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24 August 2026
Jury Convicts Las Vegas Business Owner of Cryptocurrency Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A federal jury today convicted a Las Vegas business owner of fraudulently obtaining $24 million.
“Financial fraud undermines the foundational trust of our economic system,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “This verdict demonstrates our absolute commitment to aggressively pursuing bad actors who manipulate records to steal millions and ensuring they face full accountability in a court of law.”
“Today’s verdict reflects the seriousness of Brent Kovar’s scheme and the impact it had on hundreds of investors,” said IRS Criminal Investigation’s San Francisco Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge David Lowe. “Criminals who build operations on false guarantees, fabricated profits and nonexistent reserves, erode trust in our financial system, and leave victims facing real financial harm. IRS-CI special agents and professional staff are well suited and will continue to follow the money and hold accountable those who exploit emerging technologies to commit fraud.”
“The victims in this case thought they were engaged in revolutionary technological advancement, but it was merely a deception crafted by the falsehoods and trickery of Mr. Kovar,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “The FBI, along with its partners, remain dedicated to thoroughly investigating and holding accountable those who misuse their authority; however, this effort cannot be achieved alone. If you believe you have information related to fraud or know someone who may be a victim, please submit a complaint to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.”
“Mr. Kovar defrauded investors to enrich himself, luring victims with false claims that his investment was insured by the FDIC,” said Special Agent in Charge Ryan Korner with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG). “We will work tirelessly alongside our law enforcement partners to protect financial consumers and the Nation’s financial system, while ensuring fraudsters are caught and held accountable.”
From late 2017 to July 2021, Brent C. Kovar owned Profit Connect, a Las Vegas-based company that purportedly used artificial intelligence software on a supercomputer to mine cryptocurrency and verify other cryptocurrency transactions. He falsely represented the company as a profitable company that paid investors a fixed rate of return of 15% to 30% APR and provided a 100% money-back guarantee. Kovar also falsely represented that Profit Connect was backed by hundreds of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency reserves. Kovar knew his company was not profitable, had no reserves, did not and could not pay the fixed rates of return to investors, and had no legitimate means for the money-back guarantee. He used investor money to operate Profit Connect, to buy gifts for employees, to buy a house for himself, and to repay investors as if those repayments came from mining cryptocurrency and verifying cryptocurrency transactions. In total, Kovar fraudulently obtained $24 million from at least 400 investors.
Following a nine-day trial, Kovar was found guilty of 11 counts of wire fraud; two counts of mail fraud; and two counts of money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 30, 2026, and he faces a statutory maximum penalty of 280 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
IRS-CI, FBI, and FDIC OIG investigated this case; and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Brister and James Gaeta are prosecuting this case.
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Jury Convicts Fayette County Man of Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – Following roughly 45 minutes of deliberation a federal jury found a Fayette County man guilty of one count for attempted sexual exploitation of a minor.
James W. Berner, 46, from Ramsey, was charged in February 2025 after an investigation revealed Berner had recorded a video of the minor victim showering. Berner was using a phone application that wirelessly controlled the minor victim’s cell phone camera. With this phone app, Berner could remotely view and screen record what was happening within the minor victim’s cell phone camera view without the camera showing it was activated. In December 2024 and January 2025, Berner used this phone application to remotely view the minor victim showering. At the time of the offense, the minor victim was 14 years old.
“This verdict delivers justice for truly reprehensible conduct. Recording a child in a private and vulnerable moment is a gross violation of trust and basic human decency,” said United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “I commend our trial attorneys and law enforcement partners who walked into court and faced this predator down and delivered justice.”
I want to extend my sincerest thanks to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their outstanding work on this case,” said Fayette County Sheriff Ronnie Stevens. “Protecting children is our highest priority, and we cannot do it alone. Bringing this individual into federal court with their commitment to prosecuting this case, to ensure this individual will be put in prison for a very long time.”
Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and St. Elmo Police Department investigated the case with substantial assistance from FBI Springfield. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ali Burns and Madalyn Campbell prosecuted this case.
“This verdict reflects our collective commitment to protecting children from those who seek to exploit them,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Ryan Presley. “The defendant’s actions were a profound violation of a young person’s privacy and safety. We are grateful for the collaboration of our partners in Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and St. Elmo Police Department, whose dedication ensured this victim received justice. The FBI will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to hold offenders accountable and safeguard the most vulnerable members of our communities.”
Sentencing is scheduled for December 8, 2026 at 10:30 am in the Benton Courthouse.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Jackson Man Sentenced to 8 Years for being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – A Jackson man was sentenced on Friday, August 21, 2026, to 96 months of incarceration for being a felon in possession of a firearm in Hinds County.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Derrick Demond Epps, 44, was found by Jackson Police Department to be in possession of a firearm on September 14, 2025, during an altercation in front of a local convenient store in South Jackson. Epps had previous felony convictions including aggravated assault.
Epps was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 13, 2026, and pleaded guilty on April 17, 2026.
U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI investigated this case with assistance from the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Jackson Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brett Grantham prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated by the FBI as 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).
Investiture ceremony marks Kriegshauser leadershipRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office -District of Kansas held an investiture ceremony at the Robert J. Dole Federal Courthouse in Kansas City, Kansas, for U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. Chief Judge John W. Broomes administered the oath.
Kriegshauser serves as the 43rd U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas. He began serving as Interim U.S. Attorney in July 2025 and was eventually confirmed by the U.S. Senate in December 2025. An investiture is a formal, ceremonial event to mark the appointment. Judges, former U.S. Attorneys, law enforcement, and community members attended the event on August 21, 2026.
Kriegshauser supervises the prosecution of all federal crimes and litigation of all civil matters in which the U.S. has an interest. He leads a staff of attorneys, paralegals, and support professionals working in offices associated with the federal courts in Wichita, Kansas City, and Topeka.
“Nearly two-thirds of Kansas’ 420 law enforcement agencies have fewer than 10 full-time officers. We have been working with our partners to alleviate some of the strain on agencies feeling overwhelmed,” said Kriegshauser. “My goal is for the federal government to be a force multiplier in support of state and local officers. There are certain cases like transnational drug cartels and cybercrime that the federal government is in a unique position to bring criminals to justice.”
Through the first 10 months of the fiscal year, USAO-KS projects for 427 indictments, which is fifth among the 25 medium USAO districts (up from 10th last FY) and 29th among all 94 districts in the country (up from 48th last FY). This caseload reflects a projected 39 percent increase for USAO-KS year on year. In particular, violent crime indictments are projected to be up 50% compared to last fiscal year.
Here are some noteworthy sentencings, convictions, guilty pleas, and indictments since Kriegshauser took office.
FINANCIAL FRAUD
• Two former employees of the Wyandotte County District Court received prison sentences for using their positions in the accounting office to steal approximately $980,000 in taxpayer funds.
• A federal jury convicted union leaders of racketeering, fraud, and embezzlement in a scheme involving theft of union-member dues through the award of no-show jobs, lavish travel, unearned vacation payouts, and an unauthorized $7 million loan made to a union-related bank.VIOLENT CRIME
• Four defendants in a kidnapping received prison sentences in a crime where the victim was bound and blindfolded for approximately 10 hours.
• An illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced to 20 years in prison for violently attacking a federal law enforcement agent, the maximum punishment allowed under the statute. The defendant assaulted and strangled an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Deportation officer.PROJECT SAFE CHILDHOOD
• A Kansas man was sentenced to 210 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release after he directed a foreign national living in another country to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and send him the images.
• A Kansas man was sentenced to 25 years in prison after he uploaded photographs of women and children he knew into a publicly available Artificial Intelligence platform. He then utilized AI to manipulate and merge their images into hundreds of depictions of child sexual abuse material.NATIONAL SECURITY
• The FBI arrested three men on charges that they conspired to provide support ISIS, a foreign terrorist organization. The defendants allegedly discussed violent attacks on U.S. servicemembers.
• An Oklahoma man pleaded guilty after lying to U.S. customs officials while attempting to board a flight to China with proprietary information belonging to his employer.FENTANYL & OTHER NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING
• An illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced to 20 years in prison as the ringleader of a drug trafficking ring supplied by a Mexican cartel. A Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation led to the convictions of more than a dozen defendants who either worked for or were clients of the operation.
• Fifteen defendants were sentenced to prison after the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) dismantled a Kansas City metro-based drug trafficking ring linked to Mexico. The smuggled cocaine was distributed in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.Ryan A. Kriegshauser
Kriegshauser began his legal career at a firm in Kansas City litigating constitutional claims, complex commercial litigation, and regulatory defense. Kriegshauser then led the Kansas Secretary of State's Office as Deputy Secretary of State for the Office of Legal Counsel and Policy before becoming General Counsel at the Office of the Kansas Securities Commissioner. In 2018, Kriegshauser entered private practice where his work included constitutional claims. election law, business litigation as well as other civil and criminal matters.
Kriegshauser received a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and a law degree from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. He continues to serve in the U.S. Navy Reserve as a Commander.
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Independence, Missouri Elementary Substitute Teacher Charged with Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An elementary school substitute teacher for the Independence, Mo. School District has been charged by criminal complaint with distributing and possessing child pornography.
Caleb J. Eyde, 21, appeared in federal court today on a five-count criminal complaint.
According to court documents, multiple cyber tips reports were made after Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) was uploaded to Discord, a group communication platform. The results of the investigation led local law enforcement and federal agents to Eyde. Investigators believe Discord records indicate Eyde was distributing, trading, and purchasing CSAM from other users. A forensic examination of Eyde’s electronic devices uncovered images and videos depicting CSAM saved to Eyde’s devices.
The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Collins. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Child Exploitation Task Force and the Independence, Missouri Police Department.
For more information about online safety for kids please visit https://www.fbi.gov/onlinesafety. To report a tip visit, https://tips.fbi.gov/home.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Immigration Fraud for Using and Possessing a Counterfeit Document to Obtain EmploymentRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Edgar Diaz, age 47, pled guilty on August 12, 2026, to one count of immigration fraud. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Buffalo Acting Field Office Director Philip Rhoney made the announcement.
Diaz is a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States. In June 2019, while pending an immigration proceeding, Diaz was allowed to participate in the Enforcement and Removal Operations Custody Management Division’s Alternative to Detention Program (“ATD”), in lieu of being held in immigration custody. As part of the ATD, Diaz wore an ankle bracelet that allowed him to be tracked using GPS equipment. On June 7, 2019, Diaz cut the ankle bracelet and remained a fugitive until he was arrested in Virginia in May 2026.
As part of his plea, Diaz admitted that on January 28, 2019, he used and possessed a counterfeit permanent resident card bearing his name and photograph but a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services number that had not been assigned to him to obtain employment at a farm in Marietta, New York.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sarcone stated, “The Trump administration’s commitment to securing the homeland remains a top priority. This defendant has been a fugitive for nearly seven years, and now that the President has restored law and order in our country, the dedicated special agents at Homeland Security Investigations were able to track down Diaz and bring him to justice. With this plea, he will serve a term of imprisonment and then be subject to deportation.”
