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7 May 2026
Dominican National Sentenced for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Dominican national was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Dewar Francisco Beriguete-Hernandez, 21, to three years in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Beriguete-Hernandez was convicted on October 24, 2025, following a two-day jury trial.
According to court records, Beriguete-Hernandez was part of a drug trafficking organization that delivered fentanyl from Massachusetts to customers in Maine. Beriguete-Hernandez was arrested in Kittery in April 2024, in possession of approximately 196 grams of a substance containing fentanyl. Following trial, a jury convicted him of possessing controlled substances with intent to distribute. He was acquitted of a separate count charging him with distributing controlled substances.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case, with the assistance of the Kittery Police Department.
Operation Take Back America: 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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Defendant Pleads Guilty in $48 Million Nationwide Book Publishing Scam Targeting Hundreds of SeniorsRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Michael Cris Traya Sordilla, a 34-year-old citizen of the Philippines, pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he conspired to perpetrate a book publishing scam that caused losses of over $48 million to more than 800 victims throughout the United States.
Sordilla is the first of four defendants to admit his role in a scheme that targeted authors — most of them seniors — by promising to elevate their work to major publishing deals and Hollywood film adaptations, all in exchange for millions of dollars in fraudulent fees.
According to his plea agreement, Sordilla was the founder and CEO of Innocentrix Philippines, which purported to be a “business process outsourcing” company in the Philippines. Sordilla admitted that he and his co-conspirators created and registered phony business entities in the United States, including:
- PageTurner Press and Media LLC (“PageTurner”), which was incorporated in California in September 2017 and claimed to be a book publishing business located in Chula Vista, California
- The Metro Films LLC (“Metro Films”), which was incorporated in California in April 2022 and claimed to be a motion picture and sound recording business located in Los Angeles, California
- WP Lighthouse LLC (“WP Lighthouse”) was registered in Indiana in July 2024 and claimed to be a book publishing business in Indianapolis, Indiana.
From 2017 until 2024, under the guise of these fictitious businesses, Sordilla and co-conspirators operated a fraudulent network of scammers in the Philippines to enrich themselves by selling false hopes of tremendous professional success to writers in the United States.
According to his plea agreement, Sordilla’s role in the conspiracy was using Innocentrix Philippines to manage a call center in the Philippines where dozens of sales representatives contacted victims in the United States pretending to be literary agents from PageTurner or WP Lighthouse. As part of the conspiracy, the scammers falsely told victims their works had been selected for acquisition by publishers or movie studios, and fraudulently convinced victims to send payments for various services including pre-payment of taxes and transaction fees, before the victim-author’s work could be published or optioned to studios. According to court documents, the conspirators made false representations regarding PageTurner and WP Lighthouse to the victims, including by falsely representing the location of operations, their contacts and communications with literary agents, major traditional publishers, motion picture studios, and popular video streaming services.
As part of the conspiracy, the conspirators impersonated literary agents and executives from major publishers, motion picture studios, and popular video streaming services, or pretended to be representatives from the fake motion picture business Metro Films. In reality, PageTurner, WP Lighthouse, and Metro Films were fictitious businesses with no relationship to either traditional publishers or Hollywood entertainment companies.
Sordilla directed co-conspirators to open and manage bank accounts in the name of PageTurner and WP Lighthouse LLC at various financial institutions, his plea agreement said. After victim funds were received in bank accounts established on behalf of PageTurner and WP Lighthouse, in order to conceal the location and control of proceeds of the book publishing scam, Sordilla directed co-conspirators to withdraw and transfer victim funds to domestic and international bank accounts in the Philippines controlled by Sordilla and co-conspirators. As part of the conspiracy, Sordilla directed co-conspirators to launder at least $42 million, and received approximately $2,725,951.
As part of the guilty plea, Sordilla agreed to forfeit $2,725,951 in proceeds from the offense. Sordilla will also be subject to an order of restitution to the victims of the offense in the amount of at least $48,719,156.38.
“The defendants didn’t just steal money — they stole dreams, leaving victims with empty promises and devastating losses,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “Today’s guilty plea delivers justice for victims and serves as a warning that legitimate publishers and filmmakers do not demand upfront fees.”
“Michael Sordilla and his co-conspirators callously preyed on the hopes and dreams of authors to have their stories come to life, costing hundreds of victims more than $48 million in losses,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “Today’s guilty plea is the beginning of holding all those involved in this Hollywood dream scheme accountable for their crimes. FBI San Diego, along with our law enforcement partners, remains steadfast in our pursuit of justice of any scammers attempting to steal Americans’ hard-earned money.”
“The defendant knowingly used the mail to execute a fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims for financial gain,” said Matt Shields, Inspector in Charge of the Los Angeles Division. “This guilty plea represents a significant step in holding the defendant accountable and seeking justice for all of those impacted.”
If you or someone you know is aged 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). You can also report fraud to any local law enforcement agency or on the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
As of today, three of the four defendants charged in the case are awaiting trial. Law enforcement previously seized the PageTurner domain and over $6 million from bank accounts linked to PageTurner and WP Lighthouse.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Oleksandra “Sasha” Johnson.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 24CR2712-JLS
Gemma Traya Austin Age: 60 Chula Vista, CA
In custody. Arrested in Chula Vista on December 12, 2024
Michael Cris Traya Sordilla Age: 34 Philippines
In custody. Sentencing set for July 24, 2026
Bryan Navales Tarosa Age: 35 Philippines
In custody. Arrested in San Diego on December 9, 2024
Micheal Glenn Austin Age: 35 Chula Vista, CA
Released on bond
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349
Maximum Penalties: Twenty years in prison; $250,000 fine
Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(h)
Maximum Penalties: Twenty years in prison; maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the amount laundered
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
United States Postal Inspection Service
Cuban Man Charged with Illegal Reentry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
BURLINGTON – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on May 7, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Yasser Rivera-Reyes, 42, a Cuban citizen with ties to Miami, Florida, with unlawfully reentering the United States after having departed the United States with an order of removal outstanding. Rivera-Reyes was initially charged by Criminal Complaint after he was apprehended by the United States Border Patrol on April 24, 2026 in Derby, Vermont. Rivera-Reyes entered a plea of not guilty to the charges during an arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Judge Doyle previously ordered that Rivera-Reyes be detained pending trial.
According to court records, Border Patrol agents received alerts that a person had likely entered the United States from Canada around 10pm on April 24, 2026, in the area of the bike path in Derby, Vermont. Agents responded to the bike path, and encountered Rivera-Reyes wearing clothing and a backpack similar to imagery obtained near the border. Rivera-Reyes was identified as a Cuban citizen, who had been ordered removed from the United States in 2017 while an inmate in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. A search of Rivera-Reyes’ belongings revealed a number of items indicating Rivera-Reyes had been living in Canada, including a Quebec driver’s license (issued in September 2025), a debit card from a Canadian bank, a membership certificate from a Canadian union, and receipts dated in April 2026 related to the purchase and return of items from a business in Charlemagne, Quebec.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Rivera-Reyes is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Rivera-Reyes faces up to 2 years of imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the United States Border Patrol.
The prosecutor is Special Assistant United States Attorney Craig Nolan. Rivera-Reyes is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.
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.
Coosada Man Sentenced to 130 Months in Federal Prison Following Federal Drug and Gun ConvictionsRead the Press Release
Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced that a Coosada, Alabama man has been sentenced to prison following convictions for methamphetamine distribution and the illegal possession of a firearm.
On May 6, 2026, a federal judge sentenced 39-year-old Deandre Maurice Jennings to 130 months in prison. Following his term of imprisonment, Jennings will serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to his agreement and other court records, on February 20, 2025, law enforcement in Montgomery conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Jennings. A search of the vehicle revealed 434 grams of methamphetamine and a handgun. Jennings has previous felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
On October 6, 2025, Jennings pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Millbrook Police Department, Montgomery Police Department and Elmore County Drug Task Force investigated the case, which Assistant United States Attorney Christine Levi prosecuted.
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.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to Prison for Stockpiling Homemade Explosives and Possessing 30+ FirearmsRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – A Hancock County man has been sentenced to prison for possessing homemade explosives and for being a felon in possession of over 30 firearms.
Robert J. Niederbrack, 70, of Findlay, Ohio, was sentenced to 57 months (4.75 years) in prison after pleading guilty to the following charges:
- Felon in Possession of Firearms
- Possession of Unregistered Firearm Silencers
- Felon in Possession of Explosives
Niederbrack’s prior convictions were in 2009 and included: Possession of Firearm/Ammunition by a Felon; Possession of Place for Trafficking/Sale/Manufacture of Controlled Substances; Cultivation of Cannabis; and Possession of Cannabis over 20 grams.
U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick imposed the sentence May 5. Judge Helmick ordered Niederbrack to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment as well as the forfeiture of 16 rifles, 11 pistols, and 6 shotguns.
According to court documents, federal agents were following up on a report about explosives being manufactured out of a home. Niederbrack was subsequently identified. During a search warrant execution of his storage unit in Ottawa, Ohio, agents seized 33 firearms, firearm silencers, and ammunition. They also found sealed tubes containing explosive powder and fitted with fuses to enable detonation. Additionally, about 25 pounds of explosive powders, including aluminum and sulfur, were in a unit. Instruments for measuring explosive powers, funnels, cardboard tubes, end cap seals, and fuse cords were also found. Agents recovered several materials about warfare devices and techniques. During a second court ordered search where he was residing, additional firearms, firearm silencers and parts, ammunition, and a taser were seized.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI Cleveland Division, and the NW Ohio Joint Terrorism Task Force.
The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Dexter L. Philips for the Northern District of Ohio.
Convicted Felon Indicted for Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Lamar Bunch, 35, has been indicted in federal court for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charge.
Bunch appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for June 22, 2026, in Tallahassee, Florida before United States District Court Judge Mark E. Walker.
Bunch faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment if convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon.
The case is being jointly investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Chatham County woman sentenced to prison for setting fire to occupied residenceRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, Georgia: A Chatham County woman has been sentenced to seven years in prison after admitting she set a fire that injured four people in a rooming house.
Tamekia Mumford, 50, of Savannah, was sentenced to 84 months in prison after pleading guilty to Arson Resulting in Personal Injury, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker also ordered Mumford to pay $2,190 in restitution and to serve five years of supervised release upon completion of her prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Arson is a senseless and often deadly crime,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “It’s a tribute to the quick response of the Savannah Fire Department that all of the occupants of this residence were rescued with only minor injuries.”
As described in the guilty plea, Savannah firefighters were called at approximately 7:31 a.m. on Oct. 21, 2024, to a house fire at 1834 Capital Street. The residence operated as a boarding house with up to 25 tenants, including Mumford. Firefighters and other first responders were met on the street by multiple residents who had evacuated and rescued two people from the second floor while fighting the fire. One of those residents was transported to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta and treated for smoke inhalation. Three others were treated for injuries they received while escaping the fire.
During the evacuation, Mumford stood outside the home while flicking a lighter and yelled that the house was “evil.” She later told investigators that she was angry with everyone in the house. Security footage from the morning of the fire showed Mumford lighting a mattress outside the open kitchen window of the house. It also showed her entering the home and exiting with additional material she then added to the fire. She did not alert any of the residents, many of whom were sleeping, as the blaze grew and smoke billowed into the house through the open window.
“I’m thrilled to see this arsonist will not be on the streets and putting more lives in danger,” said Fred Anderson, chief investigator for the Savannah Fire Department Arson Unit. “This case was able to be solved quickly due to a strong working partnership with local and federal partners working together to keep Savannah safe from senseless crimes like this.”
“This incident could have resulted in loss of life. The deliberate nature of this act – targeting a residence with multiple occupants – demonstrates the serious threat arson poses to public safety,” said Charles M. Mulherin, special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. “ATF will continue to prioritize these cases and support efforts to prevent similar tragedies.”
The case was investigated by the Savannah Fire Department Arson Unit, the Savannah Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted for the United States of America by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey L. Scanlon and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank M. Pennington II.
California Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving Child Pornography and Transferring Obscene Material to a MinorRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Today, Devin Ravine a/k/a “Derek Johnson,” age 21, of Riverside, California, pled guilty to receiving child pornography and transferring obscene material to a minor. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
As part of his guilty plea, the defendant admitted that he contacted a 15-year-old child on a dating application, sent her pictures of his erect penis, and then directed her to produce sexual video files. The victim complied, ultimately sending him a sexually explicit video of herself.
The victim came forward to law enforcement after FBI agents visited her school, which is located in the Capital Region, as part of its ongoing efforts to educate students about internet safety and sextortion.
At sentencing on September 4, 2026, which will take place before the Hon. Anne M. Nardacci in Albany, the defendant faces at least 5 years and up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, a supervised release term of at least 5 years and up to life, forfeiture, and restitution. He will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
FAUSA Sarcone stated: “The arrest of this defendant was one of the first of many significant efforts against child exploitation taken by my Office under my leadership. I commend the brave victim for coming forward; the FBI for prioritizing educating our children about the dangers of the internet, and then swiftly investigating and arresting this defendant; and those in my Office who helped shepherd this case from charge to conviction. Let what happened to this defendant serve as a warning: Whether you are in California or in my own backyard, if you exploit a child in my District, you will be found, and I will secure justice for your victim.”
SAC Tremaroli stated: “The FBI Albany team is incredibly proud of the brave student who came forward after our presentation, and we remain committed to that important outreach. Our children need to know there are dangerous predators like Mr. Ravine out there looking to exploit them, but they also need to know that when they come forward, their FBI will respond with the full force of our agency and its partners to track those predators down and ensure they head to prison just like in this case.”
The FBI Albany Field Office is investigating this case with assistance from the FBI Riverside Field Office, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Rick Belliss and Mikayla Espinosa are prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
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Brooklyn Man Convicted of Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
Earlier today, a federal jury in Brooklyn convicted Dewitt John on both counts of a superseding indictment charging him with sexual exploitation of a child and accessing with intent to view child pornography. The verdict was returned after a three-day trial before United States Circuit Judge Denny Chin, sitting in the Eastern District of New York by designation. When sentenced, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and up to life imprisonment.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the verdict.“From behind his computer screen, Dewitt John preyed on vulnerable children online, exploiting their innocence for his own gratification and using cash payments to coerce minors as young as 13 into producing sexually explicit videos of themselves,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “This conviction demonstrates our Office’s unwavering commitment to protecting children from online predators. We will continue working tirelessly to identify and hold accountable those who exploit the most vulnerable members of our community.”
