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24 July 2025
Newburyport Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Scheme to Defraud Home Repair Insurance Providers of More Than $2 MillionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Newburyport man has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for defrauding a home repair insurance provider by billing for purported repair jobs that were never performed.
Christian Decristofaro, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to two years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Decristofaro was also ordered to pay $2,196,323 in restitution. The Court ordered forfeiture in the same amount. In March 2025, Decristofaro pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with wire fraud.
Decristofaro caused NE Premier Home Services LLC (NE Premier) – a purported home repair company he controlled – to enroll as a contractor with a home repair insurance provider (the victim). Decristofaro used false identities to enroll non-existent homeowners in insurance plans with the victim insurance provider. Decristofaro then reported fictitious home emergencies to the victim on behalf of the purported homeowners and requested that NE Premier be assigned to perform the repairs. He then caused NE Premier to bill the victim insurance provider for the repair jobs, even though there was no repair work done. As a result of these fraudulent billings, between approximately October 2020 and June 2023, the victim insurance provider paid NE Premier approximately $2,196,323 for services that NE Premier had not rendered.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan C. Cleary and Leslie A. Wright of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
New York Woman Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation OffenseRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SASHA MAY, formerly known as Owen May, 24, of Pelham, New York, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to a child exploitation offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between December 2023 and May 2024, May engaged in online conversations with an undercover law enforcement officer on the messaging platforms Kik and Whisper. In those conversations, May detailed her sexual interest in children and distributed child pornography.
May pleaded guilty to possession and access with intent to view child pornography, an offense that carries a maximum term of 20 years imprisonment. Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for October 16.
May, who was arrested on a criminal complaint on August 26, 2024, is released on a $100,000 bond and on home confinement with electronic monitoring pending sentencing.
This matter has been investigated by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force, the Greenwich Police Department, and the Pelham (N.Y.) Police Department. The Task Force includes federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Lembo.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
New York Man Indicted in Multi-Million Dollar Fraud and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A federal grand jury in Rhode Island returned a seven-count indictment alleging that a New York resident participated in a fraud and money laundering scheme that defrauded a Rhode Island law firm and other businesses of more than eight million dollars, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
The indictment charges Tushal Rathod, 45, of Baldwinsville, NY, with wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud (two counts), aggravated identity theft, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, concealment of money laundering, and engaging in transactions with proceeds of criminal activity.
The indictment alleges that Rathod worked with individuals that he met online to receive fraudulent proceeds and launder those funds through businesses and financial accounts, some of which he created, keeping an approximate 10% cut for himself. The fraud scheme involved business email compromise, account takeover, and counterfeit checks. Among the victims of the fraud and money laundering conspiracy detailed in the indictment are a Rhode Island law firm who was defrauded of more than $163,200; a California credit union that was defrauded of approximately $8,000,000; and an Information Technology company of $154,900.
As reflected in the indictment it is alleged that:
- Rathod opened business bank accounts at multiple financial institutions to receive fraudulent proceeds and recruited others to do the same.
- Rathod monitored the activity in those accounts and communicated account information to other members of the conspiracy.
- Rathod created and provided false documents to financial institutions to gain access to funds deposited into the receiving accounts, which he withdrew and transferred in a manner designed to conceal the nature, source, location, ownership, or control over the funds.
- Rathod converted some of the fraudulent proceeds into Bitcoin.
A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sandra R. Hebert.
The matter was investigated by the FBI.
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indictment.pdfNebraska Man Sentenced for Distributing Fentanyl AnalogueRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Larry D. Moss, 22, of Omaha, Nebraska was sentenced on July 23, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for distributing fentanyl analogue. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Moss to 125 months’ imprisonment to be served consecutively to the state sentence he is presently serving at the state penitentiary. There is no parole in the federal system. After Moss’ release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
On September 13, 2023, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobaccos and Firearms (ATF) special agents received information from a confidential source (CS) that Larry Moss and co-conspirator Craig Ruffin had acquired 1,500 fentanyl pills. Agents arranged a controlled purchase of approximately 200 ‘M30’fentanyl pills for $2,000 from Moss at his Omaha residence, during which Moss sold the pills containing fentanyl analogue.
On March 27, 2024, Drug Enforcement Agency task force officers (TFOs) encountered a suspicious package sent from Laveen, Arizona to a Bellevue residence. TFOs executed a search warrant on the package and found it contained approx. 2,000 ‘M30’ fentanyl pills. TFOs delivered the package to the residence where Moss collected it and drove away. Law enforcement pursued and attempted to stop his vehicle, but Moss drove onto the sidewalk and through a construction site and ultimately escaped. He threw the package out of the window. Officers also found a Sig Sauer P250, .357 SIG handgun in his path.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration and the Omaha and Bellevue Police Departments.
Monroe Man Sentenced to 48 Months’ Imprisonment for Committing $2 Million in Covid-19 Pandemic FraudRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Brian J. Albelli, age 46, of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on June 23, 2025, to 48 months of imprisonment by Senior United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion, following his convictions of wire fraud and money laundering.
According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, Albelli filed approximately 20 fraudulent applications for pandemic stimulus funds, including under the Payment Protection Program (PPP) and for Economic Injury and Disaster Loans (EIDLs). Albelli filed the applications in the name of various business entities under his and his family’s control, listing himself, his wife, and his parents as the signatories. Some of the applications submitted by Albelli were filed on behalf of corporate entities under his control that did not, in fact, have actual business operations.
Through his scheme, Albelli secured over $2.2 million in pandemic stimulus funds. Instead of using his funds on business expenses, as intended, Albelli used them to purchase automobiles, a boat, and make casino withdrawals, among other personal expenses. A significant portion of the loan proceeds were passed through an account held in the name of Outbreak Assets LLC, a company Abelli created for the sole purpose of receiving fraudulent proceeds, before being used on personal expenses.
In addition to the sentence of imprisonment, Judge Mannion also sentenced Albelli to three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment, to pay full restitution of $2,232,077, and to forfeit numerous assets seized by investigators which included funds in bank accounts, two vehicles, and jewelry.
The PPP and EIDL programs, both funded by the March 2020 CARES Act, were designed to help small businesses facing financial difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic. PPP funds were offered in forgivable loans, provided that certain criteria are met, including use of the funds for employee payroll, mortgage interest, lease, and utilities expenses. EIDL funds are offered in low-interest rate loans, designated for specific business expenses, such as fixed debts, payroll, and business obligations.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle A. Moreno prosecuted the case.
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Monmouth County Man Admits to Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Monmouth County man admitted to armed bank robbery, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Jeffrey L. Kniffin, 51, of Wall Township, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi on July 22, 2025, to a one-count Information charging him with armed bank robbery.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On October 23, 2024, Kniffin entered a bank in Wall Township, New Jersey armed with a loaded handgun, approached a bank teller, and demanded cash from the teller. After demanding the money, Kniffin removed the handgun from his pocket and displayed it towards the teller. During his interaction with the teller, Kniffin instructed multiple times, “Don’t do anything stupid.” Kniffin received approximately $27,072 in cash from the teller and then fled the bank. He was apprehended and arrested by law enforcement several minutes later. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement recovered from Kniffin and his immediate surroundings a loaded firearm and more than $25,000 in cash.
The count of armed bank robbery carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for November 24, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited task force officers with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges. She also thanked the Wall Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Sean O’Halloran, and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago, for their assistance in the investigation.
The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Garelick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.
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Defense counsel: John M. Holliday, Esq.
kniffin.information.pdfMiddle District of Florida Prosecutors Charge More Than 150 Individuals with Immigration-Related Offenses During the Third Quarter of 2025Read the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces today that federal prosecutors have charged 154 defendants with immigration and immigration-related offenses during the third quarter of fiscal year 2025, ending June 30, 2025. The majority of the defendants (146) have been charged with illegally reentering the United States.
During the same time period, 123 defendants pleaded guilty, and 96 defendants were sentenced for illegal reentry or other immigration-related offenses.
“Enforcement of our country’s immigration laws is one of the top priorities of the United States Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “We, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to work to investigate and prosecute aliens who enter or remain in the United States in violation of our laws, and any individuals that help them do so.”
Q3 FY 2025 Highlights
U.S. v. Ana Juanita Andrade-Reyes
Ana Juanita Andrade-Reyes, a Honduran national illegally present in United States, was sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit tax fraud. The court also ordered Andrade-Reyes to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $2,084,182 and entered a money judgment against Andrade-Reyes in the amount of $664,588, representing the proceeds of the wire fraud. According to court documents, Andrade-Reyes established a shell company that obtained a workers’ compensation insurance policy to cover a minimal payroll for a few purported employees. Andrade-Reyes then “rented” the workers’ compensation insurance to work crews who had obtained subcontracts with construction contractors on projects, sent the contractors a certificate of insurance as “proof” that the work crews had insurance, and falsely represented that the work crews worked for the shell company. As part of the scheme, Andrade-Reyes facilitated the employment of undocumented illegal workers and avoided payroll taxes, resulting in a loss to the government of $2,084,182.
U.S. v. Pedro Antunez-Galarza
According to court documents, Pedro Antunez-Galarza, a Mexican citizen, was removed from the United States in 2018 after he was convicted of an aggravated felony and served a prison sentence. He illegally reentered the United States, and when law enforcement found him in the Middle District of Florida in July 2024, he unlawfully possessed a firearm, ammunition, and false permanent resident and Social Security cards. For these offenses and for violating his supervised release, he was sentenced to a total of four years and eight months in federal prison.
U.S. v. Hubert Richard Crew
In May 2025, Hubert Richard Crew, a Jamaican national, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for illegal reentry into the United States by an alien. According to court documents, Crew, after serving a prison sentence for multiple felony offenses, was removed from the United States multiple times—most recently in 2016. He illegally reentered the United States again and was found in the Middle District of Florida in November 2024.
