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31 July 2026
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.
Foreign-Owned Industrial Lubricant Company to Pay $1.8 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations Related to Paycheck Protection Program LoanRead the Press Release
DETROIT – The Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division continues to advance its mission to fight fraud and protect taxpayers. Today, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced that Condat Corporation, a Michigan company that produces a range of industrial lubricants, has agreed to pay $1,811,034.24 to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by making false statements to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to obtain a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for which Condat was ineligible.
Congress created the PPP in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to American businesses suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the PPP, eligible small businesses could receive forgivable loans guaranteed by the SBA. Regulations provided various eligibility requirements for the PPP, including limitations on the number of employees and restrictions for foreign-owned companies. When applying for PPP loans, borrowers were required to certify the truthfulness and accuracy of all information provided in their loan applications.
In January 2021, Condat obtained a second draw PPP loan for $1,000,000. At the time of its loan application, Condat was a subsidiary of Condat SA, a privately held, family-owned French Company, and a member of Condat Groupe, comprised of at least 15 associated business entities worldwide. The United States alleged that Condat falsely certified that it was eligible for the second draw loan and loan forgiveness, even though, together with its affiliates, it had more than 300 employees, in violation of the PPP rules in effect at the time Condat obtained the funds.
“The Paycheck Protection Program supports American small businesses, not international conglomerates,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. “We are coming for companies that lied to get COVID-19 relief loans.”
This civil settlement resolved a sealed lawsuit originally filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The qui tam lawsuit has been unsealed and is captioned U.S. ex rel. GNGH2, Inc. v. Condat Corporation, Case No. 2:24-cv-12269. The whistleblower will receive 10% of the settlement amount.
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Dickinson from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel.
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.
Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
Florida Woman Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Orchestrating Multimillion-Dollar Federal Student Aid Loan Forgiveness Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s Eastern Regional Office (“DOE OIG”), Jamila Davis, and Inspector in Charge of the New York Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Ketty Larco-Ward, announced today that NYDIRA ADAMS a/k/a “Nadira Adams,” a/k/a “Nadira Adams-McMillan,” was sentenced to two years in prison for carrying out a scheme in which she charged federal student loan borrowers to submit documents containing misrepresentations and false statements to the United States Department of Education to take advantage of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. ADAMS’s scheme sought to cause the Department of Education to forgive over $6 million in federal student loan debt based on lies, misrepresentations, and falsehoods. The defendant pled guilty on April 30, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote, who imposed today’s sentence.
“Nydira Adams defrauded the Department of Education out of millions of dollars and preyed upon individuals seeking relief from federal student loan debt,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “Through lies, misrepresentations, and false documents, Adams abused the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program—a federal program intended to benefit individuals who dedicate at least 10 years of their careers to public service or non-profit work. And she did so to enrich herself. Today’s sentencing sends a clear message: individuals who swindle the Government and taxpayer-funded programs will be held accountable.”
“Nydira Adams thought she could game the system and would not get caught, but she was wrong,” said DOE OIG Special Agent in Charge Jamila Davis. “The OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who abuse the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program or any Federal education program for their own selfish purposes. America’s taxpayers and students deserve nothing less.”
“Through lying, cheating, and manipulation, Ms. Adams devised a scheme to defraud the Department of Education and her clients by depicting herself as someone who held proprietary information on DOE programs, cheating those who truly needed student loan forgiveness and other assistance from the Department of Education,” said USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward. “Her actions are unconscionable and today’s sentence sends a message, that no matter who you claim to be, when you lie and steal from the public, postal inspectors and their law enforcement partners will be there to bring you to justice for your criminal activity.”
According to court documents, statements made in court, and evidence presented during the sentencing:
From at least in or about March 2023 through at least in or about January 2025, Adams held herself out as the “Student Loan Default Guru” and operated a business under the same name. In reality, AdAMS used misrepresentations, false statements, and false documents to deceive the Department of Education into forgiving federal student loans issued to borrowers who paid Adams thousands of dollars for her purported services. On multiple occasions, Adams knowingly and intentionally caused applications for Department of Education relief programs to be submitted which contained falsehoods pertaining to the borrowers’ eligibility for the relief programs. Among other falsehoods, ADAMS claimed that one California-based borrower worked full-time at a New-York-based religious institution and falsely represented that another borrower worked full-time for a public school district. Adams’s scheme resulted in an intended loss of over $6 million to the Department of Education.
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In addition to the prison term, ADAMS, 38, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to three years of supervised release.
Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the DOE OIG—Eastern Regional Office; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, New York; and the Special Agents assigned to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon C. Thompson is in charge of the prosecution.
Florida Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Wire FraudRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – An Orlando, Fl., man, Ivory Joe Pruitt, 61, was sentenced on Friday to 63 months imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Pruitt was also ordered to pay $137,392.74 in restitution.
More than a dozen university, hospital, and local police agencies across the country took part in the investigation. The collaboration and sharing of investigation revealed that
between August 2022 and May 2024, Pruitt and several co‑conspirators carried out an organized, multi‑state fraud scheme. The group traveled to hospitals and university buildings across the country to steal wallets containing credit cards, debit cards, and personal identifying information. After the group stole the wallets, they then used the stolen cards—and fraudulent Sam’s Club accounts created with victims’ identities—to make, or attempt to make, more than $179,000 in purchases at retailers including Sam’s Club, Walmart, Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Target. Pruitt played a central role by directing aspects of the operation, personally stealing numerous wallets, and repeatedly using stolen identities. The conspiracy spanned at least a dozen states and involved more than 30 victims whose financial information was used without authorization.
Pruitt’s co-conspirators have previously been sentenced for their role in the wire fraud conspiracy. They received the following sentences:
- Yoshi Keori Williams was sentenced to 112 months in prison, and supervised release of 2 years.
- Daniel Rashaud Sanchious was sentenced to credit for time served, or 21 months, and supervised release of 2 years.
- Tashawn Shamal Canegata was sentenced to 30 months, and supervised release of 2 years.
- Kellie Marie Miller was sentenced to a total of 45 months, and supervised release of 2 years.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Chief Joe Monroe, University of Kentucky Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the University of Kentucky Police Department, and dozens of police agencies across the country. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Mattingly Williams prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Federal Jury finds Armed Career Criminal Guilty of Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – On July 29, 2026, a federal jury delivered a guilty verdict in the case of a Memphis man, Rodrigus Carter, aka Rodregus Carter, 42, who was charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Carter faces a mandatory statutory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison based on his prior convictions. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the verdict today.
According to information presented in court, on March 10, 2026, Memphis police went to an empty commercial building in downtown Memphis after receiving complaints from the owner that individuals were living inside the building without authorization. Officers entered the building and found Carter, along with two others. They located a revolver and a semiautomatic pistol on a table in an interior office being used as a bedroom. Carter was seen exiting from this room when officers arrived.
Witnesses, including Carter, indicated the revolver belonged to him and the other firearm belonged to his girlfriend who had been living in the building with him. Carter has multiple prior felony convictions, including three convictions for Burglary of a Building, two convictions for Aggravated Burglary, and Sale of a Controlled Substance.
After a one-day trial, Carter was convicted as charged of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and the jury made a finding that he had committed at least three violent felonies on different occasions, triggering the enhanced sentencing penalties under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA). Sentencing is set on November 19, 2026, before Chief United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "The best way to reduce violent crime is to remove firearms from the hands of prohibited persons and remove dangerous felons from our streets, BEFORE they pull the next trigger. This recidivist armed career criminal is one more gun-toter who will now be removed from our community for at least 15 years, and Memphis will be safer because of this verdict.”
This case was investigated by officers from the Memphis Police Department (MPD) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Musselwhite and Gavin Smith prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
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For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Federal Jury Finds Man Guilty of Four Robberies with a FirearmRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – A federal jury has Devon Floyd (34) guilty of four counts of Hobbs Act robbery, four counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery. Floyd faces up to 20 years in prison for each robbery offense and a minimum sentence of 28 years, up to life, for the firearms offenses. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, in July 2023, Floyd robbed four separate convenience stores throughout the Middle District of Florida. He used a firearm during each robbery. The first break in the case occurred when the Tampa Police Department identified a print belonging to Floyd on a box of pens Floyd had touched during one of the robberies. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives collected physical and video evidence from the crime scenes. Using video footage, fingerprints, and DNA evidence, agents were to place Floyd at the scenes of other robberies.
The investigation also led to the arrest and conviction of Leanna Bryant (age 29) and Kavar Young (age 34). Bryant pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, and two counts of brandishing a firearm. She is currently awaiting sentencing. Young pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, Hobbs Act robbery, and brandishing a firearm. He was sentenced to three years and ten months in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Tampa Police Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Temple Terrace Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Port Police Department. The Federal Bureau of Investigation assisted with cellphone location analysis. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. 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.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts 7 for Drug Offenses Following Homeland Security Task Force InvestigationRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – Following a lengthy investigation by the Louisville Homeland Security Task force, a federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned an indictment on July 22, 2026, charging seven local individuals with conspiring to distribute controlled substances, and one individual with firearm- and methamphetamine-related charges. Six of these individuals have been arrested.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office, Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Kuszynski, IRS Criminal Investigation Detroit Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Dennis M. Fetting, Homeland Security Investigations – Nashville, and Chief Paul L. Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.According to the indictment, Michael Morris, Lajuan Sanders, James Moorman, Wayne Allen, Miriam Thompson-Morris, Gary Ross and Jeffery Roberson were all charged with one count of conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of mixture and substance containing cocaine from April 13, 2026, through July 22, 2026, in Jefferson County, Kentucky.
Additionally, James Moorman was charged with one count of possession of firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm with the knowledge he had previously been convicted of a felony, specifically:
On or about January 23, 1990, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Jefferson County, Kentucky, in case number 89-CR-1087, James Moorman was convicted of the offenses of trafficking in a controlled substance cocaine (two counts);
On or about September 6, 1995, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Jefferson County, Kentucky, in case number 95-CR-0208, James Moorman was convicted of the offenses of illegal possession of controlled substance in the first degree, tampering with physical evidence;
On or about October 14, 1996, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Jefferson County, Kentucky, in case number 96-CR-2298, James Moorman was convicted of the offenses of trafficking in controlled substance cocaine and illegal possession of a controlled substance cocaine;
On or about June 3, 2003, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Jefferson County, Kentucky, in case number 01-CR-2060, James Moorman was convicted of the offenses of trafficking in controlled substance in the first degree while in possession of a firearm subsequent offender, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, illegal possession of a controlled substance in the second degree while in possession of a firearm;
On or about June 3, 2003, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Jefferson County, Kentucky, in case number 02-CR-1628, James Moorman was convicted of the offenses of trafficking in controlled substance in the first degree cocaine subsequent offender;
On or about September 17, 2019, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Jefferson County, Kentucky, in case number 17-CR-2407, James Moorman was convicted of the offenses of trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree heroin two grams or more, trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree cocaine, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon;
On or about September 17, 2019, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Jefferson County, Kentucky, in case number 18-CR-1841, James Moorman was convicted of the offenses of illegal possession of a controlled substance methamphetamine, tampering with physical evidence; and
On or about September 17, 2019, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Jefferson County, Kentucky, in case number 18-CR-3425, James Moorman was convicted of the offenses of illegal possession of a controlled substance heroin, tampering with physical evidence.
