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4 May 2026
St. Francois County Man Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison for Recording Sexual Abuse of MinorsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Monday sentenced a man who recorded his sexual abuse of two underage girls to 50 years in prison.
“You’re not going to get out again,” Judge Schelp told Richard James Miller. “You’re not going to get an opportunity to victimize someone else.”
Miller, 41, recorded his sexual abuse of the two juveniles between Jan. 1, 2022, and May 24, 2024. One victim told investigators that her abuse began when she was 15. The other said she began spending time in Miller’s apartment when she was 8 or 9 years old. Miller initially told her to undress so that he could take pictures of her and send them to friends.
In statements read to Judge Schelp Monday, both victims said Miller threatened to kill their relatives. One said he threatened to make her watch as he killed her two dogs.
In court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Bateman told Judge Schelp that although a third juvenile victim was not presenting a statement, she was abused in the same way.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations learned of Miller in 2024, when the court-approved search of a New Jersey man’s home uncovered Kik messenger chats with Miller. Images constituting child sexual abuse material were found in the chats. Investigators located and interviewed Miller, who admitted engaging in sex acts with young girls at his home in the past. He also admitted distributing photos of one of the victims in a Kik group chat.
Miller, of St. Francois County, Missouri, pleaded guilty in February to two counts of production of child pornography.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Park Hills Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Bateman prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. For more information, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
South Carolina Man Arrested for Threatening to Kill the PresidentRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – The United States Secret Service arrested Daniel R. Swain, 41, of Summerville, South Carolina, on a Federal warrant in Apex. The Secret Service obtained the warrant pursuant to a Federal criminal complaint signed by a U.S. Magistrate Judge which accuses Swain of threatening to take the life of the President of the United States. According to the complaint, concerned citizens contacted the Apex Police Department when they observed the message “HEADED TO WSH TO KILL THE PRES” written in white marker on the driver side window of Swain’s car.
Swain is charged with making Threats Against the President in violation of Title 18, United States Code Section 871(a) and faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison if convicted.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. The USSS and Apex Police Department are investigating the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Logan Liles is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No.5:26-MJ-1682-JG.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 21 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on May 4, 2026.
Omot Musa Karlo, 25, was sentenced to one year and nine months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Karlo was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025. He pleaded guilty on January 12, 2026.
According to court documents, on August 6, 2024, Karlo was a passenger in a vehicle that fled from law enforcement in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The pursuit ended when a tire on the vehicle went flat, causing the vehicle to travel into a ditch near South Southeastern Avenue. As the vehicle was going into the ditch, Karlo exited the passenger door and fled on foot. While fleeing on foot and before being apprehended, Karlo discarded a firearm in the tall grass along the path from which he left the vehicle.
Karlo was prohibited from possessing a firearm as a result of prior felony convictions, including offenses involving firearms. He was on federal supervised release for a prior conviction at the time of this offense.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case.
Karlo was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Seventh Defendant Charged as Part of Federal Investigation into Violent Home Invasion in Winnetka, Ill.Read the Press Release
CHICAGO — A seventh defendant has been charged in federal court with robbery and kidnapping offenses for allegedly participating in a violent home invasion in Winnetka, Ill. The defendant, TYRESE FENTON-WATSON, 23, of Chicago, was arrested on April 28, 2026, and has been ordered to remain detained in federal custody without bond.
Fenton-Watson is charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and kidnapping in connection with the alleged home invasion, which occurred on the afternoon of March 8, 2026, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court. Six other defendants were previously arrested and charged with the same offenses in a superseding indictment unsealed last week in U.S. District Court. Those defendants have also been ordered to remain detained in federal custody without bond. For one of those defendants, the U.S. Attorney’s Office successfully appealed a U.S. Magistrate judge’s order of release on bond to a U.S. District judge, who ordered the defendant to remain detained without bond.
According to the charges, DASHUN BROWN posed as a food delivery driver to cause an individual in the residence to open the front door. Armed with loaded firearms, Brown, Fenton-Watson, DAVID FRANKLIN, JALEN CHAMBERS, and another co-conspirator then forcibly entered the residence. Brown, Fenton-Watson, Franklin, Chambers, and the co-conspirator kept an individual in the residence captive for approximately an hour and used firearms to physically restrain the victim, the charges alleged. The perpetrators also restrained a child who arrived home while the violent home invasion was in progress, the charges alleged. The captors allegedly demanded access to a safe, computer, and online accounts holding cryptocurrency.
The conspirators fled the residence after about an hour, later meeting up with ISAIAH DUKES, KHIELL DUKES, ANTHONY RAMSEY, and other co-conspirators who were waiting nearby and had been communicating with the captors while they were inside the residence, the charges alleged.
Fenton-Watson’s complaint and arrest were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Brian O’Connell, Chief of the Winnetka Police Department. Valuable assistance has been provided by the Chicago Police Department, Northbrook, Ill. Police Department, Glencoe, Ill. Police Department, and Orland Park, Ill. Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maureen Merin and Jessica Ecker. The officials noted that the investigation remains ongoing.
Brown, 24, of Chicago, Franklin, 24, of Chicago, Ramsey, 22, of Chicago, Isaiah Dukes, 28, of Los Angeles, Calif., Khiell Dukes, 30, of Elgin, Ill., and Chambers, 24, of Bourbonnais, Ill., have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them in the superseding indictment. Kidnapping conspiracy is punishable by a maximum sentence of life in federal prison, while robbery conspiracy is punishable by up to 20 years. The public is reminded that indictments and complaints are not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
fenton-watson_complaint.pdfSanta Clarita Valley Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Filing False Returns and Fraudulently Obtaining COVID BenefitsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Santa Clarita Valley tax preparer pleaded guilty today to fraudulently including false information on federal income tax returns to get substantial refunds for his clients – and cause large tax losses to the U.S. Treasury – and COVID-19 business-relief loan applications to obtain money he used for unauthorized purposes.
Kerwin Aldric Jordan, 71, of Castaic and formerly of Pebble Beach, pleaded guilty to four counts of aiding in the preparation of false federal income tax returns and one count of wire fraud.
According to his plea agreement, Jordan was the president of The Jordan Corporation, a tax preparation business, and also owned and operated a business called Jordan and Jordan A Financial Conquest. Jordan held himself out as a tax attorney and certified public accountant, neither of which he was. Jordan prepared federal tax returns for his clients which fraudulently reduced his taxpayer-clients’ taxable income.
Jordan falsely reported that the taxpayer-clients had one or more businesses, even though he knew the businesses did not exist. He also reported losses for these non-existent businesses and used those losses to reduce the taxpayer-clients’ taxable income.
For example, Jordan reduced a married couple’s $2 million income with fraudulent expenses of more than $1 million for non-existent businesses, eliminating additional taxes the couple would have owed and generating a tax refund of almost $25,000. The couple paid Jordan nearly $28,000 for the preparation of their return.
From 2018 to 2023, Jordan filed more than 1,370 federal tax returns for clients, which reported total business losses over $73 million. Prosecutors contend that the tax returns Jordan prepared resulted in more than $25 million in losses to the United States Treasury.
Jordan also lied on loan applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), two programs Congress created in March 2020 to help businesses weather the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jordan applied for PPP loans for his companies and received a total of $188,667. He also applied for EIDL loans for Jordan and Jordan; Euphrates Wealth Asset Management, of which he was the owner; and Lifestyles of the Rich in Faith Church, a non-profit organization of which he was the principal, receiving a total of $276,600. To obtain these loans, Jordan falsely reported that the companies had employees when, in fact, they had none.
United States District Judge Stephen V. Wilson scheduled an October 5 sentencing hearing, at which time Jordan will face a statutory maximum sentence of 32 years in federal prison.
The IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this case.
Assistant United States Attorney Ranee A. Katzenstein, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, and Matthew R. Hoffman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Tax Section, are prosecuting this case.
Roxbury Man Sentenced for Role in Fraudulent CDL SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Roxbury man was sentenced on May 1, 2026 in federal court in Boston for surreptitiously providing an individual with the answers to exam questions for a Commercial Learners’ Permit. In the state of Massachusetts, you must have a CLP before obtaining a commercial driver’s license.
Frank Castro, 53, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to time served (approximately 23 months in prison). In January 2025, Castro was convicted of unlawful production of an identification document. Castro was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024.
On or about Oct. 18, 2021, Castro told an undercover agent that he could help him obtain a CLP in Massachusetts for $3,000. On or about Dec. 10, 2021, Castro explained to the undercover agent that the agent would need to sneak a Bluetooth device into the testing area at a Massachusetts RMV, surreptitiously place the device into his ear, then cover it with headphones used during the exam. Castro said that he would be connected with the undercover agent via the Bluetooth device such that he could hear the audio questions and provide the undercover agent with the correct answers.
On or about Dec. 22, 2021, the undercover agent deposited $3,000 into Castro’s bank account before proceeding to the Danvers RMV to take the CLP exam. The undercover agent connected with Castro using the Bluetooth device, and Castro provided the exam answers to the undercover agent in real time during the exam. The undercover agent passed the exam with Castro’s unlawful assistance and received a Massachusetts CLP.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Brian C. Gallagher, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Maynard and David G. Tobin of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Romanian National Appears in Federal Court Following Extradition from Romania on Bank Fraud Charges Stemming from “Vishing” SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Romanian national appeared in court today to face bank fraud charges for his role in a “vishing” scheme, following his extradition from Romania, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
On November 14, 2017, a federal grand jury in Charlotte returned a criminal indictment charging Gavril Sandu, 53, with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of bank fraud. Sandu was arrested in Romania on January 9, 2026. He was extradited to the United States on April 30, 2026.
“Greed crosses borders, but so does our relentless pursuit of justice,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “Scams originating outside of our country are out of control. Wherever scammers operate – here or abroad – we will use every tool available to bring them to justice.”
“Today’s digital age provides greater opportunity to steal your identity and your money. That unfortunate reality has allowed cyber criminals to use and exploit stolen information for their own profit. The FBI remains committed to holding international cyber fraudsters accountable and ensuring there is no place they can hide, and justice has no timeline,” said Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina.
According to allegations in the indictment, Sandu was part of a conspiracy that carried out an extensive “vishing” bank fraud scheme. “Vishing” or “voice phishing,” is a form of criminal cyber fraud that uses seemingly legitimate phone calls or voicemails to trick victims into revealing sensitive personal, financial, or login information. Cyber criminals then use this information to gain unauthorized access to victims’ financial accounts to steal funds and carry out fraudulent transactions.
According to the indictment, from May 2009 to October 2010, Sandu and his co-conspirators executed the scheme by hacking into small businesses’ Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) systems and then deploying a script to contact financial institution customers and to defraud them in providing their personal debit card and PIN numbers.
