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22 July 2026
Former SCDC Guard, Co-Defendants Plead Guilty in Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. —Five individuals charged in a $550K prison bribery scheme entered guilty pleas in federal court this week.
- Lowanda Atkinson, 52, of Kershaw County, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud. Atkinson served as a corrections officer in SCDC and was assigned to Lee Correctional Institution.
- Jason Brown, 43, an SCDC inmate, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud.
- Adriana Conyers, 37, of Sumter County, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud.
- Christopher Hickman, 46, of Richland County, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud.
- Mary Ann Hickman-Brown, 64, of Clarendon County, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Lowanda Atkinson, a 16-year corrections officer with SCDC, accepted more than $550,000 in bribes from inmates Larry Williamson and Jason Brown, along with Jason Brown’s mother Mary Ann Hickman Brown, Jason Brown’s brother Christopher Hickman, Jason Brown’s nephew’s mother Adrianna Conyers, and Jason Brown’s friend Courtney Briggs.
In exchange for the bribes, Atkinson smuggled contraband, including cell phones, cell phone accessories, tobacco, and controlled substances, into Lee Correctional Institution. The contraband was later sold to other inmates by Brown and Williamson and the proceeds of the contraband sales were split between Brown, Williamson, and Atkinson. Atkinson later spent the proceeds on designer purchases, plastic surgery, and a luxury SUV.
Larry Williamson and Courtney Briggs were charged in a separate Indictment. Briggs was arraigned on July 7, 2026 on count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and one count of honest services wire fraud. Williamson is pending arraignment on one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, five counts of honest services wire fraud, one count of use of an interstate facility to facilitate bribery, and one count of drug conspiracy.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with SCDC to root out corruption within our correctional system, whether it originates inside the walls or through networks that support it from the outside,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “Atkinson’s scheme is an example of law enforcement corruption, and we will not tolerate that in South Carolina.”
“This person took advantage of the trust given to her and conspired with inmates and their families to flood our prison with deadly contraband,” SCDC Director Joel Anderson said. “I'm glad they are all being held accountable for their crimes. Her conduct is not characteristic of our values or of the people who work in our department.”
Each of the defendants faces up to 20 years imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon accepted the guilty plea and will sentence the defendants after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the South Carolina Department of Corrections Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and Samantha Usher are prosecuting the case.###
Former Gymnastics Coach and Social Media Content Creator Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
Theresa Mitchell, 44, formerly of Navarre, Florida, pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to one count of conspiracy to produce and distribute child pornography, two counts of production of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to court documents, between 2023 and 2025, Theresa Mitchell conspired with Christopher Buckeridge to produce and sell images of minor children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Mitchell sold and distributed those images and videos to customers on social media platforms, messaging applications, and subscription-based websites. Buckeridge also sent Mitchell hundreds of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of minors, including material that depicted the sadistic sexual abuse of prepubescent children. Ultimately, Mitchell received hundreds of thousands of dollars from selling images and videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
On March 17, a federal magistrate judge issued a warrant for the arrest of Mitchell and Buckeridge. Mitchell was arrested by federal agents in central Pennsylvania on March 19 and remains in custody.
Mitchell faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison on the child pornography production and conspiracy counts. Mitchell also faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the child pornography receipt and possession counts, as well as the money laundering conspiracy count. If convicted, Mitchell will be required to pay restitution to her victims and to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). A U.S. district judge will determine Mitchell’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 14.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney John “Jack” P. Heekin for the Northern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley of the FBI Jacksonville Field Office, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingengo of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement.
The case is being jointly investigated by HSI, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the FBI. Trial Attorney Eduardo Palomo of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Goldberg for the Northern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Florida Pharmacist Convicted of Massive Oxycodone Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A federal jury in the Southern District of Florida convicted a Florida licensed pharmacist and pharmacy owner yesterday for her role in dispensing over 300,000 oxycodone 30mg pills to pharmacy patrons who had no medical need for the drug.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Olushola Yusuf, 60, of Tampa, dispensed oxycodone to nearly all her pharmacy customers. Yusuf charged customers approximately 10 times the typical cost of the drug and required payment from them in cash. In total, Yusuf dispensed at least 335,351 pills of oxycodone 30mg during the conspiracy. Oxycodone 30mg is the maximum strength available of the drug and is both sought after and potentially dangerous due to its potency. It is typically prescribed to seriously ill patients, such as those suffering from chronic cancer pain or traumatic injuries.
