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31 July 2026
Topeka woman steals $49K of veteran father’s disability benefitsRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A Kansas woman is now a convicted felon after stealing approximately $49,000 that her relative received in veterans benefits to pay her own personal expenses.
The Department of Justice has created the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
According to court documents, Lucretia Miller, 53, of Topeka pleaded guilty to one count of misappropriation by fiduciary. A federal judge sentenced her to five years of probation.
From October 2020 through April 2022, Miller served as fiduciary for her father who was unable to manage his financial affairs. Without authorization, Miller took funds her father received from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as part of his disability compensation and misappropriated the money.
“After men and women serve our county, one way our nation serves them is by providing VA benefits in their time of need,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Because Ms. Miller’s relative needed assistance, she was assigned to look after his finances. She lined her own pockets instead of using the funds for their sole intended purpose, which is for the care of her father.”
“VA benefits are earned through service, and anyone who exploits a veteran’s trust or steals those funds will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Gregory Billingsley with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Central Field Office. “The VA OIG is committed to protecting benefits intended for veterans.”
The Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Investigation (VA-OIG) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Debenham prosecuted the case.
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Three Plead Guilty in Bribery Scheme That Enabled over 100 Drivers to Fraudulently Obtain Commercial Driver’s LicensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced the July 29, 2026, guilty pleas of three defendants who participated in a bribery scheme that enabled over 100 people to fraudulently obtain commercial driver’s licenses. The three defendants— MAHMOUD ALHATTAB, JONATHAN PARSONS, and MARLINE ROBERTS—each pleaded guilty to one count of Bribery Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666.
ALHATTAB, a local restaurant owner, admitted to being the ringleader of a scheme in which CDL applicants each paid him on average approximately $5,000 to receive unearned CDLs. The scheme allowed applicants to bypass each of the three main federally-mandated steps of the CDL qualification process—knowledge testing, entry-level driver training, and skills testing.
The knowledge test is a written test that must be passed at the Office of Motor Vehicles office, and includes questions on vehicle safety systems, emergency situations, procedures for various maneuvers, and extreme driving conditions. Passing the knowledge test results in the issuance of a commercial learner’s permit, which is a prerequisite for the training and the skills test.
According to court documents, ALHATTAB admitted that, to defeat the knowledge test requirement, he bribed two employees of a Donaldsonville, Louisiana OMV office. Typically, ALHATTAB would provide an OMV employee, via cell phone messaging, with a photograph of the applicant’s driver’s license and he would identify any desired endorsements, such as a school bus endorsement. Next, the OMV employee would enter correct knowledge test answers for the applicant. Finally, ALHATTAB would bring the applicant to the Donaldsonville OMV office where the OMV employee would confer a commercial learner’s permit upon the applicant based on the falsified knowledge test scores. ALHATTAB paid the two OMV employees in cash, and he also provided them with meals. As part of his guilty plea, ALHATTAB admitted that the OMV employees allowed him to bring applicants into the OMV office through a non-public side door and allowed him to enter non-public parts of the OMV office. Sometimes ALHATTAB personally operated the OMV camera to take an applicant’s photograph for the commercial learner’s permit.
After passing the knowledge test and obtaining a commercial learner’s permit, most CDL applicants are required to complete entry-level driver training. This training includes demonstrating proficiency while operating a commercial vehicle on a public road.
ALHATTAB admitted that, to defeat the training requirement, he bribed two men who operated truck driver training businesses. One of these men was defendant PARSONS. Typically, ALHATTAB would send PARSONS a photograph of an applicant’s commercial learner’s permit via cell phone messaging. This would provide PARSONS with the information needed to generate false training records. As part of his guilty plea, PARSONS admitted that, in exchange for payments from ALHATTAB, he reported in a federal database that applicants successfully completed training when, in truth, they did not train at all.
After completing training, the final major step in the CDL process is passing the skills test. The skills test is administered by state-authorized examiners, who are agents of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. As required by federal regulations, Louisiana’s skills test is comprised of: pre-trip vehicle inspection skills, which includes identifying each safety-related vehicle part and explaining what needs to be inspected to ensure the part’s safe operating condition; basic vehicle control skills, which includes demonstrating of a variety of driving maneuvers and behaviors; and safety-related on-road driving skills, which also includes demonstrations.
ALHATTAB admitted that, to defeat the skills test requirement, he bribed PARSONS and the other business operator, both of whom, in addition to being trainers, were certified by Louisiana to administer the skills test. As part of his guilty plea, PARSONS admitted that he falsely reported to the State that applicants had passed the skills test when, in truth, the applicants did not take the test. Early in the scheme, ALHATTAB would sometimes pose as the applicant and drive the commercial vehicle used for testing so that it would appear that PARSONS was administering a skills test to a CDL applicant. However, ALHATTAB and PARSONS eventually decided that this precaution was unnecessary and, thereafter, PARSONS routinely entered skills tests without ALHATTAB or the applicant appearing at the test site. On some occasions, PARSONS paid another skills test examiner, defendant ROBERTS, to assist in the scheme. As part of her guilty plea, ROBERTS admitted to creating phony score sheets to corroborate PARSONS’s false test reports.
After a CDL applicant received false skills test scores, ALHATTAB would typically inform an OMV employee that the applicant was returning to the Donaldsonville OMV office to get the CDL. As part of his guilty plea, ALHATTAB acknowledged that many of the applicants were not proficient in the English language and, therefore, he sometimes advised the OMV employees of language barriers. For example, on one occasion, ALHATTAB texted an OMV employee that an applicant “is outside [the OMV office] to get his CDL” and “No English,” meaning that the applicant did not speak English.
As part of their guilty pleas, ALHATTAB and PARSONS admitted that they texted about their shared desire to increase the number of applicants involved in the scheme. For example, in January 2021: ALHATTAB informed PARSONS that ALHATTAB currently had approximately 20 persons seeking CDLs and that “[t]his year it will be a good year,” to which PARSONS replied, “Heck yeah”; ALHATTAB texted PARSONS, “I have to[o] many” applicants to which PARSONS replied, “That's a good thing”; and PARSONS texted “Keep them coming!” to which ALHATTAB replied, “Will do.”
ALHATTAB admitted that from about August 2020 through February 2024 he caused at least 124 people to fraudulently receive CDLs. PARSONS admitted that from about August 2020 through February 2024 he caused at least 118 people to fraudulently receive CDLs by providing each person with a false training entry, or a false skills test entry, or both types of false entries. ROBERTS admitted that on seven occasions in early 2023 she created false scoring sheets to assist PARSONS in making false skills test reports.
The offense to which these three defendants pleaded guilty, Bribery Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds, is punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment, up to three years’ supervised release following imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and a $100 special assessment fee. Sentencing for these three defendants is scheduled for October 28, 2026.
Other defendants charged in the indictment are awaiting trial. U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment as to those defendants is merely a charge and that each defendant’s guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General investigated this case.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle thanked the Louisiana State Office of Inspector General and Louisiana Public Safety Services for their valuable assistance in the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chandra Menon of the Public Integrity Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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Teen Sentenced to Prison Term for Armed Carjacking Using a Fully Automatic WeaponRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Mekhi Greene, 18, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to five years in prison today in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the carjacking of a local resident, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Greene pleaded guilty to carjacking on September 19, 2025. His co-defendant, Keon Preston, also pleaded guilty to this offense and was sentenced to four years in prison on May 15, 2026. In addition to the 5-year sentence for Greene, the Honorable Judge Deborah Israel ordered him to serve 36 months of probation. Greene was 17 years old at the time of the offense. This case was prosecuted under Title 16 of the D.C. Code.
According to court documents, on March 23, 2025, at approximately 9:19 p.m., Greene, his co-defendant Preston, and two other unidentified suspects carjacked the victim at gunpoint in the 3500 block of East Capitol Street Northeast. All four men were seen wearing masks, dark clothing, and one had a large weapon with an extended clip.
Police located the vehicle, a white Volkswagen Jetta, and attempted a traffic stop before three of the suspects fled on foot. Officers were able to stop and apprehend Greene and Preston. Officers later recovered two firearms, one in the flight path of Preston and one in the rear passenger seat of the stolen vehicle, with an automatic conversion switch and a round chambered inside.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll acknowledged the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Green, who prosecuted the case.
2025 CF3 003166
Tallahassee Man Sent to Federal Prison for Sending Multiple Threats to Kill the President and Federal OfficialsRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Diego M. Villavicencio, 36, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for two counts of sending interstate threats, one count of impeding or retaliating against a federal official, and one count of threats against the President. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Criminal threats directed at public officials are becoming alarmingly more common, and this must stop now. We have zero-tolerance for such criminality in the Northern District of Florida, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute these violent criminal threats to keep our public officials safe.”
Court documents show that the Defendant made multiple online threats of violence directed at President Donald J. Trump, Former Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, and U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell over the course of several months. On September 15, 2025, the Defendant posted on his X account threats directed at Former Chairmain Powell, with one post depicting an image of a red sight and crosshairs pointed at Powell’s head and the text “Jerome. Powell will be shot and killed September 23” (sic), and a second post depicting the same image and the text “Jerome is next.”
On September 16, 2025, the Defendant again sent threats via his X account, this time directed toward a Member of Congress. Responding to a post by the Member, the Defendant wrote “I’ll kill you and your family and you won’t do anything about it. Corruption listens to bullets.” The Defendant then sent a direct message to the Member, stating “You are going to be shot and killed on September 24.”
On January 25, 2026, the Defendant responded to a post on the online platform 4chan, stating that he would be driving to Mar-a-Lago “to take a couple of shots at trump and some of the other corrupt plutocrats[.]”
“Threats of violence against the President and other federal officials are serious crimes and have no place in our society,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to investigate, prevent harm and ensure those responsible are held accountable under the law.”
