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1 September 2026
Mankato Man Sentenced to 35 Years’ Imprisonment for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Mitchell Ray Williams, 40, of Mankato, Minnesota, was sentenced to 420 months in prison for his role in the production of child pornography.
Williams was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Jerry W. Blackwell on August 19, 2026. He previously pleaded guilty on November 4, 2025.
According to court documents, throughout October 2024, Williams attempted to employ a minor male victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. Williams knowingly recorded the minor and used messaging applications to share child pornography.
Throughout the investigation, law enforcement found hundreds of files of child pornography of which nine files involved visibly pre-pubescent child victims involved in sexually explicit acts. Williams has two prior convictions in another state, from August 2005 and April 2017, for Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse.
“Williams is a repeat sexual predator and posed a danger to vulnerable children. Today’s sentencing ensures that he is held accountable for the harm he has caused to the child victims and their families,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
“Mitchell Williams is now on his third conviction for child sexual exploitation offenses. The abuse and exploitation stop here,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “We know that the production, advertisement, and distribution of child sexual abuse material causes serious and lasting harm to child victims and their loved ones. Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of that harm and ensures that children everywhere will be protected from Mitchell Williams for decades to come.”
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Mankato Department of Public Safety.
Assistant United States Attorney Kristian Weir prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Note: Previous press release on the indictment here.
Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to 2025 Robbery at TD BankRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Manchester man Michael Cote, 44, pleaded guilty today in federal court to a bank robbery that took place at the TD Bank located at 300 Franklin Street in Manchester on December 11, 2025, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. U.S. District Court Judge Steven McAuliffe has scheduled Cote’s sentencing for December 8, 2026.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Cote entered the TD Bank on Franklin Street shortly before 9:00 a.m. wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt and a gray hat, stating words to the teller to the effect that this was a robbery and he was armed. He also demanded the teller put money in an envelope and give it to him. Unbeknownst to Cote, the teller handed him an envelope of $600 cash that also contained a GPS tracker. Within minutes, law enforcement tracked him to Bunny’s Convenience store on Elm Street where he had just bought cigarettes with proceeds from the robbery. Cote stated to Manchester Police officers that he had committed the robbery.
The charging statute provides a sentence of up to twenty years. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation with valuable assistance provided by the Manchester Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Anderson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Rombeau.
Malden Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing CocaineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Malden man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Worcester to conspiring to distribute cocaine.
Christhian Castillo, 33, pleaded guilty on Aug. 27, 2026 to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 or more grams of cocaine and distribution of 500 or more grams of cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for Dec. 1, 2026. Castillo was indicted in May 2025, along with his alleged co-conspirator Erick Sandoval-Perez.
Castillo and allegedly Sandoval-Perez, worked together to sell cocaine on several occasions to an undercover law enforcement officer. On Feb. 12, 2025, Sandoval-Perez allegedly arranged to sell a kilogram of cocaine to an undercover. Castillo was arrested when he allegedly handed the kilogram of cocaine to the undercover.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 or more grams of cocaine, and the charge of distribution of 500 or more grams of cocaine, both carry a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Sandoval-Perez is scheduled to plead guilty on Oct. 14, 2026.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Chief Ryan Malatos of the Leominster Police Department; and Chief Brian W. Coyne of the Clinton Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Malden Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Last suspect pleads guilty to his role in stabbing death during Billings carjackingRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A man who stabbed and killed the driver of a pickup during a carjacking on Billings’ South Side admitted to charges today, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Brian Dale Contreraz, 31, pleaded guilty to a carjacking that resulted in death. Contreraz faces up to life in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided and will determine a sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Jan. 7, 2027. Contreraz remained in custody pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that Contreraz, along with Violet Jean Littlelight, 23, and Shyanna Jo Whitewolf, 21, met up with Keith Breckenridge, 51, at South Park in Billings to rob him and steal his pickup truck.
Littlelight was sentenced earlier this summer to 24 years in prison for her role in the attack; Whitewolf was sentenced to 20 years.
The incident happened on May 16, 2025. Littlelight was spending time with Whitewolf and Contreraz in Billings and had been texting that evening with Breckenridge asking if he would come pick her up. When Littlelight told Whitewolf and Contreraz that she’d asked Breckenridge for a ride, the three made plans to steal his truck and take it to a drug dealer they knew in Hardin to exchange for drugs or money.
Littlelight told Breckenridge to meet her at South Park; Whitewolf and Contreraz came along under the pretense of needing a ride. When Breckinridge arrived and saw the two additional people, he grew suspicious and kept the doors locked, asking to know who Whitewolf and Contreraz were. Littlelight vouched for them and told Breckenridge they just wanted a ride. With Littlelight’s assurances, Breckenridge opened the doors and the three climbed into his pickup.
Contreraz told Breckenridge to drive to the alleyway behind Adams Street on Billings’s South Side while Whitewolf chatted with Breckenridge to keep him calm. Once there, Breckenridge stopped the truck and Contreraz leaned over and stabbed him approximately 20 times in the face, neck and chest. Littlelight, Whitewolf, and Contreraz then pulled Breckenridge from the truck and drove away. Breckenridge died in the alley from the stab wounds.
The three drove the pickup to a house in Hardin where they changed their blood-stained clothes and placed them in the truck. From there they drove to a house on the Crow Reservation, where Littlelight and Contreraz decided they would clean the interior of the pickup and burn their bloody clothes along with other evidence from the truck. As they were cleaning the pickup, BIA officers pulled up. Littlelight and Contreraz ran off; Whitewolf stayed. By the end of the month, law enforcement had all three in custody.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Rubich and Zeno Baucus are prosecuting the case. The Billings Police Department conducted the investigation. The FBI adopted the case to help expedite laboratory testing and for federal prosecution purposes.
Las Vegas Man Sentenced to Prison for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, Selling Firearms, Unlawfully Manufacturing and Selling Machine GunsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today by United States District Chief Judge Andrew P. Gordon to 24 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release for unlawfully manufacturing and selling firearms and machinegun conversion devices and possession with the intent to sell methamphetamine. The government requested 57 months’ imprisonment.
“The combination of illegal narcotics and automated firearms poses a severe threat to our neighborhoods,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “By manufacturing and distributing 3D-printed conversion devices, the defendant actively weaponized our streets. This sentence sends a clear message that those who flood our communities with drugs and guns will be held fully accountable under federal law."
According to court documents, from May 1, 2024, to May 24, 2024, Anthony George Hollis, also known as “Ant,” unlawfully sold a 5.45x39mm AK-74-pattern style semiautomatic rifle; a 9x19mm semiautomatic pistol; a privately manufactured 9x19mm semiautomatic pistol; a privately manufactured AR-15-pattern 5.56x45mm semiautomatic rifle; and machinegun conversion devices for Glock pistols and AR-15 pattern rifles. A machinegun conversion device converts a semiautomatic firearm to a fully automatic machinegun. He did not have a Federal Firearms License. Furthermore, Hollis possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute to others.
Hollis pleaded guilty to one count of manufacturing and dealing in firearms without a license, three counts of illegal possession and transfer of a machine gun, and one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah and Special Agent in Charge John Wester of the San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by ATF. Assistant United States Attorney Dan Cowhig prosecuted the case.
Anyone with information about unlawful firearms activity should call ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477), email ATFTips@atf.gov or submit an anonymous tip at www.reportit.com/.
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Kansas City Childcare Operator Indicted for Defrauding State ProgramRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for defrauding a state program to obtain federal funds.
Yolanda Dale, 52, was charged in a four-count sealed indictment on Aug. 27, 2026, by a federal grand jury sitting in Kansas City, Mo. The indictment was unsealed today upon Dale’s initial court appearance. Dale is charged with two counts of theft of government funds and two counts of aggravated identity theft. This is one of many federal fraud cases pursued under the leadership of President Donald Trump and through the establishment of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.
As provided in the indictment, in 2023, the State of Missouri implemented a program that provided federal funding to childcare providers based on the number of individuals the provider employed during specific periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is alleged that, in March 2023 and July 2023, Dale prepared and filed, or caused to be filed, applications for the federal funding on behalf of the childcare center Dale operated. The indictment further alleges that Dale fraudulently inflated the number of individuals employed during the relevant periods on the applications, and, as a result, the childcare center received at least $75,000 in federal funding to which it was not entitled.
The federal funding involved was appropriated through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), which appropriated funds for use by state governments in responding to challenges faced by childcare providers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Once appropriated, the ARPA funding was sent to the State of Missouri who developed and implemented programs to disperse the federal funding to childcare providers.
The charges contained in the indictment are simply accusations and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Nicholas P. Heberle. This case is being investigated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
National Fraud Enforcement Division
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Kailua Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison Following Jury Conviction for Attempting to Entice Minors and Receive Child PornographyRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Ross Andrew Brown, 45, of Kailua, was sentenced on August 19, 2026, by Senior United States District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi to 240 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for attempting to sexually entice and exploit minors, and for attempting to receive child pornography. Brown was also required to pay over $115,000 in fines and assessments. Brown was previously convicted by a federal jury in February 2026.
Evidence at trial showed that Brown repeatedly engaged in sexualized online communications with individuals who identified themselves as being between 14 and 17 years old. Despite knowing their stated ages, Brown continued the conversations, escalated them into sexual discussions, and arranged meetings to attempt to engage in unlawful sexual activity. When Brown arrived at one such agreed-upon meeting location, federal agents arrested him as part of a sting operation.
At sentencing, additional evidence showed that Brown also engaged in similar communications with several other purported minors over a period of approximately two years. Investigators recovered conversations in which Brown attempted to initiate sexual activity, requested images of individuals he believed to be minors, and directed explicit, sexual behavior.
