty Mutual special investigator found the vandalized Jaguar in Marlow Heights, Maryland.
D’Haiti and Owen subsequently made a false theft report to a PGPD officer who filed a fictitious police report. Then D’Haiti used this false report to substantiate his theft claim against Liberty Mutual. In February 2020, Liberty Mutual paid the Jaguar’s lienholder, Navy Federal Credit Union, $17,585 on the false claim.
Percy faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and PGPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adeyemi Adenrele and Caroline Schechinger who are prosecuting the 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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Former Nepal Orphanage Director Indicted for Illicit Sexual Conduct with a Minor Outside the United StatesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in North Carolina returned an indictment today charging a North Carolina man with engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor outside the United States.
According to court documents, Michael Hess, 73, of Davidson, traveled to Nepal between March 2005 and July 2008 and engaged in illicit sexual conduct with a minor victim. Hess founded Papa’s House, supported by the Nepal Orphans Home, in 2005.
Hess is charged with one count of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places. He is scheduled to make his initial court appearance tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Division made the announcement.
The FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit and Charlotte Field Office are investigating the case and received assistance from their New Delhi Law Enforcement Attaché Office.
Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section is prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance.
Anyone who has information regarding the case against Hess or who may know someone victimized by the defendant is requested to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or through the FBI online tip portal. Identified victims may be eligible for certain services and rights under federal and/or state law.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Joplin Man Sentenced to 33 Years for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Joshua Stanley Miloszewski, 37, of Joplin, Mo., was sentenced in federal court on June 15, 2026, for sexual exploitation of a minor and receiving and distributing child pornography.
Miloszewski was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 400 months in federal prison without parole, followed by a life term of supervised release. Miloszewski was sentenced to 300 months for sexual exploitation of a minor and 100 months for receiving and distributing child pornography, with both sentences running consecutive to each other.
According to court documents, Miloszewski, who pleaded guilty on Dec. 18, 2025, used a cellular device to record sexually explicit activity between himself and a 16-year-old minor victim identified in court documents as Jane Doe. Miloszewski’s cellular device contained both images and videos of Miloszewski and Jane Doe engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and Jane Doe reported she had taken nude images of herself and sent them to Miloszewski using a cellular device.
Miloszewski will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the FBI, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, and the Joplin Police Department.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Former Haverhill Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving Stolen Government MoneyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Haverhill man pleaded guilty on June 10, 2026 in federal court in Boston to receiving stolen Social Security disability benefits over a period of more than five years.
Christopher D. Leon, 56, pleaded guilty to one count of receiving stolen government money or property. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Sept. 23, 2026. Leon was charged in May 2026.
Leon received approximately $87,817 in stolen Social Security disability benefits from November 2019 through August 2025. According to a statement of agreed facts, Leon lived with an applicant for Social Security disability benefits at the time of her death. After her death, the Social Security Administration (SSA) mailed a notice of award to Leon’s address. Once the Social Security benefits began to be paid via direct deposit to the decedent’s bank account, Leon used the deceased beneficiary’s debit card to access the improperly paid funds through ATM cash withdrawals each month.
The charge of receiving stolen government money or property provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, Boston–New York Field Division made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
On March 26, 2026, United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts. The Team is led by two senior federal prosecutors serving as Fraud Coordinators, whose mission it is to aggressively investigate and prosecute misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits in Massachusetts.
Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621).
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement 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.
Five men arrested & charged in plot to attack & kill government officials, others attending Ultimate Fighting Championship at White HouseRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Justice Department announced today charges against five men for an alleged plot to carry out an attack to kill government officials and others attending the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Freedom 250 event held at the White House last Sunday.
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.”
“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.”
U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II said: “The investigation of this plot began on June 10 here in the Southern District of Ohio. Thanks to the urgent and diligent work of our AUSAs, our law enforcement partners, and our sister U.S. Attorney Offices, five men from around the country are now in custody for an alleged plan to carry out an attack to kill government officials and others attending the UFC Freedom 250 event held at the White House on Sunday.
“As alleged in our complaint, the investigation revealed that a man from Knox County, Ohio, amassed weapons, ammunition and tactical gear at his home in Ohio, connected with like-minded individuals online & had identified targets for an attack.
“We are proud to have some of the Nation’s finest investigators and AUSAs in this District and are immensely grateful for their work to thwart this attack.”
“Protecting the President of the United States and the White House grounds is priority number one for the U.S. Secret Service,” said Director Sean M Curran of the U.S. Secret Service. “The landscape has changed, and as a result we have seen a dramatic rise in threats against our protectees. I am proud of the men and women of the Secret Service that vigorously monitor, investigate, and arrest those that plot to interfere with our protective mission. We are grateful for our extraordinary partnerships we share with DHS, DOJ, Acting Attorney General Blanche, FBI-JTTF, Park Police, and DC Police.”
According to the charges, Tycen C. Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio; Bryan Omar Roa, 24, of Calimesa, California; Michael Alan Thomas, 32, of Pinon Hills, California; Daniel K. Eskridge, 32, of Kidder, Missouri; and Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, conspired to plan and execute a mass casualty event targeting U.S. officials in attendance at UFC Freedom 250 hosted on the White House grounds. The conspirators allegedly planned to deploy drones armed with explosives in and around the UFC Freedom 250 event in order to force an evacuation of the event and then planned to deploy snipers to fire upon “high value targets” within the fleeing crowd.
Tycen Proper
According to filed complaints in the Southern District of Ohio, the Western District of Missouri, the District of Nebraska, and the Central District of California, investigators interviewed Proper at a medical facility on June 11. During the interview, he allegedly said he had planned with others a coordinated attack against the U.S. government during the UFC event at the White House. He said members of the group who wanted to participate in the attack began communicating with each other around March. More serious members of the group, including Proper, moved their communications to an encrypted chat app. They planned to fly small drones with explosives to detonate over the north side of the UFC arena, forcing high value targets to evacuate the premises; the group would then act as snipers and shoot these individuals. Before executing the plan, Proper and other conspirators allegedly planned to rendezvous in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Proper allegedly amassed firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and tactical gear at his home in Ohio, and he identified potential targets, including multiple members of Congress.
Bryan Roa
According to the complaint filed in the Central District of California, law enforcement executed a search warrant of Roa’s residence and vehicle where they allegedly 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 allegedly found messages in a group with Thomas, Proper, and others discussing an attack at the UFC event at the White House, with some users discussing using drones rigged with explosives to initiate the attack, with rooftop snipers killing individuals. Law enforcement also allegedly found Instagram videos Roa had posted of himself shooting guns.
Michael Thomas
According to the complaint filed in the Central District of California, Thomas allegedly participated in a group chat planning an 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 in order to conduct “marksmen training” and reflected that the group needed to train for “gorilla style warfare.”
In a June 13 search warrant, FBI agents allegedly seized from Thomas’ residence a rifle, 30-round extended magazines for the rifle, 180 of rounds of ammunition, and a pistol.
Daniel Eskridge
Eskridge was charged with conspiracy to commit murder on White House grounds. According to an affidavit filed in the Western District of Missouri, the FBI identified Eskridge while reviewing electronic communications on Proper’s cell phone. The co-conspirators had electronic chats on encrypted social media platforms. In those chats, members of the group allegedly discussed assassinating several U.S. 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, Eskridge distributed a picture of tactical equipment, including a rifle, helmet, and ballistic vest.
Also according to the affidavit, in a separate chat group, a conversation 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 U.S. 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 of Eskridge’s residence. Agents recovered rifles, a shot gun, pistol, and other tactical gear.
Abraham Alvarez
According to the charges filed in Nebraska, the FBI identified Alvarez as the individual using the name “Shepherd” in an encrypted chat app that was used to plan an attack on the UFC Freedom 250 event scheduled to be held at the White House on June 14. The FBI assessed that Alvarez, also known as “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.” Shepherd also allegedly posted other messages including replying to another member on making drones with explosives, “As many and as deadly as we can get.”; that he was working on drones; and had one drone and was working on more.
The complaint further alleges that Shepherd provided a picture and directions for a safe zone at an old church in Nebraska. He 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.
If convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Conspiracy to commit violence on White House grounds carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Five Men Arrested and Charged in Plot to Attack and Kill Government Officials and Others Attending the Ultimate Fighting Championship at White HouseRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today charges against five men for an alleged plot to carry out an attack to kill government officials and others attending the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Freedom 250 event held at the White House last Sunday.
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.”
“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.”
“Protecting the President of the United States and the White House grounds is priority number one for the U.S. Secret Service,” said Director Sean M Curran of the U.S. Secret Service. “The landscape has changed, and as a result we have seen a dramatic rise in threats against our protectees. I am proud of the men and women of the Secret Service that vigorously monitor, investigate, and arrest those that plot to interfere with our protective mission. We are grateful for our extraordinary partnerships we share with DHS, DOJ, Acting Attorney General Blanche, FBI-JTTF, Park Police, and DC Police.”
According to the charges, Tycen C. Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio; Bryan Omar Roa, 24, of Calimesa, California; Michael Alan Thomas, 32, of Pinon Hills, California; Daniel K. Eskridge, 32, of Kidder, Missouri; and Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, conspired to plan and execute a mass casualty event targeting U.S. officials in attendance at UFC Freedom 250 hosted on the White House grounds. The conspirators allegedly planned to deploy drones armed with explosives in and around the UFC Freedom 250 event in order to force an evacuation of the event and then planned to deploy snipers to fire upon “high value targets” within the fleeing crowd.
Tycen Proper
According to filed complaints in the Southern District of Ohio, the Western District of Missouri, the District of Nebraska, and the Central District of California, investigators interviewed Proper at a medical facility on June 11. During the interview, he allegedly said he had planned with others a coordinated attack against the U.S. government during the UFC event at the White House. He said members of the group who wanted to participate in the attack began communicating with each other around March. More serious members of the group, including Proper, moved their communications to an encrypted chat app. They planned to fly small drones with explosives to detonate over the north side of the UFC arena, forcing high value targets to evacuate the premises; the group would then act as snipers and shoot these individuals. Before executing the plan, Proper and other conspirators allegedly planned to rendezvous in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Screenshot of messages and maps on Proper’s phone, from the complaint filed in the Central District of California. Screenshot of messages and maps on Proper’s phone, from the complaint filed in the Central District of California.Proper allegedly amassed firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and tactical gear at his home in Ohio, and he identified potential targets, including multiple members of Congress.
A photo of Proper’s gun, from the complaint filed in the Central District of California.Bryan Roa
According to the complaint filed in the Central District of California, law enforcement executed a search warrant of Roa’s residence and vehicle where they allegedly 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 allegedly found messages in a group with Thomas, Proper, and others discussing an attack at the UFC event at the White House, with some users discussing using drones rigged with explosives to initiate the attack, with rooftop snipers killing individuals. Law enforcement also allegedly found Instagram videos Roa had posted of himself shooting guns.
Roa’s Instagram post of him shooting guns, from the complaint filed in the Central District of California.Michael Thomas
According to the complaint filed in the Central District of California, Thomas allegedly participated in a group chat planning an 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 in order to conduct “marksmen training” and reflected that the group needed to train for “gorilla style warfare.”
In a June 13 search warrant, FBI agents allegedly seized from Thomas’ residence a rifle, 30-round extended magazines for the rifle, 180 of rounds of ammunition, and a pistol.
Daniel Eskridge
Eskridge was charged with conspiracy to commit murder on White House grounds. According to an affidavit filed in the Western District of Missouri, the FBI identified Eskridge while reviewing electronic communications on Proper’s cell phone. The co-conspirators had electronic chats on encrypted social media platforms. In those chats, members of the group allegedly discussed assassinating several U.S. 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, Eskridge distributed a picture of tactical equipment, including a rifle, helmet, and ballistic vest. The photograph is below.
Photo of tactical equipment from Eskridge, from the affidavit filed in the Western District of Missouri.Also according to the affidavit, in a separate chat group, a conversation 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 U.S. 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 of Eskridge’s residence. Agents recovered rifles, a shot gun, pistol, and other tactical gear.
A photograph of the equipment from the June 13 search is below:
Tactical gear recovered by the FBI from a June 13 search of Eskridge’s residence, from the affidavit filed in the Western District of Missouri.Abraham Alvarez
According to the charges filed in Nebraska, the FBI identified Alvarez as the individual using the name “Shepherd” in an encrypted chat app that was used to plan an attack on the UFC Freedom 250 event scheduled to be held at the White House on June 14. The FBI assessed that Alvarez, also known as “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.” Shepherd also allegedly posted other messages including replying to another member on making drones with explosives, “As many and as deadly as we can get.”; that he was working on drones; and had one drone and was working on more.
The complaint further alleges that Shepherd provided a picture and directions for a safe zone at an old church in Nebraska. He 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.
Screenshot of a church, sent by Alvarez, “Shepherd,” to encrpyted chat group, from the complaint filed in the District of Nebraska.If convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Conspiracy to commit violence on White House grounds carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Felon Sentenced to 71 months in Federal Prison for Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
Hagåtña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Joseph Ryan Constantino Mallo, age 45, was sentenced to 71 months imprisonment for the crime of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). The Court also ordered three years of supervised release and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
On December 5, 2025, at approximately 10:00 p.m., Guam Police Department officers conducted a traffic stop on a black Toyota Camry traveling on Route 10 in Mangilao after observing erratic driving and learning the vehicle’s insurance had expired. The driver, Joseph Ryan Constantino Mallo, stated he did not have a valid driver’s license. Officers also noted that Mallo appeared extremely nervous and attempted to block their view of the vehicle’s center console. With his consent, officers searched the vehicle and recovered a loaded Raven Arms MP‑25 pistol from a pouch in the center console. Records confirmed the firearm had been reported stolen in 2017. Both passengers denied knowledge of the firearm.
