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22 October 2025
Drug Take Back Day Sites Available to Tribal CommunitiesRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — According to a 2023 study by the Montana Office of Public Instruction, 17% of Native American high school students report using a prescription medication without a prescription. DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day can help.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana joins the Drug Enforcement Administration in support of the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 25. The biannual event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at sites across Montana, including Native American reservations. The event is an effort to rid homes of potentially dangerous, expired, and unused prescription drugs.
Medicines that languish in homes are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses from these drugs.
“It’s imperative that we protect Montana’s youth from opioid misuse and addiction, especially our Native American youth. More than one in six will use an opioid not prescribed to them. We encourage members of our reservation communities to take advantage of Drug Take Back Day by cleaning out their medicine cabinets. It’s a quick and easy way to help make our communities safer,” U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
“Every year, residents in our Division and around the country turn in thousands of pounds of unneeded, unwanted, or expired medications,” said DEA RMFD Special Agent in Charge David Olesky. “This simple action can help prevent prescription drug misuse and reduce the potential for accidental overdoses and poisonings.”
Numerous sheriff’s offices, police departments and federal agencies across Montana are participating in Take Back Day. Information about collection sites and more information about the event is available here: https://www.dea.gov/takebackday.
Montana also offers year-round collection at many locations, including pharmacies, hospitals, and health centers, which can be found at these two websites: https://dphhs.mt.gov/BHDD/SubstanceAbuse/dropboxlocations, and https://www.dea.gov/everyday-takeback-day. Many of the year-round collection locations are in or near Montana’s reservation communities, including the IHS hospital in Browning, the Rocky Boy Health Center in Box Elder, the Milk River Pharmacy in Harlem, Northeast Montana Health Service in Poplar and Wolf Point, the Bighorn Valley Pharmacy in Hardin, the US Public Health Service in Lodge Grass, the PHS Indian Health Center in Lame Deer, and several locations in Ronan, Polson, and St. Ignatius.
During the last Take Back Day held on April 26, 2025, 4,472 law enforcement participants at 4,590 collection sites across the country brought in a total weight of 620,321 pounds, or 310 tons, of drugs. This brings the total weight collected to 19.8 million pounds, or more than 9,910 tons, of prescription drugs collected in the history of the program. Collection results may include materials other than prescription drugs.
During the April 2025 event, Montanans turned in 1,229 pounds of prescription drugs at 20 collection sites. Nineteen law enforcement agencies participated. Total all time weight collected in Montana is 59,506 pounds.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the October 25 Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com.
Coweta Resident Sentenced for Possessing Child Sexual Exploitation MaterialRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Cody Michael DeGraw, age 30, of Coweta, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 87 months in prison for one count of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Homeland Security Investigations.
On July 10, 2025, DeGraw pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, beginning on December 30, 2023, and continuing until February 27, 2025, DeGraw accessed for viewing and possessed material containing visual depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including depictions portraying images of prepubescent minors, infants, and toddlers. In total, investigators recovered 161 images from DeGraw’s cellular telephones.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
We encourage anyone who suspects or has information regarding child sexual exploitation, trafficking of minors, sextortion, child pornography, or any other means of child exploitation to immediately contact law enforcement. You can file a report on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)'s website at www.cybertipline.com, call 1-800-843-5678, contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or call 877-4-HSI TIP.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. DeGraw 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.
Coeur d’Alene Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
COEUR D’ALENE – Alexander Scott Mercurio, 20, of Coeur d’Alene, pleaded guilty today, to Attempt to Provide Material Support and Resources to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced.
According to court records, Mercurio pledged his allegiance to ISIS and intended to commit an attack in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on its behalf. In early 2023, he created an online repository for pro-ISIS content with the purpose of spreading the doctrine of the Islamic State. Although Mercurio desired to travel overseas to support ISIS, he lacked resources. He then made plans to conduct a terrorist attack within the United States. Mercurio planned to target churches in Coeur d’Alene on April 7, 2024, using various weapons. Mercurio purchased items to support his planned attack. Days before the planned attack, Mercurio stood before an ISIS flag holding a knife and pledged his allegiance to ISIS. The FBI arrested him on April 6, 2024, one day before his planned April 7, 2024 attack.
Sentencing is set for January 27, 2026, before Chief District Judge David C. Nye. Mercurio faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Bart Davis commended the investigation by the FBI with valuable assistance provided by the Coeur d’Alene Police Department, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ada County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather S. Patricco and David G. Robins for the District of Idaho and attorneys from the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, are prosecuting this case.
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Charlotte Man Charged with Fentanyl Trafficking While Armed with an Illegal FirearmRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte man is facing federal charges for trafficking fentanyl and using illegal firearms in furtherance of his drug distribution activities, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. The indictment charges Vance Deangelo Lewis, 33, of Charlotte, with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a felon. The indictment also contains a forfeiture notice that gives notice the defendant must forfeit to the United States 14 firearms and ammunition recovered during the investigation.
Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.
According to allegations in the indictment, on or about October 2, 2025, Lewis knowingly and intentionally possessed with the intent to distribute nearly half a kilogram of fentanyl and half a kilogram of methamphetamine. It is further alleged that Lewis, as a felon, illegally possessed one or more firearms, and that he knowingly possessed the firearms in furtherance of the drug trafficking activities. According to court records, Lewis has a prior federal conviction in the Western District of North Carolina for possession of a firearm by a felon and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, and marijuana, for which he served a term of imprisonment. As a result, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Lewis has appeared in federal court and remains in custody. If convicted, he faces up a statutory minimum penalty of 10 years and up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The charges against Lewis are allegations and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
In making the announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the ATF and CMPD for their investigation of the case and recognized Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather and his office for their invaluable assistance.
The Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Bath Man Indicted for Stealing Approximately $225,000 from an Elderly Disabled VeteranRead the Press Release
Bath Man Indicted for Stealing Approximately $225,000 From an Elderly Disabled Veteran
CONCORD – A Bath man was indicted for stealing approximately $225,000 from an elderly disabled veteran, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Donald Estes, 49, was charged with four counts of Bank Fraud and four counts of Mail Fraud.
According to the indictment, the victim was disabled and unable to independently manage his money or make decisions. The victim lived at a nursing home and received monthly disability payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
On July 21, 2020, the victim’s nursing home contacted Estes asking whether he would serve as the victim’s legal guardian. Estes never applied to become the guardian. Instead, Estes had the victim sign an agreement granting Estes access to the victim’s bank account. Over the next few years, Estes took approximately $225,000 from the victim and used the money on personal purchases.
The charging statute for bank fraud provides a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. The charging statute for mail fraud provides a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of twice the gross gain or loss. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of the Inspector General and U.S. Postal Inspection Service led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Asheville Man Admits to Defrauding Customers in Log Cabin Kit SchemeRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Jason Nathaniel Speier, 42, of Arden, N.C., pleaded guilty on October 22, 2025, to wire fraud for a scheme to defraud customers who purchased log cabin kits, announced U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson for the Western District of North Carolina.
James C. Barnacle, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents filed in connection with the plea, from 2022 through 2023, Speier was the owner and president of K.I. Enterprises, Inc., doing business as “Kabens,” an unlicensed company that claimed to build log cabin homes in Western North Carolina. Court filings indicate that Speier executed a scheme to defraud customers by falsely representing that his business was capable of building European-sourced log cabin kits into turnkey residences. Contrary to those claims, Speier did not have a legitimate source of supply for the purported log cabin kits.
As Speier admitted in court, he falsely told customers that he had built many cabins for satisfied customers and that he could provide references and favorable reviews. To solicit new clients, Speier developed an extensive online marketing and social media presence, advertising “complete log cabin home packages” at “affordable prices.” His advertisements also falsely promised “fast construction” and “unlimited customization.” To boost sales, Speier built a sales team and directed them to make numerous sales to customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. He also falsely claimed that customers’ down payments would be used to purchase log cabin kits and complete construction in a timely manner.
According to court filings and facts presented at the plea hearing, Speier continued his fraudulent conduct even after the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors launched an investigation following multiple customer complaints. Despite the investigation, Speier incorporated a new business called “Big Timber Log Homes” and continued soliciting new customers to build turnkey cabins, even though Speier had not successfully completed a single project. Court records indicate that Speier received more than $2.5 million in customer payments and defrauded at least 24 customers during the scheme.
Speier was released on bond following his guilty plea. The maximum penalty for wire fraud is 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine Speier’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the FBI, the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office and the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office for their work on this case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville is prosecuting the case.
21 October 2025
Recidivist Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland, Oregon, man, who is a registered sex offender, was sentenced to federal prison today for possession of over 200 images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
David Lee Cannon, 36, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison and a life term of supervised release.
According to court documents, in February 2024, law enforcement officials discovered Cannon was collecting CSAM images during an investigation into Cannon’s uncle. Cannon sought images from his uncle over Telegram, an encrypted messaging application. Additional evidence of CSAM material was found after a search of Cannon’s devices.
Cannon is a registered sex offender after a 2009 conviction for possessing CSAM material.
“The pursuit of individuals who exploit and abuse children is our highest priority,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “With today’s sentence, Mr. Cannon will spend the next 10 years behind bars, unable to victimize any other children.”
“HSI leverages advanced technology and every resource within its legal authority to identify, investigate, and bring to justice those who possess child exploitation and sexual abuse material,” said April Miller, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge. “Our unwavering commitment is to protect the most vulnerable and ensure that those who prey on children are held accountable.”
Cannon was arrested in Milwaukie, Oregon, after HSI agents tracked his cellphone.
Cannon was charged by information on April 28, 2025. On June 26, 2025, Cannon pleaded guilty to Possession of Child Pornography.
This case was investigated by HSI with assistance from Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mira Chernick and Paul Maloney.
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.
Portland Woman Charged with Assaulting Federal Law Enforcement Officer Near Local ICE OfficeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland woman made her first appearance in federal court yesterday after allegedly assaulting a federal officer near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland.
Elizabeth Leslie, 32, has been charged by criminal complaint with the felony offense of assaulting a federal officer.
