Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
14 September 2026
Three Methamphetamine Traffickers Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
BOISE – U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced the results of three separate drug trafficking prosecutions in Southern Idaho.
Christopher Lee Hatcher, 68, of California, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Hatcher to serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence. According to court records, Hatcher transported several pounds of methamphetamine from California to Idaho for distribution.
In a separate case, Ricky Dee Sedlacek, 63, of Caldwell, Idaho, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine. According to court records, Sedlacek sold more than a quarter pound of methamphetamine over multiple transactions in Oregon and Idaho. Investigators contacted Sedlacek during a traffic stop as he was on his way back from Oregon to pick up a supply of drugs. Investigators found a pound of methamphetamine in his possession, which he had tried to conceal during the traffic stop.
In a third case, Steven Lyle Ressler, 52, of Pendleton, Oregon, was sentenced to 77 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court records, investigators became aware that Ressler was selling drugs in Oregon and the Treasure Valley. Investigators intercepted Ressler as he crossed the border from Oregon to Idaho. During the traffic stop, investigators located approximately a pound of methamphetamine in Ressler’s vehicle.
U.S. District Judge Davd C. Nye also ordered both Ressler and Sedlacek to serve four years of supervised release following each of their respective prison sentences.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the collaborative effort of the federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to disrupt drug trafficking organizations that threaten the safety of our community.
The cases involving Sedlacek and Ressler were investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Nampa Police Department Special Investigations Unit, the City County Narcotics Unit, the Idaho State Police Department, the Oregon High Desert Drug Task Force, and the Oregon State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Morse prosecuted the cases.
These investigations were supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, which is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force that identifies, disrupts, and dismantles local, multi-state, and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency prosecutor-supported approach.
The case involving Hatcher was investigated by the Idaho State Police, Owyhee County Sherriff’s Office, and Boise Police Department, with assistance from the Owyhee County Prosecutor’s Office and the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Kelsey Manweiler, who was a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership, Canyon County Prosecutor’s Office, and the State of Idaho to address gang crimes.
The Treasure Valley Partnership is comprised of a group of elected officials in southwest Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth.
The Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force is comprised of federal, state, and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; United States Postal Inspector Services; Department of Homeland Security Investigations; Caldwell Police Department; Canyon County Sheriff’s Office; and the Idaho Department of Correction – Probation and Parole.
###
Thornton Man Indicted for Making Online Threats to Kill Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement OfficersRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Kevin Lee Tompkins, age 40, of Thornton, Colorado, has been charged by a federal grand jury with four counts of making interstate threats to kill federal, state, and local law enforcement officers.
According to the indictment and documents filed in the case, Tompkins made serious threats to kill police officers, FBI employees, Muslim Americans, judges, prosecutors, and others on a major video sharing website in June and July 2026. The indictment also charged Tompkins with being a felon in possession of ammunition after boxes of ammunition were found in his home along with a book about the manufacture of explosives. The web search history on Tompkins’ phone showed that, despite being prohibited from possessing firearms, he regularly visited websites through which guns are bought and sold in private transactions.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI Denver Field Office.
The Cybercrime and National Security Section of the United States Attorney’s Office in the District of Colorado is handling the prosecution.
Case Number: 26-cr-0202-RMR
Theodore Bland of Stowe, Vermont Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Murdering Two Men During and in Relation to Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BURLINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on September 14, 2026, Theodore Bland, 31, of Stowe, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge William K. Sessions III to two consecutive sentences of life imprisonment after his guilty plea to causing the deaths of two men while carrying and using a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking, and concurrent sentences of imprisonment for various federal drug and firearm charges. Judge Sessions also required Bland to pay restitution of $12,504.92 to the Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services.
According to court records, on the morning of October 12, 2023, Bland walked into the back bedroom of a mobile home in Lowell, Vermont and murdered two men by shooting them. Bland murdered the men so that he could obtain cocaine base and fentanyl that he knew that they had in their possession to further his own drug distribution conspiracy. Bland shot the men in broad daylight, in the presence of numerous witnesses, and in the hours and days that followed, bragged to others about the way he had killed the men. Bland also used the drugs and weapons that he had obtained from the killings to persuade a number of people to assist him in moving the men’s bodies to a wooded area in Eden, Vermont, and attempting to conceal the murders. Bland also traded one of the firearms he stole from one of the victims to a drug supplier in exchange for quantities of cocaine base and fentanyl that Bland intended to distribute. At the time of the murders, Bland was on state conditions of release for a March 17, 2023 armed assault in South Burlington, Vermont.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Vermont State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Morristown Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Ophardt added: “Theodore Bland committed two depraved, violent murders to secure greater illicit profits in the drug trade. This case is a chilling reminder of the extreme danger posed by the combination of drug trafficking and firearms. I am grateful to the family and friends of the victims who spoke at today’s sentencing hearing. Their words were powerful reminders of the true toll of Bland’s crimes. As they made clear, two consecutive life sentences will never erase the harm and pain caused by Bland’s violence.”
“Mr. Bland was responsible for trafficking deadly narcotics on the streets in Vermont,” said Craig Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albany Field Office. “His decision to escalate to cold-blooded murder has landed him in federal prison for the rest of his life. This case and subsequent sentence illustrates the FBI’s unwavering commitment to working with our Department of Justice colleagues and our partners at every level of law enforcement to leverage our resources and ensure that criminals who terrorize our communities through vicious acts of violence and the sale of dangerous drugs and weapons are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
“This crime shocked Vermont in its callousness and left the families of two young men with a grief that will never end,” said Major Ashley Barnes, commander of the Vermont State Police Criminal Division. “We extend our sincere thanks to our law-enforcement partners at the federal, state and local level who joined together to locate the victims, identify the perpetrator, and ensure he faced justice.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason M. Turner and Dana E. Hill. Bland was represented by David C. Sleigh, Esq., Bren E. Newton, Esq., Bruce D. Koffsky, Esq., and Francis L. O’Reilly, Esq.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
The USAO-KS Joins DOJ Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA OIG in COVID-Era Loan Takedown Exceeding $245 Million in FraudRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office – District of Kansas (USAO-KS) today announced indictments as part of a nationwide enforcement action led by the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Small Business Administration, and the SBA Office of Inspector General targeting fraud in the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). USAO-KS was a key participant in this surge effort.
From June 12 to September 1, federal prosecutors across the country facilitated fraud enforcement actions spanning over 160 criminal defendants, including approximately 80 newly charged defendants, reaching approximately $245 million in intended loss to American taxpayers.
“Over the years we have convicted schemers who illegally secured PPP loans then went on shopping sprees on the federal government’s dime, but we’re not done. The Justice Department has a very long memory, and the statute of limitations has been extended for this type of fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “To those who lied on applications and haven’t yet had the law show up at your door, don’t be surprised when we come knocking with an arrest warrant in hand.”
“Pandemic loan relief was meant to keep American small businesses alive during government lockdowns—not line the pockets of fraudsters,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The defendants charged during our summer surge allegedly fabricated businesses, submitted false payroll and revenue claims, stole identities, and concealed foreign ties on their applications— but they will now be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
In the District of Kansas, U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser announced that four defendants, including a husband and wife, have been charged with PPP-related fraud involving approximately $182,000 in alleged losses.
According to the indictments:
• Greg Wegenka, 74, of Wakarusa, is accused of providing false IRS documents to receive a PPP loan for a small business then allegedly using loan proceeds for impermissible purposes.
Loss: $29,000 Maximum Sentence If Convicted: 20 years in prison• Laurie Wegenka, 66, of Wakarusa, is accused of applying for and receiving PPP loans for a small business using false IRS forms.
Loss: $115,000 Maximum Sentence If Convicted: 20 years in prison• Vanesha Whisonant, 25, of Kansas City, Kansas, is accused of receiving a PPP loan for a home-based business after allegedly filing an application with false information about the number of employees and payroll.
Loss: $18,000 Maximum Sentence If Convicted: 20 years in prison• Dominic Williams, 35, of Kansas City, Kansas, is accused of receiving a PPP by falsely claiming to be a sole proprietor business with $100K in proceeds and allegedly submitting false bank statements to receive loans and to receive loan forgiveness.
Loss: $20,832 Maximum Sentence If Convicted: 20 years in prisonThese case are being investigated by the Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General (SBA- OIG) and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Oakley.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri Joins DOJ’s Fraud Division, SBA and SBA OIG in COVID-Era Loan Takedown Targeting $245 Million in COVID Loan Fraud NationwideRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri has filed charges, secured pleas and sentences, and obtained civil judgments against 15 defendants, involving more than $60 million in actual or intended losses, with restitution nearing $800,000, as part of a nationwide enforcement action led by the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Small Business Administration (SBA), and the SBA Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), targeting fraud in the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The Western District of Missouri was a key participant in this surge effort.
From June 12 to September 1, 2026, SBA-OIG and federal prosecutors in the Fraud Division and across over 40 U.S. Attorney’s Offices, with assistance from various partners, obtained felony charges against nearly 80 fraud defendants responsible for approximately $100 million dollars in intended loss to the United States. These charges target a range of individuals who allegedly exploited COVID-era SBA loan programs at the height of the pandemic.Beyond newly charged defendants, as part of Operation No Doze, approximately 43 defendants pleaded guilty to SBA-related COVID fraud, reaching approximately $44 million in intended loss. And approximately 40 defendants were sentenced for SBA-related COVID fraud, reaching nearly $100 million in intended loss. Together, this targeted surge resulted in fraud enforcement actions spanning over 160 criminal defendants and involved approximately $245 million dollars in intended loss to American taxpayers.
Operation No Doze is a direct result of President Donald J. Trump’s creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division at the DOJ, the first new division in the DOJ in twenty years.
“For the past two and a half months, we have been engaged in an all-out effort to combat fraudsters and scammers who steal from hardworking American taxpayers. These fraudsters harm individuals, families, businesses, and communities that rely on these programs,” said R. Matthew Price, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. “Today’s announcement exemplifies what it means to stand united on the front lines of this fight. Working alongside our partners as one team, we will bring criminals to justice and return funds to the hands of the people who need and deserve them.”
“Pandemic loan relief was meant to keep American small businesses alive during government lockdowns—not line the pockets of fraudsters,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The defendants charged during our summer surge allegedly fabricated businesses, submitted false payroll and revenue claims, stole identities, and concealed foreign ties on their applications— but they will now be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“This summer surge shows what is possible when dedicated public servants across the country work together with a single purpose,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Our mission is clear: protect taxpayer funds, safeguard the integrity of federal relief programs, and deliver justice to those who exploited them. We will remain steadfast every day—standing shoulder‑to‑shoulder with our partners—to identify fraud, pursue those responsible, and restore confidence in the programs meant to help American small businesses thrive.”
“Today’s announcement represents the largest-ever action against perpetrators of SBA fraud, with 870,000 suspended borrowers tied to $39 billion in suspected fraudulent PPP and COVID EIDL activity. In partnership with Vice President Vance and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, we’re putting fraudsters on notice: the federal government will no longer turn a blind eye to those who stole from taxpayers and exploited programs designed to sustain small businesses during the pandemic,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “With demand letters going out to suspected fraudsters, we’re also sending a clear message that they must repay their debts or face Treasury collections and possible federal law enforcement. Under this Administration, the free ride is over. We are restoring accountability, recovering taxpayer dollars, and protecting SBA programs for the legitimate small businesses they were created to serve.”
“Operation No Doze brings a focused and coordinated approach to pursuing fraud in SBA’s pandemic relief programs,” said SBA Inspector General William Kirk. “By concentrating our investigative resources and working closely with SBA and our law enforcement partners, we are strengthening our ability to identify fraud, recover taxpayer funds, and hold accountable those who exploited programs created to help small businesses in a time of extraordinary need. This initiative makes clear that the passage of time does not diminish our commitment to accountability.”
“We are proud to stand with our federal and state partners in rooting out criminal activity of all kinds, especially defrauding the public,” said Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe. “Fraud is not a victimless crime. Every dollar stolen is a dollar taken from hardworking taxpayers or from someone who depends on the programs those dollars are meant to support. In Missouri, we will continue working at every level to hold fraudsters accountable and protect those they seek to exploit.”
The following cases in the Western District of Missouri involved defendants who targeted government programs, attempting to divert funds intended to help Americans in need:
- Jaylen Bates, of Cass County Missouri. According to court records, while charged with felony distribution of a controlled substance, Bates fraudulently obtained $41,666 in SBA-PPP money, claiming to operate two businesses that did not exist.
- Jeffrey Christopher Benton, of Taney County, Missouri. Benton fraudulently obtained $125,308 in SBA-PPP money, according to court records. He claimed the money for a business that did not exist and spent funds on personal expenses.
- DeZhon Byrd, of Jackson County, Missouri. Byrd is alleged to have fraudulently obtained $20,832 in SBA-PPP money and claimed the funds for a business that did not exist. He spent the money on personal expenses.
- Brandon A. Garrett, of Jackson County, Missouri. Garrett fraudulently obtained $48,000 in SBA-PPP money, claiming the money was for two businesses that did not exist, court records show.
- D’Mario Gray, of Jackson County, Missouri. Gray allegedly set up a “foundation” in his name, with the sole purpose of obtaining $48,750 in SBA-PPP money by fraudulently claiming his foundation had been adversely impacted by COVID-19. The money went to personal expenses, including trips to Miami and Houston.
- Jamie William Gray, of Dade County, Missouri. Gray allegedly claimed to operate 19 separate businesses, including businesses focused on the pet industry. In total, Gray sought to fraudulently obtain $55,931.875.00 in SBA-PPP funds by filing 29 PPP and EIDL loans on the 19 businesses claiming that they were in operation prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. In every instance but one, none of the businesses claimed to be owned by Mr. Gray were in operation or existed. Gray effectively stole this company’s identity. Gray received $820,000 in SBA-PPP money because of the fraudulent activity.
- Matthew and Shasta Head of Texas County, Missouri allegedly claimed to run an outdoor service company, and grossly overinflated the number of employees they had. The Heads received $2,462.871 in fraudulent SBA-PPP funds.
- Dylan Gregory Neely, of Jasper County, Missouri created two businesses which paid no taxes, according to court documents. Neely listed employees who never worked for him, and the social security numbers that he listed were not associated with the people he listed as employees. Neely fraudulently obtained $399,308.93 in SBA-PPP funds.
- Sydney R. Washington, of Jackson County, Missouri fraudulently obtained $13,538 in PPP money, and the loan was later forgiven by the SBA, according to court documents.
- Justin Williams, of Jackson County, Missouri, is alleged to have fraudulently obtained $20,832 in SBA PPP money.
- Gregory Burns, of Jackson County, Missouri, allegedly admitted to working with two other people to fraudulently obtain $487,600 in SBA-PPP loans. Burns used his portion of the money to pay for personal expenses.
- Waylen Leslie, of Buchanan County, Missouri, admitted to fraudulently obtaining $471,100 in SBA-PPP loans. Leslie allegedly used the money to purchase crypto currency and other personal items.
- Aviance Shepard, of Jackon County, Missouri and Shawneasha Watson, of Jackson County, Missouri were sentenced and ordered to pay more than $20,000 each in restitution for fraudulent SBA-PPP loans.