After being advised of his rights, Mallo admitted he had acquired the firearm two days earlier from an acquaintance who said he needed money. Mallo stated he purchased it for about $100, kept it in the borrowed vehicle for protection, and acknowledged he did not have a firearms identification card and knew he was not permitted to possess a firearm. He denied knowing the weapon was stolen and later provided a signed written statement consistent with his account.
Mallo has a lengthy felony record in both the Superior Court of Guam and the District Court of Guam, including a prior federal conviction for being a Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition.
“Traffic stops are high-risk enforcement activity for police nationwide,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “I applaud GPD and ATF for taking another armed felon off our streets. Repeat offenders can expect federal prosecution and lengthy sentences. We will not tolerate this danger to our communities.”
“The unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon poses a serious threat to the safety and security of our communities,” stated ATF Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “This case demonstrates our unwavering commitment to holding prohibited individuals accountable when they choose to disregard the law and place others at risk.”
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Guam Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Devarup Rastogi prosecuted the case in the District of Guam.
Felon Sentenced for Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm During Daytime Armed Assaults in Burlington, VermontRead the Press Release
BURLINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on June 16, 2026, Jason Douglas, age 42, of Saint Albans, Vermont, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 65 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Douglas pleaded guilty on February 26, 2026 to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court records, during the middle of the day on July 29, 2024, Burlington Police Officers responded to College Street in Burlington, Vermont after reports that a man, later identified as Douglas, had pointed a firearm at another man during a dispute. Security footage from the area confirmed witness reports that Douglas had emerged from a vehicle carrying a handgun, loaded a round into the chamber of the firearm, and pointed the firearm at another man. While officers were investigating this first incident, officers received another report of Douglas pulling a handgun on a man during a fight on Main Street in Burlington. Douglas’s vehicle was located shortly thereafter, and a Ruger LCP .380-caliber pistol, loaded with a round in the chamber, was seized from the driver’s side of the vehicle. Douglas has an extensive criminal history in both Grand Isle and Franklin Counties, including convictions for kidnapping, burglary, unlawful restraint, domestic assault, simple assault, and hindering arrest. Some of these convictions stemmed from Douglas’s involvement in a violent armed home invasion in 2003 and a violent armed altercation in 2005. Douglas’s prior felony convictions prohibited Douglas from possessing a firearm under federal law.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the swift intervention of the Burlington Police Department to disarm Douglas, and thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for their investigatory assistance. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ophardt added: “Douglas twice engaged in brazen daytime armed assaults in downtown Burlington with a loaded handgun. Dedicated officers of the Burlington Police Department took quick action and promptly apprehended Douglas. I am extremely grateful for the partnership of BPD and ATF; together we will continue to hold violent offenders like Douglas accountable through federal prosecutions.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wendy Fuller and David Golubock. Douglas was represented by Devin McLaughlin, Esq.
FBI Minneapolis Field Office announces Operation Ballistic BacklogRead the Press Release
Rapid City, SD—FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson announced Operation Ballistic Backlog today, an initiative carried out by the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) in partnership with the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Department of Public Safety (OST-DPS), to address a critical need for firearms evidence testing on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. This initiative is part of the FBI’s larger, overarching surge of investigative resources to address unresolved violent crime on tribal lands called Operation Steadfast Promise.
Other initiatives make up parts of Operation Steadfast Promise. For example, FBI surged investigative resources to support Operation Not Forgotten, now in its fourth year. For 2026, Operation Not Forgotten identified a backlog of approximately 500 serviceable firearms in custody of the OST-DPS which had not been entered into the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is a crucial investigative tool managed by ATF that compares spent ammunition casings with other evidence found at crime scenes. NIBIN analyzes microscopic tool marks left on casings by the firearm used to discharge the casing and can match those markings to firearms or other spent casings in evidence, often resulting in investigative leads which may help resolve unsolved gun crimes such as assaults and murders. Since its inception, NIBIN has resulted in more than a million investigative leads on unresolved gun crimes. Many of those leads led to the conviction of drug traffickers, gang members, and murderers. The firearms in OST-DPS custody are being test fired at the OST Criminal Justice Center on Pine Ridge. The resulting casings will be run through NIBIN using the ATF’s Mobile Testing Lab, now at the FBI’s Rapid City Resident Agency during Ballistic Backlog.
“The FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office serves all of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, including the tribal lands that share the same geography,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “Our agents, analysts, and professional support employees work tenaciously to investigate major crimes on tribal lands, including many gun crimes such as major assaults and murder. This year’s initiatives like Ballistic Backlog and Operation Not Forgotten enhance our ability to make meaningful improvements in public safety and violent crime reduction. We appreciate the crucial partnership of ATF and the resources they have brought to bear in this initiative. We are also grateful for the ongoing partnerships with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety and United States Attorney Parsons’ Office which prosecutes the offenders identified by law enforcement investigations on Pine Ridge.”
“NIBIN is one of the most powerful crime gun intelligence tools for law enforcement, and ATF is the agency that operates it nationwide in support of any law enforcement partner that needs it,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Spence Burnett, St. Paul Field Division. “When the FBI came to us and asked for our support on Operation Ballistic Backlog, we didn't hesitate. We brought our NIBIN mobile unit to South Dakota because violent offenders should not be able to hide behind an unsolved case, and we are proud to put that capability to work here in support of the Oglala Sioux Tribe.”
“The Tribe sees firsthand the effects of gun violence on our people,” said Oglala Sioux Tribe Attorney General Jessica Four Bear. “Many in our communities live in continued apprehension and fear from hearing gunshots throughout the night. This is not acceptable, and it is not the Lakota way of life. As part of this coordinated approach, the Tribe is taking steps to address youth gun violence. Our responsibility is to uphold the law in a manner that honors who we are as Lakota people. We will continue to pursue approaches that reduce youth access to firearms, support families, and promote safety across the Reservation. The Tribe calls for cultural support in our homes and families. We encourage all relatives to remind our youth of Lakota values; respect, generosity, courage, and wisdom, and to model these teachings every day. Lateral violence is not the Lakota way of life. Our strength is found in kinship. Community members are encouraged to report concerns, secure firearms responsibly, and engage youth in cultural activities and mentorship. Together, with vigilance, compassion, and cultural grounding, we will ensure safer nights and a stronger future for the Oglala Nation.”
“We hear our relatives’ concerns and we share them. Our officers are committed to a visible, consistent presence, and enforcement that keep our families safe,” said Jason Lone Hill, Chief of Police, Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. “Working with our federal partners strengthens our ability to protect the community with our limited resources.”
“Operation Ballistic Backlog is a promise kept by this Administration to clear the backlog of untested firearms evidence and help deliver timely justice to protect the men, women, and children who live in the Pine Ridge Reservation and across South Dakota. Every unexamined cartridge or casing could hold the key to solving a murder or violent crime, and now—thanks to the leadership of the FBI, ATF, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety—we are going to carefully test every piece of available ballistic evidence and follow the evidence where it leads,” said U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons.In a concrete example of how crucial NIBIN testing is to advancing investigations of gun crimes in this community, last week SAC Dotson announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the murder of six-year-old Logan Warrior Goings. On May 5, 2022. Logan was at a family residence in Oglala, near the community of Pine Ridge, when one or more unidentified assailants shot approximately 14 rounds into the home, killing Logan. NIBIN testing linked a firearm found in another part of the state to the murder.
Anyone with information on the murder of Logan Warrior Goings or any other major crimes on Tribal lands is urged to call 800-CALL-FBI or submit information to tips.fbi.gov.Dorchester Man Pleads Guilty to Robbery of Local BankRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dorchester man pleaded guilty on June 11, 2026 in federal court in Boston to the robbery of a local bank. The defendant has a prior federal conviction for bank robbery and state convictions for armed and unarmed robberies.
Joseph Wilcox, 58, pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery in relation to the robbery of Santander Bank in East Boston. U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy scheduled sentencing for Sept 17, 2026. In October 2025, Wilcox was indicted by a federal grand jury. Wilcox was arrested on a criminal complaint on Oct. 1, 2025.
At approximately 11:40 a.m. on Sept. 6, 2025, Wilcox entered a Santander Bank in East Boston, approached the bank teller, showed a note stating, “give me all 20’s” and told the teller, “don’t **** with me.” The teller ultimately gave Wilcox $4,150 in cash.
According to court records, Wilcox has a prior federal conviction from 2015 for three counts of bank robbery; a 2010 state conviction for unarmed robbery; and a 2004 state conviction for armed robbery.The charge of bank robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $ 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 Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julissa Walsh of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Des Moines Man Sentenced to 21 Months’ Imprisonment for Computer FraudRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man was sentenced on June 11, 2026, to 21 months’ imprisonment for computer fraud inflicted on the Saydel Community School District for over a year and a half.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, in April 2023, Ezekiel Dean Potter, 34, was terminated from his job in the IT department of Saydel Community School District. Prior to his termination, Potter downloaded over 300 usernames and passwords for District accounts and programs, which he used over the next year and a half to access or attempt to access various District online accounts and applications to disrupt District operations.
The attacks began in June 2023 when Potter took down one of the District’s social media pages. After that, Potter began trying to revoke District employee access to critical systems and delete District accounts and information. When successful, this resulted in districtwide technology outages and required significant remediation efforts from District employees, among other interruptions. Potter’s misconduct culminated in a series of attacks in January 2025 on District applications that resulted in suspending classes for multiple hours.
It was later determined Potter orchestrated many of the attacks from the offices of his subsequent employers. At one of those employers, Potter left a USB drive that contained hundreds of District usernames and passwords, along with other sensitive District information. After realizing he left the drive behind, Potter attempted to have a former coworker to “wipe” it.
In addition to his sentence of imprisonment, Potter was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $59,668.81 in restitution to the Saydel Community School District and its insurer.
“Ezekiel Potter’s theft and malicious use of sensitive data to target his former employer resulted in significant disruptions to school operations,” said Eugene Kowel, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Omaha Field Office. “Whether it’s a large corporation or a school district here in the heartland, the FBI and our partners will use every investigative method to bring to justice criminals like Potter who weaponize privileged access to computer systems to harm victims and commit fraud.”
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Polk County Sherriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Lubben prosecuted the case.
Depew man pleads guilty to entering secure area at the Buffalo Niagara International AirportRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that that James R. Muench Jr., 45, of Depew, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. to entering aircraft or airport area, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a fine of $100,000.
According to the plea, on May 20, 2025, Muench drove his vehicle up to a closed security gate outside the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. He initially stopped at the gate, but then repeatedly rammed his vehicle into the gate, eventually bending the metal gate. Muench then drove his vehicle through the damaged and partially open gate and continued onto the aircraft operational area of the airport. Muench drove through various secure parts of the airport including the inner airfield roads, aircraft taxiways, the commercial passenger aircraft ramp area, and the active airport runways, where aircraft take off and land.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Police, under the direction of Chief Brian Patterson and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Brendan Dunford.
Sentenced is scheduled for October 15, 2026, before Magistrate Judge Schroeder.
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Department of Justice Files Suit to Stop Ongoing Medicaid Fraud Related to New York’s $10 Billion Home-Care ProgramRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York against the State of New York Department of Health, New York State Medicaid Director Amir Bassiri, and Public Partnerships LLC (PPL), an Alpharetta, Georgia-based company that has managed New York’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistant Program (CDPAP) since 2025.
“New York’s backroom deal with PPL has cost taxpayers millions of dollars and cast countless Medicaid patients to the curb,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald for the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Today’s action is the latest reminder that the Justice Department is mobilizing every available tool to protect taxpayer-funded programs from fraud and corruption.”
“One of the Justice Department’s key priorities is protecting the public fisc and delivering savings to American taxpayers,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “New York’s failure to police a favored vendor that unlawfully siphoned millions of dollars of Medicaid funding is egregious and betrays the public trust. The Justice Department is acting to ensure that federal laws regarding truthful statements and fair dealing in federal health care programs are upheld and to prevent additional harm from being exacted against the public by Public Partnerships LLC and New York.”
The lawsuit aims to stop an alleged fraud scheme by which PPL has generated millions of dollars in unauthorized profits funded by federal taxpayers in connection with its takeover of New York’s $10 billion-dollar CDPAP program. The lawsuit alleges that the New York Department of Health awarded PPL the lucrative CDPAP contract after conducting a sham bid process, and then, despite learning of PPL’s intent to deviate from the representations made in its bid and violate the financial terms of the contract, failed to take action to hold PPL accountable and to protect public funds from misuse, resulting in a fraud scheme that remains unchecked to this day. The lawsuit seeks to enjoin all defendants from making further misrepresentations about the CDPAP program and from charging American taxpayers millions of dollars unauthorized by the contract.
CDPAP is a Medicaid program that provides home care through lay caregivers to Medicaid patients with disabilities or significant medical needs. In spring 2024, the New York Legislature passed a statute that consolidated the management of CDPAP from hundreds of pre-existing “fiscal intermediaries” to a single fiscal intermediary, setting up one of the most lucrative contracts for administering a Medicaid program in the nation. The lawsuit alleges that although New York purported to conduct a fair bidding process to select the single fiscal intermediary during summer 2024, New York pre-selected PPL for the billion-dollar contract by conducting a sham bid process that resulted in PPL being awarded the contract in late 2024.
