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29 July 2026
Lexington Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A Lexington, Ky., man, Robert Dale Conley, 46, was sentenced on Wednesday to 192 months by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
On December 12, 2025, law enforcement utilized a confidential informant to make a video-recorded controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Conley in Pulaski County. In the video, Conley—armed with a pistol—can be seen weighing out 92.34 grams of methamphetamine and ultimately providing the same to the confidential information.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Sheriff Bobby Jones, Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Pearce Nesbitt prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Lawrence Man Sentenced to More than 3 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Fentanyl Trafficking Organization, in Case Brought by New Hampshire’s Homeland Security Task ForceRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Alexander German, 28, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, was sentenced yesterday in federal court for fentanyl trafficking conspiracy in a case brought by New Hampshire’s Homeland Security Task Force, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
German was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Landya McCafferty to 38 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. German previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.
“Mr. German was a critical link in a drug trafficking operation that moved dangerous drugs into New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan. “This years-long sentence makes clear that if you traffic fentanyl, you will be held accountable.”
“This sentence sends a clear message to those who profit from poisoning our communities with fentanyl: there are serious consequences for fueling this deadly epidemic,” said Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget, New England Field Division. “Every dose of fentanyl trafficked into New Hampshire puts lives at risk and leaves families devastated. Thanks to the relentless work of the New Hampshire Homeland Security Task Force and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, another drug trafficker has been held accountable. DEA remains committed to identifying, investigating, and dismantling the criminal networks responsible for bringing fentanyl into New England, and we will continue working alongside our partners to protect the public and save lives.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in the fall of 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated a Lawrence-based organization that distributed fentanyl across New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The organization used social media, mobile messaging apps, and a dedicated phone line to take drug orders and send runners to make deliveries. German served as a runner for the organization, conducting multiple hand-to-hand drug sales of fentanyl in Lawrence, Massachusetts, with a DEA undercover officer. German also facilitated the preparation of an additional fentanyl destined for an undercover officer in Nashua, New Hampshire.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cesar A. Vega and Mike Shannon are prosecuting the case.
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 Hampshire comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, IRS, DEA, ATF, USMS, and DSS with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire.
Lawrence County man sentenced to 30 years in prison for creating child pornography of sexual abuse of toddlerRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Robert Grimmett, 25, of South Point, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 360 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for creating child pornography of his sexual abuse of a toddler.
“Thanks to swift work and international coordination by our HSI colleagues, this defendant—who posed an active threat to a toddler—was in handcuffs in a matter of hours,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “I am grateful to the agents of HSI and to our prosecution team for saving this child from further abuse at the hands of Grimmett, who will now serve 30 years behind bars.”
According to court documents, on May 28, 2025, HSI Netherlands received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding newly produced child sexual abuse materials.
Account data for the Kik application used to distribute the child pornography led investigators to Grimmett. His Facebook photos also confirmed his identity as the same man featured in the child sexual abuse materials.
Within one day of HSI Netherlands receiving the cyber tip, HSI Cincinnati obtained and executed a search warrant at Grimmett’s home and Grimmett was subsequently arrested.
Grimmett pleaded guilty in September 2025.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Executive Assistant United States Attorney Christy L. Muncy is representing the United States in this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
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Las Vegas Man Sentenced for Aiming High-Power Laser at Police HelicopterRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today by United States Chief Judge Andrew P. Gordon to nine months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for pointing a high-power laser at a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department helicopter as it was responding to a call in 2025. The government requested a sentence of 21 months’ imprisonment.
“Aiming a laser at an aircraft isn't a joke—it's a federal crime that puts lives at risk,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “When someone intentionally interferes with a law enforcement helicopter responding to an emergency, they aren't just endangering the crew; they're jeopardizing everyone depending on that aircraft to do its job. If you think pointing a laser at an aircraft is a joke, today's sentence should make clear that federal prison is the punchline.”
“Pointing a laser into the sky is not a harmless joke,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “Pointing one at a police helicopter is a direct threat to the safety of the pilot, the passengers, and everyone on the ground below. High-powered laser beams can instantly impair a pilot's vision during the most critical phases of flight, turning a routine mission into a potential catastrophe. The FBI will use every available resource to track the illegal use of lasers back to their source. If you aim a laser at an aircraft, expect us to come knocking at your door.”
According to court documents, on January 2, 2025, Sergio Octavio Sanchez aimed the beam of a green laser pointer at a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department helicopter several times as the helicopter was providing aerial support for officers on the ground. When the laser struck the aircraft, the pilot had to shield his eyes and divert from its assignment and flight path.
Pointing a laser pointer into the sky to see how far it will shine may seem like a fun thing to do but it can have serious consequences. Aiming a laser beam at an aircraft poses a serious safety risk for those on board and on the ground. Laser beams can cause disorientation, temporary blindness - potentially causing a midair collision or other incident - and in some cases permanent vision problems or blindness. According to the FAA, in 2025, pilots reported 10,993 laser strikes.
Sanchez pleaded guilty to one count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft.
The FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Tina Snellings prosecuted the case.
If you spot someone aiming a laser at the sky in a suspicious manner, you can report it to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or visiting tips.fbi.gov. You can also report laser strikes to local law enforcement and the FAA.
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Lane County Sheriff’s Deputy Charged with Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—A Lane County Sheriff’s Deputy was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with actual and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, enticement of a minor, and receipt of child sexual abuse material.
Dylan Ford, 29, made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.
According to court documents, Ford allegedly exchanged sexually explicit chats, images, and videos with multiple children under the age of 16. He used Telegram, an encrypted chat platform, and disappearing photo apps to begin conversations that would develop into sexual exchanges with the children. As part of their investigation, state and federal investigators obtained a search warrant and searched Ford’s cell phone. Ford’s phone contained numerous conversations with self-described minors in which he enticed the children into sending him custom child sexual abuse material, including instructing specific sexual acts involving the use of household items. Investigators also located a video depicting a distressed, crying minor carrying out various sexual acts. In some of the chats, Ford sent minors a colleague’s social media profile photo in an apparent effort to shield his identity.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office requested the assistance of the Linn County Sheriff’s Office immediately upon becoming aware of the possibility that Ford was engaging in this activity. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office then contacted the FBI to collaborate on the investigation.
Ford was arrested on July 28, 2026, by the FBI.
This case was investigated by the FBI in coordination with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Will McLaren.
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.
Key Pierce County drug distributor tied to investigation of white prison gangs, sentenced to eleven years in prison in Homeland Security Task Force InvestigationRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A 44-year-old Puyallup resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma for his role as a significant distributor of narcotics for a Drug Trafficking Organization tied to white prison gangs, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. In February 2026, Daniel Hammond was convicted at trial of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. At today’s sentencing hearing Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo sentenced Hammond to 11 years in prison saying, “These substances have wreaked havoc in our communities…. We are not dealing with someone who is just an addict who committed a petty crime, this was not just a one-time decision… the history shows you had a lifestyle living off of this type of conduct.”
“Mr. Hammond had the ability to order up multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills that he then sold throughout the Tacoma area,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “Even after his arrest in this case, Hammond reached out to a drug supplier in Mexico seeking to do more deals while he was on pretrial release. This lengthy sentence is needed to stop his distribution of potentially deadly narcotics in our community.”
In March 2023, the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration began a two-year, multi-agency investigation into drug trafficking by members and associates of two predominantly white prison gangs: the Aryan Family and Omerta. These gangs, as well as associates outside of prison, were involved in drug trafficking and money laundering, including the distribution of multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine throughout Western Washington and other states.
Over the course of the investigation, agents seized an estimated 223 pounds of methamphetamine, an estimated 830,000 fentanyl pills, multiple-pound quantities of fentanyl powder, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, $338,000 of suspected drug proceeds, and 48 firearms from members of the conspiracy. In addition, during the coordinated arrests of the DTO members in March 2023, law enforcement seized approximately 22 pounds of methamphetamine, 26 pounds of fentanyl in pill and powder form, six pounds of heroin, more than $330,000 of suspected drug proceeds, and 177 additional firearms.
“Mr. Hammond played a key role in a widespread and lethal conspiracy to traffic vast amounts of dangerous drugs into Washington state, personally redistributing multiple pounds of methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills on a weekly basis. Even after his arrest, Mr. Hammond demonstrated a complete lack of regard for the consequences and human toll of his actions, continuing to seek profit at every opportunity by flooding our streets with poison,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “Alongside our partners, the FBI will continue to seek out every avenue to protect our communities from toxic illicit substances and those who traffic in them.”
The investigation identified three branches of the gangs involved in drug trafficking. Hammond was a key associate of Yehoshua Kilp – a leader of one of the three branches. A year ago, Kilp was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
In asking for a 188-month prison sentence, prosecutors noted the deadly and devastating impact of the drugs Hammond spread in our community, writing to the court: “Hammond conspired to flood Western Washington with massive quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl pills. These drugs have a devastating impact on the community. Users of these drugs frequently resort to stealing—from family members, friends, and complete strangers—to feed their addictions. No doubt, drug users are responsible for a large percentage of these crimes, as well as the violent crimes, in our communities. More importantly, these drugs destroy the lives of those who use them, and the lives of the users’ families and friends. Those families and friends are prisoners, forced to watch the toll these drugs take on their sons, daughters, parents, or friends.”
“Daniel Hammond helped fuel a criminal enterprise that flooded our communities with methamphetamine and fentanyl while enriching a violent prison gang,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “DEA and our law enforcement partners are relentlessly disrupting the criminal organizations responsible for trafficking deadly drugs into our communities and holding those who profit from addiction accountable. Every trafficker brought to justice and every pound of drugs seized moves us closer to a Fentanyl Free America.”
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 Seattle comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), The United States Marshals Service (USMS), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the United States Secret Service (USSS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.
This investigation was led by the FBI with critical investigative teamwork from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Washington State Department of Corrections and significant local assistance from the Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, led by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. Throughout this investigation the following agencies assisted the primary investigators: Washington State Patrol, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Lakewood Police Department, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Dillon, Max Shiner, and Jehiel Baer.
Kellyville Man Sentenced After Agents Discovered He Was Receiving Illegal Drugs Through the MailRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Kellyville man was sentenced today for attempting to possess nearly a pound of methamphetamine for distribution and possessing a firearm while drug trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Austin Dewayne Nation, 31, for Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking. Nation was ordered to serve 210 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Postal Service began a targeted investigation in 2025 regarding controlled substance distribution. The investigation revealed that Nation was receiving illegal narcotics through the mail. Nation received numerous parcels of mail in a 60-day period from out of state.
When a package was delivered to the post office, a K9 deputy with the Tulsa County Sheriff’s alerted its handler that drugs were inside the parcel. Agents obtained a search warrant for the package and discovered more than 445 grams of methamphetamine disguised as counterfeit pills. Agents swapped the drugs out and allowed the package to be delivered. Agents saw Nation receive the package at his home and detained him. After agents obtained a search warrant for Nation’s home in Kellyville, court records show they found additional drugs, scales, baggies, approximately $3,625 in cash, and two firearms.
Nation will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Postal Service, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyson McCoy prosecuted the case.
Kansas farmer pleads guilty to fraudRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A Kansas man pleaded guilty to illegally selling crops that were collateral for a federal government loan.
According to court documents, Steven W. Porubsky, 49, of Topeka pleaded guilty to one count of conversion of mortgaged collateral.
Porubsky defrauded the Farm Service Agency, which is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Porubsky is scheduled to be sentenced on November 3, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Debenham is prosecuting the case.
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Jamie McDonald Assumes Role as United States Attorney for the Southern District of New YorkRead the Press Release
Jamie McDonald has assumed the role of United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Earlier today, Judge Laura Taylor Swain, Chief District Judge for the Southern District of New York, informed the Office that the Court has appointed Mr. McDonald to serve as United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 546(d), upon U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton’s resignation. Yesterday, Mr. Clayton was confirmed by the Senate to serve as Director of National Intelligence. Mr. Clayton tendered his resignation as U.S. Attorney, effective earlier today. Mr. McDonald was sworn in as the U.S. Attorney by Chief Judge Swain.
Sean S. Buckley will continue in his role as Deputy United States Attorney, Amanda Houle will continue in her role as Chief of the Criminal Division, and Jeff Oestericher will continue in his role as Chief of the Civil Division as contemplated in the transition announcement of July 8, 2026.
Mr. McDonald previously served in the Office as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division until 2017. In that role, Mr. McDonald participated in significant organized crime, white collar, and violent crimes prosecutions, including those of senior members of the Genovese Organized Crime Family; the sitting New York State Assembly Speaker, Sheldon Silver; and a 48-defendant rival street gangs case.
From 2017 to 2020, Mr. McDonald served as the Director of Enforcement at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), where he had overall responsibility for all aspects of the CFTC’s enforcement program, including its investigations, litigations, and market surveillance activities. Under his leadership, the agency prioritized cases involving market manipulation, other forms of market abuse, and fraud, as well as the pursuit of parallel actions with the Department of Justice. Notably, during the last year of Mr. McDonald’s time at the CFTC, the agency brought an unprecedented number of enforcement actions.