ICE ERO Buffalo Acting Field Office Director Philip Rhoney said, “When individuals abscond from supervision and use counterfeit documents to secure employment, they undermine the lawful immigration process and the security it is designed to protect. Immigration laws are not merely suggestions, and the sanctity of those statutes is vital to public safety and the security of our borders. Today and always, ERO will continue to make immigration enforcement a priority to protect our communities and uphold a system the American people can trust.”
Diaz will be sentenced on December 10, 2026, by Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. Diaz faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Thomson is prosecuting the case.
Hutchinson man pleads guilty to producing child pornographyRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man pleaded guilty to producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, William “Bill” Bright, 58, of Hutchinson pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child pornography.
In June 2025, Bright went to a Kansas truck stop for a sexual meetup with a 15-year-old girl with whom he’d been exchanging private messages. The “girl” was actually a law enforcement officer, and Bright was arrested. Officers obtained a search warrant for Bright's cellphone where they discovered CSAM images of two minor victims under 14 years old. Text messages indicate Bright requested the images from the victims and that he was aware the victims were minors.
Bright is scheduled to be sentenced on November 12, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and the Harvey County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
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Huntington Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Troy Alan Glover, 33, of Huntington, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 17, 2025, Glover sold 111 grams of methamphetamine and 9.7 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant while in the informant’s vehicle in Huntington. As part of his guilty plea, Glover admitted to conducting the transaction and to arranging it beforehand.
Glover further admitted that he sold approximately 111 grams of methamphetamine and 9.9 grams of fentanyl on March 14, 2025, and approximately 19.9 grams of fentanyl on March 26, 2025, each time to a confidential informant in Huntington in exchange for $940. Glover also admitted that he sold approximately 18.5 grams of fentanyl to the confidential informant on April 28, 2025, in Huntington in exchange for $900.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cabell County Sheriff's Office.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-139.
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Henderson Drug Kingpin Sentenced to Almost 27 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Alexander Trowbridge, also known as “Snow,” 41, of Henderson, NC, to almost 27 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl and more than 2.2 pounds of heroin; possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and possession of a firearm by a felon.
“Drug trafficking organizations can no longer hide in Eastern North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “We shut down this network, and we are coming for the rest to clean these predators off our streets and protect the citizens. If you sell drugs, we will find you, prosecute you, and put you in prison for a long time. Simple lesson: Drugs kill; prison awaits—do right.”
In August 2019, the DEA, ATF, and other state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Henderson Police Department, initiated an investigation into a drug trafficking organization (DTO) in Henderson, North Carolina.
The DTO obtained kilogram-level quantities of heroin and fentanyl from New Jersey and sold the drugs throughout Vance, Durham, Warren, Wake, Wilson, Franklin, and Granville counties. They regularly distributed fentanyl in baggies marked with a “Toy Story” stamp; a trademark they used to identify their product.
Law enforcement identified Trowbridge as the leader of the organization and, through controlled purchases along with physical and electronic surveillance, pinpointed several locations in Henderson used by the group, including 56 Kelly Road, 100 Kelly Road, and 66 Pinecone Lane.
The group would hide heroin and fentanyl in various places inside residences, as well as in buckets, stacks of tires, or in the woods out around the property. Drone footage showed that members of the DTO regularly drove back and forth between 66 Pinecone Lane to 56 Kelly Road, from the stash house to the trap house. They conducted hand-to-hand transactions selling drugs to customers at the trap house. Trowbridge often used numerous drug mules to transport and sell his drugs. In one instance, authorities stopped one of his mules in Maryland and found more than 2 pounds of fentanyl in the mule’s car.
The investigative findings set the stage for the next phase of the operation, culminating on November 17, 2022, when law enforcement simultaneously executed search warrants at 66 Pinecone Lane, 56 Kelly Road, and 100 Kelly Road. During those searches, authorities seized the following:
• 66 Pinecone Lane:
38 grams of a heroin/fentanyl mixture stamped with a “Toy Story” emblem (found in a bucket in the wood line)
Four shotguns
Four rifles
A loaded 9mm handgun
A 31‑round magazine
A .45‑caliber handgun
Multiple firearm magazines, including a drum magazine
More than 2,000 rounds of assorted ammunition
• 56 Kelly Road:
A .40‑caliber firearm
A large‑capacity magazine
25 rounds of .40‑caliber ammunition
Four rounds of .38‑caliber ammunition
$10,304 in U.S. currency
A stolen firearm
• 100 Kelly Road:
A loaded rifle
$88,931 in U.S. currency
A loaded 9mm handgun with an extended magazine
80 grams of heroin and fentanyl stamped with a “Toy Story” emblem (found in a bucket in the woods between 56 Kelly Road and 100 Kelly Road)
Several DTO members have already been convicted and sentenced in federal court for their roles in the drug trafficking organization. Bridgett Burrows; seven and a half years in federal prison; Marques D. Gray eight years; Daquan Lovely; eight years and one month; Joseph Trowbridge; seven years; and Dwayne Trowbridge eight years. To view press conference go to: https://youtu.be/F0447PvHZ3Q?si=7maFYBu9KpHnyEa3
“This sentence reflects the commitment of law enforcement agencies working together to hold those who traffic fentanyl accountable,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Through strong partnerships and coordinated enforcement, we will continue disrupting the flow of this deadly drug and doing everything we can to keep our communities safe. Together, we are working toward a Fentanyl Free America.”
“This investigation is another example of what can be accomplished when local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies work together toward a common mission. Partnerships make our communities safer and send a clear message to drug traffickers: there is no jurisdictional boundary that will protect you from our unified law enforcement efforts,” said Marcus Barrow, Henderson Police Chief.
This prosecution is part of Operation TYM 2 Block the Bridge of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. This case was investigated by the ATF, DEA, NCSBI, Henderson Police Department, and Vance County Sheriff’s Office.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. 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. 5:22-CR-332-M-1.
Gainesville Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Terry Lajace Lee, 43, of Gainesville, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “We will not stop strictly enforcing the law, and we will not be deterred from keeping our streets safe from dangerous criminals, like this repeat felon. The citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve to live on safe, crime-free streets, and that is exactly what my office will deliver with continued successful prosecutions like this.”
Court documents reflect that during a traffic stop on February 21, 2026, the defendant was found to be driving with a suspended license. A subsequent search of the defendant and his vehicle revealed marijuana and a handgun. The defendant is not permitted to have a handgun due to four prior felony convictions.
Lee faces a maximum sentence of fifteen years’ imprisonment.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 20, 2026, at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Gainesville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Fresno Man Sentenced to 52 Months in Prison for Operating a $9 Million Real Estate Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Matthew Campbell, 43, of Fresno, was sentenced today to 52 months in federal prison for defrauding investors in a $9 million Ponzi scheme, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, since 2012, Campbell operated two real estate investment companies, Preferred Property LLC and Ampez Rehab Investments LLC, which he used to buy, sell, build, and renovate properties, as well as to solicit investor money to fund his operations. Beginning in 2018, Campbell began using his businesses to conduct a Ponzi scheme. He knowingly made false representations about his company’s finances, the return on investment, and distributions to attract new investors, and then used those funds to pay returns to earlier investors. To obtain new investments, he promised unrealistically high returns. Between January 2018 and October 2025, Campbell obtained more than $9.1 million in investor funds from over 40 investors that he used in unauthorized ways. At least $2,293,000 in new investor funds went to pay old investors and continue the scheme.
"Mr. Campbell took advantage of the hard-earned savings of innocent people who were trying to secure their financial futures," said U.S. Attorney Eric Grant. "By masking a fraudulent Ponzi scheme as a legitimate real estate opportunity, he violated federal law and exploited the trust of dozens of investors. This sentence reflects our office's unwavering commitment to seeking justice for the American People and holding accountable those who seek to do them harm."
“Today’s sentence ensures Matthew Campbell will pay a price for his crimes, but it cannot erase the breach of trust and financial devastation families and retirees who placed their confidence in Campbell suffered. Each investor believed Campbell’s claim that his legitimate real estate business could offer guaranteed returns, not knowing those promises were impossible to fulfill,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Brian Tosh. “The FBI is committed to investigating all allegations of financial fraud to both protect the public and ensure those who take advantage of the American people will face justice.”
This case is the product of an investigation by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorneys Cody S. Chapple and Arelis M. Clemente prosecuted the case.
Campbell pleaded guilty on February 9, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. A restitution hearing is scheduled for October 22, 2026.
Founder of Cryptocurrency Trading Fund Convicted of Defrauding InvestorsRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A federal jury today convicted Japheth Dillman of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud investors in a cryptocurrency trading fund. The jury’s verdict follows a 10-day trial before U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Dillman, 48, of San Francisco, CA, defrauded more than 20 investors out of nearly $1 million through false statements about the trading fund he helped start. At trial, the evidence showed that Dillman and a coconspirator raised funds from investors by misleading them about the capabilities and profitability of Block Bits Capital. From June 2017 to August 2018 Dillman and his associates raised money from investors by claiming the fund would profit from automated cryptocurrency trading by using a software tool called the “Autotrader” that that the firm had developed and was complete and working. In fact, Dillman knew that this automated algorithm was not working and investor funds were not and could not be used as Dillman had promised.
The evidence at trial also showed that Dillman and his co-conspirator used investor money to pay themselves and make risky and speculative investments in other cryptocurrency ventures, while lying to investors about the risky nature of these investments. In fact, these investments resulted in huge losses, and Dillman falsely told investors that Block Bits cryptocurrency trading had led to significant profits when if fact the trading led to more losses of investor funds.
Dillman is currently released on bond. Dillman’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 8, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Seeborg. Defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years and a $250,000 fine for each count of conviction in violation of wire fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1343, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1349. Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christiaan Highsmith and Charles Bisesto are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Kevin Costello, Lynette Dixon, Andy Ding, and Royce Epperson. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, San Francisco Regional Office.
Former Washington man who made images of child sexual abuse sentenced to 15 years in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – A former King County resident who was charged with crimes in state and federal court related to his abuse of a 4-year-old was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 15 years in prison for production of images of child sexual abuse, announced First Assistant U.S. Assistant Charles Neil Floyd. Justin D. Carr, 38, who resided in Renton, Washington, was arrested on May 14, 2024, after images of child sexual abuse were discovered on his phone while he was driving with a witness to Colorado. Today’s sentencing is the final of three: he was sentenced to 15 years in King County Superior court for sexual assault of a child; in Colorado he was sentenced for possession of child pornography and in Seattle, 15 years in prison for producing the images of child sexual abuse. U.S. District Judge Kymberly K. Evanson sentenced Carr to lifetime federal supervised release following his prison term.
“This prison sentence will protect the public for a significant period, while the lifetime supervised release should ensure Mr. Carr cannot prey on a vulnerable child again,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “These cases and the protection of children are a priority for our office, and I appreciate the partnership we have with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to keep these offenders away from children.”
According to records filed in the case, Carr and an adult witness were traveling to Colorado when the witness discovered images on Carr’s phone of the molestation of a 4-year-old child that the witness recognized. The witness immediately called 9-1-1 and Carr was arrested.
The metadata of the images indicated it was produced in Renton, Washington. The Renton Police Department and the FBI were involved in the investigation.