The lawsuit further alleges that PPL and New York repeatedly made knowing misrepresentations to the public concerning the date by which PPL’s transition could be completed, intentionally concealing that, since the contract’s inception, both PPL and New York were aware that the transition would likely not be complete by April 1, 2025 – the contractually designated transition date – and would result in severe disruptions to patient care and harm to patients across the state. Worse yet, PPL and New York, without explanation, have disregarded key limits the contract imposed on the revenues and profits PPL was entitled to receive under the contract – limits that were central to the goal of saving hundreds of millions of dollars through the CDPAP transition.
Instead of ensuring that PPL complied with the contract and protecting the American taxpayers, New York has permitted PPL to raid the CDPAP program of millions of dollars in excess revenues, billing at hourly rates in excess of those anticipated by New York prior to the contract award. As a result of PPL’s self-dealing and New York’s failure to require it to comply with the terms of the contract, the purported cost savings that the CDPAP transition was to provide largely have been erased. To date, New York and PPL repeatedly and willfully have misled the public and the New York Legislature concerning important aspects of the CDPAP transition, including, without limitation, the gross mismanagement of the program by PPL and New York.
This case was investigated by the Civil Division’s Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch. This case is being litigated by Assistant Director Patrick Runkle and Trial Attorneys Francisco Unger and Shimeng Zhang.
D.C. Man Sentenced to Five Years for Armed Carjacking in Columbia HeightsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Avery Ricardo Robinson III, 26, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in connection with an armed carjacking last year in Northwest, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“Robinson carjacked his victim for sport. He terrorized his victim at gunpoint, left his victim with a death threat ringing in his ears, and then abandoned his victim’s stolen vehicle only a mile away,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This office will continue to pursue serious sentences for defendants who treat their neighbors as prey.”
Robinson pleaded guilty March 10, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan to one count of carjacking. In addition to the five-year prison term, Judge AliKhan ordered Robinson to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 72-month prison term.
According to court documents, on Sept. 20, 2025, in the early morning hours, the victim parked a 2017 Nissan Altima near the 1400 block of Park Road NW. Robinson rode up on a bicycle, pulled a firearm from his waistband, and demanded the victim's possessions.
Robinson forced the victim at gunpoint to throw his cellphone to the ground, hand over the car keys, and remove a necklace from his own neck. Robinson then warned the victim he would shoot him if he saw him again. Left with no phone and no transportation, the victim walked away.
Robinson used the keys he had taken from the victim to get into the Nissan Altima and drive off. Police recovered the vehicle about a mile from the scene. Two days later, when Robinson was arrested, he was found in possession of a loaded handgun with a round in the chamber.
At the time of the carjacking, Robinson was on bench warrant status in connection with two separate cases involving stolen vehicles. He previously was convicted in 2025 of unlawful taking of a motor vehicle in Maryland.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI Washington Field Office. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Caelainn Carney.
Surveillance cameras captured the carjacking on video. In this picture, Robinson holds a firearm in his right hand as he reaches towards his victim.
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Crescent City Man Charged with Threatening to Kill the PresidentRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Ryan Brown (27, Crescent City) has been charged by indictment with two counts of threatening to kill the President of the United States. If convicted of both counts, Brown faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the indictment, on April 16, 2026, Brown transmitted an online message to “whitehouse.gov,” directed to the President, in which he threatened to blow up the White House in one week’s time. Subsequently, on May 25, 2026, Brown sent another message to “whitehouse.gov” stating, in part, that he would kill the President in cold blood.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelli Swaney.
Corvallis Man Sentenced to Almost 20 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—A Corvallis, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and for violating his supervised release on a prior federal case, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon.
Blaine Garrett Reposa, 41, was sentenced to a total of 234 months in federal prison and a lifetime term of supervised release.
“This repeat offender has continued to exploit and victimize children who have already endured profound abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Bradford. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message that those who prey on children will be held accountable.”
“Today’s sentence is representative of the FBI and our partners’ commitment to pursuing child sex offenders through investigative tenacity and teamwork,” said FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson. “We work tirelessly with our partners, as we did here with the Corvallis Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, to bring offenders like Blaine Reposa to justice, and to give victims an opportunity to heal. These types of crimes have no place in our community.”
According to court documents, a search warrant was executed at Reposa’s residence in October 2024 after the Corvallis Police Department learned that Reposa was uploading CSAM. Detectives seized multiple devices from Reposa’s residence. One smartphone contained more than 6,000 images and more than 2,500 videos of CSAM, mostly of male minors, including infants and toddlers. Another smartphone revealed additional evidence with searches for CSAM, more than 300 images, and 20 videos of CSAM.
Between May and July 2024, Reposa sent CSAM to nine different users on Session, a messaging platform. In October 2024, Reposa sent a Telegram user almost 40 videos of CSAM.
On September 18, 2025, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a three-count indictment charging Reposa with distribution of child pornography.
On March 10, 2026, Reposa pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the Indictment charging distribution of child pornography.
The FBI and Corvallis Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey S. Sweet prosecuted the case.
Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.
This case was brought in collaboration with 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Contractor Charged with $188K in Bank Fraud Scheme Using Fabricated Lien WaiversRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Richard Turner, 38, of Yorktown, Indiana, has been charged in a federal indictment alleging nine counts of bank fraud.
According to court documents, Turner worked as a general contractor and owned Turner Remodeling LLC. In March 2025, Company A, a healthcare facility in Muncie, Indiana, hired Turner for an expansion and renovation project. On April 5, 2024, Company A obtained a construction loan of approximately $785,225 from Bank A to pay Turner and his business for the work. Under the loan agreement, Bank A would release funds only after Turner submitted lien waivers certifying that he had paid subcontractors for their services, including plumbing and electrical work not performed by Turner Remodeling LLC.
Instead, Turner allegedly submitted falsified lien waivers to Bank A, claiming that five subcontractors had completed work they did not perform. He is also accused of forging subcontractors’ signatures—individuals who never agreed to perform the renovations. After receiving funds from the bank, Turner allegedly used the money for personal expenses, including gambling. In total, he is accused of stealing $188,000 through the submission of nine fraudulent lien waivers.
FBI Indianapolis’ Muncie Resident Agency is investigating this case. If convicted, Turner will be sentenced by a federal district court judge, who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Eakman, who is prosecuting this case.
An indictment or criminal complaint are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Complaint Filed Seeking to Revoke the Naturalization of Indian NationalRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—Yesterday, the District of Oregon filed a civil denaturalization complaint against a native of India who illegally procured his citizenship by lying about his identity and immigration history.
According to court documents, Jaswinder Singh, a.k.a. Balwinder Singh, 54, applied for an immigration benefit in August 1990 under the name Balwinder Singh. In November 1990 an immigration judge denied the application and ordered Singh to be deported from the United States. After unsuccessfully appealing, Singh was ordered to surrender in July 1993, but failed to do so.
In November 1994, using a second identity, Jaswinder Singh, Singh filed a second application for an immigration benefit. Singh provided a different identity, date of birth, and date of entry to the United States. In August 2003, an immigration judge issued an order granting Singh’s application. After certifying under penalty of perjury the information provided was true, Singh became a permanent resident.
Singh signed his naturalization application under penalty of perjury certifying that the application and the evidence submitted with it were all true and correct and on June 3, 2013, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services approved the naturalization application.
The complaint charges Singh with illegal procurement of naturalization because he was not lawfully admitted for permanent resident status and because he provided false testimony in his naturalization interview. The complaint also charges that Singh procured citizenship through concealment of a material fact or willful misrepresentation. The Immigration and Nationality Act requires the U.S. District Court to revoke Singh’s naturalization if it finds him liable on any of the charges.
The case is being investigated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of the Department of Homeland Security.
The claims in the complaint are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Co-Conspirator Sentenced for Role in Multi-Million Dollar Money Laundering Conspiracy Case Brought by HSTFRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Maryland man received a federal prison term in connection with his leadership role in a multi-million-dollar money laundering scheme.Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Yahya Sowe, 42, of College Park, to 114 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to engage in a large, multi-member, money laundering conspiracy. Additionally, Judge Maddox ordered Sowe to pay $13,050,827.03 in restitution, and to forfeit $1 million. Sowe, who pled guilty to participating in the money laundering conspiracy on December 15, 2025, admitted that more than $11 million in money laundering occurred pursuant to his management or supervisory role in the conspiracy.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Akil Baldwin, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) – Washington, D.C. Field Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge George Golliday, Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General (EPA-OIG). This prosecution is part of the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud along with the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF).
According to court documents, beginning in 2021, and continuing until his arrest in February 2024, Sowe conspired with multiple individuals to launder proceeds of multiple frauds, including business email compromise schemes.
The victims included government agencies, organizations, and companies, including an environmental trust, urban redevelopment program, medical center, transportation and logistics company, school district, college, and county government, among others.
Sowe and his co-conspirators used and controlled several different encrypted electronic communication accounts, which they used in furtherance of the money laundering and to supervise and manage the members of the conspiracy. The co-conspirators worked with each other to create limited liability companies to serve as shell entities; open bank accounts in the name of shell entities; and launder fraud proceeds.
Pursuant to the conspiracy, the co-conspirators often engaged in multiple financial transactions in quick succession, frequently layering wire-fraud proceeds in multiple subsequent transactions. These financial transactions made it more difficult for the victims and law enforcement to recover the fraud proceeds.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland previously charged 14 defendants in connection with the money laundering conspiracy – 13 already pled guilty. Faizou Gnora, 28, previously of Alexandria, Virginia, remains a fugitive from justice.
The District Court previously sentenced:
- Bright Boateng, 45, of Bladensburg, Maryland, to 108 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, restitution of $1,247,950, and a forfeiture of $431,750;
- Victor Killen, 33, of Hyattsville, Maryland, to 63 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, restitution of $7,070,656.46, and a $3 million forfeiture order;
- Gedeon Agbeyome, 31, of Montgomery County, Maryland, to 72 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, along with restitution of $2,938,424.65, and a $2.8 million preliminary order of forfeiture;
- Lawrence Ogunsanwo, 33, to 40 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and restitution of $5,648,816.23;
- Lakeisha Parker, 33, of Baltimore, to 36 months in federal prison, followed by three years supervised release, and restitution of $8,306,930.95;
- Martin Ogisi, 37, of Severn, Maryland, to 33 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and restitution of $11,077,044.17;
- Kevin Colon, 34, of Curtis Bay, Maryland, to 27 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and restitution of $2,515,159.63;
- Areal Harris, 27, of Hanover, Maryland, to 24 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and restitution of $3,159,482.83;
- Lorena Perez Herrera, 29, of Washington, DC, to 24 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and restitution of $1,473,125.58;
- Blondel Ndjouandjouaka, 31, of Silver Spring, Maryland, to 24 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and restitution of $733,941.48.
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.
This prosecution is also part of the 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 Baltimore is comprised of agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the District of Maryland; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); the United States Marshals Service (USMS); the Washington/Baltimore HIDTA (W/B HIDTA); the Maryland State Police (MSP); the Baltimore Police Department (BPD); and the Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD) with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the HSI-led Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, and thanked IRS-CI and EPA-OIG for their work in the investigation, and praised the Anne Arundel County, Prince George’s County, and Montgomery County Police Departments for their assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Gruber, Bijon A. Mostoufi, and Jared M. Beim, who prosecuted the federal case, and Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber for her assistance.
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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- Bright Boateng, 45, of Bladensburg, Maryland, to 108 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, restitution of $1,247,950, and a forfeiture of $431,750;
Burlington Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing 9.5 Pounds MethRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Burlington man was sentenced on June 10, 2026, to 10 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, in March 2024, law enforcement encountered Michael Alexander Patoir, 48, during a traffic stop. Patoir was in possession of more than nine and a half pounds of methamphetamine in the backseat of his vehicle.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Patoir will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Des Moines County Sheriff's Office and the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force investigated the case.
Buffalo man pleads guilty to drug and gun chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Anthony Franklin, 44, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of life and a $5,000,000 fine.
On July 22, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Franklin’s Highview Road residence, seizing approximately 254 grams of crack cocaine, 121 grams of cocaine, drug paraphernalia, three firearms, ammunition, and a loaded magazine. Also on July 22, 2025, law enforcement initiated a traffic stop of Franklin’s vehicle. He failed to stop, sped away and fled the area. Franklin’s vehicle was later found on Rich Street in Buffalo, and he was apprehended shortly after.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Richard Antoine. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Erika Shields and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 11, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Sinatra.
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Buffalo man going to prison for more than 16 years for selling cocaine that resulted in a death and serious bodily injuryRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Theodore Hill a/k/a Ty, 28, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of distribution of cocaine, was sentenced to serve 200 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
On December 5, 2023, at approximately 8:30 p.m., Hill sold cocaine to an individual identified as M.M. On December 9, 2023, Buffalo Police responded to a report of suspected drug overdoses at M.M.’s residence. M.M. was discovered deceased and it appeared that he had been deceased for at least over 24 hours. A second individual, R.H., was discovered unresponsive, lying on the floor next to M.M. She was taken to the hospital in serious condition. R.H. sustained serious, long-term injuries as a result of the overdose.
On January 25, March 2, and March 15, 2024, Buffalo Police conducted controlled purchases of cocaine from Hill, contacting him at the same number that M.M. used. On March 24, 2024, a search warrant was executed at Clemo Street residence, during which law enforcement seized quantities of cocaine and drug paraphernalia.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Erika Shields and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division.