- A settlement was reached with William Patrick Vogt and By the Blade, LLC. The defendants agreed to pay the sum of nearly $750,000 for fraudulently obtaining an SBA-PPP loan. Vogt applied for and received the PPP Loan and later applied for and received full forgiveness of the PPP Loan despite knowing that he was ineligible for the loan because he had previously pleaded guilty to a federal offense of felony tax fraud in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri.
Operation Show-Me the Money
To expand the state of Missouri’s collective ability to identify, investigate, and prosecute fraud, the Western District of Missouri, alongside Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, and State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick, announced the launch of Operation Show-Me the Money. This unprecedented collaborative effort between the State of Missouri and the Department of Justice will focus on protecting taxpayer dollars by prosecuting individuals and entities that defraud state benefit programs.
The focus of the initiative will be on state programs that distribute the $11.5 billion in federal funds Missouri receives to individuals and entities entitled under the law. The goal of Operation Show-Me the Money is to ensure taxpayer dollars reach the people and programs they were intended to support, while staying out of the hands of fraudsters.National Fraud Enforcement Division
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.- Jaylen Bates, of Cass County Missouri. According to court records, while charged with felony distribution of a controlled substance, Bates fraudulently obtained $41,666 in SBA-PPP money, claiming to operate two businesses that did not exist.
Six Gainesville Men Indicted for Dog Fighting OffensesRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Taurean Jaquan Servance, 24, Jarrett Abram Servance, 45, Jarrett Abram Servance Jr., 25, Terry Lajace Lee, 44, Christopher Eugene Thompson, 56, and Clinton Thomas, 43, all of Gainesville, Florida, have been indicted in federal court for conspiracy to violate the Animal Welfare Act. In addition, Thompson has been indicted on 13 counts of possession of fighting dogs; Thomas has been indicted on 12 counts of possession of fighting dogs; Taurean Servance and Jarrett Servance Jr. have been indicted on 11 counts of possession of fighting dogs; and Jarrett Servance has been indicted on 6 counts of possession of fighting dogs. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges.
Jury trial for all defendants is scheduled for October 21, 2026, before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Gainesville, Florida.
The penalty for each count charged is a maximum of 5 years’ imprisonment.
The case was jointly investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, the Gainesville Police Department, Alachua County Sherriff’s Office, and Alachua County Animal Resources. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.
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.
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.
Six Charged in California, Kansas, and Louisiana for Illegally Voting, Fraudulent Voter Registration, and Identity FraudRead the Press Release
Last week, an individual in California was arrested and two others were charged for paying people on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles to sign petitions using stolen identities of registered voters to qualify initiatives on ballots in California elections. Two aliens living in Kansas, and Louisiana were charged for illegally voting. And an individual in Louisiana was charged with fraudulently registering to vote an ineligible voter.
“If you are gaming the election system, voting illegally, or committing voter fraud, you are breaking the law, and the Department will ensure such individuals cannot corrupt future elections,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The integrity of our elections is fundamental to our democracy, and those who seek to undermine it will be charged accordingly.”
“Protecting election integrity for the American people is one of the top priorities for this FBI,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Every American citizen has a right to free and fair elections — and we will not hesitate to use all available resources to investigate every credible allegation of election fraud and illegal voting.”
“Two aliens in Kansas and Louisiana are charged with illegally voting,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin. “Voter fraud is already a serious problem, but non-citizens voting is even worse. Every time a non-citizen casts a ballot, it steals a vote from an American citizen. Thanks to our partners at the Department of Justice, these aliens and other suspects accused of voter fraud will face justice and can no longer poison our election processes. Only Americans should be allowed to decide America’s future and elect America’s leaders.”
“These defendants are charged with using stolen identities of registered voters to manufacture signatures on ballot petitions used to shape California law,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “They allegedly used people, including members of Skid Row’s vulnerable homeless population, to try to cover up their tracks. The charged conduct undermines the confidence voters have in our election systems, and we will vigorously investigate and charge anyone involved.”
“The Department of Justice remains committed to protecting election integrity and is actively investigating and prosecuting these cases,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser for the District of Kansas. “With another election looming, the Department’s effort serves as a stark reminder to individuals who are not legally authorized to vote not to engage in this conduct. Should individuals be determined by a court of law to have illegally claimed U.S. citizenship and voted or attempted to vote in federal elections, they will face serious criminal consequences.”
“Protecting the integrity of Louisiana’s elections — and our national elections — is essential to protecting our constitutional republic,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana. “The right to vote is sacred. When individuals undermine that process through fraud or abuse, they threaten the public’s confidence in a fair and lawful election system. Our Office will continue to safeguard the sanctity of the vote and hold accountable those who violate our laws.”
Central District of California
James Brass, 47, also known as “Lord,” of Victorville, California, was arrested last week on a federal grand jury indictment charging him and two other defendants with paying people on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles to sign petitions using stolen identities of registered voters to qualify initiatives on ballots in California elections.
Also charged in the two-count indictment were two petition circulators who worked for Brass: Courtney Price, 49, of Jacksonville, Florida, and Jateisha Herron, 33, of Boron, California.
All three defendants were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit identity fraud in furtherance of a state felony. Brass and Price were charged with an additional count of identity fraud in furtherance of a state felony.
According to court documents, California’s constitution contains a process for direct democracy in which state voters can bypass the California State Legislature and enact laws or constitutional amendments directly through the ballot initiative process.
To qualify an initiative for inclusion on a ballot in 2026, an initiative’s proponent was required to submit 546,651 signatures to place a proposed statute on the ballot, and 874,641 signatures to place a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot. An initiative’s proponent had up to 180 days to gather these signatures and needed to submit them no later than 130 days before the date of an election.
Given the large number of signatures required in such a short period of time, proponents of initiatives typically hired petition management companies to gather the signatures. These companies charge significant fees and set a price for each signature gathered, contracting with outside individuals to collect signatures.
According to the indictment that a federal grand jury returned yesterday, Brass managed a team of signature collectors and collected signatures himself while Price and Herron were signature collectors who worked for Brass. From February to August, the defendants used a database to identify registered California voters. On Skid Row, Brass and Price handed out these voters’ stolen identities and paid petition signers to copy the voters’ personal information onto ballot initiative petitions and fraudulently sign the petitions in those voters’ names.
After the petitions were signed, Brass and Herron signed declarations at the bottom of the petitions, falsely declaring under penalty of perjury that they personally witnessed the named registered voters sign the petitions and that each signature was, to the best of their knowledge, “the genuine signature of the person whose name it purports to be.”
Brass and Herron then turned in the bogus petitions to several petition coordinators, knowing the false representations regarding the signatures’ authenticity would result in false and fraudulent signatures being counted in connection with the effort to place the initiative at issue on the ballot.
Brass further knew the false representations about the signatures’ authenticity would result in payments to him from a petition management company.
In total, Brass received approximately $41,600 from coordinators working with one such petition management company.
If convicted, Brass, Price, and Herron each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count.
The FBI is investigating this matter with assistance from special agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nandor F.R. Kiss and Michael G. Wheat for the Central District of California are prosecuting this case.
District of Kansas
A federal grand jury in Wichita, Kansas, returned an indictment charging Mariana Alexandra Dewey, 24, a Peruvian national and permanent resident of the United States, with multiple criminal offenses arising from allegedly voting in a federal election despite not being a U.S. citizen.
According to court documents, Dewey was charged with one count of false claim of citizenship, one count of false claim of United States citizenship in order to vote, one count of fraudulent election conduct, and one count of voting by an alien in a federal election.
In November 2024, Dewey allegedly falsely represented herself to be a U.S. citizen to register to vote in an election that included federal, state, and local offices. She is further accused of casting a ballot that included candidates for U.S. President, Vice President, Senate, and House of Representatives after falsely certifying that she was a U.S. citizen and eligible to vote.
Dewey’s initial court appearance is scheduled for today.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler for the District of Kansas is prosecuting the case.
Western District of Louisiana
Last week, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Bridget Johnson, 53, of Cotton Valley, Louisiana, with Fraudulent Voter Registration and Voting by an Alien, and Michael Wedderburn, 52, of Jamaica, with Voting by an Alien.
According to court documents, Johnson was a resident of Webster Parish and a candidate in the 2024 election for mayor of Cotton Valley. Wedderburn is a non‑citizen alien in the United States and was ineligible to vote in Louisiana elections.
On July 14, 2024, Johnson allegedly completed and electronically submitted a Louisiana voter registration application in Wedderburn’s name, falsely stating that he was a U.S. citizen. The indictment also alleges that Wedderburn subsequently voted illegally in the Nov. 5, 2024, election for a federal office, and in the Cotton Valley mayoral race.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
The FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth D. Reeg and Alexandra Porubsky are prosecuting the case with assistance from Legal Assistant Ginger Green.
If convicted, Johnson faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and Wedderburn faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison as well as additional financial penalties.
An indictment merely contains accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Significant federal prison sentence handed down for drug-related chargesRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, Georgia: A Georgia man has been sentenced to prison following a drug-related plea agreement.
The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Kurtis Narada Jones, 46, of Riceboro, Georgia, was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute 248 grams of MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine).
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and testimony, investigators with Homeland Security Investigations, acting in conjunction with the U.S. Postal Investigation Service, conducted a search of Jones’s residence where large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA were discovered. Additionally, evidence of narcotics distribution was also present in the defendant’s bedroom, including pill presses, narcotics cutting agents, digital scales, plastic bags, and a vacuum sealer.
“The agencies involved in this investigation should be commended for their roles in identifying this drug trafficking operation that endangered our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Let this message be clear: Those who traffic narcotics in our communities will be identified, prosecuted and brought to justice.”
Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Investigation Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Liberty County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation of this case.
“Drug trafficking organizations exploit every opportunity to push dangerous narcotics into our communities, and this sentence demonstrates the serious consequences awaiting those who do,” said Ellen Johnson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI is proud to work alongside our federal, state, and local partners to identify, investigate, and dismantle criminal networks that threaten public safety.”
“The sentencing demonstrates the commitment by Postal Inspectors and our law enforcement partners to dismantle criminal enterprises trying to utilize the mail system for illegal activities,” said Rodney M. Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division. “We are committed to hold individuals accountable for poisoning communities with dangerous drugs.”
This case was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Bondura and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren C. Olsen.
September Federal Grand Jury 2026-A Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Christopher J. Nassar today announced the results of the September Federal Grand Jury 2026-A Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Dorryien Laron Adams. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Adams, 20, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-325
Alexander Blanchard. Robbery in Indian Country (Count 1 & 3); Assault with Intent to Commit a Felony in Indian Country (Count 2); Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (Count 4). Blanchard, AGE, of Broken Arrow and a member of the Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, is charged with taking property of value by force, violence, and intimidation from the victim and in front of a minor child. He assaulted a minor child with intent to commit a felony and knowingly brandished a firearm during a crime of violence. The Tulsa Police Department is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Flynn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-326
Maddox Isaiah Cummings. False Statement to Acquire a Firearm. Cummings, 21, of Las Vegas, Nevada, is charged with attempting to purchase a firearm while claiming that he was not currently under indictment and had never been convicted of a felony, when in fact those statements were false. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-338
Jacob Kyle Davis. Coercion and Enticement of a Minor Child. Davis, 45, of Tahlequah, is charged with knowingly attempting to persuade and entice a minor child to engage in sexually explicit activity. The FBI and the United Keetoowah Band Lighthorse Tribal Police are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Ihler is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-327
Ana Yuridia Garcia Dominguez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Garcia Dominguez, 41, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2005. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Osborn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-328
Bermain Hernandez Mendez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Hernandez Mendez, 37, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2013 and twice in 2014. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jorge Diaz-Guma is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-339
Oscar Anibal Hernandez Ramos. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Hernandez Ramos, 31, a Guatemalan national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2015 and 2016. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Keller is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-332
Eliakin Hernandez Santiago. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Hernandez Santiago, 30, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2024. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jorge Diaz-Guma is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-333
Devion Ronte Long. Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country; Assault by Striking, Beating, and Wounding in Indian Country (Misdemeanor). Long, 25, of Tulsa and a member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, is charged with assaulting the victim in Feb. 2026, which resulted in serious bodily injury. He is additionally charged with assaulting and wounding the victim in Mar. 2026. The FBI, the Owasso Police Department, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Kelly is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-331
Jesus Eden Lopez Guerreo. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Lopez Guerro, 42, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2023. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevion Freeman is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-330
Joshua Breyden Perales. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor; Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct; Possession of Child Pornography. Perales, 24, of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, is charged with attempting to coerce and entice a person he believed was under 18 years old to engage in sexually explicit conduct. He is additionally charged with traveling from Arkansas to Tulsa to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Additionally, Perales is charged with knowingly possessing images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children under 12 years old. Homeland Security Investigations and the Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies, with assistance from the Siloam Springs Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-340
Oscar Manuel Sanchez Garcia. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Sanchez Garcia, 37, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2012. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Keller is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-329
Abraham James Yahv Simmers, II. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Destruction of Property Within Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Simmers, 22, of Tulsa and a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, is charged with assaulting the victim with a firearm and with intent to do bodily injury. He maliciously and willfully destroyed and damaged real property belonging to the victim. Further, Simmers is charged with discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-341
Christopher Ryan Stafford. Kidnapping in Indian Country; Assault of a Spouse, Intimate Partner, and Dating Partner by Strangling in Indian Country; Witness Tampering by Use and Threat of Physical Force. Stafford, 33, of Tulsa and a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, is charged with unlawfully seizing and confining the victim against her will and strangling her. He knowingly used physical force and threats to prevent the victim from communicating with law enforcement or the judge in federal proceedings. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blithe Cravens is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-334
Ramiro Vergara Urquiza. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Firearms; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien; Drug Conspiracy; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises (superseding). Vergara Urquiza, 52, a Mexican national, is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. He is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after previously being removed in March 2023. Vergara Urquiza is charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and knowingly maintaining a home for the purpose of drug distribution. Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-142
Slayton Derek Vincent. Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country. Vincent, 28, of Locust Grove, is charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children under 12 years old. Homeland Security Investigations and the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-335
Camille Jordan Winchester; Torrey Leann Cantrell; Shawn Richard Christie. Production of Child Pornography (Counts 1 & 4); Possession of Child Pornography (Count 2); Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country (Count 3); Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country (Count 5); Child Neglect in Indian Country (Count 6) (second superseding). Winchester, 36, of Mounds and a member of the Cherokee Nation, and Cantrell, 33, of Mounds, are charged with using a minor child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of child sexual abuse material. Additionally, Winchester is charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children and knowingly engaging in a sexually explicit act with a child under 12 years old. Cantrell is additionally charged with engaging in a sexual act with a minor child under 12 years old. Christie, 36, of Mounds and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with willfully neglecting the health, safety, and welfare of a minor child. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-183
Seattle man who recruited and armed juveniles for a string of marijuana dispensary robberies sentenced to 17-years in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 26-year-old Seattle man was sentenced late Friday September 11th, in U.S. District Cout in Seattle to 17 years in prison for armed bank robbery, robbery, and conspiracy to commit robbery, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Michael Keylon Miller-Jimerson pleaded guilty in February 2026 to a leadership role in a series of violent marijuana dispensary robberies and bank robberies between December 2021 and June 2022. In one of the marijuana shop robberies a worker was killed when he was shot by one of the juveniles that Miller-Jimerson was working with. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Lauren King said, “You and others went on a violent crime spree, terrorizing the community for your own personal gain. You used juveniles… to commit the most dangerous part of the offenses. And you didn’t stop after a man lost his life. A lengthy sentence is needed to protect the community.”