Carr will serve the 15-year federal sentence concurrent with a 15-year state sentence.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Laura Harmon. Ms. Harmon is a Senior King County Deputy Prosecutor specially designated to prosecute child exploitation crimes in federal court.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Former Serviceman Sentenced for Child Sexual Exploitation CrimesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A former serviceman received a federal-prison term, today, for committing child sexual abuse crimes.
U.S. District Judge Matthew Maddox sentenced Daniel Lara-Salazar, 33, to 15.5 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for sexually exploiting a child. Lara-Salazar committed these crimes while serving in the U.S. Military.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Akil Baldwin, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland; Sheriff Chuck Jenkins, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office; and J. Charles Smith III, State’s Attorney for Frederick County.
According to his guilty plea, Lara-Salazar, who was stationed in Puyallup, Washington, coerced and enticed a minor female victim, who resided in Maryland, to engage in sexually explicit conduct. From June 2024, through July 2024, Lara-Salazar sexually exploited her by producing and causing the production of sexually explicit images and videos.
In June 2024, Lara-Salazar began using Snapchat to message the minor victim. Then Lara-Salazar demanded the minor victim send sexually explicit images and videos to him. Snapchat has a feature that causes images to disappear upon receipt. In some instances, the minor victim sent images to Lara-Salazar that were not retained or visible when law enforcement reviewed the account.
Law enforcement later discovered that Lara-Salazar used Snapchat to communicate with three other minor females, who lived in Texas and elsewhere. He also coerced and enticed them to send sexually explicit images.
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 visit 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 HSI, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, and Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn and Special Assistant United States Attorney Joyce R. King who prosecuted the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md.
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Former City Councilmen for Baldwin Park and Compton Sentenced to Federal Prison for Their Roles in Bribery SchemesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Two former city councilmen for Baldwin Park and Compton were each sentenced to 18 months in federal prison terms today for engaging in corrupt acts while they were elected officials, including the payment and acceptance tens of thousands of dollars in bribes for a police union’s support and to obtain official city permits for marijuana cultivation.
Ricardo Pacheco, 63, of Baldwin Park, who served on the Baldwin Park City Council from 1997 until his resignation in 2020 and served as the city’s mayor pro tempore in 2018, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II, who also fined him $10,000 and ordered him to forfeit $219,755. A restitution hearing will be scheduled in the coming weeks.
Judge Wright today also sentenced Isaac Jacob Galvan, 39, of Compton, who served on the Compton City Council from 2013 to 2022, to 18 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay $323,557 in restitution.
Ricardo Pacheco
Pacheco pleaded guilty in June 2020 to one count of federal program bribery and admitted to accepting tens of thousands of dollars in bribes – including $20,000 in cash – from a Baldwin Park Police officer working at the FBI’s direction, in exchange for the councilmember’s political support of the Baldwin Park Police Association’s contract with the city.
Pacheco, who agreed to fully cooperate with federal prosecutors, solicited and received a total of $37,900 in bribes from a Baldwin Park police officer from January through October 2018 to support and vote for the Police Association’s contract, which was worth at least $4.4 million over three years. The police officer who made the payments did so at the direction of the FBI after another officer and he approached the FBI and agreed to assist in its ongoing corruption investigation. In exchange for the payments, Pacheco voted in favor of the Police Association contract in March 2018.
The payments to Pacheco included a $20,000 cash bribe in October 2018, which the police officer provided to him in an envelope in a Baldwin Park coffee shop. Pacheco also solicited and received $17,900 in checks that he directed be made out to his church and sham political action committees he had set up using other individuals’ names but which he controlled.
In June 2020, Pacheco resigned from his Baldwin Park City Council seat as part of his plea agreement with federal prosecutors. He also forfeited $83,145 in cash proceeds seized by the FBI, which included $62,900 that Pacheco said he had buried in his backyard in two locations.
The FBI investigated this matter.
Isaac Jacob Galvan
Galvan pleaded guilty in December 2025 to one count of federal program bribery and one count of evasion of tax assessment. He admitted to paying $70,000 in bribes to Pacheco – then serving on the Baldwin Park City Council – in exchange for Pacheco’s votes and support for commercial marijuana permits and further admitted to failing to report to the IRS more than half a million dollars in income.
In June 2017, Baldwin Park began permitting the cultivation, manufacture, and distribution of marijuana within its city limits. Soon afterward, Pacheco began soliciting bribes from businesses seeking marijuana development agreements and related permits in the city. In exchange for the illicit payments, Pacheco agreed to use his position in city government to assist the companies with obtaining marijuana permits, including voting in their favor.
Galvan – then serving on the Compton City Council – offered his consulting services to W&F International Corp., a Diamond Bar-based import-export business, who wanted a marijuana permit in Baldwin Park. After securing W&F International Corp. as a consulting client, Galvan facilitated $70,000 in bribes to Pacheco from Yichang Bai, 52, of Arcadia, W&F’s the owner and operator.
Galvan paid the bribes in exchange for Pacheco’s political support of and promise to deliver Baldwin Park’s approval of marijuana permits for W&F. Pacheco then delivered, voting in favor of W&F’s marijuana permit in June and July of 2018 and voting later that year in favor of W&F’s bid to relocate its operations.
Throughout the scheme, Galvan and Bai took steps to cover up their illegal payments to Pacheco by concealing Bai and W&F’s connection to the payments for Pacheco. For example, Bai collected checks from third parties who owed him money and then gave Galvan the checks with blank payee lines. Galvan then gave the checks to Pacheco.
Shortly after the votes to approve W&F’s relocation, Pacheco contacted Galvan and asked him to obtain more money from W&F for his legal defense fund. Galvan told Bai that Pacheco wanted $25,000 for his fundraiser, but Bai insisted only on paying $20,000. Bai provided a total of seven checks from different bank accounts that were not Bai’s or W&F’s. Galvan arranged for the checks to be delivered to Pacheco as further payment in exchange for his votes and support of W&F’s marijuana permit.
Galvan also failed to file federal individual tax returns for the years 2017 through 2020, evading assessment of the federal taxes he owed in several ways. For example, he concealed his ownership and control of I&I LLC, a shell company Galvan used to solicit bribes for public officials and to facilitate paying those bribes.
Galvan also directed individuals to issue checks with blank payee lines to later be cashed and converted into income for himself, and he individuals to write checks for income he earned to conduits, who would pay for Galvan’s living expenses, including his rent.
In total, Galvan failed to report approximately $560,525 in income for the tax years 2017 through 2020, causing a total loss to the United States Treasury of $115,816.
Bai pleaded guilty on February 23 to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. On July 6, Judge Wright sentenced him to 20 months in federal prison and fined him $3,000.
The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Michael J. Morse and Kedar S. Bhatia of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, and Neil P. Thakor of the Major Crimes Section prosecuted both Pacheco and Galvan.
Flint man sentenced to more than 18 years in federal prison for possessing with intent to distribute heroinRead the Press Release
FLINT — Isiah L. Claiborne, 38, of Flint, was sentenced last week to 224 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin, U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Detroit Field Division.
U.S. District Court Judge Shalina D. Kumar sentenced Claiborne following his guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute heroin. Judge Kumar ordered Claiborne’s sentences to be served concurrently to his state sentences for felon in possession of a firearm and felony firearm. Claiborne was convicted of those offenses following a trial in Genesee County Circuit Court involving the murder of Devaroe Davis. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on Claiborne’s murder-related charges, and those remain pending in state court. Judge Kumar ordered that Claiborne serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
According to court documents, on October 1, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Claiborne’s residence. During the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement officers seized over a kilogram of heroin, quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana, and two semi-automatic firearms.
This investigation was conducted by special agents of the DEA’s Flint Resident Office in conjunction with agents from the FBI and ATF offices in Flint.
Felon Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing “Machine Gun” in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A felon has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for illegally possessing a machine gun in Chicago.
On Sept. 12, 2025, ANTONIO LUKES possessed a handgun equipped with a “Glock switch” conversion device that made the firearm capable of firing in fully automatic mode. Lukes was standing next to an empty vehicle near Jackson Boulevard and Western Avenue on the West Side of Chicago with the firearm concealed in his waistband. As Chicago Police officers drove by Lukes in their squad car, the firearm fell out of his waistband to his feet. Lukes ran from the officers but was arrested after a brief chase. Lukes had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses and was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Lukes, 40, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal charge of unlawful possession of a firearm. On Aug. 17, 2026, U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman sentenced Lukes to 28 months in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. The investigation was conducted in coordination with ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago. The CGIC is a centralized law enforcement partnership that focuses exclusively on investigating and prosecuting violent offenders who utilize firearms in commission of their crimes in Chicago and throughout northern Illinois. Every firearm-related case in Chicago is processed through the CGIC on a daily basis.
“Defendant’s crime is a serious one,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Skiba argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “The Glock that defendant possessed that night was no ordinary firearm. The switch made a dangerous weapon even more dangerous still.”
Federal Jury in Chicago Convicts Engineer of Unlawfully Stealing Trade Secrets from Philips Medical Systems on Behalf of Chinese CompetitorRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal jury in Chicago has convicted a former engineer at Philips Medical Systems of conspiring to steal Philips’ trade secrets and bring them to a Chinese competitor.
CHIH-YEE JEN worked as an engineer at Philips’ facility in Aurora, Ill., where employees researched, developed, and manufactured X-ray tubes used in computed tomography (CT) medical imaging machines. Through its Dunlee brand, Philips spent years developing proprietary X-ray technology and selling various devices to medical facilities. In 2017, as Philips prepared to close the facility in Aurora, China-based KUNSHAN GUOLI ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD. and a Kunshan GuoLi vice president, XIAOQIN DU, began communicating with Jen about creating a U.S. subsidiary for Kunshan GuoLi to help it compete with Philips in developing, manufacturing, and selling X-ray tubes. While still employed at Philips, Jen began sharing confidential Philips documents with Kunshan GuoLi and Du and successfully recruited multiple Philips engineers to join him at the Kunshan GuoLi subsidiary. Jen copied Philips’ proprietary X-ray trade secret information from internal Philips databases and used the stolen information in connection with his new work developing the technology for the Kunshan GuoLi subsidiary.
After a week-long trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago, the jury on Friday convicted Jen, 71, of Mequon, Wisc., of both counts against him, including conspiracy to steal, misappropriate, or possess trade secrets and possession or attempted possession of stolen trade secrets. U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang set Jen’s sentencing for Jan. 5, 2027, at 10:00 a.m.
The conviction was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ramon Villalpando and Michael Maione.
“The theft of proprietary information is a serious economic crime that harms American jobs and stifles critically important research and development driving the future of our nation,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “When individuals, corporate entities, or nation states steal proprietary information, they are threatening our country’s technological edge. The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prosecute trade secret theft to protect innovation, ensure fair competition, and safeguard national economic security.”
“The FBI and our prosecutorial partners are relentless in combatting trade secret theft and holding accountable those who seek to compromise private sector innovation and the safety of our nation,” said FBI Acting SAC Whalen. “As detailed throughout the trial, Jen's conspiracy to steal, misappropriate, or possess trade secrets and his possession of stolen trade secrets shows a blatant disregard for his former employer's proprietary information and America's security. This conviction reaffirms that the theft of trade secrets will be thoroughly investigated and punished to the fullest extent of the law.”
