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15 September 2025
Vienna man convicted for travelling to Colombia for commercial sex with a minorRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Vienna man on Sept. 12 on charges of sex trafficking of a child and engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on Nov. 1, 2024, Michael Jamie Inofuentes, 45, a U.S. citizen with residences in Virginia and Colombia, flew into Miami International Airport on a return flight from Colombia, where he was flagged for secondary inspection based on suspicious payments he made to an individual suspected of engaging in child sex trafficking in Colombia. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted a border search of Inofuentes and his belongings. During inspection of his two cellphones, agents identified messages between Inofuentes and a 15-year-old Colombian girl that indicated commercial sex. The victim informed Inofuentes that she was a minor, and they discussed meeting at a hotel in Medellin for sex and negotiated a price. Several months later, the victim informed Inofuentes that she was pregnant and they discussed the possibility of Inofuentes’ paternity.
Inofuentes initially denied having sex with the victim but later admitted to a sexual relationship. Inofuentes also admitted that he has children in Colombia and the mother was a minor when he impregnated her. Inofuentes was allowed to return home after the interview. Three days later, on Nov. 4, 2024, Inofuentes attempted to board a flight at Dulles International Airport to travel to Colombia. He was stopped on the jet bridge and taken to secondary inspection. He admitted that he offered the victim money for sex at a hotel.
Inofuentes faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, when sentenced on Jan. 15, 2026. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Christopher Heck, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C., made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles accepted the verdict.
The HSI Miami Field Office provided valuable and significant assistance in this investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Halper and Laura D. Withers are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-5.
Uintah Basin Man Sentenced to Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Travis Davies, 47, of Vernal, Utah, was sentenced to 97 months’ imprisonment and three years’ supervised release after he trafficked narcotics, including hundreds of blue fentanyl pills in the District of Utah.
On June 5, 2025, Davies pleaded guilty to possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute.
According to court documents and admissions made at Davies’ change of plea and sentencing hearings, on November 9, 2024, law enforcement seized 296 blue fentanyl pills (33 grams) during an executed search warrant at his residence in Vernal. Law enforcement also seized a digital scale, and several small plastic baggies.
Additionally, according to court documents, Davies is known to law enforcement as a distributor of fentanyl and was caught with pills while on pretrial release for multiple other drug trafficking cases. He has also obstructed justice while under investigation for drug trafficking cases.
The case was investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office’s Vernal Resident Agency.
Assistant United States Attorney Sam Pead of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (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 (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Settlement with Chicago Pharmacy for Alleged Violations of the Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
CHICAGO – The U.S. Attorney’s Office today announced a civil settlement with a Chicago pharmacy to resolve alleged violations of the Controlled Substances Act.
The alleged violations by Allcare Discount Pharmacy in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood enabled the diversion of opioids from the pharmacy over an extended period. An inspection and audit by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration found that Allcare failed to keep adequate records pertaining to the receipt and disposition of various controlled substances, including hydrocodone-acetaminophen and alprazolam. The DEA determined that Allcare also failed to provide effective controls and procedures to prevent theft and diversion of controlled substances.
From 2015 to 2017, two Allcare pharmacy techs conspired to steal more than 56,000 pills of hydrocodone and sell them outside the pharmacy. One of the techs concealed the theft by falsifying the pharmacy’s inventory to make it look like the pills had either not been received from the distributor or had been dispensed to patients. The techs pleaded guilty to federal drug charges and were sentenced in 2019 to prison terms of five years and one year.
Under the terms of the civil settlement, Allcare will pay a $250,000 penalty to the United States. Allcare also successfully fulfilled its obligations under a Memorandum of Agreement with the DEA that required the pharmacy to maintain complete and accurate records pertaining to the receipt and sale of controlled substances. The settlement is not an admission of liability by Allcare, nor a concession by the United States that its potential claims were not well-founded.
The settlement was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Shane Catone, Special Agent-in-Charge of the DEA Chicago Field Division. The civil case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Valerie R. Raedy and the Affirmative Civil Enforcement (ACE) Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“Pharmacies must take their responsibilities under the Controlled Substances Act seriously and comply with security protocols and proper oversight to prevent diversion of controlled substances,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to enforce full compliance with the Controlled Substances Act and protect our communities from the dangers of opioid diversion and abuse.”
allcare_discount_pharmacy_settlement_agreement_fully_executed.final_-_readable_copy.pdfTwo Men in Utah Facing Federal Drug Charges After Law Enforcement Seize Approximately 100,000 Fentanyl PillsRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah –A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment charging two Utah residents, one of which is a Honduran national who lacks legal status in the United States. The defendants are charged with a federal drug crime after approximately 100,000 individual field-tested fentanyl pills were seized by law enforcement during an executed search warrant.
Elvin Isaac Vega Zuniga, 19, an undocumented Honduran national, and Andrew Estefan Valle Acosta, 19, both living in West Valley City, Utah, were charged by complaint on September 4, 2025.
According to court documents, since May 2025, agents with the FBI and the Davis Metro Narcotics Strike Force have been investigating a drug trafficking organization. During a controlled purchase of fentanyl, agents identified a residence in West Valley City that the organization was allegedly using to distribute fentanyl. On September 2, 2025, a search warrant was obtained and executed at the West Valley City residence and agents seized approximately 100,000 individual pills, which field-tested positive for fentanyl.
Additionally, Vega Zuniga is in the United States illegally and was found by ICE in 2023. He was notified at that time of his illegal status and given a “notice to appear” in his immigration case. Despite being aware of his pending removal proceedings, Vega Zuniga engaged in the trafficking of fentanyl.
Vega Zuniga and Valle Acosta are charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. Their initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for September 19, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Davis Metro Narcotics Strike Force.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Peter Reichman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah 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 (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Three Orange County Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Fentanyl and Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Ronald E. Hubbard, Jr. (38, Apopka) to 13 years and 4 months in federal prison and Douglas E. Arnett, Jr. (33, Orlando) to 9 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Bradley D. Burch (35, Apopka) was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his role in the drug conspiracy and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. All three pleaded guilty in May 2025.
According to the plea agreements and court documents, throughout 2023, undercover agents conducted multiple controlled purchases of powder fentanyl, counterfeit fentanyl pills, and methamphetamine from Burch. For at least some of those transactions, Hubbard, Arnett, or both supplied the drugs to Burch to sell to the undercover agents. Over the course of the conspiracy, the group distributed nearly 2 kilograms of methamphetamine and over 350 grams of fentanyl or fentanyl analog mixtures. Additionally, during some of these transactions, Burch had a firearm nearby or in his waistband.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Apopka Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.
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.
Three Men Charged with Gunpoint Robbery of Apple Products Delivery Truck, Related OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that JOSE MIGUEL MERCADO, 32, JEAN GONZALEZ PAULINO, 31, and DAURY RODRIGUEZ CONTRERAS, 22, each a citizen of the Dominican Republic residing in Lawrence, Massachusetts, have been charged with federal offenses related to their alleged involvement in the gunpoint robbery of a delivery truck containing Apple products in Manchester.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, at approximately 7:00 a.m. on March 25, 2025, Mercado, Gonzalez, and Rodriguez, committed a gunpoint robbery of the driver of a delivery truck after he stopped at a commuter lot in Manchester before a scheduled delivery of a shipment of Apple products to an Apple store in South Windsor. Mercado, Gonzalez, and Rodriguez stole approximately $316,753 in Apple phones, tablets, and other accessories during the robbery, and approximately $1,000 in cash from the driver. After the theft, Mercado, Gonzalez, and Rodriguez traveled to a location in Wethersfield where they discarded clothing, a license plate, and other items into a dumpster. They then traveled to the Bronx, New York, where they unloaded items stolen during the robbery. Many of the stolen items were subsequently registered by New York residents and activated.
It is further alleged that a vehicle used in the robbery had been rented by Gonzalez in Massachusetts through Turo, a peer-to-peer car sharing platform. After the vehicle was returned on March 26, 2025, and being cleaned, the vehicle’s owners found a box containing an Apple charging cable that appeared to be new.
Mercado, Gonzalez, and Rodriguez were arrested on federal criminal complaints on August 21, 2025.
On September 3, 2025, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging each defendant with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; Hobbs Act Robbery, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least seven years; and interstate transportation of stolen property, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
Mercado, Gonzalez, and Rodriguez, who are lawful permanent residents of the U.S., have been detained since their arrests. Mercado is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon in Hartford federal court. Gonzalez and Rodriguez were arraigned and entered not guilty pleas on September 11, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This ongoing investigation is being led by the FBI’s Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force and the Connecticut State Police, with the assistance of the Manchester Police Department, the Wethersfield Police Department, the New York Police Department, the Lawrence (Mass.) Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, and the Westchester County (N.Y.) Department of Public Safety’s Real Time Crime Unit. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.
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 (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Texas Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Enticing A Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity and Receiving Child Sex Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced James Anthony Davila (21, Texas) to 10 years in federal prison for enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity and receiving child sex abuse material. Davila will also be required to register as a sex offender. Davila pleaded guilty on June 6, 2025.
