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28 August 2025
Mexican National Sentenced to 12 Months for Unlawfully Reentering the USRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national has been sentenced for illegally reentering the United States.
Jose Raul Falcon-Reyes, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry after deportation and was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes.
Falcon-Reyes was previously convicted of improper entry by an alien in 2015 and was subsequently deported to Mexico that same year. He illegally returned to the United States one month after he was deported. On Feb. 15, 2025, he was arrested in Pettis County, Mo., for this charge.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV. Immigration & Customs Enforcement, and Enforcement & Removal Operations conducted the investigation.
Operation Take Back America
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. 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 Sentenced for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Hilario Dorantes-Ortiz, age 40, a Mexican National residing in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on August 28, 2025, to 30 days’ imprisonment and one year of supervised release by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for illegal reentry into the United States.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Dorantes-Ortiz was previously removed from the United States on July 20, 2022, via Brownsville, Texas. After being charged with aggravated indecent assault in March 2025, Dorantes-Ortiz was encountered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He had not obtained legal permission to reenter the country.
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).
This matter was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera prosecuted the case.
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Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Illegally Entering United States After Being Previously DeportedRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Mexican national pleaded guilty today for his illegal re-entry into the United States after being previously deported.
Carlos Omar Rogel-Sanchez, 44, pleaded guilty to one count of illegally re-entering the United States after being previously deported.
Rogel-Sanchez was arrested on July 5, 2025, by the McDonald County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office for an outstanding arrest warrant out of Joplin, Mo., for a prior assault. Rogel-Sanchez has been previously deported from the United States on at least four prior occasions.
Under federal statutes, Miller is subject to a sentence of up to two years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the McDonald County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office.
Operation Take Back America
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. 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 Convicted of Misusing a Texas Inmate’s Social Security Number is SentencedRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – A Mexican national residing in Pandora, Ohio, who admitted to using a social security number that belongs to an inmate at a Texas prison as his own, has been sentenced.
Julio Juarez Garcia, 32, was sentenced to time served by U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary after he pleaded guilty in July to misuse of a social security number in violation of Title 42 United States Code 408(a)(7)(B).
According to court documents and testimony before Judge Zouhary, on Feb. 28, the defendant attempted to file taxes for the 2023 tax year with a fiscal officer for the Village of Pandora. He filled out tax forms and presented a W-2 document issued by his employer, where he had been employed since 2020. Law enforcement subsequently discovered that Garcia had submitted false information. During the investigation, it was learned that the defendant was using a social security number that was not his, but rather, it was a number assigned to an inmate who is serving a prison sentence at the Three Rivers Federal Correctional Institution in Live Oak, Texas. Garcia later admitted to investigators that the social security number was not his and that he was in the country illegally and was a citizen of Mexico. He is currently being held in federal custody pending removal from the United States.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, United States Border Patrol, and the Village of Pandora Police Department.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dexter L. Phillips for the Northern District of Ohio.
Man Indicted on Federal Fraud and Tax Charges for Allegedly Defrauding Individuals out of $2.6 Million and Evading Income TaxesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man has been indicted on federal fraud and tax charges for allegedly defrauding numerous individuals out of at least $2.6 million and willfully evading income taxes.
An indictment returned Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago charges JAWAD FAKROUNE, also known as “Angelino Escobar,” “Anjelino Escobar,” “Angelo Escobar,” “Giovanni Escobar,” and “Angelo Baldini,” 45, with seven counts of wire fraud, four counts of tax evasion, and four counts of failing to file income taxes. Arraignment in federal court has not yet been scheduled.
According to the indictment, Fakroune is a foreign national who recently resided in the Chicago area. In 2022, Fakroune fraudulently obtained approximately $2.45 million from an individual by falsely representing that Fakroune would invest the money in a shipping container business and a marijuana growing operation, the indictment states. Instead of investing the money, Fakroune used nearly all of it for his personal purposes, including purchasing a residence in Lemont, Ill., paying rent for a residence in New York, funding restaurant and shopping trips in New York City, purchasing a 2022 Cadillac Escalade, and buying multiple high-end watches, the indictment states.
The indictment alleges that Fakroune engaged in similar fraud schemes between 2023 and 2025. One scheme involved Fakroune obtaining $150,000 from a victim by falsely representing that Fakroune would invest the money in a coffee shop or Mexican restaurant. Fakroune allegedly caused this victim to sign a lease on Fakroune’s behalf for a residence in Michigan City, Ind., based upon Fakroune’s false representations that, in exchange for signing the lease, Fakroune would repay the victim $300,000 in connection with the purported coffee shop or Mexican restaurant investment. In fact, Fakroune did not repay any of the victim’s money, the indictment states.
The tax charges accuse Fakroune of attempting to evade income taxes and willfully failing to file income taxes for the calendar years 2020 through 2023.
The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Jason Bushey, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Hennessy and Richard M. Rothblatt.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
fakroune_indictment.pdfMadison Man Who Pointed Loaded Handgun During Dispute Sentenced to 6 ½ Years for Illegally Possessing Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Joseph Harrison, 36, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 6 ½ years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Harrison pleaded guilty to this charge on June 11, 2025.
During a dispute on April 9, 2024, Harrison brandished a gun, pointed it in a woman’s face, and threatened to shoot her. He then fled in another woman’s car. Because Harrison was on state supervision at the time for a prior criminal offense, officers tracked him using GPS monitoring. Officers stopped and arrested Harrison and then searched the vehicle, where they found a loaded Beretta .22 caliber handgun under the seat Harrison had occupied. Harrison is prohibited from legally possessing a firearm because of prior felony convictions.
At sentencing, Judge Conley noted that Harrison had spent approximately 17 years in and out of jail or prison and was on a “disastrous path for everyone, society most of all.” Judge Conley also noted that Harrison had a history of violence, particularly toward women. Judge Conley found a substantial sentence of 6 ½ years was necessary to protect the public.
The charge against Harrison was the result of an investigation conducted by the La Crosse Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force is comprised of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn Ginsberg, Jennifer Remington, and Corey Stephan prosecuted this case.
Federal cases involving firearms are part of Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, 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).
Luzerne County Man Sentenced to 120 Months Imprisonment on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jon Robert Donohue, age 32, of Pittston, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on August 27, 2025, to 120 months’ imprisonment followed by four years of supervision by Senior United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani on drug trafficking and firearms charges.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, on May 9, 2022, Donohue was serving a house arrest sentence in Luzerne County when probation officers received information that Donohue was trafficking drugs and possessed firearms. During a search of his residence, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, seven firearms, including a stolen firearm, drug trafficking paraphernalia, 593 grams of methamphetamine, 782 grams of cocaine, 72 grams of MDMA and 1.3 kilograms of marijuana were seized. Donahue was prohibited from possessing firearms because of his prior record.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Luzerne County Drug Task Force and the Luzerne County Adult Probation and Parole Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts prosecuted 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).
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Los Angeles Lawyer Found Guilty of Five Federal Charges in Connection with $2.1 Million Bribe Payment from Oil CompanyRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Los Angeles-area lawyer was found guilty by a jury today of receiving a $2.1 million bribe while serving as an officer of Nigeria’s state-owned oil company in connection with negotiating favorable drilling rights for a subsidiary of a Chinese state-owned oil company.
Paulinus Iheanacho Okoronkwo, 58, a.k.a. “Pollie,” of Valencia, who practiced immigration, family, and personal injury law out of an office in Koreatown, was found guilty of three counts of transactional money laundering, one count of tax evasion, and one count of obstruction of justice.
According to evidence presented at a four-day trial, Okoronkwo, who is a dual citizen of the United States and Nigeria, was a foreign official who served as the general manager of the upstream division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. (NNPC), a state-owned company through which Nigeria’s government developed that nation’s fossil fuel and natural gas reserves, including through partnerships with foreign oil companies. In this role, Okoronkwo owed a fiduciary duty to the Nigerian government and was a public official.
In October 2015, Addax Petroleum, a Switzerland-based subsidiary of Sinopec, a Chinese state-owned petroleum, gas, and petrochemical conglomerate, wired a payment of $2,105,263 to an Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Account (IOLTA) in the name of Okoronkwo’s Los Angeles law firm, purportedly for his work as a consultant who negotiated and completed a settlement agreement with the NNPC with respect to Addax’s drilling rights in Nigeria. According to the indictment, Addax calculated that it stood to lose billions of dollars if its favorable drilling rights were not secured.
The engagement letter that Addax signed that month with Okoronkwo’s law office – with a fake address in Lagos, Nigeria – was a ruse intended to conceal the fact that its payment to Okoronkwo was a bribe in exchange for his influence in securing more favorable financial terms relating to its crude oil drilling in Nigeria.
To conceal the illegal bribery scheme, Addax falsely characterized the $2.1 million payment as a payment for legal services, lied to an auditor about the payment, and fired executives who questioned the payment’s propriety. To create the false impression that the bribe payment constituted client funds, Okoronkwo received the payment in his law firm’s IOLTA.
In November 2017, Okoronkwo used $983,200 of the illegally obtained funds to make a down payment on a house in Valencia.
Okoronkwo omitted the $2.1 million bribe payment from his 2015 federal income tax return. He also obstructed justice in June 2022 when he lied to federal investigators when he told them he did not use any of the $2.1 million to purchase a house and that the money represented client funds rather than income to his law office.
United States District Judge John F. Walter scheduled a December 1 sentencing hearing, at which time Okoronkwo will face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for each money laundering count, up to 10 years in federal prison for the obstruction of justice count, and up to five years in federal prison for the tax evasion count. Okoronkwo is free on $50,000 bond.
The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided assistance.
Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander B. Schwab, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, Nisha Chandran of the Major Frauds Section, and Alexander Su of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section are prosecuting this case.
Leader of Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – Julianne E. Murray, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that on August 24, 2025, Dwayne Fountain, 54, of Middletown, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, four counts of possession with intent to distribute, and two counts of distribution of controlled substances. Dwayne Fountain was convicted after a trial in March 2025. Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly pronounced the sentence, finding that the defendant was a leader of a drug trafficking organization. The amount of fentanyl seized from this organization, over ten kilograms, represents the largest known fentanyl seizure in Delaware history.