Two other former Philips engineers—FINCE TENDIAN, 57, of Aurora, Ill., and VLADIMIR NEVTONENKO, 77, of Arlington Heights, Ill.—pleaded guilty prior to trial and admitted possessing stolen trade secrets. Judge Chang scheduled Nevtonenko’s sentencing for Dec. 1, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., and Tendian’s sentencing for Dec. 8, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.
Du, 64, of Suzhou, China, Kunshan GuoLi, and a related Chinese company, KUNSHAN YIYUAN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD., were also indicted in the case. They were placed on the Court’s Fugitive Calendar and have not been arraigned.
Federal Jury in Chicago Convicts Engineer for Stealing Trade Secrets from Philips Medical Systems on Behalf of Chinese CompetitorRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Chicago convicted a former engineer at Philips Medical Systems Friday of conspiring to steal Philips’ trade secrets and bring them to a Chinese competitor.
“The theft of proprietary information is a serious economic crime that harms American jobs and stifles critically important research and development driving the future of our nation,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros for the Northern District of Illinois. “When individuals, corporate entities, or nation states steal proprietary information, they are threatening our country’s technological edge. The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prosecute trade secret theft to protect innovation, ensure fair competition, and safeguard national economic security.”
“Jen acted at the expense of his U.S. employer by stealing closely guarded x-ray technology trade secrets for the benefit of a Chinese competitor,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “Protecting America’s private sector companies is a priority for the FBI, and this conviction underscores our commitment to defend the homeland. Know that if you choose to steal trade secrets, the FBI will find you and hold you accountable.”
Chih-Yee Jen, 71, of Mequon, Wisconsin, worked as an engineer at Philips’ facility in Aurora, Illinois, where employees researched, developed, and manufactured X-ray tubes used in computed tomography (CT) medical imaging machines. Through its Dunlee brand, Philips spent years developing proprietary X-ray technology and selling various devices to medical facilities. In 2017, as Philips prepared to close the facility in Aurora, China-based Kunshan GuoLi Electronic Technology Co Ltd. and a Kunshan GuoLi vice president, Xiaoqin Du, began communicating with Jen about creating a U.S. subsidiary for Kunshan GuoLi to help it compete with Philips in developing, manufacturing, and selling X-ray tubes. While still employed at Philips, Jen began sharing confidential Philips documents with Kunshan GuoLi and Du and successfully recruited multiple Philips engineers to join him at the Kunshan GuoLi subsidiary. Jen copied Philips’ proprietary X-ray trade secret information from internal Philips databases and used the stolen information in connection with his new work developing the technology for the Kunshan GuoLi subsidiary.
After a week-long trial, Jen was convicted of both counts against him, including conspiracy to steal, misappropriate, or possess trade secrets and possession or attempted possession of stolen trade secrets. U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang set Jen’s sentencing for Jan. 5, 2027, at 10:00 a.m.
Two other former Philips engineers — Fince Tendian, 57, of Aurora, Illinois, and Vladimir Nevtonenko, 77, of Arlington Heights, Illinois — pleaded guilty prior to trial and admitted possessing stolen trade secrets. Judge Chang scheduled Nevtonenko’s sentencing for Dec. 1 at 10:00 a.m., and Tendian’s sentencing for Dec. 8 at 10:00 a.m.
Du, 64, of Suzhou, China, Kunshan GuoLi, and a related Chinese company, Kunshan Yiyuan Medical Technology Co. Ltd., were also indicted in the case. They were placed on the court’s Fugitive Calendar and have not been arraigned.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ramon Villalpando and Michael Maione for the Northern District of Illinois prosecuted the case.
Federal Jury Convicts Massachusetts Resident for Attempting to Sex Traffic a Minor at a Manchester HotelRead the Press Release
CONCORD – After a 4-day trial, a Haverhill, Massachusetts man was found guilty by a federal jury of attempting to sex traffic a 12-year-old as part of a proactive federal and local law enforcement operation that took place in November of 2024, United States Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Sharath Chandra Bollu, age 25, was convicted of one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor and one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. United States Chief District Court Judge Samantha Elliott ordered Bollu detained pending sentencing, which is scheduled for November 24, 2026.
On November 14, 2024, in a proactive law enforcement operation, agents posted and monitored an advertisement on a website commonly used to advertise commercial sex. The advertisement contained images of what appeared to be two minor females, and a contact phone number. Law enforcement agents monitored this line and used it to communicate with potential sex buyers, including Bollu. During a text conversation and several phone calls between an undercover agent and Bollu, the agent stated that a 12-year-old girl was available to perform sex acts in exchange for money. Bollu communicated with the number from November 14 into the evening of November 15, 2024. He then traveled to a hotel in Manchester, which was the designated location for the commercial sex date. He brought condoms and $100 in cash to the hotel.
Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. Manchester Police Department, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, and the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Vicinanzo and Charles Rombeau are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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.
Employee of LAX Service Provider Charged in Federal Complaint with Possessing 11 Kilograms of Fentanyl in Men’s Bathroom at AirportRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An employee of a service provider working at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and a fellow South Bay resident have been arrested and charged in a federal criminal complaint with possessing a bag containing approximately 11 kilograms (24.3 pounds) of fentanyl in an airport bathroom, where it was to be taken and transported on a Minnesota-bound flight, the Justice Department announced today.
Miguel Angel Tuz-Noh, 24, of Lennox, who works at LAX, and Anthony Olvera, 23, also of Lennox, are charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Both defendants were arrested on August 19 and made their initial appearances on August 21 in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. A federal magistrate judge ordered each of them released on $10,000 bond. Their arraignments are scheduled for September 17.
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Tuz-Noh is an LAX employee whom law enforcement believes has ties to a drug trafficking organization. On August 19, law enforcement observed Tuz-Noh and Olvera attempt to exchange narcotics in a men’s bathroom at one of the airport’s terminals.
Soon afterward, law enforcement detained both defendants and opened a duffle bag Olvera had carried. Inside the duffle bag were 10 brick-type packages containing a total of approximately 11 kilograms of fentanyl. Law enforcement believes Olvera had agreed to fly with the fentanyl to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
A criminal complaint contains merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, the defendants would each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Los Angeles Airport Police are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Kent M. Walters of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.
Drug Trafficker Will Spend Next 24 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Anthony Bernard Coles, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 292 months in federal prison for trafficking dangerous drugs, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Coles, also known as “Pay Day,” and “Him Him,” 39, sold methamphetamine and cocaine on multiple occasions in Harrison County. During a search of his residence, investigators seized more than 150 grams of fentanyl, a stolen 9mm Glock pistol, 9mm ammunition, and drug paraphernalia. The firearm and ammunition were found hidden inside air vents.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
The Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Department of Justice Announces Launch of National Fraud Detection Center to Combat Fraud Against Taxpayer-Funded ProgramsRead the Press Release
Today, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the launch of the National Fraud Detection Center (NFDC), a prosecutor-led, multi-agency team designed to investigate the most harmful actors defrauding federal government programs, including illicit actors overseas and those operating fraud schemes across federal programs. The NFDC will bring together law enforcement agencies and analytical capabilities to generate criminal leads to drive more impactful prosecutions and enhance fraud-fighting results for the American people.
“The creation of the NFDC marks a decisive shift in how the federal government detects and investigates complex fraud,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “By breaking down institutional silos, embedding analysts from across the IG community, and leveraging shared technology, the NFDC is actively closing the window of opportunity for bad actors who seek to exploit taxpayer dollars. Today’s announcement sends a clear message: if you defraud federal programs, we have the tools and the law enforcement partners to find you.”
The NFDC solves for a lack of cross-program visibility that has long hindered efforts to deter fraud on taxpayer-funded programs and has enabled some fraud actors to further perpetrate schemes across multiple taxpayer-funded programs without detection. The NFDC closes this gap by bringing partners across federal and state government together to break down silos and work collaboratively in a whole-of-government approach to eliminate fraud.
The NFDC’s success relies directly on the collaborative strength of our partners across federal and state government. The inaugural members of the NFDC include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, FinCEN, the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, the Treasury Department, and the Offices of Inspector General for the Departments of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, Veterans Affairs, Department of War Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Small Business Administration, and Social Security Administration. The NFDC presents a unified front to identify fraud across agencies and prosecute the most nefarious criminals, domestic and abroad.
The Department also extends its sincere gratitude to our state partners whose efforts further power the NFDC. We proudly acknowledge the leadership and contributions of the Secretaries of State of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, and South Carolina; the State Treasurers of Florida, Mississippi, Ohio, and South Carolina; and the South Carolina Department of Social Services. These partnerships strengthen our capacity to detect fraud and protect taxpayer dollars.
This Fraud Division initiative is being led by Acting Assistant Director Amanda Riedel of the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and Acting Chief Cody Matthew Herche of the Global Trade & Commerce Enforcement Section.
For more information on the Department’s anti-fraud enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/fraud.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Chinese National Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute 94 Kilograms of MarijuanaRead the Press Release
Chinese National Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute 94 Kilograms of Marijuana
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Wenjian Zhuo, age 32, a Chinese national and lawful permanent resident of the United States, was sentenced July 28, 2026, to 27 months in prison for possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute it. Zhuo was convicted by a jury after a two-day trial in federal court in Syracuse in February.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Farhana Islam, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Enforcement Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration, made the announcement.
Evidence presented during the two-day trial proved that on January 22, 2025, Zhuo drove from New York City to the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation where his van was loaded with 94 kilograms (approximately 207 pounds) of marijuana. Zhuo began to transport the marijuana back to New York City where he intended to deliver it when Border Patrol pulled him over and seized the marijuana.
“Our partners at the U.S. Border Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration are working tirelessly to protect our nation and to crack down on those who traffic illegal drugs into our country,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “This prison sentence reaffirms this administration’s commitment to stopping the flow of dangerous drugs along our northern border — and it delivers a clear message: if you push illegal substances into our communities, we will identify you, we will prosecute you, and you will face justice for your actions. Following this sentence, the Department of Homeland Security will be able to pursue action to revoke Zhuo’s legal status and begin the process of deportation. Legal immigrants who violate our laws and put Americans at risk are subject to review and potential revocation of their legal status as part of ensuring the safety and security of our communities.”
“This sentencing sends a clear message to those individuals who attempt to traffic illegal marijuana across our border, that actions have consequences,” stated DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam. “This defendant traveled hundreds of miles to obtain and transport 94 kilos of marijuana with the intent to distribute it in New York City. The DEA New York Enforcement Division, alongside our U.S. Border Patrol and law enforcement partners, remain steadfast in securing our border and disrupting those drug trafficking individuals and organizations looking to flood our neighborhoods with illegal drugs.”In addition to the 27 months of imprisonment, United States Senior District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also ordered that Zhuo be subject to 3 years of supervised release once released and pay a $5,000 fine.
U.S. Border Patrol and DEA investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Collyer prosecuted the case.
Chautauqua County man pleads guilty to production of child pornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Andrew Klos, 21, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to production of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 30 years, and a fine of $250,000.