According to court documents, Davila met a 12-year-old girl online while playing a video game. The two continued to communicate and exchanged sexually explicit photos. Davila later drove from Texas to Florida to pick up the child and engage in sexual acts with her.
This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Midway (Florida) Police Department and Johnson County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Tampa Man Indicted for Producing and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Michael Antwohn Wilson (38, Tampa) with producing and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). If convicted on all counts, Wilson faces a maximum penalty of 80 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Wilson that the United States intends to forfeit a camera, cellphone and SD cards, which are alleged to have been used in the commission of the offense.
According to the indictment, on April 27 and February 23, 2023, Wilson produced and attempted to produce CSAM in the Middle District of Florida. From an unknown date until June 26, 2025, Wilson possessed CSAM, including material depicting minors under the age of 12.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Tampa Police Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 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.
Southwest Georgia Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A Southwest Georgia man, who volunteered with local youth and worked on a college campus, admitted in federal court to distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online and is facing up to 20 years in prison for his crime.
Andrew Brent Darbyshire, 45, of Albany, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography, also known as child sexual assault material (CSAM), before Chief U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner on September 10, 2025. Darbyshire faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment to be followed by a minimum of five years up to a lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. In addition, Darbyshire will have to register as a sex offender upon release from prison. His sentencing date is currently set for Jan. 8, 2026.
“It is deeply disturbing whenever adults who work or volunteer with young people are found to be possessing or distributing child sexual abuse material,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “We are dedicated to seeking justice for victims of child exploitation and holding predators accountable for their crimes.”
“This case highlights the relentless dedication of Homeland Security Investigations to protecting children from those who exploit their innocence. The actions of this individual are a betrayal of trust and a grave violation of the safety and well-being of our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama Steven N. Schrank. “HSI, alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue predators who engage in these horrific crimes and ensure they are held accountable. Let this serve as a stark reminder: no matter where you hide or how you operate, HSI will find you, and justice will prevail.”
According to court documents and statements referenced in court, federal investigators with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Tacoma, Washington, discovered an online account which was controlled by a suspect in a separate child exploitation case in February 2024. The website contained various sub-channels based on categories of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). By May 2024, the website had about 658 members and approximately 5,700 files of child pornography being actively shared throughout the channel and sub-channels.
One of the active members had a username “@teen_lover21.” HSI Tacoma tracked down the IP address, internet provider and phone number for the username, which turned out to be Darbyshire. As a result, in November 2024, HSI Tacoma reached out to HSI Atlanta’s Child Exploitation and Cyber Investigations Group (CECIG) about Darbyshire. Investigators learned Darbyshire worked at Albany State University (ASU) in maintenance and was involved in local organizations, including volunteering at a local high school and Boy Scouts.
On Nov. 25, 2024, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant of his residence, seizing two cell phones. One cell phone contained 112 images and 195 videos of CSAM depicting prepubescent females between the ages of three and ten years old engaging in sexually explicit conduct with adult males. The other phone had various social media links, including the website investigated by HSI. That phone also contained about 945 images and 22 videos of prepubescent females between the ages of three and ten years old engaging in sexually explicit conduct with adult males. Darbyshire received and shared CSAM on the website and, specifically to this case, he distributed a digital media file that depicted prepubescent females engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
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 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by HSI Atlanta’s Child Exploitation and Cyber Investigations Group (CECIG) with assistance from HSI Tacoma, Washington, and the Washington State Patrol.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Lim is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 4 ½ Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Ammunition as a FelonRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a man from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, convicted of Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on September 8, 2025.
Lamont Victor Garrett, 52, was sentenced to four years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Garrett was indicted for Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in November 2024. He was found guilty by a jury on June 11, 2025.
Garrett possessed ammunition in his residence in Sioux Falls on August 21, 2024. The ammunition was discovered when law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the residence. Garrett is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of his previous felony convictions.
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations, as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Connie Larson prosecuted the case.
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.
Garrett was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Self-proclaimed “Mayor of Bissonnet” sentenced to 10 years for sex crimesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 58-year-old registered sex offender has been ordered to federal prison for aiding and abetting the transportation of a woman across state lines to engage in prostitution and failing to comply with requirements of the Sex Offender Registration Act, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Paul Edwards Evans aka Blue Diamond pleaded guilty May 29.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt has now sentenced Evans to a total of 120 months in prison. In imposing the sentence, the court considered Evans had inducted two family members into the family business which involved the trafficking of women to engage in commercial sex acts.
The crimes took place in the Bissonnet street area of Houston and in various other cities between Texas and California including Las Vegas, Nevada.
The “blade” or “track” is an area near I-59 Southwest Freeway and Bissonnet Street in Houston where pimps and traffickers commonly place their victims to engage in commercial sex.
As a registered sex offender, he was also required to notify authorities when traveling from state to state. However, as part of his plea, he admitted that he failed to do so.
Evans will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Wirsing prosecuted the case.
The FBI and Houston Police Department (HPD) conducted the investigation as part of the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance (HTRA) with the assistance of the Santa Barbara, California, Police Department.
HTRA law enforcement includes members of HPD, FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Attorney General’s Office, IRS Criminal Investigation, Department of Labor (DOL), DOL – Wage and Hour Division, Department of State, Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission, Texas Department of Public Safety, Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General (OIG), Social Security Administration – OIG and Sheriff’s Offices in Harris and Montgomery counties in coordination with District Attorney’s offices in Harris, Montgomery and Fort Bend Counties.
Established in 2004, the United States Attorney’s office in Houston formed HTRA to combine resources with federal, state and local enforcement agencies and prosecutors, as well as non-governmental service organizations to target human traffickers while providing necessary services to those that the traffickers victimized. Since its inception, HTRA has been recognized as both a national and international model in identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking and prosecuting those engaged in trafficking offenses.
San Diego Man Who Twice Illegally Landed Airplane on Navy Base, Stole Truck and Damaged Gates Pleads Guilty to Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A San Diego man pleaded guilty today to federal criminal charges and admitted that he twice illegally landed a small airplane on a United States Navy airstrip on San Clemente Island, then stole a Navy truck and used it to damage gates on the island, causing thousands of dollars in damage.
Andrew Kyle White, 37, pleaded guilty to one felony count of theft of government property in excess of $1,000 and one misdemeanor count of illegal entry into a naval installation. White has been in federal custody after he violated the terms of his bond by cutting off his ankle bracelet earlier this year.
San Clemente Island is owned and operated by the U.S. Navy and is part of Naval Base Coronado. According to White’s plea agreement, White knew it was illegal to travel to or access San Clemente Island without first obtaining permission from the Navy or a government official with authority to grant such access.
On October 29, 2023, White flew a Glastar airplane to San Clemente Island and landed the plane on a U.S. Navy airstrip without the Navy’s permission. At the time, White received, acknowledged, and signed a letter that notified him that it was a federal crime to travel to San Clemente Island without the Navy’s permission and instructed him not to return to the island.
On April 6, 2025, White again flew the Glastar airplane to San Clemente Island and landed it on a naval airstrip without permission. While on the island, White stole a white Ford F-150 truck worth approximately $16,000 and which was the property of the U.S. Navy.
After stealing the truck, White drove it to various locations on San Clemente Island, including locations that were blocked by locked gates. To gain access to those locations, White used the truck to damage the gates, causing approximately $8,077 in damages and costs to tow the truck.
Navy officials estimate that White’s intrusion onto the base cost nearly 500 man-hours and resulted in a $500,000 loss to the American taxpayer.
“Whatever [White’s] intentions were, the military did not know them; they responded as one might expect the military to respond to an unknown threat: they assumed the worst,” prosecutors argued in court documents. “The island went on a complete lockdown. Personnel engaged in a highly dangerous mission to locate the unknown intruder(s) notwithstanding the dangers they were exposing themselves too, from the weather, the terrain, and the potential unexploded ordnances that could have been underfoot in that area.”
United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II scheduled a September 29 sentencing hearing, at which time White will face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for theft of government property and up to six months in federal prison for illegally entering a naval installation.
United States Attorney’s Office Investigators investigated this matter with assistance from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the FBI, the U.S. Navy Security Forces, and the San Diego Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Frances S. Lewis of the General Crimes Section and Ian V. Yanniello of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.
Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft in Connection with Covid-Related Unemployment Insurance Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Roosevelt Gulley III, 41, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, from July through September 2020, Gulley participated in a Covid-fraud scheme targeting the Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefit program administered by the California Employment Development Department (EDD). He collected personally identifiable information, including names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and other information, and electronically submitted fraudulent applications for UI benefits to the California EDD in those persons’ identities. He electronically submitted at least 79 of these fraudulent applications to California EDD, which resulted in UI benefits debit cards being mailed to addresses he listed in the fraudulent applications. Gulley then retrieved the debit cards and removed money from them at various ATMs. The government alleges that the actual loss attributed to this fraudulent scheme was more than $575,000, with an intended loss exceeding $1.5 million.
“Roosevelt Gulley collected the personally identifiable information of individuals without their knowledge to fraudulently collect unemployment insurance benefits intended for American workers who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Quentin Heiden, Special-Agent-in-Charge, Western Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “I would like to thank the Eastern District of California and the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force for their continued efforts to hold accountable those who committed pandemic-related fraud.”