According to court documents, on October 18, 2025, federal officers arrested Leslie after she lunged forward and struck an officer in the chest when officers were trying to clear a path for vehicles exiting the ICE facility.
Since June 13, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office has charged 35 defendants with federal crimes for offenses committed at the ICE building, including assaulting federal officers, failure to comply, and depredation of government property.
Leslie made her first appearance in federal court yesterday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. She was released on conditions pending further court proceedings.
Felony assault of a federal officer is punishable by up to eight years in federal prison.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Murray County Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Leran Ortiz Pittman, age 41, of Davis, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm, punishable by up to fifteen years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.
The Indictment charged Pittman with knowingly possessing a semi-automatic pistol on January 7, 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 and the Davis 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.
Pittman will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Mother and Daughter Charged with Forced Labor in the District of Puerto RicoRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging Luz Maria Peña Lopez, 55, and her daughter, Tatiana Correa Peña, 36, of Carolina, Puerto Rico, with forced labor and conspiracy to commit forced labor, announced Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico W. Stephen Muldrow. Peña Lopez was also charged with document servitude, and Peña Lopez’s husband, Enrique Gutierrez Rivera, 54, a municipal police officer in Carolina, Puerto Rico, was charged with misprision of a felony related to his knowledge, failure to report, and concealment of his co-defendants’ misuse of the victim’s Social Security benefits. The three defendants were placed under arrest early this morning.
According to the indictment, defendants Peña Lopez and Correa Peña used physical beatings, physical restraint, threats of violence, document servitude, isolation, denial of basic hygiene and medical care, and the provision of drugs and/or unprescribed medication to force the victim—an intellectually disabled adult woman—to panhandle for money, engage in criminal and fraudulent activities for their financial benefit, and perform domestic labor in their shared residence. Defendants Peña Lopez and Correa Peña also converted the victim’s monthly Social Security disability benefits for their own personal use.
“The Justice Department condemns the appalling abuse and forced labor inflicted on this disabled victim, as alleged in this indictment, and we are committed to ensuring the perpetrators face the full consequences of the law,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.
The indictment specifically notes that as part of their coercive scheme to compel the victim’s labor, defendants Peña Lopez and Correa Peña threatened the victim with violence and death; physically beat the victim, sometimes using objects such as belts, broomsticks, and cables; restricted the victim’s ability to leave the residence by forcing her to sleep in a space formerly used to house goats and roosters, at times locking her inside overnight; and used the victim’s Social Security disability benefits for their own personal use, denying those funds to the victim for even basic hygiene items such as clothes, toothbrushes, deodorant, and sanitary pads.
The maximum penalty for the offense of forced labor is 20 years in federal prison. The maximum penalty for misprision of a felony is three years.
The case is being investigated by the FBI. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daynelle Alverez and Trial Attorney Jessica Arco of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.
Anyone who believes they may have relevant information to share about this case is asked to contact the FBI Field Office at 1-787-987-6500.
If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Mexican National Sentenced for Being in the United States Unlawfully After Being Arrested at Drug Stash HouseRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Mexican national was sentenced today for unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Francisco Javier Garibay Isais, 46, for Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Judge Russell ordered Garibay Isais to serve 21 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Garibay Isais is expected to face removal proceedings following his sentence.
In April 2025, Garibay Isais was arrested for driving without a license after leaving a drug stash house. While being booked into jail, records showed that Garibay Isais was unlawfully residing in the United States and had been previously removed in September 2023.
Garibay Isais was removed from the United States on two prior occasions. The first removal was in 1998, when Garibay Isais was convicted in the Western District of Texas for Fraud with Identification Documents. The second removal was in 2015. Garibay Isais was convicted in the District of Colorado for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine.
Court records show that law enforcement is unable to tie Garibay Isais to the drug house. However, he previously admitted to supplementing his income through “drug trading.”
Garibay Isais will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam McConney prosecuted the case.
Manchester Man Sentenced to 80 Months in Federal Prison for Operating Counterfeit Pill LabRead the Press Release
Manchester Man Sentenced to 80 Months in Federal Prison
for Operating Counterfeit Pill Lab
CONCORD – A Manchester man was sentenced on October 21, 2025 in federal court for operating a counterfeit pill laboratory, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Jerry Summers, age 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro to 80 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. In April 2025, Summers pleaded guilty to a six-count Information charging him with manufacturing controlled substances; possession with intent to distribute controlled substances; distributing 40 or more grams of fentanyl and methamphetamine; and trafficking in a drug and knowingly using a counterfeit mark on or in connection with the drug.
“The illegal production and distribution of counterfeit prescription pills, particularly those tainted with lethal drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine, have devastated families and communities,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan. “Our office, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue and dismantle the operations of pill manufacturers like Mr. Summers who profit from poisoning the public.”
“The state of New Hampshire is faced with a fentanyl crisis unlike ever before,” said Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (“DEA”) New England Field Division. “Those responsible for distributing lethal drugs like fentanyl in the form of counterfeit prescription pills to the citizens of New Hampshire need to be held accountable for their actions. DEA will aggressively pursue Drug Trafficking Organizations and individuals who distribute this poison in order to profit and destroy people’s lives. This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners.”
According to the charging documents and plea agreement, in January 2023, the DEA and the Manchester, New Hampshire Police Department (“MPD”), began investigating the defendant for using an office suite in Manchester to manufacture counterfeit pills marked as OxyContin and Adderall but which actually contained fentanyl and methamphetamine, respectively. Investigators developed a confidential source who bought hundreds of blue fentanyl and orange methamphetamine pills from the defendant during controlled buys in March and April, 2024.
Investigators applied for and received a federal search warrant for an office suite registered to the defendant’s drywall business. Prior to the search, investigators arrested the defendant following a traffic stop where the defendant admitted to his primary participation and sole responsibility in operating the pill-pressing scheme.
While searching the defendant’s office suite, the DEA’s Clandestine Laboratory Team found an industrial-grade mechanical pill press covered in a powdered residue and wrapped in foam soundproofing material, which was used to conceal its sound and avoid detection. Also inside the defendant’s office suite were dozens of kilograms of various powders used for making pills; a vacuum sealing device; dozens of punch and die sets; packaging material; and approximately 20,000 pressed pills, many of which were consistent with the orange and blue pills that the defendant sold during the controlled buys. DEA tested some of the pills and powders recovered from the defendant’s office suite, which were found to contain more than 12 pounds of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine (5,651.35 grams) and almost three pounds of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl (1,259.64 grams).
The DEA led the investigation. MPD provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Shannon prosecuted the case.
Laredo man sentenced for robbing bank which led to high-risk pursuitRead 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.
LAREDO, Texas - A 42-year-old resident of Laredo has been sentenced for robbing Falcon International Bank, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Adrian Hernandez pleaded guilty April 1.
U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo has now sentenced him to 78 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court noted the very serious nature of Hernandez’s past and current violent actions and the danger that he poses to the community as a whole.
On June 10, 2024, Hernandez entered the location at 212 Bob Bullock Loop in Laredo. He approached the counter and passed a note to the bank teller which read – “this is a bank robbery, give me all the money.”
Hernandez had a gray shirt wrapped around his hand to conceal, or appear to conceal, a weapon. The teller activated the silent alarm and placed the money that was in her teller drawer, including bait money, into a brown paper bag and handed it to Hernandez. He then left the bank, got into his car and sped away.
Authorities later observed a car matching the description of Hernandez’s vehicle parked at a motel. They attempted a felony stop but Hernandez evaded, and a chase ensued. Eventually, Hernandez collided with a chain link fence in the vicinity of Salinas Avenue, at which time law enforcement fired several shots before he eventually surrendered.
At the time of his arrest, he was wearing the same clothing as viewed in the security footage from the Falcon International Bank.
Law enforcement also found a large amount of cash in the car as well as a yellow note and blue marker.
Hernandez will remain in federal custody pending his transfer to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons where he will serve the remainder of his sentence.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Makens is prosecuting the case.
Illegal Alien from Mexico Charged with Using His Car to Assault Federal Agents Attempting to Arrest Him in South Los AngelesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Mexican national living illegally in the United States was charged today in a federal criminal complaint with ramming law enforcement vehicles in an attempt to dislodge his car during an immigration arrest, in an incident in which both defendant and a deputy U.S. marshal were shot and injured.
Carlitos Ricardo Parias, 44, of South Los Angeles, is charged with assault on a federal officer.
Parias is expected to make his initial appearance tomorrow in United States District Court in Los Angeles.
"A vehicle is a deadly weapon,” said Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “If it is used against federal agents, not only will you face years in federal prison, but you also face the possibility of deadly force being used against you. We will continue to use every tool in our legal arsenal to protect our agents enforcing immigration laws enacted by Congress.”
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, on Tuesday morning, federal agents set up surveillance on a block in the Historic South-Central area of South Los Angeles. Parias was the subject of an administrative immigration arrest warrant and had avoided capture before. Agents saw Parias leave a home and enter a gray Toyota Camry and drive eastbound down a street.
Law enforcement then drove and positioned a vehicle to prevent Parias from driving further east. Parias apparently recognized that vehicle as law enforcement then quickly reversed the Camry. As the Camry reversed, two other law enforcement vehicles approached it and prevented its further travel. The three law enforcement vehicles boxed in the Camry, leaving it with no reasonable means of escape.
Once the Camry was boxed in, federal agents approached it and gave Parias orders to exit the car and submit to arrest. Parias ignored those commands and drove the Camry both forward and back, hitting two of the law enforcement vehicles.
Given Parias’s continued refusal to comply with agents’ orders, an agent attempted to break the Camry’s driver’s side window. Parias still refused to submit to arrest, and then drove the Camry more aggressively, forwards towards one law enforcement vehicle. Parias’s aggressive driving escalated to the point that large plumes of smoke formed around the Camry, apparently caused by the spinning of the car’s tires.
Not only was the Camry accelerating aggressively forward, but the rear of the car began to fishtail, which caused the agents to fear that Parias might lose control of the Camry and hit them. Parias’s aggressive acceleration of the Camry also caused debris (likely rubber being shed from the tires themselves) to fly into the air, which struck some of the agents.