“This defendant recruited juveniles to do his dirty work, perhaps in the mistaken belief that it would insulate him from criminal responsibility – clearly it did not,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “His actions caused terror for store clerks and bank tellers and cost one young man his life. A 17-year federal sentence is needed to protect the public and hold him accountable.”
“For almost six months, Miller-Jimerson and his armed co-conspirators stormed through businesses around the Puget Sound region," said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. "By recruiting vulnerable children, arming them, and training them to commit dangerous crimes, Miller-Jimerson and another adult co-conspirator sought to minimize their own criminal liability while they shared in the proceeds, including tens of thousands of dollars of stolen cash. This conduct was epitomized on March 19, 2022, when Miller-Jimerson waited in a vehicle outside as an employee of a marijuana dispensary in Tacoma, Washington lay dying, shot by a 15-year-old co-conspirator during a robbery gone wrong. This sentencing sends a clear message: adults who exploit juveniles to act on their behalf will be targeted for federal prosecution. Together with our partners, FBI Seattle will continue to combat violent crime in its many forms.”
According to records filed in the case, On December 24, 2021, Miller-Jimerson, Shannon Hartfield, and Danesxy Ortega robbed Greenworks and Greenfire marijuana dispensaries in Seattle, Washington. Miller-Jimerson was the getaway driver for these armed, take-over style robberies. A series of other marijuana dispensary robberies followed with Miller-Jimerson and Hartfield picking targets, recruiting juvenile robbers, and acting as the getaway drivers. On January 21, 2022, they robbed Zips Dispensary in Tacoma, on March 11, Miller-Jimerson provided a firearm to a juvenile for the robbery of Lucid Cannabis in Auburn and the West Seattle Dispensary. On March 19, Miller-Jimerson had armed juveniles rob the Bakeree dispensary in Seattle. One of the juveniles fired a shot in the air in that robbery. Miller-Jimerson traveled with the robbery crew to Tacoma where the juveniles robbed World of Weed. Miller-Jimerson waited outside as the getaway driver. An employee of the World of Weed was shot and killed during the robbery.
Following that shooting, Miller-Jimerson switched from robbing dispensaries to robbing banks. In June 2022, Miller-Jimerson and his coconspirator Hartfield sent juveniles into a Seattle Chase Bank branch. They were unsuccessful in robbing that bank, so they went to the Salal Credit Union, brandished guns and forced employees to unlock safes. The final robbery in the string was June 17, 2022, of a Chase branch again in Seattle.
Coconspirator Shannon Hartfield was convicted in May 2026 of 17 federal felonies from the bank robbery scheme.
In asking for a 17-year-sentence Assistant United States Attorney Kristine Foerster wrote to the court, “Miller-Jimerson and others went on a violent crime spree, robbing multiple marijuana dispensaries and banks throughout the end of 2021 and the first half of 2022. Miller-Jimerson and Shannon Hartfield used juveniles to commit many of their crimes, finding the juveniles easy to control and believing that the juveniles would face lower penalties. During each robbery, Miller-Jimerson knew that his accomplices were armed with firearms and that they intended to use them. He knew that the juveniles and young adults he sent in to commit these robberies would brandish the guns, threatening the victims while demanding money. And even after a man lost his life during one of these robberies, Miller-Jimerson didn’t stop.”
Miller-Jimerson’s federal time will run concurrently with the 15-year sentence he received in Pierce County Superior Court.
Judge King imposed five years of supervised release to follow prison and ended her sentencing hearing addressing the victims:
“The defendants not only stole marijuana and the victims’ tip money, but they also left victims with lasting emotional consequences. Many of these individuals continue to cope with fear, anxiety, and the disruption to their lives caused by the defendants. The impact of these crimes is likely to remain with the victims for years to come… But I want to emphasize that it’s very meaningful to the Court that various victims have shared their experiences with the victim witness coordinator, spoke with law enforcement about the crimes, and summoned the courage necessary to testify at trial…. By taking these actions, the victims have helped ensure that these kinds of crimes are prevented from happening to others, not just at the hands of the various defendants who have been prosecuted in state and federal courts for these crimes with the help of victim statements, but also in the form of deterring other would-be offenders from engaging in these types of crimes.”
The case was investigated by the FBI with significant assistance from Seattle Police Department, Tacoma Police Department, Tukwila Police Department, Kent Police Department, King County Sherriff’s Office, and Auburn Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United Stats Attorney’s Kristine Foerster and Amanda McDowell.
Santa Maria Man Pleads Guilty to Bombing Santa Barbara County Courthouse in Retaliation for Law Enforcement Seizing His FirearmsRead the Press Release
RIVERSIDE, California – A Santa Barbara County man pleaded guilty today to detonating a bomb at a Santa Maria courthouse in 2024, an attack that injured three people, damaged the building, and was intended to kill law enforcement officers in retaliation for local law enforcement seizing his firearms earlier that year.
Nathaniel James McGuire, 22, of Santa Maria, pleaded guilty to one count of use of a weapon of mass destruction and one count of malicious destruction of a building using an explosive.
McGuire has been in federal custody since September 2024.
“This defendant’s brazen act of terror resulted in physical, structural, and emotional harm, and could have had tragic consequences,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “Individuals who use bombs against law enforcement officials, judges, and other government personnel must be held accountable and face severe punishment for their actions.”
“McGuire launched a vicious, terroristic assault on a court of law with the intent to kill law enforcement officers and a judge,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “His attack injured three people and, were it not for the quick action of court security and law enforcement, it could have been far worse. McGuire will now face the consequences of his actions.”
“Using violence to persuade others is never the answer,” said Patrick Grandy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “Innocent lives were put at risk when this brazen act of domestic terrorism was perpetrated. I’m proud of the work of our investigators and prosecutors in this case and am confident this will serve as a deterrent to anyone contemplating similar vicious acts.”
According to his plea agreement, on September 24, 2024, McGuire intentionally detonated a bomb in the Santa Maria courthouse, which serves the Santa Barbara County Superior Court.
McGuire walked in the door of the courthouse and threw a backpack containing an explosive device past the courthouse’s security screening device and towards Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies. The bomb slid between a victim’s legs and detonated in the building outside a courtroom. Five people were hospitalized and released the same day. The bomb resulted in personal injuries to three victims.
McGuire admitted in his plea agreement that he detonated the bomb with the intent to kill the sheriff’s deputies.
After the bomb exploded, McGuire left to retrieve from his vehicle two long guns and 10 Molotov cocktails and intended to re-enter the courthouse to kill sheriff’s deputies and “splatter” (kill) a judge. A courthouse security guard and several law enforcement officers stopped McGuire at his vehicle.
McGuire admitted to maliciously damaging the courthouse, which sustained approximately $35,000 in damage and had to be closed for several days.
He also admitted to detonating the bomb at the courthouse in retaliation for various alleged government wrongs, including Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies seizing his firearms earlier that year.
A search of McGuire’s residence resulted in the seizure of other materials related to his bomb making.
United States District Judge Jesus G. Bernal scheduled a March 1, 2027, sentencing hearing, at which time McGuire will face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, and Santa Maria Police Department are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Mark P. Takla of the Orange County Office, and Kathrynne N. Seiden of the National Security Division are prosecuting this case with substantial assistance from Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Su of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section, and Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman of the Counterterrorism Section in the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.
Russian National Pleads Guilty to Smuggling U.S. Aerospace Goods to RussiaRead the Press Release
Andrei Samuilovski, 32, who has citizenship in Estonia, Switzerland, and Russia, pleaded guilty today in connection with a scheme to illegally export U.S.-origin aviation and aerospace parts to Russia in violation of U.S. sanctions.
Samuilovski pleaded guilty before Judge Carl J. Nichols to a one count information charging him with conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act. A sentencing date is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2027. Samuilovski faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
According to court documents, beginning in or around early 2022 and continuing through September 2024, Samuilovski and others conspired to supply prohibited Russian end users with aerospace-related components without first obtaining the required licenses from the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). BIS regulates the export of U.S.-origin technologies, including aerospace parts and other items controlled for national security, regional stability, and anti-terrorism reasons. A license from BIS was required to export the aerospace commodities to Russia.
Samuilovski was a co-founder of ITC Middle East FZ-LLC (ITC). ITC was officially established in March of 2022, approximately four weeks after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which led to increased Russian export restrictions and sanctions imposed by the United States, European Union, and other countries.
Between the founding of ITC and September 2024, there were dozens of shipments from various U.S. companies to ITC, as well as other shipments of U.S.-origin goods to ITC. The U.S.-origin items exported or reexported consisted primarily of export-controlled aerospace-related commodities with a cumulative value of nearly $2,000,000. These items were ultimately reexported to Russia.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia, and Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division made the announcement.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the BIS.
The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Wasserman for the District of Columbia and Deputy Chief Sean Heiden and Trial Attorney Brett Ruff of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
Russian National Pleads Guilty to Smuggling U.S. Aerospace Goods to RussiaRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Andrei Samuilovski, 32, who has citizenship in Estonia, Switzerland and Russia, pleaded guilty today in connection with a scheme to illegally export U.S.-origin aviation and aerospace parts to Russia in violation of U.S. sanctions.
Samuilovski pleaded guilty before Judge Carl J. Nichols to a one count information charging him with conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act. A sentencing date is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2027. Samuilovski faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
According to court documents, beginning in or around early 2022 and continuing through September 2024, Samuilovski and others conspired to supply prohibited Russian end users with aerospace-related components without first obtaining the required licenses from the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). BIS regulates the export of U.S.-origin technologies, including aerospace parts and other items controlled for national security, regional stability, and anti-terrorism reasons. A license from BIS was required to export the aerospace commodities to Russia.
Samuilovski was a co-founder of ITC Middle East FZ-LLC (ITC). ITC was officially established in March of 2022, approximately four weeks after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which led to increased Russian export restrictions and sanctions imposed by the United States, European Union, and other countries.
Between the founding of ITC and September 2024, there were dozens of shipments from various U.S. companies to ITC, as well as other shipments of U.S.-origin goods to ITC. The U.S.-origin items exported or reexported consisted primarily of export-controlled aerospace-related commodities with a cumulative value of nearly $2,000,000. These items were ultimately reexported to Russia.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia, and Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division made the announcement.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the BIS.
The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Wasserman for the District of Columbia and Deputy Chief Sean Heiden and Trial Attorney Brett Ruff of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
26-cr-188
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Online Coercion and Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Robert W. Nazzaro, 70, of Charleston, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for attempted online coercion and enticement of a minor.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in July and August of 2023, Nazzaro identified two purported minors on Craigslist and began chatting with them. Those purported minors, identified online as a 13-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl, were undercover law enforcement officers. Nazzaro acknowledged each of the purported minors’ ages and had sexually explicit conversations with them through email and text messages. He explained sexual concepts and discussed sexual preferences, asked for explicit photographs of each of the minors, and discussed the potential of meeting in the future. Nazzaro sent nude photographs to each purported minor as well as numerous links to pornography.
While engaged in this conduct, Nazzaro was a registered sex offender stemming from an April 2023 state conviction for sexual exploitation of a minor and dissemination of obscene material to a minor.
United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks sentenced Robert W. Nazzaro to 120 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a life term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
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.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force with assistance from the Charleston Police Department and Mount Pleasant Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean H. Secor prosecuted the case.###
Perry Man Sent Back to Federal Prison for Second Drug Trafficking ConvictionRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Nicholas Michael Freeman, 48, of Perry, Florida, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine, cocaine, and cocaine base. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This repeat offender clearly did not learn his lesson from his prior stint in federal prison, so my office has sent him back behind bars to ensure he can’t continue to peddle deadly drugs on our streets. We will continue to aggressively prosecute any and all drug dealers operating in the Northern District of Florida to deliver on the promise of Operation Take Back America that our citizens deserve to live in safe, drug-free communities.”
Court documents reflect that a Perry Police Department officer speaking with a group of individuals around a burn barrel observed the defendant manipulating a plastic baggie commonly used for street sales of narcotics, containing what the officer believed to be a pill. The officer handcuffed the defendant removed the baggie from his pocket and determined that it actually contained a piece of crack cocaine. The defendant was arrested and officers searched the fanny pack he had been wearing, finding 57 small baggies containing methamphetamine, 99 small baggies containing crack and powder cocaine, and 25 small baggies and nine large sandwich style bags containing synthetic cannabinoids.
“Freeman has been engaged in serious criminal activity for more than three decades, with a lengthy history that includes convictions for lewd assault/sexual battery involving a victim under 16, cocaine sale and distribution offenses, and other drug-related crimes,” said Perry Police Department Chief James N. Cruse Jr. “This case is another example of the outstanding work performed every day by Perry Police Department officers. The patrol officer involved recognized what he was observing, acted lawfully and professionally, and conducted a thorough investigation that directly led to Freeman’s arrest and subsequent federal conviction. I commend the officer and all personnel involved for their attention to detail and commitment to protecting our community.”
The defendant’s federal sentence will begin after he serves a 30-month state sentence for violation of probation.
This is the second time the defendant has been sentenced to federal prison. The defendant was previously convicted in 2013 of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base and sentenced to 84 months in federal prison.
“This repeat offender continues to traffic illicit and dangerous substances in Florida Pan Handle communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar, Tampa Field Division. “This area is a point of emphasis for our agents, which is reflected in the number of criminals we’ve brought to justice.”
The case involved an investigation by the Perry Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys James A. McCain and Eric W. Welch.
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.
Oklahoma Pastor Pleads Guilty to Diverting Church Funds and Failing to Pay TaxesRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – An Information was unsealed today, and former Senior Pastor Keith Rydell Mayes, Sr., 63, of Tulsa, pleaded guilty to Bank Fraud and Tax Evasion.
Mayes was hired as Senior Pastor of the historic Tulsa-based church, Vernon AME Church, in October 2021. Mayes was responsible for various church functions, including overseeing church finances and managing church donations, collections, and disbursements of funds. Shortly after joining the church, Mayes opened a new account at the bank titled, “Administrative Expenses.” He was the only authorized signer on the bank account and used his personal residence as the mailing address. Mayes then solicited, obtained, and deposited voluntary donations by others, including church members and charitable organizations, into the Administrative Expenses account.
In one instance, a church donor and the donor’s financial advisor contacted Mayes regarding a stock donation to the Church. After the conversation, Mayes opened a new brokerage account in the Church's name to enable receipt of the intended donation. Court documents show that Mayes received $365,000 in stock transfers from that donor in 2021 and 2022. Mayes then liquidated the proceeds, deposited the funds into the Church’s bank account, and embezzled most of the proceeds for his personal use.