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General and the California EDD’s Investigation Division, with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise N. Yasinow is prosecuting the case.
Gulley is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 26, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd. Gulley faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison for wire fraud and a mandatory additional sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft. The actual sentence, however, will 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.
This effort is part of a California COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force operation, one of five interagency COVID-19 fraud strike force teams established by the U.S. Department of Justice. The California Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources in the Eastern and Central Districts of California and focuses on large-scale, multistate pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces use prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
Robbery Spree on the Metropolitan Branch Trail Yields 27 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jalique Wiseman, 20, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today, in Superior Court, to 27 years in prison, for a spree of robberies along the Metropolitan Branch Trail, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Wiseman pleaded guilty on May 16, 2025, to three counts of armed robbery and three counts of robbery. The Honorable Judge Jennifer Di Toro, of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, sentenced Wiseman to five years for each armed robbery and four years for each robbery to be served consecutively, for a total sentence of 27 years’ incarceration. A three-year term of supervised release will follow his term of incarceration.
According to the government’s evidence, between October 2, 2023, and November 23, 2023, Wiseman robbed multiple people on six separate instances on or near the Metropolitan Branch Trail, using either physical violence or at gunpoint, taking the victims’ cell phones and other property. Wiseman demanded the victims’ passcodes and used that information to access the victims’ financial accounts to transfer money to accounts that Wiseman and his codefendant controlled.
Wiseman was arrested on November 29, 2023, and he has been in custody since.
Joining the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Kraig Ahalt., who prosecuted the case.
Repeat Felon Convicted at Trial for Illegal Gun and Drug SalesRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. —LaClarence Lamarcus Anderson, 42, of Columbia, has been convicted by a federal jury following two days of trial. Anderson was found guilty on 12 counts of gun and drug trafficking offenses.
Evidence introduced at trial showed that on four separate occasions over about three weeks in 2024, Anderson sold drugs and guns he was not legally allowed to possess. On the first occasion, he sold a pistol, methamphetamine, and cocaine. On the second, he sold two pistols, cocaine, and crack cocaine. On the third, he sold a pistol, a rifle, and cocaine. And on the fourth, he sold three pistols, an AR-style-rifle, methamphetamine, and cocaine. He also sold a pistol with a switch on it. Switches convert semi-automatic firearms into automatic weapons. Evidence showed Anderson used the gun sales to further his drug trafficking.
Federal law prohibits Anderson from possessing firearms based on previous convictions for assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, armed robbery, burglary, possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted person, resisting arrest, and an unlawful weapons sale.
Anderson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum of life on his four convictions for carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. He faces a maximum sentence of 15 years on four counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and a maximum sentence of 20 years on four counts of drug distribution.
He also faces a fine of up to $1 million and five years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie presided over the trial and will sentence Anderson after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
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.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle Klein and Kathleen Stoughton are prosecuting the case.
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Plant City Drug Dealer Who Imported Glock Switches from China Convicted of Drug Distribution, Possessing Machinegun, and Other Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury has found Phillip Michael Valeriani (42, Plant City) guilty of possessing cocaine and marijuana with the intent to distribute it. Valeriani was also adjudicated guilty prior to trial for possessing a machinegun, a silencer, and a firearm as a convicted felon. He faces a maximum penalty on all counts of 75 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 10, 2025.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Valeriani used a fictitious name to order 63 Glock Switch components from China concealed inside a toy car box, which were seized at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. A search of Valeriani’s Plant City residence revealed a machinegun, a silencer, a rifle, and dozens of firearms components. Also found inside the house were distribution quantities of marijuana and crack cocaine as well as FBI and DEA raid jackets.
Testimony at trial also revealed that Valeriani was a prolific marijuana and cocaine trafficker. In February 2024, at the same Plant City residence, drug traffickers robbed Valeriani and stole distribution quantities of marijuana, $4,000 in cash, and firearms. On May 12, 2024, Valeriani flew into the Tampa International Airport from Medford, Oregon with 64 pounds of marijuana inside three suitcases. Authorities also seized 112 grams of cocaine during a prior traffic stop for which Valeriani took responsibility.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Plant City Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Tampa International Airport Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David W.A. Chee and Adam W. McCall.
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.
Old Town Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking Conspiracy in Penobscot CountyRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: An Old Town man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for his role in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine base, methamphetamine and cocaine.
According to court records, between January and April 2021, Alan Dziob, 44, conspired with others to distribute the drugs in the Penobscot County area and elsewhere. As part of the conspiracy, Dziob regularly supplied drugs to a local dealer to sell for him.
Dziob faces a minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine. He also faces a minimum of four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Somerset County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
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Oklahoma Man Sentenced for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Joshua Kahanek, age 44, was sentenced today after entering a guilty plea to one count of Failing to Register as a Sex Offender. Kahanek entered his guilty plea on May 21, 2025.
According to court documents, Kahanek was convicted of Rape in the First Degree in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2008. Kahanek was sentenced to 20 years in prison and was released from prison on April 11, 2022. Kahanek’s conviction required him to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Kahanek executed multiple forms with his SORNA officer in Oklahoma throughout 2022-2024 in which he acknowledged his duties and responsibilities to register as a sex offender. Those forms included his duty to register in any jurisdiction in which he was employed. On June 7, 2024, the Foley PD and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office received a report about Kahanek being in the Southern District of Alabama. Mobile Police Department located Kahanek working on the premises of a Target store in Mobile. Kahanek was working with a company that would install fiber optic cables at Target stores. Kahanek had not registered as a sex offender in Alabama.
At sentencing, Chief United States District Judge Beaverstock imposed a time-served and a 5-year term of supervised release. Kahanek had been in custody since his arrest on March 6, 2025. During his term of supervised release, Kahanek will be subject to sex offender treatment, substance abuse testing and treatment, and mental health treatment. Kahanek will be required to register as a sex offender. Kahanek was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments.
The United States Marshals Service, Foley Police Department, Mobile Police Department, and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/publications-resources
Oconto County Hunting Guide Banned from Hunting for Illegal Bear BaitingRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 15, 2025, United States District Judge Byron B. Conway ordered Timothy J. Collar (age: 64) to pay a $3,000 fine and banned him from hunting for 12 months after Collar was convicted of illegal bear baiting on federal property.
Collar is a bear hunting guide who commonly planned and guided hunts on federal property in the Chequamegon-Nicolet Forest in northern Oconto County, Wisconsin. Court records indicate that in preparation for the 2023 bear hunting season, Collar unlawfully placed numerous oversized plastic bait barrels in several locations in the Chequamegon-Nicolet Forest. The barrels were placed there for the purpose of baiting bear, and they were uncapped, close to public roads, and significantly oversized. Collar also damaged natural resources for the purpose of gaining access to the bait sites.
The hunting ban will prevent Collar from hunting on federal property during the 2025 Wisconsin bear hunting season that runs from September 3, 2025, to October 7, 2025.
This case was investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the United States Forest Service.
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North Charleston Woman Pleads Guilty in Public Corruption SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Michelle Stent-Hilton, 56, of Goose Creek, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds and honest services wire fraud, bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds, honest services wire fraud, and money laundering.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Michelle Stent-Hilton conspired with former North Charleston City Councilmember Jerome Sydney Heyward and others to pay kickbacks to Heyward in exchange for his support of Stent-Hilton's application on behalf of her non-profit—DEEP SC—for grant money. At the time, Heyward was serving as a member of North Charleston’s City Council representing District 5.
In 2022, the City of North Charleston decided to award grants to non-profits with the expectation that the non-profits would work to reduce gun violence in the City. Stent-Hilton applied for a grant through her non-profit, DEEP SC, and agreed to pay Heyward 20% of any money DEEP SC received from the City in exchange for his support and influence as a councilmember. Heyward twice voted to award grant money to DEEP SC and at least one other non-profit without disclosing that he had an agreement with the non-profits to pay him a kickback. Soon after DEEP SC received $100,000 from the City, Stent-Hilton purchased a cashier’s check for $20,000. The cashier's check was made payable to Rose Lorenzo, a bookkeeper to whom Heyward directed Stent-Hilton to route the funds. Lorenzo wired the money from Stent-Hilton, as well as one other non-profit, to Heyward's bank account. Stent-Hilton admitted that the kickback was laundered through Lorenzo's account to disguise the nature of the transaction.
Stent-Hilton faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. She also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Stent-Hilton after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Whit Sowards and Emily Limehouse are prosecuting the case.
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North Carolina Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Distribution CrimesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Samy Zrida, age 43, of Taylorsville, North Carolina, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, punishable by a minimum of ten years in prison and a $10,000,000.00 fine, and one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, punishable by a minimum of ten years in prison and a $10,000,000.00 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on January 28, 2025, Zrida knowingly and intentionally possessed 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, both Schedule II controlled substances, intending to distribute them.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
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.
Zrida will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.
Nigerian National Sentenced to Prison for International Scheme that Defrauded Elderly U.S. VictimsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Nigerian national was sentenced on September 11 to 97 months in prison for his role in a transnational inheritance fraud scheme.
