Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
8 January 2026
Federal Felon Pleads Guilty to Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Ernest Lee Thomas II, 35, of Pensacola, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The outstanding work by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, in close collaboration with our federal law enforcement partners, led to this successful prosecution, which will ensure this dangerous offender is kept off our streets. The safety of our communities is non-negotiable, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute all violations of federal law to incapacitate criminal offenders who threaten our peace.”
Court documents reflect that on May 31, 2025, deputies with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle occupied by the defendant. During the traffic stop, a search of the vehicle uncovered a loaded black .45-caliber Taurus handgun with a round in the chamber and five rounds in the magazine. While speaking with law enforcement, the defendant made statements indicating the firearm belonged to him. The defendant had previously been convicted in the Northern District of Florida of Distribution of Cocaine and Possession of Stolen Firearms.
The defendant faces up to fifteen years’ imprisonment followed by a term of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher C. Patterson.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 24, 2026, at 9:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
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 http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Elkhart Man Sentenced to 60 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Steven Lerma, III, 25 years old, of Elkhart, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Lerma was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by 18 months of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, police found Lerma in possession of a handgun with an extended magazine that held 32 rounds of ammunition. Lerma had previously been convicted of felony theft of a firearm and felony domestic battery resulting in moderate bodily injury and was thus prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Elkhart Police Department and the Goshen Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Katelan McKenzie Doyle.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
East Helena man sentenced to prison for illegal possession of guns and ammunitionRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – An East Helena man who possessed guns and ammunition illegally was sentenced today to 28 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Justin Curtis Huckaby, 44, was found guilty at a September 2025 trial of two counts of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents and at trial that Huckaby was convicted of a felony in the Montana Thirteenth Judicial District on June 5, 2019. He was sentenced to a period of custody of up to 15 years, with 5 years suspended, followed by a period of supervision with the Department of Corrections. Huckaby’s judgment set out the conditions of his supervision, which included a prohibition of “using, owning, possession, transferring, or controlling any firearm, [or] ammunition….” That condition was also read to Huckaby in open court.
On June 13, 2023, Huckaby signed the Firearms and Voting Regulations form, which states:
“I further understand that my right to possess or own firearms or ammunition is suspended while under supervision. Federal law prohibits a convicted felon from possessing or receiving firearms or ammunition [Title 18, United States Code Section 922(g)(1)]. Therefore, I understand I could be prosecuted for a violation of Federal law. I also understand that I could be punished for violating my conditions of supervision AND federally prosecuted.”
That same day, Huckaby signed his conditions of probation and parole. Condition 15 states: “Weapons: I will not use, own, possess, transfer, or be in control of any firearms, ammunition (including black powder), or weapons.”
On August 5, 2024, around 4 a.m., law enforcement officers responded to a casino in East Helena, Montana. Officers were informed Huckaby was at the casino and had drugs and a firearm in his vehicle. Upon arrival, law enforcement contacted Huckaby who was in the driver’s seat of his white Chevrolet pickup parked outside the casino. Huckaby confirmed he was on parole but denied there was anything his truck that would violate his conditions of supervision. During contact with Huckaby, law enforcement saw a glass pipe with burnt residue on the center console. The pipe later field tested positive for methamphetamine. A probation search was authorized and performed on the vehicle.
During the search, officers found a loaded 9mm handgun under the driver’s rear passenger seat. It was loaded with 9mm caliber ammunition. A box of 9mm caliber ammunition was also located in a backpack. Huckaby later admitted to touching and handling the firearm earlier that day.
Huckaby also threatened to shoot an individual after he suspected the individual took his 8-ball of methamphetamine and money that he won at other casinos that evening.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office, and the State of Montana Probation and Parole.
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.
XXX
Drug Trafficker Sentenced to over 11 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Hundreds of Kilograms on Behalf of Foreign Terrorist OrganizationRead the Press Release
A drug trafficker was sentenced this week to more than 11 years in federal prison for distributing hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine and other narcotics on behalf of Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, a foreign terrorist and drug trafficking organization operating in Mexico and the United States, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
“This case sends a clear message: those who dump poison into our streets will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Prosecuting an affiliate of senior cartel leaders requires years of painstaking work, unwavering resolve, and exceptional interagency cooperation. My office will continue to prioritize these impactful prosecutions.”
“The sentence of Mr. Velazquez reflects our continued focus on dismantling foreign terrorist organizations that traffic deadly drugs into our communities,” said Joseph B. Tucker, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Dallas. “DEA and our partners will continue targeting violent cartels and their criminal associates, in order to save American lives.”“The Dallas Homeland Security Task Force is focused on targeting the leadership, financial networks, and logistical infrastructure of transnational criminal organizations and foreign terrorist organizations, both locally and globally. The collaborative work of the HSTF led to this drug trafficker receiving an 11-year sentence and significantly reducing the flow of narcotics into our neighborhoods,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock.
Luis Robert Velazquez, 39, of Cockrell Hill, Texas, pled guilty in July 2025, to a drug conspiracy in which he admitted to trafficking narcotics for Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). According to plea documents, in the span of less than five months, from November 2024 to April 2025, Velazquez admitted to having received shipments of approximately 300 kilograms of methamphetamine, ten to twelve kilograms of heroin, and a kilogram of cocaine from his Mexico-based CJNG associates. Velazquez then distributed the narcotics in kilogram quantities to domestic customers of the organization in the Dallas area at the direction of his Mexico-based CJNG superiors. Velazquez laundered U.S. currency from the transactions to send to CJNG superiors in Mexico. On Monday, January 5, 2026, Velazquez was sentenced for his role in the conspiracy to 135 months in federal prison by U.S. Senior District Judge Daivd Godbey.In February last year, the U.S. State Department designated Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación a foreign terrorist organization, consistent with a presidential executive order issued on January 20, 2025, declaring such cartels a national security threat extending beyond traditional organized crime.
This case was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from FBI, DEA, HSI, Dallas Police Department, Coppell Police Department, and Grand Prairie Police Department. First Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Coker prosecuted the case.
Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Darnell Marice McCarver, also known as “WAP,” 19, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, to aiding and abetting the distribution of 50 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture. McCarver admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Huntington area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 27, 2025, McCarver arranged the sale of approximately 63.5 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant. As part of his guilty plea, McCarver admitted that he communicated with the confidential informant while he was in Detroit via a FaceTime video call, and that he directed the confidential informant to a Huntington, West Virginia, residence where another individual conducted the transaction with the confidential informant. McCarver also admitted that he coordinated the distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl on multiple occasions between April 2025 and August 2025.
On September 10, 2025, law enforcement officers arrested McCarver and executed a search warrant at his Detroit residence. Officers seized approximately $4,479 from McCarver’s person and approximately 950 grams of methamphetamine, 48 grams of fentanyl, four firearms, and $8,764 at the residence during the search. McCarver admitted that he stored drugs at his residence for distribution in the Southern District of West Virginia and elsewhere, that he possessed and intended to distribute the seized methamphetamine and fentanyl, and that the seized cash was proceeds from drug distributions.
McCarver is scheduled to be sentenced on April 13, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least 4 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million.
McCarver is among 10 defendants indicted on charges alleging they participated in the DTO. McCarver and two co-defendants pleaded guilty. The charges against the other defendants remain pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Cabell County Sheriff's Office, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, and the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-154.
###
Detroit Man Pleads Guilty in Half-Million Dollar Pandemic Unemployment Insurance Fraud, ID-Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A Detroit resident pleaded guilty yesterday related to an extensive unemployment insurance fraud and identity theft scheme, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr.
Nicholas Overton, 32, pleaded guilty today before Judge Denise Page Hood to one count each of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Joining in the announcement was Megan Howell, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General.
According to court records the defendant submitted or caused the submission of approximately 90 fraudulent unemployment insurance claims across 20 states and territories (primarily Michigan, California, New York, and Arizona) and received over $500,000 in fraudulent unemployment assistance payments.
According to court records the defendant submitted these claims using the personal identifying information (PII) of multiple individuals who were unaware that their identities had been compromised and who had not authorized the defendant to file claims on their behalf.
U.S. Attorney Gorgon stated, “Identity theft is not a victimless crime. It is a deliberate exploitation of real people for personal gain. With these pleas the defendant is being held accountable, and this Office will continue to pursue those who use fraud and stolen identities to take advantage of others and undermine trust in public programs.”
“Nicholas Overton devised and executed a scheme that defrauded 20 state workforce agencies by filing for unemployment insurance in the names of identity theft victims who were not entitled to such benefits. This conviction affirms the Office of Inspector General’s commitment to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and bring to justice those who exploit U.S. Department of Labor programs,” said Megan Howell, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
Overton will be sentenced by Judge Hood on May 7, 2026. He faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the wire fraud count and a mandatory, consecutive sentence of 2 years’ imprisonment on the aggravated identity theft count.
This case was investigated by special agents of the Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General (DOL-OIG) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan A. Particka and Jason D. Norwood.
Cubero Man Charged in Fatal ShootingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Cubero man is facing federal charges in connection with the fatal shooting of another tribal member during a confrontation at a cemetery.
