Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
13 November 2025
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Child Sexual Abuse Material and Sex Offenders
James Arthur Ostermeier, 61, with no permanent address, was sentenced to time served, approximately seven months and ten days, with five years of supervised release for failing to register as a sex offender. According to court documents, the defendant is a sex offender who was living in Laramie and then Uinta Counties. As a sex offender, he is required to check in the with the Offender Registrar and he stopped showing up for his registration checks in November 2024. The defendant left Wyoming and had been living in several states, none of which he registered in as a sex offender as required by law. The U.S. Marshals Service and the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. Ostermeier was indicted on March 20 and pleaded guilty on April 18. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Oct. 2 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-00058.
Adrean Ray McClendon, 25, of Laramie, Wyoming, was sentenced to 78 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for possession of child pornography. The court ordered the defendant to pay $21,000 in restitution to the victims. According to court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a report from MediaLab/Kik about a user suspected of possessing child pornography. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force initiated the investigation which led to McClendon, residing in a Laramie hotel. A search of his room uncovered multiple electronic devices. Forensic analysis confirmed the devices belonged to McClendon and contained over 600 images of child sexual abuse material including infants, toddlers, and prepubescent children, some of which he distributed to other users on Kik. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie M. Morrison prosecuted the case. McClendon was indicted on Jan. 15 and pleaded guilty on July 1. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Oct. 7 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00018
Violent Crime
Brooke Ellen Friday-Goggles, 27, of Fort Washakie, was sentenced to 23 months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release on a charge of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. According to court documents, on Jan. 26, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Wind River Police Department (WRPD) was dispatched to a report of an assault. When officers arrived, the defendant was intoxicated and claimed to be the victim, but she had no physical injuries. Officers discovered the victim inside the residence with lacerations, scrapes and bruises, with her knee appearing dislocated. Witnesses confirmed the defendant had attacked the victim. The victim was flown out of state for surgical treatment of fractures to her knee and leg and an injury to her ankle. The BIA-WRPD and the FBI investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry J. Jacobson prosecuted the case. Friday-Goggles was indicted on March 20 and pleaded guilty on May 28. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Oct. 3 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00047.
Firearm Offenses
Alexander Christopher Schwab, 32, of Evergreen, Alabama, was sentenced to 41 months with three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court records, on Jan. 26, Wyoming Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop on the defendant’s vehicle. The Trooper smelled marijuana and a K9 alerted to the presence of a controlled substance. During a search of the vehicle, Troopers located multiple firearms and large capacity magazines. The defendant is a previously convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms. The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive and the Wyoming Highway Patrol investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case. Schwab was indicted on March 20 and pleaded guilty on July 1. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Oct. 1 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00048.
Christopher Dakota Daniel Pierce, 39, of Gillette, Wyoming, was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release to follow for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on Jan. 9, 2025, Campbell County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to Pierce’s residence for a domestic disturbance. On scene, deputies received consent to search the home and ultimately located six firearms to which Mr. Pierce had access. Mr. Pierce is a previously convicted felon and cannot legally possess firearms. The Campbell County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. Pierce was indicted on May 21 and pleaded guilty on July 18. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Oct. 15 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00090
Steven Michael Harvey, 61, of Sherdan, Wyoming, was sentenced to 40 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release to follow for being in possession of an unregistered firearm. According to court documents, in March 2024, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) executed a search warrant of Harvey’s storage unit. Inside, law enforcement found six rifles, one pistol, and one suspected silencer. Two of the rifles had barrels of less than sixteen inches in length. In addition, Mr. Harvey did not properly register the firearms after inheriting them from a friend. DCI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. Harvey was indicted on Nov. 20, 2024, and pleaded guilty on July 21. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Oct. 16 in Casper. Case No. 24-CR-00172
Dietz Dunnie Pongah, III, 27, with no fixed address, was sentenced to 45 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release to follow for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on Oct. 9, 2024, the defendant, while intoxicated, took a vehicle without permission from a residence on the Wind River Indian Reservation and drove it through fields and fences before being apprehended by law enforcement. Inside the vehicle, officers discovered a sawed-off .22 caliber rifle with ammunition, which DCI determined contained the defendant's DNA. Pongah is a previously convicted felon and unable to possess a firearm. DCI and the Wind River Police Department investigated the crime. Michael J. Elmore Prosecuted the case. Pongah was indicted on May 21 and pleaded guilty on Aug. 5. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Oct. 27 in Casper.
Robert Alexander, 43, from Lyman, Wyoming, was sentenced to 121 months’ imprisonment with four years of supervised release to follow for aiding and abetting in the distribution of methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, between August and December 2024, Wyoming agents conducted six controlled buys of methamphetamine from Alexander’s co-conspirator totaling 614.6 grams. A search of the defendant’s home he shared with his co-conspirator uncovered large quantities of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, firearms, and ammunition. The defendant admitted to possessing the drugs and firearms, aiding in methamphetamine distribution, and being prohibited from possessing firearms. DCI investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. Alexander was indicted on May 21 and pleaded guilty on Aug. 25. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Oct. 2 in Casper. Case No. 24-CR-00083
Drug Trafficking
Jade Mikel Shane, 46, of Evans, Colorado, was sentenced to 168 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, in February 2024, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) began an investigation into drug trafficking in Sheridan and Campbell Counties. Through the investigation, agents learned the defendant used his residence as a storage and distribution hub for large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl. A search warrant executed on September 5, 2024, led to the seizure of significant amounts of controlled substances and numerous firearms. DCI and Weld County, Colorado, Drug Task Force investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. Shane was indicted on Jan. 15 and pleaded guilty on June 5. U.S. District Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Oct. 8 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00016
Kolter Kekich, 30, from Sheridan, Wyoming, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment with four years of supervised release to follow for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) agents learned the defendant was involved in the distribution of drugs in Sheridan County. On February 11, the defendant and his dating partner rented a room at a motel in Sheridan and left 320 grams of methamphetamine under the bed sheets where hotel staff located it and alerted law enforcement. Later that day, agents attempted to arrest the defendant, but he fled resulting in a high-speed pursuit that ended in a wreck. While refusing to exit his vehicle after the wreck, the defendant began to consume large amounts of drugs resulting in an overdose. Law enforcement located additional drugs, drug paraphernalia and $1,360 inside the vehicle. DCI and the Sheridan Police Department investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Elmore and Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. Kekich was indicted on May 21 and pleaded guilty on Aug. 8. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Oct. 28 in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00084
Drug and Firearm OffensesScott VanGoethen, 54, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, in December 2024, detectives with the Cheyenne Police Department received information that the defendant was distributing methamphetamine in the community. Through surveillance, sources of information, and eventually evidence, detectives discovered that the defendant was driving to Colorado to obtain large amounts of methamphetamine, then selling it to his neighbors, who were in turn distributing it. Detectives seized 15 firearms along with ammunition during a search of his property. The defendant is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and Cheyenne Police Department investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. VanGoethen was arrested on complaint March 21 and pleaded guilty to an Information on July 14. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Sept. 30 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00101
Jonathan Dennis Roberts, 41, of Gillette, Wyoming, was sentenced to 138 months’ imprisonment with four years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents, in September 2023, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) launched an investigation into drug trafficking in Campbell County. Over the course of the investigation, which extended into 2024, agents conducted controlled drug purchases and tracked Roberts traveling to Colorado to restock his supply. Roberts was known to possess numerous firearms, some of which he traded for drugs. On December 5, 2024, he was arrested during a traffic stop in Converse County, where deputies seized a loaded handgun and 377 grams of methamphetamine. A later search of his residence by agents uncovered nine firearms. DCI investigated the crime with the assistance of ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. Roberts was arrested on complaint Feb. 6 and pleaded guilty to an Information on May 9. U.S. District Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Oct. 9 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00079
Pedro Jose Rosales-Trujillo, 56, of Chihuahua, Mexico, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States upon completion of his sentence. According to court documents, on June 23 the defendant, going by the name Rafael Quintero-Trujillo, was arrested by the Cheyenne Police Department for a failure to pay warrant stemming from a criminal trespass in Albany County. Fingerprints taken at the time of detention indicated Quintero-Trujillo was actually Rosales-Trujillo, a citizen of Mexico. Agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were contacted. They determined that Rosales-Trujillo had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed at least 11 times beginning in 1989. The records also indicated a lengthy criminal record accompanying each deportation. ICE investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Oct. 22 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00103
Roberto Lezama-Amayo, 35, of Puebla, Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on Aug. 15, the defendant was encountered at the Sweetwater County jail after being arrested on state charges. Agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) determined that Lezama-Amayo had not applied for permission to reenter the U.S. after being formally removed in August 2019. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Oct. 27 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00140Public Lands Violations
Jessica Wells, 37 of Eufaula, Oklahoma, was sentenced to serve a 21-day term of incarceration with credit for 2 days served and ordered to pay $2,040 in fines and court costs for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. According to documents, on July 27, Wells was driving a motor vehicle in Yellowstone National Park with a breath alcohol concentration of 0.133%. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes prosecuted the case. Wells pleaded guilty and was sentenced by U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick on Oct 14 in Mammoth.
Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported AlienMarvin Olina-Zuniga, 42, of Choluteca, Honduras, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States upon completion of his sentence. According to court documents, on July 6, the defendant was arrested in Sweetwater County for possession of a controlled substance. Fingerprints taken at the time of detention indicated Olina-Zuniga is a citizen of Honduras and agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were contacted. They determined that Olina-Zuniga had previously been removed from the U.S. in November 2018 and had not applied for permission to reenter. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Sept. 10 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00105
Pedro Jose Rosales-Trujillo, 56, of Chihuahua, Mexico, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States upon completion of his sentence. According to court documents, on June 23 the defendant, going by the name Rafael Quintero-Trujillo, was arrested by the Cheyenne Police Department for a failure to pay warrant stemming from a criminal trespass in Albany County. Fingerprints taken at the time of detention indicated Quintero-Trujillo was actually Rosales-Trujillo, a citizen of Mexico. Agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were contacted. They determined that Rosales-Trujillo had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed at least 11 times beginning in 1989. The records also indicated a lengthy criminal record accompanying each deportation. ICE investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Oct. 22 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00103
Roberto Lezama-Amayo, 35, of Puebla, Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on Aug. 15, the defendant was encountered at the Sweetwater County jail after being arrested on state charges. Agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) determined that Lezama-Amayo had not applied for permission to reenter the U.S. after being formally removed in August 2019. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Oct. 27 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00140About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.Operation Take Back America
Operation Take Back America is 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. It also streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).Victim Witness Program
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to ensuring victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime
Appointment of New United States Attorney for the Middle District of LouisianaRead the Press Release
The U.S. Department of Justice, Offices of the United States Attorneys, is pleased to announce the appointment of Kurt Wall as the new United States Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana. Mr. Wall officially took office on October 14, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Wall brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to justice, having previously served as Assistant District Attorney in East Baton Rouge Parish where he remained for 13 years before being hired as the Director of the Criminal Division at the Louisiana Department of Justice. After serving in that position for just over seven years, Mr. Wall returned to the courtroom as the Chief Felony Prosecutor in the 21st Judicial District which is comprised of Livingston, Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes.
Throughout his career as a prosecutor, Mr. Wall has successfully handled a wide variety of cases which include numerous violent crimes such as capital murders, sex offenses and robberies. He has also successfully prosecuted hundreds of cases involving child pornography, white collar crimes and public corruption.
His extensive background and relevant experience positions him to effectively lead the Middle District of Louisiana in the pursuit of justice and the enforcement of federal laws. In his new role, Mr. Wall will oversee all federal prosecutions within the Middle District of Louisiana, collaborate with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, and work on initiatives to combat all aspects of federal crimes.
U.S. Attorney Wall stated, “I am honored to have been selected by President Trump to serve as the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana. I look forward to working closely with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to implement a plan that will make a real impact on reducing crime in our community.”
7-Eleven Robbery Results in Four Year Prison TermRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Kevin Bing, 31, of Washington D.C., was sentenced in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the burglary of a 7-Eleven store in March 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.
Bing pleaded guilty on August 12, 2025, to one count of second-degree burglary. On October 15, 2025, the Honorable Judge Jennifer Di Toro sentenced Bing to four years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, with which the defendant agreed, on March 19, 2025, Bing and three unidentified accomplices went to a closed 7-Eleven store in the 5200 block of 3rd Street Northeast and used a prybar to force open the front door. They then brought a hydraulic prying tool into the store and used it to force open an ATM machine, from which they stole U.S. currency. The perpetrators also stole a cell phone from one of the store’s employees before fleeing the store.
Bing was arrested on March 20, 2025 and has been in custody since.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S Attorney Michael Roberts, who prosecuted the case.
Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
12 November 2025
Quad Cities Men Sentenced to Federal Prison in Violent RICO ConspiracyRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – Two Quad Cities men were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a racketeering conspiracy, which engaged in a years-long pattern of violence, including murder, attempted murder, and drug trafficking.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at trials and sentencings, the racketeering conspiracy involved Fifth Street gang members. The Fifth Street Gang is also known as the “Arsenal Courts Posse,” “Zone Fifth,” “Fifth Street Mafia,” “Rock Town Money Getters (RTMG),” and “Money Team.” The Fifth Street gang operated as a criminal enterprise responsible for numerous acts of violence, including murder and attempted murder in the Davenport and Rock Island area. The criminal enterprise was connected to dozens of shooting investigations and at least seven homicides over the course of two decades.
SENTENCES
Rasheem Damonte Bogan, 34, was sentenced on October 9, 2025, to 27 years in federal prison for racketeering conspiracy and felon in possession of ammunition charges, followed by three years of supervised release. On June 1, 2020, Bogan and seven co-defendants went to Necker’s Jewelers to commit a burglary. While there, the group encountered a man they mistakenly believed to be a rival gang member. Bogan and others fired 33 rounds from four firearms, seriously injuring the victim.
Kylea Dapri Cartwright, Jr., 29, was sentenced on November 6, 2025, to 30 years in federal prison for racketeering conspiracy and felon in possession of ammunition charges, followed by three years of supervised release. Cartwright was also ordered to pay $29,732.23 in restitution. Following a six-day jury trial, Cartwright was found guilty of racketeering conspiracy and possessing ammunition as a felon. Evidence at trial demonstrated that on July 5, 2020, Cartwright fired four rounds from a .40 caliber pistol toward a man on West Third Street in Davenport, resulting in the victim’s death. Cartwright used the same pistol that another Fifth Street Gang member had fired during the Necker’s Jewelers shooting a month earlier.
ADDITIONAL DEFENDANTS
In total, 14 defendants, including Bogan and Cartwright, were convicted of federal crimes related to the Fifth Street Gang’s criminal conduct between April 2006 and February 2024. The 12 co-defendants were sentenced as follows:
- Don Christopher White, Jr. was sentenced to 480 months’ imprisonment;
- Raheem Jacques Houston was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment;
- Deaguise Ramont Hall was sentenced to 400 months’ imprisonment;
- Brandon Deshane Branigan was sentenced to 226 months’ imprisonment;
- Michael Linn Cross was sentenced to 216 months’ imprisonment;
- Devell Carl Lewis was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment;
- LaShawn D. James Hensley was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment;
- Simmeon Terrell Hall was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment;
- Ricky Lee Childs, Jr. was sentenced to 160 months’ imprisonment;
- Timothy Justin Beaver was sentenced to 235 months’ imprisonment;
- Devante Atwell French was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment; and
- Cortez Deangelo Cooper, Jr. was sentenced to 162 months’ imprisonment.
STATEMENTS
“This was a thorough and relentless investigation. Our officers stayed committed, and prosecutors were steadfast in seeking justice,” said Davenport Police Chief Jeffery Bladel. “Gun violence will never be tolerated in our community. These dangerous individuals showed no regard for human life and are now being held accountable. I’m incredibly thankful for our investigators, officers, and partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office whose dedication has made our city safer. The message is clear: if you commit violent acts, you will be held accountable.”
“This case represents years of tireless investigative work and close collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies to dismantle one of the most violent criminal organizations operating in the Quad Cities,” said United States Attorney David C. Waterman for the Southern District of Iowa. “The sentences imposed send an unequivocal message: those who bring violence, guns, and drugs into our communities will be held fully accountable under federal law. And let me be clear—anyone who threatens or attempts to harm our law enforcement partners will face the full force of the federal government. Our office will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the men and women who safeguard our communities every day, working together to restore safety, stability, and peace to our neighborhoods.”
* * *
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Davenport and Rock Island Police Departments, with assistance from the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Drug Enforcement Administration.
New Scam Center Strike Force Battles Southeast Asian Crypto Investment Fraud Targeting AmericansRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, together with major federal law enforcement and interagency partners, announced the creation of the first District of Columbia Scam Center Strike Force to secure America against Southeast Asian cryptocurrency-related fraud and scams.
Joining in the announcement were Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Department of Justice, FBI Deputy Assistant Director Gregory A. Heeb, and Assistant Director Kyo Dolan of the United States Secret Service, Office of Field Operations.
Chinese transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) are using cryptocurrency investment scams and a variety of confidence scams to steal the life savings of everyday Americans. Often using U.S. social media networks or text messages to U.S.-based cell phones, the scammers first gain the trust of their targeted victims. Over time, the scammers convince their victims to invest in real cryptocurrency, only to then trick their victims to transfer those funds into fake cryptocurrency investment websites and applications. Many of those websites are hosted by companies in the United States, but once funds are transferred, the cryptocurrency is quickly laundered into other accounts outside of U.S. jurisdiction.
These schemes, which fraudsters refer to as “pig butchering” because they are “fattening” up their victims, are often run out of scam compounds in Southeast Asia. Workers in the compounds often are victims of human trafficking, held against their will, abused, and guarded by armed groups as they are instructed to target Americans. In some of the Southeast Asian countries where these compounds operate, scam-generated revenue is so massive that it amounts to nearly half of the country’s GDP. Recent reporting estimates that this scam industry defrauds Americans of nearly $10 billion per year.
“Scam centers are creating a generational wealth transfer from Main Street America into the pockets of Chinese organized crime. As the prosecuting office in the nation’s capital, my office has the authority to charge foreign defendants and seize foreign property,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “President Trump wants the United States to be the global center of the world’s cryptocurrency industry. So it is absolutely crucial that Americans understand the safe use of this commodity. We will expose and prosecute the criminals who would abuse their trust so that all Americans can feel secure in their investments.”
U.S. Attorney Pirro specifically called on U.S. corporations to partner in the initiative. “Working together in public-private partnership, we must secure the U.S. infrastructure, which is being used as an instrument to defraud Americans in these scams.”
"The FBI is committed to the important work of the Scam Center Strike Force," said FBI Criminal Division Deputy Assistant Director, Gregory Heeb. "The lasting impact from the highly sophisticated, transnational financial crimes emanating from scam centers can be devastating to victims and their families. It is the FBI's job to stop these criminals, and with the help of our partners around the globe, we will do just that."
“Since 2019, the U.S. Secret Service has seen a major uptick in cryptocurrency investment scams,” said Assistant Director Kyo Dolan of the United States Secret Service. The organizations behind these scams leverage an ‘ecosystem of criminality,’ often weaving an intricate web of illicit activities together to perpetrate their schemes. In fiscal year 2025 alone, the U.S. Secret Service has responded to approximately 3,000 victims who contacted us regarding cryptocurrency investment schemes.”
The new Scam Center Strike Force combines the power, reach, and resources of the U.S. Attorney’s Office with the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, the FBI, and the U.S. Secret Service to crackdown and disrupt these schemes. The Scam Center Strike Force is also seeking to use all government tools available, partnering with the State Department, the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and the Department of Commerce.
The Scam Center Strike Force is investigating the worst scam compounds located in Southeast Asia. Strike Force teams focus on identifying and pursuing key leaders—including Chinese organized crime affiliates operating in Cambodia, Laos, and Burma—to bring them to justice.
The Strike Force also is working to seize and disable the U.S.-based facilities and infrastructure that provide the manner and means to execute these scams, which includes U.S. internet service provider and social media accounts scammers use to prey on Americans. The Strike Force will collaborate with U.S. companies to sever access to the scam centers, and prevent U.S. infrastructure from being weaponized against American citizens.
As announced today, the Strike Force is already up and running.
The Strike Force Crypto Seizure team has seized and forfeited $401,657,274.33 in crypto currency from these schemes, and announced today the filing of forfeiture proceedings for $80 million in stolen funds. The Crypto Seizure team is focused on recovering stolen funds and returning them to victims.
The Strike Force Burma team conducted operations against two scam centers located in Burma. At the Tai Chang scam compound, the team seized websites used to victimize Americans. At another Burmese scam center, the team is seeking warrants to seize satellite terminals used to connect the facilities to the internet and enable fraud and money laundering. Today, the Treasury Department designated the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), and other entities related to these scam compounds, as specially-designated nationals (SDN). Established by the Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control, the SDN list contains the names of individuals, groups, and entities, such as terrorists, narcotics traffickers, and transnational criminal organizations, whose assets are blocked and with whom U.S. persons are generally prohibited from conducting business.
A Strike Force Regional team investigated a network of Bali scam centers. The suspects, directed by Cambodia-based facilitators, targeted more than 150 U.S.-based victims. Information the Strike Force provided to local police was critical and essential to the prosecution of 38 Indonesian nationals.
The Strike Force also deployed FBI agents to Bangkok to embed with the Royal Thai Police War Room Task Force to combat scam compounds, such as KK Park in Burma.
The Scam Center Strike Force will use every tool available to help secure Main Street Americans from these scams. With its interagency and public partners, the Strike Force will educate Americans on how to identify these scams, prevent generational wealth from flowing into the pockets of international and domestic criminals, and work with unwavering focus to return stolen funds to victims.
The Scam Center Strike Force is a collaboration of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia; DOJ’s Criminal Division, including the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Fraud Section, and Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the U.S. Secret Service. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island is also collaborating on the initiative.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen P. Seifert and Kevin Rosenberg represent the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia on the Strike Force. Today’s cryptocurrency seizures were handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Blaylock and Trial Attorneys Ethan Cantor and Stefanie Schwartz of DOJ’s Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section, with the FBI San Francisco, San Diego, Phoenix, Nashville, and Honolulu Field Offices, and the U.S. Secret Service San Francisco and Memphis Field Offices. Today’s seizures related to Tai Chang were handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jolie Zimmerman and Trial Attorney Ethan Cantor with the FBI San Diego Field Office, and additional Burma seizures were handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jolie Zimmerman, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Raj Datta, and the FBI Washington Field Office.
If you have been defrauded out of your money by a Southeast Asian Scam Center scheme, please contact the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
McCurtain County Residents Plead Guilty to Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Eric Dean Sparkman, age 39, of Idabel, Oklahoma, and Reginald Dondrale Bailey, age 46, of Haworth, Oklahoma, both entered guilty pleas to charges relating to a federal drug conspiracy.
Sparkman pleaded guilty to one count of Drug Conspiracy, punishable by a term of 10 years to life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine, and one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine, punishable by a term of 10 years to life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine.
Bailey pleaded guilty to one count of Drug Conspiracy, punishable by a term of 10 years to life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on August 28, 2024, Sparkman, Bailey, and defendants known and unknown to the Grand Jury knowingly and intentionally conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The Indictment further alleged that on August 28, 2024, Sparkman knowingly and intentionally distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the pleas and ordered the completion of presentence investigation reports.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentences to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Both defendants were ordered into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.
Maryland Man, Twice Convicted at Trial of Making Violent Threats Against Federal Judges, Sentenced to Five Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Keith Dougherty, 70, of College Park, Maryland, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison and three years of supervised release by United States District Judge Gerald A. McHugh for making violent threats against federal judges.
The defendant was charged by indictment in July 2024. In May of this year, Dougherty was convicted at trial of one count of threatening to assault and murder United States judges with the intent to impede, intimidate, and interfere with them while they were engaged in the performance of official duties, and with the intent to retaliate against them on account of their performance of official duties, and three counts of mailing threatening communications.
As detailed in court filings and proven at trial, the defendant mailed and/or filed motions containing threatening language directed at federal judges, on numerous occasions and in several federal districts. He had already been prosecuted and convicted by a federal jury in December of 2021 for such filings and served a 41-month prison term in that case, followed by a three-year period of supervised release.
Just months into that supervised release, he uttered more threatening communications, so his supervised release was revoked, and he was returned to prison. While back in prison serving the violation sentence, he again mailed and/or filed the same sort of threatening language, resulting in the July 2024 charges and May trial conviction.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph LaBar.
Note: the posting of this press release was delayed, due to the federal government shutdown from October 1, 2025, to November 12, 2025.
Lancaster County Man Pleads Guilty to Bomb Hoax Targeting the 2024 U.S. OpenRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Aidan Getchius, 21, of Strasburg, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge John M. Gallagher to one count of conveying false information and hoaxes.
The defendant was charged with that offense by information in September of this year. With today’s plea, he has waived prosecution by indictment.
As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, on September 2, 2024, at 12:12 p.m., the United States Tennis Association (“USTA”) was sent a threat via direct message on X (formerly known as Twitter), stating that “I’m inside Louis Armstrong with a bomb that will go off at 1 pm est.” The message was sent from the X profile “GetchiSoto,” an account created and operated by Getchius.
At the time, a Round of 16 (quarterfinals) match in the United States Open women’s division was in progress in the Louis Armstrong Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York. The stadium was not evacuated, but the New York Police Department conducted a sweep for explosive devices.
While Getchius claimed in the direct message to have a bomb in Louis Armstrong Stadium, he knew he did not possess an explosive device in or near the stadium and was merely seeking to disrupt the women’s match in progress.
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on March 10 and faces a maximum possible term of five years’ imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Josh A. Davison.
Note: the posting of this press release was delayed, due to the federal government shutdown from October 1, 2025, to November 12, 2025.
Johnston County Resident Sentenced for Failure to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joses Ric-E Beck, a/k/a Ric-E Beck, age 38, of Ravia, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender.