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Broken Arrow 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 Justin Michael Hunter, age 38, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to fifteen years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment charged Hunter with knowingly possessing one 9mm semi-automatic pistol and 35 rounds of 9mm ammunition on June 18, 2025, after having been 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 and the Broken Arrow Police Department.
The Honorable D. Eward 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.
Hunter was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Brockton Woman Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government Funds in Connection with Stolen $931,000 Tax Refund CheckRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton woman pleaded guilty on June 11, 2026 in federal court in Boston to stealing a nearly $1 million United States Treasury tax refund check.
Lana Ruel, 70, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Oct. 1, 2026. In December 2025, Ruel was arrested and charged.
Ruel attempted to deposit a United States Treasury tax refund check issued to a healthcare company in Brooklyn, New York. Prior to the attempted deposit, Ruel incorporated a company in Massachusetts and opened a bank account in the same name of the healthcare company that was the payee on the tax refund check. After the attempted deposit, the bank froze Ruel’s account. Ruel then called the bank and said that she could “explain what the check was, where it came from, and what it’s for…”
Over a period of two years, Ruel created four additional companies in Massachusetts that did not have a legitimate business purpose. For one of those companies, Ruel opened an account at approximately 10 different banks. Ruel also received wire transfers in some of the accounts and then wired the funds to different accounts or made cash withdrawals. The banks have closed all these accounts.
The charge of theft of government funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 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; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Nicholas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Saltzman of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement 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.
Bowling Green Man Sentenced to 13 1/2 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A Bowling Green man was sentenced on June 8, 2026, to 13 and a half years in prison for methamphetamine trafficking and firearm offenses.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police made the announcement.
Steven Wayne Dye, Jr., 38, was sentenced to 13 1/2 years in federal prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for possessing with the intent to distribute 176.5 grams of methamphetamine, possessing a handgun as a convicted felon, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking. Dye was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses: On July 24, 2023, in Simpson Circuit Court, Dye was convicted of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (two counts), firearm enhanced trafficking in marijuana, receiving stolen property, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, enhanced second degree trafficking in a controlled substance, and first-degree promoting contraband.
United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner stated, “Just three years ago, Dye was convicted of significant drug trafficking and firearm felonies in Simpson Circuit Court. His conviction and sentence didn’t get his attention; he returned to Simpson County armed with a firearm and continued to push poison into the community. Now, because of extraordinary coordination between the ATF and KSP, Dye will be serving 13 1/2 years in federal prison. Let this be a lesson to others with a callous disregard for the safety of our communities: if you don’t change your ways, law enforcement will find you and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”
ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jeremy Horbert stated, “Steven Dye disregarded the law and chose to deal in dangerous weapons and narcotics. Because of those decisions, he will now serve a lengthy sentence in federal prison. ATF proudly partnered with Kentucky State Police and the United States Attorney’s Office to ensure the community’s safety from this offender and will continue to pursue those who blatantly violate federal firearms and narcotics laws.”
Kentucky State Police Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. stated, “Strong collaborations with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the ATF and our law enforcement partners are essential to protecting Kentuckians. This defendant showed a blatant disregard for public safety, and the successful dismantling of this narcotics operation was made possible through these partnerships. I commend everyone involved for their tireless efforts to hold criminals accountable and keep our communities safe.”
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the ATF Bowling Green Field Office and the Kentucky State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II of the Bowling Green office, prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Athens Man Sentenced to 28 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – An Athens, Illinois, man, Christopher Wagy, 28, was sentenced on June 9, 2026, to 28 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography.
At the sentencing hearing, the government established that Wagy had purchased multiple cellular phones for a minor child in another state and directed her to take explicit photos of herself. Wagy then shared those images on the internet. The government also noted that Wagy continued this conduct despite attempted intervention by the victim’s family and law enforcement.
During the hearing, U.S. District Judge Colleen Lawless found that Wagy’s clear pattern of behavior showed he presented a risk of reoffending and that the sentence imposed was necessary to protect the public.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Wagy in July 2025, and he pleaded guilty to all four counts of the indictment in December 2025.
The statutory penalties for sexual exploitation of a child are 15 to 30 years in prison, a minimum of five years up to a lifetime of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. The statutory penalties for possession of child pornography are five to 20 years in prison, a minimum of five years up to a lifetime of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
“A sentence of 28 years ensures that this defendant will not be able to prey upon other young children,” said United States Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. “While no sentence can undo what has happened to these victims, our Office will continue to seek justice by prosecuting those who take advantage of our most vulnerable population.”
“This defendant went to great lengths to target and manipulate a vulnerable child despite repeated warnings from law enforcement and the victim's family,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge Ryan Preseley. “A 28-year sentence ensures that his defiant and predatory behavior is permanently halted. This case is a powerful example of how the FBI works seamlessly with our partners throughout the United States to protect children, no matter where the predator is located.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, investigated the case along with Goodyear Arizona Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation, and United States Attorney’s Office in the District of Maryland. Assistant United States Attorneys Tanner K. Jacobs and Mary Beth Rodgers represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Wagy 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.
Albany Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material Following a Multinational InvestigationRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—An Albany, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) while still on probation for a 2014 state conviction for child sexual abuse.
Matthew Lynn Windom, 55, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison and a life term of supervised release.
“The successful identification of this repeat offender demonstrates the power of international partnerships in combatting crimes against children,” said U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford. “My office will continue to work tirelessly with our local, state, federal, and international partners to identify, locate, and prosecute those who exploit our most vulnerable population and ensure justice for every child.”
“Children are among our most precious and vulnerable members of society,” said Acting Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “We hope this sentence makes clear that the possession of child sexual abuse material—or any form of child exploitation—will be met with serious consequences. HSI remains committed to relentlessly investigating and pursuing those who commit these crimes.”
According to court documents, a multinational investigation revealed Windom potentially possessed and shared CSAM on the New Zealand-based platform “Mega.” Investigators first obtained and executed a search warrant on Windom’s home, where they found digital devices and stories about child sex abuse and a duffel bag with children’s underwear. No CSAM was found on the seized devices, but investigators later executed a search warrant on one of Windom’s email accounts. He was found to be in possession of CSAM and was arrested pursuant to a federal complaint on Jan. 8, 2025.
On Feb. 20, 2025, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned an indictment charging Windom with possession of child pornography. Windom pleaded guilty on March 10, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.
HSI investigated the case, which originated from a lead generated by Australia’s New South Wales Police Force and the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs. The Albany Police Department supported HSI’s execution of the federal search warrant. Assistant United States Attorney William M. McLaren prosecuted the case.
Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children is encouraged to contact HSI at (866) 347-2423 or submit a tip online at report.cybertip.org.
Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.
This case was brought in collaboration with 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Alabama Man Pleads Guilty of Conspiracy, False Distress Signals, and False StatementsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SETH EMDE (“SETH”), age 23, resident of Randolph County, Alabama, pleaded guilty on June 10, 2026, to conspiracy to commit a federal offense against or defraud the United States or an agency thereof, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371; and communication of a false distress message to the United States Coast Guard, in violation of Title 24, United States Code, Section 521(c) announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, Melvin Emde, the father of SETH EMDE, attempted to evade prosecution in North Carolina, where he had been charged with a sex crime. Facing that pending case, Melvin Emde and SETH EMDE devised a plan to stage Melvin Emde’s death to avoid further legal proceedings. On August 7, 2023, the two men created a false report claiming that Melvin Emde had fallen into the Mississippi River during a fishing trip. SETH EMDE placed a 911 call asserting that his father had gone overboard, prompting a significant response by the United States Coast Guard. Subsequent investigation revealed that the distress report was fabricated and that both Melvin Emde and SETH EMDE knowingly provided false information as part of the scheme to help Melvin Emde avoid prosecution.
At sentencing, which is set for September 16, 2026, SETH faces a maximum penalty of five years of imprisonment for the conspiracy count and a maximum penalty of ten years of imprisonment for communicating a false distress signal. Each offense also carries a potential supervised release term of up to three years and a fine of up to $250,000, along with a mandatory special assessment.
United States Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the United States Coast Guard - Investigative Service in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.
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Afghan National Accused in Ambush Killing of National Guard Member Near White House Is Indicted on Additional Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 30, an Afghan national accused in the November ambush shooting of National Guardsmen near the White House, was charged today in a 17-count Superseding Indictment filed in U.S. District Court, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Specialist Sarah Beckstrom was killed in the shooting. Sgt. Andrew Wolfe was seriously injured. Two additional Guardsmen were wounded in the attack.
“Sarah Beckstrom was 20 years old, serving her country in the nation's capital, when Rahmanullah Lakanwal allegedly drove across the country and executed her in cold blood steps from the White House,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “That is not just a crime, it is a major offense against the United States. We will pursue every penalty the law permits as we seek justice for Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe.”
The new charges involving the murder of Beckstrom are eligible for the imposition of the death penalty. The grand jury also returned several special findings that will trigger review by the Department of Justice’s Capital Case Committee to determine whether the Department will seek the death penalty.
Lakanwal was arraigned on the Superseding Indictment today before U.S. District Court Judge Amit P. Mehta.
Lakanwal remains charged with first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, in violation of the D.C. Code.
According to court documents, Lakanwal allegedly drove his Toyota Prius from his home in Bellingham, Washington, to the District of Columbia, while in possession of a stolen firearm.
On November 26, at about 2:13 p.m., Lakanwal opened fire without provocation at 17th and I Streets, NW, near the Farragut West Metro Station, shooting Beckstrom and Wolfe in their heads. Two officers in the National Guard who were nearby subdued the suspect.
At the scene, investigators recovered a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver that had been reported stolen in Seattle in 2023.
Beckstrom, who was serving in the West Virginia National Guard, succumbed to her injuries on Thanksgiving, November 27. Guardsman Andrew Wolfe, 25, of Martinsburg, W. Va., continues to recover from his injuries.
Joining the U.S. Attorney in the announcement were FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox and Interim Chief Jeffery W. Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. The matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
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.
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15 Members of Direct Action Minnesota, a Minneapolis-Based Direct Action Group with Antifa Ties, IndictedRead the Press Release
Note: View indictment here.
MINNEAPOLIS – The Justice Department today announced that 15 members and associates of Direct Action Minnesota (DAMN) have been charged with various federal crimes, including conspiracy to impede a federal officer, multiple counts of interstate stalking, interstate threats, solicitation to commit a crime of violence, multiple counts of assault on a federal officer, and destruction of government property.
Over the last 24 hours, federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted a coordinated law enforcement operation culminating in the arrest of 12 DAMN members. Two DAMN members are at-large, and one was previously in federal custody on separate charges.
“As alleged, these defendants, which included members of Antifa groups, engaged in an unrelenting campaign of harassment and violence targeting federal and local law enforcement,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Their actions created a dangerous environment that threatened not only their intended targets, but the community as a whole. These arrests demonstrate the Department’s commitment to law and order and stopping organized political violence in Minneapolis and beyond.”
“The arrests of these rioters is a win for law and order. If you lay a hand on law enforcement, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin. “We have ZERO tolerance for violence against our law enforcement. If you assault or obstruct law enforcement, you will face the consequences.”
“For those who choose to threaten or harm federal officers, the Department of Justice will hold you accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen for the District of Minnesota. “The direct actions alleged in the indictment are un-American. And they will be met with swift justice.”
“Today’s announcement is the result of a thorough investigation into a deeply troubling trend: coordinated violence targeting federal law enforcement officers in an effort to cause chaos and impede law enforcement operations,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy of HSI St. Paul. “We have uncovered evidence of organized groups deliberately planning and executing criminal acts, including assaults, threats, destruction of government property, and attempts to impede federal officers. We fully respect and defend the First Amendment right to peaceful protest. However, when protest crosses the line into violence or criminal activity, it becomes unlawful and will not be tolerated. Our message is clear: you may disagree with the laws, and you have the right to protest them, but you must abide by them or face the consequences. The law is not optional, and any attempt to undermine it through violence or intimidation will be met with swift and decisive action.”
“The charges unsealed today in the District of Minnesota are directly in line with Joint Task Force Vanguard’s mission: a collaborative, whole of government effort to counter groups that use violence and the threat of violence to achieve political ends,” said Co-Director Brian Lynch of Joint Task Force Vanguard. “Acts of political violence are priority matters for federal law enforcement and will be zealously investigated and prosecuted.”
An eight-count indictment charges 15 members and associates of the DAMN for a broad range of crimes including conspiracy to impede a federal officer, multiple counts of interstate stalking, interstate threats, solicitation to commit a crime of violence, multiple counts of assault on a federal officer, and destruction of government property.
As outlined in the indictment, DAMN is an organization dedicated and committed to direct action against federal law and immigration enforcement. Direct action refers to disruptive and obstructive tactics used by participants to forcibly challenge, block, or stop immigration raids, detentions, and deportations. DAMN describes itself as “…a decentralized coalition of working-class people engaged in various forms of community defense against the current Federal Occupation happening within the wider metro area, and against state and a far-right violence more broadly.” DAMN also trains its members in the use of shields against law enforcement, surveillance, event planning, role differentiation, and rapid mass mobilization against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement actions.
DAMN is comprised of members from several sub-groups, such as the Black Cat Worker’s Collective, Ray Rainbolt Memorial Shooting Club, and other organizations.