According to court records, on January 1, 2026, Donald Thompson, 49, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna, allegedly shot and killed another Laguna Pueblo member during a confrontation at a cemetery within the Pueblo of Laguna in Cubero, New Mexico. Law enforcement responded to reports of a shooting and found the victim deceased at the scene with an apparent gunshot wound to the chest and back. Witnesses reported that Thompson was armed with a rifle and fired a single shot during the confrontation, and Thompson later admitted to shooting the victim, claiming he believed he was acting in self-defense.
Thompson is charged with second degree murder and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He was released on conditions pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Thompson faces up to life in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan is prosecuting the case.
View the Criminal Complaint (Thompson).pdfA criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Convicted Sex Offender Who Had Been Deported to Mexico Pleads Guilty to Illegally Re-Entering the United StatesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Saul Castillo-Crespo, 28, a citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to illegal re-entry into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Castillo-Crespo, aka “David Crespo,” was previously convicted in August 2017 in D.C. Superior Court and sentenced to five years in prison in connection with the kidnapping and sexual abuse of an intoxicated stranger in Northwest Washington.
In January 2023, Castillo-Crespo was deported to Mexico. He illegally re-entered the country in March 2025, proceeded to violate the law by failing to register as a sex offender, and was arrested in June by local law enforcement.
Judge Timothy J. Kelly scheduled sentencing for March 13, 2026.
“This individual sexually assaulted a victim and got deported a few years ago, just to sneak back into the U.S. illegally,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “I will not allow this brazen defiance of our immigration laws to continue, especially from criminals who commit the most heinous illegal acts.”
According to the court documents, ICE learned that Castillo-Crespo had been arrested by MPD officers on June 27, 2025, and had been charged with unlawful entry and destroying property. On arrest, the defendant identified himself using the alias “David Crespo.”
On July 16, 2025, law enforcement fingerprinted “David Crespo.” The FBI identified him as Castillo-Crespo. ICE determined that the fingerprints matched those of a known and previously deported alien.
Castillo-Crespo previously was found guilty and sentenced for a sex crime in the District. On May 7, 2017, Castillo-Crespo encountered his victim in the early morning hours on a sidewalk near Lafayette Square in downtown Washington. The woman was extremely intoxicated, unable to walk, and told Castillo-Crespo that she wanted to go to her home. Castillo-Crespo hailed a passing taxi and took her to his apartment building in the 1700 block of Seventh Street NW. Once inside, the victim refused to enter Castillo-Crespo’s fourth-floor apartment and repeated that she wanted to go home. Castillo-Crespo carried her to a staircase where he sexually assaulted her. His conduct inside the building was captured on building surveillance cameras.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Satter.
25cr235
Clearwater man sentenced to prison for child pornography distributionRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for distributing child sex abuse materials (CSAM).
According to court documents, Benjamin Charles Fisher, 44, of Clearwater pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.
Fisher admitted to using a social media messaging platform to correspond with other sex offenders to trade child sexual abuse materials. He used multiple alias accounts and connected to the internet from his home and from his work while committing his crimes.
As part of his sentence, a federal judge ordered Fisher to pay $30,500 in restitution.
“Our office is extremely pleased with the sentence in this case which is the statutory maximum for the offense,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “By using different names and logging onto the internet from multiple locations, Mr. Fisher thought his crimes would go undetected and unpunished by the justice system. What he didn’t plan on was the tenacity of our highly skilled law enforcement partners and prosecution, which is why Mr. Fisher will be spending the next 20 years in prison. It does not matter how someone tries to cover up their activity, we are committed to getting justice in these cases.”
The Wichita Police Department and Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.###
Chattanooga Pastor Sentenced to 30 Months for Wire Fraud and Tax Fraud Charges in $1.8 Million COVID-19 Employment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – On January 8, 2026, Ricky Lee Taylor, Jr., 36, currently of Chattanooga, TN, was sentenced by the Honorable Charles E. Atchley, Jr., United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Taylor agreed to plead guilty to an information charging him with one count of Wire Fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343 and one count of Tax Fraud in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206(1). Taylor was sentenced to 30 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The Court ordered that Taylor pay a money judgment of $942,238.85 and $2,532,528.18 in restitution to the United States.
Taylor, a former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga basketball player, now a preacher and entrepreneur, ran several businesses to include Potter’s Wheel Trucking, LLC; Ricky Taylor Basketball, LLC; Arena of Praise; Spirit Logistics, LLC; and Reap Real Estate and Property. Taylor applied for Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans on behalf of these entities and in so doing provided fraudulent documentation in support of the loans. In total, Taylor submitted eight fraudulent applications and received approximately $1,800,000 in loans, which significantly exceeded any amount to which he would have been legally entitled. Taylor then filed fraudulent, personal tax returns that did not account for the income from the PPP loans.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee, Resident Agent in Charge, Adam Lander of the United States Secret Service, and Special Agent in Charge, Donald “Trey” Eakins, IRS Criminal Investigations (“IRS CI”) made the announcement.
The criminal information was the result of a joint investigation in Chattanooga, TN by the United States Secret Service and the Criminal Investigation Division of the IRS.
Assistant United States Attorney Christopher D. Poole represented the United States.
###
Bridgeport Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking MethRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL MIHALKO, 42, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 18 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for trafficking methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2022, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service identified a series of parcels suspected to contain controlled substances that were being mailed to the Norwich residence of Joseph Wilk, Jr. and a P.O. Box in Norwich that Wilk opened. On November 21, 2022, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of a suspicious USPS Priority Express parcel mailed from California to the P.O. Box and found that it contained more than one pound of pure methamphetamine. Investigators determined that Mihalko had been tracking the package.
On December 8, 2022, Wilk picked up the package in Norwich and drove to his residence. Shortly thereafter, Norwich police officers arrived at his residence. After Wilk gave his consent, investigators searched his home and seized approximately 2.575 kilograms of methamphetamine, approximately 16 grams of ecstasy, items used to process and package narcotics, two handguns, and $1,740 in cash.
The investigation revealed that several parcels suspected to contain narcotics were mailed to Wilk between May and December 2022. After Wilk received methamphetamine that had been mailed to him, he would deliver some of it to Mihalko, who at the time was living in the Boston area, and distribute some of his to his own customers in Southeastern Connecticut and Rhode Island. Investigators subsequently interviewed Mihalko who admitted that he was responsible for sending the intercepted parcel and numerous others.
On October 12, 2023, Mihalko pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He has been detained since September 15, 2025, after he violated the conditions of his release and his bond was revoked.
Wilk pleaded guilty to the same charge and has been sentenced.
This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force and the Norwich Police Department. The Task Force includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, and the Hartford, Plainville, and Meriden Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Lembo and Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis.
Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Agrees to Settlement in United States Attorney’s Office’s Investigation of Ineffective Communication with People who are Deaf or Hard of HearingRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that it has resolved its investigation into complaints that Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) failed to effectively communicate with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing during medical visits. This agreement resolves allegations that BMH violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) during patient visits dating back to at least 2018.
The United States received a complaint from an individual who alleged that BMH discriminated against him by failing to provide qualified sign language interpreters and appropriate auxiliary aids and services during visits to BMH’s emergency department. The individual also alleged that on several occasions, he was required to rely on his companion to assist him in communicating about his medical concerns. The United States’s investigation revealed additional individuals, whose primary means of communication is American Sign Language, with whom BMH similarly failed to ensure effective communication. It is well settled under the ADA that patients have the right to effective communication in hospitals and doctors’ offices.
BMH has already taken steps to comply with its obligations under the ADA. And with the resolution agreement, BMH will timely provide qualified interpreters when necessary to ensure effective communication with patients and companions; create a grievance procedure; provide comprehensive training to its personnel on effective communication; and designate a program administrator who will coordinate access to auxiliary aids and services 24/7.
The resolution agreement also establishes a fund to compensate people who have been affected by BMH’s failure to provide qualified sign language interpreters or appropriate auxiliary aids and services from 2018 through 2025. Any person believed to be so aggrieved should contact the United States Attorney’s Office by filling out the civil rights complaint form available on our website or by emailing the office at USAVT.contactus1@usdoj.gov. To access the civil rights complaint form, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-vt/civil-rights-program.
Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. Greer and former Assistant United States Attorney Zachary M. Dayno handled this matter for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont. The resolution agreement is available at this link: Resolution Agreement
For more information on the ADA, visit http://www.ada.gov or call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information line at (800) 514-0301 (voice) or (800) 514-0383 (TTY).
# # #
Blytheville Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Lyonel Smith will spend the next 10 years in federal prison after convictions for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of an unregistered firearm. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by Chief United States District Judge Kristine G. Baker.
On August 8, 2024, Smith, 38, of Blytheville, was indicted by a federal grand jury in a four-count Indictment. The Indictment charged Smith with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine, possession of unregistered firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. On June 2, 2025, Smith pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of an unregistered firearm.
As a result of an investigation, on September 27, 2023, law enforcement officers obtained a warrant and conducted a search at Smith’s residence. During a search of Smith’s bedroom, officers located two firearms, an FN, Model 509 9mm semi-automatic firearm that was loaded with 24 rounds of ammunition and an FN Model Five-Seven, 5.7x28 caliber semi-automatic firearm. Officers also located six ounces of marijuana, more than seven grams of cocaine, digital scales, and other drug paraphernalia.