All these factors, including the large amount of smoke produced by the spinning of the Camry’s tires, caused the agents on scene to fear that Parias would successfully dislodge the Camry from between the Durango and Ram and injure them.
Related to this case, during today’s arrest a federal agent opened fire, wounding Parias and a deputy marshal, who was struck by a ricochet bullet. Both Parias and the deputy marshal are expected to recover.
A complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
If convicted, Parias would face a statutory maximum sentence of eight years in federal prison.
Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI are investigating this matter, with assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
The General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.
Government Employee Arrested for Unlawful Retention of National Defense InformationRead the Press Release
Ashley Tellis, 64, a U.S. citizen residing in Vienna, Virginia, was arrested on Oct. 11 in connection with his alleged unlawful retention of classified national defense information. Tellis appeared today in the Eastern District of Virginia for a detention hearing.
“Safeguarding our country’s national defense information is a top priority,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Sue J. Bai of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “For those entrusted with our country’s most sensitive information, protecting it is a privilege and solemn responsibility. With the hard work and dedication of our prosecutors and agents, we will hold this defendant accountable for breaching that trust and exploiting his security clearance to unlawfully retain classified information detailing our military capabilities.”
“The FBI arrested Ashley Tellis, a senior advisor at the Department of State and a contractor within the Department of Defense, for allegedly removing over a thousand pages of classified national defense information from government facilities and storing them in his home,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “This arrest should serve as a stark warning to anyone thinking about undermining national security. The FBI and our partners will do everything within our power to find you and hold you accountable.”
“We are fully focused on protecting the American people from all threats, foreign and domestic. The charges as alleged in this case represent a grave risk to the safety and security of our citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Halligan for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The facts and the law in this case are clear, and we will continue following them to ensure that justice is served.”
“U.S. government security clearance holders are entrusted to keep our nation’s most sensitive secrets safe,” said Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the FBI Washington Field Office. “By allegedly removing classified documents from government facilities and storing them in his basement, Mr. Tellis betrayed that trust. The FBI and our federal partners acted quickly to execute a court-authorized search warrant and arrest Tellis to protect our national security and prevent highly classified defense information from falling into the wrong hands.”
According to court documents, Tellis held a Top Secret security clearance with Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access. He has worked for the U.S. Department of State since 2001 and currently serves in addition as a contractor for the Department of Defense’s Office of Net Assessment. He also serves as a Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
As alleged, Tellis accessed classified documents on multiple occasions from secured facilities, including a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) at the Department of Defense and a secure computer system at the Department of State. In one instance, Tellis altered the filename of a classified document, printed portions of it under the altered title, and then deleted the re-named file. In another incident, he was observed placing classified materials into a notepad and concealing them within his personal briefcase before leaving a secured government facility.
During a court-authorized search of Tellis’s residence, investigators recovered over 1,000 pages of documents with classification markings, including materials labeled SECRET and/or TOP SECRET. These documents were found in locked filing cabinets, in a basement home office, and in trash bags stored in a basement utility area.
The FBI Washington Field Office is investigating the case, with valuable assistance from the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Schlessinger for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Leslie Esbrook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Four more charged in $110 million hospice fraud schemeRead 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 – Seven Houston residents are now charged in a superseding indictment for their roles in a Medicare fraud scheme involving patients not terminally ill, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Authorities have arrested Hattie Banks, 49, Humble; Lydia Obere, 59, and Cheryl Brooks, 64, both of Houston; and Ena Cowart, 50, Missouri City. They join Dera Ogudo, 40, Victoria Martinez, 36, both of Richmond, and Evelyn Shaw, 52, Houston, who were previously taken into custody.
According to the 43-count superseding indictment, returned Oct. 5, all seven conspired to fraudulently bill Medicare and Medicaid for more than $110 million for hospice services provided to patients who were not terminally ill.
The charges allege Ogudo and Martinez operated United Palliative & Hospice Company, a business that misled elderly patients and their families about services billed to Medicare and Medicaid.
Court documents allege UPHC marketers told Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and their families they qualified for hospice care even though many patients were not terminally ill, as required. Ogudo allegedly paid kickbacks to group homeowners and others who helped enroll patients and to Shaw, a hospital discharge coordinator, for referrals. Ogudo also bribed a physician to falsely certify and re-certify patients as terminally ill, according to the charges.
The indictment further alleges that after authorities searched UPHC, Ogudo and Martinez opened new hospice companies – Residential Hospice and Cedar Hospice – under straw ownership to continue the fraud. They then allegedly conspired to launder Medicare reimbursements from those companies through accounts Martinez and others controlled before transferring the funds into other accounts to conceal Ogudo’s ownership and control.
All are charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, multiple counts of health care fraud, conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks and substantive violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute. Ogudo is additionally charged with 14 counts of engaging in monetary transactions involving criminally derived property. Any of these counts could result in up to 10 years in prison. Ogudo and Martinez also face one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering which carries a penalty of up to 20 years. Each conviction also carries a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
The FBI, Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General and Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn Olson and Brad Gray are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Four Foreign Nationals Sentenced in Multi-State ATM and Retail Skimming ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – Four foreign nationals, illegally present in the United States, who admitted to participating in a multi-state scheme that compromised more than 15,000 credit, debit, and Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards were sentenced in federal court for their roles in the conspiracy, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
An investigation revealed that from May 2023 through February 2024, the co-conspirators placed card skimming devices on point-of-sale terminals at various locations of major retailers and on ATMs of various financial institutions in Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. The devices captured customers’ personal financial account information, which the defendants then used to create counterfeit cards and withdraw cash.
In Rhode Island, more than 200 debit cards were compromised at two Rhode Island financial institutions, resulting in over $300,000 of unauthorized ATM withdrawals from 67 customer accounts.
U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. sentenced the defendants as follows:
- Nicolas Longin Codreanu, 23, a citizen of Ireland and Romania, was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment and ordered to pay approximately $306,000 in restitution.
- Armando Ion Codreanu, 24, a citizen of Romania, was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment and ordered to pay approximately $306,000 in restitution.
- Isabella Ignat Codreanu, 24, a citizen of the United Kingdom, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment and ordered to pay approximately $306,000 in restitution.
- Robby Vicson Codreanu, 21, a citizen of the United Kingdom, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment and ordered to pay approximately $306,000 in restitution.
Each defendant previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit access device fraud; producing and using counterfeit access devices; possession of fifteen or more counterfeit access devices; possession of device making equipment; and use of fraudulent access device to receive payment.
Two additional defendants, Codreanu’s wife, Mila Ciuciu, 21, and Ionut Zamfir, 38, both citizens of Romania, are awaiting trial.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ronald R. Gendron
The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Bristol Police Department, with the assistance of the Warwick Police Department, Coventry Police Department, Westerly Police Department, Johnston Police Department, Seekonk Police Department, United States Secret Service, and Homeland Security Investigations agents in Lafayette, LA, New York, NY, and Los Angeles, CA.
Foster Man Sentenced for Downloading and Storing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Foster man who previously pleaded guilty to receipt of child sexual abuse material was sentenced today in federal court, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
John Q. Adams, 36, was sentenced by U.S District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 15 years in federal prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Adams will also be required to register as a sex offender in accordance with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
According to information presented to the court, on January 13, 2021, Adams downloaded and stored an explicit video file depicting child sexual abuse material involving two adult males and a prepubescent female. Further investigation determined that Adams had downloaded and stored approximately 112 images and 49 videos of child sexual abuse material.
At the time of the offense, Adams had previously been convicted and incarcerated for sharing sexually explicit photographs online with a person he believed to be a 13-year-old girl whom he also attempted to meet near her middle school to engage in sex.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Denise M. Barton.
The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual 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 locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc
To report suspected online child sexual exploitation and/or abuse, call the Know2Protect Tipline at 1-833-591-KNOW (5669) or visit the NCMEC CyberTipline® at https://report.cybertip.org/
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Eufaula Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Frank William Shouse, age 69, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine, and one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, both punishable by up to 20 years of imprisonment.
The Indictment alleged that on August 21, 2025, Shouse knowingly and intentionally distributed a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. The Indictment also alleged that on August 29, 2025, Shouse knowingly and intentionally possessed a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine with intent to distribute it.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office, and the District 18 District Attorney’s Office.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, 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.
Shouse will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.
DEA Announces Upcoming Prescription Drug Take Back DayRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Kurt Wall announces support of DEA’s Annual Prescription Drug Take Back Day to be held on October 25, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is a bi-annual event that aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms. Liquids, including intravenous solutions, syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs will not be accepted. Vaping devices and cartridges will be accepted as long as the lithium batteries are removed.
In addition to DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, prescription drugs can be disposed of at any of the 11,000 authorized collectors at any time throughout the year. For more information, visit www.dea.gov/takebackday.
D. Michael Dunavant Sworn in to Serve Again as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of TennesseeRead the Press Release
D. Michael DunavantMemphis, TN – Michael Dunavant was sworn in on October 10, 2025, as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. In a brief ceremony, U.S. District Judge Mark S. Norris administered the oath of office at the Odell Horton Federal Building in Memphis.
Dunavant was nominated by President Donald J. Trump on June 30, 2025, and was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 7, 2025. Dunavant is currently serving for the second time as the Presidentially Appointed, Senate Confirmed United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. In that role, he is the 50th and 54th person to serve as the chief federal prosecutor and legal representative of the United States for the 22 counties and approximately 1.6 million citizens of West Tennessee. Mr. Dunavant is the first person to serve the district twice as the Presidential appointee, having previously served as U.S. Attorney from 2017–2021 during the first Trump administration.
“I want to thank President Trump for nominating and appointing me serve in this important role again, and I am appreciative of Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty for their strong support during the confirmation process. Because I have previously served in this role, I am fully prepared to immediately carry out the priorities of the Department of Justice in West Tennessee and to faithfully execute and enforce the laws of Congress. Together with the dedicated professionals in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners, we will make Memphis and West Tennessee safe again by pursuing justice for victims, imposing consequences for criminals, upholding and promoting respect for the rule of law, supporting law enforcement, protecting the United States Treasury, and delivering better public safety outcomes for our citizens. I am glad to be back and ready to get to work.”