U.S. v. Angel Antonio Trochez-Cruz
Angel Antonio Trochez-Cruz was sentenced to six years in federal prison for illegal reentering the United States. According to court records, Trochez-Cruz, a native and citizen of Honduras, was removed from the United States in 2014 after serving a state prison sentence for robbery. Federal immigration authorities found him in the Middle District of Florida in December 2023 after he was arrested on a state charge for unlawful sexual activity—a crime for which he received a sentence of 24 months in prison. The court ordered the federal sentence to run consecutive to the term of imprisonment imposed in the state case.
U.S. v. Juan Leon David Vazquez
Juan Leon David Vazquez, a Colombian national, was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States. According to court documents, Vazquez shot and injured a man during an argument. Before fleeing the scene, he told the victim that he would kill him if he called the police. Despite the threat, the victim called 911 and reported the shooting. Law enforcement, after determining that Vazquez was the shooter and arresting him, searched the Vazquez’s residence and located the firearm.
Mexican National Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Reentry into the U.S. Following Fentanyl Trafficking ArrestRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – ADRIAN GOMEZ-OSORIO, 40, of Mexico, has been sentenced to serve 64 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States after a prior removal, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public record, on October 17, 2024, Gomez-Osorio was found to be knowingly within the United States after having previously been removed from the United States to Mexico on July 2, 2020. Gomez-Osorio was encountered by immigration authorities after he was arrested and charged in Oklahoma County District Court with acquiring proceeds from drug activity, aggravated trafficking, and trafficking of fentanyl crimes he has since been convicted of in case number CF-2024-5079.
On November 19, 2024, a federal Grand Jury charged Gomez-Osorio with illegally reentering the United States after a prior removal. Gomez-Osorio pleaded guilty on February 14, 2025, and admitted he knowingly reentered the United States without proper consent.
At the sentencing hearing on July 23, 2025, U.S. Chief District Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti sentenced Gomez-Osorio to serve 64 months in federal prison. In announcing his sentence, Judge DeGiusti noted the need to promote respect for the law, and to protect the public from future crimes of Gomez-Osorio.
This case is the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Edgmon prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Mexican National Sentenced for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Mexican national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Luis Fernando Lara Uribe, 49, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to one year and one day in prison. The defendant will be subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In April 2025, Lara Uribe pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien.
Lara Uribe was previously deported five times, the last being in February 2015. Sometime after his removal in 2015, Lara Uribe unlawfully reentered the United States.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. Richardson of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Mexican Citizen Living Illegally in Charleston Pleads Guilty and is Sentenced for Immigration CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Maximino Montalvo Salas, 20, a Mexican citizen living illegally in Charleston, pleaded guilty today to the felony offense of knowingly possessing a fraudulent Permanent Resident Card (“Green Card”) and was sentenced to time served. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has an immigration detainers on Salas and he will be transferred to ICE administrative custody for removal proceedings.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 28, 2025, law enforcement officers encountered Salas in Charleston. ICE agents confirmed that Salas is a citizen of Mexico in the United States illegally and used a counterfeited Immigration Form I-551, also known as a Permanent Resident Card or Green Card, to obtain employment in the United States.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing and imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuted the case, as part of a special unit within the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia focused on the immigration enforcement objectives of Operation Take Back America.
Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-83.
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Member of Violent Gang Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston-area man has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for his role in Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang.
Wilter Rodrigues, 39, was sentenced on July 22, 2025 by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 60 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. In July 2024, Rodrigues pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base.
According to court documents, Rodrigues was identified as member of Cameron Street, a violent gang based largely in the Dorchester section of Boston that uses violence and threats of violence to preserve, protect and expand its territory, promote a climate of fear and enhance its reputation.
Rodrigues worked with two co-defendants to allegedly distribute cocaine and cocaine base from an apartment in Somerville. Rodrigues has a lengthy criminal record, including a previous federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and two state court convictions for drug-distribution offenses.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Bryan DiGirolamo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth and Pawtucket (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Charles Dell’Anno of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The remaining defendants named in the indictment are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Maryland Man Sentenced in Connection with Pet-Selling Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Anomah Ndonwi, 32, of Chillum, Maryland, to 30 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with David Richeson, Special Agent in Charge, Washington Field Office, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).
Beginning in at least September 2019, and continuing through at least December 2022, Ndonwi conspired with others to devise a scheme to obtain money through materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises. The scheme involved various non-delivery schemes, including victims throughout the United States who responded to internet websites offering the sale of pets such as dogs and horses.
After exchanging messages with the supposed seller of the pet, victims paid using a wire transfer or electronic-app transfer. Following the payments, victims never received the pet they paid for nor a refund.
Another scheme involved the non-delivery of agricultural goods, such as meat products. Victims, often from foreign countries and representing foreign businesses, responded to an alleged sale offer, and paid for goods using an interstate or international wire communication. After payment, the victims never received the ordered products nor a refund from the supposed seller.
Ndonwi opened U.S. bank accounts to receive the proceeds from these schemes using fraudulent identifications. In total, Ndonwi opened at least 14 bank accounts, primarily in Maryland, using alias names. Ndonwi opened at least 12 of the accounts with fraudulent passports purportedly from the Republic of Cameroon. These fraudulent passports showed Ndonwi’s picture but listed an alias name.
Through this scheme, Ndonwi received at least $930,105 in proceeds from the wire-fraud conspiracy which affected 10 or more victims.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DSS for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Coreen Mao and Dawn Williams who are prosecuting the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Mexican Men Charged with Immigration-Related Crimes Following Search Warrants in NavarreRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA –Crescencio Diaz-Diaz, 36, and Marcelo Perez-Santiz, 33, both of the country of Mexico, have been charged in federal court with illegal reentry of a removed alien. Diaz-Diaz has additionally been charged with possession and use of fraudulent employment authorization documents. The charges were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Court documents allege that Crescencio Diaz-Diaz reentered the United States illegally after being previously deported in 2020. He was encountered by federal agents during the execution of federal criminal search warrants at a Navarre business, Emerald Coast Lawns, and an adjacent residence yesterday. During the search, agents seized a fraudulent permanent resident card (sometimes referred to as a “green card”) and social security card bearing Diaz-Diaz’s name and/or photograph but another person’s identifying information, which Diaz-Diaz allegedly admitted he presented to Emerald Coast Lawns in order to gain employment.
Separate court documents allege that Marcelo Perez-Santiz reentered the United States illegally after being previously deported on three separate occasions in 2012 and had been found at the business address for Emerald Coast Lawns back in February. Perez-Santiz was arrested yesterday on a criminal complaint and had an initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho.
The penalty for illegally reentering the United States after deportation is a maximum of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The cases are being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Florida Highway Patrol, United States Marshals Service and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation by a sworn affiant that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to due process, to include a fair trial, during which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Louisiana Nurse Practitioner Convicted of $12M Medicare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted a Louisiana nurse practitioner today for her role in an over $12.1 million health care fraud scheme to defraud Medicare by ordering medically unnecessary cancer genetic tests for hundreds of patients she never met or examined.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Scharmaine Lawson Baker, 58, of Richmond, Texas, served as a nurse practitioner and was an enrolled Medicare provider. She held herself out as an expert in Medicare regulations – authoring publications on medical necessity and patient-provider relationships – while actively violating those very standards.
“Scharmaine Lawson Baker shamelessly exploited her medical license and the trust of vulnerable patients to enrich herself through a multimillion-dollar genetic testing fraud,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The defendant peddled false promises of free cancer screenings while pocketing kickbacks for medically unnecessary tests. The Criminal Division remains relentless in uncovering and prosecuting fraud against government programs and those who prey on victims for personal gain.”
“This conviction signals the end of a challenging and labor-intensive prosecution,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson for the Eastern District of Louisiana. “Medicare fraud schemes such as these, profoundly impact our society, not only because of the monetary loss sustained by our Medicare program, and the damages suffered by those who were victimized by the fraud, but also by the erosion of public trust in our institutions. The successful prosecution of this case exemplifies our commitment to seek justice for all victims of fraud as well as to preserve taxpayer confidence in our nation’s medical institutions as a whole.”
“Lawson Baker abused the privilege of her license to orchestrate a $12 million Medicare fraud scheme,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “In doing so she not only broke the law, she betrayed the trust of a system built to care for the sick, elderly and most vulnerable. This was a calculated abuse of power fueled by greed. The FBI will continue to investigate those accused of exploiting our health care system at the expense of those suffering.”
“This defendant brazenly exploited the federal health care system for personal profit. Her scheme to peddle millions of dollars of medically unnecessary genetic tests was not a mistake — it was a calculated crime. She preyed on vulnerable patients, siphoned taxpayer dollars, and turned health care into a tool for fraud. Her actions represent a deliberate betrayal of public trust and a flagrant abuse of those she was entrusted to serve,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG, in coordination with our federal and state partners, will continue to apply every available resource to detect and disrupt fraud schemes that seek to abuse the Medicare program and enrollees.”
From 2018 to 2019, Lawson Baker worked as an independent contractor for a company that claimed to provide telehealth services. In her role, the defendant signed hundreds of orders for medically unnecessary cancer genetic testing after brief phone calls – typically lasting less than 60 seconds – and without conducting any physical exams of patients. Lawson Baker falsely diagnosed patients to justify the unnecessary tests, such as diagnosing male patients with cervical cancer that they did not have. Lawson Baker never reviewed any of the test results, including when the results showed that patients actually had variants predisposing them to certain cancers.
In furtherance of the scheme, Lawson Baker participated in phone calls misleading patients into believing they were being screened for cancer at no cost, despite the tests ordered not actually diagnosing patients with existing cancer. In doing so, she exploited the trust placed in licensed health care professionals and manipulated vulnerable patients.
In total, Lawson Baker caused over $12.1 million in fraudulent Medicare claims and the labs involved in the scheme received over $1.5 million in reimbursements for unnecessary testing. In exchange for signing these orders, Lawson Baker accepted kickbacks and bribes from the telehealth company – payments she later failed to disclose in her bankruptcy petition.
