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28 August 2025
Davenport Man Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul W. Byron has sentenced Jose David Figueroa Pacheco (33, Davenport) to six years in federal prison for trafficking over 40 grams of fentanyl. Figueroa Pacheco was found guilty by a jury on June 11, 2025. His codefendant, Alberto Ismael Salinas Valencia, pleaded guilty on January 23, 2025, and was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, between August 2023 and August 2024, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office conducted a joint investigation to identify firearms and narcotics traffickers in the Orlando area. As part of that investigation, an undercover officer arranged to purchase a firearm and fentanyl pills from Salinas Valencia. Salinas Valencia arrived with the firearm at the buy location as a passenger in Figueroa Pacheco’s truck. Figueroa Pacheco then made phone calls to coordinate the delivery of the fentanyl pills, inspected the pills, and facilitated the transaction.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Richard Varadan and Risha Asokan.
Crown Point Resident Convicted of Threatening President BidenRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Troy Kelly, age 20, of Crown Point, NY, plead guilty today to one count of a three-count indictment charging threats against the President of the United States. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Michael Nichols, United States Secret Service Resident Agent in Charge of the Albany Resident Office (USSS), and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement.
In pleading guilty, Kelly admitted that in May 2024 he posted a threat to kill President Biden on a social media website and that he intended it to be understood as a threat. Responding to a post of President Biden, Kelly told the then-President that he was “[g]onna put a bullet in your head if I ever catch you.”
“We all witnessed the horrible attempt on President Trump’s life last July,” Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III said. “Threatening to kill the President—any President: Republican, Democrat, or otherwise—is not First Amendment protected speech, it is illegal. My office takes threats against any public official seriously, and the conviction of Troy Kelly is a prime example. I thank the Secret Service, HSI, and the New York State Police for their work on this investigation.”
United States Secret Service Resident Agent in Charge of the Albany Resident Office Michael Nichols stated, “Threats made to anyone under the protective purview of the United States Secret Service are a top priority and are investigated thoroughly. We value our investigative partnerships with HSI and the New York State Police, and we greatly appreciate the strong working relationship between the United States Secret Service Albany Resident Office and the Northern District United States Attorney’s Office.”
Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations stated, "Troy Kelly's guilty plea underscores federal law enforcement's shared commitment to treating each and every threat seriously. Today's conviction should send a stark message to those who choose to threaten elected officials and government personnel: we will find you and ensure you are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
At sentencing scheduled for December 22, 2025, Kelly faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 5 years. In addition to any term of imprisonment, Chief Judge Brenda K. Sannes may require the defendant to service a post-imprisonment term of supervised release of up to 3 years and he may be fined up to 250,000. Due to his felony conviction, Kelly will also be prohibited from owning firearms.
The United States Secret Service, and HSI are investigating this case with assistance from the New York State Police are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph S. Hartunian and Cyrus P.W. Rieck are prosecuting the case.
Chicago Man Pleads Guilty in Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Targeting United States Service MembersRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Chicago, Ill., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to fraud offenses targeting United States service members.
Dwayne D. Adams, 33, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie Epps, Jr., to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud.
Adams conspired with others that sought to defraud United States military service men and women through the use of social media. Adams is the third and final defendant to enter a guilty plea for his role in defrauding active service members of the United States military.
According to the plea agreement, Adams conspired with others that employed a scheme to defraud United States military service men and women. Service members who had recently joined the United States military were contacted through various social media platforms. Upon communicating with each military member, a person within the conspiracy would use the information obtained from the social media platform and then contact the service member claiming to be a senior military official. In their fake role of a senior military member, Adams and others would tell each service member that they were receiving the wrong salary, and they were owed more money than they were being paid. Adams and others involved in the scheme advised each victim that they needed to return their prior pay using a cash application. Adams and others told the victims that they would receive a higher salary rate from the military once they returned their prior pay. If a service member followed these instructions, the members of this scheme would take the monies transferred and would never return any monies to the victim. Adams conspired with others in this scheme by taking the cash application transfers and conducted financial transactions that transferred the victim’s money to accounts that were accessed by all members of the scheme.
Under federal statutes, Adams is subject to a sentence of up to 20 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. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Candler Man Sentenced to Prison for Social Security Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Mark Alan Barnes, 44, of Candler, N.C., was sentenced today to 16 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for Social Security benefits fraud, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
According to court documents, from 2015 to 2020, Barnes collected approximately $77,770 in Social Security Retirement Benefits intended for a beneficiary who was deceased. Instead of reporting the beneficiary’s death to the Social Security Administration (SSA) as required, Barnes continued to collect the beneficiary’s SSA retirement benefits, using a debit card associated with the beneficiary’s bank account to withdraw funds from ATMs in the area.
On February 8, 2025, Barnes pleaded guilty to theft of government funds.
“Stealing Social Security benefits is stealing from every taxpayer,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “For Social Security to work, benefits must go only to those who earned them—not fraudsters. I appreciate the strong partnership of the Social Security Administration in holding fraudsters accountable.”
“Mr. Barnes knowingly engaged in a scheme to steal Social Security benefits,” said Michelle L. Anderson, Acting Inspector General, Social Security Administration. “I would like to thank our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, whose work is essential in holding accountable those who defraud vital benefit programs.”
The Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General handled the investigation.
This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of North Carolina to deter theft of government funds and bring to justice individuals who steal government benefits that millions of Americans rely on.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Eric Frick. Mr. Frick is a prosecutor with the Social Security Administration and is assigned to serve as a SAUSA with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, where he focuses on prosecuting SSA fraud cases. The SAUSA position is a reflection of the partnership between the SSA and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
To report suspected fraud, waste, or abuse against Social Security, you can submit a report online at oig.ssa.gov or contact the SSA-OIG’s fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271.
Brazilian National Sentenced to Six Months in Prison for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian national unlawfully residing in Worcester, Mass. was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Thiago Aquino De Paula, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to six months in prison. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In June 2025, Aquino De Paula pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. In April 2025, Aquino De Paula was indicted by a federal grand jury.
Aquino De Paula was deported from the United States on three previous occasions including on or about Nov. 4, 2021. Sometime after his removal, Aquino De Paula illegally reentered the United States without permission. Aquino De Paula was found in Massachusetts after being arrested in Uxbridge for allegedly operating under the influence.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Branson Man Pleads Guilty to Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Branson, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to tax evasion, by knowingly failing to pay more than $825,297.81 between 2013 through 2024.
Burton Cummings, 43, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie Epps, Jr., to one count of tax evasion, failure to pay over taxes owed to the United States.
Cummings, a former business owner, failed to pay his income taxes in their entirety with the exception of 2015. With the interest owed and penalties, Cummings owes a total of $1,604,729.02 to the United States.
According to the plea agreement, Cummings made false statements to IRS Revenue Officers, when he claimed he had no income. Cummings admitted to submitting false forms and collection statements to the IRS to avoid paying his taxes. Cummings failed to file timely tax returns for numerous years and took significant cash withdrawals from his companies, while failing to disclose the income he received.
Under federal statutes, Cummings is subject to a sentence of up to five 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. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the IRS – Criminal Investigation.
Baltimore Man Indicted for Illegal Possession of a Firearm While Under Domestic Violence Restraining OrderRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted Delantae Phillips, 37, of Baltimore, Maryland, charging him with one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person while under a domestic violence restraining order.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
According to the indictment, on May 24, 2025, Phillips knowingly possessed a Glock model 21 semi-automatic handgun loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition. At the time of the offense, Phillips was prohibited from possessing a firearm because the District Court of Baltimore County had issued a Final Protective Order against him.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office — in partnership with our federal, local, and state partners — works hard to keep firearms out of the hands of those who are not authorized to carry them. This helps prevent violence and save lives,” Hayes said. “We support prioritizing our residents’ safety and well-being through our commitment to community trust, strategic enforcement, and violence prevention, especially for those experiencing intimate-partner violence.”
“We are committed to working with our state and local partners to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers,” Doerrer said. “Cases like these highlight the excellent work of our local police, local prosecutors, federal agents, and federal prosecutors.”
This indictment follows the U.S. Justice Department’s designation of Baltimore City under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 (VAWA). The City of Baltimore — along with 77 other communities across 47 states, territories, and the District of Columbia — is focusing on reducing intimate partner firearm violence and prioritizing the prosecution of domestic violence offenders who are prohibited from owning firearms under 18 U.S. Code Section 922(g).
In response, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland is working closely with its federal, local, and state partners — along with Baltimore City community organizations — to reduce violent crime and enhance public safety. This partnership and coordination between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the City of Baltimore ensures that federal resources are leveraged effectively to address intimidate-partner firearm violence.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and BPD for their collaborative efforts in this investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Godwin and Assistant U.S. Attorney LaRai Everett who are prosecuting this case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn.
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Austin Man Arrested for Threatening Presidential StafferRead the Press Release
AUSTIN, Texas – An Austin man was arrested Wednesday on criminal charges related to his alleged threats against a presidential staff member.
According to court documents, on the night of Aug. 25, Thomas Austria Crouse allegedly called the personal phone of an individual working for the President of the United States. When the call went to voicemail, Crouse left a recording in which he allegedly threatened to find the administration official, decapitate them, and kill the victim’s family. Given the violent nature of the voicemail and the references to the victim’s job as a presidential staffer, the voicemail was reported to the FBI. The criminal complaint alleges that further investigation revealed the phone call came from Austin. Crouse was identified as the caller.
The complaint alleges that during an Aug. 26 investigative interview with the FBI, agents urged Crouse to cease making direct threats, to which he agreed. After the interview, however, Crouse allegedly left a series of five new voicemails on the administration official’s phone telling the victim to commit suicide.
Crouse was arrested on Aug. 27 based on a criminal complaint accusing him of transmitting an interstate communication containing a threat to injure the person of another. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The FBI, U.S. Secret Service, and Washington, D.C. Capitol Police are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Roomberg is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Armed Atlanta Drug Dealer Sentenced to More than 12 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Omari A. Nicks, a convicted cocaine trafficker, was sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison for trafficking methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl out of his Atlanta apartment while illegally possessing a loaded AR-style rifle.
“Nicks is a serial drug trafficker who posed a serious threat to public safety by dealing fentanyl and other dangerous drugs while armed with a loaded, high-powered rifle that he was not allowed to have,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Nicks’s sentence is just one more example of the positive, collaborative impact that law enforcement partners in north Georgia achieve in our communities.”
“When criminals mix deadly drugs with guns, the danger is magnified,” sad Jae W. Chung, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “This sentence makes clear they will be held accountable.”
