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27 July 2026
Seattle restaurant owner pleads guilty to failing to pay over employment taxes of more than $1.4 millionRead the Press Release
Seattle – The owner of a restaurant in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood pleaded guilty today to willfully failing to pay over more than $1.4 million in unemployment, Social Security, and Medicare taxes – some of which were withheld from employee paychecks, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Ruadhri McCormick, 44, of Seattle, owns and operates Single Shot restaurant. Between 2014 and 2024 he employed as many as 87 people as servers, bartenders, and cooks. While McCormick withheld payroll taxes from employee paychecks, he kept the money and failed to pay it over to the Internal Revenue Service. McCormick faces up to five years in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kimberly K. Evanson on October 5, 2026.
“While the restitution is owed to the IRS, those who are hurt by this conduct are the employees,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “The failure to pay over the taxes means the employees may not be eligible for many federal benefits that they paid for and may have been counting on. Mr. McCormick needs to make this right.”
“Mr. McCormick’s employees trusted him with their tax withholdings. Little did they know that Mr. McCormick took advantage of this trust and kept over $1 million of these funds for himself,” said Special Agent in Charge Carrie Nordyke, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Seattle Field Office. “Employers have an obligation to their employees to do the right thing. Today’s guilty plea is a step toward justice for those harmed by Mr. McCormick’s criminal actions.”
For thirty-six quarters between 2014 and 2024, McCormick failed to pay $1,027,362 in payroll taxes that had been withheld from employee paychecks. McCormick also failed to pay the employer portions of the Social Security taxes, Medicare taxes, and federal unemployment taxes – more than $400,000 – bringing the total tax loss to $1,446,341. McCormick agreed to pay that full amount as restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
Additionally, McCormick admitted in his plea agreement that he did not file his personal income taxes from any tax year 2015 through 2024.
In the plea agreement prosecutors agree to recommend no more than 15 months in prison, however the recommendation is not binding on Judge Evanson, and she can impose any sentence allowed by law.
Willful failure to pay over tax is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Watts Staniar.
Sacramento Resident Pleads Guilty to Bank and Tax Fraud Scheme Involving the Submission of Fraudulent PPP Loan ApplicationsRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Anthony West pled guilty today to one count of bank fraud and one count of aiding the filing of a false tax return, U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian announced.
West, 59, of Sacramento, California, was charged by Information on June 9, 2026, with one count of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344, and one count of aiding the filing of a false tax return, in violation 26 U.S.C. § 7206(2). In pleading guilty to the charges in the Information, West admitted that from April 2020 through February 2021, he submitted multiple false Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications with various federally insured banks. During the same period, he also submitted multiple false Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). These applications claimed that West owned multiple businesses, including a freight logistics company, car dealership, and multimedia company. In reality, West’s businesses were shell companies with no legitimate employees and no payroll expenses. In total, West attempted to obtain $1,321,279 from his false PPP and EIDL applications and actually obtained $571,179. Upon receiving the loan proceeds, West used the funds for his own personal enrichment and living expenses.
As part of his scheme, West aided the filing of a false tax return that claimed nearly one million dollars in nonexistent revenues. The return was part of an effort by West to make one of his businesses appear to be legitimate to the SBA, even though it had no real business activity, no revenues, and no employees.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) San Francisco Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge David Lowe made the announcement.
West’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 14, 2026, before United States District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín. West faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine on the bank fraud count and a maximum statutory penalty of three years in prison and a $100,000 fine on the tax fraud count. Any sentence will be imposed by the Court after consideration of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant United States Attorney Abraham Fine is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by IRS-CI.
Retired Massachusetts State Police Sergeant Sentenced for PPP FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A retired Sergeant for the Massachusetts State Police was sentenced on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, for fraudulently obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, which was later forgiven.
Damian Halfkenny, 54, of Boston, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to one year of probation. The defendant was also ordered to pay a fine of $5,000, restitution in the amount of $21,333 and forfeiture of $21,333. In April 2026, Halfkenny was charged with one count of wire fraud.
In 2021, Halfkenny was employed full-time as a Sergeant with the Massachusetts State Police earning $160,378 per year. He also owned and rented several real estate properties in Boston. In March 2021, Halfkenny submitted a PPP loan application for his real estate business, falsely representing that he had a monthly payroll expense of $8,488. In support of this application, Halfkenny provided a fabricated IRS Schedule C. Based on his misrepresentations, the U.S. Small Business Administration issued Halfkenny, and later forgave, a $21,220 PPP loan.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Wichers of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted the case.
Red Lake Man Sentenced to 41 Months’ Imprisonment for Domestic Assault by a Habitual OffenderRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Allen Robert Cloud, 46, has been sentenced to 41 months’ imprisonment for domestic assault by a habitual offender. Cloud was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Eric C. Tostrud on July 23, 2026.
According to court documents, on July 11, 2025, Cloud violently assaulted his long‑term partner, Victim 1, on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. After locating Victim 1 at a neighbor’s home, where she had been hiding from him, Cloud pushed her, kicked her, and pulled her hair. Cloud then forced Victim 1 to leave the neighbor’s house and prevented her from escaping. When Cloud fell asleep, Victim 1 again attempted to flee, but Cloud chased her down and struck Victim 1 on the head with a piece of concrete. Emergency medical services later arranged for Victim 1 to be airlifted to a nearby hospital.
Prior to the July 2025 assault, Cloud had at least five Tribal Court convictions for Criminal Domestic Violence and Stalking involving domestic assaults committed between April 2010 and April 2023, all involving Victim 1.
Cloud pleaded guilty in December 2025 to one count of domestic assault by a habitual offender resulting in substantial bodily harm.
“The courage of victims to seek assistance in domestic assault situations is critical to holding offenders accountable. My office remains committed to preventing domestic violence and safeguarding those who have been victimized,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
This case was investigated by the Red Lake Police Department and the FBI.
Assistant United States Attorney Garrett S. Fields prosecuted the case.
Murray County Resident Sentenced for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Leran Ortiz Pittman, 42, of Davis, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Davis Police Department.
On October 21, 2025, Pittman pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, Pittman knowingly possessed a semi-automatic pistol on January 7, 2025, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Pittman will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Mother and Son Charged in Stabbing That Left Victim Critically InjuredRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A mother and son from Zuni have been charged in federal court for their alleged roles in an assault in which two victims were stabbed and one suffered life-threatening injuries.
According to court documents, on June 14, 2026, at a residence on the Zuni Pueblo, Zachary Booqua, 18, and his mother, Kayla Marie Concho, 36, both enrolled members of the Zuni Pueblo Indian Tribe, allegedly assaulted Jane Doe and John Doe while the group was drinking alcohol. Following an argument, Booqua knocked John Doe unconscious and began punching him in the face. When Jane Doe attempted to pull Booqua off, both Booqua and Concho began punching Jane Doe in the face as well. Booqua then stabbed John Doe.
Booqua and Concho are both charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. If convicted of the current charges, Booqua and Concho eachface up to 20 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Teleky is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Most Wanted COVID-19 Fraud Fugitive Returned from Jamaica to Face Charges in $32 Million SchemeRead the Press Release
A fugitive on the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters List was returned Saturday to the Southern District of Florida to face federal charges for her alleged role in a scheme that fraudulently obtained more than $32 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds.
Elaine Escoe, 41, was charged by indictment in 2025 with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and multiple substantive counts of wire fraud and money laundering. After a federal arrest warrant was issued in May 2025, Escoe failed to appear for her court appearance and fled to Jamaica. Acting on information developed by the FBI, Jamaican authorities captured Escoe after receiving a tip. She was returned to South Florida Saturday through the coordinated efforts of the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, the Jamaican Constabulary Force (JCF), and the JCF Jamaica Fugitive Apprehension Team.
“This Most Wanted Fraudster allegedly obtained tens of millions in COVID-19 relief, stealing critical resources from legitimate businesses during a national crisis,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “She fled the country believing she could escape justice but ultimately could not. Those who exploit taxpayer-funded programs will be held accountable by this Department of Justice, no matter how long it takes or where they attempt to hide.”
“Elaine Angene Escoe’s arrest and return to the United States demonstrates that no one is beyond the reach of American justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “This Most Wanted Fraudster faces charges stemming from a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud taxpayer-funded COVID-19 relief programs. The Fraud Division will continue to vigorously prosecute those who steal from the American people.”
“The historic success of the ‘Most Wanted Fraudster’ list continues as the FBI and our partners just captured our fourth Most Wanted Fraudster in 5 weeks, and yet another high value target returned to the U.S. by this FBI,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Elaine Angene Escoe, on the run since May of 2025, was captured in Jamaica while living under a fake identity of ‘Harley Newman’ – and returned to the United States today to face justice. She is charged for her alleged involvement in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering – connected with a scheme to fraudulently obtain over $32 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds. Escoe brings the number of high value targets returned by the FBI to over 30 just since June. Led by President Trump, Vice President Vance, and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud – the FBI and our partners continue to see an unprecedented level of success taking down the worst of the worst alleged fraudsters. In just week weeks, we have captured four subjects on three different continents charged with a combined nearly $1.8 billion in fraud, collectively on the run for over 3,500 days, each hiding overseas – now returned and all in custody in 1.5 months. Under this administration, fraud is no longer tolerated – and those who steal from American taxpayers have nowhere to hide.”
“Elaine Escoe allegedly helped orchestrate a sprawling scheme that fraudulently obtained more than $32 million from programs created to keep American businesses and workers afloat during the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “After being charged, she failed to appear in court and fled to Jamaica. Defendants cannot escape accountability simply by leaving the country. Thanks to the determined work of our federal, state, and international partners, she is back in South Florida and will now face the charges against her. This coordinated effort demonstrates that we will pursue fugitives wherever they go and bring them back to face justice.”
According to court records, Escoe and her co-conspirators submitted or caused the submission of fraudulent applications seeking more than $32 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG), and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds. The applications falsely represented the existence, payroll, revenue, and operations of purported businesses to qualify for and maximize federal relief funding.
To support the fraudulent applications, the conspirators created fake tax documents, fabricated bank records, and other false financial records that lenders and program administrators relied upon in approving loans and grants. Some applications were submitted on behalf of businesses controlled by the conspirators, while others were submitted for third parties in exchange for substantial kickbacks — sometimes as much as 50% of the loan proceeds. The fraud proceeds were subsequently laundered among the conspirators.
Escoe is the last remaining defendant charged in the scheme. Following a December 2025 trial, Alfred Davis, Cher Davis, and Latoya Clark were convicted by a federal jury. James McGhow and Gino Jourdan previously pleaded guilty. Alfred Davis was sentenced to 235 months in prison, Cher Davis to 87 months, Clark to 70 months, Jourdan to 46 months, and McGhow to 42 months.
FBI Miami’s West Palm Beach Resident Agency is investigating the case, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami and the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office.
On June 4, the FBI announced the creation of the Most Wanted Fraudsters List. The list included Herb Kimble, a fugitive in a $1.2 billion telemedicine and durable medical equipment scheme, who, on June 8 — just four days later — was apprehended in the Philippines and was soon after charged as part of the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. On June 8, Escoe was added to the Most Wanted Fraudsters List, and she was apprehended less than two months later.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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-80076.
Milton, Vermont Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
BURLINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on July 24, 2026, Willard Perry, 68, of Milton, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford to a term of 60 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 15-year term of supervised release. The Court will hold a separate hearing as to restitution on September 16, 2026. Perry previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material, also known as child pornography.