Lawson Baker was convicted of six counts of health care fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 19 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
HHS-OIG and FBI investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Samantha Usher and Gary A. Crosby II of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas D. Moses for the Eastern District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case. Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section assisted in the prosecution.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of 9 strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Little Water Man Charged with Assault for 2024 IncidentRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Little Water man has been charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury following an incident in 2024.
According to court documents, on July 29, 2024, Anthony Sandoval, 40, an enrolled member of the Navajo nation, assaulted the victim with a rifle and the assault resulted in serious bodily injury.
Sandoval is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Sandoval will remain in third party custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Sandoval faces up to 10 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.
View the Indictment (Sandoval).pdfAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Laredo narcotics smuggler tied to cartel sentenced to 20 yearsRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 38-year-old Laredo resident has been sentenced for smuggling methamphetamine into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Jose Pascual Soliz pleaded guilty May 16.
U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered Soliz to serve 240 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court considered how Soliz worked for Cartel De Noreste to smuggle methamphetamine into the country and recruited others such as Carla Miranda Aleman to carry out the crime. He admitted doing so on at least six to eight occasions. This was his third felony conviction and second for narcotics trafficking.
The court also heard Soliz was known to recruit young woman such as Aleman to transport drugs and had used his minor daughter to recruit Aleman in this case.
Aleman, 20, was previously sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for role to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.
On April 19, 2023, authorities seized more than 11.85 kilograms of methamphetamine from Soliz and Aleman. The drugs represented what remained of a larger amount Soliz had removed from a vehicle’s gas tank after the drugs had already been smuggled into the United States. The rest had already been distributed.
Authorities located the methamphetamine after the vehicle was undergoing repairs due to damage concealing the drugs had caused. The investigation revealed Aleman and Soliz used this vehicle to smuggle the methamphetamine into the United States.
Soliz will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Kissimmee Man Indicted for Transportation of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Angel Manuel Gallardo Candelaria (32, Kissimmee) with transportation of child sexual abuse material. If convicted, Gallardo faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, and up to 20 years, in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Gallardo Candelaria that the United States intends to forfeit a cellphone, which was used during the commission of the crime.
According to the indictment, on or about July 8, 2025, within the Middle District of Florida and elsewhere, Gallardo Candelaria knowingly transported CSAM, in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Lyons.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Justice Department Sues New York City over Sanctuary PoliciesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Today, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against New York City, Mayor Eric Adams, and several other city officials to challenge New York’s sanctuary city laws.
As detailed in the complaint, New York’s sanctuary policies have allowed dangerous criminals to roam the streets and commit heinous crimes within the community. These policies reflect an intentional effort to obstruct federal law enforcement and thus are preempted under the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
“New York City has released thousands of criminals on the streets to commit violent crimes against law-abiding citizens due to sanctuary city policies,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “If New York City won’t stand up for the safety of its citizens, we will.”
“For too long, New York City has been at the vanguard of interfering with enforcing our immigration laws,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate. “Its efforts to thwart federal immigration enforcement end now.”
The case, filed in the Eastern District of New York, is the latest action from the Justice Department fighting back against unlawful obstruction of enforcement of federal immigration laws. In the past three months, the Department has filed lawsuits against Los Angeles, New York State, Colorado, Illinois, the city of Rochester, New York, and several New Jersey cities to invalidate unconstitutional sanctuary policies. Recently, the Mayor of Louisville revoked the city’s sanctuary policy after the Justice Department threatened legal action.
Read the full complaint here.
July Federal Grand Jury 2024-B Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the July Federal Grand Jury 2024-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.
Jonathan Tyler Gross. Possession of Child Pornography; Coercion and Enticement of a Minor (superseding). Gross, 36, of Mounds, is charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including children under 12 years old. He is further charged with coercing and enticing a minor victim under 18 years old to engage in a sexual act. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-137
Zackery True Huddleston. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Huddleston, 37, of Afton, is charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and the Bixby Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam McConney is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-254
David Lera-Hernandez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Lera-Hernandez, 39, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Oct. 2024. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Wright is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-260
Damon Terrell Lewis. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking; Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Lewis, 47, of Sapulpa, is charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. He is additionally charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition after being convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Flynn is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-267
Oscar Omar Munoz-Vasquez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Munoz-Vasquez, 40, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Apr. 2015. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case.
25-CR-261Edgar Noel Partida-Valdez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Partida-Valdez, 36, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in May 2008. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Buscemi is prosecuting the case.
25-CR-263Daniel Eduardo Plateado-Martinez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Plateado-Martinez, 31, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Feb. 2017. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Dunn is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-262
Adam Wayne Ruth. Felon in Possession of a Firearm; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Carrying Firearms During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime. Ruth, 42, transient, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. Additionally, Ruth is charged with knowingly possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and carrying a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Attila Bogdan is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-255
Francisco Sanchez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Sanchez, 32, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Sep. 2012. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-264
Jose Amadeos Sanchez Sanchez. Drug Conspiracy; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. Sanchez, 42, a Mexican national, is charged with conspiring to distribute fentanyl. He is further charged with knowingly possessing more than 500 grams of fentanyl with intent to distribute and maintaining a residence for the purpose of drug distribution. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office, the Homeland Security Investigations, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-256
Miguel Gabino Trujillo. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Trujillo, 41, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Dec. 2023. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Brandon is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-265
Ryan David Whittington. Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country. Whittington, 26, of Sand Springs and a member of the Chickasaw Nation, is charged with assaulting a victim, which resulted in serious bodily injury. The FBI, the Bartlesville Police Department, and the Sand Springs Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Heign is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-257
Jefferson County man sentenced to 19 years in federal prison for trafficking fentanylRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont man has been sentenced to 19 years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Carl Wayne Hite, Jr., 41, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 228 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on July 24, 2025.
According to information presented in court, in July 2023, federal narcotics agents in Beaumont initiated an investigation into the suspected drug trafficking activities of Hite. The investigation revealed that Hite was supplying fentanyl-laced pills on a recurring basis to individuals in Jefferson County. Federal agents were able to obtain fentanyl-laced pills directly from Hite, at which time Hite was arrested, and a search warrant was executed at his residence. During the search of Hite’s residence, law enforcement seized various controlled substances, including fentanyl.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office; Beaumont Police Department; Port Neches Police Department; Port Arthur Police Department; FBI CAST; Jefferson County Crime Laboratory; and DEA South Central Laboratory. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan C. Lee and Matthew Quinn.
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Iowa Man Who Received Child Sexual Abuse Material Sentenced to 19 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who was previously convicted of interstate transportation of child pornography in 2008 was sentenced today to over 17 years in federal prison for receiving child sexual abuse material in 2023 and 2024. He also received an additional eighteen months in federal prison for violating his supervised release.
Jeremy Moore, age 39, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 31, 2025, guilty plea to one count of receipt of child pornography.
At the guilty plea, Moore admitted he received child sexual abuse material between January 2023 and April 2024. Information from the sentencing hearing showed that while Moore was living at a halfway house in Waterloo following his incarceration on the prior offense, he possessed a phone he was not allowed to have. After the phone was discovered and seized, an investigator from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation found child sexual abuse material on the phone.
Later in 2024, while Moore was on supervised release for his 2008 conviction for interstate transportation of child pornography, officers from the United States Probation Office searched his home. During the search, officers again found a phone. Moore had failed to tell his probation officer about the phone, and it was not being monitored as required by his terms of supervision. Officers seized the phone and had it forensically reviewed. During that review, a probation officer found over 600 images of child sexual abuse material, including images of victims who were less than 12 years old and images of sadistic or masochistic conduct.
Moore was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Moore was sentenced to 210 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $27,000 in restitution. He must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
In addition to being sentenced for the new charge, Chief Judge Willaims also sentenced Moore to an additional eighteen months in prison for violating his terms of supervised release. Moore violated those terms by possessing child sexual abuse material, failing to comply with the sex offender registry, failing to participate in mental health treatment, failing to participate in substance abuse testing, and failing to allow the probation office to monitor his phone.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Moore is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the United States Probation Offices for the Northern District of Iowa and the Eastern District of Missouri, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file numbers are 25-cr-2003 and 08-cr-2008.
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Indianapolis felon sentenced to 175 months’ imprisonment for machine gun possession and mail theft schemeRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – A district judge sentenced an Indianapolis felon to spend nearly 15 years in federal prison after he was found in possession of a machine gun and altered checks stolen from the mail valued at more than $1.2 million.
In April 2024, a jury convicted Derrick Barbour, 28, of Indianapolis, also known as Derrick Barbour, Jr., on one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, one count of possession of a machinegun, one count of keys or locks stolen or reproduced, one count of unlawful possession of stolen mail and one count of bank fraud. He was ordered to pay $3,203 in restitution to two victims.
“In a unique combination of violent weaponry and financial crimes, this defendant posed a serious threat to public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Not only did he illegally possess a machine gun and other firearms as a felon, but he orchestrated a scheme using stolen arrow keys to steal more than $1 million in checks from unsuspecting victims.”
According to court documents, police officers located a stolen vehicle at a gas station in the early morning hours on Feb. 10, 2023, in Marion County, Indiana.
Barbour was the only occupant and was in possession of a Glock 9mm handgun fully loaded with 50 rounds of ammunition and equipped with a machinegun conversion device, or “switch”, making it a fully automatic weapon. Law enforcement also recovered a Glock 17 with drum magazine, a stolen Glock 20 10mm handgun and several magazines.
In addition to firearms, police located two envelopes containing hundreds of checks stolen from the U.S. Postal Service. Agents with the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General identified two arrow keys, which are used by authorized mail carriers to open blue collection boxes, in Barbour’s vehicle.
“This sentencing represents the hard work and dedication by USPS OIG Special Agents working with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, ATF, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring charges on this significant mail theft investigation,” said Special Agent in Charge Dennus Bishop, U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Central Area Field Office. “The OIG, along with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to safeguarding the U.S. Mail and ensuring the accountability and integrity of U.S. Postal Service employees.”