“Bartow County continues to aggressively target those who sell fentanyl and other dangerous drugs in our community,” said Major Mark Mayton of the Bartow-Cartersville Drug Task Force. “We will continue to work with our partners to identify and arrest those people who are furthering the fentanyl crisis.”
“The Cartersville Police Department takes great pride in working with our federal law enforcement partners, especially when our collaboration results in holding criminals accountable who bring dangerous weapons and drugs into our community,” said Chief Frank McCann of the Cartersville Police Department. “By continuing these partnerships, our goal is to make it clear to all criminal organizations that the City of Cartersville will not be a haven for your illicit activity.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In January 2025, Nicks was selling methamphetamine and fentanyl from his apartment complex in Atlanta, Georgia to customers who traveled from as far as Bartow County. On February 6, 2025, DEA agents searched Nicks’s apartment after seeing him sell methamphetamine and fentanyl. When agents entered the apartment, Nicks attempted to flee by climbing out a third-story window, but he fell off the side of the building and was arrested by agents.
Inside Nicks’s apartment, agents found approximately two kilograms of methamphetamine, one kilogram of cocaine, 50 grams of fentanyl, a hydraulic press to form powdered drugs into bricks, approximately $5,400 in cash, and an AR-15 style rifle loaded with a 30-round magazine. Law enforcement also recovered approximately 100 grams of heroin that Nicks’s co-conspirator dumped out the window when agents entered the apartment.
Yesterday, United States District Judge Eleanor L. Ross sentenced Nicks, 47, of Smyrna, Ga., to twelve years and six months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Nicks was convicted of conspiracy to possess controlled substances with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on April 8, 2025, after he pleaded guilty.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bartow-Cartersville Drug Task Force, and the Cartersville Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Calvin A. Leipold, III and Thomas M. Forsyth, III prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This effort is part of an 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.
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.
Anderson County Man Sentenced to 13 Years for $13M Ponzi Scheme and CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Michael J. French, 42, of Pendleton, was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison for operating a multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme and stalking two TikTok content creators. He was also ordered to pay more than $14 million in restitution.
“French built his scheme on lies, stealing millions from hard-working investors to fund luxury cars and real estate,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “When the fraud collapsed, he turned dangerous—harassing and threatening women, showing up at their homes, and ultimately forcing a standoff with law enforcement. This case shows just how far financial crime can go when fueled by greed and deception. Today’s sentence makes clear: if you defraud and endanger others, you will be held accountable.”
“French’s actions hurt many investors who put their trust in him,” said Kevin Moore, special agent in charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “Rather than honoring that trust, he exploited it to fund his own lavish lifestyle and to spiral into harassing social media content creators. The FBI remains steadfast in exposing schemes that prey on innocent people, and we will continue to protect the integrity of our financial systems by upholding the rule of law.”
Evidence put forth at the plea hearing established that French owned MJF Holdings, LLC and MJF Capital, LLC. Beginning in March 2019, through these companies, French offered promissory notes to investors that projected annual returns of 12%. He represented to investors that their funds would be used to provide loans to small businesses and that he had experience in the financial industry, including underwriting the loans in which the investor would be invested. French represented to investors that he would not receive compensation unless the promissory notes earned more than the 12% guaranteed to investors.
These were false representations. French paid previous investors with new investor monies because his investment product was not generating returns. This lulled investors into believing the product was successful, when, in fact, French was spending investor money to maintain a lavish lifestyle that included purchases of luxury and classic cars, a boat, and multiple properties. French also used investor funds to support female TikTok content creators by paying them thousands of dollars each month. The investigation revealed that at times French spent as much as $40,000 per day on the TikTok creators.
At one point, the content creators stopped communicating with French. He became angry with the women and began harassing them through various “burner” phone numbers and fake email accounts. French claimed that he was a sniper, had killed people, and that the police could not protect them. French traveled to one woman’s home unannounced, forcing her to hide in a locked vehicle in the garage with her 2-year-old child. She called 911 as French attempted to force his way into the home. He was arrested by local police before he could reach them.
French was ultimately arrested on the federal charges after a standoff with law enforcement. French barricaded himself in a hotel room, brandished a firearm, and only surrendered after a long series of talks with FBI hostage negotiators.
United States Chief Judge Timothy M Cain sentenced French to 156 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. French was ordered to pay $14,750,990 in restitution.
The FBI Columbia Field Office and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins is prosecuting the case.
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Anchorage man, Indian national charged in nine-year fraud, money laundering schemeRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment last week charging an Anchorage man and an Indian national with conspiring together in a $4.5 million fraud scheme that lasted roughly nine years and impacted at least 28 victims across the U.S. and abroad.
According to court documents, Michael Edward Gregg, 62, of Anchorage, and Vikash Pandey, 36, a foreign national residing in India, and other co-conspirators conducted the alleged scheme by pretending to be employees of different tech support or security businesses to contact primarily elderly and vulnerable individuals. As part of the alleged scheme, co-conspirators contacted victims via email or pop-up messages online indicating a service issue with their computer’s virus protection. Co-conspirators then offered refunds to the customers for disputed charges, typically totaling $400-$500. Then, they falsely stated that they accidentally refunded too much, roughly $40,000-$50,000, and urgently needed that money back.
Co-conspirators typically instructed victims to return the funds by check, wire, cash or Bitcoin. Gregg and another co-conspirator created multiple bank accounts and provided those account numbers to the other co-conspirators to receive fraudulent funds. It is alleged that co-conspirators would often claim the funds did not come through or fabricate a reason why the victims should send more money.
On one occasion in spring 2024, an elderly victim received an email from an antivirus software company indicating she was charged $499.99. The victim contacted a number she believed to be associated with the company and was instructed by a member of the conspiracy to submit an online form for reimbursement. The victim was told she was reimbursed $50,000, when in fact the victim received nothing. Over roughly five months, the victim was repeatedly instructed to send money. The victim sent money via bitcoin ATM, in person delivery of U.S. currency, and mailed cashier’s checks to Gregg. These money transfers totaled over $2 million.
Once Gregg and the other co-conspirators received funds into U.S. bank accounts, Gregg would receive a commission or percentage of the money, often 3-20%, before moving the remaining proceeds to individuals in foreign countries, including, but not limited to, India, Hong Kong and Singapore. Pandey was one of his international contacts allegedly involved in the international money laundering scheme.
Throughout this scheme, financial institutions flagged Gregg’s accounts, or accounts he had control over, and either closed the accounts or restricted their activity. Gregg controlled over two dozen bank accounts allegedly used in the conspiracy.
Gregg and Pandey are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, one count of money laundering conspiracy and one count of international money laundering conspiracy. Gregg is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on Sept. 9, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew M. Scoble of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. Pandey remains at large in India. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison, or a fine of $500,000 or up to twice the value of the laundered money. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Carrie Nordyke of the IRS Criminal Investigation Seattle Field Office made the announcement.
The IRS Criminal Investigation Seattle Field Office is investigating the case, with support from the FBI Anchorage Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Caille Petursson is prosecuting the case.
Fraud schemes have become increasingly sophisticated. Take extra steps to protect your personal and financial information. Do not respond or click links in text messages, emails or social media posts that appear suspicious or are unsolicited. If you or someone you know may be the victim of financial fraud, please contact your local law enforcement or seattlefieldoffice@ci.irs.gov.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Alien Charged with Illegal Voting in Federal ElectionsRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment Tuesday charging a Canadian citizen with illegally registering to vote and voting in federal elections in 2022 and 2024.
“Every single time a noncitizen casts an illegal vote in North Carolina, it steals and nullifies the vote of an actual citizen,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “If the records are correct, this Canadian citizen appears to have voted in New Hanover and Pender County elections over the past 20 years. We intend to prove his illegal conduct in court and put an end to it.”
“Every American deserves to exercise their right to vote without interference in the democratic process. We appreciate the North Carolina Board of Elections partnership and commitment to working together to ensure fair elections in our state,” said James C. Barnacle Jr., the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina.
“I am proud of the efforts of our investigators who worked this case prior to handing it off to our law enforcement partners at the FBI. Nothing is more critical to our democracy than confidence in our electoral process, which is why vigorous enforcement of our election laws must be a priority. The NC State Board of Elections team continues to stand ready to assist the U.S. Attorney’s Office as they investigate and prosecute voter fraud in North Carolina,” said Sam Hayes, the Executive Director of the NC State Board of Elections.
According to the indictment, Denis Bouchard, 69, falsely claimed to be a United States citizen to vote in federal elections, including the most recent 2024 presidential election. Bouchard, who has resided in the United States since the 1960s, never obtained U.S. citizenship. Despite his status as an alien, Bouchard certified that he was a U.S. citizen on voter registration applications in 2022 and 2024, when he cast a ballot in the 2024 presidential election and 2022 congressional election.
Bouchard is charged with two counts of 18 U.S.C. § 1015(f) and two counts of 52 U.S.C. § 20511(2)(B). If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment on each count.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after the initial appearance in court today. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case, with assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and a referral of the case by the North Carolina Board of Elections. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Haughton is prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:25-CR-00083.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
27 August 2025
YouTube Scambaiters Help Dismantle $65 Million Multinational Fraud Ring Targeting Thousands of SeniorsRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Twenty-eight alleged members of a Chinese organized crime ring are charged in four federal grand jury indictments with participating in a massive $65 million fraud scheme targeting thousands of seniors across the United States—including a 97-year-old San Diego widow of a Holocaust survivor who lost her entire life savings.
After a nationwide, weeklong takedown in California, New York, Texas and Michigan, 25 of the defendants have been arrested; all are charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS-Criminal Investigations executed more than a dozen search and seizure warrants this week. The searches resulted in the seizure of more than $4.2 million from financial accounts as well as several luxury vehicles, including a 2022 Mercedes-Benz G63, a 2024 Porsche Panamera, and a 2025 GMC Yukon Denali.
Operating since at least 2019 and rooted in Southern California, the criminal network—primarily composed of Chinese nationals, many in the U.S. illegally—worked closely with India-based scam call centers. Fraudsters who took the calls posed as technical support agents, government officials, or bank employees, according to court records.
Victims received unsolicited calls or emails directing them to call various phone numbers, which, unbeknownst to the victims, were for the India-based scam call centers. Once connected, the scammers used scripted lies and psychological manipulation to gain the victims’ trust and often remote access to their computers. The most common scheme involved convincing victims they had received a mistaken refund and pressuring—or threatening—them to return the supposed excess funds via wire transfer, cash, or gift cards.