The charge arose from an investigation by the United States Marshals Service and U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services.
The Indictment alleged that Beck was convicted of Lewd or Indecent Proposals to a Child Under Sixteen in the State of Oklahoma on August 12, 2008, and was required to register as a sex offender, and that from August 30, 2023, until December 20, 2023, Beck failed to register and update his registration despite entering, leaving, or residing in Indian country, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Beck will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Morgan Muzljakovich and Nicole Paladino represented the United States.
Illegal alien sex offender sentenced for second unlawful reentryRead the Press Release
Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 45-year-old man from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, has been ordered to federal prison for illegally reentering the United States after removal, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
David Antonio Varcenas-Aguilar pleaded guilty Sept. 2.
U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now ordered Varcenas-Aguilar to serve 27 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, the court noted he was sentencing Varcenas-Aguilar at the highest sentence pursuant to the federal sentencing guidelines because of his serious criminal history which involve violence against another.
Varcenas-Aguilar has a felony conviction for aggravated sexual assault of a child. Authorities first removed him from the United States in 2015, but he unlawfully returned shortly thereafter.
On July 12, law enforcement discovered Varcenas-Aguilar hiding in the brush near the Rio Grande during a linewatch operation.
He will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel Castro 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.
Illegal alien charged with assaulting immigration officer with stainless steel mug, resulting in serious injuriesRead the Press Release
Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
HOUSTON – A 33-year-old El Salvadorian national has appeared in federal court on charges of attacking and injuring an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Walter Leonel Perez Rodriguez will now remain in custody pending further criminal proceedings.
“ICE officers place their lives on the line every day to protect our country, and they deserve to be protected in return. Anyone who chooses violence over lawfulness will be met with swift charges in the Southern District of Texas,” said Ganjei. “The Department of Justice, and this office, stand firmly with law enforcement.”
According to the criminal complaint, authorities conducted a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Tahoe Nov. 4. Rodriguez allegedly got out of the vehicle and ran as law enforcement identified themselves.
The charges allege Rodriguez threw a 32-ounce stainless steel mug filled with hot coffee on an ICE officer, striking him in the face. The officer fell to the ground and lost consciousness, according to the charges.
The officer was taken to a hospital and treated for second-degree burns to his neck and arms and a laceration to his upper lip that required 18 stiches, according to the allegations.
The criminal complaint alleges authorities first removed Rodriguez from the United States in 2013, and he returned at least two more times.
If convicted of assaulting, resisting or impeding a federal officer causing bodily injury, Rodriguez faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
FBI and ICE – Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Keri Fuller and Byron Black are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s OCDETF and Project Safe Neighborhood.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Goshen Man Sentenced to 180 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – On November 12, 2025, Orlando Rodriguez-Roman, 43 years old, of Goshen, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after a jury found him guilty of attempted possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, and unlawful possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Rodriguez-Roman was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, federal agents intercepted a package addressed to a residence in Goshen that contained over 1,000 grams of cocaine. Agents removed the cocaine from the package and delivered it to its destination. Rodriguez-Roman later took possession of the package and placed the package’s contents, along with an additional amount of cocaine and methamphetamine, inside of a garbage bag. Agents converged on him as he was leaving his home, and Rodriguez-Roman fled in his car, leading police on a high-speed chase through a residential neighborhood. During the chase, he threw the trash bag containing the drugs out of his car. After arresting Rodriguez-Roman, police searched his house and found a loaded handgun, three rifle magazines loaded with a total of nearly 80 rounds of ammunition, and other items used to package and store drugs.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service including the USPS Forensic Laboratory Services, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Elkhart County Intelligence and Covert Enforcement Unit and the Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lydia T. Lucius and Katelan McKenzie Doyle.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Former martial arts and gymnastics instructor sentenced to 168 months for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
GALVESTON, Texas – A 42-year-old Alvin man has been sentenced for receiving and possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Franklin Joseph Perkins pleaded guilty Feb. 3.
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown has now sentenced Perkins to 168 and 120 months for the receipt and possession convictions, respectively. They will run concurrently for a total 168-month-term of imprisonment. Perkins will serve 10 years on supervised release following the completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Perkins will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
At the hearing, the court heard additional information related to Perkins work as a gymnastics and martial arts instructor who gave female teens massages claiming to be a massage therapist. The investigation revealed Perkins never had a license to provide such services. The court also heard how Perkins commented to a 13-year-old that she had a sexy body and that after she had turned 14, he gave her alcohol and touched her breasts and tried to force himself on her. Her victim impact statement detailed how she trusted Perkins as her gymnastics coach and how she felt manipulated and betrayed by him. In handing down the prison terms, the court noted that child pornography cases are ugly cases with real victims.
Perkins previously worked at the Kuk Sool Won martial arts studio and Gulf Coast Gymnastics, both located in Alvin.
The investigation revealed a user with a Google account had uploaded files possibly depicting child sexual abuse material onto their servers. Law enforcement linked Perkins to that account and determined he had been using various Google accounts and his cell phone to receive and possess child pornography.
He will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation along with Pearland Police Department, Galveston County Sheriff’s Office and the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Leo and Colton Turner prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood - a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Deer Park resident sentenced for running unlicensed financial scheme involving $2.3 million checkRead the Press Release
Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
HOUSTON – A 66-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison for operating an illegal money transmitting business, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Bobby Charles Lee Sr. pleaded guilty June 30.
U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth Hoyt has now ordered Lee to serve 33 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Hoyt imposed strict supervised release conditions, including limits on company and bank account ownership and restrictions on Lee’s access to technology. Lee must also pay restitution to two victims in specific amounts to be determined.
At the hearing, the court heard that Lee continued to move illicit funds while on bond. Prior to imposing the sentence, Judge Hoyt noted Lee’s conduct was among the “most outrageous” he had seen in 37 years on the bench. He told Lee “at your age, you still have not come home to right” and questioned why Lee had not bothered to tell his family about his criminal case.
From 2020 through 2024, Lee operated an unlicensed money-transmitting business that moved funds through multiple personal and business accounts without the required state license or federal registration.
Lee allowed others to deposit and transfer funds into accounts he controlled and accepted negotiable instruments others had mailed to him. Authorities flagged several transactions as suspicious or fraudulent, prompting banks to close multiple accounts linked to the scheme.
In March 2024, Lee deposited a counterfeit $2.3 million U.S. Treasury check and used the proceeds to enrich himself and his spouse, including purchasing a Cadillac vehicle. Authorities later seized the vehicle and recovered approximately $2.1 million that remained from the fraudulent funds.
Lee was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
IRS Criminal Investigation and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration conducted the investigation with assistance from the FBI and Deer Park Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Bauman and Kimberly Ann Leo prosecuted the case with assistance from Kristine Rollinson of the Asset Recovery Section.
Dan Bishop Becomes United States Attorney for the Middle District of North CarolinaRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO, N.C. – James Daniel “Dan” Bishop has assumed office as United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina on interim appointment by Attorney General Pam Bondi, effective today.
“I’m eager to lead the Middle District prosecutors and staff and to forge an unprecedentedly collaborative relationship with the men and women of federal, state and local law enforcement in all its counties in order to make and keep North Carolinians safe,” Bishop said. “I’m most grateful to President Trump and Attorney General Bondi for this additional opportunity to serve, and I’m thrilled to be home. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina is going to break new ground in effective service to the law, the Department of Justice, and the President of the United States.”
As U.S. Attorney, Bishop is the top-ranking federal law enforcement official in the Middle District of North Carolina, encompassing 24 central counties spanning Durham to Yadkin and the borders of Virginia to South Carolina, comprising approximately 3 million North Carolinians. The office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the district, including immigration violations, gang violence, and National Security, drug trafficking, and violent crimes. The office also represents the United States in civil actions and debt collections.
Before becoming U.S. Attorney, Bishop served as the Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget. He served in Congress from 2019 to 2025 for districts that included portions of the Middle District and as a member of the North Carolina House and Senate for a Mecklenburg district from 2015 until his first election to Congress. Bishop served as a Mecklenburg County Commissioner from 2004 to 2008. For 29 years until entering Congress, Mr. Bishop was a litigator handling complex commercial cases.
Bishop received his bachelor’s degree in business administration with highest distinction from the University of North Carolina in 1986 and his Juris Doctor with high honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1990.
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Cuban Air Force Pilot Indicted for Immigration FraudRead the Press Release
MIAMI – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe and United States Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones announce the unsealing of an indictment charging Luis Raul Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez (64, Cuba) with fraud and misuse of visa, permits, and other documents, and making a false statement to a federal agency. If convicted on all counts, Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.
“This man’s past as a longtime military pilot for the evil Castro regime — which has wrought untold suffering on the Cuban people — should have been front and center in his immigration file,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This Department of Justice will vigorously prosecute anyone who lies about their past to take advantage of America’s immigration system.”
According to the indictment, on or about April 20, 2025, Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez presented or caused to be presented a Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status containing false statements to the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Specifically, the false statements pertained to his prior membership in the Cuban Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force from 1980 to 2009. In the Form I-485 Application, the indictment alleges that Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez falsely stated he had never received any weapons or military training, never participated in any group of any kind that used weapons or threatened to use weapons, and never served in a military or police unit, when in reality, he received such training and served in the Cuban military as part of the Air Defense Force. The indictment included a photograph depicting Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez in the Air Defense Force:
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
FBI Miami is investigating the case, with assistance from the FBI Jacksonville Field Office, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), and U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Miami Field Office. The Middle District of Florida and Southern District of Florida are partners in this investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Milliron for the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida and Assistant United States Attorney Abbie D. Waxman from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
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Cuban Air Force Pilot Indicted for Immigration FraudRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe and United States Attorney and Jason A. Reding Quiñones announce the unsealing of an indictment charging Luis Raul Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez (64, Cuba) with fraud and misuse of visa, permits, and other documents, and making a false statement to a federal agency. If convicted on all counts, Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.
“This man’s past as a longtime military pilot for the evil Castro regime — which has wrought untold suffering on the Cuban people — should have been front and center in his immigration file,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This Department of Justice will vigorously prosecute anyone who lies about their past to take advantage of America’s immigration system.”
According to the indictment, on or about April 20, 2025, Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez presented or caused to be presented a Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status containing false statements to the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Specifically, the false statements pertained to his prior membership in the Cuban Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force from 1980 to 2009. In the Form I-485 Application, the indictment alleges that Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez falsely stated he had never received any weapons or military training, never participated in any group of any kind that used weapons or threatened to use weapons, and never served in a military or police unit, when in reality, he received such training and served in the Cuban military as part of the Air Defense Force. The indictment included a photograph depicting Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez in the Air Defense Force:
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
FBI Miami is investigating the case, with assistance from the FBI Jacksonville Field Office, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), and U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Miami Field Office. The Middle District of Florida and Southern District of Florida are partners in this investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Milliron for the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida and Assistant United States Attorney Abbie D. Waxman from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
Chinese National Pleads Guilty and is Sentenced for Smuggling a Dangerous Biological Pathogen into the U.S. While Working at a University of Michigan LaboratoryRead the Press Release
DETROIT – Yunqing Jian, 33, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China, pleaded guilty today to charges of smuggling a biological pathogen into the United States and then lying to FBI agents about it, and was sentenced to time-served, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division and Marty C. Raybon, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The FBI arrested Jian in June in connection with allegations related to Jian’s and her co-defendant, Zunyong Liu’s, smuggling into America a fungus called Fusarium graminearum, which causes “head blight,” a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice, and is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year. Fusarium graminearum’s toxins cause vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in humans and livestock.
According to court records, Jian received Chinese government funding for her work on this pathogen in China. Jian’s electronics contain information describing her membership in and loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party. Jian’s boyfriend, Liu, works at a Chinese university where he conducts research on the same pathogen and that he first lied but then admitted to smuggling Fusarium graminearum into America—through the Detroit Metropolitan Airport—so that he could conduct research on it at the laboratory at the University of Michigan where his girlfriend, Jian, worked.
“We must stop Chinese Nationals who are smuggling potentially catastrophic biomaterials. We cannot allow these smugglers to work in the shadows at the University of Michigan. This felony conviction and sentence are a small but important measure against secret biological threats from China. We remain thankful for the work of our elite federal partners—ICE, HSI, FBI, and CBP,” said U.S. Attorney Gorgon.
"Today’s guilty plea underscores the critical role CBP plays in protecting the United States from biological threats that could endanger public health and harm our agricultural economy,” said CBP Director of Field Operations Marty C. Raybon. “This case highlights the dangers posed by individuals attempting to smuggle potentially hazardous materials into the country, even under the guise of academic research. The successful resolution of this complex investigation, involving CBP offices nationwide and our federal partners, demonstrates our unwavering commitment to securing America’s borders and safeguarding national security. I commend the dedication and expertise of all those involved in bringing this case to justice."
“Smuggling biological pathogens into the United States from China is a threat to the citizens of Michigan and America as a whole,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “FBI Detroit works around the clock to disrupt any threats to national security no matter when and from where they come. This outcome would not be possible without the exceptional efforts of the FBI Detroit Counterintelligence Task Force, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations and HSI.”