“Dewitt John preyed on these children’s fear and innocence to force them to comply with his depraved demands. These victims bravely faced their fears in court to testify against their abuser to ensure he can’t hurt anyone else. May today’s guilty verdict serve as a warning to other predators that the FBI is determined to hold accountable those who sexually exploit vulnerable children,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.
As proved at trial, in or about March 2024, John identified a 13-year-old girl who had posted photographs of herself on a Reddit forum and whose posts disclosed her age. John offered to pay the girl for her for photographs and then initiated contact on Instagram. John proceeded to groom the victim by sending her money through Cash App in exchange for sexually explicit videos of herself. Despite the victim expressing discomfort and reluctance to comply, John continued to pressure and coerce her into producing the material. During the course of this conduct, John sent the victim explicit and graphic messages describing the sexual acts he wanted her to perform.
As further demonstrated at trial, John also targeted a second 13-year-old minor victim through similar online methods, grooming her and inducing her to send him naked images of herself for his gratification.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to 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.* * * * *
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorney Brooke Theodora and Special Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Elardo are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Elizabeth Reed.
The Defendant: DEWITT JOHN
Age: 31
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No.: 24-CR-492 (DC)
Brooklyn Clothing Company Pays $3 Million to Settle Claims That it Defrauded Federal Covid Loan ProgramRead the Press Release
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced today a settlement agreement with Brooklyn-based clothing company Lafayette 148, Inc. (Lafayette). The settlement addresses allegations that Lafayette violated the federal False Claims Act (FCA) by falsely certifying that it was eligible for a pandemic-era second-draw Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and obtaining forgiveness of that loan.
“Congress created the Paycheck Protection Program to help eligible small businesses survive the severe disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic by offering loans that could be forgiven if program rules were followed,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Unfortunately, Lafayette applied for and took government money to which they were not entitled. Our Office will continue to investigate and hold companies accountable who took advantage of pandemic relief programs.”
Mr. Nocella thanked the Small Business Administration (SBA) for its partnership in the investigation.
“SBA is committed to identifying and pursuing those alleged to have perpetrated fraud on COVID Relief Programs to the detriment of small businesses. By working closely with the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York and our other law enforcement partners, SBA continues its enhanced efforts to uncover fraud and pursue recoveries on behalf of taxpayers,” stated SBA General Counsel Wendell Davis.
On March 27, 2020, the President signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) to provide emergency assistance for individuals, families, and businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The CARES Act authorized the Paycheck Protection Program, administered by the SBA, to provide forgivable loans to eligible small businesses during the national emergency. The PPP provided loans in two draws. For second-draw PPP loans, among other requirements, an applicant could not employ more than 300 employees.
The United States Attorney’s Office commenced an investigation after whistleblowers alleged that Lafayette had knowingly defrauded the federal government by obtaining a $2 million PPP loan and forgiveness of that loan when it was not eligible. Based in Brooklyn, Lafayette has a workshop and production facility in China. The government contended that Lafayette was ineligible for a second-draw PPP loan because its certifications about the number of its employees and its operations associated with China were false.
Under the terms of the agreement with the United States, Lafayette agreed to pay $3 million to the United States. The claims asserted against the defendant are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
The civil settlement resolves a case brought under the qui tam provisions of the FCA. The FCA authorizes private parties to sue on behalf of the United States and receive a share of any recovery. It also permits the United States to intervene and take over such lawsuits, as it did here. The relator will receive a 10% share of the government’s recovery in this matter.
The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Logan J. Gowdicott and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Franka Cepele of the Office’s Civil Division, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Loan Nguyen and Jude Glashow.
Bronx Man Serving Federal Sentence at Residential Reentry Center Charged with Hate CrimeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging SHORAI MOORE with one count of committing a hate crime in connection with his assault of a gay man on April 1, 2026. MOORE was arrested this morning and will be presented later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman.
“All New Yorkers deserve to live in their communities free from hate-fueled violence,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Hate undermines all that we hold dear in New York, including providing opportunity to all. No one should be targeted because of their sexual orientation. This Office, working with our state and federal law enforcement partners, will always protect New Yorkers from hateful, violent crimes.”
“This alleged assault traumatized an innocent victim due to his sexual orientation,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “The FBI’s Hate Crimes Task Force is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to protect our communities against violence driven by hate.”
“This defendant—who was already serving a federal sentence at a residential reentry facility—violently attacked a gay man based on the victim’s sexual orientation,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Bias-motivated crimes tear at the fabric of society, and the NYPD will never tolerate hate of any kind in our city. I thank our NYPD investigators, our partners at the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District for their work in this case, for their efforts to bring this criminal to justice.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment and other public filings:
On April 1, 2026, MOORE was serving a term of imprisonment for narcotics trafficking at a Federal Bureau of Prisons residential reentry center in the Bronx, New York. On that day, MOORE, while standing outside a Bronx deli, yelled anti-gay slurs and statements, including that gay people should “get off the block,” before assaulting a gay victim with his fist, a recycling bin, and a plastic crate.
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MOORE, 31, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of committing a hate crime, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the NYPD.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Unit in the Criminal Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Jones and Madison Reddick Smyser are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Brentwood Woman Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Taxpayers Out of $6.9 MillionRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – Helen Boerman, 48 of Brentwood, Tennessee, pleaded guilty earlier this week to her role in defrauding Medicare out of $6.9 million, announced United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee.
“Eliminating fraud in federal programs and holding fraudsters accountable is among the highest priorities of the Department of Justice,” said United States Attorney Braden Boucek. “This case demonstrates our commitment to investigate fraud, find those responsible, and hold them accountable with jail sentences. We will not tolerate fraud against the taxpayers here in the Middle District of Tennessee.
According to court documents, over a period of three-and-a-half years, Boerman, an optometric physician, used her practice, Brentwood Eye Care, to submit false claims to Medicare. As an enrolled provider, she submitted false claims seeking reimbursements from Medicare for new wound care products she had not actually purchased or used because she split wound care products intended for single use.
For example, in May 2022, Boerman, through Brentwood Eye Care, submitted claims to Medicare on behalf of two patients who were Medicare beneficiaries for placement of wound care products on May 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27, when the appointment data showed that the patients had appointments on May 20, 24 and 27 only. Boerman directed the staff at Brentwood Eye Care to create false records for the other dates to support the services fraudulently billed to Medicare.
In addition to her fraudulent Medicare claims, Boerman also made false claims between March 2020 and October 2024 to TennCare, Tennessee’s Medicaid agency, and Federal Employees Health Benefits Programs.
As part of her guilty plea, Boerman admitted that during the course of her criminal conduct she submitted false Medicare claims in the amount of approximately $11 million and received approximately $6.9 million.
Boerman will be sentenced by Chief Judge William L. Campbell, Jr. on September 10, 2026, and faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and Office of Personnel Management, Office of Inspector General, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Bogni.
This case is being prosecuted in partnership with the National Fraud Enforcement Division which was created by the Acting Attorney General to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. The National Fraud Enforcement Division partners with federal, state, and local law enforcement on fraud fighting efforts and works to protect the financial integrity of our government and the tax system that supports it.
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Blu Zeke Daly Indicted for the Attempted Murder of a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
Blu Zeke Daly Indicted for the Attempted Murder of a Federal Officer
CONCORD – A former Manchester resident was indicted for attempting to kill a Border Patrol agent, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Blu Zeke Daly, a/k/a Cullan Zeke Daly, 26, with one count of Attempted Murder of a Federal Officer and one count of Assaulting a Federal Officer with a Dangerous or Deadly Weapon. Daly was previously charged by complaint on February 24, 2026, and has since remained under guard at a New Hampshire hospital. Daly made an initial appearance in federal court on April 23, 2026.
According to the indictment and public record, on the evening of February 21, 2026, a Border Patrol agent encountered Daly driving alone in Stewartstown, New Hampshire, near the Canadian border. The agent asked whether Daly had used any other names, at which point Daly drove away. The Border Patrol agent followed at a distance. Shortly after midnight on February 22, 2026, Daly arrived at the Pittsburg Port of Entry on the border between the United States and Canada. The crossing was closed and the gate was locked. The Border Patrol agent activated his emergency lights and exited his vehicle, at which point Daly started to turn. Daly then fired a handgun at the Border Patrol agent. The agent returned fire with his own service weapon and shot Daly.
The charge of Attempted Murder of a Federal Officer carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of Assaulting a Federal Officer with a Dangerous or Deadly Weapon also carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison 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.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The FBI is leading the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case.
Billings man sentenced for illegal firearm possession after road rage incidentRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings man who illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced today to 18 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
Matthew David Slemmer, 41, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on January 17, 2025, an individual called 911 and said Slemmer pulled a gun on him following an exchange in traffic. According to the caller, Slemmer pulled into a parking lot and brandished a firearm before leaving the scene.
Shortly after law enforcement arrived, Slemmer returned to the parking lot. He eventually provided a statement in which he denied brandishing a firearm but admitted he had a gun in his car. After a further exchange, Slemmer provided consent to search his vehicle and law enforcement discovered a Hi-Point Firearms, Model C9, 9mm semi-automatic pistol exactly where Slemmer said it would be located.
Almost one year before the incident in the parking lot, on March 5, 2024, a hearing was held on a petition for a Temporary Order of Protection against Slemmer. He was present at the hearing. Another hearing was set for April 1, 2024, at which point the Temporary Order became permanent. The order says Slemmer shall not “threaten to commit or commit acts of violence” or “not harass, annoy, disturb” or otherwise communicate with the petitioner, who had a child and an ongoing intimate relationship with him. The permanent order also prohibited Slemmer from possessing firearms.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. The ATF and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation.
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Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – An armed career criminal has been sentenced for illegal possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby.
U.S. District Judge Liles C. Burke sentenced Eric Rollins Burgess, 45, of Moulton, Alabama, to 180 months in prison. Burgess pleaded guilty in January to unlawfully possessing a firearm.
According to the plea agreement, on May 20, 2023, an officer with the Moulton Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Burgess for failure to stop at a stop sign. Burgess told the officer he did not have a driver’s license and provided false identifying information, including a name and date of birth. The officer was unable to verify the information, and Burgess was detained and later arrested. During a search of the vehicle, the officer recovered marijuana and drug paraphernalia. A later search of Burgess’s person recovered an RG Industries, Model RG 23, .22 caliber revolver.
Burgess is prohibited from having a firearm because of multiple prior felony convictions, and the sentence reflected his status as an armed career criminal. Burgess was previously convicted in the Circuit Court of Lawrence County, Alabama, on June 21, 2021, in three cases of Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance, and on February 10, 2017, of the offenses of Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Marijuana.
The ATF investigated the case along with the Moulton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara M. Judah prosecuted the case.
Arizona Man Sentenced to over 13 Years in Prison for His Role in Conspiracies to Distribute Fentanyl and Cocaine and Laundering the ProceedsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Tucson, Ariz., man has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for his role in distributing truckloads of fentanyl and cocaine and then laundering the proceeds.
Reginel Cazares, a/k/a “Junior,” 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper to 160 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In January 2026, Cazares pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (involving 400 grams or more of fentanyl and five kilograms or more of cocaine) and money laundering conspiracy. Cazares was indicted on June 13, 2024.
In August 2023, law enforcement learned about an individual named “Junior” – later identified as Cazares – based in Tucson, Ariz., who organized multi-kilogram deliveries of fentanyl and cocaine from California to Massachusetts. The kilograms were driven by tractor trailer from the area of Ontario, Calif., to Massachusetts. In November and December of 2023 Cazares directed a cooperating witness to pick up $600,00 in drug proceeds from two co-defendants in Tewksbury, Mass. On Feb. 16, 2024, Cazares directed the cooperating witness to pick up four kilograms of fentanyl and nine kilograms of cocaine in Ontario, Calif., which were to be driven to Massachusetts and the Carolinas. The narcotics were intercepted by law enforcement.
In 2012, Cazares was convicted of cocaine conspiracy in the District of New Jersey and sentenced to 57 months in federal prison.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Riverside (Calif.), Bakersfield (Calif.) and Tucson (Ariz.) DEA Offices; San Bernadino County (Calif.) Sheriff’s Department; Inland Regional Narcotics Enforcement Team; the Methuen Police Department; and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Alabama man going to prison for his role in drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that James Walker, 71, of Huntsville, AL, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, a mixture and substance containing cocaine, was sentenced to serve 30 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Between February and July 25, 2018, Walker conspired with Adrian Goudelock, Eric Young, and others, to sell cocaine. The conspiracy involved the transport of bulk quantities of cocaine to multiple areas in the country including Buffalo, NY. Walker owned a commercial tractor-trailer, which was outfitted with a lined hidden compartment for the purpose of concealing bulk cocaine and/or bulk currency. He hired Young, who drove the tractor-trailer to the Western District of New York with bulk cocaine on at least two occasions. Walker told Young about the hidden compartment and directed him to communicate with specified co-conspirators to arrange the logistics of the bulk cocaine deliveries and to retrieve bulk cash in exchange for the bulk cocaine.
Communicating over an encrypted messaging application, Walker directed Young, in June 2018, to make three drops of 20 kilograms each in Cleveland, OH, Buffalo, and New York. On June 21, 2018, the same day law enforcement observed co-conspirators bringing a duffle bag of cocaine into a stash location, law enforcement observed phone calls between Walker and Adrian Goudelock, the bulk cocaine purchaser in Buffalo. Law enforcement learned that the tractor-trailer owned by Walker and operated by Young was in the Western District of New York. On July 25, 2018, Young and the tractor trailer were observed in a parking lot in West Seneca, NY. Law enforcement observed an exchange of duffle bags: one containing 52 packages of U.S. currency, wrapped, taped, and labeled exactly how Walker had told Young they would be packaged. The other duffle bag that was collected from the tractor-trailer by a co-conspirator in Buffalo contained 17 kilograms of cocaine. Law enforcement subsequently found the hidden compartment in the rear wall of the sleeper area of the tractor cab that contained three plastic wrapped packages of bulk U.S. currency totaling $145,380, which was payment for a load of cocaine that Young had collected prior to his arrival in Buffalo. In total, law enforcement seized $664,960 from Walker’s tractor-trailer.