“Protective intelligence is one of the most important tools available to the United States Secret Service. Identifying, investigating, and prosecuting individuals who threaten the life of the President of the United States or other protected officials reflects the seriousness with which we treat every threat,” said Seth Reister, Resident Agent in Charge of Secret Service Tallahassee. “The Secret Service will not tolerate threats, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the Office of the President and all our protectees. The conviction and sentencing in this case demonstrate the dedication and professionalism of our agents, law enforcement partners, and prosecutorial partners in carrying out that mission.”
The defendant’s prison term will be followed by three years of supervised release, with the first year on home detention. Special conditions of his supervision include a mental health evaluation and treatment and submitting to computer monitoring by the probation office.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Capitol Police, the Federal Reserve Board Protective Service, and the United States Secret Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Welch.
This case is part of the nationwide National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 initiative, which is a White House-directed, interagency effort to integrate federal, state, and local partners in protecting First Amendment rights while targeting individuals and organizations engaged in political violence and is led by the investigative and prosecutorial Joint Task Force Vanguard.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Swedish Man Who Licensed the Rights to Late Colombian Drug Lord Pablo Escobar Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison for FraudRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Swedish national who licensed the rights of the late Colombian narco-terrorist Pablo Escobar was sentenced today to 48 months in federal prison for defrauding investors by marketing and selling products – including flamethrowers and cellphones – that he never delivered.
Olof Kyros Gustafsson, 32, a.k.a. “El Silencio,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha, who also fined him $25,000, and ordered him to pay $1,300,193 in restitution. Gustafsson has agreed to forfeit funds that were proceeds of the fraud schemes, including money currently held in a bank account in Sweden.
Gustafsson pleaded guilty in July 2025 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, one count of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, one count of concealment money laundering, and one count of international concealment money laundering.
Gustafsson was the CEO of Escobar Inc., a corporation registered in Puerto Rico that held successor-in-interest rights to the persona and legacy of Pablo Escobar, the deceased Colombian narco-terrorist and late head of the Medellín Cartel. Escobar Inc. used Pablo Escobar’s likeness and persona to market and sell purported consumer products to the public.
From July 2019 to November 2023, Gustafsson identified existing products in the marketplace that were being manufactured and sold to the public. He then used the Escobar persona to market and advertise similar and competing products purportedly being sold by Escobar Inc., advertising them at a price substantially lower than existing counterparts being sold by other companies.
Gustafsson then purportedly sold the products – including an Escobar Flamethrower, an Escobar Fold Phone, an Escobar Gold 11 Pro Phone, and Escobar Cash (marketed as a “physical cryptocurrency”) – to customers, receiving payments via PayPal, Stripe, and Coinbase, among other payment processors, as well as bank and wire transfers.
Despite receiving customer payments, Gustafsson did not deliver the Escobar Inc. products to paying customers because the products did not exist.
In furtherance of the scheme, Gustafsson sent crudely made samples of the purported Escobar Inc. products to online technology reviewers and social media influencers to attempt to increase the public’s demand for them. For example, Gustafsson sent Samsung Galaxy Fold Phones wrapped in gold foil and disguised as Escobar Inc. phones to online technology reviewers to attempt to induce victims who watched the online reviews into buying the products that never would be delivered.
Also, rather than sending paying customers the actual products, Gustafsson mailed them a “Certificate of Ownership,” a book, or other Escobar Inc. promotional materials so there was a record of mailing from the company to the customer. When a paying customer attempted to obtain a refund when the product was never delivered, Gustafsson fraudulently referred the payment processor to the proof of mailing for the Certificate of Ownership or other material as proof that the product itself was shipped and that the customer had received it so the refund requests would be denied.
Gustafsson also caused bank accounts to be opened under his name and entities he controlled to be used as funnel accounts – bank accounts into which he deposited and withdrew proceeds derived from his criminal activities. The purpose was to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the proceeds. The bank accounts were located in the United States, Sweden, and the United Arab Emirates.
Gustafsson has been in federal custody since March 2025, when he was extradited to the United States from Spain, where he was arrested in December 2023.
IRS Criminal Investigation, the FBI, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-Office of Inspector General are investigating this matter, with assistance from the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the United States Marshals Service, Eurojust, Spanish authorities, and French judicial authorities.
Assistant United States Attorneys Joshua O. Mausner of the National Security Division and James E. Dochterman of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section prosecuted this case.
Springfield Man Sentenced to Four Years Prison for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield, Mass., man has been sentenced for distributing and conspiring to distribute fentanyl.
Emilio Garcia-Cappas, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to four years in prison, to be followed by six years of supervised release. In April 2026, Garcia-Cappas pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The defendant was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024.
Between Feb. 5, 2024, and Feb. 22, 2024, Garcia-Cappas conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. On Feb. 12, 2024, Garcia-Cappas distributed and possessed with intent to distribute fentanyl. On three separate occasions, Garcia-Cappas and his co-conspirators sold fentanyl to undercover law enforcement.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Todd E. Newhouse and Thomas A. Barnico, Jr. of the Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Southlake man sentenced to nine years in prison for $8 million loan fraud schemeRead the Press Release
FT WORTH, Texas — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Ryan Raybould, announced that William Thomas Engle, 68, of Southlake, Texas was sentenced to nine years in federal prison on July 30 for defrauding individuals out of more than $8 million by promising them assistance in obtaining loans for their small businesses.
The former attorney was also ordered to pay $8,274,980 in restitution and forfeit a Jeep Wrangler and several pieces of jewelry.
“William Engle built an elaborate scheme that preyed on small business owners seeking legitimate financial help,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “These victims were working to build their futures, and instead of the promised support, Engle fed them repeated lies and forged documents while siphoning off millions from them to fuel his own greed. This sentence demonstrates our commitment to protecting the public and holding accountable those who defraud Main Street Americans.”
“The sentence imposed in this case is a result of our commitment to hold accountable those who abuse their positions for personal gain,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “We encourage the public to thoroughly research investment opportunities and to contact us immediately if they suspect fraudulent activity.”
Court documents reflect that from 2020 to 2022, Engle engaged in a scheme to defraud customers by promising them multi-million-dollar loans for their businesses so long as they provided up-front funding in the form of “Good Faith Accounts.” At trial, victims testified that Engle promised them that their funds would be held in secure accounts and would be returned to them regardless of whether the loan was funded. Customers testified that they transferred upwards of $2 million to Engle, expecting their money to be kept in these accounts until their loans were funded. Engle, in turn, sent the customers bank statements purporting to show their funds housed in these secure accounts. Evidence presented at trial showed the bank statements were fraudulent, and Engle had transferred the customer funds to his personal bank accounts.
Engle used customer funds to purchase personal luxury items such as a yacht, vehicles, and jewelry. None of the money was ever returned to the victims. Instead, Engle provided the victims with false excuses to explain why the loans had never been funded.
Engle used the fraudulently obtained funds to purchase several pieces of luxury jewelry Defendant purchase Rolex with fraudulently received money Yacht also purchased with the money stolen from small business owners
Engle was charged in September 2025 with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and transactional money laundering. The defendant proceeded to trial in January 2026, but after two days of testimony from several victims, Engle pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Mark T. Pittman sentenced him to 108 months in federal prison.
The FBI’s Fort Worth Resident Agency conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandie Wade from the Violent Crimes Section and Marty Basu from the Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
South Korean National Pleads Guilty to Million Dollar Bank Fraud Scheme, Illegal Re-Entry, and False Use of PassportRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Sangsoo Kim pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to Illegal Re-Entry, False Use of a Passport, Fraudulent Use of One or More Counterfeit Access Devices, and Bank Fraud.
Sangsoo Kim, 56, a national of South Korea was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 16, 2025. Under the plea agreement, Kim pleaded guilty to 4 felony counts.
In pleading guilty, Kim admitted that in 2020, he was convicted of a felony fraud offense and was deported as a result of that conviction. Sometime thereafter, he illegally re-entered the United States. After illegally re-entering the United States, he executed a scheme wherein he used a fraudulent passport to open 72 fraudulent bank accounts at various banks. Beginning no later than November of 2023, Kim executed a check-kiting scheme, where he deposited fraudulent checks into the bank accounts and then quickly withdrew money from the account before the bank became aware the check was fraudulent. Kim admitted he carried out this scheme from at least November of 2023 through at least July of 2025, resulting in a loss amount of $1,195.795.96. As a result of his guilty plea, Kim agreed to forfeit more than $144,000 in cash that was seized in relation to his criminal activity.
Kim is currently in federal custody. Kim’s sentencing hearing is scheduled on October 7, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr. Defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years and a $1,000,000 fine for his Bank Fraud conviction; 10 years and a fine of $250,00 for each conviction of Illegal Re-Entry and False Use of a Passport; and 30 years and a fine of $250,000 for his Fraudulent Use of One or More Counterfeit Access Devices conviction. Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily R. Dahlke is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Jessie Chelsea and Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Shiprock Woman Charged in Assault with Metal PipeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock woman was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for allegedly striking a victim with a metal pipe during an altercation.
According to court documents, on July 28, 2026, law enforcement responded to a reported assault at a residence after a victim was transported to the hospital with serious head injuries. Witnesses reported that during an altercation that followed an argument among several individuals who had been drinking alcohol, Desirae Smith, 26, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, allegedly struck the victim multiple times with a metal pipe, including blows to the head and arm, attempted to drop a rock on the victim's head after she fell to the ground, and slammed the victim's head against a truck. One witness told investigators he observed the victim bleeding from a large head wound after hearing another individual ask Smith why she was hitting the victim with a pole. Responding officers recovered a metal pipe at the scene that appeared to have blood on it.
Medical records showed the victim suffered two large lacerations to the top of her head that required approximately nine staples.
During a post arrest interview, Smith denied striking the victim with a pipe and claimed the victim's injuries resulted from falling and hitting a truck during the altercation.