This case was the result of a long-term investigation spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Delaware State Police, and Dover Police Department. The evidence at trial showed that Dwayne Fountain bought kilograms of drugs from his suppliers and added ingredients like xylazine, also known as “tranq,” to make the drugs more potent and profitable. Agents found a kilogram press in a home he owned in Middletown, which was used to put the drugs back into “brick” form after they were adulterated. The defendant also rented an apartment in Bear, Delaware, where he stored his inventory of drugs. Search warrants executed in the case led to the seizure of over 10.5 kilograms of fentanyl, over 200 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine, over 3.5 kilograms of cocaine, and nearly 3 kilograms of heroin.
The government stressed at sentencing that the defendant knowingly placed the public in danger by mixing and selling drugs that frequently cause overdoses and deaths. On a recorded call, the defendant admitted that he knew the drugs he was selling could kill people stating, “They said it's too strong, come on man... We all got some sh*t that can make a [person]die. For real, for real. You gotta know how to mix it right.” The defendant also stored his drugs in the same apartment where his teenaged son lived, and he coached his other son about how to manage a drug operation on wiretap calls.
U.S. Attorney Murray commented, “The defendant well knew the danger he was causing, both to his own family and to the public. He sold drugs anyway, for no reason other than the desire to make money. The Court’s sentence sends the right message – selling drugs, especially fentanyl – will land you in federal prison for many years.”
“Law Enforcement took Dwayne Fountain off the streets in 2023. He was enriching himself by selling poison in our community on a scale not often seen. Surely this arrest was a contributor to the 36% drop in overdose deaths recorded in Delaware in 2024,” offered Dover Police Chief Thomas Johnson. “I understand and acknowledge the broader effort in reducing the overdose death rate in the First State, but sometimes we forget the months of crime fighting efforts put in by our police officers. Cases that involve both physical and electronic surveillance are labor intensive and require considerable sacrifice. This was a tremendous effort by all the involved officers. They made Dover a little safer and they certainly saved lives.”
“This case serves as a reminder of the dangers our communities face from fentanyl and other synthetic opioids,” said Colonel William D. Crotty, Superintendent of the Delaware State Police. “The amount of fentanyl seized in this case could have led to countless overdoses. Thanks to the dedication and teamwork of our detectives and federal partners, a major supplier has been taken off the streets, and lives were undoubtedly saved.”
“Dwayne Fountain was poisoning our communities through the distribution of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Working with our law enforcement partners from the Delaware State Police, Dover Police Department, and the United States Attorney’s Office, Mr. Fountain was brought to justice through his sentencing to a 25-year term of incarceration,” stated Special Agent in Charge Thomas Hodnett, DEA Philadelphia Field Division.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer K. Welsh and Samuel S. Frey prosecuted the case. This case was investigated by the DEA Dover Post of Duty, Delaware State Police and Dover Police Department, with assistance from the DEA Scranton Resident Office, Delaware National Guard, Smyrna Police Department, Ocean View Police Department, and Delmar Police Department.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 23-CR-49-CFC.
Lancaster Woman Who Defrauded Nonprofit Veterans Organizations Sentenced to Two Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Jessika L. Hiepler, 47, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl to 24 months in prison, three years of supervised release, a $10,000 fine, 100 hours of community service, and $432,925.35 in restitution for her scheme to defraud two nonprofit veterans organizations, American Legion Post 34 and American Veterans Post 19. Hiepler and her associate netted over $1.425 million from the fraud scheme.
In August of last year, the defendant was charged by information with two counts of wire fraud, and she pleaded guilty in September. As part of her plea agreement, Hiepler also agreed to a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $1,425,847.24.
As detailed in court filings, for nearly 15 years, Hiepler served as a board member and as the manager, treasurer, and financial officer for American Legion Post 34 (“Legion Post 34”). In 2019, Hiepler offered to “bail out” a separate veterans organization, American Veterans Post 19 (“AMVETS Post 19”), that was facing financial difficulties. Under the pretext of bailing out AMVETS Post 19, Hiepler assumed control over its financial affairs and acquired its valuable four-acre commercial property in Lancaster through theft, deceit, and misrepresentation. While Hiepler presented herself as a good-hearted veteran looking out for other veterans, she lied, stole, manipulated records, and betrayed her employers’ trust for her own financial benefit.
First, Hiepler misled AMVETS Post 19 to secure approval for the “bailout,” including with the false promises of an interest-free loan, minimal rent, and full transparency. To raise funds for the “bailout,” she diverted funds from her then-employer, Legion Post 34.
Once in control of AMVETS Post 19’s finances, Hiepler stole from AMVETS Post 19 and used its funds for her own benefit. She concealed her self-dealing, manipulated and altered financial records, and destroyed financial and business records at both Legion Post 34 and AMVETS Post 19.
From the outset, the defendant schemed about making money and selling the AMVETS Post 19’s property on Fairview Avenue in Lancaster. In Hiepler’s own words:
- “[W]e will make our money and they [AMVETS Post 19] can kiss our a[**]”
- “I am ready to get rid of these motherf[*****]s. . . . I can’t wait for sh[**] to be ours”
- “I can’t wait to see their face when we hand them their eviction notice”
- “Wizardry at work / Madoff activated”
- “Honestly all I want is my money. That’s it. I could care f[***]ing less about any of them.”
Three years after acquiring the AMVETS Post 19’s property for a below-market rate of $500,000 through the “bailout,” Hiepler’s real estate investment company sold the fraudulently obtained property for $1.95 million and booked a gain of $1.425 million after expenses.
“Jessika Hiepler abused the great reputation of veterans to win the trust of those who support them,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “All the while, she boasted about her schemes, mocked her victims, and celebrated her role in their misfortunes. These were calculated crimes of greed, not of impulse or desperation, and justice demanded that Hiepler be held to account.”
“Jessika Hiepler and her associate pocketed over one million dollars intended for organizations that support our nation’s veterans, and today illustrates our commitment to holding to account anyone who preys on the public for personal profit,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office. “Our office, alongside our law enforcement partners at every level, will continue to safeguard the integrity of these organizations and bring these fraudsters to justice.”
The case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the Lancaster City Bureau of Police, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Samuel Dalke and J. Andrew Jenemann.
Kimberly-Clark Corporation to Pay up to $40M to Resolve Criminal Charge Related to the Sale of Adulterated MicroCool Surgical GownsRead the Press Release
Note: This press release has been updated to more accurately reflect the terms of the DPA.
Kimberly-Clark Corporation (Kimberly-Clark), a U.S.-based multinational consumer goods and personal care company, has agreed to pay up to $40.4 million to resolve a criminal charge relating to the company’s sale of adulterated MicroCool surgical gowns.
“Kimberly-Clark betrayed the trust placed in it by consumers and healthcare providers when it chose to defraud the FDA and bring adulterated surgical gowns to market for its own financial gain,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s resolution demonstrates the Criminal Division’s unwavering commitment to holding corporations accountable when they threaten the integrity of our healthcare system. This resolution, in which the company has agreed to pay up to $40 million, sends a clear message that those who endanger patients and medical professionals will face significant criminal penalties.”
“Companies that sell medical products cannot misrepresent the safety and quality of those products,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to vigorously enforce laws that protect patients and medical professionals.”
A criminal information filed today in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Texas charges Kimberly-Clark with one count of introducing adulterated surgical gowns into interstate commerce with an intent to defraud and mislead. According to court filings, a Kimberly-Clark employee conducted fraudulent testing on Kimberly-Clark’s MicroCool gowns to avoid having to submit a premarket notification to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after Kimberly-Clark made a change to the gowns. A premarket notification is meant to show FDA that a medical device is as safe and effective as an already legally marketed device. Based on the fraudulent testing, Kimberly-Clark sold the gowns after the change without a new premarket notification, marketing the gowns as providing the highest level of protection against fluid and viruses.
Under the terms of a deferred prosecution agreement filed with the criminal information, Kimberly-Clark will pay up to $40,400,000, which consists of a monetary penalty of $24,500,000, a forfeiture of profits of $3,900,000, and up to $12,000,000 in victim compensation. The deferred prosecution agreement resolves a criminal investigation into Kimberly-Clark’s sale of its adulterated MicroCool surgical gowns under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA).
According to court documents, surgical gowns sold in the United States are subject to regulation by the FDA, which recognizes a system of classification set forth by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) — known as the ANSI/AAMI PB70 standard. The ANSI/AAMI PB70 standard was first established in 2003 and revised to be more rigorous in 2012. Under the standard, the highest protection level for surgical gowns — AAMI Level 4 — is reserved for gowns intended to be used in surgeries and other high-risk medical procedures on patients suspected of having infectious diseases. To establish compliance with the standard, a surgical gown needs to demonstrate blood-borne pathogen resistance in each of several critical zones, including the sleeve, by preventing fluids from penetrating the gown.
As part of the deferred prosecution agreement, Kimberly-Clark admitted that, with an intent to defraud and mislead and to avoid filing a 510(k) premarket notification with FDA for its MicroCool gowns, an employee of Kimberly-Clark directed the preparation of test samples for the surgical gowns that did not meet the requirements of AAMI Level 4 testing. Kimberly-Clark further admitted that between late 2013 and late 2014, it sold millions of adulterated MicroCool surgical gowns labeled as AAMI Level 4 after the fraudulent testing and without a new 510(k) FDA premarket notification. In total, Kimberly-Clark sold approximately $49,000,000 worth of adulterated MicroCool gowns to customers in the United States and abroad.
The deferred prosecution agreement requires Kimberly-Clark to, among other obligations, provide ongoing cooperation with and disclosures to the Justice Department, implement a compliance and ethics program, and report to the Justice Department regarding remediation and implementation of these compliance measures.
The government reached this resolution with Kimberly-Clark based on a number of factors, including the nature and seriousness of the offense conduct and that Kimberly-Clark ceased manufacturing the surgical gowns at issue in this matter. Kimberly-Clark did not voluntarily and timely self-disclose the conduct to the department, but did receive full credit for its cooperation with the department’s investigation, which included meeting requests from the government promptly, making regular factual presentations and updates to the government, and producing extensive documentation to the Offices, including documents located in foreign jurisdictions.