Victims sending cash were instructed to use overnight or express couriers, addressing packages to fake names tied to false IDs. These were sent to short-term rentals in the U.S. used by conspirators, including the indicted defendants, to collect the fraud proceeds.
Notably, YouTuber Pierogi from “Scammer Payback”— which is known for exposing scammers—played a crucial role in documenting key evidence. In a series of videos, Pierogi from Scammer Payback teamed up with two other YouTubers from “Trilogy Media” to publish videos on their respective YouTube channels.
In coordinated sting operations, Scammer Payback and Trilogy Media baited fraudsters, confronted them on camera, and published those videos to their respective YouTube channels. Videos posted in 2020 and 2021 helped law enforcement identify Zhiyi Zhang, Dudu Chen and Huajian Chen. All three are named in the indictments. The videos also helped shed light on how the conspiracy operated and led to the identification of high-level members of the organization.
For example, Zhiyi Zhang, alleged to be a member of the conspiracy, used short-term rentals under the alias “Cream Pablo” and the fake name “Hans Bum” to receive victim packages. He and others were paid per package and frequently moved locations to evade law enforcement. Zhang alone is linked to at least $1.8 million in losses, according to the government’s memo arguing that Zhang should be detained.
That memo says that the YouTubers Scammer Payback (Pierogi) and Trilogy Media were conducting a sting to expose scammers by posing as victims. During one such operation, Pierogi was told by scammers to send a package of cash to an individual named “Hans Bum” at an address in South San Francisco.
Trilogy Media followed up by physically delivering a decoy package to the address and confronted the person receiving it, who turned out to be Zhiyi Zhang. Zhang revealed his real identity during the confrontation and admitted on camera to receiving packages for money—essentially outing his role in the scheme. The YouTubers passed the footage to law enforcement, who then verified Zhang’s identity using unblurred video, rental records, and other investigative efforts.
Zhang was arrested by federal agents on August 19, 2025, at Los Angeles International Airport.
“Not all heroes wear capes. Some have YouTube channels,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “Our office will continue to be on the cutting edge of law enforcement techniques to ensure justice for vulnerable victims who have been defrauded by Chinese organized crime.”
“This investigation dismantled a predatory criminal organization that carried out a complex fraud scheme, manipulated victims throughout the country, and cost victims their hard-earned life savings” said Shawn Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Diego. “HSI, the United States Attorney’s Office, and our law enforcement partners diligently pursued this organization to bring them to justice and help the victims that were impacted. HSI is dedicated to protecting our communities and the people of the United States from organizations that prey on the vulnerable for financial gain.”
“This alleged Chinese organized crime ring laundered money for fraudulent Indian call centers who targeted our nation’s elderly citizens,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher of the IRS Criminal Investigation Los Angeles Field Office. “These arrest and seizure warrants demonstrate that IRS-CI is committed to protecting our most vulnerable citizens, while also taking the profit out of crime.”
Episode 1 –
Scammer Payback: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrLZbc-Rfbo
Trilogy Media: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in_Y5q_-F2Y
Episode 2 –
Scammer Payback: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IEgFgO5pKo
Trilogy Media: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBZFmIKJINA
Episode 3 –
Scammer Payback: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQuya3ELKGQ
Trilogy Media: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCRoxVMmtDw
This multi-year fraud and money laundering investigation was led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of California and Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.
A motion hearing/trial setting is scheduled in 25CR1097-TWR for August 29, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson. Motion hearing/trial setting hearings are scheduled for all other cases on September 19, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari.
DEFENDANTS
Case Number 25-cr-1097-TWR
Hua Wang Age: 48 Flushing, NY
Weining Su, aka “Ning Ma” Age: 27 Flushing, NY
Case Number 25-cr-1762-TWR
Hongsen Cao Age: 24 Los Angeles, CA
Case Number 25-cr-1765-TWR
Xiao Lei Xu, aka “Xiaolei Xu” Age: 39 Flushing, NY
Wen Chang Wang, Age: 26 Detroit, MI
Jiawen Cai, aka “Johnny Cai” Age: 28 Flushing, NY
Xinyu Shao Age: 27 Flushing, NY
Zhuhan Yin, aka “Iron Yin” Age: 30 Flushing, NY
[Redacted]
Ziyue Zhao, aka “Chris Zhao” Age: 30 Flushing, NY
Guangli Lin Age: 30 Flushing, NY
Wenzhi Chen Age: 23 Austin, TX
[Redacted]
Jiaxin Wang Age: 24 Flushing, NY
[Redacted]
Haotian Zhang, aka “Kevin Z” Age: 28 Flushing, NY
Dudu Chen, aka “Norris Chen” Age: 31 In Custody
Yuhui Sun, aka “Ian Sun” Age: 27 Flushing, NY
Jiaxin Jiang, aka “YiYi” Age: 26 In Custody
Dexiao Lin, aka “Prozac” Age: 27 Flushing, NY
Zhiyi Zhang, aka “Cream Pablo” Age: 29 Los Angeles, CA
Zhiwei Chen Age: 30 Levittown, NY
Bing Shen Age: 41 Flushing, NY
Zetian Zhang Age: 29 Flushing, NY
Huajian Chen, aka “Marco Chen” Age: 24 Austin, TX
Chongchong Li Age: 29 Los Angeles, CA
Jianhao Gao, aka “Gh Ghao” Age: 31 Flushing, NY
Case Number 25-cr-2208-TW
Cheng Li Age: 28 In Custody
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Count 1 – Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud - Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 1349, 2326
Maximum penalty: Forty years in prison; a maximum $1 million fine
Count 2 – Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(h)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison; a maximum $500,000 fine or twice the amount of monetary instruments involved in the offense, whichever is greatest
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation
New York City Police Department
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
San Diego Law Enforcement Coordination Center
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department (SBSD)
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
Mountain View (CA) Police Department
Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FLDE)
Alachua County (FL) Sheriff’s Department
Los Angeles Interagency Metropolitan Police Apprehension Crime Task Force (LA IMPACT)
Irvine (CA) Police Department
La Verne (CA) Police Department
Mesa (AZ) Police Department
Sarpy County (NE) Sheriff’s Department
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Worcester Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Drug Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Worcester for his role in a cocaine distribution conspiracy.
Hector Torres, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to seven years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. In May 2025, Torres pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Torres was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2023.
In or about June 2022, a package sent from Puerto Rico to Worcester was intercepted and found to contain approximately 6.5 kilograms of cocaine. On June 21, 2022, law enforcement executed a controlled delivery of the package. While accepting the delivered package, Torres apologized for not being there earlier, took the package, and set it on the ground in order to sign for delivery. When law enforcement attempted to arrest Torres, he fled on foot and was subsequently apprehended.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Worcester Police Chief Paul B. Saucier made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Two Self-Professed Religious Leaders Who Used Physical and Psychological Abuse to Coerce Victims to Solicit Tens of Millions in Donations Federally Charged and ArrestedRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Michigan returned a ten-count indictment against two defendants for their alleged roles in a forced labor and money laundering conspiracy that victimized individuals in Michigan, Florida, Texas, and Missouri.
The two defendants, David Taylor, 53, and Michelle Brannon, 56, were arrested today in North Carolina and Florida in a nationwide takedown of their forced labor organization.
“Combating human trafficking is a top priority for the Department of Justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We are committed to relentlessly pursuing and ending this scourge and obtaining justice for the victims.”
“We will use every lawful tool against human traffickers and seek justice for their victims,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. for the Eastern District of Michigan. “A case like this is only possible through a concerted effort with our federal partners across the country and the non-governmental agencies who provide victim support. We thank them all.”
“The indictment of David Taylor and Michelle Brannon demonstrates the FBI’s steadfast efforts to protect the American people from human exploitation and financial crimes, including forced labor and money laundering,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Reuben Coleman of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “The alleged actions are deeply troubling. I want to thank the members of the FBI Detroit Field Office, with strong support from our federal and agency partners in the FBI Tampa Field Office, FBI Jacksonville Field Office, FBI St. Louis Field Office, FBI Charlotte Field Office, FBI Houston Field Office, and the Detroit IRS-CI Field Office, in addition to several local, county and state law enforcement partners, for their role in executing this multi-state operation. The FBI in Michigan will continue to investigate those who violate federal law and remain focused on ensuring the protection and safety of our nation.”
“Money laundering is tax evasion in progress, and in this case, the proceeds funded an alleged human trafficking ring and supported a luxury lifestyle under the guise of a religious ministry,” said Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of IRS Criminal Investigation, Detroit Field Office. “IRS-CI stands committed to fighting human trafficking and labor exploitation, and pursuing those who hide their profits gained from the extreme victimization of the vulnerable.”
The indictment alleges that Taylor and Brannon are the leaders of Kingdom of God Global Church (KOGGC), formerly Joshua Media Ministries International (JMMI). Taylor refers to himself as “Apostle” and to Brannon as his Executive Director. Their organization ran a call center that solicited donations for KOGGC/JMMI every day. Taylor established his first call center in Taylor, Michigan, and then operated call centers in other locations in the United States including in Florida, Texas, and Missouri.
Taylor and Brannon, according to the indictment, compelled their victims to work at their call centers and to work for Taylor as his “armor bearers.” Armor bearers were Taylors’s personal servants who fulfilled Taylor’s demands around the clock. Taylor and Brannon controlled every aspect of the daily living of their victims. Victims slept in the call center facility or in a “ministry” house, and Taylor and Brannon did not permit them to leave without permission. Taylor demanded that his Armor Bearers transport women from ministry houses, airports, and other locations to Taylor’s location and ensured the women transported to Taylor took Plan B emergency contraceptives.
In addition, according to the indictment, Taylor and Brannon required victims to work in the call centers long hours without pay or perform other services for Taylor. Taylor set unobtainable daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly monetary donation goals for victims working in the call centers and required victims to follow the orders he created without question. If victims disobeyed an order or failed to reach his monetary goals, Taylor and Brannon punished the victims with public humiliation, additional work, food and shelter restrictions, psychological abuse, forced repentance, sleep deprivation, physical assaults, and threats of divine judgment in the form of sickness, accidents, and eternal damnation.
KOGGC/JMMI received millions of dollars in donations each year through its call centers. Taylor and Brannon used much of the money to purchase luxury properties, luxury vehicles, and sporting equipment such as a boat, jet skis, and ATVs. In total, Taylor received approximately $50 million in donations since 2014.