In Smith’s garage, officers located 263 grams of methamphetamine. In addition to the methamphetamine, there were additional firearms located in the garage: an American Tactical Omni-Hybrid 300 Blackout loaded with 20 rounds of ammunition, an American Tactical AR-15, .223 caliber firearm loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition, and an AR-style, 5.56 caliber semi-automatic rifle with a short barrel (less than 16 inches in length) that did not contain a serial number and was not registered as a legal short-barrel rifle.
In addition to the 10-year sentence for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Smith was sentenced to five years in federal prison for being in possession of an unregistered firearm—the 5.56 caliber semi-automatic rifle—which will be served concurrently with the 10-year sentence. Chief Judge Baker also sentenced Smith to five years’ supervised release for each count he was sentenced, to also be served concurrently. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Blytheville Police Department with assistance from the DEA. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bart Dickinson.
# # #
Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
X (formerly known as Twitter):
@USAO_EDAR
Birmingham Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Carjacking and KidnappingRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Birmingham man has been sentenced for carjacking and kidnapping, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced Dearrius Dontrell Pace, 31, to 240 months in prison. In September 2025, Pace pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking and one count of kidnapping.
According to the plea agreement, on July 16, 2024, Pace followed the victim out of a gas station on Lloyd Nolan Parkway. Pace confronted the victim at gunpoint as he entered his vehicle, ordered him to move into the passenger seat and Pace got in the driver’s seat. During the drive, Pace demanded the victim’s wallet and cash. The victim handed over approximately $16.00 and told Pace that he did not have a wallet with him. Pace then struck the victim in the face with a hard object before ordering him out of the vehicle. On July 24, 2024, Jefferson County Sherriff’s deputies arrested Pace.
The FBI investigated the case along with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case.
Baltimore Man Sentenced for Obtaining and Using Vulnerable Victims’ Personal Information in Unemployment Insurance Claims Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin sentenced Duane Watts, 46, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 54 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The sentence is in connection with Watts’ participation in an unemployment insurance (UI) fraud scheme involving the use of the personal identifying information of multiple victims, including vulnerable victims, to cause financial losses of more than $167,000. The victims were vulnerable because of their mental status or cognitive impairment.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer, National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), and Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea, beginning in May 2020, and continuing through at least May 2021, Watts engaged in a conspiracy to defraud and obtain money through materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises in connection with the UI scheme. Watts also engaged in aggravated identity theft, obtaining the personal identifiable information of real persons and using the information to cause the submission of false and fraudulent unemployment insurance claims to the Maryland Department of Labor (MD-DOL).
Watts and his co-conspirators used UI benefits, which were designated to assist unemployed or underemployed people due to the COVID-19 national emergency, for their personal use. Watts engaged in multiple ATM transactions, using debit cards loaded with UI funds intended for others, including the vulnerable victims. One of the vulnerable victims whose identity was used subsequently lost her employment and was unable to obtain needed MD-DOL UI benefits due to the fraud conspiracy.
Judge Rubin previously sentenced co-defendants Tiia Woods and Devante Smith to 74 and 57 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in the conspiracy.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act — a federal law enacted in March 2020 — provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It authorized increased unemployment insurance UI benefits which have historically been a state and federal program that provided monetary benefits to eligible workers. The CARES Act expanded states’ ability to provide UI benefits for many workers impacted by COVID-19, including self-employed workers or independent contractors, who would not normally be eligible for UI benefits.
The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the CARES Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DOL-OIG and FBI for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys John M. D’Amico and Harry M. Gruber who prosecuted the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
# # #
Aliens Charged with Illegally Voting in a Federal Election and Making False Statements While Applying for U.S. CitizenshipRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A federal grand jury returned separate Indictments charging two Bergen County men with illegally voting in a federal election and making false statements while applying for United States citizenship, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced.
According to the Indictments, which were returned on December 22, 2025, both Muhammad Muzammal, 37, and Muhammad Shakeel, 62, were non-citizens at the time they registered to vote in New Jersey. However, on their registration forms, both men falsely certified and attested that they were United States citizens. After their applications to register were approved, each of the men, still without United States citizenship, cast ballots in the in the November 2020 general election, which included the election for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States. In order to register to vote and vote in federal elections, a person must be a United States citizen.
The Indictments also allege that after they illegally voted in a federal election, Muhammad Muzammal and Muhammad Shakeel each applied to become United States citizens by submitting applications for naturalization (an “N-400”). An N-400 requires the applicant to swear under penalty of perjury that the information they provide in their application is complete, true, and correct. In their respective N-400s, both men falsely claimed that they had never registered to vote or voted in any Federal, state, or local elections.
After they submitted their N-400s, both men were interviewed by an Immigration Services Officer who placed them under oath and questioned them about the answers that the men provided in their respective N-400s. During those interviews, both Muhammad Muzammal and Muhammad Shakeel again falsely asserted that they had never voted in any Federal, state, or local elections.
Muhammad Shakeel, will make his initial appearance before a Magistrate in federal District Court in Trenton on January 21, 2026, and his case has been assigned to District Judge Georgette Castner. Muhammad Muzammal, whose case has been assigned to District Judge Karen M. Williams, will make his initial appearance in federal District Court in Camden on a date to be determined.
If convicted, the defendants face the following maximum sentences:
Count
Offense
Maximum Penalties
1Voting by an Alien in a Federal Election1 year’s imprisonment2False Statements in Relation to Naturalization, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1015(a)5 years’ imprisonment3False Statements in Relation to Naturalization, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1425(a)10 years’ imprisonmentSenior Counsel Lamparello credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy; Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy; and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, under the direction of District Director John Thompson, with the investigations.
This case was brought under the United States Attorney’s Office’s Election Integrity Task Force, a coalition of federal law enforcement partners focused on preserving and protecting the integrity of elections conducted in the District of New Jersey.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. McCarren of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Special Prosecutions Division.
The charges and allegations contained in the Indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
###
Defense counsel:
Rizwan M. Khalid, Esq., (for Muhammad Muzammal and Muhammad Shakeel)
shakeel.indictment.pdf muzammal.indictment.pdfActing U.S. Attorney Announces Grants Available to Combat Human TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Acting United States Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma announced that today U.S. Department of Justice grants are currently available to help communities combat human trafficking and serve adults and children who are victimized in trafficking operations. The grants are being made available through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs.
For more information on program criteria and how to apply, please visit https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov. For more information about application deadlines or to see all available funding opportunities from the Office of Justice Programs, visit https://www.ojp.gov/funding/explore/current-funding-opportunities. Please note that you must have active registrations in SAM.gov and Grants.gov before you can apply for Department of Justice funding opportunities.
Grant Opportunities Available
Housing Assistance for Victims of Human Trafficking: This funding will provide for transitional housing and supportive services that assist human trafficking victims in moving as quickly as possible into permanent housing and achieving stability. Eligible applicants are government entities, educational organizations, nonprofit organizations, and public housing organizations.
Integrated Services for Minor Victims of Human Trafficking: This funding will support programs to enhance the availability, quality, and delivery of services tailored to the developmental stages and needs of young (minor) victims of human trafficking. Eligible applicants are government entities, educational organizations, nonprofit organizations, and public housing organizations.
Preventing Trafficking of Girls: This funding will develop or enhance prevention and early intervention services for girls who are at risk of, or are victims of, sex and/or labor trafficking. Funding will be provided for activities such as street outreach, partnerships with organizations that serve youth, partnerships with juvenile justice and child welfare systems, and/or collaboration with other key community stakeholders. Eligible applicants are government entities, educational organizations, nonprofit organizations, and public housing organizations.
Specialized Human Trafficking Assistance: Supporting Survivor Engagement in Anti-Trafficking Programming: This funding will assist OVC-funded anti-trafficking grantees in ensuring meaningful engagement with and successful outcomes for survivors of human trafficking. The program will help build capacity to identify and partner with survivors in their local community, state, or region. Eligible applicants are educational organizations, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit organizations.
Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking: This funding will support jurisdictions to develop and expand a multidisciplinary, collaborative task force approach to better respond to human trafficking through increased victim identification, service provision, and case investigations. Eligible applicants are government entities and nonprofit organizations.
Improving Outcomes for Child and Youth Victims of Human Trafficking: This funding will develop, enhance, and coordinate programs and activities geared toward improving outcomes for child and youth victims of sex and labor trafficking. The program supports a statewide or Tribal jurisdiction-wide strategic plan addressing challenges related to identifying and serving child and youth victims of sex and labor trafficking, as well as identifying, investigating, and prosecuting traffickers. Eligible applicants are government entities.
Services for Victims of Human Trafficking: This funding will develop, expand, and strengthen victim service comprehensive and specialized services programs for victims of all forms of human trafficking. Eligible Applicants are government entities, educational organizations, nonprofit organizations, and public housing organizations.
7 January 2026
Utah Man Sentenced in Making Threats Against Palestinian Rights OrganizationRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Kevin Brent Buchanan, 64, of Tooele, Utah, was sentenced today in the District of Columbia to six months in prison in connection with threatening violence against the employees of a D.C.-based Palestinian rights organization, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Buchanan pleaded guilty on July 21, 2025, to a one-count information charging him with transmitting in interstate commerce a communication containing a threat to injure the person of another. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ordered Buchanan to serve three years of supervised release with mandatory participation in a mental health program.
Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement were Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office.
According to court documents, between Oct. 31, 2023, and Nov. 2, 2023, Buchanan used his cell phone to call and leave five voice mail messages for members of the organization. In his November 2 message, Buchanan stated in part: “Your families are going to be followed and watched;” “You don’t even belong in America;” “I hope every Muslim in the United States [expletive] croaks;” and “You are all going to [expletive] die, you pieces of [expletive] traitors.”
Buchanan admitted that he intentionally targeted the organization because its staff and members are Palestinian, and because the organization advocates on behalf of Palestinians.
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Gold for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Sanjay Patel of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.
24cr256
Union Treasurer Charged with Wire Fraud and Embezzlement of Labor Organization FundsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A former treasurer of a New Mexico labor organization is facing federal charges for allegedly abusing his position of trust within a union to misuse union funds and conceal that conduct through false financial reporting.
According to court records, from 2014 through early 2024, Max Jaramillo, 58, served as treasurer of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, Local 331, a position that carries fiduciary duties to safeguard union assets and to accurately disclose the union’s financial condition to its members and the Department of Labor. During that time frame, Jaramillo used union funds for unauthorized personal expenses and then submitted required annual Labor Organization Annual Reports that falsely represented the expenditures as legitimate union expenses, omitting the true nature and purpose of the disbursements. These false filings and omissions were material and were used to conceal the misuse of union funds from both union members and federal regulators.
Jaramillo is federally charged with two counts of wire fraud and three counts of embezzlement by an Officer or a Labor Organization. If convicted, Jaramillo faces up to 20 years in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today.
The Department of Labor’s Office of Labor Management Standards investigated this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case.
View th Indictment (Jaramillo).pdfAn indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Leveraging Federal, State, Local Partnerships to Help Drive Sharp Decline in Violent Crime Across MarylandRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced today that, thanks to cooperative efforts between Federal, State, and local partners, statewide violent crime continued to significantly decline in 2025. Homicides and non-fatal shootings are down statewide, including in Baltimore City, for the fourth year in a row.
Since 2021, statewide homicides have declined by 50 percent. In 2025, Baltimore City saw 133 murders — the lowest on record since 1977 — which reflects a 31-perecent drop from 2024, and a 61-percent decrease since 2021. This is only the fifth time the City logged under 200 murders since 1970, and is the first time it recorded under 200 homicides in back-to-back years, since 1978. Non-fatal shootings statewide and in Baltimore City were also down, in 2025, by 28 percent and 25 percent, respectively. Additionally, in Prince George’s County, as of December 31, homicides declined by 41 percent in 2025.
These declines demonstrate the value of strategic collaboration between Federal, State, and local law enforcement. In this way, federal resources are leveraged as a force multiplier for the safety and security of all Marylanders.
This dynamic is on display through the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s leveraging of state-funded Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys (SAUSAs) to help with the fight against violent crime. The U.S. Attorney’s Office partners with the Office of the Maryland State Prosecutor, Office of the State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County, and the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City — who provide SAUSAs to work in federal court alongside federal prosecutors — to tackle violent crime. Utilizing these SAUSAs is directly tied to the drop in statewide violent crime. In 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office worked with its State partners to onboard six SAUSAs, bringing the total to nine active SAUSAs working full time out of the Baltimore or Greenbelt U.S. Attorney’s offices.
“The recent decline in violent crime across Maryland reflects what is possible when we work together with focus and purpose,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes. “By strategically leveraging Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys — and strengthening our partnerships with Federal, State, and local law enforcement — we are multiplying our impact and ensuring that the most serious offenders are held accountable. Public safety remains our top priority, and we will continue to use every tool available to keep Maryland’s communities safe.”
In Baltimore City, SAUSAs, who are funded through grants from the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy, lead efforts to prosecute individuals who violate federal firearm laws. SAUSAs also assist the Baltimore Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with separate armed robbery, carjacking, homicide and non-fatal shooting investigations. Additionally, SAUSAs actively help investigate and prosecute multiple firearms, narcotics, robbery, and carjacking cases with a nexus to Prince George’s County and the surrounding area.
As a result of using all available resources, and increased collaboration with Federal, State, and local prosecutors and law enforcement agencies, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is successfully investigating and prosecuting individuals and organizations responsible for committing firearms trafficking; drug trafficking; violent carjackings; bank robberies; gang-related murders — including the murder of a 16-year-old girl, and multiple murders in connection with an MS-13 RICO Act conspiracy — and other violent crimes. These strong collaborations have helped drive major declines in violence, and are connected to the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). This program brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is helping eradicate violent crime while improving neighborhood safety through utilizing the newly formed Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF). The HSTF is an initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. It 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. This includes prosecuting foreign nationals who committed murders and stabbings, along with illegal aliens who sold illicit fentanyl in the state.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
# # #
Two Rio Grande Valley men sentenced for roles in fentanyl trafficking operationRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – Two Rio Grande Valley men have been ordered to federal prison for their roles in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
James Queen, 41, McAllen, and Angel Valdez, 36, Alton, pleaded guilty Sept. 4 and Oct. 28, 2025, respectively.
U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now imposed a 60-month term of imprisonment for Queen, and Valdez received 27 months. Both must also serve three years of supervised release following their sentences. In handing down the prison terms, Judge Tipton noted the dangers of fentanyl and its use in the community.
The investigation began in May 2025 when law enforcement discovered Valdez was selling fentanyl in the McAllen area. Over the next two months, authorities determined Queen supplied Valdez with fentanyl.
As part of an undercover operation, law enforcement purchased more than 50 grams of fentanyl directly from Valdez. During the investigation, authorities learned Valdez routinely met Queen at his residence to obtain the drugs.
On June 23, 2025, authorities executed a search warrant at Queen’s residence and seized an additional 15 baggies of fentanyl weighing more than 50 grams. They also discovered multiple firearms, a bulletproof vest, a large amount of currency and a money counter.
Queen later confessed that he distributed user-level amounts of fentanyl to approximately 30 repeat customers.
Valdez and Queen have been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Garcia prosecuted the case.
Two Healthcare Executives Convicted for Exploiting Elderly Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries in $34 Million Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Miami federal jury convicted two healthcare executives on Dec. 22, 2025 for their roles in a scheme that resulted in the submission of approximately $34 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare Advantage plans for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment, including back, knee, shoulder, and ankle braces.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Michael Kochen, 42, and Sandro Herek, 56, targeted Medicare Advantage beneficiaries through deceptive telemarketing practices, pressuring elderly individuals to accept medical equipment they did not need — and in some cases, did not want. Over the course of the scheme, more than $17 million was paid by Medicare Advantage plans on fraudulent claims.
“This case was simple at its core,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The defendants exploited trust and age, using pressure tactics and fake medical justifications to push unnecessary equipment onto elderly patients who deserved better. The jury saw through it. This verdict sends a clear message that schemes targeting seniors and abusing our healthcare system will be met with accountability and real consequences.”
Kochen owned dozens of companies that sold durable medical equipment supplies, such as braces. Herek oversaw and directed overseas call centers, including in Egypt and other foreign jurisdictions, which aggressively cold called Medicare beneficiaries without prior requests for services. Call-center representatives repeatedly contacted beneficiaries — often after initial refusals — and used high pressure tactics to induce them to accept braces regardless of medical necessity. Marketing scripts falsely suggested that the braces would be provided at no cost to the beneficiaries.
Evidence further showed that physicians frequently issued standardized or boilerplate medical authorizations for braces based solely on call recordings rather than individualized medical evaluations. In many instances, doctors did not speak with beneficiaries at all. When calls did occur, they were often brief, lasted only minutes, and did not include a meaningful assessment of medical necessity. Kochen paid kickbacks to telemedicine companies to obtain prescription orders for braces for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, which were then used to submit claims for unnecessary equipment.
Kochen was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit health care and wire fraud, six counts of health care fraud, one count of conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks, and three counts of payment of health care kickbacks. Herek was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit health care and wire fraud, one count of health care fraud, one count of conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks, and three counts of receiving health care kickbacks.
Kochen and Herek each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy to commit health care and wire fraud conviction, 10 years for each health care fraud conviction, five years for the kickback conspiracy conviction, and 10 years for each substantive kickback-related conviction. The sentencing hearing in this case is scheduled for Mar. 25. A federal district court judge will determine sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones; Acting Special Agent in Charge Ricardo M. Carcas of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, (HHS-OIG), Miami Regional Office; and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
HHS-OIG Miami and FBI Miami are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roger Cruz, David Turken and Robert F. Moore are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Demici is handling asset forfeiture.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-20078.
###
Tribal Police Officer Charged with Sexually Abusing Three Victims While on Duty: FBI Seeks Additional Potential VictimsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – A White Mountain Apache Tribal Police officer was arrested Wednesday in Canyon Day on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, after being charged in a federal indictment with sexual abuse and kidnapping.