“The defendant abused the public trust by using her pharmacies to unlawfully distribute deadly opioids,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “This conviction sends an unmistakable message: whether you deal drugs on a street corner or from behind a pharmacy counter, the Fraud Division will hold you fully accountable under the law.”
“Olushola Yusuf did not simply ignore red flags. She built her business around them,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “She knowingly flooded South Florida communities with more than 335,000 high-dose oxycodone pills, even after her employees and the DEA warned her about the dangers of her conduct. Yusuf charged extraordinary cash prices, served drug dealers and customers who traveled long distances, and put profit ahead of patients, public safety, and her responsibilities as a pharmacist. Yesterday, a federal jury held her accountable.”
“Pharmacists occupy a position of public trust and serve as a critical safeguard against the diversion of controlled substances,” said DEA Chief of Operations Matthew W. Allen. “By dispensing hundreds of thousands of oxycodone pills to virtually anyone willing to pay inflated cash prices, the defendant abandoned that responsibility, exploited addiction, and endangered lives for personal profit. This conviction reinforces DEA’s commitment to the American people: no one is above the law when they violate the public’s trust and contribute to the unlawful distribution of dangerous drugs.”
“By distributing dangerous and highly addictive narcotics, the defendant demonstrated a clear disregard for their community and endangered countless residents who should have been able to trust their pharmacist,” said FBI Co-Deputy Director Christopher Raia. “The opioid epidemic continues to plague our nation, which is why the FBI, along with our partners, will continue to hold the criminals poisoning our communities with these drugs accountable.”
Yusuf owned and operated two pharmacies, Boots LLC d/b/a Striderite (Boots) in Margate, Florida, and Chans Pharmacy Plus, Inc. (Chans) in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Yusuf distributed oxycodone 30mg pills through these pharmacies. Customers drove long distances across the state of Florida to have Yusuf fill prescriptions that they could not get filled at any other pharmacy. Some customers paid as much as $1,000 a month in cash to Yusuf for the drugs. And some customers were drug dealers, who picked up oxycodone pills purportedly on behalf of dozens of patients at a time who were not present. According to witnesses at trial, Yusuf kept the doors to her pharmacies locked during business hours, directing employees only to open the door for certain identified customers. Yusuf continued to dispense the oxycodone in this way even after repeated warnings from her employees and the DEA about the dangers of her pharmacy operations.
Boots Pharmacy in Margate, FL. Chans Pharmacy in Pembroke Pines, FL. Cash paid to Yusuf for oxycodone 30mgThe jury convicted Yusuf of conspiracy to illegally distribute drugs and five counts of illegal drug distribution. Yusuf’s co-defendant, Saman Gimenez, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to illegally distribute drugs and is scheduled to be sentenced in October of this year. Yusuf faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count. A sentencing hearing will occur on October 14, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
HHS-OIG, FBI, and DEA are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Angela Benoit of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacqueline DerOvanesian for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Five-Week Trial Results in Federal Jury Convicting Three Members of Violent Robbery Crew Responsible for Robbing or Attempting to Rob 14 Stores and Bars in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal jury has convicted three members of a robbery crew responsible for violently robbing or attempting to rob 14 liquor stores, convenience stores, and bars in Chicago.
XAVIER HARRIS and his brother, ARDARIES HARRIS, conspired with JORDAN FOX to rob more than a dozen Chicago businesses in 2023 and 2024. The robbers used stolen cars as getaway vehicles, wore masks and gloves, and brandished firearms in the heists. In some of the robberies, members of the crew fired shots from machine guns.
After a five-week trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago, the jury on July 21, 20226 convicted Xavier Harris, 27, of Chicago, Ardaries Harris, 28, of Chicago, and Fox, 26, of Chicago, of conspiracy, robbery, and firearm offenses. The jury found that Jordan Fox brandished firearms in 9 of the robberies; Ardaries Harris brandished firearms in 8 of the robberies; and Xavier Harris brandished firearms in 3 of the robberies. The jury also found that Jordan Fox discharged a machinegun during the robbery of the Irish Nobleman Pub on May 4, 2024, and that Ardaries Harris aided Fox’s discharge of a machinegun. The convictions carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
According to evidence presented at trial, the three defendants conspired to commit the following robberies or attempted robberies in Chicago:
- Aug. 24, 2023: Ace’s Liquor and Tap, 4400 block of West Armitage Avenue.
- Jan. 10, 2024: A&R Food Mart, 5900 block of West Grand Avenue.
- Jan. 11, 2024: Central Extra Value Food and Liquor, 2900 block of North Central Avenue.