On July 29, 2026, six of the seven defendants made an initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Jeffery Roberson will make his initial appearance at a later date. If convicted, James Moorman faces a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. If convicted, Michael Morris, Lajuan Sanders, Wayne Allen, Miriam Thompson-Morris, Gary Ross and Jeffery Roberson face a minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner stated, “The Louisville Homeland Security Task Force is a national model for interagency cooperation and productivity. Agents from multiple federal agencies working seamlessly with the Louisville Metro Police Department are constantly working long-term investigations against significant drug trafficking organizations for the betterment of our community. It is truly an honor to announce this important indictment and commend the success of our law enforcement partners.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott stated, “The DEA, alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, remains committed to pursuing those who profit from trafficking dangerous drugs while fueling violence in our communities. By bringing the full resources of the federal government to bear against career criminals, we are sending a clear message to those who peddle poison on our streets: your days are numbered.”
"The men and women of ATF remain steadfast in our commitment to identifying and targeting those who drive violent crime through the illegal use of firearms and narcotics trafficking. Working alongside our partners on the HSTF, we will continue to investigate and dismantle violent offenders and organized criminal groups, ensuring they are held accountable and face the significant federal prison sentences they deserve," said John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Louisville Field Division.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson stated, "This long-term investigation and subsequent arrest operation demonstrates the HSTF mission in action. By bringing together federal, state, and local partners, HSTF Louisville leverages every available law enforcement authority and resource to enforce the laws of the United States. When we operate with unity, purpose, and integrity, we are stronger together and better equipped to confront the threats facing our communities. FBI Louisville is proud to serve alongside our HSTF partners, whose collective expertise and shared commitment make operations like this possible."
"This indictment is the result of the unyielding dedication by the Louisville Homeland Security Task Force. By dismantling this drug trafficking organization, IRS-CI and our law enforcement partners are taking a significant step toward protecting our communities from the dangers of illegal narcotics and violent crime. We remain committed to pursuing those who threaten public safety and to ensuring justice is served," said Robert Kuszynski, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS-CI Detroit Field Office.
“Through the close coordination and shared purpose of the Homeland Security Task Force, we are able to bring the full strength of our collective authorities and resources to bear against those who threaten public safety and national security. Every arrest, every victim identified, and every threat disrupted reflects our dedication to safeguarding the American people,” said HSI Nashville Special Agent in Charge Dennis M. Fetting.
LMPD Chief Paul Humphrey stated, "This investigation is another example of what can be accomplished when local, state, and federal law enforcement work together with a shared commitment to protecting our community. I want to thank every investigator who spent countless hours on this case to make our neighborhoods safer."
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the DEA, ATF, FBI, IRS-CI, HSI and FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Porter and Frank E. Dahl, III, are prosecuting the case with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Adela Alic.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Louisville comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, and IRS, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Egyptian National Arrested and Indicted by Grand Jury After Allegedly Brutally Beating a Man During a Carjacking in UtahRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A U.S. Magistrate Judge found a lawful alien from Egypt an unmanageable risk and ordered him detained during his arraignment and detention hearing this week at the federal courthouse.
Last week, a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment charging Gwen Manot Scholl Agake, aka John Agake, 22, of Salt Lake City, Utah, with carjacking after he allegedly attempted to steal a victim’s vehicle and attacked him with a long metal bar causing serious injuries to his face, shoulder, and head.
According to court documents, on July 6, 2026, Agake attempted to steal a vehicle and violently attacked the owner of the vehicle who tried to stop him. As alleged, the victim was working on patrol as a security guard at a business when he noticed at 3:20 a.m. a light coming from his parked vehicle. He approached the vehicle and encountered Agake. The victim told Agake to get out of his car and Agake brandished a long metal bar and demanded the keys from the victim. The victim refused and the defendant got out of the car swinging the metal bar, striking the victim in the head and shoulders and again demanding the keys while striking the victim. The victim was able to run away and get inside the business but not before Agake, who was chasing after him, also entered the building. Once inside, the defendant further assaulted the victim, striking him several times in the face and head. While beating the victim Agake continued to demand the keys and yelled “you should have given me the keys” and “you shouldn’t have called the cops.” The victim suffered severe injuries to his head, face, and body. Agake exited the building by breaking out a large window with a metal bar and caused an injury to his arm leaving a trail of blood.
The attack, both inside and outside the business, was captured by surveillance video. The victim’s co-worker witnessed the attack on closed-circuit television (CCTV) after the victim managed to radio her. The co-worker quickly called the Salt Lake City Police Department, who quickly responded. Upon SLCPD’s arrival, they followed Agake’s trail of blood, found him hiding at a nearby business on North Temple, and arrested him.
According to court documents, Agake is a lawful resident alien who has applied for citizenship, but his application is now on hold due to the indictment. He is subject to removal or deportation after serving a period of incarceration.
Agake is charged with carjacking. A jury trial is scheduled for October 6, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in courtroom 7.3 before a U.S. District Court Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by an FBI Task Force Officer with the Salt Lake City Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Carlos A. Esqueda for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Diversity Visa Lottery Winner Found Guilty of Visa FraudRead the Press Release
Lopez Munongo Makengo, age 36, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was convicted by a jury today, after a 3-day trial in federal court in Sioux City. Makengo was found guilty of unlawful possession of identification documents and unlawful use of identification documents. The verdict was returned this morning following about 7 hours of jury deliberations.
Evidence in the case revealed that in 2014, Makengo, entered the Diversity Visa lottery, and later was granted a Diversity Visa. Makengo then immigrated to the United States in 2016. In 2017, he petitioned for relatives to join him in the United States—including a child born in 2013. In 2022, when the Sioux City Police Department was investigating child abuse and neglect allegations by Makengo, it was discovered by Department of State officials that Makengo had made a false statement on his application to obtain his Diversity Visa. Makengo failed to disclose that he had a child from 2014-2016, despite swearing under oath at the U.S. Embassy in DRC that the contents of his application were true and correct. On his 2017 petition for relatives to join him, however, he admitted that he had a child born in 2013.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Makengo remains free on bond previously set pending sentencing. Makengo faces a possible maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of up to 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being investigated by the United States Department of State – Diplomatic Security Service and the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ron Timmons, Shawn Wehde, and Tim Vavricek.
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.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of 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.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-4010.
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District of Arizona Charges 216 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from July 25 through July 31, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 216 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 106 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 98 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed cases against 12 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Sarah Desiree Rios-Martin. On July 29, 2026, Sarah Desiree Rios-Martin was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. On July 28, 2026, an Arizona Department of Public Safety Trooper saw a blue Volvo SUV abruptly veer across the gore point to an exit. The Trooper initiated a traffic stop and the driver of the Volvo, Rios-Martin, pulled over on the dirt shoulder of the frontage road. After he pulled over, three Hispanic males wearing camouflage clothing got out of the Volvo and ran away while Rios-Martin and the front seat passenger remained in the car. Border Patrol Agents (BPAs) arrived on the scene and searched for the passengers who had fled. Following footprints, agents found one of the passengers hiding in a tree. The BPAs determined that he was a citizen of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-5354]
United States v. Tucto-Rivera. On July 27, 2026, Hector Maruicio Tucto-Rivera was charged by criminal complaint with Reentry of a Removed Alien. Tucto-Rivera had been previously removed from the United States on June 20, 2017, after being convicted of felony aggravated assault in the Superior Court of Arizona. Tucto-Rivera was sentenced to 18 months of probation in that case. [Case Number: 26-MJ-5337]
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-128_July 31, 2026 Immigration Enforcement
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
D.C. Teen Sentenced in 2025 Crime SpreeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Makai Bridges, 17, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 12 years in prison for a string of crimes that included robbery, carjacking, and assault, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“At just 16, Bridges repeatedly victimized members of our community through violence, intimidation, and theft,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Even after being detained, he continued to endanger others by assaulting fellow detainees. This 12-year sentence ensures he will be held accountable for his actions and protects the public from further harm.”
Bridges pleaded guilty on March 5, 2026, to carjacking, robbery, possession of a prohibited weapon, and simple assault. Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld sentenced Bridges to 12 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. The government requested 12 years in prison, which was the maximum under the sentencing guidelines.
According to the government’s evidence, on May 1, 2025, at around 2:00 am, Bridges and an additional accomplice approached the victim near the intersection of 3rd Street NE and Rhode Island Avenue NE, Washington, D.C. while she was waiting at the bus stop. The two men both pointed what appeared to be firearms at the victim, one pointing the weapon at her head and the other pushing his weapon into her stomach. They then pulled the victim’s purse from her shoulder and took her cellphone out of her hand. The defendant and his conspirator threatened the victim, saying they would kill her if she called the police, and then fled the scene. The victim contacted MPD around 7:38 am, on May 1, 2025, and reported the crime.
In a separate incident, on May 7, 2025, at around 10:10 pm. Bridges and four other accomplices approached another victim as he was exiting his vehicle at 1430 Otis Street NE. One member of the group pulled out what appeared to be a firearm, while the others demanded the victim’s keys. All five entered the vehicle and drove away.
At around 10:50 pm, officers attempted to apprehend the defendant and his accomplices in a traffic stop after confirming the vehicle had been reported stolen earlier that evening. The vehicle fled, eventually colliding with a tree box near the 1200 block of 3rd St NE. After crashing, all five men exited the vehicle and fled the officers. Officers pursued and apprehended Bridges.
While in custody at the Department of Youth and Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) Youth Services Center, located at 1000 Mount Oliver Rd. NE, Bridges and seven other individuals assaulted three detainees as they were being escorted through the cell block. The group rushed into the cell block, pushing past DYRS staff in an attempt to reach the detainees. Bridges was ultimately restrained by DYRS staff and then struggled to free himself in an effort to join the assault of the three victims.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Valerie Tsesarenko and Brian Hanley, who prosecuted the case.
2025 CF3 010940 & 2025 CF3 015480
D.C. Man is Sentenced to 24 Months for Strangling His WifeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Johnny Gregory, 42, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for strangling his wife in January 2026, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“Strangulation is an unmistakable warning sign that a victim's life is in imminent danger,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Research shows that after just one episode of strangulation, a victim is approximately 800% more likely to die at the hands of the same aggressor. Crimes like this deserve stronger punishment and the criminal justice system must treat strangulation with the gravity it deserves and do everything possible to protect victims before domestic violence turns fatal."