Between August 2021 and May 2024, Klos communicated with a minor victim online. In May 2024, utilizing an online chat application, he coerced the 13-year-old minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions, specifically describing the images he wanted. The minor victim, at Klos’s direction, produced and sent the images to him via the internet. A search of Klos’s cell phone recovered the images of the minor victim. In addition, Klos also enticed her to produce images of her minor sibling for his gratification.
During the investigation, Klos admitted to investigators that he engaged in multiple online relationships with other minor females, via internet chat websites or social media applications. During these communications, Klos engaged in sexually explicit conversations.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maeve E. Huggins. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 4, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. before Judge Arcara.
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Cerro Gordo County Husband & Wife Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Bruce Sogard, age 68, from Jewell, was sentenced July 1, 2026, to more than 8 years in federal prison, after a February 12, 2026, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
Cheryl Zeien Sogard, age 63, from Mason City, was sentenced August 18, 2026, to more than 4 years in federal prison, after an April 20, 2026, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
Evidence in the case revealed that between January 2025, and continuing to at least September 20, 2025, Sogard and Zeien were involved in an ongoing methamphetamine distribution conspiracy based in Mason City, Iowa, where the pair were obtaining multiple pounds of methamphetamine from Colorado. Law enforcement also utilized a confidential source to purchase methamphetamine on multiple occasions from Zeien and Sogard. During the execution of a search warrant on the couple’s home, law enforcement located multiple scales, packaging materials, a drug ledger, marijuana, THC gummies, and several firearms.
Sogard and Zeien were sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Sogard was sentenced to 107 months’ imprisonment and fined $1,000. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. Zeien was sentenced to 59 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Sogard and Zeien are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-3061.
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California man sentenced to more than 3 years for drug traffickingRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A California man who was found with 57 pounds of methamphetamine in his car, among other illicit drugs, was sentenced Thursday to three years and two months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Heriberto Eddie Garcia, 46, pleaded guilty in March 2026 to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Garcia worked for a drug trafficking organization transporting meth, cocaine, fentanyl, and cash to various western states, including Montana.
In late 2023, law enforcement learned from a source that Garcia was flying from Santa Ana, California, to Des Moines, Iowa, and then driving to Billings with a shipment of illicit drugs. At the direction of the DEA, Montana Highway Patrol troopers pulled Garcia over on Jan. 22, 2024, and with a warrant searched his car. They found 57 pounds of meth and a kilogram of cocaine. In an interview with law enforcement, Garcia said he had been in Des Moines and then South Dakota picking up money. He had travelled to Billings previously to pick up $70,000 for methamphetamine and fentanyl.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The DEA conducted the investigation.
Broome County Man Pleads Guilty to Gun OffenseRead the Press Release
BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK – Bryan Nixon, age 32, of Endicott, New York pled guilty on July 27, 2026, in Syracuse, New York to possession of a firearm and ammunition as a felon. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Bryan DiGirolamo and Vestal Police Department Chief of Police Vince Stavola, made the announcement.
As part of his guilty plea, Nixon admitted that he possessed a loaded handgun in February of 2025 during a vehicle stop by police, subsequently fled, disassembled the handgun during his flight and ultimately struck another vehicle before exiting the roadway and throwing parts of the disassembled firearm into a wooded area. At the time of this offense, Nixon was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law because he had been previously convicted of a felony for attempted robbery.
When he is sentenced by Hon. Brenda K. Sannes on November 24, 2026, Nixon faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years, a maximum fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release of up to three years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
“As alleged, Nixon knowingly possessed a firearm illegally as a previously convicted felon, and when stopped by police, fled in an attempt to evade arrest and discard the firearm,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarcone. “This Administration is committed to cracking down on repeat offenders, and with the help of our partners at the Vestal Police Department and ATF, defendants like Nixon should be on notice: repeat violent offenders carrying deadly weapons will be caught and will be prosecuted.”
Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division ATF Bryan DiGirolamo said, “Convicted felons who choose to illegally possess firearms put our communities at risk and will be held accountable. This guilty plea demonstrates the value of the close partnership between ATF, the Vestal Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York. Together, we will continue working to reduce violent crime.”
Vestal Police Department Chief of Police Vince Stavola said, “This incident is a prime example of why we continue to work closely with our federal partners to make sure violent offenders are held accountable. Nixon entered the Town of Vestal and put the lives of our residents, motorists, and police officers at risk without hesitation or regard for the consequences of his actions. That was clear when he illegally carried a firearm into our town, menaced a police officer, and fled from a lawful traffic stop, ultimately striking another motorist. Nixon knew what he was doing was illegal, evident by the fact that he tried to destroy evidence by dismantling and concealing the firearm. Thankfully, our federal partners were able to take action stemming from this incident, now he faces up to 15 years in federal prison.”The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Vestal Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Grabowski is prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Boyfriend and Girlfriend Plead Guilty to Importing Large Quantity of Ketamine in LuggageRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A boyfriend and girlfriend pleaded guilty today to bringing over 75 pounds of Ketamine in their luggage into the United States from London, England.
“Ketamine is a powerful controlled anesthetic intended strictly for supervised clinical use,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “When weaponized by black-market distribution rings, it becomes an explicit and immediate threat to public safety. Today's guilty pleas underscore our coordinated federal resolve to dismantle synthetic drug pipelines, disrupt international supply lines, and hold distributors fully accountable under federal law.”
“Drug smugglers who attempt to move large quantities of controlled substances through our ports of entry put communities at risk and will be met with a coordinated law enforcement response,” said Jonathan Sherwin, Deputy Special Agent in Charge for HSI Las Vegas. “HSI Las Vegas and our partners will continue to target the individuals and networks importing dangerous drugs into the United States and work to keep those substances from reaching our streets.”
According to court documents, on February 27, 2026, Adam Flores and Nichole Bremenour each had a suitcase that contained 17.9 kilograms of ketamine in large plastic sealed bags. There were 17 bags in Flores’ suitcase, and another 17 bags in Bremenour’s suitcase, with a combined weight of over 78 pounds.
Ketamine, a schedule III controlled substance, is commonly known on the street as Special K. Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that has some hallucinogenic effects and distorts perceptions of sight and sound and makes the user feel disconnected and not in control.
Flores and Bremenour each pleaded guilty to one count of importation of a controlled substance and one-count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Sentencing has been scheduled before U.S. District Judge Cristina D. Silva on December 7, 2026. The total maximum sentence is 10 years’ imprisonment. Any sentence 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.
This case was investigated by HSI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melinda Brewer is prosecuting the case.
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Billings man sentenced to prison for posting bonds in exchange for sexRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings bail bondsman who posted bond for an inmate in return for sexual favors was sentenced Wednesday to one year in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Louis Christopher Ikeda, 46, pleaded guilty in April 2026 to one count of racketeering.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Ikeda was using his position as a bail bondsman to leverage sexual favors from at least one female inmate at the Yellowstone County Detention Facility in November and December 2024.
The only way to communicate with county inmates is through the jail’s communication system, which includes text messaging. On. Nov. 18, 2024, Ikeda began texting an inmate who had contracted the services of his bail bond company. Ikeda’s messaging quickly turned sexual, especially when the inmate brought up the topic of her $10,000 bail. The two discussed how much of a bond the inmate would need to pay Ikeda to be released and they finally settled on $300. The conversation then turned sexual in anticipation of her release.
Ikeda posted the inmate’s bail on Dec. 2, 2024, and the two left the county jail together, driving to a secluded area where they had sex. The inmate later described “feeling pressured” into having sex with Ikeda. He always responded to her comments about being released from jail by expressing his desire to have sex with her. She also told investigators she believed her sexual encounter with Ikeda was in exchange for the reduced bond amount.
Following the encounter with the first inmate, Ikeda contacted to two other inmates. He discussed bail with both and those conversations quickly turned sexual. Ultimately, he posted bond for both inmates for less than the required minimum premium amount. Both women later said they believed a sexual relationship with Ikeda was expected in exchange for his posting their bond. However, both were able to evade him after being released from the county jail.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Godfrey prosecuted the case. The Department of Homeland Security, the Office of the Montana State Auditor, the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, and the Montana Department of Corrections conducted the investigation.
Billings man sentenced to over 3 years in prison for possessing stolen gunRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings man who was found with a stolen gun was sentenced Wednesday to three years and 10 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Dalton Cole Hilliard, 28, pleaded guilty in April 2026 to one count of a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and one count of possessing a stolen firearm.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Hilliard was found with a stolen gun after he and a partner were spotted in a Heights neighborhood where police were investigating a string of thefts on Dec. 7, 2025. Hilliard was on probation with the Montana Department of Corrections for a previous felony conviction and was wearing a GPS monitor. When investigators tracked the location history of the monitor it showed that Hilliard had been at multiple locations in the Heights and on the same street as one of the thefts.
Billings police visited Hilliard, speaking to him outside his home. He acknowledged to officers that he and his associate had gone through the Heights and stolen numerous items, including a handgun which Hilliard said was in his truck. Officers searched the truck with a warrant and found the gun, along with numerous driver’s licenses, social security cards, vehicle keys, and other stolen items. Officers also learned the truck had been stolen. With a warrant, law enforcement searched Hilliard’s home, where they found a loaded 10 mm magazine for the stolen firearm.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Billings Police Department and ATF conducted the investigation.
Billings man sentenced to 20 months in prison for assaulting, injuring girlfriendRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings man who struck his girlfriend multiple times during an argument was sentenced Wednesday to 20 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Isaiah Shawn-Sam Glenn, 30, pleaded guilty in April 2026 to one count of assault resulting in substantial bodily injury to a dating or intimate partner.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Glenn assaulted his girlfriend while the two were arguing in his vehicle in Lodge Grass on Sept. 21, 2025. Big Horn County Sheriff’s deputies arrived and spoke with the victim, who said Glenn struck her multiple times. She was treated by EMTs and taken to an area hospital, where she was diagnosed with multiple injuries, including bilateral bruising on her neck and scratches on her face.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI conducted the investigation.
Arms Dealer Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Export American Made Ammunition Used in War Against UkraineRead the Press Release
Earlier today in federal court in Brooklyn, Italian national Manfred Gruber was sentenced by United States District Judge Hector Gonzalez to 18 months in prison for conspiracy to commit export control violations. Gruber pleaded guilty to the charge on March 30, 2026.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and David Peters, Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement, U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), announced the charges.
“The defendant was held accountable for his scheme to send military‑grade ammunition to Kyrgyzstan before reexporting the ammunition to Russia to support its war effort,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Today’s sentencing reaffirms that people who illegally divert weapons will be brought to justice.”
“Manfred Gruber's guilty plea reflects our unwavering commitment to enforcing U.S. export-control laws and protecting national security. His actions undermined federal regulations designed to safeguard our defense materials, and this outcome demonstrates that violations of these laws will be addressed with the utmost seriousness,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.
As set forth in court filings, the defendant was the Director of Sales for Italian Company-1, a large wholesale distributor of firearms and ammunition. The defendant served as a key member of an international procurement network for Russia during its war against Ukraine, purchasing ammunition from the United States and reexporting it to Kyrgyzstan in violation of DOC licenses issued to Italian Company-1, which required that the ammunition stay in Italy. The defendant did not apply for, obtain, or possess a license to export or reexport ammunition to Kyrgyzstan.