Defendant David Taylor will appear on the indictment today in Durham, North Carolina. Defendant Michelle Brannon will appear today on the indictment in Tampa, Florida.
Upon conviction, the alleged crimes carry the following penalties:
Conspiracy to Commit Forced Labor: up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000.
Forced Labor: up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000.
Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering: up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $500,000 or twice the value of the properties involved in the money laundering transactions.
This case was investigated by the FBI and IRS-CI. It will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Resnick Cohen for the Eastern District of Michigan and Trial Attorney Christina Randall-James of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll free at 1-888-373-7888, which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Further information is available at www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Self-Professed Religious Leaders Who Used Physical and Psychological Abuse to Coerce Victims to Solicit Tens of Millions in Donations Federally Charged and ArrestedRead the Press Release
DETROIT — A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Michigan returned a ten-count indictment against two defendants for their alleged roles in a forced labor and money laundering conspiracy that victimized individuals in Michigan, Florida, Texas, and Missouri.
The two defendants, David Taylor (age 53) and Michelle Brannon (age 56), were arrested today in North Carolina and Florida in a nationwide takedown of their forced labor organization.
“Combating human trafficking is a top priority for the Department of Justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We are committed to relentlessly pursuing and ending this scourge and obtaining justice for the victims.”
“We will use every lawful tool against human traffickers and seek justice for their victims,” said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. “A case like this is only possible through a concerted effort with our federal partners across the country and the non-governmental agencies who provide victim support. We thank them all.”
“The indictment of David Taylor and Michelle Brannon demonstrates the FBI’s steadfast efforts to protect the American people from human exploitation and financial crimes, including forced labor and money laundering,” said Reuben Coleman, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “The alleged actions are deeply troubling. I want to thank the members of the FBI Detroit Field Office, with strong support from our federal and agency partners in the FBI Tampa Field Office, FBI Jacksonville Field Office, FBI St. Louis Field Office, FBI Charlotte Field Office, FBI Houston Field Office, and the Detroit IRS-CI Field Office, in addition to several local, county and state law enforcement partners, for their role in executing this multi-state operation. The FBI in Michigan will continue to investigate those who violate federal law and remain focused on ensuring the protection and safety of our nation.”
“Money laundering is tax evasion in progress, and in this case, the proceeds funded an alleged human trafficking ring and supported a luxury lifestyle under the guise of a religious ministry,” said Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “IRS-CI stands committed to fighting human trafficking and labor exploitation, and pursuing those who hide their profits gained from the extreme victimization of the vulnerable.”
The indictment alleges that Taylor and Brannon are the leaders of Kingdom of God Global Church (KOGGC), formerly Joshua Media Ministries International (JMMI). Taylor refers to himself as “Apostle” and to Brannon as his Executive Director. Their organization ran a call center that solicited donations for KOGGC/JMMI every day. Taylor established his first call center in Taylor, Michigan, and then operated call centers in other locations in the United States including in Florida, Texas, and Missouri.
Taylor and Brannon, according to the indictment, compelled their victims to work at their call centers and to work for Taylor as his “armor bearers.” Armor bearers were Taylors’s personal servants who fulfilled Taylor’s demands around the clock. Taylor and Brannon controlled every aspect of the daily living of their victims. Victims slept in the call center facility or in a “ministry” house, and Taylor and Brannon did not permit them to leave without permission. Taylor demanded that his Armor Bearers transport women from ministry houses, airports, and other locations to Taylor’s location and ensured the women transported to Taylor took Plan B emergency contraceptives.
In addition, according to the indictment, Taylor and Brannon required victims to work in the call centers long hours without pay or perform other services for Taylor. Taylor set unobtainable daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly monetary donation goals for victims working in the call centers and required victims to follow the orders he created without question. If victims disobeyed an order or failed to reach his monetary goals, Taylor and Brannon punished the victims with public humiliation, additional work, food and shelter restrictions, psychological abuse, forced repentance, sleep deprivation, physical assaults, and threats of divine judgment in the form of sickness, accidents, and eternal damnation.
KOGGC/JMMI received millions of dollars in donations each year through its call centers. Taylor and Brannon used much of the money to purchase luxury properties, luxury vehicles, and sporting equipment such as a boat, jet skis, and ATVs. In total, Taylor received approximately $50 million in donations since 2014.
Defendant David Taylor will appear on the indictment today in Durham, North Carolina. Defendant Michelle Brannon will appear today on the indictment in Tampa, Florida.
Upon conviction, the alleged crimes carry the following penalties:
Conspiracy to Commit Forced Labor: up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000.
Forced Labor: up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000.
Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering: up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $500,000 or twice the value of the properties involved in the money laundering transactions.
This case was investigated by the FBI and IRS-CI. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Resnick Cohen for the Eastern District of Michigan and Trial Attorney Christina Randall-James of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
Anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov
Timber Lake Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual ContactRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a man from Timber Lake, South Dakota, convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact without Consent. The sentencing took place on August 25, 2025.
Jaren Loren Lane Mellette, age 27, was sentenced to three years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Mellette was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Mellette was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2024. He pleaded guilty on June 3, 2025.
During the summer of 2023, Mellette groped a 13-year-old girl without her consent. The incident occurred in Corson County, South Dakota, within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, authorizes certain crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country to be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was also brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Mellette was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Texas Man Sentenced to over 6 Years in Federal Prison for Supplying Firearms to the Sinaloa CartelRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A Texas man was sentenced in federal court today to 78 months in prison for his role in a scheme to supply military-grade weapons to the Sinaloa Cartel.
According to court documents, Edgar Raul Moreno, 50, purchased approximately 10 firearms in 2020 and 2021 that were known to be highly desirable to Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTO). Additionally, Mexican law enforcement in Sinaloa, Mexico, recovered a belt-fed rifle that had been purchased by Moreno. In August 2021, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents observed Moreno arriving at a Federal Firearms Licensed (FFL) dealer in San Antonio, where he completed the transfer and took custody of an M249S belt-fed rifle. Moreno was pulled over by the San Antonio Police Department shortly thereafter.
During the investigation, Moreno stated that he had purchased around 20 firearms for the Sinaloa cartel within a year in exchange for $1,000-$1,400 per firearm purchased. The ATF determined that Moreno bought approximately 20 belt-fed rifles, six other rifles, five handguns, and two shotguns. To date, three rifles purchased by Moreno have been recovered in Mexico, and one pistol was recovered in California.
Moreno was arrested Aug. 23, 2021, and charged in a nine-count indictment Sept. 15, 2021. He pleaded guilty on March 28, 2025, to one count of making a false statement during purchase of a firearm.
“Funneling high-powered weapons to Mexican drug cartels threatens our national security and is inexcusable,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “Firearms trafficking fuels violence on both sides of the border and empowers the cartels that poison our communities. Our office will continue to vigorously prosecute people who ‘lie and buy’ on behalf of cartels or anyone else.”
“This sentence underscores the serious consequences that come with illegally trafficking firearms, especially when those weapons are destined for violent criminal organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael Weddel for the ATF Houston Field Division. “Straw purchasing is not a victimless crime—it fuels cartel violence, endangers communities on both sides of the border, and threatens national security. This case is a testament to the relentless efforts of our law enforcement partners at the federal, state, and local levels, who worked together to dismantle this dangerous pipeline and bring those responsible to justice.”
ATF investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Yuen prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
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Texas Man Sentenced to 21 Months in Federal Prison in Connection with Theft of Vehicle from Local DealershipRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Texas man was sentenced today to 21 months in federal prison in connection with the fraudulent purchase of a 2023 Ford Shelby F-150 valued at $130,850 from a local automobile dealership.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2023, Mario Martinez Smiley, 57, of Fort Worth, Texas, fraudulently obtained an expensive truck from a Jackson dealership by representing himself to be another individual and using someone else’s credit card number to make a $5,000 down payment on the truck. Smiley was recruited by an individual in Texas to pick up vehicles in exchange for $1,000 each. Smiley induced a salesperson from the dealership to meet him in Ruston, Louisiana, where he took possession of the truck after posing for a photograph with it.
Smiley was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 4, 2025. Smiley pleaded guilty to wire fraud on May 21, 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 are investigating the case through their partnership in the Cyber Fraud Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
Tampa Man Sentenced to More Than 21 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute and Distributing CocaineRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Jose Pabon (45, Tampa) to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to commit that offense. Pabon pleaded guilty in February 2025.
According to court documents, in July 2023, an undercover officer with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office began purchasing cocaine from Pabon’s co-defendant, Joseph White. The investigation revealed that Pabon and Daniel Vega Cabrera, another co-defendant, were White’s sources of supply. Law enforcement officers ordered cocaine from White and observed Pabon deliver the cocaine to White. In total, Pabon delivered over a kilogram of cocaine to White. Pabon was subject to an enhanced penalty in this case because he had two prior drug trafficking convictions.
This case was investigated by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.
St. Louis Felon Caught with Three Guns Sentenced to 12 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Wednesday sentenced a convicted felon from St. Louis who was caught by police with three guns to 12 years in prison.
Derrick Lamar Rodgers, 34, pleaded guilty in May in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted being caught with three guns on May 24, 2024, when he was arrested by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team. Rodgers, who was being sought on multiple warrants, had a 9mm handgun and plastic baggies with synthetic cannabinoid in a cross-body satchel. Officers also found a shotgun and a stolen Hi-Point 9mm handgun. Rodgers is a felon and is thus barred from possession of a firearm.
In court Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Lake said Rodgers has an “atrocious” criminal history filled with violent acts, particularly against women.
Per an agreement between both sides, Judge Autrey ran Rodgers’ sentence concurrent with pending cases in St. Louis Circuit Court.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Lake prosecuted the case.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 200 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Martel Scott, 35 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to distribution of 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Scott was sentenced to 200 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.According to documents in the case, Scott sold methamphetamine to buyers in South Bend and Mishawaka on four occasions from July 2024 to October 2024. On the date of his arrest, investigators found approximately five pounds of methamphetamine in his residence and currency exceeding $200,000 in his storage unit.
“Martel Scott distributed substantial quantities of methamphetamine—a drug that has caused grave harm throughout northern Indiana,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “Due to the dogged efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement, Scott was brought to justice. His case shows that those who enrich themselves by distributing harmful drugs will suffer serious consequences.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Indiana State Police, the South Bend Police Department, and the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney and Acting Criminal Division Chief Joseph P. Falvey.
