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30 July 2026
Convicted felon indicted for firearm possessionRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned an indictment charging a man for allegedly having a pistol when he is prohibited from legally possessing guns because of a prior felony conviction.
According to court documents, Jey Lewis, 27, was indicted on one count of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Juan Carlos Duron, 50, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of reentry of a previously deported alien convicted of an aggravated felony. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting the case.
Michell Gonzalez-Diaz, 33, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of reentry of a previously removed alien. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
Jose De Jesus Martinez-Chavez, 48, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of reentry of a previously removed alien. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case.
Robert Moreno-Rodriguez, 46, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of reentry of a previously removed alien. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Contractor Agrees to Pay $50,000 to Resolve Allegations of Invoicing Employee Food Expenses Disguised as IT ProductsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The United States Attorney for the District of Columbia announced today that it reached a civil settlement agreement with Ventana Productions, Inc. (“Ventana”) to resolve allegations that on multiple occasions over a period of years Ventana hid food expenses for its employees by charging the Government for non-existent products and services. Pursuant to the settlement, Ventana agreed to pay the United States $50,000.
“Waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Every day, this Office works aggressively to expose fraud and abuse that diverts taxpayer dollars from their intended purpose. Contractors have a duty to bill the government honestly, and when they violate that trust, we will act decisively to hold them accountable.”
“Federal contractors are expected to bill the government honestly and accurately,” said Judd Leinum, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General. “Disguising employee meal expenses as information technology products and services undermines the integrity of the federal procurement process. Any attempt to falsely bill the Department will not be tolerated. This settlement demonstrates our commitment to protecting taxpayer funds and holding contractors accountable for false claims. We appreciate the partnership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia in resolving this matter.”
Ventana is a video production company with offices in Washington, DC and New York, NY. Ventana performed multimedia production support work for the U.S. Census Bureau (“Census”), a component of the U.S. Department of Commerce, under two General Services Administration contracts. Acting on an anonymous tip, the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) conducted an investigation that found seven instances of Ventana invoicing Census for charges that were designed to hide the costs of employee meals. Based on Ventana records and interviews, the OIG uncovered Ventana falsely invoicing Census for “hard drives,” “media transfer,” and “parking” that were disguising food purchased from a variety of establishments, including among others, Dunkin Donuts, Corner Bakery, Panera Bread, and Joe Theismann’s Restaurant. Based on seven false invoices, spanning July 2019 to February 2024, Census paid Ventana $1,533.27 that it would not have otherwise paid. To settle potential claims for damages and penalties under the False Claims Act and related causes of action, Ventana has agreed to pay the United States $50,000.
After OIG and the U.S. Attorney’s Office investigated the matter, a settlement was completed by Assistant United States Attorney Sean M. Tepe, with the assistance of Auditor Timothy J. Hurley, and a Special Agent with the Department of Commerce OIG.
The claims resolved by the civil settlements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
ventana_settlememt_agreement_signed.pdfCole Manor Motel fentanyl dealer sentenced to 25 years in federal prisonRead the Press Release
DALLAS — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Ryan Raybould, announced that Earnest Ray Miller a.k.a. “Q”, a 54-year-old Dallas man, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison on drug and gun charges on July 24.
Miller is a multi-convicted felon who operated a drug distribution business out of the Cole Manor Motel previously located near Dallas Love Field. The hotel was demolished on June 17, following the federal criminal investigation and a criminal nuisance lawsuit filed by the City of Dallas after the joint investigation revealed that the motel had become a notorious hub for drug trafficking, violent crime and prostitution.
“This defendant contributed to the fentanyl crisis by running a distribution network primarily out of the Cole Manor Hotel,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Let this 25-year sentence serve notice to anyone who thinks they can profit from selling this poison to Texans on my watch. This office will continue to stand up and use every tool in the tool chest to protect our communities. Earlier this year I was proud to work with DPD, FBI, and the city to help get the Cole Manor Hotel bulldozed for good. We will continue to charge people with crimes and go after businesses who harbor illegal conduct.”
“Drug trafficking and its frequent companion, drug-related violence, threaten the health and safety of every single one of us,” said Joseph B. Tucker, Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Dallas Field Division. “Mr. Miller’s sentence of 25 years holds him directly responsible for his intended actions and has undoubtedly saved lives, with a weapon off the streets and drugs that will never find a life to destroy.”
According to court documents, Drug Enforcement Administration agents began investigating drug dealing activity at the Cole Manor Motel, formerly located at 7002 Harry Hines Boulevard in Dallas in December 2024. Miller admitted that the Cole Manor Motel was a location where persons habitually went to engage in criminal activity to include the distribution and purchase of controlled substances, unlawful possession of firearms, assaults, prostitution, and other crimes.
Miller admitted that during the drug conspiracy he utilized multiple rooms within the motel, to cut, package, and distribute quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, marijuana, and other controlled substances to numerous customers daily. “Rules” were sometimes posted inside motel rooms that customers were expected to abide by.
Court records further revealed that on Feb.19, 2025, law enforcement agents executed search warrants at multiple Cole Manor Motel rooms. In one of Miller’s rooms, agents recovered digital scales, baggies, and distribution quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine as well as $19,372 in drug proceeds and multiple firearms.
Firearms, drugs, and cash seized during the investigation at Cole Manor Motel.In October 2025, Miller pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance (fentanyl) and one count of possessing a firearm by a convicted felon. United States Federal District Judge Karen Gren Scholer sentenced him to 300 months in prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration Dallas Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Calvert, Major Crimes Section Chief, prosecuted the case.
Child Predator to Spend 14 More Years in Prison After Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material and Attempt to Destroy EvidenceRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Jason Milano, 59, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, after pleading guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material and attempted destruction of property to prevent search or seizure.
According to court documents, Milano is a repeat sex offender with two separate federal convictions for child sexual abuse crimes. In 2010, he was convicted of conspiracy to advertise and distribute child sexual abuse material, two counts of advertising child sexual abuse material, and two counts of distributing child sexual abuse material. He was sentenced to ten years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. During his incarceration, Milano committed five disciplinary violations, including phone abuse and possession of unauthorized items.
In 2021, while on supervised release for his original offenses, Milano was found with an unapproved smartphone he used to access child sexual abuse material and communicate with other sex offenders. He was sentenced to three years in prison and again ordered to a lifetime of supervised release.
By January 2025, Milano was serving his second term of federal supervised release. Under the conditions of his release, probation officers were permitted to search any computers or electronic devices he possessed, and any unapproved devices could be seized. On January 22, 2025, a U.S. Probation Officer visited Milano’s home to inspect his approved cell phone, which was found to be missing a SIM card. When questioned, Milano provided a second, unapproved phone with internet access.
A forensic analysis confirmed that both devices contained at least ten files depicting child sexual abuse. Investigators later discovered an additional unapproved device in Milano’s hotel room that also contained child sexual abuse material. Law enforcement also collected emails from Milano’s email account demonstrating that Milano attempted to reset his phone on the same date the device was seized in an apparent attempt to hinder investigators’ efforts to recover its contents.
The U.S. Secret Service investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James P. Hanlon.
“Milano remains a serious danger to children, undeterred by his past encounters with the criminal justice system. His repeated violations show no remorse and no desire to change his ways. The children of our community are much safer with his removal via this lengthy sentence,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “This case underscores the essential work of our federal probation officers, whose vigilance and thorough oversight were key to uncovering Milano’s latest offenses. Thanks to their diligence, and the swift action of our Secret Service partners, investigators were able to intervene early, despite Milano’s attempts to destroy incriminating evidence.”
“This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers sexual predators, especially repeat offenders, pose to innocent children every day,” said Special Agent in Charge Ike Barnes, of the U.S. Secret Service’s Indianapolis Field Office. “The U.S. Secret Service remains committed to protecting children from this kind of victimization and to holding sexual predators accountable. Thanks to our partners including federal probation, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana for their outstanding work and collaboration in stopping this defendant and making children safer in the process.”
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Eakman and Kyle Sawa, who prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
If you are a victim of child sexual exploitation, please contact your local police department. Resources for victims of child exploitation can be found on our website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/project-safe-childhood
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CEO of Cross-Border Currency Exchange Business Arrested in Murder-for-Hire PlotRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO— Marcos Arturo Kleiman Tronllan, chief executive officer of MoneyFlip LLC, a registered Money Services Business (MSB) offering cross-border currency exchange services, was arrested in Miami this morning in connection with a federal complaint filed in San Diego alleging that Kleiman hired a hitman to murder someone over an unpaid debt.
