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21 August 2026
Honduran National Admits Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that YOVANI DE JESUS ALVAREZ MURILLO, 42, a citizen of Honduras, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to unlawful reentry of a removed alien.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Alvarez was first encountered in the U.S. in February 2005 when he was arrested by the New York State Police in Tarrytown, New York, and charged with driving while ability impaired by the consumption of alcohol. In August 2008, Greenwich Police arrested Alvarez, under the name “Geovany Alvares-Murillo,” on a charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs/alcohol. In December 2008, Stamford Police arrested Alvarez, under the names “Geovany Alvarez-Murillo” and “Geovany Alvares-Murillo,” for two counts of failure to appear in the second degree. In November 2009, Stamford Police arrested Alvarez, under the name “Geovany Alvares-Murillo,” on a charge of larceny in the third degree. In December 2011, Stamford Police arrested Alvarez, under the name “Geovany Alvares,” on a charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs/alcohol. In June 2012, Stamford Police arrested Alvarez, under the name “Geovany Alvares-Murillo,” on a charge of failure to appear in the first degree. In October 2012, Stamford Police arrested Alvarez, under the name Geovany Alvares-Murillo, on a charge of forgery in the second degree. Alvarez was convicted of, and sentenced for, these offenses.
In October 2012, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) interviewed Alvarez while he was serving a sentence in the custody of Connecticut Department of Correction. During the interview, Alvarez admitted that had illegally entered the U.S. in approximately 2002 by crossing the border from Mexico. Alvarez was removed to Honduras in October 2013.
Alvarez illegally reentered the U.S. and, in August 2021, under the name “Geovany Alvares-Murillo,” was arrested by Stamford Police on a charge of breach of peace in the second degree. He was convicted of the offense and ordered to pay a $150 fine. In May 2023, Alvarez, under the name “Geovany Alvares Murillo,” was arrested by Stamford Police on a charge of criminal trespass in the third degree. He was convicted of the offense and was ordered to pay a $300 fine.
In November 2024, Connecticut State Police arrested Alvarez, under the name “Geovanny Alvares,” on a charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. In August 2025, Stamford Police arrested Alvarez, also under the name “Geovanny Alvares,” for operating a motor vehicle without an ignition interlock device (breathalyzer). Alvarez was convicted of these offenses on May 14, 2026, in Stamford Superior Court, and served a 60-day state sentence. Alvarez was arrested federally upon his release from state custody on July 13, 2026, and has been detained since his arrest.
Alvarez is scheduled to be sentenced in Hartford on November 17, 2026, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael S. Deel and Neeraj N. Patel.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Grand jury indicts pair in $11 million pandemic relief fraud schemeRead the Press Release
DALLAS — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Ryan Raybould, announced that on Aug. 19, a federal grand jury indicted two individuals for allegedly orchestrating a multiyear scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program of more than $11 million.
Latrina Dorsey, 50, from Chicago, Illinois, and Dushawn Nelson, 50, a resident of Dallas and Irving, Texas, were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud.
“The alleged conduct in this case represents a brazen theft of taxpayer‑funded relief at a moment when Americans needed it most,” said U.S. Attorney Raybould. “While small businesses were fighting for survival, these defendants treated a national emergency as an opportunity for profit. Vice President Vance and General Blanche have empowered us to relentlessly pursue anyone who steals from the American taxpayer.”
According to the indictment, Dorsey and Nelson submitted or facilitated the submission of hundreds of fraudulent PPP loan applications beginning in June 2020 and continuing through September 2022. The PPP, administered by the Small Business Administration, was created to provide forgivable loans to small businesses struggling during the COVID 19 pandemic.
The indictment alleges that Dorsey prepared false loan applications using fabricated financial information and fictitious IRS Schedule C forms. Many forms claimed applicants earned $100,000 in gross income in 2019, regardless of actual earnings. Nelson allegedly referred individuals to Dorsey for a kickback and later began submitting loan applications himself.
Loan processors including Blueacorn, Womply, Bluevine, and Kabbage routed the falsified applications to SBA-approved lenders such as Celtic Bank and Cross River Bank, which funded loans of approximately $20,832 each. Lenders ultimately funded about 561 loans totaling approximately $11,049,548, depositing proceeds directly into accounts controlled by applicants. Applicants then allegedly paid Dorsey, Nelson, or other co-conspirators kickbacks ranging from $2,000 to $5,000, often via cash or electronic payments. In some instances, Dorsey allegedly forwarded portions of loan proceeds to Nelson or others.
If convicted, each defendant faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine up to $250,000 and up to 3 years of supervised release.
The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board – Office of Inspector General and the FBI Chicago Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham from the Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Gibson County Woman Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Child Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Brittany Gail Weeks, 28, formerly of Milan, Tennessee, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for transporting a minor in interstate commerce with intent that the minor engage in prostitution. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
The investigation in this case revealed that in June 2023, Weeks transported a minor from Gibson County, Tennessee to a motel in or around Osceola, Arkansas, with intent that the minor engage in sexual intercourse with several adult males at the motel. Once at the motel, Weeks instructed the minor to go room-to-room to engage in sexual intercourse with the adult males in the rooms and then collect payment from them.
The minor went to around 10 rooms and had sexual intercourse with the males in the rooms, collected money from them, and turned the money over to Weeks. When the minor’s sexual acts with the men at the motel concluded, Weeks drove the minor back to Tennessee.
In April 2024, Weeks was charged in a one-count federal indictment with transporting a minor in interstate commerce with intent that the minor engage in prostitution. In February 2026, Weeks entered a guilty plea to the one-count indictment.
On August 19, 2026, United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Weeks to 120 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Following her release from prison, Weeks will have to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration & Notification Act (SORNA).
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: “Human trafficking of minors for commercial sex purposes is an unconscionable crime that must be met with severe consequences. We commend the FBI and our local partners for their outstanding investigation of these heinous crimes, and we are pleased to achieve justice for the victim in this disturbing case.”
"Those who prey upon and exploit children should know this: law enforcement will find you, we will investigate you, and we will hold you accountable," said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. "There is no place in our community for those who profit from the abuse of children. I commend the FBI Memphis Resident Agency and our partners for their diligent work on this case."
This case was investigated by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Milan Police Department, the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services.
Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Georgia Man Sentenced for Wire Fraud Conspiracy Involving Stolen U.S. Treasury ChecksRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – A Marietta, Georgia, man has been sentenced for his role in a scheme to cash stolen U.S. Treasury checks in the Montgomery area using false identification.
On August 20, 2026, a federal judge sentenced Devin Zia Adkins, 33, to 60 months in federal prison for conspiring to commit wire fraud. Adkins previously pleaded guilty to the offense. Following his prison term, Adkins will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and evidence presented in court, Adkins and his co-conspirator, Sylena Christina Salikram, 40, of Brooklyn, New York, obtained stolen U.S. Treasury checks and used stolen and fraudulent identification information to negotiate the checks at multiple United States Post Office locations in Montgomery. Salikram previously pleaded guilty to the same offense and was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison.
The scheme occurred on May 8 and 9, 2025. During the course of the scheme, Adkins and Salikram successfully cashed four stolen U.S. Treasury checks at four separate post offices, resulting in a total loss of $14,229.97. The defendants also attempted to negotiate 10 additional stolen checks at other locations totaling just over $8,600, but those attempts were unsuccessful.
On May 9, 2025, law enforcement became aware of the defendants’ activities and began looking for the vehicle they were using. Officers subsequently located the suspects and conducted a traffic stop. Adkins initially stopped and spoke with officers but suddenly sped away, leading law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit through Montgomery, including residential neighborhoods. While traveling on the interstate, Adkins drove at speeds in excess of 125 miles per hour, and at one point, Adkin’s vehicle collided with another.
During the pursuit, officers observed the suspects discarding items, which appeared to be paper documents, from the vehicle’s window. The pursuit ended when the defendants crashed the vehicle into a light pole. Both defendants were taken into custody.
“Fleeing from law enforcement at speeds exceeding 125 miles per hour is not only incredibly reckless, but it also puts lives at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas Govan. “The crash was so severe, the engine and exhaust were completely separated from the vehicle. Adkins endangered himself, the officers pursuing him, and innocent members of the public. The decision to flee turned a financial crime into a dangerous pursuit that could have resulted in someone being killed.”
“An important part of the U. S. Postal Inspection Service mission is protecting the integrity of the nation’s mail system from criminals seeking illicit financial gain,” said Shameka Jackson, Inspector in Charge of the Houston Division of the US Postal Inspection Service. “The sentencing of Devin Zia Adkins should serve as a reminder that mail theft will not be tolerated, and we are committed to holding those responsible accountable. We would like to thank the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Metro Area Crime Suppression (MACS) unit, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and the Montgomery Police Department for their assistance in this case.”
In addition to his term of imprisonment, the court ordered Adkins to pay $14,229.97 in restitution jointly and severally with Salikram, meaning the defendants are collectively responsible for the full amount of restitution.
The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) investigated this case, with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Metro Area Crime Suppression (MACS) unit, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and the Montgomery Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Joel Feil and Faith Mote prosecuted the case.
Georgia Man Faces Federal Charges Following Violent Social Media Threats Against Former FBI AgentRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Isiah Washington was arraigned yesterday in federal court after allegedly posting violent threats against a former FBI official on social media.
“Washington allegedly posted explicit threats to kill a former high-level FBI supervisor as part of a vicious online tirade aimed at multiple federal law enforcement agencies,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Threats to murder and maim are not protected speech, and they will not be tolerated. My office will aggressively prosecute anyone who threatens the life of a law enforcement officer.”
“Violent threats against FBI personnel are not taken lightly, whether they are made in person or from behind a keyboard,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “As alleged, Washington crossed the line with explicit threats against a former FBI supervisor, and the FBI will continue working with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who threaten the lives of law enforcement officers.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In April 2025, Washington allegedly posted on X multiple violent threats against federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, CIA, and DEA. Washington’s rant culminated when he posted photos of a retired supervisory FBI agent and a person resembling that man, commenting, “I’m going to kill him,” and “I’m going to kill this guy.”
On August 20, 2026, Isiah Washington, 49, of Covington, Georgia, appeared in federal court after a grand jury returned an indictment on July 29, 2026, charging him with one count of transmitting interstate threats. Washington also faces local charges in South Carolina for allegedly making threatening phone calls to a North Charleston, South Carolina police station in June 2025. He is detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending further proceedings.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Eric Boylan is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Garvin County Teen Pleads Guilty as an Adult to Murder in Indian Country after Two Killed at Marijuana GrowRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – MATTHEW RAY JONES, of Wynnewood, Oklahoma, has pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging him with murder in the second degree in Indian Country and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, on April 18, 2025, Jones and another individual, Whyitt Collins, broke into a residence located on a marijuana grow outside Wynnewood, Oklahoma. Both men were armed with a handgun. Once inside, Jones and Collins encountered two individuals, whom they shot and killed. Following the shootings, Jones and Collins took several items prior to leaving the residence.