From at least March 2022 through at least November 2025, Mayes embezzled more than $504,000. Court documents show that he used the money to support his gambling habits, pay personal expenses, and to purchase firearms. Mayes did not report this illegal income to the Internal Revenue Service, leaving him owing more than $205,000 in unpaid taxes.
The plea agreement filed today shows that Mayes agreed to forfeit the firearms and ammunition purchased with the fraudulent funds, and to repay $504,313.88 for all of his embezzlement activities, including $205,765.60 to the Internal Revenue Service.
After Mayes's appearance in court today, the judge released him on bond, where he is supervised by the United States Probation and Pretrial Service. A federal district court judge will schedule Mayes’ sentencing hearing for a later date.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Division are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David D. Whipple is prosecuting the case.
Northern District of Florida Joins DOJ Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA OIG in Surge Takedown Exceeding $245 Million in COVID-era Loan FraudRead the Press Release
Joint national takedown: 40 U.S. Attorney’s Offices, along with 20 federal and state investigative agencies, participate in two-month enforcement surge.
Pensacola, Florida – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida today announced an indictment as part of a nationwide enforcement action led by the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Small Business Administration (SBA), and the SBA Office of Inspector General targeting fraud in the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The Northern District of Florida was a key participant in this surge effort.
From June 12 to September 1, federal prosecutors across the country facilitated fraud enforcement actions spanning over 160 criminal defendants, including approximately 80 newly charged defendants, reaching approximately $245 million dollars in intended loss to American taxpayers.
U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin said: “The Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division is answering the call to action issued by President Donald J. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance to fulfill the fiduciary duty owed to the U.S taxpayer by our federal government. As evidenced by this indictment, my office is committed to zealously prosecuting frauds of all sizes through both criminal and civil enforcement as we restore the zero-tolerance threshold for fraud, waste, and abuse within federal programs.”
“Pandemic loan relief was meant to keep American small businesses alive during government lockdowns—not line the pockets of fraudsters,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The defendants charged during our summer surge allegedly fabricated businesses, submitted false payroll and revenue claims, stole identities, and concealed foreign ties on their applications— but they will now be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“This summer surge shows what is possible when dedicated public servants across the country work together with a single purpose,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Our mission is clear: protect taxpayer funds, safeguard the integrity of federal relief programs, and deliver justice to those who exploited them. We will remain steadfast every day—standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners—to identify fraud, pursue those responsible, and restore confidence in the programs meant to help American small businesses thrive.”
“Today’s announcement represents the largest-ever action against perpetrators of SBA fraud, with 870,000 suspended borrowers tied to $39 billion in suspected fraudulent PPP and COVID EIDL activity. In partnership with Vice President Vance and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, we’re putting fraudsters on notice: the federal government will no longer turn a blind eye to those who stole from taxpayers and exploited programs designed to sustain small businesses during the pandemic,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “With demand letters going out to suspected fraudsters, we’re also sending a clear message that they must repay their debts or face Treasury collections and possible federal law enforcement. Under this Administration, the free ride is over. We are restoring accountability, recovering taxpayer dollars, and protecting SBA programs for the legitimate small businesses they were created to serve.”
“Operation No Doze brings a focused and coordinated approach to pursuing fraud in SBA’s pandemic relief programs,” said SBA Inspector General William Kirk. “By concentrating our investigative resources and working closely with SBA and our law enforcement partners, we are strengthening our ability to identify fraud, recover taxpayer funds, and hold accountable those who exploited programs created to help small businesses in a time of extraordinary need. This initiative makes clear that the passage of time does not diminish our commitment to accountability.”
In the Northern District of Florida, U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin announced that Ray Pearson has been charged with PPP-related fraud involving approximately $20,142.00 in alleged losses. As alleged in the indictment, the defendant submitted falsified 2019 tax information that materially misrepresented the gross income of a construction business in order to fraudulently obtain and attempt to obtain a loan from the Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment and forfeiture of assets.
This case is being investigated by the United States Air Force, Office of Special Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica S. Etherton and Walter E. Narramore.
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.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The 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.
New Orleans Man Guilty of Conspiracy to Distribute 500 Grams or More of CocaineRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – RAYNELL PEARSON (“PEARSON”), age 48, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty on September 10, 2026 to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B), and 846, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
PEARSON faces a mandatory minimum term of 60 months imprisonment and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, a fine up to $5,000,000.00, at least 4 years supervised release after his term of imprisonment, and a mandatory assessment fee of $100.00. According to court documents, the Government and PEARSON, however, entered into an 11(c)(1)(C) plea agreement, the terms of which call for an agreed upon sentence of 60 months imprisonment.
U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier will sentence PEARSON on December 17, 2026.
According to court documents, PEARSON was developed as a target after reviewing extensive phone evidence from another related drug trafficking investigation. The phone evidence contained extensive text messages, from February 10, 2022, to January 12, 2023, between PEARSON and a source of supply, which document the sale of 500 grams or more of cocaine to PEARSON by the source of supply during that period. PEARSON admitted that he intended to resell the cocaine to others.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Privitera of the Violent Crime Unit.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
* * *
New Jersey Woman Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Role in $9.1 Million COVID-19 Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – A New Jersey woman was sentenced on July 14, 2026, to 24 months in prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Hall imposed the sentence.
According to court documents, Brigette Miller-Levy, 62, of Piscataway, NJ, owned a purported business called Royal Marketing Services, Inc. Miller-Levy conspired with Jady Solano and Carl Lawrence to submit a fraudulent application for a Paycheck Protection Program loan, a COVID‑19 relief program designed to safeguard jobs during the pandemic. The application falsely claimed that Royal Marketing Services employed 14 people with an average monthly payroll of over $120,000 and relied on a fabricated Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) tax form reporting more than $1.4 million in fictitious wages.
Rather than stopping with her own illegal payout, Miller-Levy expanded the fraud ring by recruiting co-defendants Amber Baldwin and Anthony McKinzy into the scheme, connecting them to Lawrence and Solano to obtain similar fraudulent loans. In total, Miller-Levy’s actions caused a loss of $882,777.70 to the American taxpayer. She personally gained $329,100, which included her own loan proceeds and kickbacks from Baldwin and McKinzy. To conceal the theft, Miller-Levy and her co-conspirators laundered the stolen proceeds, funneling thousands of dollars in kickbacks to the scheme’s coordinators. In total, the scheme in which Miller-Levy and the individuals she recruited participated, led by Solano and Lawrence, fraudulently obtained approximately $9.1 million in pandemic relief funds.
“Congress established the Paycheck Protection Program to provide critical financial relief, keeping workers employed and small businesses afloat during an unprecedented crisis,” said U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace. “Rather than using these funds to sustain a real workforce, Brigette Miller-Levy treated the program as a personal windfall and recruited others into the conspiracy. Those who steal taxpayer dollars and recruit others to do so will spend time in federal prison. We are grateful to the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation, for their diligent work in uncovering this network.”
“Brigette Miller-Levy’s greed and deceit are unconscionable. She and her coconspirators stole millions from American taxpayers by exploiting pandemic relief programs intended to help in an unprecedented crisis,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul. “The FBI will continue to work closely with our partners to uncover these schemes and ensure those who abuse public trust are held accountable.”
“Bridgette Miller-Levy, in concert with others, engaged in a scheme to unlawfully exploit the Payroll Protection Program—a federal initiative designed to support small businesses during a national emergency,” said Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation, Philadelphia Field Office. “The imposed sentence underscores our commitment to ensuring that individuals who defraud the government for personal gain are held fully accountable. We are honored to have collaborated with our federal law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring this case to a successful resolution.”
Upon Miller-Levy’s release from prison, she will be required to serve three years of supervised release. The Court also ordered restitution in the amount of $882,777.70.
Agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, and the FBI Baltimore Field Office’s Wilmington Resident Agency investigated the case. U.S. Attorney Wallace and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan C. Williamson prosecuted the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-109-JLH.
Months-Long, ATF-Led Operation in Louisville Results in Dozens of Indictments with Significant Firearms and Narcotics SeizuresRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – Following an approximately two-month-long, ATF-led operation involving multiple state and federal agencies, dozens of defendants were recently arrested on federal and state charges. In addition, significant amounts of narcotics and numbers of firearms were seized and taken off the streets of Louisville.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerina D. Whethers, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Chief Paul L. Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department, and U.S. Marshal Gary B. Burman of the of the U.S. Marshal Service for the Western District of Kentucky made the announcement.
This summer, Louisville ATF led a violent crime reduction initiative in Louisville. The Louisville ATF-led operation was in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky, the Jefferson County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, the Louisville Metro Police Department, the Louisville DEA Field Division, the Louisville United States Marshal Service for the Western District of Kentucky, the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, the Kentucky State Police, the Jeffersontown Police Department, the Shively Police Department, the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections and the Oldham County Department of Corrections.
The initiative focused on targeting gun traffickers who are selling guns to gang members and violent criminals and who also dispose of weapons used in violent crimes. The initiative also focused on drug traffickers working in neighborhoods with high violent crime rates.
This summer initiative was wildly successful. The initiative resulted in 43 federal indictments and 10 state indictments. Nearly 50 defendants were arrested as part of this initiative. Collectively, the defendants charged have well over 200 prior felony convictions, including multiple prior homicide convictions. Many of the charged defendants also have gang affiliations. The initiative seized 160 firearms from Louisville’s streets, including 42 machine-gun conversion devices which serve to convert a semi-automatic handgun into a machine-gun. This initiative also seized 10 kilograms of
illegal drugs, primarily including significant amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Tragically, fentanyl and methamphetamine lead to death and destruction of individual lives and destroy communities.
“The amount of effort and coordination it took to plan and execute this violent crime reduction initiative cannot be understated. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Louisville ATF for leading what was an incredibly successful violent crime reduction initiative. I also want to express a special thanks to Chief Paul Humphrey and the men and women of the Louisville Metro Police Department who willingly and effectively collaborated with ATF and our other federal law enforcement partners. I also want to voice my appreciation to Jefferson County Commonwealth Attorney Gerina Whethers and her prosecutors. We have such a strong partnership with Ms. Whethers’ office and that partnership is making Louisville a safer city. Simply put, the level of coordination and mutual respect between federal and local law enforcement in Louisville is unprecedented and it is paying significant dividends in reducing Louisville’s violent crime.” said U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner. “We have more work to do but, as this initiative shows, we are willing to think outside the box and put in the long hours to make this community safe.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge John Nokes stated, “I am proud of the men and women of ATF’s Louisville Field Division and our federal and local law enforcement partners for all they accomplished in such a short period of time. By targeting individuals responsible for driving the violence in our communities, we are sending a clear message that those who threaten our neighborhoods will be held accountable. This operation is an example of what can be accomplished when we all work together for a common goal.”
“Drugs don't simply represent a public health or quality-of-life concern; illegal drug markets create environments where violence takes root,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott. “We know there is no single operation, arrest, or seizure that will solve every problem, but every successful joint effort sends an important message: our communities are not going to be abandoned, and those who profit from drugs and violence will face a coordinated response.”
LMPD Chief Paul L. Humphrey stated, “An operation of this magnitude required months of preparation, relentless investigative work, and incredible coordination with our local and federal partners. Together, we identified and arrested dozens of criminals and took dangerous drugs and guns used in crimes off our streets. This is what effective collaboration looks like, and it makes our entire community safer.”
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.
An indictment or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Miramar Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Arthur Young, 23, of Miramar, Florida pleaded guilty in federal court to the sexual exploitation of children, producing child pornography, and possession of child pornography. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the plea today.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our children face unprecedented threats online from sexual predators seeking to sexually exploit and victimize them. It is vitally important for parents to be aware of those threats and what their kids are doing online to prevent them from being victimized. Keeping our kids safe, both online and in our communities, is a top priority for my office, and we will continue to aggressively prosecute these crimes to ensure predators, like this defendant, are locked away behind bars where they belong.”
Court documents reflect that between at least May 2024 and September 2024, the defendant communicated with a twelve-year-old child he met online. The defendant initiated multiple live video calls with her and, during these calls, used, induced, and persuaded her to engage in sexually explicit conduct. After the minor’s family reported the defendant’s misconduct to law enforcement, the subsequent investigation revealed that the defendant communicated online with over thirty other minors across multiple social media platforms. Law enforcement also recovered numerous files of child pornography on the defendant’s electronic devices.
Young faces a minimum term of fifteen years’ imprisonment, a maximum term of fifty years’ imprisonment, and a lifetime on supervised release.
Sentencing is scheduled before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor, in Gainesville, Florida on November 23, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.
The case was jointly investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Gainesville Police Department, and the Westminster (Colorado) Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
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.
Manassas man sentenced to over two years in prison for $3.5M fraud schemeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Manassas man was sentenced on Sept. 11 to two years and nine months in prison for orchestrating a multi-year fraud scheme that defrauded approximately 100 victims of more than $3.5 million.
According to court documents, Alexander A. Olave, 35, operated AO Elite, a company that falsely advertised a “done-for-you” e-commerce business model, claiming the company had built hundreds of online storefronts that generated $112 million in revenue for clients, and could produce guaranteed profit margins. None of these representations were true. Olave also falsely bolstered AO Elite’s credibility by directing prospective customers to a testimonial video that had been filmed for an unrelated company.
Olave collected up-front fees from victims who sought to launch online businesses, in exchange for his promise to build and maintain their e-commerce storefronts. Victims never received the storefronts they were promised. Olave used customer funds to pay himself a salary and to lease luxury homes and vehicles. When victims inquired about the progress of their storefronts, Olave made false representations to delay refunds and conceal the fraud. After AO Elite ceased operations, Olave created two additional companies using the same fraudulent business model.
Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Jeffrey L. Tyler, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal Division, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert McManigal prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-CR-102.
Man Living Illegally in the U.S. Sentenced for Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Roberto Galeana-Guatemala, a Mexican national who was previously deported and living illegally in the U.S., was sentenced in federal court Friday to 33 months in prison for driving his vehicle into federal law enforcement officers and seriously injuring one officer while they attempted to arrest him.
The defendant pleaded guilty on June 18, 2026, to Assaulting a Federal Officer and Deported Alien Found in the United States. According to his plea agreement, Galeana-Guatemala admitted that he used his automobile to seriously injure a Task Force Officer when they attempted to arrest him for being found in the United States after previously being deported on February 6, 2024.
According to the court records, at about 4:25 a.m. on November 12, 2025, federal agents from the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) attempted to execute a court-authorized federal arrest warrant for Galeana-Guatemala outside an apartment complex in National City. Agents had positioned their vehicles in front of Galeana-Guatemala’s vehicle and identified themselves as police before Galeana-Guatemala attempted to flee in his car.
Law enforcement agents, wearing patches and insignia identifying themselves as law enforcement, pursued his car on foot while verbally shouting “Stop!” and “Police” at Galeana-Guatemala. Galeana-Guatemala attempted to maneuver his vehicle around the law enforcement vehicles but stopped approximately one foot away from the front bumper of one of the blocking vehicles.