USPS-OIG agents also found additional stolen checks and money orders valued at more than $1.2 million. Several of the checks had been altered to change the payee’s name to be payable to the defendant. He had deposited one of the checks into his bank account.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Fischer with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois handled the prosecution.
Illegal Possession of Stolen Firearms, Including Sawed-Off Shotgun, Lands Mustang Felon in Federal Prison for More Than Seven YearsRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – MICHAEL LOWELL BONJOUR, 39, of Mustang, has been sentenced to serve 87 months in federal prison for illegal possession of firearms after previous felony conviction, possession of stolen firearms, and possession of an unregistered firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public record, Bonjour was arrested on state charges by officers with the El Reno Police Department in March 2024 when he was discovered to be in possession of a stolen firearm. Six months later, in September 2024, officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department arrested him after he was stopped driving a stolen vehicle and found to be in possession of three stolen firearms – including a sawed-off shotgun.
Prior to these arrests, Bonjour had been convicted of multiple felonies, including convictions in Canadian County District Court for bringing contraband into a jail/penal institution in case number CF-2023-232; possession of a stolen vehicle in case number CF-2023-298; and stalking in case number CF-2023-325, as well as a total of four misdemeanor convictions for violations of a protective order.
On November 6, 2024, a federal grand jury charged Bonjour with being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of stolen firearms, and possession of an unregistered firearm. On February 28, 2025, Bonjour pleaded guilty and admitted he knowingly possessed stolen firearms despite his previous felony convictions, and further admitted that one of the firearms was not properly registered to him despite its modified barrel.
At a sentencing hearing on July 18, 2025, U.S. District Judge Scott L. Palk sentenced Bonjour to serve 87 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, the Court noted the need to deter additional criminal conduct and to protect the public.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Edmond Police Department, the Oklahoma City Police Department, and the El Reno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle M. Connolly prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice program to reduce violent crime. This case is also part of “Operation 922,” the Western District of Oklahoma’s implementation of PSN, which prioritizes prosecution of federal crimes connected to domestic violence. For more information about PSN, please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
High Point Woman Sentenced for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO – A High Point, North Carolina woman was sentenced on July 22, 2025, in Winston-Salem to 7 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Clifton T. Barrett of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).
Wendy Gibson-Fitzgerald, age 53, was sentenced to 87 months imprisonment plus 3 years supervised release by the Honorable Thomas D. Schroeder, United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC.
According to court records, from 2017 through May of 2020, Gibson-Fitzgerald defrauded the victim company and lenders of $466,776.79. Gibson-Fitzgerald fraudulently utilized the victim’s personal identifying information to take out loans in the victim’s name. Some of the loans required daily payments. Additionally, Gibson-Fitzgerald secured high-interest loans with victim company equipment and accounts receivable. Gibson-Fitzgerald fraudulently obtained credit cards in the victim’s name as well as fraudulently made hundreds of money transfers from the victim’s personal and business accounts into Gibson-Fitzgerald’s personal accounts. Gibson-Fitzgerald used the money to pay for personal expenses including trips and retail shopping.
Gibson-Fitzgerald had previously been convicted of Felony Conspiracy to Defraud the United States – Illegal Kickback Scheme, Felony Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule II and II Controlled Substances and Felony Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud in 2012 in the Western District of North Carolina.
Gibson-Fitzgerald pleaded guilty on February 6, 2025, to eight counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the High Point Police Department. The case was prosecuted by MDNC Special Assistant United States Attorney Mary Ann Courtney and Assistant United States Attorney Frank Chut.
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Guatemalan National Sentenced for Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Guatemalan national unlawfully residing in New Bedford was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for illegally reentering the United States after deportation.
Mario Lopez, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to time served (approximately four months) and two years of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of the imposed sentence. In May 2025, Lopez pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien.Lopez was deported from the United States on Dec. 8, 2010 after an assault conviction in Maryland. In 2022, after his removal, Lopez attempted to return to the United States twice but was denied entry. Thereafter, Lopez unlawfully reentered the United States on an unknown date.
In November 2023, Lopez was arrested by local law enforcement in Westport on an open warrant. Lopez was later arrested in March 2024 in New Bedford for unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, open and gross lewdness and an open container violation. He was arrested again in New Bedford, in December 2024 for operating under the influence of liquor, leaving the scene of property damage, negligent operation and other charges.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Reynolds of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.Guatemalan National Indicted on Fraud and Illegal Reentry ChargesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida –United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Diego Andres Garcia (45, Guatemala) with possession of false documents, false representation of a Social Security number, and illegal reentry of a removed alien. Garcia faces up to 10 years in federal prison on the false documents charge, up to 5 years on the false representation of a SSN charge, and up to 2 years’ imprisonment on the illegal reentry charge. Garcia was arrested on a criminal complaint on July 17, 2025.
According to court documents, in July 2024, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted an immigration enforcement and compliance inspection involving a construction company in Jacksonville, Florida. During the inspection, HSI determined that Garcia submitted to the company a counterfeit Permanent Resident card and Social Security card and lied about his status in the United States. On July 17, 2025, HSI arrested Garcia on the fraud related charges. During processing, HSI determined that Garcia was in the United States after having previously been removed from the United States in 2006 and 2013. Garcia had not received consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
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).
Guatemalan National Admits to Illegal Reentry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Guatemalan national deported from the United States in November 2024 has pleaded guilty to illegally reentering the United States six months after his deportation, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Rigoberto Cano Perez, 28, was removed from the United States by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on November 20, 2024, having been convicted in Rhode Island state court in December 2023 on charges of simple assault and/or battery and disorderly conduct.
On May 12, 2025, Immigration Officers learned through an automated biometric fingerprint match of fingerprints entered into the National Crime Information Center that Perez was arrested in Rhode Island the day before for violating a domestic no contact order and on a domestic disorderly conduct charge.
Perez is scheduled to be sentenced on August 28, 2025. The sentence imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Taylor A. Dean and Peter I. Roklan.
The matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Greenville Man Sentenced Following Armed Standoff with PoliceRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – Jonas Michael Fucito, 32, a convicted felon, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison and three years of supervised release, following a violent armed standoff with law enforcement that resulted in the shooting of a Greenville Police Department officer.
“The defendant shot a police officer, put a child in harm’s way, and caused havoc in his neighborhood,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar. “We will simply not tolerate violence against law enforcement. This sentence reflects our commitment to holding accountable those who seek to cause violence and ensuring the safety of the brave men and women who wear the badge.”
“This senseless attack highlights the many dangers our brave men and women in law enforcement face every day,” said Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “Attacks on law enforcement cannot be tolerated, and ATF will continue to use every resource available to target those who threaten our partners and endanger our communities.”
According to court documents and other information presented in court, on April 2, 2024, officers responded to the scene of a domestic disturbance at Fucito’s residence after a victim reported being assaulted by Fucito. Upon the officers’ arrival, Fucito barricaded himself and his child inside the apartment. As officers attempted to make contact, Fucito fired a shotgun through the front door, striking an officer in the forearm.
As a convicted felon, Fucito was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. Despite this, a loaded 12-gauge shotgun and ammunition were later recovered from his apartment. Officers also found a spent shell casing in the bedroom closet.
The incident led to a five-hour standoff, during which Fucito made threats to shoot anyone who approached the door. Negotiations were attempted but ultimately failed, and officers entered the apartment through the back door and took Fucito into custody. The child was recovered safely and unharmed.
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Greenville Police Department and the ATF investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Foxx and Phil Aubart prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-CR-00077.
Germantown Man Sentenced to Five Years of Federal Imprisonment for ArsonRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Richard Sniezak, 21, to 60 months in federal prison for arson. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, in April 2024, the Germantown Police and Fire Department began investigating a series of vandalisms and arsons within the city of Germantown, TN. Sniezak was identified as a suspect through a confidential informant and past encounters with the Germantown Fire Department. On April 5, 2024, Sniezak shattered several windows with a glass-breaking device at 1325 Wolf Park Drive, Suite 101 (Wolf River Surgery Center) and ignited a fire in one of the business' offices. During the early morning hours of April 14, 2024, Sniezak shattered an exterior glass door at 1374 Cordova Cove, entered the office building, and shattered additional glass doors to gain access to different areas. Sniezak then ignited fires on the ground and second-story floors, which ultimately burned a hole through the second-story floor.
In April 2025, Sniezak pled guilty to arson. On July 23, 2025, United States District Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Sniezak to 60 months of federal imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), and investigators with the Germantown Police and Fire Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Musselwhite 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 Woman Convicted at Trial of Kidnapping Elderly Victim Is Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Stephanie Miranda Neace, 32, of Blairsville, Georgia, was sentenced today to 84 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for the 2023 kidnapping and robbery of an elderly victim, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In April, Neace’s co-defendant, Jordan Nathaniel Hedden, was sentenced to 121 months in prison in April for his role in the victim’s kidnapping.
James C. Barnacle, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.
According to evidence presented at Neace’s trial, filed court documents, and witness testimony, on November 30, 2023, the victim, a 71-year-old female, was driving from Georgia to North Carolina, when she saw Neace and Hedden walking. The victim offered them a ride because it was cold outside. Neace and Hedden accepted the ride, and soon after they entered North Carolina, Hedden instructed the victim to drive to his car. When they arrived at the location, a car was not there. Hedden then ordered the victim to stop the vehicle, and when the victim refused, Hedden forced the victim to stop the car and get in the back seat. Hedden then took over driving.
According to evidence presented at trial, the victim began to cry and Hedden yelled at her and told her to shut up. Trial evidence showed that Hedden appeared to be high and agitated and became paranoid that the victim had a tracking device. At one point, Hedden stopped the vehicle, and he and Neace searched the car and the victim herself for tracking devices. Then, they took the victim’s phone and disabled it. Hedden also demanded money from the victim, but the victim only had $2. Fearing for her safety, the victim told the defendants to take her to an ATM and the defendants agreed. During the drive into Tennessee, Hedden made the victim promise that she would not identify them to the police.