The criminal case was investigated by the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations.
Trial Attorneys David Gunn, Max Goldman, and Amanda Kelly of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, and Jacob Foster, Acting Chief of the Criminal Division’s Health Care Fraud Unit, prosecuted the case.
The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting health care fraud (HCF) matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s HCF enforcement efforts can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Kansas man indicted for false statements during firearms purchasesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with making straw purchases of firearms.
According to court documents, N’Darius Sullivan, 24, of Kansas City, Kansas, was indicted on two counts of false statements during two separate firearm purchases.
In 2024, Sullivan is accused of knowingly making false written statements to a licensed firearms dealer to obtain two Glock, Model 22, .40 caliber pistols. On two different occasions Sullivan allegedly lied by indicating he was not purchasing the firearms on behalf of another person.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Marcos Alvarado-Machorro, 44, a Mexican national residing illegally in the United States, was indicted on one count of reentry of previously removed alien. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Krug is prosecuting the case.
Darryl James Bush, 46, of Clay Center, Kansas, was indicted on one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, possession of child pornography. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Walton is prosecuting the case.
Keeno D. Collins, 31, of Edwardsville was indicted on one count of felon in possession of a firearm. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting the case.
Meliton Garcia-Guillermo, 43, a Mexican national residing illegally in Olathe, was indicted on one count of reentry of previously removed alien. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask is prosecuting the case.
Tommie Ernest Giles, 52, of Kansas City, Missouri, was indicted on one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and attempt. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey McCormick is prosecuting the case.
Sohail Reza Ibrahimi, 27, of Kansas City, Missouri, was indicted on one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and attempt. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey McCormick is prosecuting the case.
Jason Teeman, 46, of Raymore, Missouri, was indicted on one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and attempt. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey McCormick is prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Kansas City Woman Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to a scheme to fraudulently obtain Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loans, guaranteed by the SBA under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
Rasheda McDaniel, 42, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
According to court documents, on or about March 22, 2021, McDaniel and co-defendant Briauna Adams used the personal identification information of another person to submit an online application for a COVID-19 relief PPP loan in that individual’s name.
The loan application listed a business with Schedule C gross receipts of $147,412 and a net income of $98,562. The true business tax return listed zero taxable income and did not have a Schedule C.
On or about April 2, 2021, the PPP loan was approved and $20,832 was wire deposited. On the same day, $2,000 was transferred to an account controlled by Adams. An amount of $18,830 was transferred to defendant McDaniel’s account.
On or about Feb. 27, 2021, co-defendant Adams submitted an online application in McDaniel’s name, using personal identification information McDaniel provided to Adams, for a separate COVID-19 relief PPP loan.
The application and supporting documents stated that McDaniel was a sole proprietor of a business established July 7, 2017, that had an average monthly payroll of $8,333. As part of the application, a 2019 Form Schedule C was submitted listing gross receipts of $144,080 and a profit of $99,982. McDaniel did not have a business during that time with gross or net income in those amounts.
On or about March 4, 2021, the defendant’s personal account received a $20,832 wire deposit. The same day, McDaniel made a $15,000 cash withdrawal from the account.
McDaniel’s co-defendant, Briauna Adams, pleaded guilty to multiple fraud charges on May 7, 2025, and is awaiting sentencing.
McDaniel faces up to 22 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentence of the defendant will be determined by the court based upon the advisory sentencing guidelines and other factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department.
Kalispell man sentenced to over 2 years in prison on illegal firearm possessionRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Kalispell man who possessed a firearm illegally was sentenced today to 32 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Caelus James Hattel, 22, pleaded guilty in April 2025 to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
The government alleged in court documents that in August 2023, Hattel was convicted of criminal endangerment, a felony, and criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony, in Flathead County District Court. Hattel was sentenced to five years to the Montana Department of Health and Human Services, with four of those years suspended, on each count, to run concurrently.
On September 26, 2024, the owner of Raven Rock Armory in Kalispell, MT, reported that a white male with a beanie and hand tattoos stole a Ruger SR-1911 10mm stainless steel pistol from his store, then fled. On October 3, 2024, Law enforcement officers contacted Hattel and located the stolen Ruger SR-1911 inside Hattel’s pants against his inner left thigh. The owner of Raven Rock Armory identified Hattel as the thief who took the firearm in September.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Lowney prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, and Kalispell Police Department.
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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Justice Department Secures Agreement with North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections to Improve Communication Access for Incarcerated People who are Deaf or Hard of HearingRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today secured an agreement with the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections (NCDAC) to ensure that incarcerated individuals with hearing disabilities are provided effective communication and the opportunity to participate equally in NCDAC’s prison services, programs, and activities. NCDAC operates more than 50 prison facilities and houses more than 30,000 individuals.
The agreement resolves complaints under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) alleging that NCDAC fails to provide incarcerated individuals with hearing disabilities with sign language interpreters, hearing aids, cochlear implants, text telephones, videophones, and other auxiliary aids and services. Under the settlement agreement, NCDAC will identify and accommodate incarcerated individuals with appropriate auxiliary aids and services, as well as provide training on the ADA to staff.
“The ADA requires effective communication for incarcerated individuals with hearing disabilities so they have access to critical programs, including religious and vocational services,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division is committed to eliminating barriers, including communication barriers, that prevent individuals with disabilities from participating fully in prison programs.”
To learn more about the Civil Rights Division visit www.justice.gov/crt, and to report possible violations of federal civil rights laws go to www.civilrights.justice.gov. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TTY 1-833-610-1264) or visit www.ada.gov.
Jury Convicts Sherwood Man for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—A federal jury convicted a Sherwood man who illegally possessed a firearm. Following a two-day trial and after approximately two hours of deliberation, the jury convicted Keith Harris, 24, of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On November 8, 2023, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Harris that charged him with one count he took to trial.
The jury returned the verdict Wednesday evening to United States District Court Judge D.P. Marshall, Jr., who will sentence Harris at a later date. Harris will remain in federal custody pending sentencing. The statutory penalty for being a felon in possession of a firearm is not more than 15 years imprisonment.
The evidence presented at trial showed that on October 26, 2022, a law enforcement officer with the Little Rock Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a Dodge Challenger for speeding. Law enforcement officers learned that Harris, who was a passenger, was on active parole with a search waiver on file. Harris was asked by law enforcement officers to step out of the vehicle to conduct a search of his person and the area of the car where he was seated. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement officers located a Glock, model 22, .40 caliber firearm under the seat where Harris had been sitting.
Harris was convicted by the state of Arkansas in 2019 for being a felon in possession of a firearm following an incident at a gas station in North Little Rock that resulted in the murder of a U.S. Air Force airman during an armed robbery. Harris, who was 18 at the time, was initially arrested for capital murder and aggravated robbery before pleading guilty to the lesser charge after police identified Harris as one of the four people involved in the incident. Harris received five years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections and was paroled in October 2021. Harris was also convicted as an adult of two counts of theft of property by threat of serious physical injury following an incident in 2016.
The present investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Little Rock Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Eldridge and Amanda Fields prosecuted the case.
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Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
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Jefferson County Man Admits Producing, Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from DeSoto, Missouri on Thursday pleaded guilty to child pornography charges involving three victims.
Dylan James, 25, pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography. He admitted recording a sexual act with a 13-year-old in 2024 and then distributing that recording.
Investigators later discovered evidence of two more victims on James’ phone. The second victim, who was 15, told investigators that James gave her alcohol and “possibly some vapes” in exchange for sexually explicit images. The third victim was 16 when James watched a livestream of her engaging in sex acts with her boyfriend. He later paid her for additional videos, James’ plea agreement says.
James is scheduled to be sentenced on December 2. The production charge carries a mandatory minimum prison term of 15 years. The distribution charge carries a potential penalty of 5 to 20 years.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hayes is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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.
Iowa City Man Sentenced to 108 Months in Federal Prison for Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – An Iowa City man was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, in January 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the home of Janard Fitzgerald Goins, 34, and found methamphetamine, crack, and marijuana, $5,877 dollars, and a Glock 17 9mm handgun. Goins’ phone contained several photographs showing his possession of the Glock 17 handgun, along with other evidence of drug trafficking. Goins has a prior felony conviction from Illinois.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Goins will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by Iowa City Police Department.
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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Investment Firm Owner Sentenced to 151 Months for Defrauding More Than 60 Elderly and Other Victim Investors over More Than Three DecadesRead the Press Release
TRENTON, NJ. – A New Jersey man was sentenced on August 26, 2025, to 151 months in prison for orchestrating a decades-long scheme to defraud more than 60 victim investors out of more than $6 million, Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Vincent Dispoto Jr., 68, formerly of Belmar, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi to an information charging him with one count of wire fraud. Judge Quraishi imposed the sentence in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
Dispoto owned and operated Giddeon Financial Services, a purported investment services firm. Beginning in or around 1988, Dispoto raised money through Giddeon Financial Services and other entities by falsely claiming to victims, many of whom were elderly, that he would invest their money in low-risk investment products with guaranteed rates of return, including municipal bonds and certificates of deposits. Dispoto also told some victims that he was using their investments to fund loans and mortgages for medical professionals, which would generate long-term returns through interest payments. To perpetuate his fraud, Dispoto mailed victims false and fraudulent financial statements that purported to show significant increases in the value of their investments.
In reality, Dispoto did not invest the victims’ money as promised. Instead, he used it to make Ponzi-like payments to other victims, which he falsely claimed to be “returns” on investments. He also misappropriated victim money to fund his gambling and other personal expenses. Dispoto’s scheme collectively resulted in more than approximately $6 million in losses to victims.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Quraishi sentenced Dispoto to three years of supervised release and ordered restitution of $6,083,419.84 to the victims of Dispoto’s offense. Judge Quraishi separately entered a forfeiture money judgment of $6,990,635.62.
Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Habba credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kozar of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
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Defense counsel: Areeb Salim, Esq. and John Yauch, Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defenders, Newark
Illegal alien sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for church parking lot methamphetamine dealRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 41-year-old Mexican national has been ordered federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute 116 kilograms of methamphetamine and for unlawfully possessing ammunition and multiple weapons, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Eustorgio Quiroz-Salto pleaded guilty July 11, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett has now ordered Quiroz-Salto to serve a total of 240 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that described his prior convictions for cocaine trafficking in the Southern District of Florida in 2011. In addition, Judge Bennett ordered the forfeiture of all weapons and ammunition seized.
“Public safety begins with taking the most dangerous recidivists off the street,” said Ganjei. “When a defendant, like the one here, illegally enters our country three times, engages in drug trafficking despite having prior drug convictions, and illegally possesses firearms, he better believe we’re going to come looking for him.”
“Not only was Quiroz-Salto in the country illegally, but when Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents arrested him, they uncovered a substantial amount of methamphetamine destined for our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan C. Pullen of the DEA – Houston Division. “He was caught in the act, selling deadly drugs near a place of worship, and now he'll spend two decades behind bars paying the price for his reckless actions that threatened to destroy lives.”
On Dec 12, 2023, Quiroz-Salto arranged to deliver over 20 kilograms of methamphetamine aka “ice” in the parking lot of a church in Crosby. When he arrived with Manuel Varjas Corona, authorities arrested both men and seized multiple kilograms of narcotics from their vehicle.
A subsequent search of the home where Quiroz-Salto resided resulted in the seizure of an additional 93.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 12 firearms, a silencer, 351 rounds of live ammunition and multiple firearm parts.
Quiroz-Salto had been removed in 2007 and 2008 and returned illegally. He will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Corona, 51, a Mexican national who illegally resided in Houston, also pleaded guilty to his role and is set for sentencing at a later date. At that time, he faces up to life in prison.
DEA conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, Harris County Sheriff’s Office and Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shelley J. Sullivan prosecuted the case.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
OXFORD, MS – A Nicaraguan national, unlawfully in the United States, pled guilty in front of United States District Court Judge Michael P. Mills to the illegal possession of a firearm on Thursday, August 28, 2025. Sentencing will be held at a later date and the defendant faces a statutory maximum penalty of fifteen years in prison.
According to court documents, Victor A. Hernandez, 29, was arrested following a traffic stop in Hernando, Mississippi. While on patrol, officers observed Hernadez commit several driving offenses and initiated a traffic stop. During the traffic stop, officers located a Smith and Wesson handgun, of which Hernadez claimed ownership. Officers learned that the handgun had been reported stolen from an individual in the State of Tennessee. Hernandez was arrested.
During a subsequent investigation into the defendant, agents with Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) learned that Hernandez was not a citizen of the United States and was illegally and unlawfully present in the United States.
Clay Joyner, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi said “The Second Amendment is a sacred right for American citizens. Those who are illegally in the United States are not able to enjoy that sacred right and possess firearms. The United States Attorney’s Office will vigorously prosecute those who illegally possess firearms. We thank ICE and the Hernando Police Department for their diligent work in investigating this matter.”
U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner of the Northern District of Mississippi and Scott Lewis, Acting Deputy Field Office Director for the Memphis Field Office of ICE made the announcement.
ICE and the Hernando Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Herzog Jr. 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).
Honduran National Sentenced for Illegal Re-Entry of a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that ELVIN MEJIA-GUZMAN (“MEJIA”), age 36, was sentenced by United States District Judge Eldon E. Fallon, after previously pleading guilty to illegal reentry of a previously removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
MEJIA was sentenced to time served. Judge Fallon also sentenced MEJIA to one year of supervised release and payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to the charging document, MEJIA was found in the United States on March 26, 2025, having reentered the United States without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States, after being previously deported on June 21, 2010.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, Kenner Police Department and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jon M. Maestri of the General Crimes Unit was in charge of the prosecution.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Home health agency owner sentenced to more than six years in Medicare fraud and identity theft schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 64-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison after his conviction on all counts as charged for leading a Medicare fraud scheme involving the submission of falsified medical records, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The jury deliberated for less than two hours following a three-day trial before finding Paul Njoku guilty May 21.
U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett has now ordered Njoku to serve 75 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted his familiarity with the evidence and noted Njoku’s aggravating role in the fraud conspiracy.
Njoku owned and operated a home health care agency called Opnet Health Care Services Inc. doing business as P & P Health Care Services. Njoku was the owner and CEO.
The jury heard testimony from witnesses that Njoku, or others working at his direction, forged signatures of doctors and nurses. Specifically, Njoku and others cut out old signatures and taped them onto newly created doctors’ orders, nursing notes and nursing assessments. Medicare required home health agencies to maintain these documents to obtain payment for providing home health services. Njoku then submitted the falsified records in response to a request for records from Medicare.
The jury also heard about a registered nurse who had departed Opnet in 2017. Njoku continued using her signature on nursing notes and assessments—including records which had to be signed by a registered nurse—in 2018 and 2019 without her knowledge or consent.
A witness also testified that Njoku bribed a doctor in exchange for approving home health services.
From 2015 to 2019, Opnet billed Medicare over $400,000 in claims for home health services and received over $360,000. Opnet did not maintain the required documentation for many of them and later falsified records to support the claims.
During the trial, a representative testified that Medicare would not have paid these claims had Medicare known there was no documentation or that they were based on falsified records.
The defense attempted to blame another person for the fraud. The jury did not believe those claims and found Njoku guilty as charged.
Njoku was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI, Department of Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General and Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christian Latham and Kathryn Olson are prosecuting the case.
Guatemalan national sentenced to federal prison for unlawfully returning to the United StatesRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas –A Guatemalan national, illegally living in Port Arthur, has been sentenced for unlawfully returning to the United States, announced Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Wilmer Armando Xitumul-Godinez, 24, pleaded guilty to illegal reentry by a previously deported alien and was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on August 28, 2025. Godinez will be deported once he has served his sentence.
According to information presented in court, Godinez was deported by immigration officials in September of 2024. However, federal agents again encountered Godinez reentering the United States in October of 2024.
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).
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security and the Port Arthur Police Department and prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tommy Coleman.
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Guatemalan National Responsible for Causing Vehicle Crash Resulting in Six Deaths to Serve 24 Months in Prison for Illegal Reentry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – JOSE PAXTOR-OXLAJ, 45, of Guatemala, has been sentenced to serve 24 months in federal prison, the statutory maximum, for illegally reentering after removal from the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, on November 21, 2023, Paxtor-Oxlaj was the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident near Elk City, Oklahoma, in which his six passengers—including three children—died, and a seventh passenger was critically injured. An investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) revealed Paxtor-Oxlaj was ordered to be removed by an Immigration Judge on June 29, 2010, and he had been removed from the United States to Guatemala on July 9, 2010. According to investigators, Paxtor-Oxlaj promptly reentered in 2011 and did not have permission to reenter the United States after his prior deportation.
On September 17, 2024, a federal Grand Jury charged Paxtor-Oxlaj with illegal reentry after previous deportation. On March 21, 2025, Paxtor-Oxlaj pleaded guilty and admitted he was knowingly in the United States without having obtained the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission into the United States.
In Beckham County District Court, Paxtor-Oxlaj was convicted of six counts of first-degree manslaughter and one count of causing accident with great bodily injury without a valid driver’s license in case number CF-2023-257. He was sentenced to serve four years in state prison.
At the sentencing hearing yesterday, U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced Paxtor-Oxlaj to serve 24 months in federal prison, which is to run consecutively to his sentence in Beckham County, Oklahoma. In announcing the sentence, the Court noted that the defendant preyed on others who were here illegally and that his conduct was reprehensible.
This case is the result of an investigation by the HSI, ICE, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Hale and Elizabeth Joynes.
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.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Grand Jury Returns IndictmentsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments yesterday. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation, and a person named as defendant in an indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Madison Man Charged with Drug and Gun Crimes
Gairitt Schad, 27, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing controlled substances intended for distribution, possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The indictment alleges that on April 17, 2025, Schad possessed cocaine, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and heroin, all intended for distribution. The indictment further alleges that on the same day, he possessed a loaded handgun in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes, and that he possessed a Smith & Wesson M&P 40 Shield .40 caliber handgun and ammunition as a convicted felon.
If convicted of the charge involving 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, Schad faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison, and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. If convicted of the charge involving possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, Schad faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison. The charge for possessing cocaine and heroin intended for distribution carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The felon in possession charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years.
The charges against Schad are the result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Narcotics Task Force and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the case.
Eau Claire Man Charged with Methamphetamine Trafficking
Jason Bloedow, 41, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing methamphetamine, possessing methamphetamine intended for distribution, and maintaining a drug involved premises. The indictment alleges that Bloedow sold methamphetamine on March 19 and April 15, 2025, the second buy involving 50 grams or more. The indictment also alleges that Bloedow possessed 500 grams or more of methamphetamine intended for distribution on April 25, 2025, and used his residence as a drug involved premises.
If convicted of the charge involving 500 grams or more, Bloedow faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. If convicted of the charge involving 50 grams or more, he faces a minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum penalty of 40 years. The distribution charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years, and the drug premises charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years.
The charges against him are the result of an investigation conducted by the West Central Drug Task Force, the Dunn County and Chippewa County Sheriff’s Offices, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Dunn County and Eau Claire County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Remington is handling the case.
Madison Man Charged with Possessing Methamphetamine for Distribution
Noah A. Hodges, 43, Madison, Wisconsin is charged with possessing 50 grams or more methamphetamine intended for distribution. The indictment alleges that Hodges possessed the methamphetamine on February 6, 2025.
If convicted, Hodges faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.
The charge against Hodges is the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, Dane County Narcotics Task Force, Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group, Wisconsin State Patrol, and Madison Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson is handling the case.
Wausau Man Charged with Methamphetamine Trafficking
Austin Heil, 27, Wausau, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine intended for distribution. The indictment alleges that he possessed the methamphetamine on February 20, 2024.
If convicted, Heil faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.