According to the complaint, agents approached the driver side window and shouted, “Police, don't move!” multiple times. Galeana-Guatemala momentarily paused before accelerating towards them, forcing them to scatter to avoid being hit. Galeana-Guatemala steered his vehicle directly toward three agents, hitting one who was thrown onto the street and underneath adjacent parked vehicles. The agent was hospitalized with serious bodily injuries, including a fracture to his sternum.
After Galeana-Guatemala struck the agent, he continued to flee, hitting another law enforcement vehicle in the process. When the defendant was found by law enforcement later in the day, he attempted to run away on foot but was apprehended.
“Our law enforcement agents and officers have our backs every day,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “We will hold accountable through federal prosecution anyone who puts them in harm’s way.”
“Law enforcement works every day to protect our communities and uphold the laws of our country. Violence and targeted attacks against those who serve will not be tolerated. We will continue to investigate and pursue justice against all criminal organizations and individuals who assault or attempt to harm to any law enforcement official.” said Kevin Murphy, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations. “The sentencing of Roberto Galeana-Guatemala to 33 months of federal custody sends a clear message that attacks against law enforcement are unacceptable and have significant consequences.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Van Demark and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Lauricella.
DEFENDANT Case Number 25cr4733-CAB
Roberto Carlos Galeana-Guatemala Age: 21 Mexico
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Assault on a Federal Officer – Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 111 (a)(1) and (b)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $250,000 fine
Deported Alien Found in the United States – Title 8, U.S.C., Section 1326
Maximum penalty: Two years in prison and $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations – Marine Task Force
U.S. Border Patrol
U.S. Customs and Border Protection – Air and Marine Operations
Man Extradited from Peru Pleads Guilty to Laundering More than $72 Million in Drug ProceedsRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Frank Mahonri Cruz-Marentes, a Mexican national who was extradited to the United States from Peru in November 2025, pleaded guilty this morning to laundering more than $72 million in drug proceeds between January 2019 and April 2021.
According to court records, Cruz-Marentes secured contracts with drug trafficking organizations in Mexico to pick up drug proceeds in cities throughout the United States, including Baltimore, Detroit, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston, Denver, Chicago, New York, and numerous others.
Once he received a contract, Cruz-Marentes communicated with an Imperial Valley-based network of couriers and bank account holders using burner phones and code phrases to coordinate bulk cash deposits into fictitious funnel business bank accounts.
The couriers travelled from San Diego to cities throughout the country to receive the bulk cash after using photographs and codes to verify the meeting details. The bulk cash was typically concealed in trash bags, duffel bags, or shoe boxes. After the illicit cash proceeds were deposited into the fictitious funnel bank accounts, the monies were wired to personal bank accounts in Mexico where the money was then dispersed to the drug trafficking organizations.
Cruz-Marentes is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel on December 18, 2026.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Blanca Quintero and Keith D. Ellison.
DEFENDANT Case Number 20cr2682-GPC
Frank Mahonri Cruz-Marentes Age: 37 Sinaloa, Mexico
SUMMARY OF CHARGE
Money Laundering Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(h)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $500,000 fine or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved.
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
Drug Enforcement Administration, Narcotics Task Force
Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation
Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations
San Diego Sheriff’s Department
This case was investigated and prosecuted by the California Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Las Vegas Man Pleads Guilty to Anabolic Steroid Trafficking and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Las Vegas man, formerly of Northborough, Mass., pleaded guilty on Sept. 10, 2026 in federal court in Worcester for conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute large quantities of anabolic steroids and methamphetamine. The defendant also pleaded guilty to firearms charges.
Mark Taslakian, 52, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute schedule III anabolic steroids, one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and anabolic steroids, and one count of being a felon in possession of seven firearms. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for Jan. 11, 2027.
According to court documents, Taslakian and others formulated a plan to order multi-kilogram quantities of raw steroid powders from China which they then synthesized into injectable and oral products. Taslakian came up with the idea of marketing/distributing their own brand name of anabolic steroids under the pseudonym “Nex-Gen Pharma.” During a search of Taslakian’s former residence in Northborough, over $500K in cash, a gold bar, jewelry, significant quantities of anabolic steroids and methamphetamine, packaging materials, ledgers and seven firearms in a basement safe were seized.
The charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute schedule III anabolic steroids provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, at least two years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000. The charge of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and anabolic steroids provides for a sentence of no less than five years up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5million. The charge of felon in possession of a firearm provides a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. 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; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Justin Page, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danial E. Bennett of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Las Cruces Man Sentenced for Pioneer Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces man was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for robbing a Pioneer Bank branch in August 2025 and fleeing with more than $3,500.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, on August 4, 2025, Jacob Ezekiel Martinez, 32, entered Pioneer Bank on University Avenue in Las Cruces wearing dark clothing and a mask partially covering his face. Martinez approached a teller and handed her a handwritten note threatening violence if his demands were not followed. The teller gave Martinez $3,513 in cash, and he left the bank with the money.
Las Cruces Police Department investigators identified Martinez from bank surveillance footage, including a distinctive tattoo on his right hand that matched photographs from a previous booking. The following morning, law enforcement found Martinez in the back seat of a vehicle parked outside a Las Cruces residence and arrested him. Martinez, who had shaved his head since the robbery, had arrived at the residence the previous night and told others there that he had $3,500 in cash.
Martinez pleaded guilty to bank robbery. Upon his release from prison, he will be subject to three years of supervised release.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Grant B. Gardner prosecuted the case.
Las Cruces Man Sentenced for Attempted Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces man was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for attempting to rob a local bank while armed with a hatchet.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, on February 26, 2026, Zachary Michael Clay, 42, entered First New Mexico Bank in Deming, New Mexico, with a hatchet around his waist and handed a teller a handwritten note demanding large bills. The teller told Clay to wait and walked away under the pretense of retrieving money while another employee called 911.
While waiting, Clay approached a second teller and handed over the same note. When the teller told him that he was already being assisted, Clay displayed the hatchet that was on his waist. Clay then entered the office of the bank’s assistant vice president and asked whether there was money in the office—and again brandished the hatchet.
Shortly afterwards, Clay heard the approaching sirens and left the bank without obtaining any money. Luna County Sheriff’s Office deputies immediately arrested him as he exited the bank.
Clay pleaded guilty to attempted bank robbery. Upon his release from prison, he will be subject to three years of supervised release.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Luna County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Grant B. Gardner prosecuted the case.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Ecuadorian national unlawfully residing in Milford, Mass. pleaded guilty on Sept. 8, 2026 in federal court in Worcester to illegally reentering the United States after deportation. The defendant was previously deported from the United States and arrested four times for driving under the influence in Massachusetts.
Luis Rolando Clavijo Tacuri, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for Oct. 20, 2026. Tacuri was charged in August 2026.
Tacuri was first encountered by immigration officials in October 2015, while he was incarcerated on charges of operating under the influence in Holliston, Mass. At the time, it was Tacuri’s third operating under the influence offense. Tacuri was subsequently placed into removal proceedings and deported to Ecuador in December 2016.
Sometime after his removal, Tacuri illegally reentered the United States. On May 27, 2024, Tacuri was arrested in Milford, Mass., for allegedly operating under the influence.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $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; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and David T. Wesling, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Methamphetamine That Caused Fatal Overdose of 15-Year-OldRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Tony Eldon Lee Jr., 40, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine resulting in death.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 19, 2025, Lee sold approximately 1.8 grams of methamphetamine to the 15-year-old son of his girlfriend, with whom he resided in Huntington, in exchange for $30. As part of his guilty plea, Lee admitted that he conducted the transaction after exchanging text messages with the teen, identified as “B.M.” Lee further admitted that B.M. died as a result of methamphetamine intoxication shortly after he ingested the methamphetamine that Lee sold to him, and that the methamphetamine was an independently sufficient cause of B.M.’s death.
Lee is scheduled to be sentenced on February 1, 2027, and faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years and up to life in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.
“A child lost their life because of this defendant’s actions. Those who flood our communities with illicit drugs show no regard for the lives they impact, devastate, and — tragically, in this case — destroy,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “I commend the Huntington Police Department for their exemplary work in ensuring this defendant was brought to justice. We must remain steadfast and unrelenting in our efforts to remove from our communities those who inflict harm through drug trafficking.”
“This heartbreaking case highlights the devastating impact that illicit drugs have on our children,” said Huntington Police Chief Phil Watkins. “Our officers are dedicated to holding dealers accountable for the lives they destroy. I am grateful for the tireless work of our detectives and to the U.S. Attorney's Office for their partnership in securing this conviction.”
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie Taylor are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-65.
###
Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Nigel Jamille Coats, 22, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of quantities of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 13, 2025, Coats sold approximately 22 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in exchange for $1,200 in Huntington. As part of his guilty plea, Coats admitted to the transaction and further admitted to selling approximately 18.12 grams of fentanyl on November 6, 2025, and approximately 18.12 grams of fentanyl on December 31, 2025, each time to a confidential informant in exchange for $1,200. On January 6, 2026, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Coats’ Huntington residence and seized approximately 18 grams of fentanyl.
Coats also admitted to arranging the sale of approximately 21.57 grams of fentanyl by co-defendant Wesley Tramaine Cornish to a confidential informant in exchange for $1,200 on December 16, 2025.
Coats is scheduled to be sentenced on January 11, 2027, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.
Cornish, 22, of Huntington, pleaded guilty on August 31, 2026, to possession with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 19, 2027.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Huntington Police Department, and the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah N. Hudson and Joseph F. Adams are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-22.
###
Honduran man arrested, charged with assaulting a border patrol agentRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Esli Osman Diaz-Bejarano, 28, a native of Honduras, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
On September 2, 2026, Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol agents encountered Diaz on St. Joseph Road in Niagara Falls, NY, during an immigration enforcement action. As agents attempted to interview Diaz, he fled on foot. Agents then attempted to apprehend Diaz, who resisted their efforts to restrain him. He was brought to the ground after repeatedly pulling his arms away. During the struggle, Diaz bit the left wrist of an agent, causing a bleeding laceration. The agent was treated at DeGraff Memorial Hospital for the bite injury.
Diaz made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was detained.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan W. Fitzgerald. The complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone, and U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Acting Chief Patrol Agent James D’Amato.
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.
# # # #
Homeland Security Task Force Operation Leads to Three Luzerne County Men Convicted of Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jerrod Curtis, age 42, Paul Daniel Chavis, a/k/a “Payne,” age 56, and Reneard Harris, age 68, all of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, were convicted on September 10, 2026, for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and other drug trafficking offenses following a two-week trial before United States District Judge Joseph F. Saporito, Jr.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Curtis operated a drug-trafficking organization from his barbershop in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Between February of 2024 through June of 2024, he and the other defendants conspired to distribute large amounts of controlled substances, including cocaine, cocaine base, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. The jury further found that defendants committed the following criminal offenses during the course of the conspiracy:
- On January 22, 2025, Chavis distributed and possessed with intent to distribute five grams and more of actual methamphetamine;
- On April 15, 2025, Chavis distributed and possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine;
- On April 19, 2025, Curtis and Harris used a communication facility to facilitate the commission of a drug trafficking crime; and
- On April 30, 2025, and May 26, 2025, Curtis used a communication facility to facilitate the commission of a drug trafficking crime.
During the investigation, DEA and other law enforcement agents recovered over 10 kilograms of fentanyl from members of the conspiracy as well as large quantities of other controlled substances.
This operation 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 U.S. 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 comprises agents and officers from Drug Enforcement Administration, the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department, the Wilkes-Barre Township Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Luzerne County Drug Task Force, and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys James M. Buchanan and Anthony Williamson prosecuted the case.
In this case, the maximum penalty is life imprisonment. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
# # #
Hermitage Felon Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Hermitage, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possessing a firearm after a felony conviction, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Marryon Hopson Savage, 28, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on January 15, 2025, Hopson Savage possessed a firearm after previously having been convicted of a felony. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for January 26, 2027. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Hermitage Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Hopson Savage.
Hartford Group Charged with Kidnapping and Related OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Hartford Police Chief James C. Rovella today announced that TYQUAN DECHALUS, also known as “Ty Ty” and “Kuzzo Ty,” 26; MICHAEL PHILLIP SQUIREWELL, also known as “Hoola,” “Hoola Gang,” and “Trench Monkey,” 30; DWAYNE GRAHAM, also known as “Bizzy,” 24; NICKOLAZ ROBINSON, also known as “Luck” and “Lucky,” 23; and DIAMOND FUENTES, also known as “Didi” and “Lil Belly,” 19; all of Hartford, have been federally charged for their alleged involvement in a kidnapping and ransom demand in January 2026.
As alleged in the indictment, Dechalus, Squirewell, Graham, Robinson, and Fuentes conspired to kidnap and hold for ransom a victim in Hartford. On January 26 and 27, 2026, Dechalus, Squirewell, and Robinson exchanged text messages in which they discussed needing money and marijuana and then targeted the victim. On January 28, 2026, Graham had Fuentes lure the victim to a residence on Laurel Street in Hartford where the victim was kidnapped at gunpoint and pistol whipped. Dechalus, Graham, Squirewell, and Robinson then broke into the victim’s residence looking for marijuana and money. They then demanded money from the victim’s family in exchange for his safe return. Fuentes then picked up money left for the kidnappers by the victim’s family.
Hartford Police arrested Dechalus, Squirewell, and Graham on state charges on January 28, 2026. It is alleged that Dechalus and Squirewell each possessed a firearm, and Dechalus possessed a distribution quantity of cocaine, when they were arrested.
On September 9, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging each of the five defendants with conspiracy, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and with kidnapping, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of life. Dechalus is also charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of at least five years. Squirewell is also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and Fuentes is charged with receiving and possessing ransom money, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
Robinson and Fuentes were arrested on September 10, 2026, entered pleas of not guilty to the charges, and were released on bonds of $150,000 and $50,000, respectively. Dechalus is currently in state custody and Graham is in federal custody having been previously charged with an unrelated firearm offense. Squirewell is currently being sought by law enforcement.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and the Hartford Police Department. The Task Force includes members from the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, and the East Hartford, Hartford, New Britain, West Hartford, Wethersfield, and Newington Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean P. Mahard and Reed Durham.
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.
HSTF Investigation Leads to Criminal Indictment of Prominent Pill Press Company and Arrest of Principal ManagersRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On Sep. 9, 2026, Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Tucson District Office, conducted a multi-state enforcement operation resulting in the arrest of Alastair Mark Sanderson, 39, of Overland Park, Kansas; William Robert Norris, 43, of Westworth Village, Texas; and Michael Christian Packard, 36, of Fort Worth, Texas. Sanderson and Norris are the principal managers of LFA Machines DFW, LLC. Packard is a former long-time employee of LFA.
Based in Fort Worth, Texas, LFA Machines sells a variety of tableting machines and other products to customers across the United States. Often called pill presses, tableting machines are used to compress powder formulations into pill form, creating pills of uniform size, shape, and weight. LFA Machines sells a line of desktop tablet presses that are low cost and can produce up to 5,000 tablets per hour. The distribution, importation, and exportation of tableting machines is regulated under federal law and encompasses stringent know-your-customer requirements.