Jones, who was a juvenile at the time of the offenses, entered his guilty plea today as an adult and will be sentenced as an adult. As part of his plea, Jones admitted that he unlawfully killed one victim by discharging a firearm and aided and abetted in the unlawful killing of the second victim. At sentencing, Jones faces up to life in federal prison and fines of up to $500,000.
This case is in federal court because Jones is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and the crimes occurred within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation.
On June 29, 2026, Collins was sentenced to life without parole in Garvin County District Court after pleading guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree burglary.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Joynes and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Angela Ganote prosecuted this case. SAUSA Ganote is an attorney with the Chickasaw Nation assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office as part of a partnership to enhance federal efforts to address crime in Indian Country.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Former insurance agent pleads guilty to wire fraudRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A former insurance agent pled guilty today to wire fraud related to a scheme to pocket the premiums he was paid for policies he sold.
According to court documents, Thomas Robert Hoyt, 32, of Melfa, contracted with insurance carriers to sell the carriers’ products to Hoyt’s clients, serving as the intermediary between the insurers and the insured. For certain policies, Hoyt directed his clients to pay premiums to him and represented that he would forward those payments to the insurance carriers.
In response to complaints from Hoyt’s clients, the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Bureau of Insurance opened an investigation, contacting Hoyt in June 2021. On Sept. 9, 2021, Hoyt signed an agreement with the Bureau to voluntarily agree to the permanent revocation of the insurance licenses for himself and Hoyt Insurance.
Hoyt then sold his book of business to a small independent insurance agency. Hoyt falsely represented that all premiums due on policies that were part of the purchase by the agency had been paid to the respective companies providing insurance and that there were no pending investigations. The agency provided Hoyt with a $27,282.28 down payment. Upon review of the policies Hoyt had purported to sell, the agency discovered that a significant number had lapsed or were never in place because Hoyt had failed to pay the insurance carriers the required premiums.
In August 2022, the Bureau referred the matter to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). The USPIS investigation found that Hoyt had repeatedly assured his clients they had a valid insurance policy, collected premium payments from them, and then used those payments for his own personal use rather than providing them to the insurance companies. A review of Hoyt’s bank accounts for the relevant time frame revealed that he diverted approximately half of the inflows to his business were diverted to personal use, including significant cash withdrawals. As a result of the scheme, Hoyt fraudulently obtained approximately $164,345.
Hoyt is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 10 and faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert J. Krask accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Gantt is prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-74.
Former South Lake Tahoe Resident Pleads Guilty in Scheme to Defraud Banks and Harm ConsumersRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Thomas Emil Eide, 51, formerly of South Lake Tahoe, pleaded guilty to bank fraud conspiracy, in which he used fake companies to defraud banks and harm consumers, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Eide was the owner of CB Surety LLC (CB Surety). He and his co-conspirators agreed to defraud banks by opening accounts under fake companies and then making sham, small-dollar payments using those accounts and others. They recruited individuals to serve as straw owners for the fake companies and directed them to open these accounts. After, they arranged for their merchant clients, who otherwise would not have been able to open the accounts, to gain access and use them for their own transactions. They also created fake websites and contact information to deceive the banks.
Eide and his co-conspirators also deceived banks by engaging in high-volume microtransactions that artificially deflated their clients’ chargeback rates (the percentage of disputed transactions the banks have to return to customers). By initiating small-dollar payments to make it appear as if their clients had engaged in more transactions overall, they led banks to believe that a lower percentage of their clients’ transactions had resulted in chargebacks and refunds. This manipulation of their clients’ chargeback rates prevented banks from closing their banks accounts due to unacceptably high rates of chargebacks and refunds.
Eide and his co-conspirators caused over $111 million in transactions to be processed on behalf of CB Surety’s clients. Some of these clients were engaged in business practices that were illegal or harmful to consumers, including charging consumers for goods or services that had not been authorized or were not provided. This resulted in over $3.3 million in consumer-initiated refunds and chargebacks.
The United States is seeking additional victims in this case. If you believe you may be a victim, please visit this website to review a list of fake CB Surety companies. You may submit a claim for restitution if you are able to document that you suffered a loss based on unauthorized transactions with these companies.
This case is the product of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Veronica M.A. Alegría and Ethan L. Carroll of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and Trial Attorney Daniel Zytnick of the Justice Department’s White Collar & Corporate Enforcement Section are prosecuting the case.
A status conference regarding sentencing has been set for November 12, 2026, before Chief District Judge Troy L. Nunley. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Federal Prosecutors Continue to File Hundreds of Weekly Immigration Cases in Western District of TexasRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – Federal prosecutors in the Western District of Texas filed 235 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from August 14 through August 20, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons. Charges were brought against several alleged alien smugglers and illegal aliens with past convictions for numerous DWIs, violent crimes, thefts, and multiple prior removals.
Among the new cases, U.S. citizen Pablo Clark-Guillen was arrested and charged with alien smuggling. A criminal complaint alleges that Clark-Guillen, who has previously been convicted for alien smuggling, conspired to pick up an illegal alien from India in Fabens on August 18. The complaint alleges that when agents approached Clark-Guillen and ordered him to turn off his van, Clark-Guillen complied but broke his phone in an effort to destroy evidence, cutting his hands in the process. In addition to his prior smuggling conviction in 2024, Clark-Guillen has three prior DWI convictions.
Also on August 18, U.S. Border Patrol agents investigating two separate alien smuggling events followed a vehicle to a residence in El Paso. The agents conducted an immigration inspection and confirmed that the driver, Aldo David Manjarrez-Vazquez, was an illegal alien. A criminal complaint alleges that Manjarrez-Vazquez had worked as an alien pickup driver and coordinator since March 2024, receiving approximately $720 per alien he picked up and making $250 as a coordinator. Manjarrez-Vazquez is alleged to have picked up and transported more than 10 illegal aliens in the El Paso and Tornillo areas.
Jesus Gamboa-Chavez, an illegal alien from Mexico, was charged with alien smuggling after a Texas Department of Public Safety (TXDPS) trooper conducted a traffic stop and requested assistance from Homeland Security Investigations. A criminal complaint alleges that further investigation led agents to a stash house in El Paso that Gamboa-Chavez was renting. A joint operation with HSI, USBP, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, and TXDPS, resulted in the apprehension of 16 illegal aliens from various Central and South American countries, two of whom were minor children. One of the children was unaccompanied.
In Del Rio, USBP agents arrested Luis Alfredo Navarette-Pastrana, an illegal alien from Mexico, who was just deported for the second time in June following a conviction for illegal entry. In 2020, Navarette-Pastrana was convicted for driving without a license and reckless homicide.
Alejandro Diaz-Martinez, an illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested in El Indio and charged with illegal re-entry. He was convicted in March for his third DWI and sentenced to a two-year imprisonment. He was then deported on July 5.
Illegal alien from Guatemala Ronald Samuel Lapop-Galicia, aka Ronald Carbajal, was transferred into ICE custody after being found in Travis County. Lapop-Galicia has five prior removals in his immigration history and has been previously convicted of four DWIs. He is charged with illegal re-entry.
Mario Daniel Campos-Segura was also found in Travis County and transferred into ICE custody. Campos-Segura is an illegal alien from Mexico who has been removed from the U.S. twice and has been twice convicted of DWI. Campos-Segura is charged with illegal re-entry.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including ICE, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Federal Court Protects National Energy Security and Rejects Dangerous State Efforts to Obstruct Sable Offshore Corporation’s Operation of the Santa Ynez PipelineRead the Press Release
In a significant victory for President Trump’s efforts to unleash American energy, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California affirmed the federal government’s authority to protect national energy security under the Defense Production Act. The ruling ensures that domestically produced oil can reliably reach California refineries and safeguards the continued operation of critical pipeline infrastructure on the California coast.
“Energy security is national security,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. “And the Department of Justice will continue unleashing American energy to support an affordable and reliable supply of energy necessary for our national and economic security.”
“This ruling upholds decisive federal action to protect national security by restarting the flow of 50,000 barrels of oil per day when the stability of America’s energy supply is threatened,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division. “The Department of Justice, together with our parters at the Energy, Interior, and Transportation Departments will not allow California or environmental groups to undercut American energy.”
In a comprehensive decision, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California rejected the State of California’s radical attempt to shut down the Santa Ynez Pipeline and dismissed efforts by California and environmental groups to impose state‑level barriers designed to obstruct federally mandated operations during a declared national energy emergency. The court’s decision ensures that sound federal energy policy — not California’s disruptive anti-energy measures — governs operation of this critical infrastructure.
This ruling comes at a time when state and local energy policies on the West Coast continue to destabilize regional supply and threaten broader national energy resilience. The Santa Ynez Pipeline transports more than one million barrels of domestically produced crude oil per month from offshore wells into California — providing a reliable domestic supply to offset foreign imports and reinforcing the Nation’s energy independence. Its continued operation is also essential to maintaining stable fuel supplies for more than 32 U.S. military installations across the West Coast, supporting operational readiness and ensuring these facilities can meet critical national defense requirements.
The court confirmed that a Defense Production Act order — issued by Secretary of Energy Chris Wright under delegated authority from the President — lawfully preempts state actions aimed at blocking or delaying Sable Offshore Corporation (Sable)’s operations of the Santa Ynez Pipeline. The court held that the only agency that should oversee the safety of two segments of the pipeline subject to a federal consent decree is the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and California’s efforts to shut down the pipeline amounted to an attempt to override federal authority and undercut essential national energy priorities.
Key components of the court’s rulings include:
- Denial of California’s motion for a preliminary injunction seeking to suspend the Energy Secretary Wright’s Defense Production Act order requiring operation of the pipeline. The court held that California failed to demonstrate any likelihood of success on the merits of its challenge because the Order is lawful and constitutional.
- Recognition of the Defense Production Act order’s preemptive force, declaring that federal law bars California’s Department of Parks and Recreation from pursuing legal actions — such as trespass claims — that would impede pipeline operations mandated by federal authority.
- Clarification that state courts may not enforce injunctions that conflict with federal directives, as the court addressed efforts by environmental groups to sustain a state‑court injunction.
- Modification of the existing federal consent decree to consolidate oversight of pipeline safety and compliance under the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, replacing California’s Office of the State Fire Marshal to prevent further state‑level interference with federally directed operations.
The decision makes clear that attempts by California and environmental groups to impose new obstacles to critical energy infrastructure — despite clear federal findings of urgent national security needs — cannot override federal law.
The Department of Justice remains committed to enforcing federal law, defending national energy security, and ensuring that vital infrastructure remains free of unlawful state‑imposed barriers. This case was litigated by the Energy and Natural Resources Division.