The indictment alleges that Sandu assisted in the conspiracy by obtaining victims’ debit card numbers and PINs from his co-conspirators, which he then used to make magnetic stripe cards with the victims’ fraudulently obtained debit card numbers. Sandu also allegedly operated as a money mule, traveling to ATMs to withdraw money and funds from the banks and credit union accounts of the victims of the scheme. Sandu then allegedly provided his co-conspirators with a percentage of the fraudulently obtained victims’ money and kept a portion for himself.
Sandu was placed in federal custody after the hearing. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI in Charlotte led the investigation. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, FBI's Bucharest Law Enforcement Attaché Office, and Romanian authorities provided significant assistance in securing Sandu’s arrest and extradition.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Warren with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Previously Deported Nicaraguan National Receives 15-Year Sentence for $29 Million Bank Impersonation SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A previously deported Nicaraguan national was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his role in a cyber-enabled international bank impersonation scheme that resulted in more than $29 million in losses to victims across the United States.
U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom sentenced Ernesto Ortega Padgett, 41, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to transport stolen property.
“Ortega built a sophisticated international fraud scheme on deception, stolen trust, and technology, draining more than $29 million from victims across the country,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “He impersonated banks, exploited fear and urgency, and used an international laundering network and cryptocurrency to move and conceal the proceeds. Today’s 15-year sentence sends a clear message: if you steal from Americans through fraud and hide behind borders, technology, or shell accounts, we will find you, extradite you, and hold you accountable. And you will not keep the proceeds of your crimes.”
“Ortega believed his sophistication, his use of technology, and the distance between him and his victims would allow him to operate without consequence,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Townsend of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Miami Field Office. “He was wrong. As criminals evolve their methods, the U.S. Secret Service is evolving faster, working alongside our law enforcement and international partners to strengthen our intelligence and investigative capabilities to identify, track, and apprehend those who exploit innocent people. This case shows that no level of deception or complexity will shield criminals from accountability. The Secret Service will continue to protect hardworking Americans and go to great lengths to bring those responsible to justice. I want to commend our agents, our partners, and our prosecutors for their exceptional work in bringing this case to a successful conclusion.”
Beginning in 2020, Ortega and his co-conspirators posed as bank representatives and used a combination of technology and social engineering to trick victims into disclosing sensitive financial information. Ortega then used that information to access victims’ accounts and initiate unauthorized wire transfers.
To conceal and move the stolen funds, Ortega relied on an international network of money launderers who withdrew proceeds in cash and transferred funds to accounts under his control, often converting them into cryptocurrency. The scheme also involved threats and coercion to force certain individuals to participate in laundering activities.
Ortega used the proceeds to finance a lavish lifestyle, including renting luxury apartments in Madrid and beach homes in Marbella, Spain, spending up to $30,000 per month, and purchasing high-end watches, jewelry, electronics, and designer goods.
The scheme spanned multiple countries and continents and resulted in losses exceeding $29 million. Several co-conspirators have already been sentenced for their roles.
Ortega had been charged in Spain for related criminal conduct and had pending charges in Panama. After his arrest in Spain, Ortega violated the conditions of his release and remained a fugitive for nearly a year. In December 2023, law enforcement learned he planned to travel to Paris, France. Authorities apprehended Ortega at Charles de Gaulle International Airport, and he was later extradited to the U.S. on June 13, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones; Special Agent in Charge Jason Scalzo of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) Electronic Crimes Unit; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Townsend of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
The FDIC-OIG Electronic Crimes Unit and the USSS Miami Field Office investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing Ortega’s arrest and extradition. Law enforcement partners in Spain and France, as well as the USSS offices in Madrid and Paris and the FBI Legal Attaché Office in Panama City, provided valuable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Moore prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabrielle Raemy Charest-Turken is handling asset forfeiture.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-cr-20049.
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Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Drug and Firearms Offenses While Out on ParoleRead the Press Release
AKRON, Ohio – A Summit County man with a history of criminal conduct has been sentenced to prison again for violating several federal drug and firearms laws while out on parole for a previous offense.
Darron Portis, 36, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison after pleading guilty to:
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; prior convictions include Aggravated Robbery in 2008, Abduction in 2012, Burglary in 2015, and being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm in 2021.
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances (cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine).
- Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.
He was also ordered to serve four years of supervised release after imprisonment. U.S. District Court Judge Benita Y. Pearson imposed the sentence April 30.
According to court documents, investigations into suspected drug trafficking activity in Akron led federal agents to identify Portis. During the execution of a search warrant in Akron where Portis was staying in January 2025, agents found Portis in possession of a loaded Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver and a bag of a white powdery substance, which was later confirmed to be cocaine. Hidden inside the home’s duct work, agents also located a lock box containing purple and white substances and a digital scale. The purple substance was confirmed to be a mixture of tramadol, xylazine, fluorofentanyl, and fentanyl. The white substance tested positive for methamphetamine. Other items seized from the residence included a 12-gauge shotgun and about $1,400 in cash.
This case was investigated by the DEA Cleveland District Office and the Akron Police Department.
The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie Wojtasik and James P. Lewis for the Northern District of Ohio.
Previously Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty in Connection with Armed Robberies of Five RestaurantsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - David Andrew Williams, 32, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today in connection with the armed robberies of five restaurants in Southeast and Northwest Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“Over a series of robberies, this defendant used a firearm to terrorize restaurant workers and undermine the safety of our neighborhoods. Today’s guilty plea holds him accountable and brings a measure of justice to the victims,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “My office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect our communities and prosecute violent offenders to the fullest extent of the law.”
Williams pleaded guilty before Chief Judge James E. Boasberg to interference with interstate commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery), to brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and to carrying a firearm during a crime of violence. Judge Boasberg scheduled sentencing for Sept. 1, 2026.
According to court documents, on July 3, 2024, at about 6 p.m., Williams entered a Subway restaurant on the 3200 block of Pennsylvania Ave. SE. He approached an employee at the cash register, pulled a handgun out of his bag and ordered the employee to “open the drawer.” Another employee opened the register and handed Williams approximately $100 in cash. Williams then grabbed the till from the employees and poured the loose coins into a Subway cookie bag before leaving the restaurant.
On Dec. 29, 2024, about 2:17 p.m., Williams returned to the same Subway restaurant. As he approached the cash register, he reached into a bag slung over his shoulder and drew a handgun. An employee handed Williams a box with cash. The employee poured out some change, but Williams put the firearm back into his bag and left without taking the change.
On Dec. 30, 2024, Williams was wearing a surgical mask when he entered Manny & Olga’s Pizza, drew his handgun and demanded cash. Williams took all of the money from the cash register and walked out of the store.
On Jan. 14, 2025, he struck the Chipotle restaurant on the 3200 block of Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Williams pointed the pistol at an employee while stating, “You need to open the cash register.” Another employee came to the register and opened it for Williams, who grabbed money and fled out of the restaurant.
On Feb. 3, 2025, Williams robbed the Dunkin Donuts on the 800 block of Quincy St. NW. He entered the restaurant, drew a gun, and demanded money from the register. Williams took money from the register tray and left the store. Later that evening, Metro Transit Police officers arrested Williams on a Largo-bound Blue Line train. Officers recovered a black 9 mm ghost gun, with ammunition loaded in the magazine, from the bag Williams carried.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, the Metro Transit Police, and the FBI Washington Field Office.
The matter is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan Horan and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Liss for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
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New Smyrna Beach Man Pleads Guilty to Obtaining Stolen Veteran Disability CompensationRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – Jerry Smith (73, New Smyrna Beach) has pleaded guilty to one count of receiving stolen government money. Smith faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the plea agreement, Smith falsely represented to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) that he was legally blind and that his vision conditions prevented him from driving, working, and performing various daily functions. As a result, Smith received $244,953.70 in VA disability compensation and benefits between 2017 and 2021. In reality, Smith’s vision was significantly better than what he had represented during eye examinations and in his statements to the VA, as he could drive, read, navigate around people and obstacles in stores, conduct transactions at cash registers and drive-through ATMs, and worked as a firearms specialist and school guardian.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diane S. Hu.
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.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Federal Drug and Weapons OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On April 23, 2026, DAVID SCOTT (“SCOTT”), was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Barry W. Ashe to 60 months imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, after SCOTT previously pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C), and possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
On August 3, 2023, the New Orleans Police Department conducted surveillance at the East Side Cash and Carry gas station due to increased reports of crime at the location. Officers witnessed a man, later identified as SCOTT, wearing a black hoodie with a large bulge in his waistband. When officers approached and ordered SCOTT to exit the vehicle in which he was seated, they observed, in plain view on the driver’s side, a handgun with a drum magazine containing 23 live rounds. Officers secured the gun and arrested SCOTT. A search incident to arrest revealed 15 packs of Tapentadol, totaling 148 pills, and $1,315 in U.S. currency.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Sarah Dawkins of the Violent Crime Unit.
Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Clifford Lamont Driskell, age 45, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and one count of Simple Possession of Phencyclidine, punishable by up to three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on July 1, 2025, Driskell knowingly possessed one semi-automatic pistol and 14 rounds of ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and knowing of such conviction.
The Indictment further alleged that on July 1, 2025, Driskell knowingly and intentionally possessed phencyclidine, a Schedule III controlled substance, after having been previously convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of Cocaine Base and Possession with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of Phencyclidine in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance—Marijuana in Oklahoma County.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office, the Muskogee Police Department, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Driskell will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus and Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States.
Mercer Island man who was arrested with drugs and an arsenal including Glock “switches” and 3D printed guns sentenced to prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 27-year-old Mercer Island, Washington resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to six years in prison for his role in a drug trafficking scheme that involved a large amount of drugs, hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit proceeds, and a stockpile of firearms, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Michael Janisch pleaded guilty on January 20, 2026, to possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge John H. Chun said, “The involvement of firearms (with the drugs) compounds the risk to the community.”
“This case demonstrates that even those from an advantaged background can be lured into the drug trade and the gun violence that goes with it,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “This defendant used social media and his suburban rental house to prepare drug shipments that he mailed to drug customers across the country. Janisch engaged in his drug trafficking while armed with an arsenal of more than thirty weapons, Glock switches (used to convert Glock-style firearms to fire automatically), and scores of high-capacity magazines, and thousands of rounds of ammunition.”
According to records filed in the case, Michael Janisch was arrested along with 13 other people in October 2024, following a yearslong investigation. Text messages obtained from Janisch’s Snapchat account reflected Janisch and associate Bryce Hill discussing how much money each was making in the drug trade. Hill was arrested on an indictment out of the Western District of Pennsylvania the day after those communications, and is now serving a 35 year sentence for drug trafficking.
Despite being aware of that arrest, Janisch continued his drug dealing.