- Jan. 13, 2024: Buchanas Food & Liquor, 1800 block of West 47th Street.
- Jan. 15, 2024: Mr. P Beverage Depot, 2000 block of West Division Street.
- Jan. 15, 2024: Before You Go Liquor, 1900 block of West Fullerton Avenue.
- Jan. 15, 2024: Clybourn Market, 2800 block of North Clybourn Avenue.
- May 3, 2024: Humboldt Haus Liquor, 2900 block of West North Avenue.
- May 3, 2024: Gladstone Food Mart, 5700 block of North Milwaukee Avenue.
- May 4, 2024: Irish Nobleman Pub, 1300 block of West Erie Street.
- May 7, 2024: Buchanas Food & Liquor, 1800 block of West 47th Street.
- May 7, 2024: El Trebol Liquors and Bar, 1100 block of West 18th Street.
- May 7, 2024: Community Food and Liquor, 5500 block of North Milwaukee Avenue.
- May 9, 2024: Basil Food & Liquor, 7700 block of North Western Avenue in Chicago.
The government expects it will introduce evidence of additional robberies in the Chicagoland area at sentencing, which the government will ask the Court to consider in determining the appropriate sentence.
The convictions were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Fred Waller, Interim Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago, the Illinois State Police, and the U.S. Marshals Service’s Great Lakes Regional Task Force. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily C.R. Vermylen, Stephanie Stern, and Jalan Jaskot.
The verdict was particularly important because this case involved charges that carried a 30-year mandatory minimum for use of a machinegun during a crime of violence, given the defendants’ use of machinegun conversion devices.
“Machinegun conversion devices turn semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic weapons, capable of firing multiple bullets at the single pull of a trigger,” U.S. Attorney Boutros said. “They have proliferated on the streets of Chicago. The office will continue to prosecute the use of these lethal weapons vigorously.”
A fourth defendant charged in the case—ROOSEVELT VEAL, 28, of Rockford—will be tried separately. Veal’s trial date has not yet been scheduled.
Felon who Arranged Murder of St. Louis County Man Sentenced to Life in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on Wednesday sentenced a felon to life in prison for arranging the 2011 murder of a St. Louis County man to get a share of an insurance payout.
Judge Fleissig ordered the sentence to run consecutive to the 226-month federal prison sentence Michael Grady is already serving for aiding a large-scale, violent drug conspiracy by trying to determine who was cooperating with investigators and prosecutors.
Grady, now 71, was convicted by a jury in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in March of one count each of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, aiding and abetting murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Evidence and testimony at the trial showed that Grady hatched the plot against Charles Harris III to aid Harris’ financially struggling fiancée, Victoria Rena Williams.
In 2010, Grady prompted Williams to get a $250,000 accidental death policy on Harris, evidence and testimony showed. She did so without Harris’ knowledge, after confirming that it would pay out if he was killed during a robbery. Williams then arranged a meeting between Harris, who worked for an alarm company but sold suits out of his home on the side, and the shooter or shooters, who posed as suit customers. On Oct. 5, 2011, Harris was fatally shot in his home on Langford Drive in St. Louis County. After a dispute with the insurance company, Williams received $224,444 and then obtained a cashier’s check for $110,000 payable to Grady’s wife. Williams also received $175,762 from another insurance policy.
The shooter or shooters have not been identified, according to trial testimony.
“Charles Harris was a hardworking man. He was a good man,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Nino Przulj, one of the prosecutors who worked on the case, in court Wednesday. “Mr. Grady is the polar opposite.”
Williams, 68, pleaded guilty to the same charges that Grady was convicted of and was sentenced in March to 225 months in prison.
"This is not the first time the FBI has investigated Michael Grady. He is currently serving a 19-year federal prison sentence for providing long-term support to some of the St. Louis area's most prolific and violent drug traffickers," said Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. "But a prison sentence was never going to shield him from accountability. When evidence of his involvement in this murder surfaced, the FBI and St. Louis County Police remained steadfast in our commitment to securing justice for the victim and ensuring Grady answered for this crime."
The St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Finlen, Nino Przulj and Donald Boyce prosecuted the case.
Felon Who Possessed Ammunition Sent to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A New Mexico man who possessed over 640 rounds of ammunition was sentenced today to two years in federal prison.
Chase Smith Walker, age 41, from Carlsbad, New Mexico, received the prison term after a March 9, 2026, guilty plea to one count of possession of ammunition by a felon.