Note: This release has been updated from a previous version
District of Arizona Charges 253 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from Aug. 15 through Aug. 21, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 253 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 115 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 120 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 14 cases against 17 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. Protecting law enforcement officers is a key part of border vigilance, and prosecutors also charged one defendant for assaulting a federal agent.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Joshua David Estrada, et al. On Aug. 17, 2026, Joshua David Estrada, Crystal Maria Vargs, and Erika Williams, were charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. On Aug. 14, Border Patrol Agents (BPAs) followed Estrada, who was driving alone in a Toyota Tundra, to a field where he met up with several other drivers. About 30 minutes later, Estrada drove away from the field, closely followed by a gray Nissan Rogue and a black Jeep. All three vehicles were traveling in tandem toward Phoenix and appeared to be carrying several passengers. BPAs stopped the vehicles and learned that Estrada was transporting six passengers, all illegal aliens, Vargas, the driver of the Nissan Rogue, was transporting five illegal aliens, and Williams, the driver of the Jeep, was transporting six illegal aliens. In total, BPAs apprehended 16 illegal aliens, all unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-01663]
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-143_August 21, 2026 Immigration Enforcement
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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.D.C. Man Who Stabbed His Romantic Partner Gets More Than 20 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – James Callen, 42, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today to 20.5 years in prison in D.C. Superior Court for stabbing his then-romantic partner multiple times on July 13, 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“Domestic violence is a relentless cycle of control and intimidation, and breaking that cycle is essential to protecting victims,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “James Callen’s brutality nearly cost this woman her life, and but for the grace of God, she survived. Callen is now headed to where he belongs: prison.”
Callen was found guilty of one count each of assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, and three counts of contempt on June 11, 2026. Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt ordered Callen to the prison term to be followed by five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, on July 12, 2024, Callen and the victim went to Callen’s brother’s apartment in southeast Washington, D.C., to hang out. While there, Callen asked the victim to move in with him but became angry when the victim said she did not want to live with him. The next morning on July 13, 2024, while Callen and the victim were in the living room, he went to the kitchen and retrieved a knife and returned to the victim. He stabbed the victim multiple times, slicing her neck, which lacerated her jugular vein. When the victim started to bleed out, Callen panicked and called 911. EMTs arrived and immediately rushed the victim to the hospital before law enforcement arrived. When police officers arrived, Callen told them that the victim had arrived at the apartment already bleeding and injured. Despite the violent attack, the victim survived her injuries.
From September 2024 to February 2025, Callen called the victim numerous times from the D.C. Jail in violation of a court order to stay away from and have no contact with the victim. In those calls, Callen changed his story and attempted to convince the victim that she had accidentally injured herself. The jury learned during trial that Callen had previously assaulted the victim and this was part of a pattern of abuse. Callen broke her leg in August 2023 and gave her two black eyes in January 2024.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged Assistant United States Attorneys Olivia Hinerfeld and Anne Cotter, who prosecuted the case.
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Court Orders New Jersey Tax Return Preparer to Shut Down Tax Preparation BusinessRead the Press Release
The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey issued a permanent injunction against Newark-area tax return preparer Roxanna Cedeno, doing business as RC Travel Agency. The injunction bars Cedeno and RC Travel Agency from preparing tax returns, working for or holding any ownership stake in any tax preparation business, assisting others in preparing tax returns, and transferring or assigning customer lists to any other person or entity.
According to the complaint, Cedeno and RC Travel Agency prepared tax returns that understated their clients’ federal income tax liabilities and overstated the refunds to which their clients were entitled by claiming, among other things:
- False Schedule C expenses and income losses;
- Fraudulent education credits;
- Improper child and dependent credits; and
- Improper filing statuses.
The court found that Cedeno “repeatedly and continually engaged in conduct” that was subject to penalty under statute and which “substantially interferes with the proper enforcement and administration of the internal revenue laws.”
As a result of the court’s order, Cedeno must send a copy of the injunction to all customers for whom she prepared or assisted in preparing federal tax returns and to all employees, contractors, and vendors of her business.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Joshua Wu of the Civil Division’s Tax Litigation Branch made the announcement. Tax Litigation Branch attorneys Gökçe Yürekli and Adam S. Domitz handled this matter.
Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers 10 tips to avoid tax season fraud and ways to safeguard their personal information.
In the past decade, the Department of Justice has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Civil Division, Tax Litigation Branch, with details.
Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison for Soliciting Minors to Produce and Send Him Sexually Explicit MaterialRead the Press Release
RIVERSIDE, California – A registered sex offender from Riverside County was sentenced today to 480 months in federal prison for using social media and other internet platforms to solicit minor victims to produce and provide him with child sexual abuse material (CSAM) featuring themselves, sometimes in exchange for money.
Ricardo Francisco Aguado, 30, of Riverside, was sentenced by United States District Judge Sunshine S. Sykes, who also ordered him to pay $3,200 in restitution and placed him on lifetime supervised release.
Aguado pleaded guilty on April 24 to one count of production of child pornography and one count of commission of a felony offense involving a minor while required to register as a sex offender. He has been in federal custody since August 2024.
According to his plea agreement, Aguado was convicted in 2015 in Riverside County Superior Court of multiple child sexual exploitation-related criminal charges, including possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography. As a result of these convictions, Aguado was subject to lifetime registration as a sex offender.
He was sentenced to 40 months in California state prison and was released from state custody in 2017.
In August 2020, Aguado befriended the victim on the Discord instant messaging platform. Aguado used Discord, Snapchat, Instagram, and other online platforms to solicit the victim to produce and provide him with images and videos of the victim engaged in sexually explicit conduct, sometimes in exchange for cash.
In May 2022, Aguado contacted the victim – then a 14-year-old boy – via Instagram and cellphones, and arraigned to pay the victim $40 via CashApp for sexually explicit images and videos depicting the victim. Days later, Aguado distributed to another Snapchat user via his own Snapchat account a sexually explicit video of the victim.
An investigation into Aguado’s online accounts and digital devices revealed that he had communicated with several minors online over several years and had solicited them to provide him with images of themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct. These victims ranged in age from 12 years old to 15 years old and were residents of Florida, New York, South Carolina, and Texas.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated this matter with assistance from the Rockford (Illinois) Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Sonah Lee of the Major Crimes Section prosecuted this case.
Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced for Escaping from Custody and Failing to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A convicted sex offender received a federal-prison sentence for escaping from a Baltimore halfway house and then failing to register as a sex offender.
United States Chief District Judge George L. Russell, III, sentenced Ronnie Holmes, 42, of Washington, D.C., to 15 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for escaping from federal custody and failing to register as a sex offender.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Clinton J. Fuchs, U.S. Marshal for the District of Maryland (USMS).
According to court documents, in June 2013, Holmes was convicted of sex trafficking a child in the Eastern District of Virginia. Holmes then received a 168-month sentence, followed by five years of supervised release. As a result of the conviction, Holmes is a Tier II sex offender and required to register for 25 years.
In January 2025, after serving approximately 11.5 years in a correctional facility, Holmes was transferred to a halfway house in Baltimore to serve the rest of his sentence. He was placed under surveillance via an ankle monitor. Then in July 2025, Holmes escaped from the halfway house and cut off his ankle monitor. Holmes remained on the run for almost a year before authorities apprehended him in June 2026. During his time on the run, Holmes was required to register as a sex offender but failed to do so.
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, visit justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USMS for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandria A. Bell and Colleen E. McGuinn who prosecuted the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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Clark County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Trafficking and Illegal Possession of Firearm by FelonRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Winchester, Ky., man, Christopher Brookshire, 51, was sentenced on Wednesday to 180 months by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom for possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On October 30, 2024, while driving from Fayette County to Clark County, Brookshire was stopped by law enforcement. During the traffic stop, law enforcement located approximately a half pound of methamphetamine that Brookshire intended to distribute to others. Brookshire also knowingly possessed a firearm. Prior to his possession of the firearm, Brookshire had been convicted of a felony and was aware that he was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Travis Thompson, Winchester Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by ATF and Winchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Greenfield prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Citizen of India, arrested for his role in multi-million-dollar scheme defrauding the elderly, taken into custodyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jay Sunilbharthi Goswami, 21, of Gujarat, India, and Jersey City, NJ, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
According to the criminal complaint, in January 2026, the IRS Criminal Investigation Division became aware of an internet and telephone-based fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims in the Western District of New York and other areas around the country. Those responsible for the scheme (perpetrators) fraudulently represented to victims, online and in phone calls, that their bank accounts, funds, and/or personally identifiable information (PII) were threatened or compromised in some manner. Elderly victims were convinced to liquidate their assets in the form of cash, gold, and/or gift cards. The perpetrators would then pose as either members of law enforcement or other pertinent figures to further their scheme to defraud elderly individuals.
When the scheme involved either cash or gold, the perpetrators arranged for “money mules” to pick up the cash or gold from the victims and then deliver it to another member of the conspiracy. Defendant Goswami, who is from Gujarat, India but living in Jersey City, New Jersey, was a money mule. On at least nine occasions, he either personally collected or conspired to collect cash and gold from elderly victims in New York and New Jersey. The victims ranged in age from 59-years-old to 87-years-old. In total, the nine victims lost approximately $7,559,185.00.
The criminal complaint further states that Goswami opened an account at Bank of America. Between August 1, 2025, and April 6, 2026, he made deposits of more than $90,000 in cash. Investigators believe the deposits are consistent with Goswami receiving compensation for acting as a money mule in the fraudulent scheme.
Goswami made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen on August 17, 2026, and was released on conditions. On August 18, 2026, at approximately 10:25 a.m., he fled the United Stats by crossing into Canada at the Peace Bridge. Law enforcement subsequently learned that Goswami was booked on a flight to Doha, Qatar out of Toronto, Ontario, later that evening. The United States Probation Office submitted a Violation Report of Defendant Under Pretrial Supervision to the Court, which issued an Order and Warrant of Arrest. At approximately 7:13 p.m., Canadian law enforcement officials took Goswami into custody, pursuant to Canadian immigration violations, at the Toronto Pearson International Airport. On August 20, Canadian authorities arrested Goswami pursuant to the request for provisional arrest for extradition to the United States.
The fraud case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire. The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the IRS Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Harry T. Chavis, Jr., New York Field Division. Additional assistance was provided by the New York State Police, the New Jersey State Police and New Jersey Office of Homeland Security Investigations. Goswami’s re-arrest is the result of the efforts of the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of Marshal Charles Salina, the IRS-CI, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone, U.S. Border Patrol, Buffalo Sector, under the direction of Acting Chief Patrol Agent James D’Amato, the U.S Probation Office, under the direction of Chief Probation Officer Clifford Jackson, and Canadian law enforcement. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs is providing valuable assistance with securing the extradition from Canada of Goswami to the United States.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Cincinnati man admits to sexually exploiting teenager, 7-year-oldRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Kyle Rist, 39, of Cincinnati, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to two child exploitation crimes involving online conduct with a teenager and in-person conduct with a 7-year-old.
Rist admitted to coercion and enticement and sexual exploitation of children and faces 15 to 30 years in prison.
According to court documents, in September 2023, the grandparents of a teenaged victim alerted law enforcement in Oregon that their granddaughter had been sending and receiving sexually explicit videos of herself and of Rist through Facebook and SnapChat.