LFA Machines also sells a product called Firmapress. Firmapress is a binding agent added during the manufacturing process that helps ingredients blend smoothly, flow easily as powders, and bind together to form durable pills or tablets. LFA Machines advertises that Firmapress, which is available in multiple colors, enables “entrepreneurs, home users or businesses [to] pick out an active ingredient, add Firmapress and have a pharmaceutical grade tablet from day one.” These qualities make LFA’s products ideal for use in clandestine illicit drug labs.
The DEA has identified the proliferation of pill press machines as an emerging threat. Drug traffickers use pill presses to press fentanyl into pills and punches and dies to imprint markings and logos onto those pills, producing pills that look like legitimate prescription medication—like oxycodone, Xanax, and Adderall—when those pills, in fact, contain fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other deadly drugs. In 2025, the DEA seized more than 47 million fentanyl-laced fake pills and nearly 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder.
Over the course of a multi-year investigation, federal investigators not only recovered LFA’s pill presses and other products from multiple clandestine labs around the United States, but developed evidence showing that Sanderson, Norris, and Packard conspired to and did sell LFA’s products to customers knowing, intending, or having reasonable cause to believe that they would be used to manufacture illicit controlled substances.
On August 21, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned a six-count indictment against LFA Machines, Sanderson, Norris, and Packard alleging one count of Conspiracy to Unlawfully Manufacture, Distribute, Export, and Import Tableting Machines, Equipment, Chemicals, Products, and Materials; two counts of Unlawfully Distributing Chemicals, Products, and Materials; and three counts of Unlawfully Distributing a Tableting Machine. A conviction for each of these crimes carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for the individual defendants and, for LFA Machines, a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain derived from the offense, whichever is greater.
The DEA’s Tucson District Office and SPEAR group led the investigation.
This investigation and prosecution are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
HSTF Arizona comprises agents and officers from HSI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the FBI, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, IRS-Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Secret Service, the Bureau of Land Management, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Tucson Police Department, Pima County Sheriff’s Office, Oro Valley Police Department, Marana Police Department, and Arizona HIDTA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael R. Lizano, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
CASE NUMBER: 26-CR-04376-TUC-AMM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-157_LFA Machines, et al.# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Former U.S. Navy Sailors Plead Guilty to Selling Fentanyl-Laden Pills to Servicemembers Assigned to the USS Abraham LincolnRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Former sailors Bailey A. Szramowski and Johnnese H. Poomaihealani pleaded guilty in federal court this morning to selling counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl to active-duty U.S. Navy servicemembers stationed in San Diego, including during deployments.
According to court records, Szramowski provided an active-duty U.S. Navy servicemember assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln with 10 purported oxycodone pills in December 2022. The victim, identified in court records by his initials, A.N., overdosed and died of acute fentanyl intoxication in January 2023.
Despite knowing of A.N.’s death, Szramowski sold three more purported oxycodone pills to another sailor, identified as C.L., just 10 days later. After that sailor was taken to the hospital for a suspected overdose from which he recovered, Szramowski and Poomaihealani called C.L. and instructed C.L. to tell law enforcement he received the pills from A.N. and not Szramowski.
Szramowski and Poomaihealani are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ruth Bermudez Montenegro on December 11, 2026.
Special agents and task force officers with HSI San Diego’s Fentanyl Abatement and Suppression Team (FAST) led this investigation. HSI San Diego’s FAST is a multiagency task force comprising state, local, and federal partners and was first established in August 2022 focusing on the disruption and dismantlement of criminal organizations that smuggle and distribute fentanyl within San Diego County. HSI’s FAST targets fentanyl smuggling and distribution networks to counter the rising overdose rate and decrease the availability and accessibility of fentanyl.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith D. Ellison. Former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Samson Schatz contributed significantly to the case.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 20cr2682-GPC
Bailey A. Szramowski Age: 29 Hawaii
Johnnese H. Poomaihealani Age: 25 Hawaii
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a)(1) and 846
Maximum penalties:
- Szramowski: A minimum of five years in prison up to 40 years, and $5,000,000 fine
- Poomaihealani: Twenty years in prison and $1 million fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
Naval Criminal Investigative Service
California Department of Justice
This case was investigated and prosecuted by the California Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Former L.A. County Sheriff's Deputy Sentenced to Nearly 2 Years in Prison for Violating Civil Rights While Providing Off-Duty Security for Crypto CriminalRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) deputy was sentenced today to 21 months in federal prison for abusing his status as a law enforcement officer to threaten and intimidate adversaries of a now-imprisoned, self-proclaimed cryptocurrency businessman, and for cheating on his taxes.
Christopher Michael Cadman, 34, of Fullerton, was sentenced by United States District Judge Percy Anderson, who also ordered him to pay $25,000 in restitution.
Cadman pleaded guilty in August 2025 to one count of conspiracy against rights and one count of subscribing to a false tax return.
Cadman formerly was employed by Adam Iza, 26, who resided in Beverly Hills and Newport Beach, and was a self-styled cryptocurrency businessman who has been in federal custody since September 2024. Iza pleaded guilty in January 2025 to one count of conspiracy against rights, one count of wire fraud, and one count of tax evasion. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 5 before Judge Anderson.
Iza is serving a 15-year federal prison sentence for his involvement in an attempted robbery of Bitcoin and a kidnapping in Connecticut in August 2024.
According to court documents, in August 2021, Cadman and LASD Deputy Scott Simpkins intimidated and threatened a victim who was one of Iza’s adversaries. According to Cadman’s plea, Simpkins held the victim at gunpoint during a meeting at Iza’s office inside his Bel Air mansion. Immediately afterward, the victim transferred approximately $25,000 from his bank account to Iza’s bank account in response to the threat and demand.
In September 2021, Cadman and other law enforcement officers orchestrated a traffic stop in Paramount to arrest the same victim. Cadman helped organize the traffic stop and arrest on Iza’s behalf and received cash payments while he worked for Iza.
Cadman also received income – at least $40,500 – he knowingly failed to report on his 2021 federal tax return, which he signed and filed with the IRS in February 2022. Cadman owed approximately $11,000 in federal taxes for that year.
“Our legal system entrusts law enforcement officers with extraordinary authority,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “Those powers carry a corresponding duty to uphold constitutional rights, exercise sound judgment, and serve the public with integrity. When an officer abuses that trust, the harm extends beyond the immediate victim. It undermines confidence in the rule of law, weakens trust in government institutions, and damages the reputation of the countless officers who serve honorably.”
Cadman is one of five now-former LASD deputies convicted in connection with Iza’s criminal activities:
- Michael David Coberg, 45, of Eastvale, is serving a 63-month federal prison sentence for helping Iza extort a rival and arranging the sham illegal drug possession arrest of another adversary in Paramount in 2021. Judge Anderson sentenced Coberg on March 16.
- Scott Allen Simpkins, 34, of Brea, was sentenced on July 13 to 18 months in federal prison for obstructing a federal investigation into Iza’s extortion of $25,000 from a party planner at Iza’s Bel Air mansion.
- David Anthony Rodriguez, 45, of La Verne, was sentenced on July 20 to one year in federal prison and who had worked for Iza as a private security guard, pleaded guilty to submitting a false search warrant application to a state court judge on behalf of a different client.
- Eric Chase Saavedra, 42, of Chino, a former LASD deputy and a former federal task force officer, pleaded guilty in February 2025 to one count of conspiracy against rights and one count of making and subscribing to a false tax return. Saavedra founded a company – Saavedra & Associates LLC – that provided security to Iza and hired LASD deputies to do so. Among other crimes, Saavedra used his powers as a sworn law enforcement officer to improperly obtain court-authorized search warrants related to intimidating, threatening, and harassing Iza’s adversaries. Saavedra is expected to be sentenced in the coming weeks.
Relatedly, Iris Ramaya Au, 37, of Irvine, Iza’s ex-girlfriend, pleaded guilty in March 2025 to one count of subscribing to a false tax return for failing to report more than $2.6 million in ill-gotten funds she obtained from Iza’s criminal activities. Au will face a statutory maximum sentence of three years in federal prison at her sentencing hearing, which is expected to occur in the coming weeks.
The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has assisted.
Assistant United States Attorney Maxwell K. Coll of the National Security Division prosecuted this case.
Former Fresno County mail carrier indicted for keeping and failing to deliver the mailRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Ronald Juckno, 53, of Fresno, former mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), was arrested on Friday, Sept. 11 following an indictment charging him with keeping and failing to deliver the mail, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced today.
According to court records, between August and September 2024, Juckno was found in possession of more than 8,500 pieces of mail that he had held onto and failed to deliver to his customers. The mail included sensitive items such as California EDD correspondence, financial records, insurance records, medical correspondence, tax records, and utility bills. He was placed on leave and then resigned his position as a mail carrier shortly after this discovery.
The USPS Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Banister and Joseph Barton are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Juckno faces a maximum sentence of five years federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Any sentence, however, would 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. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Former CEO Charged with FraudRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging WANJA OBERHOF, a founder and the former CEO of a wellness startup, the Healing Company, with defrauding an investor in his venture. OBERHOF was presented today before Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang.
“Investors are entitled to know that their money will be used for the purposes they were promised, not siphoned off to fund an executive’s personal expenses,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “As alleged, Wanja Oberhof convinced an investor to provide millions of dollars for a specific business purpose, then diverted much of that money for his own benefit and doctored records to conceal what he had done.”
“Oberhof allegedly defrauded at least one victim of over two million dollars and operated under the guise of running a wellness company,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “The FBI and its partners will continue to pursue investigations into dishonest individuals to prevent the furtherance of any such schemes.”
According to the allegations contained in the Complaint:(1)
The Healing Company was a start-up venture that, among other things, sought to acquire interests in health and wellness companies. As described further below, WANJA OBERHOF, the defendant, was a co-founder and then CEO of The Healing Company and made misrepresentations to an investor in The Healing Company in order to obtain investor money, and subsequently misappropriated investor funds. In particular, OBERHOF tricked a businessman (“Victim-1”) into investing $2.5 million in an affiliate of The Healing Company based on the false promise that Victim-1’s funds would be used in substantial part to pay off debt that was encumbering a valuable asset held by The Healing Company. Rather than using the investor’s money as promised, OBERHOF misappropriated the vast majority through various money transfers for OBERHOF’s personal benefit. For example, OBERHOF transferred, or caused to be transferred: (a) approximately $25,000 of Victim-1’s money to pay for OBERHOF’s rent at his luxury penthouse apartment in Manhattan (which cost nearly $20,000 per month in rent); (b) over $57,000 of Victim-1’s money to repay a personal loan; and (c) ultimately, over $1.8 million of Victim-1’s money to a foreign bank account controlled by OBERHOF. In an attempt to hide the fraud from Victim-1, OBERHOF shared with Victim-1 and others doctored records relating to the use of Victim-1’s investment that, had OBERHOF not manipulated them, would have revealed OBERHOF’s misappropriation and the fraud on Victim-1.
* * *
OBERHOF, a German national, is charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 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 a judge.
Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding work of the FBI.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Micah F. Fergenson is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
^
As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the descriptions of the Complaint constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Former Attorney Pleads Guilty in Real Estate Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – Michael Saracco (40, Cocoa) has pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison per count. Sentencing has been set for December 2, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, Saracco is a former attorney who owned Driftwood Title located in Cocoa and All Florida Property Solutions (AFPS). Saracco maintained various Driftwood escrow accounts. Between August 2019 and July 2025, Saracco defrauded private lending companies, financial institutions, and title insurance underwriters.
Saracco’s participation and acts in furtherance of the scheme to defraud included, but were not limited to the following: (i) soliciting private lenders and funding companies for loans secured by properties Saracco purported to own or planned to purchase; (ii) falsely representing to these private lenders and funding companies that these properties were not encumbered; (iii) conducting real estate closings of the loan transactions and representing to the lenders that he recorded the mortgage documents in the appropriate county clerk’s office as represented; (iv) failing to record the corresponding mortgage documents granted by private lenders; (v) seeking subsequent loans from private lenders without disclosing the existence of pre-existing private lender mortgages on his properties on the real estate settlement statements; (vi) arranging for the properties to be sold, which caused financial institutions, to fund loans via interstate wire funds transfers to buyers through Driftwood escrow accounts, without knowledge of the unrecorded mortgages granted in favor of the private lenders, which netted Saracco hundreds of thousands of dollars in seller proceeds; (vii) submitting closing disclosures that did not accurately disclose the existing encumbrances; (viii) submitting closing disclosures to the mortgage lenders through interstate wires, which listed certain encumbrances to be paid off, but were not paid off; (ix) diverting proceeds from the mortgage lenders meant to pay off liens to himself through AFPS; and (x) issuing Title Commitments falsely stating that Driftwood had issued title insurance policies backed by title insurance underwriters, when in fact no such polices had been issued.
This case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Transporting Illegal AlienRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Florida man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to transporting an illegal alien.
According to court records, in September 2023, the U.S. Border Patrol learned that a woman had been seen walking from Canada into the United States at the international border near Lowelltown — a remoted, wooded area in Franklin County with a history of smuggling activity. At the same time, a black SUV was seen heading towards the woman’s location. A short time later, U.S. Border Patrol agents pulled over the SUV. Agents identified the driver as John Boniello, 40, and the female passenger as a French citizen who did not have legal status in the U.S. Boniello admitted that he had traveled from Florida to Maine to pick up the woman and that he knew she could not legally enter the U.S.
Boniello faces up to five years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.
###
Five Prominent Black Axe Members Extradited for Conspiring to Engage in Internet Scams and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – Five members of the Cape Town Zone of the Neo Black Movement of Africa, also known as “Black Axe,” who were extradited from South Africa to the United States on wire fraud and money laundering charges, will have their initial appearances and arraignments today at 1:00 pm before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Perry Osagiede, aka “Lord Sutan Abubakar de 1st,” aka “Rob Nicolella,” aka “Alan Salomon,” 57; Franklyn Edosa Osagiede, aka, “Lord Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela,” aka, “Edosa Franklyn Osagiede,” aka “Dave Hewitt,” aka, “Bruce Dupont,” 42; Osariemen Eric Clement, aka, “Lord Adekunle Ajasi,” aka, “Aiden Wilson,” 40; Collins Owhofasa Otughwor, aka, “Lord Jesse Makoko,” aka, “Philip Coughlan,” 42; and Musa Mudashiru, aka “Lord Oba Akenzua,” 38; all originally from Nigeria, are charged by superseding indictment with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, spanning from 2011 to 2021.
Perry Osagiede, Franklyn Osagiede, and Clement are also charged with wire fraud, and Perry Osagiede, Franklyn Osagiede, and Otughwor are also charged with aggravated identity theft.
“The alleged members of Black Axe believed that operating behind electronic devices thousands of miles away would place them beyond the reach of American justice. They were wrong. This extradition demonstrates that our Office, together with our law enforcement partners in the United States and abroad, will relentlessly pursue transnational criminal organizations that victimize Americans, no matter where they operate and hide.”