Gregory was found guilty at trial on May 4, 2026, of one count of strangulation. Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel sentenced Gregory to 24 months, a top of the guidelines sentence. The judge suspended part of that sentence and ordered Gregory to complete 18 months of probation. The government requested 24 months in prison for the strangulation offense, which was the maximum under the sentencing guidelines.
According to the government’s evidence, on January 5, 2026, Gregory and his wife had an argument over laundry detergent. Gregory pushed her to the ground, punched her in the face multiple times then put his knee on her chest and strangled her with both his hands. She lost consciousness and was taken to a local hospital where she was treated for her injuries. At the time of the assault, the victim’s 15-year-old daughter was present.
Gregory was arrested on January 6, 2026, and has remained in custody since.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrea Friedman and Charles Klug, who prosecuted the case.
2026 FD3 000281
D.C. Man Sentenced for the Fatal Stabbing of Wheelchair Bound VictimRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Kevin Johnson, 40, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 18 years in prison today in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the fatal stabbing of 44-year-old D.C. resident Antonio Pierre Woody, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder while armed on February 24, 2026. Johnson’s guilty plea was pursuant to Rule 11(c)(1)(c) where the parties agreed to a prison sentence range between 18 and 23 years. In addition to the 18-year sentence, the Honorable Rainey Brandt ordered Johnson to serve five years of supervised release.
According to court documents, in the early morning hours of October 6, 2024, in Northeast D.C., Johnson and the victim were socializing in a group on the sidewalk outside 1719 Lincoln Road, NE and the adjacent parking lot of 1725 Lincoln Road, NE. Johnson, agitated from a previous altercation on October 5, 2024, made threats before approaching the victim, lunging at him and stabbing him multiple times. The victim, wheelchair-bound, attempted to crawl away from the defendant, before the defendant struck and stabbed him again.
The defendant then proceeded to dispose of the victim’s cell phone down a storm drain and leave the scene, walking back towards the parking lot of 1725 Lincoln Road, NE. Officers arrived on the scene, noting that the only exit from the parking lot was into a Department of Human Services Shelter. The defendant was identified by an individual working security. Police located the defendant and transported him to the MPD Homicide Branch where he was arrested for murder in the second degree.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marybeth Manfreda and Rashmika Nedungadi, who prosecuted the case.
2024 CF1 010048
Chinese Graduate Student Pleads Guilty to Receiving Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced today that Chinese national, JIAXIN TIAN(“TIAN”), age 29, of New Orleans, pled guilty on July 30, 2026, for Receipt of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(2) and (b)(1). TIAN faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five (5) years and a maximum sentence of twenty (20) years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of no less than five (5) years and up to life, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee.
The case against TIAN began with an undercover online investigation initiated by the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office (“PRCSO”) when they were searching for individuals sharing Child Sex Abuse Material (“CSAM”) on the internet. The PRCSO investigation led them to a subject in New Orleans resulting in the PRCSO notifying the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (“LBI”) of their findings.
According to court documents, on December 12, 2025, agents with the LBI and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“HSI”) executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence in New Orleans. During the search, agents recovered an MSI laptop computer, Apple I-Phone, Huawei cell phone, and various other electronic storage devices, in TIAN’s bedroom. TIAN admitted to the agents that he had downloaded images and videos of prepubescent CSAM. Thereafter, LBI and HSI located images and videos depicting the victimization of children on TIAN’s computer. Although TIAN was initially arrested on state child pornography charges, through a partnership between state and federal authorities, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is now prosecuting TIAN federally. TIAN will remain in federal custody until he is sentenced on November 19, 2026 before United States District Judge Anna St. John.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, and the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division.
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.
Canton Man Pleads Guilty to Buying Guns in Ohio to Smuggle to GreeceRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – An 80-year-old man pleaded guilty in federal court to shipping firearms purchased in Northeast Ohio to sell in Greece.
George Manuselis, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Greece residing in Canton, pleaded guilty to Smuggling Goods from the United States. U.S. District Judge Dan Aaron Polster accepted his plea on July 30.
According to court documents, in April 2022, a firearm recovered in Greece was found to be originally purchased at a legally licensed firearms dealer in Canton. Manuselis was identified as the purchaser. Upon further investigation, agents discovered that several other firearms that were purchased by Manuselis were also recovered in Greece. Manuselis later admitted that he was smuggling the firearms to Greece by secreting them in his suitcase. Manuselis was provided with a warning notice letter about the legal prohibition against straw purchasing, which he signed to acknowledge that he would not purchase firearms for others, nor would he take them out of the country.
However, a short time later, authorities were informed that Manuselis was in the process of purchasing another firearm and that he also had a flight to Greece scheduled to leave the same day. Manuselis was later apprehended and taken into custody at John F. Kennedy International Airport before boarding a flight to Athens. Investigators found that Manuselis had, in fact, again purchased multiple firearms—after being served the warning notice—and that he had them in his possession when he was arrested at the airport on his way to Greece.
Manuselis is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 10. He faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. As part of his guilty plea, Manuselis agreed to forfeit all of the firearms at issue, including five pistols and approximately 940 rounds of ammunition. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The investigation leading to the indictment was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
The prosecution is led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Duncan T. Brown and Toni Beth Schnellinger Feisthamel for the Northern District of Ohio.
California Country Club Agrees to Pay $850,000 to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations of Improper Receipt of Paycheck Protection Program LoanRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced today that it has reached a civil settlement agreement with the Club at Morningside Inc., whereby the club agreed to pay $850,000, plus interest, to resolve allegations that the club violated the False Claims Act when it applied for and received a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for which it was not eligible.
When Congress enacted the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, it authorized forgivable PPP loans to eligible small businesses and nonprofit organizations for job retention and certain other expenses. The PPP loan program was administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA). At the time of the loan covered by this settlement, certain entities organized under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code were not eligible for PPP loans, including section 501(c)(7) organizations.
In 2020, Morningside, a country club located in Rancho Mirage, California, applied for a PPP loan in the amount of $727,427 and certified that it was eligible to receive the loan even though it was ineligible as a section 501(c)(7) nonprofit organization. After receiving the PPP loan, Morningside sought and received forgiveness of the entire loan amount. The United States contended that Morningside knowingly falsely represented its eligibility to receive the PPP loan, and that it caused the SBA to pay lender fees to the bank that processed the loan. After an analysis of Morningside’s ability to pay pursuant to a settlement, Morningside agreed to pay $850,000, plus interest, to the United States to resolve these allegations.
The settlement resolves claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under these provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the recovery. The qui tam complaint was filed by Relator Aidan Forsyth and is captioned United States ex rel. Aidan Forsyth v. Club at Morningside Inc., et al., Civ. A. No. 24-1175 (D.D.C.). Forsyth will receive a total share of approximately $83,266.55, plus a portion of interest paid by Morningside, in connection with the settlement.
The civil settlement resulted from an investigation by Assistant United States Attorney Sean M. Tepe and Auditor Timothy J. Hurley with the support of attorney Caitlin J. Kelly of SBA’s Office of the General Counsel.
Tips and complaint regarding potential fraud affecting COVID-19 government relief programs can be reported by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or by submitting a NCDF Web Complaint form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of 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.
The claims resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
CEO of Skincare Company Pleads Guilty to FDCA Charges and Mail FraudRead the Press Release
Bryce Cleveland, the President and CEO of Scalpa, Inc., pleaded guilty today to three charges related to Scalpa’s selling of skincare products that had not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Cleveland, 42, of Scottsdale, Arizona, pleaded guilty to mail fraud, introduction of an adulterated device into interstate commerce, and introduction of an unapproved new drug into interstate commerce. Cleveland was apprehended late last year in Colombia and removed back to the United States where he was arrested on an outstanding federal warrant by the U.S. Marshals Service after an indictment against him was returned in July 2024.
In 2015, Scalpa was a for-profit corporation incorporated in Arizona that marketed and sold medical devices and drug products intended to affect the structure and function of the human body. Between March 2018 and December 2020, Cleveland devised a fraudulent scheme to unlawfully enrich himself by marketing and delivering, and causing others to market and deliver, unapproved devices to consumers, including the ScalpaJECT Hyaluronic Acid, and Hyaluron Pen, while making false representations that the devices were not subject to FDA regulation. Similarly, Cleveland introduced and delivered, and caused others to introduce and deliver, the unapproved new drug “Scalpatox” into commerce.
The ScalpaJECT Hyaluronic Pen, Hylaron Pen, and similar unapproved and misbranded devices and drugs are especially concerning from a public health perspective because injectable drug products can pose risks of serious harm to users. Injectable products are delivered directly into the body, sometimes directly into the bloodstream, and therefore, bypass some of the body’s key defenses against toxins and microorganisms that can lead to serious and life-threatening conditions.
Scalpatox was an unapproved and misbranded botulinum toxin product. On Nov. 5, 2025, the FDA issued a warning to owners of websites illegally marketing unapproved and misbranded botulinum toxin products, commonly called Botox. The agency is aware of adverse events associated with unapproved and misbranded botulinum toxin products, including botulism symptoms.
Cleveland has agreed to be sentenced to a prison term of between four and eight years. He has also agreed to pay restitution for the entire scope of his criminal conduct, and to forfeit $800,000.
The FDA Office of Criminal Investigations investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Valuable assistance was provided by the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and the Judicial Attaché Office in Bogotá. The U.S. Marshals Service provided exceptional assistance in locating the defendant in Colombia and facilitating his return to the United States.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Corey Hall and Randy Ramseyer for the Western District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Taylor Broadbent of the Criminal Division’s Health and Safety Unit are prosecuting the case.
The Health and Safety Unit within the Department’s Criminal Division works with law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute violations of federal laws designed to protect public health and safety. The unit focuses on corporations and individuals who make and sell dangerous drugs, food, and other consumer products that could cause significant harm to Americans. For more information, see https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/health-safety-unit.
CEO of Scalpa, Inc. Pleads Guilty to FDCA Charges and Mail FraudRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – Bryce Cleveland, the President and CEO of Scalpa, Inc., pleaded guilty today to three charges related to Scalpa’s selling of skincare products that had not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Cleveland, 42, of Scottsdale, Arizona, pleaded guilty to mail fraud, introduction of an adulterated device into interstate commerce, and introduction of an unapproved new drug into interstate commerce. Cleveland was apprehended late last year in Colombia and arrested on an outstanding federal warrant by the United States Marshals Service after an Indictment against Cleveland was returned in July 2024.