Rist referred to himself as daddy to the victim and told the victim they were in a relationship. Rist – pretending to be another man by the name of Jeremy Hadley – had ongoing online discussions with the same teenage victim.
Between August and November 2024, Rist sexually exploited a 7-year-old child by creating videos and images of the victim engaging in and assisting another person in sexually explicit conduct.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole. Assistant United States Attorney Danielle E. Margeaux and Kyle J. Healey are representing the United States in this case.
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 U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
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Buffalo man sentenced for defrauding hundreds of victims out of hundreds of thousands of dollarsRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Nicholas Janes, 40, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of mail fraud, was sentenced to serve five years’ probation by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
In May 2023, law enforcement learned of many suspicious United States Postal Service Express Mail overnight flat-rate envelopes being mailed to the defendant’s address in Buffalo. The envelopes were addressed to variations of Janes’s name, or what appeared to be different law offices. Most of the address labels were hand-written, and the envelopes were mailed by individuals residing throughout the United States. A search of Janes’s address in various consumer complaint databases revealed a pattern of alleged debt collection fraud victims from throughout the United States. The names “Nicholas Janes,” “Nicholas James,” “The Nichols Law Group,” “The Nicholas Law Group,” and variations of the business name, The Offices of Pachulski, Mueller and Barnes (Muler, Muller, Burns, etc.) were consistently associated with Janes’s address. The defendant also controlled business mailboxes in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he received mail as a result of the fraudulent scheme. That mail was then forwarded to his residence in Buffalo.
As part of his fraudulent scheme, Janes contacted various individuals from around the country by telephone, advising them that they had a debt due on an alleged unpaid loan. He claimed that he was a local sheriff’s deputy, and would threaten the victims with criminal charges, if they did not immediately repay the alleged debt owed. Janes also pretended to be an attorney at fictitious law firms, so victims thought they were negotiating with a legitimate entity. He advised victims to make payment by USPS money orders payable to him, and send them via USPS, Federal Express or United Parcel Service overnight service to various addresses that he controlled and monitored the mail.
In total, Janes victimized more than 500 people for $420,812.92.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Justin Page, Boston Division.
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Bristol Woman Sentenced for Distributing Fentanyl and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Bristol, Virginia woman, who conspired with others to traffic methamphetamine from Ashville, North Carolina into Washington County, Virginia, was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison.
Pamela Michelle Fansler, 52, pled guilty in December 2025 to conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute 50 grams of methamphetamine and one count of possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
“This office will continue to target for priority prosecution those who profit by poisoning our communities with fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other deadly substances,” First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said today. “I commend the work of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and DEA for their work on this case.”
According to court documents, between July 2025 and August 2025, Fansler and others conspired to distribute methamphetamine. Specifically, Fansler traveled to Asheville, North Carolina to pick up methamphetamine and brought it back to Washington County, Virginia for redistribution. Additionally, on August 26, 2025, Fansler possessed approximately four ounces of methamphetamine and half and ounce of fentanyl that she intended to distribute to others. While transporting these drugs, she was carrying a .22 caliber pistol that she later admitted she had obtained by trading drugs.
First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Goumenis of the Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Division made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Washington County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Stone is prosecuting the case.
Bossier Police Responding to Concerned Neighbors’ Complaints Recover Firearms in Drug Trafficking Operation; Two Men Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT - On August 20, 2026, United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks sentenced Melvin Lee Johnson, 23, of Bossier City, to over nine years in federal prison, plus three years supervised release, for Possession of Firearms by a Convicted Felon and Possession of Firearms During a Drug Trafficking Offense. Johnson previously pled guilty on April 28, 2026.
The same day, Judge Hicks also sentenced Johnson’s associate, Jarrod De'Angelo Stith, 23, of Shreveport, to over five years in federal prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Possession of Firearms During a Drug Trafficking Offense related to the same incident. Stith had also pled guilty.
“Members of our community did exactly what they should to protect their families and neighborhood—they stayed alert and worked together to report suspicious activity,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “Their sense of responsibility and willingness to get involved helped law enforcement disrupt a dangerous situation and recover illegal drugs and firearms before someone was hurt or killed.”
According to court documents, on May 21, 2025, Bossier City Police Department (BCPD) officers went to a Bossier residence after neighbors complained about loud music, drug use, and disorderly conduct. When officers got there, they saw several people gathered near a black Nissan SUV. Johnson was sitting on the hood of the SUV near a backpack. Stith then threw the backpack over a fence. Officers recovered the backpack and found twenty-seven small baggies of marijuana that amounted to about 400 grams. They also found a scale, empty baggies used for packaging drugs, and a loaded Micro Draco pistol. Officers also recovered another stolen firearm during a pat down of Stith.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and BCPD investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Aaron Crawford and Allison C. Foster with the assistance of Legal Assistant Amanda Morgan.
This case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), 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. 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.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer under Case Number 5:25-cr-00248-01.
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CONTACT: Public Affairs: USALAW-News@usdoj.gov
United States Attorney’s Office: www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
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Cara Alexander: (337) 262-6704Bald Eagle Killer Sent to PrisonRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 43-year-old Porter resident has been sentenced to prison for shooting and killing a bald eagle.
Santos Guerrero pleaded guilty May 14.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray has now ordered Guerrero to serve 14 days in federal prison and pay a $5,000 fine. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Guerrero shot the eagle in his backyard Oct. 11, 2024, hid it in his garage, and later lied to authorities. The court also reviewed images from video and body camera footage documenting the eagle prior to the shooting and subsequent discovery of the eagle.
Authorities responded to reports of the shooting and reviewed video showing the eagle being shot and falling from the tree. They arrived at Guerrero’s residence and identified the tree shown in the video.
Law enforcement located the injured eagle hidden under a tarp in Guerrero’s garage and transported it to an animal hospital. Veterinarians later euthanized the eagle because of the severity of its injuries.
A necropsy determined the bullet significantly damaged the eagle’s wing. The fall also caused liver fractures, internal bleeding, and a fractured leg.
Although bald eagles are no longer listed as endangered, federal law continues to protect them under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. The law prohibits anyone from killing, possessing, selling, transporting, exporting, or importing any bald or golden eagle, alive or dead, including any part, nest, or egg, without authorization.
Guerrero was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Fish and Wildlife Service conducted the investigation with the assistance of Texas Parks and Wildlife. Assistant U.S. Attorney Liesel Roscher is prosecuted the case.
August Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Christopher J. Nassar today announced the results of the August Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Tyler Jerrod Adams. Possession of Child Pornography. Adams, 38, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. The Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-316
John Walter Barnes, Jr. Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country; Sexual Abuse Without Consent in Indian Country. Barnes, 28, of Drumright and a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, is charged with engaging in a sexual act with a minor child under 16 years old. He is additionally charged with engaging in a sexual act with a minor child. The FBI and the Drumright Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Brandon is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-303
Abel Castro Lopez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Castro Lopez, 52, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 1997, 1998, 2004, 2009, 2010, and twice in 2023. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Osborn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-302
Jennifer Michelle Childress. Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death; Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury; Use of a Communication Facility in Committing, Causing, and Facilitating the Commission of a Drug Trafficking Felony; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute. Childress, 44, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly distributing fentanyl, which resulted in the death of Zachary Willis in December 2025. She knowingly and intentionally distributed fentanyl to Mr. Willis, who suffered serious bodily injury as a result. Lastly, Childress is charged with using a telephone for communication while drug trafficking and possessing fentanyl with intent for distribution. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Bailey is prosecuting the case.
26-CR-304Gibran Antonio Chiprot Vargas. Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute. Chiprot Vargas, 18, a Mexican national, is charged with knowingly possessing more than 400 grams of fentanyl with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-314
Walter Franklin Deerinwater. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Carrying Firearms During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime; Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition. Deerinwater, 35, of Salina, is charged with knowingly possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He is additionally charged with possessing a firearm while drug trafficking and possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Wright is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-305
Carlos Deluna Ruvalcaba. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Deluna Ruvalcaba, 40, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2008 and 2011. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-307
Mario Alejandro Gomez Uvalle. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Ammunition. Gomez Uvalle, 24, a Mexican national, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. Additionally, Gomez Uvalle is charged with possessing ammunition, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Flesher is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-315
Austin Wayne Haley. Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country (Counts 1 through 10; and 12 through 17); Sexual Abuse without Consent in Indian Country (Count 11); Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition while Subject to a Protective Order (Count 18) (superseding). Haley, 30, of Bixby and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with engaging in unwanted sexual contact with the intent to degrade the victims for his own sexual gratification, and engaging in a sexual act without the victims' consent. Haley is alleged to have committed these acts during tattooing sessions, at both his house and his tattoo shop, Villain Ink Studios. Additionally, Haley possessed a firearm and ammunition knowing he was subject to a domestic violence protective order. The FBI and the Bixby Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd is prosecuting the case.
26-CR-009Nathaniel Eugene Jumper. Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force and Threat in Indian Country; Kidnapping in Indian Country; Carjacking Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury; Aggravated Eluding a Law Enforcement Officer in Indian Country. Jumper, 32, of Tulsa and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with knowingly forcing the victim to engage in sexual activity and placing them in fear of death, serious bodily injury, and kidnapping. He unlawfully confined the victims against their will and took their vehicle by force, with intent to cause death and serious bodily harm. Lastly, Jumper willfully eluded a law enforcement officer and drove in a manner that endangers other people. The FBI, the Tulsa Police Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Vinita Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Flesher is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-317
Eduardo Ortega. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Ortega, 57, a Honduran national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 1995, 2000, and 2007. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevion Freeman is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-306
Jose Panecatl Tecpoyotl. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Panecatl Tecpoyotl, 41, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed twice in 2014. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-308
Armed Career Criminal Gangster Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Dock Exum, 50, of Memphis, pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm as an Armed Career Criminal. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the guilty plea today.
According to the evidence, on September 30, 2025, Memphis police officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that had visible fraudulent tags. Officers approached the vehicle and identified the sole occupant as Exum. During the stop, officers detected an odor of marijuana and conducted a probable cause search on the vehicle for suspected narcotics. During the search, a Sig Sauer P238 .380 caliber pistol was recovered, and Exum claimed ownership of the firearm.
Exum is a long-standing and known member of the Gangster Disciples street gang and has a lengthy criminal history of significant felonies, including especially aggravated robbery, two convictions of burglary of a motor vehicle, burglary of a building, and five convictions of aggravated burglary. Under federal law, due to Exum’s criminal history, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition and is subject to the enhanced sentencing penalties under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA).
On August 18, 2026, Exum pled guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Exum is scheduled to be sentenced before District Chief Judge Sheryl H. Lipman on November 23, 2026 and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "This case targets and removes a dangerous gangster from the community BEFORE he pulls the trigger. Exum has spent years sowing a culture of criminality in Memphis, and he will now reap a long prison sentence without the sanctuary of parole.”
This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department (MPD) as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Wright, of the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps, prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
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.