The FBI and CBP investigated this case.
California Political Consultant and Former Public Official Charged with Conspiracy to Commit Fraud and Obstruct Justice, False Statements, and Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
williamson_indictment.pdfPolitical consultant Dana Williamson, 53, of Carmichael, was charged by a federal grand jury with conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruct justice, subscribing to false tax returns, and making false statements, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. The 23-count indictment was unsealed following Williamson’s arrest this morning.
“This is a crucial step in an ongoing political corruption investigation that began more than three years ago,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “As it always has, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect the people of California from political corruption.”
“Today’s charges are the result of three years of relentless investigative work, in partnership with IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. “The FBI will remain vigilant in its efforts to uncover fraud and corruption, ensuring our government systems are held to the highest standards.”
“Disguising personal luxuries as business expenses—especially to claim improper tax deductions or to willfully file fraudulent tax returns is a serious criminal offense with severe consequences,” said IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen. “IRS-CI will pursue charges against those who deliberately exploit their business for personal enrichment.”
According to court documents, between February 2022 and September 2024, Williamson conspired with others to divert approximately $225,000 in funds from a dormant political campaign to an associate’s personal use. Collectively, they funneled the money through various business entities and disguised it as pay for what was, in reality, a no-show job.
The indictment also alleges that Williamson conspired with a business associate to create false, backdated contracts after receiving a civil subpoena in January 2024 from the U.S. Attorney’s Office regarding Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans made to Williamson’s business.
Williamson also subscribed to false tax returns claiming more than $1 million in business deductions for what were actually personal and nondeductible expenditures, such as private jet travel, luxury hotel stays, home furnishings, and designer handbags, as well as deductions for no-show jobs for friends and family.
When questioned by FBI agents in connection with ongoing investigations into the diversion of campaign funds, the backdated contracts, and allegations of public corruption, Williamson made false statements to the agents regarding each of those topics.
Williamson is scheduled to make her initial appearance on the charges at 2:00 p.m. in the U.S. Courthouse in Sacramento.
The United States concurrently unsealed charging documents related to this case for two other individuals charged by information.
This case is the product of a multiyear investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Anderson, Rosanne Rust, and Katherine T. Lydon, and Public Integrity Section Trial Attorney Alexandre Dempsey are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Williamson faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of bank fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud; up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of conspiracy to obstruct and making a false statements; and up to three years in prison and a $100,000 fine for each count of subscribing to a false tax return. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Bryan County Residents Sentenced for Scheme to Illegally Acquire FirearmsRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nathanial Louis Hughes, age 31, and Rebecca Leann Hughes, age 33, both of Calera, Oklahoma, were sentenced for crimes committed in a scheme to unlawfully buy and sell firearms.
Nathanial Louis Hughes was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.
Rebecca Hughes was sentenced to 3 years of probation for one count of Conspiracy to Acquire a Firearm from a Licensed Dealer by False and Fictitious Statement.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Beginning on June 26, 2024, and continuing until July 21, 2024, Rebecca and Nathanial Hughes conspired to unlawfully acquire firearms from a licensed dealer. As part of that conspiracy, Rebecca Hughes agreed to purchase firearms on behalf of her husband, Nathanial Hughes, despite knowing that he was a convicted felon. While purchasing multiple firearms for Nathanial Hughes, Rebecca Hughes presented herself as the actual buyer of the firearms, then affirmed this by marking “YES” on Block 21(a) of ATF Form 4473. On July 21, 2024, law enforcement discovered Nathanial Hughes unlawfully in possession of those firearms despite knowing himself to have previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment of more than one year.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings. Nathanial Hughes will self-report to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility on January 2, 2026, to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Billings woman arraigned on murder and gun charges on the Crow Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS - A Billings woman accused of killing an individual on the Crow Indian Reservation appeared today for arraignment, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The defendant, Dameka Rose American Horse, 26, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging her with one count of second-degree murder and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. If convicted of the most serious crime charged in the indictment, American Horse faces life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Cavan presided. American Horse was detained pending further proceedings.
Count 1 of the indictment alleges that on or about November 22, 2024, near Pryor, the defendant unlawfully and with malice aforethought, that is deliberately and intentionally, killed John Doe, and aided and abetted the same.
Count 2 of the indictment alleges that on or about November 22, 2024, near Pryor, the defendant knowingly possessed a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence that may be prosecuted in a court of the United States, namely second-degree murder, as charged in count 1 of the indictment.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Hendricks is prosecuting the case. The FBI and BIA conducted the investigation.
The charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
PACER case reference. 25-135.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Berks County Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Matthew McKinney, 27, of Reading, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge Joseph F. Leeson Jr. on one count each of distribution of child pornography and receipt of child pornography.
McKinney was arrested on a criminal complaint and warrant in August of this year and charged by information in October. With today’s plea, he has waived prosecution by indictment.
As detailed in court documents, the defendant came to investigators’ attention based on his communications with the subject of an FBI New York investigation into the Telegram account “Steve Jobs” @perv_94, which was used to trade child sexual abuse material (CSAM) with other Telegram users.
In reviewing the “Steve Jobs” @perv_94 Telegram account, FBI New York observed communications between it and a Telegram user with the display name of “Unknown 69.” The communications contained both the distribution and receipt of CSAM.
Specifically, on May 26, 2025, the “Steve Jobs” @perv_94 Telegram account sent the “Unknown 69” account approximately 80 video files containing CSAM that primarily depicted female children, some of whom were pre-pubescent, engaging in sexual conduct.
On July 29, 2025, the “Unknown 69” account then sent “Steve Jobs” @perv_94 four files containing CSAM, including depictions of pre-pubescent children engaging in sexual conduct. The “Unknown 69” account additionally sent a MEGA link, which contained approximately 1,100 video files containing CSAM, including depictions of pre-pubescent children engaged in sexual conduct. Some of the video files shared between the accounts depicted the sexual abuse of children as young as infants and toddlers.
After obtaining subscriber information and other records, FBI Allentown agents determined that McKinney was the user of “Unknown 69” account, which McKinney subsequently admitted in an interview.
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on February 25 and faces a maximum possible term of 40 years’ imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum of five years in prison; five years up to a lifetime of supervised release; a $500,000 fine; mandatory restitution of at least $3,000 per victim; and additional financial assessments.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia’s Allentown Resident Agency and FBI New York and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca J. Kulik.
Note: the posting of this press release was delayed, due to the federal government shutdown from October 1, 2025, to November 12, 2025.
11 November 2025
Ukrainian Pleads Guilty in DC in Laptop Farm Scheme That Generated Income for North Korean IT WorkersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Oleksandr Didenko, 28, of Kyiv, Ukraine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with a years-long scheme that stole the identities of U.S. citizens and sold them to North Korean IT workers so they could fraudulently gain employment at 40 U.S. companies, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Didenko, aka “Alexander Didenko,” pleaded guilty before Judge Randolph D. Moss to wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. Didenko agreed to forfeit more than $1.4 million, which includes approximately $181,438 in USD and cryptocurrency seized from Didenko and his co-conspirators.
Judge Moss scheduled sentencing for Feb. 19, 2026.
According to court documents, Didenko ran a website using a U.S.-based domain, "Upworksell.com," designed to help overseas IT workers buy or rent stolen or borrowed identities. Beginning in 2021, the IT workers used the identities to get hired on online freelance work platforms based in California and Pennsylvania. The work platforms allowed users to advertise themselves as contract gig workers, create free accounts, advertise their skills, and bid on IT work contracts.
Didenko paid individuals in the United States to receive and host computers at residences in Virginia, Tennessee, and Califomia.
In September-October, 2023, one of Didenko’s customers was unhappy with the services provided by his laptop farm in Virginia. The customer directed Didenko to send the computer to a laptop farm operated in Arizina by Christina Chapman. Chapman was sentenced on July 24, 2025, to 102 months of imprisonment for her involvement in a similar scheme involving IT workers from North Korea.
Through his company Didenko managed as many as 871 proxy identities and facilitated the operation of at least three U.S.-based “laptop farms.” He enabled his overseas clients to access the U.S. financial system through Money Service Transmitters rather than having to physically open an account at a bank within the United States, which was then used to facilitate the transfer of employment income to foreign bank accounts.
The IT worker clients were paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for their work, much of which was falsely reported to DHS, the IRS and Social Security Administration in the names of actual U.S. persons whose identities had been stolen.
On May 16, 2024, the Justice Department seized the online domain, Upworksell.com, and diverted all traffic to the FBI. Polish authorities arrested Didenko and on Dec. 31, 2024, extradited him to the United States.
This case was investigated by the FBI New York Field Office, with assistance from the FBI Norfolk, San Diego, and Knoxville Field Offices.
The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen P. Seifert and Steven Wasserman for the District of Columbia. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of California, Eastern District of Tennessee, and Eastern District of Virginia, Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, and Trial Attorney Jacques-Singer Emory of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section provided valuable assistance.
24cr0261
10 November 2025
Wyoming citizen and load coordinator for Sinaloa Cartel sentenced for drug traffickingRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Darin Smith announced that Gabriel Seth Rodgers, 26, who had been residing in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment with 10 years of supervised release to follow for charges related to the distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. The court ordered Rodgers to pay $5,000 in community restitution. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Nov. 3, in Cheyenne.
According to court records, Rodgers was coordinating shipments of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine to multiple regions in the United States, including Wyoming. Rodgers was identified as a “load coordinator” for the Sinaloa Cartel. Rodgers was previously convicted for stealing firearms. Upon being released from custody after a revocation of his supervised release on that conviction, he absconded and began dealing significant amounts of controlled substances. In May of 2023, Rodgers fled to Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico where he continued to be a “load coordinator” for the Sinaloa Cartel until his arrest.
Through the use of undercover agents, confidential informants, and other investigative means, agents were able to prove Rodgers coordinated shipments of controlled substances to the United States totaling approximately 200 pounds of methamphetamine, approximately 40 pounds of fentanyl, and approximately 11 pounds of cocaine. Rodgers would regularly coordinate the shipment of 20-50 pounds of methamphetamine and 10,000 fentanyl pills at a time. The investigation resulted in the federal prosecution of five of Rodgers’s co-conspirators in Wyoming and others in Montana.
A complaint was filed in Wyoming on May 20, 2024, charging Rodgers with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and four counts of distribution of fentanyl. On March 20, 2025, in the District of Montana, a grand jury returned an indictment charging Rodgers with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. In a coordinated effort with Mexican authorities, Rodgers was arrested on March 27 in Mexico and deported to the United States.
The Montana indictment was subsequently transferred to Wyoming. On August 18, Rodgers waived indictment in the Wyoming case and pleaded guilty to all counts charged in both the Wyoming and Montana cases. The Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Z. Seth Griswold and Cameron J. Cook of Wyoming and Julie Patten and Bryan Dake of Montana prosecuted the crime.
“The defendant brought large amounts of dangerous drugs into Montana and Wyoming—and then hid behind the cloak of the Sinaloa Cartel,” said U.S. Attorney Darin Smith. “Stopping Mexican cartels from poisoning our communities with fentanyl and other narcotics is a top priority of this office and our law enforcement partners. This lengthy sentence demonstrates that our Criminal Division remains relentless in its pursuit of drug traffickers who profit at the expense of the American people.”
“Montana is hundreds of miles from the southern border. When cartel members and other drug traffickers travel here to peddle their poison into our communities, they can expect to be caught and to go to prison for a long time. I want to thank the prosecutors and staff in our office, our strong partners at these investigative agencies, and our colleagues in the Wyoming U.S. Attorney’s Office for their good work investigating and prosecuting this case,” Montana U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
“The sentencing properly reflects the significant role Rodgers had in trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl into Montana and Wyoming via his contacts with the Sinaloa Cartel. The combination of the great work and relentless efforts of investigators and prosecutors ensured that Rodgers was held accountable for his criminal conduct,” said DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge David Olesky.
“Through our joint enforcement efforts, we’ve dismantled a criminal organization that posed a direct threat to the safety and stability of various communities,” said Bryan Musgrove, Inspector in Charge of the Denver Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “This sentencing is a result of a coordinated effort of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to keep fentanyl and other drugs out of our communities.”
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 (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
Case No. 25-CR-00098
Woman Sentenced to 60 Months Federal Prison for Stealing Hundreds of Thousands in SNAP BenefitsRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Desha Morris, 39, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to ten counts of mail fraud and two counts of benefits fraud. Morris was also ordered to pay $335,589.08 in restitution.
According to court documents, between April 2020 and July 2022, Morris orchestrated a large-scale fraud scheme to illegally obtain and profit from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps.
SNAP is a federally funded program that provides food assistance to low-income individuals and families across the United States. It is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in partnership with state agencies. Eligibility is determined based on income, assets, and household size. In Indiana, applications are processed through the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), followed by an interview. Once approved, recipients receive an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card by mail, which functions like a debit card and can be used to purchase qualifying items, such as food.