Kleiman, a Mexican citizen and lawful permanent resident of the United States who previously worked and lived in San Diego, was taken into custody by Homeland Security Investigations agents and Homeland Security Task Force partners.
During an ongoing investigation into money exchange businesses in San Diego and Imperial counties, agents identified Kleiman as a suspected money launderer. According to the complaint, Kleiman previously owned and operated a licensed money service business known as MXN Financial LLC, which was an international wholesale currency dealer and currency exchange operating within the Southern District of California. In 2025, MXN Financial LLC changed its name to MoneyFlip LLC, where Kleiman remains the CEO.
Investigators suspected that Kleiman used his business to engage in cross-border currency transactions that evaded Bank Secrecy Act filing requirements and to launder illicit proceeds from drug sales that were further placed and layered into the financial system through money service businesses near the U.S-Mexico border.
Photograph depicting supposed murder victim lying dead in a field with a banner covering his body with the Spanish phrase “Por ser Rata,” which translates to “For being a thief.”
In February of 2026, undercover Homeland Security Investigations agents contacted Kleiman, asking him to convert United States dollars into cryptocurrency. These undercover agents made representations to Kleiman that their dollars came from drug sales and among many statements Kleiman made indicating he understood the money’s source, he said “Give me the major details. I need to know if . . .what you have is clean or if it’s dirty. I mean, I don’t get scared, dude.”
To facilitate the illicit financial transactions, Kleiman allegedly created a unique email account, shared its password with the undercover agents, and announced that they would communicate by leaving draft emails in the account so that no emails were ever sent. In total, Kleiman converted approximately $750,000 of United States currency into cryptocurrency and caused the transmission of those crypto coins into an undercover federal agent’s wallet. Kleiman charged a 10 percent fee.
During the money laundering discussions, Kleiman allegedly asked undercover federal agents if they would help recover a debt from a Mexican businessman and kill the man. Kleiman agreed to pay $40,000 to kidnap and murder the businessman, with two $5,000 “deposits” to be paid in advance.
In May 2026, Kleiman arranged for a third party to deliver a $5,000 cash “deposit” to one of the undercover agents in San Diego, the complaint said. Then, in early July of 2026, one of the undercover agents asked Kleiman for a second $5,000 deposit to “reserve the savages” and told Kleiman “whether [the victim] pays or not he will be left dead on the side of the road.” Kleiman responded by telling the undercover agent, “I will get those 5 ready for you in 2–3 weeks.”
According to the complaint, Kleiman later paid the second “deposit” for the murder. On July 28, 2026, the undercover agents showed Kleiman three photographs and one video purporting to show the victim captured, tortured and killed. One of the agents then told Kleiman that “they already killed the guy, so those people need to get paid.” Kleiman responded, “Okay. Count on…count on it.” The next day, July 29, 2026, Kleiman delivered a $5,000 cash payment to the undercover agents and transmitted approximately 25,000 USDT into an undercover cryptocurrency wallet as the final payments for the victim’s murder.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Deshong and Christopher Beeler, and Daniel Casillas contributed significantly to the case.
DEFENDANT Case Number 26-MJ-4495
Marcos Arturo Kleiman Tronllan Age: 40 Miami, Florida
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Murder-for-Hire—Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1958(a)
Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison and $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
Drug Enforcement Administration
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation
Imperial County Sheriff’s Office
Brawley Police Department
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This investigation 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 San Diego comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Interpol, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.
CEO and VA Employee Plead Guilty to Paying and Receiving Illegal Health Care Kickbacks and BribesRead the Press Release
Two Florida men pleaded guilty this week to conspiracy to pay and receive illegal health care kickbacks and bribes.
According to court documents, Laurent Cassagnol, 43, and Heriberto Rivera, 43, both of Orlando, Florida, conspired to refer patients of the VA Community Care Program (VACCP) to Family Integrative Medicine of Orlando, LLC (FIMO) for acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, and other holistic medical services. Rivera, the CEO of FIMO, admitted to paying kickbacks and bribes to Cassagnol, an Advanced Medical Support Assistant for VACCP, in exchange for Cassagnol steering VA patients to FIMO for medical services. Cassagnol admitted to accepting Rivera’s payments. As a result of the conspiracy, the VA and VACCP was billed for over $14 million in claims that were procured through the payment of kickbacks and bribes, of which over $11 million was paid. The investigation was the result of a complaint made to the VA Office of the Inspector General (VA-OIG) fraud hotline.
Cassagnol and Rivera both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks and bribes. Cassagnol and Rivera are scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 5. Each defendant faces a maximum penalty of five 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 Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division; Special Agent in Charge Rodney E. Crawford of the FBI Tampa Field Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Greg Wentz of the VA-OIG Southeast Field Office made the announcement.
FBI and VA-OIG are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Angela Benoit and Jody King of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Auto Dealership to Pay $137,000 for Mishandling Servicemembers’ Vehicle LeasesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced that Holmes Motors Inc., a “lease here, pay here” dealership with locations in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, has agreed to pay over $137,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by illegally repossessing vehicles owned by servicemembers and failing to refund security deposits and prepaid lease amounts to servicemembers who terminated their vehicle leases due to military orders.
“The Servicemember Civil Relief Act provides certain rights and protections to the members of our Armed Forces. These protections are designed to lessen the legal and economic burdens of military service and enable our warfighters to focus on the defense of our Nation,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice will not waver in its commitment to enforcing these rights.”
“As someone with 30 years of military service, enforcing the law to protect servicemembers’ rights is of the highest priority to me and to my office,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. for the Northern District of Alabama. “The law is clear that when servicemembers are on active duty, they should not have to worry their car will be repossessed while they serve their county. I am very proud of this settlement, which ensures that companies understand that this law is not optional and servicemembers’ rights will be protected in this district.”
The Department alleges that Holmes Motors illegally repossessed three vehicles leased by SCRA-protected servicemembers without obtaining court orders. In at least one case, Holmes Motors repossessed a vehicle even after the servicemember gave the company a copy of her military orders requiring her to deploy in support of operations at the southern border.
The Department also alleges that Holmes Motors violated the SCRA when it failed to refund security deposits and prepaid lease amounts when servicemembers terminated five vehicle leases early after receiving qualifying military orders.
Under the settlement, Holmes Motors will pay $77,348 in compensation to the affected servicemembers. The company will also pay a $60,000 civil penalty and will be required to make policy and training changes to avoid committing future violations.
Since 2011, the Department has obtained over $489 million in monetary relief for over 152,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the Department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov.
Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA may have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations can be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil.
Anchorage man sentenced to 6 years for possessing a firearm as a felon during a domestic violence assaultRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - An Anchorage man was sentenced Tuesday to over six and a half years in prison for possessing a firearm as a felon while he committed a crime of domestic violence.
According to court documents, in November 2024, Detallion Owens, 29, violently assaulted a domestic partner while a child was present. Court documents explain that Owens was intoxicated and started an argument with the victim. As the argument progressed, Owens pulled out a gun, pulled the slide back to rack a bullet and pointed it at the victim’s head while she was holding a newborn child. Owens continued the argument and then stole the victim’s phone and keys before fleeing in her car.
Law enforcement officers later found Owens as the sole occupant of the victim’s car and attempted to barricade the car to prevent him from fleeing. Owens attempted to flee by ramming the stolen car forward and backward into the police cars, but he was unsuccessful. Owens then attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended by officers. Law enforcement officers found Owens’ loaded handgun in plain view on the driver’s seat and later discovered it was stolen. Officers also recovered the victim’s phone and a loaded magazine that fell from Owens’ person during the struggle with police.
At the time of this incident, Owens had a felony conviction for robbery in the first degree, prohibiting him from possessing firearms. He was also actively on state probation for armed robbery and assault convictions at the time of this offense.
On Jan. 21, 2025, Owens was indicted by a federal grand jury. On May 6, 2025, Owens pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. At sentencing, the Court also ordered Owens to serve three years on supervised release upon completion of his prison sentence.
“Mr. Owens perpetrated a frightening act of domestic violence in front of a child, earning a lengthy sentence under federal criminal law,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “I want to commend the police officers and law enforcement that apprehended Mr. Owens as swiftly as possible before more damage occurred. Charging domestic violence offenders with being a felon in possession of a firearm is one of the tools my office will continue to leverage in the federal system to make the community safer.”
“The sentence imposed today reflects the serious danger this defendant posed to our community. The defendant’s actions were not isolated acts of poor judgement, but deliberate, violent choices that put innocent lives at grave risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Seattle Field Division. “ATF remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who use firearms to threaten, intimidate, and endanger others.”