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For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Another week of hundreds of cases filed in Southern District border-security effortsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – The Southern District of Texas has charged another 230 individuals for immigration and border security-related matters from Aug. 14-20.
A total of 161 criminal complaints were filed for felony reentry after prior removal, while another 34 people face charges of illegal entry. Most of those charged with illegal entry have prior felony convictions for offenses such as narcotics, violent crime, and immigration crimes, among others. In addition, authorities charged 27 individuals with human smuggling, including 15 who are themselves illegal aliens. The remaining case charged this week relate to other immigration crimes.
Those charged with felony reentry include a Dominican national with prior convictions involving violent crime, drugs, and a machine gun. Law enforcement discovered Wandy Emilio Castillo-Arias near Roma with no authorization to be in the United States. Authorities also found Mexican national Luis Armando Arroyo-Garcia in the same area. He allegedly has a prior conviction for sale or distribution of a controlled substance.
If convicted of felony reentry after removal, both face up to 20 years in prison.
The cases are referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigrants, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the Southern District. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault, and violence against children.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than 10 million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen, and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state, and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
20 August 2026
Windsor Man Sentenced for Firearm and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Windsor man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for being a felon in possession of firearms and for possessing cocaine base with intent to distribute.
U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Anthony Englesbobb, 39, to 264 months (22 years) in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to forfeit the firearms seized from his residence. Englesbobb pleaded guilty on January 6, 2026.
According to court records, on December 17, 2024, law enforcement agents executed a federal search warrant at Englesbobb’s Windsor residence. Agents seized nine firearms from Englesbobb’s bedroom and crack cocaine packed in small plastic bags from his person. Englesbobb was prohibited from possessing firearms due to several prior felony convictions.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). 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.
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West Dallas man arrested for alleged multimillion-dollar Treasury check fraud schemeRead the Press Release
DALLAS — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Ryan Raybould, announced that a West Dallas man was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint alleging that he used stolen identities and fake IDs to deposit over $15 million in U.S. Treasury checks intended for various businesses throughout the U.S.
Kendrick Lamont Fugett, 34, was taken into custody pursuant to a complaint filed on Aug. 14 that charges him with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Fugett is expected to make his initial appearance tomorrow morning in federal court in Dallas.
“Stealing identities to siphon millions of dollars from the U.S. Treasury is not just fraud, it’s an attack on the integrity of our financial system,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “As alleged, Mr. Fugett carried out a brazen scheme to impersonate corporate officers, fabricate documents and manipulate banks in order to pocket taxpayer funds. His arrest makes clear that our office, together with IRS Criminal Investigation, will aggressively pursue anyone who targets our financial institutions and the businesses they serve.”
“This arrest underscores IRS-CI’s unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of the U.S. financial system,” said IRS‑CI’s Texas Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus Jr. “The defendant’s alleged scheme was deliberate, sophisticated, and designed to exploit public trust. The women and men of IRS-CI worked tirelessly to uncover Mr. Fugett’s alleged patterns of deception and misrepresentation, and we will continue to pursue anyone who attempts to steal from taxpayers.”
According to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, Fugett, described as a “recidivist identity thief,” allegedly assumed the identity of the chief financial officer of an Austin-based software company to open a business account at an Origin Bank branch in Dallas. Using a fraudulent Texas driver’s license and forged corporate documentation, he passed himself off as the company’s Chief Financial Officer and allegedly deposited a Treasury refund check valued at more than $13.8 million.
The affidavit further alleges that Fugett’s scheme extended to multiple financial institutions in the Dallas area. In one instance, he allegedly deposited a Treasury refund check exceeding $447,000 at a Bank of America branch in Mesquite, Texas. For that transaction, Fugett assumed the identity of the billionaire chairman of the holding company associated with the intended recipient business and presented a fraudulent Illinois driver’s license bearing his own image.
Fugett also has outstanding warrants from the Collin County Sheriff’s Office, Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, Denton County Sheriff’s Office, and Arlington Police Department for offenses including fraudulent use or possession of identifying information and providing false statements to obtain property or credit. The affidavit notes that Nashville Airport Police arrested Fugett in July 2024 after he allegedly attempted to open bank accounts using fraudulent identities.
If convicted of the charges alleged in the complaint, Fugett faces a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for the bank fraud charge and a mandatory two-year prison sentence for aggravated identity theft.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Schwab and Ignacio Perez de la Cruz from the Fraud section are prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Waubay Man Sentenced to 20 Months in Federal Prison for Assault with a Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Waubay, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. The sentencing took place on August 17, 2026.
Dawson Roger Locke, age 19, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Locke was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2025. He pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on June 28, 2025 when Locke shot another young adult with a handgun. Locke and others were drinking in Enemy Swim, SD when Locke got into an argument with one of the other individuals present. As the argument escalated, Locke drew a handgun from his waistband and fired three shots in the direction of the victim. One of the shots hit the victim in the leg.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Tribal Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.
This matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
Locke was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Recognizes National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day to Remind Citizens that “One Pill Can Kill”Read the Press Release
On Friday, August 21, 2026, U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller of the Western District of Louisiana will join Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and community partners in observing National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, joining communities across Louisiana and the country working to confront the deadliest drug crisis in U.S. history. The day is dedicated to educating the public about the dangers of illicit fentanyl and honoring the lives lost to fentanyl poisoning and overdose.
“Fentanyl’s horrific effect on our communities, our families, and our friends demands that we continue increasing awareness of the threat it poses while doing everything we can to eliminate it from our society,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “It is a time for reflecting upon the harm fentanyl has caused and our need to continue the fight against it. The U.S. Attorney’s Office stands alongside our federal and state law enforcement partners in combatting this poison and dismantling the groups that peddle it in our streets. ”
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid approximately 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. It is inexpensive, widely available, highly addictive, and distributed in a variety of forms.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 70,000 Americans died from drug overdose or poisoning in 2025. While early provisional statistics for 2026 show an encouraging decrease in mortality, fentanyl remains the leading cause of accidental drug overdose deaths in the United States.
Fentanyl trafficking is central to this serious public safety crisis. Traffickers frequently mix fentanyl with other drugs to increase addiction and profits, often without a user’s knowledge.
Just 2 milligrams of fentanyl—an amount smaller than a grain of salt—can be lethal.
National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day is an urgent call to action for individuals, families, schools, businesses, and community organizations to:
Share information about the dangers of fentanyl, fentanyl trafficking, and counterfeit pills in schools, youth associations, faith-based organizations, and other community groups.
Promote fentanyl education and informed decision‑making.
Encourage access to overdose response resources, including naloxone.
Support individuals and families affected by substance use disorders.
Participate in local awareness events and community outreach efforts.
So far in 2026, DEA has seized more than 21 million fentanyl pills and 9,970 pounds of fentanyl powder, amounting to about 239 million deadly doses. In 2025, DEA seized over 47 million fentanyl pills and nearly 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder—about 369 million potentially deadly doses — kept out of American communities.
Information and free educational resources, including the One Pill Can Kill partner toolkit and youth conversation guides, are available at DEA.gov/onepill. Louisiana citizens are encouraged to learn as much as possible about this deadly scourge and how to defend against it.Families may also submit photographs for the Faces of Fentanyl memorial exhibit at www.dea.gov/facesoffentanyl.
By raising awareness, strengthening education, and supporting affected families, communities can help save lives and confront the ongoing fentanyl crisis.
Resources:
DEA Fentanyl Awareness: https://www.dea.gov/fentanylawareness
Prevention Toolkits: https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/php/toolkits/fentanyl-prevention-awareness-day.html###
CONTACT:Public Affairs: USALAW-News@usdoj.gov
United States Attorney’s Office: www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
X: @USAO_WDLA
Facebook: USAO_WDLA
(337) 262-6704Two Vallejo Felons Indicted in Separate Possession of a Firearm CasesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Two Vallejo men with multiple felony convictions indicted in separate felon in possession of a firearm cases, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
Christopher Haden Fuimaono, 28, of Vallejo, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Fuimaono was arrested by Solano County Sheriff’s Deputies on August 1, 2026, pursuant to several outstanding felony arrest warrants. According to court documents, Fuimaono initially fled on foot and discarded a firearm during the chase. Deputies arrested Fuimaono and recovered the discarded firearm, which was loaded with one bullet in the chamber and another 10 in an inserted magazine. As a felon, Fuimaono is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Fuimaono’s nine prior felony convictions include three prior state felon in possession convictions. Fuimaono remains in federal custody and is scheduled to appear for arraignment on August 21, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremy D. Peterson.
Hazem Naim Awad, 42, of Vallejo, was arrested on July 27, 2026, after Solano County Sheriff’s Deputies located him in a vehicle at a public storage facility in Vallejo. According to court documents, deputies conducted a high-risk arrest and apprehended him without incident. Following his arrest, deputies recovered two firearms in Awad’s vehicle, both of which were loaded and chambered with ammunition. One of the firearms was stolen. As a felon, Awad is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Awad remains in federal custody and is scheduled to appear for arraignment on August 21, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremy D. Peterson.
Both cases are the product of investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Solano County District Attorney’s Office, the Solano County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI’s Solano County Violent Crimes Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella is prosecuting both cases.
If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). 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 making 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.
Two Massachusetts Men Charged with Drug-Related Shooting Death in RutlandRead the Press Release
RUTLAND – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on August 19, 2026, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Dylin Wainscott a/k/a “Slim,” 30, of Springfield, Massachusetts and Precious Okorie, a/k/a “P,” 32 of Springfield Massachusetts, with the fatal shooting of a victim in Rutland, Vermont on November 15, 2024, in the course of a conspiracy to distribute drugs in Vermont. The indictment also charged Dakota Moretti, 35, of Rutland, Vermont, and Nichole Siliski, 40, of Rutland, Vermont, with participating in that drug distribution conspiracy.
Previously, the grand jury returned multiple indictments charging Wainscott with possession of ammunition as a convicted felon on November 15, 2024, charging Wainscott, Okorie, Siliski and Moretti with conspiring to distribute cocaine base and fentanyl, and charging Wainscott and Okorie with discharge of a firearm during the course of that drug conspiracy. A previous indictment also charged Laryssa Johnson, 33, of Rutland, Vermont with participating in the drug conspiracy. Johnson pled guilty to that charge on December 16, 2025.
The indictment returned on August 19, 2026, was the first indictment in this case to charge Wainscott and Okorie with causing a death through the discharge of a firearm during the drug conspiracy. Also on August 19, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a notice that it would not be seeking the death penalty in connection with these charges.
The defendants have been arrested, arraigned, and detained in connection with other indictments returned in this case and all will be arraigned on the most recent superseding indictment. Wainscott was originally arraigned on May 1, 2025, pleaded not guilty to the charge against him, and was detained pending trial. Okorie was arraigned on July 21, 2026, pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, and was subsequently detained pending trial. Siliski was arraigned on June 25, 2026, pleaded not guilty to the charges against her, and was detained. Moretti was arrested on August 18, 2026, in South Carolina and was detained pending his transportation to Vermont to face charges against him.