The defendant illegally exported ammunition worth over $540,000 from the United States to Kyrgyzstan, via companies that the defendant and his co-conspirator controlled in Italy. After reaching Kyrgyzstan, most of this ammunition was subsequently reexported to Russia.
In one example of the defendant’s illegal transactions, U.S. Company-1, headquartered in Nebraska, had a license to lawfully export ammunition to Italian Company-1, but the ammunition could not be reexported out of Italy. In violation of the license, the defendant, using a cutout company, Italian Company‑2, reexported U.S. Company-1 ammunition to Sergei Zharnovnikov, an arms dealer from Kyrgyzstan who has since pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate export controls by sending U.S.-made firearms and ammunition to Russia. A contract found on Zharnovnikov’s phone indicated that he had contracted with a Russian company for ammunition manufactured by U.S. Company-1. Zharnovnikov was sentenced to 39 months’ imprisonment earlier this year. See United States v. Zharnovnikov, 25‑cr‑45 (HG).
In addition, U.S. Company-2, headquartered in Tennessee, had a license to lawfully export ammunition to Italian Company‑1, but the ammunition could not be reexported out of Italy. The defendant exported the ammunition from U.S. Company-2 to Italy, and then reexported the U.S. Company-2 ammunition from Italy to Kyrgyzstan.
The defendant was aware that U.S. law prohibited the reexport of U.S. ammunition without further licenses, which he did not obtain. To help the unlawful export scheme succeed, the defendant took steps to disguise the true destination of the ammunition. For example, in encrypted messages on or about September 23, 2023, the defendant and a co-conspirator discussed splitting up a shipment of 100,000 bullets. In the defendant’s words, this was necessary “so it goes unnoticed” by “FBI.”
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Ellen H. Sise, Tara B. McGrath, and Adam Amir are in charge of the prosecution, along with Trial Attorney Leslie Esbrook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Jessica Spindler.
The Defendant:
MANFRED GRUBER
Age: 61
Ora, ItalyE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-CR-61 (HG)
Armed Duo Sentenced to Federal Prison for Carmel CVS RobberyRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Two men have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in the armed robbery of a CVS Pharmacy in Carmel, Indiana.
Mikhal Hamilton, 26, has been sentenced to 13 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In March, a federal jury found Hamilton guilty of interference with commerce by robbery, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
David Washington, 24, of Arcadia, was previously sentenced to 9 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to interference with commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
According to court documents, witness testimony, and surveillance footage presented at trial, on the morning of June 25, 2023, Hamilton and Washington robbed the CVS Pharmacy located at 1424 Rangeline Road in Carmel. During the robbery, Hamilton jumped over the pharmacy counter, pointed a firearm at an employee’s face, and demanded she open the safe. The safe contained various controlled substances in the form of prescription pills. Washington filled bags with pill bottles before both men fled northbound in a blue Chevrolet Impala parked at a nearby restaurant.
Carmel Police officers quickly located the vehicle. Hamilton was seen throwing pill bottles out of the back window as officers chased them and conducted the stop. Inside the car, officers recovered pills, pill bottles, and two handguns.
Hamilton has a lengthy criminal history, including felony convictions for synthetic identity deception and carrying a handgun without a license.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Carmel Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker.
“Armed robbery is a violent and dangerous crime. It forever changes the lives of the victims who experience fear, anguish, and violence associated with being robbed while trying to earn a living. While the victim may be physically fine, the defendants’ violent actions took away her peace of mind and ability to feel safe in the workplace,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Let these sentences serve as a clear message: those who commit armed robberies in our communities will be met with swift investigation, prosecution, and significant federal prison time.”
“When you point a gun at people during a robbery, someone can get hurt or killed - plain and simple. These guys stormed into a CVS and terrorized employees and customers just to get their hands on drugs. That kind of behavior puts innocent people at risk, and there’s no excuse for it,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “Now they’re doing federal time - and that’s exactly what happens when you use a gun to commit a violent crime. The FBI is going to keep working with our partners to find violent offenders and get them off the streets. If you threaten our communities, you’re going to answer for it.”
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey Massa and Nate Walter, who prosecuted this case.
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Anchorage businesswoman sentenced to prison for fraudulently obtaining, misusing nearly $1M in COVID-19 relief funds for personal gainRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - An Anchorage businesswoman was sentenced today to 3.8 years in prison for lying on federal loan applications and stealing identities to fraudulently obtain nearly $1 million in COVID-19 relief funds.
According to court documents, Cheryl Labrie, 39, was the owner of AKBS LLC, doing business as Liberty Tax Service and Alaska’s Bookkeeping Solutions, providing bookkeeping and tax preparation services in Alaska, including for several marijuana businesses. Over the course of more than a year, Labrie applied for and obtained multiple emergency relief loans and advances, totaling nearly $1 million.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Small Business Administration (SBA) provided funds to qualifying small businesses to offset the impacts of the pandemic. The two SBA programs relevant to this case are the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The funding for these programs was limited and when it ran out there were thousands of applications from small businesses pending that were never funded.
Between April 2020 and November 2021, Labrie falsified applications and submitted fraudulent IRS documents seeking four loans and two forgiveness applications from the EIDL and PPP programs. She obtained over $970,000 in federal tax-payer dollars through these applications. Labrie falsely certified on her applications that she had never been convicted or pleaded guilty to a crime and had never been placed on pretrial diversion or probation. Labrie had two prior convictions and was on probation when she filed the applications.
She also falsely stated that the funds would be used for business expenses, like payroll relief for AKBS LLC. Instead, Labrie used the fraudulently obtained federal funds for her personal use including purchasing a parcel of land on the hillside and making a downpayment for a personal residence. Labrie also used the relief funds to pay off her prior criminal restitution and other unauthorized debts. To disguise her misuse of federal funds, Labrie co-mingled the funds with cash from her marijuana clients, structured transactions through multiple accounts, and utilized money orders and cashier checks before spending the funds for personal purposes.
Labrie also used the personal identifying information of seven marijuana business employees, without their permission, to falsely claim them as employees of AKBS LLC to obtain funds her business was not eligible to receive.
On Jan. 18, 2024, Labrie was indicted by a federal grand jury on 12 criminal counts. On March 20, 2025, and Feb. 18, 2026, a federal grand jury in Alaska returned superseding indictments against LaBrie, ultimately charging her with seven counts of aggravated identity theft, six counts of wire fraud, and two counts of money laundering. On April 13, 2026, Labrie pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
During sentencing, in addition to incarceration, the Court also ordered Labrie to serve three years on supervised release upon completion of her prison sentence. The total loss amount in this case was more than $970,000, and the Court ordered Labrie to pay the total loss amount in full through restitution.
“Ms. Labrie orchestrated an elaborate web of deceit to steal nearly $1 million from the American taxpayers, funds that could have benefited struggling businesses during a national emergency,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Tackling fraud against the American purse is a priority for my office and this administration. We must protect the systems set in place to assist law abiding U.S. citizens in times of need.”
“Lying to gain access to SBA’s pandemic response programs will be met with justice,” said SBA OIG’s Acting Special Agent in Charge, Tim Larson. “OIG will aggressively pursue evidence of fraud against SBA’s programs aimed at assisting the nation’s small businesses struggling with the pandemic challenges. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and pursuit of justice.”
The investigation was led by the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, with significant assistance from the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, FBI Anchorage Field Office and IRS Criminal Investigation Anchorage Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrea Steward and Mac Caille Petursson prosecuted the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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AiNET Corp. and Deepak Jain Agree to Pay $1.8M to Resolve Allegations of Submitting False Claims to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for Data Center ServicesRead the Press Release
AiNET Corp. and its former Chief Executive Officer Deepak Jain have agreed to pay $1,800,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting false claims for data center services provided under a contract with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). AiNET operates a data center in Beltsville, Maryland.
“Those who do business with the government must do so fairly and honestly,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to pursue contractors that knowingly fail to provide required services to federal agencies.”
“Protecting taxpayer dollars is an OIG priority,” said SEC Inspector General Kevin Muhlendorf. “The SEC OIG’s dedicated team of investigators and auditors works tirelessly to hold contractors accountable, and we appreciate our continued partnership with the Department of Justice in that shared endeavor.”
The settlement resolves allegations that AiNET and Deepak Jain fraudulently induced the SEC to enter the contract by falsely certifying that the AiNET data center met at least Tier III standards as defined by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) Standards for Data Centers, TIA 942, and as required by the SEC contract. The United States alleged that the AiNET data center failed to comply with Tier III standards and that AiNet and Jain falsely certified to the SEC that experts from an entity called UpTime Council had inspected the data center and determined it was Tier IV, as defined by TIA 942. The United States alleged that these certifications were false because UpTime Council was not an operating company and never inspected the AiNET data center.
This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the SEC, Office of the Inspector General. Senior Trial Attorney Greg Pearson of the Fraud Section handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
21 August 2026
West Virginia Man Found Guilty of Coercion and Enticement of Minor and Interstate Travel to Engage in Sexual ConductRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A West Virginia man was found guilty on two federal charges at the conclusion of a three-day jury trial that concluded on August 20, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, announced U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger and Matthew Reidell, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of HSI Gulfport.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Joshua Timothy Radcliffe, 43, of Charleston, West Virginia, used the internet and a cellular phone to coerce and entice a minor child in Mississippi to engage in sexual activity. Testimony during the trial established that Radcliffe traveled from West Virginia to Mississippi to meet the 15-year-old minor. Testimony and evidence further established that Radcliffe sent thousands of sexually explicit messages and coerced the minor to engage in sexual activity.
In November 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Radcliffe for Coercion and Enticement of a Minor and Interstate Travel with Intent to Engage in Sexually Explicit Conduct.
Radcliffe’s sentencing is scheduled for December 18, 2026. He faces a minimum penalty of not less than 10 years, and a maximum penalty up to life and is currently being held in federal custody.
“Protecting children from predators is one of the highest priorities of the Department of Justice. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute those who abuse our children and seek the toughest penalties authorized by law,” said United States Attorney Baxter Kruger.
“Individuals who hold positions of public trust are expected to protect the vulnerable, not exploit them,” said Matthew Reidell, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of HSI Gulfport. “This verdict underscores HSI’s unwavering commitment to investigating those who use positions of influence, technology, or access to target children, and to working with our partners to ensure they are held accountable.”
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Madison Police Department, and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office Cyber Crime Division. West Virginia law enforcement also assisted with the investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Glenda Haynes and Kimberly Purdie, and former Assistant United States Attorney Samuel Goff.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the 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.
Virginia Company to Pay $2.5 Million in Anti-Fraud CaseRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – EBI LLC (“EBI”), a Virginia company with its principal place of business in Danville, Virginia, has agreed to pay $2,541,742.12 to resolve allegations that it fraudulently obtained a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) for which it was not eligible.
PPP was an emergency loan program established by Congress in March 2020 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, and administered by the SBA. The CARES Act is a federal law enacted in March of 2020, that was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized the SBA to provide loans of up to $2 million to eligible small businesses that were experiencing a loss of revenue from the COVID-19 pandemic. A second round of PPP loans was authorized in early 2021, and to be eligible, a business was required to certify, among other things, that it had no more than 300 employees, including domestic and foreign affiliates.