According to court documents, Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, 41, was a member of a group of fraudsters that sent personalized letters to elderly victims in the United States over the course of several years. The letters falsely claimed that the sender was a representative of a bank in Spain and that the recipient was entitled to receive a multimillion-dollar inheritance left for the recipient by a family member who had died overseas years before. Akhimie and his co-conspirators told a series of lies to victims, including that, before they could receive their purported inheritance, they were required to send money for delivery fees, taxes, and other payments to avoid questioning from government authorities. Akhimie and his co-conspirators collected money victims sent in response to the fraudulent letters through a complex web of U.S.-based former victims, whom the defendants convinced to receive money and forward to the defendants or persons associated with them. Victims who sent money never received any purported inheritance funds. In pleading guilty, Akhimie admitted to defrauding over $6 million from more than 400 victims, many of whom were elderly or otherwise vulnerable.
“Schemes like this steal not only money but dignity from our seniors,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida (SDFL). “Our Office stands with victims, ensures their voices are heard, and will relentlessly pursue those who prey on them.”
“The Justice Department will continue to pursue, prosecute, and bring to justice transnational criminals responsible for defrauding U.S. consumers, wherever they are located,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This case is a testament to the critical role of international collaboration in tackling transnational crime. I want to thank our U.S. law enforcement partners, as well as those who assisted across the globe, including the National Crime Agency and Crown Prosecution Service of the United Kingdom, for their outstanding contributions to this case.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to protecting American consumers from being defrauded by Transnational Criminal Organizations,” said Acting Postal Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Miami Division. “We have long partnered with the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch to deliver justice and we will continue to do so.”
“Defrauding the elderly and other vulnerable populations is a betrayal of not just trust but of humanity,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ray Rede for HSI Arizona. “HSI and our law enforcement partners commitment to investigate criminals who steal money sends a clear message: justice will prevail, and those who exploit others for personal gain will be held accountable. We thank all our partners who assisted in this investigation.”
Akhimie is the eighth defendant sentenced to prison in connection with the scheme. District Court Judge Kathleen M. Williams previously sentenced six additional defendants in a related case. On April 25, District Court Judge Roy K. Altman sentenced Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, who was extradited from Portugal, to 97 months in prison for his role in the scheme, describing the defendant’s offense conduct as “an incredibly serious crime” and stating that it merited a substantial sentence because it was important “to stand up for the most vulnerable, for the least protected members of our society who have done absolutely nothing wrong.”
USPIS and HSI investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Europol, and authorities from the UK, Spain, and Portugal all provided critical assistance.
Senior Trial Attorney and Transnational Criminal Litigation Coordinator Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorneys Josh Rothman of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the case.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.
More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-20140.
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New York Man Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft Charge Stemming from U.S. Postal Service Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, announced that EZEKIEL BAILEY, 33, of Brooklyn, New York, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to an identity theft offense stemming from a U.S. Postal Service fraud scheme.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the U.S Postal Inspection Service began an investigation after receiving reports that an individual had been passing, and attempting to pass, bad checks to purchase thousands of dollars in postage stamps from U.S. Post Offices in Connecticut and surrounding states. The investigation revealed that Bailey had used the identities of three separate victims, fake driver’s licenses, and checks linked to empty bank accounts that had been created in the victims’ names, to purchase $98,000 in stamps from U.S. Post Offices in Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Massachusetts, and elsewhere.
On January 20, 2023, Bailey was arrested on related state charges after he attempted to purchase 25 books of postage stamps for $300 at post office in Stonington. He possessed two fake driver’s licenses in the names of identity theft victims at the time of his arrest. He was charged by federal criminal complaint on November 26, 2024.
Bailey pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft, an offense that carries a mandatory term of imprisonment of two years. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 9.
Bailey is released on a $25,000 bond pending sentencing.
This investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel George.
Neshoba County Man Found Guilty of Second-Degree MurderRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – On September 10, 2025, following a three-day jury trial, a Neshoba County man was found guilty of second degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of the murder. Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Jackson Office made the announcement.
According to court documents, Brian Keith Bell, 56, of the Pearl River Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation used a handgun to shoot and kill another tribal member.
In April of 2024, a federal grand jury indicted Bell on the charges of Murder in the Second Degree and the Use of a Firearm in a Crime of Violence.
Honorable Daniel P. Jordan, III., United States District Judge, presided over the trial and scheduled Bell’s sentencing for November 14, 2025. Bell faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. He is currently being held in federal custody.
Acting United States Attorney Lemon commended the work of the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and the Federal Bureau of Investigation who investigated the case.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns.
Missouri Man Sentenced to 260 Months in Prison for Recording His Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on Monday sentenced a man who recorded his sexual activity with a 14-year-old to 260 months in prison.
Todd Kelly, now 37, of Washington, Missouri, will be on supervised release for life after he is released from prison. Kelly admitted making the recordings on his cell phone in June and July of 2023. The investigation began in August of 2023 when the victim’s father learned about the relationship and discovered Snapchat communications between Kelly and his daughter. Investigators seized Kelly’s four cellular phones and found videos that he recorded.
Kelly pleaded guilty in April to one count of producing child pornography. The charge carries a mandatory sentence of at least 15 years in prison.
The Warren County Sheriff’s Department, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianne Edwards 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 the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Michigan Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Miami – A Farmington, Michigan man has been sentenced to 240 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) of children under the age of 13.
U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks imposed the sentence on Ahmed Sultan Faraz, 30, on September 10.
According to court records, between September and October 2021, Faraz and five co-conspirators participated in a private chat room on a social networking application. Entry into the chatroom required participants to distribute CSAM of children under the age of 13. Once admitted, Faraz distributed CSAM and engaged in discussions with more than 50 other individuals about the sexual abuse of children. The children in the images and videos were as young as 4 years old.
In a post-Miranda interview, Faraz admitted to communicating online with five or six minors. Forensic evidence obtained from his electronic devices revealed that Faraz produced CSAM with at least two of these children and attempted to produce CSAM with a third.
In 2024, Faraz had a pending application to become a lawful permanent resident of the United States, which has since been denied.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida, Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami, and Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.
HSI West Palm Beach and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case as part of a joint effort of the South Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra Chase prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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 the Project Safe Childhood initiative and for information regarding Internet safety, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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 25-cr-80036.
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Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jeremiah Telmon-Isaiah Hand, also known as “Joey,” 29, of Inkster, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 17, 2024, Hand sold approximately 29 grams of methamphetamine in exchange for $180 to a confidential informant near Ritter Park in Huntington. As part of his guilty plea, Hand admitted to conducting the transaction, to arranging it beforehand, and that co-defendant Madison Grant Sergent was with him during the transaction.
Hand also admitted to additional criminal conduct as part of his guilty plea. On July 22, 2024, a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Hand in Huntington. Hand admitted that he was driving the vehicle, that he possessed $1,465 in proceeds from distributing methamphetamine, and that co-defendant Rakai Travall Hawkins was a passenger in the vehicle.
Hand is scheduled to be sentenced on December 15, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.
Hawkins, also known as “G,” 31, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty on July 29, 2025, to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 3, 2025. The indictment against Sergent, 26, of Huntington, remains pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney is prosecuting the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), an enforcement surge that has sought to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas.
This case is also 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 (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-51.
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Mexican National Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States for the Fourth TimeRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS - A Mexican national was sentenced to two years in federal prison today for illegally reentering the United States following multiple prior deportations.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Francisco Rios-Munoz was found illegally present in Rankin, County, Mississippi on February 2, 2025, after having been previously removed from the United States three times. Rios-Munoz was encountered after being arrested by Rankin County Sheriff’s Department for aggravated assault.
Rios-Munoz was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 22, 2025, and pleaded guilty to illegal reentry after removal of an alien on June 6, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi; Eric P. DeLaune, Special Agent-in-Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, Louisiana made the announcement.
The United States Department Homeland Security and the Rankin County Sherriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amber S. Jones prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated by the Mississippi Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Mexican National Indicted for Drug Crimes in UtahRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah –A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment charging an undocumented Mexican national, living in the United States illegally, with drug crimes after he allegedly possessed and intended to distribute methamphetamine in the District of Utah.
Manuel Santos-Ramirez, 32, who was living in Salt Lake City, was charged by complaint on August 28, 2025.
According to court documents, since July 2025, agents with the FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force have been investigating a drug trafficking organization (DTO). In August 2025, during a controlled purchase of methamphetamine, a male later identified as Santos-Ramirez, arrived in a silver Ford F-150 pick-up truck, which agents followed to a residence in Salt Lake City. A search warrant was obtained and executed at the residence in Salt Lake City and the silver Ford F-150 pick-up truck. Law enforcement seized 5,843 grams of methamphetamine, which field-tested positive for the narcotic. Half of the methamphetamine was found in the pick-up truck, and the other half was inside the residence. The substance purchased during the controlled buy also field-tested positive for methamphetamine. Santos-Ramirez was arrested and remains in federal custody.