In a plea agreement, Walker admitted that, on October 6, 2023, at approximately 1:40 a.m., he was driving while intoxicated in Tama County, Iowa. During a traffic stop and his booking at the local jail, Walker was extremely defiant and disrespectful towards officers. After his arrest, officers searched his truck, and they located over 640 rounds of ammunition. Walker was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because he had previously been convicted of a drug‑trafficking felony.
Walker was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Walker was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment and fined $1,500. He must also serve a two‑year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Walker is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Meskwaki Nation Police Department.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25‑CR‑00015‑LTS.
Federal Jury Convicts Honduran Man for Possession of a Fraudulent Green CardRead the Press Release
Federal Jury Convicts Honduran Man for Possession of a Fraudulent Green Card
CONCORD – After a trial, a Honduran national was convicted by a federal jury for the unlawful possession of a fraudulent green card yesterday, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Hector Ariel Ortiz-Guillen was convicted of knowingly possessing a fraudulent or forged Permanent Resident card, more commonly called a green card. U.S. District Judge Steven J. McAuliffe scheduled sentencing for July 28, 2026. Ortiz-Guillen has been detained since December 5, 2025.
“It is a privilege to live and work in the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Creegan. “We expect all persons who come to the United States to follow the rules and laws for entry. This verdict shows we will continue to protect the integrity of our immigration system.”
The evidence introduced at trial showed that on December 5, 2025, Border Patrol investigated a tip that there was a work crew of three illegal aliens in Colebrook, New Hampshire. Border Patrol saw them enter a truck and tried stopping the vehicle. The truck sped off, and after a chase, the truck crashed into a snowbank. Ortiz-Guillen then fled on foot. After a pursuit, Border Patrol and other law enforcement personnel detained Ortiz-Guillen and searched him. Border Patrol found a wallet on him which contained a fraudulent green card which showed Ortiz-Guillen’s name and face, but an alien number belonging to a Canadian citizen.
The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, and up to 3 years of supervised release. After serving his sentence, Ortiz-Guillen is subject to removal from the United States. 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.
U.S. Border Patrol led the investigation and was assisted on December 5 by personnel from the New Hampshire State Police, New Hampshire Fish and Game, the Colebrook Police Department, and the Coos County Sheriff’s Office. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services also provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles L. Rombeau and Alexander S. Chen are prosecuting the case.
Enforcer for Brooklyn-Based “Bully Gang” Sentenced to 52 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Franklin Gillespie was sentenced by United States District Judge Brian M. Cogan to 52 years’ imprisonment for multiple crimes related to his high-ranking membership of the Bully Gang, a violent street gang based in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. Among other serious crimes, Gillespie committed two murders, including the murder of a potential witness, as well as two armed robberies, while on supervised release for multiple federal firearms convictions.
Gillespie was one of four Bully Gang leaders and managers who were convicted after a 13-week trial in 2024, in a case that resulted in the arrest and conviction of 53 defendants. Gillespie’s co-defendants at trial—Moeleek Harrell, Derrick Ayers, and Anthony Kennedy—were sentenced to 60 years’ imprisonment in April 2026, 59 years’ imprisonment in June 2026, and 41 years’ imprisonment in May 2026, respectively. The trial defendants were convicted variously of racketeering, murder conspiracies, assaults, firearms offenses, drug trafficking offenses, and money laundering conspiracies. In connection with the racketeering conviction, a jury found several racketeering acts proven, including murder, murder conspiracy, robbery, bribery, drug trafficking conspiracy, and money laundering.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Bryan DiGirolamo, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New York Division (ATF); Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD); and Nadia I. Shihata, Commissioner, New York City Department of Investigation (DOI), announced the sentence.
“Franklin Gillespie was one of the most violent members of an extraordinarily violent street gang and our Brooklyn community is rid of him thanks to today’s sentence,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “This important prosecution demonstrates our Office’s commitment to seeking justice for Gillespie’s many victims and their families, and ensures that our communities will be protected in the future from the leaders of this violent criminal organization.”
Mr. Nocella thanked the United States Attorney’s Office in the District of Maine and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency for their assistance during this investigation and prosecution.
“This sentence holds accountable a senior gang member whose actions brought violence, fear, and tragedy to our communities. From orchestrating violent criminal activity to committing multiple murders, armed robberies, the defendant demonstrated a complete disregard for human life and the rule of law. ATF/ NYPD Joint Firearms Task Force remains committed to working alongside the NYPD, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, and our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and dismantle violent criminal organizations, ensuring those who terrorize our neighborhoods are brought to justice,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge DiGirolamo.