In addition to his service as the U.S. Attorney, Mr. Dunavant has served as the Deputy Executive Director of Legal Services & Policy for the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference from 2023-2025; the Chief Investigative Counsel for the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury Division of Investigations from 2021-2023; and the elected District Attorney General for the 25th Judicial District of Tennessee, where he served as the chief state criminal prosecutor for Lauderdale, Tipton, Fayette, Hardeman, and McNairy counties in West Tennessee from 2006-2017. Prior to his service as District Attorney, Mr. Dunavant was a partner in the law firm of Carney, Wilder & Dunavant in Ripley, Tennessee.
A native of Ripley, Mr. Dunavant holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and a Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree with honors from the University of Mississippi at Oxford. He has been practicing law in Tennessee since 1995.
Cartersville man charged federally after allegedly threatening to “shoot up the airport”Read the Press Release
ATLANTA – Billy Joe Cagle, a convicted felon, has been charged via criminal complaint with attempted violence at an international airport, interstate communications containing threats to injure the person of another, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
“As alleged in this complaint, Cagle senselessly threatened to do heinous violence to innocent travelers, at the world’s busiest airport, with a high-powered weapon that he had no legal right to possess,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Thanks to the vigilance of other citizens and the quick action of law enforcement, a horrible tragedy was averted.”
“This is a perfect example of ‘See Something, Say Something’ in action,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “When Billy Joe Cagle’s family noticed something wasn’t right, they alerted authorities. Their quick thinking—combined with the swift, heroic response of our law enforcement partners—undoubtedly saved lives.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On October 20, 2025, Billy Joe Cagle was on a FaceTime call where he allegedly threatened to “shoot up the airport.” The airport he referenced was Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. On the call while he was driving, Cagle allegedly stated, “I’m at the airport, and I’m gonna go rat-a-tat-tat,” after which he abruptly ended the call.
The person he was talking to drove to the Cartersville Police Department to report his threat. Officers then contacted the Atlanta Police Department to alert them, passed along images of Cagle, along with a description of the vehicle he was alleged to be driving.
After a brief search, officers located Cagle in the airport terminal and arrested him. Just outside the terminal doors, officers located his Chevrolet truck parked blocking a crosswalk in front of the terminal entrance. Inside the vehicle, officers discovered an AR-15-style firearm, and 27 rounds of ammunition.
Billy Joe Cagle, 49, of Cartersville, Ga., has been charged with violations of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 37(a) attempted violence at an international airport, 875(c) interstate communications containing threats to injure the person of another, and 922(g)(1) possessing a firearm after having previously been convicted of a felony offense.
The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with valuable assistance provided by the Cartersville and Atlanta Police Departments, and the Clayton County District Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Jones is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Brooklyn Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Kidnapping Child from Berks County in 2022Read the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Duane Taylor, 50, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced today to life in prison by United States District Judge John M. Gallagher for the abduction of a minor child from her home in Reading, Pennsylvania, and transportation of that child across state lines to Taylor’s residence. Taylor was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution and $3,500 in fees and assessments.
In January 2023, Taylor was charged by superseding indictment with kidnapping, travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, production of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and transportation of child pornography. He pleaded guilty to all counts in June of this year.
As detailed in court filings, on the morning of August 31, 2022, City of Reading police officers responded to the victim’s home when the child’s mother reported her missing from her bedroom, where she had last seen her daughter around 10:30 p.m. the evening prior before going to bed. After searching for the child, her mother observed that the back door of their residence was wide open, and law enforcement found the chain lock on that door was broken.
Investigators reviewed video surveillance footage from the home’s security system, which showed a person entering the living room area at approximately 2 a.m. and proceeding to the stairs leading to the second floor. A short time later, the victim is seen walking down those stairs and through the living room, followed by the person who was later identified as the defendant, whom the victim’s mother also stated was her former boyfriend.
Reading investigators contacted the New York City Police Department, who traced the defendant to his residence in Brooklyn, but did not locate the victim there. The victim was located later that day when a citizen called 911 to report a child alone and asking for help because she had been kidnapped from Pennsylvania.
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 the FBI, the Reading Police Department, and the New York City Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rosalynda M. Michetti and 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.
Arrests Aimed at Dismantling a Transnational Fraud Organization in “Operation Silver Shores”Read the Press Release
silver_shores_redacted_second_superseding_indictment.pdfArrests were made today across the United States, in California, Texas, and Florida, following the indictment of more than 20 members of a transnational criminal organization charged with conspiring to commit wire fraud and money laundering, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Operation Silver Shores, an investigation into a sophisticated transnational fraud organization operating out of the United States and several countries in Latin America, resulted in the arrests of 15 individuals responsible for stealing more than $30 million from mostly elderly American victims.
“The indictment announced today exposes a telemarketing scam that deliberately targeted our vulnerable elderly citizens and yielded more than $30 million in devastating financial losses to victims across the country,” U.S. Attorney Grant said. “But my office will relentlessly pursue justice, hold fraudsters accountable, and work tirelessly to safeguard seniors from such predatory schemes.”
“Today, the FBI delivered a decisive blow against violent gangs with the success of Operation Silver Shores,” said Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel of the FBI Sacramento Field Office. “The Norteños and their gang affiliates arrested today are moving into sophisticated financial crimes targeting our communities’ most vulnerable, the elderly. This takedown sends a clear message: we will not tolerate criminals exploiting our communities.”
“The defendants orchestrated a multi-million-dollar transnational fraud scheme by deceiving victims into believing they were entitled to restitution from a timeshare lawsuit – then demanding upfront fees to release the supposed funds,” said IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS‑CI) Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen. “Let this serve as a clear warning to fraudsters that financial crimes will lead to arrest and prosecution. IRS-CI special agents are committed to tracing illicit proceeds, holding perpetrators accountable, and deterring future financial crimes.”
U.S. Postal Inspection Service San Francisco Division Inspector in Charge Stephen Sherwood said, “Postal Inspectors have always stood against fraud in the U.S. mails, so I am proud of the dedication of the postal inspectors who participated in this investigation. Postal customers face victimization from increasingly complex and organized criminal enterprises, which is why teamwork like today’s operation is so important. We would like to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California and our federal law enforcement partners for their collaboration in bringing these defendants to face justice in a court of law.”
Members of the criminal organization contacted victims through phone calls and emails using the false identities of attorneys and government officials. Many of the victims owned or previously owned timeshares and were told that they were entitled to receive money related to legal settlements concerning their timeshares. The organization used various tactics to extract money from the victims.
The organization utilized a complicated web of shell companies, fictitious business names, and financial accounts to launder the money received from victims. The defendants moved money from victims to co-conspirators through a series of layered financial transactions, designed to obscure the true nature of the transactions. The defendants then transferred fraud proceeds to bank accounts controlled by the organization’s members located in the United States, Latin America, and elsewhere.
The organization used various tactics to evade financial institutions’ anti-money laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) policies and procedures by misrepresenting to financial institutions the true purpose and nature of their activities. When questioned by financial institutions about the financial activity, the defendants misrepresented the true nature of the transactions. The defendants also conducted much of their money laundering activity through financial technology companies, including those specializing in international transactions, cryptocurrency exchanges, and smaller financial institutions that they believed had weaker AML/KYC controls.
To date, investigators have identified more than 372 victims and losses exceeding $30 million. Investigators have identified and seized more than $1.5 million in victim funds and are continuing to locate and seize additional assets.
The following were arrested today and are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering:
- Piera Salgado Teleki, 34, of Berkeley, Calif.
- Maira Liset Chavez, 36, of Marysville, Calif.
- Sergio Madrigal Lacayo Jr., 39, of Stockton, Calif.
- Celina Martinez, 44, of San Jose, Calif.
- Ashley Molina, 32, of Amarillo, Texas.
- Carlos Zamora, 40, of Port Saint Lucie, Florida.
- Stephanie Alonzo, 42, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
- Ricardo Plascencia, 32, of Amarillo, Texas.
- Samuel Lopez, 45, of Amarillo, Texas.
- Veronica Puentes, 40, of Port Saint Lucie, Florida.
The following additional California residents were arrested today and are charged as noted:
- Antonio Palafox Aguilar, 33, of Fresno, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, one count of wire fraud, and one count of money laundering.
- Felix Alejandro, 39, of Bakersfield, currently a federal inmate at UPS Florence-High, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, two counts of wire fraud, and one count of money laundering.
- Alejandro Cuarenta, 33, of Bakersfield, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, one count of wire fraud, and one count of money laundering.
- Jennifer Magana, 29, of Fresno, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, one count of wire fraud, and one count of money laundering.
- Anthony Chavez, 27, of Fremont, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, one count of wire fraud, and one count of money laundering.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Bakersfield Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Truckee Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey A. Spivak and Cody S. Chapple are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, the defendants face a range of sentences. The maximum statutory penalty for wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud is 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum statutory penalty for money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering is 20 years in prison and a fine up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater. 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 defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about OCDETF, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated and prosecuted by the California Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
Accountant Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for $8 Million Tax FraudRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Rodney Ermel, 71, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $8,087,385 in restitution to the IRS by United States District Judge Mark A. Kearney for tax evasion and conspiracy to defraud the United States.
The defendant was charged with those offenses by superseding indictment in March 2024 and pleaded guilty in April of this year.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Ermel owned and managed a Colorado-based accounting firm. Along with co-defendant Kenneth Bacon, Ermel provided accounting and tax preparation services for co-defendant Joseph LaForte, LaForte’s wife and co-defendant Lisa McElhone, and their business entities. Ermel conspired with LaForte, Bacon, and others to hide approximately $20 million in income.
He did this through various fraudulent accounting practices, such as fabricating shareholder loans and “bad debt” deductions. Ermel also filed tax returns which he knew underreported taxable income by over $20 million between 2016 and 2018. Ermel’s fraud caused a loss to the United States of over $8 million.
This case was investigated by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Newcomer and John J. Boscia for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Trial Attorney Ezra Spiro of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
Note: the posting of this press release was delayed, due to the federal government shutdown from October 1, 2025, to November 12, 2025.