Smuggler of Egyptian Antiquities Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Ashraf Omar Eldarir was sentenced by United States District Judge Rachel P. Kovner to six months in prison for smuggling Egyptian antiquities into the United States through John F. Kennedy International Airport. During the course of this investigation, more than 600 Egyptian artifacts were recovered after having been smuggled through Eldadir’s smuggling network. Eldarir previously pleaded guilty in February 2025 to four counts of smuggling.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Ricky J. Patel, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI); and Francis J. Russo, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, New York Field Office (CBP), announced the sentence.
“The defendant looted Egypt’s cultural treasures and lied to U.S. Customs about them as part of a web of deception he spun to illegally fill his pockets with cash,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Those who steal cultural treasures of other countries and smuggle them into the United States should know that they will be held accountable for their crimes. We commend our HSI and CBP partners for their diligent and important work in this case and look forward to repatriating to Egypt the recovered antiquities.”
“Safeguarding cultural heritage is an often-overlooked yet important aspect of border security, as smugglers frequently exploit similar vulnerabilities to transport stolen artifacts and other illicit goods,” stated CBP Director of Field Operations Russo. “In this case, the profit-driven defendant lied during border inspection to conceal priceless antiquities, but the vigilance of CBP officers uncovered the truth. Every day, our officers work tirelessly to protect both our security and the cultural heritage of nations worldwide, and while doing so, uncover other sophisticated smuggling plots. Strong partnerships with agencies like HSI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are critical to this mission, and CBP remains committed to preserving history while enforcing the law.”
As set forth in the indictment and in other court filings, Eldarir was a prolific trafficker of ancient Egyptian artifacts. On at least four separate occasions from April 2019 to January 22, 2020, Eldarir smuggled ancient Egyptian artifacts into the United States. Each time, Eldarir used fake provenances to sell those artifacts at U.S.-based auction houses. Provenances are documents reflecting the history of ownership and custody of artifacts, which are used to establish that the artifacts are genuine and that they were not illegally excavated or stolen.
On January 22, 2020, Eldarir, travelling from Egypt, arrived at JFK Airport and falsely declared to CBP that he was carrying goods valued at only $300. When CBP officers opened Eldarir’s three checked suitcases, they found the suitcases filled with 590 valuable artifacts that were bubble and foam-wrapped. When the wrapping was opened, loose sand and dirt spilled out of the packaging, indicating that the artifacts had been recently excavated. Among the items recovered by law enforcement officers were gold amulets from a funerary set and wooden tomb model figures with linen garments dating to approximately 1900 BCE. Eldarir was also in possession of a kit of materials used to fabricate documentation for the stolen items. Further investigation following Eldarir’s arrest at JFK Airport led to the recovery of additional illegally imported artifacts that have since been forfeited, along with the 590 artifacts seized at the time of Eldarir’s arrest.
Assistant United States Attorneys William P. Campos and Nomi Berenson are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Amara Padilla. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Mantell of the Office’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters.
The Defendant:
ASHRAF OMAR ELDARIR
Age: 52
Brooklyn, NYE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-243 (S-2) (RPK)
Shipping Company Fined $2M for Maritime Pollution OffenseRead the Press Release
V.Ships Norway A.S. (V.SHIPS) pleaded guilty today to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships and was sentenced to pay a $2 million fine. V.Ships admitted that oily bilge water and oily waste was discharged from the Motor Tanker Swift Winchester (M/T Swift Winchester) and the discharges were omitted from the Oil Record Book.
“Dumping oil-contaminated waste into the waters around our ports and coasts violates the law and poses an unnecessary health and environmental hazard,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “The crew took pains to hide their illegal activity by knowingly keeping inaccurate records. We will not turn a blind eye to this kind of irresponsible and fraudulent activity.”
“The Gulf of America and the Texas ports are amazing places with great natural beauty. They are also vital to our economy,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs for the Eastern District of Texas. “When a foreign ship operated by a foreign company discharges polluting wastes, it threatens waters that are vital to the United States and the state of Texas. We will hold those responsible for polluting the Gulf of America accountable.”
“The criminal prosecution of this case underlines our commitment to enforcing the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ellison C. Travis for the Middle District of Louisiana. “The illegal discharge of bilge water and oily waste from vessels poses a significant threat to our waters and marine life and by holding those accountable who violate these standards, we send a clear message that we will not tolerate actions that endanger our environment. We remain dedicated to ensuring that the maritime industry operates responsibly and in compliance with environmental laws.”
“Coast Guard Marine Inspectors, Pollution Responders and Investigating Officers undergo rigorous and specialized training to detect and gather evidence of environmental crimes. This expertise alongside our federal partnerships was crucial to the successful prosecution of this violation,” said Capt. Jennifer Andrew, the Commanding Officer of Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur. “The Coast Guard maintains one of the world’s most comprehensive and thorough vessel inspection programs, and we will continue to leverage this robust capability to ensure strict compliance with domestic and international maritime laws.”
Between February 2022 and August 2022, a hose was connected between the incinerator waste oil tank and the sewage holding tank on the M/T Swift Winchester. This allowed oily waste to transfer into the sewage holding tank and then to be discharged directly into the sea, bypassing required pollution prevention equipment. A low-ranking engine crewmember reported this to a Superintendent at V.Ships. The Superintendent investigated the matter and discovered what appeared to be oil in the sewage tank. V.Ships dismissed the Chief Engineer. In August 2022, the new Chief Engineer ordered the engine crew to clean the Oil Water Separator (OWS) filter. The engine crew took the filter onto the deck and hosed it down with a degreaser and the oily waste washed directly overboard through a scupper.
Coast Guard members from U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur conducted an examination, during which an engine room crewmember disclosed the discharges and provided photographic and video evidence documenting the illegal discharges. The M/T Swift Winchester entered Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Aug. 25, 2022, and Port Arthur, Texas, on Sept. 7, 2022, with a knowingly falsified Oil Record Book.
Photo of OWS filter on deck before being unrolled. Photo is from United States v. V.Ships Norway, A.S., number 25-CR-00039 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Photo depicting oily waste draining into scupper. Photo is from United States v. V.Ships Norway, A.S., number 25-CR-00039 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service investigated the case.
Senior Trial Attorney Kenneth E. Nelson and Trial Attorney Lauren Steele of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Batte for the Eastern District of Texas, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Warner for the Middle District of Louisiana prosecuted the case.
Sex Offender Sentenced for Making False Statements to United States ProbationRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Ashley K. Whitaker, age 49, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for knowingly and willfully making a materially false statement on his written monthly reports to the United States Probation Office. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Acting United States Marshal Christopher Amoia.
Whitaker, originally from Lexington, Kentucky, was prosecuted in the Northern District of New York in 2008 for receiving sexually explicit images of an Oswego County minor. After serving a 10 year sentence for that crime, Whitaker has been living in Syracuse, NY, supervised by United States Probation. As a result of his 2008 conviction, Whitaker has been designated a Level 2 sex offender in New York and is required by both state and federal law to register as a sex offender with the Division of Criminal Justice Services. As a part of that registration, Whitaker is required to disclose all internet identifiers and accounts. Upon his release from prison, however, Whitaker created and used an email account that he failed to disclose to the registry, or to U.S. Probation, and then over a series of written monthly reports, falsely claimed to U.S. Probation that he was in compliance with his registration obligations.
Whitaker will have to serve 3 years of supervised release on the false statement charge. In addition, Whitaker’s actions violated the terms of his supervised release for the underlying sex offense. For that, he was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment, and 10 years of supervised release, to run consecutive to the false statement sentence. He will continue to be required to register as a sex offender.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone, III said “Sex offender registration, and truthful compliance with United States Probation is an important part of a sex offender’s sentence. These guardrails are put in place to protect the public and to monitor an offender’s transition back into society. These are simple requirements. When sex offenders fail to comply, we will hold them accountable.”
Acting United States Marshal Christopher Amoia, said “The protection of our communities, especially our most vulnerable populations, remains one of our highest priorities. The U.S. Marshals Sex Offender Investigative Division collaborates closely with federal, state, and local partners to track offenders, enforce sex offender registration laws, and to ensure compliance with the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. These efforts are central to the Marshals Service mission of protecting communities and reducing the risk posed by offenders who attempt to evade accountability. The United States Marshals Service will continue to dedicate resources to locating and apprehending sex offenders nationwide, ensuring that those who violate federal law are brought to justice.”
The United States Marshal Service and the United States Probation Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa M. Fletcher, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator for the Northern District of New York, is prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (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.
Sevierville Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On August 27, 2025, Lucas Ray Hall, 34, of Sevierville, Tennessee, was sentenced to 360 months by the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. Following his imprisonment, Hall will be on supervised release for 15 years and will be required to register with state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Hall agreed to plead guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of production of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a) and (e).
According to filed court documents, in February of 2024, a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) containing child pornography (CP) images and an imminent threat to a child was sent to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) and the Sevierville Police Department (SPD). Based on the NCMEC information, law enforcement was able to determine the computer used to distribute the CP images came back to the home where the defendant resided. Law enforcement determined the minor victim in the CP images was a seven-year-old related to the defendant.
Hall admitted to producing the CP images of the minor victim using his phone at his home. The defendant further admitted he used the CP images to go onto chat forums and trade for other CP images within the group forum.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.
The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by SPD, SCSO, Homeland Security Investigations Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and Knoxville Police Department. This investigation was led by SCSO Detective Jerry Vandergriff.
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Kolman represented the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click the tab "resources.”
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Rochester man arrested, charged with distributing and possessing child pornographyRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Zachary Guthrie, 32, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with distributing and possessing child pornography, which carry a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that in May and July 2024, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received CyberTips from Instagram that child pornography was uploaded by a user utilizing an IP address in the Rochester, NY area. Subsequently, the uploads were traced back to Guthrie. On September 15, 2024, law enforcement received a report from Microsoft that Xbox user HeadStashClass made the following threat: “im gonna shoot up the local preschool tomorrow for the vine.” Once again, the post traced back Guthrie. In October 2024, a search warrant was executed at Guthrie’s residence, during which law enforcement seized a cell phone. An analysis of the phone recovered more than 200 videos and more than 320 images of child pornography.
In February 2025, NCMEC received another CyberTip from Instagram involving the online enticement of children for sexual acts. A 14-year-old female reported that she had sexually explicit conversations online with an individual later identified as Guthrie. In March 2025, the FBI National Threat Operations Center (NTOC) also received an anonymous tip identifying “Zachary Guthrie” as “soliciting for sex with minor” and “asking local sex workers in the area for girls 12 and under” after a Facebook user posted screenshots of the conversation on Facebook. And in April 2025, Facebook submitted a CyberTip involving child sex trafficking. According to Facebook, a user sent sexually explicit messages to an adult female via Facebook Messenger, offering money to perform sexual acts on her “kid.” Once again, the message traced back to Guthrie.