“For years, the Bully Gang waged a campaign of violence and terror in Brooklyn, committing murders, shootings, armed robberies, and drug trafficking,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “Thanks to the tireless work of NYPD investigators and our law enforcement partners, Franklin Gillespie and the other top members of this ruthless gang will never walk free on our streets again. This case is yet another example of the NYPD’s precision policing strategy at work – going after the gangs and the guns to make our communities safer.”
“This sprawling investigation and today’s outcome have made the people of Brooklyn and beyond safer. With this sentence, Franklin Gillespie, one of four high-ranking gang leaders responsible for terrorizing neighborhoods by instilling fear, trafficking drugs, and committing murder, has been held accountable for his devastating conduct,” stated DOI Commissioner Shihata. “While this sentence cannot bring his victims back to their loved ones or undo the devastation his crimes have caused—it sends a clear message that those who endanger our communities will be brought to justice. I thank the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, the ATF’s New York Division and the NYPD for their partnership on this significant investigation.”
As proven during trial and set forth in court documents, the Bully Gang was a violent criminal organization whose members committed murders, including the murder of a potential law enforcement witness; regularly shot at gang rivals in public streets; burned down a home with people inside; committed armed robberies with an arsenal of weapons trafficked from out of state; and engaged in multiple sprawling narcotics trafficking schemes. Gillespie was the gang’s violent enforcer who targeted the gang’s enemies and committed multiple murders. Gillespie’s three co-defendants at trial also played critical roles in the gang: Harrell was a founder and leader who directed the gang’s crimes; Ayers ran the gang’s extensive Maine drug trafficking organization and committed numerous violent crimes for the gang, including murder; and Kennedy was a trusted member of the gang who participated in the murders carried out by Gillespie and the gang’s drug trafficking.
Crimes of Violence
Gillespie committed numerous acts of violence on behalf of the Bully Gang. Over four days in April 2020, Gillespie, with the assistance of Kennedy, murdered two people. First, Gillespie murdered Paul Hoilett in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Before the murder, Gillespie surveilled and followed Hoilett as Hoilett walked down the sidewalk. Gillespie then shot Hoilett in the back of the head at point-blank range. On the day of the murder, Kennedy drove Gillespie from New Jersey to Brooklyn, where Gillespie met Mike Hawley. Hawley then drove Gillespie directly to the murder.
Four days later, Gillespie and Kennedy murdered Hawley in Far Rockaway, Queens. After Gillespie and Kennedy came to believe that law enforcement was looking for Hawley, they targeted Hawley to prevent him from speaking to law enforcement authorities about Hoilett’s murder. Kennedy drove Gillespie to and from Queens to commit this murder, while Gillespie arranged a meeting with Hawley in Queens under false pretenses. As with the murder of Hoilett, Gillespie shot Hawley multiple times, also at point-blank range. Gillespie and Kennedy took many steps to hide their involvement in this murder from law enforcement authorities, including removing the license plate and inspection sticker from the getaway car used in the murder.
In addition to these two murders, Gillespie committed many other violent crimes. In August 2020, Gillespie and other Bully Gang members and associates committed two gunpoint robberies on consecutive days in Manhattan. After the robberies, Gillespie and his co-conspirators made social media posts flaunting the proceeds of the robberies and bragging about their crimes. One week later, Gillespie was found with three guns, including the two guns used in these robberies.
Gillespie’s violence was part of a larger pattern of violence among members of the Bully Gang. For example, in a shooting on October 1, 2017, Harrell, Ayers, and other gang members targeted a victim who the gang believed was responsible for the death of one of the Bully Gang’s founders. During this shooting, their intended target and an innocent bystander were shot. Separately, Harrell, Ayers, and other gang members targeted their rival “Stukes Crew” in numerous acts of violence over several years. These acts of violence included Ayers’s murder of Jonathan Jackson, a Stukes Crew associate, in March 2018. Harrell, Ayers, and other Bully Gang members also planned and participated in three additional shootings in Crown Heights targeting the Stukes Crew. One of these shootings resulted in a car crash that injured multiple people.
Notably, Gillespie is not alleged to have committed these 2017 and 2018 shootings because, from March 2016 through August 2019, he was in federal prison in connection with his second federal gun conviction. At the time of the murders and other conduct of which he was convicted in this case, Gillespie was on federal supervised release in connection with the federal firearms convictions.