As part of her scheme, Morris submitted numerous fraudulent applications using falsified documents and fake identities, including altered driver’s licenses, birth dates, and Social Security numbers. Morris rented multiple residences as mailing addresses for the EBT cards. She used the names, birth dates, and Social Security numbers of unsuspecting individuals on the rental applications.
In some cases, Morris forged handwritten letters, allegedly from family members or friends of the fake applicants, to establish proof of residency and lack of income. She also impersonated applicants during phone interviews conducted by FSSA employees and kept detailed calendars and ledgers documenting interview dates and applicant information.
After acquiring the EBT cards, she either sold the SNAP benefits to others in exchange for cash or used the fraudulently obtained benefits herself. In total, Morris obtained $335,589.08 in fraudulent SNAP benefits.
Morris has a long history of forgery, theft, and identity fraud dating back to 2006. Her offenses include using stolen identities to obtain vehicles and rental cars on credit, presenting false identification to police, and possessing counterfeit checks, credit cards, and fraudulent BMV documents.
“Desha Morris’s actions not only defrauded the taxpayers who fund the SNAP program but also harmed the most vulnerable members of our community by undermining the integrity of critical safety net services,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Her scheme jeopardized access to food assistance for those in genuine need and exposed innocent individuals to potential long-term damage to their credit and financial security. We will continue to aggressively prosecute those who abuse public programs for personal gain.”
“Postal inspectors are committed to protecting the integrity of the mail system and holding those who abuse it accountable,” said Felicia George, Acting Inspector in Charge. “I commend the dedication and collaboration of the investigators who uncovered this sophisticated scheme, and the prosecutors who helped bring this offender to justice.”
The United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Social Security Administration, and the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith Wood and Carolyn Haney, who prosecuted this case.
Violent Criminal Receives Extended Sentence Following Torture and Fatal Assault of CellmateRead the Press Release
TERRE HAUTE- Mitchell Gibson, 40, has been sentenced to 25 additional years in federal prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder.
According to court documents, Gibson was an inmate at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana, serving a 45-year sentence for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, and Assault of a Spouse by Strangling and Suffocation. Prior to his incarceration, Gibson subjected his wife, who was active duty miliary and nine weeks pregnant at the time, to a series of brutal assaults. In the middle of winter, he forced her out of their home without shoes, a jacket, or a blanket. The following day, he whipped her with a coaxial cable. Four days later, Gibson escalated the abuse, threatening to kill both her and their unborn child. Throughout the night, he choked her until she lost consciousness, kicked her repeatedly, burned her, and held a knife to her throat. She sustained extensive injuries, including full-body bruising, whip marks across her back, torso, and legs, bite marks on her neck, and second-degree burns. Despite a court-issued no-contact order, Gibson contacted his wife within days of his arrest and was subsequently detained again.
While serving his sentence Gibson shared a cell with Arthur Wheeler. During this time, Gibson subjected Wheeler to sadistic torture. Gibson also threatened Wheeler to prevent him from alerting prison staff.
Gibson later wrote letters to his wife and boasted to fellow inmates bragging about what he had done. As a result of Gibson’s actions, Wheeler suffered severe blunt force trauma to his chest, throat, ribs, and scrotum. On April 9, 2020, Wheeler died from the injuries inflicted by Gibson. Following Wheeler’s death, Gibson continued to correspond with his wife and other inmates about the incident.
Gibson has demonstrated a persistent pattern of violent and cruel behavior, with prior convictions for assault and false imprisonment involving his mother and former girlfriends.
“Mitchell Gibson has shown a disturbing capacity for violence and a complete disregard for human life and the law,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Murder robs the victim of so many chances, and, for a prison inmate such as Wheeler, that includes the chances to grow and rehabilitate. The pain endured by Mr. Wheeler’s family is immeasurable, and the loss they carry will never fully heal. My thoughts are with them as they navigate the weight of this loss.”
“The brutality of this crime is almost beyond comprehension, and this sentence holds the defendant fully accountable for such sadistic violence,” said Timothy J. O’Malley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Indianapolis. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain committed to identifying and stopping the most violent offenders, no matter the setting, so they can no longer harm others.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by Chief District Judge James R. Sweeney II.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsay Karwoski, who prosecuted this case.
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Sallisaw Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Andrew Tyler Blankenship, age 38, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of Ammunition After Conviction of a Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
The Indictment alleged that on July 24, 2024, after being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of Battery (Domestic Violence) in Putnam County, Florida, and knowing of that conviction, Blankenship knowingly possessed eight rounds of ammunition.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sallisaw Police Department.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Okmulgee Resident Pleads Guilty to Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Travon Maurice Lawrence, age 20, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country, punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on July 5, 2025, Lawrence assaulted the victim with intent to commit murder. The crime occurred in Okmulgee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Okmulgee Police Department.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Lawrence will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Okmulgee County Resident Pleads Guilty to Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joseph Michael Harrison, age 43, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to two counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine, punishable by a term of not less than 10 years in prison, and a $10,000,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on April 12, 2024, and again on July 11, 2024, Harrison knowingly and intentionally distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Harrison will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.
Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty to Failure to Register as A Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Gregory Allen McAfee, age 49, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender, punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that McAfee was convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor Child in Tulsa County on September 13, 2000, and was required to register as a sex offender, and that from February 2025 until September 9, 2025, McAfee failed to register and update his registration despite entering, leaving, or residing in Indian country, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Marshals Service.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
McAfee will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Pippin represented the United States.
McCurtain County Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that William Claborn Clark, a/k/a William Claborn Clark, Jr., a/k/a William Elaborn Clark, Jr., age 45, of Valliant, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to fifteen years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment charged Clark with knowingly possessing one .45ACP caliber semi-automatic pistol, one .30-06 caliber bolt-action rifle, one break-open rifle, and 23 rounds of ammunition on May 10, 2025, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office, and the Choctaw County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Clark will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.
Macedon business owner involved in classic car scheme going to prison for $2.5 million wire fraudRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, NY—U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Clark P. Rittersbach, 51, of Cape Coral, Florida, who was convicted of wire fraud, was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who handled the case, stated that Rittersbach was the owner of Concours Classic Motor Cars, a company specializing in the restoration and sale of antique vehicles in Macedon, NY. It is not uncommon for such restoration work and the collection of authentic parts to take place over the course of years, and many of Rittersbach’s customers were long distance or international. As a result, customers often relied on his assurances of what work was being done without seeing the work in person before paying him. Between 2018 and April 2022, Rittersbach made misrepresentations to customers, many via email and text message, about work and acquisitions he claimed to have completed to obtain money from these customers. His intent was to obtain money for the unfinished work he claimed was finished, and to stall his clients so he had enough time to complete the work.
For example, in 2019, Rittersbach falsely claimed over text message and email to Victim 1 that he had completed work on a Duesenberg engine, and emailed Victim 1 an invoice for $25,000. Victim 1 wired funds to the bank accounts controlled by Rittersbach. In addition, Rittersbach sent emails to Victim 2 overstating how much work had been completed on a 1964 Porsche in order to obtain payment for work he had not done but intended to complete in the future. During the course of the scheme, Rittersbach defrauded victims of the scheme of a total amount of approximately $2,536,308.64.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera.
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Lebanon Man Arrested for Allegedly Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Lebanon, Oregon, man made his initial appearance today for possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) after being linked to images and groups on social media platforms, including Instagram and Telegram.
Jeremy Russell Bodell, 52, has been charged by criminal complaint with possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, on October 4, 2021, Instagram reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) the distribution of a single video between user “Kildrak Fireblade” and another user depicting child pornography. NCMEC identified Bodell as the likely subscriber of the phone number associated with the Instagram account “Kildrak Fireblade.”
In September 2025, during an investigation into CSAM trading groups, which are invite-only, non-public chat groups, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) came across the username “dax,” who was associated with the same phone number previously identified by NCMEC as belonging to Bodell. The username “dax” was a member of 15 separate CSAM trading groups, which share images, videos, and cloud storage links depicting CSAM. Phone records verified Bodell as the subscriber of the phone number associated with these accounts.
On November 7, 2025, HSI executed a federal search warrant at Bodell’s residence, person, and vehicle. During the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement seized Bodell’s cell phone and found evidence of CSAM, including membership in CSAM groups on social media applications, such as Telegram. Bodell’s gallery in his phone also contained saved images and videos of CSAM material.
During an interview, Bodell told investigators he was previously accused of sex abuse. HSI is investigating these allegations. At the end of the interview, Bodell was arrested for possession of CSAM.
Bodell made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was ordered released with conditions pending further court proceedings.
This case is being investigated by HSI. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliza Carmen Rodriguez.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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 in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Funny Money, Real Consequences: Evansville Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for CounterfeitingRead the Press Release
EVANSVILLE- Dennis Michael Carter, 47, and Kyle Wade Owens, 36, have been sentenced to 20 months and 13 months in federal prison, respectively, after pleading guilty to two counts of producing counterfeit U.S. currency. Both will also serve two years of supervised release.
According to court documents, between January 20 and March 1, 2025, Carter and Owens conspired together to create at least 30 fake $100 bills by removing ink from genuine $10 notes and reprinting them using a template, printer, scanner, and copier. Investigators also found chemicals and cleaning supplies commonly used in this counterfeiting method.
The duo used the counterfeit bills to purchase goods and services, receiving genuine currency as change. A chart detailing the dates and locations of these transactions follows.
LocationDate PassedBusinessOwensboro, KY2/23BurlingtonOwensboro, KY2/23RossOwensboro, KY2/23GabesOwensboro, KY2/27KohlsOwensboro, KY2/27Shoe DeptOwensboro, KY2/27BeallsOwensboro, KY2/27Bath and BodyOwensboro, KY2/27American EagleOwensboro, KY2/27Tractor SupplyOwensboro, KY2/27BurlingtonEvansville, IN2/13McAllister’s Evansville, IN2/14Fresh ThymeEvansville, IN2/22Office DepotEvansville, IN2/26GoodwillEvansville, IN2/26Chick-Fil-ANewburgh, IN2/23McAllister’sNewburgh, IN2/23Schnucks“Counterfeiting harms legitimate commerce and erodes confidence in our financial system,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Thanks to the diligent work of our law enforcement partners, these counterfeiters were brought to justice, safeguarding businesses and consumers from future financial harm.”
“Safeguarding our nation’s financial infrastructure by pursuing illegal counterfeiters has been a hallmark of the U.S. Secret Service since its inception. This sentencing should serve as a deterrent to other counterfeiters out there who manufacture or use fake currency. We will catch you, and you will be punished,” said Ike Barnes, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Indianapolis Field Office. “Thank you to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Indiana for its diligence in securing these appropriate sentences.”
The U.S. Secret Service investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew P. Brookman.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd S. Shellenbarger, who prosecuted this case.
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Fraudster Sentenced to Federal Prison for $182k Email Compromise Scheme Targeting Family-Owned BusinessRead the Press Release
NEW ALBANY- Uchechukwu Gideon Eze, 46, of Nigeria, has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to wire fraud. Eze has also been ordered to pay $182,201.80 in restitution.
According to court documents, in April 2023, Eze and co-conspirators operating overseas orchestrated a sophisticated business email compromise scheme that defrauded a small business in Clark County, Indiana of more than $182,000.
The scheme began when Eze’s co-conspirators gained unauthorized access to an email account used by employees of the business. Using this access, they impersonated a representative of the company and sent fraudulent emails to another small business in Clark County. The emails falsely claimed that the victim business had changed its banking institution and directed future payments to a specified JPMorgan Chase account.
That account, while appearing legitimate, was in fact controlled by Eze and registered under the name Blue Horizon Automobile LLC—a fictitious entity created solely to receive the stolen funds. As a result of the scheme, Eze received $182,201.80 in payments meant for the victim company.
Once the transfers were complete, Eze quickly drained the account, spending much of the money on personal purchases, including a new vehicle. Upon realizing the scheme had been uncovered, he fled the country. Approximately six months later, Eze attempted to re-enter the United States from Canada via a vehicle, at which time he was arrested by law enforcement.
The impact on the victimized business was devastating. The owners, both approaching retirement, were forced to refinance property, extend lines of credit, and postpone their retirement plans in order to keep their business afloat.
“The harm Eze caused was not merely financial. His conduct compromised the ability of two elderly individuals to retire and created undue stress, jeopardizing the livelihood of a family-run business and exploiting the trust that fuels our economy” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Our office remains committed to holding fraudsters accountable and protecting Hoosier businesses from financial harm.”
“Business email compromise schemes are a growing scourge that cause victims severe financial pain, distress and anxiety,” said Ike Barnes, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Indianapolis Field Office. “The punishment imposed in this case should be a warning to other scammers who use cyber-enabled techniques to harm innocent victims: You won’t get away with it. Thank you to the U.S. District Attorney’s Office for its help in bringing this perpetrator to justice.”
The U.S. Secret Service investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Miller, who prosecuted this case.
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Former Postal Employee Sentenced for Defrauding Federal Relief ProgramsRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Kimberly Dumes, 43, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to three years of probation after pleading guilty to three counts of wire fraud.