Guthrie made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Colleen D. Holland and was held pending a detention hearing on August 29, 2025.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Steven Christopher Kelban, 50, of Catonsville, Maryland, to 10 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for possessing child sexual abuse material as a recidivist offender.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office, Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger, and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD).
According to his guilty plea, Kelban has two prior child pornography convictions. In 2015, Kelban was convicted of possession of obscene matter of persons under 17 in Shelby County, Alabama. Then in 2016, he was convicted of distributing child pornography in Baltimore County, Maryland.
On November 20, 2023, Kelban was released from prison in Alabama and then returned to Maryland. He registered as a sex offender in Maryland, as required, on November 21, 2023, listing a Baltimore County address.
Then on November 28, BCPD conducted an online investigation of the BitTorrent network to find offenders sharing child pornography. Law enforcement found Kelban’s IP address associated with a torrent that contained more than 2,000 files, including at least one of suspected child sexual abuse material. The IP address matched the device connected to Kelban’s Baltimore County residence, the same address that Kelban used to register as a sex offender one week prior. Additionally, Kelban possessed approximately 150 images and 200 videos of child sexual abuse material on his cell phone.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and BCPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Reema Sood who prosecuted the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Pleasant Grove couple sentenced for federal drug trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – A Pleasant Grove couple has received lengthy federal prison sentences for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Holly Candice Lopez, 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit money laundering and was sentenced to life in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on August 27, 2025.
Ricardo Ruiz, 30, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit money laundering and was sentenced to 376 months in federal prison by Judge Mazzant on August 27, 2025.
According to information presented in court, Ruiz and his wife, Lopez, were leaders in a drug trafficking organization in Pleasant Grove, distributing kilogram quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. The couple used at least five stash houses in the area to store and distribute illegal narcotics that were imported into the United States from Mexico.
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 U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Dallas Police Department, Mesquite Police Department, McKinney Police Department, Rowlett Police Department, Lewisville Police Department, and Denton County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul B. Morris.
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Palmetto Man on Federal Supervised Release for Distributing Fentanyl Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Traveous Anderson (39, Palmetto) today pleaded guilty to conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a fentanyl mixture. Anderson faces an enhanced minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison due to his prior conviction. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court records, between April and May 2024, a DEA confidential source conducted multiple fentanyl transactions with Anderson, who conspired with others to distribute the fentanyl. During the course of the conspiracy, Anderson possessed with the intent to distribute over 40 grams of a fentanyl mixture. At the time of the offense, Anderson was serving a term of federal supervised release in connection with a prior conviction for distributing fentanyl.
Anderson’s co-defendant, Alexis Soto Escalante, previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced on June 18, 2025, to 5 years and 10 months’ imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.
Pensacola Man Sentenced for Narcotics TraffickingRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Bennie Charles Deloach, 36, of Cantonment, Florida, was sentenced to 14 years in prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine or 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Methamphetamine is a dangerous drug that is plaguing our community and threatening the health and safety of our citizens. I deeply appreciate the hard work of our state and federal law enforcement partners to help keep drug traffickers like this defendant off our streets, and my office will not hesitate to aggressively prosecute these offenses to safeguard our community.”
According to court records, a Pensacola Police Department Officer attempted to stop Deloach’s vehicle, as Deloach had active felony warrants. Deloach fled from the officer, hitting a pole and a parked vehicle, and then got out of the vehicle and fled on foot. Officers located narcotics, including a large amount of methamphetamine, in a backpack Deloach dropped, as well as more narcotics in the vehicle. The methamphetamine weighed over 830 grams.
“Effective law enforcement in the war on drugs isn’t just about reacting to crime … it’s about anticipating it, disrupting the supply chains, and working together with all of our law enforcement partners to stop it,” said Chief Brown, Pensacola Police Department. “Illegal use of drugs in our community is something that cannot be tolerated, and we will use all avenues in the war on drugs.”
“Those who distribute methamphetamine in Florida will be held accountable,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “The health and safety of our Florida communities is my top priority – always.”
The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Pensacola Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton.
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).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit theU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Oswego County Man Sentenced to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Daniel LaRock, 21, of Oswego, New York was sentenced yesterday to 14 years in prison on three counts of possession of child pornography. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement.
During his previously entered guilty plea, LaRock admitted that he was convicted of Promoting the Sexual Performance by a Child in June 2024 in Oswego County Court and sentenced to 10 years’ probation. Later that same month, he possessed and distributed child pornography on multiple social media accounts, including videos depicting very young children engaged in sex acts with adults.
In addition to the imprisonment term, United States District Judge Anthony J. Brindisi also imposed a post-imprisonment term of supervised release of 15 years, ordered LaRock to pay $8,000 in restitution to victims, and required him to forfeit the device he used to commit the offenses.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “LaRock received an incredibly lenient sentence of 10 years’ probation by the Owego County Court for committing essentially the same disgusting conduct less than two years ago. Not surprisingly, a sentence of probation for promoting the sexual performance of a child neither deterred LaRock from committing the same type of offense again nor did it protect the public. My Office will continue to work with our federal and state partners to charge and seek just punishment for people who possess child pornography.”
Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations Erin Keegan said: “Daniel LaRock’s repeated exploitation of children underscores his complete disregard for our most helpless, vulnerable populations. Today’s sentence reflects the utmost seriousness of the defendant’s crimes. I thank HSI Syracuse and our law enforcement partners for never wavering on their support for victims of unimaginable crimes and their shared pursuit of justice.”
This case was investigated by HSI with the assistance of the New York State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael D. Gadarian as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (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.
Oneida County Man Charged with Receiving and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Win Naing, age 20, of Utica, New York, appeared in federal court yesterday on charges of receipt and possession of child pornography announced Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
The complaint alleges that in 2023, a cloud storage service reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) the upload of child pornography to the service’s platform by one of its users. Based on geolocation information associated with the internet protocol address linked to the upload, investigators from the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office were able to tie the uploads to Naing. During a subsequent search of Naing’s cellular telephone, investigators, including Special Agents from the FBI, found numerous images and videos of child pornography that Naing possessed on the device. Agents also found evidence that some of the material Naing possessed had been downloaded using a social networking application installed on Naing’s cellular telephone.
The charges filed against Naing carry a sentence of between 5 and 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life, and require sex offender registration upon release from incarceration. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
Naing had his initial appearance on the charges yesterday in Syracuse, New York, before United States Magistrate Judge Thérèse Wiley Dancks, and was detained pending further proceedings.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Collecting child pornography is not a victimless crime and the defendant in this case will now suffer the grave consequences of his despicable actions. Anyone who traffics in child pornography in the Northern District of New York should be prepared to face swift and immediate justice and can expect to spend years behind bars.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli stated: “As alleged, Mr. Naing had a disturbing amount of child pornography in his possession. The FBI remains committed to relentlessly investigating these appalling predators and ensuring justice is delivered to the victims.”
The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The FBI and Oneida County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle is prosecuting the case as a part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (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.
Ohio Brother and Sister Lose More Than $1M in Cryptocurrency Investment ScamRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio has filed a civil complaint in forfeiture against cryptocurrency suspected of being fraudulently obtained as part of an investment scam. A victim in Trumbull County and his sister lost more than $1 million of their savings in the scheme.
On Aug. 27, 2025, the United States filed a civil complaint in forfeiture against a total of 325,060 Tether (USDT) cryptocurrency, valued at approximately $325,060. USDT are digital tokens that are circulated through the internet and tied to, or “tethered,” to a fiat currency such as the U.S. dollar. The USDT amount in the complaint is valued at $325,060 at a 1:1 ratio to the dollar.
According to court documents, on, or, about Nov. 24, 2024, an elderly male victim in Bristolville, Ohio, filed a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. The fraud began when he received a text from an unknown number looking for someone named “Zach.” The victim responded and eventually became friendly with the person, who unbeknownst to him, was a scammer. The scammer suggested that they start communicating through the Telegram platform where she went by the username “Shaw Goddess.” The scammer established trust with the victim by painting herself as a successful investor and encouraged the victim to also invest in cryptocurrencies.
At the scammer’s direction, the victim opened a new account with Crypto.com, a virtual currency exchange. Eventually, Crypto.com limited the amount of cryptocurrency that the victim could purchase. To get around that limit, the scammer instructed the victim to open a second account through another virtual currency exchange, Strike.com. The victim wired more than $1 million of his own money to the cryptocurrency accounts. The scammer then instructed the victim to transfer his cryptocurrency assets purchased through Crypto.com and Strike.com to a fake investment platform. The victim also convinced his sister to make investments of more than $600,000.
When the victim tried to withdraw some of his alleged gains from the fake investment platform, he was told that his funds were locked up and could not be withdrawn. Around that same time, his sister also tried to withdraw funds but was told that a 10% tax must be paid upfront. That concerned the victim as he generally knew how taxation worked, and this was inconsistent with his understanding. It was after these two incidents when the victim realized that he was the target of a fraud scheme.
Many virtual currencies publicly record all their transactions on what is known as a “blockchain.” The blockchain is essentially a distributed public ledger, run by the decentralized network of computers, containing an immutable and historical record of every transaction utilizing that blockchain’s technology. The blockchain records every virtual currency address that has ever received virtual currency. It also maintains records of every transaction and all known balances for each virtual currency address.
Through several steps of “blockchain analysis,” federal investigators traced approximately $200,000 of the funds stolen from the victim to a cryptocurrency address on the Tron blockchain. As part of their forensic analysis, they determined that the stolen cryptocurrency was converted to Tether (USDT).
On Dec. 31, 2024, the USDT tokens at the subject cryptocurrency address were frozen by Tether Limited, Inc. At the time of the freeze, the cryptocurrency address had a balance of 325,060 USDT (valued at approximately $325,060). Thereafter, pursuant to a federal seizure warrant issued on March 20, 2025, the 325,060 USDT tokens were transferred by Tether Limited, Inc., to a U.S. law enforcement-controlled virtual currency wallet.
By the complaint in forfeiture filed Aug. 27, 2025, the United States seeks to forfeit the 325,060 USDT in cryptocurrency. In the complaint, the United States alleges that the additional cryptocurrency funds contained in the address, in excess of the victims’ traceable losses, are also subject to forfeiture as the proceeds of other fraudulent activities and are alleged to be involved in money laundering violations.