The ATF Seattle Field Division and Anchorage Field Office investigated the case with significant assistance from the Anchorage Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Caille Petursson 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.
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Adult Day Care Provider Accused of $1.47 Million Missouri Medicaid FraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – An adult day care provider has been indicted and accused of defrauding Missouri Medicaid out of $1.47 million.
Tony King, 63, was indicted July 22 on five counts of health care fraud. King turned himself in Thursday and appeared in U.S. District Court in St. Louis, where he pleaded not guilty.
The indictment says King operated Agape Love Adult Day Care LLC, holding out the company as a provider in Missouri’s Adult Day Care Waiver (ADCW) program. That program provides for continuous care and supervision of older and disabled adults for up to 10 hours per day, five days a week to provide a community-based alternative to those who might otherwise be placed in a nursing facility. The Missouri Medicaid Program reimburses for ADCW services including planned group activities, food service and transportation.
The indictment says King submitted false claims for reimbursement to Missouri Medicaid for services that were never provided. King falsely claimed that Agape provided 10 hours of care per day when the company only provided half that amount, the indictment says. King also submitted claims for providing day care services to patients that were either not present at Agape or were hospitalized. The indictment says that King submitted a total of $1.47 million in false claims from at least as early as February 2021 through March 2026.
King, formerly of St. Louis County, now lives in Georgia.
Health care fraud is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine. Restitution is mandatory.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The FBI, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and Missouri Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karin Schute is prosecuting the case.
Ada Ngozi Otuka, British citizen, guilty of illegal voting in U.S. electionsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 63-year-old foreign national who resided in Katy pleaded guilty to illegal voting by aliens and false claim to citizenship.
Ada Ngozi Otuka admitted she illegally voted in the 2020 federal election. She also pleaded guilty to falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen when filling out her Texas voter registration and statement of residence.
Although Otuka is a lawful resident, she is precluded from voting in U.S. elections. However, records show she voted in 2012, 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2024.
Otuka received a notice in 2025 that her registration status was being examined because information had been received regarding her lack of U.S. citizenship. She did not respond.
In 2025, Otuka filled out a naturalization application that indicated she had voted unlawfully.
U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett will impose sentencing Nov. 5. At that time, Otuka faces up to five years in federal prison for falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and another year for the conviction of illegal voting. She could also be ordered to pay up to a $250,000 maximum fine.
In a separate but similar case, a citizen of the United Kingdom also entered a plea in May to unlawfully voting. Samuel James Hall, 50, legally resided in Houston but, like Otuka, cannot cast ballots in U.S. elections. However, he admitted to illegally voting in the 2024 federal election.
FBI - Houston, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, and Texas Attorney General’s Office conducted the investigations with the assistance of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Liesel Roscher is prosecuting the cases.
29 July 2026
Wilmington Man Indicted for Federal Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a Wilmington man with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person.
According to the indictment, Isiah Woodland, 30, possessed a Polymer 80 handgun and twelve rounds of ammunition during the month of February 2026. Woodland is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Woodland is charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. If convicted, Woodland faces a maximum of 15 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace, Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Wilfredo Campos, Wilmington Police Department (WPD), made the announcement. ATF and WPD investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin B. Smith is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution 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.
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-00118-RGA.
The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
West Virginia Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Sexually Exploiting MinorRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal judge sentenced a West Virginia man to more than two decades in prison, today, for child sex abuse crimes.
U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin sentenced Donald Robert Wilt Edwards, Sr., 30, to 25 years in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for sexually exploiting a minor. A federal grand jury indicted Edwards in connection with the charges in April 2025.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office, Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD), and Colonel Jack Chambers, Superintendent, West Virginia State Police.
According to court documents, in June 2024, while he still lived in Baltimore, Edwards captured himself sexually abusing and exploiting a three-year-old minor victim. Edwards produced two images and one video of the abuse and distributed the files online using the Kik messaging application. He also possessed other child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on his cell phone and within his social media accounts.
In December 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at Edwards’ Elkins, West Virginia, residence, seizing multiple electronic devices. Throughout the course of the investigation, law enforcement uncovered additional CSAM on Edwards’ devices and in his social media accounts.
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 Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc. Click the “Resources” tab on the left side of the page to learn about Internet safety education.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended the FBI, BPD, West Virginia State Police, and West Virginia Parole and Probation Office for their work in the investigation. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reema Sood and Paul E. Budlow 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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Washington man sentenced to 10 years for possessing firearm while intending to distribute fentanyl in MissoulaRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Spokane, Washington, man who was trafficking fentanyl into Montana while armed with handgun was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Patrick William Allen, 55, pleaded guilty in February 2026 to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Allen was a “high-level” supplier of fentanyl in the Missoula area and that he regularly transported illicit drugs into the state from Washington.
Investigators learned from an informant on Jan. 23, 2026, that Allen was regularly bringing drugs into the Missoula area and that a week prior the informant had purchased fentanyl from Allen. The following day, investigators learned from a second source that Allen was in Missoula and had checked into the Broadway Inn Hotel. Agents obtained a warrant, went to the room in which Allen was staying, and discovered him there with a woman.
Allen told investigators he had a loaded gun in his suitcase, which was sitting open on his bed. More than one-half pound of fentanyl, 39 grams of meth and five grams of crack cocaine, along with $8,200 in cash also was in the room. Allen said it all belonged to him and that the woman was not involved.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation.
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.
Valdosta Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearm Used in AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A Valdosta resident with more than a dozen prior felony convictions in Georgia and Florida was sentenced to prison for illegally possessing a firearm after police responded to a victim who was beaten and pistol-whipped by the defendant.
“Violent armed repeat offenders who continually ignore the law and disturb the peace will be held accountable at the federal level for their crimes,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Working alongside our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners through the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, our office is identifying and bringing to justice the most egregious offenders.”
“ATF is committed to holding repeat offenders accountable and putting an end to their cycle of violence,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Benjamin Gibbons. “Our communities are safer when those who consistently break our laws and threaten our safety are brought to justice.”
“The removal of violent career criminals from our community is not something that we can do alone. Through our continued partnership with our federal law enforcement partners and through Project Safe Neighborhoods, we are sending a clear message that those who repeatedly endanger our community will be held accountable,” said Valdosta Police Chief Leslie Manahan. “These collaborative efforts with our federal partners will continue to make a difference in keeping our neighborhoods safe.”
Charvez Thompson, 33, of Valdosta, was sentenced to serve 84 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner on July 29. Thompson previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on April 2. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Valdosta Police Department officers were dispatched to a residence on June 22, 2024, in response to an assault. Upon arrival, officers discovered the victim with visible injuries, including a head hematoma, after being struck by Thompson with a handgun wrapped in tape. Thompson initially denied assaulting the victim, claiming that the victim struck him first. However, officers observed no visible injuries on Thompson. A small-caliber leather holster was found attached to Thompson’s left boot, and a revolver that was wrapped in electrical tape and loaded with seven rounds was located hidden in his truck. The victim identified the firearm as the one used in the assault, a fact corroborated by a witness. Thompson has an extensive criminal history, including prior convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and battery. As a convicted felon, it is illegal for him to possess a firearm.
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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Valdosta Police Department (VPD) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica Daniels is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Two New Jersey Men and a Washington Man Plead Guilty to Terrorism-Related Offenses for Supporting ISISRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Two men from Montclair, New Jersey and a man from Kent, Washington admitted to charges related to supporting the Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham (“ISIS”), U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Tomas-Kaan Jimenez-Guzel, 19, and Milo Sedarat, 21, both of Montclair, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on July 27, 2026 and July 28, 2026, respectively, before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden in Newark federal court to terrorism-related offenses. Jimenez-Guzel pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, and Sedarat pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with concealment of material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Additionally, Saed Ali Mirreh, 20, of Kent, Washington pleaded guilty on July 22, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones in U.S. District Court in Seattle, Washington to an Information charging him with conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Mirreh was originally charged with the conspiracy in the District of New Jersey and consented to have his case transferred to the Western District of Washington for purposes of pleading guilty.
“Any individual supporting ISIS or other terrorist organizations, regardless of whether it involves organizing an attack, planning to travel overseas, or funding others to join ISIS will be investigated swiftly and prosecuted. Jimenez-Guzel and Mirreh planned to travel abroad to actively fight with ISIS, and Sedarat surreptitiously provided funding for those plans. This Office is committed to disrupting foreign terrorist organizations, preventing ISIS-inspired terrorism, and holding accountable those individuals who support terrorist organizations.”