This case was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Buffalo comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, Department of Homeland Security Emergency Removal Operations, Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Diplomatic Security Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera; the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto; the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia; and Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Unit, under the direction of under the direction of Director Christopher Romosz. Additional assistance was provided by the New York National Guard and Homeland Security Investigations, El Paso, Texas.
Alabama Woman and Mexican National Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for ProfitRead the Press Release
Kelly Denise Hernandez, age 38, of Birmingham, Alabama, and Enrique Garcia-Gonzalez, age 27, an illegal alien from Mexico, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens for profit, announced U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall.
According to admissions made during their pleas, Hernandez, Garcia-Gonzalez, and another co-conspirator agreed to transport and transported illegal aliens who had been smuggled into the United States from Mexico. Specifically, Hernandez and Garcia-Gonzalez traveled from Birmingham, Alabama to Houston, Texas where they and another co-conspirator intended to charge each illegal alien a monetary fee for unlawful transportation within the United States. Law enforcement apprehended Hernandez and Garcia-Gonzalez on their way back to Birmingham, Alabama in Denham Springs, Louisiana.
If convicted, Hernandez and Garcia-Gonzalez face up to ten years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release. Garcia-Gonzalez is also subject to removal or deportation from the United States upon completing his sentence.
U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised the work of the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Lyman E. Thornton III and Special Assistant United States Attorney Allen L. Ross lead the prosecution.
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.
6 May 2026
‘GothFerrari’ Sentenced to 78 Months in Prison for Role in Massive Cryptocurrency HeistRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Marlon Ferro, 20, of Santa Ana, California, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 78 months in prison in connection with his role in a sprawling social engineering conspiracy that stole well over $250 million in cryptocurrency from victims across the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“Marlon Ferro served as the criminal enterprise’s instrument of last resort. When his co-conspirators couldn’t deceive victims into handing over access to their cryptocurrency or hack their way into digital accounts, they turned to Ferro to break into homes and steal hardware wallets outright,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This scheme blended sophisticated online fraud with old-fashioned burglary to drain victims of millions of dollars in digital assets. Today’s sentence sends a clear message: cryptocurrency fraud is not a victimless, consequence-free crime carried out safely behind a screen—it is serious criminal conduct that will lead to federal prison.”
Ferro, aka “GothFerrari,” pleaded guilty on Oct. 17, 2025, before Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly to one count of conspiracy to participate in a racketeer influenced and corrupt organization. In addition to the 78-month prison sentence, Judge Kollar-Kotelly ordered Ferro to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $2.5 million in restitution.
According to court documents, a multi-year federal investigation uncovered a social engineering enterprise that defrauded victims of more than $250 million in cryptocurrency between late 2023 and early 2025. Members of the enterprise — based in California, Connecticut, New York, Florida, and abroad — played specialized roles that included database hacking, target identification, fraudulent phone calls, money laundering, and residential burglary.
Members and associates of the social engineering enterprise used stolen virtual currency to purchase, among other things, nightclub services ranging up to $500,000 per evening, luxury handbags valued in the tens of thousands of dollars which were given away at nightclub parties, luxury watches valued between $100,000 up to over $500,000, luxury clothing valued in the tens of thousands of dollars, rental homes in Los Angeles, the Hamptons, and Miami, private jet rentals for travel, a team of private security guards, and a fleet of exotic cars, ranging in value from $100,000 up to $3,800,000.
The conspiracy’s operatives typically targeted individuals believed to hold significant cryptocurrency holdings. Its members manipulated victims into surrendering access to their digital wallets through elaborate fraud schemes. When victims stored their cryptocurrency in hardware wallets, physical devices that cannot be accessed remotely, the enterprise turned to Ferro.
In February 2024, Ferro traveled to Winnsboro, Texas, broke into a victim’s home, and stole a hardware wallet containing about 100 bitcoin, at the time valued at more than $5 million. He then laundered the stolen funds through cryptocurrency exchanges.
After relocating to California in early 2024, Ferro connected with enterprise members and ingratiated himself with his co-conspirators, including the leaders of the racketeering conspiracy, offering his residential burglary services for future cryptocurrency thefts.
Surveillance photo of Ferro after he used a brick to break into a victim’s home in New Mexico.
In July 2024, Ferro flew to New Mexico, where he surveilled a residence for several days, positioning a cell phone outside the home to monitor the victim’s movements. When co-conspirators tracking the victim’s location through his iCloud account indicated he had left, Ferro broke into the home by smashing a window with a brick and searched for the target hardware wallet. He was captured on the victim’s home surveillance camera.
Ferro was not only the enterprise’s burglar, he was also a key money launderer. He used fraudulent identification documents obtained from a foreign national to open a digital payment card account at a geo-blocked platform, allowing enterprise members to spend stolen cryptocurrency at retail locations and nightclubs in Miami and elsewhere. He purchased more than $255,000 in designer clothing on behalf of his co-conspirators using stolen funds.
One of the Hermès Birkin bags Ferro obtained for a co-conspirator's girlfriend.
After a leader of the conspiracy was arrested and jailed in September 2024, Ferro continued to assist him from the outside. He collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency from other enterprise members, converted it to cash through illicit exchanges, and used the proceeds to pay the conspiracy leader’s attorneys. Ferro also arranged the purchase and shipment of Hermès Birkin bags for the co-conspirator's girlfriend.
Ferro was arrested on May 13, 2025, and found to be in possession of two firearms and a fake identification document.
Law enforcement recovered this 9mm black rifle from Ferro.
The Glock 19 9mm pistol that law enforcement recovered from Ferro.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the FBI Washington Field Office, and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington Field Office. Significant investigative and operational support was provided by the FBI’s Los Angeles and Miami field offices.
The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Howland and David Liss. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Hart provided valuable assistance.
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Waynesville Woman Pleads Guilty to Importing and Selling Counterfeit Luxury Goods OnlineRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Waynesville, Mo., woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to importing and selling counterfeit luxury goods, apparel, and other items online.
Mary A. Lecena, 32, pleaded guilty today before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., to three counts of trafficking in counterfeit goods.
Lecena operated Bali Rattan LLC, an online boutique store selling various goods, which Lecena operated out of her residence in Waynesville and in Chicago, Illinois. Bali Rattan LLC was registered with the State of Wyoming.
By pleading guilty today, Lecena admitted she sold various counterfeit purses, jewelry, phone cases, handbags, shoes, clothing, and other counterfeit products through Bali Rattan LLC from March 2022 to December 2024.
The counterfeit goods and apparel were typically manufactured in the Philippines, Hong Kong, and China and shipped to the U.S. for distribution. Numerous shipments were delivered from these countries to Lecena during this time.
Lecena specifically admitted to ordering over 2,100 counterfeit goods, at an aggregate market value of over $2.3 million, with the intent to sell, and admitted to selling various counterfeit goods during this time. Lecena admitted that she continued to import and sell counterfeit goods even after she received notices from United States Customs and Border Protection that she was importing counterfeit goods, and such conduct was illegal.
Under federal statutes, Lecena is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole for each count to which she pleaded guilty. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
Virginia Man Charged with $6.6 Million Wire Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A dual national of the United States and the Philippines has been charged in federal court in Boston with allegedly stealing more than $6.6 million from his employer over the course of a decade.
Ricardo Fontanilla, 66, of Fairfax, Va., was charged in a criminal complaint with wire fraud. Fontanilla was arrested at his home on May 3, 2026 and made his initial appearance yesterday in federal court in Arlington, Va. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the allegations in the complaint, between 2013 and December 2025, Fontanilla worked at the Victim Company, a global financial services company which had its U.S. headquarters in Massachusetts, as a Security Administration Services employee. Fontanilla’s role allegedly gave him access to the Victim Company’s financial systems, which tracked borrowers’ mortgage payments in connection with residential mortgage-backed securities—a kind of financial instrument that allows investors to purchase ownership in a pool of residential mortgage loans. Beginning at least as early as 2016, Fontanilla allegedly altered the Victim Company’s records to make it appear that the Victim Company was receiving excess payments from mortgage servicing companies that were collecting borrower payments. As alleged, Fontanilla fraudulently transferred these supposedly “excess” payments back to one mortgage servicer (Company A), and then falsely informed Company A representatives that the Victim Company had mistakenly refunded these amounts. In directing Company A to return the mistaken refunds to the Victim Company, Fontanilla allegedly directed Company A to wire the funds to a personal bank account he controlled at Wells Fargo.
Records for the Wells Fargo account show Fontanilla received more than $6.6 million in wires from Company A between 2016 and 2025 and that Fontanilla allegedly made payments from the account for more than $3.2 million in personal credit card payments to Capital One, JPMorgan Chase and American Express; $778,000 in mortgage and loan payments; more than $200,000 in cash and cash-equivalent withdrawals; spent more than $70,000 at Cartier locations in Italy, Spain, the Philippines and the United States; and purchased a vehicle for approximately $77,000 —amounts far exceeding the approximately $83,000 annual salary Fontanilla received from the Victim Company.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, restitution, and forfeiture. 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, Ted Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office and Brian Tucker, Special Agent in Charge, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Office of Inspector General made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto, Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Frauds Unit, is prosecuting the case.
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Vascular Practice and Physician Agree to Pay More Than $6.73M to Settle False Claims Act Allegations of Unnecessary Vascular Interventional ProceduresRead the Press Release
Serrano Kidney & Vascular Access Center, a physician practice based in Huntington Park, California, and physician Dr. Feliciano Serrano have agreed to pay more than $6.73 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims for medically unnecessary vascular interventional procedures on 20 Medicare beneficiaries.
“Physicians should not be performing and billing for unnecessary and excessive medical interventions. False documentation of symptoms compromises the integrity of our federal health care programs and the well-being of beneficiaries,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Physicians who place their own profit over patient needs will be held accountable.”
“False claims to Medicare and Medicaid cause millions of dollars in losses to the government,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill A. Essayli for the Central District of California. “This settlement sends a clear message to physicians that the United States will zealously pursue appropriate action against those who submit false claims for taxpayer funds.”
The United States alleged that from 2016 to 2024, Dr. Serrano performed medically unnecessary dialysis access interventions, including angioplasty and stent procedures, on 18 patients, purportedly to treat stenosis in patients’ dialysis segments. Dr. Serrano scheduled interventions on a routine basis, without waiting for complications to present, and he frequently repeated procedures on patients every few days or weeks despite that the procedures were not effective and did not result in any clinical benefit. One Medicare patient received approximately 42 stents in the dialysis segment between 2016 and 2023, including during a period when Dr. Serrano informed the patient he did not need dialysis.
The United States also alleged that from 2019 to 2024, Dr. Serrano performed medically unnecessary peripheral artery disease interventions, including stent and atherectomy procedures, on 17 patients, purportedly to treat stenosis in patients’ legs. Dr. Serrano performed interventions on patients who had only mild or no stenosis and who had only minor symptoms. Although patients complained of pain only in one leg, he performed procedures on both legs and then repeated procedures on both legs every few months. Dr. Serrano told patients that if they did not receive the procedure, their legs would need to be amputated, when, in fact, there was little risk of amputation for mildly symptomatic peripheral artery disease. One Medicare patient received approximately 16 atherectomies in his legs between 2019 and 2023.
The United States alleged that across both categories of procedures, Dr. Serrano performed interventional procedures on vessels that did not qualify for treatment under accepted standards of medical practice; overstated the degree of stenosis to make the procedures appear to meet generally recognized medical standards when, in fact, they did not; falsely documented patient symptoms and conservative therapy measures in medical records to justify the procedures; and performed procedures in excess of accepted standards of medical practice.
As a result of the settlements, Dr. Serrano will pay nearly $6.51 million to the United States and nearly $229,000 to the State of California.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought by Lincoln Analytics Inc. under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under the act, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States and State of California ex rel. Lincoln Analytics Inc. v. Dr. Feliciano Serrano, et al., Civil Action No. 23-cv-04178 (C.D. Cal.). Lincoln Analytics Inc. will receive approximately $976,000 as its share of the federal recovery.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, and the California Department of Justice, with assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
Trial Attorney Tiffany L. Ho of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Paik for the Central District of California handled this case.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Two U.S. Nationals Sentenced for Facilitating Fraudulent Remote Information Technology Worker Schemes to Generate Revenue for the Democratic People’s Republic of KoreaRead the Press Release
MIAMI – The Justice Department today announced the sentencings in separate cases of two U.S. nationals, Matthew Issac Knoot, of Nashville, Tennessee, and Erick Ntekereze Prince, of New York, for their roles in facilitating Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) remote information technology (IT) workers. Knoot was sentenced to 18 months in prison and Prince was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Both men received and hosted laptop computers at their residences that victim U.S. companies shipped to IT workers they had hired and who the victim companies believed were located at the defendants’ residences.
Knoot and Prince also installed remote desktop applications on laptops that enabled their co-conspirators to work from locations overseas while appearing to the victim companies to be working from the defendants’ residences. In total, the defendants’ separate fraudulent schemes generated more than $1.2 million in revenue for the DPRK and impacted nearly 70 victim companies in the U.S.
“These sentences hold accountable U.S nationals who enabled North Korea’s illicit efforts to infiltrate U.S. networks and profit on the back of U.S. companies,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “These defendants helped North Korean ‘IT workers’ masquerade as legitimate employees, compromising U.S. corporate networks and helping generate revenue for a heavily sanctioned and rogue regime. The National Security Division will continue to pursue those who, through deception and cyber-enabled fraud, threaten our national security.”
“This scheme shows how national security threats now enter through ordinary business systems,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “These defendants helped North Korean IT workers pose as legitimate employees, gain access to American companies, and generate money for a sanctioned regime. These were not paperwork violations. They were deliberate acts that exposed U.S. businesses, compromised trust, and supported one of the world’s most dangerous adversaries. These sentences send a clear message: if you help foreign actors infiltrate American companies for profit, you will face federal prison and lose the money you made.”
“These kind of foreign-based attacks on American businesses will not be tolerated and those involved will be held accountable for their actions,” said U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee. “This case demonstrates our coordinated effort with federal law enforcement to protect businesses in Tennessee and across the country.”
“The FBI and our partners will continue to disrupt North Korea’s ability to circumvent sanctions and fund its totalitarian regime,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “These cases should leave no doubt that Americans who choose to facilitate these schemes will be identified and held accountable. Hosting laptops for DPRK IT workers is a federal crime which directly impacts our national security, and these sentences should serve as a warning to anyone considering it.”