Following his tenure at the Southern District of New York and the CFTC, Mr. McDonald served as a Partner at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP where he was Co-Head of both the firm’s Securities & Commodities Investigations Practice and its Commodities, Futures and Derivatives Group. While at Sullivan & Cromwell, Mr. McDonald also served as an Adviser to the American Law Institute’s Principles of Compliance, Risk Management, and Enforcement. Mr. McDonald previously served as a Visiting Scholar at Harvard Business School and as a Senior Fellow at New York University Law School’s Program on Corporate Compliance and Enforcement.
Earlier in his career, Mr. McDonald served as a law clerk to Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., of the U.S. Supreme Court and Judge Jeffrey S. Sutton, Jr., of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. From 2008 to 2009, Mr. McDonald served as a Deputy Associate Counsel in the Office of the White House Counsel.
Originally from Oklahoma, Mr. McDonald graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law and from Harvard College.
Indian National Sentenced to 48 Months’ Imprisonment for Conspiracy to Commit Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Brad D. Schimel, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on July 27, 2026, United States District Judge Brett Ludwig sentenced Roshan Shah, (age 22) to 48 months' imprisonment for conspiring to commit money laundering.
According to court records, Shah is a citizen of India who was attending college in Canada on a student visa. He entered the United States on a visitor visa to collect fraud proceeds. Co-conspirators in India called victims and convinced them that their identities had been used to commit crimes. The victims were led to believe they had to surrender cash or gold to a federal agent, impersonated by Shah, for safekeeping.
In total, Shah collected more than $3.7 million from 15 victims throughout the United States. He was arrested while attempting to collect what he believed to be fraud proceeds in New Berlin, Wisconsin, using the same fraudulent scheme.
At sentencing, Judge Ludwig emphasized the seriousness of Shah's misconduct and the devastating impact his actions had on the largely elderly and vulnerable victims.
"This case highlights the danger faced by Americans from fraudsters both here and overseas," said First Assistant Brad Schimel. "This conviction and sentence are the result of the intensive efforts of federal law enforcement working closely with the U.S. Attorney's Office to combat the scourge of fraud targeting our seniors. This case should serve as a reminder that we will continue to devote substantial resources to fighting fraud, holding scammers accountable, and protecting Americans from these schemes."
“Homeland Security Investigations remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting the American public from transnational fraud schemes that target our most vulnerable citizens,” said HSI Wisconsin Assistant Special Agent in Charge Eric Rice. “This case demonstrates the impact of coordinated law enforcement efforts to disrupt criminal networks that prey on victims across borders. We will continue to work with our partners to identify, investigate, and bring to justice those who seek to exploit and defraud members of our communities.”
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the New Berlin Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zachary Corey and Peter Smyczek.
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For further information contact:
Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
steven.caballero@usdoj.gov
Follow us on XIndependence, Mo. Man Connected to Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) Group Charged with Sexual Exploitation of MinorsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Independence, Mo., man has been charged by criminal complaint with receipt of child pornography over the internet and possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, Jordan A. Porter, 23, has been connected to Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) groups similar to the group “764.” Porter has an extensive history of engaging in criminal conduct related to the exploitation of minors, including conduct related to NVEs. NVEs consist of individuals who engage in criminal conduct within the United States and abroad, in furtherance of political, social, or religious goals that derive primarily from a hatred of society at large and a desire to bring about its collapse by sowing indiscriminate chaos, destruction, and social instability.
The investigation by Homeland Security Investigations into Porter’s conduct revealed that on multiple occasions, Porter received Child Sexual Abuse Material (“CSAM”) on a social media application. The communications and content shared by members in the social media group are consistent with NVEs. NVEs, both individually and as a network, systematically and methodically target vulnerable populations, which often include minors, across the United States and the globe, frequently using social media communication platforms. NVEs frequently conduct coordinated extortions of individuals by blackmailing them so they comply with the demands of the network. These demands vary and include, but are not limited to, self-mutilation, online and in-person sexual acts, harm to animals, sexual exploitation of siblings and others, acts of violence, threats of violence, suicide, and murder.
NVE networks have adopted various monikers to identify themselves. The networks have changed names over time, which has led to the creation of related networks. Although the networks change names and use a variety of different social media platforms, the core members and goals remain consistent and align with the overarching threat of NVE.
“764” and related groups (“764”) are NVEs who engage in criminal conduct within the United States and engage with other extremists abroad. The 764 network’s accelerationist goals include social unrest and the downfall of the current world order, including the United States Government. Members of 764 work in concert with one another towards a common purpose of destroying civilized society through the corruption and exploitation of vulnerable populations, including minors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett, Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Chlarson are prosecuting the case. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Illegal Alien from India Ordered Removed from United States After Being Sentenced for Visa Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Indian national unlawfully residing in Worcester, Mass., was sentenced today in federal court in Boston in connection with a conspiracy to conduct staged armed robberies of convenience stores for the purpose of allowing store clerks to falsely claim they were crime victims on immigration applications.
Mitul Patel, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun to time served (one day) in prison and a $1,000 fine. The defendant was also ordered removed from the United States.
The defendant, along with 10 others involved in the scheme, was charged by criminal complaint in March 2026 and pleaded guilty in June 2026.
According to the charging documents, beginning in March 2023, Rambhai Patel and his co-conspirators set up and carried out staged armed robberies of at least six convenience/liquor stores and fast-food restaurants in Massachusetts and elsewhere. It is alleged that the purpose of the staged robberies was to allow the clerks present to falsely claim that they were victims of a violent crime on an application for U non-immigration status (U Visa). A U Visa is available to victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and who have been helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.
During the staged robberies, the “robber” would allegedly threaten store clerks with an apparent firearm before taking cash from the register and fleeing, while the interaction was captured on store surveillance video. The clerks would then wait five or more minutes until the “robber” had escaped before calling police to report the “crime.” The “victims” are alleged to have each paid Rambhai Patel to participate in the scheme. In turn, Rambhai Patel paid the store owners for the use of their stores for the staged robbery.
The organizer Rambhai Patel, the “robber,” and the getaway driver Balwinder Singh were previously charged and later convicted in May 2025. Mitul Patel, sentenced today, paid Rambhai Patel so that he could participate as a “victim” in a staged armed robbery of a store in Worcester, Mass. in October 2023.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of New York, the Western District of Washington, the Northern District of Ohio, the Eastern District of Missouri and the Eastern District of Kentucky; FBI’s New York, Seattle, Louisville, Cleveland and St. Louis Field Offices; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; Massachusetts State Police; Worcester County District Attorney’s Office; and the Boston, Dedham, Hingham, Malden, Marshfield, Randolph, Somerville, Weymouth, Worcester, Upper Darby, (Pa.), West Pittston (Pa.), Louisville, (Ky.) and Bean Station (Tenn.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Hamilton man convicted at trial of federal drug crimesRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A federal jury has convicted Marico Keeling, 36, of Hamilton, Ohio, with three counts of narcotics crimes. Keeling was a drug dealer who distributed narcotics and conspired with others to distribute large quantities of narcotics into communities in the Southern District of Ohio and elsewhere.
Specifically, Keeling was found guilty of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, distributing methamphetamine and distributing fentanyl. The verdict was announced yesterday afternoon following a trial that began on July 20 before U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole.
According to court documents and trial testimony, from at least August 2023 through October 2024, Keeling participated in a narcotics conspiracy.
Keeling had been the source of supply of nearly two pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl discovered during an undercover drug operation in Wisconsin on Dec. 19, 2023.
In Cincinnati, Keeling often met other drug dealers at Dewey Avenue, where Keeling’s co-defendant brother lived.
While executing search warrants of his brother’s residence on Dewey Avenue as well as Keeling’s vehicle and residence in October 2024, investigators discovered both fentanyl and methamphetamine.
The government proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Keeling was responsible for the distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl. He faces at least five years and up to 40 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Keeling was arrested and charged federally in October 2024.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detroit, announced the verdict. The DEA Cincinnati Resident Office was assisted in this investigation by members of the DEA Green Bay Resident Office, the Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group, the Sharonville Police Department, the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center, the Covington Police Department and Ohio State Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony Springer and Ebunoluwa Taiwo are representing the United States in this case.
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Habitual Abuser Sent to Prison for Assaulting Girlfriend and Coercing Her to Lie to Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A habitual domestic assault offender from Tulsa was sentenced for assaulting his girlfriend and coercing her to lie to law enforcement, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Jordi Monroe Ridgebear, 30, for Domestic Assault in Indian Country by a Habitual Offender and Witness Tampering by Corrupt Persuasion. Ridgebear was ordered to serve 45 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
In 2024, Ridgebear and his girlfriend were drinking. They began arguing, and his girlfriend called 911. Court documents say that she can be heard on the 911 call telling Ridgebear to get off her and asking him to leave. Ridgebear can be heard saying that he will hit her. When officers arrived, she told them that Ridgebear shoved her, put his hands around her throat, pulled her hair, and punched her. Officers arrested Ridgebear for domestic violence.
While in jail, Ridgebear contacted the victim numerous times. He told the victim not to cooperate with law enforcement and to file an affidavit recanting the allegations, hoping the charges would be dropped. Additionally, Ridgebear attempted to persuade her not to testify before the grand jury.
Court documents show that Ridgebear has had eight arrests for domestic violence. In 2017, Ridgebear was convicted of domestic abuse, and in 2020, he was convicted of domestic assault with a dangerous weapon.
Ridgebear will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The FBI and Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd prosecuted the case.
If you think that you or a loved one may be in an abusive relationship, Domestic Violence Intervention Services offers services for all survivors. You can call the 24-hour information and crisis line at (918) 743-5763 or (918) 7-HELP-ME for more information. You can also get more information by texting our 8 PM to 1 AM Text Line: Text SAFE to 207-777
Guatemalan National Indicted for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Guatemalan citizen has been indicted for immigration violations in the Western District of Missouri.
Francisco Solis-Ralios, 20, was named in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on July 28, 2026, charging him with possession of a fraudulent immigration document and illegal reentry by a previously deported alien.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
Under federal statutes, Sois-Ralios is subject to a sentence of up to ten years in federal prison without parole and deportation, if convicted.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV. It was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations.
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.
Glen Allen man sentenced to over 19 years in prison for distributing child sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Glen Allen man was sentenced today to 19 years and seven months in prison for distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, in response to a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, on Feb. 14, 2024, pursuant to a search warrant, law enforcement obtained the cellphone of Phillip Michael Taft, 40, at his probation office. During a review of the phone, investigators identified photos and videos depicting CSAM. Investigators also searched Taft’s synchronous account in which they identified approximately 20 videos depicting CSAM.
The FBI reviewed text messages on Taft’s phone and identified an exchange from Feb. 12 to 14, 2024, in which Taft discussed various sexual and pornographic topics and exchanged several images and videos, including at least one depicting the sexual abuse of children.
Taft has several previous criminal convictions, most recently on May 6, 2025, of eight felony counts for the sexual abuse of animals and eight felony counts for permitting sexual contact with an animal to be conducted on premises under his ownership or control. Taft’s federal sentence will be served consecutively to his state sentence.
Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Janet Jin Ah Lee and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Carla Jordan-Detamore prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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. 3:24-cr-79.
Fraudster Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison for Running Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today that MATTHEW MELTON was sentenced to 51 months in prison for committing securities fraud by running a Ponzi scheme. MELTON pled guilty in April 2026 to securities fraud before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who imposed today’s sentence.
“Matthew Melton sold investors on a sophisticated trading strategy and guaranteed extraordinary returns,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “In reality, the supposed algorithm did not exist, and he used investor money to fund his lifestyle and sustain his scheme before fleeing the country. Our Office and our partners are committed to holding financial fraudsters personally accountable, and if you defraud our retail investors, we will bring you to justice. In the past 18 months, our Office has criminally charged 27 CEOs and corporate leaders with fraud, charged 12 individuals with insider trading, and doubled the number of insider trading investigations year over year.”
According to the Indictment and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings:
MELTON promoted an investment vehicle he called “Price Physics,” which purported to invest in futures contracts using a proprietary trading algorithm. He promised investors guaranteed returns of up to 12% per month, of which he said he would keep only 2% as compensation. In reality, there was no proprietary trading algorithm, and MELTON invested almost none of the millions of dollars he raised in the manner promised to investors. The few times that MELTON did make trades, it was not in futures contracts, and the trading was generally unprofitable. For the most part, instead of trading, MELTON used his investors’ money to pay his personal expenses—including mortgage payments and sailing excursions—and to pay earlier investors in Ponzi-like fashion.
On approximately December 15, 2020, MELTON received word of a criminal investigation. Four days later, MELTON fled the United States and stopped using his email account, credit cards, bank accounts, and phone number, and soon after, MELTON soon stopped communicating with investors. MELTON remained at large for the next three years, until he was apprehended by law enforcement in October 2023, while he was traveling through the United Kingdom. MELTON was extradited back to the United States in December 2025.
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In addition to the prison term, MELTON, 62, of Boulder, Colorado, was ordered to pay restitution, in an amount to be determined within 90 days, and forfeiture in the amount of $3,756,135, representing proceeds from his illegal scheme.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Clayton also expressed appreciation for the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. DiBattista is in charge of the prosecution.