During the drive to the ATM, the victim convinced Hedden to let her withdraw money from a gas station ATM instead of a bank. The victim also told Hedden that she would give the defendants the money if they let her stay behind safely at the gas station. When they arrived at the gas station, the victim took her purse and her car key fob. She told Hedden to turn off the car so the headlights could not be seen from the people inside the gas station, and Hedden complied. As the victim and Hedden were walking toward the gas station, the victim began to run to the door and scream for help. Hedden ran back to the car, attempted to use it to flee but was unable to start the car without the key fob. Hedden and Neace then fled on foot and escaped into the woods but were apprehended days later.
Neace will remain in federal custody pending placement by the Federal Bureau of Prisons at a designated facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the FBI for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Don Gast and Alexis Solheim of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville are prosecuted the case.
Georgia Woman Sentenced for Introducing Methamphetamine into a Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Tanita Ellis, 46, of Fitzgerald, Georgia was sentenced to 15 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to possessing methamphetamine in prison. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The defendant clearly didn’t learn her lesson after being convicted of peddling this poison on our streets, and she attempted to continue her criminal conduct in prison. Thanks to the diligent work of our correctional staff at this Federal Correctional Institute, she was stopped from sneaking these drugs into the prison, and now she’ll face an extended sentence. My office will continue to work closely with our federal partners to keep our prison facilities safe and free of illegal contraband.”
According to court records, the defendant was returning from a visit with family members when she was searched by corrections officers. A 2.5-inch-long shard of methamphetamine was located on her person.
“The FBI is committed to working with the correctional staff at FCI Tallahassee to aggressively pursue inmates who introduce and possess contraband in the facility,” said Jason Carley, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “This sentencing should serve as a stark warning to all inmates that possessing drugs in prison, whether for personal use or for distribution, is not worth the added prison time.”
The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the FBI and the Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Services Unit. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Welch.
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 for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Furniture Manufacturer Grosfillex, Inc. Agrees to Pay $4.9 Million to Resolve Allegations That It Evaded Customs Duties on Imports from ChinaRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced today that Grosfillex, Inc., a French company that manufactures and imports outdoor furniture, and whose North American headquarters is in Robesonia, Berks County, Pennsylvania, has agreed to pay $4.9 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act and other statutes by evading antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD) on items made of extruded aluminum originating from the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
The U.S. Department of Commerce assesses, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) collects, antidumping and countervailing duties to level the playing field for domestic producers. Antidumping duties protect against foreign companies “dumping” products on U.S. markets at prices below cost, while countervailing duties offset foreign government subsidies.
The settlement announced today resolves allegations that Grosfillex knowingly submitted, and caused to be submitted, false customs forms to CBP claiming that certain furniture parts made of extruded aluminum were not subject to AD/CVD. For a subset of such parts, the United States alleged that Grosfillex attempted to camouflage the aluminum extrusions by packaging the parts as sham furniture “kits.”
In addition, for a different subset of such parts, Grosfillex knowingly failed to correct customs forms it had submitted previously, even after learning that the forms falsely stated to CBP that certain extruded aluminum parts were not subject to AD/CVD.
“This settlement should serve as a warning that the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania will use every tool available to combat fraud in international trade,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “We will pursue those who seek an unfair advantage in U.S. markets by attempting to evade paying the customs, duties, or tariffs on foreign imports meant to level the playing field for U.S. manufacturers.”
“The investigation into Grosfillex, Inc. highlights our relentless dedication to enforcing our nation’s trade laws and protecting the integrity of our economy. By uncovering and dismantling intricate schemes to defraud the government, we ensure that all businesses operate on a fair and level playing field,” said Edward V. Owens, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Philadelphia. “The successful settlement of this case is a testament to the outstanding collaboration between HSI, CBP and the U.S. Department of Justice. We remain vigilant in our efforts to identify and hold accountable those who attempt to exploit our trade system for their benefit.”
The settlement also resolves a lawsuit originally brought by Edward Wisner, a former Grosfillex employee, filed under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The civil lawsuit was filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and is captioned United States ex rel. Wisner v. Grosfillex, Inc., No. 20-cv-511. As part of the resolution, Mr. Wisner will receive approximately $963,000. He is represented in this matter by attorney David J. Caputo of Youman & Caputo LLC in Philadelphia.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, with investigative assistance from CBP and HSI.
The matter is being handled in the U.S. Attorney’s Office by Assistant United States Attorney Mark J. Sherer.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Franklin County Man Sentenced for Committing Fraud with Checks Stolen from the MailRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Wednesday sentenced a man who committed fraud with checks stolen from the U.S. Mail to 23 months in prison.
Judge Pitlyk also ordered Matthew Cahill to pay restitution of $30,737. From roughly February 2020 through September 2021, Cahill and his co-conspirators stole personal and business checks, bank account information and the personally identifying information of multiple victims by stealing outgoing or delivered mail from mailboxes, homes and vehicles. Cahill and the others then altered the checks or created counterfeit checks before using the checks at retail stores, depositing them or cashing them. Cahill also electronically accessed a victim’s account and sent an unauthorized online ACH payment to an associate. The scheme created an actual and intended loss of $67,807.
“The sentencing in this case illustrates that individuals who engage in mail theft will be held accountable for their actions,” stated Inspector in Charge, Ruth Mendonça, who leads the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which includes the St. Louis Field Office. The Inspection Service is proud to work with our local, state, and federal partners to bring mail theft perpetrators to justice and prevent financial crimes targeting local citizens, postal customers, and financial institutions.
Cahill, now 41, pleaded guilty in February to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and four counts of bank fraud.
Donald Anderson, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and three counts of bank fraud and has been sentenced to 24 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to repay $26,527 to victims.
Joshua Hopkins, 36, pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft and was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He was ordered to repay $1,395.
Harvey Hale, 48, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of bank fraud and has been sentenced to 12 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to repay $19,550.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and the police departments in the cities of Washington, Union, Eureka, St. Clair and St. Charles investigated the case.
Former mayor sentenced to nearly four years for cocaine conspiracy that involved use of school buildingRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – The former mayor of Progreso has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Gerardo Alanis pleaded guilty Feb. 25.
U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. has now ordered Alanis to serve 46 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. Alanis was also ordered to pay a $15,000 fine. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that described the use of a school building to store and re-package cocaine. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that dangerous drugs destroy lives on both sides of the border and that the use of school district property was an aggravating factor when determining the appropriate sentence.
“It is unthinkable that a public official would allow a school of all places to be used as a storehouse for cocaine. The facts of this case demonstrate how the drug trade affects all facets of a community, not just law enforcement,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas is committed to ensuring safe schools and safe streets, and part of that goal is the total elimination of drug trafficking organizations operating within our area of operations.”
The investigation determined that from 2020 to 2022, conspirators would smuggle kilograms of cocaine into the United States from Mexico. The drug trafficking organization would then re-package and conceal the cocaine in hidden compartments built into 18-wheelers. Other involved in the conspiracy would transport it to other states, specifically Illinois, Tennessee and North Carolina.
Several others have already been sentenced for their roles in the scheme. Francisco Alanis, 42, Weslaco, received 150 months in federal prison. Eulalio Sierra, 51, Los Indios, was ordered to serve 120 months, while Jose Salas, 43, Weslaco, was sentenced to 47 months, and Ralph Lozano, 39, Houston, received time served. David Gomez-Ramos, 36, Mercedes, will serve a 139-month-term of imprisonment, while Juan Pablo Serrata, 50, Santa Rosa, and Gregorio Salinas, 54, Mercedes, received prison terms of 70 and 37 months, respectively. Gomez-Ramos, Serrata and Salinas are not U.S. citizens and are expected to face removal proceedings following the completion of their sentence.
Alanis was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Drug Enforcement Administration, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force, Border Patrol, Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Rangers. Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Lance Watt and former AUSA Alejandra Andrade prosecuted the case.
The investigation is part of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Forces which identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
Former Vice Chairman of Smyth County School Board Sentenced to 30 YearsRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – The former Vice Chairman of the Smyth County School Board was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for using at least six minor, male victims to produce child pornography.
Todd Stewart Williams, 54, of Chilhowie, Virginia, pled guilty in April 2025 to four counts of persuading, inducing, enticing, and coercing and attempting to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce one or more minors to engage in any sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing any visual depiction of such conduct, in interstate commerce. In addition to his prison term, the Court sentenced Williams to 10 years of supervised release and ordered him to pay more than $20,000 in assessments.
“Children are spending more time online than ever before, which makes them susceptible to individuals looking to do them harm,” United States Attorney C. Todd Gilbert said today. “It is our job in the law enforcement community to protect our kids and prosecute those who prey upon the innocent. Today’s sentence sends a clear message to anyone who exploits a child: you will be fully held accountable.”
“Todd Williams, who was entrusted with overseeing the education and welfare of students in Smyth County, committed indefensible acts, forever affecting the lives of his minor victims. FBI Richmond will continue working with state and local law enforcement, as well as our partners at the US Attorney’s Office to ensure the safety of our children. We will not let child predators escape justice,” said Stephen Farina, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division.
According to court documents, Williams’s criminal activity came to the attention of law enforcement in September 2022 when a 15-year-old boy from Oklahoma reported to the FBI that Williams, using the Snapchat username “todd_w3411,” had offered to pay the boy for explicit images of himself. The FBI’s investigation eventually revealed that Todd Williams had sent the boy more than $2,100 in less than six months and exchanged numerous sexual messages with the boy.
The FBI’s investigation positively identified at least 11 victims and has also revealed other victims who have not yet been identified. To conceal his criminal activity, Williams used Snapchat, Signal, and Telegram, all of which are designed so that messages and images can be set to disappear or “self-destruct” shortly after they are received. Williams’s pattern was to find a young boy on Snapchat, befriend the boy, find out what he liked, and solicit pornographic photos and videos from the boy in exchange for money or gifts.