Southern District of Florida: U.S. v. Erick Ntekereze Prince
Today, U.S. District Court Judge Darrin P. Gayles for the Southern District of Florida sentenced Prince to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Prince was also ordered to forfeit $89,000, which is the amount the DPRK IT workers paid him for his assistance with the scheme.
According to court documents, Prince enabled at least three DPRK IT workers to obtain remote employment at U.S. companies from approximately June 2020 through August 2024. In furtherance of the scheme, Prince used his company Taggcar Inc. to fraudulently supply “certified” IT workers to victim U.S. companies, knowing that the IT workers were located outside the U.S. and using false and stolen identities to gain employment. In addition, Prince hosted victim U.S. company-provided laptops at New York residences and installed remote access software on those laptops without authorization so that the DPRK IT workers could create the false appearance that they were remote working from Prince’s residence.
On Jan. 21, 2025, Prince, U.S. national Emanuel Ashtor, Mexican national Pedro Ernesto Alonso de los Reyes, and North Korean nationals Jin Sung-il and Pak Jin-Song were charged by indictment alleging their participation in a criminal scheme that obtained work for North Korean IT workers from more than 64 U.S. companies. The victim companies paid the DPRK IT workers associated in this case more than $943,069 in salary payments, the vast majority of which were sent to the IT workers overseas. Prince and his conspirators’ actions also caused the victim companies more than $1 million in costs associated with auditing and remediating their devices, systems, and networks. Ashtor is awaiting trial, de los Reyes is in custody in The Netherlands awaiting extradition, and the Sung-il and Jin-Song are fugitives.
The FBI Miami Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Cronin for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Gregory J. Nicosia Jr. of the National Security Division (NSD)’s National Security Cyber Section prosecuted the case.
Middle District of Tennessee: U.S. v. Matthew Isaac Knoot
On May 1, U.S. District Court Judge Eli Richardson for the Middle District of Tennessee sentenced Knoot to 18 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release. Knoot was also ordered to pay $15,100 in restitution to the victim companies, and to forfeit an additional $15,100, which is the amount the DPRK IT workers paid him for his assistance with the scheme.
According to court documents, Knoot ran a laptop farm from his Nashville residences between approximately July 2022 and August 2023. The victim companies shipped laptops addressed to “Andrew M.” to Knoot’s residences. Following receipt of the laptops, and without authorization, Knoot logged on to the laptops, downloaded and installed unauthorized remote desktop applications, and accessed the victim companies’ networks. The remote desktop applications enabled a North Korean IT worker to work from locations in China, while appearing to the victim companies that “Andrew M.” was working from Knoot’s residences in Nashville.
On Aug. 7, 2024, Knoot was charged by indictment alleging his participation in a criminal scheme that obtained work for North Korean IT workers from at least four U.S. companies. The victim companies paid the DPRK IT workers associated with Knoot’s laptop farm more than $250,000 for their work between approximately July 2022 and August 2023. Most, if not all, of this sum was falsely reported to the IRS and Social Security Administration in the name of the actual U.S. person, Andrew M., whose identity the conspirators had stolen. Knoot and his conspirators’ actions also caused the victim companies more than $500,000 in costs associated with auditing and remediating their devices, systems, and networks. Knoot and the DPRK IT workers conspired to receive payments from the victim companies and transfer those funds to Knoot and to accounts outside of the U.S., including accounts associated with North Korean and Chinese individuals. Knoot’s role in this scheme ended when the FBI executed a court-authorized search of his home on Aug. 8, 2023, after which Knoot made multiple false and misleading statements and destroyed evidence to obstruct the investigation.
The FBI Nashville Field Office investigated the case. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Kurtzman for the Middle District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney Gregory J. Nicosia Jr. of NSD’s National Security Cyber Section prosecuted the case, with significant assistance from Paralegal Specialist Shelby Duty.
Today’s announcement represents the Department’s latest actions to combat North Korean IT worker schemes as part of a joint NSD and FBI Cyber and Counterintelligence Divisions effort, the DPRK RevGen: Domestic Enabler Initiative. This effort prioritizes targeting and disrupting the DPRK’s illicit revenue generation schemes and its U.S.-based enablers. The Department previously announced other actions pursuant to the initiative, including in January 2025, June 2025, November 2025, and April 2026.
As described in Public Service Announcements published in May 2024, January 2025, and July 2025, North Korean remote IT workers posing as legitimate remote IT workers have committed data extortion and exfiltrated the proprietary and sensitive data from U.S. companies. DPRK IT worker schemes typically involve the use of stolen identities, alias emails, social media, online cross-border payment platforms, and online job site accounts, as well as false websites, proxy computers, and witting and unwitting third parties located in the U.S. and elsewhere. North Korean IT workers leverage these third parties, which include U.S.-based individuals, to gain fraudulent employment and access to U.S. company networks to generate this revenue.
Other public advisories about the threats, red flag indicators, and potential mitigation measures for these schemes include a May 2022 advisory released by the FBI, Department of the Treasury, and Department of State; a July 2023 advisory from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; and guidance issued in October 2023 by the United States and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). As described the May 2022 advisory, North Korean IT workers have been known individually to earn up to $300,000 annually, generating hundreds of millions of dollars collectively each year, on behalf of designated entities, such as the North Korean Ministry of Defense and others directly involved in the DPRK’s weapons programs.
The U.S. Department of State has offered potential rewards for up to $5 million in support of international efforts to disrupt the DPRK’s illicit financial activities, including for cybercrimes, money laundering, and sanctions evasion.
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Two U.S. Nationals Sentenced for Facilitating Fraudulent Remote Information Technology Worker Schemes to Generate Revenue for the Democratic People’s Republic of KoreaRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department today announced the sentencings in separate cases of two U.S. nationals, Matthew Issac Knoot, of Nashville, Tennessee, and Erick Ntekereze Prince, of New York, for their roles in facilitating Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) remote information technology (IT) workers. Knoot was sentenced to 18 months in prison and Prince was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Both men received and hosted laptop computers at their residences that victim U.S. companies shipped to IT workers they had hired and who the victim companies believed were located at the defendants’ residences.
Knoot and Prince also installed remote desktop applications on laptops that enabled their co-conspirators to work from locations overseas while appearing to the victim companies to be working from the defendants’ residences. In total, the defendants’ separate fraudulent schemes generated more than $1.2 million in revenue for the DPRK and impacted nearly 70 victim companies in the United States.
“These sentences hold accountable U.S nationals who enabled North Korea’s illicit efforts to infiltrate U.S. networks and profit on the back of U.S. companies,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “These defendants helped North Korean ‘IT workers’ masquerade as legitimate employees, compromising U.S. corporate networks and helping generate revenue for a heavily sanctioned and rogue regime. The National Security Division will continue to pursue those who, through deception and cyber-enabled fraud, threaten our national security.”
“These kind of foreign-based attacks on American businesses will not be tolerated and those involved will be held accountable for their actions,” said U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee. “This case demonstrates our coordinated effort with federal law enforcement to protect businesses in Tennessee and across the country.”
“This scheme shows how national security threats now enter through ordinary business systems,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “These defendants helped North Korean IT workers pose as legitimate employees, gain access to American companies, and generate money for a sanctioned regime. These were not paperwork violations. They were deliberate acts that exposed U.S. businesses, compromised trust, and supported one of the world’s most dangerous adversaries. These sentences send a clear message: if you help foreign actors infiltrate American companies for profit, you will face federal prison and lose the money you made.”
“The FBI and our partners will continue to disrupt North Korea’s ability to circumvent sanctions and fund its totalitarian regime,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “These cases should leave no doubt that Americans who choose to facilitate these schemes will be identified and held accountable. Hosting laptops for DPRK IT workers is a federal crime which directly impacts our national security, and these sentences should serve as a warning to anyone considering it.”
Southern District of Florida: U.S. v. Erick Ntekereze Prince
Today, U.S. District Court Judge Darrin P. Gayles for the Southern District of Florida sentenced Prince to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Prince was also ordered to forfeit $89,000, which is the amount the DPRK IT workers paid him for his assistance with the scheme.
According to court documents, Prince enabled at least three DPRK IT workers to obtain remote employment at U.S. companies from approximately June 2020 through August 2024. In furtherance of the scheme, Prince used his company Taggcar Inc. to fraudulently supply “certified” IT workers to victim U.S. companies, knowing that the IT workers were located outside the United States and using false and stolen identities to gain employment. In addition, Prince hosted victim U.S. company-provided laptops at New York residences and installed remote access software on those laptops without authorization so that the DPRK IT workers could create the false appearance that they were remote working from Prince’s residence.
On Jan. 21, 2025, Prince, U.S. national Emanuel Ashtor, Mexican national Pedro Ernesto Alonso de los Reyes, and North Korean nationals Jin Sung-il and Pak Jin-Song were charged by indictment alleging their participation in a criminal scheme that obtained work for North Korean IT workers from more than 64 U.S. companies. The victim companies paid the DPRK IT workers associated in this case more than $943,069 in salary payments, the vast majority of which were sent to the IT workers overseas. Prince’s and his conspirators’ actions also caused the victim companies more than $1 million in costs associated with auditing and remediating their devices, systems, and networks. Ashtor is awaiting trial, de los Reyes is in custody in The Netherlands awaiting extradition, and the Sung-il and Jin-Song are fugitives.
The FBI Miami Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Cronin for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Gregory J. Nicosia Jr. of NSD’s National Security Cyber Section prosecuted the case.
Today’s announcement represents the Department’s latest actions to combat North Korean IT worker schemes as part of a joint NSD and FBI Cyber and Counterintelligence Divisions effort, the DPRK RevGen: Domestic Enabler Initiative. This effort prioritizes targeting and disrupting the DPRK’s illicit revenue generation schemes and its U.S.-based enablers. The Department previously announced other actions pursuant to the initiative, including in January 2025, June 2025, November 2025, and April 2026.
As described in Public Service Announcements published in May 2024, January 2025, and July 2025, North Korean remote IT workers posing as legitimate remote IT workers have committed data extortion and exfiltrated the proprietary and sensitive data from U.S. companies. DPRK IT worker schemes typically involve the use of stolen identities, alias emails, social media, online cross-border payment platforms, and online job site accounts, as well as false websites, proxy computers, and witting and unwitting third parties located in the U.S. and elsewhere. North Korean IT workers leverage these third parties, which include U.S.-based individuals, to gain fraudulent employment and access to U.S. company networks to generate this revenue.
Other public advisories about the threats, red flag indicators, and potential mitigation measures for these schemes include a May 2022 advisory released by the FBI, Department of the Treasury, and Department of State; a July 2023 advisory from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; and guidance issued in October 2023 by the United States and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). As described the May 2022 advisory, North Korean IT workers have been known individually to earn up to $300,000 annually, generating hundreds of millions of dollars collectively each year, on behalf of designated entities, such as the North Korean Ministry of Defense and others directly involved in the DPRK’s weapons programs.
The U.S. Department of State has offered potential rewards for up to $5 million in support of international efforts to disrupt the DPRK’s illicit financial activities, including for cybercrimes, money laundering, and sanctions evasion.
Middle District of Tennessee: U.S. v. Matthew Isaac Knoot
On May 1, the U.S. District Court Judge Eli Richardson for the Middle District of Tennessee sentenced Knoot to 18 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release. Knoot was also ordered to pay $15,100 in restitution to the victim companies, and to forfeit an additional $15,100, which is the amount the DPRK IT workers paid him for his assistance with the scheme.
According to court documents, Knoot ran a laptop farm from his Nashville residences between approximately July 2022 and August 2023. The victim companies shipped laptops addressed to “Andrew M.” to Knoot’s residences. Following receipt of the laptops, and without authorization, Knoot logged on to the laptops, downloaded and installed unauthorized remote desktop applications, and accessed the victim companies’ networks. The remote desktop applications enabled a North Korean IT worker to work from locations in China, while appearing to the victim companies that “Andrew M.” was working from Knoot’s residences in Nashville.
On Aug. 7, 2024, Knoot was charged by indictment alleging his participation in a criminal scheme that obtained work for North Korean IT workers from at least four U.S. companies. The victim companies paid the DPRK IT workers associated with Knoot’s laptop farm more than $250,000 for their work between approximately July 2022 and August 2023. Most, if not all, of this sum was falsely reported to the IRS and Social Security Administration in the name of the actual U.S. person, Andrew M., whose identity the conspirators had stolen. Knoot’s and his conspirators’ actions also caused the victim companies more than $500,000 in costs associated with auditing and remediating their devices, systems, and networks. Knoot and the DPRK IT workers conspired to receive payments from the victim companies and transfer those funds to Knoot and to accounts outside of the United States, including accounts associated with North Korean and Chinese individuals. Knoot’s role in this scheme ended when the FBI executed a court-authorized search of his home on Aug. 8, 2023, after which Knoot made multiple false and misleading statements and destroyed evidence to obstruct the investigation.
The FBI Nashville Field Office investigated the case. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Kurtzman for the Middle District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney Gregory J. Nicosia Jr. of the National Security Division (NSD)’s National Security Cyber Section prosecuted the case, with significant assistance from Paralegal Specialist Shelby Duty.
Two Orlando Residents Sentenced for $148 Million Construction Payroll Scheme that Defrauded the IRS and Workers’ Compensation InsurersRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Rene Mauricio Escobar (55) and Juana Nelida Escobar (36), residents of Orlando, have been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger for conspiracy to commit tax fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Rene Escobar was sentenced to four years and nine months in federal prison. Juana Escobar was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. The court also ordered the defendants to pay $37,174,388 in restitution to the IRS for unpaid payroll taxes. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
Juana Escobar pleaded guilty on July 8, 2025, and Rene Escobar pleaded guilty on November 20, 2025.
Juana Escobar is a legal permanent resident from Mexico. Her conviction will likely result in her deportation from the United States. Rene Escobar is a naturalized U.S. citizen from Ecuador.