Smith is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury and will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charge, Smith faces up to 10 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Pecoraro is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Shiprock Man Sentenced for Sexual Abuse of MinorRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for abusing a minor over a four-year period.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, Brian Begay, 31, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, engaged in a pattern of sexual abuse against Jane Doe between 2015 and 2019, beginning when the victim was 12 and continuing until she was 16. In carrying out his abuse, Begay’s conduct involved grooming, threats of harm to Jane Doe and her family, and the use of force against Jane Doe.
Begay pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a minor and abusive sexual contact. Upon his release from prison, Begay will be subject to ten years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Pecoraro is prosecuting the case 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.
Shiprock Man Charged with Armed CarjackingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man is facing federal charges for allegedly carjacking an SUV at gunpoint and forcing two occupants from the vehicle before fleeing the scene.
According to court documents, on September 28, 2022, Cordalle Landon White, 41, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, allegedly carjacked a vehicle at gunpoint in Shiprock, New Mexico. White is accused of approaching two occupants of a parked SUV, pointing a handgun at one victim, threatening to shoot her, and ordering both victims out of the vehicle before driving away in the stolen SUV.
Navajo Police Department officers later recovered the vehicle in Cudei, New Mexico and found a loaded handgun inside. During the investigation, one victim identified White in a photo lineup, and DNA evidence recovered from the firearm was later linked to White.
White is charged with carjacking and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charge, White faces up to 15 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI 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 Marshall is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Savannah Man Linked to Georgia House Explosion Convicted in Louisiana on Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT – On July 28, 2026, a federal jury found Caleb Lee Kinsey, 37, of Savannah, Georgia, guilty of Felon in Possession of a Firearm after a two-day trial, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. Kinsey faces a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
According to evidence presented at court, Kinsey had been under separate investigation in Georgia for his suspected involvement in a January 13, 2023, house explosion in Bryan County. Investigators there uncovered evidence linking him and an associate to the incident. Six days after the house explosion, Kinsey approached a police officer in Pollock, Louisiana, and asked if there was a warrant for his arrest. Pollock Police confirmed there was an active arrest warrant from Georgia, and Kinsey responded by admitting there was firearm in his vehicle. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) agents recovered the loaded weapon pursuant to a state search warrant. Law enforcement confirmed that Kinsey had a prior felony conviction in another state, which made it illegal for him to possess firearms. He was then taken into custody.
Kinsey is currently under Federal Indictment in the Southern District of Georgia for alleged crimes committed there.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
ATF investigated this case and coordinated with law enforcement in Louisiana and Georgia. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Moody and William Gaskins with assistance from Legal Assistants Emily Favrot, Stephanie Stewart, and Amanda Morgan.
This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Take Back America (TBA), 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 agencies, and coordinates efforts with state and local law enforcement and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF), ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. Learn more about PSN at https://www.justice.gov/psn
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer. The case number for this matter is 1:23-cr-00044.
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Public Affairs
United States Attorney’s Office
Western District of Louisiana
USALAW-News@usdoj.gov www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
Twitter @USAO_WDLA
Red Lake Man Sentenced to 72 Months’ Imprisonment for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Justyce Edward Lussier was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment for receiving child pornography.
Lussier was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Jerry W. Blackwell on July 30, 2026.
Court documents show that between 2023 and 2024, Lussier solicited and received pornographic images of a minor under the age of 16, and on at least two occasions, he contributed to the production of child pornography.
“This sentence cannot undo the harm the defendant caused, but it delivered justice. My office will spare no resources to protect children and prosecute those who prey on them,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
“The FBI responds with urgency to allegations involving the exploitation of children, and this case demonstrates how swift investigative action can protect victims and prevent further harm,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “We recognize the resilience of the victim and the significant impact these offenses have on families and the broader community. The FBI, together with the Red Lake Tribal Police Department, the Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, remains firmly committed to pursuing justice, safeguarding children, and holding offenders accountable for their actions.”
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, Red Lake Tribal Police Department, with assistance from other local law enforcement partners.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Grey prosecuted the case.
Previously Convicted Robber Sentenced to 36 Months for Possessing ‘Ghost Gun’ and Ammunition in Southeast D.C.Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Davon Boyd, 28, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for his unlawful possession of a “ghost gun” and ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Boyd was found guilty on April 3, 2026, following a stipulated bench trial before U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell, of one count of unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm, and one count of possession of a prohibited weapon. Judge Howell sentenced Boyd to 36 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 60-month prison term.
According to court papers, on Sept. 26, 2025, at about 10 p.m., Metropolitan Police Department officers were on routine patrol in the 1500 block of Marion Barry Avenue SE when they pulled into an alley and made contact with a group of individuals.
Officers approached Boyd, who was among the group, and who had appeared to be concealing something in his waistband. Officers stopped Boyd and during a pat-down, an officer detected a firearm on Boyd's person and placed him in handcuffs. Officers then lifted Boyd's hoodie and removed the firearm from his waistband.
The firearm was later identified as a ghost AR pistol, privately manufactured, bearing no serial number and untraceable by law enforcement. The firearm was loaded with 29 rounds of ammunition, 28 in the magazine and one in the chamber.
Boyd did not have a valid permit to carry a firearm in the District of Columbia.
Boyd had previously been convicted of robbery and attempted robbery in Superior Court for the District of Columbia.
The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Office.
The matter was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barclay.
Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
Police recovered an AR pistol (above) and 29 of rounds of ammunition from Boyd.
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Pine Bluff Man Who Was Found Guilty of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug-Trafficking Crime Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Spencer Walker will spend the next 360 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge Lee P. Rudofsky.
On August 5, 2025, a federal grand jury returned a Third Superseding Indictment charging Walker, 37, of Pine Bluff, with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On September 25, 2025, after a four-day jury trial, Walker was found guilty by the federal jury on all three counts in the Third Superseding Indictment.
Walker was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Judge Rudofsky also sentenced Walker to serve an additional 60 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which will be served at the completion of the first sentence. In addition to the federal prison sentences, Judge Rudofsky ordered Walker to serve five years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
During the trial, the evidence revealed that in September 2022, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) intercepted two packages, each containing five pounds of methamphetamine. Law enforcement officers performed a controlled delivery of those packages to Walker’s address. After the controlled delivery, they conducted a search of Walker’s residence and located an additional unopened package that was found to contain 10 pounds of methamphetamine; in his bedroom they located a shotgun with a 25-round drum magazine.
Law enforcement officers continued their investigation into the owner of the residence, tracing his location for a period of time. They noted that the owner frequented a house in Bryant, Arkansas. Law enforcement officers then discovered that an additional three packages addressed to the Bryant residence containing 10 pounds of methamphetamine each, had been previously intercepted. In January of 2023, law enforcement officers intercepted another package going to the Bryant residence that contained 10 pounds of methamphetamine. During the trial, Walker attempted to place the blame on an ex-girlfriend. It was through the interception by USPIS of those parcels, as well as several witness statements and photo identification, that law enforcement officers were able to identify Walker as the intended recipient of all the packages containing methamphetamine.
Walker has previous felony convictions for breaking or entering, possession of a handgun on public school property, theft of property, fleeing, theft by receiving, forgery, and residential burglary.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Little Rock Police Department.
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Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
X (formerly known as Twitter):
@USAO_EDAR
Pena Blanca Man Charged with Child AbuseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Pena Blanca man is facing federal child abuse charges for allegedly punching and strangling a minor.
According to court documents, on April 9, 2026, Jonathan Lovato, 41, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Santo Domingo, held down and punched a minor with a closed fist several times before strangling them and causing them to pass out. Following the incident, the minor escaped the residence and went to the home of a family member, who immediately called law enforcement. Officers arrested Lovato at his residence. The minor was treated at a local hospital before being transferred to Albuquerque due to brain bleeding.
Lovato is charged with child abuse and will remain on conditions of release pending trial which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, Lovato faces three years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliot Neal is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Port Orchard Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Attempting to Engage in Sexual Acts with Minor ChildrenRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on July 29, 2026, United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice, sentenced Raymond S. Sulak, age 65, of Port Orchard, Washington, to 10 years of imprisonment to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release for the Attempted Online Enticement of a Minor. Judge Rice also ordered Sulak to pay $28,000 in restitution to multiple minor victims, and a $40,000 fine.
According to court documents and information disclosed during court proceedings, in late July of 2024, the Washington State Police Missing and Exploited Children’s Task Force (MECTF), along with the Spokane Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (Spokane- ICAC), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Chelan and Douglas County Sheriffs’ Offices, conducted a multi-day undercover operation in Wenatchee, Washington, aimed at identifying individuals seeking to sexually exploit children online.
From July 25, 2024, to July 27, 2024, Raymond S. Sulak (Sulak) communicated via two internet facilitated communication applications with an undercover law enforcement agent posing as the mother of two girls, aged 9 and 12, living in the Eastern District of Washington. During the communications, the undercover agent was present in Chelan County, while Sulak was located in and around his residence in Port Orchard. Sulak was clear as to his intentions during these communications, going so far as to obtain sexually transmitted disease testing so that the purported mother would allow him to have sexual intercourse with her minor daughters without a condom.
Sulak travelled by motorcycle to Wenatchee on July 27, 2024, for the purpose of sexual intercourse with the two minor girls, to a location specified by the undercover officer. Upon his arrival at the location, Sulak was placed under arrest and searched. Law enforcement officers also obtained a search warrant for Sulak’s motorcycle. During the searches, officers located an iPhone, an iPad, a blue penis ring, STD testing results, coconut lubricant, and a male enhancement medication called “Night Man.” Sulak was subsequently charged in Chelan County Superior Court. Sulak posted bail and returned to his residence in Port Orchard.
Thereafter, Sulak’s iPad and iPhone were forensically examined by HSI forensic staff. The examiners located the chats between Sulak and the undercover officer on the devices, along with image and video files depicting minor children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children identified 48 of the files possessed by Sulak as images or videos depicting minor children previously identified by law enforcement in unrelated investigations. Investigators also located other disturbing information on Sulak’s devices, including Sulak’s attempts to coordinate the rape of another purported child at a hotel in California with a woman named “Jane.” Investigators also located communications between Sulak and a registered sex offender in the Seattle area wherein the two men coordinated the distribution and receipt of their respective child pornography collections.