- U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer
“These men actively plotted and planned to go overseas to fight with ISIS, one of the worst terrorist organizations responsible for unspeakable violence all over the world. FBI Newark Joint Terrorism Task Force and our law enforcement partners thwarted their plans and stopped Jimenez-Guzel as he arrived at the airport. Regardless of the intent to either fight overseas or plot an attack on our soil - we will tenaciously investigate and arrest anyone supporting and conspiring with terrorists,” said Stefanie Roddy, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Newark.
According to documents filed in the cases and statements made in court:
From July 24, 2025 to November 4, 2025, through communications on encrypted messaging applications, Jimenez-Guzel, Mirreh, and other co-conspirators agreed to travel to Turkey in November 2025. They also agreed with other co-conspirators to travel from Turkey to “sham,” which is an Arabic term for the historical region of greater Syria, to join ISIS as fighters. On October 18, 2025, Sedarat met with Jimenez-Guzel and provided him $500 in cash to assist with buying a plane ticket for Mirreh to travel to join ISIS as part of the conspiracy. Sedarat took steps to conceal that monetary transfer from law enforcement by instructing Jimenez-Guzel to not take his cell phone to the meeting where the money was exchanged and by deliberately using cash instead of other electronic money transfers. On October 26, 2025, Jimenez-Guzel then transferred $500 to Mirreh.
On October 27, 2025, Jimenez-Guzel purchased a plane ticket to depart from Newark Liberty International Airport to Istanbul, Turkey on November 17, 2025. On October 28, 2025, Mirreh purchased a ticket to depart from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Istanbul, Turkey on November 16, 2025. After other individuals in Dearborn, Michigan, with whom Jimenez-Guzel and Mirreh were communicating were arrested on October 31, 2025, and charged with offenses related to those individuals’ plot to carry out a violent attack on behalf of ISIS, Jimenez-Guzel, Mirreh, and their co-conspirators accelerated their travel plans.
On November 3, 2025, Jimenez-Guzel re-booked his flight to Turkey to leave instead on November 5, 2025 (in the early morning hours, shortly after midnight on November 4, 2025). Then, on November 4, 2025, after communicating with Jimenez-Guzel and other co-conspirators, Mirreh booked an additional flight to Turkey to depart on November 5, 2025. On November 4, 2025, Jimenez-Guzel was arrested after arriving at Newark Liberty International Airport, and Mirreh was arrested later that evening at his home in Washington.
The count of conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization to which Jimenez-Guzel and Mirreh pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of life of supervised release. The charge of concealing material support to which Sedarat pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of life of supervised release. Mirreh’s sentencing is scheduled for October 16, 2026, Sedarat’s sentencing is scheduled for December 2, 2026, and Jimenez-Guzel’s sentencing is scheduled for December 3, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited Special Agents and Joint Terrorism Task Force Officers of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, New Jersey and Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Herrington in Seattle, Washington; and officers of the New York Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, Montclair Police Department, under the direction of Chief Todd M. Conforti, and Rowan University Police Department, under the direction of Chief Rachel Baum.
The government is represented in the cases against Jimenez-Guzel and Mirreh by Assistant U.S. Attorney Camila A. Garces of the National Security Unit in Newark, New Jersey with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg of the National Security Unit in Seattle, Washington. The government is represented in the case against Sedarat by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey S. Smith of the National Security Unit in Newark, New Jersey. Trial Attorneys John Cella, Patrick Cashman, and James Donnelly of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Counterterrorism Section of the National Security Division provided substantial assistance for all three cases.
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Defense counsel for Jimenez-Guzel: Deirdre von Dornum, Esq.
Defense counsel Sedarat: Areeb Salim, Esq. and Anita Aboagye-Agyeman, Esq.
Defense counsel for Mirreh: Dawn Farina, Esq. and Casey M. Arbenz, Esq.
jimenezguzel.information.pdf sedarat.information.pdfTwo New Assistant United States Attorneys Formally Sworn into OfficeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ellis Boyle administered the oath of office to two Assistant United States Attorneys appointed to serve in the Eastern District of North Carolina. Their work supports the safety and well‑being of their communities, safeguards constitutional rights, and reinforces trust in the justice system.
Two Charleston Men Plead Guilty to Roles in Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Two Charleston men pleaded guilty on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, admitting to roles in a conspiracy that distributed fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as “crack,” in the Charleston area.
Antonio Andre Smith, also known as “Bro,” 50, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and Jerry Lucilo Grass, 41, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Smith and Grass each took part in the conspiracy between September 2025 and April 2026. Smith admitted that he distributed fentanyl generally in the Charleston area and worked with another co-conspirator to distribute fentanyl to customers. Grass admitted that he generally acquired fentanyl from a co-conspirator and re-distributed at least some of it to third parties in the Charleston area while also using some of it.
As part of his guilty plea, Grass also admitted that he contacted the co-conspirator on March 8, 2026, to request an ounce of fentanyl for a customer and an additional quantity for his personal use. Grass further admitted that he also contacted a co-conspirator on March 16, 2026, to inform her that he planned to provide all the fentanyl in his possession to a customer and needed an additional ounce from her for that transaction. Grass also admitted that another co-conspirator contacted him about that transaction to confirm that the customer needed the additional ounce.
Smith and Grass are scheduled to be sentenced on November 19, 2026. Smith faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million. Grass faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.
Smith and Grass are among eight individuals indicted following a federal investigation of fentanyl trafficking in the Charleston area. Two of those defendants pleaded guilty to charges separate from the main indictment, which remains pending against the other defendants. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe 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-51.
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Texas Man Sentenced for Misprision of a FelonyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ELDER CAMACHO (“CAMACHO”), age 36, a resident of Texas, was sentenced on July 29, 2026, after previously pleading guilty to one count in a Superseding Bill of Information charging him with misprision of a felony, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. CAMACHO was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment, one year of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to court documents, CAMACHO, drove a codefendant from Atlanta, Georgia to New Orleans, Louisiana in order to launder bulk cash drug proceeds from the Eastern District of Louisiana to Texas. CAMACHO also assisted in purchasing packaging materials to conceal the bulk cash.
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 New Orleans comprises agents and officers from the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration – New Orleans Field Division Office, and assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Border Patrol, the Gretna Major Crimes Task Force, the Kenner Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the St. John’s Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the New Orleans Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit.
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Temple Terrace Man Pleads Guilty to Interstate Threats to KillRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Andrew Nikhil Aiyar (28, Temple Terrace) has pleaded guilty to interstate threats to kill. He faces a maximum of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, between September and November 2025, Aiyar became frustrated with an American media company and began sending harassing and threatening messages to individuals associated with the company. One of these individuals was the wife of a prominent political media personality. Aiyar posted public social media threats to kill her and members of her family including, “I will tear your family to pieces before I shut up. Next time I’m in [CITY NAME] I’m finding you,” “I will beat your kids to death in front of you and your husband will do nothing about it,” and “When I get done hacking you to death with a meat cleaver I will turn myself in as a hero.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Temple Terrace Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Wheeler, III.
Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to Six Months in Federal Prison for Sending Threatening Letters to Two Federal JudgesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to six months in federal prison for sending threatening letters to federal judges in Texas and Florida.
Last year, JAMES LEBUHN mailed letters to U.S. District Court judges in Amarillo, Texas, and Fort Pierce, Fla. The letters stated, “THE CITIZENS DO NOT LIKE WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO OUR DEMOCRACY. THEY KNOW WHO YOU ARE.” This language was followed by photographs of two ammunition rounds and the words, “BE CAREFUL. THE LEVEL OF ANGER IS RISING.” LeBuhn mailed the letters for the purpose of making a true threat and knowing that the letters would be viewed as such. In March 2026, Lebuhn was charged by criminal information with two counts of sending threatening communications to federal judges in Texas and Florida in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 876(c).
LeBuhn also mailed similarly threatening letters to employees of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management in Washington, D.C.
LeBuhn, 66, of Libertyville, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois to two counts of mailing a threatening communication. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis sentenced LeBuhn to six months in federal prison and fined him $5,000.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. The case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Protective Service, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Rothblatt of the Northern District of Illinois, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Weybrecht of the Northern District of Texas and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Dobbins of the Southern District of Florida.
“Judges are empowered and entrusted to make difficult and controversial decisions on cases and controversies before them,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Rothblatt argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “The public may vehemently disagree with those decisions, and there are myriad ways for individuals to communicate such disagreement under the First Amendment. True threats of violence, and the fear and disruption they cause, have consequences and will not be tolerated.”