Fraud Division Resolves Fraud Investigation of Eye Care Group Under New Corporate Enforcement Policy; Health Care Executive Charged for Alleged Fraud and KickbacksRead the Press Release
The National Fraud Enforcement Division today announced the resolution of a criminal health care fraud investigation into Campus Eye Management Holdings LLC, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Campus Eye Management LLC (collectively, Campus Eye), pursuant to Part I of the Department of Justice (Department) Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy (CEP). The Department declined to prosecute Campus Eye, a management services organization that provided billing and other services to an optometry practice and ambulatory surgery center (ASC), for health care fraud, illegal kickbacks and bribes, and conspiracy after it voluntarily self-disclosed the misconduct, fully cooperated with the Department’s investigation, and timely and appropriately remediated the wrongdoing. As part of the resolution, Campus Eye agreed to pay back $1 million to victims.
“The Fraud Division is committed to robust and fair corporate enforcement, which aids our prosecutions of individuals who defraud the government,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “The Department’s policies afford companies that take responsibility for their misconduct with a clear path to a declination. Businesses that ignore the law and profit from their executive’s lies and deceit will be held accountable.”
Separately, the Department announced a seven-count indictment against the founder of the optometry practice and ASC for his role in orchestrating diagnostic testing and kickback schemes, both prior to and after he and outside investors formed Campus Eye in December 2021 and he became the CEO. According to court documents, from at least 2015 through March 2023, E. Bruce DiDonato, 71, of Princeton, New Jersey, allegedly conspired with others to defraud Medicare by billing for unnecessary diagnostic eye tests. DiDonato allegedly paid kickbacks and bribes to ophthalmologists in exchange for their referral of patients who needed eye surgeries, and then subjected the patients to diagnostic tests that were duplicative of tests they had previously received or were unnecessary for the type of surgery being performed. As alleged, neither DiDonato nor the optometrist reviewed the tests, and in most instances the ophthalmologists did not review or rely on the tests to inform their treatment decisions in advance of surgery.
According to the indictment, DiDonato concealed the payment of kickbacks and bribes by creating sham agreements that described the payments as consulting fees, and paying in the form of monthly “flat fees” that were actually based on a percentage of the optometry practice’s Medicare reimbursement for diagnostic tests performed on patients the providers had referred in the previous year. DiDonato allegedly caused the submission of approximately $3.4 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare, of which Medicare paid approximately $1 million. DiDonato then marketed and sold Campus Eye to private equity investors, based in part on the lucrative reimbursements he received from Medicare.
The Department resolved its investigation into Campus Eye after considering the factors set forth in the CEP, including (1) Campus Eye’s timely and voluntary self-disclosure of the misconduct; (2) Campus Eye’s full and proactive cooperation in this matter and its agreement to continue to cooperate with any ongoing government investigations and prosecutions; (3) the nature and seriousness of the offense; (4) Campus Eye’s timely and appropriate remediation, including an internal review and subsequent revision of certain billing, payment, and compensation policies, and substantial improvement of its compliance program by, among other things, conducting ongoing risk assessments and monitoring, hiring new personnel with compliance responsibilities, and implementing compliance trainings; (5) the absence of aggravating factors that, when weighed against Campus Eye’s cooperation and remediation, warrant a disposition other than a resolution under Part I of the CEP; and (6) the fact that Campus Eye agreed to compensate victims.
This is the Department’s first declination of a health care company under the new Department-wide Corporate Enforcement Policy that was announced by Acting Attorney General Blanche on March 10, 2026, following an uptick of corporate enforcement actions against health care companies by the Department in recent years.
DiDonato is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, one count of conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute, two counts of health care fraud, and three counts of payment of illegal health care kickbacks. If convicted, DiDonato faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the health care fraud conspiracy and substantive health care fraud counts, 5 years in prison on the kickback conspiracy count, and 10 years in prison for each of the substantive kickback counts.
Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division; U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey; Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy of the FBI; and Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz of the Department of Health and Human Services, Officer of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and made the announcement.
FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.
National Fraud Enforcement Division Acting Assistant Chief Darren C. Halverson and Trial Attorney Lindsey D. Carson of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake Nasar for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case. Marnee Rand, Acting Chief of the National Fraud Enforcement Division’s Corporate Enforcement Section, provided valuable assistance to the CEP declination.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The 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.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Founder and Former CEO of New Jersey Based Eye Care Group Charged with Health Care Fraud Conspiracy and Paying Illegal KickbacksRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. –Charges were brought today against the founder and former CEO of a New Jersey based management company that oversaw an optometry practice and eye surgery center for conspiring to commit and committing health care fraud and violating the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, announced U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer.
E. Bruce DiDonato, 71, of Princeton, New Jersey, was charged in a seven-count Indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, two substantive counts of health care fraud, one count of conspiracy to offer and pay health care kickbacks in connection with illegal referrals, and three substantive counts of paying health care kickbacks.
“As alleged, the defendant used his company to pay doctors and surgeons illegal kickbacks in exchange for the surgeons bringing patients to his eye care practice, where they were subjected to unnecessary diagnostic tests all so the defendant could enrich himself by billing Medicare. This Office will continue to pursue and prioritize complex health care fraud schemes that waste Government funds and harm patients.”
- U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer
“Dr. DiDonato's alleged deception of his patients, staff, and Medicare, which countless Americans depend on, is a scheme rife with disregard for the rules and integrity that govern the medical industry.” says FBI Newark Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy. “People must be able to trust their doctors, and many do so, albeit blindly. This case demonstrates the FBI's commitment to rooting out fraudsters and bringing justice to the victims impacted by these crimes.”
“Medicare patients deserve care guided by medical need, not illicit financial arrangements,” said Special Agent in Charge Naomi D. Gruchacz of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “As alleged, the defendant put profit ahead of patient well‑being and misused the Medicare program through unnecessary testing and illegal kickbacks, diverting critical resources away from those who rely on them. HHS‑OIG, alongside our law enforcement partners, remains steadfast in protecting patients, safeguarding taxpayer funds, and upholding the integrity of federally funded health care programs.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
DiDonato was the founder of Campus Eye LLC and Campus Eye Surgery Center LLC, an optometry practice and ambulatory surgery center located in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. In 2021, DiDonato sold a portion of his interest in those entities to a private equity firm and assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of a newly-formed management company, Campus Eye Management Holdings, LLC, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Campus Eye Management, LLC (together, the “Campus Eye Entities”), which operated the optometry care practice and eye surgery center.
Both prior to and after he and outside investors formed the Campus Eye Entities and he became the CEO, DiDonato conspired with others to defraud Medicare by performing and billing for unnecessary diagnostic tests at the surgery center. DiDonato allegedly paid kickbacks and bribes to ophthalmologists in exchange for their referral of patients who needed eye surgeries and then subjected the patients to diagnostic tests that were duplicative of tests they had previously received or were unnecessary for the type of surgery being performed. Neither DiDonato nor the optometrist reviewed the tests, and in most instances the ophthalmologists did not review or rely on the tests to inform their treatment decisions in advance of surgery. DiDonato allegedly concealed the payment of kickbacks and bribes by creating sham agreements that described the payments as consulting fees, and paying in the form of monthly “flat fees” that were actually based on a percentage of the optometry practice’s Medicare reimbursement for diagnostic tests performed on patients the providers had referred in the previous year. DiDonato allegedly caused the submission of approximately $3.4 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare, of which Medicare paid approximately $1 million.
If convicted, DiDonato faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment on the health care fraud conspiracy and substantive health care fraud counts, 5 years imprisonment on the kickback conspiracy count, and 10 years imprisonment for each of the substantive kickback counts.
Separately, the Department of Justice announced that it has resolved its criminal health care fraud investigation into the Campus Eye Entities pursuant to Part I of the Criminal Division’s Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy (CEP). As part of the resolution, the Department has declined to prosecute the Campus Eye Entities for the healthcare fraud and kickback scheme carried out by DiDonato and others, and the Campus Eye Entities have agreed to pay $1 million in disgorgement.
United States Attorney Frazer credited special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, in Newark, New Jersey, and the Department of Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz, with the investigation.
The Department of Justice has established the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the National Fraud Enforcement Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. The National Fraud Enforcement Division will fulfill that mission by coordinating with agencies responsible for administering benefit programs; partnering with federal, tribal, state, territorial, and local law enforcement on fraud-fighting efforts; developing systems and processes that ensure efficient identification of fraud against taxpayer dollars; and equipping prosecutors and law enforcement with state-of-the-art tools and resources needed to bring criminal actors to justice. The attorneys in the National Fraud Enforcement Division will work every day to protect the financial integrity of our government and the tax system that supports it.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake A. Nasar and Unit Chief George L. Brandley of the Office’s Health Care Fraud and Opioid Enforcement Unit, and Acting Assistant Chief Darren C. Halverson and Trial Attorney Lindsey D. Carsen of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel: Thomas H. Barnard, Esq.
didonato.indictment.pdfFormer Sunflower County Policeman Sentenced for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE – Marvin Flowers, 60, of Indianola, MS, was sentenced today to over seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty on a previous date to conspiracy to aid and abet, and to attempt to aid and abet, the possession, transportation and distribution of illegal narcotics.
According to court documents, the defendant was arrested on October 30, 2025. At the time of the offense, Flowers received multiple bribes while being employed as a law enforcement officer with the Sunflower County Sheriff’s Office.
Chief District Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced Flowers to 88 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. Flowers will begin his imprisonment on October 5, 2026.
United States Attorney Scott Leary stated, “Law enforcement agents live by a code, to bravely serve the citizens they are charged to protect. When that code is violated, there are consequences. Unless you’re involved in law enforcement, it’s hard to appreciate the time and effort required to investigate these type cases. The citizens of this great State are indebted to the FBI agents who invested time and resources to bring this case to a successful conclusion. I applaud their dedication.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge of the FBI-Jackson Field Office Robert Eikhoff said, "Today’s sentencing serves as a powerful reminder that no one is above the law, especially those who’ve taken an oath to uphold it. The FBI, alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate and hold accountable individuals who abuse positions of public trust, whether by facilitating the distribution of illegal drugs that harm our communities, or by other means. We remain steadfast in our commitment to protect the public and ensure that those who betray the public’s trust are brought to justice."
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Mims and Sam Stringfellow prosecuted the case.
Former HR Executive Agrees to Pay $160,000 to Resolve False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced today that it reached a civil settlement agreement with Carleena Graham, whereby the former Vice President of Human Resources for World Learning has agreed to pay $160,000 to resolve allegations that she violated the False Claims Act by submitting false invoices to her employer for reimbursement of expenses that benefitted her personally and organizations with which she was affiliated.
World Learning is a nonprofit global development and exchange organization that delivers educational and professional training programs around the world. It was also a recipient of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and U.S. Department of State funds through various grants, contracts, and negotiated indirect cost rate agreements totaling several million dollars.
The Government asserts that, from approximately 2015 to 2022, Graham orchestrated a scheme to submit false invoices to World Learning for reimbursement of hundreds of thousands of dollars of expenses. As part of that scheme, Graham arranged for goods and services to be delivered to third-party organizations and then arranged for World Learning to pay for these goods and services via electronic transfers of funds from its bank account or use of World Learning’s credit cards. The Government also found that Graham falsified invoices submitted by vendors for payment of the goods and services to make them appear as though World Learning was the recipient of the goods and services. By defrauding World Learning, the Government contends Graham was also misappropriating funds the nonprofit received from USAID and the State Department.
The settlement concludes a joint investigation conducted by USAID Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the State Department OIG that followed Graham’s guilty plea in the District of Vermont to one count of wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343 for the above-described conduct. United States v. Carleena Graham, Case No. 23-cr-57.
The civil settlement resulted from the work of Assistant United States Attorney Sam Escher and Auditor Timothy J. Hurley with the support of Special Agents from USAID and the State Department’s OIGs.
The claims resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
settlement_agreement_-_signed_by_all_parties_v.1_redacted.pdfFormer BIA Officer Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Lying to InvestigatorsRead the Press Release
Murrell Deela, a former Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) officer, was sentenced Wednesday to 14 years in prison for sexual abuse involving a minor and to lying to federal investigators.
According to records filed in the case, on Aug. 7, 2024, Deela, then 29 years old, was on duty and acting in his official capacity as a BIA officer in the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, when he encountered the minor victim. Deela apprehended the victim and placed her in the back of his patrol vehicle. Instead of driving the teenager to her family’s house, Deela drove the minor to an alternate location. Deela then engaged in sexual acts with the minor victim without the victim’s consent. The minor victim disclosed the victimization the following day, and the FBI’s analysis of the evidence provided additional facts that corroborated the minor’s outcry.
“The vast majority of federal law enforcement officers carry out their duties and responsibilities with exceptional skill and courage,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “But when those tasked with enforcing the law violate their duty by sexually assaulting individuals in their care and custody, especially minor victims, the Department of Justice will hold them fully accountable. Today’s sentence reflects the principle that those who abuse their power by targeting children for sexual gratification will be met with the full force of the law.”
“The victim showed a tremendous amount of courage coming forward to help ensure Mr. Deela was held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Justin Gerken of the FBI Billings Field Office. “Sexual abuse of a minor is a devastating crime, only compounded by an offender’s attempt to deceive investigators. No badge or title places anyone above the law and we are committed to pursuing justice for victims.”