On February 19, 2025, Sulak was indicted by a grand jury in the Eastern District of Washington for Attempted Online Enticement of a Minor and Possession of Child Pornography.
On February 21, 2025, the Seattle and Spokane ICAC Task Forces, Washington State Patrol MECTF and SWAT units, and HSI agents, located and arrested Sulak at his residence in Port Orchard.
“This investigation highlights the value of proactive investigations to identify sexual predators who seek to abuse children in our community,” said First Assistant Serrano. “The cooperative efforts of our federal, state and local law enforcement prevented the sexual abuse of another child and identified image and video files possessed by Sulak depicting the sexual abuse of other minor children. Thanks to our law enforcement team, Sulak will now be behind bars for the next 10 years and will have federal supervision conditions the remainder of his life.”
“We will continue to work with our state and local partners to ensure those trying to harm our children are identified and prosecuted,” said acting HSI Seattle Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “These are some of the most heinous crimes that someone can do to the most vulnerable members of our community. A sentence like this should send a message that these crimes will not be tolerated.”
“While our responsibilities to the public are many, there are few more important than the apprehension of those who would so recklessly and alarmingly harm our children for their own gratifications. The Washington State Patrol thanks our partners in public safety at the Department of Justice as well as the other federal and local agencies who worked together to take this dangerous individual off our streets,” said Washington State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste. “We will never stop protecting the most vulnerable in our society - our children.”
The case was investigated by the Washington State Missing and Exploited Children’s Task Force, the Washington State Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force- Spokane and Seattle, Homeland Security Investigations Wenatchee Office, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Chelan County Prosecutor’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laurel J. Holland.
Operation Take Back America efforts continue with 251 more cases filed in border enforcement actionsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – The Southern District of Texas has charged another 263 people, including 227 illegal aliens, for immigration and border security-related crimes from July 24-30.
The cases include charges against 45 people, 16 of whom are illegal aliens themselves, allegedly involved in human smuggling. A total of 30 criminal complaints were filed for illegal entry, while another 181 illegal aliens face charges of felony reentry after prior removal. Most of those individuals have prior felonies involving narcotics, violent crime, immigration offenses, and more. The remaining cases relate to other immigration crimes and firearms charges.
One illegal alien charged with felony reentry is Javier Vega-Maldonado, a Mexican national that authorities allegedly discovered unlawfully in the country near Escobares, despite having been removed Dec. 17, 2021. The criminal complaint alleges he has a prior conviction for possession with intent to distribute. If convicted of illegal reentry, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
In addition to the new cases, a previously removed illegal alien with a felony criminal history was sent to federal prison for his ninth unlawful reentry into the United States. Honduran national Luis Alonso Umana has convictions for illegal reentry, driving under the influence of alcohol, assault family violence, and assault family violence with previous conviction. He was ordered to serve 46 months in federal prison. As an illegal alien, he is again expected to be removed from the country following his imprisonment.
The cases are referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigrants, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the Southern District. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault, and violence against children.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than 10 million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen, and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state, and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Norfolk Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Exploiting MinorRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Norfolk man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to sexually exploiting a two-year-old minor victim from Massachusetts.
Ethan Irving, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of children. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled sentencing for Oct. 27, 2026. Irving was arrested and charged in January 2026.
In June 2025, Irving was identified as an online user who uploaded three files of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to Kik Messenger. A July 2025 forensic analysis of two cell phones sized from Irving’s residence located multiple media files depicting CSAM. As a result of the findings, Irving was arrested and charged in Wrentham District Court in July 2025. He subsequently pleaded guilty to Dissemination of Obscene Matter and Possession of Child Pornography on Dec. 3, 2025, for which he was sentenced to two years of probation with conditions that prohibit his contact with children.
According to the charging documents, on Dec. 15, 2025, while reviewing evidence related to Irving’s state prosecution, additional CSAM was located on Irving’s devices that had not previously been seen by investigators. Specifically, the images appeared to be a continuous series, sequential in time, depicting Irving sexually abusing a two-year-old female toddler. The images appeared to have been taken inside a bedroom at Irving’s residence, with the bedding depicted in the images matching sheets observed and photographed during a search of the home in July 2025.
The charge of sexual exploitation of minors (and attempt and conspiracy) provides for a sentence of no less than 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Commissioner of the Boston Police Department, Michael Cox; Mark Comorosky, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office; and James Floyd, Chief of the Plainville Police Department made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police, the East Bridgewater Police Department, and the Norfolk Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of the Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
New Orleans Man Indicted for Possession of Fentanyl and Federal Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – On July 24, 2026, United States Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that JOCK WALKER (“WALKER”), age 45, of Orleans Parish, was indicted on a three-count indictment. Count One charges WALKER with possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). Count Two charges WALKER with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). Count Three charges WALKER with felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, Unites States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
The Indictment contains a sentencing enhancement provision under Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(b)(1)(C) and 851. Prior to committing the offense charged in Count One of the Indictment, WALKER had a conviction, for which he served a term of imprisonment of more than 12 months, and for which his release from any term of imprisonment was within 15 years of the commencement of the offense charged in Count One of the Indictment. As a result, WALKER is subject to increased punishment for committing the offense charged Count One of the Indictment.
According to the Indictment, on or about July 15, 2026, WALKER, did and intentionally possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, namely fentanyl, while in possession of a firearm to further his drug trafficking enterprise. Furthermore, WALKER, knowing that he had been convi9-millimeteres punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, in Criminal District Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana, and a felony conviction on May 25, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, did knowingly possess firearms, specifically, a Glock Model 43X, 9 millimeter caliber pistol; a Rossi Model 85, .38 Special revolver, and ammunition.
If convicted of Count One, WALKER faces up to 30 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $2,000,000, at least Six (6) years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. If convicted of Count Two, WALKER faces 5 years to life imprisonment, imposed consecutively, a fine up to $250,000, up to five (5) years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. If convicted of Count Three, WALKER faces up to 15 years of imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy L. Bell of the Violent Crime Unit.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
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Montana Man Arrested for Allegedly Threatening to Kill Massachusetts ResidentRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Montana man who allegedly threatened to kill a Massachusetts resident was arrested yesterday.
Matthew Shelley, 37, of Missoula, Montana, was indicted on July 23, 2026, by a federal grand jury in Boston with one count of transmitting a threatening communication in interstate commerce. Shelley is scheduled to have an initial appearance and detention hearing in the District of Montana on Aug. 3, 2026. He will appear in Boston at a later date.
According to court documents, on Oct. 18, 2025, Shelly used X (formerly Twitter) to threaten a Massachusetts resident.: He allegedly wrote, “You work for k|kes who murdered my family family. I will kill you.”
On July 30, 2026, Shelley was arrested at his home in Montana.
The charge of transmitting threatening communications in interstate commerce carries a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of the National Security Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Mexican citizen sentenced for illegally reentering the U.S.Read the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Mexican woman living in Roundup, who was in the country illegally, was sentenced Thursday to time served, followed by her removal from the United States, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Gabriela Lopez-Castro, 35, pleaded guilty in March 2026 to one count of illegal reentry into the United States.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Lopez-Castro was in the country illegally after having been deported in 2019 and again in 2024. She was arrested in Musselshell County on Feb. 4, 2026, on allegations of partner or family member assault. Musselshell County sheriff’s deputies called the Malta Border Patrol Station for help when they discovered Lopez-Castro had no U.S. identification. The next day, Lopez-Castro acknowledged to Border Patrol agents she had returned to the U.S. illegally.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. U.S. Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation.
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.
Meth Trafficking and Illegal Firearms Possession Lands Oklahoma City Man in Federal Prison for 25 YearsRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – WILLIAM GRAY, 31, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 300 months in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of firearms after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, on June 4, 2025, law enforcement arranged an undercover purchase for two pounds of methamphetamine. Shortly after, law enforcement located the vehicle responsible for delivering the methamphetamine and, upon approaching it, identified Gray as the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. Gray fled the scene shortly after he was approached.
The following day, law enforcement responded to a report of found property in the residential neighborhood through which Gray fled and ultimately recovered approximately two pounds of methamphetamine. Video from nearby surveillance cameras depicted Gray throwing the methamphetamine out of his front passenger window. On June 10, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Gray’s residence, where officers seized five firearms and additional methamphetamine.
On August 20, 2025, a federal grand jury charged Gray with drug conspiracy, two counts of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, being a felon in possession of firearms, possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and maintaining a drug-involved premises. Gray pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of firearms on March 4, 2026.
At a sentencing hearing on July 27, 2026, Chief U.S. District Judge Scott L. Palk sentenced Gray to serve 300 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Palk noted the nature and circumstances of the offense, the need to protect the public, and the defendant’s criminal history.
Public records reflect that Gray has multiple prior felony convictions, including:
- unlawful use of a motor vehicle, attempting to elude police, and driving while privilege suspended (Oklahoma County, CF-2017-4747);
- felon in possession of a firearm and aggravated attempting to elude police (Oklahoma County, CF-2017-6486); and
- eluding/attempting to elude a police officer, knowingly receiving or concealing stolen property, and driving without a valid driver’s license (McClain County, CF-2020-26).
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Oklahoma City Police Department, and the Moore Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hoch prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Massachusetts Ophthalmology Practice to Pay Nearly $4 Million to Resolve False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston, Inc. (OCB) has agreed to pay $3,902,588.28 to resolve allegations that it falsely billed federal healthcare programs.
Between Jan. 1, 2015 and July 30, 2025, OCB submitted claims to Medicare and MassHealth—Massachusetts’s Medicaid program—for office visits at which ophthalmologists administered intravitreal (i.e., directly into the eye) injections of certain medications. However, Medicare and MassHealth do not permit billing for office visits in addition to billing for the injections themselves, except under special circumstances. OCB billed for the office visits using a special billing code (Modifier 25) even when it did not perform the service to justify billing the extra amount or have documentation to support the extra billed amount. The government contends that, through this conduct, OCB submitted false claims to Medicare and MassHealth for these office visits.