Scalpa was a for-profit corporation incorporated in Arizona in 2015 that marketed and sold medical devices and drug products intended to affect the structure and function of the human body. Between 2018 and December 2020, Cleveland devised a fraudulent scheme to unlawfully enrich himself by marketing and delivering, and causing others to market and deliver, unapproved devices to consumers, including ScalpaJECT Hyaluronic Acid and Hyaluron Pen, while making false representations that the devices were not subject to FDA regulation. Similarly, Cleveland introduced and delivered, and caused others to introduce and deliver, the unapproved drug “Scalpatox” into commerce.
ScalpaJECT Hyaluronic Acid, Hylaron Pen, and similar unapproved and misbranded devices are especially concerning from a public health perspective because injectable drug products can pose risks of serious harm to users. Injectable products are delivered directly into the body, sometimes directly into the bloodstream, and therefore, bypass some of the body’s key defenses against toxins and microorganisms that can lead to serious and life-threatening conditions.
Scalpatox was an unapproved and misbranded botulinum toxin product. The FDA has issued numerous warning letters to owners of websites illegally marketing unapproved and misbranded botulinum toxin products, commonly called Botox, and has noted adverse events associated with these products, including botulism symptoms.
Cleveland has agreed to be sentenced to a term of imprisonment between four and eight years. He has further agreed to pay restitution for the entire scope of his criminal conduct. In addition, he has agreed to forfeit $800,000. Finally, Cleveland has agreed that he committed all 34 crimes charged in the Indictment.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration—Office of Criminal Investigations and United States Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Marshals Service and the Department of Justice’s Offices of International Affairs and the Judicial Attaché in Bogotá.
First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Corey Hall and Randy Ramseyer and Trial Attorney Taylor Broadbent from the Criminal Division’s Health and Safety Unit are prosecuting the case.
The Health and Safety Unit within the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division works with law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute violations of federal laws designed to protect public health and safety. The unit focuses on corporations and individuals who make and sell dangerous drugs, food, and other consumer products that could cause significant harm to Americans. For more information, see https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/health-safety-unit.
Broward Teacher Charged with Exploiting Children as Young as FiveRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Broward teacher has been arraigned and ordered detained pending trial on charges related to the sexual exploitation of children as young as five years old.
According to court records, Evan Michael Sands, 26, of Tamarac, used online communications to engage in conversations with minors to solicit child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in exchange for in-game currency associated with a popular children’s video game. Sands also allegedly produced and transmitted videos of himself engaging in sexually explicit conduct. A search warrant revealed that Sands distributed CSAM to others using an online communication platform.
Sands is charged with enticement of a minor to engage in illicit sexual activity, as well as possession and distribution of child pornography. If convicted, Sands faces a maximum penalty of life in prison for enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and 20 years for possession and distribution of child pornography.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida, Acting Special Agent in Charge Jose R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami, and Sheriff Dr. Gregory Tony of the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) made the announcement.
HSI Fort Lauderdale and BSO are investigating the case.
Anyone who believes they may have been a victim, or who has information related to this investigation, is urged to contact BSO Det. Robert Rausch at (954) 888-1570.
Anyone with information regarding child sexual exploitation and abuse is encouraged to call the HSI tipline at 1-866-347-2423.
Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Catherine Koontz 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.
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.sdfl.uscourts.gov, under case number 26-cr-60174.
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Brother of Notorious Mexican Cartel Leader Pleads Guilty to International Drug Trafficking and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
A Mexican national pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine for unlawful importation into the United States, and using, carrying, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy.
According to court documents, Antonio Oseguera Cervantes, 67, of Michoacán, Mexico, trafficked cocaine and methamphetamine into the United States for Mexico-based cartels for over two decades. From around 2002 to 2010, Oseguera Cervantes operated as a member of the Milenio Cartel in Jalisco, Mexico, overseeing narcotics sales, protecting territories from rival cartels, and supervising and maintaining the operations of methamphetamine laboratories. He procured precursor chemicals for the manufacture of methamphetamine and distributed methamphetamine and cocaine destined for the United States.
The court filings state that since around 2010, Oseguera Cervantes worked with and reported directly to his notorious and now-deceased brother, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “Mencho,” who co-founded and led the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). The CJNG is one of the most prolific and dangerous drug cartels in Mexico, based in the State of Jalisco, which traffics multi-tonnage quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine into the United States. Oseguera Cervantes furthered CJNG’s drug trafficking operations, including by supplying precursor chemicals to CJNG methamphetamine laboratories and distributing cocaine and methamphetamine for the CJNG. He also collected drug proceeds and managed CJNG’s money laundering activities, such as transferring drug proceeds from the United States to Mexico through currency exchange locations. When collecting drug proceeds or attending meetings to discuss drug trafficking, Oseguera Cervantes armed himself with a pistol.
Oseguera Cervantes pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine destined to the United States, as well as using, carrying, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 13 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of two consecutive life sentences in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Administrator Terrance C. Cole of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) made the announcement.
The DEA’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit Los Angeles is investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance to Oseguera Cervantes’ February 2025 transfer from Mexico to the United States pursuant to Mexico’s National Security law. The Department of Justice thanks the Government of Mexico for its assistance in securing Oseguera Cervantes’ presence in the United States for prosecution.
Chief Kaitlin Sahni of the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Unit (NDDU) and Trial Attorneys Lernik Begian, Douglas Meisel, and Nicole Lockhart, of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section are prosecuting the case.
The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s (MNF) mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.
MNF’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Unit investigates and prosecutes the top command and control elements of international drug cartels, drug trafficking organizations and related transnational criminal organizations.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
Brazilian National Becomes Sixth Defendant to Plead Guilty in $30 Million Drug-Proceeds Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Brazilian man has pleaded guilty before a magistrate judge to conspiring to launder the proceeds of drug trafficking, and the district court accepted the guilty plea. On June 1, the district court also accepted the guilty pleas of five co-defendants.
According to court documents, Ygor Fokin Saviolli, 35, a Brazilian national; Gabriel Cezar Menezes, 29, a Brazilian national; Omar Aliperti De Mello Correa, 34, a U.S. citizen; Joao Andrade De Mello, 29, a Brazilian national; Tadeu Sebastiane Rabelo Alves Barbosa, 30, a Brazilian national; and Leandro De Avila Goncalves, 42, a Brazilian national, all residing in Orlando, were part of a sophisticated money laundering organization that operated across the United States and spanned several countries.
Members of the conspiracy arranged for bulk cash proceeds from the sale of controlled substances to be received by U.S.-based couriers and deposited at banks across the country in order to conceal and return those profits to, among others, the sources of drug supply operating outside the United States. Dozens of pickups across the country were coordinated through WhatsApp message chains that included facilitators and couriers. Saviolli provided upfront funds to facilitate the operations of the money laundering organization and oversaw the receipt and laundering of the bulk cash drug proceeds. Menezes also served as a facilitator, providing direction to and oversight of couriers, and personally picked up bulk cash on multiple occasions. Correa, De Mello, Barbosa, and Goncalves all served as couriers for the money laundering organization, conducting bulk cash pickups in cities including Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Rochester, and Tampa, among others. During the course of the conspiracy, the organization concealed more than $30 million in cash.
“Drug traffickers cannot operate at scale without money launderers who collect, conceal, and return their profits,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “With Ygor Fokin Saviolli’s guilty plea, all six defendants have now admitted their roles in a sophisticated organization that moved more than $30 million in drug proceeds across the United States and abroad. We will continue following the money, dismantling the financial networks behind international drug trafficking, and taking the profit out of poisoning American communities.”
Each of the six defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida, and Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Monique Botero for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys James Hepburn and Jessee Alexander-Hoeppner of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section are prosecuting the case.
The FBI is investigating the case, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Rochester Resident Office and the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations Brasilia attaché office and Miami Field Office.
The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s (MNF) mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.
MNF’s International Unit investigates and prosecutes cross-border money laundering schemes involving transnational criminal organizations, cartels, foreign official corruption and related money laundering affecting the U.S. financial system and prosecutes criminal cases and civil forfeiture matters to recover the proceeds of those crimes.
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 number 25-cr-20545.
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Asian Boyz Gang Member Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine Pill Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lowell, Mass. man with allegiance to the Asian Boyz gang was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for distributing and conspiring to distribute thousands of counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine.
Owen Landry, a/k/a “Oski,” 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 11 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In April 2026, Landry pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine; one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine; and two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine. Landry was among five charged in January 2025.
In 2021, an investigation began into the Asian Boyz gang to disrupt the manufacturing and distribution of substantial quantities of methamphetamine pills impacting Lowell.
The investigation revealed that Landry, an Asian Boyz gang member, formed an alleged conspiracy with another gang member, Sovath Yern, a/k/a “Stryke,” to profit from the sales of bulk quantities of the counterfeit Adderall pills. Co-defendant Zachary Hansen agreed to let Landry use his residence in Lowell as one of the group’s storage and distribution centers. At Landry’s direction, Hansen also sold the counterfeit Adderall pills and collected payments.
Specifically, Landry negotiated two large counterfeit Adderall pill deals in July and August 2024 and directed the buyers to Landry’s Lowell residence to complete the transactions. Unbeknownst to Landry and Hansen, the pill deals were part of law enforcement operations to surveil and record the purchases. In July 2024, a cooperating witness met Hansen inside the Lowell residence and paid him $2,000 in exchange for 5,000 pills. In August 2024, a co-conspirator was observed, travelling back and forth from Landry’s residence in Lowell during a deal with a second cooperating witness, who paid another $2,000 in exchange for 2,000 pills.
Later in 2024, Landry himself sold pills he had allegedly obtained from Yern’s apartment in Billerica to a cooperating witness. Specifically, on two separate occasions in November 2024 and December 2024, Landry directed the cooperating witness to meet him in the garage of Yern’s apartment complex. After meeting the cooperating witness and taking the cash payments, Landry then entered the building where Yern allegedly escorted him inside. Landry was seen entering Yern’s apartment with the money and then leaving with large bags of pills. Landry then returned to the cooperating witness to deliver methamphetamine pills – 4,000 pills in November 2024 and 5,000 pills in December 2024.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Greg C. Hudon, Superintendent of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Billerica, Haverhill, Methuen, North Andover and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant in the case is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Apollo Beach Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Ludwin Borgen (49, Apollo Beach) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber to 27 years in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl, the use of which resulted in the death of a person. A jury found Borgen guilty on April 1, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to evidence presented at trial, Borgen was a drug dealer in the Tampa Bay area who had supplied the victim with fentanyl on multiple instances in the past. In the late evening of March 28, 2022, the victim began reaching out to Borgen to arrange a purchase the next day. On March 29, 2022, the victim met Borgen at a pharmacy, where she purchased fentanyl from him. The victim returned to a residence where she had been staying with a friend. That evening, the victim injected herself with the fentanyl while soaking in the bathtub. Intoxicated by the fentanyl, she slid under the water and drowned. After noticing that the victim had been in the bathroom for an extended period of time, her friend checked on her and found her body in the bathtub with her head submerged under the water and a syringe floating next to her.