Several days after the incident, Deela was instructed to bring his patrol vehicle to the BIA station for evidence collection. Hours prior to the scheduled report time, Deela reported that his patrol vehicle was on fire. The patrol vehicle and its video system were severely burned. An investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) determined the patrol vehicle was set on fire intentionally.
Following the incident, Deela wrote a false report omitting that he had driven the minor victim to the alternate location. When interviewed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Deela falsely told agents that he drove the minor directly to her family’s home and had not made any other stops. When confronted with evidence, Deela later admitted that he had driven the minor to an alternate location.
The case was investigated by the FBI and ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Lee for the District of North Dakota, Trial Attorney Taylor Payne of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and former Senior Sex Crimes Counsel Tara Allison prosecuted the case.
Florissant Woman Admits Theft of $170,000 in Social Security BenefitsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A woman from Florissant, Missouri on Wednesday admitted stealing $170,000 in Social Security benefits after the death of a relative.
Laneka Holmes, 45, of Florissant, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of theft of government money. She admitted that the death of a relative on May 23, 2017, was not reported to the Social Security Administration, as required. The relative’s Social Security payments were being deposited into an account held jointly with Holmes, and Holmes took those funds from May 2017 until April 2025. Holmes admitted unlawfully receiving a total of $170,574.
At her October 21 sentencing, Holmes faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both prison and a fine. She will also be ordered to repay the money.
The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jolene Taaffe is prosecuting the case.
Fifth Defendant Sentenced for Bank Fraud and Tax Offenses Arising from Multi-Year Homeowners Insurance Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Lisette Patricio, 64, of Davie, has been sentenced to 45 months in federal prison for her role in a multi-year homeowners insurance fraud scheme that generated more than $6 million in illicit proceeds and resulted in the cancellation of nearly 4,000 homeowners insurance policies across Florida.
U.S. District Judge Rodolfo A. Ruiz II imposed the sentence after Patricio pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and making and filing false federal income tax returns. Patricio has also been ordered to forfeit $1.78 million in fraud proceeds and pay $593,033 to the IRS.
Patricio is the fifth and final defendant to be convicted and sentenced for participating in the scheme.
“Nearly 4,000 Florida homeowners had their insurance policies fraudulently canceled so that these defendants could enrich themselves,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This final sentence closes a years-long prosecution that held every participant accountable and recovered millions in criminal proceeds. Our Office will continue pursuing complex financial schemes that exploit vulnerable homeowners and threaten the integrity of our financial and insurance systems.”
“Florida homeowners deserved justice, and they now got it,” said Special Agent in Charge Ron Loecker of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Florida Field Office. “This case proves how effective our collaboration with state and local partners can be when financial fraud threatens our communities.”
According to court records, Arturo Morales targeted financially distressed homeowners facing foreclosure or loan modification proceedings and used their identities to fraudulently cancel their homeowners insurance policies without their knowledge. Morales’s sister, Darely Carballeira, supervised licensed insurance agents who prepared false paperwork to process the unauthorized cancellations.
To conceal the fraud, the conspirators falsely claimed to have obtained replacement coverage from another insurer. Instead, the refunded insurance premiums were diverted into bank accounts controlled by Patricio and used to purchase low-cost surplus-lines insurance policies that provided only limited coverage.
Patricio oversaw the scheme’s recordkeeping and distributed the fraud proceeds among herself, Morales, Carballeira, and a team of cooperating insurance agents, including Yarelis Felipe. When homeowners questioned the cancellations or expressed concern about their insurance coverage, the agents falsely assured them that they remained fully insured or repurchased full coverage.
The scheme resulted in the fraudulent cancellation of nearly 4,000 homeowners insurance policies and generated more than $6 million in illegal proceeds.
Previously sentenced defendants include:
Darely Carballeira (25-cr-20034 and 24-cr-20061): 51 months in prison for bank fraud and filing a false tax return.
Antonio Carballeira (24-cr-20061): six months in prison for filing a false federal income tax return.
Arturo Morales (25-cr-20034): 57 months in prison for bank fraud.
Yarelis Felipe (25-cr-20328): 10 months in prison for bank fraud.
IRS-CI, Florida Field Office, investigated the case with assistance from the Florida Department of Financial Services.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jon Juenger and Sean Cronin prosecuted the cases.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-cr-20486.
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Felon Sentenced to More Than Two and a Half Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Handgun in Chicago After Being Released on Bond in State Court for Prior Violent OffenseRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A felon has been sentenced to more than two and a half years in federal prison for illegally possessing a handgun outside a Chicago fast food restaurant shortly after he was released on bond for a violent crime case pending in state court.
JONATHAN SCOTT was arrested on May 25, 2025, after he displayed a handgun during an argument with an employee of a McDonald’s restaurant on the West Side of Chicago. Chicago Police were called to the scene and discovered the handgun in Scott’s vehicle, which was parked outside the restaurant. Scott had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses and was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
At the time of his arrest outside of the McDonald’s restaurant, Scott was on pre-trial release for a violent crime case pending in state court. In that case, Scott forced his way into his ex-girlfriend’s car in March 2025 and took her cell phone, causing injury to the ex-girlfriend. Scott was later convicted of unlawful vehicular invasion and sentenced to four years in state prison.
Scott, 33, of Oak Park, Ill., pleaded guilty in the federal case in March 2026 to a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm. On July 24, 2026, U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis sentenced Scott to 32 months in federal prison, which was a sentence within the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines range.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The federal investigation was conducted in coordination with ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago. The CGIC is a centralized law enforcement partnership that focuses exclusively on investigating and prosecuting violent offenders who utilize firearms in commission of their crimes in Chicago and throughout northern Illinois. Every firearm-related case in Chicago is processed through the CGIC on a daily basis.
“The defendant has, between the ages of 19 and 32, racked up eleven felony convictions, including convictions for aggravated battery, violating orders of protection, escaping a penal institution, unlawful vehicular invasion, and aggravated assault and use of a deadly weapon,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Stern argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “It is critical that the defendant’s increasingly escalating criminal conduct be halted.”
Felon Fugitive from Grenada Has Been Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and FentanylRead the Press Release
Greenville, MS – U.S. Attorney Scott Leary announced that a Homeland Security Task Force Operation led to the sentence of Christopher Caffey, a/k/a “Snow”, 49, of Grenada, Mississippi, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Caffey was sentenced today before the Honorable Deborah M. Brown, Chief United States District Court Judge, to 200 months in federal prison.
According to court documents, Caffey had previously pleaded guilty to the charges and has an extensive criminal history. He was a fugitive from justice for approx. 1 year and was apprehended by the USMS in California.
U.S. Attorney Scott Leary stated: “I prosecuted drug conspiracies for decades and rarely, if ever, saw a recreational meth or fentanyl user. These drugs destroy families and have long fueled violence and instability within our communities. The cartels that supply such drugs take our money and kill our kids. A responsible society must engage. We should never allow violent, repeat offenders to victimize innocent citizens just trying to raise families and live their lives. The DEA and Grenada Police Department, working together, did an excellent job in putting this man behind bars. The United States Marshal’s Service also deserves recognition. They are responsible for apprehending fugitives, among the most dangerous jobs in law enforcement. This defendant was apprehended by the Marshals in California after being on the run for a year. Know that a dedicated Marshal in Louisiana recently lost his life while attempting to arrest a fugitive. He gave his life for us. God bless you guys.”
"The Homeland Security Task Force directs the full might of United States law enforcement to protect the American people by eliminating transnational criminal organizations and violent offenders operating across our borders," said Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge John P. Scott. "This sentence proves that evading justice is temporary, as our historic interagency collaboration remains steadfast in utilizing every tool to dismantle drug networks and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States."
This operation and conviction 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 tin 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 Jackson comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ICE ERO, CBP, CBP OFO, CBP USBP, CBP AMO, CGIS, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS and with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad M. Doleac prosecuted the case.
Federal jury convicts New Jersey man of terrorism offenses relating to his attempted murder of Salman RushdieRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, NY — A federal jury has convicted Hadi Matar, 28, of Fairview, New Jersey, of attempting to provide material support to Hizbollah, a designated foreign terrorist organization, engaging in an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries, and providing material support to terrorists.
“Hadi Matar, who was born and raised in the United States, chose to align his values with the terroristic values of the leaders of Iran, which often promote violence, and in this case, the call for murder,” said U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo for the Western District of New York. “The defendant spent months planning and preparing to carry out what he hoped would be the execution of Salman Rushdie and possibly follow in the footsteps of martyrs he admired. Instead, his attempted act of terror failed, and Salman Rushdie survived, thanks to courageous members of the public and law enforcement, who saved Rushdie and captured Matar.”
“Matar spent more than a year immersing himself in Hizballah’s violent ideology and preparing to act on a fatwa issued by Iran’s Ayatollahs calling for Mr. Rushdie’s murder,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “His brutal attack on Mr. Rushdie during a peaceful speaking event is a chilling reminder of the global reach of Iranian terrorism. With today’s verdict, justice has been done, and Matar will pay for his crimes.”
“Today's guilty verdict reaffirms that acts of terrorism will not prevail over the freedoms our nation was built to protect,” said Allen D. Davis II, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI’s Buffalo Field Office. “By attempting to silence free expression through terrorism, the defendant attacked not only an individual, but a U.S. Constitutional right. FBI Buffalo's Joint Terrorism Task Force remains unwavering in our commitment to countering terrorism, violent extremism, and ensuring those who threaten our communities are held accountable.”
On Aug. 12, 2022, Matar attempted to murder author Salman Rushdie in an effort to carry out a fatwa calling for Rushdie’s execution because of a novel published by Rushdie in 1988. That fatwa was issued in 1989 by the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ruhollah Khomeini; reaffirmed in 2017 by the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei; and endorsed in a 2006 speech by Hizballah’s Secretary General, Hassan Nasrallah.
According to evidence presentenced by the government, Matar spent over a year researching the fatwa, including its continuing validity, before deciding to carry it out while Rushdie spoke at the Chautauqua Institution in Mayville, NY. Prior to the attack, Matar discussed the fatwa — and Hizballah’s endorsement of the fatwa — with individuals located in Iran, Australia, and Canada. He also created videos about the fatwa, with titles such as “Rushdie_Fatwa 2.0” and “Rushdie_Fatwa 1.6,” which combined videos about the fatwa with video of Hassan Nasrallah endorsing the fatwa in 2006.
Matar surrounded himself with symbols of Hizballah martyrs before the attack. He traveled to the Chautauqua Institution using the name “Hassan Mughniyeh,” and carried a false driver’s license bearing the same name. Matar’s false name contained the first name of Hassan Nasrallah, Hizballah’s Secretary General, and the last name of Imad Mughniyeh, the former head of Hizballah’s External Security Organization, who was responsible for planning a number of Hizballah’s terrorist attacks. On the morning of the attack, Matar visited a website run by Hizballah and took screenshots of Hizballah martyrs who had died in the month of August.
Matar faces a maximum penalty of life in prison when sentenced on November 3, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, who presided over the trial.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy C. Lynch and Charles M. Kruly for the Western District of New York and Trial Attorney Jennifer Burke of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case. The case was investigated by the Buffalo Office of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto. Additional assistance was provided by the Newark, NJ, office of the FBI and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.
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Federal Jury Convicts New Jersey Man of Terrorism Offenses Relating to His Attempted Murder of Salman RushdieRead the Press Release
A federal jury has convicted Hadi Matar, 28, of Fairview, New Jersey, of attempting to provide material support to Hizbollah, a designated foreign terrorist organization, engaging in an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries, and providing material support to terrorists.
“Matar spent more than a year immersing himself in Hizballah’s violent ideology and preparing to act on a fatwa issued by Iran’s Ayatollahs calling for Mr. Rushdie’s murder,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “His brutal attack on Mr. Rushdie during a peaceful speaking event is a chilling reminder of the global reach of Iranian terrorism. With today’s verdict, justice has been done, and Matar will pay for his crimes.”
“Hadi Matar, who was born and raised in the United States, chose to align his values with the terroristic values of the leaders of Iran, which often promote violence, and in this case, the call for murder,” said U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo for the Western District of New York. “The defendant spent months planning and preparing to carry out what he hoped would be the execution of Salman Rushdie and possibly follow in the footsteps of martyrs he admired. Instead, his attempted act of terror failed, and Salman Rushdie survived, thanks to courageous members of the public and law enforcement, who saved Rushdie and captured Matar.”
“This was not an impulsive act; Matar conducted a violent attack in support of a designated foreign terrorist organization and wanted to carry out a fatwa against the victim,” said Assistant Director Jarod Brown of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “With today’s verdict, this assailant will pay the price of engaging in terrorism. The FBI and our partners are committed to bringing terrorists and all who support them to justice.”
On Aug. 12, 2022, Matar attempted to murder author Salman Rushdie in an effort to carry out a fatwa calling for Rushdie’s execution because of a novel published by Rushdie in 1988. That fatwa was issued in 1989 by the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ruhollah Khomeini; reaffirmed in 2017 by the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei; and endorsed in a 2006 speech by Hizballah’s Secretary General, Hassan Nasrallah.