20 October 2025
Two Men Arrested and Charged in Brutal Attack and Attempted Carjacking of Former DOGE StafferRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Laurence Cotton-Powell, 19, of the District, and Anthony Taylor, 18, of Temple Hills, Maryland, have been charged in Superior Court for their roles in the August 3 attempted carjacking, robbery, and beating of a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer. Cotton-Powell made his initial appearance in D.C. Superior Court on Friday, October 17, and Taylor made his initial apperance in D.C. Superior Court on Saturday, October 18, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Both men also are charged in connection with a separate attack and robbery of a male victim at a gas station that immediately preceded the attack on the DOGE staffer.
Cotton-Powell was arrested on October 16; Taylor was arrested on October 17. Both are charged with attempted unarmed carjacking, two counts of robbery, and two counts of assault with intent to commit robbery.
Joining in the announcement were Commander Don Snider of the United States Marshals Service and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
“We are leaving no stone unturned to bring to justice criminals who perpetrate random, unprovoked, and brutal attacks on people who are unlucky enough to be in their path,” U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This is about the safety of individuals in this community – make no mistake, the rights of victims are paramount, and we will pursue justice, swiftly and vigorously on their behalf.”
According to court documents, Cotton-Powell and Taylor were members of a large group that approached a male victim and his friends outside of a Sunoco gas station on the 1400 block of U Street at about 2:53 a.m. The group began to assault the victim and his friends. Cotton-Powell allegedly stomped on the victim’s head, and Taylor participated in the assault. The victim briefly escaped, but group members followed and knocked him to the ground and continued their attack. They robbed the victim of his watch and one of his shoes. Several of the victim’s friends also were assaulted by the group.
After the assaults and robbery, surveillance footage showed the group walking towards the 1400 block of Swann Street, NW.
Less than ten minutes later, about 3 a.m., the group encountered the DOGE employee on Swann Street, NW as he walked a woman to her car. The DOGE employee pushed the woman into her car to protect her from the group. The group allegedly attacked the DOGE employee, punching him and hitting him repeatedly. Members of the group demanded the car, banged on it, and pulled on the car doors. The woman had locked the doors, so they were unable to gain entry.
An MPD officer on patrol pulled into the block and witnessed the group as it assaulted the DOGE employee. When the group spotted the officer, they immediately fled. Police stopped and arrested two 15-year-old juveniles.
Following his arrest on Thursday, October 16, Cotton-Powell was interviewed by Metropolitan Police Officers and admitted to assaulting the victim at the gas station. He also admitted to kicking and punching another victim later that night, which law enforcement tied to the assault on the DOGE employee.
Following his arrest on Friday, October 17, Taylor was interviewed by police, and also admitted to taking part in both offenses. He admitted that he was the person who approached the DOGE staffer and demanded the keys to the car and admitted to punching and kicking the DOGE staffer, and he also admitted to taking part in the earlier assault of the victim at the gas station.
This case is being investigated by the MPD and the United States Marshals Service.
Suburban Houston woman charged with wire fraud, assaulting officer and threatening to kill a witnessRead 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 20-count indictment has been unsealed following the arrest of a 56-year-old Porter resident for fraudulently applying for and receiving a newly built house worth $435,000, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei.
Sharai Poteet also allegedly threatened to kill a witness and assaulted a federal officer. She made her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan.
According to the indictment returned Oct. 9, Poteet submitted fraudulent loan applications that falsely claimed 11 people – including seven children and a disabled adult - were household members. As a result of the alleged false claims and aggravated identity theft, Poteet received assistance in the form of a custom seven-bedroom home.
The charges allege the funds used to construct the home were intended for victims impacted by Hurricane Harvey through a program the Department of Housing and Urban Development administered. The home Poteet received was the largest the program was responsible for building at that time, according to the allegations.
The indictment further alleges Poteet submitted three additional fraudulent disaster relief claims to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for storms that occurred between 2021 and 2024. During the investigation, she also allegedly threatened to kill a whistle-blower in an attempt to silence them.
Poteet allegedly assaulted a federal agent and attempted to flee during an operation intended to seize her cell phone.
If convicted of any of the seven counts of wire fraud, Poteet faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million. Each of the two counts of obstruction of justice also carry a possible 20-year prison sentence, while she could receive another eight years upon conviction of assaulting a federal officer. She is also charged with seven counts of aggravated identify theft, each of which carry a mandatory two years which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed.
HUD-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Shalimar Addy is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Registered sex offender sentenced to 15 years for downloading 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.
HOUSTON – A 55-year-old Pasadena resident has been sentenced to federal prison for receipt of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Bo Rain Wells pleaded guilty July 14.
U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen has now sentenced Wells to 180 months in prison. He will also be required to serve 25 years on supervised release following the completion of his prison term, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. The court also noted Wells was already a registered sex offender due to his 2006 conviction of aggravated sexual assault of a child in Harris County. Restitution will be determined at a later date.
“People who view child sex abuse material create a demand for the sexual exploitation of defenseless children,” said Ganjei. “Watching child pornography is therefore not a victimless offense. The Southern District of Texas is determined to stamp out this sickening conduct.”
On July 26, 2024, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at Wells’ residence in Pasadena and seized several electronic devices. Some included hard drives which contained 39 terabytes of pornography.
The files included videos of prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations Galveston conducted the investigation with the assistance of Pearland Police Department and Houston-Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hileman prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.
Preventing victims of flooding caused by Typhoon Halong from becoming the victims of fraudRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – About one week ago, many of our fellow Alaskans witnessed devastation at a level that many of us will never experience. Flooding caused by the remnants of Typhoon Halong hit our western coastline causing at least one known death, destroying residences, and leaving more than 1,500 victims with no place to stay, food to eat, or clean water to drink. While rescue operations have been ongoing at a feverish pace and likely saved many lives, Alaskans affected by this disaster are in a situation where they can see no hope for a return to their normal lives on the horizon. Sadly, it is at this precise time when fraudsters located across the globe seek to satisfy their own heartless greed by depriving victims of assistance that they may receive either through government channels and/or charitable contributions.
As a warning to fraudsters thinking of targeting our flood victims, such people should know that Title 18 United States Code, Section 1040, punishes those who commit fraud in connection with major disaster and emergency benefits with up to 30 years in federal prison and that we will aggressively investigate and prosecute such criminal conduct.
The National Center for Disaster Fraud (“NCDF”), a national coordinating agency, was created by a partnership between the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division and various law enforcement and regulatory agencies. Its goal is to improve and further the detection, prevention, investigation, and prosecution of fraud related to natural and man-made disasters, and to advocate for the victims of such fraud.
Experience has shown that criminals exploit disasters for their own selfish gain by sending fraudulent communications through email or social media and by creating deceiving websites designed to solicit contributions. These fraudsters will engage in phishing, which involves deceiving individuals to provide their personal identifiers, credit card numbers, and bank account information. They will also engage in spoofing, which involves disguising their own phone numbers and websites to appear as being from known and trusted entities such as federal relief agencies and non-profit organizations to fraudulently obtain funds.
I unfortunately expect that criminals will target flood victims and individuals wanting to make charitable contributions to those victims. The following examples of disaster-related fraud are based on over 300,000 complaints submitted to the NCDF, and are provided to help victims avoid being victimized twice -- by the storm and then by criminals:
- Fake charities immediately soliciting donations using the names of well-known charities or appearing reasonable as related to a disaster (to include email, website, and caller ID spoofing)
- Individuals impersonating government officials, non-profit organization representatives, and insurance company representatives advising that disaster assistance will be made available should the potential victim provide a sum of money or personal identifiers such as date of birth, social security number, and bank account information (name of financial institution, routing number, and account number)
- Individuals soliciting victims to invest in non-existent businesses and ventures offering recovery efforts such as cleanup, rebuilding, and making structures (homes) more resistant to future disasters, for example, elevating structures to minimize future flood risks)
- Individuals overcharging for goods and services needed by victims of disaster, also known as price-gouging
- Theft of property from businesses and residences abandoned because of a disaster (either evacuation pre-disaster or to obtain living accommodations because of damaged apartments and homes)
Recommended Measures to Avoid Becoming a Victim:
- Only make donations to known charities and only after contacting the charity directly and not in response to an email, instant message, phone call, text, etc. A recommended step is to research the charity by visiting recognized charity information/rating websites such as the www.Give.org, CharityNavigator.org, and CharityWatch.org
- Never click on a link in an unsolicited email, instant message, text, etc.
- Never assume that charity solicitations posted on the internet and social media are legitimate
- Avoid cash donations to charities - use a credit card or pay with a check. Never transmit donations to a named individual
- Charities do not seek donations via electronic fund (financial institution)/wire transfers, so do not wire donations
- Avoid being victimized by impersonators of government officials, insurance companies, investment companies, etc., by terminating the phone call or other exchange of information (e.g., email, texts) and calling the actual government agency, insurance company, and/or investment company directly using a well-advertised phone number or email address
Individuals who have been targeted by fraudsters, been the victim of disaster-related fraud, or suspect that someone is engaging in disaster fraud are encouraged to contact law enforcement at any of the following: (1) the NCDF at (866) 720-572 or online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm; or (2) the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI; tips.fbi.gov; or ic3.gov, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for internet-based fraud.
Michael J. Heyman
United States Attorney
District of Alaska
Philadelphia Used Car Salesman Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Customers Who Sought Wheelchair-Accessible VehiclesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Edward Scott Rock, 49, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge Wendy Beetlestone in connection with a non-delivery sales scheme in which Rock accepted payment for, but failed to deliver, over 100 automobiles, and caused over $1 million in losses.
The defendant, who was charged by indictment in December of 2023, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of wire fraud.
As detailed in court filings, between 2019 and 2023, Rock obtained used vehicles from automobile auctions and then advertised them for sale online. The majority of vehicles sold by Rock to victims were accessible vehicles equipped for wheelchair users or people with disabilities.
Despite signing bills of sale for the vehicles and accepting more than $2.5 million in payments from over 100 victims across three dozen states, Rock did not deliver the vehicles as agreed upon. While some victims were subsequently refunded, often with money received from the scheme’s later victims, the majority of Rock’s victims remain unpaid and without their purchased vehicle. Approximately two-thirds of Rock’s victims were persons with a physical or mobility disability, persons over the age of 65, or businesses which provided transportation services to those populations.