From 2022 to 2024, Williams paid one teen to take photos and videos of the teen sexually abusing his younger stepbrother, who was 8 to 10 years old at the time. As directed by Williams, the teen would approach his stepbrother in his bedroom at night and force his stepbrother to watch pornography and engage in sexual acts. Between November 2022 and May 2023, Williams sent the teen more than $3,600 spread across thirty-nine payments ranging from $50 to $200. At one point, Williams mailed the teen a debit card hidden inside a box of new shoes. Williams instructed the teen how to lie to his mother about the origin of the new shoes.
Williams spent more than $10,000 buying nude images from at least six underage male victims.
In addition to serving on the Smyth County School Board, Williams worked with a school basketball team in Smyth County. Williams used his position with the basketball team to spend time in the youth locker room and surreptitiously record boys in various states of undress, though no genitalia are visible in the recordings. On one occasion, Williams set up a hidden camera to record a young boy using the bathroom on an overnight basketball trip.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit Pierce 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 CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Former Supervisor of Camden County Jail Sentenced for Civil Rights Violation in the Assault of Pretrial DetaineeRead the Press Release
A former deputy sheriff and Jail Corporal with the Camden County Sheriff’s Office was sentenced today to 16 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for assaulting a pretrial detainee, identified by the initials J.H.
Ryan Robert Biegel, 27, of Kingsland, Georgia, pleaded guilty before the Honorable Lisa G. Wood on January 28 to one count of using unreasonable force against the detainee. According to the plea agreement, on September 3, 2022, Biegel and two other correctional officers entered a holding cell in which J.H. was being detained. Upon entering the cell, two other correctional officers restrained J.H.’s arms and pushed him against a wall. Biegel admitted that he punched J.H. five times in the back of the head, which he knew was not reasonable or necessary to accomplish a legitimate law enforcement purpose, and then struck J.H. in the head and body an additional twenty-two times with his fists and knees.
The FBI Brunswick RA Field Office investigated the matter along with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer J. Kirkland for the Southern District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Alec Ward of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
Former Philadelphia Correctional Officer Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Violating the Constitutional Rights of an Inmate, Filing a False ReportRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Ivory S. Cousins, 36, of Glassboro, New Jersey, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Juan R. Sánchez to 60 months’ incarceration, a three-year period of supervised release, and a $325 special assessment for violating the constitutional rights of an inmate while employed as a Philadelphia correctional officer. The Philadelphia Department of Prisons provided substantial assistance with this case.
The defendant was charged by indictment in August 2024 with violating the inmate’s constitutional rights for ignoring his significant injuries from an assault by other inmates, pepper spraying him, helping another inmate to steal from him, and obstructing the investigation of what happened to him.
In April of this year, a federal jury convicted Cousins at trial of three counts of depriving an inmate of his civil rights under color of law and one count of filing a false report about the incident.
As proven at trial, while on duty at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, the defendant became aware that an inmate had been assaulted by other inmates and had serious injuries, but she was deliberately indifferent to his serious medical needs, failed to get him medical attention, and prevented a superior officer from discovering the inmate’s injuries.
After her partner discovered the injured inmate and called for medical attention, but before assistance arrived to escort him to the medical unit, Cousins subjected the injured inmate to excessive force, unreasonably pepper spraying him.
When the injured inmate had been escorted out of the area for medical attention, Cousins further violated the injured inmate’s constitutional rights by helping one of the inmates involved in his assault to steal the injured inmate’s personal belongings from his cell.
When she later completed a report about the incident, Cousins provided false information about the injured inmate being aggressive, engaging in a fight, and using a weapon.
“Corrections officers have significant authority over the inmates in their charge and it’s their duty to wield that power responsibly,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “If they fail to meet this standard, and violate a prisoner’s civil rights, as with Ivory Cousins, they will be prosecuted and held accountable.”
“Today’s sentencing serves as a powerful reminder that no one is above the law — especially those who take an oath to uphold it,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office. “The FBI, together with our partners, will continue to pursue allegations of civil rights violations and abuses of power with determination and integrity. We remain firmly committed to holding individuals accountable when they betray the public’s trust.”
This case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the Philadelphia Department of Prisons, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Everett Witherell and Jessica Rice.
Former Missionary Charged with Sexually Abusing Minors AbroadRead the Press Release
A former missionary was arrested today in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for sexually abusing minors abroad. William James Purdy, 28, of West Valley, Utah, was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 16 on charges related to the exploitation of minors outside the United States.
“The defendant in this case chose to travel abroad under the guise of good intentions and then sexually exploited and abused children who had been trusted to his care,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “When foreign authorities sought to hold him accountable, he fled back to the United States. The United States will not export child exploitation. The Justice Department is committed to securing justice for children exploited overseas when these heinous acts are committed by Americans.”
“William James Purdy's actions represent a profound betrayal of trust and have caused immeasurable harm to the young lives he was supposed to protect and nurture,” said Special Agent in Charge Edward V. Owens of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Philadelphia. “HSI's global reach and partnerships are crucial in our relentless fight against child predators, ensuring that those who exploit and abuse children, no matter where they are, are brought to justice. We remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society and will continue to work tirelessly to prevent such heinous crimes.”
“This is a perfect illustration of the DSS global reach and our ability to partner with U.S. and foreign law enforcement agencies on international cases,” said Acting Assistant Director of Domestic Operations Adrian Diaz of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). “DSS and our counterparts are conducting investigations like these on a daily basis around the world.”
According to court documents, Purdy, a U.S. Citizen, traveled to Tonga in 2017 for his mission with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While there, he allegedly sexually abused multiple minor boys. Purdy returned to Tonga in late 2019 to teach at a school in Nuku’alofa, Tonga. For years, Purdy allegedly groomed and sexually abused numerous male students, some of whom lived with him. Purdy allegedly provided gifts, including electronic devices and access to the internet, food, toys, and money, in exchange for the performance of sexual acts. Purdy is also alleged to have surreptitiously recorded minor males in his bathroom at his various Tonga apartments.
Purdy was arrested by Tonga police in October 2022, when an eight‑year‑old boy disclosed that Purdy sexually assaulted him during their tutoring sessions. When Purdy was released from jail, he allegedly continued to sexually abuse children. In March 2023, just prior to his scheduled trial, Purdy fled Tonga using an assumed identity and returned to Utah. The investigation thus far has identified 14 minor victims throughout Tonga.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) are investigating the case, with the substantial assistance of the Tonga Police and the Tongan Department of Public Prosecutions. The Justice Department’s Office of international Affairs provided assistance.
Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Joey L. Blanch for the District of Utah are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Former Mexican Mafia Member Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Dealing CocaineRead the Press Release
MIDLAND, Texas – A former ranking member of the Texas Mexican Mafia was sentenced in federal court in Midland to 180 months in prison for six counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
According to court documents, Paul Lujan, 42, of Odessa, was a well-known gang member who had been the subject of several Odessa Police Department investigations over the years. Beginning in October 2024, Lujan sold cocaine on six different occasions as part of a controlled-purchase operation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). After the sixth transaction, on Dec. 23, 2024, Lujan was pulled over, denied the officer’s request to search his truck, and refused numerous requests to exit his vehicle. Lujan was ultimately detained and a K9 conducted an open-air sniff search, alerting to the presence of narcotics inside the truck. Inside the vehicle, the officer located marijuana and a syringe containing a clear liquid substance. A passenger in Lujan’s vehicle was found to have cocaine in his waistband.
Lujan was arrested during the Dec. 23 traffic stop and indicted by a federal grand jury for six counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine on Jan. 22. He pleaded guilty to all six charges on March 31. At the sentencing hearing on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge David Counts granted the United States’ motion for an upward departure from Lujan’s guideline range, noting Lujan’s extremely violent criminal history. Following his 15 years in federal prison, Lujan will serve a six-year term of supervised release.
“This successful outcome was possible because we and our partners were able to prove that Lujan not only committed half a dozen federal drug trafficking offenses in just two months but also had a significant history of violence for which he had yet to be held properly accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons. “Thanks to the partnership from various law enforcement resources at the local, state, and federal levels, this violent criminal is finally being held accountable. A violent, career criminal who had operated with near impunity for years will have to spend the next decade and a half in a federal prison.”
“This is a perfect example of how drug trafficking and violence are evil bed fellows,” said Special Agent in Charge Omar Arellano for the DEA El Paso Division. “One of DEA’s strategic priorities is to reduce violent crime fueled by drug trafficking. We thank our state and local partners who helped us do exactly that in this case.”
The DEA, Odessa Police Department, Midland Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Sloane and Kevin Cayton prosecuted the case.
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Former LWC Subcontractor Sentenced to 6 Months for Cares Act Fraud and TheftRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that JAZMIN J. BOUGERE, age 38, a resident of Raceland, Louisiana, was sentenced on July 17, 2025 to (6) six months of incarceration with (6) six months of home detention to follow by U.S. District Court Judge Barry W. Ashe after pleading guilty to a one-count bill of information for theft of government funds related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, to provide emergency financial assistance in connection with economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act created a temporary federal unemployment insurance program called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) after a major disaster declaration for this funding. PUA, administered by the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC), provided unemployment insurance benefits for individuals who are not eligible for other types of unemployment benefits (e.g., the self-employed, independent contractors, or gig economy workers).
According to court documents, BOUGERE, in May 2020, received and facilitated $144,003 from Louisiana Workforce Commission, $2,100 from Arizona unemployment, $119,936 from California unemployment, $105,133 from Colorado Department of Labor, $2,000 from Kentucky unemployment, $2,484 from Maryland unemployment, $1,872 from Minnesota unemployment, and $7,872 from Texas unemployment in improperly paid Unemployment Insurance (UI) claims during the pandemic. The total losses connected to fraudulent UI claims and other fraud was approximately $275,000.
In addition to incarceration and home detention, BOUGERE was sentenced to 3 years of supervised release, along with a $100 mandatory special assessment fee for each count.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Department of Labor – Office of the Inspector General, in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera was in charge of the prosecution.