Karl Eugene Leslie, 42, of Whiteriver, Arizona, is charged in a 15-count indictment, returned Dec. 23, 2025, with Aggravated Sexual Abuse, Kidnapping (including one count of Kidnapping-Victim Under 18), Sexual Abuse through Fear, Sexual Abuse through Coercion, and Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
Leslie was an active law enforcement officer with the White Mountain Apache Tribal Police Department on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation from April 2007 through June 2024. The indictment alleges that while working as an on-duty law enforcement officer, Leslie sexually abused three victims on dates ranging from Dec. 1, 2020, through Sept. 25, 2023. The indictment alleges that Leslie forcibly raped and kidnapped two of the three victims, one of whom was a minor, and that Leslie twice engaged in sexual acts with a third victim by threatening her and placing her in fear. Each victim is a member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.
The FBI’s Phoenix Field Office believes there could be additional victims and is asking anyone with information and/or any potential victims to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit the information via this seeking victim page: https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/victim-services/seeking-victim-information/seeking-victim-information-in-karl-leslie-investigation.
A conviction for Aggravated Sexual Abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual Abuse through Fear, Sexual Abuse through Coercion, and Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law all carry a maximum sentence of up to life imprisonment and up to a $250,000 fine. A conviction for Kidnapping-Victim Under 18 carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years.
The FBI Phoenix Pinetop-Lakeside office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dimitra H. Sampson (Flagstaff) and Lindsay L. Short (Phoenix), District of Arizona, are 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: CR-2025-08232-PCT-DGC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-003_Leslie
# # #
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.
Tomball man sentenced for possession of sexually explicit videos and images of childrenRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 53-year-old Houston-area resident has been ordered to federal prison for possession of child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Sean M. Doran pleaded guilty April 24, 2025.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt sentenced Doran to 60 months in federal prison Jan. 6. At the hearing, the court heard additional information detailing how Doran possessed over 500 images on seven devices. Some of the images portrayed sadomasochistic conduct and bestiality with minors younger than the age of three.
In handing down the sentence, the court noted Doran’s conduct contributed to trauma the victims suffered. Doran was further ordered to pay $55,000 in restitution to the victims and will serve 10 years on supervised release following the completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous conditions designed to restrict his access to both children and the internet. Doran will also be ordered to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.
On July 29, 2020, law enforcement discovered an online user, later identified as Doran, sharing multiple files containing CSAM in a public Kik chat room. The videos and images depicted children under the age of 12 in various sexual acts with adults, animals and other victims.
Authorities obtained a search warrant for Doran’s residence and seized his electronic devices. Forensic analysis resulted in the discovery of 62 images and seven videos of CSAM.
Doran will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ekua Assabill prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Tampa Man Pleads Guilty to Interstate Threat to Kill A Member of the United States House of RepresentativesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Myles M. McQuade (30, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to interstate transmission of a threat to injure a Member of the United States House of Representatives. McQuade faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, on September 12, 2025, McQuade transmitted social media posts containing gruesome and threatening messages to harm a U.S. Congresswoman as well as members of her immediate family.
This case was investigated by the United States Capitol Police. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Wheeler III.
Stabbing of a Tourist in November 2024 Yields Prison Term for D.C. ManRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Maurice Felder, 54, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 54 months in prison for charges related to stabbing a man who was visiting D.C. on November 10, 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Felder was found guilty by a Superior Court jury on October 15th, on one count each of assault with significant bodily injury while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and possession of a prohibited weapon. On January 6, 2026, the Honorable Todd Edelman sentenced Felder to a combined total of 54 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, at about 1:00 a.m., on November 10, 2024, as the victim and his friends were walking near the intersection of 7th Street N.W. and T Street N.W. , while visiting Washington, D.C. for a weekend from Pennsylvania, Felder followed the group down the sidewalk and began arguing with them. The victim got in between Felder and other members of his friend group, telling the defendant to leave. The defendant then asked the victim, “do you want to die,” pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim in his chest, leaving him with a stab wound two centimeters from his heart, which required urgent medical care.
Felder was arrested the same day, within a block from the location of incident, and has been in custody since his arrest.
Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Valerie Tsesarenko and Randle Wilson, who prosecuted the case.
St. Louis County Man Sentenced to 151 Months in Prison on Child Sex-Related ChargesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Tuesday sentenced a former paramedic / firefighter from St. Louis County to 151 months in prison on child sex-related charges.
Judge Pitlyk also ordered David S. Becker, 70, to pay $17,000 to victims who have appeared in child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and ordered him to be placed on supervised release for life after his release from prison.
In August, jurors in U.S. District Court in St. Louis found Becker guilty of one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and one count of possession of child pornography. Trial evidence and testimony showed that Becker began corresponding with a person on a nudist website. That person claimed to be the mother of an 11-year-old girl in France. Becker and the person discussed having sex with each other and the child. He also sent her an image of child sexual abuse material in October of 2022. Becker bought plane tickets for France and obtained an extended-stay visa, planning to travel there in June of 2023, evidence and testimony showed.At the time, investigators were already working on a cyber tipline report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about someone uploading child sexual abuse material (CSAM). On May 22, 2023, investigators conducted a court-approved search of Becker’s home. Becker admitted planning the trip to France to meet the mother and her daughter. Investigators found CSAM on Becker’s electronic devices, as well as years of communications about Becker’s plans to sexually abuse the child, evidence and testimony showed.
After the trial, additional electronic devices were discovered that showed Becker corresponding with someone else who claimed to be the mother of a young girl, according to court testimony.
Judge Pitlyk told Becker near the end of Tuesday’s hearing that the evidence at trial showed both that he “fully intended” to sexually abuse a child in France and the danger he poses to the community.
The St. Louis County Police Dept. Special Investigations Unit, the FBI and the Maryland Heights Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jillian Anderson and Michael Hayes are 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 the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Sports Agent Indicted for Embezzling Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars from ClientsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Lucas Mirtl (42, Prosper, TX) with four counts of wire fraud. If convicted, Mirtl faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each count. The indictment also notifies Mirtl that the United States intends to forfeit at least $351,797, which is alleged to represent proceeds obtained from the offenses.
According to the indictment, Mirtl worked as a sports agent for a sports marketing and talent management company based in Los Angeles, California. Between August 2023 and January 2025, Mirtl perpetrated a scheme to defraud two clients of hundreds of thousands of dollars. As part of the scheme, Mirtl gained access to bank accounts that contained funds generated by his clients’ professional activities. Mirtl, without authorization, withdrew funds in small increments from those accounts for his personal use over the course of approximately 18 months, including transactions sent directly to his personal bank account. To conceal the unauthorized transactions, Mirtl entered false and fraudulent memo lines that identified payments as being for goods and services that Mirtl never provided.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.
IndictmentSouthern Utah Man Sentenced for Damaging ICE Transit VanRead the Press Release
ST. GEORGE, Utah – Ryan Michael Gaines, 32, of Santa Clara, Utah, was sentenced today to 36 months’ probation for damaging an ICE Transit Van in April 2025. He was also ordered to pay $2,883.20 in restitution to the United States Department of Homeland Security, which was ordered due at the time of sentencing.
The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Ann Marie McIff Alle, comes after Gaines admitted on October 9, 2025, to willfully damaging government property, a federal felony.
According to court documents and admissions made at Gaines’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, Gaines, who was also captured on surveillance video on April 18, 2025, approached and damaged an ICE Transit Van at the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO) Office in St. George. Gaines ripped pieces from the passenger and driver’s side mirrors. See prior release: Southern Utah Man Arrested and Charged after Allegedly Damaging an ICE Transit Van.
“Gaines’ conduct is yet another example of an attempt to threaten and obstruct our federal officers tasked with the difficult and multi-faceted duty of enforcing our Nation’s immigration laws,” said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah. “Any threat made on any law enforcement will be taken seriously and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
"The defendant's actions were intentional and calculated," said Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls of the Salt Lake City FBI. "No officer or public servant should have to fear for their safety simply for doing their job. Intimidation and violence aimed at those who serve our communities will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted."
The case was investigated jointly by St. George Police Department and the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, St. George Resident Agency.
Assistant United States Attorney Brady Wilson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
South Carolina Laboratory Pleads Guilty and Agrees to Pay at Least $6.8M to Settle Allegations of Kickbacks to DoctorsRead the Press Release
Clinical laboratory LTD Holding LLC, formerly known as Labtech Diagnostics LLC (Labtech), of Anderson, South Carolina, and its founder and CEO Joseph Labash, of the United Arab Emirates, have agreed to pay at least $6.8 million to the United States to resolve False Claims Act allegations involving illegal kickbacks to doctors. With this settlement, the Department of Justice has secured over $11.5 million in civil False Claims Act settlements relating to Labtech, including recoveries from nine doctors.
In addition to the civil settlement, Labtech has agreed to plead guilty to five counts of offering and paying health care kickbacks in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute, Title 42, United States Code, Sections 1320a-7b(b)(2)(A) and (B). Pursuant to the terms of the plea agreement in the criminal matter, Labtech will pay $103,551.90 in restitution, in addition to the civil recoveries above.
“Patients trust doctors to exercise their unbiased medical judgment in ordering clinical testing,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Companies and executives who pay illegal kickbacks to referring doctors corrupt those doctors’ independence, leaving patients vulnerable to expensive and unnecessary testing.”
“Every dollar spent, and every decision made in health care must prioritize the patient’s wellbeing and care,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “We will continue to work with our partners to pursue those engaged in illegal kickback schemes and hold them accountable.”