Santos-Ramirez is charged possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. His initial appearance on the indictment was September 11, 2025. A three-day jury trial is scheduled for November 14, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. in courtroom 7.2 before Senior U.S District Court Judge Clark Waddoups at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Peter Reichman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah 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 (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Meridian Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Meridian man pleaded guilty on Tuesday, September 2nd in federal court to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 28, 2023, Jimmy Hodges, 40, was identified by East Mississippi Drug Task Force members as a distributor of narcotics in Lauderdale County, Mississippi. Officers determined that Jimmy Hodges sold methamphetamine on multiple occasions in the district. While executing a search warrant of his home, law enforcement discovered that the home was outfitted with an internal barricade, surveillance system, and delivery door for drug sales along with quantities of methamphetamine and other drugs.
Jimmy Hodges is scheduled to be sentenced on January 5, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson made the announcement.
The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives is investigating the case with assistance from the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office and the East Mississippi Drug Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brett Grantham is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) 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).
Maryland Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Murdering His Girlfriend’s HusbandRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Keyon Slaughter, 28, of Waldorf, Maryland, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the December 2022 murder of Dana Bailey, Jr., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Slaughter pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed on June 20, 2025. Slaughter was sentenced on September 12, 2025, by the Honorable Danya Dayson. In addition to the prison term, Judge Dayson ordered Slaughter to serve five years of supervised release.
According to a proffer of facts submitted at the plea hearing, on December 5, 2022, at approximately 10:15 a.m., Slaughter entered, the victim, Dana Bailey, Jr.’s, residence in Southeast D.C. Once inside the apartment, Slaughter confronted Mr. Bailey and shot him once in the chest with a .40 caliber handgun, causing his death. Slaughter fled the apartment. At the time of the murder, Slaughter was in a relationship with the wife of Mr. Bailey, who was indicted with Slaughter and pleaded guilty to obstructing justice.
At the time of the offense, Slaughter was on supervised probation for a 2019 armed robbery conspiracy conviction in Charles County, Maryland. Slaughter was arrested in July 2023 and has been detained since.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from MPD’s Homicide Branch.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles R. Jones, who prosecuted the case.
Maryland Man Sentenced for Firearms and Cocaine ConvictionsRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – John Ryan Zajac, age 31, of Parkville, Maryland, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison for firearms and cocaine offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Zajac attempted to trade controlled substances for firearms through social media. Investigators arrested Zajac at the attempted trade and recovered cocaine and a 9mm pistol. Zajac is prohibited from having firearms because of prior armed robbery and firearms convictions.
Zajac will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Kane prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The case was investigated by the Bureau for Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Marengo County Man Sentenced to Thirteen Years for Armed Robbery of Chevron in Dixon MillsRead the Press Release
United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Yancy Xavier Dumas to 157 months’ imprisonment for armed robbery of a business and discharging a firearm during the crime.
Court documents show that on January 9, 2024, Dumas robbed the Chevron Gas Station located on Highway 43 in Dixon Mills, Alabama. During the robbery Dumas wore a mask, pointed a handgun at the cashier, and demanded money. Dumas kept the gun pointed at the cashier during the robbery and repeatedly stated “give me that bag,” and “I’m going to bust you up.” During the robbery Dumas also discharged a round from the handgun to get the victim to speed up the process in turning over the money. The victim placed approximately $5,000.00 on the counter and Dumas fled the store with the money using a car which belonged to his girlfriend.
The Marengo County Sheriff’s Office immediately investigated the case and that evening they arrested Dumas at another gas station owned by the same store owner. Approximately $3,700 of the stolen money was recovered from a shed at Dumas’ mother’s house and the handgun was recovered Dumas’ girlfriend’s trailer.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Marengo County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George F. May.
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).
Luzerne County Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Brandon Christopher Heck, age 25, a resident of Hanover Township, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Joseph F. Saporito, Jr., for production of child pornography.
According to the Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, between July 26, 2023, and July 27, 2023, Heck communicated with a 7-year-old child via the Likee application. Over a twenty-four-hour period, Heck, who posed as a 14-year-old boy, directed the child to take and remit sexually explicit images of herself. A subsequent forensic review of Heck’s cellular device confirmed that in addition to producing child pornography, Heck distributed child pornography via Telegram throughout 2024.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Philadelphia Division. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum Wilson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
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Love County Resident Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Sexual Exploitation MaterialRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Dustin Scott Langley, age 32, of Overbrook, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, punishable by up to twenty years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on July 2, 2025, Langley knowingly possessed visual depictions of a minor who had not attained twelve years of age engaging in sexually explicit conduct, which Langley accessed with the intent to view.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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.
Langley will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.
Last Defendant of Johnson City Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 262 Months for Methamphetamine and Cocaine Conspiracy, and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE Tenn – On September 15, 2025, Spencer Allen Bradley, 33, of Atlanta, GA, was sentenced to over 21 years by the Honorable Ronnie Greer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville. Following his imprisonment, Bradley will be on supervised release for five years.
According to the filed plea agreement, Bradley agreed to plead guilty to an indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)A), and conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h).
According to court filed documents, in July of 2020, the Johnson City Police Department (JCPD), along with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), initiated an investigation into the distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, and methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Tennessee. Spencer Bradley, along with his brother, Camara Antonio Bradley, 25, Shannon Sherrell Bryant, 43, Montdail Maurice Brown, 41, Rachel Hunter Bowers, 33, Timothy Robert Malone, 37, Gabrielle Z’hane Greenlee, 28, Rashad Lorenzo Harrington, 27, James Earl Williams, 61, Dustin Matthew Wells, and Thomas James Dennis, Jr., 45, all of Johnson City, Tennessee, were involved in the distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, and methamphetamine. Rachel Bowers and Spencer Bradley, who lived together, were digitally transferring large amounts of money into and from shared financial accounts to pay for and receive money from the drug sales, with suspicious transactions totaling $403,455. Spencer Bradley and Hunter Bowers used a business to launder the illegal monies received in the distribution of narcotics.
During the investigation, law enforcement learned that Spencer Bradley and Shannon Bryant used the residence of James Williams as a base of operations for the drug trafficking organization. Spencer Bradley and Bryant would bring or have brought into the Johnson City area large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine. Using cooperators and confidential informants, law enforcement made several controlled purchases of narcotics from Spencer Bradley, his brother Camara Bradley, and James Williams. The FBI, using wire intercepts on Spencer Bradley’s phone, identified Rashad Harrington, James Williams, and Gabrielle Greenlee as persons who worked for Spencer Bradley in the distribution of methamphetamine and cocaine. In September of 2023, Greenlee was stopped in Loudon County, TN, and found to be in possession of 4 pounds of methamphetamine intended for distribution.
Judge Greer previously sentenced the other members of the drug trafficking organization as follows:
- Montdail Brown received a sentence of 228 months imprisonment for his involvement in the drug conspiracy, as well as his possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A).
- Shannon Bryan received a sentence of 170 months imprisonment for his involvement in the drug conspiracy.
- Gabrielle Greenlee received a sentence of 60 months for her involvement in the drug conspiracy.
- Camara Bradley received a sentence of 60 months imprisonment for her involvement in the drug conspiracy.
- Rachel Bowers received a sentence of 36 months imprisonment for her involvement in the drug conspiracy and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
- Timothy Malone received a sentence of 168 months imprisonment for his involvement in the drug conspiracy.
- Thomas Dennis, Jr., received a sentence of 167 months imprisonment for his involvement in the drug conspiracy.
- Dustin Wells received a sentence of 66 months imprisonment for his involvement in the drug conspiracy.
- James Williams received a sentence of 80 months imprisonment for his involvement in the drug conspiracy.
- Rashad Harrington received a sentence of 78 months term of imprisonment for his involvement in the drug conspiracy.
The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by JCPD, TBI, DEA, FBI, and HSI. This investigation was led by DEA Special Agent Cullen Conerly and TBI Special Agent and FBI Task Force Officer, Thomas Garrison.
Assistant United States Attorney B. Todd Martin and Special Assistant United States Attorney AnCharlene Davis represented the United States.
This case is part of the Take Back America Task Force, led by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. 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.
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Lakeland Man Sentenced to Two Years’ Imprisonment for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernadez Covington has sentenced Abraham Othman Yacoub (27, Lakeland) to two years in federal prison for bank fraud. The court ordered that this term of imprisonment must run consecutively to Yacoub’s current federal prison sentence for bringing a firearm into Tampa International Airport. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $181,540.51, the total loss to the victim financial institutions. Yacoub pleaded guilty on May 5, 2025.
According to court documents, from at least January 2021 until approximately February 2023, Yacoub defrauded several financial institutions in the Tampa area. Yacoub made dozens of fraudulent deposits and withdrawals on behalf of his companies, Visionary Auto Body LLC and Visionary Auto Care LLC. Yacoub deposited the same previously deposited checks into business banking accounts that he controlled at different financial institutions, knowing that the checks had previously been deposited and paid, causing the victim banks to credit his accounts for the amounts of the checks. Yacoub then withdrew, transferred, or otherwise spent the funds credited to his accounts from these previously deposited checks before the financial institution realized that the check had previously been deposited.