Many self-proclaimed “antifascist” or “Antifa” groups in the United States exist at the local level, in small units called affinity groups. Antifa groups frequently blend anarchist and communist views. The Black Cat Worker’s Collective (BCWC) is a Minneapolis-based Antifa affinity group committed to militant class struggle, community self-defense, and revolution. Militant class struggle includes disrupting rallies, digital campaigning, community organizing, and physical confrontation, often justified as collective self-defense. BCWC members advocate, promote, and utilize militant tactics and violence. BCWC members are intricately involved in the planning and execution of direct actions. The Ray Rainbolt Memorial Shooting Club is another Minneapolis-based Antifa affinity group dedicated to “community self-defense.”
The Black Cat Worker’s Collective Facebook page described that, “The Black Cat Worker’s Collective is a class struggle anarchist organization committed to workplace struggle, housing justice, community self-defense, internationalism, and revolution.”
On February 5, Kyle Wagner was arrested in Minneapolis for doxxing a federal agent in the Eastern District of Michigan. When he was arrested, Wagner wore a sweatshirt that had “I’m Antifa!” on the front. Law enforcement recovered several Antifa patches in Wagner’s residence. See below.
Antifa patches recovered by law enforcement at Wagner’s residence.
Wagner being arrested.
DAMN members worked closely with rapid response networks (RRNs) to identify and harass federal immigration and law enforcement officers in order to harass and prevent officers from performing their official duties. RRNs are “inherently militant” with the “explicit aim of combating and stopping a federal agent with a gun.”
DAMN worked closely with other direct action groups, Antifa affinity groups, RRNs, and other organizations to plan for and execute certain direct actions. DAMN infiltrated and exploited lawful protests to more efficiently carry out its direct actions targeting operations involving ICE as well as supporting federal and state law enforcement. DAMN relied upon otherwise lawful protesters and “strength in numbers” to distract law enforcement and enable DAMN members to carry out its direct action operations.
DAMN members almost exclusively communicate on Signal Messenger, which is an encrypted message application. DAMN members often organize themselves into different sub-groups on Signal Messenger based on their roles and responsibilities.
DAMN members hold meetings on a regular basis. DAMN members advocate and practice “operational security” or “OPSEC.” For example, DAMN members collect cell phones prior to meetings to prevent recordings.
DAMN members organized and participated in direct actions against federal and local law enforcement on Jan. 23 and March 1. DAMN members deployed “hard” and “soft” blockades against federal law and immigration enforcement as well as against Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office deputies during both of the direct actions. DAMN successfully shut down operations at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building (Whipple Building), during both direct actions.
Members of DAMN’s “hard blockade” team used vehicles, trailers, Czech hedgehogs (a static obstacle made of metal angle beams), and other items to obstruct the roads used by law enforcement near the Whipple Building to impede the movement of federal law enforcement and immigration officers. See below for examples of items used for “hard blockade” during the January 23 and March 1 direct actions.
A flipped trailer used by DAMN during a blockade.
Debris and a Czech hedgehog used by DAMN during a blockade.
Members of the “soft blockade” team wield homemade shields constructed from plastic, wood, and metal to physically resist the efforts of law enforcement, and to aggressively “wedge” or break through teams of officers on foot. See below for one of the “soft blockades” that was set up on March 1.
“Soft blockade” by DAMN on March 1.“Soft blockade” by DAMN on March 1.
DAMN members engage in “commuting” tactics, which include identifying, following, surveilling, harassing, and confronting federal immigration enforcement with the goal of preventing, hindering, delaying, and impeding the enforcement of federal immigration law. DAMN members use the Whipple Watch Signal group chat, which facilitated the identification of federal immigration and law enforcement vehicles and documents identifying information, such as license plate numbers, in databases. The databases include information like whether a vehicle has been identified as belonging to federal law enforcement, when it was last seen, how many times it was seen, the kinds of activities it was engaged in, if it was in a caravan, and if someone saw federal agents with tactical gear inside, all to help determine how aggressive the response to that particular vehicle should be. DAMN members often rely on information and intelligence produced by the Whipple Watch and other Signal group chats to target, harass, and confront federal immigration and law enforcement officers. Once someone relays information about a federal immigration or law enforcement officer’s location, “dispatchers” relay “verified” information to “commuters,” who deploy to the identified area to interfere with, prevent, hinder, delay, impede, and directly confront federal immigration enforcement, including “de-arresting” people that federal law enforcement have arrested.
“Commuters” follow federal immigration enforcement officers from locations, like the Whipple Building, to the officers’ residences and other locations. “Commuters” often work with “co-pilots,” who communicate with “dispatchers” in real-time. “Dispatchers” relay identifying information about immigration and law enforcement vehicles to “commuters” and “co-pilots.” DAMN members often engage in “commuting” tactics with other members.
For example, on May 4, a federal immigration officer left the Whipple Building in his government-issued vehicle. DAMN member Isaac Sant drove a Hyundai Sonata and followed the federal immigration officer from the Whipple Building to Hudson, Wisconsin. St. Croix County deputies stopped the Hyundai Sonata in Hudson, Wisconsin, and identified Sant as the driver.
On May 18, a federal immigration officer left the Whipple Building in his government-issued vehicle. DAMN member Natasha Rakotz drove a Honda Civic and followed the federal immigration officer from the Whipple Building to the area of Minnesota State Highway 55 and Minnesota State Highway 5. Rakotz “brake checked” the officer and “side swiped” the officer’s vehicle, causing a collision.
Below is an image of Natasha Rakotz ramming her Honda Civic into the federal immigration officer’s government-issued vehicle.
Image of Natasha Rakotz trying to ram her Honda Civic into a federal immigration officer’s government-issued vehicle.
On May 15, an unindicted coconspirator sent a message describing a HSI agent’s government-issued vehicle as well as his license plate number in the “Whipple 3.0” Signal group chat. The unindicted coconspirator described the government-issued vehicle having a “reflective hat & vest on dash.” In the same chat, an unindicted coconspirator referred a different government-issued vehicle in the area (Government Vehicle 2) and stated, “This vehicle was confirmed at whip and hasn’t been added to the DB (database) – currently near the 28th and Bloom situation.” DAMN member Isaac sant sent a message in the “DAMN” Signal group chat, stating, “Alerta alerta: There’s an ICE raid in progress RIGHT NOW at 28th and Bloomington. Ford F150…” Sant provided the license plate number for the government-issued vehicle and continued, “three agents out of vehicle. I am not on scene. Get over there if you can!” DAMN member Brian Apland responded, “Omw (on my way).” At this time, HSI agents were performing their duties and conducting interviews. DAMN member William Morgan showed up to the scene and approached one of the agents and knocked the agent’s notes out of his hand. Morgan also kicked the government-issued vehicle, causing dents. Isaac Sant was also present at the scene. Below is the damage to the government-issued vehicle.
Government vehicle damaged by member of DAMN.
Below is an image of William Morgan and Isaac Sant on the scene.
A member of DAMN at the scene of a damaged government vehicle.
A member of DAMN at the scene of a damaged government vehicle.
DAMN members trained other direct action and Antifa affinity groups throughout the country about how to forcibly obstruct, prevent, delay, hinder, and impede federal immigration enforcement operations. These trainings were referred to as the “Anarchist Speaking Tour.” DAMN members provided training and best practice at “Anarchist Speaking Tour” events in Chicago, Ann Arbor, and Seattle in April 2026.
On April 8, DAMN members Callum Robinet, William Morgan, and others took part in the “Anarchist Speaking Tour” in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Robinet explained to the participants that, “So this is an anarchist speaking tour. We’re all anarchists.”
On April 18, DAMN members Isaac Sant, Cameron Kennedy, and William Morgan took part in the “Anarchist Speaking Tour” in Seattle, Washington. Kennedy described the history of violent resistance in Minneapolis. He described the looting and burning of the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct as “the happiest moment of my life.” Kennedy explained, “A lot of mutual aid networks that were later characterized…this resistance to ICE came from the George Floyd uprising.” Kennedy described himself as a “revolutionary anarchist.”
Kennedy discussed the Jan. 23 direct action at the Whipple Building, stating that DAMN utilized a “soft blockade with shields at one entrance. He continued that there were “two other deployment teams…those deployment teams had trailers that they had bought off of Facebook Marketplace for really cheap and they essentially tried to blockade the other entrances simultaneously with this blockade (pointed to soft blockade on the projector). One of those trailers was deployed and flipped and successfully shut access. The other was about 30 seconds away from successful deployment before the team was actually pepper sprayed. They managed to avoid arrest…and they managed to drive away, albeit losing the trailer in the process.”
Kennedy also spoke about the direct action at the Whipple Building on March 1. Kennedy pointed to a projector screen and said, “the one you see over here is another shield wall on March 1st.” He continued, “this demonstration had four components to it. There was a above ground march that was led by indigenous sundancers that would take up gate one of the Whipple Building and the others were designed to essentially shut down the other two points of egress…there was 3 deployment teams. The first deployment team brought in shields.” The second deployment team “was sent in and they had something to be like tank busters…” Kennedy described these items as similar to “images of like D-Day, they’re like the metal X structures that you see and actually when the vehicles hit them, it digs back into the road and will stop the vehicle.” Kennedy explained, “I was on deploy 2 or deploy 3 and I had a 10-foot U-Haul box truck and a 30-foot trailer that I was going to use to block one of the entrances.”
Isaac Sant said, “We’re here from Minneapolis. We’re on tour to talk about our experiences resisting the ICE occupation.” He stated, “I think the Twin Cities real contributions to the field of revolutionary organization, of insurrectionary organization is these rapid response networks.” Sant stated, “I am in an anarchist, revolutionary organization. It’s called Blackcat.”
During the event, Sant discussed the logistics of “commuters,” who follow, harass, and confront federal immigration enforcement vehicles. Sant described, “…commuters were on a phone call in real time with a dispatcher who was somewhere with a dispatcher who was somewhere in the privacy of her own room reporting on like that convoys movements. That dispatcher was in a relay chat that allowed for communication between the Elliott Park and the adjacent Loring Park neighborhood…” Sant further explained, “We don’t recommend that anybody ever commute or control by yourself because it’s an inherently dangerous thing. So you always want to do that with a buddy who’s your copilot. So like you’re driving and looking for ice, your co-pilots on the phone talking to dispatch and however many other commuters on a Signal call…you might ask that dispatcher for plate checks, like they’re looking at a database of license plates and you’re not. And you might be like, so a lot of like your day and you’re like, hey I wonder if that’s ICE…And like you see a suspicious looking white Jeep Wagoneer, your copilot like reports a dispatch…and then you follow that car until you can’t anymore.” Sant then described Whipple Watch as a “counter surveillance project,” stating, “This is a very like boring and unglamorous and unsexy side of our work, but basically what I and my comrades do is we go down to Whipple building and hang out there all day and photograph every ICE vehicle that’s coming in and out of the vehicle.” Sant continued that, “Now in April and we have it down to a science and it’s more or less instantaneous. We maintain a searchable database in conjunction with data collection group called Defrost that’s publicly searchable on a website…Defrost is the list of every vehicle that we’ve ever seen ICE in make and model plates and like where and how many times it’s been spotted…So what we’ve started to experiment with now is we maintain a second database that’s only current plates. We erase it at the end of every night and we refresh it the next morning…and hot dishes is just a database of like all the active plates that left Whipple that day. So commuters can know like what we’re, we have confirmed on the road at the moment….What we do is, I mean we have a two fold motive of like getting their plates and blasting those out to all the neighborhoods and also just like wasting their time and resources.”
DAMN members emphasize a violent, militant approach and are highly critical of the non-violent, peaceful protests. DAMN members often advocate, promote, and celebrate violent resistance to purported fascist groups and the government.
For example, the Black Cat Worker’s Collective Facebook cover page reads “Welcome to Minneapolis!” and has an image of the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct in the background. The Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct was burnt down and destroyed during the riots following the death of George Floyd. Stillshot from the Black Cat Worker’s Collective Facebook page below.
Screenshot of the Black Cat Worker’s Collective Facebook page.
On Feb. 5, Cameron Kennedy posted on Facebook, “I swear I’m going to lose my f*****g mind if I see that ‘if 3.5% of the population is committed to peaceful revolution, they win’ bulls**t…It’s given far to (sic) many well meaning people, a fake a** idea of what it takes to win. It has folks attacking militant elements of the resistance and aiding the state against them because they think violence or even property destruction is counter revolutionary. They could not be more wrong. I want to make this as clear as I can: YOU WILL NEVER WIN WITH NON-VIOLENCE ALONE. Ever. No one has. No one will. You absolutely need militants to win. I’m sorry the world is so cruel but this is the real world, not a f*****g fairytale…” See post below.
Facebook post by Cameron Kennedy.
On Jan. 24, Kyle Wagner posted a video on his Instagram account “kaos.follows,” while wearing a bullet-proof vest. Wagner admitted to being Antifa. Wagner stated, “[I]f you are [caught up], it’s time to suit up. Boots on the ground. Nicollet and f*****g 26th. My house is four blocks away. Anywhere between Franklin and Nicollet, and 26th and Nicollet, show up ready to go. Okay, no, not talking about peaceful protests anymore. We’re not talking about having polite conversations anymore…This is exactly what I said was going to f****** come when we didn’t f****** go march on f****** Whipple with guns. Sorry but welcome to America 2026 where the Second Amendment is the only thing that’s going to keep you f****** protected from literal f****** Nazi gun men that are killing innocent people in the street with impunity. This is not a f****** joke. There’s nothing fun to chant about it. Get your f****** guns and stop these f****** people.” Stillshot of Wagner from the video below.
Screenshot of Kyle Wagner in a video from his Instagram page.