“This settlement reaffirms the FBI’s unwavering commitment to investigating fraud and holding accountable anyone who seeks to undermine our healthcare system,” said Special Agent in Charge Kevin Moore of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “The public deserves complete confidence in the integrity of medical practices, and the FBI — alongside our law enforcement partners—will continue to ensure fairness and integrity of healthcare for all citizens.”
“When medical decisions are bought and sold, patients suffer and public trust erodes,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Kickback schemes like this violate the core of federal healthcare programs, and HHS-OIG will continue to relentlessly pursue anyone who exploits these programs and hold them fully accountable for their actions.”
“When corrupt companies entice health care providers with kickbacks, it threatens patient care and degrades federal health care programs, such as TRICARE,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “In coordination with our law enforcement partners, DCIS is committed to bringing to justice companies and individuals that engage in collusive financial relationships that defraud taxpayers and jeopardize the wellbeing of America’s warfighters.”
The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving remuneration to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and other federally funded healthcare programs. It is intended to ensure that medical providers’ judgments are not compromised by improper financial incentives and are instead based on the best interests of their patients. Claims that are knowingly submitted in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute are ineligible for payment and can violate the False Claims Act.
Under the settlement with the United States, Labtech and Labash have agreed to pay $6.8 million, plus up to an additional $3,271,536 if a financial contingency occurs. The settlement resolves allegations that Labtech and Labash knowingly and willfully paid five types of kickbacks to induce laboratory testing referrals. From August 2018 to November 2021, Labtech and Labash allegedly paid doctors kickbacks disguised in three ways — as purported office space rental, phlebotomy, and toxicology payments — to induce the doctors to order Labtech’s laboratory tests. In an attempt to cover up the kickbacks, Labtech and Labash allegedly hand-delivered money orders for some such payments; entered into contracts that falsely described the payments as being made for office space rental or phlebotomy or toxicology services; and falsified square footage and hours in “fraud and abuse” certification forms. In addition, the settlement resolves allegations that, from September to December 2016, Labtech and Labash arranged to pay a physician practice in Charlotte, North Carolina an inflated amount for used laboratory equipment to induce the healthcare provider to order Labtech’s testing. Lastly, from March 2018 to November 2021, Labtech and Labash allegedly provided a pain management practice in Landis, North Carolina with free services and supplies in connection with drug screen testing, in return for the practice referring its lucrative drug confirmation testing to Labtech.
The settlement resolves certain allegations in a lawsuit originally filed by relator Mahmod Altwam under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the government when they believe that a defendant has submitted false claims for government funds and receive a share of any recovery. Relator will receive $1.36 million of the proceeds from the settlement. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Altwam v. Labtech Diagnostics LLC, et al., No. 8:21-cv-2844 (D.S.C.).
The civil settlement announced today was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, with assistance from HHS-OIG, DCIS, and the FBI. The civil matter was handled by Senior Trial Counsel Christopher Terranova in the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Beth C. Warren for the District of South Carolina. The United States previously resolved allegations that healthcare providers in South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, and Illinois received kickbacks to induce their laboratory referrals to Labtech.
The government’s pursuit of these matters illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
Except to the extent that Labtech’s admissions are part of its criminal resolution, the claims resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Seven Defendants Sentenced to Prison for Their Participation in Transnational Telemarketing Scheme that Defrauded Victims of More Than $12 MillionRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Yveler Marcellus, Felix Marcial, Asheem Henry, George Mims, Rahmel Thompson, Daquan Mitchell and Tatiana Williams were sentenced by United States District Judge Carol Bagley Amon in connection with their roles in a scheme to launder money fraudulently obtained from victims of a transnational telemarketing scheme, many of whom were elderly. The proceeds of the scheme were shared between the defendants and co-conspirators located abroad.
Marcellus, who was convicted of money laundering conspiracy and mail and wire fraud conspiracy at trial in September 2025, was sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment. The remaining defendants pleaded guilty to mail and wire fraud conspiracy pursuant to plea agreements with the government. Marcial was sentenced to 66 months’ imprisonment. Henry was sentenced to 55 months’ imprisonment. Mims was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment. Thompson was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment. Mitchell was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. Williams was sentenced to a year and a days’ imprisonment.
As part of the sentences imposed, the defendants were ordered to pay, in total, $12,488,884.33 in restitution. Additionally, the Court ordered the defendants to forfeit their ill-gotten gains as follows: Marcellus was ordered to pay $185,000; Marcial was ordered to pay $700,000; Henry was ordered to pay $240,000; Mims was ordered to pay $170,000; Thompson was ordered to pay $160,000; and Williams was ordered to forfeit a bank account valued at $229,274.02 and pay an additional $60,000.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, New York (USPIS), announced the sentences.
“Today’s punishment was certainly warranted for the defendants who caused tremendous harm to the victims, many of whom were elderly or otherwise vulnerable,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Through their callous scheme, the defendants profited by moving millions of dollars of victims’ hard-earned funds through their accounts and other accounts that they controlled and transferring a share of those proceeds to co-conspirators abroad who coordinated the telemarketing scheme. Those who participate in fraudulent conspiracies and work with individuals who prey on the vulnerable will be held accountable for their crimes.”
“These criminals selfishly preyed on vulnerable victims to enrich their lifestyles; but they underestimated the resolve of the United States Postal Inspection Service to continue to investigate this case until every complicit person was held accountable,” stated USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward. “Postal Inspectors will work tirelessly to shut down schemes like this and any fraudster who seeks to take advantage of others. Too many seniors fall for these financial schemes, it’s crucial to protect them and their hard-earned money, and that’s what was done in this case.”
From approximately January 2022 through December 2023, the defendants and their co-conspirators participated in a scheme in which India-based co-conspirators contacted victims by phone and convinced those victims to send checks and money orders, addressed to the defendants and other U.S-based co-conspirators, to various addresses in the Eastern District of New York. The India-based co-conspirators fraudulently induced the victims, many of whom were elderly, to send checks to the defendants under false pretenses, including that the victims’ money was at risk of being stolen from their bank accounts. After receiving the victims’ checks, the defendants and their U.S.-based co-conspirators laundered the check proceeds through their own bank accounts and other bank accounts that they controlled, shared the proceeds amongst themselves, and sent the remainder of the laundered proceeds to the Indian-based co-conspirators. The scheme is estimated to have netted over $12 million from victims across the United States.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs and General Crimes Sections. Assistant United States Attorneys Elias Laris, Molly Delaney, and David Berman are in charge of the prosecution. Assistant United States Attorney Tanisha Payne of the Office’s Asset Forfeiture Section is handling forfeiture matters.
The Sentenced Defendants:
YVELER MARCELLUS
Age: 32
Brooklyn, New YorkFELIX MARCIAL
Age: 32
Brooklyn, New YorkTATIANA WILLIAMS
Age: 28
Miramar, FloridaASHEEM HENRY
Age: 34
New York, New YorkGEORGE MIMS
Age: 38
New York, New YorkRAHMEL THOMPSON
Age: 26
Queens, New YorkDAQUAN MITCHELL
Age: 34
New York, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-9 / 24-CR-9 (S-1) (CBA)
Defendant Yet to Be Sentenced:
DANIEL VERNON
Age: 29
Queens, New YorkRegistered Sex Offender Sentenced to 30 Years for Transporting and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material and AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced James Matthew Oxley (53, Polk City) to 30 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for transporting child sexual abuse material. Oxley was also sentenced to 20 years, to run concurrently with the 30-year sentence, for possession of child sexual abuse material and possession of obscene visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The court also ordered Oxley to forfeit a cellphone used in the commission of the offense, pay $18,000 in restitution to victims, and register as a sex offender. Oxley pleaded guilty in September 2025.
According to court documents, on December 17, 2024, Oxley left the Tampa seaport onboard a cruise ship. The ship traveled to two destinations in Mexico before returning to Tampa. On December 22, 2024, upon disembarking in Tampa, all individuals aboard the ship went through U.S. Customs. Oxley was referred for a secondary inspection. During the secondary inspection, agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection discovered suspected child sex abuse material on Oxley’s cellphone. The agents observed images and videos involving the sexual abuse of minors, including children under 12 years of age. Oxley also possessed AI-generated images that appeared to depict minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Oxley is a registered sex offender who was previously convicted in 2012 of three counts of possessing images showing the sexual performance by a child, in violation of Florida state laws.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to Nearly 2 Years in Federal Prison for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a man from Rapid City, South Dakota, convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on January 5, 2026.
Jose Eduardo Rodriguez, age 50, was sentenced to one year and nine months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Rodriguez was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2025. He pleaded guilty on October 1, 2025.
Rodriguez was convicted of Fourth Degree Rape in Butte County, South Dakota, in 1998. Consequently, he is required to register as a sex offender and update his registration within three business days of relocation or changing employment or student status. In October 2023, Rodriguez began a period of supervised release residing in Rapid City, and he appropriately updated his sex offender registration. Rodriguez moved from South Dakota to Texas in February 2024, but did not update his sex offender registration. An arrest warrant was subsequently issued, and on April 29, 2025, Rodriguez was arrested in Rapid City.