“The Western District of Virginia is committed to combatting waste, fraud, and abuse in all federal benefit programs,” First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said today.
The settlement resolves allegations that EBI was ineligible for its second draw PPP loan because it was affiliated with a Polish company known as COM40 Spółka z Ograniczoną Odpowiedzialnością Spółka Komandytowa, also known as Com40 Sp. z o.o. Sp. K. or Comforty Fabryka (“COM40”). EBI was a wholly owned subsidiary of COM40, and according to its financial filings, COM40 employed more than 3,000 people in 2020 and 2021. As a result, the United States contends that EBI was ineligible for its second draw PPP loan because it exceeded the SBA’s size standards based on affiliation rules. EBI cooperated with the government’s investigation and was proactive in its efforts to reach a resolution in this matter.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party known as a relator can file an action on behalf of the government and receive a portion of the recovery. The case was captioned United States ex rel. Aidan Forsyth v. EBI LLC, Docket No. 4:25-cv-00036 (W.D. Va.). In this case, the relator will receive a share of the settlement.
First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and SBA General Counsel Wendell Davis made the announcement.
The resolution was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia and the SBA. The matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew G. Howells with assistance from Randall K. Martin, Trial Attorney with the SBA’s Office of General Counsel.
Veterans Affairs Nurse Indicted for Stealing OpioidsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Steve Michael Kelley, 58, a former nurse who worked at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Minneapolis, was indicted by grand jury for one count of obtaining controlled substances by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge. His initial appearance was before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elsa M. Bullard on August 21, 2026.
According to the indictment, Kelley is alleged to have wrongfully obtained hydromorphone, a controlled substance, from in or about January 2025 through on or about January 28, 2026.
This case resulted from an investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General, the Veterans Affairs Police Department, the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant United States Attorney Campbell Warner is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Venezuelan Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for ATM Jackpotting Following Homeland Security Task Force InitiativeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Juan Manuel Gouveia-Aguilera, 27, originally of Venezuela, was sentenced on August 20, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for his role in a conspiracy to deploy malware and steal millions of dollars from ATMs in the United States, a crime commonly referred to as “ATM jackpotting.” Chief United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Gouveia-Aguilera to 96 months’ imprisonment, a 5-year term of supervised release, and $500 in special assessments. Gouveia-Aguilera was also ordered to pay restitution as part of his sentence.
The Court found Gouveia-Aguilera to be responsible for more than $3.5 million in losses and this sentence is believed to be the longest federal sentence imposed for an individual’s role in ATM jackpotting. Specifically, Gouveia-Aguilera was convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank burglary and fraud in connection with computers, bank fraud, bank burglary, and fraud in connection with computers following a guilty plea.
“The Court’s sentence of Juan Manuel Gouveia-Aguilera reflects the severity of his criminal conduct,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “He participated in a scheme to hack ATMs across the United States, the result of which forced them to dispense substantial amounts of cash – known as jackpotting. These malware schemes help fund the operations of violent transnational criminal organizations, such as Tren de Aragua (TdA). We will continue to safeguard the security of our financial institutions and disrupt this network with our law enforcement partners and the District of Nebraska.”
“Today’s sentence is one of many yet to come in this case, and the United States Attorney’s Office looks forward to the day when the leaders and architects of this nationwide conspiracy to victimize American banks to fill the coffers of a terrorist organization are held accountable in federal court,” said U.S. Attorney Lesley A. Woods. “This appropriate and just sentence is only the beginning of the justice that will be doled out across the entire conspiracy before this case concludes.”
“TdA poses a direct threat to our communities both here in the Midwest and across our country. This violent terrorist organization relies on a wide range of criminal activities to generate revenue supporting their campaigns of violence and terror,” said FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel. “This case highlights TdA’s plot to deploy sophisticated malware targeting financial institutions across the U.S., syphoning millions of dollars from American banks to fund acts of terrorism. As criminal enterprises change tactics, we surge resources and adapt accordingly to protect the American people.”
“Gouveia-Aguilera and his alleged co-conspirators thought they could hack American ATMs, drain financial institutions, and funnel money to a violent transnational criminal organization without consequence. They were wrong,” said HSI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Rick Sabatini. “This 8-year sentence is a warning to every criminal network targeting our financial systems: HSI and our partners will hunt you down, dismantle your operations, and put you in federal prison.”
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska in conjunction with the Department of Justice’s Cyber Crimes and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Joint Task Force Vulcan is investigating and prosecuting a widespread ATM Jackpotting conspiracy that has been tied to designated foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (TdA). To date, 119 defendants have been charged in the District of Nebraska for their role in this conspiracy. Gouveia-Aguilera is the third defendant to be sentenced in the District of Nebraska for crimes in connection with this conspiracy. Two prior defendants were sentenced by United States District Court Judge Susan M. Bazis in Lincoln, Nebraska, in June:
DefendantSentenceOddry Arnoldo Cabrera Torrealba78 months’ imprisonmentCarlos Javier Padron78 months’ imprisonmentThe investigation has established extensive direct and indirect links between the indicted co-conspirators and TdA. According to court documents, TdA is a violent transnational criminal organization that originated as a prison gang in Venezuela in the mid-2000s. TdA has expanded its criminal network throughout the Western Hemisphere and established a presence in the United States. TdA’s criminal activities range from drug trafficking and firearms trafficking to commercial sex trafficking, kidnapping, robbery, theft, fraud, and extortion. TdA members also commit murder, assault, and other violent acts to advance the organization’s criminal activities. TdA has also developed an additional source of revenue stream through financial crimes that target financial institutions throughout the United States, including using ATM jackpotting to steal millions of dollars in cash. The investigation has revealed that the conspiracy has targeted or carried out ATM jackpotting attacks in 47 states, the District of Columbia, and several foreign nations.
FBI’s Omaha Field Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Omaha are investigating the case, with assistance from FBI’s Denver, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, Oklahoma, Sacramento, Seattle, and Springfield Field Offices, and the United States Secret Service, U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of the Inspector General, Financial Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center, and a significant number of local law enforcement entities across the country.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Kansas, Western District of Washington, Eastern District of California, Southern District of New York, Northern District of Illinois, Central District of Illinois, Eastern District of Oklahoma, Northern District of Oklahoma, Southern District of Mississippi, Southern District of Texas, Eastern District of Missouri, Western District of Missouri, Middle District of Louisiana, Middle District of Georgia, Middle District of Wisconsin, and Eastern District of Wisconsin, as well as the Larimer County Attorney’s Office, Colorado Attorney General’s Office, Tennessee 9th District Attorney General’s Office, Tennessee 5th District Attorney General’s Office, and the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office have provided significant assistance.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Omaha comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, USPIS, and the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division.
Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV) was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and has now expanded to target TdA. JTFV is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina; Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia; Southern District of Florida; Eastern District of Texas; Western District of Oklahoma; Northern District of Indiana; and the District of Nevada, as well as the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and Criminal Division. Additionally, the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, HSI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), USMS, and the Bureau of Prisons are essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cyber and IP criminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
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United in the Fight Against Violent CrimeRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Yesterday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Birmingham Police Department along with federal law enforcement partners highlighted their strong and ongoing partnership during a press conference focused on their coordinated efforts to make Birmingham safer.
“This is the ultimate good news story! When we stand together, we are stronger, and our communities are safer – we are a united front,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. “The Birmingham Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office have been an outstanding partner to our office. We share a commitment to the people of Birmingham. We will continue to work together from the streets to the courtroom, and the results we are seeing demonstrate the power of that partnership.”
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to holding violent offenders and drug traffickers accountable and ensuring that individuals who threaten the safety of Birmingham’s communities are brought to justice. This collaboration allows the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Birmingham Police Department, FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office to combine resources, expertise, and information to identify the most dangerous offenders. It also allows prosecutors to work together to ensure that serious offenders are held accountable, whether a case is prosecuted in state or federal court.
“We are incredibly appreciative of our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal partners. Through our shared commitment and collaboration, we have accomplished significant results in Birmingham and made our community safer,” said Birmingham Police Chief Michael Pickett. “This partnership demonstrates what we can achieve when we work together toward a common goal.”
Since 2024, the United States Attorney’s Office has worked alongside the Birmingham Police Department in approximately 165 cases, resulting in more than 130 federal indictments. The violent crime rate in Birmingham has improved dramatically because of the increased level of collaborative policing and prosecution between local and federal agencies.
In addition, U.S. Attorney Williams highlighted non-prosecution efforts to increased safe streets. “One of the most impactful ways that our office can support local law enforcement agencies and expand their ability to protect and serve is by tirelessly aiding their efforts to obtain grant and additional funding resources from the Department of Justice, as well as other federal, state, and local agencies.”
Williams pointed out that in the past two weeks, the Department of Justice has announced $1.3 million in direct Justice Assistance Grant funding to local law enforcement agencies across the Northern District. More than $440,000 of that total amount is allocated specifically for the Birmingham Police Department, so that it can sustain and advance its impactful work to protect our community and to fight crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office is a committed and vigorous advocate within the Department of Justice for the interests of our public safety partners. The U.S. Attorney’s Office reaffirmed that it will continue to work alongside local partners to deliver new resources and dollars to best secure and protect communities from violence and crime. “We will continue to proudly and sincerely champion in Washington, DC the good work our partners are doing in Birmingham and elsewhere in Alabama,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. In his closing comments Williams added, “To the good people of Birmingham, tell your friends and neighbors that good things are happening. And to the criminals who would dare to bring crime and violence to our streets I say that Birmingham PD will find you and we will prosecute you. This is a united front.”
U.S. Attorney's Office Presents Inaugural Awards for Investigative ExcellenceRead the Press Release
OXFORD – U.S. Attorney Scott Leary presented three awards for investigative excellence to investigators relating to their work on a Homeland Security Task Force drug trafficking prosecution:
- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Josh Moore;
- DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant/DEA Task Force Officer Josh Bryant; and
- Hernando Police Department’s Special Investigations Division Captain/DEA Task Force Officer Steven Markway.
The Northern District of Mississippi’s Award for Investigative Excellence recognizes state, federal, and local law enforcement individuals or units that have demonstrated excellence in investigation response strategy and dedication to the cause of justice.
The 2026 award recipients facilitated a major HSTF operation involving 19 defendants, more than 25 kilograms of cocaine and $150,000 in drug proceeds and multiple vehicles seized. The recipients of this award exemplified the importance of effective use of interagency relationships to facilitate swift justice.
U.S. Attorney Scott Leary presented the award, “the HSTF initiative is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, human smuggling and drug trafficking rings. This operation exemplifies the importance of state and federal collaboration. Our local communities are the beneficiaries of such cooperation, and outstanding investigations like this should be recognized accordingly. Our office extends a hearty thank you to the DEA, the Hernando Police Department and the Desoto County Sheriff’s office. And congratulations to Special Agent Moore, Task Force Officer Bryant, and Task Force Officer Markway, this was just a great job.”
This operation was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating tin the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Jackson comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ICE ERO, CBP, CBP OFO, CBP USBP, CBP AMO, CGIS, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS and with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi.