According to court documents, between June 2020 and June 2021, Kimberly Dumes submitted three fraudulent applications for federal economic relief, resulting in a total loss of $51,664. During this time, Dumes was employed with the U.S. Postal Service.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, enacted in March 2020, was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among its provisions were expansions to the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) program and the creation of the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), which authorized up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses.
In June 2020, Dumes submitted a fraudulent EIDL application to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), falsely claiming ownership of a business called “Braids by Kimi,” with ten employees and $30,000 in gross revenue. Based on these misrepresentations, the SBA approved a $10,000 EIDL Advance, which was deposited into her personal checking account.
Dumes later submitted two additional fraudulent PPP loan applications, each claiming she owned a business with one employee. In the first, she reported a gross income of $108,707; in the second, she claimed average monthly payroll costs of $8,333. The SBA approved both applications, resulting in deposits totaling $41,664 ($20,832 per loan) into her personal account.
In reality, Dumes did not own or operate any business, nor did she employ anyone at the time of the applications.
“Federal economic relief programs exist to support Americans in times of crisis, not to be exploited for personal enrichment. As a postal employee and public servant, Dumes held a position of trust-one that demands integrity and accountability. Our office will continue to pursue those who defraud these vital programs and undermine public trust in government assistance,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.
“The United States Postal Service - Office of Inspector General, along with our law enforcement partners, remain committed to ensuring the accountability and integrity of Postal Service employees and stopping those who perpetrate fraud schemes,” said Special Agent in Charge Dennus Bishop, USPS OIG, Central Area Field Office.
The U.S. Postal Service - Office of Inspector General investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Preston, who prosecuted this case.
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Five MS-13 Members Found Guilty of Committing String of Six Grisly Murders to Advance Their Standing in the Criminal Street GangRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Five members of the transnational criminal organization Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13) were found guilty by a jury today of committing six murders to advance their standing in the gang – killings in which the victims varyingly were strangled, shot, stabbed with knives or a machete, beaten with a baseball bat, then, in some cases, had their bodies thrown off a cliff or down a hill in the Angeles National Forest.
At the conclusion of a nine-week trial, a jury found the following defendants guilty of one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act:
Walter Chavez Larin, 26, of Panorama City;
Roberto Alejandro Corado Ortiz, 30, of Baldwin Park; and
Edwin Martinez, 28, of Cypress Park.
Chavez and Corado also were found guilty of two counts of violent crimes in aid of racketeering (VICAR) murder. Martinez was found guilty of three counts of VICAR murder. Bryan Alexander Rosales Arias, 28, of South Los Angeles, was found guilty of one count of VICAR murder. Erick Eduardo Rosales Arias, 27, also of South Los Angeles and who is Bryan Rosales’s brother, was found guilty of one count of VICAR murder.
“The horrific violence in this case underscores the urgency of destroying MS-13 and putting its depraved members behind bars,” said United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Under President Trump, MS-13 can no longer unleash terror on the American people with impunity: We will eradicate this foreign terrorist organization and secure justice for its victims.”
“We thank the jury for returning swift guilty verdicts against these MS-13 criminals who engaged in horrific acts of violence and murder,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “I thank and commend our law enforcement partners for their work in removing members of this terrorist organization from our streets. MS-13 is a violent brutal gang that must be eliminated from the United States, and we will not stop until we succeed in our mission.”
“Cases such as this one serve as a reminder that MS-13 has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The defendants in this case carried out barbaric attacks on their victims to simply enhance their ranking within the gang. I’m proud of the hard work that went into this trial by agents and prosecutors which resulted in a guilty verdict and a measure of justice for the victims, and which will effectively remove murderers and terrorists from Los Angeles communities.”
“The brutality of these crimes is a stark reminder of the importance of our shared mission: to protect the people of Los Angeles from those who seek to do harm,” said Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell. “I thank every investigator, prosecutor, and law enforcement professional who contributed to this case. Their dedication has brought justice to the victims and sent a clear message — we will not tolerate this kind of violence in our city. Together, we are stronger, and together, we will continue to stand against gang violence in all its forms.”
“These convictions send a powerful message that criminal gang violence and intimidation have no place in Los Angeles County,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna. “These violent individuals terrorized our communities and tore families apart to further their criminal network. Through the tireless efforts of our local and federal partners, we have brought justice to the victims’ families and held these individuals accountable for their brutal crimes.”
“MS-13 has inflicted unimaginable suffering on victims and their families in our communities,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman. “These guilty verdicts for crimes related to murder, extortion and drug trafficking against five members of MS-13’s leadership demonstrate the relentless and fearless partnership between local and federal law enforcement and prosecutors to bring these dangerous criminals to justice.”
According to evidence presented at trial, the defendants murdered their victims who either were – or perceived to be – members of the 18th Street gang, a rival of MS-13, or had violated MS-13’s rules.
The trial focused on MS-13 Los Angeles cliques that implemented gang rules that required its members to use murder and extreme violence to rise within its ranks.
The charges relate to machete, knife, and baseball bat killings in the Angeles National Forest and several other areas in remote, mountainous locations in Los Angeles County. Those six murders – which included murders committed in the mountains near Malibu, in a remote area of the Santa Clarita Valley, and two in Van Nuys – are also charged as violent crimes committed in aid of racketeering (VICAR). Those six counts allege that the victims were killed “for the purpose of gaining entry to and maintaining and increasing position in MS-13 Los Angeles.”
In June 2017, one victim – who claimed he had a leadership role in MS-13– was taken to the Angeles National Forest then stabbed and hacked to death by his killers, including Chavez. Several of the assailants unsuccessfully tried to decapitate him then left his body behind.
In October 2017, another victim – rumored to be an 18th Street member – was lured to his death by two teenage girls. He was kidnapped, strangled, beaten with a baseball bat then fatally stabbed with a large hunting style knife. Before his body was thrown off a cliff in the Angeles National Forest. This victim’s assailants included Corado and Bryan Rosales.
In July 2018, a third victim – also rumored to be an 18th Street member – was lured to Malibu hills under the auspices of smoking marijuana and drinking beer with several other people. While the victim stood at a scenic overlook, Corado shot him in the back of the head. Corado gave the gun to Erick Rosales, who shot the victim before passing the gun to other MS-13 members who took turns shooting him. This victim’s body ultimately was thrown off the edge of a road down a hill.
Martinez murdered three victims – one of them was shot to death in December 2018 after returning from the gym and was mistaken for an 18th Street gang member, another was an MS-13 associate addicted to methamphetamine (a violation of MS-13 rules) who was shot to death on January 13, 2019, and the third was a homeless man who was fatally shot on January 14, 2019 for having a tattoo believed to be related to 18th Street. Chavez participated in the January 13 murder.
Sentencing hearings before United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II are scheduled for July 2026, at which time each of the defendants will face a mandatory sentence of life in federal prison.
Prosecutors have secured 25 convictions so far in this case. Several other MS-13 members and associates are scheduled to go to trial in April 2026 in connection with racketeering conspiracy and gang murders.
The FBI, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Catharine A. Richmond and Sara B. Vargas of the Major Crimes Section, Benedetto L. Balding of the Transnational Organized Crime Section, William Larsen of the Criminal Appeals Section, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Siddall are prosecuting this case.
Five MS-13 Members Found Guilty of Committing String of Six Grisly Murders to Advance Their Standing in the Criminal Street GangRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Five members of the transnational criminal organization Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13) were found guilty by a jury today of committing six murders to advance their standing in the gang – killings in which the victims varyingly were strangled, shot, stabbed with knives or a machete, beaten with a baseball bat, then, in some cases, had their bodies thrown off a cliff or down a hill in the Angeles National Forest.
At the conclusion of a nine-week trial, a jury found the following defendants guilty of one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act:
- Walter Chavez Larin, 26, of Panorama City;
- Roberto Alejandro Corado Ortiz, 30, of Baldwin Park; and
- Edwin Martinez, 28, of Cypress Park.
Chavez and Corado also were found guilty of two counts of violent crimes in aid of racketeering (VICAR) murder. Martinez was found guilty of three counts of VICAR murder. Bryan Alexander Rosales Arias, 28, of South Los Angeles, was found guilty of one count of VICAR murder. Erick Eduardo Rosales Arias, 27, also of South Los Angeles and who is Bryan Rosales’s brother, was found guilty of one count of VICAR murder.
“We thank the jury for returning swift guilty verdicts against these MS-13 criminals who engaged in horrific acts of violence and murder,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “I thank and commend our law enforcement partners for their work in removing members of this terrorist organization from our streets. MS-13 is a violent brutal gang that must be eliminated from the United States, and we will not stop until we succeed in our mission.”
“The horrific violence in this case underscores the urgency of destroying MS-13 and putting its depraved members behind bars,” said United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Under President Trump, MS-13 can no longer unleash terror on the American people with impunity: We will eradicate this foreign terrorist organization and secure justice for its victims.”
“Cases such as this one serve as a reminder that MS-13 has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The defendants in this case carried out barbaric attacks on their victims to simply enhance their ranking within the gang. I’m proud of the hard work that went into this trial by agents and prosecutors which resulted in a guilty verdict and a measure of justice for the victims, and which will effectively remove murderers and terrorists from Los Angeles communities.”
“The brutality of these crimes is a stark reminder of the importance of our shared mission: to protect the people of Los Angeles from those who seek to do harm,” said Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell. “I thank every investigator, prosecutor, and law enforcement professional who contributed to this case. Their dedication has brought justice to the victims and sent a clear message — we will not tolerate this kind of violence in our city. Together, we are stronger, and together, we will continue to stand against gang violence in all its forms.”
“These convictions send a powerful message that criminal gang violence and intimidation have no place in Los Angeles County,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna. “These violent individuals terrorized our communities and tore families apart to further their criminal network. Through the tireless efforts of our local and federal partners, we have brought justice to the victims’ families and held these individuals accountable for their brutal crimes.”
“MS-13 has inflicted unimaginable suffering on victims and their families in our communities,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman. “These guilty verdicts for crimes related to murder, extortion and drug trafficking against five members of MS-13’s leadership demonstrate the relentless and fearless partnership between local and federal law enforcement and prosecutors to bring these dangerous criminals to justice.”
According to evidence presented at trial, the defendants murdered their victims who either were – or perceived to be – members of the 18th Street gang, a rival of MS-13, or had violated MS-13’s rules.
The trial focused on MS-13 Los Angeles cliques that implemented gang rules that required its members to use murder and extreme violence to rise within its ranks.
The charges relate to machete, knife, and baseball bat killings in the Angeles National Forest and several other areas in remote, mountainous locations in Los Angeles County. Those six murders – which included murders committed in the mountains near Malibu, in a remote area of the Santa Clarita Valley, and two in Van Nuys – are also charged as violent crimes committed in aid of racketeering (VICAR). Those six counts allege that the victims were killed “for the purpose of gaining entry to and maintaining and increasing position in MS-13 Los Angeles.”
In June 2017, one victim – who claimed he had a leadership role in MS-13– was taken to the Angeles National Forest then stabbed and hacked to death by his killers, including Chavez. Several of the assailants unsuccessfully tried to decapitate him then left his body behind.
In October 2017, another victim – rumored to be an 18th Street member – was lured to his death by two teenage girls. He was kidnapped, strangled, beaten with a baseball bat then fatally stabbed with a large hunting style knife. Before his body was thrown off a cliff in the Angeles National Forest. This victim’s assailants included Corado and Bryan Rosales.
In July 2018, a third victim – also rumored to be an 18th Street member – was lured to Malibu hills under the auspices of smoking marijuana and drinking beer with several other people. While the victim stood at a scenic overlook, Corado shot him in the back of the head. Corado gave the gun to Erick Rosales, who shot the victim before passing the gun to other MS-13 members who took turns shooting him. This victim’s body ultimately was thrown off the edge of a road down a hill.
Martinez murdered three victims – one of them was shot to death in December 2018 after returning from the gym and was mistaken for an 18th Street gang member, another was an MS-13 associate addicted to methamphetamine (a violation of MS-13 rules) who was shot to death on January 13, 2019, and the third was a homeless man who was fatally shot on January 14, 2019 for having a tattoo believed to be related to 18th Street. Chavez participated in the January 13 murder.
Sentencing hearings before United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II are scheduled for July 2026, at which time each of the defendants will face a mandatory sentence of life in federal prison.
Prosecutors have secured 25 convictions so far in this case. Several other MS-13 members and associates are scheduled to go to trial in April 2026 in connection with racketeering conspiracy and gang murders.
The FBI, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Catharine A. Richmond and Sara B. Vargas of the Major Crimes Section, Benedetto L. Balding of the Transnational Organized Crime Section, William Larsen of the Criminal Appeals Section, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Siddall are prosecuting this case.
Federal Jury Finds Two Men Guilty of Contract Killing of 17-Year-Old High School Student to Prevent Her Testimony in CourtRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida–United States Attorney announces that after a little more than two weeks of trial, a federal jury returned a verdict finding Lenard White (37), a/k/a “Len,” “Mike Williams,” and “Stick,” and Sheldon Robinson (22), a/k/a “Poboy,” guilty of all charges, including conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, murder-for-hire, premeditated first-degree murder, discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, which caused the death of I.S., discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, tampering with witnesses, and obstruction of justice. White and Robinson each face multiple mandatory life sentences. They scheduled to be sentenced on January 30, 2026.