According to court records, Perry possessed over 50,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse materials, including content depicting prepubescent female children between the ages of three and seven, who were bound, blindfolded, and sexually assaulted.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the FBI.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Arra. Willard Perry was represented by Brooks McArthur, Esq.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Member of Bronx Drug Gang Convicted of Racketeering and Attempted Murder in the Shooting of A Baby GirlRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that on Friday, July 24, 2026, a jury found SAMUEL BAUTISTA, a/k/a “Sammy,” guilty of racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder and assault, and additional firearms and drug-related charges. BAUTISTA was found guilty following a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 2, 2026.
“On the evening of January 19, 2022, Bautista, an armed drug trafficker, shot at a rival dealer but missed, instead striking an 11-month-old baby girl who was seated in a car seat beside her mother in the face,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Somehow, she survived, but with devastating injuries. It was such an outrageous crime that it captured the attention of people across this city and this country the night it occurred. New Yorkers want gun toting criminals off our streets and we hear them. We will not allow armed drug traffickers to take this city from the women and men who are raising their families here. And to the gangs who think the streets of New York are their territory to fight over, we remind you that you can cover your head, you can cover your face, but eventually, we will find you. And when we find you, you will be convicted and you will go to federal prison.”
According to the charging instruments, public court filings, and the evidence presented at trial:
From 2011 to 2023, members of 2860, a violent drug-trafficking organization and street gang based at 2860 Grand Concourse in the Bronx, New York, distributed large quantities of cocaine base, in a form commonly referred to as “crack,” to their customers on the street. Notwithstanding a prior federal drug-trafficking conviction for this very criminal activity, BAUTISTA was released from federal prison in 2016 and resumed armed drug trafficking. At all times, the members of 2860 fought with rival dealers, with whom they clashed on many occasions, including on January 19, 2022, when BAUTISTA shot at a rival dealer and instead hit the baby girl.
A number of BAUTISTA’s co-conspirators and fellow members of 2860 previously pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing, and the rival dealer whom BAUTISTA targeted on January 19, 2022, was also convicted and sentenced on multiple drug and firearms-related charges.
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BAUTISTA, 33, of the Bronx, New York, was convicted of racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder and assault in aid of racketeering, and multiple firearms and drug-related charges. The racketeering conspiracy and multiple firearms and drug-related charges all carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. BAUTISTA faces a combined mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years.
Mr. Clayton praised the victim’s parents for their commitment to obtaining justice for their daughter and the outstanding work of the New York City Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Bureau of Prisons, the New York City Department of Correction, and the Utica Police Department for their assistance.
This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to address strategically 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.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent Organizations and Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas John Wright and Ryan W. Allison are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Sandy Alcantara.
Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Gun, Drug Charges After Fleeing Police in Stolen VehicleRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Fulani Hasan Tahrike Herrod, 24, a Maryland resident and a convicted felon, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with his possession of a “ghost gun,” ammunition, and crack cocaine recovered following a police pursuit through Northwest Washington that ended when he crashed a stolen vehicle, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Herrod pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss to one count of unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. A sentencing date is scheduled for Nov. 6, 2026. Herrod faces a statutory maximum of 15 years in prison on the ammunition count and 20 years in prison on the drug count.
According to court papers, on March 8, 2026, a United States Park Police (USPP) officer monitoring police radio during a high-visibility patrol learned that a license plate reader had spotted a stolen vehicle, a black BMW sedan with Maryland tags, traveling in the area of Columbia Road NW.
The officer located the BMW near 16th Street and Irving Street NW and attempted to stop it. Herrod, the sole occupant, disregarded the officer's emergency lights and sirens and fled, running multiple traffic lights, driving at a high rate of speed, driving the wrong way, and colliding with several parked vehicles.
The pursuit ended in the area of 14th Street and Military Road NW, when Herrod drove over a curb and struck a parking sign, disabling the vehicle. As the officer attempted to handcuff him, Herrod got up and ran on foot, jumping a stone wall and crossing a grassy area before he was taken into custody with the assistance of the Metropolitan Police Department.
A search incident to arrest recovered a Maryland driver's license and $170 in cash from Herrod. In plain view on the driver's side floorboard of the vehicle, officers found a loaded, privately manufactured 9mm “ghost gun” bearing no serial number and untraceable by law enforcement. A backpack recovered from behind the driver's seat contained cocaine base, baking soda, a substance labeled as a cannabis concentrate, and a large quantity of small plastic bags. Laboratory testing by the Drug Enforcement Administration confirmed 22.34 grams of cocaine base and 6.06 grams of cocaine.
Herrod previously had been convicted in Montgomery County, Maryland, of possessing a loaded handgun in a vehicle, attempting to elude a uniformed police officer by fleeing on foot, and related traffic offenses.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Park Police, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington Division Office.
The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Liss, with significant assistance from former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ursula Simmons.
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Man who led drug trafficking conspiracy while incarcerated sentenced to over 18 additional years in prison in Homeland Security Task Force caseRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Terrance Edward Brown, 44, of Hampton Roads, was sentenced today to 18 years and 8 months in prison for conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, para-fluorofentanyl, and heroin and conspiracy to launder money.
According to court documents, in 2013, Brown was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Beginning in 2022 while Brown was incarcerated, he, along with Sylvia Naupendai Bryant and Felisa Alexander, procured cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and para-fluorofentanyl from out-of-state sources and had it shipped in wholesale quantities to Virginia. At Brown’s direction, Bryant and Alexander supplied those narcotics to, among others, Donte Antrell Cartwright, Rudy Malik Collick, Brandon Rashad Hargrow, Marlow Rodrico Malone, Marquis Ryan Scott, Sherrod Demaine Benns, Brehon Kanell Davis, Terry Damaine Burke, and David Liequan Hairston for further distribution.
From June 2022 to Dec. 13, 2023, Brown and his co-conspirators sent at least $1,147,768 in drug proceeds via electronic money transfers, bank deposits, and bulk cash shipments to both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals.
Bryant was sentenced on June 9 to two years and six months in prison.
Cartwright was sentenced on May 26 to seven years and eight months in prison.
Collick was sentenced on Jan. 22 to 14 years in prison.
Hargrow was sentenced on Jan. 22 to seven years and six months in prison.
Malone was sentenced on May 13 to 11 years and eight months in prison.
Scott was sentenced on May 7 to six years in prison.
Benns was sentenced on Jan. 13 to five years and 10 months in prison.
Burke was sentenced on May 14 to two years and six months in prison.
Hairston was sentenced on July 21 to six years and three months in prison.
Davis is currently awaiting sentencing.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division; the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS); the Federal Bureau of Prisons National Gang Unit; Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS); and the Norfolk Police Department investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Darryl J. Mitchell prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of 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 Washington, D.C., comprises agents and officers from the FBI; HSI; ATF; Drug Enforcement Administration; Diplomatic Security Service; USMS; CGIS; Naval Criminal Investigative Service; Transportation Security Administration Federal Air Marshals Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Enforcement and Removal Operations; and Washington Baltimore HIDTA, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
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. 2:25-cr-53.
Man Sentenced to 57 Months’ Imprisonment for Homicide by Vehicle While DUI at National ParkRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Christopher M. Thomas, of Bushkill, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on July 22, 2026, to 57 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Karoline Mehlachick for homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, in June 2024, Thomas was driving his vehicle through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area while high on methamphetamine. Multiple cars and two motorcycles had come to a stop more than 400 feet in front of Thomas to let deer cross the road. Thomas did not stop but continued to travel at a high rate of speed. Thomas crashed full speed into one of the motorcyclists, who was pronounced dead on scene. A subsequent blood draw from Thomas and forensic analysis revealed Thomas had significant levels of amphetamine and methamphetamine in his blood.
In imposing the sentence at the top of Thomas’s sentencing guideline range, Judge Mehalchick noted the serious and deadly nature of the offense, the need to provide just punishment, and the need to deter Thomas and others from committing similar offenses.
The National Park Service and the Pennsylvania State Police investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle A. Moreno prosecuted the case.
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Local Man Sentenced to Decade in Federal Prison for Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Minor in PensacolaRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Christopher W. Glover, 47, of Simms, Alabama, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison for one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor, and one count of traveling in interstate commerce to engage in illicit sexual conduct. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This case is a reminder that parents need to be aware of the online threats facing our kids from sexual predators, like this defendant, who seek to sexually exploit and victimize children. Our state and federal law enforcement partners are relentless in their pursuit of these sick individuals preying upon our kids, and my office will continue to follow through on those investigations and arrests with aggressive prosecutions to keep our children safe online.”
Court documents and pretrial hearings revealed that Glover communicated with who he believed to be a 14-year-old female and offered to pay her hundreds of dollars in return for sexual acts in October 2025. Glover then traveled from Alabama, where he worked for the Baldwin County School District, to Pensacola to meet with the minor. The purported minor, however, was an undercover law enforcement officer. When Glover reached Pensacola to engage in the sexual acts with the child, he was taken into custody. He possessed over $200 in cash in order to pay for the illicit sexual acts.
“This case demonstrates the unwavering dedication of our investigators, whose meticulous undercover work helped secure a 10‑year federal prison sentence and protect future victims,” said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass. “Their steadfast determination is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when law enforcement works tirelessly to pursue justice, making our communities safer and uphold the values we stand for every day."
Glover’s term of imprisonment will be followed by ten years of supervised release. Glover will also be required to register as a sex offender.
The case was jointly investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Florida Highway Patrol, and the United States Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit theU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Inver Grove Heights Man Sentenced to 54 Months’ Imprisonment for Being a Felon in Possession of Stolen FirearmsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Raul Gutierrez, Jr., 33, of Inver Grove Heights, was sentenced to 54 months’ imprisonment for being a felon in possession of firearms. He was sentenced before U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim on July 27, 2026.
According to court documents, on January 14, 2026, Gutierrez participated in a violent civil disturbance in Minneapolis where he and others broke into a vehicle belonging to the FBI. When his accomplice arrived, the vehicle was already extensively damaged, and the rear hatch was open. The accomplice broke into a vault in the cargo area of the vehicle and removed a rifle bag and a satchel of ammunition. The bag contained a semiautomatic rifle and a silencer, both of which are firearms under federal law. The accomplice gave the bag to Gutierrez, who took it to his car and drove away. Gutierrez abandoned the firearms a short time later, and his accomplice took the firearms to his home.
Before Gutierrez possessed the rifle and silencer, he had been convicted of burglary of a building in Dunn County, Wisconsin, and domestic assault-strangulation in Ramsey County, Minnesota. Both of those are felony convictions that barred Gutierrez from possessing firearms.
“Today’s sentencing reflects my office’s commitment to taking dangerous individuals off the streets and protecting the people of Minnesota. Stealing FBI firearms during a violent disturbance poses an unacceptable risk to public safety, and we will continue working with our federal partners to hold offenders accountable,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
“Today's sentence underscores the fact that violence, theft, and damage to public property have no place in lawful protests,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “To the contrary, criminal behavior like the theft of law enforcement weapons endangers the law-abiding public engaged in First Amendment expression. As we work to uphold the Constitution and protect the public, the FBI and our federal, state, and local partners will not tolerate dangerous and destructive behavior. This sentence proves there are serious consequences for those who seek to use lawful demonstrations as a cover for criminal behavior.”
“When a convicted felon took possession of a stolen FBI rifle and silencer, the danger extended far beyond the scene of the unrest,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Spence Burnett of the ATF St. Paul Field Division. “ATF, working alongside members of the Hennepin County Violent Offender Task Force, located and arrested Gutierrez just hours after the firearm was stolen. The U.S. Attorney’s Office carried the case forward in court, and this sentence holds Gutierrez accountable for the danger his actions created in the community.”