According to evidence presentenced by the government, Matar spent over a year researching the fatwa, including its continuing validity, before deciding to carry it out while Rushdie spoke at the Chautauqua Institution in Mayville, NY. Prior to the attack, Matar discussed the fatwa — and Hizballah’s endorsement of the fatwa — with individuals located in Iran, Australia, and Canada. He also created videos about the fatwa, with titles such as “Rushdie_Fatwa 2.0” and “Rushdie_Fatwa 1.6,” which combined videos about the fatwa with video of Hassan Nasrallah endorsing the fatwa in 2006.
Matar surrounded himself with symbols of Hizballah martyrs before the attack. He traveled to the Chautauqua Institution using the name “Hassan Mughniyeh,” and carried a false driver’s license bearing the same name. Matar’s false name contained the first name of Hassan Nasrallah, Hizballah’s Secretary General, and the last name of Imad Mughniyeh, the former head of Hizballah’s External Security Organization, who was responsible for planning a number of Hizballah’s terrorist attacks. On the morning of the attack, Matar visited a website run by Hizballah and took screenshots of Hizballah martyrs who had died in the month of August.
Matar faces a maximum penalty of life in prison when sentenced on Nov. 3 before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, who presided over the trial.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy C. Lynch and Charles M. Kruly for the Western District of New York and Trial Attorney Jennifer Burke of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case. The case was investigated by the Buffalo Office of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto. Additional assistance was provided by the Newark, NJ, office of the FBI and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.
Federal Grand Jury in Chicago Indicts Film Producer for Allegedly Defrauding Clients of More Than $100 MillionRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted a film producer for allegedly defrauding clients of more than $100 million by soliciting them to invest in purported film and entertainment projects.
JASON CLOTH, 60, of Beverly Hills, Calif., was charged with seven counts of wire fraud in an indictment unsealed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Cloth was arrested on Tuesday in Los Angeles, Calif. He made his initial court appearance on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.
According to the indictment, Cloth operated Canadien-based Creative Wealth Media Finance Corp. From 2019 to 2026, Cloth solicited various clients, including an investment advisor in Illinois, to invest in purported film and entertainment projects or to fund a gaming entertainment investment platform. Cloth fraudulently obtained more than $100 million from the Illinois investment advisor, the advisor’s clients, and other investors based on false representations about the performance and value of their investments, the indictment states. Cloth knew at the time of the investments that he would use the money for other purposes, including the development of a real estate project in Canada, the indictment states.
Cloth allegedly engaged in a Ponzi scheme by using some investor funds to repay prior investors. The indictment seeks forfeiture from Cloth in the amount of at least $12.25 million for the projects identified in the indictment.
The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared Hasten and Sean Hennessy.
Each count of wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
If you believe you are a victim of defendant Jason Cloth’s alleged fraud scheme whether committed through Creative Wealth Media Finance Corp. or any other entity, please contact the Chicago Field Office of the FBI by completing this short form at fbi.gov/jasonclothvictims. The schemes could involve purported film and entertainment projects, gaming entertainment investment platforms, or other conduct.
cloth_indictment.pdfFederal Corrections Officer Charged with Sexually Abusing Inmate at FCI Fort DixRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Middlesex County woman was charged in a criminal complaint with sexual abuse of an individual in federal custody, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced today.
Jordan Pensak, 27, a corrections officer at Federal Correctional Institution Fort Dix (“Fort Dix”), was charged by complaint with one count of sexual abuse of an individual in federal custody. Fort Dix is a low-security federal correctional institution in Burlington County.
According to the complaint and statements made in court:
Pensak had a consensual sexual relationship with an inmate at Fort Dix and had sex with him in January 2026. Pensak and the inmate also exchanged sexually explicit photographs and messages over social media and electronic applications, facilitated by the inmate’s use of two contraband cell phones while in custody at Fort Dix. Pensak admitted to having a sexual relationship with the inmate in text messages sent to multiple individuals, including family members of the inmate. In one of those communications Pensak raised concerns that she might be pregnant with the inmate’s child.
Pensak made her initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Elizabeth A. Pascal in federal District Court in Camden on July 28, 2026, and was released on bail. If convicted of sexual abuse of an individual in federal custody, Pensak faces a maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy; and the Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Edminston, with the investigations.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph McFarlane of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Special Prosecutions Division.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel: Mark Catanzaro, Esq.
pensak.complaint.pdfEstimated $20 Million Worth of Cocaine Seized from Commercial Truck at BorderRead the Press Release
CALEXICO – Federal law enforcement officers seized more than half a ton of cocaine worth more than $20 million hidden in the floorboards of a commercial truck and attached flatbed trailer at the Calexico Port of Entry.
It was the second-largest cocaine seizure in 2026 in the Southern District of California. The largest seizure was in May when more than a ton of cocaine estimated to be worth $45 million was discovered in connection with a subterranean cross-border tunnel.
In the most recent case, the driver and only occupant of the truck, Jose Manuel Lopez Lopez, was arrested and charged with illegally importing cocaine into the United States.
The amount of cocaine seized is considered “a tremendous amount of drugs, even by the standards of this district,” according to the government’s motion to detain the defendant. Lopez entered a not-guilty plea at his arraignment in federal court yesterday. A detention hearing is scheduled for August 3 at 10 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lupe Rodriguez Jr.
In addition to the hidden cocaine, the trailer was loaded with 269 bundles of rebar . Customs and Border Protection officers, working with agents from Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration, X-rayed the trailer and observed anomalies in the floorboards. A drug-sniffing dog alerted to the trailer. After unloading the rebar, officers unscrewed the planks from the wooden floor of the trailer and discovered they were stuffed with drugs. In total, 366 packages of cocaine weighing 1002.13 pounds (454.56 kilograms) were removed from the trailer.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Benjamin and Lawrence Casper.
DEFENDANT Case Number 26-mj-08705
Jose Manuel Lopez Lopez Age: 44 Mexicali, Mexico
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Importation of Cocaine – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 952 and 960
Maximum penalty: Life in prison; Mandatory minimum 10 years
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Customs and Border Protection
Homeland Security Investigations
Drug Enforcement Administration
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case was investigated and prosecuted by the California Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs were established by President Trump in 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. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Dominican National Sentenced for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Dominican national was sentenced on July 28, 2026 in U.S. District Court in Bangor for his role in a Massachusetts-Maine fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.
U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Ramon De Leon, 26, to 48 months in prison. De Leon pleaded guilty on October 22, 2025.
According to court records, De Leon and his brother Alexis De Leon worked together to transport kilograms of fentanyl from Massachusetts to Maine for distribution. The investigation initially showed that an individual known locally only as “Leon Leon” was using a Facebook account and other means to contact associates and customers in Maine. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) developed evidence that De Leon and his brother were responsible for operating that Facebook page and arranged monitored purchases of fentanyl from “Leon Leon.” The DEA ultimately coordinated a traffic stop in June 2024, with the assistance of Maine State Police, during which the De Leon brothers were found in possession of a large quantity of fentanyl en route to Bangor. The conspiracy brought over 20 kilograms of fentanyl into Maine.
Ramon De Leon is the fifth defendant to be sentenced in relation to this investigation. Alexis De Leon was sentenced to five years in prison on January 8, 2026; Mandi Ford was sentenced to time served (approximately 19 months) on February 13, 2026; Bradley Bellfleur was sentenced to six years in prison on May 15, 2026; and Andrew Marin was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison on June 10, 2026.
The DEA investigated this case, with the assistance of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Maine State Police.
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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Delta Felon Sentenced for the Illegal Possession of Dozens of Firearms, Flying Without a License & Other Aviation Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, MS – Christopher Douglas Showah, 51, of Indianola, was sentenced today after pleading guilty to three federal felonies. Honorable Deborah M. Brown, Chief United States District Court Judge, sentenced Showah to 96 months in federal prison
According to court documents and admissions made at the defendant’s change of plea hearing he pleaded guilty to the following:
- Possession of firearms by a convicted felon;
- Flying without a valid airman’s certificate;
- Fraud relating to maintenance work performed on an aircraft donated to Delta State University for their aviation program.
Showah was initially investigated by the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General for flying after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an emergency order suspending his airman’s certificate. Investigators learned that despite this order from the FAA, Showah continued to fly and do airplane mechanic’s work for M&D Aviation, in violation of federal law and regulation. Investigators also learned that Showah had conducted inspections and performed maintenance on an aircraft which was later donated for use by students at Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, despite not possessing a valid certification allowing him to perform work on the aircraft.
Federal agents, assisted by agents with the Mississippi Agricultural & Livestock Theft Bureau, executed a federal search warrant at Showah’s hanger, residence and shop. During this search, agents observed and seized almost forty (40) firearms. Showah was prohibited by federal law from possessing any firearms following several felony convictions in Sunflower and Sharkey Counties in Mississippi.
This was investigated by the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Mississippi Agricultural & Livestock Theft Bureau and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
United States Attorney Scott Leary stated that “law enforcement responsibilities often involve issues of public safety. The Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, the Mississippi Agricultural & Livestock Theft Bureau, and the ATF worked hard on this case, and the citizens of the Northern District of Mississippi are safer because of their efforts. Thank you for your hard work.”
“The defendant’s disregard for federal aviation safety requirements and decision to continue flying and performing aircraft maintenance without proper certification placed the public at real and unnecessary risk,” said Joseph Harris, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General’s Southern Region. “The sentence handed down today reflects the seriousness of these violations and reinforces our commitment to working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to protect the safety and integrity of the nation’s airspace and the communities we serve.”
“In our effort to disrupt violent gun crime in our community, ATF will continue to focus efforts on prohibited individuals who unlawfully possess firearms,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “The sentence imposed today sends a message that ATF will continue to work alongside our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure these convicted felons are removed from our communities and held fully accountable so we can keep our neighborhoods safe as the top priority for ATF.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Herzog, Jr. prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Cuban National Sentenced for His Role in an International Alien Smuggling, Asylum Fraud, and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A Cuban National was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for his role in an international alien smuggling, asylum fraud, and money laundering conspiracy.
“Ventura-Castro was part of a complex conspiracy responsible for smuggling aliens into the United States on a massive scale,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The defendant and others recruited aliens using social media, charged thousands of dollars to bring them into the country illegally, and helped them get immigration benefits to which they were not entitled.”
“Enforcing our nation’s immigration laws is essential to maintaining safe and secure borders,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. “The conspirators in this case used sophisticated methods to violate those laws and engaged in an elaborate human smuggling scheme, for profit. The diligence demonstrated by our law enforcement partners in this case ensured that this defendant was brought to justice.”
“The exploitation of vulnerable people through these types of intricate schemes are egregious crimes that threaten our national security and exploit the integrity of our immigration system,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa. “They knowingly orchestrated a sophisticated scheme to recruit and smuggle thousands of Cuban nationals into the United States, and unlawfully obtained immigration benefits through fraudulent applications, deliberate misrepresentations, and illicit financial transactions. Such calculated criminal conduct undermines the integrity of our immigration system and will be met with the full force of the law.”
“Today’s sentencing is evidence of our all-out war on immigration fraud,” said Director Joseph Edlow of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is proud to have worked with our law enforcement partners to dismantle this criminal enterprise, which churned out thousands of fake asylum claims and flooded the country with illegal aliens. As Ventura-Castro and his criminal associates are being brought to justice, we will continue our mission protecting Americans from those who seek to exploit our laws and endanger our communities.”
According to court documents, Erik Ventura-Castro, 24, of Hialeah, Florida, between January of 2021 and June of 2025, conspired with others to operate an alien smuggling organization (ASO) which encouraged or induced thousands of Cuban aliens to enter the United States through the southern border and used fraudulent Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and visa waivers. The defendants advertised their smuggling services and bogus visa services across multiple social media platforms to solicit Cuban nationals and other aliens to attempt to illegally enter the United States and fraudulently obtain lawful status in the United States. The alien smuggling organization (ASO) advertised services included assisting Cubans with making false claims of European citizenship to enter the United States on a European tourist visa waiver or ESTA and filing hundreds of fraudulent ESTA applications with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), using fake addresses and fabricated documents. To obtain admission under the ESTAs, the defendants made false representations that the applicants had not been in Cuba since 2011. The defendants knew that Cubans are not eligible for the ESTA program, and that the applicants were actually in Cuba at the time the ESTA applications were submitted.
Passports and Boarding Passes obtained as part of the scheme Social media account advertising ASO services Social media account using photo from human smuggling event to advertise ASO servicesVentura-Castro furthered the conspiracy by advertising trips for aliens to travel from Cuba to the United States through third-party countries and assisting the aliens in obtaining fraudulent ESTAs. The defendant submitted over 40 electronic payments to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for fraudulent ESTA applications. As part of the conspiracy, aliens were charged between $1,500 and $40,000 for smuggling services. Co-conspirators sometimes even chartered private planes to move groups of aliens. Ventura-Castro and co-defendants conspired with each other to regularly move funds to companies operating outside of the United States and to other places outside the United States, such as by purchasing international flights for aliens to travel into the United States. Ventura-Castro transmitted over $97,000 from the United States to the Cayman Islands, Colombia and Mexico to purchase flights for aliens to unlawfully enter the United States.