According to the evidence presented at trial, on February 6, 2023, 17-year-old high school student I.S., a member of her school’s tennis team and ROTC program, and her mother L.P., reported to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office that I.S. had been sexually assaulted. The next day, Sheldon Robinson came to their house and knocked on the door. When the door was opened, Robinson fired a barrage of gunshots at I.S. and L.P., killing I.S. The bullet that killed I.S. struck her in the back as she ran away from her front door for help. L.P. was struck several times but survived. She collapsed on the ground and watched her daughter die.
The murder was organized by Lenard White, the man who had sexually assaulted her, and who left the state prior to her murder to give himself an alibi. White’s cousin, Sheldon Robinson, committed the murder for $6,000.
The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, working alongside the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) immediately began investigating the case. After more than 70 federal and state search warrants, investigators obtained a step-by-step blueprint for how Robinson killed I.S., including the individuals that he too recruited to help him carry it out. Six months after I.S.’s murder, and as the investigation was unfolding, Hernando County detectives and ATF agents executed a second search warrant at Robinson’s home. Buried in a forest area behind his home, investigators found the gun Robinson used to murder I.S.
As the investigation continued, White and Robinson repeatedly attempted to hinder that investigation by disposing of evidence, tampering with witnesses, obstructing justice, and making false statements to law enforcement. The two also discussed plans at having another witness against them killed, just as they did I.S.
A third defendant, Keshawn Woods, previous pleaded guilty to his role in the murder of I.S. and is pending sentencing.
This case was investigated by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with substantial assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office – Fifth Judicial Circuit. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Diego F. Novaes and Samantha Newman.
Evansville Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of MinorsRead the Press Release
EVANSVILLE- Samuel Kirkwood, 36, of Evansville, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, after pleading guilty to production and attempted production of child sexual abuse material and possession of child sexual abuse material.
According to court documents, Samuel Kirkwood was arrested on May 11, 2023, in connection with a state-level child exploitation offense. At the time of his arrest, Kirkwood was found in possession of two cell phones. Investigators obtained search warrants for both devices and conducted forensic data extractions, which revealed multiple images depicting nude minors in sexually explicit poses.
Photo analysis identified Kirkwood’s hand in one of the images that depicted the sexual abuse of a minor female proving that Kirkwood produced the image himself. In addition to the image he produced, more child sexual abuse files were found on Kirkwood’s cell phones. At the time of sentencing, Kirkwood admitted that he photographed a 10-year-old minor female at a time when he was caring for the child.
“The exploitation of children is among the most heinous crimes we prosecute,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “This case reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting vulnerable victims and holding offenders fully accountable. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure children are always protected.”
“By targeting the most vulnerable, the defendant caused lasting harm, and today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of his offenses,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will never relent in pursuing those who prey on children, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to safeguard those who cannot protect themselves.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd S. Shellenbarger, who prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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.
If you are a victim of child sexual exploitation, please contact your local police department. Resources for victims of child exploitation can be found on our website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/project-safe-childhood
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Ellicott City Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Adam B. Abelson sentenced, Jennifer Tinker, 42, of Ellicott City, Maryland, to 70 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for wire fraud, in connection with Tinker’s embezzlement of more than $1.1 million from two separate employers.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office.
According to the guilty plea, between January 2020 and November 2023, Tinker defrauded a real estate agency (Real Estate Agency 1) that she worked for by transferring more than $1 million of company funds through wire transfers, Zelle payments, checks, and ACH to her personal bank accounts. Tinker fraudulently embezzled funds from the real estate agency’s accounts – including its escrow, operating, and commission accounts.
Tinker hid the transfers by listing fictitious “recipients” on the wire transfer paperwork to make them appear legitimate. She then wired the stolen funds into her personal bank accounts. Between approximately February 2021 and November 2023, Tinker wired money to her personal accounts more than 90 times. Additionally, Tinker made false and fraudulent edits and entries into her employer’s internal accounting records to conceal the transfers.
Tinker used the funds that she stole from Real Estate Agency 1 to pay for luxury goods and personal expenditures such as vacations, Taylor Swift tickets, and five different vehicles. The defendant continued to embezzle Real Estate Agency 1’s funds until her supervisors uncovered her scheme in November 2023. Real Estate Agency 1 then immediately terminated her employment.
After Real Estate Agency 1 terminated Tinker’s employment, she continued her fraudulent conduct with a new employer—Non-Profit 1. Beginning on or about May 2024, and continuing through on or about January 2025, Tinker embezzled funds from Non-Profit 1’s bank accounts. Specifically, Tinker made repeated fraudulent transfers of funds held in Non-Profit 1’s operating account to pay off her personal payment card account with Apple/Goldman Sachs. Tinker also redirected transfers intended to pay Non-Profit 1’s rent into her personal account with Discover.
Tinker’s embezzlement of Non-Profit 1 continued before and after she pleaded guilty to defrauding Real Estate Agency 1. In relevant court proceedings, Tinker made misrepresentations to the court about accepting responsibility for her fraudulent conduct and about her employment at Non-Profit 1 to continue defrauding Non-Profit 1.
On December 6, 2024, at her initial appearance, Tinker represented to the court that she was not a financial risk to Non-Profit 1 and did not have access to Non-Profit 1’s bank accounts, but this was false. In the four weeks following her initial appearance, Tinker made 13 fraudulent transfers from Non-Profit 1’s operating account to her Apple/Goldman Sachs payment card account. These transfers continued through January 2025, when Non-Profit 1 discovered Tinker’s embezzlement and terminated her employment for gross misconduct. In total, Tinker stole more than $100,000 from Non-Profit 1.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph L. Wenner who is prosecuting the federal case, and recognized Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber, for her valuable assistance.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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El Paso Resident Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Drugged Children into U.S. from MexicoRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – Manuel Valenzuela, 35, a lawful permanent resident residing in El Paso, pleaded guilty in federal court to four charges related to his role in a scheme to smuggle children from Mexico into the United States.
According to court documents, members of an alien smuggling organization brought unaccompanied alien children between the ages of five and 13 illegally into the U.S. from Juarez, Mexico, sometimes using candy laced with THC to sedate them during smuggling events. The drivers and their coconspirator would then present U.S. documents to inspecting officers falsely claiming the documents belonged to the children, and that they were the parents of the children. Once inside the United States, the children were then transported to El Paso. During one smuggling event, one of the children was taken to a local hospital and diagnosed with THC poisoning.
Valenzuela conspired in the human smuggling scheme by picking up the children after they were smuggled into the country and providing payment to the drivers. Valenzuela was arrested on Aug. 30 with co-defendant Dianne Guadian, a U.S. citizen. Valenzuela, Guadian, and two additional co-defendants, Mexican nationals Susana Guadian and Daniel Guadian, were charged in a five-count indictment on Sept. 24.
Valenzuela pleaded guilty Nov. 6 to four of the counts: one count of conspiracy to transport aliens and three counts of aiding and abetting in the smuggling of aliens for profit. He faces a mandatory minimum of 11 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations El Paso and U.S. Border Patrol led investigative efforts, with substantial assistance from HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. and Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Hines for the Western District of Texas and Trial Attorney Bethany Allen of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section are prosecuting the case.
The investigation and indictment were supported by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the northern and southern borders. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs (OIA), among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 410 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 355 U.S. convictions; more than 305 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
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Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced in San Antonio for Unlawful Procurement of Citizenship or NaturalizationRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A naturalized U.S. citizen previously convicted for child pornography charges was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio after pleading guilty to one count of unlawful procurement of citizenship or naturalization.
On Wednesday, Carlos Fabian Velez, 54, who is already serving 210 months in prison for distribution of child pornography, was sentenced to time served by U.S. District Judge Jason K. Pulliam. Velez will continue to serve the remainder of the more than 17-year prison sentence he received in 2023 and is now subject to mandatory denaturalization.
Velez pleaded guilty in July to making false, sworn statements on his naturalization application. Specifically, in response to the question, “Have you ever committed a crime or offense for which you were not arrested” Velez answered, “No.” In fact, Velez knew that he had committed the crime and offenses of possession, receipt and distribution of child pornography. The child pornography charges to which he pleaded guilty occurred within five years of his application, rendering Velez unable to satisfy the five-year eligibility requirement of good and moral character.
“Obtaining American citizenship is the goal of so many who come to our great country, but we will do all we can to ensure those who commit crimes against children and then lie about it never receive the honor,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “My office will continue to preserve and protect the sanctity of the naturalization process, and we will aggressively prosecute those who seek to abuse it.”
The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate, and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Fidel Esparza III and Tracy Thompson 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. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Child Predator Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Sharing Child Sexual Abuse Material via KikRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Michael Martinez, 30, of Camby, Indiana, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to distributing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
According to court documents, in May 2024, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) referred a cyber tip to the Indiana Crimes Against Children Task Force. The tip indicated that a user with the handle “the_goose_boi” had uploaded 28 files containing suspected child sexual abuse material to the social media messaging application Kik.
Through their investigation, law enforcement officers quickly identified Martinez as the individual responsible. Records obtained from Kik revealed numerous private and group messages sent and received by Martinez that discussed child pornography and expressed a sexual interest in children. These included messages stating, “I'd 100% date a 10-year-old girl if it was legal lol,” and “Can we all just agree preteen girls are sexy and they should be able to do anything a woman can do.”
Martinez has a prior conviction from June 2020 in Marion County for possession of child pornography and child exploitation. He was sentenced to five years’ incarceration and four years of Sex Offender Probation. At the time of the current offense, he was still serving probation.
“Michael Martinez is a known predator who chose to victimize children again while still on probation from a prior offense where he had been banned from even accessing the internet. His actions were brazen, disturbing, and deeply dangerous,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Thanks to the relentless efforts of the U.S. Secret Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and our dedicated federal prosecutors, we have removed a sexual predator from our community and sent a clear message that we will not tolerate the exploitation of our children.”
“The U.S. Secret Service is committed to stopping child sexual predators who harm innocent victims. The sentencing in this case illustrates the heinous nature of this repeat offender’s crimes against vulnerable children,” said Ike Barnes, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Indianapolis Field Office. “I am proud of the work of the Secret Service and Homeland Security Investigations in bringing this person to justice. Thanks to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Indiana for its efforts in prosecuting this case.”
The U.S. Secret Service and Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James P. Hanlon.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Eakman, who prosecuted this case.
This investigation was conducted by the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a multiagency task force led by the Indiana State Police that investigates and prosecutes persons who use the internet to sexually exploit or entice children. Each year, Indiana ICAC investigators evaluate thousands of tips, investigate hundreds of cases, and rescue dozens of children from ongoing sexual abuse. Visit https://www.internetcrimesagainstkids.com to learn more about their efforts.
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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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.
If you are a victim of child sexual exploitation, please contact your local police department. Resources for victims of child exploitation can be found on our website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/project-safe-childhood
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Andover Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison for Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Andover Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison for
Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material
CONCORD – Dale Howe, 37, of Andover, was sentenced to 27 years in prison for his production and possession of child sexual abuse material, United States Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
On November 10, 2025, the U.S. District Judge Paul J. Barbadoro sentenced Mr. Howe on three counts of production of child sexual abuse material to 324 months’ imprisonment, and one count of possession of child pornography to 120 months’ imprisonment, to be served concurrently. The Court also sentenced Mr. Howe to 10 years of federal supervision following his release from prison.
“Exploiting and abusing vulnerable children, and then documenting that abuse, is among the most serious crimes we prosecute,” said United States Attorney Creegan. “Mr. Howe’s extreme conduct fully warranted the significant sentence imposed. Our office, together with our law enforcement partners, remains steadfast in identifying and prosecuting those who prey upon children for their own gratification.”
According to the charging documents and statements made in court, Mr. Howe sexually assaulted a minor victim, providing the minor victim with drugs during the course of the abuse. The defendant created images of the sexual abuse, which were found during a search of his phone. The defendant distributed some of the sexual abuse images through the internet. The defendant also possessed more than 3,500 files of unrelated child sexual abuse material.
“The scope of Howe’s crimes is staggering and deeply troubling. He not only possessed child sexual abuse materials but became a hands-on offender, drugging and assaulting a child. The horrific abuse Howe inflicted upon his victim cannot be undone, but this sentence puts Howe behind bars and away from children for over a decade. We hope that this significant sentence brings some measure of justice to those who have been impacted by his crimes,” said Michael J. Krol from Homeland Security Investigations New England.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Andover Police Department, the New Hampshire State Police, the Merrimack County Sheriff’s Office, the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children, and the Derry Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather Cherniske and Anna Krasinski prosecuted the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
9 previously convicted felons charged with federal gun crimes as part of Cincinnati anti-violence operationRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II announced today nine new federal indictments resulting from a multi-agency operation aimed at reducing violent crime in Cincinnati.