The charge against Heil is the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force comprised of investigators from the FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain Bay Police Department, Wausau Police Department and Wisconsin National Guard Counter Drug Program. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force also assisted with the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Remington is handling the case.
Fitchburg Man Charged with Drug Trafficking and Illegally Possessing Loaded Firearm
Jalen Hayes, 25, Fitchburg, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing controlled substances intended for distribution, possessing a loaded firearm as a convicted felon, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The indictment alleges that on July 25, 2025, Hayes possessed a mixture of fentanyl, cocaine, oxycodone, and heroin intended for distribution. The indictment further alleges that on the same day, Hayes possessed a loaded Radikal Arms RPX9 Exodus 9mm handgun as a convicted felon and further that he possessed that handgun in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime.
If convicted of the drug charge, Hayes faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. If convicted of the felon in possession charge, Hayes faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. The charge involving possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison, and a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The charges against him are the result of an investigation conducted by the Fitchburg Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the case.
** Federal cases involving drugs and firearms are 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).
Note: An earlier version of this release stated that Austin Heil was also charged with illegally possessing a firearm. That information was incorrect, and the release has been corrected.
GoodFellas Gang Members Sentenced to Prison for Selling Drugs and MachinegunsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Corey Boyer, a/k/a Baby Joker, 26, of Atlanta, Ga., and Antonio Smith, a/k/a Ace, 27, of Atlanta, Ga., were sentenced for distributing methamphetamine and other drugs throughout the metro-Atlanta area as members of the Atlanta-based GoodFellas street gang.
“Boyer and Smith operated a fortified trap house to fund the violent GoodFellas gang by dealing drugs and trafficking firearms, including machineguns” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Our office continues to closely coordinate with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to investigate, prosecute, and punish gang members who pose a clear and present danger to our community.”
“Corey Boyer and Antonio Smith were key players in a dangerous drug trafficking operation that fueled gang activity and harmed our communities,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Their sentencing sends a strong message that the FBI, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to dismantle drug networks and remove violent offenders from our streets to ensure the safety of metro-Atlanta residents.”
“This case exemplifies the importance of collaboration among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “Together, we can effectively combat violent gang activity and ensure that those who engage in illegal activities face the consequences of their actions.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: GoodFellas is an Atlanta-based gang that primarily recruits members in Atlanta neighborhoods and jails and prisons within the state of Georgia. GoodFellas members generate money for the gang through criminal activities, including drug trafficking, robbery, carjacking, fraud, and firearms trafficking. In spring 2024, the FBI learned that GoodFellas members were trafficking drugs in a west Atlanta apartment complex. Over several months of surveillance, federal agents saw Boyer and Smith conducting hand-to-hand drug transactions at the apartment complex.
In August 2024, law enforcement searched an apartment at the complex. When law enforcement entered the apartment, Smith jumped out of a window and attempted to flee. When Smith was apprehended, he was carrying an unserialized machinegun in his waistband. Boyer was located inside the apartment with six firearms, body armor, approximately 500 rounds of ammunition, more than $1,000 in counterfeit currency, several suspected machinegun conversion devices; approximately 10 kilograms of marijuana, more than a kilogram each of methamphetamine and MDMA, and various quantities of cocaine and psilocybin mushrooms. Further investigation revealed that Smith had been trafficking firearms and machinegun conversion devices.
Today, U.S. District Judge Victoria M. Calvert sentenced Smith to 14 years, 2 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Smith was convicted on May 28, 2025, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a machine gun, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
On July 23, 2025, Judge Calvert sentenced Boyer to 12 years, 6 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Boyer was convicted on April 18, 2025, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with valuable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office; and the Atlanta Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Lauren E. Renaud prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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 OCDETF and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga
Four Foreign Nationals Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the United States After DeportationRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that four men convicted separately of illegally reentering the United States after prior deportations were sentenced this week.
Kevin Emmanuel Rodriguez-Martinez, 32, a Honduran national, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Catherine Henry to time served, just over two months, for illegal reentry. Having completed his prison sentence, he will be removed from the United States again.
Rodriguez-Martinez had been previously removed from the United States in September 2011 and November 2012, following encounters with the U.S. Border Patrol in Texas.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) became aware in May of this year that Rodriguez-Martinez had unlawfully returned to the U.S. In June, HSI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers located the defendant in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and took him into custody. He was charged by information with illegal reentry the same month and pleaded guilty this week, waiving prosecution by indictment.
Osman Guevara-Guevara, 35, a Honduran national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Joseph F. Leeson Jr. yesterday to time served, about two and a half months, for illegally reentering the United States. Having completed his prison sentence, he will be removed from the United States again.
In February 2012, Guevara-Guevara was arrested by ICE near Seattle, Washington, and was removed to Honduras in April of that year. Following his removal, the defendant illegally re-entered the United States on an unknown date, was arrested in southern Texas by the U.S. Border Patrol in March 2013, and was removed from the country that April.
Earlier this year, ICE became aware that Guevara-Guevara had been arrested by the Phoenixville (Pa.) Police Department — after having entered the country without authorization a third time — and took him into custody in June. In July, he was charged by indictment with illegal reentry and pleaded guilty this week.
Jorge Miles, 30, a Mexican national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Costello on Tuesday to eight months in prison for illegally reentering the United States. Upon the completion of his sentence, he again will be removed from the country.
Miles had previously been removed from the U.S. in March 2014, after he was arrested by the East Norriton Township (Pa.) Police Department and pleaded guilty to robbery. He reentered the country illegally on an unknown date.
In February of this year, ICE became aware that Miles had been arrested by the West Whiteland Township (Pa.) Police Department and took him into custody. In April, he was charged by indictment with illegal reentry and pleaded guilty in May.
Yobani Bonilla-Bonilla, aka Gilberto Perez Alvarado, 40, a Honduran national, was sentenced by Judge Henry on Monday to time served, almost two months, for illegally reentering the United States. Having completed his prison sentence, he again will be removed from the country.
Bonilla-Bonilla had previously been removed from the U.S. in June 2015, after he was encountered by the U.S. Border Patrol in Texas. He reentered the country illegally on an unknown date.
In May of this year, ICE received information that the defendant was residing in Easton, Pennsylvania, and that there was an active arrest warrant for him in Honduras.
ICE located Bonilla-Bonilla and took him into custody in June, with the assistance of HSI and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). He was charged by indictment with illegal reentry in July and pleaded guilty this week.
These cases are 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 Neighborhoods (PSN).
The cases were investigated by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, HSI, and the DEA and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rosalynda M. Michetti, Rebecca Kulik, and Shayna Gannone.
Former State Employee Pleads Guilty to Bribery Conspiracy Involving More Than $2.8 Million in Unemployment Insurance Assistance FundingRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A former employee of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit federal program bribery and engaging in aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr.
Joining in the announcement were Joseph Cuffari, Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security—Office of Inspector General; Megan Howell, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General; Acting Special Agent in Charge Reuben Coleman, Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Jason Palmer, Director of the State of Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency
Janine Rayford, 39, of Redford, pleaded guilty before Judge Judith E. Levy.
According to court records, while working for the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency, Rayford accepted more than $50,000 in bribe payments. Rayford admitted that as part of the bribery conspiracy, she personally accessed unemployment insurance assistance claims without authorization; improperly dismissed and closed fraud prevention triggers and information requests relating to claims, including claims she knew to be fraudulent; and caused improper benefit payments to be issued. Rayford acknowledged that as a result of the illicit conduct in which she engaged, more than $2.86 million in unemployment insurance assistance funding was issued to third-party claimants.
Sentencing is set for January 8, 2026, before Judge Levy. Rayford faces a mandatory two-year sentence of imprisonment for having engaged in aggravated identity theft and also faces up to 5 years’ imprisonment for having conspired to engaged in federal program bribery.
U.S. Attorney Gorgon stated, “If you’re a public official whose side hustle is taking bribes, your next job will be answering to a judge. Corruption destroys public trust in government and will be aggressively prosecuted by my office.”
“Former Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency employee, Janine Rayford, abused her position by misusing her access to sensitive employment information and state data systems to defraud the unemployment insurance program for personal financial gain,” said Megan Howell, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate those who seek to exploit these critical U.S. Department of Labor programs.”
“Today’s guilty plea sends a clear and powerful message that fraud against the United States Government and public officials profiting at the expense of the public will never be tolerated,” said Reuben Coleman, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “I would like to thank our FBI Detroit Area Corruption Task Force for their diligent work alongside our federal and state partners to ensure justice is preserved and the public’s trust is protected.”
“This plea sends a powerful message that no one is above the law, not even those who work for the UIA,” said UIA Director Jason Palmer. “Our staff is required to adhere to strict ethics guidelines. Janine Rayford willingly violated that professional code of conduct, betraying her colleagues and the taxpayers of Michigan for her own short-sighted financial gain. We will not tolerate conspirators who selfishly steal from the very people they are supposed to be serving.”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Yahkind. The investigation is being conducted jointly by the Department of Homeland Security—Office of Inspector General, Department of Labor—Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Unemployment Insurance Agency, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity
Former Middle School Employee Sentenced to 14 Years for Attempted Enticement of A MinorRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Terrell Myron Foy (33, Winter Park) to 14 years in federal prison for attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. The court also ordered Foy to forfeit his cellphone, which was involved in the charged conduct. Foy pleaded guilty on April 24, 2025.
According to court documents, Foy was an employee at an Orlando middle school when he developed a romantic relationship with a 13-year-old student in December 2023. In January 2024, the Orlando Police Department (OPD) received a “Speak Out” complaint about Foy’s communications with the student and opened an investigation. During the investigation, OPD and the Federal Bureau of Investigation obtained warrants for Foy’s home, cellphone, and multiple social media accounts that were used by Foy and the student. The investigation revealed hundreds of messages exchanged between Foy and the student where Foy was enticing the student to engage in sexual activity, as well as buying gifts and arranging meet ups with the student both on and off school grounds. Additionally, messages were located that showed Foy instructing the student not to speak with law enforcement.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orlando Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sartoian.
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.