Gutierrez pleaded guilty on May 5, 2026. His accomplice, Alexio Miranda, pleaded guilty to possessing a stolen firearm on June 26, 2026, and his sentencing is scheduled for October 28, 2026.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Hennepin County Violent Offender Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Campbell Warner and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jeanne Semivan are prosecuting this case.
Note: Previous press release on Gutierrez’s accomplice here.
Illegal alien admits attempting to meet minor for sexRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 35-year-old illegal alien from Honduras living in Donna has pleaded guilty to attempting to entice or coerce a minor into engaging in sexual activity.
Anael Jossue Rodriguez-Rodas had been communicating with someone he believed to be a 16-year-old girl over the course of three days. During those conversations, Rodriguez-Rodas said he wanted to have sex with her and sent her a picture of two adults engaging in sexual activity to demonstrate what he wanted.
Eventually, Rodriguez-Rodas made plans to meet up with her at a local park and intended to take her back to his house to have sex.
Law enforcement took him into custody upon his arrival.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane will impose sentencing Oct. 6. At that time, Rodriguez-Rodas faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance of Edinburg Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarina S. DiPiazza and M. Alexis Garcia are prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
ISIS supporter admits to disseminating terrorist propaganda via social mediaRead the Press Release
HOUSTON - A 30-year-old Houston resident has pleaded guilty to concealing material support to a foreign terrorist organization and making false statements.
Anas Said is a pledged supporter of Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and used various social media accounts to post, share, or disseminate ISIS propaganda.
He also discussed ISIS propaganda using Telegram, where he received feedback on media he personally created. In one message, he discussed sending his clip to the Sarh al-Khilafah Institution, which agreed to publish it on their channel. According to court records, Sarh al-Khilafah, a/k/a Tower of the Caliphate, is a media entity that uses social media platforms to produce content ranging from operational security tips to guides on chemicals and explosives. They are also known for aggregating (ISIS) content online.
Said admitted to knowing Sarh al-Khilafah was a media entity working on behalf of, and in coordination with, ISIS. Prior to publishing his media, Said removed his name as designer of the video, thus concealing his material support of ISIS.
Said also pleaded guilty to lying to law enforcement regarding a weapon he possessed and discussed on social media. As part of the plea, he admitted to making the following statement: “I am thinking and hoping to kill the infidels with a weapon and as many people as possible in order to heal my heart.”
U.S. District Judge David Hittner accepted the plea on July 24 and will impose sentencing Oct. 16. At that time, Said faces up to 10 years in federal prison for concealing material support to a foreign terrorist organization and a maximum of five years for making material false statements. He could also be ordered to pay up to a $250,000 maximum fine on each count.
Said has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.
FBI Houston’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) conducted the investigation with special assistance from police departments in Houston and Sugar Land, as well as the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. The JTTF also includes Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Secret Service, Houston Metro Police Department, Customs and Border Protection, and Federal Air Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Schammel and Liesel Roscher prosecuted the case.
Houston Pair Admit to Conspiring to Defraud DoorDash by Impersonating Delivery DriversRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Evan Edwards pleaded guilty in federal court today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Her co-defendant, Oluwatobi Otukelu, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse, and was sentenced on June 22, 2026, to 24 months in federal prison for his role in the conspiracies. U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín handed down the sentence.
Edwards, 26 and Otukelu, 26, both of Houston, Texas, were indicted by a federal grand jury on September 17, 2024. Edwards pleaded guilty to one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 1349 today, and Otukelu pleaded guilty to one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 1349 and one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 371 on April 20, 2026.
In pleading guilty, Edwards and Otukelu both admitted to conspiring with each other and other co-conspirators to steal wages from DoorDash contractors known as “Dashers.” Specifically, Edwards and Otukelu admitted that they used the personal identifying information of Dasher victims without authorization to falsely impersonate Dashers to DoorDash support, take over Dashers’ online accounts, create unauthorized accounts, and direct payments of Dasher wages to accounts they controlled. Edwards and Otukelu also admitted to using the stolen funds to pay for goods and services, including vehicles, airline tickets, cosmetic procedures, and personal training.
Otukelu admitted that he and his co-conspirators stole at least $743,235.55 from Dasher victims and attempted to obtain at least an additional $69,276.30. Edwards agreed that she and Otukelu obtained at least $160,115. Both admitted to stealing from at least 138 individual Dasher victims.
Edwards’ sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 9, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. before Judge Martínez-Olguín. She faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years of imprisonment and a fine for the violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349. Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Scott Schelble made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle J. Kane and Anupam Dhillon are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Soana Katoa. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Homeland Security Task Force Search Warrants Result in Seizure of 1,311 Grams of Fentanyl, 50 Firearms in Kansas City, MissouriRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On July 17, federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, with the help of prosecutors, executed multiple federal search warrants, in Kansas City, Mo. The effort was part of the Homeland Security Task Force, a multi-agency Department of Justice Initiative, that works to protect U.S. citizens from security threats and violent crime.
The search warrants resulted in the combined seizure of 1,311 grams of fentanyl, 50 firearms, 1,559.2 grams of methamphetamine, 20,479 grams of marijuana, nearly $40,000 in cash, and six pill presses, among other illegal items.
“This Homeland Security Task Force operation demonstrates the tremendous impact of strong partnerships among federal, state, and local law enforcement working toward a shared mission,” said U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price of the Western District of Missouri. “By combining our resources and expertise, we are making our communities safer and ensuring that those who commit violent crimes are held fully accountable under the law.”
Several Kansas City, Mo. residents, including one Mexican national, were charged by criminal complaints during the operation:
Cornelius D. Phelps, 40; Maurice C. Beasley, 30; Jose E. Marquez-Echeverria, 30; and Porsha E. Dixon, 40, were charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
In addition, Phelps and Dixon were charged with conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Andre Evans, 46, and Andre Evans Jr., 18, were charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Taron D. Ford, 41, was charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, psilocybin, and marijuana. In addition, Ford was charged with possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of firearms.
Xavier Lambros, 27, was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The charges contained in these complaints 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.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Jennings and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alec Guy. It is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Jackson County Drug Task Force, and Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, and Grandview Police Department.
Homeland Security Task Force
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 Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.
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Haysville man instructed Australian to create and send him child pornographyRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 210 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release after he directed a foreign national living in another country to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and send him the images.
According to court documents, Ronald Waltrip, 62, of Haysville pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child – production of child pornography.
Waltrip used a social media account to exchange messages with an adult male in Australia. The messages show that Waltrip asked about a six-year-old child who was in the man’s custody and directed him to engage in sexual acts with the child. The man complied and at Waltrip’s request, created images of the child sexual abuse. The Australian man sent CSAM recordings to Waltrip.
“Waltrip and his co-conspirator may be on different continents, but they share the same evil fantasies. Waltrip’s crime is so egregious that even after he gets out of prison, he will be under the supervision of probationary officers for the rest of his life,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and Wichita Police Department investigated the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.###
Gunman Pleads Guilty to Daytime Robbery of Brinks Armored Truck in QueensRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, David Ortiz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank robbery, bank robbery, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence in connection with the gunpoint robbery of a Brinks armored truck transporting money belonging to a Bank of America branch. The proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo. When sentenced, Ortiz faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment for brandishing a firearm, in addition to any sentence imposed for the bank robbery charges, and restitution.
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 guilty plea.
“The defendant planned and carried out a violent armed robbery in broad daylight, threatening Brinks armored truck employees with a firearm while stealing more than half a million dollars destined for a neighborhood bank,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “This calculated crime may have looked like a scene out a movie, but it was terrifyingly real, and placed the victims in fear for their lives. Today’s guilty plea ensures that the defendant will face the consequences of his violent actions.”
"This was a brazen, violent crime that put innocent people in immediate danger. The FBI and NYPD moved quickly to track down David Ortiz to ensure he faced federal charges,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “Violent robberies have absolutely no place in New York, and we will not hesitate to go after those who threaten our communities. Our work with our partners has led to this guilty plea.”“This defendant planned and executed an armed robbery outside a bank in Queens, threatening employees at gunpoint and stealing more than $500,000 from an armored truck,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “He thought he could get away with this dramatic crime, but his plan was no match for the skilled NYPD detectives and the investigative tools they used to track and arrest him. I thank our investigators and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York for working to hold this criminal accountable.”
According to court filings and statements made during the plea hearing, on the morning of June 2, 2025 at approximately 8:43 a.m., Ortiz and an accomplice, both wearing masks and armed with guns, staged an ambush outside a Bank of America branch located at 205-02 Linden Boulevard in Queens, New York. The pair arrived before the scheduled cash delivery and waited for Brinks employees to transport money from an armored truck into the bank. When the employees began wheeling a bag of cash toward the bank entrance, Ortiz brandished a firearm, ordered the employees to the ground, and stole the service weapon of one of the armored car guards. At the same time, Ortiz’s accomplice loaded the bag containing approximately $542,000 into a Chevrolet sport utility vehicle which did not have license plates. The two men then fled with the stolen cash. Later, NYPD officers recovered a mask, a jacket, and a firearm discarded by Ortiz in the vicinity of Hilburn Avenue and Dunkirk Street. The stolen cash has not been recovered and Ortiz’s accomplice remains at large.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Special Assistant United States Attorney Brachah Goykadosh and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Amzallag are charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
DAVID ORTIZ
Age: 49
Brooklyn, New York and TexasE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 2-CR-343 (EK)
Gresham Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting a Federal Law Enforcement Officer During Weekend Riot Near Local ICE OfficeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.— A Gresham, Oregon, man pleaded guilty today after he was charged with assaulting a federal law enforcement officer during a declared riot near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland.
Ginovanni Joseph Brumbelow, 22, pleaded guilty to assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.
According to court documents, on June 14, 2025, Brumbelow struck a federal officer in the back of the head with a wooden stake while the officer was arresting another individual during a riot at the ICE facility in South Portland.
On July 15, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a three-count indictment charging Brumbelow with assault on a federal officer, assault of a federal officer with a dangerous weapon and civil disorder.
Brumbelow faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on October 19, 2026, before a U.S. district court judge.
As part of the plea agreement, Brumbelow has agreed to pay restitution in full to the victim.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.
The FBI and Federal Protective Service are investigating the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon is prosecuting the case.
German Subsidiary in Peachtree City Settles PPP Fraud Claim for $2.6 MillionRead the Press Release
NEWNAN, Ga. - Universal Environmental Services, LLC (“UES”), a Peachtree City, Georgia-based subsidiary of a large German conglomerate, will pay $2.6 million to resolve allegations that the company violated the False Claims Act in connection with applying and obtaining forgiveness for a loan under the COVID-era Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”).
“When people provide false information to obtain government-backed loans, they break the law and misdirect resources away from those who need them,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Our office will continue to enforce the False Claims Act to recover such funds, plus penalties.”
The government’s investigation arose after a whistleblower filed a complaint alleging that, in 2020, UES applied for a second-draw loan under the PPP. Such loans were only offered to “small” businesses, which the program rules and loan application defined to mean businesses that employed fewer than 300 employees, including all members of the corporate family. UES is a subsidiary of a large German conglomerate, the Avista Oil Group, and the entire corporate family employs well over 300 employees. Yet UES stated on the loan application that it employed 287 employees, a figure that reflected only its domestic employees. Based on this incorrect information, a bank approved an approximately $2 million loan, which the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) later paid off at taxpayers’ expense.