Toxicology revealed that the victim had approximately ten times the therapeutic concentration of fentanyl in her system—a concentration consistent with overdose deaths. Detectives from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office who specialize in overdose deaths investigated and identified Borgen as the person who had sold the fentanyl to the victim. A detective used her phone to arrange another meeting with Borgen, who arrived intending to sell more fentanyl to the victim. After the investigation team arrested Borgen, they searched his vehicle and found fentanyl, baggies, syringes, and a scale.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Muriel Moore and Michael Sinacore.
Amarillo man indicted on federal charges after methamphetamine and firearms seized during motel searchRead the Press Release
AMARILLO, Texas — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Ryan Raybould, announced that Mason Allan McCarty, 51, was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 23, and charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, it alleges that Amarillo Police Department officers executed a search warrant at the Traveler Motel in Amarillo on June 30. McCarty, the target of the search warrant, was detained, and during the search, officers found approximately 28 grams of suspected methamphetamine in his pocket.
Inside the motel room, officers found an additional bag containing roughly 29 grams of suspected methamphetamine, packaged similarly to the methamphetamine found in McCarty’s pocket. Officers also recovered a Bersa .380 caliber pistol and a Ruger .22 caliber pistol from inside the room.
As described in the complaint, APD officers arrested McCarty and advised him of his constitutional rights. McCarty, who has multiple prior felony convictions, admitted to possessing both firearms and to distributing about 28 pounds of methamphetamine during the last several months.
Federal Law enforcement took custody of McCarty from state authorities on July 13. He remains in custody pending further court proceedings. If convicted, McCarty faces a maximum possible penalty of life imprisonment.
The FBI and the Amarillo Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Marie Bell from the Amarillo Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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14 Indicted in Connection with Federal Investigation into West Baltimore Drug OperationRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced, today, that 14 Baltimore men face indictment stemming from a federal investigation into a group running an open-air drug market in West Baltimore.
A federal grand jury indicted Walter Epps, 41; Luther Amos, 54; Antoine Benjamin, 34; Wendell Boykins Jr., 37; Davon Brown, 30; Zy’quin Coleman, 24; Xavier Cooper, 20; Antonio Curtis, 41; Keith Fryson, 22; James Keene, 62; Antonio Mason, 33; Miayon Medley, 25; Gregory Alexander Partlow, 38; and Darien Whitaker, 39. The co-conspirators are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances; possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances; and aiding & abetting, in connection with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Operation Tug of War.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, ATF; Ivan J. Bates, State’s Attorney for Baltimore City; and Police Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
According to the indictment, the co-conspirators operated multiple “street shops” in open-air markets where they sold narcotics, including fentanyl, heroin, and crack cocaine. They primarily ran shops in the 1800 blocks of North Carey and Woodyear Streets.
Epps served as an overseer of one of the street shops. He worked alongside Amos, Boykins, Brown, Curtis, Keene, Medley, Partlow, and other co-conspirators, who held supervisory roles. Epps and the other supervisors coordinated drug sales; resupplied subordinates with drugs; collected money from subordinates and counted it after sales; and, in some cases, conducted sales themselves.
The co-conspirators, who typically sold drugs daily, used multiple “stash” locations to store drugs for distribution, including outdoor “ground-stash” locations for immediate resupply. Additionally, the co-conspirators used residences, such as Amos’s, and others nearby, to hold larger quantities of narcotics.
On some occasions, the co-conspirators, and others, unknowingly sold drugs to a confidential informant (CI) or undercover investigator (UI). The CI and UI ordered larger distribution-level quantities of fentanyl, heroin, and/or crack cocaine.
On July 29, law enforcement executed arrest and search warrants in connection with the operation. During the execution of the warrants, law enforcement seized seven firearms; more than 450 rounds of ammunition; several hundred gel caps of suspected fentanyl; more than one kilo of suspected cocaine; several hundred grams of suspected fentanyl; more than six pounds of marijuana; approximately 1,500 pills containing an unknown, suspected controlled dangerous substance; approximately $15,000 in cash; and 32 phones.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.
If convicted, the co-conspirators face up to 20 years in federal prison for each count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Additionally, the co-conspirators are facing up to 20 years for possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, with some facing a five-year mandatory minimum, and up to 40 years, for knowingly distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.
Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF, Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City Major Investigations Unit, and BPD for their work in the investigation, along with the U.S. Department of Treasury IRS-Criminal Investigation Maryland Financial Intelligence Crimes Task Force, U.S. Marshals Service, Anne Arundel County Police Department, and Baltimore County Police Department for their valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys LaRai Everett and Alexander Levin who are prosecuting 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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Agency Quotes
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland
“This operation and arrests highlight our continued commitment to holding individuals accountable who endanger the welfare of others,” Hayes said. “Illicit drug activity — whether in open-air markets or elsewhere — threatens public safety and has no place in our communities. We’re committed to collaborating with our law-enforcement partners to hold those who traffic drugs accountable and to eradicate criminal activity throughout Maryland.”
Charles Doerrer, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Baltimore
“I am proud of the work our ATF special agents did with our federal, state, and local partners,” Doerrer said. “ATF agents worked tirelessly in this case to hold those who flood our neighborhoods with dangerous drugs accountable.”
Ivan J. Bates, Baltimore City State’s Attorney
“Open-air drug markets wreak lasting harm on our neighborhoods by fueling violence, driving addiction, and robbing residents of the safe, healthy communities they deserve. These indictments demonstrate what is possible when our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners work together with a shared mission to dismantle criminal enterprises that threaten public safety,” Bates said. “I am grateful to U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes, ATF Baltimore, the IRS Criminal Investigation Division, the Baltimore Police Department, and every agency involved in this investigation for their unwavering commitment to protecting the people of Baltimore. Together, we are sending a clear message that those who profit from poisoning our communities will be identified, investigated, and held fully accountable for the trauma they have inflicted.”
Police Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department
“Today's announcement reflects the hard work and dedication of the men and women of the Baltimore Police Department, who continue to work tirelessly alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to dismantle the drug trafficking organizations that threaten our neighborhoods,” Worley said. “These investigations are about more than making arrests, they’re about improving the quality of life for our residents by disrupting the violence and crime that accompany open-air drug markets. Together, and with the support of our community, we remain committed to making Baltimore safer.”
30 July 2026
Yuba County Senior Citizen Indicted in Heroin Distribution CaseRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury today has indicted Jose Gilberto Alvarez, 70, of Olivehurst, charging him with four counts of heroin distribution, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between April and July 2026, Alvarez sold heroin on four occasions in the Yuba-Sutter County area. In total, he is accused of distributing about one pound of heroin.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation, with assistance from the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office and the Placer County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Campbell is prosecuting the case. Alvarez is in custody.
If convicted, Alvarez faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years in prison, and a $5 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Wood County Man Pleads Guilty to $510,465.19 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jeffrey Jeffers, 35, of Williamstown, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud. Jeffers admitted to stealing $510,465.19 from his employer through false charges to company-issued credit cards.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between November 2022 and July 2024, Jeffers delivered products by truck for a large provider of industrial gas from its distribution facility in Wood County. The delivery trucks were fueled at the distribution facility and were also equipped with fuel credit cards. As part of his guilty plea, Jeffers admitted that he fraudulently charged a total of $510,465.19 in fuel costs to the credit cards throughout his term of employment. Jeffers further admitted that the fraudulent credit card payments went to accounts for fictitious service stations he created on online payment processing platforms. Jeffers admitted that his delivery routes normally never required any refueling outside of the distribution facility.
Jeffers is scheduled to be sentenced on November 9, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Jeffers also owes $510,465.19 in restitution.
“This defendant exploited the trust placed in him by his employer and turned a company resource into a personal revenue stream,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “Fraud is not a victimless crime. Every dollar stolen through deception is a dollar taken from a business, its employees, and ultimately the community it serves. This case demonstrates that complex fraud schemes carried out behind computer screens and online payment platforms are no less serious than any other form of theft. Our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who believe they can enrich themselves through dishonesty and abuse of trust.”
Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Gabriel Price is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-85.
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Wilmington Man Indicted for Fentanyl Found in Storage UnitRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a Wilmington man with possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
According to the indictment, Rangi Knight, 52, stored approximately 183 grams of fentanyl packaged for distribution inside a Wilmington storage unit he leased. Officers recovered about 1,300 stamped glassine bags of fentanyl, additional bulk fentanyl, and drug-trafficking paraphernalia, including digital scales and packaging materials. Court documents indicate that Knight was on federal supervised release at the time of this offense following a 2023 conviction for passport fraud.
Knight is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. If convicted, Knight faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison and a maximum possible sentence of 40 years. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace and Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore, made the announcement. The FBI and the Delaware State Police investigated the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-cr-117.
The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
West Tennessee Woman Sentenced to 16 Months for Stolen ValorRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Amanda Kate Walker Bass, 36, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for executing a scheme to defraud, whereby she claimed to be a U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to information provided in court, Bass claimed to be a multiple-time deployed U.S. Marine Corps veteran who was the lone survivor of an enemy ambush in Afghanistan in 2010 that left her seriously wounded. She used this fictitious narrative for financial gain by having a GoFundMe page set up for her benefit and sharing the story online and otherwise in order to gain donations, free labor, and other benefits. In July 2021, she induced The Daily Memphian to publish an article about her titled, “Disabled, legally blind veteran now dealer of luxury goods.” Bass never served in the armed forces.
On February 5, 2026, Bass pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of fraudulent use of military medals, otherwise known as “Stolen Valor.” U.S. District Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Bass to 16 months in prison to be followed by a three-year period of supervised release. The court will enter a judgment of restitution at a later date. Victims of Bass’s fraud who have not already submitted claims for restitution are encouraged to reach out to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces represent the very best ideals of service and sacrifice for our nation, and our office will always protect and vindicate their interests. Fraudulently claiming military service or medals for unjust personal enrichment not only victimizes our military heroes, but also preys upon the trust that citizens have in our great veterans. We are pleased to impose a real consequence on this faker and thief.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). Assistant United States Attorney William C. Bateman III prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States with assistance from the State of Tennessee’s Twenty-Fifth Judicial District Attorney General’s Office.