Former Massachusetts Woman Arrested for Fraudulent Receipt of Emergency Rental Assistance Under a COVID-19 Relief ProgramRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Minnesota woman, formerly of Holliston, Mass., has been arrested and charged with fraudulent receipt of emergency rental assistance funds intended to provide housing assistance for individuals unable to pay rent due to financial hardship related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yvonette Joseph, 45, of Minneapolis, Minn., was charged by complaint with theft of government money. She was arrested on Aug. 26, 2025 and appeared in federal court in the District of Minnesota yesterday. She will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
In 2021, Congress established the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program to provide financial assistance to eligible low-income households to cover the costs of rent, rental arrears, utilities and other house-related expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to court records, in or about November 2021, Joseph allegedly received more than $100,000 in emergency rental assistance funds from the California Department of Housing & Community Development, the administrator of the ERA program for the state of California, after purported tenants submitted applications identifying Joseph as the landlord of a property in Los Angeles. Upon receipt of the funds, Joseph allegedly wired a portion of the funds to a bank account in Nigeria and converted the remainder of the funds to her own use.
The charge of theft of government money provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, forfeiture and restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Loren J. Sciurba, Deputy Inspector General of the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Inspector General made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus and https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/webform/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Executive Director of Nonprofit Shelter Indicted for EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey announced that Teri Lyn Looney, age 53, of Dimondale, Michigan was indicted by a grand jury on a criminal charge alleging that she embezzled approximately $95,000 from SIREN Eaton Shelter, a program receiving federal funds.
SIREN Eaton Shelter is a Michigan nonprofit dedicated to helping survivors of domestic abuse, their children, and homeless families in Eaton County and surrounding areas. It receives funding from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Victims of Crimes Act program, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and other sources. The indictment alleges that Looney embezzled approximately $95,000 while serving as SIREN’s Executive Director between June 2021 and May 2023. As Executive Director, Looney was responsible for all organizational programming, supervision of agency staff, the implementation of policies developed in conjunction with the Board, and the oversight of SIREN’s fiscal operations, including its budget and cash reserves.
If convicted, Looney faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and will owe restitution to the victim.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, and the Michigan Department of Attorney General Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay Stiffler is the prosecutor.
The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Former Chicago Attorney Sentenced to Two and a Half Years in Prison for Tax Fraud and Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A former Chicago attorney has been sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison for committing tax fraud, attempting to tamper with a witness, and violating a court order.
MICHAEL ABRAMSON provided more than $1 million in personal expenses to a woman with whom he was romantically involved and then deducted the payments on his individual taxes by falsely characterizing them as commissions or loans. He also listed the fraudulent loans as an asset in corporate tax returns that he caused to be filed for a company in which he held an ownership interest. The payments related to a condo in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood, several luxury automobiles, and travel, shopping, and restaurant expenses.
Following the indictment in this case, the Court ordered Abramson not to have any contact with witnesses, including Abramson’s bookkeeper, whom Abramson knew would be an important government witness at trial. Weeks before trial was initially set to begin, Abramson gave the bookkeeper a copy of her previous court testimony, on which he had made handwritten notes changing, supplementing, or otherwise scripting her answers, and told her to review it before trial. Although Abramson told the bookkeeper not to bring the notes to a meeting with law enforcement, the bookkeeper nonetheless turned the scripted transcript over to law enforcement.
A jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago last year convicted Abramson, 76, of Wilmette Ill., on all 15 tax fraud, witness tampering, and violation of court order charges against him. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah sentenced Abramson to 30 months in federal prison and fined him $25,000.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Jason Bushey, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.
“Defendant, an attorney practicing in the State of Illinois for decades, defrauded the IRS, repeatedly attempted to obstruct the IRS and FBI’s investigation into his misconduct, and tampered with a key witness in violation of a court order during his prosecution,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard M. Rothblatt and Edward A. Liva, Jr. argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “As an attorney well-versed in business, tax, and financial matters, defendant knew better, yet sought to conceal and profit from personal payments to his mistress.”
Former Battle Creek Doctor to Pay over $700,000 to Resolve Federal Lawsuit for Issuing Improper Drug PrescriptionsRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS – Former Battle Creek doctor Shekhar Thakur has agreed to pay $705,075 to resolve a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office alleging that he violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Thakur previously owned and practiced at Parkside Medical in Battle Creek, Michigan.
On July 9, 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office sued Thakur for, among other things, regularly prescribing opioids and other controlled substances without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice. For example, the federal lawsuit alleged that Thakur routinely prescribed highly addictive and dangerous controlled substances, often Schedule II opioids, without objectively verifying the patient’s reported ailment through physical examination, medical records, and/or testing. The United States also alleged that Thakur issued prescriptions despite numerous indications that the patients were abusing or diverting substances, including failed urine drug screens showing that patients were taking illicit drugs, or not taking the medications he prescribed. In addition, the United States alleged that Thakur prescribed dangerous combinations of controlled substances, including opioids and benzodiazepines.
The complaint alleged that this illegitimate prescribing had consequences. It stated, “many patients sought out Thakur to feed their addictions to opioids or benzodiazepines. Some of Thakur’s patients shared their drugs with others or sold them on the street.”
Thakur agreed to pay the over $700,000 settlement in exchange for the government’s agreement to dismiss the case and not prove his conduct in a trial. He did not admit responsibility for the conduct alleged, however, during 2022 and 2023 he was stripped of his licenses to practice medicine. In 2020, Thakur voluntarily surrendered his DEA registration, thereby losing his ability to prescribe controlled substances. As part of his settlement with the government, Thakur agreed never to apply for reinstatement of his DEA registration.
U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said, “When doctors prescribe drugs without a proper medical purpose, they are drug dealers. This settlement highlights my office’s commitment to hold medical professionals responsible when they cross that line.”
Andrew Lawton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Detroit Field Division stated, “Physicians who recklessly prescribe controlled substances endanger patients’ lives and erode communities. We will tirelessly investigate and hold accountable the people responsible for flooding Michigan with illegitimate drugs, to include doctors and healthcare professionals.”
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant United States Attorneys Whitney M. Schnurr and Ryan D. Cobb investigated and litigated this case alongside Stacy Race from DEA’s Office of Chief Counsel. The complaint and other filings can be found on the Court’s online docket under United States v. Thakur, 1-24-cv-00707 (W.D. Mich.).
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Former Barrio Azteca Leader Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison After Pleading Guilty to RICO ViolationRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – A Mexican national who served as a leader in the Barrio Azteca Criminal Enterprise was sentenced in court last week to 144 months in federal prison for a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO) offense.
According to court documents, Salvador Garcia-Garcia aka Ardilla, 56, of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, was responsible for coordinating the shipment of heroin from Juarez to El Paso for the Barrio Azteca organization. Garcia-Garcia conducted the narcotics smuggling operations from Juarez from Aug. 1, 2010, through on or about Sept. 10, 2014, recruiting other members and associates to smuggle the heroin into El Paso for him.
On Sept. 10, 2014, Garcia-Garcia was indicted for seven counts, including conspiracy to conduct the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity, murder in aid of racketeering activity, three separate drug trafficking charges, conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, and transferring a firearm to a prohibited person. He was arrested by federal authorities on June 20, 2024, and pleaded guilty to the RICO charge on April 7, 2025.
Eighteen of Garcia-Garcia’s co-defendants have been sentenced in the case since 2016. In June 2017, Barrio Azteca leader Juan Pablo Espino was dealt concurrent sentences of 299 months and 240 months imprisonment for one count of conspiracy to conduct the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity and one count of money laundering.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the El Paso Police Department, and the Texas Department of Public Safety investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steve Spitzer and Antonio Franco prosecuted the case.
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Foley Felon Who Led Deputies on a High-Speed Chase in a Stolen Vehicle Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Foley man was sentenced to 96 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon while leading sheriff’s deputies on a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle.
According to court documents, Jabari Maliek Stots, 28, was driving a stolen vehicle in the Mills area of Foley on the afternoon of November 19, 2024. Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to stop the stolen vehicle, but Stots took off on a high-speed chase. During the chase, Stots reached speeds of more than 100 miles per hour, blowing through stop signs and lighted intersections in residential areas, and narrowly missing several passerby vehicles. After deputies used a “pit” maneuver to immobilize the stolen vehicle that Stots was driving, Stots bailed out on foot with a pistol in his hand and ran through a field. A deputy fired a shot at Stots after observing him turn, with the pistol still in his hand, toward a tracking K-9 that was chasing him. The shot did not hit Stots.
Deputies and the K-9 continued chasing Stots through deep, standing rainwater that had accumulated in the field. Deputies repeatedly commanded Stots to drop his gun. The K-9 caught Stots and bit him, at which time Stots yelled, “I dropped it.” Deputies then wrestled with Stots to bring him into custody. Stots would not comply with deputies’ commands to surrender and tucked his hands underneath his body in the water to avoid apprehension. Deputies eventually handcuffed Stots and transported him to a nearby hospital for medical treatment for the dog bite.
Deputies searched the stolen vehicle that Stots was driving and found a small amount of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. A diver with the Daphne Search and Rescue dive team entered the water and recovered the .22 caliber pistol that Stots had discarded. In the days following his arrest, Stots made several recorded calls from jail admitting that he had possessed the pistol and thrown it in the water when he fled from deputies. At the time Stots possessed the pistol, he had prior felony convictions for breaking and entering a motor vehicle, burglary, and aggravated cruelty to animals. Those felony convictions rendered Stots’s possession of a firearm illegal under federal law.
In addition to the 96-month prison sentence, United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer ordered Stots to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will be subject to drug testing and receive mental health evaluation and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered Stots to pay $100 in special assessments and forfeited Stots’s pistol to the United States.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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).
Florida Woman Sentenced for Stealing West Virginia Pension Funds over 15 YearsRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Semiha Nilgun Gencsoy, 71, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was sentenced today to five years of federal probation and ordered to pay $328,478.38 in restitution for possession of stolen money. Gencsoy admitted that over 15 years, she fraudulently received West Virginia public employee pension benefits totaling $328,478.38 that did not belong to her.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Gencsoy’s father was a professor of mechanical engineering at West Virginia University. When he retired in June 1985, he qualified for and began receiving West Virginia public employee pension benefits. Gencsoy’s father died in June 2007, and her mother began receiving survivor benefits from the West Virginia Consolidated Public Retirement Board (WVCPRB) as his widow. The monthly payments were directly deposited into a join bank account that Gencsoy shared with her mother.