Brown is a lawyer serving as Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps stationed in Hawaii. The court determined that Brown’s conduct was aggravated by his legal training, including a Juris Doctor degree and a Master of Laws degree, as well as his professional experience prosecuting similar child-sex offenses. Brown’s background gave him a heightened understanding of the criminal nature of his actions and the harm caused by offenses involving the sexual exploitation of minors. The District Judge further determined that Brown provided false testimony at trial and did not accept responsibility. When imposing the sentence, District Judge Kobayashi agreed with the government that Brown exhibited a pattern of predatory behavior targeting some of the most vulnerable persons in our community.
The Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and Air Force Office of Special Investigations investigated the case with assistance from Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Nolan and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Slack prosecuted the case.
Justice Department to Conduct Election Monitoring for Massachusetts Primary ElectionRead the Press Release
Today, the Civil Rights Division is monitoring polling sites in Massachusetts for the Commonwealth’s primary election to ensure transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal law.
“Monitoring is an essential duty for the Civil Rights Division during election season,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Nonpartisan, nondiscriminatory monitoring efforts promote transparency, accountability, and most importantly trust in our federal elections.”
The DOJ, through the Civil Rights Division, enforces federal voting laws which protect the voting rights of all eligible citizens. The DOJ regularly deploys staff from the Civil Rights Division and other Department offices to monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in communities across the country. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is providing personnel to assist in the effort.
The DOJ is monitoring polls in Boston, New Bedford, and Lowell with 12 monitors. Thus far the DOJ has deployed over 80 monitors across eight states and over 200 polling locations this primary season. By comparison, during the 2022 midterms the DOJ sent monitors to nine states during the primary season.
The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces various federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Civil Rights Acts.
From now through the general election on Nov. 3, Civil Rights Division personnel will be available to receive questions and complaints from the public related to federal voting rights laws. If you have a question or complaint or would like to request election monitoring in a particular jurisdiction, please contact the Voting Section at VEM@usdoj.gov.
Justice Department Sues Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools to Stop Secret Gender TransitionsRead the Press Release
Today, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, joined by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas, filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit against Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS) to stop the district from facilitating secret “gender transitions” for children at school without their parents’ knowledge or consent.
KCKPS’s conduct violates the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) — laws designed to safeguard parental rights, including the rights to access and oversee information collected and maintained about their children in public schools. The lawsuit follows extensive efforts by the Department of Education to secure KCKPS’s compliance with federal law.
“Parental rights are paramount in the operation of America’s public schools, and Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools does not know children better than their own parents,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department will not tolerate school districts playing fast and loose with federal law in the service of radical gender ideology.”
“For decades, schools operated with little accountability as federal parental rights laws like FERPA and PPRA went unenforced, allowing some districts to cut parents out of deeply personal matters involving their own children,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “That era is over. The Trump Administration is enforcing these laws at an unprecedented scale and making clear that schools cannot hide sensitive information from parents and expect to operate with impunity. We are grateful to the Department of Justice for taking this next step and for its continued partnership with the Department of Education to enforce federal law and protect the fundamental rights of parents.”
“This lawsuit should not come as a surprise,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser for the District of Kansas. “Public education functions effectively only when schools and parents engage in a genuine partnership. When schools withhold information from parents, they undermine trust and disrupt the essential balance between families and public educators.”
As detailed in the Department’s complaint, KCKPS’s Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Students Internal Guidance Document (Transgender Guideline) directs staff to develop and implement “transitioning” plans for children’s so-called “gender identity” without informing or obtaining consent from their parents. KCKPS implements its Transgender Guideline without the knowledge of many in the KCKPS community, including parents.
FERPA prohibits a school district from maintaining any policy that denies or effectively prevents a parent from exercising the right to inspect and review his or her child’s education records. PPRA separately requires prior written parental consent before a school may require children to submit to any survey, analysis, or evaluation that reveals sensitive information about the student or the student’s family. Because KCKPS’s policies and practices violate core parental rights secured by FERPA and PPRA, the lawsuit seeks an injunction to halt the Transgender Guideline’s enforcement, among other relief.
Note: Read the Department’s Complaint here.
Justice Department Reaches Agreement with Kansas in Lawsuit Alleging Discrimination Against ServicememberRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has reached a settlement agreement with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to resolve allegations that KDHE violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) when it stopped funding Army National Guard Staff Sergeant Stacy Gonzales’s civilian job due to her upcoming military deployment. This settlement agreement resolves the suit filed by the United States against KDHE on behalf of SSG Gonzales in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas on June 27, 2022.
“No servicemember should lose her civilian job because of her service in the National Guard,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department is proud to vindicate servicemembers’ rights under USERRA and will continue to ensure that they can serve our country without fear of losing their civilian jobs because of their service.”
“National Guard members are called citizen-soldiers because they must strike a balance between fulfilling obligations to civilian careers with those of military service. As a reservist myself, I know this is no easy task” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser for the District of Kansas. “When guard members deploy, they shouldn’t have to worry that their livelihoods will be stripped away while they are off serving our country. Our government put laws in place to protect the employment rights of servicemembers. The Department of Justice will continue to be a defender and champion of those rights.”
The settlement agreement resolves SSG Gonzales’s claim that KDHE violated USERRA when it eliminated grant funding for her position as a Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS) with the Finney County, Kansas, Department of Health, a position under the direct control and supervision of KDHE, when SSG Gonzales told them she would be deploying. As part of the settlement agreement, KDHE will pay SSG Gonzales $35,000. The settlement agreement also requires KDHE to update its USERRA policies and procedures and to train all KDHE employees, including those through grant funding, on those updated policies and procedures.
USERRA protects the right of uniformed servicemembers to reemployment in their civilian jobs following absences due to military service obligations and provides that servicemembers shall not be discriminated against because of their military obligations. The Justice Department prioritizes the enforcement of servicemembers’ rights under USERRA. Additional information about USERRA can be found on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/servicemembers as well as on the Department of Labor’s website at www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra.
Justice Department Continues to Disrupt Hamas Terrorist Financing Schemes Through Seizures of Cryptocurrency and Internet InfrastructureRead the Press Release
Note: Please see seizure affidavits below.
March 25, 2025 link
June 25, 2025 link
Oct. 10, 2025 link
July 29, 2026 link
August 18, 2026 link
WASHINGTON — Today the Justice Department announced the disruption of an ongoing scheme by Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya (Hamas) –— a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization — to raise funds for terrorist operations and recruit supporters. As part of the Department’s efforts, over $560,000 in cryptocurrency donations destined for Hamas were seized and its fundraising and recruitment communication platforms and websites were disrupted. Hamas originally controlled the seized infrastructure and cryptocurrency addresses on behalf of its military wing, the Al Qassam Brigades.
“These seizures deprive Hamas of resources it relies on to recruit and radicalize individuals online and finance barbaric attacks like the one on October 7, 2023,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “We will continue to tighten the vise on Hamas’s capacity for terror by infiltrating its online networks, confiscating its cryptocurrency, and shutting down its websites.”
“A message to Hamas: We will stop your fundraising for terror,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “Your networks are not secure, your crypto is vulnerable, and we will not stop until your ability to wage war is defeated.”
“Hamas relied on cryptocurrency and online platforms to solicit funds from donors around the world and move that money outside the formal financial system,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI's Cyber Division. “The FBI seized online infrastructure and $560,000 in cryptocurrency, capturing donations intended for the organization. The FBI will continue to use its authorities to intercept illicit funds and prevent terrorist organizations from exploiting digital networks to finance their operations.”
“Reducing the capabilities of foreign terrorist organization's ability to receive donations and creating distrust in communications to their donors was the primary focus of this latest operation,” said Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. “This continued success demonstrates the unwavering commitment and determination of the FBI in fighting terrorism. We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to shut off the flow of funds to this group and protect the American people.”
As alleged in court documents, a group chat claiming association with Hamas on an encrypted communications platform directed supporters to a fundraising website and provided donors with a rotating set of cryptocurrency donation addresses. As described in the three unsealed cryptocurrency seizure warrants, on March 25, 2025, June 25, 2025, and Oct. 10, 2025, investigators used information from multiple human sources to identify, trace, and seize approximately $560,000 in cryptocurrency intended to support Hamas’ Al Qassam Brigades.
In conjunction with these seizures, the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office worked with human sources to identify and seize domains and servers the Al Qassam Brigades that controlled its main website, AlQassam.ps. The FBI’s capture of these domains and servers enabled it to intercept cryptocurrency donations intended for Hamas. Using related sources and methods, the FBI also obtained information regarding thousands of individuals who contacted Hamas online in an effort to donate or attempt to donate to the terrorist organization using cryptocurrency and other traditional means. Such information will be used in the FBI’s future counterterrorism efforts.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office is investigating the case, in coordination with the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, Cyber Division, and New York Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tejpal Chawla for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Jacques Singer-Emery for the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section are prosecuting the case. Trial Attorney Robert MacDonald of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and the October 7th Task Force is providing substantial assistance in the case.
Justice Department Continues to Disrupt Hamas Terrorist Financing Schemes Through Seizures of Cryptocurrency and Internet InfrastructureRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON —The Department of Justice today announced the disruption of an ongoing scheme by Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya (Hamas) — a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization — to raise funds for terrorist operations and recruit supporters, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“A message to Hamas: We will stop your fundraising for terror,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Your networks are not secure, your crypto is vulnerable, and we will not stop until your ability to wage war is defeated.”
As part of the Department’s efforts, more than $560,000 in cryptocurrency donations destined for Hamas were seized and its fundraising and recruitment communication platforms and websites were disrupted. Hamas originally controlled the seized infrastructure and cryptocurrency addresses on behalf of its military wing, the Al Qassam Brigades.
“These seizures deprive Hamas of resources it relies on to recruit and radicalize individuals online and finance barbaric attacks like the one on October 7, 2023,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “We will continue to tighten the vise on Hamas’s capacity for terror by infiltrating its online networks, confiscating its cryptocurrency, and shutting down its websites.”