Various communications via Snapchat detail his trafficking in cocaine, MDMA and firearms. Even as his coconspirator Amir “Lethal” Osman was gunned down outside a drug house in the University District of Seattle on June 24, 2024, Janisch continued his drug trafficking. Janisch seemed comfortable with drug related violence. In Snapchat text messages he sought firearms from his drug contacts and even attempted to hire someone to conduct a “hit” on a former drug distributor in another state.
When Janisch was arrested on October 30, 2024, his home contained more than 4 kilos of cocaine, 60 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms and/or marijuana, as well as dealer amounts of MDMA, ketamine, and LSD. Stored near the drugs were 30 firearms: assault-type semiautomatic weapons, thousands of rounds of ammunition, firearm suppressors, and numerous Glock “switches,” used to convert a semiautomatic Glock-style handgun into a machine pistol.
Defense counsel argued that Janisch had firearms because he was a “collector.” Judge Chun countered, “I find these dangerous weapons alarming…. If he’s just a collector, why did he need the thousands of rounds of ammunition?”
A room used as an office at the home appeared to have all the equipment for mailing drug packages across the country.
In asking for an eight-year sentence prosecutors wrote to the court, “Janisch engaged in the trafficking of MDMA, ketamine, LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, and marijuana on such a scale that it netted him hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds…. Janisch’s scheme was more sophisticated than many as he largely took drug orders via social media, packaged the drugs for shipment at his house, and coopted the U.S. mail service, and other parcel services, to deliver his product. Plus, Janisch did not just traffic drugs. He did so while possessing an arsenal of semiautomatic rifles and pistols…”
Judge Chun ordered three years of supervised release to follow the prison term.
This investigation 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. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Seattle comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), The United States Marshals Service (USMS), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the United States Secret Service (USSS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.
This investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with significant participation by Seattle Police Department (SPD), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington State Patrol (WSP), FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, U.S. Border Patrol, the King County Sheriff’s Office, the Bellevue Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Everett Police Department, Renton Police Department, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Washington State National Guard, Washington State Gambling Commission, Yakima County Law Enforcement Against Drugs (L.E.A.D) Narcotics and Gang Task Force, and Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle Jensen and Joseph Silvio.
Member of Prolific Russian Ransomware Group Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
A Latvian national was sentenced today to 102 months in prison for his role in a major Russian ransomware organization that stole from and extorted over 54 companies.
“With this sentence, a cruel, ruthless, and dangerous international cybercriminal is now behind bars,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Deniss Zolotarjovs helped his ransomware gang profit from hacks of dozens of companies, and even on a government entity whose 911 system was forced offline. He also used stolen children’s health information to increase his leverage to extort victim payments. The Criminal Division will continue to investigate and prosecute international hackers and extortionists from around the world, no matter where they live or operate.”
“Ransomware groups disrupt victims’ lives, cruelly extracting money through psychological manipulation and fear. And they create lingering security issues,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II for the Southern District of Ohio. “Cybercriminals might think they are invulnerable by hiding behind anonymizing tools and complex cryptocurrency patterns while they attack American victims from non-extradition countries. But Zolotarjovs’s prosecution shows that federal law enforcement also has a global reach, and we will hold accountable bad actors like Zolotarjovs, who will now spend significant time in prison.”
“Today’s sentencing reflects the FBI’s global reach and our commitment to dismantle the ransomware ecosystem and hold cyber criminals accountable,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “Deniss Zolotarjovs acted as a negotiator for a major Russian ransomware group responsible for victim losses likely totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. His role in escalating pressure on victims and weaponizing sensitive data — especially stolen children’s health information — is a stark reminder of the devastating human impact of cybercrime. The FBI is grateful to the Government of Georgia and our partners at the Department of Justice for securing today’s outcome.”
“Cybercriminals like Deniss Zolotarjovs may try to hide in the shadows, but the FBI will find them,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie of the FBI Cincinnati Field Office. “This case demonstrates the relentless pursuit by our FBI special agents, working with partners across the globe, to hold this criminal accountable for the millions of dollars he extorted from U.S. organizations.”
According to court documents, Deniss Zolotarjovs (Денисс Золотарёвс), 35, of Moscow, Russia, was a member of a ransomware organization led by former leaders of the Conti ransomware group. Brands used to identify the organization in ransom notes to their victims during the time of his involvement include Conti, Karakurt, Royal, TommyLeaks, SchoolBoys Ransomware, and Akira, among others.
During the time of Zolotarjovs’s active participation in the organization, approximately June 2021 to August 2023, the organization stole data from over 54 companies, including many in the United States.
Zolotarjovs was primarily responsible for escalating pressure on victims who initially resisted prompt payment of the organization’s ransom demands. Zolotarjovs analyzed stolen data, researched victim companies, and exploited his access to particularly sensitive and extremely personal information.
In one attack on a pediatric healthcare company, Zolotarjovs deliberately leveraged children’s health information for extortion. When he failed in extracting a ransom from this victim, he urged coconspirators to be “DESTROYERS” and to leak or sell copies of these pediatric health records to sow fear among future victims. When one of his co-conspirators suggested sending each pediatric patient their own data, Zolotarjovs instead sent a “general pack” of sensitive data to “hundreds of patients,” noting that taking the time to send each victim only their own data would be “routine work” that he had no time for.
Of the more than 54 companies attacked, attacks on just 13 of those companies resulted in over $56 million in losses, including approximately $2.8 million in ransom payments. This loss estimate only includes known victim companies and does not include an additional 41 victim companies that made $13 million in ransom payments during that same period but for whom the government does not yet have detailed loss statements. Due to widespread underreporting of ransomware attacks, true loss numbers are uncertain, but, extrapolating from the known victims and known losses, the government estimates total losses for the period of Zolotarjovs’s participation to likely be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
These loss estimates omit the cost, both psychological and financial, to tens of thousands of individual clients whose data was stolen from these victim companies. Attacks during this period resulted in the theft and exposure of Social Security numbers, addresses, dates of birth, home addresses, healthcare information and the shutdown of a government entity’s 911 system, placing lives at risk.
Members of the organization were Russian or based in Russia and operated for a time out of an office building on Lakhtinskaya Street in St. Petersburg, Russia. The organization relied on a hierarchical management structure and divided the work into separate teams, using a network of companies registered throughout Russia, Europe, and the United States to obfuscate its operations. In Russia, the organization fueled corruption and abused Russian public resources in pursuit of personal financial gain. Members of the organization included multiple former Russian law enforcement officers. These connections allowed members of the group to co-opt Russian government databases and law enforcement connections to intimidate and harass personal detractors, and to identify and evaluate potential new recruits to the organization. Corruption also ensured special treatment for members of the organization. Leaders avoided Russian taxes and regularly paid bribes to exempt members — draft-age men — from compulsory military service in Russia.
Zolotarjovs was arrested in the country of Georgia in December 2023 and transferred to U.S. custody in August 2024 after contesting extradition. In July 2025, he pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit both money laundering and wire fraud.
The FBI’s Cincinnati Field Office investigated the case. Law enforcement leaders commended the FBI offices in Cleveland, San Diego, Salt Lake City, and Richmond, Virginia, for their vital roles in the investigation and officials in Georgia for their role in the extradition.
Trial Attorney Benjamin A. Bleiberg and Senior Counsel Bryce B. Rosenbower of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Timothy S. Mangan for the Southern District of Ohio prosecuted the case.The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Government of Georgia to secure Zolotarjovs’s arrest and extradition from Georgia. The United States thanks the Government of Georgia for its assistance extraditing Zolotarjovs to the United States.
Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Distribution Charges in Connection with Death of Teenage GirlRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A Gaithersburg, Maryland, man pled guilty in federal court today, to a drug-trafficking offense that resulted in the death of a 15-year-old girl.
Kelvin Reyes, 27, is charged with distribution of controlled substances after selling narcotics to the victim who contacted him on a social media platform.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division, and Chief Marc R. Yamada, Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD).
According to the guilty plea, on January 14, 2023, Reyes distributed fentanyl to the teenaged victim. The victim later used the substance and subsequently died.
“As a result of Reyes’s callous actions and disregard for human life, a 15-year-old girl is dead. Now, he will have to pay the hefty price that he deserves,” Hayes said. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to holding those accountable who endanger our children and neighborhoods by dealing poison in our communities.”
“We are dedicated to protecting our community, especially our most vulnerable, from the harmful effects of drug trafficking,” Goumenis said. “Individuals like Kelvin Reyes who disregard the sanctity of our schools and prey on our children must be held accountable. We are utilizing every resource to ensure justice is served and to prevent further tragedies. Together, we can create a safer America for our children to thrive.”
Evidence shows that late in the evening of January 13, the victim contacted Reyes on Instagram about purchasing fentanyl. Reyes agreed to sell fentanyl to the victim, so he requested an address for delivery. The victim then instructed Reyes to meet her at an elementary school near her residence in Montgomery County.
The investigation revealed that Reyes’s phone was located at the school where he agreed to meet the victim in the early morning hours of January 14. Ring camera footage from the victim’s residence also confirms she left her residence around the same timeframe and returned home approximately three minutes later. Reyes then posted an Instagram story advertising he was driving around in his car selling fentanyl after he met the victim.
The victim’s mother reported that around 7 a.m., she found her daughter in her room in a fetal position with fluid coming out of her mouth and nose area. She also saw a burnt piece of aluminum foil with fentanyl residue next to the victim. An autopsy later revealed that the victim’s cause of death was fentanyl and despropionyl fentanyl intoxication.
On January 24, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Reyes’s residence where they found a digital scale; clear plastic bags; a plastic zip-top bag, containing $5.13 in U.S. coins; and numerous orange zip-top bags, foil, and straws with residue.
Reyes faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for distribution of controlled substances. If the court accepts the plea, the court agrees to sentence Reyes to no less than 12, but no more than 17 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman set sentencing for Thursday, September 17, at 10 a.m.
Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DEA and MCPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Sarma who is prosecuting this federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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Manchester Man Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Federal Prison for Narcotics and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE C. RIVERA, 37, of Manchester, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 66 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for narcotics trafficking and firearm possession offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2024, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and New Britain Police Department investigated a drug trafficking organization, headed by Wilfredo Ortiz, that was operating out of Supreme Automotive, a car dealership located on Main Street in New Britain. The investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, physical and electronic surveillance, and several controlled purchases of narcotics, primarily cocaine, from Ortiz and other members of the conspiracy.
During the investigation, law enforcement identified Nelson Alejandro-Capo as a supplier of cocaine to Ortiz. Alejandro-Capo, using co-conspirator Eli Samuel O’Farrill-Fernandez as a middleman, supplied Ortiz with approximately six kilograms of cocaine. On October 10, 2024, Alejandro-Capo met with Rivera at Rivera’s former residence in Rocky Hill. On October 26, 2024, Rivera was intercepted over a wiretap talking with O’Farrill-Fernandez and discussing the purchase of 100 grams of cocaine.