Spring Valley Man Charged with Distributing Potent Synthetic Opioid that Resulted in Overdose Death of Pacific Beach ResidentRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging Matthew Ray Calas of Spring Valley with distributing a powerful synthetic opioid—N-Pyrrolidino Protonitazene—that resulted in the death of a 67-year-old San Diego resident.
According to court records, Calas advertised drugs for sale on Craigslist using coded language. In text messages with the victim, Calas offered to sell the victim “red devil nitazene,” a smokeable crystal powder. The victim was found on the floor holding drug paraphernalia, suggesting he died shortly after ingesting the substance. Three months later, Calas sold more of the “Red Devil” to an undercover law enforcement officer.
Calas is also charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, Butonitazene, and Methamphetamine; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.
N-Pyrrolidino Protonitazene (often abbreviated NPP) is a synthetic opioid in the nitazene family. Nitazenes are a class of laboratory-made opioids that were originally developed decades ago in pharmaceutical research but were generally not approved for medical use. Some newer nitazene analogs have emerged in the illicit drug supply and are associated with overdose deaths. It is extremely potent and has opioid effects similar to fentanyl and other powerful opioids. Naloxone (Narcan) can help reverse opioid overdose effects from NPP, though multiple doses may sometimes be needed with very potent opioids.
Special agents and officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Overdose Response Team led the investigation. This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the San Diego Police Department, the La Mesa Police Department, National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, the California Department of Health Care Services, and Naval Criminal Investigative Service to investigate and prosecute the distribution of dangerous illegal drugs—fentanyl in particular—that result in overdose deaths. The Drug Enforcement Administration created the Overdose Response Team as a response to the increase in overdose deaths in San Diego County.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith D. Ellison.
DEFENDANT Case Number 25CR4692-DMS
Matthew Ray Calas Age: 44 Spring Valley, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Counts 1, 2, and 4
Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 841(a)(l) – Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, Butonitazine, and Methamphetamine
Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison
Count 3
Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 841(a)(l), (b)(1)(C) – Distribution of N-Pyrrolidino Protonitazene Resulting in Death
Maximum Penalty: Life in prison; Mandatory minimum 20 years
Count 5
Title 18, U.S.C., Sec. 924(c)(l) – Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
Maximum Penalty: Mandatory minimum five years in prison
Count 6
Title 18, U.S.C., Sec. 922(g)(l) – Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition
Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Drug Enforcement Administration
San Diego Police Department
Homeland Security Investigations
California National Guard Counterdrug Task Force
California Department of Health Care Services
La Mesa Police Department
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
Naval Criminal Investigative Service
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This investigation 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 San Diego comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Interpol, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.
South Carolina man sentenced to over a year in prison for online retail theft schemeRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A South Carolina man was sentenced today to a year and one month in prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud.
According to court documents, between March 2022 and April 2025, Cody Cavallaro, 31, of Charleston, conspired to steal merchandise from online retailers, submit fraudulent return requests, receive refunds, and then sell the stolen merchandise on third-party online platforms.
Cavallaro placed hundreds of orders for merchandise with online retailers. To circumvent retailers’ loss-prevention systems, Cavallaro used hundreds of false names, email addresses, and telephone numbers as well as different versions of his delivery address. For example, Cavallaro added “13th Floor” to his delivery address, which was a two-story single-family home.
After receiving the merchandise, Cavallaro and his co-conspirators submitted fraudulent return requests, prompting the retailers to provide digital copies of shipping labels that Cavallaro and his co-conspirators digitally manipulated to alter the printed delivery address. The conspirators applied the manipulated shipping labels to empty envelopes and placed them in the mail. Generally, once an envelope’s barcode was scanned, carriers’ automated systems treated the package as deliverable to the retailer’s return facility, resulting in a refund to Cavallaro without the retailer receiving a return package.
Cavallaro would then sell the merchandise on third-party online marketplaces, such as Amazon.com and Mercari.com. Cavallaro took steps to obfuscate his resale activity. For example, in late 2023, a loss prevention investigator for Amazon contacted Cavallaro to request business records indicating Cavallaro’s source for obtaining merchandise. Cavallaro provided the investigator with a fabricated invoice from another retailer for a total of $74,998.50.
In September 2022, Amazon uncovered a portion of Cavallaro’s return fraud scheme and issued “charge backs” on Cavallaro’s American Express credit card totaling $117,447.62. Cavallaro then submitted a fraud report to American Express falsely claiming that Amazon’s charge backs were fraudulent. American Express credited Cavallaro’s account with the full $117,447.62, leaving American Express as the victim of Cavallaro’s fraudulent conduct.
In total, Cavallaro caused an actual loss to seven different retailers of $768,127. Cavallaro further attempted, but ultimately failed, to order and fraudulently return merchandise worth an additional $586,577.62.
Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; James Kingsley, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Richmond Field Office; and Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge David J. Novak.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Day prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-145.
South Carolina Man Receives 20 Years in Prison for Intent to Engage in Sexual Conduct with a MinorRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – A South Carolina man was sentenced to prison after he admitted to travelling more than 700 miles from the Augusta area to Toledo to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a purported seven-year-old girl.
Edward Wade Green, 54, of Aiken, South Carolina, was sentenced to 240 months (20 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick, after he pleaded guilty in March 2024 to:
- Coercion or Enticement of a Minor
- Traveling with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct with a Minor
- Transportation of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct
- Possession of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct
He was also ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $78,000 in restitution to 26 victims.
According to court documents, in April 2023, Green was communicating with an undercover agent, on an online platform, who purported to have a seven-year-old daughter. During these communications, Green expressed sexual interest in the purported daughter. After several online conversations, Green agreed to meet the fictitious seven-year-old at a prearranged location in Toledo, Ohio, for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct with her. Upon Green’s arrival at the agreed-upon location, he was apprehended by federal agents and taken into custody. During a forensic examination of Green’s electronic devices, they were found to contain visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, with at least one image involving a prepubescent minor under the age of 12.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Toledo Resident Agency’s Child Exploitation Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Al-Sorghali and Frank H. Spryszak prosecuted the case for the Northern District of Ohio.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and 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.
To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Sioux Falls Woman Sentenced to over 6 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Sioux FallsRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on July 27, 2026.
Jannelle Olson, 47, was sentenced to six years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Olson was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in October 2025. She pleaded guilty on May 4, 2026.
The investigation in this matter revealed that Olson’s co-conspirator transported methamphetamine from Omaha to Sioux Falls to have it redistributed there. Olson obtained methamphetamine from her co-conspirator on multiple occasions and lined up customers for him to sell to. On July 31, 2025, investigators met Olson and her co-conspirator after they tracked a phone moving from Omaha to Sioux Falls. They caught Olson with approximately two pounds of methamphetamine in her vehicle and found an additional two pounds of methamphetamine in her co-conspirator’s vehicle. In total, investigators determined Olson was responsible for distributing approximately seven pounds of methamphetamine during her involvement in the conspiracy.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Olson was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Woman Sentenced to over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Sioux Falls AreaRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on July 27, 2026.
Kourtney Lang, 33, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Lang was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in February 2025. She pleaded guilty on March 2, 2026.
Lang was part of the Matthew Shade drug trafficking organization that obtained methamphetamine and fentanyl in Arizona and then distributed the drugs in South Dakota. Lang’s co-conspirators worked to get the methamphetamine to South Dakota through the mail and also by car. Once the methamphetamine was in South Dakota, Lang assisted her co-conspirators by working to distribute it to others and by collecting drug debts. In total, investigators believe that Lang was involved with distributing over eight pounds of methamphetamine throughout her involvement with the conspiracy.
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).
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force and the United States Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Lang was ordered to self-surrender to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service on August 17, 2026.
Scout Leader Sentenced to over 17 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Robert Mark used hidden cameras to record minors undressing and using the bathroom
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Robert Alan Mark, 59, of Whitehall, MI, was sentenced to 208 months in prison for sexual exploitation of a minor. During sentencing, U.S. District Judge Jane M. Beckering called Mark a “predator” and said that “no matter what good things he had done, that was wrecked by” his conduct in this case. When he is released from the Bureau of Prisons, he will spend seven years on supervised release, and he will be required to register as a sex offender.