The following defendants are named in the DAMN indictment:
- Isaac Auman Sant, also known as “Isaac Dalto” and “Ike,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer and Interstate Stalking.
- Emmett James Doyle, also known as “Plotnikov,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Cameron Kennedy, also known as “Cam,” “Olive Knite,” and “Knite,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Callum Robinet, also known as “Juliet K,” “Juliet,” and “Cal,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Erik Davis, also known as “Errico,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Brian Stillwell Apland, also known as “Tiny,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Kyle Wagner, also known as “Kaos,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer, Solicitation to Commit a Crime of Violence, and Interstate Threats.
- Hannah Margaret Van De Water Davis, also known as “Gabriel Van De Water” and “Nube,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Treasure Cay Thoreson, also known as “Schatzi,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Nathan Junho Kim, also known as “Moon Bear,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Alec Stewart, also known as “Mac,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Douglas Misterek, also known as “Doug” and “D Munny Big Dog Orf Orf,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Dustin Scott Beisell, also known as “Sparky,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- William Morgan, also known as “Willow” and “Willow Tree,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer, Interstate Stalking, Assault on a Federal Officer, and Destruction of Government Property.
- Natasha Rakotz, also known as “Anuran,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer and Assault on a Federal Officer.
This case was investigated by HSI.
This case is part of the nationwide National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 initiative, which is a White House directed, interagency effort to integrate federal, state, and local partners in protecting First Amendment rights while targeting individuals and organizations engaged in political violence and is led by the investigative and prosecutorial Joint Task Force Vanguard.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
15 Members of Direct Action Minnesota, a Minneapolis-Based Direct Action Group with Antifa Ties, IndictedRead the Press Release
Note: View indictment here.
The Justice Department today announced that 15 members and associates of Direct Action Minnesota (DAMN) have been charged with various federal crimes, including conspiracy to impede a federal officer, multiple counts of interstate stalking, interstate threats, solicitation to commit a crime of violence, multiple counts of assault on a federal officer, and destruction of government property.
Over the last 24 hours, federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted a coordinated law enforcement operation culminating in the arrest of 12 DAMN members. Two DAMN members are at-large, and one was previously in federal custody on separate charges.
“As alleged, these defendants, which included members of Antifa groups, engaged in an unrelenting campaign of harassment and violence targeting federal and local law enforcement,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Their actions created a dangerous environment that threatened not only their intended targets, but the community as a whole. These arrests demonstrate the Department’s commitment to law and order and stopping organized political violence in Minneapolis and beyond.”
“The arrests of these rioters is a win for law and order. If you lay a hand on law enforcement, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin. “We have ZERO tolerance for violence against our law enforcement. If you assault or obstruct law enforcement, you will face the consequences.”
“For those who choose to threaten or harm federal officers, the Department of Justice will hold you accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen for the District of Minnesota. “The direct actions alleged in the indictment are un-American. And they will be met with swift justice.”
“Today’s announcement is the result of a thorough investigation into a deeply troubling trend: coordinated violence targeting federal law enforcement officers in an effort to cause chaos and impede law enforcement operations,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy of HSI St. Paul. “We have uncovered evidence of organized groups deliberately planning and executing criminal acts, including assaults, threats, destruction of government property, and attempts to impede federal officers. We fully respect and defend the First Amendment right to peaceful protest. However, when protest crosses the line into violence or criminal activity, it becomes unlawful and will not be tolerated. Our message is clear: you may disagree with the laws, and you have the right to protest them, but you must abide by them or face the consequences. The law is not optional, and any attempt to undermine it through violence or intimidation will be met with swift and decisive action.”
“The charges unsealed today in the District of Minnesota are directly in line with Joint Task Force Vanguard’s mission: a collaborative, whole of government effort to counter groups that use violence and the threat of violence to achieve political ends,” said Co-Director Brian Lynch of Joint Task Force Vanguard. “Acts of political violence are priority matters for federal law enforcement and will be zealously investigated and prosecuted.”
An eight-count indictment charges 15 members and associates of the DAMN for a broad range of crimes including conspiracy to impede a federal officer, multiple counts of interstate stalking, interstate threats, solicitation to commit a crime of violence, multiple counts of assault on a federal officer, and destruction of government property.
As outlined in the indictment, DAMN is an organization dedicated and committed to direct action against federal law and immigration enforcement. Direct action refers to disruptive and obstructive tactics used by participants to forcibly challenge, block, or stop immigration raids, detentions, and deportations. DAMN describes itself as “…a decentralized coalition of working-class people engaged in various forms of community defense against the current Federal Occupation happening within the wider metro area, and against state and a far-right violence more broadly.” DAMN also trains its members in the use of shields against law enforcement, surveillance, event planning, role differentiation, and rapid mass mobilization against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement actions.
DAMN is comprised of members from several sub-groups, such as the Black Cat Worker’s Collective, Ray Rainbolt Memorial Shooting Club, and other organizations.
Many self-proclaimed “antifascist” or “Antifa” groups in the United States exist at the local level, in small units called affinity groups. Antifa groups frequently blend anarchist and communist views. The Black Cat Worker’s Collective (BCWC) is a Minneapolis-based Antifa affinity group committed to militant class struggle, community self-defense, and revolution. Militant class struggle includes disrupting rallies, digital campaigning, community organizing, and physical confrontation, often justified as collective self-defense. BCWC members advocate, promote, and utilize militant tactics and violence. BCWC members are intricately involved in the planning and execution of direct actions. The Ray Rainbolt Memorial Shooting Club is another Minneapolis-based Antifa affinity group dedicated to “community self-defense.”
The Black Cat Worker’s Collective Facebook page described that, “The Black Cat Worker’s Collective is a class struggle anarchist organization committed to workplace struggle, housing justice, community self defense, internationalism, and revolution.”
On Feb. 5, Kyle Wagner was arrested in Minneapolis for doxxing a federal agent in the Eastern District of Michigan. When he was arrested, Wagner wore a sweatshirt that had “I’m Antifa!” on the front. Law enforcement recovered several Antifa patches in Wagner’s residence. See below.
Antifa patches recovered by law enforcement at Wagner’s residence. Wagner being arrested.DAMN members worked closely with rapid response networks (RRNs) to identify and harass federal immigration and law enforcement officers in order to harass and prevent officers from performing their official duties. RRNs are “inherently militant” with the “explicit aim of combating and stopping a federal agent with a gun.”
DAMN worked closely with other direct action groups, Antifa affinity groups, RRNs, and other organizations to plan for and execute certain direct actions. DAMN infiltrated and exploited lawful protests to more efficiently carry out its direct actions targeting operations involving ICE as well as supporting federal and state law enforcement. DAMN relied upon otherwise lawful protesters and “strength in numbers” to distract law enforcement and enable DAMN members to carry out its direct action operations.
DAMN members almost exclusively communicate on Signal Messenger, which is an encrypted message application. DAMN members often organize themselves into different sub-groups on Signal Messenger based on their roles and responsibilities.
DAMN members hold meetings on a regular basis. DAMN members advocate and practice “operational security” or “OPSEC.” For example, DAMN members collect cell phones prior to meetings to prevent recordings.
DAMN members organized and participated in direct actions against federal and local law enforcement on Jan. 23 and March 1. DAMN members deployed “hard” and “soft” blockades against federal law and immigration enforcement as well as against Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office deputies during both of the direct actions. DAMN successfully shut down operations at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building (Whipple Building), during both direct actions.
Members of DAMN’s “hard blockade” team used vehicles, trailers, Czech hedgehogs (a static obstacle made of metal angle beams), and other items to obstruct the roads used by law enforcement near the Whipple Building to impede the movement of federal law enforcement and immigration officers. See below for examples of items used for “hard blockade” during the January 23 and March 1 direct actions.
A flipped trailer used by DAMN during a blockade. Debris and a Czech hedgehog used by DAMN during a blockade.Members of the “soft blockade” team wield homemade shields constructed from plastic, wood, and metal to physically resist the efforts of law enforcement, and to aggressively “wedge” or break through teams of officers on foot. See below for one of the “soft blockades” that was set up on March 1.
“Soft blockade” by DAMN on March 1. “Soft blockade” by DAMN on March 1.DAMN members engage in “commuting” tactics, which include identifying, following, surveilling, harassing, and confronting federal immigration enforcement with the goal of preventing, hindering, delaying, and impeding the enforcement of federal immigration law. DAMN members use the Whipple Watch Signal group chat, which facilitated the identification of federal immigration and law enforcement vehicles and documents identifying information, such as license plate numbers, in databases. The databases include information like whether a vehicle has been identified as belonging to federal law enforcement, when it was last seen, how many times it was seen, the kinds of activities it was engaged in, if it was in a caravan, and if someone saw federal agents with tactical gear inside, all to help determine how aggressive the response to that particular vehicle should be. DAMN members often rely on information and intelligence produced by the Whipple Watch and other Signal group chats to target, harass, and confront federal immigration and law enforcement officers. Once someone relays information about a federal immigration or law enforcement officer’s location, “dispatchers” relay “verified” information to “commuters,” who deploy to the identified area to interfere with, prevent, hinder, delay, impede, and directly confront federal immigration enforcement, including “de-arresting” people that federal law enforcement have arrested.
“Commuters” follow federal immigration enforcement officers from locations, like the Whipple Building, to the officers’ residences and other locations. “Commuters” often work with “co-pilots,” who communicate with “dispatchers” in real-time. “Dispatchers” relay identifying information about immigration and law enforcement vehicles to “commuters” and “co-pilots.” DAMN members often engage in “commuting” tactics with other members.
For example, on May 4, a federal immigration officer left the Whipple Building in his government-issued vehicle. DAMN member Isaac Sant drove a Hyundai Sonata and followed the federal immigration officer from the Whipple Building to Hudson, Wisconsin. St. Croix County deputies stopped the Hyundai Sonata in Hudson, Wisconsin, and identified Sant as the driver.
On May 18, a federal immigration officer left the Whipple Building in his government-issued vehicle. DAMN member Natasha Rakotz drove a Honda Civic and followed the federal immigration officer from the Whipple Building to the area of Minnesota State Highway 55 and Minnesota State Highway 5. Rakotz “brake checked” the officer and “side swiped” the officer’s vehicle, causing a collision.
Below is an image of Natasha Rakotz ramming her Honda Civic into the federal immigration officer’s government-issued vehicle.
Image of Natasha Rakotz trying to ram her Honda Civic into a federal immigration officer’s government-issued vehicle.On May 15, an unindicted coconspirator sent a message describing a HSI agent’s government-issued vehicle as well as his license plate number in the “Whipple 3.0” Signal group chat. The unindicted coconspirator described the government-issued vehicle having a “reflective hat & vest on dash.” In the same chat, an unindicted coconspirator referred a different government-issued vehicle in the area (Government Vehicle 2) and stated, “This vehicle was confirmed at whip and hasn’t been added to the DB (database) – currently near the 28th and Bloom situation.” DAMN member Isaac sant sent a message in the “DAMN” Signal group chat, stating, “Alerta alerta: There’s an ICE raid in progress RIGHT NOW at 28th and Bloomington. Ford F150…” Sant provided the license plate number for the government-issued vehicle and continued, “three agents out of vehicle. I am not on scene. Get over there if you can!” DAMN member Brian Apland responded, “Omw (on my way).” At this time, HSI agents were performing their duties and conducting interviews. DAMN member William Morgan showed up to the scene and approached one of the agents and knocked the agent’s notes out of his hand. Morgan also kicked the government-issued vehicle, causing dents. Isaac Sant was also present at the scene. Below is the damage to the government-issued vehicle.
Government vehicle damaged by member of DAMN.Below is an image of William Morgan and Isaac Sant on the scene.
A member of DAMN at the scene of a damaged government vehicle. A member of DAMN at the scene of a damaged government vehicle.DAMN members trained other direct action and Antifa affinity groups throughout the country about how to forcibly obstruct, prevent, delay, hinder, and impede federal immigration enforcement operations. These trainings were referred to as the “Anarchist Speaking Tour.” DAMN members provided training and best practice at “Anarchist Speaking Tour” events in Chicago, Ann Arbor, and Seattle in April 2026.
On April 8, DAMN members Callum Robinet, William Morgan, and others took part in the “Anarchist Speaking Tour” in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Robinet explained to the participants that, “So this is an anarchist speaking tour. We’re all anarchists.”
On April 18, DAMN members Isaac Sant, Cameron Kennedy, and William Morgan took part in the “Anarchist Speaking Tour” in Seattle, Washington. Kennedy described the history of violent resistance in Minneapolis. He described the looting and burning of the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct as “the happiest moment of my life.” Kennedy explained, “A lot of mutual aid networks that were later characterized…this resistance to ICE came from the George Floyd uprising.” Kennedy described himself as a “revolutionary anarchist.”
Kennedy discussed the Jan. 23 direct action at the Whipple Building, stating that DAMN utilized a “soft blockade with shields at one entrance. He continued that there were “two other deployment teams…those deployment teams had trailers that they had bought off of Facebook Marketplace for really cheap and they essentially tried to blockade the other entrances simultaneously with this blockade (pointed to soft blockade on the projector). One of those trailers was deployed and flipped and successfully shut access. The other was about 30 seconds away from successful deployment before the team was actually pepper sprayed. They managed to avoid arrest…and they managed to drive away, albeit losing the trailer in the process.”