Under the False Claims Act, private citizens may bring suit for false claims on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery obtained by the government. The whistleblower will receive $312,000 from the settlement. UES will also pay the whistleblower’s attorney fees.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
This civil settlement resolves a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, United States ex rel. Verity Investigations LLC v. Universal Environmental Services, LLC, No. 3:24-cv-00109-LMM.
The investigation and resolution of this matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony DeCinque. Former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Karem also participated in the investigation, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted Pandemic Program fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or via the SBA Office of the Inspector General Complaint Submission at: https://sbax.sba.gov/oigcss.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Georgia Teen Pleads Guilty in Possession of Shotgun on U.S. Capitol GroundsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Carter Camacho, 18, of Smyrna, Georgia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with his possession of a loaded 12-gauge shotgun on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol Building as well as possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Camacho entered his plea before Judge Amit P. Mehta to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm within the United States Capitol Buildings or Grounds and one count of receipt of visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct. Judge Mehta scheduled sentencing for Dec. 8, 2026.
According to the court documents, on Feb. 17, 2026, Camacho parked a white Mercedes SUV on Maryland Ave. SE, between First and Third Streets. About 12:07 p.m., Camacho exited the vehicle and ran toward the United States Capitol carrying a firearm while wearing a tactical-style vest and camouflage-style clothing.
Camacho reached the steps on the western side of the Capitol. A uniformed officer with the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) asked Camacho what he was carrying. Camacho produced the firearm. The officer ordered Camacho to halt and lie down on the ground.
Once Camacho was on the ground, USCP officers recovered a Mossberg Model 88 12-gauge shotgun loaded with seven rounds in the tube and one in the chamber, with the safety off. An additional 17 rounds of ammunition were held in a carrier attached to the shotgun’s stock.
Officers placed Camacho in handcuffs. Camacho told USCP officers that he was there to talk to a Member of Congress.
USCP officers traced Camacho’s path to the white Mercedes SUV and located a fixed blade knife on the ground about forty feet from the vehicle. Officers then searched the vehicle and located Camacho’s cell phone. A subsequent search of the cell phone, led to the discovery of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Investigators determined that Camacho had purchased CSAM and was in possession of dozens of CSAM images and over 100 CSAM videos.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Capitol Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Washington Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan M. Horan, who is detailed to the U.S. Attorney’s Office from the United States Capitol Police.
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Camacho ran toward the United States Capitol carrying a firearm while wearing a tactical-style vest and camouflage-style clothing. Photo Credit: United States Capitol Police
USCP officers recovered a Mossberg Model 88 12-gauge shotgun loaded with seven rounds in the tube and one in the chamber, with the safety off. An additional 17 rounds of ammunition were held in a carrier attached to the shotgun’s stock. Photo Credit: United States Capitol Police
Former U.S. Navy SEAL Sentenced for Transporting Explosives to Throw at Law Enforcement at California ProtestsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A former U.S. Navy SEAL who intended to use explosives against law enforcement officers at California protests and whose actions prosecutors argued were motivated by extremist, antisemitic beliefs was sentenced to 16 months in prison.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on June 12, 2025, Gregory Vandenberg, 49, was traveling from El Paso, Texas, to San Diego, California, to attend the “No Kings Day” protests scheduled for June 14, 2025. While in New Mexico, Vandenberg visited a travel center off Interstate 10 near Lordsburg and purchased six large mortar fireworks, which are designed to shoot high into the air and explode, and 72 M-150 firecrackers, which are designed to sound like gunfire. During this visit, he told the store clerk that he intended to throw fireworks at police officers at the upcoming protests. He asked detailed questions about the amount of gunpowder in the fireworks, their explosive impact, and their ability to harm others. He also discussed taping multiple fireworks together to increase their explosive force. Vandenberg emphasized that he was not interested in the color or display of the fireworks, only in their ability to create explosions and injure law enforcement officers. He also encouraged the clerk to join him at the protests and discussed distributing fireworks to others at the event.
Employees, alarmed by Vandenberg’s statements and his repeated expressions of intent to throw explosives at law enforcement officers, recorded his license plate and contacted law enforcement. Authorities later alleged that Vandenberg intended to use the fireworks against law enforcement personnel during the protests, conduct that prosecutors described as posing a serious risk of injury or death to officers and bystanders alike.
Federal agents tracked Vandenberg to Tucson, Arizona, and arrested him the following morning while he was sleeping in his car at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Vandenberg initially claimed to be traveling for work (despite being unemployed at the time) and later falsely stated he was visiting friends in Phoenix that weekend.
A search of his vehicle revealed the purchased fireworks, along with clothing displaying antisemitic, anti-Israel, and extremist imagery, including a shirt bearing the Al-Qaeda flag and another calling for the destruction of Judea. Agents also discovered that the home screen on Vandenberg’s phone displayed the Taliban flag. Investigators further determined that Vandenberg had worn a custom-made shirt bearing the word “AMALEK” during his visit to the travel center, which he stated meant “destroyer of Jews.”
A review of Vandenberg’s phone revealed antisemitic, anti-Israel, anti-U.S., and extremist content, including internet searches and messages expressing hostility toward Jews and Israel. According to court records, investigators found messages indicating that Vandenberg viewed the United States government as being controlled by Israel and Jewish people and that those beliefs motivated his desire to target law enforcement officers at the protests. Prosecutors argued that his conduct was driven by extremist, antisemitic views and posed a grave threat to public safety.
On January 12, 2026, following a five-day jury trial, a federal jury convicted Vandenberg of transportation of explosives with intent to kill, injure or intimidate and attempted transportation of prohibited fireworks into California. Upon his release from prison, Vandenberg will be subject to one year of supervised release.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Tucson Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Phoenix Field Office, Tucson Police Department, U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso. The Las Cruces Branch Office of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case.
Former Federal Law Enforcement Officer Agrees to Plead GuiltyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former U.S. Postal Inspector – a federal law enforcement officer authorized to carry a firearm, make arrests and execute search warrants – has agreed to plead guilty to allegedly stealing over $330,000 in cash from packages mailed by elderly victims and then laundering the cash and failing to report it to the Internal Revenue Service. The defendant allegedly used the stolen cash to pay for a pool patio, granite countertop for his outdoor bar, lighting for his pool and bar, Caribbean cruise expenses, and escorts.
Scott Kelley, 52, of Pembroke, Mass., has agreed to plead guilty to 44 counts of a 45-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Boston. Specifically, Kelley has agreed to plead guilty to five counts of wire fraud; five counts of mail fraud; five counts of mail theft by a postal officer; 23 counts of money laundering; one count of structuring to evade reporting requirements; and five counts of filing false tax returns. U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs has scheduled a change-of-plea hearing for July 29, 2026, at 1:00 pm.
Kelley was a Postal Inspector at the Boston Division headquarters of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the law enforcement arm of the Postal Service. In 2015, Kelley became the Team Leader of the Mail Fraud Unit, which, among other things, investigated lottery and other scams that targeted senior citizens and other vulnerable populations.
According to the indictment, between January 2019 and Aug. 11, 2023, Kelley used deceptive emails to cause unwitting postal employees to intercept packages that a USPIS algorithm had flagged as likely having been mailed by scam victims, and send them to him. In total, Kelley allegedly requested that approximately 1,950 packages be intercepted and mailed to him. It is alleged that Kelley opened intercepted parcels that looked or felt like they might contain cash, and stole any cash inside.
The indictment identifies seven victims who were scammed into mailing cash in parcels that Kelley allegedly intercepted and opened, and that he stole the cash inside. The average age of the victims was 75, with the oldest victim being 82. The victims mailed between $1,400 and $19,100 cash. One victim died after Kelley was indicted.
The charges of wire fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of mail fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of theft of government money provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of money laundering each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000, or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater. The charge of structuring provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of false tax returns each provide for a sentence of up to three years in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael Ray, Special Agent in Charge, Office of Professional Responsibility, Technical and Sensitive Operations Field Office, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General; and Tom Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Wichers and Eric L. Hawkins of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Expatriated Hedge Fund Manager Sentenced to Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
A Cayman resident who renounced his U.S. citizenship was sentenced today to 37 months in prison for tax evasion.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Justin Ryan Schmidt, formerly of Austin, managed a hedge fund focused on cryptocurrency investments. Over a period of several years, Schmidt earned a total of at least $7 million from his hedge fund but did not report any of this income on his 2020, 2021 or 2022 tax returns. Instead, Schmidt falsely reported earning income of $5,000 or less during each of those years. At the same time, he held millions of dollars in foreign bank accounts that he failed to disclose to the IRS.
“Today’s sentence makes clear that renouncing U.S. citizenship does not shield you from American justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Mr. Schmidt deliberately hid millions in income and assets from the IRS, filed false statements, and cheated America’s tax system. Despite his best efforts to evade the reach of the Justice Department, Mr. Schmidt will now begin to reap the true reward of his crimes.”
“Schmidt benefited from being a U.S. citizen but didn't want to pay the taxes to reap the benefits. When it was profitable to renounce his citizenship, he turned his back on his country, even lying about how much he was worth to avoid paying one last time,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus Jr. of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Texas Field Office. “As criminal investigators for the IRS, we aren't limited by our nation's borders. He may have walked out on our country, but he didn't leave our sight.”
Schmidt renounced his U.S. citizenship in March 2022. Individuals who expatriate from the United States are required to report certain information to the IRS about their net worth, income, assets, and liabilities as of the date of their expatriation. Schmidt filed a false expatriation statement reporting that his net worth was $25,000, knowing that his net worth at the time exceeded $2 million. He also falsely stated that he had complied with his tax obligations for the preceding five years.
In 2023, Schmidt paid approximately $5.8 million to purchase a house in Snowmass Village, Colorado, and sold it three months later for approximately $9 million. Schmidt had a duty to report his U.S. sourced income but did not report the gains from this sale and evaded payment of taxes by submitting false documents to prevent taxes from being withheld on the sale.
In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman for the Western District of Texas ordered Schmidt to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $3.4 million in restitution to the United States.
Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
IRS-CI investigated the case.
Senior Litigation Counsel Michael C. Boteler and Trial Attorney Michael Jones of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Doug Gardner for the Western District of Texas.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Eufaula Resident Sentenced for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Frank William Shouse, 69, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine, and 70 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The Court ordered the terms to be served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office, and the District 18 District Attorney’s Office.
On October 21, 2025, Shouse pleaded guilty to the charges in federal district court. According to investigators, on August 21, 2025, Shouse knowingly and intentionally distributed approximately an ounce of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, from his Eufaula residence. On August 29, 2025, agents executed a search warrant at Shouse’s residence and discovered approximately two and one-half ounces of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine packaged for distribution in multiple small baggies.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Shouse will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob Wallace represented the United States.
Dominican National Sentenced to More Than 4 Years in Prison for Passport Fraud and Identity Theft OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE LUIS RODRIGUEZ, 46, a citizen of the Dominican Republic unlawfully residing in the United States, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 50 months of imprisonment for passport fraud and identity theft offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2025, an individual who had been recently released from prison (the “victim”) applied for a Connecticut identification card at the Waterbury branch of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”). When processing the victim’s application, the DMV determined that there was already an active driver’s license for the victim that had been issued in 2001 and renewed multiple times. An investigation determined that Rodriguez, who lived in Waterbury, was the unlawful holder of the driver’s license and had assumed the victim’s identity. Investigators discovered that the victim’s identity had two different FBI fingerprint profiles, and that the Waterbury Police Department had arrest records and booking photographs of Rodriguez posing at the victim.
On March 5, 2020, Rodriguez used the name, date of birth, and place of birth of the victim to apply for a U.S. passport in Waterbury. He received the passport and used it for travel and identification purposes.