On several occasions, Rock sold the same vehicle to multiple customers. After agreeing to sale terms and accepting payment from a customer for a particular vehicle, Rock continued to list, sell, and accept payment for that same vehicle again, this time from a new victim-purchaser.
In one instance, Rock agreed to sell a particular vehicle — a wheelchair-accessible 2017 Ford T150 van — to 16 different buyers over an 11-month period between February 2022 and January 2023. Despite accepting payments from multiple buyers for this same specific vehicle and collecting over $300,000 all for the same vehicle, Rock only delivered the vehicle to one buyer (and without proper title).
To induce buyers to purchase vehicles, Rock also occasionally used a forged letter to falsely certify that the vehicles listed for sale were compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and had undergone a conversion with a reputable manufacturer of wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on January 29, 2026, and faces a maximum possible sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine, along with victim restitution.
The case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the Philadelphia Police Department Major Crimes Auto Squad and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Bureau of Consumer Protection. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Samuel S. Dalke and Jessica Rice.
Note: the posting of this press release was delayed, due to the federal government shutdown from October 1, 2025, to November 12, 2025.
PharMerica pays $778,000 to settle DEA recordkeeping violationsRead 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 – Houston-based pharmacy PharMerica and its parent company PharMerica Corporation of America have settled allegations that they violated the Controlled Substances Act, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
PharMerica is a nationwide institutional pharmacy services provider specializing in long-term care, senior living and other healthcare settings. It operates locations across the United States, including several in Texas.
The pharmacy, located on Post Oak Road, is registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to handle Schedule II-V controlled substances.
According to the settlement agreement, a DEA on-site inspection in June 2024 revealed multiple recordkeeping failures. PharMerica allegedly failed to maintain required records intended to prevent the diversion of controlled substances. Among the alleged violations, PharMerica failed to maintain complete and accurate records of eight of eight controlled substances audited, failed to maintain dispensing records in a readily retrievable manner for seven of eight audited controlled substances and failed to keep complete records of transfer for collected controlled substances.
“The Controlled Substances Act is designed to keep tight controls on those who manufacture, distribute and dispense controlled substances so that dangerous narcotics are not diverted for illicit purposes,” said Ganjei. “When a registrant fails to adhere to the rules, diversion can, and often does, occur. Today’s settlement is an important step in preventing similar conduct by others.”
“Failing to monitor highly addictive controlled substances is not just a violation, but a threat to public safety and will lead to hefty fines,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan C. Pullen of the DEA’s Houston Division. DEA Houston Diversion’s unwavering commitment to keeping our communities safe will continue to hold companies accountable for any mishandling of prescription drugs that could fall into the wrong hands.”
DEA conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill O. Venezia prosecuted the case.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no admission of liability.
Man Admits Concealing Death of Disabled Veteran for Years to Steal Government BenefitsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A convicted felon from Salem, Missouri on Friday admitted neglecting his uncle, a U.S. Army veteran with quadriplegia, for years and then concealing his death to fraudulently obtain $1.8 million in his uncle’s disability benefits.
Brian K. Ditch, 45, pleaded guilty to four felony counts of wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Ditch was solely responsible for his uncle’s care beginning in 2008. Instead of properly caring for his uncle, Ditch kept him locked away and subjected him to insufficient care and verbal abuse. After fraudulently gaining access to his uncle’s financial accounts, Ditch regularly wired himself money. When his uncle died around 2019, Ditch concealed his death from relatives, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Social Security Administration so that he could continue to steal his uncle’s money. Ditch hid the body in a shed behind his house, telling relatives that he had moved his uncle into a nursing home and police that his uncle was living with another caregiver.
Since 2008, the VA’s Disability Compensation program deposited approximately $1.6 million into his account. Ditch’s uncle also received a total of $235,210 in benefits from the Social Security Administration.
Ditch used the money for personal purchases, including exotic reptiles and firearms. As a convicted felon, Ditch is barred from possessing firearms.
Ditch is scheduled to be sentenced on January 8. Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine. The felon in possession charge is punishable by up to 15 years and the same fine. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory penalty of two years in prison, consecutive to any other charge.
The Salem Police Department, the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.
This press release was posted November 13, after the end of the federal government shutdown.
Illegal Alien Sentenced for Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Carlos Mendoza-Padilla, a/k/a Marvin Antino, a/k/a Carlos Ivan Mendoza-Padilla, a/k/a Carlos Ivan Mendoza, a Honduran national unlawfully present in Carter County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Carter County Sheriff's Office.
On June 5, 2025, Mendoza-Padilla pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on May 4, 2025, Mendoza-Padilla, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on February 19, 2016, and November 18, 2016.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.
Mendoza-Padilla 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. Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States at the hearing.
Illegal Alien Sentenced for Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Mariano Gabriel-Gabriel, a/k/a Mariana Gabriel, a/k/a Gabriel Mariano, age 28, a Mexican national unlawfully present/residing in LeFlore County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the LeFlore County Sheriff’s Office.
On August 11, 2025, Gabriel-Gabriel pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on June 30, 2025, Gabriel-Gabriel, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on May 11, 2017.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States at the hearing.
Illegal Alien Sentenced for Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Manuel Lira-Aguilar, a/k/a Jesus Lira Aguilar, a/k/a Manuel Edward Aguilar III, a/k/a Jesus Lira Manuel, a/k/a Pero Marquez, age 50, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Carter County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Carter County Sheriff's Office.
On June 9, 2025, Lira-Aguilar pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on October 21, 2024, Lira-Aguilar, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on February 2, 2016.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States at the hearing.
DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day set for October 25, 2025Read the Press Release
BILLINGS — 13.5% of Montana high school youth report using a prescription medication without a prescription, according to the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey by the Montana Office of Public Instruction. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day narrows this gateway to opioid addiction.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana joins the Drug Enforcement Administration in support of the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 25. The biannual event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at sites across Montana. The event is an effort to rid homes of potentially dangerous, expired, and unused prescription drugs.
Medicines that languish in homes are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses from these drugs.
“We all know unused prescriptions, particularly opioids, pose a danger to Montanans, especially to children. We encourage everyone to participate in the DEA’s Drug Take Back Day by cleaning out their medicine cabinets. It’s a quick and easy way to help make our communities safer,” U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Numerous sheriff’s offices, police departments and federal agencies across Montana are participating in Take Back Day. Information about collection sites and more information about the event is available here: https://www.dea.gov/takebackday. Montana also offers year-round collection at many locations, including pharmacies, hospitals, and health centers, which can be found at these two websites: https://dphhs.mt.gov/BHDD/SubstanceAbuse/dropboxlocations, and https://www.dea.gov/everyday-takeback-day.
During the last Take Back Day held on April 26, 2025, 4,472 law enforcement participants at 4,590 collection sites across the country brought in a total weight of 620,321 pounds, or 310 tons, of drugs. This brings the total weight collected to 19.8 million pounds, or more than 9,910 tons, of prescription drugs collected in the history of the program. Collection results may include materials other than prescription drugs.
During the April 2025 event, Montanans turned in 1,229 pounds of prescription drugs at 20 collection sites. Nineteen law enforcement agencies participated. Total all time weight collected in Montana is 59,506 pounds.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the October 25 Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com.
Brooklyn Man Sentenced to More Than 13 Years’ Imprisonment for Distributing Fentanyl That Caused Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Elijah Morales was sentenced by United States District Judge Brian M. Cogan to 158 months’ imprisonment for distributing fentanyl that caused the death of an individual referred to in the indictment as “John Doe.”
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Ricky J. Patel, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentence.
“Far too many people have died tragically from the scourge of fentanyl and other illicit drugs,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “While nothing can bring back this or the other countless victims, hopefully today’s outcome can send a strong message to would-be fentanyl dealers that can save future lives.”
“The defendant's actions were nothing short of reprehensible — peddling a deadly poison, watching his victim succumb to its effects, and then callously delaying lifesaving aid while attempting to cover up his crime, stated HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Patel. “This case exemplifies the devastating consequences of fentanyl distribution and the calculated cruelty of those who profit from it. Together with our partners from the NYPD and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, we will not rest until we dismantle these criminal networks and bring justice to the families devastated by their greed and cruelty.”
“Elijah Morales allegedly distributed dangerous fentanyl, prioritized drug profits over people’s safety, and flooded our city with his poison,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “With a chance to save the life of someone overdosing, Morales chose to save himself, delaying a life-or-death call to 911 to cover up his crimes. I would like to thank our NYPD investigators and partners at HSI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their work in removing this individual off our streets.”
As set forth in court filings, on June 21, 2023, at approximately 4:00 a.m., an anonymous caller to 911 (later determined to be Morales) reported that he had found an unknown individual—John Doe—unconscious in the stairwell of an apartment building in Brooklyn where the defendant’s grandmother resided. Morales claimed on the call that he had gone out to smoke a cigarette when he observed John Doe next to the staircase in the hallway of the dwelling. Shortly thereafter, medics arrived and attempted to revive John Doe but were unsuccessful. John Doe’s cause of death was acute fentanyl intoxication.
The investigation revealed that Morales lied to the 911 operator. In reality, he had distributed narcotics to John Doe at or around 2:20 a.m.—approximately two hours prior to his call to 911 and approximately three hours before John Doe was pronounced dead. Among other evidence, surveillance footage from the second-floor landing of the dwelling showed Morales and John Doe engaging in a drug transaction at 2:20 a.m.
The investigation further showed that while John Doe laid unconscious in the stairwell of the dwelling, Morales delayed calling 911 by at least approximately one hour while he scrubbed the scene of evidence of his drug sale to John Doe. The evidence showed that at around 2:50 a.m., John Doe’s mother began repeatedly calling John Doe after Doe failed to respond to text messages from his mother. Video surveillance footage from the dwelling featured the sound of John Doe’s cellphone ringing as John Doe laid unconscious at the bottom of the staircase. From around 3:15 a.m. through 4:06 a.m., surveillance footage from the second floor of the dwelling depicted the Morales entering and exiting his apartment and picking up various items from the floor of the hallway while John Doe’s cellphone sporadically played in the background. At around 3:54 a.m., the surveillance footage depicted Morales as he exited his apartment, picked up a bag of white powder from the stairwell floor—consistent in appearance with the bag in which he had delivered the fatal drugs to John Doe—held up the bag to observe the remains of its contents, and then re-entered his apartment.