Drug Trafficking
While still on federal supervised release, Gillespie also played an important role in the Bully Gang’s drug trafficking operation in Maine. As part of this scheme, the Bully Gang and its associates transported large quantities of drugs, including cocaine base, heroin, and fentanyl, from New York and New Jersey to Maine, where they sold the drugs out of stash houses throughout the state. For months, Gillespie recruited and directed subordinates who sold and transported drugs, managed the gang’s stash houses, traveled to Maine in connection with the scheme, and collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in profit from the drug sales. All of Gillespie’s co-defendants at trial were also involved in the Maine drug trafficking scheme, including Ayers, who ran the day-to-day operations of the scheme for many years.
Other members and associates of the gang, including Harrell and Kennedy, ran a separate drug smuggling scheme at jail facilities on Rikers Island. In connection with this scheme, Harrell, Kennedy, and their co-conspirators arranged for comic books and other papers soaked in synthetic cannabinoids, also known as “K2,” to be delivered to Rikers where the drugs were sold to inmates at a substantial profit.
* * * * *
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas J. Moscow, Lindsey R. Oken, Joy Lurinsky, Victor Zapana, and Stephen H. Petraeus, and former Assistant United States Attorneys Drew Rolle and Michael J. Castiglione, were in charge of the prosecution, with significant assistance from Legal Administrative Specialist Samantha Ward, Intelligence Analyst Eungee Hwang, and Law Enforcement Coordinator Specialist Herbert Martin, among others.
The Defendants: DERRICK AYERS (also known as “Dee” and “Mel”)
Age: 39
Rahway, New Jersey
(Sentenced to 59 years’ imprisonment on June 18, 2026)FRANKLIN GILLESPIE (also known as “Spazz” and “Frankie Gino”)
Age: 35
Newark, New Jersey
(Sentenced to 52 years’ imprisonment on July 22, 2026)MOELEEK HARRELL (also known as “Moe Money”)
Age: 36
Brooklyn, New York
(Sentenced to 60 years’ imprisonment on April 30, 2026)ANTHONY KENNEDY (also known as “Biggie”)
Age: 40
Queens, New York
(Sentenced to 41 years’ imprisonment on May 12, 2026)E.D.N.Y. Docket Nos. 11-CR-371 (BMC), 16-CR-252 (BMC), 20-CR-239 (S-8) (BMC), 20-CR-240 (BMC), 25-CR-229 (BMC)
E.D.N.Y. Docket Nos. 20-CR-239 (S-8) (BMC) and 20-CR-240 (BMC)
- Employee Who Fraudulently Embezzled Approximately $4 Million from Big Ten Network Sentenced 28 Months in Prison and Ordered to Repay Funds
Eddington Man Convicted of Making Online ThreatsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: An Eddington man was found guilty on July 21, 2026, of three counts of transmitting interstate threatening communications and one count of threatening Vice President Kamala Harris, following a two-day jury trial in U.S. District Court in Bangor. He was found not guilty of one additional count of transmitting an interstate threat.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Thadius Wind, 52, made posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, threatening to kill Jewish people, Vice President Kamala Harris, Maine law enforcement officers, and Elon Musk. The FBI identified Wind as the author of the posts and executed a search warrant at his Eddington residence in March of 2025, where they found numerous swords. The investigation and evidence at trial showed that Wind held strong animosity towards the individuals and groups he threatened.
On each count, Wind faces up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine his sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the case with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office.
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Cumberland County Man Indicted for Distribution, Receipt, and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Jesse White, age 48, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, was charged by criminal complaint with receipt and possession of child pornography.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the complaint alleges that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received reports via their CyberTipline on June 19, 2026, which were flagged as child pornography and White was identified as the producer of such files. On July 21, 2026, the FBI executed a federal search warrant at White’s residence and seized multiple computers and hard drives and conducted a preliminary on-site review of the devices. It is alleged that one hard drive contained numerous files containing images of child pornography depicting minors between the estimated ages of seven to 15 years old engaged in sexually explicit activity. It is further alleged that in a separate drive, agents found approximately 100 files depicting child pornography.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Christian Haugsby is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
The maximum penalty under federal law for the crimes charged in the Complaint is 30 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Cozad Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley Woods announced that Levi McAlevy, 37, of Cozad, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 17, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for one count of distribution of at least 5 grams of actual methamphetamine and one count of distribution of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. McAlevy was convicted of both counts following an April 2026 four-day jury trial in Lincoln. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced McAlevy to a total of 360 months of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After McAlevy’s release from prison, he will begin a 7-year term of supervised release.