Ventura-Castro pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit alien smuggling for financial gain and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments on May 7.
Twelve individuals were charged in a superseding indictment for their roles in the conspiracy. Defendants Liannys Yaiselys Vega-Perez, 31, Miguel Alejandro Martinez Vasconcelos, 31, Layra Libertad Treto Santos, 30, Emanuel Martinez Gonzalez, 29, and Walbis Pozo-Dutel, 31, have all pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Defendants Lazaro Alain Cabrera-Rodriguez, Luis Emmanuel Escalona-Marrero, and Gisleivy Peralta Consuegra are awaiting trial scheduled to begin on Sept. 21.
The investigation and superseding indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including HSI and CBP U.S. Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 465 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 424 U.S. convictions; and more than 368 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
HSI Tampa, U.S. Border Patrol Miami Sector, and USCIS’s’ Fraud Detection and National Security led U.S. investigative efforts, with substantial assistance from HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. and CBP’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force. Authorities in the Cayman Islands provided valuable assistance.
Trial Attorney Amanda Brown of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney Derry for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
Crips Leader, Music Label Owner and Purported Anti-Gang Activist Hit with More Federal Charges, Including Soliciting Witness MurderRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A jailed South Los Angeles gang leader, music label owner, and purported anti-gang activist awaiting a federal trial was charged today with seven additional federal felonies, including that he solicited two fellow jail inmates to murder or seriously injure a witness against him and attempting to tamper with that witness’s testimony.
Eugene Henley, Jr., 59, a.k.a. “Big U,” of the Hyde Park area of Los Angeles and who has been in federal custody since March 2025, previously was charged with dozens of felonies, including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, robbery, extortion, and tax evasion.
A federal grand jury today charged Henley – a long-time member of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips street gang – with seven additional felonies: two counts of solicitation to commit a crime of violence, two counts of tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant, one count of conspiracy to transport an individual in interstate commerce with intent that the individual engage in prostitution, and two counts of wire fraud.
Henley and six other defendants charged in this case are scheduled to go to trial in February 2027.
Since last year, Henley has been charged with operating what prosecutors call the “Big U Enterprise,” a racketeering organization that used his stature and long-standing association with the Rollin’ 60s to extort businesses and individuals, traffic and exploit sex workers, and defraud donors, lenders, and a federally funded anti-gang charity. Henley is also accused in the underlying racketeering conspiracy charge with the January 2021 murder of an aspiring musician, R.W., in Las Vegas.
According to the superseding indictment returned today, on June 10, 2026, Henley asked two inmates about the layout of a housing unit where he believed a witness, identified in the indictment as “Victim-1,” was being held. Henley offered to pay the inmates to kill or harm Victim-1 to prevent Victim-1 from testifying at trial against members of Henley’s criminal enterprise.
Henley also is charged with paying co-defendant Armani Aflleje, 39, a.k.a. “Mani,” of Koreatown, to transport women across state lines to engage in prostitution. In November 2022, he paid Aflleje $1,000 via Zelle to rent a car to transport the women from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Aflleje sent text messages to Henley of photographs of the women she was transporting. The following week, Henley sent Aflleje an additional $500 for the trip.
From November 2022 to January 2023, Henley and Aflleje schemed to rent vehicles and locate women on multiple occasions to engage in prostitution.
Henley is further charged with submitting in June 2020 a false and fraudulent application for a COVID-19 pandemic business-relief loan under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program for his business, Celebrity Socks. The false statements concerned the business’s gross revenue and the costs of goods sold for the business for the 12-month period preceding the pandemic.
The superseding indictment returned today also adds new overt acts to the indictment’s racketeering conspiracy charge. These acts include the following allegations:
- In 2014, Henley and his associates assaulted and chased a Grammy-winning recording artist through Los Angeles International Airport to collect a debt and for failing to show respect;
- Henley embezzled in 2019 additional charitable donations intended for Developing Options, his federally funded anti-gang nonprofit;
- Henley in March 2023 prepared to provide false information to a court and a county prosecutor to fabricate an individual’s employment with Developing Options;
- In June and July of 2020, Henley sought and was denied additional COVID-19 pandemic-relief loans on behalf of Developing Options; and
- In February 2023, Henley threatened to shut down a cannabis business unless its owner paid Henley and co-defendant Sylvester Robinson, 60, a.k.a. “Vey,” of Northridge.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, Henley would face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison for the racketeering conspiracy count. The newly added witness tampering counts carry an additional statutory maximum of life in federal prison on each count.
The FBI’s Los Angeles Metropolitan Task Force on Violent Gangs; IRS Criminal Investigation; the United States Department of Justice Office of Inspector General; the Los Angeles Police Department; and the North Las Vegas Police Department are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Butler and Jena A. MacCabe of the Major Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.
Convictions through Guilty Pleas and Sentencings in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Prosecutions (July 20 through July 23, 2026)Read the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting United States Attorney, in conjunction with our partner agencies in the Homeland Security Task Force (“HSTF”) announce the following prosecutorial results for the week of July 20 through July 23, 2026. The HSTF is a permanent, interagency law enforcement task force created by executive order to combat transnational criminal organizations—including cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist organizations.
Convictions through Guilty Pleas:
- On July 21, 2026, Sergio Ramírez-Payano pleaded guilty to possessing a machinegun in Criminal Case 25-409 (GMM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with possessing with intent to distribute more than five (5) kilograms of cocaine, possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, possessing a machinegun in furtherance of drug trafficking, the possession of a firearm by a felon, and possessing a machinegun. Defendant was arrested on October 1, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 20, 2026. AUSA Joseph Russell is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 22, 2026, Juan José De la Cruz Natera pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 21, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 22, 2026, Yanzie Vázquez González pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 22, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 22, 2026, Pedro J. Santiago Rodríguez pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 22, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 23, 2026, Michael Félix Sánchez Ogando pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 22, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 23, 2026, Luis Manuel Olivo Morán pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 22, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
Sentencings:
- On July 22, 2026, Joseph David Vázquez Ayala was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Silvia Carreño Coll to a term of imprisonment of 78 months and 8 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on July 11, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-272 (SCC) and pleaded guilty on April 22, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 22, 2026, Omar Jhon Paredes was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Aida Delgado Colón to 37 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release for conspiracy to import cocaine in excess of 150 kilograms of cocaine and a concurrent term of six months imprisonment for improper entry by alien. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on May 8, 2025, in Criminal case 25-226 (ADC), and pled guilty to the charge(s) on March 12, 2026. AUSA Luis A. Valentín is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 23, 2026, Denis Ditrán was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Raúl Arias-Marxuach to time served with immediate deportation to the Dominican Republic and 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit wire, mail, and bank fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349. According to court documents, this defendant was indicted on June 12, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-275(RAM), and pleaded guilty on June 25, 2026. SAUSA Vanessa Bonano is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
These prosecutions are 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 Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard – Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to 6.5 Years in Prison for Possessing a Firearm with a Machinegun Conversion DeviceRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Jordan Jones, 31, to 78 months in prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm equipped with a machinegun conversion device (MCD). D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
On October 4, 2025, Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers pursued Jones, driving a stolen white Honda Accord, after he had run a stop light. They pursued him for several minutes before Jones struck another vehicle and then ran from the vehicle.
One of the troopers saw a gun in Jones’s waistband. The trooper then pursued Jones on foot as he attempted to flee through a nearby residential yard. Troopers quickly apprehended Jones and recovered a Glock pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device along the path where Jones fled. A second firearm was later located inside the vehicle Jones had been driving.
On July 23, 2026, United States District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Jones to 78 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “A firearm equipped with an MCD is an extremely dangerous weapon that can cause multiple injuries or fatalities in less than one second. When possessed by a fleeing felon recklessly driving a stolen vehicle, it demonstrates an unacceptable risk to public safety that justifies a significant prison sentence to remove this dangerous recidivist from our community.”
Special Agent in Charge Jamey VanVliet of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Office said, "This previously convicted felon was in possession of a stolen vehicle, illegally possessed a firearm with a machine gun conversion device, and led the police on a high-speed chase. The ATF will continue to work in lockstep with our law enforcement partners to remove individuals such as this who threaten public safety in our communities."
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Lynn Crum and Special Assistant United States Attorney Yosef Hochheiser, of the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps, prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
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For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Columbia, Missouri Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A Columbia, Mo. man was sentenced in federal court today for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Ronald Dale Thornton, III, 35, of Columbia, Mo., was sentenced in federal court for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine by U.S. District Judge Steven R. Bough to 15 years in prison without parole for conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine.
On March 19, 2024, members of the Columbia Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) served a search warrant at an Airbnb rented by Thornton in Columbia. During the search, 50 packages of methamphetamine weighing a total of 50 pounds were recovered along with $24,957 in U.S. currency. Thornton was present at the residence along with other individuals.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Lynn. It was investigated by the Columbia Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
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.
Colombian resident sentenced to prison for conspiring to ship loads of cocaine to Seattle and other U.S. destinationsRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 65-year-old national of the Dominican Republic, who was arrested in Colombia and extradited to the U.S., was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 96 months in prison for conspiracy to import cocaine and conspiracy to launder money, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Jose Manuel Frias Lopez was arrested in June 2024 and was extradited to the U.S. in August 2025. Frias Lopez pleaded guilty in April 2026. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Lauren King noted Frias Lopez criminal history saying, he had been “in a revolving door with the justice system in this country.”
“This defendant was at the center of the criminal organization in this case, importing cocaine to the streets of Seattle and other parts of the U.S.,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “The undercover meetings sound like something out of a novel, but they capture the real interactions of sophisticated drug traffickers who seek to profit by feeding addiction. Even at an advanced age, with prior U.S. prison stints, Mr. Frias Lopez could not resist the lure of what he apparently saw as easy money.”
This case arose out of a joint investigation by the DEA and the Seattle Police Department (SPD). These agencies, together with other state, federal, and international law enforcement partners, conducted a multi-year investigation into a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) that imported―from Mexico into the United States―fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin. The investigation ultimately led to Colombia, where investigators purchased cocaine directly from the source.
According to records filed in the case, the investigation into DTO members in Colombia began in April 2023 and ran until January 2024. Investigators used confidential sources and undercover agents to identify Jose Manuel Frias Lopez as a cocaine source of supply. Undercover agents from both U.S. and Colombian law enforcement then met with Frias Lopez and his associates in Colombia. Frias Lopez sourced cocaine for delivery to the U.S. and laundered funds that the undercovers paid for cocaine. Frias Lopez talked about other aspects of his criminal scheme such as transporting cocaine to Florida or to Spain.
Frias Lopez has a lengthy criminal history in the U.S. with convictions in Oklahoma for drug trafficking, concealing stolen property, and DUI. In 2004 he was sentenced to more than 13 years in prison for trafficking methamphetamine while possessing a firearm. He was released and removed from the U.S. in 2014.
In asking for a 96-month prison sentence, prosecutors noted that cocaine is increasingly tied to overdose deaths in our community, “(D)rug overdoses resulted in 914 deaths in King County in 2025. Through the first six-plus months of 2026, there have been 394 confirmed overdose deaths, with another 44 probable overdose deaths. Moreover, and although fentanyl gets the lion’s share of attention with respect to overdose deaths—and rightly so―cocaine was the third most common drug involved in King County overdose deaths in 2025. Specifically, cocaine was involved in 218 (24%) overdose deaths in King County in 2025―often in combination with fentanyl or methamphetamine.”
“Drug traffickers cannot hide behind international borders,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “DEA is committed to identifying, investigating, and pursuing those responsible for poisoning our communities, wherever they operate. Working alongside our domestic and international law enforcement partners, we will go to the source country to locate these offenders, bring them to the United States, and ensure they face accountability in U.S. courts. This relentless pursuit is a cornerstone of DEA’s Fentanyl Free America, which is focused on disrupting the fentanyl supply chain, reducing the availability of these deadly drugs, and saving American lives.”
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 Seattle comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), The United States Marshals Service (USMS), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the United States Secret Service (USSS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.
The investigation was led by the DEA and Seattle Police Department. Additional assistance was provided by Renton Police Department, Centralia Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of the Inspector General (HUD OIG), Washington State Patrol, Pierce County and Valley SWAT teams.
The Colombian National Police (CNP) and Colombian Prosecutor’s Office (Fiscalia General) partnered with U.S. law enforcement on this investigation. The Justice Department’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché in Bogotá provided critical assistance.
The cases from this investigation are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joe Silvio and C. Andrew Colasurdo in the Western District of Washington.
Colombian National Sentenced to 57 Months in Federal Prison for Role in Nationwide Jewelry Theft RingRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that HAROLD RAMIREZ CAGUA, also known as “Gordo,” 42, a citizen of Colombia last residing in Miami, Florida, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 57 months of imprisonment for his involvement in an organized jewelry theft ring that targeted mall-based stores and kiosks across the country.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from May 2023 through April 2024, Ramirez Cagua and several other Colombian nationals burglarized jewelry stores and kiosks in malls in Connecticut and other states and then transported the stolen property or the proceeds from it across state lines. Before the burglaries, the co-conspirators surveilled the stores and kiosks to formulate game plans and, as part of that reconnaissance, posed as legitimate customers to examine the desired merchandise and assess the establishment’s security measures.