According to court records, Wainscott shot and killed the victim at around 7:00 p.m. on November 15, 2024, when the victim returned to a Rutland, Vermont apartment. For weeks prior to the shooting, Wainscott had been using that apartment to conduct his drug business in Vermont. Wainscott worked for his supplier and childhood friend, Okorie. Johnson rented that apartment and assisted Wainscott and Okorie in the drug conspiracy. Moretti and Siliski were local drug users and dealers who also worked with Wainscott and Okorie to distribute drugs.
Court records state that approximately ten days before the shooting, Wainscott was robbed at the Rutland apartment of drugs and drug proceeds at gunpoint, and pistol-whipped, by a rival drug dealer. Following the robbery, Wainscott, Okorie, and Moretti worked together to locate the dealer and others they believed had stolen Wainscott and Okorie’s drugs and drug proceeds. On November 15, 2024, believing the dealer was at and/or coming to the Rutland apartment, Wainscott worked with Okorie and Moretti to find the person. Just before 7:00 p.m., the ultimate victim, who was not the rival dealer, returned to the apartment. Multiple shots were fired from the area a few houses down, wounding and ultimately killing the victim. Law enforcement found and arrested Wainscott and Okorie later that evening.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that all the charged defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Okorie and Wainscott face a maximum of life in prison if convicted. Siliski and Moretti face a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentences, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations and the Rutland Police Department.
The prosecutors are Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle Arra and Dana Hill. Wainscott is represented by Jordana M. Levine, Esq. Okorie is represented by William A. Vasiliou, Esq. Siliski is represented by Heather E. Ross, Esq. An attorney has not yet been appointed to represent Moretti.
Three More Memphis Gang Members Plead Guilty in Racketeering CaseRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — In the last month, three members of the Memphis-based gang known as Young Mob or Young Mob Military have pleaded guilty to Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy, robbery, death by firearm, and drug crimes.
These defendants ─ Paul Nelson, also known as “Big Paul” and “Paul Walk,” 33; Edgar Smith, also known as “Chuck P” and “Chucky,” 40, and Cedric Jackson, also known as “Ced,” 35, all of Memphis, Tennessee, were indicted as part of a larger investigation against the violent gang that resulted in multiple indictments alleging crimes by those associated with the gang. In total, 20 individuals from the Memphis area were indicted on federal charges.
“This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division ongoing commitment to quell the violent crime that plagued Memphis,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As to the Young Mob gang alone, Criminal Division’s partnership with the United States Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Tennessee has resulted in 20 members and associates of this violent gang have been hauled before federal courts to answer for their crimes, which include murder, attempted murder, robbery, and large-volume drug dealing, including trafficking in fentanyl. Our commitment to the people of Memphis is unwavering.”
“These successful federal prosecutions have significantly dismantled the Young Mob gang here in Memphis,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “If you are a member of a gang committed to a culture of criminality that terrorizes our community with violence, no matter your role or nickname - your days are numbered - there will be a reckoning."
On Aug. 14, 2026, Nelson pleaded guilty to armed Hobbs Act robbery and using a firearm to cause death during the robbery, as well as conspiring to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. As part of his guilty plea, Nelson admitted to the May 13, 2023 robbery at Tug’s Casual Grill in Harbor Town. Nelson and two Young Mob members targeted a rap musician affiliated with another Memphis musician and longtime nemesis of Young Mob. During the robbery, Nelson and his accomplice approached the victim and his girlfriend while they were seated at an outdoor table. The male victim fled and was followed by Nelson’s accomplice, who was armed with a rifle. The male victim was also armed and shot the accomplice in self-defense. After the accomplice was shot, Nelson, the wounded accomplice, and co-defendant Jerrod Cox allegedly dropped the dying accomplice off in the parking lot of a fire station: he later died of his wounds. Nelson faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced on Nov. 18, 2026.
On Aug. 20, 2026, Smith pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy. As part of the conspiracy, Smith agreed that he and other members or associates of the Young Mob criminal enterprise would commit at least two racketeering acts. In particular, Smith agreed with other conspirators that on June 12, 2024 they would commit acts of attempted robbery and robbery, in violation of Tennessee law. Smith also agreed that he other members and associates conspired to distribute and did distribute fentanyl. Smith faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on Dec. 3.
On Aug. 20, 2026, Jackson pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy. As part of the conspiracy, Jackson agreed that he and other members or associates of the Young Mob criminal enterprise would commit at least two racketeering acts. In particular, Jackson agreed with other conspirators that on June 11 and 12, 2024 they would commit acts of attempted robbery and robbery, in violation of Tennessee law. Jackson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on Dec. 4.
Codefendants Larry Wilson, also known as “L,” and Braxton Beck, also known as “B Mack,” each pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy and admitted their roles in the June 11, 2024 attempted robbery and June 12, 2024 robbery at a tattoo shop in Memphis. Beck and Wilson were sentenced to 120 and 87 months in prison, respectively.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Memphis Police Department and Multiagency Gang Unit (MGU) are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Amanda Kotula of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case, with significant assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Tennessee.
This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute the violent offenders and prevent further violence.
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CRM
26-953
If you have questions, please use the contacts in the message or call the Office of Public Affairs at 202-514-2007.
Three More Memphis Gang Members Plead Guilty in Racketeering CaseRead the Press Release
In the last month, three members of the Memphis-based gang known as Young Mob or Young Mob Military have pleaded guilty to Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy, robbery, death by firearm, and drug crimes.
These defendants ─ Paul Nelson, also known as “Big Paul” and “Paul Walk,” 33; Edgar Smith, also known as “Chuck P” and “Chucky,” 40, and Cedric Jackson, also known as “Ced,” 35, all of Memphis, Tennessee, were indicted as part of a larger investigation against the violent gang that resulted in multiple indictments alleging crimes by those associated with the gang. In total, 20 individuals from the Memphis area were indicted on federal charges.
“This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division ongoing commitment to quell the violent crime that plagued Memphis,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As to the Young Mob gang alone, Criminal Division’s partnership with the United States Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Tennessee has resulted in 20 members and associates of this violent gang have been hauled before federal courts to answer for their crimes, wich include murder, attempted murder, robbery, and large-volume drug dealing, including trafficking in fentanyl. Our commitment to the people of Memphis is unwavering.”
“These successful federal prosecutions have significantly dismantled the Young Mob gang here in Memphis,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “If you are a member of a gang committed to a culture of criminality that terrorizes our community with violence, no matter your role or nickname - your days are numbered - there will be a reckoning."
On Aug. 14, 2026, Nelson pleaded guilty to armed Hobbs Act robbery and using a firearm to cause death during the robbery, as well as conspiring to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. As part of his guilty plea, Nelson admitted to the May 13, 2023 robbery at Tug’s Casual Grill in Harbortown, Tennessee. Nelson and two Young Mob members targeted a rap musician affiliated with another Memphis musician and longtime nemesis of Young Mob. During the robbery, Nelson and his accomplice approached the victim and his girlfriend while they were seated at an outdoor table. The male victim fled and was followed by Nelson’s accomplice, who was armed with a rifle. The male victim was also armed and shot the accomplice in self-defense. After the accomplice was shot, Nelson, the wounded accomplice, and co-defendant Jerrod Cox allegedly dropped the dying accomplice off in the parking lot of a fire station: he later died of his wounds. Nelson faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced on Nov. 18, 2026.
On Aug. 20, 2026, Smith pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy. As part of the conspiracy, Smith agreed that he and other members or associates of the Young Mob criminal enterprise would commit at least two racketeering acts. In particular, Smith agreed with other conspirators that on June 12, 2024 they would commit acts of attempted robbery and robbery, in violation of Tennessee law. Smith also agreed that he other members and associates conspired to distribute and did distribute fentanyl. Smith faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on Dec. 3.
On Aug. 20, 2026, Jackson pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy. As part of the conspiracy, Jackson agreed that he and other members or associates of the Young Mob criminal enterprise would commit at least two racketeering acts. In particular, Jackson agreed with other conspirators that on June 11 and 12, 2024 they would commit acts of attempted robbery and robbery, in violation of Tennessee law. Jackson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on Dec. 4.
Codefendants Larry Wilson, also known as “L,” and Braxton Beck, also known as “B Mack,” each pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy and admitted their roles in the June 11, 2024 attempted robbery and June 12, 2024 robbery at a tattoo shop in Memphis. Beck and Wilson were sentenced to 120 and 87 months in prison, respectively.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Memphis Police Department and Multiagency Gang Unit (MGU) are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Amanda Kotula of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case, with significant assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Tennessee.
This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute the violent offenders and prevent further violence.
Three Alleged Members of Wilmington-Based 6ixers Gang Charged with Federal Robbery OffenseRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging three Delaware men with Hobbs Act robbery.
According to court documents, Jerome Pegram, 19, of Newark; Damire Lee, 22, of Wilmington; and Jeremiah Cunningham, 19, of Wilmington, are alleged to be members of the Wilmington-based 6ixers gang.The three gangmates are alleged to have participated in the armed robbery of an individual at a house party in Dover, Delaware, in March 2026. The gangmates forced the victim to hand over his property, striking him with firearms and their fists, and used a financial application on his phone to transfer money to themselves.
Pegram, Lee, and Cunningham are each charged with one count of Hobbs Act robbery. If convicted, the three men face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace and Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul of the FBI Baltimore Field Office made the announcement. The FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force and the Dover Police Department investigated the case. U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin B. Smith are 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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 26-cr-129 (RGA).
The charges contained in the indictment and preceding criminal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Tampa Man Sentenced to More Than 21 Years for Producing and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Michael Antwohn Wilson (38, Tampa) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervision, for producing and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Wilson pleaded guilty in March 2026. The court ordered Wilson to forfeit a cellphone and two SD cards, which were used in the commission of the offenses. Wilson was also ordered to pay $58,500 in restitution to the victims and must register as a sex offender. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, on February 23 and April 27, 2023, Wilson produced CSAM videos involving a child. From an unknown date until June 2025, Wilson also possessed CSAM, which included children under 12 years old.
This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Stamford Woman Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison for Selling Drugs and GunRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that AMONDA MENDEZ, also known as “M-Dot” and “Dot,” 35, of Stamford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 150 months of imprisonment and eight years of supervised release for selling narcotics and a firearm while on federal supervised release.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2016, Mendez was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 10 years of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for narcotics trafficking and firearm possession offenses. She was released from federal prison in January 2025. Between April and July 2025, law enforcement made multiple controlled purchases of crack cocaine and fentanyl, and one purchase of a loaded .40 caliber pistol, from Mendez. The pistol had been reported as stolen.
Mendez was arrested on July 28, 2025. On that date, a search of her person revealed approximately 48 grams of crack cocaine and $1,934 in cash, a search of her Stamford residence revealed approximately 163 grams of crack, and a search of another Stamford residence connected to Mendez revealed $2,456 in cash.
Mendez has been detained since her arrest. On May 27, 2026, she pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”).
Judge Oliver sentenced Mendez to 120 months of imprisonment for the narcotics trafficking offense, and a consecutive 30 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of her supervised release.