McAlevy sold methamphetamine to a Confidential Informant (CI) working with the CODE drug task force on two occasions in 2024. The first buy occurred on September 19, 2024. McAlevy and the CI traveled to various locations before McAlevy sold the methamphetamine. The Nebraska State Patrol Crime Laboratory confirmed the substance was at least 5.3 grams of actual methamphetamine. The second buy—which involved at least 2.8 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine—occurred on October 2, 2024. Again, McAlevy and the CI traveled to various locations before McAlevy sold the methamphetamine.
Although McAlevy sold smaller amounts of methamphetamine to the CI, the evidence at trial demonstrated that McAlevy was responsible for selling more than 25 kilograms of methamphetamine in central and western Nebraska. The evidence showed that McAlevy used firearms and threats to discourage others from notifying law enforcement about his drug dealing.
This case was investigated by the CODE Task Force which is made up of law enforcement agencies throughout a 22-county area in west-central/southwest Nebraska and includes the North Platte Police Department, Lexington Police Department, Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Ogallala Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Convictions through Guilty Pleas and Sentencings in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Prosecutions (July 13 through July 17, 2026)Read the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting United States Attorney, in conjunction with our partner agencies in the Homeland Security Task Force (“HSTF”) announce the following prosecutorial results for the week of July 13 through July 17, 2026. The HSTF is a permanent, interagency law enforcement task force created by executive order to combat transnational criminal organizations—including cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist organizations.
Convictions through Guilty Pleas:
- On July 14, 2026, Melvis Marcano-González pleaded guilty to Count One of the Superseding Indictment in Criminal Case 21-317 (PAD). According to the Indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 225 kilograms of cocaine, aboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Defendant was extradited from Colombia on June 13, 2024. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 9, 2026. AUSA Camille García Jiménez is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 17, 2026, Kenneth Córdova-Real pleaded guilty to drug and firearm charges in case 23-353 (GMM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with participating in a violent drug trafficking organization that operated out of various public housing projects in and near Manatí, PR including the Enrique Zorilla Public Housing Project. Defendant was arrested on September 22, 2023. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 19, 2026. AUSAs Andrés Orr and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 17, 2026, Jadriel Yandel Bruno-Rodríguez pleaded guilty to drug and firearm charges in case 23-353 (GMM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with participating in a violent drug trafficking organization that operated out of various public housing projects in and near Manatí, PR including the Enrique Zorilla Public Housing Project. Defendant was arrested on September 22, 2023. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 19, 2026. AUSAs Andrés Orr and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 17, 2026, Kelvin Joel Rivas-Quiñonez pleaded guilty to drug and firearm charges in case 23-353 (GMM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with participating in a violent drug trafficking organization that operated out of various public housing projects in and near Manatí, PR including the Enrique Zorilla Public Housing Project. Defendant was arrested on September 22, 2023. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 13, 2026. AUSAs Andres Orr and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 15, 2026, Jeffrey Figueroa-Rosado pleaded guilty to Counts One and Seven in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 16, 2026, Luis Abdiel Reyes Nieves pleaded guilty to Counts One and Seven in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 17, 2026, Ezequiel Olivo Bido pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 14, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 17, 2026, Moisés Serrano De Jesús pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 17, 2026, Alexie Delgado Torres pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
Sentencings:
- On July 13, 2026, Joseph Ríos-Vélez was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Aida Delgado Colón to 108 months (9 years) of imprisonment to be followed 6 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on April 9, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-184 (ADC) and pleaded guilty on January 21, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 13, 2026, Jonathan Martínez-González was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Aida Delgado Colón to 84 months of imprisonment (7 years), to be served consecutively to the 72-month (6 years) sentence imposed in case number 23-133 (MAJ), to be followed 8 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on April 9, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-184 (ADC) and pleaded guilty on January 14, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On July 15, 2026, Yander Luis José-Peña pleaded guilty and was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Silvia L. Carreño-Coll to time served for improper entry by an alien. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on April 22, 2026, in Criminal Case 26-159. SAUSA Cody A. McKinney oversaw the prosecution of the case.
These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
HSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard – Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department.
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Convicted Drug-Trafficker Guilty of Distributing Fentanyl and Methamphetamine and Committing Federal Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SHERWIN WHITE, JR. (“WHITE”), age 30, of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on July 21, 2026, before Chief U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter to nine federal drug and gun offenses, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. Pursuant to his plea agreement with the government, WHITE has agreed to a sentence of 25 years in prison.