Rivera, Ortiz, O’Farrill-Fernandez, and several other members of the drug trafficking organization were arrested on November 14, 2024. In association with the arrests, investigators conducted court authorized searches of Supreme Automotive and residences and other locations connected to the organization and seized more than five kilograms of cocaine, more than 200 grams of fentanyl, approximately 30 grams of heroin, a kilogram press, seven firearms, ammunition, approximately $75,000 in cash, and 26 vehicles. A search of Rivera’s Rocky Hill residence revealed approximately 206 grams of fentanyl, approximately 278 grams of cocaine, drug processing materials, a loaded handgun and an additional gun magazine, and $13,364 in cash.
On November 25, 2025, Rivera pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Released on a $150,000 bond, he is required to report to prison on July 6.
Ortiz, Alejandro-Capo, and O-Farrill-Fernandez pleaded guilty and are currently serving prison terms of 135 months, 144 months, and 120 months, respectively.
This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles Police, and the New Britain, Hartford, West Hartford, Waterbury, Naugatuck, East Hartford, Brookfield, Milford, Norwich, Orange, North Haven, Meriden, Berlin, and Manchester Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth, Reed Durham, and David Nelson.
Man Selling Counterfeit Pills Containing Fentanyl on Social Media Receives 21-Year SentenceRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jayden Isaiah Stephon Gill, 22, of Hagerstown, Maryland, was sentenced today to 260 months in prison for selling fentanyl-laced pills online, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Officers in Frederick, Maryland, responded to a suspected overdose of two juvenile females and located blue pills imprinted to mimic Oxycodone prescription medication. The pills were analyzed and were found to contain fentanyl. The investigation led to Gill who traveled from Martinsburg, West Virginia to Frederick, Maryland, to sell the pills which the females believed to be Percocet and ordered from Gill’s social media accounts. Gill, along with others, operated a sophisticated drug trafficking business in the tristate area. Gill utilized Telegram, Instagram, Snapchat, Signal, and Linktree to mass market fentanyl disguised as Oxycodone, along with other drugs. Orders could be placed online through these platforms, and Gill and his associates would travel to distribute the orders.
Investigators searched Gill’s home and seized more than 20 grams of fentanyl, nearly 4 pounds of methamphetamine, 146 grams of cocaine, two firearms, and nearly $50,000 in cash.
“Americans are too often being killed by counterfeit pills that contain fentanyl,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. “We will not allow dealers to prey upon our youth by selling these dangerous drugs on social media. If you try to make a quick dollar this way, you will face severe consequences.”
Christion Sayyid Gill, 27, also of Hagerstown, pled guilty to his role in the scheme in January 2026. He will be sentenced in August 2026. A third defendant, Jamil Nicholas Gardner, 33, of Baltimore, Maryland, has also been charged and will stand trial after his release from custody in Maryland. Gardner is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Kane prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Investigative agencies include the United States Postal Inspection Service; Homeland Security Investigations; the Brunswick Police Department, Maryland; Frederick City Police, Maryland; Maryland State Police; Hagerstown Police Department, Maryland; the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Maryland; and the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, Maryland.
Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Kissimmee Man Sentenced to over Three Years for Filing A False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Gilmar Pereira Da Silva, Jr. has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Katherine K. Mizelle to 37 months in federal prison for filing a false tax return. The court also ordered Pereira Da Silva to pay $103,646 in restitution to the United States Department of the Treasury associated with false IRS Forms 1040 filed by him for tax years 2019 and 2020. Pereira Da Silva pleaded guilty on February 9, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, Pereira Da Silva filed a false Form 1040 tax return with the IRS for tax year 2021, wherein he claimed a refund of taxes in the amount of $3,413,844, based upon false and fictitious claimed fuel tax credits to which he was not entitled. The 2021 Form 1040 was not processed by the IRS. Previously, Pereira Da Silva had likewise filed false Forms 1040 for tax years 2019 and 2020, claiming refunds in the amount of approximately $20,699 (for tax year 2019) and $82,947 (for tax year 2020), which were largely based upon false and fictitious fuel tax credits. Those false 2019 and 2020 Forms 1040 were processed by the IRS, and the resulting refunds were paid into accounts controlled by Pereira Da Silva.
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.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay G. Trezevant.
Keene, New Hampshire Man Caught in FBI Sting, Charged with Traveling to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct with a MinorRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Michael Healey, Jr., 49, of Keene, New Hampshire, has been charged by criminal complaint with traveling in interstate commerce to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
On May 1, 2026, Healey appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle for an initial appearance. On May 4, 2026, Healey appeared for a detention hearing, and the Court ordered Healey released on conditions pending trial.
According to court records, Healey allegedly messaged an undercover law enforcement officer, who was posing as a 14-year-old girl. Healey later agreed to pay the fictitious 14-year-old girl $200 for sex at a hotel in Brattleboro, Vermont. He arrived at the hotel on the evening of April 30, 2026. Law enforcement took Healy into custody after he approached the room where he was expecting to meet the fictitious 14-year-old girl. Law enforcement found $200 in cash on Healey’s person during Healey’s arrest.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the criminal complaint contains allegations only and that Healey is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Healey faces up to 30 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 statutory sentencing factors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the FBI and thanked the Vermont Drug Task Force for their assistance during the law enforcement sting operation.
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Joshua L. Banker. Healey is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Justice Department Files Statement of Interest in California Fire Insurance CaseRead the Press Release
Today, the Department of Justice announced that it has filed a Statement of Interest in the case of Ferrier v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, which is currently pending in the state Superior Court of Los Angeles County, California. This case was brought by 60 homeowners who lost their homes in the devastating wildfires that occurred in southern California in January 2025. The homeowners allege that the defendants, 16 homeowner insurance companies, jointly conspired to cancel the homeowners’ fire insurance policies in the years leading up to the January 2025 fires. As a result, the homeowners claim that they were forced to obtain insurance from a state-run program that offers less protective coverage, resulting in much higher out-of-pocket expenses for rebuilding their homes.
“Nearly 16 months after the Eaton and Palisades Fires, the homeowners who lost everything are still trying to rebuild their lives,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Charlie Beller of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The last thing the fire victims need is the improper use of certain legal doctrines to deprive Angelenos of their day in court. The DOJ Antitrust Division is monitoring insurer conduct across the country to ensure that an improper understanding of federal law does not preclude state or federal antitrust claims.”
While this case was brought under California state antitrust law, the insurance carriers have argued that the homeowners’ claims should be dismissed on the basis of the Noerr-Pennington doctrine, an exemption from antitrust liability under both federal and California antitrust laws that protects petitioning and advocacy directed at government agencies. The Department’s Statement of Interest argues that the Noerr-Pennington doctrine should not apply to the insurers’ alleged group boycott of the homeowner policyholders, as the alleged boycott was separate and distinct — and caused separate and distinct harms — from any government petitioning activity by the insurers.
The Statement of Interest also notes that the McCarran-Ferguson Act, which limits certain federal antitrust claims regarding insurance conduct subject to state oversight, does not necessarily bar group boycott claims of the type alleged by homeowners in this case.
The Antitrust Division routinely files statements of interest and amicus briefs in federal and state courts where doing so helps protect competition and consumers, including by encouraging the sound development of the antitrust laws. A collection of these statements of antitrust and amicus filings is publicly available on the Division’s website.
Justice Department Files Complaint Against Minnesota over Its Attempt to Override Federal LawRead the Press Release
Note: View complaint here.
The Justice Department today filed a complaint against the State of Minnesota over its attempt to regulate global greenhouse gas emissions, which are subject to exclusive federal authority, and override the policy choices of the United States and other states to make energy affordable and reliable. The filing advances President Donald J. Trump’s executive order directing the Justice Department to protect American energy from state overreach. Specifically, the complaint seeks to stop the enforcement of Minnesota’s state court lawsuit that usurps exclusive federal authority and unreasonably burdens domestic energy development.
“President Trump promised to unleash American energy dominance, and Minnesota officials cannot undermine his directive by mandating that their woke climate preferences become the uniform policy of our Nation,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “Minnesota’s attempt to impose a national regulation on global greenhouse gas emissions not only is preempted by federal law, but also undermines affordable and reliable American energy, weakening the national and economic security of the United States.”
“The case we filed against Minnesota today is an attempt to rein in another unconstitutional state effort to invade an area of exclusive federal control,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “It is in America’s interest to have independent and secure sources of energy. Minnesota’s attempted overreach would undermine our economic and national security to advance the climate agenda of politicians and activists.”
According to the complaint filed today in U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, the state of Minnesota is attempting to regulate global greenhouse gas emissions by suing energy companies in state court to enjoin global energy production and compel them to disgorge their profits. As Judge Stras of the Eighth Circuit has recognized, such efforts to “set national energy policy” and “change the companies’ behavior on a global scale” are “beyond the limits of state law.”
These efforts are also preempted by the Constitution and the Clean Air Act. Last year, ENRD filed complaints against Hawaii, Michigan, New York, and Vermont to stop those states’ unconstitutional climate actions.
Chief of Staff and Senior Counsel John Adams of ENRD filed the complaint.
US v. MN - Complaint.pdfJamestown woman sentenced on meth chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Kelly Berenguer, 46, of Jamestown, NY, who was convicted of possession of methamphetamine, was sentenced to time served by U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer.
On October 17, 2024, Kelly Berenguer’s vehicle was stopped by Jamestown Police. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement recovered a quantity of methamphetamine and a digital scale. Berenguer was taken into custody at that time.
This case was 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 case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Forster, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.
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Jamestown man sentenced for his role in drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Brian Cessna, 66, of Jamestown, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, was sentenced to time served by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
During the course of the conspiracy, Cessna bought and sold heroin and fentanyl, for profit and his own use. He also assisted co-conspirator Holly Berenguer in selling heroin and fentanyl, for profit and her own use, delivering on her behalf and collecting payments. An individual known as “Joey Cracks” (co-defendant Joseph Zaso) was Berenguer’s source of supply. Cessna utilized his Fairview Avenue residence for drug trafficking purposes and also allowed Berenguer to utilize the residence to sell drugs.
Holly Berenguer and Joseph Zaso were previously convicted.
The 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 case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Forster, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.
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Jamestown man charged with possession and distribution of child pornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Connor J. Higgs, 20, of Jamestown, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession and distribution of child pornography, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years, and a maximum of 20 years.
In August 2025, the New York State Police (NYSP) received a CyberTipline Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), regarding a Discord account, which contained suspected child pornography. Subsequent investigation traced the account to Higgs. In October 2025, the NYSP executed a search warrant at Higgs’ Jamestown residence, seizing eight electronic devices. Higgs was taken into custody at the scene.