This case was brought as a 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 the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Rodriguez was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Prior felon pleads guilty to new child pornography chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Cameron Gelsomino, 23, of Burt, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. possession of child pornography after a prior conviction, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison a maximum penalty of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who is handling the case, stated that in August 2023, Gelsomino was convicted of Possessing Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child in Niagara County Court and sentenced to serve 30 days’ incarceration and 10 years’ probation. In May 2024, he possessed a cell phone, which contained approximately 56 images and two videos of child pornography.
The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan and the Niagara County Probation Department, under the direction of Director Deborah M LaRock.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 6, 2026, before Judge Sinatra.
# # # #
Possession of Child Pornography Lands Warr Acres Man in Federal Prison for a DecadeRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – BRENDON SHEA COOPER, 38, of Warr Acres, has been sentenced to serve 120 months in federal prison for possession of and access with intent to view material containing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
During the summer of 2024, public records reflect the FBI investigated an Internet Protocol (IP) address suspected of making available child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to others through a file-sharing website. Investigators traced the IP address to a Warr Acres residence and ultimately to a cellular phone owned by Cooper, on which law enforcement located files depicting CSAM.
On October 15, 2024, a federal grand jury charged Cooper with possession of and access with intent to view material containing child pornography. Cooper pleaded guilty on June 12, 2025, and admitted that he possessed CSAM, including images depicting prepubescent children, on his cellular phone.
At a sentencing hearing on January 6, 2026, U.S. District Judge Charles Goodwin sentenced Cooper to serve 10 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, Judge Goodwin noted the seriousness of the offense and the need to deter Cooper from future crimes.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office with assistance from the Warr Acres Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Edgmon prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Pittsburgh Investment Manager Pleads Guilty to $3.7 Million Wire FraudRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of wire fraud, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Thomas Pipich Jr., 74, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, between May of 2017 and August of 2023, Pipich transferred more than $3.7 million from the bank account of a fund for which he managed investments to another client’s account in order to backfill investment losses. Pipich told the victim fund’s members a series of lies about the transfers, including that the funds were part of a secured loan when in fact there was no collateralized loan. Pipich paid himself and his wife more than $800,000 from the funds.
Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for May 12, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or twice Pipich’s gain from the offense, whichever is greater, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney William Guappone is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Pipich.
Previously Deported Alien Indicted for Illegal Entry and Assault of an Immigration OfficerRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Edwin Antonio Rodriguez-Gonzalez, 31, of El Salvador, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with illegal entry by a deported alien and assault of a government official. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.
Rodriguez-Gonzalez appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick, in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for February 3, 2026, at 8:30 am, before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor.
If convicted, Rodriguez-Gonzalez faces up to three years’ imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Florida Highway Patrol. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Orange County Judge Agrees to Plead Guilty to Knowingly Paying Convicted Doctor to Work on Workers’ Comp Cases Despite SuspensionRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – An Orange County Superior Court judge was federally charged today with defrauding California’s workers’ compensation program.
Israel Claustro, 50, was charged via information with one count of mail fraud, a crime that carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
Claustro signed a plea agreement – also filed in court today – in which he agreed to plead guilty to the felony charge. Claustro is expected to make his initial appearance on January 12 in United States District Court in Santa Ana.
Claustro has agreed to resign from his position as a judge.
“Judge Claustro violated the law for his personal financial benefit,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “We will not hesitate to prosecute anyone – judges included – who defraud public benefits intended to help those in need.”
According to the plea agreement, Claustro – who was an Orange County prosecutor at the time of the fraud – operated Liberty Medical Group Inc., a Rancho Cucamonga-based medical corporation, despite being neither a physician nor a medical professional as required under California law.
One of Liberty’s employees was Dr. Kevin Tien Do, 60, of Pasadena, a physician who had served a one-year federal prison sentence after being convicted in 2003 of felony health care fraud. Because of this conviction, in October 2018, Do was suspended from participating in the California’s workers’ compensation program. Claustro was aware of Do’s prior criminal conviction and suspension from California’s workers’ compensation program.
According to the plea agreement, Claustro admitted that he defrauded California’s Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF), a special fund administered by California’s workers’ compensation program to provide additional compensation to injured workers who already had a disability or impairment at the time of a subsequent injury.
Specifically, Claustro paid Do more than $300,000 for preparing medical evaluations, medical record reviews, and med-legal reports after Do’s suspension. Claustro caused Liberty to mail these reports to California’s SIBTF, concealing that they were prepared by Do by listing other doctors’ names on the billing forms and reports. Based on these fraudulent submitted reports, Liberty received hundreds of thousands of dollars from SIBTF.
The loss amount from Claustro’s participation in this scheme is approximately $38,670 – the amount SIBTF paid to Liberty based on reports Claustro knew Do had drafted after his suspension from SIBTF.
In connection with this scheme, Do pleaded guilty in January 2025 to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and one count of subscribing to a false tax return. Do is expected to be sentenced in the coming months.
The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the California Department of Insurance are investigating this matter.
Former Special Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Orrick of the Orange County Office prosecuted this case.
Oklahoma City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Firearm Possession Following ShootingRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – KEANO DENZELL THREATS, 26, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 57 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public record, on March 29, 2023, Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD) officers responded to an apartment on a reported assault. At the residence, OCPD spoke with a victim who reported that Threats had pointed a firearm at him, threatened him, and fired the weapon near his head. Threats was taken into custody, and officers recovered a firearm from the apartment.
On May 3, 2023, a federal grand jury charged Threats with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Threats pleaded guilty on July 15, 2025, and admitted that he possessed a firearm despite his felony conviction. Federal law prohibits felons from possessing firearms or ammunition.
At a sentencing hearing on January 6, 2026, U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced Threats to serve 57 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, the Court noted the need to protect the public from further crimes of Threats and his history and characteristics.
Public record reflects that Threats has previous felony convictions in Oklahoma County District Court, including convictions for assault and battery on a juvenile affairs officer in case number CF-2017-3225, and domestic abuse by strangulation and domestic abuse in the presence of a child in case number CF-2019-4220.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and OCPD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary E. Walters prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation 922 and Operation Shots Fired, the Western District of Oklahoma’s implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Operation 922 prioritizes prosecution of federal firearms violations connected to domestic violence. Operation Shots Fired targets cases involving individuals who discharge firearms as part of their criminal activity, including drive-by shootings or shots fired during robberies, domestic disputes, or other incidents. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit justice.gov/psn.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
North Carolina man sentenced to 5 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl on college campusRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A North Carolina man who distributed fentanyl at MSU Northern was sentenced today to 60 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Joel Hadley, III, 23, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that in the summer of 2022, law enforcement received information that Joel Hadley III, a football player, was trafficking fentanyl from student housing on the campus of Montana State University - Northern (MSU-N) in Havre. Reporting indicated Hadley was selling large amounts of fentanyl to Native Americans from the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation and Fort Belknap Indian Reservation.
Several controlled purchases of fentanyl pills were conducted using a confidential source. In each instance, the source communicated with Hadley to set up a purchase. Law enforcement equipped the source with a controlled monitoring device and prerecorded funds.
A federal search warrant for Hadley’s residence was granted and executed in September 2023. Law enforcement seized a firearm and loaded magazine, a plastic bag containing fentanyl, and $861 in U.S. currency.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Myers prosecuted the case. The FBI, DEA, U.S. Border Patrol and Tri-Agency Task Force conducted the investigation.
XXX
New Jersey Man Sentenced for Promoting Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
CAMDEN — A New Jersey man was sentenced yesterday to 14 years in prison and 15 years of supervised release for promoting child sexual abuse material on the dark web.
According to court documents, between Oct. 18, 2020, and Jan. 20, 2023, Declan Golden, 39, of Middletown Township, New Jersey, accessed and engaged with a website on the Tor network known to encourage its users to post and trade child sexual abuse material. While on this website, Golden created numerous posts related to voyeurism and the sexual exploitation of children while encouraging other users to share images with him. Golden also posted links for users to access images of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct and statements about using a spycam on girls in the shower and on the toilet. A search of his devices revealed many videos and image files of child sexual abuse material, including depictions of prepubescent children engaged in sexual acts. In an interview with law enforcement, Golden admitted to viewing child sexual abuse material beginning in 2014.
Golden pleaded guilty in May 2025 to the charge of promoting material containing child pornography involving a prepubescent minor in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello for the Criminal and Special Prosecutions Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy of the FBI Newark Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit (CEOU). The Department also thanks the Middletown Police Department for its assistance with the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Fell for the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorney Anglica Carrasco of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section are 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
###
New Jersey Man Sentenced for Promoting Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
A New Jersey man was sentenced yesterday to 14 years in prison and 15 years of supervised release for promoting child sexual abuse material on the dark web.
According to court documents, between Oct. 18, 2020, and Jan. 20, 2023, Declan Golden, 39, of Middletown Township, New Jersey, accessed and engaged with a website on the Tor network known to encourage its users to post and trade child sexual abuse material. While on this website, Golden created numerous posts related to voyeurism and the sexual exploitation of children while encouraging other users to share images with him. Golden also posted links for users to access images of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct and statements about using a spycam on girls in the shower and on the toilet. A search of his devices revealed many videos and image files of child sexual abuse material, including depictions of prepubescent children engaged in sexual acts. In an interview with law enforcement, Golden admitted to viewing child sexual abuse material beginning in 2014.