At approximately 4:07 a.m., Morales contacted 911 and falsely claimed that John Doe was an unknown individual asleep in the hallway of his grandmother’s building. Surveillance footage captured from the first-floor landing during the 911 call showed the defendant speaking with a 911 operator while John Doe laid unconscious at the bottom of the stairwell.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorney Sean M. Sherman is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
ELIJAH MORALES
Age: 24
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-526 (BMC)
Baltimore Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Possessing Firearm and Ammunition as a FelonRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Nathaniel Ratchford, 40, of Baltimore, Maryland, to seven years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a prohibited person while also on federal supervised release.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
On February 16, 2024, BPD Detectives and other BPD Group Violence Unit members conducted a foot patrol in the 1200 block of West Baltimore Street. While on patrol, officers observed Ratchford sprinting away after he spotted other law enforcement officers.
After running several city blocks, the on-foot detectives observed Ratchford extending his left hand from his waistband and throwing an object before continuing to flee. The on-foot detectives’ body-worn cameras captured a loud “clink” sound, prompting one detective to yell “GUN.” One on-foot detective stayed behind to look for the firearm while the other on-foot detective continued pursuing Ratchford who eventually tripped and fell before law enforcement arrested him.
Police officers searched the area where the detectives witnessed Ratchford discarding a firearm and found a pistol laying on the ground approximately 15 yards from the location law enforcement saw Ratchford running. Detectives retrieved a black Walther PPS 9mm handgun, with one live round in the chamber, and six live rounds in the inserted magazine.
Ratchford was previously convicted of a felony, so he was prohibited from possessing the firearm and ammunition. At the time of the offense, Ratchford was on federal supervised release in connection with a prior federal conviction for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon.
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.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and BPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared M. Beim, who prosecuted the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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17 October 2025
United States Reaches $8.9 Million Settlement with Milwaukee Company Accused of Improperly Taking Bulk Mail DiscountsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri has finalized a civil settlement to resolve allegations that Fiserv Inc. and Fiserv Solutions LLC failed to comply with the United States Postal Service (USPS) Move Update standard and took improper postage discounts.
As part of the settlement, Fiserv will repay the United States $8,994,221, of which $5,032,525 is restitution to the USPS.
Fiserv is a global company, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that provides customers with printing and mailing services for items such as invoices, financial statements, health care related documents and credit cards. Fiserv operates a facility in Hazlewood, Missouri. The settlement announced today resolves allegations that Fiserv did not properly comply with the USPS Move Update standard that allows mailers to claim postage discounts on presorted and bulk mail. The Move Update standard is a means for the USPS to reduce the amount of mail that requires forwarding or return by the periodic matching and updating of addresses.
The settlement resolves allegations brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Deborah Lynn Getchman, a former employee of Fiserv. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Deborah Lynn Getchman v. Fiserv, Inc. and Fiserv Solutions, LLC, Case No. 4:21-cv-00951 in U.S. District Court in St. Louis. Getchman will receive $1,596,474 of the proceeds from the settlement.
“The United States Postal Service provides discounts to mailers who meet the certain standards of reducing the volume of mail that requires being forwarding or returned,” said Tammy Hull, U.S. Postal Service Inspector General. “Any company falsely claiming these discounts should know that we will pursue this fraud and bring them to justice. This case highlights the important role whistleblowers play in our work. We thank this whistleblower for coming forward and reporting these fraudulent activities.”
“We thank the whistleblower in this case and we encourage others who know of an individual or company defrauding the government to bring their concerns forward,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas C. Albus. “This settlement is an example of our important civil enforcement efforts where we work with whistleblowers to protect government funds.”
This civil settlement was a result of the combined work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri and the USPS Office of Inspector General Contract Fraud Investigation Division.
This press release was posted November 13, after the end of the federal government shutdown.
Gaza Man Arrested for Alleged Involvement in October 7, 2023 Terrorist AttacksRead the Press Release
Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub Al-Muhtadi, 33, a Gazan native currently residing in Lafayette, Louisiana, was arrested yesterday for his alleged involvement in the Hamas-led terrorist attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
“After hiding out in the United States, this monster has been found and charged with participating in the atrocities of October 7 — the single deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “While nothing can fully heal the scars left by Hamas’s brutal attack, this Department’s Joint Task Force October 7 is dedicated to finding and prosecuting those responsible for that horrific day, including the murder of dozens of American citizens. We will continue to stand by Jewish Americans and Jewish people around the world against anti-Semitism and terrorism in all its forms.”
“As set forth in documents filed yesterday, on October 7, when Al-Muhtadi learned of the unfolding barbaric attack on Israel and civilians from multiple nations, including the United States, he sprang into action. He armed himself, recruited additional marauders, and then entered Israel, where there is evidence placing him near one of the worst-hit Israeli communities,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Subsequently, Al-Muhtadi fraudulently obtained a visa to enter the United States where he hoped to remain undetected. This arrest is the first public step in bringing to justice those responsible for harming Americans on that day.”
“October 7 is a day that lives in infamy for so many, Gentile and Jew alike, because of the terrorist attack on Israel that began a wave of antisemitic violence,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana. “Let this arrest serve as a reminder both that those who perpetrate acts of terrorism cannot evade justice by hiding in our communities and that state, local, and federal law enforcement — here, the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Louisiana State Police, Lafayette Police Department, and Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office — are working tirelessly to bring these people to justice.”
According to court documents, Al-Muhtadi is an operative for the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine’s (DFLP) military wing, the National Resistance Brigades (NRB, also known as the Martyr Umar al-Qasim Forces), a Gaza-based paramilitary group that participated in the Hamas-led terrorist attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
As alleged, on the morning of Oct. 7, 2023, Al-Muhtadi learned about the Hamas invasion, armed himself, gathered others, and crossed into Israel with the intention of assisting in Hamas’s terrorist attack. According to the complaint, Al-Muhtadi’s phone utilized a cell tower located near Kibbutz Kfar Aza in Israel – the location of a horrifying massacre by Hamas and its supporters resulting in the deaths of many civilians, including at least four American citizens.
In addition, Al-Muhtadi allegedly provided false information in his U.S. visa application relating to his involvement with a paramilitary organization, connection to Hamas, participation in a terrorist attack, and military training. Al-Muhtadi swore to the accuracy of numerous materially false statements in his visa application with respect to at least his affiliation with DFLP, the NRB, and Hamas, his training, and his involvement in the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. According to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection records, Al-Muhtadi entered the United States on Sept. 12, 2024.
Joint Task Force October 7 (JTF 10-7) and the FBI New Orleans Field Office are investigating the case, with valuable assistance from Israeli authorities, including the State Attorney’s Office of Israel, the Israeli Security Agency, Lahav 433 and the Intelligence and Investigation Department of the Israel National Police, the Israel Defense Forces, and the Israeli National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing, as well as the FBI Law Enforcement Attache Office in Israel. The Louisiana State Police, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Lafayette Police Department and the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office also provided significant assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Nickel for the Western District of Louisiana; Trial Attorneys A.J. Dixon, Andrew Sigler and JTF 10-7 Lead Attorney Alicia Cook of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Bedell for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case. Valuable assistance was also provided by Trial Attorney Mark Aziz with the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.
Al-Muhtadi’s presence in the U.S. was discovered by JTF 10-7. Established in February 2025 by Attorney General Pamela Bondi, JTF 10-7 was created to spearhead the Justice Department’s ongoing investigations into the perpetrators of the heinous October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel, in which approximately 1,200 people were murdered by Hamas, including 49 U.S. citizens, and approximately 250 additional people were abducted by Hamas, including 8 U.S. citizens. The task force reinforces the Department’s commitment to degrading and dismantling Hamas, holding Hamas supporters accountable, achieving justice for victims, and fighting terrorist-led antisemitism.
Former postal worker sentenced for stealing mailRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Christopher Porter, 37, of Angola, NY, who was convicted of theft of mail by an officer or employee, was sentenced to serve two years’ probation and 100 hours of community service by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, who handled the case, stated that between 2021 and May 2022, Porter was employed by the United States Postal Service (USPS) as a City Carrier, assigned to the West Seneca Post Office. In October 2021, Porter stole an envelope containing a Wegmans gift card and a Target gift card, which he gave to his wife. In addition, on various dates in March 2022, Porter opened envelopes and mail and rifled through the mail items, delaying their delivery.
The sentencing is a result of an investigation by the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Modafferi.
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Former Ada Resident Pleads Guilty to Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Heather Lynn Harjo, age 39, formerly of Ada, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, punishable by up to eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Information alleged that on April 28, 2025, Harjo unlawfully killed the victim while committing a lawful act which might produce death in an unlawful manner.
The crime occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Ada Police Department, the Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Department, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
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.
Harjo will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Baltimore County Man Pleads Guilty to Overtime Fraud Scheme and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Lawrence Earl Smith, Jr., 51, of Perry Hall, Maryland, pled guilty to federal wire fraud and tax evasion charges. While serving as a Baltimore City School Police Officer and Dunbar High School football coach, Smith created and executed a scheme to submit fraudulent overtime slips. Smith received overtime payments, totaling more than $200,000, for time that he never worked. He also evaded paying more than $60,000 in federal income taxes for 2017, 2019, and 2020.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington D.C. Field Office.
According to the guilty plea, Smith acknowledged that from May 2005 until August 2022, he was employed as a Baltimore City School Police Officer. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Smith was authorized to receive overtime pay to provide security for COVID-19 testing and food sites and he acted as a liaison with the Baltimore Police Department (BPD). He was also authorized to assist BPD in its investigations and to receive overtime pay if he received a BPD request outside of his regular hours for “emergencies” and situations that required an immediate response.