“Hamas relied on cryptocurrency and online platforms to solicit funds from donors around the world and move that money outside the formal financial system,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI's Cyber Division. “The FBI seized online infrastructure and $560,000 in cryptocurrency, capturing donations intended for the organization. The FBI will continue to use its authorities to intercept illicit funds and prevent terrorist organizations from exploiting digital networks to finance their operations.”
“Reducing the capabilities of foreign terrorist organization's ability to receive donations and creating distrust in communications to their donors was the primary focus of this latest operation,” said Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. “This continued success demonstrates the unwavering commitment and determination of the FBI in fighting terrorism. We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to shut off the flow of funds to this group and protect the American people.”
As alleged in court documents, a group chat claiming association with Hamas on an encrypted communications platform directed supporters to a fundraising website and provided donors with a rotating set of cryptocurrency donation addresses. As described in the three unsealed cryptocurrency seizure warrants, on March 25, 2025, June 25, 2025, and Oct. 10, 2025, investigators used information from multiple human sources to identify, trace, and seize approximately $560,000 in cryptocurrency intended to support Hamas’ Al Qassam Brigades.
In conjunction with these seizures, the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office worked with human sources to identify and seize domains and servers the Al Qassam Brigades that controlled its main website, AlQassam.ps. The FBI’s capture of these domains and servers enabled it to intercept cryptocurrency donations intended for Hamas. Using related sources and methods, the FBI also obtained information regarding thousands of individuals who contacted Hamas online in an effort to donate or attempt to donate to the terrorist organization using cryptocurrency and other traditional means. Such information will be used in the FBI’s future counterterrorism efforts.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office is investigating the case, in coordination with the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, Cyber Division, and New York Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tejpal Chawla for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Jacques Singer-Emery for the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section are prosecuting the case. Trial Attorney Robert MacDonald of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and the October 7th Task Force is providing substantial assistance in the case.
25-sz-20_03-25.pdf link 25-sz-34_06-25.pdf link25-sz-42_10-10.pdf link26-sz-45_07-29.pdf link26-sz-49_seizure_warrant_package_08-18.pdf linkInternational Parental Kidnapper SentencedRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – An Oregon woman was sentenced to time served in prison for international parental kidnapping.
Haley Harris, 24, was found guilty after a bench trial on May 18, 2026. Harris, who was living in Mexico, traveled to Baldwin County on September 21, 2025, to regain physical custody of her minor child from the child’s father, who was residing in Orange Beach. Harris represented to the child’s father that she would be staying in Baldwin County and only wanted to visit with the child for a few days. Instead, Harris flew to California and entered Mexico with the minor child. Harris continued to mislead the child’s father by telling him she was still in Baldwin County.
Agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Marshals Service, the Department of State, the Orange Beach Police Department, and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s office worked together to locate the child in Mexico. The child was ultimately reunited with her father in the United States.
Harris was arrested in Mexico and deported to the United States on September 29, 2025, where she was formally charged. She remained incarcerated until after her bench trial.
Harris is subject to a one-year term of supervised release with the United States Probation Office. As conditions of her supervised release, Harris is prohibited from having contact with the minor victim or the victim’s family and must participate in mental health treatment.
“A parent with lawful custody should never have to endure the fear and devastation of having a child secretly taken to another country,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Steven N. Schrank. “When this child was brought into Mexico, the risks increased and the need for immediate action became clear. HSI and our partners moved with urgency to help locate the child and bring her home. Harris’ conviction and time behind bars reinforce the serious consequences of disregarding the law.”
“The investigative response was immediate and aggressive, driven by exceptional coordination among local, state, federal, and international law enforcement partners,” said Christopher R. Flowers, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Mobile Division. “That unified effort was critical to locating the child swiftly and ensuring her safe return. Actions like those of Ms. Harris will always be met with a relentless pursuit of justice by our law enforcement and prosecutorial team.”
U.S. Attorney Sean Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement, stating: “This case demonstrates the importance of acting quickly when a child is unlawfully taken across international borders. The successful recovery of this child was made possible by the determination and cooperation of our federal, state, local, and international law enforcement partners. Our office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who violate federal law and endanger the safety and well-being of children.”
The Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, the Orange Beach Police Department and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tandice Blackwood and Elizabeth Stepan prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Illinois Man Receives 33 Year Sentence for Burger King Armed Robbery that Sparked Multi-County Vehicle ChaseRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Cameron Love, 28, of Rockford, Illinois, has been sentenced to 33 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release for the armed robbery of a Burger King restaurant. In February 2026, a federal jury convicted Love of interference with commerce by robbery, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on January 16, 2025, Love entered the Burger King located at 7620 North Shadeland Avenue armed with a 9mm Smith & Wesson handgun. After pacing in front of the counter, he drew the firearm from his coat pocket, pointed it at an employee, and threatened “You b*****s better open these registers or I’ll kill you, I’ll shoot you in the face.”
Love then vaulted over the counter, pointing the gun at additional employees, threatening to kill anyone who resisted and demanding money. He stole $459 and fled the scene in a Chevy Cruze driven by Michael Scott.
The employee immediately called 911 and gave a description of Love and his vehicle. IMPD officers attempted a traffic stop on the Cruze near 86th Street and Keystone Avenue, but the vehicle fled, initiating a high‑speed pursuit across multiple counties and striking another vehicle in the process. Dash camera footage captured Love throwing both the stolen cash and the handgun from the vehicle during the chase. The pursuit ended in Carmel. Four days later, IMPD officers recovered the loaded firearm—frozen in ice and protruding from snow—near a bike path on 106th Street.
When employees were later asked to confirm Love’s identity as the robber, Love threatened the victims while standing beside an officer, stating, “You better not say anything, I’ll f*****g kill you.” Despite his repeated threats, both victims testified at trial and spoke bravely about their experience.
Love is prohibited from possessing firearms due to multiple prior felony convictions, including aggravated robbery of a gas station—during which he held a clerk at gunpoint and assaulted him—along with a separate armed robbery in Illinois. He committed the Burger King robbery only three months after being released on parole following a fifteen-year sentence for the aggravated robbery and six-year sentence for the armed robbery.
“Mr. Love committed this armed robbery just months after being released for a previous violent offense. His repeated resort to guns and threats makes clear that he poses a serious danger to the public. Thanks to the swift actions of our law enforcement partners—from the initial response to the recovery of critical evidence—and the bravery of the victims, this violent offender has been removed from our streets for decades,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.
“Love didn’t just rob a Burger King - he terrorized employees, threatened their lives, and then put even more people in danger when he fled from police,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “This was a violent, repeat offender who had already served a lengthy sentence for an armed robbery and still chose to put a gun in someone’s face. The victims showed tremendous courage in standing up to him, and this sentence ensures he will spend decades behind bars and unable to threaten another community with a gun.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James P. Hanlon. Love’s co-defendant, Michael Scott, was sentenced in October 2025 to four years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to acting as an accessory after the fact.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela Domash, who prosecuted this case.
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Illegal Alien from Mexico Sentenced to Federal Prison for Immigration ViolationRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national, illegally living in the Kansas City, Mo. area, has been sentenced to federal prison for an immigration violation.
A jury convicted Jaime Cruz-Hernandez, 37, of illegally reentering the United States after being deported. On September 1, 2026, U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark sentenced him to 24 months in federal prison.
According to information presented in court, Cruz-Hernandez was stopped and arrested on Jan. 6, 2026, by the Grandview, Missouri Police Department for driving while intoxicated. Immigration authorities then determined that Cruz-Hernandez is a citizen of Mexico and in the United States illegally after having been previously deported to Mexico in 2019. At that time, Cruz-Hernandez had already been arrested on four prior occasions for driving under the influence.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Viet Le. It was investigated by Grandview, Missouri Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Operation Take Back America
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Illegal Alien from Mexico Sentenced for Immigration ViolationsRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.— A Mexican National, illegally inside the United States, was sentenced to federal prison today for illegal re-entry.
Javier Osorio-Altamira, 50, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison and 3 year’ supervised release announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon.
According to court documents, Osorio-Altamira had been removed from the United States on three prior occasions. During Osorio-Altamira’s first illegal stay in the United States, he attempted to force his way into an apartment and threatened to kill a woman while holding a 12-inch knife. He was convicted of unlawful use of a weapon and removed from the country.
After the most recent illegal stay, he was charged in Marion County for allegedly sexually touching a child on multiple occasions. After his arrest, the state released him into the community. On April 16, 2016, Osorio-Altamira was arrested by immigration authorities for immigration crimes, made his initial appearance in federal court, and was detained.
Records show that Osorio-Altamira was previously deported from the United States on June 10, 2015, May 20, 2016, and June 4, 2016. He has never applied for or received permission from the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security to reenter the United States.
On April 16, 2016, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned an indictment charging Osorio-Altamira with illegal re-entry. On June 3, 2026, he pled guilty to this charge.
This case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JOSE ISRAEL TENESACA MEJIA, 22, a citizen of Ecuador unlawfully present in the U.S. and last residing in West Haven, pleaded guilty yesterday in Hartford federal court to child exploitation offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 29, 2025, the Stamford Police Department secured an arrest warrant charging Tenesaca Mejia with felony risk of injury and interfering with an officer. Tenesaca Mejia subsequently fled Connecticut with a 14-year-old girl (the “minor victim”). On October 28, 2025, the FBI in New Haven contacted the FBI in Minneapolis and relayed information about Tenesaca Mejia’s active arrest warrant, and that his iPhone had been tracked to a specific location in Minneapolis. Investigators surveilled the vicinity of the location, identified both Tenesaca Mejia and the minor victim, and arrested Tenesaca Mejia.
Analysis of Tenesaca Mejia’s iPhone revealed videos and images of Tenesaca Mejia engaged in sexual conduct with the minor victim. Investigators also identified numerous images and videos of suspected child pornography that Tenesaca Mejia had downloaded using the Telegram app.
Tenesaca Mejia pleaded guilty to production of child pornography, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and to possession of child pornography, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
Tenesaca Mejia has been detained since his arrest. A sentencing date is not scheduled.