Two People Sentenced for Helping to Conceal the Murder of a Navajo ManRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Marlin Leon Nez, 45, and Megan Ashley Yarber, 36, both of Chinle, Arizona, were sentenced on Aug. 17, 2026, by United States District Judge Michael T. Liburdi to time-served sentences, after serving more than 16 months in prison for their roles in concealing the murder of a Navajo man. Nez and Yarber were also ordered to pay restitution to the victim’s family for expenses incurred in searching for the missing victim. Nez and Yarber previously pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony.
According to court documents, on July 11, 2024, Wendell Draper, a Navajo man, shot and killed the victim in Nez’s residence. Following the murder, Nez helped Draper wrap the victim’s body and lift it into the back of the victim’s own vehicle. Draper then drove out to a rural location, buried the victim in a shallow grave, drove to a secondary location, and set the victim’s vehicle on fire. Yarber picked Draper up from the site of the burned vehicle and drove him back to the residence. Nez and Yarber knew that Draper had committed a federal felony by unlawfully killing the victim but failed to notify a federal authority as soon as possible.
Following the murder, the victim’s family reported him missing and searched for him for weeks. His body was eventually recovered and returned to the family. Draper was shot and killed after allegedly pointing a firearm at law enforcement officers who were attempting to arrest him.
The FBI Phoenix Division’s Gallup office and the Navajo Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-25-08034-PCT-MTL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-142_Nez# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Two Jacksonville Men Indicted for Obstructing a Federal InvestigationRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Leo Denard Robinson (39) and Brian Gregory Brightman (33), both of Jacksonville, have been charged by indictment with obstruction of the due administration of justice. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the indictment, between approximately August 10 and August 19, 2026, Brightman and Robinson aided and abetted each other in corruptly trying to influence, obstruct, and impede the due administration of justice in a pending case in the Middle District of Florida, specifically United States v. Brian Gregory Brightman, et al. (case no. 3:26-cr-170-MMH-LLL). The indictment alleges that Brightman and Robinson committed the offense by intimidating, pressuring, and implicitly threatening an individual they perceived to be a witness in an attempt to influence or prevent the witnesses’ testimony.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Nassau County Sherriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel Lasry and Kelli Swaney.
Two Former Bureau of Prisons Correctional Officers Accused of Smuggling Contraband Each Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
HELENA-WEST HELENA—Robert Cochran and Tejuana Dillard will go from being federal prison guards to federal prison inmates after each was sentenced to 30 months’ incarceration in separate cases after getting caught smuggling contraband into the Forrest City Federal Correctional Complex (FCC). Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentences which were handed down on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller.
On December 5, 2023, Cochran, 37, of Forrest City, was indicted by a federal grand jury in a one count Indictment charging him with bribery of a public official. On March 11, 2026, Cochran pleaded guilty to the charge in the Indictment. On June 6, 2024, Dillard, 42, of Wynne, was indicted by a federal grand jury in a two-count Indictment with one count of bribery of a public official and one count of making a false statement to federal agents. On March 11, 2026, Dillard pleaded guilty to making the false statements. There is no parole in the federal system.
An investigation revealed that while Cochran was employed as a correctional officer at Forrest City FCC, he received approximately $58,775 from friends and family of the inmates at the prison to bring contraband, including rolling papers, tobacco, Gucci sunglasses, and over the counter drugs, into the facility. Cochran was captured on video footage in February 2023 leaving bags containing contraband in an office while on duty. After Cochran left the office, an inmate would enter to retrieve the items. Cochran later admitted he was paid to bring items into the prison for inmates.
Through a separate investigation, it was determined that Dillard, who was employed for 13 years as a correctional officer between 2008 and July 2021 at Forrest City FCC, smuggled contraband cigarettes into the prison throughout 2020. Dillard received in total $91,788 to provide the cigarettes to two inmates, who later sold the contraband cigarettes to other inmates in the facility. Dillard, in an interview with federal agents, admitted to smuggling cigarettes while she was employed as a correctional officer, but stated she had only done so “a couple of times.” At the time of her interview with the federal agents, Dillard knew the statements she made were false.
These cases were investigated by the Office of the Investigator General, U.S. Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. These cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julie Peters.
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Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
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Traverse City Man Indicted for Impersonating Federal Officer and Violating the Clean Water ActRead the Press Release
MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey announced that Brent Alan Tompkins, 52, Traverse City, was indicted on criminal charges alleging that he impersonated a federal officer, unlawfully used Coast Guard insignia, and discharged sewage into Lake Michigan.
The indictment follows a two-year investigation by the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) and Michigan Department of Natural Resources Environmental Investigations Section (EIS) for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) into allegations that Tompkins discharged pollutants into Lake Michigan, at White Shoal Light. Investigators also identified allegations that Tompkins operated a vessel with insignia resembling U.S. Coast Guard insignia and represented himself as a Coast Guard member to a distressed mariner in Emmet County.
U.S. Attorney VerHey said, “Reports that Tomkins was polluting Lake Michigan got our attention right away because protecting this national resource is a high priority for my office. I appreciate the investigative work that CGIS and EGLE did in this case to make it possible to bring charges. The charges relating to impersonating a Coast Guard officer point to another troubling issue encountered in this case. The public has a right to know when they are dealing with a properly trained public official--and when they are not--especially during a potentially dangerous situation on the water. This is no place for impersonators and wannabes.”
“Protecting the public’s trust in the U.S. Coast Guard and safeguarding our nation’s waterways is critical,” said Assistant Director Joshua Packer of the Coast Guard Investigative Service, LANT Operations. “Impersonating Coast Guard personnel and misusing Coast Guard markings can create serious safety and security risks on the water. CGIS will continue working with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate conduct that threatens public confidence, maritime safety, and the marine environment.”
Tompkins is charged with false impersonation of a federal officer, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 912; unauthorized use of a Coast Guard insignia, in violation of 14 U.S.C. § 933; and discharge of a pollutant into a navigable waterway, in violation of 33 U.S.C. §§ 1311(a), 1319(c)(2)(A).
The case was investigated by CGIS and EGLE. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan.
If convicted, Tompkins faces up to 3 years in prison and a fine of at least $5,000 per day that he violated the Clean Water Act.
The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Toppenish Man Found Guilty of Assault by StrangulationRead the Press Release
Yakima, Washington – First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on August 19, 2025, a jury returned a guilty verdict in the trial of Rickie Lorenzo Smith, 51, a member of the Confederated Bands and Tribes of the Yakama Nation of one count of Assault of a Spouse, Intimate Partner, or Dating Partner by Strangulation in Indian Country in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1153, 113(a)(8). Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian presided over the trial and set sentencing for December 2, 2026. Smith faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison to be followed by up to 3 years of supervised release.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Smith assaulted his then-partner by hitting, choking and strangling her while the two attended a birthday celebration in Pioneer Park in Toppenish, Washington on August 17, 2023. Evidence of the victim’s injuries, the victim’s testimony, and the testimony of a bystander who called 911 and reported the crime was presented at trial. Smith has multiple prior arrests related to domestic violence incidents. The jury acquitted Smith of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury.
“Today’s guilty verdict reflects the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in pursuing justice,” stated Serrano. “Assault by strangulation is a grave and violent offense, and this outcome demonstrates our continued commitment to ensuring accountability and safeguarding the well-being of our community. This case also underscores the devastating impact of domestic violence and our resolve to address it with the seriousness it demands.”
“This trial verdict emphasizes that assault against intimate partners will not be tolerated,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “Rickie Lorenzo Smith will see consequences for his actions thanks to the hard work of our investigators and prosecutors in pursuing justice on behalf of victims and keeping our communities safe. Their tireless efforts resulted in this outcome, as well as contributing to a 14% drop in the violent crime rate for the state of Washington last year. The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to combat violent crime, including on tribal lands.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Yakima RA and the Yakama Nation Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Courtney R. Pratten and Michael D. Murphy.
1:25-CR-2039-SAB
Prior felon going to prison on new child pornography chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Nicholas Mangione, 45, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography following a prior conviction, was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
In April 2013, Mangione was convicted of possession of child pornography and sentenced to serve 48 months in prison. On August 15, 2024, a federal search warrant was executed at Mangione’s residence after it was discovered he uploaded a file containing child pornography to the Snapchat server. During the search, Mangione’s cellular telephone was seized. An examination of the device uncovered approximately 20 images and 52 videos of child pornography. It was also determined that Mangione distributed child pornography to other individuals using the Telegram application in exchange for other child pornographic files.
On August 16, 2024, the defendant was arrested on New York State charges and was found to be in possession of an additional cell phone, which also contained images and videos of child pornography. Some of the child pornography possessed by Mangione depicted the sexual exploitation of an infant or toddler and depictions of violence against children.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto.
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Pittsford woman pleads guilty to her role in stolen cooking oil schemeRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Fangfang Yan, 41, of Shanxi, China, and Pittsford, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr to misprision of a felony, which carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison, and a fine of $250,000.
On April 8, 2022, Guodeng Chen and Didi Huang caused 45,000 pounds of stolen, used cooking oil to be shipped from the Western District of New York to a refinery located in Erie, Pennsylvania. Chen and Huang received $29,433.60 for this shipment. On April 28, 2022, Chen and Huang caused another 45,000 pounds of stolen used cooking oil to be shipped from the Western District of New York to a refinery located in Erie, Pennsylvania. Chen and Huang received $30,618.00 for this shipment. Fangfang Yan was aware that Chen and Huang were transporting the stolen cooking oil but failed to notify federal authorities. On May 6, 2022, when interviewed by law enforcement officers and asked about Chen and Huang’s illegal activity, Yan refused to answer the officer’s questions in order to conceal Chen and Huang’s crimes.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher, and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Anthony Licari, Special Agent-In-Charge, Midwestern Region.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 1, 2026, before Judge Geraci.
Pittsford man pleads guilty to his role in credit card scamRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Talib Hussain, 75, of Pittsford, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Meredith A. Vacca to misprision of a felony, which carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison, and a fine of $250,000.
Between 2012 and July 23, 2024, Hussain’s son, Mirza Khan, and others engaged in a scheme to obtain social security numbers of victims and then use them, along with fictitious names, to apply for and obtain credit cards from various financial institutions, including Citibank, Discover Bank, First National Bank of Omaha, and TD Bank. The financial institutions were directed to mailed the fraudulently obtained credit cards to one of many addresses that Khan and his co-conspirators leased in and around Rochester, NY. They would then use the fraudulently obtained credit cards to make purchases or pay property taxes. Talib Hussain owned a property on S. Plymouth Avenue and was legally responsible for paying the taxes associated with that property. However, between 2021 and 2022, Mirza Khan used fraudulently obtained credit cards and his father’s email address to pay the taxes on the property. Talib Hussain knew that his son was engaged in the illegal scheme. He received tax payment receipts, which showed that the taxes were paid using credit cards that were not in Hussain’s or Khan’s names. Despite this, Hussain failed to notify the relevant federal authorities about the commission of the offense.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, the IRS Criminal Investigation New York, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Harry T. Chavis, Jr., the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Boston Division, under the direction of Acting Inspector-in-Charge Justin Page, and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Michael McGill, New York Field Division.
Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
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