“My Office is paying close attention to the gun violence occurring on the streets of Cincinnati. Together with the ATF, the Cincinnati Police Department, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office, we have charged several violent offenders who have a history of committing gun and other dangerous crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Gerace. “But our work is far from over. If you endanger our communities by illegally possessing or using a gun or ammunition, prepare to face federal consequences.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge Jorge Rosendo stated: “Today, the ATF reaffirms its commitment to the citizens of Hamilton County and the City of Cincinnati. We stand ready to leverage our resources in support of our law enforcement partners to ensure violent, armed offenders are removed from our communities and placed where they can no longer threaten or victimize law-abiding citizens.”
“I am proud of the work being done at a multi-agency level to combat gun violence and protect our communities, families, and all who have invested in our beautiful city and call Cincinnati home. The Cincinnati Police Department remains firmly committed to working alongside our federal, state, and local partners to ensure public safety without hesitation,” said Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie.
Hamilton County Prosecutor, Connie Pillich, stated: “My office is proud to work with the U.S. Attorney, and all our law enforcement partners to protect our community from violent crime that is too often facilitated by the illegal use of firearms. Working together, we identify the worst offenders and get them off the streets as long as possible.”
Those charged include:
NameAgeKeenan Brock38Gary Curtis51Daishawn Harrell25Stephen Johnson43Kameron Scott31Robert Shaw50Christopher Watkins42Antonio Williams29Carlos Williams42The indictments were returned on Nov. 5 and unsealed today. All nine defendants are in custody.
According to charging documents and local police records, each of the men has a history of violent crime and has been previously convicted of a felony, making it illegal for them to possess firearms or ammunition.
Shaw allegedly committed a murder in downtown Cincinnati on Oct. 17 while on bond and wearing an ankle monitor for a Hamilton County weapons offense. The victim in the shooting that occurred around 2am was allegedly shot more than 20 times. This summer, Shaw also allegedly wore a white backpack with a loaded firearm and ran from officers who were patrolling the Winton Terrace neighborhood.
Scott is currently facing local murder charges for what has been described as a 2021 targeted attack at a Kennedy Heights apartment. He is charged federally with illegally possessing ammunition as a previously convicted felon.
Arrest records allege that Watkins possessed a firearm while also drinking and driving a vehicle on Oct. 6.
Also on Oct. 6, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office deputies were in pursuit of Johnson, who was allegedly driving a stolen motorcycle when he lost control and crashed. Officers discovered a gun next to Johnson at the scene.
Carlos Williams allegedly brandished a firearm and pointed it at a woman inside a market on Main Street on Oct. 7.
Harell had active local arrest warrants when police officers stopped him for a vehicle violation on Oct. 7. At the time, he was allegedly wearing a loaded firearm.
On Oct. 8, Cincinnati police officers were dispatched to an apartment where Curtis allegedly assaulted his mother. Curtis also allegedly possessed a revolver in his pants pocket.
On Oct. 20, Antonio Williams fled from local law enforcement officers before being tazed and arrested. At the time, he allegedly possessed a stolen firearm with an extended magazine and a machine gun conversion device.
Cincinnati police officers witnessed Brock allegedly engaged in drug transactions on Findlay Street in the West End neighborhood while also possessing a firearm. It is alleged that Brock fled from police, leaving a firearm with an extended magazine and a Glock switch attached in a nearby alleyway. Brock was ultimately apprehended and arrested.
The federal indictments are a combined effort by criminal prosecutors in the Cincinnati U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Indictments merely contain allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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9 November 2025
Two Current Major League Baseball Players Charged in Sports Betting and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging two defendants, Emmanuel Clase de la Cruz and Luis Leandro Ortiz Ribera, with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and money laundering conspiracy, for their alleged roles in a scheme to rig bets on pitches thrown during Major League Baseball (MLB) games. Ortiz was arrested earlier today in Boston, Massachusetts, and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, Massachusetts on November 10, 2025. Ortiz will be arraigned in the Eastern District of New York at a later date. Clase is currently not in U.S. custody.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) announced the indictment and arrest.
“Professional athletes, like Luis Leandro Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase de la Cruz hold a position of trust—not only with their teammates and their professional leagues, but with fans who believe in fair play,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “As alleged, the defendants sold that trust to gamblers by fixing pitches. In doing so, the defendants deprived the Cleveland Guardians and Major League Baseball of their honest services. They defrauded the online betting platforms where the bets were placed. And they betrayed America’s pastime. Integrity, honesty and fair play are part of the DNA of professional sports. When corruption infiltrates the sport, it brings disgrace not only to the participants but damages the public trust in an institution that is vital and dear to all of us. Today’s charges make clear that our Office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who corrupt sports through illegal means.”
“Luis Leandro Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase de la Cruz allegedly rigged their pitches in professional baseball games, so that an inner circle, and occasionally themselves, could quietly cash out their winnings,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. “The defendants' alleged greed not only established an unfair advantage for select bettors, but also sullied the reputation of America's pastime. The FBI will ensure any individual who exploits their position as a professional athlete at the expense of others strikes out."
As set forth in the indictment, the defendants agreed in advance with their co-conspirators on specific pitches that they would throw in MLB games. The co-conspirators then used that information to place hundreds of fraudulent bets on those pitches.
Beginning in or around May 2023, Clase, a relief pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians, agreed with corrupt sports bettors to rig proposition bets – or “prop” bets – on particular pitches he threw. The bettors wagered on the speed and type of Clase’s pitches, based on information they knew in advance by coordinating with Clase, sometimes even during MLB games. Clase often threw these rigged pitches on the first pitch of an at-bat. To ensure certain pitches were called as balls, Clase threw many of them in the dirt, well outside the strike zone. The bettors used the advanced, inside information that Clase provided about his future pitches to wager thousands of dollars at online sportsbooks.
Clase at times received bribes and kickbacks from the bettors in exchange for providing advanced, non-public information. He also sometimes provided money to the bettors in advance to fund the scheme. The indictment includes numerous examples of pitches that Clase rigged, including one in the Eastern District of New York in a game against the New York Mets. In total, by rigging pitches, Clase caused his co-conspirator bettors to win at least $400,000 in fraudulent wagers.
In or around June 2025, Ortiz, a starting pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians, joined the criminal scheme. Together with Clase, Ortiz agreed in advance to throw balls (instead of strikes) on pitches in two games in exchange for bribes and kickbacks. Before an MLB game on June 15, 2025, Ortiz agreed with his co-conspirators to throw a ball on a particular pitch in exchange for bribes. The bettors agreed to pay Ortiz a $5,000 bribe for throwing the rigged pitch and Clase a $5,000 bribe for arranging the rigged pitch.
Before an MLB game on June 27, 2025, Ortiz agreed with his co-conspirators to rig a second pitch by throwing a ball in exchange for a bribe. The bettors agreed to pay Ortiz a $7,000 bribe for throwing the rigged pitch and Clase a $7,000 bribe for arranging the rigged pitch. Before the game on June 27, 2025, Clase withdrew $50,000 in cash and provided $15,000 to a co-conspirator, who used the money to wager on Ortiz’s rigged pitch during the game. In total, by rigging pitches for bribes, Ortiz caused his co-conspirator bettors to win at least $60,000 in fraudulent wagers.
The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment on the wire fraud conspiracy count, 20 years’ imprisonment on the honest services wire fraud conspiracy count, five years’ imprisonment on the conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery count, and 20 years’ imprisonment on the money laundering conspiracy count.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Sean M. Sherman and Eric Silverberg are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Daniel Arakawa.
The Defendants:
EMMANUEL CLASE DE LA CRUZ
Age: 27
Dominican RepublicLUIS LEANDRO ORTIZ RIBERA
Age: 26
Dominican RepublicE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-346 (KAM)
clase_and_ortiz_indictment.pdf
7 November 2025
Violent felon convicted of running drug distribution and money laundering operation from state prisonRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - After a five-day trial, Jarvis Matthews was convicted for his role in leading a multi-million-dollar drug trafficking and money laundering operation from the confines of Calhoun State Prison. A jury found Matthews guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl, five counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. At the time of his federal crimes, Matthews was serving sentences of life without parole for murder and felony murder.
“Matthews audaciously used contraband cell phones to run a drug trafficking operation from his state prison cell,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Now, as a result of a diligent federal investigation and close coordination with state and local partners, this convicted murderer faces a substantial sentence in federal prison on top of his state sentence.”
“Jarvis Matthews used the confines of a prison cell to orchestrate a multi-million-dollar drug trafficking and money laundering operation, exploiting his family and the prison system to further his criminal enterprise,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This case underscores the FBI’s commitment to dismantling transnational criminal organizations and holding accountable those who think they can operate beyond the reach of the law.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: While imprisoned at Georgia Department of Corrections facilities, Jarvis Matthews used contraband cellphones to direct the distribution of drugs in and around Atlanta. Matthews used his fiancée, girlfriends, nephew, and his own two adult sons to distribute drugs and collect and launder money.
In early 2022, FBI agents identified a social media account that Matthews used to conduct dozens of drug deals. Agents made a controlled purchase of two kilograms of methamphetamine from Matthews in April 2022, through his adult son, Charvis Harris, who previously pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to possess controlled substances with intent to distribute. Ultimately, the FBI obtained a court-authorized wiretap on Matthews’s phone and installed a camera at one of his drug trap houses. With these tools, the FBI was able to apprehend Matthews’s drug customers after they received drugs from Matthews’s sons. Testimony at trial showed that Matthews masterminded the distribution of multiple kilograms of internationally-sourced drugs in the metro-Atlanta area and laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars of drug proceeds.
Jarvis Matthews, 46, of Morgan, Georgia, faces a mandatory minimum 25 years in federal prison, to run consecutively to the state prison sentence he is already serving. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders. The sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Georgia Department of Corrections, Georgia State Patrol, Coweta County Sheriff’s Office, Dooly County Sheriff’s Office, Etowah County (Alabama) Sheriff’s Office, Fayetteville Police Department, Newton County Sheriff’s Office, Marshall County (Alabama) Drug Task Force, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Johnny Baer and John DeGenova are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, 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 Neighborhoods.
This prosecution is also part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
The United States Announces Agreement with Cornell UniversityRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced an agreement with Cornell University (“Cornell”) that will protect Cornell’s students from violations of federal civil rights laws, including from discrimination based on race, sex, or national origin, and promote America’s hardworking farming and rural communities.
As part of the agreement, Cornell University will invest thirty million dollars through 2028 in research programs on agriculture, farming, and related studies that will support American farmers through lower costs of production and enhanced efficiency. Cornell will additionally pay thirty million dollars to the United States over the next three years. The university agrees to provide the Department of Justice’s “Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination” as a training resource to faculty and staff, and will continued to conduct annual surveys to evaluate the campus climate for Cornell students. The university also agrees to comply with lawful requests from the United States related to foreign funding sources.
Through 2028, Cornell will provide relevant anonymized admissions data for statistical analyses to the United States. The President of Cornell will personally certify, under penalty of perjury, that Cornell is in compliance with the agreement. The United States will close its pending investigations into the university’s admissions policies and other civil rights concerns. The United States shall treat Cornell as eligible for future grants and awards, as well as restore terminated grants to Cornell from the Department of Health & Human Services and other federal agencies.
“Recipients of federal funding must fully adhere to federal civil rights laws and ensure that harmful DEI policies do not discriminate against students,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Today’s deal is a positive outcome that illustrates the value of universities working with this administration — we are grateful to Cornell for working towards this agreement.”
“The Trump Administration has secured another transformative commitment from an Ivy League institution to end divisive DEl policies,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “Thanks to this deal with Cornell and the ongoing work of DOJ, HHS, and the team at ED, U.S. universities are refocusing their attention on merit, rigor, and truth seeking – not ideology. These reforms are a huge win in the fight to restore excellence to American higher education and make our schools the greatest in the world.”
"The Trump Administration is actively dismantling the ability of elite universities to discriminate based on race or religion," said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "The DOJ’s agreement with Cornell strengthens protections for students against antisemitism and all other forms of discrimination."
“As a result of securing this groundbreaking settlement between the United States and Cornell, applicants and students will receive fair and equal treatment as required by our civil rights laws, and American farmers will have expanded opportunity for agricultural development and productivity,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Cornell agreement exhibits this administration’s deep commitment to vigilantly enforce our federal civil rights laws on college campuses, and ensure that American universities manage taxpayer dollars responsibly.”
Tampa Man Federally Charged for Threatening to Injure and Kill A Federal Official and His Family MemberRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of a criminal complaint charging Robert Logan Shoecraft, III (35, Tampa) with interstate communication of a threat to injure and kill. If convicted, Shoecraft faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.
According to the complaint, in May 2024, Shoecraft called the office of a Member of the United States House of Representatives and left an offensive, expletive-laden voicemail which included the following: “we’re coming for you, we’re gonna f***ing kill you,” and “we have f***ing guns too, you stupid c***.”
On October 31, 2025, Shoecraft sent a direct message through social media to the wife of a federal official who serves as an Advisor to the President of the United States, stating, “You and your husband will be dragged through the streets like Mussolini and his b**** after all this is done. This is our country, and they will make sure you and your husband suffer for what you've done. You have no idea what's in store for you.”
A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Capitol Police, and the United States Secret Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lindsey Schmidt and Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Wheeler, III.