The claims asserted in the complaint are allegations only. The United States must prove the claims by a preponderance of evidence.
If successful in this forfeiture action, the United States would seek to return the stolen funds to the victims.
The FBI Cleveland Division is actively investigating this case and related cryptocurrency fraud schemes perpetrated on victims throughout the United States. Assistant United States Attorney James L. Morford is leading the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio.
To report fraudulent conduct involving older adults, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov to submit a report.
Click here to view the complaint:
complaint_in_forfeiture_8-27-25.pdfNew York-Based Drug Trafficker Sentenced to over Fifteen Years in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jamell R. O’Neal, age 42, of East Meadow, New York, was sentenced on August 22, 2025, to 188 months in prison by United States District Judge Julia K. Munley, related to his plea of guilty for one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. O’Neal will have to serve a 5-year term of supervised release following his incarceration.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, from September of 2023 through at least February of 2024, federal agents received information about illegal drug trafficking activity taking place in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Agents engaged in surveillance and observed, on both September 20th and September 22nd, O’Neal and a co-conspirator engaging in hand-to-hand drug transactions on the streets of Wilkes-Barre out of at least two different residences. On January 16, 2024, agents observed O’Neal engage in a third transaction out of one of the residences. On February 7, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant, wherein O’Neal was present and taken into custody. Law enforcement recovered a trafficking amount of crack cocaine, fentanyl and crystal methamphetamine, as well as a loaded Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver and drug paraphernalia.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Luzerne County Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Luisa Honora Berti prosecuted the case.
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New Orleans Man Sentenced for Fraudulent Vehicle Purchase SchemeRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that KENNETH RICHMOND (“RICHMOND”), age 65, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on August 14, 2025, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, and aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A.
According to court documents, in 2022, RICHMOND, and his daughter Kendra Walker (“Walker”), conspired to use fake and stolen personal identifying information to make fraudulent vehicle purchases from a local car dealership. The vehicle purchases were financed through a bank, and several of the loans went into default. This fraud caused a loss of approximately $124,031.41 to the dealership. As part of this scheme, RICHMOND knowingly used a real person’s name, date of birth, and Social Security Number, without permission, to purchase a Dodge Challenger in July of 2022.
The Honorable United States District Judge Barry W. Ashe sentenced RICHMOND to serve four (4) years of imprisonment, followed by three (3) years of supervised release. Judge Ashe also ordered that RICHMOND pay restitution to the victim in the amount of $58,852.00, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $200.
At the time that RICHMOND committed this scheme, he was on federal supervised release for a prior fraud conviction. On August 13, 2025, United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance revoked RICHMOND’s term of supervised release and sentenced him to two years in prison. RICHMOND has been ordered to serve his two terms of imprisonment consecutively, for a total of six years.
The Honorable Barry W. Ashe set the sentencing for RICHMOND’s codefendant, Kendra Walker, for September 25, 2025.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge the work of the United States Secret Service, St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Louisiana Department of Public Safety. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Maria M. Carboni of the Financial Crimes Unit.
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New Bedford Couple Charged with Defrauding Clients of over $700,000 in Connection with Their Insurance BusinessRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A married couple was arrested today for their alleged involvement in a scheme to defraud individuals seeking insurance coverage through their business, BL Insurance Brokerage, LLC.
Brendan Lawler, 58, and Lisa Lawler, 45, both of New Bedford, Mass., were charged with one count each of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Both defendants will appear in federal court in Boston at 3:30 p.m. today.
According to the charging document, it is alleged that from March 2023 through March 2024, the Lawlers solicited and collected insurance payments from their clients, which should have been paid to the clients’ insurance providers. Instead of paying the insurance companies what they were owed, the Lawlers allegedly pocketed their clients’ payments and used the money for their own purposes. To conceal the theft of client funds and to keep their company BL Insurance afloat to perpetuate the scheme, the Lawlers allegedly used incoming client funds to pay outstanding balances due to other clients’ insurers. It is alleged that the Lawlers also created and distributed to certain insurance documents to the clients that indicated that the clients were insured. In total, through this scheme, it is alleged that the Lawlers defrauded at least 50 individuals or insurance providers and stole more than $700,000.
The charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the loss to the victim. 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 Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Division of Insurance and Insurance Fraud Bureau. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Cleary of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Nevada, Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Approximately $1.5 Million from Employer and Filing a False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Nevada, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to a fraud scheme in which he embezzled approximately $1.5 million from his employer and to failing to disclose the embezzled funds as income on his federal income tax returns.
Justin R. Marquardt, 55, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to one count of wire fraud and one count of filing a false tax return.
By pleading guilty today, Marquardt admitted that he stole approximately $1.5 million from his employer’s bank accounts and used those funds for his personal benefit. Marquardt held the title of executive director at his company and by virtue of his position, had access to all company finances and financial accounts from 1994 to 2023. As part of his scheme, Marquardt, without authorization, transferred funds from his employer’s bank accounts to his personal accounts and wrote himself unauthorized checks from business bank accounts. Marquardt spent most of the money on personal expenses, including travel and gambling online and at casinos. To hide his embezzlement, Marquardt omitted these unauthorized transactions from the business’s QuickBooks ledger that he provided to an accountant and tax preparer. Marquardt also recorded false and fraudulent payments as business expenses in the QuickBooks records to conceal his embezzlement.
For tax years 2017 – 2020 and 2023, Marquardt filed United States federal income tax returns on Forms 1040 in which he willfully failed to report his embezzled income.
Under federal statutes, Marquardt is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole on the wire fraud count and up to 3 years’ imprisonment on the filing a false tax return count. 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. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Venneman. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations.
Nevada Man Charged in $500,830 COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man made his initial appearance in court yesterday for allegedly defrauding the Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation (DETR) and the California Employment Development Department (EDD) in a scheme to steal $500,830 in benefits meant to assist unemployed individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A federal grand jury indicted Craig Renard Gibson with five counts of bank fraud, one count of illegal transactions with access devices, and four counts of aggravated identity theft. United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Albregts scheduled a jury trial to begin October 20, 2025 before United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware.
“An important part of the mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of fraud involving the unemployment insurance program. This collaborative investigative effort with our local, state, and federal partners reaffirms our commitment to investigate these types of allegations,” said Quentin Heiden, Special Agent-in-Charge, Western Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
According to allegations contained in court documents, from about August 26, 2020, to about December 9, 2020, Gibson and others possessed debit cards issued in the names of other individuals that contained unemployment insurance benefits provided by the Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation (DETR) and the California Employment Development Department (EDD). After obtaining the debit cards, Gibson and others illegally withdrew over $500,000 in funds from these cards.
Gibson faces a maximum statutory penalty of 162 years’ imprisonment and a fine of $5,250,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent-in-Charge Quentin Heiden for the Western Region, Department of Labor-OIG made the announcement.
The Department of Labor-OIG and Department of Homeland Security-OIG investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Mina Chang is prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Movie Producer Arrested on Federal Indictment Charging Him with $12 Million Schemes to Defraud Victims, Including Film ProjectsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A former San Fernando Valley resident who worked as a producer and accountant in the movie business was arrested today on a 21-count federal grand jury indictment alleging he defrauded victims, including independent film projects, out of more than $12 million, in part by causing them to pay for COVID-19 testing that never occurred and misappropriating funds from film projects for his own personal use.
David Raymond Brown, 39, formerly known as “David Brown Levy” and “David Addison Brown,” a former Sherman Oaks resident now living in West Columbia, South Carolina, is charged with nine counts of wire fraud, 10 counts of transactional money laundering, and two counts of aggravated identity theft.
Brown made his initial appearance today in United States District Court in Columbia, South Carolina. Brown’s arraignment is expected in the coming weeks in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.
According to an indictment that a federal grand jury returned on August 20, Brown worked in the movie industry in various roles, including as a producer, unit production manager, and production accountant. He worked on various independent film projects to which he owed a fiduciary duty to their production companies.
From December 2021 to August 2025, Brown defrauded his victims via several methods, including by misappropriating funds belonging to film production companies by causing money to be transferred from the companies’ financial accounts to accounts that Brown controlled.
To create the false impression that the misappropriated funds were to be used for legitimate production expenses, Brown caused the film production companies to make payments to Hollywood Covid Testing LLC, a Studio City-based company he organized and operated, for services never rendered or already paid for, including by using false or duplicative invoices.
Brown also represented to an individual referred to in the indictment as “Victim 1” that Brown would pool money with him to make real estate investments as part of a house-flipping business. Brown contributed minimal funds and took some of Victim’s 1’s money to maintain his own lifestyle.
Separately, Brown represented to another individual – referred to in the indictment as “Victim 2” – that they would contribute money to a company Brown controlled called Film Holdings Capital. The funds then were supposed to provide loans and other financing to film projects.
Brown contributed minimal funds to Film Holdings Capital and – without Victim 2’s knowledge or consent – spent a substantial portion of Victim 2’s money on maintaining his lifestyle and repaying prior victims, including Victim 1 and the film production companies, in a Ponzi-like scheme.
To inflate his résumé and credibility in the film industry – and to induce Victim 2 to give him more money – Brown provided Victim 2 a copy of another person’s IMDb (Internet Movie Database) profile, which Brown claimed to be his own.
To ensure Victims 1 and 2 would not be discouraged from doing business with him, Brown concealed from them numerous facts about himself, including a May 2023 article in the Los Angeles Times detailing numerous fraud accusations made against him. He also concealed numerous lawsuits filed against him that alleged fraud.
Instead of using his victims’ money on film productions as he promised, Brown used their funds to purchase vehicles such as a 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon and three Teslas, including a 2024 Cybertruck. He also made mortgage payments on his personal residence and on home remodeling, including approximately $99,000 for the installation of a pool.
Brown also used his victims’ money to buy a house for his mother, make payments to members of his family, pay for more than $70,000 on surrogacy and related services, private school tuition payments, and more than $970,000 in payments pertaining to “Untitled SLA,” the working title for a film project relating to the 1974 kidnapping and indoctrination of Patricia Hearst by the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), a domestic terrorist group.
To create the false impression that he had not misspent Victim 2’s money and that Film Holdings Capital was appropriately operating as a film finance business, Brown – among other things – tricked and fraudulently induced a third party into signing backdated loan documents and withheld purported health insurance payments from employees’ payroll while failing to maintain their health insurance coverage.
In total, the loss to victims exceeds $12 million.
An indictment contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted of all charges, Brown would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count, up to 10 years in federal prison for each money laundering count, and a mandatory two-year consecutive prison sentence for each aggravated identity theft count.