Yacoub also drafted fraudulent business checks from closed business bank accounts in the name of Visionary Auto Body and Visionary Auto Care, knowing that those accounts had been closed and, therefore, that there were no funds remaining to cover the amount of the check he had drafted. Yacoub withdrew, transferred, or otherwise spent the funds credited by the bank based on these fraudulent checks, or attempted to do so, before the financial institution realized that the account on which the check had been drafted was closed and did not contain any funds to cover the amount of the check.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karyna Valdes.
Jury Convicts Montana Man of Murder-For-Hire Conspiracy, Tampering with A Witness by Killing, Stalking Resulting in Death, and Firearm and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
RENO – A federal jury convicted a Missoula, Montana, man on September 12, 2025, for killing two people, and firearm and marijuana trafficking charges.
“Last week’s verdict underscores our commitment to holding accountable the defendant who carried out violent criminal acts resulting in the tragic loss of two lives,” said United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “I commend the Assistant United States Attorneys who are prosecuting this case, the staff professionals and Victim Witness Unit, and our law enforcement partners for their tireless work to bringing the defendant to justice.”
“This conviction reflects the seriousness of the crimes committed and the devastating loss of lives,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Division. “The FBI, along with our dedicated local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, stands resolute in its mission to crush violent crime and will hold accountable those involved in such acts."
Cory Spurlock, Will Larsen, and others were involved in an illegal, large scale marijuana distribution business based in Mound House, Nevada. During a marijuana transaction in Mound House, Nevada, on June 19, 2020, Jered Stefansky went missing. Stefansky had traveled to Mound House from Redding to pick up a large amount of cash. The last call from Stefansky’s cell phone was to a number associated with Spurlock and Spurlock became a person of interest in the investigation into Stefansky’s disappearance. Stefansky’s mother never gave up on trying to find her son and appeared on a podcast in late September of 2020 where she discussed her son’s disappearance and the people her son was involved with in the marijuana conspiracy, including Larsen and Spurlock.
According to testimony, Spurlock listened to the podcast and believed Larsen was a rat and needed to die. Spurlock promised a co-conspirator payment for assistance in killing Larsen. Between October 2020 and November 8, 2020, Spurlock traveled to Nevada and California with his co-conspirators. Spurlock and his co-conspirators stalked Larsen and his wife, Yesenia Larsen, throughout the Reno and Carson City area and followed them to just outside Bridgeport, California. The Larsens were shot and stabbed to death on November 8, 2020, their bodies left on the side of US Highway 395. Spurlock was also convicted of robbery for stealing the money Will Larsen had in his wallet. Stefansky’s skeletal remains were found in March 2021, at the Rye Patch Recreation area in Pershing County, Nevada.
Following a four-week trial, the jury returned guilty verdicts in a day-and-a-half. Spurlock was found guilty of one-count each of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute over 1000 kilograms of marijuana; murder-for-hire conspiracy; tampering with a witness by killing; interference with commerce by robbery; causing death through use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and two-counts of stalking resulting in death.
United States District Judge Miranda Du scheduled sentencing for December 16, 2025. Spurlock faces the maximum statutory penalty of life imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Division, Deputy Special Agent in Charge Anthony Chrysanthis for DEA’s Los Angeles Division, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Topper, San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
The FBI, Mono County Sheriff’s Office, DEA, ATF, Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, Carson City Sheriff’s Office, and the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Megan Rachow and Penelope Brady are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug trafficking organizations and other criminal networks that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Jackson Health Foundation Executive Pleads Guilty to Taking Kickbacks, Stealing Foundation Money to Buy Designer Handbags and Golf CartRead the Press Release
MIAMI – The former Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Jackson Health Foundation (Foundation) pleaded guilty on September 11 to embezzling millions of dollars from the nonprofit by submitting false invoices and taking kickbacks.
According to court documents, from 2014 through 2024, Charmaine Gatlin, 52, served as COO of the Foundation, which is the fundraising arm of Jackson Health System. During her tenure, Gatlin drew a base salary ranging from $185,000 and $290,000. Despite her compensation, in pleading guilty, Gatlin admitted that she defrauded the Foundation out of at least $4.3 million by directing funds to herself, her relatives, or unrelated entities, rather than to the Foundation or Jackson Health System.
For example, Gatlin approved approximately $2 million in invoices from a Georgia-based audiovisual company for services that were never provided. In return, the vendor paid Gatlin $1 million in kickbacks, which she used in part to pay her personal credit card bill. Gatlin coached the vendor on how to falsify invoices, including billing for audiovisual services that had already been donated to the Foundation. The vendor, Yergan Jones, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with the scheme (25-cr-20312).
Gatlin also directed a merchandise vendor to purchase luxury items for her from Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Apple in exchange for keeping the Foundation’s business. Gatlin further misused restricted donations, such as approving $55,101 in Foundation funds to purchase 10,000 “first aid kits” falsely labeled as “trauma burn giveaways” from the same vendor.
In another instance, Gatlin submitted a false invoice to cover the purchase of a rose gold-colored golf cart, which she had delivered to her Weston home in September 2023.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled before U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom on November 25. Gatlin faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quinoñes for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office made the announcement.
FBI Miami investigated the case, with valuable assistance from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Young is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Raemy Charest-Turken is handling asset forfeiture.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. The case number is 25-cr-20220.
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Jamaican Citizen Pleads Guilty to Attempted Illicit Sexual Conduct with a MinorRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Jevan Antonio Miller, 28, a Jamaican citizen residing in Thomasville, Georgia, pleaded guilty in federal court to attempting to entice or persuade a minor to engage in sexual activity and interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I deeply appreciate the commitment of our state and federal law enforcement partners to relentlessly pursue the offenders who seek to sexually exploit and victimize our children. It is one of my office’s top priorities to aggressively prosecute predators, like this defendant, who prey upon the most vulnerable members of our community – our children – and we will use the full force of the law to hold him accountable for his heinous crimes.”
Court documents reflect that between April 10, 2025, and April 12, 2025, detectives of the Tallahassee Police Department and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, along with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), participated in a joint undercover operation in Leon County focused on identifying individuals using the Internet to sexually exploit children. During the operation, investigators identified Miller, an adult male who was soliciting an undercover detective, whom Miller thought was a 15-year-old girl, for sex through an online website. Miller believed he was going to be engaging in sexual activity with a minor when he drove from Thomasville, Georgia, to a meeting location in Tallahassee where he was intercepted by law enforcement and immediately arrested.
Miller faces a minimum mandatory of 10 years’ imprisonment, a maximum of life imprisonment, followed by five years to life of supervision upon release.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Leon County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Tallahassee Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 20, 2025, at 11:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, before United States District Mark E. Walker.
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 and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Indiana sex offender sentenced to 24+ years’ imprisonment on child pornography solicitation chargesRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – A southern Illinois district judge sentenced an Indiana man to 293 months in federal prison after he admitted to soliciting child sexual abuse material.
Bryan K. Atkins, 40, of Richmond, Indiana, pleaded guilty to two counts of solicitation of child pornography. Following imprisonment, he will serve supervised release for the rest of his life.
“Targeting children online and solicitating sexually explicit images from them will earn you a federal prison sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is working in lockstep with the FBI to protect children from sexual predators and will continue to pursue high penalties for offenders.”
According to documents and evidence presented in court, Atkins initiated a conversation twice with an undercover FBI agent purporting to be a 13-year-old child. During the chats, the defendant asked for sexually explicit images of the minor. The charged conduct occurred on April 3 and June 16, 2024.
“The subject sought to coerce children into providing sexually explicit images, and without our agent’s proactive work in this case, the subject's activities may have gone undetected until they advanced their desires,” said FBI Springfield’s Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. S. Johnson. “FBI Springfield continues to work tirelessly to protect our children from people like the defendant, and we will continue to prove it with actions like this.”
Atkins had a prior conviction for sexual misconduct with a minor in Indiana state court.
The FBI Springfield Field Office led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Sanders prosecuted the case.
Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Derrick Deshawn Bailey, 44, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 29, 2025, Bailey sold approximately 120 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Huntington.
Bailey is scheduled to be sentenced on January 12, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-124.
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Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Darrelle Davon Boynton, also known as “D,” 40, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 23, 2025, Boynton sold approximately 56 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in a Huntington parking lot. As part of his guilty plea, Boynton admitted to conducting the transaction and to arranging it beforehand.
Boynton also admitted to additional criminal conduct as part of his guilty plea. Boynton admitted that he sold approximately 57 grams of methamphetamine on April 29, 2025, and approximately 8.32 grams of heroin and fentanyl on May 8, 2025, each time to a confidential informant in Huntington.
Boynton is scheduled to be sentenced on January 12, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.
At the time of this offense, Boynton was on supervised release after pleading guilty to distribution of heroin and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on August 24, 2020.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor is prosecuting the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), an enforcement surge that has sought to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-126.
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Honduran National Pleads Guilty to Firearms and Immigration OffensesRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Honduran national pleaded guilty on September 8 to possession of a firearm by an alien and illegal reentry after removal.
According to the facts admitted at the change of plea hearing, on February 25, law enforcement officers were monitoring the social media account of Gustavo Benitez Rodriguez, 22, after observing a post advertising a firearm for sale. Benitez Rodriguez, a native and citizen of Honduras without lawful status in the United States, later engaged in an online conversation with an individual he believed to be a purchaser to arrange the sale. Benitez Rodriguez’s prior arrest records also indicate ties to the Little Havana Taliban gang.