The settlement credits OCB for cooperation under the Department of Justice’s Guidelines for Taking Voluntary Disclosure, Cooperation, and Remediation into Account in False Claim Act Matters.
The claims against OCB were brought under the whistleblower or qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. Under the FCA, private parties may sue on behalf of the government for false claims for government funds and receive a share of any recovery. The relator will receive a share from the proceeds of the settlement. The lawsuit is captioned United States, et al., ex rel. John Doe v. Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston, Inc., et al., 24-cv-11495.
U.S. Attorney Foley and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge, Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Sharobem of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit.
ophthalmic_consultants_of_boston_settlement_agreement_fully_signed_2026.07.31.pdf
Man Sentenced to 264 Months in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On July 28, 2026, United States District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado sentenced Luis Rolando Rivera Cruz to 264 months (22 years) in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release for child exploitation. Rivera Cruz was indicted on January 16, 2025, arrested on January 29, 2025, and pleaded guilty on December 16, 2025.
According to court documents, from May to July 2024, Luis Rolando Rivera Cruz, 54 years old, used a cellular phone, as well as internet instant messaging services, to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a 14-year-old female minor, to engage in sexual activity. Moreover, the defendant transferred obscene material to the minor.
“Exploiting children is a heinous crime that inflicts profound and lasting harm. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, together with our law enforcement partners, remains steadfast in protecting the most vulnerable and ensuring that those who prey on minors are brought to justice. We will continue to pursue these offenders with unwavering commitment and hold them fully accountable under the law,” said Héctor Ramírez Carbó, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
“Child exploitation is not limited to producing images. This 264-month sentence reflects the severity of these crimes and sends a clear message: When a predator begins to deceive, manipulate, or entice a minor through social media or digital platforms, they are already committing an extremely serious crime. HSI San Juan remains vigilant and relentless in identifying, investigating, and bringing to justice those who seek to exploit children. Our priority is to protect minors and hold these predators accountable for their actions,” said HSI San Juan Acting Special Agent in Charge Yariel Ramos.
The Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daynelle Álvarez Lora from the Exploitation and Immigration Unit prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting a 15-Year-OldRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – Aaron Samson Riley, 38, of Madison, Alabama, was sentenced on July 31, 2026, to 25 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting a minor and possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee.
U.S. District Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw, Jr. also sentenced Riley to ten years of supervised release. Riley will be required to register as a sex offender.
Riley pleaded guilty to both counts of the indictment on April 24, 2026. Under a binding plea agreement, Riley and the government agreed to the 25-year term of imprisonment.
“Aaron Riley repeatedly sexually exploited a 15-year-old child and continued his criminal conduct even after law enforcement intervened across multiple states,” said U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek. “This 25-year sentence holds him accountable and protects the public from a defendant who demonstrated that he would not stop on his own. We are grateful to the federal, state, and local law enforcement officers whose persistence brought this child to safety and Riley to justice.”
“Sexual exploitation of children is a heinous crime. This case demonstrates the importance of collaboration among law enforcement partners and the commitment to holding offenders accountable for these serious crimes,” said HSI Nashville acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Perez.
According to court documents, the child was reported missing from Alabama in April 2023. Alabama law enforcement determined that Riley had been in frequent telephone contact with the child around the time he ran away.
In May 2023, the U.S. Marshals Service located Riley and the child together in Georgia after a concerned citizen reported encountering the child at a library. Riley and the child returned to Alabama, but Riley later fled Alabama with the child again. They remained on the run until September 29, 2023, when Metropolitan Nashville Police Department officers arrested Riley after responding to a burglary at an unoccupied residence in Nashville. The child was located near the residence.
Homeland Security Investigations seized a cellphone from Riley and additional electronic devices from his vehicle. After obtaining federal search warrants, investigators extracted the electronic devices and discovered child sexual abuse material, including sexually explicit images and videos of the child that Riley had produced in Tennessee and other states.
Riley has remained in custody since his arrest.
The government’s sentencing memorandum also stated that Riley was convicted of cyberstalking in 2021 for conduct involving the solicitation of sexually explicit images and videos from an 11-year-old relative and threats to distribute those images.
Restitution will be determined at a later date. The court also ordered Riley to forfeit two cellphones and two tablets used to commit or facilitate the offenses.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica R. Morrison prosecuted the case.
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Man Pleads Guilty to Coercion and Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Jeffrey Thomas Simon, 39, pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor.
Simon pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jerry W. Blackwell on July 30, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison.
According to court documents, between on or about August 2023 to January 2025, Simon knowingly used a messaging application to persuade, include, entice, and coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity. Throughout this time, Simon knowingly coerced Victim 1, who in August 2023 was a 13-year-old female, to engage in sexual activity. Simon additionally said to Victim 1 that if she ever left or reported him, that he would kill either himself or her. In January 2025, the parent of Victim 1 contacted law enforcement again to now report that Simon had sexually assaulted Victim 1.
When investigators searched Simon’s phone, they found additional conversations on a messaging application between him and other persons who self-identified as minor females.
“There is no higher priority than protecting children, and today’s guilty plea highlights my office’s unwavering commitment to ensuring offenders are held accountable,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Anoka County Sheriff's Office, North Saint Paul Police Department, Roseville Police Department, Fridley Police Department, FBI, with assistance from other local law enforcement partners.
Assistant United States Attorney Kristian Weir 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. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Mabelvale Woman Indicted for Illegally Smuggling Clams into the United StatesRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Yanci Lissbeth Amaya Aguiluz appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joe J. Volpe for plea and arraignment after being charged with illegally smuggling clams into the United States. Aguiluz, 52, of Mabelvale, was indicted on July 8, 2026, on two counts of smuggling more than three dozen clams into the United States on two different occasions. Aguiluz entered a plea of not guilty to the charges in the Indictment and trial is scheduled for August 31, 2026.
The Indictment alleges that after receiving notification from the Arkansas Department of Health in July 2025, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) launched an investigation into Aguiluz’s alleged illegal possession and sale of a certain species of clams known as blood clams (scientific name is Anadora tuberculosa) that came from El Salvador. The Arkansas Department of Health sent Aguiluz a notice regarding her attempt to import and sell the clams. An investigation further revealed that after allegedly smuggling the clams into the United States, Aguiluz sold the clams on a social media platform at local events in central Arkansas.
It is a violation of law to ship clams from El Salvador due to El Salvador not being listed on the Interstate Certified Shellfish Shippers List (ICSSL). The ICSSL is an official list maintained by the Food and Drug Administration that identifies shellfish dealers who are authorized to ship shellfish within the United States. Shellfish such as clams are filter feeders, meaning they eat and filter the water in which they live. The United States has high water quality standards and will only accept shellfish from certain geographic areas that meet certain quality levels. The type of clams Aguiluz is accused of smuggling are known for carrying Hepatitis A, Norovirus, parasites, and can carry marine biotoxins such as paralytic shellfish poisoning.
If convicted, Aguiluz faces a potential penalty of up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the NOAA with assistance from the Environmental Crimes Natural Resource Division, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Customs & Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, Arkansas Department of Health, and Arkansas Game and Fish. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward Walker.
An Indictment contains only allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
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Los Angeles Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Selling Fentanyl That Resulted in Fatal OverdoseRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Los Angeles man has been sentenced to life in federal prison for selling fentanyl that caused the death of a Vero Beach man, then continuing to traffic the deadly drug just two days later.
U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon imposed the sentence on Alfonso Guerrero, 39, of Los Angeles, after a federal jury convicted him in May 2026 of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death and distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.
“A tenth of a gram of fentanyl, about the size of a small pinch of salt, was enough to kill David Eller,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This was not a small drug deal. It was a deadly one. Guerrero sold the fentanyl that killed his friend and, just two days later, was caught carrying more fentanyl for distribution. Today’s life sentence is the consequence of that deadly conduct and his long record of violence and crime. Together with the DEA and our local law enforcement partners, we will trace fatal doses back to the dealers who sold them and hold those dealers fully accountable.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Guerrero sold fentanyl in Indian River County. On May 16, 2023, he exchanged 0.1 gram of fentanyl — commonly known as “a point” — for another controlled substance known as “molly.” The drug transaction was captured on a doorbell camera. Hours later, David Eller was found dead inside his Vero Beach home. Investigators recovered drug paraphernalia, including a small piece of burnt aluminum foil that the victim used to receive the fentanyl from Guerrero on the victim’s front porch, near his body.
Two days later, on May 18, 2023, Guerrero was arrested and found in possession of additional quantities of fentanyl intended for distribution.
Guerrero’s extensive criminal history included documented gang membership and prior convictions for attempted robbery with a firearm in California, aggravated assault in Georgia, and cocaine and fentanyl possession offenses in Florida.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones, Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, Sheriff Eric Flowers of the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office (IRCSO) made the announcement.
DEA Miami Field Division and IRCSO investigated the case. The investigation illustrates the close coordination between federal and state law enforcement to identify drug dealers responsible for fatal overdoes and bring them to justice.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Reiter and Managing Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam McMichael prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case numbers 24-cr-14013.
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Longmeadow Accountant Sentenced to Prison for $18 Million Loan Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Longmeadow woman was sentenced yesterday for defrauding commercial lenders out of almost $20 million dollars over a four-year period.
Christine Gendron, 62, a former certified public accountant, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to one year of confinement, with six months to be served in federal prison and six months under home confinement with a GPS monitoring device, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Gendron was also ordered to pay $392,607 in restitution for bank fraud, her apportioned share of the total loss. In June 2025, Gendron pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Gendron engaged in a conspiracy to commit bank fraud along with her sister, Jeanette Norman, and brother-in-law, Louis Masaschi, defrauding commercial lenders on multiple occasions. Together, they provided false and fraudulent rent rolls and forged lease agreements for numerous properties located in Springfield, Mass.; East Longmeadow, Mass.; and Enfield, Conn.