- U.S. Robert Frazer
"Black Axe is a notoriously violent transnational criminal organization that also happens to dabble in romance scams to make money,” said FBI Newark Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy. “The ability of FBI Newark and our partner agencies to reach into South Africa illustrates our resolve to hold accountable any and every type of fraudster who preys on innocent victims here in the United States. We also want to use this investigation as a message to victims: please call us if you have been scammed and help us stop these predators from continuing their vicious criminal activity."
“This case reflects the result of a years-long effort by the U.S. Secret Service and our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and bring to justice those who allegedly preyed on victims through sophisticated online fraud and money laundering schemes,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Marech of the U.S. Secret Service’s Newark Field Office. “This case demonstrates the power of cooperation and sends a clear message that the Secret Service and our partners will pursue those who target U.S. victims wherever they operate, anywhere in the world.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Perry Osagiede, Franklyn Osagiede, Clement, Otughwor, and Mudashiru (the “Black Axe defendants”) were all leaders of the Neo Black Movement of Africa, also known as “Black Axe,” an organization headquartered in Benin City, Nigeria that operates in various countries. Black Axe is organized into regional chapters known as “zones,” and the defendants were all leaders within the Cape Town Zone in South Africa. Perry Osagiede founded the Cape Town Zone of Black Axe and worked as its zonal head. The Black Axe defendants and other members of Black Axe took part in, and openly discussed, fraud schemes amongst their membership.
From at least 2011 through 2021, the Black Axe defendants and other conspirators worked together from Cape Town to engage in widespread internet fraud involving romance scams and advance fee schemes. Many of these fraudulent narratives involved claims that an individual was traveling to South Africa for work and needed money or other items of value following a series of unfortunate and unforeseen events, often involving a construction site or problems with a crane. The conspirators used social media websites, online dating websites, and voice over internet protocol phone numbers to find and talk with victims in the United States, while using a number of aliases.
The conspirators’ romance scam victims believed they were in romantic relationships with the person using the alias and, when requested, the victims sent money and items of value overseas, including to South Africa. Sometimes, when victims expressed hesitation in sending money, the conspirators used manipulative tactics to coerce the payments, including by threatening to distribute personally sensitive photographs of the victim.
The conspirators used the bank accounts of victims and individuals with United States-based financial accounts to transfer the money to South Africa. On certain occasions, the conspirators convinced victims to open financial accounts in the United States that the conspirators would then be permitted to use themselves. In addition to laundering money derived from romance scams and advance fee schemes, the conspirators also worked to launder money from business email compromises. In addition to their aliases, the conspirators used business entities to conceal and disguise the illegal nature of the funds.
The wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud charges each carry a maximum term of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. The money laundering conspiracy charge carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greatest. The aggravated identity theft charges carry a mandatory term of two years in prison, which must run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed on a defendant.
The Black Axe defendants were arrested in South Africa in 2021 at the request of the United States and extradited to the United States on September 11, 2026.
Anyone who believes they may be a victim may visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/blackaxe for information about the case, including a questionnaire for victims to fill out and submit.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark; and under the direction of Law Enforcement Attaché Mark F. Grimm at the FBI Law Enforcement Attaché Office at the United States Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa; special agents of the U.S. Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Craig Marech in Newark and under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Todd Bratz of the U.S. Secret Service Criminal Investigative Division; and the U.S. Secret Service Pretoria Resident Office, with the investigation leading to the charges.
He also thanked the South African Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations (HAWKS), the South African Police Service, the South African National Prosecuting Authority & Asset Forfeiture Unit, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development for the Republic of South Africa, and Interpol for their assistance in this case. U.S. Attorney Frazer thanked officials in South Africa for their assistance.
He also thanked special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Assistant Law Enforcement Attaché Ian A. Hallenius; and deputy U.S. marshals of the U.S. Marshal Service, under the direction of U.S. Marshal Nicholas Ricigliano, for organizing, coordinating, and conducting the foreign transfer of custody flight that brought the Black Axe defendants to the United States for prosecution.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard G. Shephard of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing the arrests of the Black Axe defendants and their extradition to the United States.
The charges and allegations contained in the superseding indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
###
Financial Advisor Sentenced to Federal Prison for Defrauding Elderly ClientRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Ejiroghene O. Okuma, a financial adviser who defrauded an elderly client out of nearly $10 million, was sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison for wire fraud.
“Under the guise of acting as a financial adviser, Okuma abused the trust placed in him by an elderly client,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “His sentence should send a clear message to fiduciaries who may be tempted to steal: we will seek lengthy prison sentences to punish those who exploit vulnerable citizens to line their own pockets.”
“Okuma betrayed the trust of an elderly client and exploited his position as a financial adviser to steal nearly $10 million for his own personal benefit,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “He used his access and authority to systematically drain his victim’s accounts while funneling the stolen money into lavish purchases and other personal expenses. The FBI will aggressively pursue financial predators who exploit their positions of trust and prey on vulnerable victims.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Okuma was an investment adviser who received complete access to the brokerage account of an elderly client (“Victim-1”) in 2016.
In February 2022, Okuma was appointed to administer the estate of Victim-1’s sister. The next month, Okuma began embezzling from Victim-1 by falsely representing that the sister’s estate required funds. Believing Okuma’s lies, Victim-1 permitted Okuma to transfer $500,000 from a brokerage account to a bank account purportedly held for the estate. Without Victim-1’s knowledge, Okuma then transferred those funds to a bank account in the name of his wife’s company. Later, in June 2022, Okuma stole approximately $400,000 by transferring (i) funds he deceived Victim-1 into paying as part of administering the sister’s estate and (ii) proceeds from the sale of the sister’s residence.
After embezzling nearly $1 million from Victim-1 through lies about Victim-1’s sister’s estate, Okuma set up fraudulent accounts to steal millions more from Victim-1. In February 2023, Okuma opened an unauthorized brokerage account in the name of a revocable trust involving Victim-1. On the same day that Okuma opened the fraudulent brokerage account, he opened a bank account in his own name and added himself as a custodian to an existing bank account in Victim-1’s name, giving himself the ability to withdraw funds without Victim-1’s approval.
Within days, Okuma began draining Victim-1’s brokerage accounts. By the end of February 2023, Okuma had transferred approximately $9 million of Victim-1’s funds to the fraudulently opened brokerage account without Victim-1’s knowledge. Between August 2023 and March 2025, Okuma moved that money to other accounts he controlled and used it to, among other things, purchase a $5.2 million residence in Vinings, Georgia, purchase an approximately $1.4 million beach club membership, and donate approximately $340,000 to his church.
On September 11, 2026, Ejiroghene O. Okuma, 44, of Smyrna, Georgia, was sentenced to seven years, four months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Restitution will be decided at a hearing that will be scheduled at a later date. Okuma was convicted of one count of wire fraud after pleading guilty on March 17, 2026.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with valuable assistance from the Securities and Exchange Commission.
For more information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to help older Americans and to combat elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation and fraud, please visit https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice. The Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.
Assistant United States Attorney Samir Kaushal and former Assistant United States Attorney Alex R. Sistla prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Farmington Man Charged with Four Alleged Sexual AssaultsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Farmington man has been indicted in connection with four alleged sexual assaults that occurred over a one-year period.
According to court documents, in July 2025, September 2025, April 2026 and on August 17, 2026, Running Bear Hosteen, 43, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, engaged in a sex act with Jane Doe by the use of force.
Hosteen is charged with four counts of aggravated sexual abuse and will remain on conditions of release pending trial which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, Hosteen faces up to life in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Burkhead Neal is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Eastern District of Virginia joins DOJ Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA OIG in surge takedown exceeding $245M in COVID-era loan fraudRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) today announced two prosecutions as part of a nationwide enforcement action led by the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Small Business Administration (SBA), and the SBA Office of Inspector General targeting fraud in the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
EDVA was a key participant in this surge effort.
From June 12 to Sept. 1, federal prosecutors across the country facilitated fraud enforcement actions spanning over 160 criminal defendants, including approximately 80 newly charged defendants, reaching approximately $245 million dollars in intended loss to American taxpayers.
“Pandemic loan relief was meant to keep American small businesses alive during government lockdowns—not line the pockets of fraudsters,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The defendants charged during our summer surge allegedly fabricated businesses, submitted false payroll and revenue claims, stole identities, and concealed foreign ties on their applications— but they will now be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“As the federal government was providing vital assistance to businesses impacted by a global pandemic, scammers and thieves cynically exploited that lifeline to enrich themselves,” said Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for EDVA. “We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to prosecute these economic parasites and recover the taxpayer funding intended to buoy small businesses in a time of crisis.”
“This summer surge shows what is possible when dedicated public servants across the country work together with a single purpose,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Our mission is clear: protect taxpayer funds, safeguard the integrity of federal relief programs, and deliver justice to those who exploited them. We will remain steadfast every day—standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners—to identify fraud, pursue those responsible, and restore confidence in the programs meant to help American small businesses thrive.”
“Today’s announcement represents the largest-ever action against perpetrators of SBA fraud, with 870,000 suspended borrowers tied to $39 billion in suspected fraudulent PPP and COVID EIDL activity. In partnership with Vice President Vance and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, we’re putting fraudsters on notice: the federal government will no longer turn a blind eye to those who stole from taxpayers and exploited programs designed to sustain small businesses during the pandemic,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “With demand letters going out to suspected fraudsters, we’re also sending a clear message that they must repay their debts or face Treasury collections and possible federal law enforcement. Under this Administration, the free ride is over. We are restoring accountability, recovering taxpayer dollars, and protecting SBA programs for the legitimate small businesses they were created to serve.”
“Operation No Doze brings a focused and coordinated approach to pursuing fraud in SBA’s pandemic relief programs,” said SBA Inspector General William Kirk. “By concentrating our investigative resources and working closely with SBA and our law enforcement partners, we are strengthening our ability to identify fraud, recover taxpayer funds, and hold accountable those who exploited programs created to help small businesses in a time of extraordinary need. This initiative makes clear that the passage of time does not diminish our commitment to accountability.”
In EDVA, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Stamos announced that three defendants were sentenced for PPP-related fraud involving approximately $2,125,000 in losses.
According to court documents, Karen J. DeMatteo, 65, of Gainesville, and her business partner, Tae Young Q. Jang, 65, of Nokesville, took out over 15 PPP and EIDL loans for entities they previously owned. Some of the applicant entities were dormant and no longer conducted business at the time of the applications. Jang and DeMatteo inflated the number of employees, payroll costs, and gross revenues associated with each applicant entity. Moreover, Jang and DeMatteo reported different payroll and revenue amounts for the applicant entities on different loan applications. Jang and DeMatteo then spent the PPP and EIDL funds for inappropriate uses, including buying cryptocurrency, houses, and a car. On Aug. 6, DeMatteo was sentenced to two years and six months in prison. On Aug. 27, Jang was sentenced to a year and five months in prison. This case was investigated by the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Between May 2020 and March 2021, Sheila Bynum-Coleman fraudulently sought and obtained more than $225,000 in loan proceeds from the Paycheck Protection Program on behalf of eight purported business entities. Bynum-Coleman used those funds for personal purposes, including paying off the mortgage on her residence, purchasing luxury clothing, and paying off her personal credit cards. Bynum-Coleman also defrauded the Virginia Employment Commission, submitting fraudulent applications for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance funds, obtaining more than $17,000 of unemployment compensation benefits. On July 27, Bynum-Coleman was sentenced to two years in prison. This case was investigated by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Eastern District of Texas joins DOJ Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA OIG in COVID-Era Loan Takedown Exceeding $245 million in FraudRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas –The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Texas today announced results as part of a nationwide enforcement action led by the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Small Business Administration, and the SBA Office of Inspector General targeting fraud in the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The Eastern District of Texas was a key participant in this surge effort.
From June 12 to September 1, federal prosecutors across the country facilitated fraud enforcement actions involving over 160 defendants and approximately $245 million in intended loss to American taxpayers.
“In the Eastern District of Texas, we will spare no effort to recover ill-gotten gains,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “These funds were intended to keep small businesses alive, not fund the lifestyles of individuals taking advantage of the programs.”
“Pandemic loan relief was meant to keep American small businesses alive during government lockdowns—not line the pockets of fraudsters,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The defendants charged during our summer surge allegedly fabricated businesses, submitted false payroll and revenue claims, stole identities, and concealed foreign ties on their applications— but they will now be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“This summer surge shows what is possible when dedicated public servants across the country work together with a single purpose,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Our mission is clear: protect taxpayer funds, safeguard the integrity of federal relief programs, and deliver justice to those who exploited them. We will remain steadfast every day—standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners—to identify fraud, pursue those responsible, and restore confidence in the programs meant to help American small businesses thrive.”
“Today’s announcement represents the largest-ever action against perpetrators of SBA fraud, with 870,000 suspended borrowers tied to $39 billion in suspected fraudulent PPP and COVID EIDL activity. In partnership with Vice President Vance and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, we’re putting fraudsters on notice: the federal government will no longer turn a blind eye to those who stole from taxpayers and exploited programs designed to sustain small businesses during the pandemic,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “With demand letters going out to suspected fraudsters, we’re also sending a clear message that they must repay their debts or face Treasury collections and possible federal law enforcement. Under this Administration, the free ride is over. We are restoring accountability, recovering taxpayer dollars, and protecting SBA programs for the legitimate small businesses they were created to serve.”
“Operation No Doze brings a focused and coordinated approach to pursuing fraud in SBA’s pandemic relief programs,” said SBA Inspector General William Kirk. “By concentrating our investigative resources and working closely with SBA and our law enforcement partners, we are strengthening our ability to identify fraud, recover taxpayer funds, and hold accountable those who exploited programs created to help small businesses in a time of extraordinary need. This initiative makes clear that the passage of time does not diminish our commitment to accountability.”
In the Eastern District of Texas, U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs announced that three defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Two other defendants have been set for trial.On August 12, 2026, Weldon Greer, Jr., 61, of Houston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and faces up to 30 years in federal prison. According to information presented in court, from 2020 through 2021, Greer conspired to fraudulently obtain dozens of PPP and EIDL loans by submitting falsified supporting documentation to the SBA. The total loss to the SBA was at least $8,394,561. Greer’s co-conspirator, Jarrod Durant Wilburn, 58, of Houston, has also been charged and is set for trial on October 13, 2026, in Beaumont. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Carter.
On August 13, 2026, Thomas Flanagan, 66, of Beaumont, was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with four counts of wire fraud. According to the indictment, Flanagan is alleged to have submitted falsified applications for forgiveness of PPP loans for two businesses, James Flanagan Shipping Corporation and P.C. Pfeiffer Co. Inc., resulting in a loss to the SBA of $1,514,917. If convicted, Flanagan faces up to 20 years in federal prison. Flanagan is set for trial in January of 2027 in Beaumont. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.
Craig Bennett, 51, and his wife, Chemika Bennett, 53, of Celina, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The Bennetts applied online for PPP loans under their own names, as well as business names using fraudulent statements and information claiming the loans would be used for business expenses and employee payroll. However, the Bennetts did not have employees or business expenses, and the loans were sued for their personal expenses. The loss to the SBA is $697,000. The couple faces up to 20 years in federal prison and will be sentenced on November 10, 2026, in Sherman.