On February 28, officers executed a search warrant at Benitez Rodriguez’s residence. Inside his bedroom, were two firearms: a Stoeger STR 9mm firearm located in his dresser drawer near his passport and ID, and a Ruger ICS 9mm firearm hidden beneath his mattress. A 9mm magazine and 15 rounds of live Luger 9mm ammunition were also recovered.
Benitez Rodriguez had previously been removed from the United States on February 15, 2019, pursuant to a final order of removal. Benitez Rodriguez re-entered the United States without the required consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled before U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom on December 5. Benitez Rodriguez faces up to 15 years in prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Field Office Director Garrett Ripa of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) Prosecutions Unit, Miami, made the announcement.
ICE-ERO Miami investigated the case with assistance from the City of Miami Police Department and the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Roca Shaw is prosecuting the case.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
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 25-cr-20244.
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Honduran National Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Fredis Amilcar Guiza Hernandez, a/k/a Fredis Amilcar Guiza-Hernandez, age 34, of Honduras, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, punishable by 5 to 40 years in prison and a $5,000,000.00 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on October 6, 2024, Guiza Hernandez knowingly and intentionally possessed 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance, with intent to distribute it.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’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.
Guiza Hernandez will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.
Honduran National Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Identity Theft and Related Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Juan Ariel Molina-Salles (35, Honduras) today pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft, false representation of a Social Security number, and false claim of United States citizenship for employment purposes. Molina-Salles faces a minimum penalty of 2 years in federal prison, consecutive to any other prison term, and a maximum term of 12 years’ imprisonment.
According to court documents, Archer Western-de Moya Group Joint Venture II (Joint Venture) is enrolled in E-Verify, a web-based system through which employers electronically confirm the employment eligibility of their employees. Molina-Salles is an illegal alien from Honduras with no lawful status in the United States. On February 16, 2022, Molina-Salles applied for employment with the Joint Venture in Pinellas County and filled out an I-9 form for use in the E-Verify system. On that form, Molina-Salles falsely identified himself as a United States citizen. He used another person’s means of identification (V.V.R.) to defeat the E-Verify system.
Molina-Salles provided no documents or other proof that he was trained or qualified to operate a front-end loader or other heavy construction equipment. On the evening of September 22, 2022, Molina-Salles was working at the Joint Venture’s highway construction site in Pinellas County under the stolen identity V.V.R. That night, while operating a front-end loader, Molina-Salles struck and killed Deputy Michael Hartwick of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).
On September 23, 2022, Molina-Salles was arrested in connection with Deputy Hartwick’s death and interviewed by PCSO detectives. Molina-Salles explained to investigators that he was from Honduras and had been in the United States for approximately eight months and confirmed his identity was not V.V.R, but rather Juan Ariel Molina-Salles. Molinas-Salles stated he had come to the United States illegally and was undocumented, having come through Mexico to the United States by entering in Texas. He admitted to using the stolen identity to gain employment with Archer Western.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General, the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General, the United States Border Patrol, the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray.
Groveton Man Sentenced to More Than 4 Years in Federal Prison for Traveling Across State Lines to Engage in Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Groveton man was sentenced to more than 4 years in federal prison for traveling from New Hampshire to Vermont to sexually abuse a minor victim, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Brandon Couture, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott to 51 months imprisonment and 7 years of supervised release. On May 22, 2025, Couture pleaded guilty to one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity.
“This defendant’s conduct was predatory and calculated. He crossed state lines with the sole purpose of abusing a child,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan. “This 51-month sentence underscores our commitment to protecting children from those who aim to exploit them, and it sends a clear message: If you prey on minors, we will use every tool and resource at our disposal to investigate you, prosecute you, and ensure you are held accountable.”
“It’s grimly ironic that Brandon Couture, a father himself, admitted to actively planning, and traveling across state lines to sexually abuse a 15-year-old girl. This predator victimized a vulnerable minor and with today’s sentence, he’ll pay a steep price for his atrocious behavior,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Those who sexually exploit children do serious lasting harm, and the FBI is committed to finding and bringing them to justice.”
On June 13, 2024, Couture was arrested after a law enforcement investigation revealed that had he traveled from New Hampshire to Vermont to engage in criminal sexual activity with a minor victim.
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Northumberland Police Department and the Essex County, Vermont Sheriff’s Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo 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 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.
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Fraud Charges Filed Against 12 Defendants in Phase II of Operation NightingaleRead the Press Release
MIAMI – In the latest development of Operation Nightingale—a scheme that created an illegal licensing and employment shortcut for aspiring nurses—fraud-related charges have been filed against 12 defendants for their roles in selling fraudulent nursing diplomas and transcripts.
In Phase I of Operation Nightingale, 30 defendants were charged and convicted by plea or at trial in 2023.
According to court records, the defendants conspired to sell false nursing credentials—diplomas and transcripts fraudulently obtained from Florida-based nursing schools—to aspiring Registered Nurse (RN) and Licensed Nurse Practioner/Vocational Nurse (LPN/VN) candidates. Purchasers of the bogus documents used them to qualify for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), commonly known as the nursing board exam. Candidates who passed the exam became eligible for licensure in various states, and once licensed, obtained employment as nurses across the United States.
The defendants, which include nursing school owners and employees, are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Their conduct involved multiple for-profit nursing schools in Florida, all of which have since closed. At one time, these schools were authorized to issue diplomas and transcripts to individuals pursuing RN and LPN/VN licensure. In total, the fraudulent schemes generated approximately 7,300 fake diplomas.
The charges highlight the purpose of a professional nursing licensure: protecting the public from harm by ensuring that only qualified and competent practitioners provide nursing care. Because nursing is a profession that, if practiced by unprepared or unqualified individuals, poses a serious risk to public health and safety, state boards of nursing establish standards for education, regulate licensure, and oversee compliance with training requirements.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), requires candidates seeking RN or LPN/VN licensure to graduate from a board-approved pre-licensure program and pass the NCLEX. The Nurse Licensure Compact—adopted by 43 states, including Florida—further ensures that nurses meet consistent standards for safe practice.
In Florida, the Board of Nursing regulates pre-licensure programs and enforces curriculum requirements under the Nurse Practice Act. To protect patients and ensure safe nursing care, the Board requires that all applicants for licensure as an RN or LPN/VN graduate from an approved program, or its equivalent, and provide official transcripts or equivalent documentation before being permitted to sit for the licensure examination.
Florida’s nursing programs must devote at least fifty percent of their curriculum to hands-on clinical training, in addition to academic coursework, for a practical nursing education program, an associate degree professional nursing program, or a professional diploma nursing education program.
Herline Lochard (Case No. 24-cr-60201-Singhal), 46, of Orange County, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Lochard served as the registered agent and/or manager of Center for Professional Training and Development Inc., located in Miami; Center for Professional Training Inc. located in North Miami; and Wheatland Institute Inc., located in Orlando. On July 31, Lochard was sentenced to 13 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Carleen Noreus (Case No. 25-cr-60039-Singhal), 51, of Broward County, is charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. According to the indictment, Noreus served as the president of Carleen Home Health School, Inc., located in Plantation, and Vice President of Carleen Home Health School II, Inc., located in West Palm Beach.
From January 2019 through September 2022, Noreus and her co-conspirators solicited and recruited individuals seeking nursing credentials and health care employment. Noreus and others created and distributed fraudulent transcripts and diplomas that falsely represented the recipients had completed the necessary coursework and clinical training at Carleen Home Health School or Carleen Home Health School II. In reality, the individuals had not completed the required education or training.
Co-conspirators used these false and fraudulent documents to obtain nursing licenses in various states, including California, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Under the Nurse Licensure Compact, individuals who secured multi-state licenses through the fraud were also authorized to practice in other compact states without additional licensing.
The fraudulent credentials were then used to obtain nursing jobs and benefits from unwitting health care providers across the United States. These employers hired and paid salaries, wages, and benefits based on the fraudulent qualifications.
Noreus is set for trial beginning December 1 in Ft. Lauderdale.
Patrick Buchanan (Case No. 25-cr-60163-Damian), 40, of Broward County, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Buchanan was the owner, registered agent, and manager of Sigma Institute of Health Careers, Inc., located in Lauderhill. Sigma offered Practical Nursing and Associate of Science in Nursing programs.
Buchanan is scheduled to be sentenced on November 19.
Gilbert Hyppolite (Case No. 25-cr-60207-Dimitrouleas), 73, of Palm Beach County, is charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Hyppolite was the owner of Techni-Pro Institute LLC, located in Boca Raton. Techni-Pro offered Practical Nursing, Associate of Science in Nursing, and Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) programs.
Irene Matthews (Case No. 25-cr-60209-Damian), 55, of Palm Beach County, is charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Matthews was the registered agent and/or manager of Agape Academy of Sciences, LLC., located in Delray Beach. Agape offered Practical Nursing, Associate of Science in Nursing, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs.