A review of the devices recovered child pornography from two of the devices, including images of a minor victim known to investigators. The images also include prepubescent minors and depictions of violence against children.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen M. McCarthy. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
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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Jackson Man Involved in Shooting Pleads Guilty to being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Jackson man pleaded guilty on Friday, April 17th in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement officers responded to a shooting at Robinson Street on September 15, 2025 in Jackson. The investigation revealed that Derrick Epps, 44, was in possession of a firearm, pursued, and confronted another man outside of a convenience store before opening fire. At the time of the shooting, Epps had previously been convicted of armed robbery, kidnapping, aggravated assault by firearm, and assault on a law enforcement officer, all in Hinds County.
Epps is scheduled to be sentenced on July 23, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison if sentenced under the Armed Career Criminal Act. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case with assistance from the Jackson Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brett Grantham is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Iowa Farmer Pleads Guilty to Multi-Year Bankruptcy Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
An Iowa farmer who stole over $250,000 from his business partner and filed dozens of false documents over multiple years in bankruptcy court pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Kurt Patrick Krauskopf, age 49, from Decorah, Iowa, was convicted of one count of bankruptcy fraud.
In a plea agreement, Krauskopf admitted that he is a Winneshiek County farmer. Krauskopf had a business partnership with another individual, who grew corn and soybeans on various farms in Northeast Iowa. Between 2021 and 2023, Krauskopf sold over $250,000 of the partnerships’ crops to third parties under the false and fraudulent pretense that Krauskopf personally owned the corn and soybeans. Krauskopf then used the sales proceeds from the stolen corn and soybeans for his own sole and exclusive benefit and without his business partner’s knowledge.
In April 2021, Krauskopf filed a voluntary petition for Chapter 12 bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Iowa. Chapter 12 is a special chapter of the Bankruptcy Code that is designed to help certain farmers who are struggling financially to propose and carry out a plan to repay their debts. While the case is pending, the farmer-debtor is required to file sworn monthly operating reports that truthfully disclose the farmer’s monthly income and expenses. As part of his plea agreement, Krauskopf admitted that, between 2021 and 2023, he filed dozens of false monthly operating reports in which he failed to disclose income from the sale of his partner’s grain.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Krauskopf remains free on bond pending sentencing. Krauskopf faces a possible maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
Krauskopf is the third person convicted this year in the Northern District of Iowa for bankruptcy related offenses. In February, a jury convicted the former president of a defunct Eastern Iowa telecommunications infrastructure business, Dennis Clifford Bruce, age 51, from Marion, Iowa, of one count of conspiracy, two counts of bankruptcy concealment, one count of false bankruptcy declaration, two counts of false statement under oath, and one count of engaging in a monetary transaction in property derived from specified unlawful activity. In April, Donita Eckrich, age 64, from Coralville, Iowa, pled guilty to one count of bankruptcy fraud after she admitted she had used the bankruptcy court to defraud a nursing home out of more than $70,000.
The Krauskopf case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and was investigated by the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 26-CR-2014.
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Illegal Alien Charged with Unlicensed Dealing of FirearmsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian national, unlawfully residing in Milford, Mass., has been charged for allegedly dealing firearms without a license. Specifically, the defendant allegedly sold firearms, including a ghost gun to a confidential informant.
Caua Da Silva, 21, was charged in federal court in Worcester with one count of engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license.
According to the charging documents, beginning in July of 2025, an investigation began into Da Silva as a potential source of illegal firearms sales in Massachusetts. As part of the investigation, it was determined that Da Silva is not lawfully present in the United States. Between November of 2025 and April 21, 2026, Da Silva sold firearms to a confidential informant on several different occasions. One of the firearms that Da Silva sold was a privately manufactured firearm, or a “ghost gun.”
The charge of unlicensed dealing in firearms provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations, Massachusetts State Police, the Milford Police Department, Worcester Police Department, Marlborough Police Department and the Hudson Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig of the Worcester Branch Office is 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 defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Husband Found Guilty of Strangling His Wife in Argument over Laundry DetergentRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Johnny Gregory, 42, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a Superior Court jury today for charges stemming from strangling his wife in January 2026, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Gregory was found guilty of one count of strangulation. The Honorable Deborah Israel scheduled sentencing for July 31, 2026.
“Today’s guilty verdict reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s actions. He chose violence, and he will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “My office is committed to supporting survivors of domestic violence and prosecuting these cases to the fullest extent of the law.”
According to the government’s evidence, on January 5, 2026, Gregory and his wife got into an argument over laundry detergent. Gregory pushed his wife to the ground, punched her several times in the face, put his knee on her chest, and strangled her with two hands. The victim lost consciousness and urinated on herself. She was taken to a local hospital and treated for her injuries. The victim’s 15-year-old daughter was present at the time of the assault.
Gregory was arrested on January 6, 2026, and has been in custody since.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Andrea Friedman and Charles Klug.
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Hillsborough County Man Convicted of Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – A federal jury has found Jordan O’Keefe Woods (33, Seffner) guilty of two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of inducement to travel to engage in prostitution. Woods faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to evidence presented at trial, on September 22, 2024, and July 22, 2025, Woods knowingly trafficked the victim in reckless disregard of the fact that means of force, threats of force, and coercion would be used to cause the victim to engage in a commercial sex act. Woods orchestrated the victim’s commercial sexual activity, determining rates for sex acts and managing communication with soliciting dates, and controlled all the victim’s money.
Additionally, on September 20, 2024, and July 20, 2025, Woods knowingly persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced Victim 1 to travel from North Carolina to Florida to engage in prostitution and sexual activity. Law enforcement encountered the victim at hotels in Tampa, Florida in 2024 and 2025 and observed Woods conducting countersurveillance at both locations while the victim engaged in commercial sexual activity.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.
HSTF: Operation Mousetrap Leads to Midtown Takedown: Multiple Charged in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Connected to 540-Kilogram Cocaine Seizure in MiamiRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A federal grand jury has charged five South Florida defendants for their roles in a cocaine trafficking organization tied to an international network moving narcotics from Colombia through the Dominican Republic into South Florida.
The indictment charges Daniel “Mickey” Hernandez, 38, of Miami; Frank Gonzalez, 45, of Hialeah; Alexander “Al Biggs” Walker Caraballo, 50, of Miami; Jose Luis “Lil Cuz” Diaz, Jr., also known as “Pri,” 33, of Miami Gardens; and Humberto “Kiki” Moreno, 42, of Miami, with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Hernandez and Diaz are also charged with distribution offenses. Walker and Gonzalez face additional charges for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of firearms and ammunition as convicted felons.
According to court documents, the defendants were part of a Miami-based drug distribution network responsible for kilogram-level cocaine trafficking. Investigators identified Hernandez as a key distributor, with Moreno, Caraballo, and Gonzalez among his suppliers and associates. Agents traced the operation to a high-rise in Midtown Miami, where cocaine was stored and prepared for distribution.
The investigation builds on prior High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) efforts targeting cocaine routes between Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and South Florida, including Operation Final Voyage, which led to the prosecution of high-level traffickers and cooperation from more than 90 defendants.
As part of those efforts, Operation Horseman’s Voyage targeted maritime trafficking networks responsible for importing large quantities of cocaine into South Florida, while Operation Mouse Trap focused on local retail and wholesale distributors. Investigators identified a network importing up to 1,700 kilograms of cocaine aboard high-end fishing vessels traveling from the Dominican Republic to Miami.
The Miami-based distribution operation was allegedly led by Andy Gabriel Mercedes-Hernandez, who directed the receipt, storage, and distribution of cocaine shipments with the assistance of approximately 20 associates, including boat captains, enforcers, and street-level distributors.
The investigation led to multiple enforcement actions. In October 2025, law enforcement arrested two defendants and seized more than $250,000 in drug proceeds concealed in a vehicle. In a separate interdiction, law enforcement seized more than 1,600 kilograms of cocaine from a vessel.
The investigation culminated in a search warrant executed at a Midtown Miami luxury high-rise apartment, where agents seized approximately 536 kilograms of cocaine, 14 firearms — including an unserialized AK-47 — and roughly $3.1 million in cash. Walker was later arrested, and agents recovered additional cocaine packaged for street-level distribution, along with bulk cash concealed in hidden compartments in his vehicle.
In the days that followed, law enforcement arrested additional members of the organization, including Jesus Alberto Salcedo-Perez, Keisy Estibet Peguero, Enmanuel Amauris Rivera-Cabrera, and Mario Joel Rijo-Jimenez. A federal grand jury had already charged several co-conspirators, and additional charges have been filed against others, including cocaine suppliers based in the Dominican Republic and Colombia.
If convicted, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and up to life for the conspiracy charge. Walker and Gonzalez also face additional consecutive sentences of up to life for firearms offenses and up to 15 years for possessing firearms as convicted felons.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley of the DEA Miami Field Office made the announcement.
DEA Miami is leading the investigation, with support from the ATF Street Terror Offender Program (STOP) Team, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, City of Miami Police Department, Miami Beach Police Department, City of Homestead Police Department, City of Aventura Police Department, Sunny Isles Beach Police Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Customs and Border Protection, and the Florida National Guard.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Almas Abdulla is prosecuting the case against the Operation Mouse Trap defendants, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Anika Miranda handling asset forfeiture. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn Kirkpatrick is prosecuting the Operation Horseman’s Voyage defendants, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabrielle Raemy Charest-Turken overseeing asset forfeiture.
This prosecution is part of the HSTF initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Miami comprises agents and officers from ATF, DEA, HSI, BSO, USMS, and USPIS.
An indictment/complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.sdfl.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.sdfl.uscourts.gov, under case numbers 26-cr-20092 and 26-cr-20135.
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Guatemalan Illegal Alien Sentenced for Reentry of a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that LUCAS TINOCO-TIERES (“TINOCO-TIERES”), age 42, a native of Guatemala, was sentenced on April 29, 2026, for reentry of removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to court documents, TINOCO-TIERES, a Guatemalan national, was found in St. Tammany Parish on or around February 18, 2025. He had previously been deported to Guatemala on February 23, 2007.
United States District Judge Lance M. Africk sentenced TINOCO-TIERES to 21 months of imprisonment and one year of supervised release. A mandatory special assessment fee of $100 was also ordered. Upon completing his sentence, the defendant will be deported to Guatemala.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Guatemalan Alien Indicted for Illegal Reentry and Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal AlienRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Selvin J. Tello-Perez, 24, of Guatemala, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with illegal reentry by a removed alien and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.