The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander B. Schwab, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, Joshua O. Mausner of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section, and Sarah E. Spielberger of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section are prosecuting this case.
Monroe County Man Indicted with Child Exploitation CrimesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Christopher Mat Minnick, age 22, of Tannersville, Pennsylvania, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on charges of production of child pornography, online enticement, transfer of obscene material to a minor, and receipt of child pornography.
According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Minnick used the internet and an electronic device to persuade and entice a minor to engage in sexual conduct and to produce child pornography. The indictment also alleges that Minnick transmitted obscene materials to four minors.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations-RAC Allentown and the Pocono Township Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum R. Wilson is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
The maximum penalty under federal law for the crimes charged in the Indictment is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Mitchell, SD Woman and North Jackson, OH Woman Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a woman from Mitchell, South Dakota, and a woman from North Jackson, Ohio, both convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencings took place on April 7, 2025, and August 25, 2025.
Catherine Hamilton, 55, of Mitchell, South Dakota, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The sentencing took place on April 7, 2025.
Christine Hughes, 66, of North Jackson, Ohio, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The sentencing took place on August 25, 2025.
Hamilton and Hughes were indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in April 2024. Hamilton pleaded guilty on January 27, 2025; Hughes pleaded guilty on May 27, 2025.
Court documents show that Hamilton received several packages of methamphetamine through the United States Postal Service from Hughes in Ohio. Hamilton then distributed the methamphetamine to others in South Dakota.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Mitchell Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.
Hamilton and Hughes were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mississippi Man Sentenced for Attempted Receipt of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of MinorsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – AVERY FREEL (“FREEL”), age 23, of Ocean Springs, MS, was sentenced on August 21, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon, after previously pleading guilty to the Attempted Receipt of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2), announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.
According to court documents, the case against FREEL stemmed from an online investigation by a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“HSI”) special agent. On July 19, 2023, within the Eastern District of Louisiana, FREEL was contacted by an individual on an online messaging application. The individual told FREEL that she was 14 years old. FREEL disclosed to the individual, he believed to be a minor, that he was 21 years old and lived in Ocean Springs, MS. FREEL suggested the two of them communicate via another online messaging application. The individual he believed to be a minor received a friend request from FREEL. FREEL and the individual he believed to be a minor communicated on the online messaging application for several days. In their communications on July 25-26, 2023, FREEL asked the individual, he believed to be a minor, to take sexually explicit images of herself and send them to FREEL. On July 27, 2023, FREEL traveled from Ocean Springs, MS to Hammond, LA where he was arrested by HSI special agents.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
United States District Judge Eldon E. Fallon sentenced FREEL to sixty (60) months in the Bureau of Prisons, followed by (8) eight years of supervised release, a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee, and a requirement to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Hammond Police Department, and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.
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Mission Man Sentenced to Nearly 4 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a man from Mission, South Dakota, convicted of Possession of a Stolen Firearm. The sentencing took place on August 25, 2025.
Marlow Poor Thunder, 30, was sentenced to three years and 11 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Poor Thunder was indicted for Possession of a Stolen Firearm and Felon in Possession of a Firearm by a federal grand jury in February 2025. He pleaded guilty to Possession of a Stolen Firearm on July 28, 2025.
According to court documents, on October 24, 2024, Poor Thunder was driving a stolen vehicle when he was stopped by a trooper with the South Dakota Highway Patrol. At that time, Poor Thunder possessed a stolen firearm, which he had stolen earlier that day from another vehicle. Law enforcement located and seized the firearm.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, the Yankton Police Department, and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Jehangiri prosecuted the case.
Poor Thunder was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mexican National with Prior Drug Trafficking Convictions Sentenced to over 13 Months in Prison for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Mexican national was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Gloria Navarro to 13 months and one day in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegally reentering the United States after being twice removed from the country. The defendant has a prior drug trafficking conviction, where he was sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison.
According to court documents and statements made during court proceedings, on December 13, 2024, Gutierrez-Chavarria was arrested by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police for 3 counts Sell/Transport Controlled Substance and Trafficking Controlled Substance. Gutierrez-Chavarria was released on bail and on February 20, 2025, Gutierrez-Chavarria was arrested by ICE. Gutierrez-Chavarria was previously deported on April 5, 2022, and again on September 6, 2022. Gutierrez-Chavarria was deported the first time after spending 16 years in prison on a 2007 felony drug trafficking conviction.
Gutierrez-Chavarria pleaded guilty to one-count of Deported Alien Found in the United States.
Acting United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Field Office Director Jason Knight made the announcement.
The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
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Mexican National Indicted for Drug Crimes in UtahRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A Mexican national, who has been living in the United States illegally, has been indicted by a federal grand jury today for drug crimes after law enforcement seized over 15,000 fentanyl pills and heroin.
Alfredo Tovar-Ruiz, 26, of Mexico, who has been living in West Valley City, Utah, was charged by complaint August 22, 2025.
According to court documents, since July 2025, detectives with the Davis Metro Narcotics Strike Force have been investigating a drug trafficking organization. On August 20, 2025, detectives stopped a male, later identified as Tovar-Ruiz, in a parking lot as he approached a vehicle that belonged to the drug trafficking organization. Tovar-Ruiz and the vehicle were searched pursuant to a search warrant. Detectives seized 84 grams of fentanyl pills (approximately 840 pills), and 29 grams of heroin. During a subsequent search of Tovar-Ruiz’s residence in West Valley City, detectives seized an additional 1,930 grams of heroin and 1,478 grams of fentanyl pills (approximately 14,780 pills). In total, law enforcement seized approximately 15,620 fentanyl pills and 1,959 grams of heroin.
Tovar-Ruiz is charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and possession of heroin with intent to distribute. His initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for September 2, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the Davis Metro Narcotics Strike Force and the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Peter Reichman of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Maryland Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Healthcare FraudRead the Press Release
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The former director and one of the corporate officers for 1st Adult N Pediatrics Healthcare pled guilty yesterday to conspiring with others to commit federal healthcare fraud.
Carolyn Bryant-Taylor, 61, of Clinton, Maryland, pled guilty yesterday to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. At sentencing, Bryant-Taylor faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
Bryant-Taylor was charged in March 2025, along with: Kafomdi “Josephine” Okocha, 48, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland; Samuel Okocha, 50, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland; Shekita Gore, a.k.a. Shekita Steele, 38, of Clinton, Maryland; Elizabeth Ilome, 41, of Stafford, Virginia; and Eno Utuk, 47, of Stafford, Virginia.
According to court documents, Bryant-Taylor, Josephine Okocha, and Samuel Okocha were owners and operators of 1st Adult N Pediatric Healthcare Service, a Medicaid-enrolled home health agency providing private duty nursing, personal care, and respite care services throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, including in the Western District of Virginia. Gore was the director of nursing, while Utuk and Ilome were employed by 1st Adult to provide nursing and personal care.
The defendants conspired to submit false claims to Medicaid for services that were not provided to patients, including falsifying records and documentation in support of the fraudulent claims submitted for reimbursement.
As part of this scheme, between 2017 and 2023, Bryant-Taylor and her co-defendant, Josephine Okocha, planned arrangements to pay the parents or guardians of patients in exchange for blank, signed nursing notes which would be filled out and used to support billing to Medicaid. In these arrangements, the amount billed to Medicaid either reflected nursing services that were not provided at all, or an amount of nursing services that was in excess of what was actually provided.
On multiple occasions between 2017 and 2023, Bryant-Taylor provided payments to parents or guardians of patients. In exchange, the patients’ parents or guardians agreed to sign off on skilled nursing that had not occurred and Bryant-Taylor, or other employees at 1st Adult, received blank, signed nursing notes.
Robert N. Tracci, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Farina of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Virginia Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit are investigating the case, with assistance from the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Jones and Laura Taylor, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Terry, a Senior Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, are prosecuting the case.
Man Sentenced to a Year and a Half in Federal Prison for Covid-Relief FraudRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal judge in Chicago has sentenced a man to a year and half in prison for scheming to fraudulently obtain nearly $2 million in small business loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
In 2020, SAMUEL W. JACKSON engaged in fraud related to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL)—two sources of relief under the CARES Act. Jackson submitted to lenders and the U.S. Small Business Administration numerous applications on behalf of businesses he controlled. The applications contained false statements and misrepresentations concerning, among other things, the purported businesses’ employment figures, payroll costs, and operating expenses. The fraud scheme caused a loss to lenders and the SBA of more than $1.9 million.
Jackson and others used the loan proceeds for their personal benefit, including $500,000 on luxury vehicles, nearly $230,000 at restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues, and $116,000 on rent.
Jackson, 45, formerly of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to wire fraud and money laundering charges. On Aug. 20, 2025, U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly sentenced Jackson to 18 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay approximately $1.9 million in restitution.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Substantial assistance was provided by the SBA Office of Inspector General.
“Defendant was the hub of a fraudulent scheme,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher K. Veatch and Branka Cimesa argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Defendant abused a federal program funded by taxpayer money and designed to help those in need.”
Madison Man Indicted for Producing and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Madison, Wisconsin, returned an indictment today against Robert Gilkey-Meisegeier, 30, of Madison. Gilkey-Meisegeier is charged with producing, attempting to produce, and possessing child pornography. The indictment alleges that on May 16, 2025, Gilkey-Meisegeier produced and attempted to produce images of child pornography, and further that he possessed images of child pornography on June 1, 2025.
If convicted of either of the production related charges, Gilkey-Meisegeier faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. The possession count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years.
The charges against him are the result of an investigation conducted by the Sun Prairie Police Department with assistance from the University of Wisconsin Police Department, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger is handling the case.
This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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.
You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Madera Man Arrested on Gun Charges and for Possessing Counterfeit U.S. Postal Service KeysRead the Press Release
Brian Hindman, 49, of Madera, was arrested today on criminal complaint for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of counterfeit U.S. Postal Service keys, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court records, on July 25, 2025, as Hindman pulled into a casino parking lot, law enforcement officers arrested him for an outstanding state warrant for burglary. Hindman was found with a loaded 9 mm Ruger pistol that he was prohibited from possessing due to several prior felony convictions for which he spent over four years in state prison. Hindman was also found with six counterfeit U.S. Postal Service keys that are commonly used by thieves to steal mail, and several driver’s licenses and debit cards in other people’s names.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Hindman faces maximum penalties of 15 years in prison for the gun charge and 10 years in prison for the possession of counterfeit USPS keys charge. He also faces up to a 250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.