This investigation has been conducted by FBI New Haven, FBI Minneapolis, the Stamford Police Department, the West Haven Police Department, and the Hennepin County (Minn.) Sheriff's Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of Minnesota and the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of Stamford/Norwalk for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Illegal Alien Charged with Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Lawrence, Mass. has been charged with illegally reentering the United States after deportation. The defendant was previously deported after completing a state prison sentence for fentanyl distribution.
Diego De Los Santos Vizcaino, 35, was charged with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. De Los Santos will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging document, De Los Santos, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was first encountered by authorities in February 2020, after unlawfully entering the United States from Mexico by swimming across the Rio Grande River. He was subsequently released to Mexico and ordered to appear for removal proceedings in Texas, for which he failed to appear. The hearing was held in his absence, and he was ordered removed by an immigration judge. In October 2020, De Los Santos was found in Lawrence, Mass., in connection with a state residential search warrant, where he was arrested and charged with drug trafficking offenses. De Los Santos later pleaded guilty to six counts of distribution of fentanyl and was sentenced to three years in state prison. He was removed from the United States in July 2023, after completing his state prison sentence.
It is alleged that, at some point thereafter, De Los Santos unlawfully reentered the United States. In September 2025, De Los Santos was again arrested by state authorities in connection with a residential search warrant execution in Lawrence. De Los Santos was subsequently charged in Essex Superior Court with 11 counts of drug trafficking arising from multiple incidents allegedly occurring in Methuen and Andover between June and September 2025. De Los Santos is currently held in state custody on $75,000 bail in connection with the pending state charges.
The charge of illegal reentry provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and David T. Wesling, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney John L. Potapchuk of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Husband and wife sentenced in fraud conspiracy involving more than $4 million in unfinished custom home projectsRead the Press Release
FORT WORTH, Texas — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a Fort Worth couple was sentenced today for their roles in a yearslong fraud scheme involving dozens of victims and millions of dollars in losses.
Christopher Judge, 35, and Raquelle Judge, 36, pled guilty in December 2025 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Senior U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means sentenced Christopher Judge to 78 months in federal prison to be followed by two years of supervised release. Raquelle Judge was sentenced to one month in prison. Both defendants were ordered to pay $2,794,680.73 in restitution.
“Fraudsters who exploit hard working families in the Northern District of Texas will face serious consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “The Judges didn’t just abandon construction sites; their entire business model was built on lies and deceit. This kind of brazen fraud strikes at the heart of consumer trust, and our office will ensure that those who engage in such criminal conduct face justice.”
According to court documents, the Judges were managing members of Judge DFW LLC, a Texas-based company they used to falsely market themselves as providers of custom architecture, construction and interior design services. From approximately August 2020 through January 2023, the defendants offered below‑market bids to consumers across six counties in North Texas, inducing them to enter into design‑and‑build contracts for custom home projects.
Although victims paid multiple installment payments for their projects, the Judges failed to complete most of the work and often abandoned projects entirely, leaving victims without finished homes. The defendants also admitted to falsely representing that Christopher Judge was a licensed architect.
Court records reflect that the couple defrauded more than 40 victims across at least 24 construction projects. The defendants commingled victims’ installment payments in the primary Judge DFW operating account, frequently using individual victim installment payments for unrelated construction projects. The total loss amount is estimated at approximately $4.2 million.
The FBI’s Fort Worth Resident Agency and the Euless Police Department investigated the case, with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark McDonald and Laura Montes from the Fort Worth Division prosecuted the case.
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Honeywell Aerospace, Inc. Agrees to Pay over $2M to Settle False Claims Act Allegations of Failing to Comply with Cybersecurity Requirements in a U.S. Department of Defense ContractRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Justice Department announced today that Honeywell Aerospace Inc. has agreed to pay $2,042,518 to resolve allegations that it is liable under the False Claims Act for failing to comply with cybersecurity requirements in a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense. Honeywell Aerospace, a corporation headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, provides aerospace products and solutions to government and commercial customers. Prior to June 29, 2026, when Honeywell Aerospace became a standalone public company, it was a business segment of Honeywell International Inc., of Charlotte, North Carolina.
“Government contractors that obtain defense information in administering their contracts must follow required cybersecurity standards,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will continue to investigate potential violations of these cybersecurity requirements to protect this critical information.”
“Cybersecurity requirements and standards for federal contractors are in place for a reason: to protect government systems and prevent unauthorized access to government data,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson for the Western District of North Carolina. “Companies that seek and profit off of government contracts have an obligation to ensure sensitive data is protected.”
The settlement resolves allegations that from April 2020 through December 2023, a business unit of Honeywell International Inc. submitted false claims for payment by failing to comply with cybersecurity requirements specified in National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-171, with respect to one of Honeywell’s networks, as required by the contract and regulation.
The allegations resolved by this settlement arose from a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act under which private citizens can sue on behalf of the government and share in any recovery. The settlement in this case provides for the whistleblower, Rachel Tenney, a former employee of Honeywell, to receive $375,823 as her share of the settlement.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Department of Justice Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.
The matter was handled by Senior Trial Counsel Greg Pearson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Holly Snow for the Western District of North Carolina.
The lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Rachel Tenney v. Honeywell International Inc., Civil Action No. 3:22-cv-129 (W.D.N.C.).
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Honeywell Aerospace Inc. Agrees to Pay over $2M to Settle False Claims Act Allegations of Failing to Comply with Cybersecurity Requirements in a U.S. Department of Defense ContractRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that Honeywell Aerospace Inc. has agreed to pay $2,042,518 to resolve allegations that it is liable under the False Claims Act for failing to comply with cybersecurity requirements in a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense. Honeywell Aerospace, a corporation headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, provides aerospace products and solutions to government and commercial customers. Prior to June 29, when Honeywell Aerospace became a standalone public company, it was a business segment of Honeywell International Inc., of Charlotte, North Carolina.
“Government contractors that obtain defense information in administering their contracts must follow required cybersecurity standards,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will continue to investigate potential violations of these cybersecurity requirements to protect this critical information.”
“Cybersecurity requirements and standards for federal contractors are in place for a reason: to protect government systems and prevent unauthorized access to government data,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson for the Western District of North Carolina. “Companies that seek and profit off of government contracts have an obligation to ensure sensitive data is protected.”
The settlement resolves allegations that from April 2020 through December 2023, a business unit of Honeywell International Inc. submitted false claims for payment by failing to comply with cybersecurity requirements specified in National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-171, with respect to one of Honeywell’s networks, as required by the contract and regulation.
The allegations resolved by this settlement arose from a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act under which private citizens can sue on behalf of the government and share in any recovery. The settlement in this case provides for the whistleblower, Rachel Tenney, a former employee of Honeywell, to receive $375,823 as her share of the settlement.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Department of Justice Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.
The matter was handled by Senior Trial Counsel Greg Pearson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Holly Snow for the Western District of North Carolina.
The lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Rachel Tenney v. Honeywell International Inc., Civil Action No. 3:22-cv-129 (W.D.N.C.).
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Honduran Illegal Alien Charged with Reentry of a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – HECTOR ESPINOZA-CRUZ, age 41, a native of Honduras, was charged on August 21, 2026, via bill of information, for reentry of removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, immigration officials learned of ESPINOZA‑CRUZ’s presence in the United States after he was arrested in Orleans Parish for an obscenity violation that occurred in 2025. Following that notification, ESPINOZA‑CRUZ was arrested by immigration authorities in Orleans Parish on August 12, 2026, for illegal reentry. Immigration records indicate that ESPINOZA‑CRUZ is an illegal alien from Honduras and had previously been removed by federal authorities on February 24, 2010.
If convicted, ESPINOZA-CRUZ faces a maximum penalty of two years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years 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.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security and Immigration Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit is overseeing the prosecution.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Honduran Illegal Alien Charged with Reentry of a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CARLOS NAUN COREA-SUAZO (“COREA-SUAZO”), age 34, a Honduran national, was charged on August 28, 2026, via bill of information, for reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a) and (b)(1), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, COREA-SUAZO was arrested on August 2, 2026, by the Slidell Police Department for driving while intoxicated. After being notified of his arrest, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) confirmed that COREA-SUAZO had a final order of removal and was issued an immigration detainer and warrant of removal to the Slidell Police Department. On August 19, 2026, ICE took COREA-SUAZO into federal immigration custody and transported him to the ICE New Orleans Field Office in Saint Rose, Louisiana for processing. Records checks revealed that COREA-SUAZO is an alien and has previously been removed from the United States four (4) times.
According to the bill of information, on or about August 2, 2026, COREA-SUAZO, an alien, was found in the United States after having been deported and removed therefrom on or about October 28, 2020, without the approval of the Attorney General of the United States or his designated successor, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States.
If convicted, COREA-SUAZO faces a maximum penalty of up to ten (10) years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three (3) years 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.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Department of Homeland Security, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, United States Homeland Security Investigations, and the Slidell Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Spiro G. Latsis and Lorcan L. Connick of the General Crimes Unit are handling the prosecution.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Hannibal Man’s Threats Led to Discovery of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Hannibal, Missouri on Tuesday admitted possessing child sexual abuse material that was discovered after he threatened a former paramour.
Joseph E. Courtney, 38, admitted in his guilty plea that he threatened the woman on Sept. 10, 2024. Among other messages, Courtney wrote, “I sleep and wake up with thoughts of killing you.” After his arrest for threatening behavior, investigators conducted a court-approved search of his phone and spotted possible child sexual abuse material (CSAM). A second search warrant then uncovered 62 videos containing CSAM, including the sexual assault of crying children.
Courtney pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of possession of child pornography. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 2. The charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
The Hannibal Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the 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, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Hampden Man Pleads Guilty to Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Hampden man pleaded guilty on August 31, 2026, in U.S. District Court in Portland to one count of tax evasion.