According to court documents and information presented in court, over the period of approximately December 2015 through August 2024, the defendants conspired to facilitate the payment of construction workers “off the books” to avoid paying payroll taxes and workers’ compensation insurance premiums. The scheme also facilitated the employment of undocumented workers who were not legally authorized to work in the United States. The defendants, through their company, Escobar Plastering, entered into agreements with hundreds of construction subcontractors to enable the subcontractors to obtain contracts with, and perform work for, construction contractors. In exchange for 7% to 8% of the subcontractors’ payroll, the defendants caused certificates of insurance in the name of the defendants’ company to be sent to construction contractors from which the subcontractors wished to obtain work, representing that the subcontractors worked for their company and were covered by the company’s workers’ compensation insurance. In fact, the company’s insurance policies were based on applications representing that the policies would cover a handful of employees and a minimal payroll.
As a result of the defendants’ using their certificate of insurance to represent that the subcontractors worked for their company, the insurers unwittingly covered hundreds of workers. If the insurers had known the amount of payroll they were in fact covering, they would have charged annual premiums totaling approximately $14,878,207. Thousands of payroll checks totaling approximately $148,760,824 were deposited into bank accounts of the defendants’ company, from which they withdrew cash to pay the subcontractors’ workers, after subtracting their 7% to 8% fee, which totaled, at 7%, approximately $10,413,258—all without withholding, or paying over, payroll taxes to the IRS. As a result, the U.S. Treasury lost $37,174,388 in unpaid payroll taxes. The defendants’ scheme allowed the construction contractors and subcontractors to disclaim responsibility for paying payroll taxes to the IRS, for ensuring that adequate workers’ compensation insurance was obtained, and for verifying that the workers were legally authorized to work in the United States.
“Complex investigations such as this require the skills and diligence of dedicated investigators and prosecutors,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “Because of the interagency cooperation and expertise displayed in this case, an intricate fraud scheme was unraveled, and the defendants were brought to justice.”
“Payroll and workers’ comp fraud doesn’t just break the law—it puts honest contractors at a competitive disadvantage,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “Don't be fooled into thinking these schemes are victimless crimes. The actions by these defendants alone cost the US taxpayers $37 million. Alongside our law-enforcement partners, IRS Special Agents will keep exposing complex schemes that exploit workers and steal from American taxpayers.”
“Multi-million-dollar payroll and worker’s insurance fraud schemes fuel the underground economy, create unfair advantages over honest businesses, and put workers at risk, especially when these schemes exploit illegal alien workers for personal gain,” said Homeland Security Investigations Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tim Hemker. “HSI is committed to dismantling complex criminal enterprises that exploit our financial and labor systems and exploit workers. By working in close partnership with IRS-CI, we uncovered this fraud, and these criminals will now be held accountable for their actions.”
This case was the result of a joint investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), working collaboratively as part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF). The Florida Department of Financial Services also assisted with this investigation. It is part of a continuing investigation by those agencies of the use of shell companies and “ghost” employees in the construction industry. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier. The asset forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Clint Locke.
Two Huntington Men Sentenced to Prison for Roles in Huntington-Area Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Two Huntington men were sentenced to prison on Monday, May 4, 2026, for their roles in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing quantities of fentanyl, cocaine base, and methamphetamine in the Huntington area.
Earl Michael Myers, also known as “Mike,” 46, of Huntington, was sentenced to 10 years and 11 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for distribution of cocaine base, also known as “crack,” and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Maurice Kelly Johnson, also known as “Reese,” 58, of Huntington, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 25, 2025, Myers sold a quantity of crack in exchange for $170, a Taurus model Public Defender Judge .410-gauge/.45-caliber LC revolver in exchange for $400, and a Smith & Wesson model SD9VE 9mm pistol in exchange for $600 to a confidential informant. As part of his guilty plea, Myers admitted to conducting the transaction at his Huntington residence and to arranging it on June 22, 2025, when he showed the confidential informant the two firearms and discussed the different amounts of crack he could sell and at what prices. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Mid-Atlantic Laboratory confirmed the 3.5 grams of controlled substance Myers sold to the confidential informant contained 1.5 grams of crack.
On May 22, 2025, Johnson provided a Smith & Wesson model M&P Shield M2.0 9mm pistol that was sold to a confidential informant in Huntington. As part of his guilty plea, Johnson admitted to possessing the firearm and to providing it to Myers, who conducted the transaction.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Johnson knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base on November 23, 1999, and conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base on September 4, 1992, both in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Myers and Johnson are among four defendants indicted by a federal grand jury on charges alleging they conspired to distribute fentanyl, crack, and methamphetamine in the Huntington area from at least in and around March 2025 to in and around August 2025. All four pleaded guilty. Three other individuals pleaded guilty after they were indicted separately as a result of the same investigation.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Huntington Police Department, and the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentences. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor 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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-161.
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Two Brothers and a Public Official Sentenced to a Collective 55 Years in Prison for Fraud and Bribery ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – Two brothers, and a public official they befriended, have been sentenced to prison for their roles to carry out schemes to obtain millions of dollars from victims. A federal jury previously convicted the three men for their roles in a multi-layered, elaborate bribery and fraud conspiracy that spanned multiple states and countries.
In January, after a more than two-week-long trial that included 35 witnesses and 324 exhibits admitted as evidence, Zubair Al Zubair, aka Zubair Mehmet Abdur Razzaq, 43, recently of Bratenahl, Ohio; his brother Muzzamil Al Zubair, aka Muzzamil Ibn Muhammad, 33, recently of Pepper Pike, Ohio; and their associate Michael Leon Smedley, 57, of Cleveland, were found guilty of conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, and Hobbs Act conspiracy. The Al Zubair brothers were both found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, multiple counts of wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, several counts of money laundering, theft of government funds, and aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. Zubair Al Zubair was also found guilty of willful failure to file tax returns. Judge Donald C. Nugent imposed the following sentences May 5:
- Zubair Al Zubair, 288 months (24 years) in prison; three years supervised release after imprisonment.
- Muzzammil Al Zubair, 276 months (23 years) in prison; three years supervised release after imprisonment.
- Michael Smedley, 97 months (8.08 years) in prison; three years supervised release after imprisonment.
Zubair and Muzzammil Al Zubair were also ordered to pay $19,202,017.98 in joint and several restitutions to victims. Furthermore, Zubair was ordered to pay $1,751,643.20 in unpaid taxes and interest in restitution to the IRS as a condition of supervised release. Muzzammil was ordered to pay $308,498.08 in unpaid taxes and interest in restitution to the IRS as a condition of supervised release. In addition, the brothers were ordered to forfeit 70 firearms and a motorcycle purchased with fraud proceeds.
“The Al Zubair brothers shamelessly used the illusion of being successful high rollers to defraud victims, sway a local city official into doing corrupt actions, and engage in massive fraud,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “We appreciate the work of the FBI and IRS investigators who painstakingly uncovered the layers of lies and deception, including attempts to defraud the Small Business Administration and not pay taxes. These lengthy sentences serve as a warning to others that we will not tolerate actions resulting from greed.”
“Today’s sentences send a clear and unmistakable message: elaborate fraud schemes and abuses of public trust will be met with serious consequences. These defendants orchestrated a calculated deception-impersonating foreign royalty to exploit victims for millions-while a public official betrayed the very community he was sworn to serve. Together, their actions undermined confidence in both financial systems and local government,” said Detroit Field Office Special Agent in Charge, Karen Wingerd. “IRS Criminal Investigation remains committed to following the money, unraveling complex financial schemes, and holding accountable those who believe they can profit through fraud and corruption. We will continue working alongside our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of our financial system and ensure that justice is served”
“This case underscores the depths of deviance criminals will take to cheat people, programs, and the public to fuel their greed and create lifestyle built upon deception,” said FBI Cleveland Acting Special Agent in Charge Tori Gaskill. “While the Al Zubair brothers fraud and scam scheme was complex, the multi-agency partnership led to a thorough investigation resulting in a right and just sentencing and an undeniable message to criminals: whether one person or as part of a criminal network, the FBI and its federal, state, and local partners will not relent in its pursuit to protect the American public from deceptive people and their practices that cause incalculable harm.”
Evidence at trial showed that the brothers used their lies and schemes to obtain millions of dollars from victims which were then spent on a lavish lifestyle of luxury automobiles, designer clothes, expensive dinners, first-class travel all over the world, and an arsenal of firearms. In addition to their fraud and deceit, they engaged in a corrupt bribery scheme to advance their interests with Smedley who served as chief of staff for the City of East Cleveland. Smedley received and solicited thousands of dollars in current and future benefits in exchange for performing, and attempting to perform, official actions.
Among the types of schemes used to access funds from victims were investment fraud, a cryptocurrency mining venture, commercial and residential real estate transactions, and fraudulently obtaining emergency loans from the Small Business Administration during the pandemic.
This case was investigated by the IRS−Criminal Investigation and the FBI Cleveland Division.
The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew W. Shepherd and Joseph H. Walsh for the Northern District of Ohio.
About the National Fraud Enforcement Division
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support 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.
Three Charged with Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Three individuals, two from Lawrence and one from Methuen, were charged in connection with alleged fentanyl distribution.
Ales Mena, a/k/a “Shubill,” 29 and Andy Mena 25, both of Lawrence, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Yeriel Torres Rodriguez, 27, of Methuen, was charged in a separate criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. All three defendants made an initial appearance in federal court in Boston and detention hearings have been scheduled for May 8, 2026.
According to the charging documents, Ales Mena, known as “Shubill” was identified as a high-level narcotics trafficker tied to the Trinitarios and Gangster Disciples street gangs, among others. On Oct. 27, 2025, Ales Mena allegedly traveled from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to Boston, Mass., on a commercial aircraft with his girlfriend. Upon arrival at Boston Logan Airport, Ales Mena and his girlfriend were sent to a secondary inspection where agents seized cell phones belonging to Ales Mena. Upon later forensic examination of the phones, it is alleged that the phones contained conversations about narcotics trafficking. In addition, multiple photographs of what appeared to be fentanyl sent through text messaging applications were allegedly identified.
On Oct. 31, 2025, a kilogram of fentanyl sent via UPS was seized allegedly following text communication between Ales Mena and a contact in Mexico.
On three occasions from February to April of 2026, Ales Mena allegedly coordinated the sale of fentanyl through his cousin, co-defendant Andy Mena. It is alleged that Andy Mena completed two fentanyl sales, 25 grams and 100 grams, to a confidential witness. On April 23, 2026, the defendants together, allegedly travelled from Torres-Rodriguez’s residence to a car wash in Methuen for a third sale, where they allegedly sold a kilogram of suspected fentanyl to a confidential witness.
Following a search of Torres-Rodriguez’s residence on May 5, 2026, a concealed “hide” was discovered in an end table in the living room. It is alleged that within the compartment, partial kilo quantities of narcotics, including a vacuum sealed package of a powder that field-tested positive for cocaine, and a vacuum sealed half-brick of a grey substance marked with an “LV” stamp that field tested positive for fentanyl, were located. Also seized during the search were scales, kilo press parts and stamps to press into kilogram brings, including an “LV” and a “7” stamp.
The charge possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $2,000,000. 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; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Customs and Border Protection, the Massachusetts State Police, Woburn Police Department, Methuen Police Department, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, Lawrence Police Department, Boston Police Department, Framingham Police Department, Andover Police Department, the United States Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin Brown and Phillip Mallard of the Organized Crime and Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Boston Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations , and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (and Project Safe Neighborhood.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Thirty-Two Years in Federal Prison Imposed for Child Exploitation CrimesRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Brandon Stevens, 35, was sentenced to thirty-two years in federal prison for travelling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and production of child pornography. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Cases like this are a parent’s worst nightmare, and they are a reminder of the ever-present threats kids face online from sexual predators like this defendant preying upon their innocence and seeking to sexually exploit them. I am incredibly proud of the outstanding investigative work performed by our state and federal law enforcement partners to catch this predator, and even prouder of the aggressive prosecution by my office to deliver justice for the child victim and send this sick individual to prison for decades to come.”
Court documents reflect that the defendant lied about his true name and age while communicating online with a 15-year-old victim. After several months of conversation, the defendant travelled from Pennsylvania to Florida for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with the minor. Between February 2024 and April 2025, the defendant––despite being more than twice as old as the child victim––induced her to engage in sexual intercourse on multiple occasions. The defendant recorded some of the sexual encounters on his cell phone.
Following his release from prison, Stevens will be on supervised release for life and is required to register as a sex offender.
“This predator manipulated, deceived, and exploited a vulnerable child for his own gratification. His calculated actions, lying about his identity, traveling across state lines, and recording his abuse demonstrate a chilling disregard for human decency and the law,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingengo. “Thirty-two years in federal prison reflects the severity of his crimes and serves as a warning to anyone who targets children for sexual exploitation. HSI, alongside our law enforcement partners, will relentlessly pursue, prosecute, and remove these predators from society.”
The case involved a joint investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and Dixie County Sherriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.
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 and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Thirty Individuals Charged in Global Insider Trading Scheme Netting Tens of Millions in Illicit ProfitsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Charges were unsealed today against 30 defendants in connection with a large-scale, decade-long insider trading scheme that netted tens of millions of dollars in illicit profits. The defendants, who include corporate attorneys and other financial professionals, are alleged to have stolen and used confidential information on nearly 30 merger and acquisition deals from several of the nation’s premier law firms, including a firm headquartered in Massachusetts.
Nineteen defendants were arrested today and will make appearances in federal court in Los Angeles, Calif., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and New York, among other locations. Two defendants located in Russia and Israel are considered fugitives.
The first indictment charges the following 16 defendants with two counts of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, two counts of securities fraud and one count of money laundering conspiracy:
- Pedram Fejal, 39, of Brooklyn, New York;
- Brian Fensterszaub, 45, of Hollywood, Fla.;
- Mark Fensterszaub, 47, of Hollywood, Fla.;
- Simon Fensterszaub, 50, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.;
- Ilya Gavrilov, 56, of Russia;
- Baruch Igal Hatanian, 39, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.;
- Yisroel Horowitz, 50, of Hollywood, Fla.;
- God Izraelov, 46, of Israel;
- David Moradi, 35, of Brooklyn, New York;
- Nicolo Nourafchan, 43, of Los Angeles, Calif.;
- David Ostrov, 49, of Clifton, New Jersey;
- Yechiel Salzberg, 51, of Far Rockaway, New York;
- Abe Shilian, 35, of Brooklyn, New York;
- Gavryel Silverstein, 43, of Hollywood, Fla.;
- Joseph Suskind, 39, of Sunny Isles, Fla.; and
- Robert Yadgarov, 45, of Long Beach, New York.