Gencsoy’s mother died in April 2008, and Gencsoy was appointed to administer her estate. As part of her guilty plea, Gencsoy admitted that she knew her father’s benefits expired upon the death of her mother. Gencsoy further admitted that she knew she had a duty both to notify the WVCPRB of her mother’s death and to close their joint banking account, and that she did neither. Gencsoy also never disclosed the pension payments to the probate court.
From approximately May 2008 through June 2023, the joint bank account received more than 180 monthly survivor’s benefit pension payments totaling $328,478.38 through direct deposit. Gencsoy admitted that she routinely transferred the survivor benefit pension payments to a bank account she solely controlled after each direct deposit and used the money to pay for her personal expenses.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia Consolidated Public Retirement Board (WVCPRB) and the West Virginia State Police – Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI).
United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuted 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. 2:25-cr-75.
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Florida Men Sentenced to Prison for Scheme to Prepare False Tax Returns for ClientsRead the Press Release
Three Florida men were sentenced this week for tax crimes related to a scheme to prepare false tax returns for clients. Jonathan Carrillo was sentenced to 121 months in prison, Franklin Carter Jr. was sentenced to 84 months in prison, and Diandre T. Mentor was sentenced to 36 months in prison.
The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: from 2016 to 2020, Carter and Carrillo owned and operated Neighborhood Advance Tax (NAT), a return preparation business with a dozen offices throughout Florida. Mentor was employed there as a return preparer and from 2018 and 2019 he was the manager of the Orlando office. Carter, Carrillo, Mentor, and their co-conspirators fraudulently inflated client tax refunds by fabricating deductions on their returns. They also held periodic training sessions at which they taught other NAT employees how to prepare fraudulent tax returns.
In 2020, Mentor and his co-conspirators started their own tax return preparation business called Smart Tax & Finance. Like NAT, Mentor and his co-conspirators prepared false tax returns for clients which included fabricated deductions. Mentor and his co-conspirators also taught franchise owners and employees how to prepare false returns for clients. In total, Mentor caused a tax loss to the IRS of $3,090,077.
In 2021, Carter, Carrillo, and their co-conspirators started a new return preparation business, Taxmates, which operated out of the same offices that NAT previously used. As with NAT, Carter, Carrillo, and others used Taxmates to prepare false tax returns for clients. Many of those returns included false deductions. Carter, Carrillo and their co-conspirators also taught franchise owners and employees how to prepare false returns for clients. In total, they caused a tax loss to the IRS exceeding $12 million.
Several other co-conspirators have been sentenced for their roles in the scheme including Emmanuel Almonor and Adon Hemley, who were sentenced to 57 months in prison and 46 months in prison, respectively.
In addition to their prison sentences, U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger for the Middle District of Florida ordered Mentor to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $3,090,077 in restitution to the United States; Carter to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $12,543,946 in restitution to the United States; and Carrillo to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $12,170,066 in restitution to the United States.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Michael L. Jones of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Testerman for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the case.
Florida Men Sentenced to Prison for Scheme to Prepare False Tax Returns for ClientsRead the Press Release
Three Florida men were sentenced this week for tax crimes related to a scheme to prepare false tax returns for clients. Jonathan Carillo was sentenced to 121 months in prison, Franklin Carter Jr. was sentenced to 84 months in prison, and Diandre T. Mentor was sentenced to 36 months in prison.
The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: from 2016 to 2020, Carter and Carrillo owned and operated Neighborhood Advance Tax (NAT), a return preparation business with a dozen offices throughout Florida. Mentor was employed there as a return preparer and from 2018 and 2019 he was the manager of the Orlando office. Carter, Carrillo, Mentor, and their co-conspirators fraudulently inflated client tax refunds by fabricating deductions on their returns. They also held periodic training sessions at which they taught other NAT employees how to prepare fraudulent tax returns.
In 2020, Mentor and his co-conspirators started their own tax return preparation business called Smart Tax & Finance. Like NAT, Mentor and his co-conspirators prepared false tax returns for clients which included fabricated deductions. Mentor and his co-conspirators also taught franchise owners and employees how to prepare false returns for clients. In total, Mentor caused a tax loss to the IRS of $3,090,077.
In 2021, Carter, Carrillo, and their co-conspirators started a new return preparation business, Taxmates, which operated out of the same offices that NAT previously used. As with NAT, Carter, Carrillo, and others used Taxmates to prepare false tax returns for clients. Many of those returns included false deductions. Carter, Carrillo and their co-conspirators also taught franchise owners and employees how to prepare false returns for clients. In total, they caused a tax loss to the IRS exceeding $12 million.
Several other co-conspirators have been sentenced for their roles in the scheme including Emmanuel Almonor and Adon Hemley, who were sentenced to 57 months in prison and 46 months in prison, respectively.
In addition to their prison sentences, U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger for the Middle District of Florida ordered Mentor to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $3,090,077 in restitution to the United States; Carter to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $12,543,946 in restitution to the United States; and Carrillo to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $12,170,066 in restitution to the United States.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Michael L. Jones of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Testerman for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the case.
Final Co-Conspirator Sentenced for Role in Gun Store HeistRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – The fifth and final co-conspirator involved in a scheme to break into a Virginia pawnshop and steal firearms was sentenced yesterday to 86 months in prison.
Austin Blake Hixon, 36, of Christiansburg, Virginia, previously pled guilty to possessing stolen firearms and perjury.
Hixon is the final defendant to be sentenced for his role in the scheme.
Previously, Malcom Stanton, Ronald Perry, and Justin Cumbee were each sentenced to 10 years in prison. Michael Hall was sentenced to 27 months.
According to court documents, on November 1, 2022, Perry broke into1st Pawn in Fairlawn, Virginia and stole approximately 15 firearms which he divided up with Stanton & Hall. Several of those guns were later illegally sold or traded for drugs.
Law enforcement tracked three of the stolen firearms to Hixon’s residence. When interviewed about the whereabouts of the stolen firearms, Hixon said that he threw them in the New River, a claim he testified to under oath. However, Hixon later admitted selling or trading the firearms for methamphetamine.
Robert N. Tracci, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, and Anthony Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Marshals Service, the Radford Police Department, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case with assistance from the Pulaski County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, the Christiansburg Police Department, the Virginia State Police Search and Recovery Team, and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly McGann and Lee Brett are prosecuting the case.
Fifth Defendant Sentenced in Federal Court for Role in Automobile Dealership Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Louisiana woman was sentenced in federal court today for her role in connection with a scheme to use the stolen identities of others to purchase expensive vehicles in the Jackson metropolitan area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2023, Anna Waldei, 27, of New Orleans, Louisiana, conspired with Paul Anthony Robinson, Sarah Elizabeth Calderon, Joshanique Elouise Bailey, and David L. Jones, Jr. to obtain the identity information of credit-worthy individuals, create false identity documents in the names of those individuals, and then pose as those individuals at automotive dealerships in order to apply for vehicle financing. The defendants submitted credit applications and purchased or attempted to purchase vehicles from dealerships in the Jackson metro area. The defendants traveled from Louisiana to Mississippi in a vehicle rented by Waldei.
Waldei pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud on March 27, 2025. She received a sentence of 12 months and one day in federal prison.
Robinson pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud on October 18, 2024. He received a sentence of 46 months in federal prison on June 27, 2025.
Calderon pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft on November 26, 2024. She received a sentence of 39 months in federal prison on June 27, 2025.
Bailey pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud on April 9, 2025. She received a sentence of two years’ probation on June 25, 2025.
Jones pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft on February 13, 2025. He received a sentence of 32 months in federal prison on June 25, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis, and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch made the announcement.
The United States Secret Service and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office investigated the case through their partnership in the Cyber Fraud Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie prosecuted the case.
- Fifth Defendant Sentenced in Federal Court for Role in Automobile Dealership Fraud Conspiracy
Federal jury convicts Franklin man for armed robberyRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A federal jury convicted Janathian Porter, 27, of Franklin, on Aug. 26 on a charge of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery. Porter, aka Frankboy Nate, Nate, or Nate Dog, also pled guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Leondre Douglas, aka Worm, 26, set up a drug transaction on Oct. 28, 2024, with a marijuana dealer and Porter. When they met for the transaction, Porter robbed the dealer at gunpoint, taking the dealer’s firearm. Porter and Douglas then fled in separate vehicles.
On Nov. 1, 2024, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that reportedly had been involved in the Oct. 28, 2024, robbery. Douglas was driving, and three minor children were inside the vehicle. Officers recovered a stolen handgun from underneath the driver seat. As a previously convicted felon, Douglas cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
On Nov. 12, 2024, a man observed Porter rummaging through the man’s vehicle at his home. The victim entered his vehicle, noticed that a speaker had been stolen, and followed Porter, who was attempting to flee in another vehicle. The victim pursued Porter to the end of a cul-de-sac, where Porter shot at the victim. Shell casings at the scene matched the caliber of a firearm that a witness reported stolen the same evening from his vehicle near where Porter was observed breaking into cars.
Porter is an eight-time convicted felon, including for breaking and entering, grand larceny, buying/receiving stolen goods, eluding/endangering police, and twice each for probation violations and hit and run. As a convicted felon, Porter cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
Douglas pled guilty on Aug. 25 to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Porter and Douglas face up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on Jan. 30, 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 Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr. accepted the verdict and the pleas.
The Isle of Wight Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation of the Oct. 28, 2024, and Nov. 1, 2024, offenses. The Franklin Police Department assisted in the investigation of the Nov. 12, 2024, offense.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda L. Cheney, Anthony Marek, and Kristin G. Bird are prosecuting the cases.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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 Nos. 2:25-cr-62, 2:25-cr-77, and 2:25-cr-78.