According to court records, Brandon Wilson, 55, owed substantial back taxes based on his tax returns for 2010 through 2017. After the IRS levied Wilson’s bank accounts as part of its collection efforts, Wilson began conducting his debt collection business without holding bank accounts in his own name. He did this by having accounts opened under the names of individuals running businesses in Massachusetts and Virginia. While these entities were ostensibly conducting debt collection services for Wilson, they were also holding money and conducting personal and business transactions on his behalf. Wilson directed specific payments out of the accounts, and received a series of smaller payments through Cash App, PayPal, and other means. This arrangement allowed Wilson to continue to control his money while frustrating the IRS’s ability to collect the taxes owed.
Wilson faces up to a year and a day in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) investigated the case.
IRS-CI is the law enforcement arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. It is the only federal law enforcement agency with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code. IRS-CI has 16 field offices located across the U.S. and maintains an international presence through attaché posts abroad.
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Grove Man Sentenced for Discharging Firearm During ArgumentRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Grove man was sentenced today after he discharged a firearm while intoxicated and arguing with family, announced U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar.
U.S. District Judge Sara E Hill sentenced Colton Lee Crane, 33, for Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm
During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Crane was ordered to serve 120 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.In July 2025, deputies with the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call in Grove, Oklahoma. The caller reported that Crane had a gun and dispatchers could hear him screaming in the background. When deputies arrived, Crane was walking down the road with a baby, unsteady on his feet, with bloodshot eyes, smelling of alcohol, and slurred speech. Crane admitted that he started drinking once he got home from work and was arguing with family members.
Court documents show that Crane admitted to kicking in a door, pointing a firearm at the victim, and when it discharged, the bullet went through the wall. The bullet was approximately one foot from the victim. Crane eventually lowered the firearm, pushed past family members, grabbed the 10-month-old baby, and walked out of the home.
Court documents show that Crane was previously convicted of pointing a firearm at his former spouse and discharging it while children were present. He is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, and he will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Wright prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Grand Prairie attorney arrested for Ponzi scheme and obstructing SEC investigationRead the Press Release
DALLAS — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a Grand Prairie attorney was arrested Aug. 31 on federal charges alleging he defrauded investors for years, used forged notary documents to mislead the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, falsely placed an innocent woman he barely knew at the center of that fictional operation and pressured the woman and her husband to “take a vacation” to Mexico to prevent authorities from learning the truth.
David Thomas Gilchrist, 70, is charged by criminal complaint with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and witness tampering. He is expected to make his initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge on Wednesday, Sep. 2.
“Mr. Gilchrist’s alleged conduct strikes at the heart of investor trust and the integrity of our financial system,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “He didn’t just defraud innocent people out of their savings, he allegedly forged documents, lied to federal regulators, and tried to intimidate witnesses to cover his tracks. We will not hesitate to pursue anyone who attempts to deceive investors or undermine federal investigations, and we remain committed to working with our great partners at the SEC to hold offenders accountable.”
“Attorneys play a vital role in the SEC’s investor protection mission,” said SEC Inspector General Kevin Muhlendorf. “Where any individual, but especially an attorney, seeks to obstruct SEC Enforcement investigations through lies, fake documents, or witness tampering, SEC OIG will use our law enforcement authority to pursue them with our partners at the Department of Justice.”
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Gilchrist entered partnerships and promissory notes with roughly twenty victims for the purpose of purchasing property tax liens in Texas counties as an investment vehicle. As alleged in the complaint, bank records show Gilchrist did not use his victims’ funds to purchase tax liens but instead commingled the money with other funds, which he used to make personal expenditures and repay earlier investors—classic features of a Ponzi scheme. Investigators estimate that between April 2023 and January 2026, Gilchrist received approximately $1.45 million from investors and returned only about $789,000.
The complaint alleges that when the SEC initiated an investigation and requested documentation, Gilchrist provided a set of purported quitclaim deeds that later proved to be forgeries. The deeds allegedly contained notary stamps and signatures belonging to real Texas notaries, none of whom authorized Gilchrist to use their credentials.
According to the complaint, during sworn testimony before the SEC in April and May 2026, Gilchrist stated that he had redacted the homeowners’ names on the fraudulent quitclaim deeds because “they’re illegal,” and claimed that he used a woman — also “illegal”—as an intermediary to identify the homeowners and deliver cash to them in Bexar County, Texas. The complaint further alleges that days before testifying before the SEC, Gilchrist appeared unannounced at the woman’s home, told her husband that the FBI was looking for him and advised them to “take a vacation" for a couple of years, potentially in Mexico.
Gilchrist allegedly provided his victims with sporadic payments, misleading updates and implausible excuses such as a government shutdown, an arson investigation, and a hurricane‑relief deployment, that Gilchrist allegedly used to delay repayment. In at least one instance, while claiming to be hospitalized in Tennessee after a colectomy, Gilchrist was recorded as checking into a local gym in Mansfield, Texas.
If convicted of the charges alleged in the complaint, Gilchrist faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each of the wire fraud and witness tampering charges and a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence for aggravated identity theft.
In a separate case, the SEC’s Chicago Regional Office has also filed a civil complaint charging Gilchrist with securities fraud.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Office of Inspector General is investigating this matter with substantial assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Schwab and Douglas Brasher of the Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Getaway Driver in Multiple Memphis Bank Robberies Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison after TrialRead the Press Release
A federal judge in Memphis, Tennessee, today sentenced Courtney Trenell, 34, of Memphis, to 15 years in prison for aiding and abetting two bank robberies and joining a conspiracy to rob six banks. Eight men were indicted in this case, with Trenell and three co-defendants being convicted in jury trials and the others pleading guilty.
“This defendant took part in two separate bank robberies as part of a violent robbery crew,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The series of bank robberies committed by these eight defendants threatened the lives of hardworking Americans and terrorized bank employees and customers. Those who commit these dangerous robberies will be prosecuted, regardless of their role.”
“This is precisely the type of violent offender that threatens lives and public safety in Memphis,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “Armed bank robberies are brazen and disturbing acts of violence that terrorize our community and must be met with significant sentences such as this one. Trenell is a dangerous offender who has sown violence and greed and will now reap the full measure of consequences for his criminal conduct.”
“This sentence demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to working with our partners to bring to justice those who resort to bank robbery for criminal profit,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “We will continue to dedicate the necessary resources to pursue those who terrorize our communities and will not rest until offenders are held accountable for their actions.”
Evidence at trial proved that between April 2023 and December 2023, Trenell joined a conspiracy to rob banks throughout Memphis. Trenell drove a getaway car to aid co-defendants in orchestrating and escaping the robberies of Bank of Bartlett and First Horizon Bank branches, which are located across the street from one another, on Oct. 20, 2023. The defendants robbed each bank at the same time to confuse and evade law enforcement.
A jury convicted Trenell of two counts of aiding and abetting a bank robbery and one count of joining a conspiracy to rob banks after an eight-day trial in July 2025. Trenell’s trial co-defendants, Devins Hinds, 36, and Joshua Cribbs, 33, both of Memphis, were also found guilty of joining a conspiracy to rob banks in Memphis and robbing specific banks. Hinds was found guilty of additional firearm offenses as well. In a January 2026 trial, a separate jury found defendant Mario Patterson, 45, of Memphis, guilty of robbing three banks in the same conspiracy as Trenell and other defendants.
Last year, Hinds and Cribbs were sentenced to 194 months and 144 months in prison, respectively. Another co-defendant, Robert Haley, 45, pleaded guilty before trial and was sentenced to 204 months in prison in December 2025. Three additional defendants, Monterrio Trenell, Travis Drain, and Mario Patterson, await sentencing later this year.
The FBI and the Memphis Police Department investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Ashleigh Atasoy of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory A. Wagner and Tony Arvin for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Safe Streets Task Force’s efforts to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee, and surrounding areas. This case is also part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee, and surrounding areas. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute the violent offenders and prevent further violence.
Getaway Driver in Multiple Memphis Bank Robberies Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison after TrialRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A federal judge in Memphis, Tennessee, today sentenced Courtney Trenell, 34, of Memphis, to 15 years in prison for aiding and abetting two bank robberies and joining a conspiracy to rob six banks. Eight men were indicted in this case, with Trenell and three co-defendants being convicted in jury trials and the others pleading guilty.
“This defendant took part in two separate bank robberies as part of a violent robbery crew,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The series of bank robberies committed by these eight defendants threatened the lives of hardworking Americans and terrorized bank employees and customers. Those who commit these dangerous robberies will be prosecuted, regardless of their role.”
“This is precisely the type of violent offender that threatens lives and public safety in Memphis,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “Armed bank robberies are brazen and disturbing acts of violence that terrorize our community and must be met with significant sentences such as this one. Trenell is a dangerous offender who has sown violence and greed and will now reap the full measure of consequences for his criminal conduct.”
“This sentence demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to working with our partners to bring to justice those who resort to bank robbery for criminal profit,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “We will continue to dedicate the necessary resources to pursue those who terrorize our communities and will not rest until offenders are held accountable for their actions.”
Evidence at trial proved that between April 2023 and December 2023, Trenell joined a conspiracy to rob banks throughout Memphis. Trenell drove a getaway car to aid co-defendants in orchestrating and escaping the robberies of Bank of Bartlett and First Horizon Bank branches, which are located across the street from one another, on Oct. 20, 2023. The defendants robbed each bank at the same time to confuse and evade law enforcement.
A jury convicted Trenell of two counts of aiding and abetting a bank robbery and one count of joining a conspiracy to rob banks after an eight-day trial in July 2025. Trenell’s trial co-defendants, Devin Hinds, 36, and Joshua Cribbs, 33, both of Memphis, were also found guilty of joining a conspiracy to rob banks in Memphis and robbing specific banks. Hinds was found guilty of additional firearm offenses as well. In a January 2026 trial, a separate jury found defendant Mario Patterson, 45, of Memphis, guilty of robbing three banks in the same conspiracy as Trenell and other defendants.