Former Kokomo Police Department Officer Charged with Sexually Assaulting 14-Year-old GirlRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Indianapolis, Indiana, returned a two-count indictment, unsealed today, charging former Kokomo Police Department officer Sinmi Asomuyide with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and with lying to state investigators to try to cover up the assault.
The first count of the indictment charges Asomuyide, who was 31 years old, with willfully depriving Minor #1, who was 14 years old, of her constitutional rights by sexually assaulting her. The first count also charges that the defendant’s conduct included kidnapping.
The second count of the indictment charges Asomuyide with lying to the Indiana State Police to try to cover up the assault by, among other things, denying having sexual contact with Minor #1 and denying that there would be any reason for the presence of his semen in his squad car when, in fact, he ejaculated inside his squad car after causing Minor #1’s hand to touch his exposed penis.
If convicted, Asomuyide faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Interim U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Wheeler for the Southern District of Indiana, and Special Agent in Charge Timothy O’Malley of the FBI Indianapolis Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Indianapolis Field Office is investigating the case, with the cooperation of the Kokomo Police Department; Bloomington Police Department; and Indiana State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Blackett for the Southern District of Indiana and Senior Sex Crimes Counsel Tara Allison of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Flight Attendant Who Filmed Minors in Aircraft Lavatory Sentenced to 18.5 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former American Airlines flight attendant was sentenced yesterday for surreptitiously recording minor female passengers as they used aircraft lavatories.
Estes Carter Thompson III, 38, of Charlotte, N.C., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick to 18.5 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In March 2025, Thompson pleaded guilty to one count of attempted sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of child pornography depicting a prepubescent minor.
“Mr. Thompson took advantage of his position of trust as a flight attendant to exploit innocent children – directing them to an aircraft bathroom he had set up to record them and then revisiting those videos for his own sexual gratification. In so doing, he shattered five children’s sense of safety and trust in the world around them, leaving them instead with fear, mistrust, insecurity and sadness,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “It is our hope that this sentence provides at least some space for the victims and their families to heal.”
“Estes Carter Thompson thought he had a no-fail plan to sexually exploit children for his own gratification, until a brave 14-year-old girl thwarted his plan, and worked with us to put an end to his deviant behavior,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “This flight attendant’s disgraceful actions robbed five young girls of their innocence and caused significant pain and trauma that will likely be felt by these victims and their families for years to come. No sentence can ever make up for that but know the FBI and our partners are committed to protecting our most vulnerable from predators like him.”
“When this disturbing incident came to our attention, Troopers assigned to Logan Airport took immediate action to ensure the safety of the victim and secure material evidence that became the basis of the federal case. Their diligence and proactive collaboration with FBI Boston stopped this individual from continuing a sustained pattern of child exploitation,” said Colonel Geoffrey Noble. “I commend the young victim and her family for teaching her to speak up when she recognized that something wasn’t right. The Massachusetts State Police remains committed to partnering with the US Attorney’s Office and all our federal partners to ensure criminals in these cases face justice.”On Sept. 2, 2023, while working as a flight attendant onboard an American Airlines flight from Charlotte, N.C. to Boston, Mass., Thompson video-recorded or attempted to surreptitiously video-record a 14-year-old female passenger as she used the lavatory. Specifically, before the minor victim entered the lavatory, Thompson surreptitiously attached his iPhone to the underside of the toilet seat lid using red “INOPERATIVE EQUIPMENT” stickers and set the phone’s camera to record with the flashlight illuminated. After the victim exited the lavatory, Thompson immediately entered the lavatory and removed his iPhone. The minor victim reported this to her parents who then reported it to other flight attendants onboard. When confronted by the minor’s father and other flight staff, Thompson locked himself in the lavatory with his iPhone and restored the device to factory settings – wiping all content from the phone.
Upon the flight’s arrival at Boston’s Logan Airport, Thompson’s suitcase was found to contain 11 “INOPERATIVE EQUIPMENT” stickers, like those observed by the minor victim on the back of the toilet seat.
A search of Thompson’s iCloud account revealed four additional instances in which Thompson recorded minor females using the aircraft lavatory on flights he had worked between January and August 2023. The four minor victims depicted in the surreptitious recordings were six, nine, 11 and 14 years old at the time. The videos were taken aboard American Airlines flights from Charlotte, N.C. to Denver, Co.; Charlotte, N.C. to Kansas City, Mo.; Orlando, Fla. to Charlotte, N.C.; and Austin, Texas to Los Angeles, Calif. Each of the videos appeared to be taken in a similar fashion, in which Thompson attached his iPhone to a spot above a toilet seat and at an angle that captured the minor victims’ genitalia as they used the lavatory. For two of the videos, Thompson was found to have taken and stored 272 screenshots and 98 screenshots, respectively.
Also found on Thompson’s iCloud were over 50 images of a nine-year-old child who had travelled as an unaccompanied minor on a flight he worked. The images included close-ups of the minor’s face as she slept, and images focused on the child’s clothed buttocks as she de-planed.
Additionally, hundreds of AI-generated images depicting child sexual abuse were also found stored on Thompson’s iCloud account.
All minor victims involved in this matter have been identified and their families have been contacted by law enforcement.
U.S. Attorney Foley, FBI SAC Docks and MSP Colonel Noble made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Former Supervisor of Camden County Jail Sentenced for Civil Rights Violation for Assaulting a Pretrial DetaineeRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, Ga.–A former deputy sheriff and Jail Corporal with the Camden County Sheriff’s Office was sentenced today to 16 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for assaulting a pretrial detainee, identified by the initials J.H.
Ryan Robert Biegel, 27, of Kingsland, Georgia, pleaded guilty before the Honorable Lisa G. Wood on Jan. 28 to one count of using unreasonable force against the detainee. According to the plea agreement, on Sept. 3, 2022, Biegel and two other correctional officers entered a holding cell in which J.H. was being detained. Upon entering the cell, two other correctional officers restrained J.H.’s arms and pushed him against a wall. Biegel admitted that he punched J.H. five times in the back of the head, which he knew was not reasonable or necessary to accomplish a legitimate law enforcement purpose, and then struck J.H. in the head and body an additional twenty-two times with his fists and knees.
The FBI Brunswick RA Field Office investigated the matter along with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer J. Kirkland for the Southern District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Alec Ward of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
Florida Man Charged with Illegal Possession of MacHine Guns and Assaulting Law Enforcement OfficersRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – John Caleb Allen, 26, of Bristol, Florida, has been charged by federal criminal complaint for assault of a federal law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and illegal possession of a machine gun. The charges were announced today by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Court documents allege that, on July 24, 2025, agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives with the assistance of the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, were executing a federal search warrant at the subject’s residence when Allen opened fire on law enforcement. After firing multiple rounds at the agents, Allen was arrested without the agents discharging their weapons. Agents suffered minor, non-critical injuries as a result of the assault.
Allen is scheduled for arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick today, at 3:00 pm at the Federal Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida.
If convicted, Allen faces up to twenty years’ imprisonment on the assault of a federal law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon count, a minimum of ten years up to life imprisonment on the discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence count, and up to ten years’ imprisonment on the illegal possession of a machinegun count.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement are investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney James McCain is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation by a sworn affiant that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to due process, to include a fair trial, during which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Dominican Republic Nationals Charged in Connection with Shooting of Off-Duty Federal Customs and Border Protection OfficerRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton; Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Ricky J. Patel; and Director of the New York Field Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”), Francis J. Russo, announced today the filing of a Complaint charging MIGUEL FRANCISCO MORA NUNEZ and CHRISTHIAN AYBAR-BERROA in connection with the shooting of an off-duty CBP Officer. The incident occurred on July 19, 2025, in Manhattan, New York. AYBAR-BERROA was arrested today and will be presented tomorrow before Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang.
“As alleged, Miguel Mora Nunez and Christhian Aybar-Berroa came to a New York City park and Mora Nunez opened fire—hitting a federal officer in the face,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Gun violence will not go unanswered. Our office will relentlessly pursue anyone who threatens the safety of New Yorkers and the federal officers sworn to protect them.”
“As alleged, these defendants entered and spent years in our country illegally, and their criminal activity culminated in Saturday night’s near-deadly attack on one of our own,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel. “Today’s announcement underscores HSI New York’s tireless commitment to answers, and ultimately justice on behalf of our DHS family, alongside our partners from CBP, the NYPD, and the United States Attorney's Office for Southern District of New York. As we continue to hope for the speedy recovery of the CBP officer, we will leave no stone unturned – we owe that much to the law enforcement community and the American public at-large.”
"Our officer demonstrated extraordinary bravery and professionalism in the face of imminent danger," said CBP Director Francis J. Russo. "His quick and decisive actions taken not only saved the officer's life but also saved the life of his girlfriend and took a dangerous criminal off the streets, preventing further harm to the community. We are immensely proud of our officer's actions and dedication to duty. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and the family, and we are hopeful for a full recovery. We thank the Southern District of New York, HSI, and the New York City Police Department for their collaboration and partnership. Their actions have been instrumental in saving our officer's life and in assisting with apprehending the suspects."
According to the allegations contained in the Complaint:[1]
On or about July 19, 2025, MORA NUNEZ shot an off-duty CBP Officer in Fort Washington Park in Manhattan, New York. A bullet MORA NUNEZ fired struck the CBP Officer in the face and right arm. The CBP Officer appeared to return fire, hitting MORA NUNEZ twice, before MORA NUNEZ fled on a motorbike driven by AYBAR-BERROA. AYBAR-BERROA drove MORA NUNEZ to a hospital. AYBAR-BERROA later tried to get rid of the clothing he was wearing during the shooting because it was bloody, and discussed with a relative of MORA NUNEZ that they needed to get rid of AYBAR-BERROA's bloody clothes.
Both MORA NUNEZ and AYBAR-BERROA entered the U.S. illegally, are in the U.S. unlawfully, and are subject to orders of removal from the U.S.