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For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Vermont and Texas Men Charged with Distributing Fentanyl and Crack Cocaine in Burlington, VermontRead the Press Release
BURLINGTON – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on July 23, 2026, a federal grand jury indicted Angel Louis Concepcion a/k/a “Cito” (37, of McKinney, Texas), Troy McIlwain a/k/a “Breeze” (37, of St. Albans, Vermont), and David Lauderbach a/k/a “Cane” (42, of Milton, Vermont), with conspiring to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, and fentanyl from August 12, 2025, through May 2026 and with eight counts of distributing those drugs on specific dates within that time frame. The indictment was fully unsealed on July 30, 2026.
Both Concepcion and McIlwain are charged with distributing more than 40 grams of fentanyl over the course of the conspiracy and doing so after they were previously convicted of “serious drug felonies” as defined by federal law.
On July 28, 2026, Concepcion was arrested in McKinney, Texas and, the next day, entered a plea of not guilty to the charges during an arraignment in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Concepcion was detained and is being transported to Vermont for prosecution.
Also on July 28, 2026, McIlwain was arrested in Vermont and, on July 29, 2026, entered a plea of not guilty during an arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge James O’Hara in the U.S. District Court of Vermont. McIlwain was detained pending trial.
On July 30, 2026, Lauderbach was arrested and is scheduled to appear in the U.S. District Court of Vermont on July 31, 2026 for his arraignment.
According to court records, Concepcion – operating remotely from Texas – coordinated the distribution of fentanyl and cocaine base by McIlwain, Lauderbach, and others in Vermont. On one occasion, when Concepcion was unhappy with the work of his subordinates, Concepcion traveled to Vermont to distribute the drugs himself.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that all of the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. If convicted, Concepcion and McIlwain face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison on Count One of the Indictment and they face charges of up to 20 years of incarceration for each count of distribution. Lauderbach faces a maximum sentence of 20 years for his role in the conspiracy and a statutory maximum of 20 years’ incarceration for each count of distribution. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Burlington Police Department, as well as assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, the Milton [Vermont] Police Department and the Collin County [Texas] Sheriff’s Office.
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill. An attorney has not yet been appointed or retained to represent Concepcion or Lauderbach in the District of Vermont. McIlwain is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.
Utah Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Sexual Exploitation of Two Minor Victims and Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Salt Lake City, Utah man was sentenced today for sexually exploiting two minor victims and illegally reentering the United States.
Erik Santana-Garcia, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 20 years in federal prison without parole, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Santana-Garcia received a 20-year total sentence for interstate transportation of a minor with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity, possession of child pornography, and illegally reentering the United States following a prior deportation.
According to court documents, Santana-Garcia, who pleaded guilty on March 3, 2026, transported a minor, identified as Minor Victim 1, across state lines with the intent to engage in illegal sexual activity with the minor victim. Santana-Garcia left Utah with Minor Victim 1 on Nov. 10, 2024. Santana-Garcia intended to transport Minor Victim 1 to New York, but they were located in Missouri on Nov. 12, 2024, by officers with the Oak Grove, Missouri Police Department. Investigators with the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations later found child pornography depicting Minor Victim 2 on a phone seized from Santana-Garcia at his arrest. Santana-Garcia was an alien who had been previously deported and removed from the United States on multiple occasions, most recently on March 6, 2019.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Dunning. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Oak Grove, Missouri Police Department.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Operation Take Back America
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Unprecedented Fraud Enforcement Actions Across the Southeast Resulting from Federal-State PartnershipsRead the Press Release
OXFORD, MS – U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, Scott F. Leary, joined Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, other DOJ leaders, and federal and state law enforcement partners for a press conference announcing a series of significant fraud enforcement actions across the Southeastern United States. These recent cases involve $350 million in losses of SNAP benefits, Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, housing benefits and tax fraud. The Division separately announced the formation of federal-state anti-fraud tasks forces in Mississippi, along with North Carolina and Florida.
An existing case based out of the Northern District of Mississippi was U.S. v. Lakieth Faulkner et al. Faulkner was an attorney and an employee of the SBA. As a part of his actual job, he worked with borrowers to obtain loans. Faulkner was uniquely positioned to understand the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) approval process and devised a kickback scheme with co-conspirators to generate more than $11.5 million in fraudulent loan payments by the SBA. Co-conspirators included a former IRS employee.
U.S. Attorney Leary stated, “We have $2.2 billion of PPP loans that took place in the Northern District of Mississippi, an estimated $1 billion of that was fraud. We are blessed to be able to work with our state’s Attorney General in putting together a task force because, frankly, we are overwhelmed by this reality and we all need additional assets to combat these crimes. I have been a fed for decades, so when I hear our administration say, ‘pin your ears back and go get them,’ it is so refreshing. That is what we are going to do.”
“President Trump has challenged all of us to step up our efforts to fight fraud and protect American taxpayers from this grift,” said Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “Partnerships like this one show we are bringing everything to the table in this work. In that spirit, with the support of the U.S. Department of Justice, my office is standing up Joint Task Force Vigilance with our two U.S. Attorneys and the FBI to surge resources and personnel to make Mississippi safer, protect Mississippi taxpayers, and restore law and order. This first-of-its-kind task force will bring the full authority of our offices to bear on con artists, grifters, fraudsters, and scammers.”
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.
United States Reaches $7.5 Million Settlement with Ascend Elements to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Involving Department of Energy GrantRead the Press Release
LOUISVILLE, KY – U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky announced today that Ascend Elements, Inc., a Massachusetts-based lithium-ion battery materials manufacturer, has agreed to pay $7,497,555.65 to resolve civil allegations that it submitted inflated reimbursement claims to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for work on its Apex‑1 battery materials project in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
The settlement resolves the United States’ contention that, between September 18, 2023 and February 18, 2025, Ascend sought and received DOE reimbursement for goods and services that included inflated labor hours, excessive tool purchases, unnecessary equipment rentals, and other wasteful or unnecessary expenses related to its industrial-scale battery precursor production project. DOE paid more than $5.3 million tied to this conduct.
Ascend voluntarily divulged the issues to the government and received credit for its cooperation, which included a timely self-disclosure, an internal investigation, and assisting the United States in understanding the full scope of the conduct.
“This settlement reflects the Department of Justice’s commitment to ensuring that federal funds supporting critical energy and infrastructure projects are safeguarded from misuse,” said Kyle Bumgarner, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky. “Companies that receive taxpayer dollars must be held to the highest standards, and today’s recovery demonstrates that voluntary self-disclosure and cooperation will be met with appropriate credit, while still ensuring accountability.”
Assistant United States Attorney Jessica R. C. Malloy handled this matter for the United States, with support from the U.S. Department of Energy.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
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Two Charged in Alleged Fraudulent Immigration Document SchemeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Hatch woman and a Texas man have been charged in federal court for allegedly conspiring to produce and distribute fraudulent immigration, identification, and employment authorization documents.
According to court documents, in November 2025, Customs and Border Protection officers at the Columbus Port of Entry in New Mexico seized a fraudulent Lawful Permanent Resident card and Social Security card from an individual attempting to enter the United States. During a subsequent interview, the individual stated the documents had been obtained through Teodora Moreno Reyes, 46, of Hatch, New Mexico and a naturalized citizen, who allegedly charged $350 to produce fraudulent immigration and identification documents using customers' personal information.
On April 29, 2026, Moreno Reyes was encountered at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry in El Paso, Texas, where a border search of her cellphone allegedly revealed numerous images of fraudulent Social Security cards, Lawful Permanent Resident cards, and identification documents, along with messages from individuals seeking fraudulent documents. Investigators also found communications showing Moreno Reyes allegedly forwarded customers' photographs and biographical information to a supplier, who then returned images of completed fraudulent documents and U.S. Postal Service tracking information.
A court-authorized forensic examination of the phone allegedly identified the supplier as Fernando Galvan, 39, of Fort Worth, Texas. Investigators allege that between January 2024 and April 2026, Moreno Reyes and Galvan coordinated the production and distribution of approximately 14 fraudulent Texas identification cards, 76 fraudulent Social Security cards, and 66 fraudulent Lawful Permanent Resident cards.
Moreno Reyes and Galvan are charged with conspiracy and document fraud offenses related to the production and distribution of fraudulent immigration, identification, and employment authorization documents. If convicted of the current charge, they face up to 10 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan G. McRae of Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, made the announcement today.
HSI Las Cruces investigated this case with assistance from the United States Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Saltman 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.
Third Georgia State Representative Pleads Guilty to Pandemic Unemployment FraudRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Sharon Henderson, a suspended member of the Georgia House of Representatives, pled guilty today in federal court to making false statements to fraudulently obtain thousands of dollars of emergency pandemic-era unemployment assistance payments.
“While running for and holding political office, Representative Henderson was fleecing taxpayers, lying to steal money from federal programs intended to help people who lost their jobs due to the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Her prosecution and conviction demonstrate that elected officials who enrich themselves through fraud will be held accountable for violating the public’s trust.”
“Sharon Henderson, while holding elected office in the Georgia House of Representatives, illegally obtained taxpayer-funded unemployment benefits that were intended to provide financial assistance to workers who lost their jobs through no fault of their own,” said Nigel Lange, Inspector General for the State of Georgia. “Our office remains committed to investigating and holding accountable those who misuse public funds and defraud American taxpayers.”
“Sharon Henderson was elected to serve the people of Georgia—not steal from them,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. “By exploiting her position for personal gain, she violated the public’s trust and undermined the integrity of our institutions. Public officials who betray the American people and abuse their power for personal benefit will be held fully accountable for their despicable actions. No one is above the law. My office will aggressively investigate those who dare to exploit public trust and defraud the American people.”
“Pandemic relief programs were created to help Americans facing genuine hardship—not to enrich those willing to lie for personal gain,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “When an elected official abuses taxpayer-funded programs through fraud, it undermines public confidence in both government institutions and the integrity of public service. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to investigate and hold accountable anyone who exploits federal programs for personal benefit.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In 2020, in response to unprecedented economic hardship resulting from the COVID-19 emergency, Congress created special unemployment compensation programs to provide cash assistance to individuals who lost their jobs due to the pandemic. Applicants had to provide their recent work histories and confirm, among other things, that COVID-19 was the reason they were unemployed. Applicants also had to provide a weekly certification attesting that they were actively seeking work and providing the reason they were unemployed.
In June 2020, while a candidate for a seat in the Georgia House of Representatives, Henderson applied for federal pandemic unemployment benefits, claiming that her current employer was Henry County Schools. However, Henderson had not worked for Henry County Schools for almost two years. Before that, she had only worked for five days as a substitute teacher. Additionally, when she worked those five days in 2018, Henderson signed an acknowledgment that noted substitute teachers were not eligible to draw unemployment wages.