Last year, Hinds and Cribbs were sentenced to 194 months and 144 months in prison, respectively. Another co-defendant, Robert Haley, 45, pleaded guilty before trial and was sentenced to 204 months in prison in December 2025. Three additional defendants, Monterrio Trenell, Travis Drain, and Mario Patterson, await sentencing later this year.
The FBI and the Memphis Police Department investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Ashleigh Atasoy of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory A. Wagner and Tony Arvin for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Safe Streets Task Force’s efforts to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee, and surrounding areas. This case is also part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee, and surrounding areas. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute the violent offenders and prevent further violence.
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CRM
26-1010
If you have questions, please use the contacts in the message or call the Office of Public Affairs at 202-514-2007.
Franklin County Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Exploitation MaterialRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Franklin County man, who possessed thousands of images of child sex abuse material (“CSAM”) after previous court-martial convictions for similar behavior, pled guilty today in federal court and faces up to 20 years in prison.
Kevin Michael Robinson, 28, of Wirtz, Virginia, pled guilty today to one count of knowingly possessing CSAM, including images of prepubescent minors and minors under 12 years old.
According to court documents, in June 2018, Robinson pled guilty at a military court-martial to various child sexual exploitation offenses. Upon Robinson’s release from prison in June 2025, he began his supervised release term. As required, Robinson had monitoring software installed on his cellphone.
On July 1, 2025, Robinson’s probation officer received notice from the monitoring software that Robinson had downloaded CSAM. Several probation officers met Robinson at his home in Wirtz, Virginia, and seized his phone. Robinson admitted to viewing inappropriate material and expressed remorse.
A specially trained probation officer reviewed Robinson’s cellphone data and identified 20,200 images and 101 videos of sexually explicit content, including a large amount of CSAM. The CSAM included both real images, as well as computer and AI-generated CSAM images.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew O. Inman is prosecuting the case.
The case was brought as part of Operation Relentless Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators. The nationwide crackdown resulted in over 205 child victims being located and the arrests of over 293 child sexual abuse offenders. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of two weeks by all 56 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Department’s Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney offices around the country.
Operation Relentless Justice supports Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the 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 justice.gov/psc.
Founder and CEO of Bay Area Real Estate Investment Fund Charged in Multi-Year Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Mark Hanf, the founder and CEO of Pacific Private Money, and Nam Phan, the fund group’s COO, have been charged in an information filed by the United States Attorney for the Northern District of California with wire fraud conspiracy. Hanf has also been charged with money laundering. Hanf and Phan made their initial appearances in federal court in San Francisco today and waived indictment.
According to the information filed on August 31, 2026, Hanf, 66, of Tiburon, California, and Phan, 58, of Novato, California, allegedly engaged in a multi-year conspiracy to defraud Pacific Private Money investors by making false statements about the enterprise’s financial condition to induce investment into the enterprise’s funds. During this time, Hanf served as the enterprise’s Chief Executive Officer and majority owner, and Phan as the enterprise’s Chief Operating Officer. The information describes how Hanf and Phan knew as early as 2021 that a number of Pacific Private Money’s largest projects were losing money and value, putting Pacific Private Money’s overall financial condition at risk, but Hanf and Phan continued to solicit investors without disclosing the problems. The information further alleges that as the financial condition of Pacific Private Money worsened, starting in December 2021 Hanf and Phan moved money between Pacific Private Money investment funds to keep them afloat and used new investor funds to pay distributions and redemptions to previous investors.
Pacific Private Money funds, according to the allegations, raised approximately $103 million from over 175 investors between approximately December 2021 and December 2025. In June 2026, the Pacific Private Money entities filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the Northern District of California.
“These charges brought soon after the collapse of Pacific Private Money reflect this Office’s unwavering commitment to protecting investors in the Bay Area from fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “As alleged, these defendants falsely assured investors that Pacific Private Money was successful and profitable, knowing that continued losses had turned it into a Ponzi scheme. The Office will continue to pursue fraud in private markets and aggressively prosecute them to protect the public.”
“These allegations underscore the FBI’s commitment to expose sophisticated financial schemes that put investors at risk,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Scott Schelble. “We will continue to work closely with our partners to ensure the public is protected and those who engage in deceptive schemes are held accountable.”
“The allegations against Pacific Private Money founders describe a scheme that misrepresented, diverted, and used incoming investment funds to mask growing financial losses,” said IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS CI) San Francisco Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge David Lowe. “IRS CI is focused on unraveling complex financial crimes, tracing every dollar, and ensuring that individuals accused of manipulating investor money for personal gain are held accountable.”
The information also alleges that part of the scheme involved Hanf transferring funds from the Pacific Private Money enterprise to another entity that he controlled to pay for his own personal expenses, such as credit card bills and home mortgage payments.
An information merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison as to the wire fraud conspiracy count, and Hanf faces a maximum of 10 years in prison as to the money laundering count. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Phan is next scheduled to appear in district court on September 23, 2026, for a change of plea hearing, and Hanf is next scheduled to appear in district court on September 30, 2026, for a change of plea hearing, both before U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley.
The SEC today also filed a civil enforcement action against Hanf and Phan in the Northern District of California.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christiaan Highsmith and Patrick O’Brien are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Mimi Lam and Maryam Beros. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and IRS-CI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks the San Francisco Regional Office of the SEC and the Marin County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in the investigation.
Former loan officer sentenced for embezzlement through fake loansRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A former Kansas credit union employee was sentenced to 19 months in prison and ordered to pay $207,920 in restitution after embezzling approximately $171,000 by creating fake loans to members.
According to court documents, Ricky Naovoravong, 39, of Garden City pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement by a credit union employee.
Naovoravong was a loan officer at a credit union in Garden City. In August 2024, a manager noticed a suspicious transfer from a member’s savings account into Naovoravong’s checking account. The manager noted that Naovoravong created documents for a $5,000 loan in the victim’s name then used the victim’s account to make loan payments that would be deposited into his account.
A broader investigation ensued and determined Naovoravong had created other loans and transferred funds into his personal account. When confronted, Naovoravong admitted the loans were fictitious, and the victims knew nothing of them. He said would continue to create new fictitious loans to make payments on previous fictitious loans so that members wouldn’t be notified of the loans.
The investigation showed the defendant embezzled $171,164 between November 2020 and August 2024.
“Banks and credit unions collect people’s personal information because it’s a requirement of doing business,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Kriegshauser. “When employees with access to sensitive information use it to commit fraud, embezzlement, or other types of financial crimes, they will eventually get caught. When they are exposed, they’ll have to face the justice system.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case.
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Former Postmaster Sentenced to 3 Years’ Probation for Money Order FraudRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Delos Thurston, age 28, of Clinton, New York, was sentenced on August 27, 2026, to 3 years’ probation for money order fraud. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Matthew M. Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Area Field Office of the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General (“USPS-OIG”), made the announcement.
Between April 2025 and January 2026, while he was employed as the Postmaster of the Morrisville, New York, Post Office, Thurston fraudulently issued 179 money orders for his own benefit without paying for them, and in so doing stole $118,088.19 from the United States.
Senior U.S. District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also sentenced Thurston to pay restitution to the U.S. Postal Service in the amount of $118,088.19.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarcone said, “This defendant was entrusted with serving his community and the American public as Postmaster. He violated that trust by using his position to steal more than $100,000 from the United States Government and, by extension, the American taxpayer. Thanks to the swift action of the USPS Office of Inspector General, his misconduct was uncovered, and he will now be required to repay the stolen funds, and serve a term of strict supervision while on probation.”
“Today’s sentencing reinforces that employees who abuse their positions of public trust for personal gain will be held accountable. The USPS Office of Inspector General remains committed to protecting the integrity of the Postal Service. We thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York for its continued partnership,” said Matthew M. Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Area Field Office, USPS Office of Inspector General.
The USPS-OIG investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie prosecuted the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Federal Judge Sentences Man to 19 Years in Prison for Violently Robbing Two Banks in Downtown ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a man to 19 years in prison for violently robbing two banks in downtown Chicago.
JAWAD H. HAKEEM, 51, of Waukegan, Ill., committed two armed bank robberies within a week in 2023. The first robbery occurred on March 3, 2023, at a Chase Bank branch in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. The second robbery occurred on March 9, 2023, at a Fifth Third Bank branch in Chicago’s Loop neighborhood. In both robberies, Hakeem brandished a handgun at bank tellers and customers. In the second robbery, Hakeem fired nine shots at a security guard, who returned fire, but no one was wounded.
Hakeem was arrested on March 13, 2023, in Waukegan, Ill. He has remained in law enforcement custody since then.
Hakeem pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal bank robbery and firearm charges. On Aug. 26, 2026, U.S. District Judge John F. Kness sentenced Hakeem to 19 years in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the Chicago Police Department and the Waukegan Police Department.
“Defendant created extraordinarily dangerous situations that put bank patrons and bystanders at grave risk,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Sushma Raju argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “It is pure chance that defendant did not seriously injure or kill anyone.”
Ellington Woman Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Tax OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that HEATHER MURDOCK, 58, of Ellington, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarah F. Russell in New Haven to fraud and tax offenses stemming from an embezzlement scheme.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Murdock was employed as the bookkeeper and office manager at a Hartford law firm, identified in court documents as “Firm A.” Between approximately 2010 and 2022, using Firm A’s bookkeeping software, Murdock generated hundreds of false checks made payable to herself and on which she forged the signature of Firm A’s owner. To conceal her embezzlement, Murdock doctored the bookkeeping system entries to make it appear that the checks had been issued to legitimate vendors. Murdock deposited the forged checks into her own bank account. Murdock stole approximately $578,279 through this scheme.
Murdock also stole cash rental payment made by tenants of properties owned by Firm A’s owner. To conceal her theft, Murdock generated false checks from Firm A’s bank account payable to the account in which Firm A’s owner received rental income, making it appear that the expected deposits of rental income had been made, and doctored references in the firm’s bookkeeping system. Murdock stole approximately $175,559 through this scheme.