Gendron worked as the financial manager for Norman and Masaschi at LL Realty Developers, LLC, an umbrella company which owned primarily commercial and some residential property in Western Massachusetts, Connecticut and elsewhere. The three conspired with each other to fraudulently obtain loans from financial institutions and commercial lenders by providing materially false, fictitious and fraudulent financial information – including false rent rolls and forged lease agreements. After receiving the loans, they defaulted on the loans, causing substantial losses to the financial institutions and commercial lenders, including two community credit unions, and leaving the buildings vacant.
Between May 2016 and November 2018, the coconspirators fraudulently obtained or sought to obtain approximately $60,123,000 in loans and caused a total loss of $18,203,030.
In July 2026, Masaschi was sentenced to four years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Masaschi was also ordered to pay $18,203,030 in restitution. Gendron’s sister and other co-conspirator, Jeanette Norman pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug.11, 2026.
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 Steven H. Breslow and Caroline Merck of the Springfield Office prosecuted the case.
Lincoln Woman Sentenced to 25 Years for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Jennifer Suing, 49, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 30, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine actual with two prior convictions for a serious drug felony. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Suing to a total of 300 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Suing’s release from prison, she will begin a 10-year term of supervised release.
In February 2025, the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force (LLCNTF) performed three controlled buys on Suing who has previously been known as Jennifer Loving and Jennifer Lovings. All of the buys were performed by a Confidential Informant (CI) in Lincoln. The first buy occurred on February 10, 2025, and the CI purchased approximately 6 grams of methamphetamine from Suing. The final controlled buy occurred on February 26, 2025, and the CI purchased approximately 12 grams of methamphetamine actual.
Following the third controlled buy, LLCNTF served a court-authorized search warrant for Suing’s hotel room. During the search of the room, law enforcement found drug paraphernalia, 40 grams of marijuana, and approximately five ounces of methamphetamine, which lab-tested to contain at least 130 grams of methamphetamine actual.
Suing had multiple prior convictions for serious drug felonies in which she served more than 12 months’ imprisonment and was released within 15 years of the commencement of this offense. Specifically, she had been convicted for Conspiracy to Distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine actual in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska under case numbers 8:13CR271 and 8:05CR250.
This case was investigated by the LLCNTF.
Lincoln Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Nicholas Vollertsen, 41, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 30, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln for one count of receipt of child pornography. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Vollertsen to a total of 84 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Vollertsen’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Vollertsen was ordered to pay $21,000 in restitution.
This case began when several cybertips were made online regarding an online cloud storage company. The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) received a search warrant for the online account. The return contained 111 files of child pornography, which depicted images and videos of prepubescent and pubescent children engaged in sexual acts. After further investigation, law enforcement was able to identify Vollertsen as the suspect for the case. NSP conducted a search warrant at Vollertsen’s residence, where they seized approximately 32 electronic devices. Those devices were extracted and reviewed by law enforcement. At least nine of the devices contained child pornography files. The total number of child pornography files located on Vollertsen’s devices was 189,805.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.
Kershaw County Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a GunRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Davon Jermaine Mickle, 40, of Kershaw, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on Aug. 19, 2023, the Camden Police Department responded to a shooting near a nightclub. Three victims reported that they were at the nightclub when Mickle began harassing one of them. They saw Mickle walking around the parking lot with an AR-style rifle and then place the rifle in a car. After a short argument with Mickle, the three victims left together. As they were leaving, they saw Mickle run back to the car, return with the rifle, and shoot at their car nearly two dozen times. During the investigation, officers found 23 cartridges in the road near the shooting. The victims’ car had one bullet hole in the bumper.
The victims identified Mickle as the shooter, and investigators determined he had an outstanding arrest warrant. Deputies from the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office located Mickle sitting in the driver’s seat of a vehicle at his residence and saw an AR-style rifle in the passenger seat. The police detained Mickle and secured the firearm. The police reviewed surveillance footage of the shooting and observed that the shooter was wearing the same shoes, blue jean shorts and black boxers that Mickle was wearing. Investigators determined the gun in the vehicle was not the same gun used in the shooting, however a gun residue test proved that Mickle had recently fired a firearm.
Mickle is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon previous convictions for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, distribution of crack cocaine near a school, distribution of crack cocaine 1st, and distribution of cocaine base 3rd.
United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. sentenced Mickle to 180 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office, and the Camden Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.###
Justice Department Announces Funding Opportunities to Advance Public Safety Efforts Across Tribal NationsRead the Press Release
Note: View Notice of Funding Opportunity here.
The Justice Department today announced the opening of the Fiscal Year 2026 Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for comprehensive funding to American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes to develop comprehensive approaches to public safety and victimization issues.
The department anticipates awarding more than $107 million in grant funding. Administered by the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), The NOFO includes guidance on how federally recognized Tribal governments and Tribal consortia can apply for funding to aid in the development of a comprehensive and coordinated approach to public safety and victimization.
“The Department is dedicated to promoting public safety and supporting victims in Tribal Nations,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. “Through these grant funding opportunities, tribes can receive support to develop comprehensive plans that identify gaps, strengthen coordination and address the underlying conditions that contribute to criminal and social disorder. This Department is proud to contribute resources to ensuring the overall success and improvement of tribal justice systems.”
This NOFO responds directly to Tribal leaders’ requests to improve and simplify the DOJ grant-making process by combining many of its Tribal government-specific funding opportunities into one NOFO and requiring only one application. CTAS funding can be used for a range of public safety and justice-related projects and services, including strengthening law enforcement through hiring, training, and purchasing equipment; improving Tribal justice systems to address and prevent crime; improving justice system physical infrastructure; increasing access to substance use treatment and recovery support services; and reducing juvenile delinquency and improving youth outcomes. In addition, the grants serve American Indian and Alaska Native victims of child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence and elder abuse.
In FY 2025, the department awarded 108 CTAS grants, amounting to more than $99 million in CTAS funding to Tribes and Tribal consortia across the United States.
The grants.gov application deadline for CTAS is Oct. 15, 2026, at 8:59 p.m. ET, and the JustGrants deadline is Oct. 22, 2026, at 8:59 p.m. ET.
The department will also facilitate a series of webinars to guide applicants through the application process. The full list of available webinars and registration links are available here.
About the Office of Justice Programs
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation's capacity to prevent and reduce crime; promote fair and impartial administration of justice; assist victims; and uphold the rule of law. More information about OJP and its program offices – the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Institute of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office for Victims of Crime, and Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking or SMART Office – can be found at ojp.gov.
About the Office of Community Orienting Police
The COPS Office is the component of the U.S. Department of Justice responsible for advancing the practice of community policing and the Administration’s priority of Making America Safe Again by supporting the nation’s state, local, territorial and Tribal law enforcement agencies through information and grant resources.
Ivorian national charged in $14 million fraud scheme in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A national of Côte d’Ivoire has been indicted in a $14 million fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Koffi Dongo Parfait Teya, 30, of Core D’Ivoire, was indicted by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud; wire fraud; and unauthorized use of an access device.
The three-count indictment alleges that Teya and associates utilized an email phishing scheme to target travel agencies with deceptive emails. They sent emails claiming to be from the company that handles airline reservations for the travel agencies, stating there was a security update that required their login credentials. The emails included links to fake websites that closely resembled the real reservation company’s login page. When the travel agency employees entered their information, their credentials were stolen. The group then used the stolen credentials to access the legitimate reservation system and book airline tickets, charging the costs to the travel agencies’ accounts. In total, the scheme caused about $14 million in losses to approximately 430 travel agencies.
Teya has been arrested in Cote D’Ivoire with the cooperation and assistance of law enforcement there although he will not be extradited to face charges in the Eastern District of Texas, but charges are expected to be pursued against him in Cote D’Ivoire.
This case is a part of Operation Riptide, an FBI campaign targeting the criminal actors, infrastructure, and financial networks behind cyber-enabled crime and fraud against the American people. Operation Riptide seeks to eliminate cyber-enabled crime, fraud, and predatory schemes that operate through organized criminal networks and the online services that support them, often reaching across borders to evade law enforcement. These schemes are especially destructive for family-owned and small businesses, often resulting in closures and financial ruin.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Jackson.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Illegal alien from Honduras and murder suspect arrested and charged with illegal re-entry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A native and citizen of Honduras has been charged for illegally re-entering the United States after having been previously removed, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Acting Chief Patrol Agent Javier Geronimo, Jr., U.S. Border Patrol, Detroit Sector.
The government charged Michael Jamblyck Costly Bennett, 30. Bennett appeared in federal court in Detroit yesterday and was detained pending further proceedings.
According to the criminal complaint, agents arrested Bennett during a traffic stop in Taylor, Michigan. During processing, a records check revealed that Bennett was in the United States illegally and wanted abroad for murder. Agents also discovered fraudulent documents in his possession, including counterfeit Social Security and permanent resident cards. Bennett had been removed from the United States twice before.
“This apprehension underscores the critical nature of our mission. We will enforce our immigration law at and beyond our borders to remove dangerous foreign nationals who attempt to hide within our communities,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Javier Geronimo, Jr. “Our agents build strong law enforcement partnerships and exercise the utmost of vigilance on duty while utilizing every tool at our disposal to ensure that violent criminals—regardless of where they originate—are held accountable and prevented from threatening the safety of the American public.”
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.
A complaint is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent. It is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Illegal Firearm Possession and Witness Tampering after Attack Outside Metro Business Lands Oklahoma City Man in Federal Prison for a DecadeRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – ISAEL ANTONIO ORTIZ, 27, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 120 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction and witness tampering, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department responded on October 14, 2024, to a report of an assault with a dangerous weapon. The victim reported that Ortiz struck the victim’s vehicle outside a local business, breaking the driver’s-side window, and then revealed a long-barrel firearm from his pants. After noticing a surveillance camera, Ortiz fled the scene. Officers later located Ortiz at his residence, where they detained him, executed a search warrant, and recovered a firearm. Ortiz was arrested at that time.