Ramirez Cagua served as the crime ring’s logistics operative, booking flights for co-conspirators to travel for the burglaries, securing rental cars, and reserving lodging. During the burglaries, he and his associates forced his way into closed businesses, sometimes by cutting a hole through a wall, and then pried open and smashed locked display cases. They then carted off the stolen merchandise.
Ramirez Cagua and his co-conspirators burglarized jewelry establishments in Paterson, New Jersey, on May 17, 2023; in Mentor, Ohio, on July 21, 2023; in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on August 14, 2023; in Greece, New York, on September 20, 2023; at the Connecticut Post Mall in Milford, Connecticut, on October 5, 2023; in Lombard, Illinois on October 17, 2023; in Hamilton Township, New Jersey, on October 27, 2023; in Henrico, Virginia on November 4, 2023; and in Horseheads, New York on April 18, 2024. The total losses from these burglaries exceed $4.4 million.
Members of the conspiracy also cased additional jewelry stores and kiosks in Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Delaware.
To date, none of the stolen jewelry has been recovered by law enforcement. The investigation revealed that much of the stolen jewelry was sold to the owner of a jewelry store in Queens, New York, who then sold it to others, including those he knew would melt down the gold.
Ramirez Cagua has been detained since July 18, 2024. On March 5, 2025, he pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of stolen property.
This investigation has been conducted by the FBI New Haven’s Transnational Organized Crime Task Force with the assistance of the Milford (Conn.) Police Department, the Hamilton Township (N.J.) Police Division, the Delaware State Police, the Henrico County (Va.) Police Division, the New York State Police, the New York Police Department, the Pensacola (Fla.) Police Department, the Paterson (N.J.) Police Department, the Mentor (Ohio) Police Department, the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Police Department, the Greece (N.Y.) Police Department, and the Lombard (Ill.) Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David T. Huang and Conor M. Reardon.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, and FBI Field Offices in New York, Dallas, Miami, and Tampa for their assistance.
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 toward 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 Haven comprises agents and officers from the FBI, DEA, HSI, ATF, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, U.S. Department of Labor, and Connecticut State Police, with prosecutions led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.
Cleveland Man Sentenced to 22+ Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Traffic Meth from U.S.-Mexico Border to OhioRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 43-year-old man was sentenced to prison for his role in a conspiracy that trafficked illegal drugs sourced from Mexico and mailed to Ohio through the U.S. Postal Service.
Sherman Thomas, of Cleveland, was sentenced to 275 months (22.9 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge J. Philip Calabrese. After a 4-day trial in June 2025, a federal jury convicted Thomas of:
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
- Using or Maintaining a Drug Premises
- Possession of Firearms and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon; prior convictions include Aggravated Robbery in 2001, Trafficking Offenses, Having Weapons under Disability and Carrying a Concealed Weapon in 2009.
Thomas was also ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release after imprisonment.
According to court documents, the conspiracy ran from about July 2022 through April 2023. Thomas, along with several co-conspirators, obtained drugs from Mexico to press into illicit pills for distribution. Co-defendant, Melvin Hodge, 44, of Sagamore Hills, would contact individuals in Mexico and then travel to the U.S.-Mexico border to obtain methamphetamine and send it through the United States mail. When the methamphetamine arrived in the Northern District of Ohio, Hodge met with another co-conspirator—a U.S. postal carrier—who provided addresses to allow for the safe passage of the methamphetamine through his postal route. The postal carrier then informed Hodge of the locations where the parcels could be retrieved. After receiving the package from the postal carrier, Hodge would provide the methamphetamine to Thomas.
As part of his role in the conspiracy, Thomas maintained a drug premises on Reyburn Road in Cleveland Heights, where he had an industrial pill press which he used to produce illegal pills. He then stored the narcotics at his residence on Father Caruso Drive, in Cleveland. In September 2022, federal agents executed a search warrant at Thomas’ residence. During a protective sweep of the home, a bedroom window was found open with the screen laying outside on the ground. While no one was in the apartment at the time of the search, multiple witnesses testified at trial that it appeared that Thomas had dropped from the window, appeared hurt, and ran from the apartment when agents arrived to execute the warrant. Agents seized the following contents from the apartment:
- 4.1 grams of methamphetamine
- 22 bags containing multicolored pills that were locked in a safe, containing approximately 4,193.5 grams of methamphetamine
- Three plastic bags with white powder containing 412 grams of methamphetamine
- A Glock 23 with an extended magazine loaded with 18 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition
- A narcotics ledger, several cellphones, a kilogram pill press, and a money counter.
Agents also searched Thomas’ stash house on Reyburn Road and seized several large bags of a pill binding agent, a rifle, and another pill press machine.
Two co-conspirators were previously sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy. Hodge is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence. Carvin Cook, 46, of Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced to 41 months (3.41 years) in prison.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration-Detroit Division, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Cleveland Metroparks Police Department, the Cleveland Heights Police Department, and the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.
The USAO would also like acknowledge the support and assistance of the United States Marshals Service in this case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth M. Crook and James P. Lewis led the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio.
Chinese national sentenced to over 2 years in prison for scamming 73-year-old Joliet manRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Chinese man living in California, who defrauded a Joliet man out of nearly $200,000, was sentenced today to two years and three months in prison and to pay restitution of $181,000, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Wei Jia Luo, 42, pleaded guilty in March 2026 to one count of wire fraud. Following his prison term he will be deported back to China.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Luo ran an internet scam and stole $182,000 from a 73-year-old Joliet resident.
The investigation started when the Joliet man called the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office on May 8, 2024, to report that he had been scammed. The man was on his computer in March when a pop-up window told him to contact Microsoft. Through a series of messages, the man was led to believe that he was “out of compliance” with the Federal Trade Commission and that to get back into compliance he would need to provide large sums of money to a bank courier he would meet at the Edgar Post Office.
The man pulled out $76,000 from various bank accounts and headed to Edgar on April 6, 2024. Unable to find the post office, the man was instructed to meet the bank courier, named “Ethan,” at the Edgar Bar. The man arrived at the bar and met Ethan, who he described as an Asian man in his 30s wearing sunglasses and a COVID mask. He handed over the $76,000 and Ethan left.
A few days after the Edgar Bar meeting, the scammers contacted the Joliet man again, this time telling him that more money was needed for him to get fully in compliance with the FTC. Returning to the Edgar Bar on April 11, 2024, the man this time paid Ethan $53,000. Still not done, the scammers contacted the man a third time, telling him still more money was needed. The victim liquidated a $50,000 investment and handed it over to the scammers on May 1, 2024. He was also instructed to buy a number of gift cards from Apple and Lowes that added up to $5,000, and hand those over. In all, the man lost $182,000 to the scammers.
Using rental car records and then flight data, investigators eventually identified Ethan as Wei Jia Luo, successfully matching an image of him to surveillance footage of Luo getting off a plane. Luo was arrested on July 31, 2025, in Arizona. He was carrying five fake Texas driver’s licenses, a Chinese passport with Luo’s picture but a different name, gift cards, and over $10,000 in cash.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Rubich prosecuted the case. The FBI and the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
California Man Who Secretly Recorded Children Using Spyware Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A California man has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting children by secretly recording minors through spyware installed on laptop computers and directing children overseas to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Becerra sentenced Jacob Melvin Hart, 46, of California, after he pleaded guilty to attempted production of visual depictions involving sexual exploitation of a minor and transportation of visual depictions involving the sexual exploitation of minors.
“This defendant weaponized technology and abused positions of trust to invade children’s most private spaces and sexually exploit them,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The 40-year sentence imposed on Jacob Melvin Hart means he will likely spend the rest of his life in federal prison. It protects children from a calculated predator and demonstrates that we will pursue those who produce and solicit child sexual abuse material, whether their victims are here at home or across the world.”
Hart was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection upon his return to the U.S. through Miami International Airport following a mission trip to Haiti. An inspection of Hart’s electronic devices revealed CSAM, including images and videos that he had directed minor children in Russia to create at his request.
The subsequent investigation revealed that Hart had previously worked as an IT consultant for a California church, where he had access to numerous minor children. Hart provided laptops equipped with spyware to several children, allowing him to remotely activate the computers’ cameras without the children’s knowledge. Using the spyware, Hart secretly recorded at least eight minor victims and possessed sexually explicit depictions of those children.
In 2006, Hart was convicted in Oregon of invasion of privacy after secretly installing a hidden camera in a girls’ locker room at a summer camp. During sentencing in this case, the Court described the scope of Hart’s conduct as “extraordinary.”
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami made the announcement.
HSI Miami investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brianna Coakley prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20303.
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Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking and Murder in the Course of Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Omari Scott, also known as “Prince” and “Sir Prince,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto to 50 years in prison for murder in the course of sex trafficking, sex trafficking two victims (Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2), and promoting prostitution. Scott was convicted by a federal jury in June 2025 of murder in the course of sex trafficking and sex trafficking Jane Doe 2. Prior to trial, Scott pleaded guilty to sex trafficking Jane Doe 1 and promoting prostitution. The charges relate to Scott’s trafficking of women at an open-air sex market in Brooklyn known as the “Penn Track” and his orchestration of the murder of a rival pimp after a dispute over the control of Jane Doe 2. Restitution to the victims will be determined at a later date.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentence.
“The defendant earned this lengthy sentence through a pattern of ruthless violence, exploitation of vulnerable women, and abuse,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “His actions caused lasting harm to his victims and demonstrated a complete disregard for the law and for human dignity. Our Office’s prosecutors and law enforcement brought him to justice and their noble work demonstrates a deep commitment to protecting the community from those who commit these heinous crimes.”“Omari Scott carried out a disturbing level of violence and exploitation of innocent victims. The FBI is dedicated to defending the individuals subjected to these crimes and pursuing offenders who threaten innocent civilians,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.
“The NYPD has no tolerance for anyone who sexually exploits women and profits from these horrific crimes,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “Omari Scott was a predator of the worst kind – using violence and financial control to force victims into this work and even orchestrating the murder of a rival for encroaching on his business. Thank you to the NYPD investigators, FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York for their work to get this sex trafficker off our streets for good.”
As proven at trial, for years, Scott trafficked women at the Penn Track and other locations in New York City and New Jersey. He lured his victims in with promises of love and money, but once he had manipulated them into working for him, he took all the money they earned. He imposed nightly quotas and used violence and threats of violence to keep his victims earning. For example, Scott told an associate on a recorded call that he was “beating this b--- up tonight” for failing to work quickly enough to locate customers and, on another occasion, Scott warned a victim that he would “knock [her] out for disrespecting me.” In taking the money they earned, Scott rendered these women dependent on him for food, clothing, and shelter for themselves and for their young children.
In April 2023, Scott learned that Jane Doe 2 was planning to leave him to work for a rival, Cleveland Clay, in prostitution. Scott found Jane Doe 2 on the Penn Track, grabbed her by the hair, dragged her through the street, and threw her into his car. After Clay refused to back down, the defendant recruited another sex trafficker, Michael Simmons, to murder Clay. The defendant gave Simmons a gun and sent him to kill Clay, which Simmons did on May 1, 2023 in a White Castle parking lot on the Penn Track. Simmons then returned to Scott, who had been waiting for him in a nearby laundromat parking lot, to report that the job was done. Clay succumbed to his wounds several hours later. Simmons pleaded guilty in January 2025 to murder in the course of sex trafficking and sex trafficking of Jane Doe 2 and is awaiting sentencing.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Human Trafficking and Civil Rights Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Reid, Anna L. Karamigios, and Miranda Gonzalez are in charge of the prosecution, with additional assistance from Victim Witness Coordinator Huda Abouchaer and Victim Witness Specialist Kristina Marius.The Defendant:
OMARI SCOTT (also known as “Prince” and “Sir Prince”)
Age: 45
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-158 (KAM)
Brockton Man Charged with Lying to Federal Agents About Firearms Recovered at Crime ScenesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man has been charged for allegedly making false statements to law enforcement regarding his transfer of 24 firearms he had purchased. More than half of the firearms allegedly surfaced at various crime scenes across the Northeast including a Boston homicide.
Klordenzsky Senecharles, 29, has been charged with making materially false statements. The defendant was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint in April 2026 and subsequently released on pretrial conditions.
According to the charging documents, between March 2020 and May 2021, Senecharles purchased a total of 28 firearms and later sold four of them. Of the 24 firearms still registered to Senecharles, 13 firearms were allegedly recovered in connection with criminal activity, including a Feb. 26, 2024 homicide in Boston. According to the charging documents, when law enforcement questioned Senecharles about the whereabouts of the 24 firearms, Senecharles claimed that he had sold 21 of the 24 firearms to various Massachusetts registered firearms dealers. The firearms dealers allegedly reported that they had no record of purchasing any of the 21 firearms from Senecharles.