For years, Mark was a leader in Boy Scouts (now Scouting America). When Scouting America began admitting female members, he served as a troop leader for female scouts as well. Scouts and their parents reported that he had hosted pool parties in his home and encouraged the girls to use his bathroom to shower and change. Investigators found that over the course of ten years, he used hidden cameras to record minor females undressed, showering, and/or using the bathroom. Recovered videos and images showed he had recorded at least eight girls, all under the age of 18, and that he had hidden cameras in his bathroom, a bedroom in his home, and a tent.
U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said he was satisfied with the sentence. “Mark richly deserved the sentence he got from Judge Beckering. Anyone who sexually exploits children deserves a decisive response from the criminal justice system, and he got it here. But what really got our attention was that Mark used Scouting America to get access to them. Now more than ever, our communities need organizations like Scouting America to help our kids learn the best traditional American values, and that means we will do whatever is necessary to keep deviants like Mark far away.”
“Scout leaders are trusted to protect our children, not exploit them. This sentence reflects the depravity of his conduct and makes clear that those who victimize our children will be held fully accountable,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “I commend the outstanding work of the FBI Grand Rapids WEBCHEX Task Force and the Michigan State Police for their diligent efforts throughout this investigation. FBI Detroit will continue working alongside our law enforcement partners to pursue those who prey on children and ensure they are brought to justice.”
“Protecting children from exploitation is one of our highest priorities. This sentence reflects the serious and lasting harm these crimes inflict on victims, and we remain committed to working alongside our federal, state, and local partners to identify offenders, hold them accountable, and safeguard our communities.” said a spokesperson for the Michigan State Police.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Michigan State Police investigated this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Schuylkill County Man Indicted for Failure to Register as A Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Craig Hardy, age 66, of Ashland, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury for failing to register as a sex offender upon relocating to New York.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that from November 3, 2025 and continuing to the present, despite being required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”), upon relocating to New York, Ney failed to register his address as required by SORNA.
This matter was investigated by the United States Marshals Service (USMS) and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum R. Wilson is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Roundup man sentenced to over 11 years in prison for trafficking meth with firearmsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Roundup man who was bringing large amounts of meth from Washington into Montana was sentenced today to 11 years and eight months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
William Thomas Duncan, 45, pleaded guilty in March 2026 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Duncan and a partner regularly traveled to Washington to pick up methamphetamine, bringing it back to Montana to sell.
Law enforcement first learned of the trafficking activity in October 2025 while agents were investigating Duncan’s partner, Jeffrey Frederic Nelson. Nelson pleaded guilty in March 2026 to distribution charges and will be sentenced in October. An undercover agent bought multiple pounds of methamphetamine from Nelson in January 2026 and, following a search, discovered Duncan’s number on Nelson’s phone.
Agents surveilled the two numbers and discovered the pair making regular trips to Washington to resupply their stash of methamphetamine. The undercover agent again arranged to buy methamphetamine from the two men. And then on Jan. 22, 2026, they served a search warrant on Duncan’s residence in Roundup, where they discovered 2 pounds of methamphetamine, several phones and over 30 guns. In an interview with law enforcement, Duncan admitted to trafficking the methamphetamine and said the firearms were for his protection.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Godfrey prosecuted the case. The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and the ATF conducted the investigation.
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.
Richmond men sentenced to prison for conspiring to traffic fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamineRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – Two Richmond men were sentenced to over 20 years in prison for their roles in a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy.
According to court documents, from the fall of 2024 through June 2025, law enforcement conducted five controlled purchases of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin from Roddell Chappell, 40, and seven controlled purchases of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine from Vagas Davis, 38.
Investigators searched the residences of Chappell and Davis on June 24, 2025. From Chappell’s residence, investigators recovered multi-kilogram quantities of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine as well as 15 firearms, large capacity drum magazines, ammunition, drug packaging materials, scales, presses, and $49,939. From Davis’ residence, investigators recovered 459.6 grams of marijuana, a money counter, and three cellphones. When Davis was arrested the same day, he possessed a loaded handgun, four additional cellphones, and $950.
Chappell pled guilty on Sept. 11, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. On May 18, Chappell was sentenced to 20 years and 10 months in prison.
Davis pled guilty on Sept. 16, 2025, to distribution and aiding and abetting in the distribution of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Davis, who held a leadership role in the drug trafficking organization, was sentenced yesterday to 24 years and four months in prison.
Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Christopher C. Goumenis, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division, made the announcement. The Virginia State Police, Chesterfield County Police Department, and Richmond Police Department assisted with the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Mastandrea prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-98.
Repeat Drug Offender Receives Federal Prison Sentence for Methamphetamine Sales in WheelingRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - A Dayton, Ohio man will spend the next 7 years in prison for selling methamphetamine in Wheeling, West Virginia, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Darryl C. Durant, also known as “Baby Brah,” age 44, was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine. Durant sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant on Wheeling Island on several occasions. Durant has several prior drug convictions.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
U.S. Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Private Tutor Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Beaverton, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for sexually exploiting a child online.
Erlend Secret Vikar aka Joshua Evan Huff, 41, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison and 30 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to one of the victims.
“Internet crimes that exploit children are deplorable and lead to long-term impacts to the children who are targeted and victimized,” said U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford. “Today’s 15-year sentence reflects that seriousness. Our office is dedicated to protecting children from these insidious crimes.”
According to court documents, from around November 2022 through August 2023, Vikar messaged and video chatted with a 16-year-old child who lives in Germany, coercing her to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Vikar met the victim on Reddit and later communicated with the child on Discord. He was able to gain the victim’s trust and then sent the victim pornographic videos and photos and coerced the minor to send him sexually explicit photos and videos. Many of the videos he received of the minor were made according to his requests. He further coerced the victim to contact other men online. Vikar, who had legally changed his name from Joshua Evan Huff is believed to have worked as a Private Tutor in Beaverton.
Vikar was arrested in October 2024 in Cloverdale, Virginia.
On November 19, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 2-count indictment charging Erlend Vikar with coercion and enticement of a minor and sexual exploitation of children.
On April 27, 2026, Vikar pleaded guilty to the charge sexual exploitation of children.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliza Carmen Rodriguez.
Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children is encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.
This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Prairie Village, Kansas Woman Pleads Guilty to Social Security Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Prairie Village, Kan., woman pleaded guilty in federal court today for defrauding the Social Security Administration.
Gloria Burggraf, 70, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge D. Greg Kays to one count of theft of government money. According to the plea agreement, Burggraf’s former husband passed away in March of 2021 while he was receiving Social Security Administration (“SSA”) retirement benefits. At the time, Burggraf was also receiving her own SSA retirement benefits in the same joint account. Burggraf was aware of her obligation to report that she was receiving her late husband’s benefits in error, failed to do so and continued to collect nearly $95,000 over a four-year period. This successful prosecution is one of many federal fraud cases pursued under the leadership of President Donald Trump and through the establishment of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.
Under federal statutes, Burggraf is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda K. Hanson. It was investigated by the Social Security Office of the Inspector General.
National Fraud Enforcement Division
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.
Portland Woman Pleads Guilty to Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland, Oregon, woman pleaded guilty on July 23, 2026, for assaulting a federal officer near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland.
Oriana Korol, 39, pleaded guilty to a one-count information charging assault of a federal officer.
According to court documents, on October 12, 2025, federal officers were clearing the driveway of an ICE facility in South Portland to allow employees to exit. While law enforcement was arresting another person a short distance away from the property, Korol interfered with the arrest of that person and, after being moved away from the arrest, kicked a federal officer.
Korol faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. She will be sentenced on August 24, 2026, before a U.S. magistrate court judge.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.
The Federal Protective Service is investigating the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon is prosecuting the case.
Portland Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man was sentenced to federal prison yesterday for possessing child sexual abuse material.
Walter Albert Sebaste, 41, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison and 10 years’ supervised release.
“Crimes against children are a priority for my office. Children are the future of our nation. Their abuse is magnified when it is recorded and accessed by criminals such as Walter Sebaste,” said U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford. “Today’s sentence is a reflection of the serious harm caused every time a child’s abuse is viewed, and the culmination of the hard work of the FBI and our office to hold abusers accountable.”
“Today’s sentence reflects the unwavering commitment of the FBI and our partners to protect children and hold child sex offenders accountable,” said the FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson. “Our work is driven by the courage of victims, and we stand with them as they seek justice and healing. We are grateful for the partnership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon in bringing offenders like Walter Sebaste before the court. These crimes cause profound harm, and there is absolutely no place for them in our community.”
On September 19, 2025, Sebaste’s residence in Portland was searched and his electronic devices were seized. Sebaste was in possession of over 1000 images of child sexual abuse material.