Murdock failed to pay federal income taxes on the embezzled funds, substantially underreported her income in 2011 and 2012, and did not file any tax returns for the 2013 through 2022 tax years. As a result, Murdock’s underreported tax obligations total $225,991.
Murdock pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and one count of tax evasion, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. She has also agreed to pay $753,838.70 in restitution to the victim, and $225,991 in back taxes, plus penalties and interest, to the IRS.
Judge Russell scheduled sentencing for December 1. Murdock is released on a $40,000 bond pending sentencing.
This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elena L. Coronado.
Dubuque Man Sentenced to Federal Prison After Cops Find Gun and Drugs in His BagRead the Press Release
A convicted felon from Dubuque who possessed a gun was sentenced today to seven years in federal prison.
Davon Michael Cornwell, age 22, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 21, 2026, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that Cornwell was the passenger in a car that Dubuque police officers stopped in February 2025. Officers searched the car after smelling the odor of marijuana. Cornwell was hanging on to a bookbag at the time, which officers also searched. Oficers found approximately 87 grams of marijuana, a digital scale, fake $100 bills, and a loaded Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol in the bag. The gun had a loaded 14-round magazine attached. Fingerprints from the gun matched Cornwell’s. At the time, Cornwall had multiple arrest warrants pending. He has a significant criminal history which includes convictions for burglary, willful injury causing bodily injury, interference with official acts while armed with a firearm, and assault with intent to commit sexual abuse.
Cornwell was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard Strand. Cornwell was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment fee. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery and investigated by the Dubuque Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
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.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-1023.
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Delco Attorney Pleads Guilty to Submitting over $400,000 in Sham Checks to Evade Taxes and Purchase an Electric TruckRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Daniel A. Pallen, 46, of Springfield, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge Gail A. Weilheimer to one count of tax evasion and one count of mail fraud, arising from his submission of over $400,000 in fictitious checks to evade payment of his federal taxes and to purchase a new electric utility truck.
As detailed in an information filed in July of this year, the defendant, an attorney, signed and submitted 14 fake “certified” checks to the Internal Revenue Service in November 2024 and January 2025, totaling $294,454.52. Pallen also submitted payment vouchers designating that his fictitious checks be applied to his tax liabilities for Tax Years 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2022.
Pallen’s checks were fraudulent because they all used a bank routing number associated with the Federal Reserve Bank and a false bank account number that was Pallen’s Social Security number. In February 2025, the defendant called the IRS to ask whether his checks had been received and to inquire as to why the corresponding payments had not been applied to his tax liabilities.
In addition, Pallen signed and used a fake “cashier’s check” in the amount of $129,710.51 to purchase a new electric utility truck in October 2024 from Company A, with pickup in West Chester, Pennsylvania. The check that he signed and provided to Company A to pay for the electric truck was fraudulent and forged; the account and routing numbers listed on the check belonged not to Pallen, but to Company A’s own bank account.
After Pallen’s sham check bounced and Company A secured the electric utility truck, Pallen, who is a licensed attorney and the owner of a law firm in Media, Pa., filed a civil lawsuit in November 2024 against Company A in Chester County that sought the “immediate return” of the vehicle, along with costs and attorneys’ fees.
The lawsuit, which was signed and verified by Pallen, falsely represented that Company A unlawfully possessed and had no ownership, right, or title to the electric utility truck, when, in fact, the defendant knew the vehicle had been purchased with a bounced check that was forged and fictitious. His verified lawsuit also attached a made-up Form 1099-A tax filing that falsely claimed that Company A had borrowed $129,710.51 from a trust managed by Pallen. In December 2024, Pallen served a notice of default and praecipe for default judgment against Company A, which again sought possession of the electric utility truck and a money judgment against Company A.
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on December 10 and faces a maximum possible term of 25 years’ imprisonment.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samuel S. Dalke.
Delaware Company to Pay More Than $3.34 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Related to Paycheck Protection Program LoanRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – Novum Pharmaceutical Research Services of Delaware, Inc. (“Novum”), a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has agreed to pay $3,345,000 to resolve allegations that it improperly obtained a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) for which it was not eligible.
PPP was an emergency loan program established by Congress in March 2020 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act and administered by the SBA. The program was created to support small businesses and to help them continue to pay employees and meet other business expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. A second round of loans was authorized in early 2021. To be eligible for these Second Draw PPP loans, a business was required to certify that it had no more than 300 employees, including employees of all domestic and foreign affiliates.
Novum applied for and received a $2,000,000 Second Draw PPP loan. In its loan application, Novum certified that, together with its affiliates, it had fewer than 300 employees, as required for eligibility. Novum later applied for—and ultimately received—full forgiveness of the Second Draw loan. However, at the time of its application, Novum and its domestic and foreign affiliates, including its ultimate parent, India-based Lambda Therapeutic Research, Ltd., collectively employed more than 300 individuals. As a result, Novum was not eligible for a Second Draw PPP loan under the SBA’s employee‑based size standard.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace announced the settlement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Laksin handled the case.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party—known as a relator—can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. In this case, the relator will receive a share of the settlement.
Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to 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.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within federal benefit programs.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. A copy of the settlement agreement and agreed-upon statement of facts are attached to this press release. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 24-cv-1381-GBW.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
Davenport Man Sentenced to over 6 Years in Federal Prison for Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man was sentenced on September 1, 2026, to 78 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and possession of a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking.
According to public court documents, Darnell Jermaine Garrett, 40, armed the home he sold cocaine base and marijuana out of with two loaded firearms. In August 2025, Garrett pistol whipped a person at his home who he believed was stealing from him.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Garrett will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Scott County Sheriff's Office investigated the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles:
- rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders;
- strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and
- accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies.
These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Danish Autism Researcher Extradited After 14 Years on the Run Pleads Guilty to Stealing CDC Grant MoneyRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Poul Thorsen, a Danish researcher who was one of the U.S. Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s top ten most wanted fugitives since 2011, pleaded guilty today to operating a wire fraud scheme that stole CDC grant money awarded for autism research overseas.
“Poul Thorsen ran a multi-year fraud scheme to cheat the CDC, diverting valuable federal grant money to service his greed and inflated lifestyle,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “His fraud was especially reprehensible because he stole public funds that had been earmarked for research related to infant disabilities and birth defects. After evading justice for more than 14 years, Thorsen will finally be held accountable in a federal prison cell and ordered to pay full restitution to the CDC.”
“Today’s guilty plea represents an important step toward holding accountable those who steal taxpayer dollars intended to advance critical public health research,” said Kelly Blackmon, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG remains committed to protecting HHS program funds, and we will continue to pursue anyone who attempts to exploit these resources for personal gain.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: From 2000 to 2009, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, awarded over $11 million in grants to two Danish governmental agencies to study the relationship between autism and exposure to vaccines, between cerebral palsy and infection during pregnancy, and between childhood development and fetal alcohol exposure. In 2002, Thorsen, who had worked as a visiting scientist at the CDC when it solicited the grant applications, became the principal investigator responsible for administering the money awarded by the CDC.
While principal investigator, Thorsen systematically stole the CDC grant money by submitting fraudulent documents to the Danish government, to Aarhus University, and to Odense University Hospital, where scientists performed research under the grant. From February 2004 through June 2008, Thorsen submitted over a dozen fraudulent invoices, containing the forged signature of a CDC laboratory section chief, for reimbursement of expenses Thorsen claimed were incurred in connection with the CDC grant.
Based on the fraudulent invoices, Aarhus University transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars to credit union accounts the university believed belonged to the CDC. In truth, the credit union accounts were personal accounts held by Thorsen. After the money was transferred, Thorsen withdrew the fraudulent proceeds for his own use, obtaining dozens of cashier’s checks and buying a home in Atlanta, a Harley Davidson motorcycle, and Audi and Honda vehicles. Thorsen also withdrew cash, paid off credit cards, and transferred fraudulent proceeds to other accounts. In total, he diverted and received more than $1 million of CDC grant money from Aarhus University and Odense University Hospital.
On September 1, 2026, Thorsen, 65, of Denmark, pleaded guilty to wire fraud. His sentencing is scheduled for December 1, 2026, at 11:00 am before U.S. District Judge J. P. Boulee.
On April 13, 2011, a federal magistrate judge issued an arrest warrant for Thorsen, but he evaded apprehension for over 14 years by remaining in Denmark. On June 4, 2025, Thorsen was arrested while traveling in Germany, and German authorities jailed Thorsen until he was extradited to the United States on May 7, 2026. Thorsen has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service without bail since then.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen H. McClain is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
D.C. Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Hershel Andrew Green, III, 43, of the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with distributing videos and images of adult males engaged in sexually explicit activity with young male children, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“Let me be clear: if you seek out, receive, or distribute child sexual abuse material, we will find you, we will prosecute you, and we will hold you accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Every image represents a real child who was victimized, and every person who trades in that material perpetuates that abuse. If you prey on children, you should expect federal law enforcement to come knocking.”
Green, aka “FitddyG,” pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan to one count of distribution of child pornography, which carries a statutory penalty of five to twenty years in prison. Judge AliKhan scheduled sentencing for Nov. 30, 2026.
According to court documents, the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force identified Green during an investigation into another individual’s distribution of child sexual abuse material. In July 2025, an FBI undercover agent, exchanged messages with Green and received several videos of child sexual abuse material from him.
Law enforcement identified Green through digital records, open-source research, and surveillance at his residence in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Bohlen.
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 U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the 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, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Coos Bay Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting Children in the United States and AbroadRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.— A Coos Bay, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for using a minor to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and attempting to use a separate minor to produce CSAM.
Thomas Owen Barnett, 40, was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison and 15 years’ supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon.
“This defendant used the internet to exploit children within the United States and abroad. He hid his identity while forcing children to be exposed. We have now exposed Burnett for the criminal he is. Children deserve to be safe online and in their own homes. I hope the children he harmed find healing after these traumatic events,” said Scott E. Bradford.