Rodriguez was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on December 30, 2025, after he submitted the false passport to the U.S. Department of State and falsely represented himself as the victim and as a U.S. citizen. He has been detained since his arrest.
On April 28, 2026, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of using a passport secured by a false statement and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Rodriguez will be removed to the Dominican Republic when he completes his prison term.
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, with the assistance of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles and the Waterbury Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen.
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.
District Man Sentenced to 18 Years for Homicide in Northwest WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Tyree Irving, 29, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced in D.C. Superior Court to 18 years in prison for the killing of Davane Williams on January 15, 2019, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Irving pleaded guilty on February 2, 2026, to one count of second-degree murder while armed, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. On July 24, 2026, the Honorable Judge Neil Kravitz ordered Irving to the 18-year prison term to be followed by five years of supervised release.
On January 15, 2019, at 2:59 p.m., Irving walked toward the Tyler House, at the 1200 block of North Capitol Street, NW. Williams and several other men were standing on the sidewalk outside the entrance pathway to the Tyler House. Irving, who had a .40 caliber pistol concealed in his clothing, approached the group and immediately started yelling at Williams. After yelling at Williams for less than 10 seconds, Irving pulled the .40 caliber pistol out and fired five shots at Williams, striking him five times. Irving put the pistol away and then ran away southbound across M Street and changed clothes before fleeing southbound away from the Sursum Corda neighborhood. Irving was arrested on February 27, 2019, and has been in custody since.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery W. Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Hall and Wes Faulkner, who prosecuted the case.
Crawfordville Man Indicted for Federal Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Todd James Mitchell, 54, of Crawfordville, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and possession of an unregistered firearm silencer. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charge.
Mitchell appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for September 8, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Tallahassee, Florida.
If convicted, Mitchell faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. He faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment for possession of an unregistered firearm silencer.
The case was investigated by the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Corrupt Guatemalan Mayor Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Charge as Part of Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) InitiativeRead the Press Release
A former Guatemalan mayor, Romeo Ramos Cruz, 58, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to import more than five kilograms of cocaine into the United States. Ramos Cruz arrived in the United States on Aug. 4, 2025, following extradition from Guatemala, where he had been detained at the request of the United States.
According to court documents, from 2022 through 2023, Ramos Cruz served as a member of a Guatemala-based drug trafficking organization responsible for transporting cocaine intended for U.S. markets. During this time, Ramos Cruz served as the mayor of Santa Lucia municipality in Guatemala’s Escuintla Department and exploited his official position to facilitate the organization’s operations. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Ramos Cruz appointed a known drug trafficker to a high-ranking position in the municipal police force and also used his authority and access as mayor to coordinate logistics and transportation of a cocaine shipment destined for the United States, agreeing to help disguise the shipment from Venezuela to Guatemala as a donation of cement to his municipality. He prepared a letter on official municipal letterhead intended to help the shipment evade inspection by Guatemalan authorities.
Ramos Cruz faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. Sentencing has been set for Dec. 2.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the FBI Washington Field Office (WFO) made the announcement.
The FBI WFO led U.S. investigative efforts with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration Miami Division and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans Field Office. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs working with Guatemalan law enforcement authorities, INTERPOL, and the FBI provided critical assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Ramos Cruz to the United States.
Trial Attorneys Roger Polack and Kirk Handrich of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF) are prosecuting the case.
MNF’s mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.
MNF’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Unit investigates and prosecutes the top command and control elements of international drug cartels, drug trafficking organizations and related transnational criminal organizations.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
Convicted felon pleads guilty to federal firearm charge after high-speed pursuit in Green RiverRead the Press Release
A man living in Green River, Wyoming, was sentenced on July 28, 2026, after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Cameron Justin Agee, 31, with no known address, was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on July 3, 2025, law enforcement officers were executing a search warrant at a residence in Green River on an unrelated investigation when they encountered Agee, who had an active arrest warrant. As officers approached his vehicle, Agee reversed into an unmarked state vehicle before fleeing the scene at a high rate of speed. During the pursuit, Agee threw two loaded .22-caliber pistols from his vehicle near the intersection of Indian Hills Drive and Shoshone Road before returning to the original location and surrendering to law enforcement. One of the firearms had been reported stolen. Agee is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 2017 Wyoming burglary conviction and multiple felony convictions in Utah.Agee was indicted on March 18 and pleaded guilty of May 7. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on July 28 in Cheyenne.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the Green River Police Department, the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office, and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Elmore prosecuted the case.
This case was bought as Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in theDepartment’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.
Convicted Sex Offender Receives an Additional 48 Month Sentence for Possession of Contraband in PrisonRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Nashville, Tennessee man, Joseph Nichols, 42, who is currently incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution (“FCI”) in Pekin, has been sentenced to an additional 48 months’ imprisonment for possession of contraband in prison.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that Nichols was convicted of receipt, possession and distribution of child pornography in 2016 in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee and was sentenced to 216 months imprisonment followed by a lifetime of supervised release. In June 2025, Nichols was transferred to FCI-Pekin from another federal prison. Upon his arrival at FCI-Pekin, staff located a razor blade and images of Child Sexual Abuse Material (“CSAM”) that were hidden in a prison-issued hearing aid case marked with Nichol’s name. Both the images and razor are prohibited items in federal prisons.
Nichols pled guilty in March 2026 to a two-count Information filed in U. S. District Court in Peoria. Judge Hawley noted that possessing CSAM and other prohibited items is a serious offense. Nichols was sentenced to an additional 48 months’ imprisonment to be served consecutively to the child pornography sentence he is currently serving.
The statutory penalties for possession of contraband, that included the razor blade contraband, are not more than 5 years imprisonment, followed by not more than 3 years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. The penalties for the possession of contraband that included the Child Sexual Abuse Materials are not more than 6 months imprisonment, followed by up to 1 year of supervised release, and up to a $5000 fine.
The case was investigated by Special Investigative Services of FCI Pekin and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz represented the government in the prosecution.
Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Leaving a Residential Re-Entry CenterRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to leaving a residential re-entry center where he was serving the remainder of his federal sentence after being convicted of being a felon in possession of ammunition.
Tyreek Hall, 23, pleaded guilty on July 23, 2026 to escape. U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for Oct. 15, 2026. Hall was charged in February 2026.
According to the charging documents, in May 2024, Hall was sentenced in the District of Massachusetts to 46 months in prison for illegally possessing ammunition while on parole as a convicted felon. In July 2025, Hall was transferred from a correctional institution to a residential re-entry center in Boston to serve the remainder of his confined sentence.
As part of the reentry program, Hall was employed as a “part-time vehicle cleaner.” At approximately 11 p.m. on Sept. 7, 2025, when Hall returned to the residential re-entry center from work, staff conducted a breathalyzer test as part of their standard security screening. Hall tested positive, refused a subsequent breathalyzer test and refused to submit to a urinalysis test. After his refusals, Hall was allowed to go to his living quarters. At approximately 11:56 p.m., Hall returned to the front desk and walked out of the front door. Hall did not return to the residential re-entry center and was considered an active escape from federal custody until his apprehension.
The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts Dennis Matulewicz made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Dawley of the Organized Crime and Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
Cincinnati man sentenced to federal prison for $6.5 million fraud schemeRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A local man was sentenced in federal court here today to 40 months in prison for defrauding victims out of more than $6.5 million through an online laundry and dry-cleaning pickup and delivery business.
Benjamin Cantey, 43, of Cincinnati, lied to investors and potential investors about his business’s financial stability, growth, and potential growth, and he lied about his business experience and prior business success.
According to court documents, in 2019, Cantey started Carbon IQ Inc., doing business as Rumby, as a Delaware corporation that he operated out of Cincinnati. Rumby was a venture-backed startup that purported to provide an e-commerce platform for pickup and delivery of laundry and dry cleaning. Cantey sought to raise investment money as the founder and CEO of the company.
From 2020 through 2022, Cantey communicated false information that overstated Rumby’s revenue, profits, bank balance, growth and potential growth. He sent false presentation decks to victims.
For example, Cantey claimed that Rumby ended May 2022 with a $1.5 million bank balance when in reality the account had a negative balance of approximately -$53,000.
The defendant spent $850,000 in investor money to help purchase a 5,000-square-feet, $1.7 million home on Garden Place in Cincinnati.
Cantey was indicted in December 2024 and pleaded guilty in October 2025 to wire fraud.
Vipal J. Patel, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew C. Singer is representing the United States in this case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Director of a Westville Security Company Charged for Their Roles in a $9 Million TheftRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Barrington man, who was the Chief Operating Officer for a security business was charged for his role in embezzling $3 million from a Westville business and bank fraud for the loss of $9 million that the company held in trust for a bank, announced U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer.
Also charged was a Clementon man, who was the Deputy Director of the Westville security company for his role in embezzling over $2 million, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Robert Cormier, 51, of Barrington, New Jersey, was charged in an indictment with embezzlement by bank agent, bank fraud, money laundering, income tax evasion and failing to collect and pay over payroll taxes. Cormier made his initial appearance and was arraigned on July 20, 2026 in Camden federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth A. Pascal.
Richard Eisler, 38, of Clementon, New Jersey, was charged in a separate indictment with embezzlement by bank agent, money laundering, income tax evasion and witness tampering. Eisler made his initial appearance and was arraigned on 7/24/26 in Camden federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth A. Pascal.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In 2017, Robert Cormier started Erigere Rapidus Solutions, Inc. (ERS), a security services business, that was located in Westville, New Jersey. In late 2019, ERS entered into an agreement with a local bank to collect, count, transport, store and deposit cash on behalf of a bank at the Federal Reserve Bank in Philadelphia. ERS’s employees, including Eisler, were responsible for picking up cash from various customers of the bank, counting the cash at ERS’s office, and providing accurate daily reports of the cash to the bank. Those reports were supposed to reflect accurately the cash that ERS had collected on behalf of the bank. Cormier was responsible for providing the bank accurate information about the daily balance of cash in ERS’s vault, including cash transactions coming in and out of ERS, the denominations of each of the transactions, and the ending balance of bank’s cash that was being stored by ERS. The bank relied on the reports from ERS to appropriately credit the relevant customers’ accounts for the cash that had been collected by ERS on behalf of the bank.
After picking up the cash from the bank’s customers, ERS stored the cash in a vault at ERS’s office in New Jersey, until it could be deposited in the Federal Reserve Bank in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for deposit on behalf of the bank.
From March 2019 to September 2022, ERS collected, counted, stored, transported, and deposited millions of dollars in cash for the bank. On a daily basis, ERS stored cash in its vault, in varying amounts ranging from $1 to $12 million. At the time that the bank ended their relationship with ERS, the bank determined that over $8 million was missing from the vault.
Beginning in 2020 and continuing until 2022, Cormier took various amounts of cash out of ERS’s vault, which cash belonged to the bank, without authorization by the bank. Cormier embezzled and stole at least approximately $3 million. Cormier used the embezzled funds to: pay cash payroll for employees at ERS; pay invoices for the installation and monitoring of security systems at various businesses; pay for the installation of security systems in the ERS Offices and vehicles; pay for ERS company vehicles; deposit, and caused to be deposited, cash into ERS’s bank accounts; and pay personal expenses for himself and his family members, including, among other things, the installation of a deck and a pool, and household renovations. Cormier did not report this extra income to the IRS nor did he collect and pay over payroll taxes for ERS’s employees.