On February 19, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Sebaste with possession of child pornography.
On April 30, 2026, Sebaste pleaded guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material.
This case was investigated by FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Rochat.
Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.
This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Portland Man Sentenced for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Portland man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for his role in a California-Maine cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Chase Kane, 30, to 12 months and one day in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Kane pleaded guilty on December 10, 2025.
According to court records, Kane and associates repeatedly received large quantities of cocaine via mail, primarily from California, and made trips to California and Mexico to meet with suppliers and co-conspirators. They then distributed the drug to customers and associates in eastern Maine. Kane and his associates possessed multiple firearms during the drug conspiracy.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated this case, with the assistance of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
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.
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Portland Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Portland man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to one count of possessing child pornography.
According to court records, in December 2025, a social media application company reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that one of its users had saved, shared, or uploaded a file containing child sexual abuse materials. Investigators were able to identify a Google account associated with the user and obtained a search warrant for the account. Contained on the Google account were thousands of child sexual abuse files, as well as a selfie-style photo of Clyde Hall, 60. The Google account contained numerous e-mails to Hall, to include package delivery information to his residence, and Hall’s banking information. Hall has a prior federal conviction for possession of child pornography.
Hall faces a minimum term of 10 years and maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with the assistance of the Portland Police Department.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child sexual abuse material: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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Phoenix man sentenced to 14 years in prison for trafficking significant amounts of drugs to MontanaRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Phoenix man who was shipping meth and fentanyl to a drug ring in Billings was sentenced today to 14 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Brian Uriel Lopez-Orozco, 27, pleaded guilty in February 2026 to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Lopez-Orozco was a major supplier of methamphetamine and fentanyl to the Billings area, running a drug trafficking ring there for two years.
Law enforcement discovered Lopez-Orozco was the head of the drug ring while investigating local drug trafficker Cynthia Pruett and her two lieutenants, Aaron Meeks and Shaynee Gibbs. Laurel police pulled over Meeks and Gibbs on Nov. 9, 2022, where they found 360 grams of fentanyl and over $12,000 cash in their car. Gibbs told officers that she and Meeks were awaiting a package in the mail with methamphetamine and fentanyl, a package law enforcement had already intercepted. In it, investigators discovered nearly 4 pounds of meth and 17 capsules of fentanyl.
Meeks told investigators that he regularly picked up packages of meth and fentanyl shipped from Arizona for Pruett, whom he described as “one of the biggest drug dealers in Billings.” Gibbs said Pruett kept her drugs in a storage unit on Billings’ West End. On Dec. 1, 2022, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the storage unit and Pruett’s home in Acton, where agents found meth, fentanyl, and over $4,200 in cash. A month later, Pruett was pulled over in Broadview where agents found nearly a half-pound of fentanyl and $2,245 in cash.
Pruett, Meeks, and Gibbs eventually pleaded guilty to various drug charges. Meeks had lived in Arizona, where he bought drugs from Lopez-Orozco and eventually became his personal mechanic. When Meeks moved to Billings in 2021, Lopez-Orozco reached out and asked him if he knew of anyone there who would push drugs for him. Meeks gave him Pruett’s name. Lopez-Orozco visited Billings a few times and after Pruett demonstrated she could move his drugs, Lopez-Orozco began shipping her large quantities of meth and fentanyl.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Rubich prosecuted the case. The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and the DEA conducted the investigation.
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.
Phoenix Family Pleads Guilty to Role in $2.2 Million Covid-19 Fraud Scheme and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Mohammed Maio, 43, of Phoenix, Arizona, pleaded guilty earlier this month to Conspiracy to Commit Wire and Bank Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. Mohammed Maio also pleaded guilty in a second matter to Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Aiding Another in Making a Materially False Statement to Purchase a Firearm. His sentencings in both matters are scheduled for Sept. 28, 2026, before United States District Judge Michael T. Liburdi.
In addition, Mohammed Maio’s parents, Souzan El-Sayed, 66, and Abukar Maio, 70, also of Phoenix, pleaded guilty on July 24, 2026, to Conspiracy to Commit Wire and Bank Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. Their sentencings are scheduled for Oct. 5, 2026, also before Judge Liburdi.
Between May 2020 and March 2024, the three family members conspired with each other to fraudulently obtain and misuse multiple Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan relief loans. They submitted false information to secure nearly $2.2 million in loans for multiple businesses that had no employees. The funds were instead used for personal enrichment, including the purchase of multiple properties.
According to his plea, Mohammed Maio, a convicted felon, also arranged for his mother to purchase a firearm on his behalf in May 2021. Mohammed Maio admitted that he caused his mother to falsely state on the application to purchase the firearm that it was for her use, rather than his, and that he later illegally possessed the firearm she purchased.
A conviction for Conspiracy to Commit Wire and Bank Fraud carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. A conviction for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. A conviction for Felon in Possession carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A conviction for Making a False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin M. Rapp District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
CASE NUMBER: CR-25-00766; CR-26-00488
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-127_Maio# # #
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.Pharmacist Charged with Drug Diversion from National Pharmacy ChainRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Pittsfield pharmacist has been charged in federal court in Boston with allegedly diverting Adderall and Dextroamp-amphetamin (generic Adderall) from a national pharmacy chain.
Joshua Bradley, 30, of Pittsfield, was charged with five counts of acquiring a controlled substance by fraud, deception and subterfuge. The defendant will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston on Sept. 9, 2026.
According to the charging documents, while working as a licensed pharmacist at a national pharmacy chain, Bradley allegedly diverted various quantities of Dextroamp-amphetamin for his own use on four occasions in August, September and November 2024. Additionally, on Nov. 10, 2024, Bradley is alleged to have also diverted Adderall. These controlled substances originally were intended for customers.
The charge of acquiring a controlled substance by fraud, deception, and subterfuge provides for a sentence of up to four years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police, the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Department and the Barnstable, Harwich, Bourne, Brewster, Sandwich, Falmouth, Mashpee, Yarmouth and Dennis Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Cleary of the Health Care Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Pearl River Man Sentenced for Possession of Firearm by Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Pearl River man was sentenced today to 80 months in prison for possession of firearm by convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi, Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Director Gabriel Billie of Choctaw Public Safety made the announcement.
According to court documents, Jehovah Horace Dixon, 25, was found to be in possession of a firearm on the Choctaw Indian Reservation after he had previously been convicted of felony offense.
In June of 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Dixon and on April 28, 2026, Dixon entered a plea of guilty to the charge.
On July 29, 2026, Dixon was sentenced to 80 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release upon his release from prison. Dixon was also fined $1,500.
The conviction was a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Trails Task Force which is comprised of officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Choctaw Police Department, Neshoba County Sheriff’s Department, and various state and local law enforcement agencies.
U.S. Attorney Kruger commended the work of the Safe Trails Task Force, the Neshoba County Sheriff’s Department, and the Choctaw Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Payne, Brian K. Burns, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kalleigh McCoy.
Peabody Man Arrested for Transport of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Peabody man has been arrested and charged with allegedly transporting child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Felix Santos, 34, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of transporting child pornography. Santos was arrested and appeared in federal court in Boston yesterday.
According to the charging documents, on May 18, 2026, Santos traveled to Boston Logan International Airport from the Dominican Republic. Upon his arrival at Logan, Santos was referred to secondary inspection by border agents. During a screening of Santos’ phone, multiple files consistent with CSAM were allegedly located in his Telegram chat application. It is further alleged that subsequent analysis revealed at least 20 photos and 952 videos depicting CSAM on the phone.
The charge of transporting child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Conroy of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Oakland County Lab Agrees to Settle False Claims Act Allegations for $6,494,290.00Read the Press Release
DETROIT - United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced today that Orchard Laboratories Corporation (Orchard) agreed to a settlement of $6,494,290.00 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division and Thomas Ethridge, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
From April 4, 2022 – May 11, 2023, Medicare paid for up to eight over-the-counter (OTC) COVID tests per month for eligible beneficiaries. Individuals did not need a prescription to be eligible for the free tests, but they did need to affirmatively request the tests from an eligible provider. Eligible providers included physicians, pharmacies, and laboratories. Orchard was a clinical reference laboratory that participated in the OTC COVID-19 test program. The United States began investigating Orchard after it received complaints alleging that Orchard had improperly billed for OTC COVID tests that were never requested or received by the beneficiary. This settlement resolves allegations that Orchard billed Medicare for OTC COVID tests that were never delivered during the period from March 1, 2023, through May 11, 2023.