* * *
MORA NUNEZ, 21, of the Dominican Republic, is charged with one count of possession of ammunition by an illegal alien, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, and AYBAR-BERROA, 22, also of the Dominican Republic, is charged with accessory after the fact, which carries a maximum sentence of seven and a half years in prison.
The maximum 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. Clayton thanked the New York City Police Department and Customs and Border Protection for their assistance in this case.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mostafa Khairy is 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.
u.s._v._mora_nunez_and_aybar-berroa_complaint.pdf
[1] 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.
Denver Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Leonardo Medina, age 46, of Denver was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy.
According to evidence presented at trial earlier this year, an investigation by the Denver Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) revealed that Medina operated a large-scale drug-trafficking organization in Colorado. Evidence gathered through wiretaps, undercover purchases, physical surveillance, analysis of financial records, electronic surveillance, and other enforcement actions demonstrated that Medina supplied bulk methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine to subordinate dealers in Denver and Colorado Springs throughout 2021 and 2022. In July 2022, Medina coordinated a delivery of more than 40 pounds of methamphetamine from Mexico for his drug-trafficking organization. Acting on information they learned from a wiretap on Medina’s phone, investigators in Colorado coordinated with law enforcement officers in Texas to intercept and seize the shipment.
According to court records, Medina has multiple prior felony convictions for drug trafficking. He was sentenced to six years in prison for his first drug trafficking conviction. While on parole for that offense, he was again convicted of a drug trafficking offense and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
“Mr. Medina chose to make a living by dealing drugs which kill people and destroy communities. This lengthy prison sentence puts him out of business,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “We are very proud of this collaboration between the Denver Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office which held Mr. Medina and several of his criminal associates accountable and made Colorado a safer place to live.”
“This sentence is a significant win not only for our agents and investigative partners but for the communities we serve,” said Homeland Security Investigations Denver Special Agent in Charge Steve Cagen. “I applaud our agents and members of the Denver Police, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s office on this outcome, this sends a message that those who peddle poison will be found and brought to justice.”
“Thanks to Homeland Security Investigations and our Denver Police Major Narcotics Trafficking Unit, the U.S. Attorney’s Office had a strong case that led to the conviction and sentencing of Mr. Medina,” said Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas. “We continue to investigate, arrest and prosecute those who distribute dangerous drugs in our community. These sentencings send the message that if you sell drugs in our city, we will find you and hold you accountable.”
Chief United States District Judge Philip Brimmer presided over the sentencing. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Denver Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Dustin Andre-Vandenberg, Sonia Dave, and Zeke Knox.
Case Number: 23-cr-00049-PAB
David M. Toepfer Takes Oath as U.S. Attorney, Becoming Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officer for the Northern District of OhioRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – David M. Toepfer, of Warren, has taken the oath of office to serve as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. Mr. Toepfer is now the top-ranking federal law enforcement official for the district representing the United States in all federal and civil litigation.
Mr. Toepfer was sworn in by Chief U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi at the U.S. Courthouse in Akron following the July 23 appointment by U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi. Mr. Toepfer was appointed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 546, which provides that “the Attorney General may appoint a United States Attorney for the district in which the office of the United States Attorney is vacant.”
In July, President Donald J. Trump nominated Mr. Toepfer to the position and his nomination remains pending in the United States Senate.
“It is the honor of a lifetime to serve the people of Northern Ohio in this role. Our office will continue working with our federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to protect the public by aggressively enforcing the laws of the United States,” said United States Attorney Toepfer. “I am thankful for the trust President Trump and Attorney General Bondi have placed in me, and for the support of Senators Moreno and Husted as the confirmation process proceeds through the Senate.”
Mr. Toepfer is responsible for a district covering the 40 northern-most counties in the state of Ohio, home to nearly six million people. The U.S. Attorney’s Office operates from its main headquarters in Cleveland, with additional branches in Akron, Toledo, and Youngstown. Mr. Toepfer will lead a staff of nearly 200 attorneys and support personnel.
A career prosecutor of nearly three decades, Mr. Toepfer joined the Northern District of Ohio in 2008 as an Assistant United States Attorney based in the Youngstown office. He has served in a variety of leadership roles with the office, and most recently served as branch chief for both Youngstown and Akron. In this role, he supervised branch attorneys and served as a liaison between federal and local law enforcement agencies to review and prepare cases for federal prosecution. In his 17 years with the office, he has prosecuted a wide range of federal criminal cases such as bank robbery, firearms offenses, fraud, narcotics, and export-controlled technology. Before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, he served for nine years as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Trumbull County, Ohio, conducting jury trials in common pleas court for all felonies including death penalty cases, murder, and violent offenses, and coordinating investigations involving numerous local police agencies. He also served two years as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Portage County where he conducted felony and misdemeanor trials in juvenile and municipal courts. Mr. Toepfer has dedicated his career to focusing on the prosecution of the most violent offenders, dismantling interstate drug trafficking organizations, and enforcing federal immigration laws.
The Warren native has also been the recipient of numerous awards. Most notably, in 2010 he was nationally recognized with the Director’s Award from the Department of Justice for leading the Violence and Gun Reduction Interdiction Program in Youngstown and Warren, Ohio. The program was a federal, state, and local initiative that successfully targeted violent offenders who illegally used and possessed firearms.
Mr. Toepfer is a magna cum laude graduate from Youngstown State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree, majoring in accounting. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Akron School of Law.
Mr. Toepfer’s appointment marks the first time in more than 117 years that a Youngstown-area lawyer will serve as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
For more information about the district, visit justice.gov/usao-ndoh.
Customs and Border Protection Agent Charged with Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material of a MinorRead the Press Release
DETROIT – Today, FBI agents arrested a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent after he solicited sex from, and sent obscene material to, an undercover officer posing as a 13-year-old girl on the internet, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division.
Arrested was Harry Marvelle Peless, III, 51, of Newport, Michigan. Peless, who is employed as a Border Patrol Agent in Michigan, began communicating with the undercover officer in September 2024 using an online messaging application.
According to the criminal complaint, during their near daily online conversations, Peless sent obscene material and multiple requests for the undercover officer to run away with Peless and have sex. Evidence recovered during the investigation showed that Peless had logged into the chat account he used to communicate with the undercover officer while he was at work.
A criminal complaint is merely a formal charge and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. It is the burden of the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection - Office of Professional Responsibility and Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eaton Brown.
Coventry Man Admits to Exploitation and Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Coventry man has admitted that, while on pre-trial release on a child pornography charge, he exploited a minor while producing and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Scott P. Hickey, 46, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to charges of possession and access with intent to view child pornography, exploitation of a minor, distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.
According to information presented to the court, in June 2019, Hickey was charged by way of indictment with possession and access with intent to view child pornography after law enforcement discovered 164 images of CSAM on his cellphone.
In 2023, while awaiting trial in that matter, Hickey exploited a minor female multiple times while live streaming and/or recording sexually explicit activity. Hickey was arrested on July 27, 2023. A forensic audit of his cellphone revealed at least 572 images of CSAM.
Hickey is scheduled to be sentenced on October 23, 2025. The sentences imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr.
The matters were investigated by FBI agents assigned to field offices in Providence, RI, and Washington, DC.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc
To report suspected online child sexual exploitation and/or abuse, call the Know2Protect Tipline at 1-833-591-KNOW (5669) or visit the NCMEC CyberTipline® at https://report.cybertip.org/
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Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 35 Years for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Scott Wayne Laney, 47, was sentenced today to 420 months in prison for production of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.
According to court documents, between summer 2023 and lasting until January 2024, Laney sexually abused the minor victim, created images of the sexual abuse, and on several occasions distributed them to others on the internet. During the time of the abuse, the victim was under 13 years old.
Laney is a previously convicted sex offender. On August 30, 1999, Laney was convicted in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, for Criminal Sexual Conduct in the First Degree, based on an incident where he digitally penetrated an 11-month-old infant. At the time of the instant offense conduct, Laney was required to register as a sex offender in Minnesota.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office noted during sentencing that child sex offenders pose an extremely high danger of recidivism. As the Supreme Court explained in McKune v. Lile, “When convicted sex offenders reenter society, they are much more likely than any other type of offender to be rearrested for a new rape or sexual assault.” And Laney, as a “hands-on” offender, is amongst the most dangerous sex offenders who are most likely to reoffend—a reality that his criminal history has already borne out. As the facts of this case reflect, federal courts are experiencing an overabundance of cases involving the sexual abuse—and recording of such sexual abuse—of young children, owing to the ubiquity of smartphones. At sentencing, the government argued that, as these offenses become increasingly easy to commit, the penalties must be severe. The stakes could not be higher.
U.S. District Judge Donavan W. Frank sentenced the defendant to 420 months—35 years—of imprisonment followed by a lifetime of supervised release. In handing down his sentence, Judge Frank noted that this was one of the worst child exploitation cases he had seen in his many years on the bench.
“Laney is a predator in the purest and most dangerous sense.” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “The 35-year sentence he received is both a measure of justice and a permanent warning to others. We will not allow repeat abusers to cycle through our system and leave a trail of trauma behind them. Minnesota’s children are not expendable. They are not targets. And those who abuse them will be met with relentless, unforgiving federal justice.”
“Today represents the final phase in pursuing justice and bringing accountability to Scott Laney for his crimes,” said BCA Superintendent Drew Evans. “We will continue to doggedly pursue anyone who abuses children, our society’s most precious resource.”
“Scott Laney’s long history of predatory behavior ends today, with a 35-year prison sentence,” said FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. “Laney targeted young victims and disseminated child pornography. Children in our community must be protected from the abhorrent actions of convicted sex offenders like Laney. The FBI has zero tolerance for such actions, and we are fully committed to combating child sexual exploitation. We will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners until every child is safe.”
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the BCA, with assistance from the FBI and the Meeker County Sherriff’s Office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also thanks the Meeker County Attorney’s Office for its assistance in prosecuting this matter.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ruth Shnider prosecuted the case.