Beginning in 2020 and continuing until late 2021, Eisler took various amounts of cash belonging to the bank out of ERS’s vault without authorization by the bank. Eisler embezzled and stole at least approximately $2 million of this money. Eisler used the embezzled funds to pay personal expenses for himself and family members and deposit cash into his personal account, joint accounts, or his family members’ bank accounts. The funds were used to purchase luxury vehicles, such as an Audi RS7, Audi R8, Porsche 911, Ford F450 truck, Dodge Durango, Harley Davidson motorcycle, and a recreational vehicle. Eisler also used the funds to pay for his wedding rings, wedding reception, a roof on his residence and to pay off an automobile loan. Eisler did not report this extra income to the IRS. Additionally, during the investigation, Eisler attempted to obstruct the investigation by attempting to persuade a witness to lie to the federal agents.
For Cormier, the counts of embezzlement by bank agent and bank fraud each carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000, or twice the gross loss to the victim or gain to the defendant, whichever is greatest. The counts of income tax evasion each carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross loss to the victim or gain to the defendant, whichever is greatest. The counts of failure to collect and pay over payroll taxes each carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 3 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross loss to the victim or gain to the defendant, whichever is greatest. The counts of money laundering carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the value of the laundered money, whichever is greatest.
For Eisler, the count of embezzlement by bank agent carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000, or twice the gross loss to the victim or gain to the defendant, whichever is greatest. The counts of concealment money laundering each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine of up to $500,000, or twice the value of the laundered money. The counts of launder money – transacting in criminal proceeds each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the value of the laundered money, whichever is greatest. The counts of income tax evasion each carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross loss to the victim or gain to the defendant, whichever is greatest. The count of witness tampering carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross loss to the victim or gain to the defendant, whichever is greatest.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictments against Cormier and Eisler are merely accusations, and Cormier and Eisler are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Philadelphia Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Wayne Jacobs, and agents of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan, with the investigation leading to these charges. He also thanked the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Grace MacAulay, for their valuable assistance in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Richardson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.
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Defense counsel:
Cormier: Maggie Moy, Esq. Camden, New Jersey.
Eisler: Zach Intrater, New York, New York.
cormier.indictment.pdf eisler.indictment.pdfChief Executive Officer of Steel Manufacturer Pleads Guilty in Connection with $66 Million Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced the guilty plea of DEREK WACHOB for orchestrating a multi-year scheme to defraud individual investors, a bank, an investment firm, and at least two steel pipe distributors of at least $66 million. WACHOB pled guilty today to one count of wire fraud before U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken.
“Derek Wachob portrayed himself as a billionaire and accomplished CEO, but the success he projected was a fiction sustained by fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “He defrauded victims—including some of his closest friends—of more than $66 million and used their money to bankroll a lifestyle of luxury cars, vacations homes, private jets, helicopters, and yachts. In New York, we celebrate ambition, hard work, and honest achievement. These are bedrock principles that fueled the growth of our great city. Fraudsters undermine those principles and erode the trust in the fairness of our society. Today’s guilty plea sends a message that fraud will not be tolerated and ensures Wachob faces the consequences of his lies.”
According to the charging documents and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings:
From at least in or about October 2022 through in or about August 2024, WACHOB—the Chief Executive Officer of a large manufacturer of steel pipes based in Sapulpa, Oklahoma (“Company-1”)—engaged in a scheme to defraud individual investors, a bank, an investment firm, and at least two steel pipe distributors of at least $66 million. To obtain money from each of the victims, WACHOB lied and misled the victims by, among other things, falsely claiming to offer purported business opportunities based on future steel purchases that WACHOB pledged to make. WACHOB used these misrepresentations to take millions of dollars from even some of his closest friends. Instead of using the victims’ money as promised, WACHOB spent the funds to maintain his extravagant lifestyle of expensive cars, vacation homes, private jets, helicopters, and yachts, and prop up Company-1, which was struggling financially and in debt.
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WACHOB, 53, of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. WACHOB is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Oetken on November 17, 2026.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. Clayton also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma for its assistance.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Danielle Kudla and Adam Sowlati are in charge of the prosecution.
California Man Sentenced in Connection with Cross-Country Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal judge sentenced a California man, today, for his involvement in a cross-country money laundering conspiracy involving proceeds from marijuana trafficking.
U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Nicholas Parks, 54, of Winnetka, California, to three years in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for conspiring to commit money laundering. Judge Maddox also ordered Parks to pay a forfeiture amount of $329,071. Parks, who pled guilty to the charges in April 2026, acknowledged that he and his co-conspirators laundered $329,071, between October 2020 and January 2021, in connection with the scheme.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Akil Baldwin, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland.
According to court documents, Parks admitted that from October 2020 through January 2021, he participated in a conspiracy to launder proceeds he and his associates generated through selling marijuana in Maryland. As part of the conspiracy, female co-conspirators transported marijuana from California to Maryland, usually via commercial air travel. Parks traveled separately from the co-conspirators to Maryland, but he sold the marijuana with local co-conspirators after arrival.
When the co-conspirators finished distributing the drugs, Co-Conspirator 1 used a couple of methods to launder the funds. Co-Conspirator 1 either drove U.S. currency across the country to California or provided the proceeds to a Maryland laundering contact. The contact then moved the money through financial institutions, resulting in two levels, or layers, of laundering transactions.
HSI agents identified several occasions that the co-conspirators laundered marijuana trafficking proceeds. Law enforcement used evidence obtained through multiple methods, including controlled money pick-ups, text messages between co-conspirators, along with recorded calls and meetings, to link the co-conspirators to the conspiracy.
On October 15, 2020, Texas Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop of Co-Conspirator 1 in Carson County, Texas. During the stop, officers recovered approximately $109,071 in U.S. currency from Co-Conspirator 1’s vehicle. Officers also seized Co-Conspirator 1’s cell phone.
Following a search of Co-Conspirator 1’s phone, law enforcement uncovered a lengthy text message exchange between Parks and Co-Conspirator 1. The text-message exchange appeared to show Parks’ involvement in the money laundering and drug trafficking conspiracy.
Messages included detailed ledgers of drug sales Parks and his associates conducted along with the money owed to each of them for their participation. The most recent messages showed that Parks provided Co-Conspirator 1 with U.S. currency to transport from Maryland back to California. Additionally, the text messages revealed that Co-Conspirator 1 was supposed to drop off a portion of the proceeds to a location in Oklahoma. Based on the messages, the amount of U.S. currency found in Co-Conspirator 1’s vehicle was consistent with the remaining money bound for California and money he was paid for his services.
Co-Conspirator 1 later confirmed to HSI agents that the money found in his vehicle consisted of proceeds from the marijuana trafficking conspiracy in Maryland. He also admitted he was driving the money back to California and was supposed to make a drop in Oklahoma.
Then between December 2020, and January 2021, HSI agents conducted three controlled money pick-ups. Co-Conspirator 1 unknowingly provided the drug proceeds to confidential informants (CIs) to launder funds from Maryland to California. On each occasion, Co-Conspirator 1 provided U.S. currency to one of two CIs, who then provided the funds to HSI agents. HSI agents then deposited the funds into an HSI Riverside government-controlled bank account. Then the HSI agents withdrew the cash and utilized undercovers and/or cooperating witnesses to deliver the funds to co-conspirators in California. Over the course of the three controlled money drops, Co-Conspirator 1 provided the CIs with approximately $220,000.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI for its work in the investigation and Texas Highway Patrol for its valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Levin 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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Bloods Leader Arrested for Racketeering and MurderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Pete Gizas, and the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced the unsealing of a four-count Indictment charging CANDICE JOHNSTON, a/k/a “Queen,” with racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, murder through the use of a firearm, and conspiring to traffic firearms in connection with JOHNSTON’s long-running leadership of the Red Life Militia gang, one of the sets of the nationwide Bloods gang. JOHNSTON was arrested this morning and was presented today in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge John P. Cronan.
“As alleged, Candice Johnston, known as ‘Queen,’ was a leader of a violent set of the Bloods gang calling themselves the Red Life Militia,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “During Johnston’s reign, on May 31, 2017, she ordered the brutal robbery and murder of Noel Farrow in the Bronx. The people of the Bronx did not ask for, want, or deserve a destructive, self-proclaimed ‘militia,’ led by criminals in their neighborhood. New Yorkers deserve to live safely in their neighborhoods, free from the influence of gangs like that which Johnston led and glorified. The women and men of this Office will continue to relentlessly pursue and dismantle violent street gangs that jeopardize the safety of our communities.”
“As alleged, Candice Johnston led a violent Bloods set built on murder, armed robbery, gun and narcotics trafficking, promotion of prostitution, and other serious crimes,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Pete Gizas. “By allegedly directing the robbery and murder of a former drug supplier and receiving illegal firearms trafficked from North Carolina to the Bronx, she stands accused of introducing lethal firepower and bloodshed into a Bronx neighborhood. Together with our law enforcement partners, HSI will do everything in our power to keep New Yorkers safe.”
“Candice Johnston served as the leader of the Bloods’ Red Life Milita, allegedly trafficking guns and drugs across the city, brazenly touting her gang affiliation on social media, and ordering the cold-blooded murder of a drug supplier,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Her arrest is the direct result of the NYPD’s precision policing strategy at work: dismantling gangs, taking guns off our streets, and holding those who commit violence accountable. I thank HSI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their partnership in this case and their continued work to keep New Yorkers safe.”
As alleged in the Indictment, other publicly filed documents, and statements made in court:(1)
JOHNSTON was the leader of the Red Life Militia, a subset of the United Blood Nation (“UBN”), a faction of the nationwide Bloods street gang. The Red Life Militia gang engaged in, among other activities, acts involving murder, assault, gun trafficking, narcotics trafficking, promotion of prostitution, and robberies. JOHNSTON frequently publicized her leadership in Red Life Militia through social media, displaying gang signs, tattoos, and other insignia of the gang, some of which include the following:
On May 31, 2017, JOHNSTON ordered a subordinate member of her gang to rob and murder Noel Farrow—a former drug supplier to the gang—in the Bronx, New York, which resulted in Farrow’s death from gunshot wounds.
JOHNSTON also received firearms that had been illegally obtained in North Carolina and transported to JOHNSTON in the Bronx.
* * *
JOHNSTON, 44, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a mandatory minimum term of life in prison or death; murder through the use of a firearm, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison or death; and conspiracy to receive firearms from out of state, which carries a maximum term of five years in prison.
The statutory minimum and maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of Special Agents and Task Force Officers of HSI, the NYPD and their Intelligence Section, the Digital Forensics Unit, and the Complex Analytics and Social Media Enhancement Team at the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, as well as the Special Agents and Task Force Officers assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation for its invaluable assistance.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent Organizations and Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexandra S. Messiter and Michael R. Herman are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
^
As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitutes only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Adult Day Care Owner Pleads Guilty to $500,000 Medicare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A Michigan woman pleaded guilty today to billing Medicare for psychotherapy services that were never provided to residents of her adult day care center.
According to court documents, Yolanda Matthews, 58, of Farmington Hills, admitted to continually billing and submitting false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for psychotherapy services that were never provided. Matthews admitted to fraudulently billing for providing services at her adult day care center during periods in which the Medicare beneficiary was actually admitted to a hospital, forging claims in the names of social workers who were no longer employed at the adult day care center, and even billing Medicare for providing psychotherapy services to beneficiaries after they had died. All told, Matthews submitted over $539,000 in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare.
Matthews was charged as part of the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. Matthews pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 18, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division; Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan of the FBI Detroit Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Thomas Ethridge of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
The FBI Detroit Field Office and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Jeffrey A. Crapko of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The 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.