Golden pleaded guilty in May 2025 to the charge of promoting material containing child pornography involving a prepubescent minor in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello for the Criminal and Special Prosecutions Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, and Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy of the FBI Newark Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit (CEOU). The Department also thanks the Middletown Police Department for its assistance with the investigation.
Trial Attorney Anglica Carrasco of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Fell for the District of New Jersey are 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
New Jersey Doctor Charged in 58-Count Indictment with Distributing Opioids in Exchange for Sexual Favors and Defrauding New Jersey MedicaidRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A New Jersey doctor was charged in a 58-count indictment with distributing opioids without a legitimate medical purpose, maintaining a drug-involved premises, and defrauding New Jersey Medicaid by billing for visits that never happened, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced today.
Ritesh Kalra, 52, of Secaucus, New Jersey, was previously charged by criminal complaint in July 2025, and now stands charged by indictment with additional offenses, including 36 counts of distributing opioids outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose, one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, and 21 counts of health care fraud. Kalra appeared for an arraignment and initial appearance on the indictment today before U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz in Newark federal.
“The additional charges against Dr. Kalra demonstrate that our Office will continue to pursue justice for victims of the opioid epidemic in New Jersey by prosecuting doctors who, as alleged, use their positions of trust to fuel addiction and exploit vulnerable patients. Physicians who defraud New Jersey’s Medicaid Program for their own personal gain will be held accountable.”
- Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello
“Doctors know the devastation opioid addiction can wreak when left unchecked. Allegedly, Dr. Kalra used his position of power for financial gain, fabricating fake appointments, and in some cases, demanding sexual favors in return for prescriptions. The FBI and its partners work tirelessly against such abuses of power, to ensure the abuser is no longer able to victimize patients. This indictment serves as a warning to others that a prescription pad is not a license to destroy lives,” stated FBI-Newark Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
Dr. Kalra, an internist in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, allegedly operated a pill mill out of his medical office, where he routinely prescribed high-dose opioids—including oxycodone and promethazine with codeine—to patients without a legitimate medical purpose. Between January 2019 and February 2025, Kalra issued more than 31,000 prescriptions for oxycodone, including days when he wrote upwards of 50 prescriptions. Several of Kalra’s former employees reported that female patients complained that Kalra touched them sexually and demanded sexual favors of them in exchange for opioids. One patient described being sexually assaulted by Kalra on multiple occasions, including forced anal sex during clinical appointments. Another patient continued to receive opioid prescriptions from Kalra when the patient was incarcerated at Essex County Correctional Facility and had no contact with Dr. Kalra.
Kalra also allegedly billed for in-person office visits that never occurred. As part of the health care fraud scheme, Kalra’s electronic medical records allegedly contained false progress notes listing fabricated dates of service, and included examination notes that were generally identical from visit to visit and did not record vital signs.
Each of the 36 distribution counts carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The charge of maintaining a drug-involved premises carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. Each of the 21 health care fraud counts is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross profit or loss caused by the offense, whichever is greatest.
Individuals who believe they may be victims of Dr. Kalra or have information about this case may contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or by email at NK-Victim-Assistance@fbi.gov.
Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello credited the following law enforcement organizations with the investigation leading to today’s charges: the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy; the Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Towanda Thorne-James; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz; the Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer Piovesan; the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Amy Connelly; the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General Division of Criminal Justice; and the Fair Lawn Police Department.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine M. Romano, Chief of the General Crimes Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Ecker of the Health Care Fraud and Opioids Enforcement Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
###
Defense counsel: Michael Baldassare, Esq., and Jennifer Mara, Esq.
kalra.indictment.pdfNew Castle Man Sentenced for Role in Interstate Drug Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Edward Dietrich, 60, was sentenced by United States District Judge Robert J. Colville to time served of six days in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.
Prior to sentencing, Judge Colville was informed that the conspiracy in which Dietrich participated was responsible for the distribution of large quantities of controlled substances in New Castle as well as in Detroit, Michigan, and that Dietrich suffers from multiple serious medical and physical conditions. According to information presented to the Court, Dietrich primarily participated in the conspiracy by allowing fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine to be stored inside and distributed from his New Castle residence for months between August 2023 and August 2024, with the defendant having received controlled substances as compensation for the use of his residence for that purpose.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
First Assistant United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Lawrence County Drug Task Force, New Castle Police Department, Michigan State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, Mercer County Drug Task Force, United States Postal Inspection Service, Department of Homeland Security, and Douglas County (Nebraska) Sheriff’s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Dietrich.
This prosecution was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations that 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.
Nelson County Woman Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A Nelson County woman was sentenced on January 5, 2026, for two counts of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of distribution of child pornography.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Homeland Security Investigations Nashville made the announcement.
Kathlen Flener, 27, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, followed by a term of 30 years of supervised release, for two counts of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of distribution of child pornography. The Court ordered Flener to pay $6,000 in restitution, $3,000 to each victim.
Flener used an online social media application to distribute two sexually explicit images of the minor victims to an adult male living in Australia.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by HSI with assistance from the Kentucky State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Yannelli prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
###
Nebraska Man Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Possessing with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an Indictment on January 7, 2026, charging a Nebraska man with a federal narcotics offense.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Chief Richard Sanders of the Jeffersontown Police Department, and Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police made the announcement.
According to the Indictment, Jacob Talamantes, 23, of Nebraska, was charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in Jefferson County on or about December 22, 2025. On December 27, 2025, a criminal complaint and supporting affidavit were filed that allege that on December 22, 2025, law enforcement received information that a narcotics shipment was coming to the Jeffersontown, Kentucky area. Law enforcement conducted surveillance and soon spotted the vehicle they expected would contain the narcotics. Officers did a takedown on the vehicle as it pulled into a parking spot on a business lot located in Jeffersontown, Kentucky. A Kentucky State Police canine was deployed and alerted to the positive presence of narcotics odor emanating from the vehicle. Upon search of the vehicle, investigators recovered a large quantity of suspected methamphetamine in various containers that were wrapped in gift wrap and disguised to look like Christmas presents. Talamantes was the driver of the vehicle.
The Indictment also alleges that Talamantes had a previous conviction on May 25, 2022, for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska. If convicted, the previous conviction increases his potential mandatory minimum sentence from 10 years to 15 years imprisonment under 21 U.S.C. § 851. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
The defendant remains in state custody and will make an initial appearance at a later date before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the DEA, Jeffersontown Police Department, and the Kentucky State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia P. Gomez 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.
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.
###
Muskogee Resident Sentenced for Illegally Possessing AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that DaQurius Razjoune Johnson, a/k/a Daquarius Razjoune Johnson, age 33, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 29 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
On June 5, 2025, Johnson pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on July 24, 2024, law enforcement dispatched to a Muskogee County residence discovered Johnson in possession of 35 rounds of ammunition. At the time of the incident, Johnson had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Johnson will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob R. Parker and Edith A. Singer represented the United States.
Michigan Man Sentenced in Multi-State Retail Crime Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Michigan man has been sentenced in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island for his role in a multi-state wire fraud conspiracy that defrauded a Rhode Island-based retailer of approximately $140,000, announced Interim United States Attorney Charles Calenda.
Mattek Scott, 27, of Flint, MI, was sentenced on January 7, 2026, by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to time served and three years of supervised release.
From at least June 2022 through April 3, 2024, Scott and co-conspirators used fraudulent debit and credit cards at retail outlets in at least 11 states, including Rhode Island, to obtain merchandise and pre-paid gift cards. When fraudulent cards were declined, they directed the cashier to complete the transaction by pushing the “cash tendered” button; however, no cash was tendered. As a result of this scheme, the gift cards were loaded with U.S. Currency, ranging from $199 to $500.
The fraudulently obtained gift cards were used to purchase additional gift cards and to pay for goods and services, including lodging, meals, groceries, car repairs, utilities, gas, and convenience store items.
The Rhode Island-based retailer suffered losses totaling approximately $140,000.
Arianna Asberry, of Flint, MI, one of Scott’s co-conspirators, pleaded guilty on November 20, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She was sentenced to time served, three years federal supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $138,633.01.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christine D. Lowell and Julianne Klein.
The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
Mexican National Charged with Reentry of Deported AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –United States Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that JOSE CABRERA-MOLINA (“CABRERA-MOLINA”), age 33, a native of Mexico, was charged via bill of information on December 23, 2025, with reentry of removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to court documents, CABRERA-MOLINA, an illegal alien, was found in Orleans Parish on December 12, 2025. Immigration records indicate that he was previously removed from the United States on December 16, 2013. These records confirm he has no legal authorization to remain in the United States and that he returned to the country without first obtaining prior approval from United States authorities.
If convicted, CABRERA-MOLINA faces up to two years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to one year of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.
* * *
McCurtain County Resident Sentenced for Illegally Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kendall James Hopper, age 62, of Smithville, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police, and the LeFlore County Sheriff’s Office.
On June 9, 2025, Hopper pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on January 2, 2024, law enforcement dispatched to a Smithville, Oklahoma residence discovered Hopper in possession of one lever-action .30-.30 caliber rifle. At the time of the incident, Hopper had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.