“Today’s sentence underscores the FBI’s focus on stopping those who exploit children,” said FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson. “Barnett’s actions caused real harm, and I’m grateful to the North Bend Police Department and the Coos County Sheriff’s Office for their outstanding assistance. Their teamwork with our agents and the U.S. Attorney’s Office was essential to bringing this case to justice.”
According to court documents, between September and December 2023, Barnett encouraged a minor victim to create and send him CSAM. In September 2024, Barnett distributed CSAM of that minor victim on Kik, an online chat platform, and sought money in exchange. That same month, Barnett posed as the minor victim online and asked a man in another country to make and send him CSAM depicting the man’s very young child.
On February 20, 2025, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a four-count indictment charging Barnett with sexual exploitation of a child, attempted sexual exploitation of a child, as well as possession and distribution of child pornography.
This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the North Bend Police Department and the Coos County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by William M. McLaren, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children is encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than Eight Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a MachinegunRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL - Edward Anderson (45, Bradenton) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti to eight years and four months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a machinegun. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents and proceedings, Anderson is a convicted felon with multiple felony narcotics convictions and a prior firearm conviction. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
On July 30, 2025, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Anderson’s residence. Inside, they found four firearms, one of which had been converted into a machinegun by way of a machinegun conversion device. Law enforcement later swabbed this firearm for DNA, and the Pinellas County Forensic Laboratory determined that Anderson’s DNA was present on the firearm.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man who has multiple felony convictions pleaded guilty today to unlawful possession of a firearm.
"Removing illegal firearms from our streets and keeping them out of the hands of convicted felons is a top priority for this office,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “We will continue to work alongside our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to reduce gun violence and hold repeat offenders accountable."
“ATF is committed to our pledge of ensuring the safety of the public, which includes continuing our efforts to ensure that firearms remain out of the hands of prohibited people,” said Special Agent in Charge John Wester, San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). “We will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to ensure that this conduct is not tolerated within the Las Vegas community and that the prosecution of repeat offenders, who are prohibited from having a firearm, remains a priority.”
According to court documents, on September 3, 2024, Shamar Tyrell Garcia unlawfully possessed a stolen, Glock 27, .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun. The firearm has been reported stolen in March 2022. Garcia has prior felony convictions, including having a concealed firearm in a vehicle, evading an officer with reckless driving, and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, all in San Diego County, California; and possession of a controlled substance while armed, bringing drugs into a jail or prison, carrying a loaded firearm with a prior felony conviction, and convicted felon in possession of a firearm, all in Riverside County, California. He is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm.
Garcia pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. The statutory maximum penalty is 15 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing has been scheduled for December 1, 2026, before United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II. Any sentence would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah, Special Agent in Charge John Wester, and Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement.
This case was investigated by ATF, FBI, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the San Diego Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Brenna Bush and James Gaeta are prosecuting the case.
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Convicted Felon from New Bedford Pleads Guilty to Possessing Firearm and Ammunition in Elementary School Parking LotRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Bedford man pleaded guilty on Aug. 26, 2026 in federal court in Boston to possessing a firearm and ammunition on the grounds of the Charles G. Taylor Elementary School in Foxborough, Mass.
Jameel Clark-White, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and one count of possessing a firearm in a school zone. U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley scheduled sentencing for Dec. 11, 2026. Clark-White was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2025.
At the plea hearing, Clark-White admitted that he traveled from New Bedford to Foxborough on the morning of June 12, 2025, to attend a school function. Prior to the function, Clark-White was involved in a collision with another vehicle in the school’s parking lot. Before police arrived to investigate the crash, Clark-White tossed a .45 caliber Glock pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device, as well as two additional loaded magazines, underneath two parked cars in the school’s parking lot. Clark-White fled the scene minutes later and was not apprehended until July 22, 2025. Clark-White was prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions.
The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possessing a firearm in a school zone provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Foxborough Police Department and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Cutshall of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
Convicted Felon from Fall River Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Firearm and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Fall River was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and distributing cocaine.
Carlos Perez, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to five years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. In April 2026, Perez pleaded guilty to four counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and one count of distributing a controlled substance. In November 2025, Perez was arrested and charged.
On May 5, 2025, Perez sold cocaine as well as a .45 caliber pistol and ammunition to a cooperating witness. In addition, Perez sold a Sig Sauer, P230 SL, .380 caliber pistol and ammunition on June 2, 2025; a Ruger, Max 9, 9mm pistol and ammunition on June 30, 2025; and a Smith & Wesson, M&P 9 Shield, 9mm pistol and ammunition on Aug. 27, 2025.
Perez is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition due to multiple prior convictions. According to the charging documents, Perez has 61 adult charges on his record and over 15 criminal convictions, including a 2015 state conviction for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class A Substance, for which he served two years in the house of corrections, as well as two separate convictions for Assault and Battery Dangerous Weapon in 2008, for which he received a two-year suspended sentence and six months in the house of corrections.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Fall River and New Bedford Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Reynolds III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Contract Mail Carrier Sentenced for Delay and Destruction of MailRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL - Timothy Chandler, 23, a United States Postal Service contract mail carrier, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock to a time served sentence, after spending over 30 days in jail, for delay and destruction of mail.
According to court documents, in November of 2025, Robertsdale Alabama Police Department responded to Chandler’s apartment after receiving a call reporting the discovery of a large volume of undelivered mail. Officers found undelivered mail scattered throughout the apartment, including several envelopes containing celebration cards that had been opened. The mail recovered from the apartment was enough to fill eight postal delivery bins. An additional 66 empty bins were recovered from the apartment.
None of the mail recovered from Chandler’s apartment was addressed to him, and Chandler was not authorized to store or open mail that was not addressed to him. Community members along Chandler’s route described the impact the interruption of their mail service had on their daily lives.
"A large part of the mission of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is to ensure public trust in the mail. When individuals challenge that mission, postal inspectors will aggressively investigate and remain steadfast in our resolve to seek justice," said Shameka Jackson, Inspector-in-Charge of the Houston Division from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. "As a contract driver, Timothy Chandler betrayed the trust of the American public, but he is not representative of the honesty and integrity of hard-working postal employees and contractors serving our nation today. We would like to thank the Robertsdale Police Department for their assistance in this investigation."
“Postal carriers are entrusted with an important responsibility to ensure that members of the public receive their mail in a timely and secure manner,” said U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello. “Anyone violating public trust will be held accountable for their actions.”
The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Robertsdale Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney S. Gaillard Ladd prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Connecticut man going to prison for bank fraud conspiracyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Vance Ashley, 57, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, was sentenced to serve 27 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
In January 2025, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Ashley was recruited by members of the conspiracy to pose as other persons and make unauthorized withdrawals from the other persons’ bank accounts. Ashley agreed to do this in exchange for money. Between January 28 and February 3, 2025, Ashley drove with co-conspirators Edwin Robles, Edward Richardson and Michael Herrera, to bank branches in Wilmington, Delaware, Liberty, NY, and Lock Haven, PA, where Ashely used the identifications of other individuals to make, or attempt to make, unauthorized withdrawals from the victims’ bank accounts.
On February 5, 2025, the defendants drove to a Northwest Bank branch in Lockport, within the Western District of New York. Ashley made an unauthorized withdrawal of from the account of an individual residing in Erie, PA. Ashley also purchased a bank check using funds from the account. That same day, the defendants drove to another Northwest Bank branch in Williamsville, within the Western District of New York, and again Ashley made an unauthorized withdrawal from an account and purchased a bank check using funds from the account of a victim from North East PA.
The total loss amount, including actual loss and intended loss, is $61,800.00.
Robles, Richardson and Herrera were all previously convicted.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Bonanno. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Harry Chavis and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone.
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Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Arson for Burning St. John’s Chapel in Caldwell ParishRead the Press Release
MONROE – On August 31, 2026, Anthony Dillon, Jr., 19, of Columbia, Louisiana, pled guilty in federal court to committing arson in connection with the malicious burning of St. John Chapel in the early morning of March 27, 2026, right as Holy Week was set to begin. Dillon faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in federal prison.
“Today’s guilty plea represents another step toward our Office seeking justice for the wanton and brazen burning of St. John Chapel, the sole Catholic church in Caldwell Parish,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “This case reflects our Office’s commitment to working alongside our federal and state law enforcement partners to protect and serve our rural communities, and we look forward to seeing this matter to its conclusion."
According to court documents, Dillon and an accomplice entered St. John Chapel intending to steal electronic equipment, including multiple television sets. After stealing several televisions from inside the church, the two ignited a fire in the administrative area of the building, using a fire accelerant within a wooden filing cabinet. A fire-accelerant canine unit alerted at the point of origin, and forensic testing confirmed the presence of an accelerant there. The fire caused extensive damage to the church’s sanctuary.
ATF, FBIIn the wake of the arson, parishioners have continued worship by holding weekly Masses at a local clinic. The community also established a restoration fund to help rebuild their church.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Louisiana State Fire Marshal, the Caldwell Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller with assistance from Special Assistant U.S. Attorney S. Charlotte Farshian and Paralegal Specialist Joanne Henry-Mills.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 3:26-CR-00159-01.
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CONTACT: Public Affairs: USALAW-News@usdoj.gov
United States Attorney’s Office: www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
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(337) 262-6704Clearwater Man Sentenced to Ten Years for Transportation of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Brian Francis McArdle (34, Clearwater) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to 10 years in federal prison for transportation and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
McArdle pleaded guilty on March 9, 2026.
According to court documents, from January 1, 2023, through April 2, 2024, McArdle used Telegram to distribute and sell CSAM, the production of which involved the use of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Following the execution of a search warrant, the FBI located hundreds of images and videos of CSAM on McArdle’s cell phone, including images which depicted a minor who had not attained 12 years of age engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Arlington County Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.
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.projectsafechildhood.gov.