This release was revised on Jan. 30, 2026, to correct the spelling of Leondre Douglas' name.
Federal Jury Finds Clearfield County Man Guilty for Role in Targeted Bombing Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - After deliberating for four hours, a federal jury on August 27, 2025, found Kris Joseph Nevling, 48, of Clearfield, Pennsylvania, guilty on charges of conspiracy to maliciously destroy property by explosive or fire and possession of an unregistered destructive device, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Nevling was tried before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
The evidence presented at trial established that, in and around early October 2019, Nevling and co-defendant Clint Addleman aided and abetted each other in the construction and possession of a destructive device—a bomb—which was subsequently concealed inside a package addressed to the victim using her nickname. At approximately 4:30 a.m. on October 4, 2019, the package containing the bomb was dropped off and left outside of the door to the victim’s first floor apartment in a multi-unit rental property in Clearfield. Later that morning, the bomb detonated inside the victim’s apartment, killing the victim and causing a fire that destroyed the building.
The jury also determined the victim’s death to be a result of the commission of the offense of conspiring to maliciously destroy property by explosive or fire.
Judge Haines scheduled sentencing for January 7, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based on the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Nevling’s co-defendant Addleman is scheduled for trial in late October.
Assistant United States Attorneys Maureen Sheehan-Balchon, Shaun E. Sweeney, and Samantha A. Stewart prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Clearfield Regional Police Department, and Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Nevling.
Federal Jury Convicts Drug Trafficker of 4 Counts in Del RioRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A federal jury convicted a U.S citizen and Mexico City resident on all counts of an indictment that charged him with trafficking cocaine from Mexico into the United States.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jordy Alexander Amaya, 27, approached the Eagle Pass Port of Entry on Sept. 16, 2024. During an inspection of his vehicle, Customs and Border Protection officers discovered approximately 1.9 kilograms of cocaine. Testimony during the trial revealed Amaya had ties to a Texas-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributes methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. Records also indicate that Amaya previously crossed into the U.S. in a known DTO vehicle in 2022 and 2023.
Amaya was indicted in October 2024 on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of conspiracy to import cocaine, and one count of importation of cocaine. He faces five to 40 years in federal prison on each of the four counts, as well as a fine of up to $5 million per count.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Warsame Galaydh and Tyler Fleming are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
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Federal Inmate Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting Federal Correctional OfficersRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Davonta McCrorey (25, Baltimore) to two years in federal prison for assaulting correctional officers. This sentence was imposed consecutively to an eight-year prison term that McCrorey was already serving for another offense. McCrorey pleaded guilty on April 15, 2025.
According to court records, in March 2024, McCrorey was an inmate in the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Sumter County. On March 16, 2024, McCrorey aggressively charged out of his prison cell and struck two federal correctional officers in the face multiple times, causing injuries. McCrorey then resisted other correctional officers who attempted to restrain him by verbally threatening them with violence and biting one of them on the hand.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.
Ex-Honolulu Police Officer Sentenced to 23 Years in Federal Prison for Engaging in Child Sex Crimes While Serving as a Sworn OfficerRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – Acting United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Mason Jordan, 34, of Kailua, Hawaii, was sentenced yesterday to 23 years in federal prison followed by a lifetime term of supervised release. He must also now register as a sex offender. Jordan pled guilty pursuant to a plea agreement in April 2024.
As part of his guilty plea, Jordan admitted that while serving as a Honolulu Police Department officer, he secretly photographed and recorded a child in his household to create sexually explicit material. Posing as a stranger, he then used that material to harass the child and coerce her into producing and sending him additional sexually explicit content. Jordan then posed as the child on social media to lure other local children into working as prostitutes, several of whom he eventually met in person for illicit encounters. He also used his access to proprietary police databases to research his victims and monitor police investigations into his criminal activities. Jordan used sophisticated techniques to evade detection by law enforcement, including systematically rotating between multiple phones, SIM cards, fake email accounts, online phone number services, and false social media profiles.
At sentencing, Senior U.S. District Judge Leslie Kobayashi described Jordan’s conduct as “beyond intentional” and involving extensive “planning and deceit.” She highlighted the technical sophistication of his attempts to conceal his identity and the profound betrayal of his duties as an officer and parental guardian.
“This case represents the ultimate betrayal of public trust: a sworn police officer who exploited his badge to prey on the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “I hope the sentence gives some solace to his victims and allows them to begin healing. Authority comes with trust and responsibility, and we will always aggressively pursue corrupt law enforcement officers who hide behind their badges to violate the sacred trust placed in them. We are deeply grateful to our partners with the Honolulu Police Department for its full cooperation and partnership in this investigation from the very beginning. Jordan’s conduct does not reflect the integrity and dedication of the many officers who honorably serve this community every day.”
“Homeland Security Investigations is unwavering in its commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community and ensuring that those who exploit positions of trust to harm others are held accountable,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Lucia Cabral-DeArmas. “This case underscores the importance of strong partnerships between federal and local law enforcement agencies in bringing offenders to justice. We commend the courage of the survivors who came forward and hope this sentence provides them with some measure of closure. HSI will continue to work tirelessly to safeguard our communities and ensure that no one is above the law.”
“Mason Jordan’s actions reflect an egregious abuse of authority—he violated the trust of family members who relied on him for protection and safety, and his sworn duty to protect this community,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “Today’s sentence underscores our collective commitment to pursuing justice for victims and disrupting any sexual predator from further victimizing the most vulnerable among us.”
“Our thoughts are with the survivors whose courage in coming forward is deeply respected,” said Honolulu Police Department Interim Chief of Police Rade Vanic. “The actions of Mason Jordan were inexcusable and do not reflect the values of the Honolulu Police Department.”
This case was the result of a joint investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Honolulu Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne A. Myers prosecuted the case.
Donora Man Convicted at Trial of Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – After deliberating for four hours, a federal jury in Pittsburgh on August 27, 2025, found Tre Robert Goins guilty of one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Goins, 31, of Donora, Pennsylvania, was tried before Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti.
The evidence presented during the day and a half trial established that, on May 24, 2024, Goins fled from a traffic stop initiated by the City of Duquesne Police Department, leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase at speeds in excess of 100 mph that ended with Goins totaling his vehicle. From the vehicle, police recovered fentanyl, cocaine, and a stolen loaded firearm. The jury found that Goins possessed the firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.
In July 2025, Goins pleaded guilty to two other charges relating to the same incident: possession with intent to distribute quantities of fentanyl and cocaine, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. For these charges, the law provides for a total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both, with Goins facing a total sentence of not less than five years and up to life in prison (to be served consecutively to the drug trafficking crime sentence), a fine of up to $250,000, or both, on his trial conviction for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Judge Conti scheduled sentencing for Goins’ three violations of federal drug trafficking and firearms laws for October 22, 2025.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly M. Locher and Katherine C. Jordan are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the City of Clairton and Duquesne Police Departments, and the Elizabeth Township Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Goins.
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.
Detroit-Area Man Found Guilty of Maliciously Setting Fires to Semi-Truck TrailersRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, a federal jury found Viorel Pricop, 66, of Allen Park, Michigan, guilty of three counts of arson of a vehicle or property in interstate commerce. Pricop has been in federal custody since October 2022.
According to evidence presented at an 8-day trial, Pricop maliciously set fire to three semi-truck trailers belonging to Swift Transportation, a Phoenix-based commercial trucking company, as part of a larger pattern of arsons targeting Swift. Two of the arsons occurred in Willcox, AZ and one occurred in Holbrook, AZ. In each of the incidents, the Swift-owned trailer was parked at or near a truck stop when Pricop set a fire on or near the trailer tires.
According to other evidence presented at trial, Pricop set at least 16 additional Swift Transportation semi-trailers on fire in multiple states between October 2021 and September 2022. These arsons occurred at locations spanning Barstow, California to McCalla, Alabama, with most occurring along Interstate 10 and Interstate 40. Federal criminal charges associated with some of the fires were filed against Pricop in several districts and were the basis of a 2024 criminal trial in the Central District of California, where Pricop was found guilty of six arsons.
An analysis of cellular data showed that a specific device – later determined to be used by Pricop for navigation – had connected to cell towers in the vicinity and around the times of the fires. Pricop’s cellphone was also located in the general area of all three Arizona fires.
Additional items, including a gas torch, lighters, and fuel-soaked rags were found in the Pricop’s vehicle.
United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker has scheduled a November 13, 2025, sentencing hearing, at which time Pricop will face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison for each count.
The Albuquerque Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Phoenix Field Division, led the investigation in this case, with significant assistance from the ATF Fire Research and Forensic Laboratories, ATF Certified Fire Investigators, and Special Agents from the ATF National Cellular Analytics Program. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 22-CR-02747-JCH-EJM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-141_Pricop# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Des Moines Woman Sentenced to 192 Months in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines woman was sentenced on August 28, 2025, to 192 months in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.
According to public court documents, on January 6, 2024, the Des Moines Police Department responded to the overdose death of a Des Moines man. Ashley Lynn Andrews, 38, was identified as the dealer of the fentanyl that killed the man. Thereafter, law enforcement conducted several controlled buys of fentanyl from Andrews. On April 12, 2024, Andrews was found slumped over the wheel of her vehicle at a gas station in possession of 36 grams of fentanyl, a distribution quantity.
After completing her term of imprisonment, Andrews will be required to serve a four-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Andrews was also ordered to pay $20,150 in restitution.
In March 2025, co-defendant Earl Sandeleo Galtney, 44, of Cedar Rapids, was sentenced to 142 months in federal prison, and co-defendant Shannon D. Robertson, 44, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced to 125 months in federal prison.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Central Iowa Gang Task Force.
Fentanyl has become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills often resemble pharmaceutical pills, but contain potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. In 2023, accidental overdose was the number one cause of death in 37 states for residents under 40 years old. https://stateline.org/2023/09/05/death-rates-for-people-under-40-have-skyrocketed-blame-fentanyl/. In Iowa, opioid-related deaths reached a record high 258 in 2021, up 64% compared with 2019, and decreased 8% in 2022. https://hhs.iowa.gov/media/11935/download.