Kennedy also spoke about the direct action at the Whipple Building on March 1. Kennedy pointed to a projector screen and said, “the one you see over here is another shield wall on March 1st.” He continued, “this demonstration had four components to it. There was a above ground march that was led by indigenous sundancers that would take up gate one of the Whipple Building and the others were designed to essentially shut down the other two points of egress…there was 3 deployment teams. The first deployment team brought in shields.” The second deployment team “was sent in and they had something to be like tank busters…” Kennedy described these items as similar to “images of like D-Day, they’re like the metal X structures that you see and actually when the vehicles hit them, it digs back into the road and will stop the vehicle.” Kennedy explained, “I was on deploy 2 or deploy 3 and I had a 10-foot U-Haul box truck and a 30-foot trailer that I was going to use to block one of the entrances.”
Isaac Sant said, “We’re here from Minneapolis. We’re on tour to talk about our experiences resisting the ICE occupation.” He stated, “I think the Twin Cities real contributions to the field of revolutionary organization, of insurrectionary organization is these rapid response networks.” Sant stated, “I am in an anarchist, revolutionary organization. It’s called Blackcat.”
During the event, Sant discussed the logistics of “commuters,” who follow, harass, and confront federal immigration enforcement vehicles. Sant described, “…commuters were on a phone call in real time with a dispatcher who was somewhere with a dispatcher who was somewhere in the privacy of her own room reporting on like that convoys movements. That dispatcher was in a relay chat that allowed for communication between the Elliott Park and the adjacent Loring Park neighborhood…” Sant further explained, “We don’t recommend that anybody ever commute or control by yourself because it’s an inherently dangerous thing. So you always want to do that with a buddy who’s your copilot. So like you’re driving and looking for ice, your co-pilots on the phone talking to dispatch and however many other commuters on a Signal call…you might ask that dispatcher for plate checks, like they’re looking at a database of license plates and you’re not. And you might be like, so a lot of like your day and you’re like, hey I wonder if that’s ICE…And like you see a suspicious looking white Jeep Wagoneer, your copilot like reports a dispatch…and then you follow that car until you can’t anymore.” Sant then described Whipple Watch as a “counter surveillance project,” stating, “This is a very like boring and unglamorous and unsexy side of our work, but basically what I and my comrades do is we go down to Whipple building and hang out there all day and photograph every ICE vehicle that’s coming in and out of the vehicle.” Sant continued that, “Now in April and we have it down to a science and it’s more or less instantaneous. We maintain a searchable database in conjunction with data collection group called Defrost that’s publicly searchable on a website…Defrost is the list of every vehicle that we’ve ever seen ICE in make and model plates and like where and how many times it’s been spotted…So what we’ve started to experiment with now is we maintain a second database that’s only current plates. We erase it at the end of every night and we refresh it the next morning…and hot dishes is just a database of like all the active plates that left Whipple that day. So commuters can know like what we’re, we have confirmed on the road at the moment….What we do is, I mean we have a two fold motive of like getting their plates and blasting those out to all the neighborhoods and also just like wasting their time and resources.”
DAMN members emphasize a violent, militant approach and are highly critical of the non-violent, peaceful protests. DAMN members often advocate, promote, and celebrate violent resistance to purported fascist groups and the government.
For example, the Black Cat Worker’s Collective Facebook cover page reads “Welcome to Minneapolis!” and has an image of the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct in the background. The Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct was burnt down and destroyed during the riots following the death of George Floyd. Stillshot from the Black Cat Worker’s Collective Facebook page below.
Screenshot of the Black Cat Worker’s Collective Facebook page.On Feb. 5, Cameron Kennedy posted on Facebook, “I swear I’m going to lose my f*****g mind if I see that ‘if 3.5% of the population is committed to peaceful revolution, they win’ bulls**t…It’s given far to (sic) many well meaning people, a fake a** idea of what it takes to win. It has folks attacking militant elements of the resistance and aiding the state against them because they think violence or even property destruction is counter revolutionary. They could not be more wrong. I want to make this as clear as I can: YOU WILL NEVER WIN WITH NON-VIOLENCE ALONE. Ever. No one has. No one will. You absolutely need militants to win. I’m sorry the world is so cruel but this is the real world, not a f*****g fairytale…” See post below.
Facebook post by Cameron Kennedy.On Jan. 24, Kyle Wagner posted a video on his Instagram account “kaos.follows,” while wearing a bullet-proof vest. Wagner admitted to being Antifa. Wagner stated, “[I]f you are [caught up], it’s time to suit up. Boots on the ground. Nicollet and f*****g 26th. My house is four blocks away. Anywhere between Franklin and Nicollet, and 26th and Nicollet, show up ready to go. Okay, no, not talking about peaceful protests anymore. We’re not talking about having polite conversations anymore…This is exactly what I said was going to f****** come when we didn’t f****** go march on f****** Whipple with guns. Sorry but welcome to America 2026 where the Second Amendment is the only thing that’s going to keep you f****** protected from literal f****** Nazi gun men that are killing innocent people in the street with impunity. This is not a f****** joke. There’s nothing fun to chant about it. Get your f****** guns and stop these f****** people.” Stillshot of Wagner from the video below.
Screenshot of Kyle Wagner in a video from his Instagram page.The following defendants are named in the DAMN indictment:
- Isaac Auman Sant, also known as “Isaac Dalto” and “Ike,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer and Interstate Stalking.
- Emmett James Doyle, also known as “Plotnikov,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Cameron Kennedy, also known as “Cam,” “Olive Knite,” and “Knite,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Callum Robinet, also known as “Juliet K,” “Juliet,” and “Cal,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Erik Davis, also known as “Errico,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Brian Stillwell Apland, also known as “Tiny,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Kyle Wagner, also known as “Kaos,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer, Solicitation to Commit a Crime of Violence, and Interstate Threats.
- Hannah Margaret Van De Water Davis, also known as “Gabriel Van De Water” and “Nube,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Treasure Cay Thoreson, also known as “Schatzi,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Nathan Junho Kim, also known as “Moon Bear,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Alec Stewart, also known as “Mac,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Douglas Misterek, also known as “Doug” and “D Munny Big Dog Orf Orf,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Dustin Scott Beisell, also known as “Sparky,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- William Morgan, also known as “Willow” and “Willow Tree,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer, Interstate Stalking, Assault on a Federal Officer, and Destruction of Government Property.
- Natasha Rakotz, also known as “Anuran,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer and Assault on a Federal Officer.
This case was investigated by HSI.
This case is part of the nationwide National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 initiative, which is a White House directed, interagency effort to integrate federal, state, and local partners in protecting First Amendment rights while targeting individuals and organizations engaged in political violence and is led by the investigative and prosecutorial Joint Task Force Vanguard.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Sant et al Indictment - MN.pdf
15 June 2026
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15thRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – This World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas joins the Elder Justice Coordinating Council (EJCC) and other government agencies and organizations across the country to spread the word about government and business imposter scams. The EJCC’s Never EVER campaign is a nationwide effort to create awareness about imposter scams.
These scammers pretend to be someone they’re not — including government agencies and well-known businesses — to trick you into giving them money, access to your financial accounts, or get your personal information.
June is also National Elder Fraud Awareness Month. USAO-KS hosted an Elder Fraud Bingo event in Overland Park to help educate seniors citizens about scammers and various tactics they use to defraud victims, including government imposter scams.
“Elder fraud is a cruel and heartbreaking crime. Seniors, who have spent a lifetime earning and saving, should never see their retirement stolen by criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Losing money to fraud is hard at any age, but it’s especially devastating for older people with limited ability to replace their lost income. These victims have done nothing wrong except trust the wrong person or be fooled by a scam. My office is fully committed to aggressively prosecuting these offenders and strengthening education efforts to protect older adults from scams.”
In December 2025, a federal grand jury in Wichita indicted two defendants for allegedly defrauding a victim as part of a scheme that involved co-conspirators posing as federal law enforcement agents. They are accused of falsely convincing the individual to purchase $255,287 in gold and give it to them for safekeeping. The members of this conspiracy, including the indicted men, allegedly primarily target elderly retired individuals, falsely asserting they are with a government agency and telling victims that their identity has been compromised in ways that could result in jail time and major financial loss for victims.
Government imposter scams are a serious problem: in 2025, the FTC received more than 375,000 reports about government imposters, with reported losses of $917 million.
These imposter scammers lie and pretend to be someone they’re not. Their goal? Trick you into giving them money, access to your financial accounts, or your personal information. They make up complicated stories about so-called emergencies, so you’ll panic and act quickly before you have time to think about what to do or talk to someone you trust.
One common scam starts with an unexpected call from someone who says they’re from a well-known business, saying there’s suspicious activity on your account.
To “help” you, they transfer you to someone who says they’re from the government. This so-called helper, who claims to be from the FBI, the FTC, or some other law enforcement agency, urges you to move your money to “protect it” — maybe by transferring it to an account they give you, depositing it in a “government account” or crypto ATM for “safekeeping,” or getting cash or gold and giving it to a courier. But it’s all a lie. No one from the government will ever ask you to do these things. Only scammers will.
Other lies might involve a “suspended Social Security number” or supposed eligibility for government benefits. In all cases, that scammer will go to great lengths to convince you they’re with the government: fake caller ID or official-looking letters, for example. The agency name might be real or made up (but real-sounding), and some scammers might show you an employee ID or badge — all to seem more real. But they’re not.
To recognize and avoid a government imposter, the “Never EVER” campaign asks you to keep these things in mind:
• Never ever will someone from the government say: “Your money isn’t safe. Move it to protect it.” Only a scammer will.
• Never ever will someone from the government threaten to suspend your government benefits if you don’t pay immediately. Only a scammer will.
• Never ever will someone from the government demand that you pay with a payment app, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or gift cards.Talk to someone you trust if you’re worried about a problem with your account or identity — especially if the stranger says they’re from the government or the situation is serious or involves a crime. Visit ejcc.acl.gov/imposters for more on imposter scams. And if you spot an imposter scam — or any other type of scam — report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
###World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Do you know how to spot a government imposter? This World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico joins the Elder Justice Coordinating Council and other government agencies and organizations across the country to spread the word about government and business imposter scams.
Government imposter scams are a serious problem: in 2025, the FTC received more than 375,000 reports about government imposters, with reported losses of $917 million.
These imposter scammers lie and pretend to be someone they’re not. Their goal? Trick you into giving them money, access to your financial accounts, or your personal information. They make up complicated stories about so-called emergencies, so you’ll panic and act quickly before you have time to think about what to do or talk to someone you trust.
One common scam starts with an unexpected call from someone who says they’re from a well-known business, saying there’s suspicious activity on your account.
To “help” you, they transfer you to someone who says they’re from the government. This so-called helper, who claims to be from the FBI, the FTC, or some other law enforcement agency, urges you to move your money to “protect it” — maybe by transferring it to an account they give you, depositing it in a “government account” or crypto ATM for “safekeeping,” or getting cash or gold and giving it to a courier. But it’s all a lie. No one from the government will ever ask you to do these things. Only scammers will.
Other lies might involve a “suspended Social Security number” or supposed eligibility for government benefits. In all cases, that scammer will go to great lengths to convince you they’re with the government: fake caller ID or official-looking letters, for example. The agency name might be real or made up (but real-sounding), and some scammers might show you an employee ID or badge — all to seem more real. But they’re not.
To recognize and avoid a government imposter, keep these things in mind:
- Never ever will someone from the government say: “Your money isn’t safe. Move it to protect it.” Only a scammer will.
- Never ever will someone from the government threaten to suspend your government benefits if you don’t pay immediately. Only a scammer will.
- Never ever will someone from the government demand that you pay with a payment app, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or gift cards.
Talk to someone you trust if you’re worried about a problem with your account or identity — especially if the stranger says they’re from the government or the situation is serious or involves a crime. Visit ejcc.acl.gov/imposters for more on imposter scams. And if you spot an imposter scam — or any other type of scam — report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
###
Winter Park Plastic Surgery Center Settles Claims to Improve Access to Services for Patients with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – Kamran Azad MD P.A., d/b/a Azad Plastic Surgery (APS), a plastic surgery center in Winter Park, has agreed to settle allegations that it violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office opened an investigation into APS after receiving a complaint from an individual alleging APS refused to provide him with plastic surgery services because he has Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). During the investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office received a second complaint from an individual alleging APS refused to provide her with plastic surgery services because she has Crohn’s disease. As a result of the investigation, the United States determined that APS violated the ADA when it discriminated against the complainants by refusing to schedule them for plastic surgery consultations because they have HIV and Crohn’s disease, respectively. APS relied on incorrect assumptions and stereotypes about HIV and Crohn’s disease, not on current medical knowledge, when deciding to deny the complainants access to its services.
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, APS must pay a total of $40,000 in compensatory damages, with $20,000 to be paid to each complainant. APS must adopt, maintain, and enforce a non-discrimination policy regarding the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability, and post that policy on its website. APS must also provide training to all personnel on the non-discrimination requirements under the ADA. The training will also cover HIV discrimination and providing plastic surgery services for patients with HIV. Finally, for the next two years, APS must report any disability discrimination complaints it receives to the United States.
Assistant United States Attorney Alexandra N. Karahalios handled this case.
Title III of the ADA prohibits public accommodations, including professional offices of health care providers, from discriminating against individuals on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of their goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations (“goods or services”). In general, Title III prohibits public accommodations from subjecting an individual on the basis of disability to a denial of the opportunity to participate in or benefit from its goods or services. Specifically, public accommodations shall not impose or apply eligibility criteria that screen out or tend to screen out an individual with a disability or any class of individuals with disabilities from fully and equally enjoying any goods or services being offered. Public accommodation must make reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or procedures necessary to afford an individual with a disability with their goods or services.