The charge of making false statements provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years 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 Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan C. Cleary and Colin T. Missett of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Bellevue man sentenced to 18 months in prison for operating multi-million dollar fencing operation that encouraged retail theftRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 59-year-old Bellevue, Washington and Las Vegas, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 18 months in prison for his role in a scheme to sell stolen goods on Amazon and eBay, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Andrey A. Balun pleaded guilty in December 2025, to conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce. Balun and his co-defendant, Vitaliy F. Bobak, 53, of Federal Way, Washington, jointly owned MBA Trading LLC which did business at a Burien, Washington storefront operating as “We Buy Gold, Silver, and Electronics.” An extensive law enforcement investigation revealed that the storefront knowingly purchased goods that had been stolen from area retailers. The pair then sold the goods on Amazon or eBay for millions of dollars in profit.
At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Tana Lin told Balun the prison sentence would have been longer but for his health conditions and concern they could not be managed by the Bureau of Prisons. “You were the driving force behind this operation, and you continued for years even after you were told what you were doing was illegal,” Judge Lin said.
“Acting as a ‘fence’ for stolen goods helps organized retail theft flourish, and that harms our community in multiple ways,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “First retailers say theft brings violence against their employees; second, stores close because of theft problems and workers lose their jobs; third businesses raise prices to cope with the theft losses and that hits all of us in the wallet; and lastly, no taxes are paid on goods stolen from stores – Washington estimates it lost $600 million due to organized retail theft in 2021 alone.”
According to records filed in the case, Balun co-owned the business since 2018. Balun trained Bobak on how to operate the business. Balun admits that the business purchased stolen goods from individual sellers knowing that the goods were stolen. The business bought primarily over the counter medications and health and beauty products. In many instances the goods still had anti-theft devices attached, or stickers saying “for sale only” at a particular retailer.
The men bought the goods far below the retail price and then posted them for sale on two websites they operated on Amazon and eBay. The Amazon store was called “Medikus” and the eBay store was called “abcstore555.” Money from the online stores was traced to the men’s bank accounts. The funds were then used by the men to operate the scheme by paying cash to the “boosters” (people who stole the goods) and payroll to employees who were involved in posting and shipping the goods for sale. The remainder of the proceeds were funneled to the men who then withdrew money to pay themselves and for various personal expenses. Balun obtained proceeds of at least $1 million in the final years of the scheme alone. Investigators traced some of that money to his purchase of a home in Las Vegas.
The amount of stolen property in this case is staggering. At the time the warrant was executed in December 2023, Balun and Bobak possessed more than 74,000 items of stolen property waiting to be sold or shipped – worth approximately $2.4 million. That is in addition to the $4.5 million in sales between 2021 and the middle 2023, and an unknown sum pre-2021. Most of these items were over the counter medication and health and beauty products, stolen from retailers such as Fred Meyer and CVS. By any conservative estimate, Balun and his partners purchased and resold hundreds of thousands of stolen items.
In asking for a 4-year prison sentence, prosecutors wrote to the court. “Balun’s conduct was also audacious. As early as 2019, law enforcement advised him that stolen merchandise was passing through his online store. Yet rather than cleaning up his act, Balun trained Bobak to join him in the scheme. A couple years later, he directed Bobak on how to respond to a retailer complaint that the Amazon store was not authorized to sell their products. In short, he acted with impunity for years.”
In his plea agreement Balun agreed to forfeit $1,000,000 to the government as part of the resolution of his case.
Bobak was sentenced earlier this year to 11 months in prison.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with significant assistance from the Renton Police Department, Seattle Police Department, and the IRS, and aided by investigators from numerous retailers.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean H. Waite and Asset Forfeiture Assistant United States Attorney Krista Bush.
Baltimore Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Armed Gas Station CarjackingRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Baltimore man is headed to prison after a federal judge sentenced him, today, in connection with an armed carjacking at a local gas station.
U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Ron Wardlow, 27, to 20 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for carjacking, using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person. A jury convicted Wardlow of the charges in April 2026. Additionally, Wardlow was previously convicted of a robbery at the same Baltimore gas station where he was later arrested.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD), and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD).
According to evidence presented at trial, on February 27, 2025, Wardlow approached Victim 1 and Victim 2 at a Fells Point gas station. Wardlow, who was wearing a mask and gloves, approached the victims and asked them for a ride.
When Victim 1 refused, Wardlow followed Victim 1 around the car and pulled out a 9mm Glock loaded with an extended magazine that held 31 rounds. Wardlow then pointed the gun at Victim 1 and demanded the car keys. Victim 1 complied and gave Wardlow the keys. Wardlow entered the car and drove off. Then the victims called 911 to report the carjacking.
Some of the victims’ digital devices remained in the car, which enabled them to track the devices. Activity stopped in the Liberty Heights neighborhood, so the victims assumed Wardlow tossed them from the car.
Later, the victims went to the spot where the devices were. There, they found Victim 1’s car still running, but then the car backed up and drove away. Victim 1 again called the police to alert law enforcement to the car’s location.
Then officers from the Regional Auto Theft Task Force (RATT) located the car at a nearby gas station. When law enforcement arrived at the gas station, Wardlow saw them and fled on foot.
Officers pursued Wardlow with the assistance of aerial surveillance. Law enforcement eventually found Wardlow hiding in the cellar entryway of a nearby residence. When officers searched Wardlow, they found the mask and gloves he wore during the carjacking. Additionally, officers found a bag in the car that contained the loaded Glock 9mm Wardlow pointed at Victim 1.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF, BPD, and BCPD for their work in the investigation and RATT for its valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Levin and John W. Sippel, Jr., who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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An Expired Tag Turns into Federal Prison Time for a Georgia ManRead the Press Release
Greenville, MS – U.S. Attorney Scott Leary announced that a Homeland Security Task Force Operation led to the sentence of Dannie Thomas, of Dacula, Georgia. Thomas was sentenced today before the Honorable Deborah M. Brown, Chief United States District Court Judge, to 120 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine.
This case was initiated by the Pontotoc County Sheriff’s Office. According to court documents, at the time of his arrest Thomas was in possession of 50 kilograms of cocaine, along with a large amount of currency. The defendant has a lengthy criminal record dating back decades.
Scott Leary, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi stated: “For years our communities have been decimated by the trafficking in illegal drugs. Cocaine fosters addiction, and addiction destroys families. Moreover, the illegal drug trade fuels violent crime and subsidizes drug cartels. And the drug cartels not only traffic in drugs but also traffic in human beings. Let’s work together in combatting this scourge. The Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative was designed to encourage state and federal law enforcement cooperation, which is what happened in this case. The Pontotoc County Sheriff’s Office and the DEA did a great job putting this case together. Let’s maintain the momentum.”
"This case highlights how critical proactive law enforcement is to our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge, John P. Scott, New Orleans Field Division. “Thanks to the sharp instincts of the Pontotoc County Sheriff’s Deputy and the investigative power of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), fifty kilograms of cocaine and a massive amount of illicit currency were intercepted before they could do further harm. The DEA, alongside our HSTF partners, will continue to relentlessly pursue and prosecute those who think they can transport illegal narcotics through our state."
Pontotoc County Sheriff Leo Mask stated, “I am proud to partner with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA to reduce the flow of illegal narcotics, and this clearly demonstrates what can be accomplished with that partnership.”
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating tin 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 Jackson comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ICE ERO, CBP, CBP OFO, CBP USBP, CBP AMO, CGIS, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS and with the prosecution being led by the United State’s Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad M. Doleac prosecuted the case.
Alleged Helicopter Business Owner Convicted at Trial for Making False Statements to Secure Bank Loan and Credit CardRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Talladega man has been convicted of lying to the FBI and of making false statements to a financial institution to secure a bank loan and credit card for his helicopter business, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr.
The jury returned a guilty verdict against Bermun D. McGhee, 46, after 3 days of testimony before Chief U.S. District Judge Madeline H. Haikala. McGhee was convicted of making a false statement to a federally insured institution, bank fraud, money laundering, and making a false statement to the FBI.
“Loan fraud is one of the many sources of illegal activity that has received new emphasis under the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the newly created National Fraud Enforcement Division of the Department of Justice,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “All of the tools are in place, and have created a whole of government approach to combatting fraud. The conviction of Bermun McGhee is the latest example of the great work of our Assistant U.S. Attorneys and our federal partners. To the fraudsters: we will find you, we will bring you to justice, and we will do all that we can to claw back illicit and fraudulently obtained funds.”
“The jury found that not only did the defendant lie to the bank, but he tried to cover it up by lying to the FBI,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Rummage. “Prosecuting fraud is a top priority of this office. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who defraud our financial institutions are identified, prosecuted and brought to justice.”
“This verdict reflects the jury’s careful consideration of the evidence and underscores our continued commitment to protecting the integrity of the financial system. The FBI’s investigation revealed a deliberate scheme designed to deceive financial institutions and misuse federally insured funds, and this outcome demonstrates our dedication to pursuing those who engage in fraud and holding them accountable,” said David R. Fitzgibbons, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Birmingham Field Office. “Fraud is a high FBI priority, and with our partners, we will aggressively pursue those who threaten our financial institutions. Our commitment will not waver.”
According to evidence presented at trial, McGhee applied for a $2.3 million loan to purchase helicopters. In support of his application, McGhee submitted a Personal Financial Statement in which he falsely represented that he owned assets exceeding $7.6 million, including more than $900,000 in specific banks, hundreds of thousands of dollars in stocks, and $1.5 million in an insurance policy’s cash surrender value. McGhee also submitted false tax returns in support of his application.
The bank ultimately decided not to offer McGhee a loan to buy helicopters but did offer a purchase credit card for his business, using the same financial information he had previously provided. McGhee signed the purchase credit card application form, agreeing that his representations were accurate, and then ran up a balance exceeding $550,000. McGhee was able to exceed the credit limit by making more than fifty payments on the account that were subsequently reversed due to insufficient funds or because the account used to make the payment was fake.
Finally, while McGhee was being interviewed by an FBI agent, he falsely stated that he could pay the bank back because he possessed $1.5 to $2 million in a retirement account at Charles Schwab. Per evidence at trial, when McGhee made this statement, he had a retirement account with Charles Schwab that had less than $1,600 in it.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Ryan S. Rummage and Brett A. Janich are prosecuting the case.
Abilene Man Receives 50-year Sentence for Producing and Transporting Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ABILENE, Texas—United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Ryan Raybould, announced that Kaleb Marc Rodriquez, a 27-year-old Abilene man who produced and transported child sexual abuse material was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison on July 22.
“I can think of few things more reprehensible than an individual entrusted with the care and well-being of a minor, who then takes advantage of a tragedy to betray that trust and horrifically violate that child in his care,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “This sentence affirms my office’s commitment to protecting children and prosecuting these vile criminals. I am extremely grateful to our law enforcement partners and the prosecutorial team for ensuring this predator can never again sexually exploit children in North Texas.”
“Protecting children from exploitation is a core mission for HSI. This sentence demonstrates that those who commit these crimes will be held fully accountable, said HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard. “We are grateful for the dedicated efforts of the Abilene Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in ensuring that this offender will no longer pose a threat to vulnerable children. HSI will continue to work tirelessly to investigate, apprehend, and prosecute those who prey on minors, and to support victims and their families throughout the process.”
According to court documents:
On Sept. 22, 2024, Jane Doe 1’s grandmother had a stroke, so her mother left Doe and her two siblings in Rodriquez’s care at her apartment. Doe’s mother also said she lent her phone to Rodriquez at that time.
On Feb. 17, 2025, Doe’s mother noticed that Rodriguez was logged into his Gmail account on her phone. She looked in Rodriquez’s account and saw that he had emailed himself a sexually explicit video of Doe, who was 14 years old at the time, the day he was alone with her at the apartment. Doe’s mother contacted the Abilene Police Department to report the sexual assault of a child.
APD officers responded and found a Snapchat video, which was produced at Doe’s apartment in Abilene. Based on a computer forensic analysis, Rodriguez used Doe’s mother’s cellular telephone and Snapchat account to create child pornography of the minor victim and then emailed that video to himself so he could access it from other electronic devices. During the 19-second sexually explicit video of Doe, APD detectives were able to identify Rodriquez’s hand because he had distinctive tattoos on them.
During an interview with APD, Rodriquez admitted that he knew Doe and that he lived with Doe’s family for about five to six months before the interview. Rodriquez admitted that he knew Doe was 14 because he went to her birthday party. Rodriquez recalled the stroke in September 2024 and that he may have been with Doe then.
The APD detective asked, “what if I told you that I saw your hands in a video with [Doe]?” Rodriquez replied, “I’d probably believe you.” The detective asked, “What if I told you the videos showed [Doe’s] anus and vagina?” Rodriquez responded, “Oh, my God. That, I have no clue. But I’d probably believe you because I was on drugs.”
The APD detective later told Rodriquez that he was going to jail. Rodriquez asked the detective to tell [Doe’s] family that he was sorry.
At the sentencing hearing, one of the victims stated, “I am glad that I don’t have to see you anymore. Knowing I am safe from being hurt by you again gives me some peace.”
A grand jury indicted Rodriguez in January 2026. He pleaded guilty to production of child pornography and transportation of child pornography in March 2026. U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix sentenced him to 600 months in federal prison.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Abilene Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey R. Haag, West Texas Branch Chief, prosecuted the case.
The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation and brought this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.