Lemuel Pierre (Case No. 25-cr-60226-Damian), 56, of Broward County, is charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Pierre was the owner of Med-Life Enterprise, Inc., located in Lauderdale Lakes, and founder of all Med-Life Institute locations. Med-Life Institute, doing business as Med-Life Institute Lauderdale Lakes, located in Lauderdale Lakes, offered Practical Nursing and Associate of Science in Nursing programs. Med-Life Institute, doing business as Med-Life Institute Kissimmee, located in Kissimmee, offered Practical Nursing and Associate of Science in Nursing programs. Med-Life Institute, doing business as Med-Life Institute Naples, located in Naples, offered Practical Nursing and Associate of Science in Nursing programs.
Joel Lubin (Case No. 25-cr-20391-Bloom), 51, of Miami-Dade County, is charged by information with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Lubin was the registered agent and administrator of Ideal Professional Institute, Inc., located in Miami Gardens. Ideal offered Practical Nursing and Associate of Science in Nursing programs.
Jose Napoleon (Case No. 25-cr-60213-Martinez), 40, of Palm Beach County, is charged by information with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Napoleon was the director of admissions for Azure College, Inc., located in Fort Lauderdale. Azure offered Practical Nursing, Associate of Science in Nursing, and Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) programs.
Victor Escalante Zerpa (Case No. 25-cr-60216-Smith), 68, of Miami-Dade County, is charged by information with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Escalante Zerpa incorporated Academus University Corp, located in Coral Gables. Academus offered Pracical Nursing, Associate of Science in Nursing, Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) programs.
Cleophat Tanis (Case No. 25-cr-60212-Dimitrouleas), 58, of Collier County, is charged by information with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Tanis was the co-owner and operator of Med-Life Institute, doing business as Med-Life Institute Naples, located in Naples. Med-Life Naples offered Practical Nursing and Associate of Science in Nursing programs.
Lonnette Blair (Case No. 25-cr-60215-Becerra), 51, of Camden County, New Jersey, is charged by information with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Blair was the Chief Academic Officer of Carleen Home Health School II, Inc. Carleen Home Health School II offered Associate of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs.
Stephanie Dorisca (Case No. 25-cr-60214-Moore), 57, of Broward County, is charged by information with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Dorisca was the Head of Nursing at Techni-Pro Institute LLC. Techni-Pro offered Practical Nursing, Associate of Science in Nursing, and Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) programs.
As to the wire fraud conspiracy charges, the defendants face a statutory maximum of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Isaac Bledsoe of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, (HHS-OIG), Miami Regional Office, made the announcement.
FBI Miami and HHS-OIG Miami are investigating. Homeland Security Investigations Miami provided support.
Senior Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Clark is prosecuting the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff is handling asset forfeiture.
If you have information to report regarding this case or any other case involving falsified medical degrees, please call the FBI hotline: (410) 277-6999.
An indictment is merely an accusation. 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 on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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Former Defense Contractor Sentenced to over 10 Years in Prison for Attempted EspionageRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf, the Justice Department, and the FBI announced that John Murray Rowe Jr., 67, of Lead, South Dakota, was sentenced today to 126 months in prison, three years’ supervised release, and a $25,000 fine by United States District Judge John M. Gallagher for attempted espionage.
The defendant was charged by indictment in December 2021 and pleaded guilty in April of last year to one count of attempted delivery of national defense information to a foreign government, and three counts of willful communication of national defense information.
According to court documents, Rowe was employed for nearly 40 years as a test engineer for multiple cleared defense contractors. In connection with his employment, Rowe held various national security clearances from SECRET to TOP SECRET//SCI (Sensitive Compartmented Information) and worked on matters relating to U.S. Air Force electronic warfare technology, among other things. After several security violations and concerning inquiries and statements about Russia and sensitive information, Rowe was identified as a potential insider threat and terminated from employment.
In March 2020, Rowe told an undercover FBI agent, who he believed to be an agent of the Russian government, that he was not loyal to the United States and that he was interested in helping Russia. During this meeting, Rowe disclosed national defense information classified as SECRET that concerned specific operating details of the electronic countermeasure systems used by U.S. military fighter jets, among other things.
Over the course of the next eight months, Rowe exchanged over 300 emails with a person he believed to be a Russian agent, confirming his willingness to work for the Russian government and discussing his knowledge of classified information relating to U.S. national security. In one email, Rowe explained, “If I can’t get a job [in the United States] then I’ll go work for the other team.”
In another email, Rowe disclosed classified national defense information concerning the U.S. Air Force. In September 2020, Rowe had a second in-person meeting with the undercover FBI agent. During this meeting, Rowe again disclosed classified national defense information.
Rowe was arrested on a criminal complaint and warrant on December 15, 2021, and was ordered detained pending trial. During his pretrial detention, Rowe again disclosed the same classified national defense information concerning the U.S. Air Force to relatives and an associate during recorded prison calls.
“Despite his knowledge, training, experience, and decades of work as a military contractor, Rowe chose to betray the trust placed in him by his country,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “His repeated, willful efforts to harm the U.S. by divulging sensitive defense information to an adversary are inexcusable. My office and our partners will continue to hold fully accountable anyone seeking to compromise the national security of the United States.”
“The defendant spent decades working on sensitive U.S. defense programs and was entrusted with safeguarding protected and classified information about military technology. Instead of honoring that trust and his legal responsibilities as a clearance holder, he chose to violate both – repeatedly and willfully attempting to disclose classified information to someone he believed was a foreign agent,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The Justice Department will hold accountable those who disregard country and conscience at the expense of our Nation’s security, including, as here, out of spite.”
“Mr. Rowe's actions were not only dangerous but also reckless, as he sought to provide sensitive defense information to a foreign adversary. This sentencing serves as a powerful reminder of the FBI’s mission to protect the American people,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office. “In collaboration with our law enforcement partners, the FBI remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding our nation's security and holding those who threaten it accountable.”
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Wolfe and former DOJ Trial Attorney Scott Claffee, with assistance from Trial Attorney Chantelle Dial, of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Section.
Additional assistance was provided by the Lead (S.D.) Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota, the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, and the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office and Rapid City (S.D.) Resident Agency.
Former Defense Contractor Sentenced to over 10 Years in Prison for Attempted EspionageRead the Press Release
John Murray Rowe Jr., 67, of Lead, South Dakota, was sentenced today to 126 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and a $25,000 fine for attempted espionage.
The defendant was charged by indictment in December 2021 and pleaded guilty in April of last year to one count of attempted delivery of national defense information to a foreign government, and three counts of willful communication of national defense information.
“The defendant spent decades working on sensitive U.S. defense programs and was entrusted with safeguarding protected and classified information about military technology. Instead of honoring that trust and his legal responsibilities as a clearance holder, he chose to violate both – repeatedly and willfully attempting to disclose classified information to someone he believed was a foreign agent,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The Justice Department will hold accountable those who disregard country and conscience at the expense of our Nation’s security, including, as here, out of spite.”
“Despite his knowledge, training, experience, and decades of work as a military contractor, Rowe chose to betray the trust placed in him by his country,” said U.S. Attorney David Metcalf for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “His repeated, willful efforts to harm the U.S. by divulging sensitive defense information to an adversary are inexcusable. My office and our partners will continue to hold fully accountable anyone seeking to compromise the national security of the United States.”
“By attempting to disclose classified information on U.S. Air Force systems to the Russian government, John Rowe endangered American lives and compromised U.S. national security,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “This sentencing demonstrates the FBI and our partners will use every tool available to safeguard the homeland from internal and external threats. Anyone tempted to violate their oath to safeguard classified information should understand the severe consequences — and remember the FBI will never stop until we bring you to justice.”
According to court documents, Rowe was employed for nearly 40 years as a test engineer for multiple cleared defense contractors. In connection with his employment, Rowe held various national security clearances from SECRET to TOP SECRET//SCI (Sensitive Compartmented Information) and worked on matters relating to U.S. Air Force electronic warfare technology, among other things. After several security violations and concerning inquiries and statements about Russia and sensitive information, Rowe was identified as a potential insider threat and terminated from employment.
In March 2020, Rowe told an undercover FBI agent, who he believed to be an agent of the Russian government, that he was not loyal to the United States and that he was interested in helping Russia. During this meeting, Rowe disclosed national defense information classified as SECRET that concerned specific operating details of the electronic countermeasure systems used by U.S. military fighter jets, among other things.
Over the course of the next eight months, Rowe exchanged over 300 emails with a person he believed to be a Russian agent, confirming his willingness to work for the Russian government and discussing his knowledge of classified information relating to U.S. national security. In one email, Rowe explained, “If I can’t get a job [in the United States] then I’ll go work for the other team.”
In another email, Rowe disclosed classified national defense information concerning the U.S. Air Force. In September 2020, Rowe had a second in-person meeting with the undercover FBI agent. During this meeting, Rowe again disclosed classified national defense information.
Rowe was arrested on a criminal complaint and warrant on Dec. 15, 2021, and was ordered detained pending trial. During his pretrial detention, Rowe again disclosed the same classified national defense information concerning the U.S. Air Force to relatives and an associate during recorded prison calls.
The FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wolfe for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Trial Attorney Chantelle Dial of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case.
Additional assistance was provided by the Lead (SD) Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota, the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, and the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office and Rapid City (SD) Resident Agency.