These cases were investigated by the SBA – Office of Inspector General and the FBI.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.###
Eastern District of Louisiana Joins DOJ Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA OIG in Law Enforcement Surge Takedown Exceeding $245 Million in COVID-19 related Loan FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney David I. Courcelle for the Eastern District of Louisiana announced today the successful prosecution of seven (7) defendants for Small Business Administration related fraud, resulting in seven (7) guilty pleas, four (4) of which have already been sentenced, making EDLA a key player in the nationwide enforcement surge led by the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Small Business Administration (“SBA”), and the SBA Office of Inspector General targeting fraud in the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
From June 12 to September 1, federal prosecutors across the country facilitated fraud enforcement actions netting over 160 criminal defendants, including approximately 80 newly charged defendants, amounting to approximately $245 million dollars in intended loss to American taxpayers.
“Fraud against the United States government is a serious crime,” stated David I. Courcelle, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana. “Especially egregious, is fraud that grossly undermines the financial assistance so desperately needed for small businesses to survive during one of the most vulnerable eras in our country, the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlighted today are successfully prosecuted fraud cases handled by the EDLA that involved the Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection and Economic Injury Disaster Loans programs. Successful prosecutions such as these are only made possible by the close partnership and shared mission of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement colleagues to safeguard public funds from fraud and prosecute those who steal such funds.”
“Pandemic loan relief was meant to keep American small businesses alive during government lockdowns—not line the pockets of fraudsters,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The defendants charged during our summer surge allegedly fabricated businesses, submitted false payroll and revenue claims, stole identities, and concealed foreign ties on their applications— but they will now be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“This summer surge shows what is possible when dedicated public servants across the country work together with a single purpose,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Our mission is clear: protect taxpayer funds, safeguard the integrity of federal relief programs, and deliver justice to those who exploited them. We will remain steadfast every day—standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners—to identify fraud, pursue those responsible, and restore confidence in the programs meant to help American small businesses thrive.”
“Today’s announcement represents the largest-ever action against perpetrators of SBA fraud, with 870,000 suspended borrowers tied to $39 billion in suspected fraudulent PPP and COVID EIDL activity. In partnership with Vice President Vance and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, we’re putting fraudsters on notice: the federal government will no longer turn a blind eye to those who stole from taxpayers and exploited programs designed to sustain small businesses during the pandemic,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler.
“With demand letters going out to suspected fraudsters, we’re also sending a clear message that they must repay their debts or face Treasury collections and possible federal law enforcement. Under this Administration, the free ride is over. We are restoring accountability, recovering taxpayer dollars, and protecting SBA programs for the legitimate small businesses they were created to serve.”
“Operation No Doze brings a focused and coordinated approach to pursuing fraud in SBA’s pandemic relief programs,” said SBA Inspector General William Kirk. “By concentrating our investigative resources and working closely with SBA and our law enforcement partners, we are strengthening our ability to identify fraud, recover taxpayer funds, and hold accountable those who exploited programs created to help small businesses in a time of extraordinary need. This initiative makes clear that the passage of time does not diminish our commitment to accountability.”
Again, in the Eastern District of Louisiana, 7 defendants pleaded guilty to defrauding the SBA and 4 of those defendants have been sentenced for the SBA-related fraud. These 7 defendants caused actual fraud losses to the SBA of approximately $1.8 million and intended fraud losses of approximately $2.6 million.
On July 21, 2026, Amanda Clayborne-Williams pled guilty to defrauding the Small Business Administration by submitting 12 false PPP and EIDL loan applications seeking $1.3 million. After submitting the false applications, Clayborne-Williams received $447,305 and spent the funds on personal expenses. She also pled guilty to committing tax evasion. Clayborne-Williams’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 20, 2026. The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria M. Carboni.
On July 21, 2026, Jessica Lacour pled guilty to defrauding the Small Business Administration by submitting fake tax returns to obtain a $20,940 PPP loan. Lacour also admitted she used the identities of other people to obtain emergency Covid rental assistance totaling $71,740. The total fraud loss Lacour caused to the SBA is $92,680. Lacour is scheduled to be sentenced on October 20, 2026. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chandra Menon.
On July 14, 2026, Marcel Gross of Slidell pled guilty to fraudulently obtaining $350,272 by providing false information on a PPP loan application. Gross split the proceeds with his co-conspirator who helped him complete the application. Gross’s sentencing hearing is October 13, 2026. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chandra Menon.
On August 25, 2026, Arthur Allen of New Orleans was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release for defrauding the Small Business Administration (“SBA”). In 2020, Allen falsely claimed on a PPP loan application that his bed and breakfast received over $425,000 in gross revenue in 2019 when the business actually generated no revenue in 2019. As a result of his false statements, the SBA issued Allen a PPP loan of $712,212. In addition to the 2-year prison sentence he received, Allen was also ordered to pay $712,212 in restitution. The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard R. Pickens, II.
On August 27, 2026, after pleading guilty to PPP fraud, Wellington Brown was sentenced to 5 years of probation and 12 months of home detention. Brown admitted he lied on his PPP application and received $123,771 in SBA funds. Brown was also ordered to pay $123,771 in restitution. The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (a member of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee) and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard R. Pickens, II.
On August 12, 2026 Chelsey Powell was sentenced to 2 years of probation, after pleading guilty to making false statements to the SBA in order to obtain PPP loans totaling $36,123. Specifically, Powell made false statements on a PPP application and unlawfully received $36,123 in PPP benefits. In addition to probation, Powell was ordered to pay restitution to the SBA in the amount of $36,123.52 and to serve 100 hours of community service. The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (a member of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee) and the United States Secret Service and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera.
On August 5, 2026, Myiesha Robertson was sentenced to 5 years of probation, with 6 months of home detention, for defrauding the SBA. Robertson provided false statements on her PPP loan application and received $64,198. Robertson also filed a false tax return for herself and others. Robertson was ordered to pay restitution of $64,198 to the SBA, restitution in the amount of $432,447.35 to the IRS and ordered to serve 150 hours of community service. The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Dulce Man Charged as Habitual Domestic Violence OffenderRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Dulce man with three prior domestic violence convictions is facing federal charges after allegedly attacking a woman.
According to court documents, on March 22, 2026, Rode Lyle Enjady, 47, an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, assaulted Jane Doe at a residence in Dulce, New Mexico, striking her in the face, strangling her with his forearm and preventing her from leaving. The victim sustained a swollen and blackened eye, a forehead contusion, multiple bruises, and a bite mark on her shoulder. Jane Doe was eventually able to escape from the residence without shoes and called police for help.
Enjady has three prior convictions for domestic violence offenses and is charged with assault by strangulation and domestic assault by a habitual offender. He will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charge, Enjady faces up to 10 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Jicarilla Apache Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Mondragon is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
District of New Mexico Joins DOJ Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA OIG in Surge Takedown Exceeding $245 Million in COVID-era Loan FraudRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico today announced the sentencing of Scott A. Spiro as part of a nationwide enforcement action led by the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the SBA Office of Inspector General targeting fraud in the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Spiro was sentenced to 36 months in prison and ordered to pay $679,690 in restitution for obtaining more than half a million dollars in fraudulent COVID-19 pandemic loans. The District of New Mexico was a key participant in the nationwide surge effort.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, between April 2020 and December 2021, Spiro, 64, devised and carried out a scheme to defraud the federal government and federally insured financial institutions by submitting fraudulent PPP and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications under the CARES Act.
As part of the scheme, Spiro created several shell companies that were not legitimate businesses, had no employees, and paid no wages, including Scott A. Spiro JD, LLC, Pacifica Law Clinic, LLC, Spiro Enterprises of NM, LLC, Pacifica Funding Corporation, and Accounting Advisors. Using these entities, Spiro submitted multiple fraudulent loan and loan forgiveness applications to lenders and the SBA. He admitted to making material misrepresentations about the companies’ establishment dates, number of employees, payroll expenses, revenues and monthly wages, and to submitting falsified IRS forms, payroll records, bank statements and New Mexico Secretary of State filings to support the applications.
As a result of these misrepresentations, Spiro obtained $679,690 in PPP and EIDL funds and used the fraudulently obtained funds for personal expenses and debts and the purchase of residential properties in Alamogordo and Ruidoso, New Mexico.
“Pandemic loan relief was meant to keep American small businesses alive during government lockdowns—not line the pockets of fraudsters,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The defendants charged during our summer surge allegedly fabricated businesses, submitted false payroll and revenue claims, stole identities, and concealed foreign ties on their applications— but they will now be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“This summer surge shows what is possible when dedicated public servants across the country work together with a single purpose,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Our mission is clear: protect taxpayer funds, safeguard the integrity of federal relief programs, and deliver justice to those who exploited them. We will remain steadfast every day—standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners—to identify fraud, pursue those responsible, and restore confidence in the programs meant to help American small businesses thrive.”
“Today’s announcement represents the largest-ever action against perpetrators of SBA fraud, with 870,000 suspended borrowers tied to $39 billion in suspected fraudulent PPP and COVID EIDL activity. In partnership with Vice President Vance and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, we’re putting fraudsters on notice: the federal government will no longer turn a blind eye to those who stole from taxpayers and exploited programs designed to sustain small businesses during the pandemic,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “With demand letters going out to suspected fraudsters, we’re also sending a clear message that they must repay their debts or face Treasury collections and possible federal law enforcement. Under this Administration, the free ride is over. We are restoring accountability, recovering taxpayer dollars, and protecting SBA programs for the legitimate small businesses they were created to serve.”
“Operation No Doze brings a focused and coordinated approach to pursuing fraud in SBA’s pandemic relief programs,” said SBA Inspector General William Kirk. “By concentrating our investigative resources and working closely with SBA and our law enforcement partners, we are strengthening our ability to identify fraud, recover taxpayer funds, and hold accountable those who exploited programs created to help small businesses in a time of extraordinary need. This initiative makes clear that the passage of time does not diminish our commitment to accountability.”
Spiro pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud, three counts of making false statements to a financial institution and two counts of money laundering. Upon his release from prison, Spiro will be subject to five years of supervised release and must serve 100 hours of community service.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this case with assistance from the SBA. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
There is no parole in the federal system.
Defendant pleads guilty after forensic genealogy exposes 1988 murder of newborn at Sheppard AFBRead the Press Release
WICHITA FALLS, Texas — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that on Sept. 9, Tammy Sue Kerns, 58, pleaded guilty to second degree murder for killing her newborn son on or about Aug. 4, 1988, at the U.S. Air Force Regional Hospital at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas.
Kerns was charged via Information with unlawfully killing a newborn male infant with malice aforethought on Sept. 1.
“Forensic genealogy shattered the silence surrounding this crime and revealed the truth the defendant hid for nearly forty years: she deliberately and maliciously murdered her newborn baby,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “This plea is a direct result of relentless investigative work and scientific advances that allowed us to identify both parents and bring justice to an infant who was denied his first breath. Time will never shield those who commit violent crimes. I am extremely grateful to the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the forensic specialists for their diligence and extraordinary work in the case.”
“A case is never just a file on a shelf—it’s a promise. Decades may pass, but we do not walk away, we do not forget, and we will never stop fighting to find the truth and seek justice,” said Mr. John Fine, Chief, Cold Case Team, Air Force Office of Special Investigations. “When the AFOSI Cold Case Team was established in 2015, one of its first priorities was reopening the 1988 investigation into the murder of an infant at Sheppard Air Force Base. Our commitment to securing justice for the victim remained absolute. Through outstanding persistence, paired with advanced forensics and investigative genealogy, the team was ultimately able to resolve the case. We are deeply grateful to base leadership, local and federal law enforcement partners, the Department of Justice, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for working alongside us to bring about this resolution.”
“Although this tragic loss occurred nearly four decades ago, the passage of time has not diminished our commitment to the truth,” said Deputy Commander of the 82nd Training Wing, Col. Joseph Wierenga. “On behalf of Sheppard Air Force Base, we are proud partners in this effort and hope these long-awaited answers bring a meaningful sense of closure and healing to our installation and our community. We extend our profound gratitude to the Air Force Office of Special Investigations Cold Case Team, whose relentless determination and use of modern forensic science were instrumental in solving this case, as well as our sincere appreciation to U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould and the dedicated prosecutors of the Northern District of Texas for their tireless work.”
According to court documents, on or about Aug. 4, 1988, a deceased full‑term infant was found in a laundry bin at Ponds Laundry in Wichita Falls, Texas, wrapped in linens from the Air Force Regional Hospital at Sheppard Air Force Base. At the time of discovery, all known pregnant patients and newborns at the hospital and on the base were accounted for.
An autopsy conducted on Aug. 5, 1988, determined that the full-term male infant had no morphologic abnormalities. The report indicated there was evidence of live birth and the toxicology screen returned negative for all substances. The cause of death was ruled hypovolemia and anemia. With no suspects identified, the investigation was eventually closed.
Forensic Genealogy Breakthrough
The case was revived decades later through advanced forensic genealogical methods. In 2015, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations reopened the investigation and conducted new interviews. In 2017, the U.S. Air Force pathology unit located genetic material from the deceased infant and sent it to the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory to build a familial Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS, profile.
In May 2022, forensic DNA laboratory and technology company Othram, Inc. performed laboratory testing of tissue samples from 1988 using advanced DNA sequencing and conducted forensic genetic genealogy research to identify biological relatives. This work led to a major breakthrough in 2023, identifying M.R. as the potential father of the infant. M.R. was interviewed on Dec. 10, 2024, and later confirmed as the biological father through DNA comparison.
“No child should be forgotten, no matter how much time has passed,” said Othram CEO David Mittelman. “We are honored to have supported AFOSI with the DNA testing that helped uncover the truth in this case.”
Identification of the Mother
AFOSI Cold Case Unit analyzed personnel rosters from Andrews Air Force Base and Sheppard Air Force Base covering 1987–1988. Through this roster analysis, investigators determined there was only one female service member stationed at Andrews the same time as M.R. during the likely conception period and reassigned to Sheppard at the time of birth: Tammy Sue Kerns.
On May 20, 2025, AFOSI conducted a non‑custodial interview with Kerns where she admitted she was the infant’s mother. She confirmed to investigators she concealed her pregnancy and never sought medical care.
In plea papers, Kerns admitted she went into labor while working a night shift at the hospital, hid herself in the x-ray room so that no one would see her and locked the doors to prevent others from entering. Kerns gave birth during the shift and once she delivered Infant Male Doe, she placed her hand over his mouth until he stopped crying and/or breathing. Kerns then severed the umbilical cord from Infant Male Doe and the placenta and wrapped the cord around his body. Kerns then wrapped Infant Male Doe in hospital linens and placed the deceased infant in the laundry bin, cleaned up the room and returned to her shift. At the conclusion of the interview, Kerns voluntarily provided her DNA which confirmed she was the mother of Infant Male Doe.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Kerns faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison, a fine up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release up to five years. Otherwise, this charge carries a sentence of up to life in federal prison. Her sentencing hearing is set for Jan. 8, 2027, before Chief U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor.
The Air Force Office of Special Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allyson Monte from the Fort Worth Division is prosecuting the case.
###