“The False Claims Act is an important tool to combat fraudulent medical billing,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. for the Eastern District of Michigan. “Our office is coming for healthcare providers who cheat the government.”
“Today’s settlement reinforces our steadfast commitment to protecting the integrity of federal health care programs and ensuring accountability when violations occur,” said Special Agent in Charge Thomas Ethridge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “We remain dedicated to safeguarding taxpayer dollars, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to uphold the trust placed in us by the public.”
“Protecting taxpayer-funded healthcare programs is essential to preserving public trust and ensuring federal healthcare dollars are used as intended,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “Healthcare providers entrusted with federal healthcare dollars have a responsibility to bill honestly and accurately. I commend the outstanding work of the members from FBI Detroit and HHS-OIG resolving this matter."
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort among the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of the Inspector General. The matter was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys John Postulka and Gregory Dickinson from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
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.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating health care 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 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
Niceville Retired Army Sergeant Sentenced to Federal Prison for Multi-Million Dollar Fraud and Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Sidney Marc Wilson, Jr., 48, of Niceville, Florida, was sentenced to six years in federal prison for Conspiracy to Commit Wire and Mail Fraud; Mail Fraud; Wire Fraud; Money Laundering; and Subscribing to Materially False Tax Returns. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
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.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This successful prosecution was made possible thanks to the outstanding investigative work of our agents at IRS Criminal Investigation, who traced, tracked, and pieced together every illegal transaction executed by this despicable fraudster to bring him to justice. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute fraudsters in the Northern District of Florida, but it remains my hope that by raising awareness of these scams among the general public we will avoid future would-be victims from falling prey to these fraudsters in the first place.”
Court documents reflect that between 2018 – 2022, Wilson operated an online scheme falsely promising victims returns on investments into his purported sales affiliate programs. Victims invested anywhere between $3,000 - $21,000 to be a part of what Wilson claimed would be a way for the victims to make significant amounts of money. However, after the victims mailed or wired Wilson their investments, he simply kept the money or gave some it to his conspirators – the victims did not receive a return on their purported investments. When the victims tried to contact Wilson as to why they were not receiving any returns on their investments, they never heard back from him. Through this scheme, Wilson fraudulently obtained millions of dollars he was not entitled to receive. Some of the ill-gotten money was laundered by Wilson through real property and cryptocurrency transactions. In addition, Wilson filed false federal income tax returns significantly understating his income for multiple years.
Once released from federal prison, Wilson will serve a three-year term of supervision under the Court. During that time, he will be required to pay restitution to the victims, as well as more than $500,000 in owed taxes to the United States Treasury.
“Wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and false tax returns—this case is a masterclass in what not to do. The only blueprint here is for a federal conviction,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “IRS Criminal investigation worked closely with our law enforcement partners to bring justice for those who were misled and financially harmed by this defendant.”
“For years, this defendant built his scheme on deception and exploiting the trust of hardworking individuals for his own gain,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “The FBI remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate complex financial crimes and protecting the community from those who seek to profit from lies and manipulation.”
The case was jointly investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
New York Resident Sentenced for Possession with the Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A New York resident was sentenced on July 28, 2026 in U.S. District Court in Bangor for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
U.S. District Judge Stacey Neumann sentenced Qu’tessa Johnson, 37, to five years probation. Johnson pleaded guilty on March 3, 2026.
According to court records, on September 12, 2024, Johnson accidentally drove her vehicle through the Houlton Port of Entry into Canada while traveling north on I-95 from New York City. When she realized her mistake, she backed up her vehicle in an attempt to return to the United States. She was referred for secondary inspection and, during a search of her vehicle, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers discovered two bags containing more than 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
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New SAUSA Takes Oath to Serve the Eastern DistrictRead the Press Release
First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the EDNC administers the oath of office to the newest member of the district. The appointment of the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney advances the office's mission of upholding the rule of law and serving the people of our district. We are pleased to welcome him aboard and look forward to his contribution to the office and community in which he serves
Nashville man charged with child exploitation, child pornography violations after traveling to the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – A Nashville, Tennessee man has been arrested and charged with federal child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Joseph Dalton Bowman, 32, was named in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with coercion of a minor; production of child pornography; and traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Bowman appeared before U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on July 27, 2026, and was ordered to be detained.
Investigators have reason to believe that there are additional victims in this case. Bowman may have had contact with minors in the following cities and their surrounding areas:
Lakeland, Florida
Tampa, Florida
North Chesterfield, Virginia
Glen Allen, Virginia
Covington, Kentucky
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
New York City, New York
Brooklyn, New York
Mulvane, Kansas
Caldwell, Kansas
Kansas City, Missouri
Memphis, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Mount Juliet, Tennessee
Orlando, Florida
Dallas, Texas
Frisco, Texas
If you suspect your child may have had contact with Joseph Dalton Bowman, either in person or through social media applications using accounts such as “snapwithdalton,” please call the HSI Tipline at 1-877-4-HSI-TIP. Or you can submit a tip online at HSI Online Tip Form or NCMEC Tipline CyberTipline. Law enforcement will take the necessary steps to protect all minors’ identities and confidential information.
If convicted, Bowman faces up to life in federal prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
This case is being investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations – Child Exploitation Group and the Frisco Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Calli Bailey.
It is important to note that an indictment or arrest should not be considered as evidence of guilt and that all persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Multiple defendants sentenced after pleading guilty to firearms-related chargesRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, Georgia: The illegal sale of firearms and felons in possession of ammunition or firearms results in prison sentences for multiple defendants in separate cases.
The sentences imposed in U.S. District Court were announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include:
- Jeremy Nicholas McLloyd, 34, of Douglas, Georgia, was sentenced to 152 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon. McLloyd was found in possession of ammunition during a November 2024 traffic stop in Chatham County.
- Charles Edward Collins, 47, of Augusta, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon. Collins was found to be in possession of a Ruger 10/22, .22 caliber rifle along with multiple rounds of ammunition in May 2025 during a traffic stop by Georgia State Patrol in Richmond County.
- Raymond Gregory Myers, 57, and Iris Candace Young, 62, both of Hephzibah, Georgia, were each sentenced to 26 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release after pleading guilty to Engaging in the Business of Dealing Firearms Without a License. From June 2021 to March 2023, investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives found that Myers and Young were engaged in the business of the sale of firearms in Burke County without required federal licensing.
There is no parole in the federal system. Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition.
“The illegal possession or sale of firearms poses a significant risk to the public and will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Working together, our law enforcement partners and the ATF have effectively disrupted the illegal flow of firearms in our community.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Georgia State Patrol, and local law enforcement agencies assisted in the investigation of these cases. These cases were prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey L. Scanlon, Joshua Kyle Davis, Henry W. Syms Jr., Tara M. Lyons, and Jennifer J. Kirkland.
Mission Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota man convicted of Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. The sentencing took place on July 27, 2026.
Tevin Thin Elk, Sr., age 29, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Thin Elk was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 27, 2026.
The conviction stems from an incident on April 5, 2025, when Thin Elk, who was on supervised release for his prior federal conviction for Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm, was encountered in a rural area in the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. Law enforcement had been called to the area due to neighbors hearing multiple gunshots. Law enforcement encountered Thin Elk, who was intoxicated. Officers observed numerous spent shotgun shells and open alcohol containers and recovered a semi-automatic shotgun nearby.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.
Thin Elk was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Milford Man Indicted for Federal Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a Milford man with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
According to court documents, Jayceir Fullman, 21, on February 9, 2026, entered the apartment of an acquaintance without permission and took a Glock handgun. Fullman is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms.
Fullman is charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. If convicted, Fullman faces a maximum of 15 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace, Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Cecilia Ashe, Milford Police Department (MPD), made the announcement. ATF and MPD investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin B. Smith is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution 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.
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-00086-CFC.
The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Mexican citizen sentenced for illegally reentering the U.S.Read the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Mexican national who was in the country illegally after having been removed in 2019 was sentenced today to 211 days of custody; his next step is deportation, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Fabian Lopez-Barragan, 25, pleaded guilty in February 2026 to one count of illegal reentry into the United States.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Lopez-Barragan had illegally returned to the U.S. in 2020 after having first been deported in 2019. Lopez-Barragan was pulled over in Sidney on Dec. 30, 2025, for driving a car with plates that didn’t match the vehicle. After questioning the validity of Lopez-Barragan’s driver’s license, law enforcement contacted Havre Border Patrol, whose agents determined Lopez-Barragan was in the country illegally.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Godfrey prosecuted the case. U.S. Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.