Beginning in January 2019 until August 2022, Smith claimed more than 3,330 hours of fraudulent overtime, totaling at least $200,000 in additional earnings, for hours that he never worked. In several of these instances, Smith was nowhere near the COVID-19 testing or food sites nor assisting BPD. Instead, Smith was at his Baltimore County residence, on his boat in or near the Baltimore Inner Harbor, or out of town on trips, including to Las Vegas, Florida, and the Caribbean. Smith also falsely claimed tax exempt status while failing to file state and federal income tax returns. Additionally, Smith fraudulently caused his employer to abstain from withholding payroll taxes while his income remained unreported. Smith’s employer never withheld or paid his federal income taxes, due to Smith’s false Forms W-4. Since he never filed tax returns to report income, Smith evaded taxes for 2017, 2019, and 2020, causing him to owe the IRS $61,233.40.
Smith faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher scheduled sentencing for April 15, 2026, at 2 p.m.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and IRS-CI for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adeyemi Adenrele and Jared Beim who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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16 October 2025
Voting Machine Company Charged in Philippine Bribery and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A federal grand jury in Miami returned a superseding indictment today charging a multinational company that provides voting machine and election services for participating in a scheme to pay and launder more than $1 million in bribes to a Philippine government official in connection with contracts related to the 2016 Philippine national elections.
The superseding indictment charges SGO Corporation Limited—which, together with the entities within its corporate structure, is commonly known as “Smartmatic” or the “Smartmatic Group”—as well as three of its executives and the former Chairman of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) of the Republic of the Philippines. The four individuals were initially indicted in August 2024.
According to the superseding indictment, between 2015 and 2018, Roger Alejandro Piñate Martinez, 50, a Venezuelan citizen residing in Boca Raton, and Jorge Miguel Vasquez, 64, of Davie, together with others, caused at least $1 million in bribes to be paid to Juan Andres Donato Bautista, 61, the former Chairman of COMELEC. The bribes were allegedly paid to obtain and retain business from COMELEC, including the release of favorable value added tax (VAT) reimbursements and other contractual payments for the benefit of SGO Corporation Limited and its affiliates.
To finance the bribes, the co-conspirators allegedly created a slush fund by over-invoicing the cost per voting machine supplied for the 2016 Philippine elections. To conceal the corrupt payments, they used coded language, created fraudulent contracts and sham loan agreements, and routed transactions through bank accounts in Asia, Europe, and the U.S., including within the Southern District of Florida.
SGO Corporation Limited, Piñate, and Vasquez are charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Piñate and Vasquez are charged with one count of violating the FCPA. Additionally, SGO Corporation Limited, Bautista, Piñate, Vasquez, and Elie Moreno, 45, a dual citizen of Venezuela and Israel, are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and three counts of international laundering of monetary instruments. If convicted, Bautista, Piñate, Vasquez, and Moreno each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of international laundering of monetary instruments and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Piñate and Vasquez face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each of the FCPA and conspiracy to violate the FCPA counts. Bautista and Moreno are fugitives and remain at large.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami, and Special Agent in Charge Emmanuel Gomez of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Miami made the announcement.
HSI’s El Dorado Task Force Miami is investigating the case, with assistance from IRS-CI Miami.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Emery for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Connor Mullin and Jil Simon of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Paster is handling asset forfeiture. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Philippine Department of Justice and Office of the Ombudsman provided assistance.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number case no. 24-cr-20343.
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Two Honduran men arrested, charged with illegal reentryRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Arlen Saul Castillo, 29, and Jonathan Esteban Osario Lopez, 32, both citizens and nationals of Honduras, were arrested and charged in separate criminal complaints with illegal reentry, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaints, on October 8, 2025, a Lancaster police officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle on Central Avenue. the vehicle did not have a license or identification with him. Castillo and Osario Lopez, passengers in the vehicle, were arrested after admitting that they were illegally present in the United States without any valid immigration documents that would allow them to remain. Subsequent investigation determined that Castillo was physically removed from the United States in December 2011, and Osario Lopez was physically removed from the United States in August 2013, and December 2013.
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.
Castillo and Osario Lopez made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. and were detained.
The complaints are the result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge David Banks.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Saudi Arabian National Living in Tulsa Sentenced for Possessing and Attempting to Receive Child PornographyRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Saudi Arabian national living in Tulsa was sentenced today for Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country and Attempted Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. Circuit Judge Gustavo A. Gelpi, Jr., sentenced Mohamad Asaad Alhashem, 31, to 90 months imprisonment, followed by 15 years of supervised release. Upon his release, Alhashem will also be required to register as a sex offender and ordered to pay $60,500 in restitution.
According to court documents, in October 2023, Alhashem began communicating with an undercover officer on social media, whom he believed was 14 years old. Over several weeks, Alhashem asked the 14-year-old about their sexual experiences and described the sexual acts he wanted to have with the minor. He also sent sexual videos of himself and requested photos from the minor.
After a search warrant was executed on Alhashem’s home, law enforcement found 195 images and 19 videos that contained the sexual abuse of children, infants, and toddlers. Law enforcement further found messages where Alhashem was attempting to purchase child sexual abuse material.
Alhashem will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Pryor Creek Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan Michel 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 Justice.gov/PSC.
Repeat felon going back to prison on drug and gun chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Angel Ruiz, 47, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Lynch, who handled the case, stated that in early 2024, law enforcement began targeting the use of the U.S. Postal Service by drug trafficking organizations to ship narcotics into the greater Buffalo area. During the week of October 20, 2024, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service identified two parcels being shipped from California, one destined for a Plymouth Avenue address, the other a Military Road address, both in Buffalo. Investigators determined that the parcels were likely intended for or related to Ruiz, who investigators had previously observed at the Plymouth Avenue address. After both parcels were delivered on October 24, 2024, investigators attempted a traffic stop of Ruiz’s vehicle, but he refused to yield. Investigators subsequently located the vehicle parked near Ruiz’s Ross Avenue residence. Ruiz was taken into custody as he exited his residence.
During a search of the residence, law enforcement found quantities of cocaine and fentanyl pills, and drug paraphernalia. In addition, a handgun with 15 rounds of ammunition was found inside a safe. In the backyard of the Ross Avenue residence, law enforcement located the two parcels that had been mailed to the Plymouth Avenue and Military Road addresses. One of the parcels contained approximately one kilogram of fentanyl and the other contained approximately one kilogram of heroin. Two cell phones were also recovered, which contained a video message sent to Ruiz stating that the parcels had arrived.
Ruiz was convicted of felony crimes in Erie County Court in June 1996, April 2004, February 2008, and June 2022. In addition, he was convicted of a felony crime in United States District Court for the Western District of New York in May 2017. As a result, Ruiz is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.
The sentencing is of the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, New York Field Division, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector-in-Charge Ketty Larco-Ward, Boston Division.
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Philadelphia Men Charged in Connection with Armored Truck RobberiesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Dante Shackleford, 26, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was arrested and charged by indictment in connection with three armored truck robberies and attempted robberies that occurred in July and August of this year, as well as an additional attempted armored truck robbery in October. Mujahid Davis, 24, of Philadelphia, was also arrested and charged in the October attempted armored truck robbery.
Shackleford has been in federal custody since his arrest on a criminal complaint and warrant on October 3.
The indictment alleges that on July 15, 2025, in Philadelphia, and July 22, 2025, in Elkins Park, Pa., Shackleford attempted to rob a Brinks driver of U.S. currency. The indictment further alleges that on August 12, 2025, Shackleford successfully robbed a Brinks driver outside of an H-Mart in Elkins Park. Finally, the indictment alleges that on October 3, 2025, Shackleford and Davis attempted to rob another Brinks driver in Philadelphia.
This investigation is being conducted jointly by the FBI Philadelphia Violent Crimes Task Force and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Eckert and Kwambina Coker.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Note: the posting of this press release was delayed, due to the federal government shutdown from October 1, 2025, to November 12, 2025.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Child Sexual ExploitationRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Eric Mooney, 42, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 40 years in prison, 10 years of supervised release, $9,000 in restitution, and $1,200 in assessments by United States District Judge Gerald J. Pappert for child sexual exploitation offenses.
Mooney was charged by indictment in February 2024 with one count each of production and attempted production of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. He pleaded guilty to all charges against him in February of this year.
As detailed in the court filings, the defendant met the 14-year-old victim online in February 2023 and communicated with her over a messaging app for approximately two weeks, during which he coerced her into engaging in sexually explicit conduct at his direction during live video feeds.
Within weeks of meeting the child, Mooney traveled to Kentucky, convinced her to leave her home in the middle of the night, and brought her back to his home in Philadelphia where he engaged in sexual intercourse. Police later found sexually explicit images and video of this child on the defendant’s electronic devices, as well a copy of the flyer that had been posted when the child disappeared from her home in Kentucky.
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 Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Priya De Souza.
Note: the posting of this press release was delayed, due to the federal government shutdown from October 1, 2025, to November 12, 2025.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for His Role in Violent Armed CarjackingRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Emmanuel Sia, 22, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison, three years’ supervised release, and $42,909 in restitution by United States District Judge Paul S. Diamond for taking part in a violent armed carjacking.
The defendant was charged by indictment in August 2023 with one count of carjacking and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He pleaded guilty to both charges in May of this year.
As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, in the early morning hours of July 11, 2023, Sia and two others carjacked a 26-year-old man who had just parked his car near his Northeast Philadelphia home, with the defendant and others pointing their semiautomatic pistols directly at the victim, at very close range. The carjackers then pistol-whipped the man, took his cell phone, and drove off in his Dodge Charger.
Philadelphia police officers soon located and followed the stolen vehicle. As Sia and his co-defendants were trying to flee police in the Charger, they collided with another vehicle and crashed into a pole on Castor Avenue, where the stolen car caught fire and was destroyed. Police quickly apprehended all three carjackers after the crash.
Sia’s co-defendants, Leevah Mills and Kysime Brown, also pleaded guilty to the charges against them. In September, Mills was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison, and earlier this month, Brown was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department and the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas M. Zaleski.
Note: the posting of this press release was delayed, due to the federal government shutdown from October 1, 2025, to November 12, 2025.