That indictment also charges Nicolo Nourafchan with two counts of obstruction of justice, and Mark Fensterszaub, Moradi and Suskind with making false statements to law enforcement.
A second indictment charges five defendants with two counts of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, two counts of securities fraud and one count of money laundering conspiracy:
- Lorenzo Nourafchan, 38, of Los Angeles, Calif.;
- Nowel Milik, 52, of Brea, Calif.;
- Nicholas Rudela, 30, of Covina, Calif.;
- David Makary, 35, of Covina, Calif.; and
- Stjepan Vinski, 30, of Glendora, Calif.
Milik and Vinski are also charged with obstruction of justice. Makary is also charged with making false declarations before a grand jury, and Milik, Rudela and Vinski are charged with making false statements to law enforcement.
Charges against nine other defendants for securities fraud conspiracy were also unsealed today. The government’s investigation is ongoing.
“Our country’s financial markets and professional firms should be free from the rampant fraud and breaches of duty that these charges allege,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “The trading on unannounced financial news alleged here not only violated the securities laws, but it also took advantage of the special access and ethical duties that come with a law license. If the American people believe that trading is only for the connected, they will keep their investment and retirement savings out of the markets, which will hurt our economy. Today’s charges, the result of a years-long investigation with our law enforcement partners, are part of my office’s ongoing efforts to ensure a level playing field for all investors.”
“With today's arrests, the FBI has dismantled a large-scale, decade-long, international organized criminal network of corporate attorneys and financial professionals who are accused of stealing and trading on material, non-public information from several of our nation’s leading law firms, including one right here in Massachusetts. Everyone charged today is accused of scoring significant profits from expected market moves and making out like bandits. That’s not merely gaming the system – it’s a federal crime,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Anyone who engages in insider trading fundamentally undermines the trust necessary for our financial markets to function, and the FBI is committed to ensuring that those markets are a level playing field, not just profiting those with friends in the know.”
As alleged in the charging documents, Nicolo Nourafchan, who was a licensed corporate attorney at several large law firms, and others, accessed their law firms’ internal computer networks to view confidential documents relating to pending acquisitions, including confidential transactions on which Nourafchan did not work, and then provided the material non-public information (MNPI) to others in exchange for kickbacks. Nicolo Nourafchan and his partner, Robert Yadgarov, another New York attorney, allegedly recruited other attorneys and insiders to serve as sources of inside information. In exchange for the MNPI, Nourafchan and Yadgarov allegedly paid their sources kickbacks consisting of up to hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash.
Nourafchan and Yadgarov also allegedly provided the MNPI to a network of traders and middlemen whom they also enlisted to join the scheme. The middlemen, including Gavryel Silverstein and Lorenzo Nourafchan, allegedly provided the MNPI to other traders and tippees as a way of attempting to obscure the connections between sources and traders. Meanwhile, the traders allegedly executed trades while in possession of MNPI, either on Nourafchan and Yadgarov’s behalf or on their own behalf, in exchange for their agreement to kickback illicit trading proceeds to Nourafchan, Yadgarov, and others. Many traders allegedly passed the MNPI onto other traders, again in exchange for their agreement to kick back illicit trading proceeds up the chain to the sources of the MNPI, including Nourafchan and Yadgarov.
In total, it is alleged that overseas traders (including Gavrilov and Izraelov) and traders located in California, Florida, New Jersey and New York, among other locations, traded while in possession of MNPI ahead of nearly 30 M&A deals involving public companies, including some of the largest M&A deals of the last decade, on national and foreign securities exchanges.
As alleged, the defendants and other co-conspirators sought to keep law enforcement from learning about the scheme by, among other means, using burner phones, encrypted applications, coded language, including about “flights,” and in-person meetups where conspirators turned off their electronic devices or put them elsewhere before communicating with each other.
For example, on or about June 7, 2022, Nicolo Nourafchan, while on a “leave of absence” from a law firm where he worked, allegedly viewed confidential materials on the law firm’s document management system regarding a potential acquisition of iRobot, which was a deal that he did not work on. Shortly thereafter, on or about June 16, 2022, Simon Fensterszaub allegedly purchased iRobot securities while in possession of MNPI. On or about June 16, 2022, and continuing through on or about July 8, 2022, Silverstein and Simon Fensterszaub allegedly exchanged the following coded messages before lapsing into an express discussion of the deal:
S. FENSTERSZAUB: We cannot miss this boat!!
S. FENSTERSZAUB: How’s the rabbi??
SILVERSTEIN: He’s stable
S. FENSTERSZAUB: Is he still scheduled for surgery?
SILVERSTEIN: We are still waiting for the Dr to check if it’s still needed
S. FENSTERSZAUB: Now I’m confused and worried at the same time
SILVERSTEIN: U shouldn’t be worried
S. FENSTERSZAUB: Well have you gotten through to anyone at the hospital | Any chance you can find out today how the Rabbi is feeling | ?
SILVESTEIN: Unfortunately nothing
S. FENSTERSZAUB: Dude that’s scary
SILVERSTEIN: Yeah
S. FENSTERSZAUB: Should I tell ppl to pull out?
SILVERSTEIN: Stagnant. No movement on the situation
S. FENSTERSZAUB: Find out if we should bail
. . .
S. FENSTERSZAUB: So what should I advise ppl
SILVERSTEIN: Are they even
S. FENSTERSZAUB: I could find out but based on the current price I would assume so
SILVERSTEIN: So pull. But we might go back at it shortly.
S. FENSTERSZAUB: I have to remember to tell people tomorrow | Had the deal died? Or can we still be hopeful? Any way to find out
SILVERSTEIN: Still be hopeful. I will speak with him today
S. FENSTERSZAUB: I can’t tell you how badly I need this
Defendants and other co-conspirators also allegedly traded in brokerage accounts in the names of shell companies and other corporate entities, enlisted others to trade on behalf of co-conspirators, traded in others’ brokerage accounts, and traded in foreign brokerage accounts, all to try to evade the detection of U.S. securities regulators and law enforcement. Conspirators allegedly transferred proceeds and kickback payments in cash and through intermediaries and shell companies, in locations like Panama and Switzerland. At times, such payments were allegedly disguised as purported “loans” or business transactions.
The charge of conspiracy to commit Title 18 securities fraud provides for a sentence of up to 25 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of conspiracy to commit Title 15 securities fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of Title 18 securities fraud provides for a sentence of up to 25 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of Title 15 securities fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $5 million. The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount of money involved in the laundering transactions, whichever is greater. The charge of making false statements provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of obstruction of justice provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, as well as three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of making a false declaration before a grand jury provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, as well as 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.
U.S. Attorney Foley and FBI SAC Docks made the announcement today. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission provided valuable assistance in this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Kaitlin R. O’Donnell and Ian J. Stearns of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Texas Man Charged in Shooting at Secret Service Agent Near the Washington Monument on the National MallRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Michael Marx, 45, of Midland, Texas, was charged today in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in connection with a May 4 shooting near the Washington Monument on the National Mall in which a civilian bystander was struck by gunfire, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“We will prove this defendant carried an illegal firearm into the heart of Washington, D.C., opened fire at Secret Service officers near a crowded intersection, and shot an innocent bystander who was simply crossing the street with his family,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “My office will pursue the most serious charges available against anyone who brings gun violence to our streets, particularly when that violence unfolds steps from the seat of our government and the path of the Vice President of the United States.”
Marx faces three federal charges: assaulting federal officers with a dangerous weapon, using and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court papers, on May 4, 2026, about 3:40 p.m., a plainclothes U.S. Secret Service agent observed a man, later identified as Marx, appearing to conceal a firearm on the right side of his body near 15th Street and Madison Drive NW. The agent alerted the Secret Service Joint Operations Center and requested uniformed backup.
At the same time, the motorcade for Vice President J.D. Vance was departing the White House, passing through the area of 15th Street and Independence Avenue SW.
Uniformed Secret Service officers responded and located Marx along the path of the Vice President's motorcade. As officers approached, Marx walked toward a group of civilians crossing the street.
Officers issued verbal commands. Marx fled east on Independence Avenue SW. As officers pursued him, Marx drew a firearm from his waistband while running through the crosswalk toward bystanders.
When Marx reached the sidewalk, he turned and fired at one of the pursuing officers. A civilian witness standing behind the officer was wounded in his leg. Officers returned fire, striking Marx in the hand, left arm, and upper abdomen.
Marx collapsed at the intersection of 15th Street and Independence Avenue SW, where officers rendered aid. He was identified through a Texas driver's license found on his person. Law enforcement also identified aliases including Patrick Michael and Michael Zavici. Marx was transported to George Washington University Hospital. While in the ambulance, he allegedly made statements to officers including “F--- the White House” and “Kill me, kill me, kill me.”
Investigators recovered a Sig Sauer P365 handgun loaded with 9mm ammunition from the area where Marx fell. Law enforcement confirmed Marx does not hold a license to carry a handgun in the District of Columbia.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Caelainn Carney the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
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Takedown Targets Open-Air Drug Market at L.A.’s MacArthur Park, Long an Area Run by Gang Members and Homeless Drug UsersRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Eighteen defendants, including two people law enforcement believes are the main sources of fentanyl and methamphetamine in Los Angeles’s gang- and drug-infested MacArthur Park, have been arrested on a federal criminal complaint charging them with a federal drug trafficking offense, the Justice Department announced today.
The complaint charges 25 defendants with possession with the intent to distribute, and distribution of, a controlled substance.
At one defendant’s Calabasas residence, law enforcement seized approximately 18 kilograms (40 pounds) of fentanyl.
The defendants arrested today are expected to make their initial appearances tomorrow afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. Seven defendants are considered fugitives.
“Today, we begin reclaiming MacArthur Park from criminals and drug addicts to return this public space to the citizens of Los Angeles,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “Together with our federal and local law enforcement partners, we are executing multiple arrest and search warrants targeting those who are distributing drugs in and around the park.”
“For far too long, MacArthur Park has been plagued by drug addiction, crime, and despair,” said Anthony Chrysanthis, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Los Angeles Field Division. “Today’s operation is only one step, taken by a handful of agencies working hard to alleviate the anguish and sense of hopelessness burdening MacArthur Park, local businesses, and the surrounding neighborhood. While this is a drug enforcement operation, it is also an effort to restore safety and wellness, and to return MacArthur Park back to the community.”
“Today’s operation shows the strength of our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration,” said Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell. “We witnessed drug activity return to MacArthur Park, and our teams acted quickly to disrupt both the dealers and the suppliers behind them. Fentanyl remains one of the most dangerous threats to our community, and we are committed to keeping it off our streets. We will remain relentless, alongside our federal partners, in protecting the people of Los Angeles from dangerous drug activity.”
MacArthur Park, located west of downtown Los Angeles, is an area of the city characterized by high rates of poverty and homelessness. Many of the homeless in that area are drug users, and the park itself is a known location for drug users to purchase narcotics, including fentanyl and methamphetamine. It is surrounded by a densely populated, tightly packed area of apartments, offices, shops and other businesses.
The park and the immediate surrounding area are part of heavily contested gang territory. MacArthur Park’s northern area is considered territory of the 18th Street Gang, while the area of the park south of Wilshire Boulevard is considered territory of the Crazy Riders Gang, and territory considered belonging to Mara Salvatrucha, a.k.a. “MS-13,” is immediately west of the park.
The complaint’s affidavit alleges that Mallaly Moreno-Lopez, 31, and her boyfriend, Jackson Tarfur, 28, both of the Westmont area of South Los Angeles, “serve as the, if not one of the main sources of supply of fentanyl powder and methamphetamine distributed in the Alvarado Corridor and MacArthur Park, generally on behalf of the 18th Street Gang.”
Moreno-Lopez and Tarfur hand-delivered narcotics to the Alvarado Corridor near MacArthur Park for stashing in storefronts and subsequent distribution to street-level drug dealers. Moreno-Lopez and Tarfur use their Westmont residence as a stash location for illegal drugs prior to delivering them to MacArthur Park.
Law enforcement also identified Yolanda Iriarte-Avila, 40, of Calabasas, as a source of supply of methamphetamine for Moreno-Lopez, via Iriarte-Avila’s boyfriend, Jesus Morales-Landel, 33, of the Exposition Park area of South Los Angeles, who is a street-level drug dealer in the MacArthur Park area. Iriarte-Avila uses her residence as a stash location for subsequent drug distribution.
The complaint affidavit further alleges 27 separate drug deals of fentanyl and methamphetamine from March 9 to April 15 in and around the MacArthur Park area.
A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, Moreno-Lopez, Tarfur, Iriarte-Avila, and Morales-Landel would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The remaining defendants each would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division’s Southern California Drug Task Force (SCDTF), a DEA-led multi-agency task force within the Los Angeles High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program, and the Los Angeles Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren E. Border and Joshua J. Lee of the Transnational Organized Crime Section are prosecuting this case.
St. Tammany Parish Man Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Child and Coercion and Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
SLIDELL, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that DEVIN JUNEAU, (“JUNEAU”), age 40, was charged on April 24, 2026 in a two-count Indictment by a federal grand jury.
In Count One, JUNEAU is charged with sexual exploitation of a child, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2251(a) and (e). If convicted, JUNEAU faces a mandatory minimum term of 15 years up to 30 years imprisonment, a fine of up to 250,000, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
Count Two charges JUNEAU with coercion and enticement of a minor, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422(b). If convicted, JUNEAU faces a mandatory minimum term of 10 years up to life imprisonment, a fine of 250,000, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
If convicted of either count, JUNEAU will be required to participate in the Sex Offender Registry and Notification Act (“SORNA.”)
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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 United States 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.
The case was investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Customs and Border Protection, and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Troy L. Bell of the Violent Crimes Unit.
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Springfield, Illinois, Woman Sentenced for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – On May 6, 2026, a Springfield, Ill., woman was sentenced in federal court today for one count of wire fraud and one count of making false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims.
Tina Louise Yager, 67, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Megan Blair Benton, for one count of wire fraud and one count of making false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims. Yager was sentenced to 38 months incarceration with the Bureau of Prisons, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $14,447 to the Internal Revenue Service, and $2,403 to the Missouri Department of Revenue for a total amount of $16,850 in restitution.