Nevertheless, in her unemployment benefits application, Henderson falsely stated that she had worked for the school system throughout 2019 and as recently as March 10, 2020; that she had paystubs as evidence of that employment; and that her place of employment was closed as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. She then submitted fraudulent weekly certifications claiming that she was unable to reach her place of employment because of a COVID-19 quarantine. She filed eight of those fraudulent certifications in June 2021, after she was sworn in and serving as the state representative for District 113, which covers western Newton County and part of Covington, Georgia.
Henderson fraudulently collected $17,811 of pandemic unemployment benefits as a result of the false statements in her application and weekly certifications.
Sharon Henderson, 67, of Covington, Georgia, pled guilty this morning to making false statements to obtain funds administered by the U.S. Department of Labor. Sentencing is scheduled for November 3, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown.
Two other Georgia State Representatives were previously convicted of similar pandemic unemployment assistance fraud:
- Karen L. Bennett, former State Representative for District 94, pled guilty on January 21, 2026, to federal charges of making false statements to collect $13,940 of pandemic unemployment benefits.
- Dexter L. Sharper, former State Representative for District 177, pled guilty on March 11, 2026, to federal charges of making false statements to collect $13,825 of pandemic unemployment benefits.
This case is being investigated by the Georgia Office of the State Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Garrett L. Bradford is prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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.
Texas Laboratory, Former CEO, and Florida Businessman Pay a Total of $36.4M to Settle Allegations of Kickbacks and Unnecessary Genetic TestingRead the Press Release
Access DX Laboratory, located in Houston, Texas, its former CEO Michael Stewart, and Florida businessman Harold Shatz, have each entered into settlements and will pay a combined total of $36.4 million to the United States to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by paying kickbacks and billing Medicare and Medicaid for medically unnecessary genetic testing.
The United States alleged that, from January 2018 through January 2020, Access DX, Stewart, and Shatz paid kickbacks to marketers in return for referrals of patients for genetic testing, unbundled billing codes for genetic testing, paid telemedicine providers for false and fraudulent doctors’ orders, and submitted and caused the submission of false claims for genetic testing.
“Healthcare referrals must reflect the best decision for patients, not the influence of kickbacks,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This resolution demonstrates the Department’s commitment to hold accountable both corporations and individuals who profit from improper kickback arrangements and who burden federal healthcare programs with claims for medically unnecessary services.”
“This settlement sends a clear message that we will not tolerate fraudulent schemes that waste taxpayer dollars and undermine trust in our medical system,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia. “We will aggressively pursue any provider or entity that seeks to exploit federal programs through excessive billing and illegal kickbacks.”
“Kickbacks and medically unnecessary genetic testing schemes not only drain taxpayer-funded federal health care programs, but undermine the integrity of our U.S. health care system and drive up health care costs for all of us,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue health care fraud and protect Medicare, Medicaid, and the people who rely on them.”
In connection with its settlement, Access DX entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). The CIA requires Access DX to implement auditing and accountability provisions, including implementation of a robust compliance program, training and education requirements, and a review of arrangements with referral sources.
On June 24, Stewart agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive health care kickbacks in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. United States v. Stewart, Case No. 4:22-cr-328 (S.D. Tex.). On Oct. 15, 2025, Shatz agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive health care kickbacks in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. United States v. Shatz, No. 4:24-cr-330 (S.D. Tex.). Both men entered into civil FCA settlements at the time of their pleas.
The civil settlements include the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Douglas Green, president of a Massachusetts marketing company hired to market genetic testing to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Green v. Access DX Lab LLC, et al., No. 1:19-cv-2845 (N.D. Ga.). The settlements provide for the whistleblower to receive a $7.2 million share of the total settlement amount.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, with assistance from HHS-OIG.
The matter was handled by Fraud Section Senior Litigation Counsel Laurie A. Oberembt of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeli Ben-David for the Northern District of Georgia.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
Except to the extent admitted by Stewart and Shatz in their plea agreements, the claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Texas Laboratory, Former CEO, and Florida Businessman Pay $36.4 Million to Settle Health Care Fraud AllegationsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Access DX Laboratory (“Access DX”), its former CEO Michael Stewart, and Florida businessman Harold Shatz will pay a combined total of $36.4 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by paying kickbacks and billing Medicare and Medicaid for medically unnecessary genetic testing.
“This settlement sends a clear message that we will not tolerate fraudulent schemes that waste taxpayer dollars and undermine trust in our medical system,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “We will aggressively pursue any provider or entity that seeks to exploit federal programs through excessive billing and illegal kickbacks.”
“Healthcare referrals must reflect the best decision for patients, not the influence of kickbacks,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This resolution demonstrates the Department’s commitment to hold accountable both corporations and individuals who profit from improper kickback arrangements and who burden federal healthcare programs with claims for medically unnecessary services.”
“Kickbacks and medically unnecessary genetic testing schemes not only drain taxpayer-funded federal health care programs, but undermine the integrity of our U.S. health care system and drive up health care costs for all of us,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”). “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue health care fraud and protect Medicare, Medicaid, and the people who rely on them.”
The government’s investigation arose after a whistleblower filed a complaint alleging that, from January 2018 through January 2020, Access DX, a laboratory based in Houston, Texas; Stewart; and Shatz paid kickbacks to marketers in return for referrals of patients for genetic testing, unbundled billing codes for genetic testing, paid telemedicine providers for false and fraudulent doctors’ orders, and submitted and caused the submission of false claims for genetic testing. Based on this conduct, Shatz and Stewart pleaded guilty in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas to conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive health care kickbacks.
The $36.4 million civil settlement resolves a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, U.S. ex rel. Green v. Access DX Lab LLC, et al., No. 1:19-cv-2845. In connection with its settlement, Access DX entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (“CIA”) with HHS-OIG. The CIA requires Access DX to implement auditing and accountability provisions, including implementation of a robust compliance program, training and education requirements, and a review of arrangements with referral sources.
Except to the extent admitted by Stewart and Shatz in their plea agreements, the claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Under the False Claims Act, private citizens may bring suit for false claims on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery obtained by the government. Douglas Green, the whistleblower and president of a Massachusetts marketing company hired to market genetic testing to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, will receive $7.2 million from the settlement.
The investigation and resolution of this matter were handled by Northern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeli Ben-David and Senior Litigation Counsel Laurie A. Oberembt of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, with substantial assistance from HHS-OIG.
This year, the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Department of Justice’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Department’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement affecting federal health care programs can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
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.
Tallahassee Woman Federally Indicted for Defrauding Tallahassee Housing Authority of $378,000Read the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Lekishaann Huggins, 45, of Tallahassee, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging her with 39 counts of bank fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, four counts of spending money laundering, and two counts of filing a false tax return. This investigation is a part of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud launched by President Donald J. Trump, a whole-of-government effort to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.
The defendant appeared for her arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for September 8, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. before United States Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor.
If convicted, the defendant faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment for each of the 39 counts of bank fraud, 2 years’ imprisonment consecutive to any other imprisonment for the aggravated identity theft count, up to 10 years’ imprisonment for each spending money laundering count, up to 3 years’ imprisonment for each filing false tax return count and, restitution, and forfeiture of assets.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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 available 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.
Tallahassee Man Faces 25 Years in Prison After Conviction for Federal Drug-Trafficking and Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Christopher L. Daniels, 47, of Tallahassee, Florida, was found guilty yesterday by a federal jury of possession with intent to distribute various controlled substances including more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The guilty verdict was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Evidence at trial demonstrated that the Tallahassee Police Department conducted an investigation into drug-trafficking by the defendant that culminated in the execution of a search warrant at his home on January 21, 2026. Officers found approximately 2.75 ounces of methamphetamine, an ounce of cocaine, half an ounce of crack cocaine laid out in plain view on an ironing board, approximately an ounce of “molly” (two different synthetic cathinones), 64 suspected MDMA tablets which were found to actually just be low-purity methamphetamine, and a pound of marijuana. Four pistols were also found in the house, including a “Draco” AK-47-style pistol found near the plate of crack cocaine. Evidence on the defendant’s cellphone showed that he was engaged in drug-trafficking.
The defendant is a 12-time convicted felon with convictions dating back to 1996 and he faces enhanced sentencing due to multiple prior convictions for serious drug felonies.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 15, 2026, at 10:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Court Judge Robert L. Hinkle.
The defendant faces 25 years to life imprisonment, 10 years to life on supervised release, and a fine of up to $20,000,000.
This conviction was the result of a joint investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Stephenville man pleads guilty to wire fraud and identity theft chargesRead the Press Release
FORT WORTH, Texas — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Ryan Raybould, announced that Clayton Lloyd Iley, a 41-year-old Stephenville, Texas businessman, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft offenses on June 17. These offenses arose from a scheme wherein he illegally obtained credit cards and offered a scam loan program to victims.
“My office will not stand by and allow criminals to scam Americans out of their hard-earned money without consequence,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Fraud doesn’t just harm an individual — it disrupts families and communities across all 100 counties of the Northern District of Texas. Its effects are felt most deeply by those who are vulnerable, including elderly residents who are too often targeted by schemes designed to exploit their trust. Protecting every community in this district is my unwavering commitment, and we will aggressively pursue anyone who preys on the innocent and work to ensure victims receive the justice and restitution they deserve.”
“This plea demonstrates the lengths these criminals will go to defraud members of our communities,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “The FBI and our partners remain committed to identifying and investigating the perpetrators of these fraudulent schemes and encourage the public to notify the FBI if they suspect they are the victims of fraud.”
According to court records, Iley operated an insurance brokerage business named Clayton Texas Legacy Insurance Group, LLC from its headquarters in Cross Plains, Texas and offered home, auto, life, health, farm & ranch, and commercial insurance policies to the public.
Court documents show from January 2020 through May 2026, Iley used at least two entities he controlled, Texas Legacy Holdings and Enterprises, LLC and Spartan Global Security, LLC dba as “Black Eagle PMC,” to conduct financial transactions. Texas Legacy Holdings operated as a holding company and was used to conduct financial transactions. Spartan Global purported to offer private security services, commercial security services, corporate security services, and private military contracting services.
Iley defrauded victims by, among other things:
- Falsely representing to victims that he could invest their funds in a “Bonded Note” loan program he claimed was provided by the U.S. Department of Defense to private military contractors, when in reality, Iley knew the relevant loan program did not exist. During the relevant time period, Iley collected over $2 million based on this misrepresentation and used the funds to pay his own personal expenses and to execute other parts of his fraudulent scheme
- Falsely representing to specific Texas Legacy Insurance clients that he would accept client funds and cause Texas Legacy Insurance to initiate requested insurance policies on their behalf, when in reality, Iley knew he would accept their insurance premium payment funds, fail to open requested insurance policies, and instead intended to use their funds to pay his own personal expenses and to fund the relevant fraudulent scheme
- Providing the victims’ personal identifying information (e.g., first name, last name, etc.) to financial institutions to fraudulently secure credit cards bearing the names of those specific victims without their knowledge or authority and then using the resulting credit cards to deposit funds into Spartan Global bank accounts and claim the transactions were gross receipts for the business; and charge personal expenses and payments towards the purchase of the vehicles.