Tello-Perez appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho in Pensacola, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for June 15, 2026, at 8:30 am, before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
If convicted, Tello-Perez faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment for possession of a firearm by an illegal alien and up to two years’ imprisonment for illegal reentry.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes.
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, human and drug trafficking.
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 available 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.
Global ransomware group negotiator involved in $56 million cyberattacks sentenced to 8.5 years in prisonRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Latvian national was sentenced in federal court here today to 102 months in prison for his role as a negotiator in one of the most notorious ransomware groups in the world, known as Karakurt, TommyLeaks and SchoolBoys Ransomware.
Deniss Zolotarjovs, 35, was arrested overseas in December 2023 and transferred to the United States’ custody in August 2024. He pleaded guilty in July 2025 to conspiring to commit both money laundering and wire fraud.
Ransomware is a type of cybercrime that typically involves an intrusion into a victim’s network to steal and/or encrypt the victim’s data via malware, followed by an extortion demand seeking the payment of a ransom in cryptocurrency. The attacks identified in this case included client records like Social Security numbers, addresses, dates of birth, home addresses, healthcare information and the shutdown of a government entity’s 911 system.
“Ransomware groups disrupt victims’ lives, cruelly extracting money through psychological manipulation and fear. And they create lingering security issues,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II for the Southern District of Ohio. “Cybercriminals might think they are invulnerable by hiding behind anonymizing tools and complex cryptocurrency patterns while they attack American victims from non-extradition countries. But Zolotarjovs’s prosecution shows that federal law enforcement also has a global reach, and we will hold accountable bad actors like Zolotarjovs, who will now spend significant time in prison.”
“With this sentence, a cruel, ruthless, and dangerous international cybercriminal is now behind bars,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Deniss Zolotarjovs helped his ransomware gang profit from hacks of dozens of companies, and even on a government entity whose 911 system was forced offline. He also used stolen children’s health information to increase his leverage to extort victim payments. The Criminal Division will continue to investigate and prosecute international hackers and extortionists from around the world, no matter where they live or operate.”
“Cybercriminals like Deniss Zolotarjovs may try to hide in the shadows, but the FBI will find them,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie. “This case demonstrates the relentless pursuit by our FBI special agents, working with partners across the globe, to hold this criminal accountable for the millions of dollars he extorted from U.S. organizations.”
During Zolotarjovs’s involvement in the ransomware conspiracy from June 2021 through March 2023, the group had at least 53 victims and caused more than $56 million in actual losses. Victim companies and clients of victim companies were located in the Southern District of Ohio.
According to court documents, Zolotarjovs was an essential part of the conspiracy in which data was stolen and then used for extortion. Online chats show that Zolotarjovs was personally involved in directly negotiating with victim companies and in strategizing on the extortion threats with coconspirators. Zolotarjovs did not personally execute cyber penetrations against victim companies. Rather, Zolotarjovs’s role was to analyze the data that was stolen and conduct or advise on ransom negotiations.
For example, Zolotarjovs helped escalate the pressure on a pediatric healthcare victim company who was refusing to promptly pay a ransom by deliberately leveraging “patient lists and histories.”. Zolotarjovs also recommend publishing pediatric patient data on the darkweb to punish the victim company for not complying with the organization’s demands.
The defendant would receive 10 percent of the ransom payments he negotiated. He was paid in cryptocurrency, which was then moved through multiple wallets before the funds were ultimately exchanged for Russian rubles.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; A Tysen Duva, Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division; and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; announced the sentence imposed today by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Michael R. Barrett.
Law enforcement leaders commended the FBI offices in Cleveland, San Diego, Richmond and Salt Lake City for their vital roles in the investigation and officials in Georgia for their role in the extradition. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing Zolotarjovs’s extradition from Georgia.
Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Timothy S. Mangan, Assistant United States Attorney Matthew C. Singer and Department of Justice Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section Trial Attorney Benjamin A. Bleiberg and Senior Counsel Bryce B. Rosenbower are representing the United States in this case.
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Gainesville Area Gang Member Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Devon Oliver, 18, of Gainesville, Florida, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for possession of a firearm with a removed serial number. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our communities have been plagued by gang violence for too long, and Operation Take Back America is devoting the full might of the Department of Justice toward removing those dangerous, violent criminals from our streets. This successful prosecution is yet another win for the citizens of the Northern District of Florida, and a reassurance that my office remains committed to delivering the safe streets that they deserve.”
Court documents reflect that on October 22, 2025, the defendant, a documented member of a local gang, was in possession of a firearm with a removed serial number. The firearm, which had an extended magazine loaded with 22 rounds of ammunition, was recovered after the defendant attempted to flee from law enforcement through a Gainesville apartment complex:
“A weapon with its serial number removed and loaded with an extended magazine is a direct threat to every resident and every officer who encounters it,” said Chief Moya, Gainesville Police Department. “We will have zero tolerance for violent offenders who arm themselves unlawfully, and we will continue working relentlessly to take these guns off our streets.”
After serving two years in prison, Oliver will be on supervised release for an additional three years, during which he will be on home detention for six months.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Gainesville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with assistance from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.
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.
Fremont Company Agrees to Pay Nearly One Million Dollars to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Involving Paycheck Protection Program LoanRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Fremont-based Innodisk USA has agreed to pay a total of $950,000 to settle allegations that it knowingly violated the False Claims Act when it received and retained a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, in violation of PPP rules.
Congress created the PPP in March 2020, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to provide emergency financial support to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized billions of dollars in forgivable loans to small businesses struggling to pay employees and other business expenses. Applicants for a “second-draw” PPP loan were required to certify, among other things, that they, together with their affiliates, employed no more than 300 employees and that they had a decrease in gross receipts in excess of 25 percent compared to an earlier time period.
Innodisk USA is a subsidiary of Innodisk Corporation, a multinational Taiwanese company that is a service-driven provider of industrial embedded flash and DRAM memory products and technologies. The United States alleged that Innodisk USA applied for and obtained a second-draw PPP loan on March 17, 2021, even though the company was not eligible because it exceeded the requisite size standards when including affiliated entities, including its parent company, and because it had not experienced the requisite revenue reduction. According to the United States, despite knowing that it was not eligible for the second-draw loan, Innodisk USA sought and obtained forgiveness of the loan.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and SBA General Counsel Wendell Davis made the announcement.
The settlement resolves claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Blockquote, Inc. Under those provisions, 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 ex rel. Blockquote, Inc. v. Innodisk Corp., USA, 3:24-cv-02949-WHO (N.D. Cal.). Blockquote, Inc. will receive $95,000 in connection with the settlement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Savith Iyengar handled this matter. The resolution resulted from a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and SBA’s Office of General Counsel.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Fort Dodge Woman Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A woman who conspired to distribute fentanyl pled guilty today in federal court in Sioux City.
Leslie Jo Fanning, age 36, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.
At the plea hearing, Fanning admitted that between about 2021 and continuing to about June 2024, in the Webster County, Iowa, she and others reached an agreement or came to an understanding to distribute fentanyl. On three separate occasions in May of 2024, Fanning distributed blue pills marked “M-30” which contained fentanyl to an individual cooperating with law enforcement at her residence in Fort Dodge. Fanning admitted to distributing thousands of pills containing fentanyl over the course of the conspiracy.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Fanning is in the custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Fanning faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any imprisonment of three years up to life.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, and the Fort Dodge Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-03058.
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Former University Professor Convicted for Child Sexual Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Following a bench trial before visiting U.S. District Judge Jill A. Otake, Rodger Githens, 48, of West Sacramento, was found guilty of attempted enticement of a minor and receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
“This verdict stems from overwhelming evidence of a sickening attempt by a privileged defendant to sexually abuse a 7-year-old child,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “Protecting children from sexual exploitation is one of my highest priorities, and my office will continue to pursue these cases with the urgency and care they demand.”
According to court documents, Githens had been employed as a professor at a local university and had worked as a consultant for other colleges and universities. In March 2023, Githens, using the profile “Tall laid back,” initiated contact with a Grindr account controlled by an undercover agent. Githens quickly encouraged the undercover agent to establish a Telegram account, which he considered more secure. Githens told the agent he had taboo thoughts every day and was into “babies.” Githens stated that he “would love to have a dad or uncle invite me” and then described in graphic detail what he would like to do with the undercover agent and the agent’s fictional 7-year-old niece. Several times Githens discussed traveling to Fresno to meet the agent and the fictional niece, but on April 19, 2023, law enforcement served a search warrant at Githens’s residence and seized multiple electronic devices. Agents discovered numerous Telegram chats on Githens’s phone including several in which he was exchanging and commenting on videos of young children being raped.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from the West Sacramento Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa and McKenzie Hightower of the Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section are prosecuting the case.
Githens is scheduled to be sentenced on July 20, 2026, by Judge Otake. Githens faces prison terms of between five and 20 years for the child sexual abuse material charge and from 10 years to life for the attempted enticement charge. He also faces potential fines of $250,000 for each charge, and a lifetime term of supervised release. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Hosts All-Hands Meeting with ATFRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – On April 8, 2026, First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone hosted an all-hands meeting at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Syracuse alongside the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo.
The meeting focused on the U.S. Attorney’s Office and ATF’s shared mission, past accomplishments, current priorities, and future coordination efforts. Criminal Division Chief Cyrus P.W. Rieck and Deputy Chief Nicolas Commandeur also delivered remarks, emphasizing continued interagency collaboration and a commitment to upholding federal law.
FAUSA Sarcone stated: “ATF agents work alongside federal prosecutors in my Office every day to ensure the safety of the citizens of this District. I am grateful for their partnership and continued collaboration, which has saved countless lives and prevented untold harms, particularly from violence caused by guns and the dangerous criminals who illegally use them.”
SAC DiGirolamo stated: “Violent crime reduction is a shared responsibility, and our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office is central to that mission. Together, we are leveraging intelligence, investigative tools, and prosecutorial strength to target the most dangerous offenders and make our communities safer.”
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Felon Sentenced to Seven and a Half Years in Prison for Possessing AmmunitionRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Tyrone Kenneth Smith, Jr., age 29 of Grand Rapids, was sentenced to 90 months in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition. In imposing sentence, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker noted that it was “miraculous that no one was seriously hurt . . . [or] killed” when Smith fired off a semiautomatic weapon with a high-capacity magazine in a crowded venue.
U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said, “We chose Smith for federal prosecution on this firearms charge because he has repeatedly refused to abide by laws that say he cannot have a firearm. After being convicted no fewer than four times for felony firearms offenses in the State of Michigan, he went out and got himself yet another gun, then took it to a crowded public gathering and fired it off. Through his actions, Smith has told us all that he is a menace to the rest of us, and he cannot be rehabilitated. He deserves the sentence he got today, and we will be watching him when he is eventually allowed out of prison.”