Addiction Recovery Care and Affiliates Agree to Pay $16.2 Million Civil Judgment to Resolve Medicaid Fraud AllegationsRead the Press Release
ASHLAND, Ky. – Addiction Recovery Care, LLC (“ARC”), and its affiliates Pioneer Health Group, LLC and Science Hill Family Care, LLC, have agreed to a civil judgment of $16,205,774.05 in favor of the United States to resolve allegations that they defrauded the Kentucky Medicaid program. ARC, headquartered in Louisa, Kentucky, operates residential and outpatient drug rehabilitation facilities throughout the state. Along with its affiliates, ARC offers behavioral healthcare and medical healthcare services to patients at their rehabilitation facilities.
The judgment, announced today by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Office of the Kentucky Attorney General, is part of a civil settlement resolving allegations that ARC and its affiliates violated the False Claims Act, a federal statute that prohibits the submission of false claims for payment to Government programs, including the Medicaid program.
In April 2023, current and former employees of ARC filed a qui tam complaint alleging that ARC defrauded the Kentucky Medicaid program by submitting fraudulent claims for payment for behavioral health services provided in their drug rehabilitation programs. Under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, a citizen can file a civil action on behalf of the United States to bring allegations of fraud to the Government’s attention. The United States thereafter opened a civil investigation into whether ARC violated the False Claims Act. During the Government’s investigation, ARC self-disclosed to the Government that it should not have billed for some of its services, including services identified by the whistleblowers in the qui tam complaint.
According to the settlement agreement, the Government alleged that ARC falsely represented the qualifications of some of their clinicians on claims to Kentucky Medicaid in order to receive higher reimbursements. From January 2018 to March 2024, some of ARC’s behavioral health services, such as psychotherapy, psychiatric evaluations, and mental health assessments, allegedly were provided by lower-level healthcare workers but billed as if ARC’s employees had higher-level licenses. Similarly, from July 2019 to mid-June 2021, the Government alleged that ARC falsely represented that it provided individual group therapy sessions, which Kentucky paid at a higher rate, when ARC in fact provided less expensive group therapy sessions. These alleged overstatements of provider qualifications and individualized care, which are commonly referred to as “upcoding,” are not allowed by federal health insurance programs and caused ARC and its affiliates to receive higher payments to which they were not entitled.
In addition to ARC’s purported upcoding practices, the Government alleged that, from January 2019 to December 2024, ARC’s affiliates billed duplicate office visits to Kentucky Medicaid and billed for office visits that were already reimbursed under an inclusive per diem rate. One of ARC’s affiliates also allegedly charged for care management services that did not meet Kentucky Medicaid’s coverage requirements, including services performed by ARC employees who lacked the necessary credentials.
The civil judgment and settlement agreement resolve the qui tam case captioned United States ex rel. Rikki Pope, et al. v. Addiction Recovery Care, LLC, Case No. 0:23-cv-51-DLB, which was recently unsealed by the Court. The amount of the judgment, which will be paid over several years, was negotiated and reduced due to Defendants’ financial condition and prospects for ongoing operations. As part of this resolution, the individuals who filed the qui tam complaint are eligible to receive a portion of the settlement proceeds.
This matter was investigated by the Affirmative Civil Enforcement section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with assistance from the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, the Kentucky Office of Attorney General, Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Stubblebine and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Sheridan represented the United States.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
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$3.85 Million Settlement of Case Against Labor Unions for Improper Receipt of Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) LoansRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today that International Union of Journeymen and Allied Trades (“IUJAT”), United Service Workers Union, IUJAT National Union (“USWU”), Home Healthcare Workers of America, IUJAT (“HHWA”), Service Professionals Union Local 726 IUJAT (“LOCAL 726”), and United Welfare Fund - Welfare Division (“UWF”) (collectively, the “Defendants”) agreed to pay $3,850,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by falsely certifying that they were eligible for Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans.
The Defendants are organized as tax-exempt non-profit organizations pursuant to Section 501(c)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code. The PPP was established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act to assist small businesses nationwide adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Administered by the SBA, the program provided forgivable loans to eligible borrowers. In April 2020, Section 501(c)(5) non-profit organizations were not eligible to apply for or receive PPP loans. The settlement resolves claims that the Defendants violated the False Claims Act by falsely certifying their eligibility for PPP loans because, as 501(c)(5) non-profit organizations, the Defendants were ineligible for the loans at the time they applied.
“The Paycheck Protection Program was created to help eligible small businesses weather the economic strain of the pandemic through forgivable loans,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “The defendants here applied for and received millions of dollars in taxpayer funds for which they were not eligible. This Office is committed to protecting taxpayer dollars and recovering public funds that flow to those who do not qualify.”
As alleged in the Complaint filed in Manhattan federal court:
IUJAT, USWU, HHWA, and LOCAL 726 are labor unions, and UWF is an employee benefit plan that provides welfare benefits to members of these labor unions. Between April 16 and April 20, 2020, each Defendant submitted, through its authorized representative, an application for a PPP loan. In total, the Defendants received $3,316,966 in PPP loans. Each Defendant certified on its loan application that it was eligible to receive the loan under the rules in effect at the time, and each Defendant later applied for and obtained full forgiveness of its loan.
At the time they applied in April 2020, the Defendants were 501(c)(5) non-profit organizations and were therefore ineligible to receive PPP loans. Before applying, the Defendants were aware that an SBA regional employee had advised their contact at a bank that only 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(19) non-profit organizations were eligible for PPP loans. Nevertheless, each Defendant decided to apply for and accept a loan.
The Defendants, at a minimum, acted with reckless disregard or deliberate ignorance of the fact that they were ineligible for the PPP funds at the time they applied. In fact, the Defendants became aware on April 9, 2020, that the AFL-CIO—the nation’s largest federation of unions—had advised that labor unions were ineligible for PPP loans.
As part of the settlement, the Defendants admitted and accepted responsibility for certain conduct alleged by the United States, including the following:
- Each Defendant certified on its PPP borrower loan application that it was eligible to receive the loan under the rules of the SBA in effect at the time the application was submitted.
- Before applying for the PPP loans, the Defendants were aware that an SBA regional employee had advised their contact at a bank that only 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(19) non-profit organizations were eligible for PPP loans. The Defendants are not 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(19) non-profit organizations.
In connection with the filing of the lawsuit and settlement, the Government joined a private whistleblower lawsuit that had been filed under seal pursuant to the False Claims Act.
Mr. Clayton praised the Small Business Administration’s Office of General Counsel for its assistance with this case.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Frauds Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Osmond is in charge of the case.
25 July 2026
Most Wanted COVID-19 Fraud Fugitive Returned from Jamaica to Face Charges in $32 Million SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A fugitive on the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters List has been returned to the Southern District of Florida to face federal charges for her alleged role in a scheme that fraudulently obtained more than $32 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds.
Elaine Escoe, 41, was charged by indictment in 2025 with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and multiple substantive counts of wire fraud and money laundering. After a federal arrest warrant was issued in May 2025, Escoe failed to appear for her court appearance and fled to Jamaica. Acting on information developed by the FBI, Jamaican authorities captured Escoe after receiving a tip. She was returned to South Florida today through the coordinated efforts of the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, the Jamaican Constabulary Force (JCF), and the JCF Jamaica Fugitive Apprehension Team.
“This Most Wanted Fraudster allegedly obtained tens of millions in COVID-19 relief, stealing critical resources from legitimate businesses during a national crisis,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “She fled the country believing she could escape justice but ultimately could not. Those who exploit taxpayer-funded programs will be held accountable by this Department of Justice, no matter how long it takes or where they attempt to hide.”
“Elaine Angene Escoe’s arrest and return to the United States demonstrates that no one is beyond the reach of American justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “This Most Wanted Fraudster faces charges stemming from a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud taxpayer-funded COVID-19 relief programs. The Fraud Division will continue to vigorously prosecute those who steal from the American people.”
“The historic success of the ‘Most Wanted Fraudster’ list continues as the FBI and our partners just captured our fourth Most Wanted Fraudster in 5 weeks, and yet another high value target returned to the U.S. by this FBI,” said Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel. “Elaine Angene Escoe, on the run since May of 2025, was captured in Jamaica while living under a fake identity of ‘Harley Newman’ – and returned to the United States today to face justice. She is charged for her alleged involvement in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering – connected with a scheme to fraudulently obtain over $32 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds. Escoe brings the number of high value targets returned by the FBI to over 30 just since June.
“Led by President Trump, Vice President Vance, and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud – the FBI and our partners continue to see an unprecedented level of success taking down the worst of the worst alleged fraudsters. In just week weeks, we have captured four subjects on three different continents charged with a combined nearly $1.8 billion in fraud, collectively on the run for over 3,500 days, each hiding overseas – now returned and all in custody in 1.5 months. Under this administration, fraud is no longer tolerated – and those who steal from American taxpayers have nowhere to hide.”
“Elaine Escoe allegedly helped orchestrate a sprawling scheme that fraudulently obtained more than $32 million from programs created to keep American businesses and workers afloat during the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “After being charged, she failed to appear in court and fled to Jamaica. Defendants cannot escape accountability simply by leaving the country. Thanks to the determined work of our federal, state, and international partners, she is back in South Florida and will now face the charges against her. This coordinated effort demonstrates that we will pursue fugitives wherever they go and bring them back to face justice.”
According to court records, Escoe and her co-conspirators submitted or caused the submission of fraudulent applications seeking more than $32 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG), and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds. The applications falsely represented the existence, payroll, revenue, and operations of purported businesses to qualify for and maximize federal relief funding.
To support the fraudulent applications, the conspirators created fake tax documents, fabricated bank records, and other false financial records that lenders and program administrators relied upon in approving loans and grants. Some applications were submitted on behalf of businesses controlled by the conspirators, while others were submitted for third parties in exchange for substantial kickbacks — sometimes as much as 50% of the loan proceeds. The fraud proceeds were subsequently laundered among the conspirators.
Escoe is the last remaining defendant charged in the scheme. Following a December 2025 trial, Alfred Davis, Cher Davis, and Latoya Clark were convicted by a federal jury. James McGhow and Gino Jourdan previously pleaded guilty. Alfred Davis was sentenced to 235 months’ imprisonment, Cher Davis to 87 months, Clark to 70 months, Jourdan to 46 months, and McGhow to 42 months.
FBI Miami’s West Palm Beach Resident Agency is investigating the case, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami and the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office.
On June 4, the FBI announced the creation of the Most Wanted Fraudsters List. The list included Herb Kimble, a fugitive in a $1.2 billion telemedicine and durable medical equipment scheme, who, on June 8 — just four days later — was apprehended in the Philippines and was soon after charged as part of the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. On June 8, Escoe was added to the Most Wanted Fraudsters List, and she was apprehended less than two months later.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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-80076.
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24 July 2026
Woman Found Guilty by Federal Jury for Role in Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that a federal jury found Michaela Karon McKinney guilty on three counts for her role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy operating between the Twin Cities metropolitan area and Greater Minnesota.
Following a two-day trial in Minneapolis before U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim starting on July 13, 2026, the jury returned a guilty verdict for McKinney on three counts including conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
According to court documents, in 2023, investigators identified a Minneapolis-based fentanyl distributor known as “V,” later confirmed as La’Veal O. Allen, during an ongoing drug trafficking investigation from the Twin Cities to Greater Minnesota, specifically Bemidji. In late spring of 2023, police infiltrated Allen’s drug distribution network, and an undercover officer arranged fentanyl purchases from Allen.