In this case, Yager used her tax preparer position with a Jackson-Hewitt Tax Service in Republic, Mo., to abuse the personal financial information of others to prepare and transmit fraudulent income tax returns. As a result of Yager’s fraudulent documents, she embezzled $16,850 collectives from the IRS and Missouri Department of Revenue collectively. Yager would file tax returns for customers of Jackson-Hewitt without their knowledge or approval. Yager would then have any refunds directed to her instead of the proper taxpayer.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations and the Missouri Department of Revenue.
Somali Illegal Alien Sentenced to 30 Years for Kidnapping Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Somali National was sentenced in federal court today for a kidnapping resulting in death.
Mahamud Tooxoow Mahamed, 44, was sentenced by United States District Judge Megan B. Benton to 30 years for the kidnapping resulting in the death of J.M.
According to court documents, J.M.’s body was discovered on July 29, 2019, near Missouri Highway 59, after an individual observed a pink suitcase in a roadside ditch with feet sticking out. Law enforcement located J.M.’s severely decomposed body lying next to the pink suitcase. DNA analysis confirmed that J.M.’s blood was located on multiple items recovered from a vehicle utilized by J.M. and Mahamed.
J.M. was last seen alive on July 16, 2019, when law enforcement officers responded to a call at her apartment. J.M. reported to 911 that Mahamed had held her at knife point and tried to force her to have sexual intercourse with him. J.M. repeatedly told the 911 operator that she was worried that Mahamed would harm her three young children who were in the apartment with him.
On July 17, 2019, J.M. and her children were reported as missing after attempts to contact J.M. on the phone and in-person failed. The children were eventually located at a residence in Des Moines, Iowa, on Aug. 8, 2019.
After abandoning the children in Iowa, Mahamed left the United States and was a fugitive from justice until he was located and expelled from Guatemala on July 27, 2021.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the FBI, the McDonald County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Rochester, Minn., Police Department, and the Des Moines, Iowa, Police Department.
Sinaloa Cartel Member Sentenced in Another Operation Sweet Silence CaseRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – A member of the Sinaloa Cartel was sentenced to prison today because of Operation Sweet Silence, a campaign targeting violent crime and drug trafficking tied to criminal organizations in the Columbus region.
Juan Carlos Torres-Arzapalo, 41, of Mexico and in the United States illegally, was sentenced to serve 135 months in prison on May 6, after he previously pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy on Oct. 27, 2025. Torres-Arzapalo is subject to deportation upon completion of his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
“We are focused on dismantling cartels and armed criminal organizations terrorizing our communities and bringing them to justice,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes for the Middle District of Georgia. “Those who cross the border illegally to commit violent crimes, distribute dangerous drugs and spread chaos in the Middle District of Georgia will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Operation Sweet Silence demonstrates the strength of law enforcement collaboration.”
“Criminal street gangs were responsible for a wave of violent crime in and around Columbus,” said Rich Bilson, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Columbus is a safer place now that the FBI and our partners have effectively dismantled this armed drug trafficking organization. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work together to keep our streets safe.”
“This investigation represents the very best of law enforcement collaboration,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Federal, state and local partners worked side by side for years to uncover the full scope of this criminal enterprise and ensure every individual responsible faced justice. With the conviction of this defendant, we are getting closer to holding all individuals involved accountable. Our communities are safer today because of the dedication and teamwork of the investigators and prosecutors, and we are committed to bringing this case to a successful conclusion.”
“We won't stop until the criminal activity stops,” said Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman. “There is strength in collaboration when we combine our resources to go after criminal enterprises involving street gangs, drug dealers and convicted felons. We will continue this fight for safer streets and a safer community.”
According to court documents and statements referenced in court, federal and local law enforcement conducted Operation Sweet Silence from August 2022 until May 2024, an extensive investigation into the illegal activities of the Zohannon criminal street gang and other criminal street gangs in Columbus—including US World, the Crips, the Bloods, and the Gangster Disciples—involving armed drug trafficking with ties to two Mexican cartels. The operation dismantled the Zohannon Street Gang and severely impacted other gangs, especially US World, a hybrid criminal organization in Columbus.
Specifically, co-defendant Ulises Cervantes was identified by federal agents as a multi-kilo level cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana dealer who sourced drugs from the Sinaloa Cartel, although he does not identify as a member. Cervantes was based out of Sacramento, California, but had residences in both Columbus and Phenix City, Alabama. Agents learned Torres-Arzapolo, a confirmed Sinaloa Cartel member, was working with Cervantes to distribute these drugs in the Middle District of Georgia.
Over a court-authorized wiretap, agents heard Cervantes contract one of his California drug suppliers for kilogram pricing of drugs on Sept. 27, 2023, with Torres-Arzapolo in the background discussing the purchase, requesting information from the caller for the cost of around “fifty” of the “hielo,” which refers to 50 kilograms of methamphetamine. The next day, on Sept. 28, 2023, agents intercepted a call between Torres-Arzapolo, Cervantes and a third party discussing a large marijuana deal.
Agents intercepted additional calls between Torres-Arzapolo, Cervantes and a third person arranging a cocaine transaction. Cervantes provided codefendant Derrick Porter's Columbus address to Torres-Arzapolo for the delivery of 26 "zips" of cocaine to Porter. On Oct. 11, 2023, Torres-Arzapolo and another individual delivered a kilogram of cocaine to Porter. Porter later called Cervantes to complain that he had been shorted on the deal. Cervantes stated that he had weighed it the day before, but would contact Torres-Arzapolo to address the problem. The next day, Oct. 12, 2023, intercepted calls showed Cervantes asking Torres-Arzapolo his estimated arrival time to Porter's residence. Agents then observed Torres-Arzapolo and another individual arrive in an SUV and were assisted by Porter to remove a cooler and suitcase from the vehicle.
Connected to this operation, a total of $270 million in drugs were seized, including $20 million in cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and marijuana from the streets of Columbus and $250 million of marijuana from a California supplier. 119 firearms, including machineguns, rifles, shotguns, high-capacity magazines and stolen weapons were seized and removed from the streets of Columbus.
A total of 31 defendants including Torres-Arzapolo were indicted across nine separate indictments, and 30 defendants have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial, with some already sentenced by the court. Operation Sweet Silence defendants, all of Columbus unless otherwise indicated, are:
Freddie Bowens, also known as “Profit,” 27, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for the illegal possession of a machine gun.
Fernando Brown, also known as “Nino,” 33, was found guilty at trial of conspiring to traffic methamphetamine, cocaine, and more than 100 pounds of marijuana and possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking and is awaiting sentencing.
LaBrandon Brown, 31, was sentenced to four years in prison for using a phone to facilitate a drug offense.
Jantzen Carter, 40, of Waverly Hall, GA, was sentenced to ten years in prison for drug conspiracy.
Ulises Cervantes, 33, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.
Anthony Champion, 46, was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison for drug conspiracy.
Trenton Clemons, 48, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for drug conspiracy.
Dequindre Dawson, 33, was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison for drug possession with intent to distribute.
Nicholas Fitzpatrick, 30, was sentenced to five years and ten months in prison for drug conspiracy.
Terry Gash, 54, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.
Undrae Hayes, 37, was sentenced to eight years in prison for drug conspiracy.
Roderick Hicks, 59, was sentenced to 11 years and eight months in prison for drug conspiracy.
Christopher Hill, 36, was sentenced to two years in prison for using a phone to facilitate a drug offense.
Marquez Holloway, 32, was found guilty at trial of drug conspiracy and drug distribution and is awaiting sentencing.
Darius Jenkins, 24, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for drug conspiracy.
Jeffrey Kimbrough, 29, was sentenced to three years of probation for drug conspiracy.
Hykeem Lomax, 33, pleaded guilty to using a phone to facilitate a drug offense and is awaiting sentencing.
Quadarius Lusk, 30, pleaded guilty to using a phone to facilitate a drug offense and is awaiting sentencing.
Aundray Morgan, 39, pleaded guilty to using a phone to facilitate a drug offense and is awaiting sentencing.
Tommie Mullins, Jr., also known as “TJ,” also known as “Bo,” also known as “Mini,” 31, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for drug conspiracy.
Javonta Paden, 25, was sentenced to five years and 11 months in prison for drug conspiracy.
Adrian Palmer, also known as “AP,” 25, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for drug possession with intent to distribute.
Adrian Pleasants, 29, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for drug conspiracy.
Derrick Porter, 54, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.
Dahvontay Richardson, 28, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for drug conspiracy.
Trenton Thomas, also known as “Bubble,” 25, was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison for drug conspiracy.
Corey Turner, also known as “Lito Red,” 33, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for drug conspiracy.
Jhy’Keith Williams, 24, was sentenced to three years and one month in prison for illegally possessing a machine gun.
Malik Williams, 27, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison for drug possession with intent to distribute.
Leonard Campbell, 37, of Columbus, is charged by federal indictment with conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He is facing a maximum of life in prison. An indictment is only an allegation of criminal conduct, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. District Judge Clay Land is presiding over the cases. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The case was investigated by FBI Georgia, the DEA, and the Muscogee County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office with critical assistance from the Harris County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office; the Russell County, Alabama, Sheriff’s Office; the Coweta County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office; and the Muscogee County District Attorney’s Office.
Deputy Criminal Chief Veronica Hansis for the Middle District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Matthew Mattis of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case.
Shiprock Man Sentenced for Unprovoked AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man who stabbed an individual three times in the back without provocation was sentenced to two and a half years in prison.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on April 19, 2025, Matthew David Charley, 30, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, approached John Doe and his friends near a roadside area in Shiprock and introduced himself. After John Doe’s friends briefly left the area, Charley remained with John Doe, who had no prior interaction with him and did not provoke him.
As John Doe began walking away to meet his returning friends, Charley stabbed him three times in the back without warning. John Doe sustained lacerations to his upper back and flank and required emergency medical treatment.
After the attack, Charley fled the scene. When later interviewed by the investigators, he initially denied being in the area. After being confronted with surveillance footage, he admitted he was present but continued to deny the assault.
Charley pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. Upon his release from prison, Charley will be subject to three years of supervised release.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Mondragon is prosecuting the case.
Shelby County Man Charged in Multi-Million Dollar COVID-19 Loan Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Shelby County man has been charged with defrauding the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL), and Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) by unlawfully obtaining funds intended to provide COVID-19 pandemic relief to eligible operating businesses, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby
A 13-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Stanley Mark Hill, 61, of Helena, Alabama, with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
According to the indictment, from at least May 2020 to May 2021, Hill applied for seven fraudulent PPP, EIDL, and RRF loans from the SBA, six of which were funded. Hill submitted loan applications containing false information about the revenues and costs of goods sold by his alleged businesses and falsified documentation supporting the loan applications. The loan requests totaled more than $3 million, of which over $2.5 million was funded. Hill also used the social security number of another individual to file six of the loan applications, without the consent or knowledge of that individual.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison J. Garnett is prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Salvadoran national sentenced to five years after being caught with over a kilogram of cocaineRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Salvadoran national was sentenced to five years in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
According to court documents, from Feb. 6, 2025, to April 29, 2025, law enforcement conducted three controlled purchases of a total of over 167 grams of cocaine from José Mauricio Rivas-Portillo, 33. On July 17, 2025, as Rivas-Portillo was returning from Burlington, North Carolina, to his residence in Spotsylvania, a Virginia State Trooper stopped Rivas-Portillo in Spotsylvania County for a traffic violation. After a drug detection canine alerted to the presence of narcotics in Rivas-Portillo’s vehicle, a search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of a bag containing cocaine on the driver side floorboard and one kilogram of cocaine on the passenger side floorboard. Rivas-Portillo was in possession of $1,936 in drug proceeds.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia L. Norman prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-150.
This release was revised on May 7, 2026, to correct the case number.
Rutland Man Sentenced to 100 Months for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BURLINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on May 5, 2026, William Corey Warner, 37, of Rutland, Vermont, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 100 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Warner previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base (crack cocaine) on January 9, 2026.
According to court records, on May 20, 2024, Warner was the passenger in a rental vehicle that entered a parking lot in Rutland, Vermont. Knowing that Warner was wanted, Rutland police officers approached and asked Warner to step out of the vehicle. The driver exited the vehicle, but Warner moved into the driver’s seat, began operating the vehicle, struck an unmarked police vehicle and an occupied civilian vehicle, and fled from police. Eventually, Warner abandoned the vehicle, fleeing further on foot. In the vehicle police found approximately 34 grams of cocaine and 34 grams of cocaine base that Warner had intended to distribute to others.
Subsequently, on July 21, 2024, Warner was a passenger in a vehicle traveling on I-91 North to Vermont that was stopped in Greenfield, Massachusetts by Massachusetts State Police. In the vehicle troopers discovered more than 500 grams of cocaine and a loaded .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. Warner was arrested, and on October 23, 2025, Warner was convicted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for five offenses related to cocaine and firearm possession and sentenced in the aggregate to 7 to 9 years’ imprisonment.
Warner’s criminal history includes a 2011 federal conviction for conspiracy to distribute cocaine (for which he received a 60-month sentence), two State of Vermont convictions for burglary, and numerous violations of federal supervised release and state probation and parole.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations and the Rutland City Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole P. Cate and Craig S. Nolan. Warner was represented by Michael J. Straub, Esq.
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.
Registered sex offender pleads guilty to possessing child pornography of infants, toddlersRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A repeat sex offender faces 10 to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty today in U.S. District Court to a child pornography crime.
Alan Martina, 37, of Columbus, admitted to possessing child sexual abuse material of infants and toddlers.
According to court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a cyber tipline report from Kik regarding the uploading of child pornography from Martina’s account.
In September 2025, law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at Martina’s residence and seized six electronic devices. A forensic examination of the devices revealed more than 170 videos and 215 images of child sexual abuse.
Martina used the apps Session and Teleguard to discuss and trade child pornography with other users. Some of his messages in response to receiving images and videos of infants and toddlers being sexually abused include: “Mmmmmmm I want to hear her cry and scream…” and “Mmmmmmm yes abuse and rape her and let me watch.”
The defendant was charged by criminal complaint in October 2025. Martina was previously convicted in Franklin County of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor and is a registered sex offender.
Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court at a future hearing based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and other members of the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force announced the guilty plea offered today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Norah McCann King. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the 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.