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Stamford Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Gresham.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
St. Augustine Man Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Prison for Defrauding a Senior of More Than $2 MillionRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Eric James Stone (43, St. Augustine) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jordan E. Pratt to six years and eight months in federal prison for committing wire fraud and money laundering. Stone was also ordered to pay $2,037,103 in restitution to his victim. He pleaded guilty on March 24, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, Stone used his position as a financial advisor to befriend the victim, a 75-year-old woman, in order to solicit money from her. During the span of approximately three years, Stone convinced the victim to make over 600 transactions, sending him money that amounted to over $2 million. To convince the victim to send him money, Stone sent fraudulent emails from purported attorneys, banks, and other internet websites. Stone spent most of the victim’s money on foreign gambling websites.
“Our seniors are among our nation’s most vulnerable population and must be protected,” said U.S. Attorney Kehoe. “The defendant in this case used his position of trust to deliberately deceive and exploit the victim for his own personal gain. For that, he will be punished for his crimes.”
“Every dollar stolen is a story of hardship for the victim, and IRS-CI is dedicated to making sure those stories end with accountability,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “Our agents’ expertise in tracing complex financial transactions is unmatched. IRS-CI Special Agents are the backbone of financial crime enforcement.”
“Stealing $2 million isn’t just a financial crime, it’s a betrayal of trust that has life-altering consequences for a victim long after the crime is committed,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “This sentence sends a clear message: fraudsters who think they can lie and steal will face the consequences of their actions. The FBI will work with our partners to ensure those who exploit others for financial gain are brought to justice. You can’t hide from accountability.”
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro. Assistant United States Attorney Clint J. Locke is handling the forfeiture.
South Hero Man Sentenced to 8 Months for Mail TheftRead the Press Release
RUTLAND – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on August 18, 2026, Kevin Manning, 43, of South Hero, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 8 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release, with the first four months of supervised release to be served on home detention. Manning previously pleaded guilty to three counts of theft or attempted theft of mail, and one count of possession of stolen mail.
According to court records, beginning in early December 2025, the Grand Isle Sheriff’s Department began receiving reports from residents of Grand Isle, Vermont that packages which had been shipped to them were missing from their porches and mailboxes. Law enforcement investigated and identified Manning as the likely suspect. On December 24, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Manning’s residence, recovering approximately 120 items during the search. Manning admitted these were items he had stolen.
Following the December 24, 2025 search warrant, Grand Isle Sheriff’s Department received additional reports of missing packages. Law enforcement executed a second search warrant at Manning’s residence on February 13, 2026, and recovered additional items. Manning again admitted to stealing packages. Between the two search warrants, law enforcement recovered stolen goods worth more than $13,000. These goods included winter coats, home safety equipment, medical equipment, prescription medication, and checks.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Grand Isle Sheriff’s Department, Vermont State Police, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, and the Essex Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn. Manning was represented by Federal Public Defender Alejandro Fernandez.
Six Defendants Charged with Million Dollar Rental Car and Identity Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced today charges against KAHEEM ARCHER, CALVIN BENT, CHRISTINE FERGUSON, LAMONT MARTIN, AJANI MCCHRISTON, and CHAD REED in connection with a multi-year scheme to steal rental cars worth millions of dollars using stolen credit cards and forged driver’s licenses. Each of the six defendants is charged with conspiracy to receive, possess, and dispose of stolen vehicles; conspiracy to commit wire fraud; and aggravated identity theft. All six defendants were arrested today and presented in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger.
“Identity theft has no place in our community, and it impacts and harms New Yorkers and others in many different ways,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “As alleged, the six defendants charged today traveled up and down the East Coast, picking up rental cars using credit cards obtained with the identities of innocent victims to further a variety of schemes, including the use of rental cars to commit violent crimes in our community. These charges not only bring that scheme to an end but also send a broader message that the women and men of this Office, in coordination with our law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate and pursue criminals who seek to use the identities of unwitting and innocent victims to enrich themselves and commit crimes.”
“The alleged rental car and identify theft scheme in this investigation resulted in the loss of millions of dollars from innocent victims,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “Crimes involving stolen identities and large-scale financial loss undermine public trust and cause harm to those impacted. In support of the Vice President's Fraud Task Force, FBI New York will continue to work diligently to protect the public from fraud in all its forms.
“As alleged in the complaint, these six defendants used stolen credit cards and forged driver’s licenses to steal millions of dollars in stolen vehicles, some of which were later used in violent crimes,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Today, we shut this criminal operation down and remind those who attempt to use our city as a playground for criminal activity that they will face consequences. Thank you to our NYPD investigators whose relentless work dismantled this scheme, and our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for ensuring that these individuals are held accountable.
As alleged in the Complaint and other public filings:(1)
From at least September 2023 to the present, ARCHER, BENT, FERGUSON, MARTIN, MCCHRISTON, and REED stole rental cars across the Northeastern United States from multiple rental car companies by using stolen credit cards and fraudulent driver’s licenses bearing the defendants’ photographs but victims’ names. For over three years, the defendants executed the charged scheme by reserving and picking up rental cars under stolen identities, charging the rentals to the victims’ credit cards, and then transporting the cars to the Bronx or Manhattan, New York, often on the same day. Multiple defendants carried out these thefts in close succession at the same rental locations. None of the cars were returned, and several were later recovered in connection with violent crimes or found operated by suspects of violent crimes.
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ARCHER, 29, of Brooklyn, New York; BENT, 24, of Brooklyn; FERGUSON, 27, of Brooklyn; MARTIN, 26, of Staten Island, New York; MCCHRISTON, 33, of Brooklyn; and REED, 27, of Brooklyn, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to receive, possess, and dispose of stolen vehicles, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and NYPD, including the FBI / NYPD New York Joint Major Theft Task Force. Mr. McDonald also thanked the Northampton, Massachusetts Police Department; Verona, New Jersey Police Department; Collegeville, Pennsylvania Police Department; Newark, Delaware Police Department; Greenwich, Connecticut Police Department; Delaware State Police, New York State Police, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for their valuable assistance.
The case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leslie B. Arffa and Matthew T. Souza are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
^
As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to over 3 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on August 17, 2026.
Kyle Lee Tobacco, 32, was sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Tobacco was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2025. He pleaded guilty on May 15, 2026.
Tobacco was arrested on March 4, 2025, when law enforcement officers conducting a search warrant found him in possession of a pistol in his hotel room. He was prohibited from possessing the firearm because he had previous felony convictions for escape and possession of a firearm by a felon.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.
Tobacco was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux City Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
Angel Castillo-Martinez, age 26, from Sioux City, was sentenced August 19, 2026, to more than 12 years in federal prison, after a March 18, 2026, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon.
Evidence in the case revealed, on June 5, 2025, Castillo-Martinez obtained a ride from Winnebago, Nebraska to Sioux City, Iowa with the intent to “hurt a lot of people.” He was armed with a loaded handgun and a loaded rifle. Sioux City police officers saw Castillo-Martinez getting in and out of the vehicle abruptly and noticed that the vehicle was being driven by a person with a suspended license. A traffic stop ensued.
Castillo-Martinez fled on foot from the traffic stop, running through a residential neighborhood, but was quickly apprehended by Sioux City police officers. Castillo-Martinez provided officers with a false name and date of birth. Officers retraced the path of flight and found Castillo-Martinez had attempted to hide a baggie containing more the 50 grams of methamphetamine. Officers conducted a search of the vehicle and located a backpack on the passenger floorboard containing a loaded pistol as well as a second backpack containing a loaded AR-style rifle, with an obliterated serial number, in the truck bed. Following his arrest, Castillo-Martinez admitted that he was on his way to “hurt a lot of people” to seek revenge for an attack that happened to a friend two days prior. He later learned that the people he had targeted were innocent.
Castillo-Martinez’s criminal history includes theft, possession of controlled substances, carrying a dangerous weapon, assault on a peace officer, and interference with official acts.
Castillo-Martinez was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 151 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Castillo-Martinez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department and the United States Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-4035.
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Shiprock Man Sentenced for Firing Gun at PasserbyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man was sentenced to 48 months in prison for firing multiple shots at a passerby.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, on March 13, 2025, Isaiah Benally, 35, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, fired multiple shots at a passerby on Navajo Route 509. Two bullets struck the ground near the passerby, who was not injured but told law enforcement he feared for his life. Benally then remained inside a nearby residence and refused repeated commands from law enforcement to exit. Benally eventually exited the residence and was taken into custody without incident. A subsequent search of the residence recovered an unloaded handgun and multiple rounds of ammunition from Benally’s bedroom.
Benally pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. Upon his release from prison, Benally will be subject to three years of supervised release.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meg Tomlinson prosecuted the case.
Sex Offender Caught in State Park with Children Admits Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A sex offender on Thursday admitted being caught with two children in a Missouri state park, triggering an investigation that uncovered child sexual abuse material.
Michael E. Barton, 46, of Washington County, admitted in his plea agreement that on Nov. 12, 2023, he was spotted by a Missouri State Park Ranger in Elephant Rocks State Park. The ranger ran Barton’s license plate and learned that he was a sex offender who, by law, is not allowed within 500 feet of a park with a playground. The ranger conducted a traffic stop and spotted two boys, ages 8 and 12, in the car who are not related to Barton. Barton provided the passcode to one of his cellphones, leading the ranger to discover a YouTube account that Barton had not registered and photos of the older boy shirtless.
The ranger also found photos of a second phone that included SnapChat conversations with the older boy that included adult pornography. When confronted with the ranger’s findings, Barton ran for his vehicle and grabbed the older boy’s arm but was shocked with a Taser and handcuffed. The ranger found and searched Barton’s second phone, with his consent, and uncovered photos and videos of the older boy, including videos taken with a camera Barton had hidden in his home.
Barton pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of possession of child pornography and one count of failure to update the sex offender registry.
Barton is scheduled to be sentenced on November 18. The possession charge is punishable by 10 to 20 years in prison and the failure to register charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
The Missouri State Park Rangers and the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hayes is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Serial Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Unlawful Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Curtis Lee Smith-Carter, 28, of Gainesville, Florida, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our citizens deserve to live in communities without dangerous, armed criminals – like this serial felon – threatening their safety. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases to ensure we deliver on that promise.”
Court documents reflect that on November 8, 2025, shortly after midnight, the defendant attempted to flee from police as they approached him behind a Gainesville convenience store. At that time, the defendant was in possession of a loaded .32 caliber pistol, which he threw over a fence. The defendant has been convicted of nine prior felony offenses, including possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
Gainesville Police Chief Nelson Moya said: “Those who have been convicted of a felony and choose to possess a firearm put our community at risk and will be held accountable.”
The case involved an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Gainesville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner prosecuted 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.
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.
Senior Executive Charged with Insider TradingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging JESUS LUIS MORELL, a senior executive at HEICO Corporation (“HEICO”), with three counts of securities fraud stemming from multiple instances of insider trading based on misappropriated financial information belonging to his employer. MORELL was presented today before U.S. District Judge Jared M. Strauss in the Southern District of Florida.