As part of his plea agreement, Iley agreed to forfeit property over 90 exotic collector vehicles obtained with funds from his fraudulent scheme. To date, federal investigators have seized the following vehicles, which will be sold to fund restitution owed to the victims of Iley’s fraud scheme:
- 1968 Pontiac Firebird
- 1969 Chevrolet Camaro
- 1973 Plymouth Coupe
- 1974 Chevrolet Camaro
- 1979 Pontiac Trans AM
- 1982 Chevrolet Camaro
- 1989 Humvee
- 1990 BMY M923A (military vehicle)
- 1993 AM General M923 (military vehicle)
- 2006 Dodge Viper
- 2012 Lamborghini Aventador
- 2013 Toyota
- 2014 Dodge Viper
- 2015 Lamborghini Huracan
- 2016 Ferrari 488
- 2016 Mercedes Benz AMG Coupe
- 2018 Ferrari 488
- 2021 Porsche Taycan
- 2022 Maserati Coupe
- 2022 Maserati MC20
- 2022 Maserati MC20
- 2024 Dodge Ram
Iley was charged through an Information with one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. His sentencing is set for Oct. 1, before U.S. District Judge Mark T. Pittman. Iley faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud offense and a mandatory sentence of two years in prison for the aggravated identity theft offense.
The FBI’s Fort Worth Resident Agency, the Texas Rangers, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Stephenville Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac McDonald is prosecuting the case.
Southwest Georgia Man Sentenced on Federal Dog Fighting, Firearms, and Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
Dun Terrius Bradford, of Sale City, Georgia, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison after being convicted in December of 69 counts of illegally possessing dogs for fighting purposes, one count of manufacturing and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine base, and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of those offenses. In addition to the prison sentence, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia also imposed five years of supervised release and $6900 in mandatory assessment. The 67 pit bull-type dogs rescued from Bradford’s residence were, at the time, the third-most dogs rescued in any federal case. This case also marks the nation’s first federal conviction for possessing firearms in furtherance of dog fighting.
One of 67 dogs rescued from Bradford’s residence.“Dog fighting is organized crime, and it’s a magnet for other criminal activity, as this case demonstrates,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Americans detest animal cruelty and the illegal drugs and guns that come with it. The Department of Justice is fighting to get these criminal elements out of our neighborhoods.”
“Dog fighting is a grave act of animal cruelty that breeds crime and depravity, bringing illegal drugs, firearms and violence into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes for the Middle District of Georgia. “This first-ever federal conviction for possessing firearms in furtherance of dog fighting demonstrates our commitment to working with law enforcement partners to dismantle these criminal organizations and protect both animals and the communities they harm.”
“This investigation exposed a dangerous criminal operation involving organized dog fighting activities that inflicted horrific abuse on animals while also serving as a breeding ground for other serious criminal activity such as the narcotics and firearms violations that this defendant engaged in,” said U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Inspector General John Walk. “This case demonstrates USDA OIG’s commitment to aggressively pursuing those who profit from animal cruelty, and we thank our law enforcement partners and the prosecutors who worked with us to ensure this defendant was held accountable.”
“This case demonstrates the good results achieved when local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies collaborate to rescue dogs suffering at the hands of those involved in dog fighting and related crimes,” said Acting U.S. Marshal Joseph “Joe” Chapman for the Middle District of Georgia. “The U.S. Marshals remain committed to supporting law enforcement in bringing those responsible for dog fighting to justice and ensuring that rescued canines are placed in protective custody, giving them a chance at a better life.”
According to court documents and trial evidence submitted in this case, Bradford maintained a stock of 67 fighting dogs at his home in Sale City. At this compound, agents also recovered tools and supplies used in the training and keeping of dogs used for fighting, including: blood-splattered treadmills that had been modified to hold dogs in place conditioning; injectable veterinary steroids; a homemade “breeding stand” used to immobilize female dogs too aggressive for breeding; a cattle shock prod with dog DNA on the tip; and a large cinder-block water tank used to tether dogs that had to tread water to keep from drowning. Officers also recovered cocaine base and the pot in which it was cooked, plus four firearms.
Water tank used to train dogs. Blood-spattered treadmill used to train dogs.Under federal law, it is illegal to fight dogs in a venture that affects interstate commerce and to possess, train, transport, deliver, sell, purchase, or receive dogs for fighting purposes. This case was the first in the nation in which prosecutors obtained a federal conviction for possessing firearms in furtherance of dog fighting.
USDA-OIG and the Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case with assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Criminal Chief Leah McEwen of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia and former Senior Trial Attorney Ethan Eddy of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Morrill and Paralegal Kristi Cote for the Middle District of Georgia handled a parallel civil forfeiture proceeding to ensure that the dogs did not have to be returned to Bradford. The Seized Canine Program of the U.S. Marshals Service cared for the rescued dogs pending legal process.
Southwest Georgia Man Sentenced on Federal Dog Fighting, Firearms, and Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – Dun Terrius Bradford, 55, of Sale City, Georgia, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release after being convicted in December of 69 counts of illegally possessing dogs for fighting purposes, one count of manufacturing and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine base, and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of those offenses. The 67 pit bull-type dogs rescued from Bradford’s residence were, at the time of the offense, the third-most dogs rescued in any federal case. This case also marks the nation’s first federal conviction for possessing firearms in furtherance of dog fighting.
One of the 67 dogs rescued from Bradford’s residence in Case No. 1:24-CR-31 in U.S. v. Bradford.
“Dog fighting is organized crime, and it’s a magnet for other criminal activity, as this case demonstrates,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division. “Americans detest animal cruelty and the illegal drugs and guns that come with it. The Department of Justice is fighting to get these criminal elements out of our neighborhoods.”
“Dog fighting is a grave act of animal cruelty that breeds crime and depravity, bringing illegal drugs, firearms, and violence into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes for the Middle District of Georgia. “This first-ever federal conviction for possessing firearms in furtherance of dog fighting demonstrates our commitment to working with law enforcement partners to dismantle these criminal organizations and protect both animals and the communities they harm.”
“This investigation exposed a dangerous criminal operation involving organized dog fighting activities that inflicted horrific abuse on animals while also serving as a breeding ground for other serious criminal activity such as the narcotics and firearms violations that this defendant engaged in,” said U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Inspector General John Walk. “This case demonstrates USDA OIG’s commitment to aggressively pursuing those who profit from animal cruelty, and we thank our law enforcement partners and the prosecutors who worked with us to ensure this defendant was held accountable.”
“This case demonstrates the good results achieved when local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies collaborate to rescue dogs suffering at the hands of those involved in dog fighting and related crimes,” said Acting U.S. Marshal Joseph “Joe” Chapman for the Middle District of Georgia. “The U.S. Marshals remain committed to supporting law enforcement in bringing those responsible for dog fighting to justice and ensuring that rescued canines are placed in protective custody, giving them a chance at a better life.”
According to court documents and trial evidence submitted in this case, Bradford maintained a stock of 67 fighting dogs at his home in Sale City. At this compound, agents also recovered tools and supplies used in the training and keeping of dogs used for fighting, including: blood-splattered treadmills that had been modified to hold dogs in place conditioning; injectable veterinary steroids; a homemade “breeding stand” used to immobilize female dogs too aggressive for breeding; a cattle shock prod with dog DNA on the tip; and a large cinder-block water tank used to tether dogs that had to tread water to keep from drowning. Officers also recovered cocaine base and the pot in which it was cooked, plus four firearms.
A water tank (l) and a blood-spattered treadmill (r) used to train dogs in Case No. 1:24-CR-3 in U.S. v. Bradford.
Under federal law, it is illegal to fight dogs in a venture that affects interstate commerce and to possess, train, transport, deliver, sell, purchase, or receive dogs for fighting purposes. This case was the first in the nation in which prosecutors obtained a federal conviction for possessing firearms in furtherance of dog fighting.
USDA-OIG and the Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case with assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Criminal Chief Leah McEwen of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia and former Senior Trial Attorney Ethan Eddy of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Morrill and Paralegal Kristi Cote for the Middle District of Georgia handled a parallel civil forfeiture proceeding to ensure that the dogs did not have to be returned to Bradford. The Seized Canine Program of the U.S. Marshals Service cared for the rescued dogs pending legal process.South Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Filing a False Tax Return and Agrees to Pay the IRS More Than $34 Million in RestitutionRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – Daniel Liburdi (37, Miami) has pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax return. Liburdi faces a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison and has agreed to pay $34,846,381 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. Liburdi has also agreed to the civil forfeiture of three real properties in Miami Beach and the U.S. Virgin Islands, valued, collectively, at approximately $37,500,000; two Ferraris and one Land Rover Range Rover, valued, collectively, at approximately $1,127,000; and the contents of several financial accounts that total $414,508.49. A sentencing date is set for August 18, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. The action is part of the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.
According to court documents, Liburdi misreported his income on his 2021, 2022, and 2023 tax returns. For example, on his 2023 tax return, Liburdi falsely stated that business income was sourced by a U.S. Virgin Islands-based entity, rather than U.S.-based entities that had actually sourced the income. The false statement facilitated Liburdi’s claim of EDC Beneficiary exclusions of income not otherwise eligible for this exclusion. As a result, Liburdi misreported the amount of tax due to the IRS in the amount of nearly $10 million on his 2023 tax return. Liburdi also misreported income on his 2021 and 2022 tax returns, resulting in an additional tax loss to the government of over $24 million.
“Liburdi’s actions represent a flagrant disregard for our nation’s tax laws as he engaged in a deliberate scheme to evade taxes, defraud the U.S. Treasury, and exploit public coffers for his personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “Our office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to combat fraud and ensure that those who violate federal laws are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“This defendant earned tens of millions of dollars in income and then devised an elaborate scheme to not pay taxes,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “This case demonstrates that high net-worth individuals, like all Americans, are held accountable for filing false documents with the IRS, and IRS Special Agents will join forces with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who choose similar paths.”
“Fraud of this magnitude is not a victimless crime—it undermines public trust, harms honest taxpayers, and threatens the integrity of our financial systems,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael S. Calvo. “Combating fraud and tax evasion requires unwavering commitment and collaboration across agencies, and no single organization can tackle these complex crimes alone. By forging strong partnerships, we ensure thorough investigations and hold offenders accountable, protecting the integrity of our financial systems and the public trust.”
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of 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.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations. Additional assistance was provided by the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ross Roberts and Whitney Mackay. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.