While in custody, Ortiz repeatedly attempted to influence a witness by making phone calls, sending text messages, and communicating through third parties. Specifically, Ortiz sought to have the witness falsely claim ownership of the firearm and state that Ortiz did not know it was present in the residence.
On January 6, 2026, a federal grand jury charged Ortiz with being a felon in possession of a firearm and witness tampering. On February 10, 2026, a federal jury found Ortiz guilty on both counts.
At a sentencing hearing on July 27, 2026, U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced Ortiz to serve 120 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Wyrick noted the need to protect the public and provide adequate deterrence. The court also noted the fact that Ortiz brandished a firearm and has a lengthy criminal history as reasons for imposing the sentence. Public records reflect that Ortiz has felony convictions that include:
- eluding a police officer in Canadian County District Court case number CF-2018-106;
- use of a vehicle in discharge of a weapon, drive-by shooting, illegal possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm while in the commission of a felony in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2019-5007; and
- rioting, second-degree attempted arson, and malicious injury and destruction to property in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2020-2901.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Laney Ellis and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary E. Walters are prosecuting the case. SAUSA Ellis is an attorney with the City of Oklahoma City who is assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office as part of a partnership to enhance federal efforts to address and reduce violent crime within Oklahoma City.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Illegal Alien from Guatemala Sentenced to More Than Eight Years in Federal Prison for Being an Illegal Alien in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Silvino Herrera-Munoz, who is in the United States illegally, will spend the next 102 months in federal prison after being convicted of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge Lee P. Rudofsky.
On March 4, 2025, Herrera-Munoz, 34, who resided in North Little Rock, was indicted by a federal grand jury in an Indictment charging him with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. On January 12, 2026, Herrera-Munoz pleaded guilty to the Indictment. Judge Rudofsky also sentenced Herrera-Munoz to three years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
An investigation revealed that on February 2, 2025, a concerned citizen called 911 and reported a vehicle driving eastbound on Interstate 30 near Geyer Springs, Arkansas, with the driver shooting 5-7 times out of the driver’s window. The driver/shooter, later identified as Herrera-Munoz, was going back and forth speeding up and slowing down and brake checking the tractor trailer before he began to shoot. The caller followed Herrera-Munoz’s vehicle until an Arkansas State Police Trooper conducted a stop. Herrera-Munoz, an illegal alien, had an odor of alcohol and a blood-alcohol content of .12, well above the legal limit in Arkansas.
After the Trooper approached the vehicle, he observed a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber firearm and a spent shell casing on the driver’s floorboard. During a search of the nearby area of the traffic stop, Troopers located two additional shell casings on Interstate 30, which were later confirmed to be fired from the firearm Troopers located on the floorboard of Herrera-Munoz’s vehicle.
Herrera-Munoz’s criminal history includes two convictions for driving while intoxicated.
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.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with assistance from the Arkansas State Police and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Crews.
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Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
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@USAO_EDAR
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Lynn, Mass. has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to illegally reentering the United States after deportation.
Yodenny Michael Baez-Cabrera, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun scheduled sentencing for Sept. 22, 2026. Baez-Cabrera was charged in April 2026.
Baez-Cabrera was deported from the United States on July 18, 2017. Sometime after his July 2017 removal, Baez-Cabrera illegally reentered the United States without permission. In 2015, Baez-Cabrera was convicted of felony assault with a dangerous weapon and witness intimidation in Peabody District Court.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and David T. Wesling, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lynn Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aidan Lang of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Trafficking ChargeRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, announced that FELIX JIMENEZ, 38, a citizen of the Dominican Republic unlawfully residing in the U.S., pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to a cocaine trafficking offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, members of the DEA New Haven District Office (NHDO) Task Force coordinated a purchase of cocaine with an individual in New York. On April 9, 2026, Jiminez drove to the meeting location in Waterbury and provided approximately one kilogram of cocaine to an undercover officer. After the transaction, task force officers converged on the location. Jimenez drove his car into several law enforcement vehicles and fled at a high rate of speed. He was found a short distance away hiding in a closet in an autobody shop in Waterbury and was taken into custody.
Jimenez has been detained since his arrest. While incarcerated, he was overheard on a phone call with his girlfriend discussing the possession of firearms at a residence they shared in Ansonia. Law enforcement subsequently conducted a court-authorized search of the residence and seized two handguns.
Jimenez pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 23.
Jimenez was deported to the Dominican Republic in 2019 after he was convicted of a prior federal offense.
The NHDO Task Force includes members from the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police, and the New Haven, Waterbury, East Haven, Branford, West Haven, Ansonia, Meriden, Naugatuck, and Shelton Police Departments. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Lembo.
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.
Illegal Alien Faces Federal Fentanyl and Firearms Charges after Stockbridge ArrestRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Rogelio Moises Rosel Dimas, an illegal alien from Mexico, appeared in federal court yesterday to answer a criminal complaint after the alleged discovery of a handgun in his Stockbridge, Georgia home and a hidden fentanyl stash in nearby woods.
“Fentanyl and illegal firearms are a lethal combination that gravely threatens the safety of our citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “My office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to hold fentanyl traffickers accountable and eradicate this deadly drug from our streets.”
“Our mission has always been about protecting people,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Every seizure of fentanyl is an opportunity to prevent tragedy, and every trafficker held accountable makes our communities safer. This case underscores the importance of the strong partnerships that make these investigations possible, and DEA will continue pursuing those who endanger lives as we work toward a Fentanyl Free America.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On July 29, 2026, federal agents conducting a narcotics investigation executed a search warrant at Rosel Dimas’s residence in Stockbridge, Georgia. Inside of the residence, agents found a 9mm pistol, which Rosel Dimas is allegedly prohibited from possessing as an illegal alien. Agents also found over two pounds of fentanyl, allegedly belonging to Rosel Dimas, hidden in the woods near his residence.
On July 30, 2026, Rogelio Moises Rosel Dimas, 39, of Mexico, appeared in federal court on a criminal complaint charging him with possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. Rosel Dimas was detained in the custody of the United States Marshals Service.
Members of the public are reminded that the criminal complaint only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with valuable assistance provided by the Henry County Police Department.
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.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Austin Hall and Kendall Runyan are prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Honduran Illegal Alien Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ERIK ROBERTO MACHADO-MENCIA, a/k/a “Roberto Machado-Mencia,” age 37, a native of Honduras, was sentenced by United States District Judge Susie Morgan on July 30, 2026, to three months in federal prison arising out of his conviction for illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, MACHADO-MENCIA was found in the United States on May 15, 2025, having reentered the United States without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States after being previously deported on December 16, 2019.
On May 15, 2025, agents with the U.S. Border Patrol were working highway interdiction on Interstate 12 near Lacombe, Louisiana, when a vehicle with a fictitious license plate passed the agents. The agents conducted a traffic stop and determined that one of the occupants of the vehicle, MACHADO-MENCIA, was a citizen of Honduras who had been previously removed from the United States.
U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Border Patrol in investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr.
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.
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Honduran Alien Pleads Guilty to Illegal Re-Entry After Previous DeportationRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal judge sentenced a national from Honduras, residing in Halethorpe, Maryland, today, in connection with an illegal immigration crime.
U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Carlos Amador Lopez, 30, to 10 months in federal prison for illegal re-entry of an alien after a prior conviction and removal. In 2018, authorities convicted Amador Lopez of robbery, an aggravated felony, in Nebraska.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Field Office Director Robert Guadian, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Washington D.C. Field Office.
According to court documents, following his conviction for an aggravated felony, authorities removed Amador Lopez from the United States. As part of his removal, authorities advised Amador Lopez that, due to his conviction, he is excluded from re-entering the U.S.
After his initial removal, Amador Lopez voluntarily and unlawfully re-entered the U.S. without inspection or permission on two separate occasions. Authorities removed Amador Lopez from the U.S. in 2021, and 2024, respectively. He never sought nor obtained the consent of the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of Homeland Security to apply for readmission.
On December 31, 2025, law enforcement encountered Amador Lopez and took him into custody. Then on June 1, 2026, Amador Lopez pled guilty to illegal re-entry after prior removal and conviction of an aggravated felony.
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.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared W. Murphy who prosecuted the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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Gainesville Man Sentenced to over 14 Years for Robbery and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Michael Deon Woulard (50, Gainesville) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard to 14 years and 10 months in federal prison for robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime. Woulard pleaded guilty on March 16, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents and proceedings, on October 10, 2023, Woulard robbed a Value Pawn shop in Jacksonville, stealing goods valued at approximately $45,945. On November 25, 2023, Woulard robbed a Kay Jewelers store in Jacksonville, during which he brandished a semi-automatic pistol at employees and stole jewelry valued at approximately $352,623.66. On February 20, 2024, Woulard robbed another Kay Jewelers store in Ocala, during which he again brandished a semi-automatic pistol at employees and stole jewelry valued at approximately $364,752.56. Woulard was arrested on February 21, 2024, while in possession of numerous stolen items from the third robbery. During a voluntary interview with investigators from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Ocala Police Department, he admitted to committing the jewelry store robberies.
Woulard was ordered to pay $442,582.59 in restitution to the victims.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian.
Gainesville Felons Convicted of Possession of Firearm & AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Reginald Duante Davis, 35, Gainesville, Florida, has been found guilty by a federal jury in Gainesville following a two-day jury trial for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the guilty verdict.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “If we are to be effective in our mission to eliminate crime, it is absolutely necessary to incapacitate chronic offenders – like these defendants – with robust prosecutions and strict incarceration. My office remains committed to aggressively prosecuting serial criminals to remove them from our streets and keep our communities safe.”