“Luis Morell allegedly misappropriated confidential information obtained from his employer and used it for his personal benefit,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “Protecting the integrity of our financial markets is a core priority of this Office, and we will continue to keep a watchful eye over anyone who seeks to undermine the integrity of those markets.”
As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:(1)
MORELL was the President of two significant subsidiaries of HEICO and a member of the Board of Directors for a third subsidiary. HEICO maintained policies prohibiting employees from trading in HEICO stock while in possession of material nonpublic information, which policies MORELL acknowledged he understood on an annual basis. Notwithstanding MORELL’s certifications that he would abide by HEICO’s insider trading policies, on two separate occasions in 2022 and 2025, MORELL purchased Class A common stock of HEICO in advance of the public quarterly earnings release but after receiving material non-public information concerning HEICO’s actual or forecasted earnings for the quarter. Following the public release of HEICO’s quarterly earnings information—which included financial data that was the same or very similar to the data MORELL received before purchasing HEICO stock—the price of HEICO’s Class A shares rose and MORELL quickly sold all of the shares he had purchased for a significant profit. In total, MORELL made more than $1.8 million in illicit profits by trading HEICO stock based on material, nonpublic information he misappropriated from his employer.
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MORELL, 64, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is charged with two counts of securities fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. McDonald thanked the FBI. Mr. McDonald also thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. DiBattista is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
^
As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaints and the description of the Complaints set forth herein constitutes only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Restaurateur Sentenced to Two and a Half Years in Federal Prison for $2.8 Million Covid-Relief and Tax FraudsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO – A restaurateur who operated several eateries in Illinois and Colorado has been sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison for submitting fraudulent Covid-relief loan applications and failing to pay tax withholdings from his employees. Under the leadership of United States Attorney Andrew S. Boutros and consistent with the Administration’s priorities to identify, investigate, and prosecute criminal fraud in the federal government entitlement and benefit programs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois has been taking a fresh look at Covid-19 fraud.
In 2020 and 2021, JARED LEONARD schemed to fraudulently obtain more than $2.3 million in small business loans and grants under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”). Leonard submitted at least ten fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) loans and grants purportedly on behalf of his restaurant businesses. The applications contained numerous false statements and misrepresentations regarding the businesses’ operations, including the number of employees, gross revenues, and payroll expenses. Leonard used the funds to purchase, among other things, vehicles, international travel, and a luxurious personal residence on more than seven acres in Evergreen, Colo.
In the 15 months prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Leonard failed to pay to the IRS federal income taxes, Social Security taxes, and Medicare taxes that he had withheld on behalf of his employees in amounts totaling more than $430,000.
Leonard, 45, of Littleton, Colo., pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal wire fraud and tax charges. On Aug. 13, 2026, U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang sentenced Leonard to 30 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay approximately $2.8 million in restitution to the IRS and U.S. Small Business Administration.
U.S. Attorney Boutros announced Leonard’s sentence along with Marta Grijalva, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago, and Vincent R. Zehme, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Region of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Office of Inspector General. Valuable assistance was provided by the Denver Field Office of the FBI.
“The crimes defendant committed were undertaken for his personal benefit, not to aid his employees,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Hayes argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “He purchased a luxurious home on several acres in a scenic mountain town outright with cash taken directly from the Covid-relief programs. Defendant also subsequently purchased motor vehicles and travel to high-end resorts in Mexico and other locations.”
On April 7, 2026, 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.
Repeat offender sentenced to prison for having firearms as a felonRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A convicted felon was sentenced to 137 months in prison after being repeatedly caught with firearms although he cannot legally possess guns.
According to court documents, Brandon Paul McFall, 34, of Topeka pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of firearm by a convicted felon.
In 2020, McFall was convicted in Bay County, Florida, for being a felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition.
In May 2023, a Shawnee County Sheriff's Office deputy stopped McFall for a traffic violation. Inside the vehicle, a deputy found a pistol and ammunition.
In November 2023, a Shawnee County Sheriff's deputy saw McFall racing around a roundabout on a stolen motorcycle. McFall fled from law enforcement before abandoning the motorcycle and running away on foot. Deputies tracked and located McFall using a canine. They also found a firearm within yards of the motorcycle that McFall left behind.
“Some people learn from their mistakes and don’t repeat the behavior that caused them to run afoul of the law. Mr. McFall is not one of those people. It surprises no one except him that his cycle of crime keeps resulting in the same outcome: him being locked up in a cell,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Hough prosecuted the case.
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Real Estate Investor Admits Mortgage Fraud, Covid-19 Relief Program Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A New Jersey man admitted to participating in a multimillion-dollar mortgage fraud scheme and fraudulently obtaining more than $1.8 million of federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans, United States Attorney Robert Frazer announced today.
Arthur Spitzer, 39, of Toms River, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on August 19, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Edward S. Kiel to one count of bank and wire fraud conspiracy and one count of money laundering. Spitzer’s co-defendants, Mendel Deutsch, 39, and Joshua Feldberger, 44, previously pleaded guilty before Judge Kiel to their respective roles in the fraudulent schemes and are awaiting sentencing.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In June 2020, Spitzer conspired with Deutsch and Feldberger to make it appear as if Spitzer owned three properties in Brooklyn, New York and agreed to sell them to Deutsch, who obtained a $4.5 million mortgage loan in connection with the transaction. Feldberger facilitated the fraudulent transaction as the owner of the settlement company that handled the transaction. The defendants created and sent letters stating that Deutsch had deposited significant funds into escrow toward the transaction, when in reality he had not; instead, they created fake documentation purportedly transferring control of the properties to Spitzer, and made false statements to the mortgage lender by claiming that the settlement company had received more than $2 million from Deutsch at closing, which led the mortgage lender to fund the loan. The defendants then used the mortgage loan proceeds to fund Deutsch’s down payment, which he had supposedly already provided.
Spitzer also agreed that he was responsible for the losses resulting from five additional fraudulent loan schemes in 2019 and 2020, amounting to more than millions of dollars.
Further, in 2020 and 2021, Spitzer fraudulently obtained approximately $1.8 million of government loans that were intended for small businesses distressed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted in March 2020 and was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) of up to $2 million to eligible small businesses that were experiencing substantial financial disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To obtain an EIDL loan, a qualifying small business was required to submit an application and provide information on its operations, including the number of employees and revenues or expenses. Spitzer obtained EIDL loans for businesses that had little or no operations by submitting loan applications that included false statements about the applicant companies’ number of employees, revenues, cost of goods sold, or lost rents. Spitzer then laundered some of the proceeds of the EIDL loan fraud.
The count of bank and wire fraud conspiracy is punishable by a maximum of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The count of money laundering is punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.
Spitzer has agreed to pay full restitution to the victims of the offenses of conviction and relevant conduct, including $1,000,000 to the true owner of the Brooklyn properties, as well as at least $1,845,400 to the SBA, subject to any applicable credits for amounts already repaid to the victims. Spitzer also agreed to forfeiture in the amount of $2,250,000 as to the bank and wire fraud conspiracy and $100,000 as to the money laundering of fraudulent EIDL loan proceeds, for a total of $2,350,000.
Spitzer is scheduled to be sentenced on December 21, 2026. Deutsch is scheduled to be sentenced on October 6, 2026, and Feldberger is awaiting the scheduling of a new sentencing date.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark; special agents of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan in Newark; and special agents of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Patricia Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge, New York Regional Office, with the investigation leading to these guilty pleas.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisa T. Wiygul of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Camden.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division's prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 150 defendants in more than 95 criminal cases and has seized over $75 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at Justice.gov/OPA/pr/justice-department-takes-action-against-covid-19-fraud.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is 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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Defense counsel:
Spitzer: Henry Mazurek, Esq. and Jason Ser, Esq., New York
Deutsch: Timothy Sini, Esq, New York
Feldberger: Zach Intrater, Esq., New York
spitzer.indictment.pdfRaytown Man Sentenced to 74 Months for Using Gun During CVS RobberyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Rayton, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court for using a firearm to rob a CVS pharmacy.
Ta’Rod Glenel Perkins, 28, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Brian C. Wimes to six years and two months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release for using a firearm during an armed robbery of a CVS pharmacy in Kansas City, Mo.
On Jan. 21, 2026, Perkins, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lajuan M. Counts to one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, specifically a robbery of a CVS pharmacy store. At the time Perkins robbed the CVS, he was on federal supervised release related to another federal prosecution. Perkins’s sentence includes his sentence for violating his conditions of supervised release by robbing the CVS.
According to the written plea agreement, Perkins admitted that on Feb. 13, 2025, he entered a CVS in Kansas City, Mo., wearing a mask, a black coat, blue jeans, and gloves. Witnesses reported that the robber had a handgun and stated: “I want promethazine and oxy. I don’t want any trouble. Just give me Promethazine and Oxy.” Perkins jumped over the counter and grabbed a red tub that was filled with controlled substances. CVS employees were able to place a tracking device in the red tub that Perkins stole. This tracker led investigators to a residence in Belton, Mo., where Perkins was found. Investigators obtained a search warrant of the residence and found clothing worn by the robber during the robbery. A firearm was later recovered from a neighbor who found it hidden under a barbeque grill on the deck. Law enforcement officials swabbed the firearm for genetic material and DNA comparative analysis tended to show that Perkins’s DNA was present on the firearm.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by Kansas City, Mo. Police Department, the Belton, Mo. Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Operation Take Back America
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Portland Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Use of a Firearm in Interstate Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man was sentenced to federal prison today for interstate domestic violence and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Carlos Miscoot, 28, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison and 5 years’ supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon.
“Domestic violence cases are incredibly serious and important to me,” said U.S. Attorney Bradford. “Domestic violence removes safety from the home and places victims in constant fear. Gun use significantly increases danger. This woman made clear this relationship was over, but Miscoot sought to continue to control and abuse her. We stopped that and are grateful the victim was able to seek help after this horrific crime.”
According to court documents, Miscoot abducted his ex-girlfriend at gunpoint on November 2, 2023. Miscoot and the victim had been broken up for about a year, though Miscoot continued to call, text, and show up at her home unannounced after the relationship ended. On November 2, 2023, Miscoot arranged with the victim to meet outside her home to get back some of his belongings. At her home, Miscoot pulled out a gun and forced the victim into his car. Miscoot drove her across state lines into a remote area of Washington. During the drive, he continued to point the gun at her and made threatening statements. Miscoot parked in a wooded area and raped the victim, showing and firing the gun to keep her from resisting. After the rape, Miscoot drove the victim back to Portland while continuing to threaten her and warn her not to call the police. Miscoot returned uninvited to the victim’s home less than a week later, which resulted in his arrest.
On June 18, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 3-count indictment charging Miscoot with kidnapping, interstate domestic violence, and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
On May 28, 2026, Miscoot pleaded guilty to interstate domestic violence and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Portland Police Bureau. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mira Chernick.