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Recent Indictments, Convictions through Guilty Pleas, and Sentencings in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) ProsecutionsRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney, in conjunction with our partner agencies in the Homeland Security Task Force (“HSTF”) announce the following investigative and prosecutorial results for the week of April 27 through May 3, 2026. The HSTF is a permanent, interagency law enforcement task force created by executive order to combat transnational criminal organizations—including cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist organizations.
Indictments:
- On April 30, 2026, a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging Jhon Dennis Guerrero-Trotman, Jaime José Marval-Gutiérrez, José Gregorio Pereira-Orfila, and Héctor Gregorio Jiménez-Herrera with conspiracy and importation of cocaine, and conspiracy to possess and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. According to court documents, in April 2026, the defendants knowingly and intentionally imported into the United States, from Venezuela and other places, five kilograms or more of cocaine. Specifically, on April 26, 2026, HSTF seized 48 packages that contained approximately 1,350.2 kilograms of cocaine. Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Antonio J. López-Rivera is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On April 29, 2026, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging Douglas Antonio Fernández-Rodríguez with conspiracy and importation of cocaine from Venezuela and other places, into Puerto Rico. Fernández-Rodríguez is also charged with knowingly entering or attempting to enter the United States illegally. Specifically, on or about March 11, 2026, HSTF seized approximately 709.1 kilograms of cocaine. United States Coast Guard Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Cody A. McKinney is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On April 29, 2026, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging José Fernando Huggins-Figueroa with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, attempt to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime. Specifically, on April 22, 2026, HSTF seized 20 kilograms of cocaine. AUSA Camille García is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On April 29, 2026, a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging Vilorio Camilo Polo-Padilla and Franklin Reyes with conspiracy to import cocaine, attempt to import cocaine, improper entry by alien, and re-entry of removed alien. Specifically, on April 17, 2026, HSTF seized 124 kilograms of cocaine. AUSA Camille García is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
Convictions through Guilty Pleas:
- On April 29, 2026, Rosemary Santiago-Serrano pleaded guilty to Count One in CR Case 25-392 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiring to distribute controlled substances in public housing projects and other areas in and around Cayey, Puerto Rico. Defendant was arrested on September 26, 2026. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for July 29, 2026. AUSA R. Vance Eaton is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On April 28, 2026, Edwin Gabriel Vázquez-Colón, a.k.a. “Cuco”, pleaded guilty to Counts 1 and 7 in CR Case 24-170 (RAM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with participating in a violent drug trafficking organization that operated in and around the Jardines de Selles Public Housing Project in San Juan, Puerto Rico and with being armed with a machinegun while doing so. Defendant was arrested on April 24, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for July 27, 2026. AUSAs Andrés Orr and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On April 28, 2026, Christian Maldonado-López, a.k.a “Ninja,” pleaded guilty to Counts 1 and 6 in CR Case 23-353 (GMM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with participating in a violent drug trafficking organization that operated in and around Manatí, Puerto Rico and with being armed while doing so. Defendant was arrested on February 16, 2024. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for July 27, 2026. AUSAs
Andrés Orr and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case. - On April 28, 2026, César Tyron Villegas-Cintrón, pleaded guilty to Counts 1 and 6 in CR Case 23-353 (GMM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with participating in a violent drug trafficking organization that operated in and around Manatí, Puerto Rico and with being armed with a machinegun while doing so. Defendant was arrested on September 22, 2023. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for July 21, 2026. AUSAs Andrés Orr and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On April 28, 2026, Roberto Rodríguez-Payano pleaded guilty to Count One for violations to 21 U.S.C. Sections 959(a), 960(a)(3) & (b)(1)(B)(ii) and 963 in CR Case 22-520(RAM). According to the Indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiring to manufacture and distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, a Schedule II Narcotic Drug Controlled Substance, intending, knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe that such mixture or substance would be unlawfully imported into the United States. Rodríguez-Payano was extradited from the Dominican Republic on August 21, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for July 28, 2026. AUSA Camille García is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
Sentencings:
- On April 27, 2026, Jey Xander Omar González-Díaz was sentenced by Judge Aida M. Delgado-Colón to a two-year term of probation for failing to report that he transported more than $10,000 into the United States. According to court documents, defendant was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico on September 18, 2025, in CR Case 25-391, and pled guilty to the charge on January 14, 2026. Social Security Administration SAUSA Niranjan Emani is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On April 28, 2026, Daniel Rivera-Molina was sentenced by Judge Pedro A. Delgado to a term of imprisonment of time served (equal to six months) to be followed by a term of supervised release of one year for reentry of removed alien after an aggravated felony conviction. According to court documents, defendant was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico on November 6, 2025, in CR Case 25-473 (PAD), and pled guilty to the charge(s) on March 23, 2026. Department of Homeland Security SAUSA Steven Liong-Rodríguez is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On April 27, 2026, Jayson Camacho-Rodriguez was sentenced by Judge Gina Mendez-Miro to time served for conspiring to distribute between 500 grams and 2 kilograms of cocaine. According to court documents, defendant was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico on May 22, 2024, in CR Case 24-188 (GMM), and pled guilty to the charge(s) on January 26, 2026. AUSA R. Vance Eaton is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On April 27, 2026, Luis Laboy-Nadal was sentenced by Judge Gina Méndez-Miró to ten years of imprisonment for conspiring to distribute between 3.5 kilograms and 5 kilograms cocaine. According to court documents, defendant was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico on May 22, 2024, in CR Case 24-188 (GMM), and pled guilty to the charge(s) on January 27, 2026. AUSA R. Vance Eaton is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On April 28, 2026, Ilia Martínez-Pagán was sentenced by Judge Gina Méndez-Miró to five years of imprisonment for conspiring to distribute between 500 grams and 2 kilograms cocaine. According to court documents, defendant was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico on May 22, 2024, in CR Case 24-188 (GMM), and pled guilty to the charge(s) on January 27, 2026. AUSA R. Vance Eaton is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On April 28, 2026, Miguel Ángel Pastrana-Ríos was sentenced by Judge María Antongiorgi-Jordán to 135 months of imprisonment and 5 years on supervised release for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and distributing 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, a Schedule II Narcotic Drug Controlled Substance. According to court documents, the defendant was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico on February 27, 2025, in CR Case 25-012 (MAJ), and pled guilty to the charge(s) on September 25, 2025.
These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
HSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard – Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department.
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Raleigh County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Nathaniel Wilburn, 34, of Ghent, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 30, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Wilburn’s residence and found a Hi-Point JCP .40-caliber pistol, a Charles Daily 12-gauge shotgun, a Ruger EC9 9mm pistol, and a Taurus 12-gauge shotgun. As part of his guilty plea, Wilburn admitted to possessing the firearms.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Wilburn knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for breaking and entering in Raleigh County Circuit Court on November 15, 2023.
Wilburn is scheduled to be sentenced on September 4, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-cr-67.
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Pueblo Pintado Man Sentenced for MurderRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Pueblo Pintado man was sentenced to seven years in prison for fatally shooting another man after a night of heavy drinking and a physical altercation.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, on March 17, 2025, Thurman Curley, 36, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, shot and killed John Doe following a physical altercation after a night of heavy drinking.
Curley pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Upon his release from prison, Curley will be subject to five years of supervised release.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Mondragon is prosecuting the case.
Prior felon charged again with crack cocaine possessionRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Eli Clark, 36, of North Tonawanda, NY, was charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, which carries maximum penalties of 20 years imprisonment, followed by not less than 3 years of supervised release, and a fine up to $1,000,000.
In January 2020, Clark was sentenced on a federal charge of possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. In March 2025, Clark violated his federal supervised release and was sentenced to an additional 12 months in prison. He was released in January 2026. In March 2026, the North Tonawanda Police Department conducted a stop of a vehicle Clark was riding in. During the stop, law enforcement recovered 33 grams of suspected crack cocaine from Clark’s waistband. Clark was taken into custody. Law enforcement also executed a search warrant at a River Road residence, seizing several drug paraphernalia items.
Clark made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was detained.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola. The complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff Michael Filicetti, and the North Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Keith Glass.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Precious metals Ponzi scheme operator sentenced to over four years in prisonRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The owner and operator of an Alexandria-based precious metals investment firm was sentenced today to four years and two months in prison for wire fraud and violating the Travel Act.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, beginning in November 2021, Warith Deen Muhammad, 39, of McLean, falsely told more than a dozen investors that if they invested with him and his business, Niagara Gold and Silver LLC, he would use their money to buy, trade, and sell precious metals. Muhammad guaranteed profits of five to ten percent and told investors that they would receive their principal plus interest back, typically within 30 days.
To mask the fraud, Muhammad used new investors funds to pay prior investors, leading investors to believe that their investment had been “successful,” inducing them to invest more money and to recruit others to invest. In total, from November 2021 through June 2023, Muhammad used fraudulent representations to induce more than 12 investors to send him over $1.5 million.
In addition to spending investor money to pay prior investors, Muhammad also used investor funds to finance his lavish lifestyle. He leased high-end sports cars, including a Ferrari FF, Bentley, and Dodge Challenger Demon. He paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to rent luxury properties, and he spent tens of thousands of dollars at retailers, including Neiman Marcus, Tiffany’s, and Chanel, among others.
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Morgan and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Bedell prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-284.
Polk County Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Bradly Dwayne Wimberly (32, Bradley) has pleaded guilty to attempted production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Wimberly faces a minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, between February 15, 2024, and July 10, 2025, Wimberly communicated online with someone he believed to be 13 to 14-year-old girl. He repeatedly asked the minor to produce sexually explicit images and videos of herself and send them to him. Wimberly was actually communicating with an undercover special agent from Homeland Security Investigations.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 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 child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Pine Bluff Woman Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for Theft of More Than $400,000 from Bank's CustomersRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Laura Parrish, who was employed by the bank for more than seven years before her termination, will spend the next thirty-six months in federal prison for bank theft. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today, by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller.
On December 4, 2025, an Information was filed with the federal district court charging Parrish, 59, Pine Bluff, with one count of bank theft. Parrish pleaded guilty that same day to the charge in the Information. Judge Miller also sentenced Parrish to three years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
An investigation revealed that between November 2016 and January 2024, Parrish was an employee of a local bank and used customer funds to make payments on her personal credit cards and transfer funds to her external online financial account. Parrish also opened personal credits cards in the names of other people and used the accounts of the bank’s customers to make payments on those credit cards.
An investigation further revealed that between August 31, 2021, through April 18, 2023, Parrish embezzled funds from one family, including one family member who was deceased, in the approximate amount of $364,000. Parrish used these funds to make payments on her personal credit cards and loans to benefit herself, her business, Southern Roots and Blooms, or accounts held in the names of her husband, daughter, and other family members. On January 24, 2023, Parrish submitted a credit card application for a retail credit card using the name, date of birth, and social security number of one of the bank’s customers. Parrish placed her address and phone number on the application and between February 2023 and January 2024, made payments totaling $15,000 on the credit card. This bank customer passed away in March 2023, and Parrish continued to embezzle funds from this account. Between July 2021 and January 2024, Parrish embezzled approximately $413,871.40 from eight bank customers.
“This individual abused a position of trust to steal from hardworking Arkansans, including some of our most vulnerable citizens,” said Jason Van Goor, Special Agent in Charge of the Little Rock Field Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). “The FBI will continue working with our partners to hold fraudsters accountable and pursue justice for victims.”
“Laura Parrish abused her bank position to embezzle funds from innocent customers for her own benefit and has now been brought to justice,” said John T. Perez, Special Agent in Charge, Headquarters Operations, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (FRB-CFPB OIG). “This sentence should serve as a warning that we will vigorously pursue bank insiders who defraud financial institutions regulated and supervised by the Federal Reserve Board. We are proud to have worked with our federal law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to achieve this result.”
“It is especially concerning when bank insiders abuse their positions of trust to victimize unwitting bank customers, as was the case with Ms. Parrish” said Jeff Thomson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General’s (FDIC OIG) Dallas Region. “The FDIC OIG will continue to join with our colleagues in ensuring that those who selfishly steal for personal gain are held accountable.”
“Laura Parrish took advantage of her position at the bank to take money that did not belong to her and caused significant damage to the bank and its most vulnerable customers impacted by her brazen act of theft,” United States Attorney Ross said. “Our office will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to see that employees like Parrish who elect to violate their fiduciary obligations are held accountable for their criminal acts that negatively and significantly impact bank operations and its customers.”
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General.
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Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
X (formerly known as Twitter):
@USAO_EDAR
Pensacola Felon Indicted for Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Marcellous Likely-McWilliams III, 27, of Pensacola, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance involving marijuana; one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges.
Likely-McWilliams appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon for his initial appearance at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida. Trial is scheduled for June 22, 2026, in Pensacola before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
If convicted, Likely-McWilliams faces a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute count; a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and up to life imprisonment on the possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking count; and up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon count.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brooke A. DiSalvo.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Nonprofit Health Care Provider Agrees to Pay $750,000 to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Involving Misbranded ContraceptivesRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Salud Para La Gente, a nonprofit network of primary care clinics serving low-income individuals and families in Santa Cruz County and Monterey County, has agreed to pay a total of $750,000 to resolve allegations that it submitted false claims for payment to the Medicaid program in connection with its purchase and administration of misbranded contraceptives.
Among the services it provides, Salud offers contraceptive care, including etonogestrel marketed under the brand name Nexplanon, to Medicaid beneficiaries. Nexplanon is a thin rod that is inserted under the skin of a patient’s upper arm that, once implanted, works to prevent pregnancy. The United States alleged that between May 17, 2017, and Sept. 11, 2020, Salud purchased misbranded Nexplanon from an unlicensed wholesaler and administered the misbranded Nexplanon to Medicaid patients. According to the United States, Salud knowingly submitted false claims for payment to Medicaid by using incorrect National Drug Code numbers, unique drug identifiers used by the FDA for reporting and patient safety purposes, for the misbranded Nexplanon and for its administration.“Patient safety must be at the forefront of medical decision-making,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “Using misbranded drugs jeopardizes public health and constitutes a serious False Claims Act violation. We will continue to hold violators accountable.”
“It’s clearly dangerous and unethical for health care providers to administer misbranded drugs obtained from unlicensed sources to their patients,” said Special Agent in Charge Robb R. Breeden of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG). “Working with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG will continue to aggressively protect the health and well-being of patients and the integrity of federal health care programs.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Lo handled this matter. The resolution resulted from a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, HHS-OIG, and FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.