Individuals who believe they may have experienced discrimination may contact the Civil Rights Unit of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida by calling our Civil Rights Hotline at (813) 274-6095 or emailing us at USAFLM.Civil.Rights@usdoj.gov. To fill out our civil rights complaint form, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/civil-rights-complaint-form.
The Attorney General is authorized to investigate alleged violations of Title III of the ADA and to bring a civil action in federal court if the United States is unable to secure voluntary compliance in any case that involves a pattern or practice of discrimination or that raises issues of general public importance. Ensuring that professional offices of health care providers do not discriminate against patients with disabilities is an issue of general public importance.
For more information on the ADA, visit www.ada.gov or call the Department of Justice’s toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 (Voice) or (833) 610-1264 (TTY). Accessibility specialists are available to answer questions from individuals, businesses, and state or local governments. All calls are confidential.
Settlement AgreementWestern District of Missouri Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Honorable R. Matthew Price, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, joined national, state, and local leaders in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15, 2026. Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increase understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk.
“Seniors are among the most likely to be targeted by fraud, false billing scams, and abuse. Financial exploitation is the most common form of elder abuse and is estimated to cost older adults more than $25 billion every year,” stated U.S. Attorney Price. “Combatting elder fraud and abuse is a top priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Department of Justice, and our law enforcement partners. As part of our elder justice initiative, my office has expanded our fraud and forfeiture practice, focusing on prosecuting offenders and seizing assets to be returned to victims. Everyone can protect their loved ones and the community by reporting instances of elder abuse when they see it.”
Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trusted relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse.The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes.
Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the goodwill or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud.
To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor Schemes, scammers impersonate government employees and falsely report suspicious activity to request that potential victims provide their Social Security numbers for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask the victim to give them remote access to their computer to identify a fake problem, and then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes.
To learn more about the Justice Department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page.
The U.S Attorney’s Office continues to work with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes. Additionally, the office consistently works with courageous whistleblowers who provide vital information to protect people and the community from fraud and abuse that targets the elderly.
Examples of cases protecting elder members of our community prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office in 2025 and 2026 include the following:
- In May 2026, United States Attorney R. Matthew Price awarded the Hometown Heroes Award to United States Postal Inspection Service inspectors who intercept mail packages sent by elderly victims to scammers and return them to the victims. The packages contain cash, money orders, gift cards, and credit cards that victims send at the direction of scammers.
- In May 2026, Syed Makki, an Indian national, was sentenced to 15½ years’ imprisonment for his role in a government imposter wire fraud conspiracy in which he picked up gold bars worth millions from elderly victims throughout the country.
- In May 2026, Amanda Rutherford, 46, of Junction City, Kan., was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for stealing firearms and collector coins from an elderly couple for whom she claimed to be a caregiver, and sold those coins in Clay County, Mo.
- In February 2026, Peter A. Lee, an attorney in Stockton, Mo., pleaded guilty to wire fraud for defrauding vulnerable clients, including the elderly, of funds for his personal gain. The clients he defrauded included decedent estates and a special needs trust. From January 2019 through February 2025, Lee obtained $296,140 in client funds.
- In December 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a civil forfeiture complaint against $1.2 million in digital currency seized in connection with fraudulent online investment schemes called TMGM and NEEX, that targeted older victims and others.
- In July 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office seized more than $325,000 in cryptocurrency connected to an online investment scam called Triangular, that targeted older victims and others.
To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
West Mifflin Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking CocaineRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of trafficking cocaine and cocaine base, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Richard Jasek, 42, pleaded guilty to three counts before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was informed that Jasek distributed and/or possessed with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine or cocaine base on three separate dates in late 2024 and early 2025. Specifically, Jasek admitted to, on February 20, 2025, possessing with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base, and, on both January 29, 2025, and December 17, 2024, possessing with intent to distribute, and distributing, quantities of cocaine.
Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for September 28, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $2 million, or both on each count. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and West Mifflin Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Jasek.
Wasilla doctor sentenced to three years for possessing child pornographyRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Wasilla neurologist was sentenced today to 3.4 years in prison for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, law enforcement became aware of Jeffrey Sponsler, 68, in February 2025, when another individual saw him masturbating to a video of two nude children being played from a laptop. Based on that information and after obtaining a warrant, law enforcement searched Sponsler’s home for electronics and other evidence of child exploitation.
During the search, law enforcement discovered dozens of electronics throughout the house, including desktop computers, laptops, external hard drives, memory cards, DVDs and even VHS tapes. He also possessed copies of several books depicting nude children and very young adults.
Forensic review of his devices revealed an extensive collection of CSAM. Sponsler ordered videos and pictures of nudist and naturist communities abroad. He then used his computer to edit images from the videos to create his own videos and slideshows of CSAM focused on girls roughly 7 to 12 years old. He edited photos by zooming in on young girls’ genitalia. He saved the edits and put them into a PowerPoint presentation, and creating slideshows of exclusively children’s genitalia.
Sponsler’s unique method of collecting CSAM makes it difficult to calculate exactly how many images and videos he possessed. One external hard drive contained about 59,000 images and videos of nude minors. Among those, there were at least 110 images and 18 videos that Sponsler cropped himself to create CSAM, totaling at least 1,500 CSAM images defined by the sentencing guidelines.
Prior to his arrest, Sponsler was a practicing neurologist and owned his own clinic, Alaska Brain Center. He also owned Alaska Music and Arts, a karate, music and dance studio.
On May 21, 2025, Sponsler was indicted by a federal grand jury and subsequently arrested. On March 5, 2026, Sponsler pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. During sentencing, the Court also ordered Sponsler to pay a $20,000 fine and serve 15 years on supervised release following completion of his federal prison sentence.
“Mr. Sponsler meticulously curated his collection of CSAM to feed his fixation of children and was able to fly under the radar of law enforcement for many years due to his unique collection methods,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Thankfully, a concerned member of the community reported Sponsler’s behavior and he will no longer live as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, fronting as a trusted member of the community and professional, while sexualizing children from behind closed doors at day’s end.”
“Sponsler portrayed himself as a trusted member of our community, when in reality, he had been viewing, organizing, and collecting a disturbing amount of CSAM for his own perverse gratification,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Schlegel of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Our children are safer now thanks to a concerned citizen who reported Sponsler’s crimes to the FBI. This sentencing reinforces the message that sexual exploitation crimes against children will not be tolerated by our community, the FBI, and our dedicated law enforcement partners.”
The FBI Anchorage Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Alaska State Troopers.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Ivers 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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Vermont U.S. Attorney’s Office Marks World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
BURLINGTON – First recognized on June 15, 2006, by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day provides an opportunity for dialogue and action on the issues of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation – crimes that are often overlooked or unreported. In 2026, government agencies and business across the United States are using this day to raise awareness about imposter scams and providing information about how to recognize and avoid them.
In imposter scams, criminals pretend to be someone they are not – including government agencies and well-known businesses. The scammers attempt to trick people into giving them money, access to financial accounts, and/or access to personal information. They make up complicated stories about so-called emergencies, in an attempt to cause panic and force quick action before a person has time to think critically and/or talk to someone they trust.
Government imposter scams are a serious problem: in 2025, the FTC received more than 375,000 reports about government imposters, with reported losses of $917 million.
Common imposter scams that have targeted Vermonters in recent months include:
- “Juror Scams,” where scammers impersonate a U.S. Marshal, court clerk, or local law enforcement officer to threaten recipients with fines and jail time for “failing to appear” for jury duty or obtaining personal information by seeking to “verify” identity.
- “DMV” or “Toll Scams,” where scammers pretend to be seeking collection of unpaid tickets, fees or tolls, threatening recipients with suspension of a license or registration if they do not pay immediately.
- “Family Emergency Scams,” where scammers impersonate law enforcement, or falsely claim a relative is in distress or under arrest, and demand payment for rescue or “bail” money for the relative’s release.
- “Money Protection Scams,” where a scammer pretends to be with a government agency who “noticed” suspicious activity in an account, and seeks transfer of the funds to a “safekeeping” account.
“The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont is working tirelessly with our federal investigative partners to pursue scammers who reach into Vermont to cause fear and confusion for the sake of illicit profit,” stated First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt. “We have had successes identifying these criminals to hold them accountable in the criminal justice system, and we will continue to prioritize investigation and prosecution of these offenders. But the best method to address this risk is prevention. I encourage everyone to become aware of the common methods used by scammers and help protect each other from these forms of abuse.”
Here are some tips on how to avoid falling victim to a financial scam:
- Slow down, breathe, and take your time. Scammers thrive on panic and urgency; slowing down phone and text interactions will help you spot the signs of fraud.
- Don’t share personal or financial information with anyone you don’t know.
- If someone contacts you and makes demands, write down the phone number and hang up. Independently find the agency phone number from a trusted source before calling back.
- If the person asking for money or information claims to be a relative, a friend, or someone you know, do not respond right away. Instead, contact the person independently or ask a trusted family member or friend for help.
- In-person collection is a red flag; government agencies will not send someone to your home to collect cash.
Talk to someone you trust if you’re worried about a problem with your account or identity — especially if a stranger says they’re from the government or the situation is serious or involves a crime. Visit ejcc.acl.gov/imposters for more on imposter scams. And if you spot an imposter scam — or any other type of scam — please report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The Department of Justice also has a National Elder Fraud Hotline 1-833-FRAUD-11, as well as resources for elder abuse awareness, prevention, and reporting at https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice. The U.S. Administration on Aging also helps connect older adults and their families to services through its Eldercare Locator, reachable at 1-800-677-1116 and eldercare.acl.gov.
Utah Known Gang Member Sentenced for Possessing a Firearm as a Previously Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A known Utah gang member and felon was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment today, concurrent to any time imposed by the state of Utah for parole violations and/or new offenses, after he illegally possessed a firearm and ammunition, which he is restricted from possessing as a felon.
Raymond Ace Ortiz, aka Gizmo, 39, of St. George, Utah, pleaded guilty on April 3, 2026. In addition to his term of imprisonment, he was also sentenced to three years' supervised release.
According to Ortiz’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, on November 6, 2025, Ortiz was taken into custody at a West Valley City residence by the U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (VFAST) pursuant to a warrant for his arrest for a state parole violation. As members of VFAST knocked on the front door, Ortiz went to the back door with a firearm. Ortiz was shot during the encounter, and a loaded Taurus G2C 9mm semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number was recovered from the area. Ortiz admitted he possessed the firearm during the encounter. Ortiz was previously convicted of possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person in Utah Third District Court.
This case was investigated by an FBI Task Force Officer with the Salt Lake City Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Victoria K. McFarland of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
United States Attorney’s Office Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
DETROIT – Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, joins the Department of Justice and the Elder Fraud Coordinating Council, along with other government agencies and organizations across the country in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). WEAAD provides an opportunity for all of us to promote dialogue and action on the issue of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. This year’s Elder Justice Coordinating Council’s campaign, entitled Never EVER, helps to raise awareness about how to recognize and avoid imposter scams.
Imposters are scammers who pretend to be someone they’re not — including government agencies and well-known businesses — to trick you into giving them money, access to your financial accounts, or your personal information. They make up complicated stories about so-called emergencies, so you’ll panic and act quickly before you have time to think about what to do or talk to someone you trust.
One common scam starts with an unexpected call from someone who says they’re from a well-known business, saying there’s suspicious activity on your account. To “help” you, they transfer you to someone who says they’re from the government. This so-called helper, who claims to be from the FBI, the FTC, or some other law enforcement agency, urges you to move your money to “protect it” — maybe by transferring it to an account they give you, depositing it in a “government account” or crypto ATM for “safekeeping,” or getting cash or gold and giving it to a courier. But it’s all a lie. No one from the government will ever ask you to do these things. Only scammers will.
Other lies might involve a “suspended Social Security number” or supposed eligibility for government benefits. In all cases, that scammer will go to great lengths to convince you they’re with the government: fake caller ID or official-looking letters, for example. The agency name might be real or made up (but real-sounding), and some scammers might show you an employee ID or badge — all to seem more real. But they’re not.
To recognize and avoid a government imposter, keep these things in mind:
•Never ever will someone from the government say: “Your money isn’t safe. Move it to protect it.” Only a scammer will.
•Never ever will someone from the government threaten to suspend your government benefits if you don’t pay immediately. Only a scammer will.
•Never ever will someone from the government demand that you pay with a payment app, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or gift cards.
Talk to someone you trust if you’re worried about a problem with your account or identity — especially if the stranger says they’re from the government or the situation is serious or involves a crime. Visit ejcc.acl.gov/imposters for more on imposter scams. And if you spot an imposter scam — or any other type of scam — report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Government imposter scams are a serious problem: in 2025, the FTC received more than 375,000 reports about government imposters, with reported losses of $917 million.
The United States Attorney’s Office remains committed to protecting our seniors from the growing threat of elder fraud and financial exploitation. As part of that effort, we have reached out to senior citizen groups and community organizations to provide information on common scams, warning signs and steps individuals can take to safeguard themselves and their loved ones. We recently presented to a group of seniors at Congregation Shaarey Zedek and have other presentations planned for this summer. For those senior citizen groups and community organizations interested in having a representative from the U.S. Attorney’s Office speak to their group, please contact Public Affairs Officer Gina Balaya at 313-226-9758 or email at gina.balaya@usdoj.gov.
To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page. To learn more about who to avoid imposter scams visit ejcc.acl.gov/imposters