On April 12, 2024, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle for multiple traffic violations. Kelvin Wright was the driver, and Reginald Davis was the passenger in the front seat. During a probable cause search of the vehicle, a loaded firearm was located in the center console. Both Wright and Davis are prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition as convicted felons with multiple prior felony convictions. The DNA of both defendants was located on the firearm in various locations. This guilty verdict is the defendant’s second conviction for possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
Kelvin Wright previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Davis and Wright each face up to 15 years’ imprisonment.
The case was jointly investigated by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 20, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. in the United States Courthouse in Gainesville before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
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.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit theU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Former USPS mail carrier stole mail meant for deliveryRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A former mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) admitted to stealing letters and parcels instead of delivering them to their rightful owners.
According to court documents, Amanda Tucker, 48, of Scott City, Kansas, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of mail by a postal employee.
Tucker delivered mail for the Scott City Post Office. In August 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Tucker’s home. They found USPS letters and parcels in her home and her vehicle that were addressed to residents along her delivery route.
“Customers depend on the U.S. Postal Service for mail and packages which can contain anything from prescription medications to important documents,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “The defendant showed little regard for how stealing letters and parcels could affect the people living along her route who rely on these deliveries.”
Tucker is scheduled to be sentenced on October 20, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S Postal Service – Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kari Burks is prosecuting the case.
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Former St. Tammany Paralegal Guilty of Embezzling $1.8 Million & Tax FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – BOBBIE ELLIS a/k/a “BOBBIE GREEN” (“ELLIS”), age 63, currently a resident of Fairhope, Alabama pleaded guilty on July 28, 2026, to wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343 and tax evasion in violation of Title 26, United States Code, 7201, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, from 2010 to 2018 ELLIS worked for a small law firm in Mandeville, Louisiana. ELLIS performed duties of an office manager, bookkeeper, and paralegal. In those roles, ELLIS had access to the law firm’s financial records, bank accounts, notary stamp, and other legal documents. From at least 2012 to 2018, ELLIS, without authorization, accessed bank accounts controlled by the law firm and forged her employer’s signature on numerous checks stealing over $1.8 million. ELLIS used the fraudulently obtained proceeds to purchase a home in Georgia and another home in Florida. ELLIS also fraudulently used a credit card linked to her employer. ELLIS charged over $945,000 in unauthorized purchases, including expenses related to vacations, hotel stays, retail store purchases, restaurants, and purchases for her children and pets. To conceal her fraud, ELLIS used funds from bank accounts controlled by the law firm to pay for her fraudulent credit card charges. In total, ELLIS embezzled $1,861,575.75 from bank accounts controlled by her employer. From 2013 through 2017, ELLIS attempted to evade the income tax due to the IRS based on her legitimate and illegal income. ELLIS willfully failed to report to the IRS the money she stole and the money she earned while working at the law firm. ELLIS owes the IRS a total of $657,707 for evading her taxes from 2013 through 2017.
For wire fraud, ELLIS faces a maximum penalty of twenty years’ imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 mandatory special assessment fee. For tax evasion, ELLIS faces a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 mandatory special assessment fee. ELLIS also will be ordered to pay restitution.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiwana Wright of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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Former Gretna Bank Manager Guilty of Bank TheftRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that on July 30, 2026, ALEXA MARIE BRAUD, (“BRAUD”), age 34, of Gretna, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier to bank theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(b). Sentencing is set for October 22, 2026.
According to the factual basis, on February 4, 2026, BRAUD, entered a credit union located in Gretna, Louisiana where she was a bank manager, and took $185,000 in United States currency. The deposits of the credit union are insured by the National Credit Union Administration.
BRAUD faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years, a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment cost.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Gretna Police Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Mary Anne Flippo of the Public Integrity Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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Former Federal Law Enforcement Officer Pleads Guilty to Stealing $340,000 Cash from Elderly Scam VictimsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former U.S. Postal Inspector has pleaded guilty to stealing over $340,000 cash from packages mailed by elderly victims of lottery fraud scams, laundering some of the cash and failing to report it to the IRS.
Scott Kelley, 52, of Pembroke, Mass. pleaded guilty to five counts of wire fraud; five counts of mail fraud; five counts of mail theft by a postal officer; 23 counts of money laundering; one count of structuring to evade reporting requirements; and five counts of filing false tax returns. U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled Kelley’s sentencing for Nov. 18, 2026.
Kelley was a federal law enforcement officer authorized to carry a firearm, make arrests and execute search warrants. He worked at the Boston Division headquarters of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Postal Service. The primary mission of USPIS is to protect postal customers from criminal use of the mail system.
In 2015, Kelley became the Team Leader in charge of the Mail Fraud team. He supervised Postal Inspectors who investigated lottery and other scams that targeted senior citizens and other vulnerable populations. Kelley worked hand in hand with federal prosecutors investigating and prosecuting federal crimes involving the mail.
Working with Jamaican law enforcement authorities, USPIS began a nationwide crime-prevention initiative, Jamaican Operations Linked to Telemarketing (“JOLT”), to disrupt mail fraud scams originating in Jamaica that targeted U.S. residents with false promises of sweepstakes or lottery winnings. Posing as lottery representatives, scammers contacted elderly persons and other vulnerable victims and persuaded them to mail funds to pay “fees” or “taxes” that they supposedly needed to front before they could collect their prize.
USPS created a daily JOLT Report, a list of packages that likely contained cash sent by scam victims. Between Jan. 2019 and Aug. 11, 2023, Kelley requested – directly or through support staff – that about 1,950 JOLT parcels be intercepted and sent to him. It is alleged that Kelley received hundreds of those packages. He opened the ones that looked or felt like they might contain cash and stole any cash inside.
Victims of Kelley’s scheme included:
- A retired Army veteran in Kansas, then age 76, who mailed $19,100 cash;
- A retired construction supervisor in Mississippi, then age 82, who mailed $7,500 cash;
- An Indiana resident who cleaned houses while raising five children, who mailed $2,000 cash when they were 78;
- A retired nurse with Parkinson’s disease living in Waltham, Mass., who mailed $5,400 cash when they were 78;
- A 56-year old victim on Social Security disability benefits living in Holliston, Mass., who mailed $15,000 cash;
- A retired apartment building manager in New Jersey, then age 82, who mailed $1,400 cash; and
- A retired nurse’s aide in Oklahoma, then age 70, who mailed $10,800 cash.
Although it is unknown how much Kelley stole in total, he possessed approximately $340,000 in cash during the period when he was receiving hundreds of intercepted JOLT parcels. Of this amount:
- He deposited about $131,000 into four separate bank accounts, on about 60 different dates, in amounts never exceeding $4,800. He allegedly did so to avoid being flagged as a customer depositing an unusually large amount of cash, which, as Kelley knew, could trigger the banks to report him to federal financial regulators.
- He paid about $158,000 in cash to buy approximately 165 postal money orders, most of which he deposited into his bank accounts or used to pay credit card bills. He always bought less than $3,000 in a day, knowing that post offices are required to collect identification information only from customers who buy $3,000 or more in money orders in a single day. On more than 20 of the money orders he bought, Kelley falsely identified two of his relatives as the payers. He did so to try to conceal that he was the cash purchaser of the money orders.
- He made almost $50,000 in cash purchases. These included $20,500 for a patio around his backyard pool:
He also paid $4,800 in cash for a marble countertop on his pool bar and to heat the pool; $4,888 in cash to install landscape lights around the pool and lighting for the pool bar; and $4,300 in cash for bar drinks and other expenses incurred during Caribbean cruises he took with his family. Kelley also paid $15,400 in cash to two prostitutes whom he met during workdays and with whom he texted using a burner phone:
Members of the public who believe they may be victims of this case or other elder fraud scams should contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov. Suspected mail fraud can also be reported to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service online or by calling (877) 876-2455.
The charges of wire fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of mail fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of mail theft by a postal officer each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of money laundering each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000, or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater. The charge of structuring provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of filing false tax returns each provide for a sentence of up to three years in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael Ray, Special Agent in Charge, Office of Professional Responsibility, Technical and Sensitive Operations Field Office, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General; and Tom Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Wichers and Eric L. Hawkins are prosecuting the case.
Former Edison City Clerk Faces 10 Years in Prison for Federal Program FraudRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – The Former City Clerk of Edison, Georgia, admitted in federal court this week that she used taxpayer money for personal purchases following an investigation into the mismanagement of City finances, resulting from a National Fraud Enforcement Division investigation led by the FBI.
“No matter the amount or intent, misusing government funds for personal gain is a serious crime that erodes public trust,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. "The National Fraud Enforcement Division is committed to investigating and prosecuting all forms of government waste, fraud, and abuse, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are protected and those who betray the public’s confidence are held accountable."
“This guilty plea is a reminder that those entrusted with public funds are not above the law,” said Thomas Clark, Supervisory Senior Special Agent of the Albany office of FBI Atlanta. “This breach of trust undermines the integrity of public office. The FBI remains unwavering in its pursuit to hold accountable those who exploit their positions for selfish purposes.”
Tami Fincher, 64, of Edison, pleaded guilty to one count of federal program theft before U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner on July 30. Fincher faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The Court will determine her sentencing date. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI met with City of Edison representatives on Dec. 7, 2023. During the meeting, one individual explained to investigators he had been contacted by Fincher, the City’s former Clerk, earlier in the year and advised that Edison was unable to pay a loan they owed. City representatives began to investigate the issue and immediately recognized significant financial mismanagement of the city's accounts. Edison received more than $10,000 in federal program funds annually.
Fincher began working as the City Clerk for Edison in March 2018 and was responsible for the City’s finances. Fincher was issued a city credit card. A review of Fincher’s city credit card statements revealed a large quantity of inappropriate personal charges made using that card, including dining out, dog treats, Amazon purchases, and designer clothing. Between 2018 and 2023, Fincher made more than $5,000 in unauthorized personal purchases using that card. Fincher resigned from her position in July 2023.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The FBI investigated the case.
Deputy Criminal Chief Veronica Hansis and Assistant U.S. Attorney Shiante McMahon are prosecuting the case for the Government.