On June 22, 2025, a large group of young people gathered on the Blue Bridge in downtown Grand Rapids. Smith was there and pulled a gun from his waistband and fired four rounds, causing everyone to flee the bridge. Surveillance video at the bridge captured the incident; Smith is circled in the image below and a muzzle flash is also visible.
The firearm was recovered and was a Polymer P80 pistol with an extended magazine, these privately made firearms are called “ghost guns” because they do not have serial numbers and are therefore difficult to track.[1] Four shots were fired on the bridge and the extended magazine was loaded with an additional 22 live rounds when it was recovered by police later that night.
“When a convicted felon chooses to unlawfully possess ammunition and a firearm in an attempt to spread fear and cause panic, they should expect swift justice and the full weight of federal law,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “The defendant’s actions endangered lives and threatened public safety in a place where visitors deserve peace. I commend the excellent investigative work of our FBI Grand Rapids Resident Agency, alongside the Grand Rapids Police Department, whose partnership uncovered critical evidence leading to the defendant’s arrest.”
“Grand Rapids Police Department appreciates the partnership between local law enforcement, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to address violent crime, and especially gun violence, in our community,” said Interim GRPD Chief Joe Trigg. “Every offender that faces accountability means a safer community for us all.”
The FBI and the Grand Rapids Police Department investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis M. Sanford prosecuted it.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
[1] https://www.atf.gov/firearms/privately-made-firearms
Erie Resident Sentenced to over Seven-and-a-Half Years in Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 92 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, on his conviction of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines imposed the sentence on Shawn Geer, 49.
According to information presented to the Court, on or about July 2, 2023, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Geer possessed with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Geer.
Eastern District of Virginia prosecutes 15 child exploitation cases under Project Safe Childhood in the previous monthRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) prosecuted 15 defendants during the month of April under 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. Attorneys’ 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.
EDVA brought two new Project Safe Childhood cases during April while achieving eight convictions and five substantial sentences, including a life sentence.
Indictments
On April 7, a federal grand jury indicted Bryan Brooke, 63, of Bates City, Missouri, on a charge of distribution of CSAM. Case No. 3: 26-cr-40
On April 8, a grand jury indicted Nicolas Antonio Lainez, 19, of Hawaii, on counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, sexual exploitation of a child, and transportation of CSAM. Lainez was charged by criminal complaint on March 12 with production of CSAM and transportation of CSAM. Lainez was living with a family on Fort Eustis when he allegedly recorded himself sexually exploiting a six-year-old victim. Case No. 4: 26-CR-28
Pleas
Malachi Morgan Thomas, 24, of Woodbridge, pled guilty on April 2 to sexually exploiting more than 40 minor girls on Snapchat. Thomas coerced the victims, between the ages of 12 and 17, to engage in sexually explicit conduct and directed them to create and send him CSAM. Thomas flew to another state and travelled to a victim’s home where he engaged in sex with her. On Oct. 1, 2020, Fairfax County Police arrested Thomas on charges of rape and sodomy of two minors in Fairfax County. Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 24 and faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 40 years in prison. Case No. 1:25-cr-327
On April 21, Tucker Lee Martin pled guilty to attempted sexual exploitation of children. In 2021, Martin used his Tumblr account to upload a photo of himself engaged in a sexual act while seated next to a three-year-old toddler. Martin also used Snapchat to send graphic photos of himself and solicit CSAM from adults and minors, including asking a child to engage in bestiality. Investigators identified 195 files of suspected CSAM on Martin’s cellphone and 172 files on his Kik account. Martin is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 17 and faces a mandatory minimum of imprisonment of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison. Case No. 2:26-cr-32
On April 22, William Thomas Alley, 41, of Hampton, pled guilty to receiving CSAM. Alley used the Kik and Telegram apps to chat with other users about CSAM, and Alley solicited CSAM online. On four of Alley’s electronic devices, investigators identified 398 images of CSAM, including images of toddlers, bestiality, and bondage, and 58 video files of CSAM. Alley is scheduled to be sentenced on July 21 and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison. Case No. 4:26-cr-14
On April 22, Christopher Charles Collins, 40, of Newport News, pled guilty to attempted coercion and enticement of a child and receipt of CSAM. On Oct. 28, 2025, while on probation, Collins communicated over the Chatiw app and Dischord platform with a person he believed was a 14-year-old girl, but who was actually an undercover law enforcement officer. Collins arranged to meet the purported for sex. Law enforcement arrested Collins when he arrived at the prearranged location. Investigators identified numerous CSAM images on Collins’ cellphone. Collins is scheduled to be sentenced on July 30 and faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years and up to life in prison. Case No. 4:26-cr-19
On April 23, Randon Alexander Sprinkle, 31, of Richmond, pled guilty to distribution of CSAM. On May 22, 2025, Sprinkle used the Jack’d online dating app to contact a person he believed to be the father of a nine-year-old child, but who was actually an undercover law enforcement officer. Sprinkle asked to move the conversation to Telegram and sent the officer a CSAM image. Investigators later identified numerous CSAM images on Sprinkle’s electronic devices. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 26 and Sprinkle faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison. Case No. 3:26-cr-2
On April 30, William Dana Holcomb, 70, of Hampton, pled guilty to distribution of CSAM. From April 4-7, 2025, Holcomb engaged in chats in which he offered to pay for “Early Young Teen girl or 10 and Under hopefully.” Among numerous other requests Holcomb made in chats, in one he asked to have sex with a seven-year-old. Investigators identified CSAM on Holcomb’s cellphone, and he admitted that he had distributed CSAM. Holcomb is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 10 and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison. Case No. 4:25-cr-80
On April 30, David Brent Timberlake, 65, of Henrico, pled guilty to receiving CSAM. Between April 3, 2021, and Aug. 6, 2022, Timberlake requested CSAM files through a peer-to-peer network. For example, on Aug. 6, 2022, Timberlake requested and received a video depicting a victim between 4 and 6 years old being sexually abused by two adult males. That file and numerous other CSAM files were found on Timberlake’s electronic devices. Timberlake is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 26 and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison. Case No. 3:26-cr-26
Trial
On April 23, a federal jury convicted registered sex offender Richard Scott Tyson of sexually exploiting two minors. Tyson, 57, of Gum Spring, was convicted in 2002 of rape involving a child, for which he received a 99-year prison sentence with 86 years suspended. Between 2021 and 2023, Tyson enticed the minors with gifts and trips to hotels, resorts, and amusement parks. During these activities and trips, as well as at Tyson’s home, Tyson engaged in sexual relations with one of the victims and took pictures of both minor victims while they were nude or mostly undressed and posed in sexualized positions in exchange for money. Tyson faces a mandatory minimum of 35 years and up to life in prison when sentenced on July 29. Case No. 3:24-cr-34
Sentencing
Yahmir Deshawn Kawante Hamlet, 25, of Hampton, was sentenced on April 14 to 20 years in prison for coercing minors to produce CSAM. On Dec. 6, 2023, FBI investigators searched Hamlet’s residence and seized devices containing 425 image files and 122 video files of CSAM, including infants and toddlers, masochism, and bestiality. The devices also included sexually explicit conversations between Hamlet and two minors, whom Hamlet paid for sexually explicit images and videos. Case No. 4:25-cr-36
On April 16, Jorge Antonio Escobar, 50, a Colombian national residing in Virginia, was sentenced to eight years in prison for receipt of CSAM. Escobar downloaded and saved images and videos of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including depictions of prepubescent minors. Case No. 1:25-cr-283
On April 22, Michael Logan Bourne, 55, of Chantilly, was sentenced to 27 years in prison following his conviction for sexually exploiting minors he targeted online. From February 2022 to April 2023, Bourne used an anonymous Google account to sexually exploit at least six girls to whom he referred as his “slaves,” and persuaded them to “serve” and “please” him by engaging in sexually explicit conduct on live webcams. Bourne received child sexual abuse material from two of his victims. Case No. 1:25-cr-218
On April 23, Dominic Nathaniel Torres, 23, a U.S. Navy sailor stationed in Norfolk, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sex and the coercion of seven other minor victims. Torres strategically targeted middle and high school age girls through social media, then bypassed the security protocols of age restricted social media communities by presenting himself as a minor and using younger photos. Torres requested and received sexually explicit images and videos from minor victims and sent the minors sexually graphic photos and videos of himself. In 2024, Torres travelled to a minor victim’s neighborhood, picked her up near her home, and engaged in sex with her on two separate occasions. Case No. 2:25-cr-10
On April 28, Anthony George Ruggiero, 42, of Gloucester, was sentenced to life in prison following his conviction for sexually abusing a foreign exchange student and receiving child sexual abuse material. In 2021 and 2022, Ruggiero sexually abused and exploited the student while his family hosted her in their home. Ruggiero continued to engage in sexually explicit messages with the student after she returned to her home country, including requesting sexually explicit photos and offering her sexually explicit photos. A federal jury convicted Ruggiero on Nov. 20, 2025. Case No. 4:24-cr-39
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Indictments are merely accusations. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Dominican Republic National Pleads Guilty to Possession of Ammunition by an Illegal Alien in Connection with Shooting of Off-Duty Federal Customs and Border Protection OfficerRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Michael Alfonso, and Director of the New York Field Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”), Frank Russo, announced today that MIGUEL FRANCISCO MORA NUNEZ pled guilty to possessing ammunition as an illegal alien in connection with the July 19, 2025, shooting of an off-duty CBP Officer in Manhattan. MORA NUNEZ pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 1, 2026.
“Miguel Mora Nunez shot a federal officer in the face,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Gun-toting criminals threaten our families, our communities, and our law enforcement professionals, who strive every day to keep us safe. New Yorkers want criminals who use guns off the streets, and we are committed to delivering that result.”
“Last year's shooting of an off-duty CBP officer was an attack on the greater law enforcement community and on the rule of law itself, and this guilty plea is a significant step toward holding the defendant accountable and making clear that such violence will not be tolerated,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso. “Together with our vital partners, HSI New York will continue to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks, ensuring our city, and our country, remain safe.”
“This guilty plea is an important step toward accountability for a brazen act of violence against one of our officers,” said CBP’s Director of New York Field Operations Frank Russo. “Our focus remains on the well-being and recovery of our colleague, and on safeguarding the men and women who serve our communities every day. We are grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the NYPD for their exceptional work. Their continued partnership helps keep New York City safer and ensures that those who commit violent acts are brought to justice.”
As alleged in the charging instruments and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings:
On or about July 19, 2025, at approximately 11:50 p.m., MORA NUNEZ shot an off-duty CBP Officer in Fort Washington Park in Manhattan. A bullet MORA NUNEZ fired struck the CBP Officer in the face and right arm. The CBP Officer appeared to return fire, hitting MORA NUNEZ twice, before MORA NUNEZ fled on a motorbike driven by his co-defendant.