In June and July 2024, McKinney assisted Allen on multiple narcotics distribution trips, helping facilitate the sale of more than 180 grams of powder fentanyl, nearly 500 M-30 fentanyl pills, and approximately 30 grams of methamphetamine. On the initial run, she provided her vehicle to Allen to transport fentanyl to a downstream distributor. Later, she personally drove Allen from the Twin Cities to Little Falls for another drug sale. During that final undercover drug sale on July 1, 2024, McKinney drove Allen to the Little Falls Walmart parking lot, where Allen sold 82 grams of powder fentanyl, 491 M-30 fentanyl pills, and 29.5 grams of methamphetamine to the undercover officer. Officers arrested both Allen and McKinney immediately after the exchange.
Undercover officer with fentanyl and methamphetamine that Allen sold in Little Falls, Minnesota on July 1, 2024
82 grams of powder fentanyl, 491 M-30 fentanyl pills, and 29.5 grams of methamphetamine sold to an undercover officer on July 1, 2024
A search of McKinney’s vehicle revealed her then-six-year-old son in the back seat and a loaded Glock pistol registered to McKinney in the center console. Forensic testing later identified both McKinney’s and Allen’s DNA on the firearm.
McKinney now faces a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison. McKinney’s co-defendants, La’Veal O. Allen and Marquise J. Walker, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl on December 16, 2025, and April 3, 2026, respectively. All defendants are currently awaiting sentencing.
“This case shows the continuing fentanyl and drug trafficking operations into Greater Minnesota. My office is committed to working with law enforcement partners across the state to dismantle the networks pushing these lethal substances up north, and to protect families and communities,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
“This federal conviction demonstrates what can be accomplished through proactive investigations and strong partnerships between local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement. The Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force remains committed to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling the criminal organizations responsible for trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl into northern Minnesota. Every successful prosecution represents another step toward protecting our communities and holding those who profit from addiction and violence accountable. I am extremely proud of the dedication, professionalism, and relentless work of our task force agents and our law enforcement partners who made this outcome possible,” said Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force Commander and Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant David Hart.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, FBI Headwaters Task Force, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, Bemidji Police Department, Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office, Morrison County Sheriff’s Office, Morrison County Attorney’s Office, Lakes Area Drug Investigative Division, and the Minnesota State Patrol.
Assistant United States Attorney Garrett S. Fields and Special Assistant United States Attorney Ebenezer K. Gyasi are prosecuting the case.
Note: This press release was updated on July 28, 2026, to correct the dates in the photo captions, which incorrectly listed July 2026 instead of July 2024.
Vallejo Man Indicted for Being a Felon in Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment Thursday against Nichiatari Palmer, 35, of Vallejo, charging him with being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on June 26, 2026, law enforcement deputies encountered Palmer while he was sitting in the driver’s seat of a parked car with the door open. When the deputies approached, they noticed a black AR-15-style rifle with an extended magazine in the driver’s footwell. The firearm had a live round in the chamber and 37 rounds of ammunition in the extended magazine. A search of the car found two more magazines containing 56 additional rounds. Palmer is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of prior felony convictions including vehicle theft, burglary, and second degree robbery.
The Solano County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Solano County Violent Crimes Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Campbell is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Palmer faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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.
United States Attorney Weinhoeft Announces Federal Court Victory over Unconstitutional Illinois Sanctuary State PolicyRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft today announced that the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois has ruled in favor of the United States in its lawsuit against the State of Illinois, Governor J.B. Pritzker, and multiple state entities.
The Court denied the State’s motion to dismiss and granted the United States’ cross-motion for summary judgment declaring that Illinois’ in-state tuition rules for public universities and community colleges, the RISE Act, and the Illinois DREAM Act are “unconstitutional and invalid” under the Supremacy Clause as applied to aliens not lawfully present.
“Illinois sought to incentivize illegal immigration on the taxpayer’s dime by treating illegal aliens better than U.S. citizens living in other states, in clear violation of federal law,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “This ruling enforces the statute Congress wrote and stops the State from putting illegal aliens ahead of American citizens.”
Federal law is clear. Under 8 U.S.C. § 1623(a), a state may not grant postsecondary education benefits to illegal aliens on the basis of residence in that state unless it makes the exact same benefit available to every United States citizen and national, without regard to where they live. Illinois chose to give preferential treatment based on residence to people here illegally. It did not extend that same treatment to American citizens who live outside Illinois. That preference is illegal.
In September 2025, the Department of Justice filed suit to stop these policies. The Court held oral argument on May 5, 2026. It has now permanently enjoined the State and the named university and college boards from enforcing the challenged provisions against aliens not lawfully present. The injunction is stayed for 14 days to permit the defendants to seek a stay pending appeal.
The case was brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Division.
U.S. Attorney’s Office receives funding to hire AUSA to prosecute crimes in rural Alaska following Acting Attorney General Blanche’s visitRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska announced today the allocation of funds from the Justice Department to hire a permanent criminal Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) specifically focused on prosecuting federal cases impacting rural Alaska and our Tribal communities. This position allocation is a direct result of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s recent trip to Alaska.
On July 7 and 8, Acting Attorney General Blanche traveled to Anchorage and the Western Alaska communities of Bethel and Emmonak. During his visit, he heard firsthand the need for increased resources to address public safety concerns in rural communities.
Most recent reports estimate that Alaska’s violent crime rate is 5.4 times the national rate. They also estimate aggravated assaults as 6.7 times higher and rapes as 3.1 times higher than the national rates. According to 2024 state crime data, 41% of murder victims from that year were Alaska Native, despite making up less than 15% of the state’s population. These statistics are reinforced by rural communities, Tribal leaders and advocates from across the state sharing their experiences in rural communities. These include the destruction drug trafficking and substance abuse have caused in their regions and villages and how violent crime and drug trafficking are inextricably linked to one another.
This AUSA will work with law enforcement from across the state to review public safety concerns and pursue prosecutions for illegal firearms offenses, drug crimes, child exploitation, violent crimes and fraud. The job announcement is open and currently accepting applications. This job is open to all U.S. Citizens or Nationals.
“Violent crime and drug trafficking have devastated many of our Alaskan communities, particularly those in rural areas. While we’ve seen some recent improvement, Acting Attorney General Blanche heard our requests for additional federal assistance in addressing public safety concerns in rural and Tribal communities,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “I want to thank every Alaskan that has sat with me, members of my team, law enforcement and DOJ leaders to share their experiences. This new Indian Country/Rural Alaska AUSA will work with law enforcement in every corner of our state to pursue federal charges against criminals who target women, children and communities with their illegal actions.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska is seeking applications from experienced and motivated attorneys who have superb research and writing skills, as well as a criminal law background and a desire to prosecute cases impacting rural Alaska. Interested applicants can learn more about the job opportunity by visiting the job posting or on USAJobs here: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/877127200
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 122 Border-Related Cases This WeekRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 122 border-related cases this week, including charges of bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city).
In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here.
A sample of border-related arrests this week:
- On July 19, Marcos Chavez-Nieto, a Mexican citizen, was arrested and charged with Deported Alien found in the U.S. According to a complaint, Border Patrol agents encountered Chavez entering the United States illegally in the mountains east of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, after having been ordered removed from the United States in 2020.
- On July 20, Rosario Lopez Gamez and Jose Manuel Aguero Garcia, Mexican nationals, were arrested and charged with Attempted Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain. According to a complaint, Lopez and Aguero were the captains of a smuggling vessel that was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard about six miles off the coast of Point Loma. The five undocumented aliens aboard the vessel included Jeremy Marin Avilez, who was charged with Attempted Reentry after Deportation. He was previously deported in 2024 from Texas.
- On July 21, Marly Soledad Cruz Guardado, a United States citizen, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers found more than 133 pounds of methamphetamine and almost nine pounds of cocaine concealed inside the doors, dashboard, glove compartment, firewall and quarter panels of her Volkswagen Tiguan as she applied for entry into the United States at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners.
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Southeast Iowa Men Indicted on Federal Charges Related to a Multi-Million Dollar Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – A federal grand jury in Des Moines returned a 16-count indictment in May 2026 charging offenses related to a Ponzi scheme involving dozens of victims and millions of dollars of loss to the victims.
As alleged in the Indictment, Chad Michael Boal, 58 of Burlington, and Cory Duane Richards, 52 of West Burlington, solicited investments under the promise of high returns and low risk. Boal and Richards operated their scheme through various business entities they termed as “unincorporated organized self-supporting humanitarian foundations,” operating within the Southern District of Iowa, including:
- Golden Bar Foundation,
- F8511 Foundation,
- New Life 314 Foundation,
- True North Foundation, and
- Silver Bar Foundation.
The Indictment alleges that Boal and Richards used investor funds for their own personal use and benefit.
Boal and Richards made their initial court appearances in May 2026. They are both charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and Boal is additionally charged with three counts of wire fraud and 12 counts of money laundering over $10,000. Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud count is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Each money laundering count is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Trial is set for April 26, 2027.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau are investigating this case. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph H. Lubben.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Auto Engineers Charged with Insider TradingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging MICHAEL STAMP and MARCUS PLANK with securities fraud. The charges arise from an alleged insider trading scheme in which STAMP and PLANK used confidential information belonging to their then-employer, Volkswagen Group, concerning a joint venture between Volkswagen and Rivian Automotive, Inc. to make hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal profits. STAMP and PLANK were arrested today and will be presented in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla.
“Michael Stamp and Marcus Plank’s alleged exploitation of their employer’s confidential information allowed them to make more than $300,000 in illegal profits,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “When people misuse confidential information for their own financial gain, they undermine the principles that allow our markets to function fairly and efficiently. Insider trading is a crime that New Yorkers want pursued with vigor. Its effects ripple through the financial system, harming ordinary investors and eroding public confidence. Today’s charges underscore the commitment of this Office and our law enforcement partners to protecting the integrity of our markets and holding accountable those who choose to violate the law.”
“The case of Michael Stamp and Marcus Plank shows the FBI's commitment to protecting the integrity of our financial markets,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “The co-defendants are alleged to have engaged in insider trading for personal gain, and we will work with our partners to identify those who threaten the United Stated economic system.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment:(1)
Between April and July 2024, STAMP and PLANK engaged in a scheme to trade in the securities of Rivian Automotive, Inc. based on material nonpublic information concerning a multibillion-dollar joint venture between Rivian and Volkswagen Group. STAMP and PLANK were employees of a Volkswagen subsidiary and worked in the United States on temporary assignment form Germany. Through their positions, they gained access to confidential, nonpublic information concerning Volkswagen’s ongoing negotiations with Rivian about a potential joint venture. Despite owing duties of trust and confidence to their employer, STAMP and PLANK began purchasing options and equity positions in Rivian shortly after learning of the joint venture discussions. On June 25, 2025, Rivian and Volkswagen publicly announced their joint venture, and Rivian’s share price rose 23% the following day. STAMP and PLANK then sold their Rivian positions, with STAMP realizing approximately $250,000 in profits, PLANK realizing at least approximately $50,000 in profits, and PLANK’s close family member realizing approximately $12,000 in profits. STAMP and PLANK understood their actions were illegal. For example, eight days prior to the announcement of the joint venture, STAMP searched “statute of limitations insider trading,” and following the announcement PLANK’s close family member searched, in German, “how is insider trading prosecuted?”
* * *
STAMP, 31, of San Jose, California, and PLANK, 45, of San Jose, California, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of securities fraud under Title 15, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of securities fraud under Title 18, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. Clayton also thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shiva H. Logarajah and Daniel G. Nessim is in charge of the prosecution.
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As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.