MORA NUNEZ entered the U.S. illegally, is in the U.S. unlawfully, and is subject to an order of removal from the U.S.
* * *
MORA NUNEZ, 22, of the Dominican Republic, pled guilty to one count of possession of ammunition as an illegal alien, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 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 thanked Homeland Security Investigations, CBP, and the New York City Police Department for their assistance in this case.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mostafa Khairy, Samantha Fry, and Christy Slavik are in charge of the prosecution.
Destin Man Pleads Guilty to Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Clarence Brandon Walton, 54, of Destin, Florida pleaded guilty in federal court to failure to register as a sex offender. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “SORNA registration requirements are a vital tool to keep our communities safe and informed when a sex offender moves into a neighborhood. The safety of our communities is not negotiable, and my office will aggressively prosecute any sex offender who fails to register their movements as required by the law.”
Court documents reflect that in July 2006 the defendant pleaded guilty to an offense that requires him to register as a sexual offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). The defendant stopped complying with the registration requirements in December 2023, after which an arrest warrant was issued in Georgia for failure to register. On August 15, 2024, an Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office deputy observed the defendant dropping off a child at an elementary school. The deputy discovered the defendant was a sex offender and found no records indicating that he had ever registered as a sex offender in the State of Florida, as required by SORNA.
The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the U.S. Marshal’s Service, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Tharp.
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 for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Collaboration Between Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Leads to Major Drug and Firearm Seizures in Broome CountyRead the Press Release
BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK – A collaborative operation between federal, state and local agencies has led to the seizure of hundreds of pounds of illicit drugs and 20 firearms over the past year in Broome County.
The announcement was made by First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Broome County District Attorney Paul Battisti, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Craig L. Tremaroli, and Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar.
The operation – called Operation Clean Sweep – led to the seizure of 475 grams of fentanyl, 63 pounds of methamphetamine, 2.374 kilograms of liquid methadone, 350 grams of crack cocaine, 1.6 kilograms of cocaine, 2.6 pounds of psychedelic mushrooms, and 400 pounds of marijuana and THC products. It also led to the seizure of 20 firearms illegally possessed.
“Since I was appointed to lead this Office on March 17, 2025, one of my top priorities has been improving and solidifying the collaboration between federal, state and local law enforcement in this District, because this collaboration saves lives,” said FAUSA Sarcone. “I have worked tirelessly to achieve that goal and ensure that none of the 32 counties we serve was left behind in the process. This is no truer than in Broome County, where the District Attorney’s Office, the Sheriff and the dedicated members of state and local law enforcement finally—after 5 long agonizing years of ‘social justice,’ e.g., ‘bail reform’ legislation that stripped away law enforcements ability to investigate, arrest, detain and prosecute violent criminals—with the help of my office and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s Department of Justice, our law enforcement partners in the Northern District of New York can once again use every legal tool at their disposal compliments of the U.S. Department of Justice to once again maximize its ability to protect the public from those who possess illegal firearms, traffic illegal drugs that destroy lives, families, and communities.”
FAUSA Sarcone continued: “I am thrilled to announce some of the stellar results of Operation Clean Sweep along with my partners in combatting crime: the fine law enforcement officials of the Broome County District Attorney’s office led by DA Paul Battisti, the Sheriff’s office led by Fred Akshar, the Binghamton, Vestal, Johnson City and Endicott Police Departments, and our great partners in the New York State Police Troop C, and our federal partners, including the FBI, DEA, ATF, HSI, USPIS, and IRS-CI. I assure the public that these incredible seizures and arrests are just part of many successful operations to come in the Northern District of New York.”
“All of this has been removed from the street because Broome County law enforcement is collaborating with our federal, state and local partners,” DA Battisti said. “We have incredible members of law enforcement here in Broome County and every day this collaboration gets stronger.”
SAC Tremaroli stated: “Operation Clean Sweep was a remarkable success because of the incredible partnerships we have at every level of law enforcement within Broome County and beyond. Because while we all may wear a different badge, every one of us has the shared mission of keeping our communities safe and we know we can best accomplish that mission when we work together.”
Sheriff Akshar stated: “The interagency partnership of Operation Clean Sweep should send a clear message to those who continue to peddle poison in our community, to those who possess illegal firearms, and to those who choose violence and put the lives of our community members in danger in Broome County: We are coming for you and you will be held accountable. Our community demands it.”
Pictured above (left to right): Sheriff Akshar, FAUSA Sarcone, DA Battisti, and SAC Tremaroli.
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Burbank Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Embezzling $1.8 Million in Money and Property Left to Elderly VictimRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – A San Fernando Valley man was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison for embezzling approximately $1.8 million from an estate left to an elderly victim by the victim’s late brother.
Jamal Nathan Dawood, 55, a.k.a. “Jimmy Dawood,” of Burbank, was sentenced by United States District Judge James V. Selna, who also ordered him to pay $1,862,352 in restitution and fined him $30,000.
At the conclusion of a seven-day trial in July 2025, a jury found Dawood guilty of six counts of wire fraud and nine counts of money laundering.
During the second half of 2019, Dawood offered to assist the victim with the management of real estate properties and retirement savings that the victim had inherited from the victim’s deceased brother. Specifically, Dawood helped the victim open a trust account at a bank for the purpose of managing the retirement savings.
Without the victim’s knowledge or authorization, Dawood then initiated wire and online banking transfers from the victim’s trust account to Dawood-controlled accounts. Without the victim’s knowledge or permission, Dawood also wired money from the victim’s trust account to people with whom Dawood had personal and business relationships.
Dawood convinced the victim to transfer ownership of his home and his late brother’s real estate holdings to various companies. Dawood falsely represented that the victim would retain an ownership interest in his residence and the inherited real estate through these companies. In fact, Dawood and other individuals close to him controlled these companies.
In total, Dawood fraudulently obtained at least $1,862,352 in the victim’s money and property. The illicitly obtained funds were used to purchase real estate in La Crescenta and Fontana.
The FBI investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin N. Spencer and Melissa S. Rabbani of the Orange County Office prosecuted this case.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis.
Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 3 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pacific Time. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.
Information about the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
Buffalo man previously convicted of possessing child pornography pleads guilty to new chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jamie Anderson, 26, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possession of child pornography by a person having a prior conviction relating to the possession of child pornography. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a fine of $250,000.
In January 2022, Anderson was convicted of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child in New York State Court. In December 2024, the New York State Police executed a search warrant at Anderson’s Buffalo residence, after receiving a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that he uploaded files containing child pornography to Kik. During the search, law enforcement seized a tablet, which contained at least 10 images of child pornography.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen M. McCarthy. The plea is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera. Additional assistance was provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 11, 2026, before Judge Vilardo.
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Bronx Man Pleads Guilty to Mail Theft OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and J. Buck Buckley, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, announced that TULIO NUNEZ, 25, of the Bronx, New York, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to offenses related to the theft of U.S. Mail.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 2, 2023, Nunez drove to Campbell Avenue in West Haven and parked in front of a postal collection box. Nunez’s associate then exited the vehicle, opened the service door of the collection box using a counterfeit postal arrow key, removed a basket filled with mail, and placed it in the passenger seat of the vehicle. Law enforcement officers who were conducting surveillance of the postal collection box then converged on the vehicle. Nunez unsuccessfully attempted to flee by reversing his vehicle and striking a law enforcement vehicle before he and his associates were apprehended and charged with state offenses.
On September 23, 2025, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Nunez with conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, possession of a key adopted by the post office, and theft of mail.
Nunez pleaded guilty to all three counts of the indictment. At sentencing, which is scheduled for July 27, he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
Nunez has been released on a $10,000 bond since his federal arrest on September 25, 2025.
This matter has been investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the West Haven Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Lembo and Shan Patel.
Berks County Man Sentenced to More Than 21 Years in Prison for Fentanyl and Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A resident of Reading, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 262 months in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, on his convictions of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines imposed the sentence on Angel Diaz-Gibson, 34.
According to information presented to the Court, from in and around June 2024 to in and around August 2024, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Diaz-Gibson conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine. Further, in and around July 2024, Diaz-Gibson possessed with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Pennsylvania State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Diaz-Gibson.
1 May 2026
“Dirty Bondsman” Charged with Sex Trafficking and Forced Labor SchemeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces bounty hunter is facing federal charges after he allegedly bonded vulnerable individuals out of jail and exploited them through coercion and threats.
According to court documents, the Federal Bureau of Investigation received information that Robert Jay Hernandez, 62, a bounty hunter working for a bail bond company in Las Cruces, New Mexico, was bonding individuals out of the Doña Ana County Detention Center and requiring them to live at his personal residence. Investigators allege that Hernandez targeted vulnerable individuals, including those struggling with drug addiction and lacking stable housing, and that he exploited them on multiple occasions. Hernandez is specifically alleged to have provided these individuals with drugs and to then have coerced them to perform sexual acts, labor, and other services through threats of being returned to jail.
In one instance in October 2024, Hernandez allegedly bonded a male victim out of custody and required him to perform labor for him, including by assisting in bounty hunting activities without pay, while residing at Hernandez’s home. The victim also reported that Hernandez gave him drugs, including fentanyl, under the guise of medical treatment, even though the victim had not received any prescriptions for any drugs. After the victim left the residence, Hernandez allegedly contacted immigration authorities to report the victim, leading to the victim’s arrest.
In March 2025, Hernandez allegedly initiated contact with a female inmate, made explicit and threatening statements, and later bonded her out. The victim reported that Hernandez coerced her into sexual acts by creating fear that he would return her to jail if she did not do what he said. She also described being located and forcibly returned to custody, with Hernandez pointing a gun at her, after attempting to leave his control.
A third victim reported that after being bonded out in November 2025, Hernandez required her to live with him, controlled her access to fentanyl, and coerced her to engage in sexual acts in exchange for the drugs. She stated she complied out of fear of being returned to jail and to avoid severe withdrawal symptoms.
Witness statements and communications from other inmates further corroborate the allegations, describing Hernandez as targeting female inmates with substance dependencies and expecting sexual favors in exchange for assistance.
Court documents further allege that Hernandez, who has a prior felony conviction, unlawfully possessed multiple firearms.
Hernandez is charged with three counts of forced labor and one count each of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and sex trafficking by means of force, threats, fraud and coercion. He will remain in custody pending a detention hearing, which has been scheduled for May 5, 2026. If convicted of the current charges, Hernandez faces up to life in prison.
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 Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, Doña Ana County Detention Center, the Las Cruces / Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics Task Force, and Homeland Security Investigation - Las Cruces. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Grant Gardner and Maria Y. Armijo are prosecuting the case.
View the Criminal Complaint (Hernandez).pdfA criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.