WHITE pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 846; distribution of a quantity of fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C); distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B); distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B); carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i); possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl and a quantity of burenorphine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 841(b)(1)(E); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i). WHITE also admitted that he was subject to a sentencing enhancement because he has a prior conviction for distribution of heroin.
According to court documents, over the course of five transactions between November 2024 and January 2025, WHITE, and his co-conspirators, sold fentanyl, methamphetamine, and firearms to individuals he believed to be legitimate purchasers. In total, WHITE and his co-conspirators sold over 110 grams of fentanyl, over 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine, and 13 firearms to individuals he believed to be legitimate purchasers. During one of the transactions, WHITE asked the individual he believed to be legitimate purchaser if they could press WHITE’s fentanyl into pills. During another, WHITE told an individual he believed to be legitimate purchaser that he was trafficking large quantities of liquid methamphetamine into New Orleans.
WHITE was arrested at his apartment on January 30, 2025. Law enforcement officers searched WHITE’s apartment and recovered an additional 536 grams of fentanyl and 65 grams of methamphetamine that WHITE intended to sell, five digital scales, and three loaded firearms, including a Romarm/Cugir Model Micro Draco 7.62 caliber pistol loaded with 54 rounds of ammunition.
As to each of his convictions for possession with intent to distribute 400 grams of fentanyl and conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, 400 grams of fentanyl and 500 grams of methamphetamine, WHITE faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and up to life in prison, up to a $20,000,000 fine, and at least 10 years of supervised release up to life. As to his convictions for distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, WHITE faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison up to life, up to a $10,000,000 fine, and at least eight years of supervised release up to life. As to his convictions for distributing a quantity of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, WHITE faces up to 30 years in prison, up to a $2,000,000 fine, and mandatory minimum of six years of supervised release up to life. As to his each of convictions for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug-trafficking crime, WHITE faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life imprisonment, which must run consecutively to each other and any other sentence, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. Each of the nine convictions also carries a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Pursuant to his plea agreement with the government, WHITE will serve 25 years in prison. The Court took WHITE’s plea but deferred its decision on whether to accept or reject the negotiated plea until sentencing.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
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Conesus couple arrested, charged with production of child pornographyRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Donald Coty, 40, and his wife, Megan Coty, 38, both of Conesus, NY, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production of child pornography, conspiracy to produce child pornography, and possession of child pornography. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years.
According to the criminal complaint, in February 2026, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a CyberTip that a file containing suspected child pornography was uploaded to Google Photos and a Google Drive Account, by an individual with the username “Don Coty.” The CyberTip was forwarded to the New York State Police (NYSP) and subsequently traced to Donald and Megan Coty.
On June 23, 2026, NYSP investigators executed a search warrant at the couple’s Marrowback Road residence, seizing 13 electronic items, including two hard drives, two laptops, six cellphones, LG Cellphone, and three USB drives. An initial review of one of the hard drives recovered 1.3 million image and video files. Of the image and video files reviewed so far, over 174,000 files contained suspected child pornography, including images and videos with two minor victims and the defendants.
Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact the New York State Police at (585) 398-4100 or crimetip@troopers.ny.gov
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa M. Marangola. The complaint is the culmination of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Coeur d’Alene Physician Sentenced to 40 Months Imprisonment and $1.25 Million in Restitution for Involvement in Fraudulent Telemedicine Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Yakima, Washington – On July 8, 2026, Chief District Court Judge Stanely A. Bastian sentenced defendant Dr. David Antonio Becerril of Coeur d’ Alene, ID, age 70, to a 40-month term of imprisonment, to be followed by a 3-year term of court supervision after he is released from federal prison for his role in a nationwide telemarketing conspiracy to defraud Medicare. Dr. Becerril was convicted after a jury trial in September 2025 of 16 felony counts including Conspiracy to commit Health Care Fraud, Conspiracy to commit Wire Fraud, and multiple counts of Health Care Fraud, Wire Fraud, and False Statements Relating to Health Care Matters. Judge Bastian also ordered Dr. Becerril to pay restitution in the full amount he defrauded from Medicare, $1,250, 667.19, and ordered forfeiture in the form of a money judgment of $37,340, the amount which Dr. Becerril directly profited from the fraudulent scheme.
At trial, in September 2025, the United States presented evidence that between February 2018 and September 2019, Dr. Becerril, a licensed Washington physician, participated in a scheme and conspiracy to obtain millions of dollars by falsely billing Medicare for medically unnecessary genetic tests and durable medical equipment, including back, knee, shoulder, and ankle braces. The evidence at trial showed that while contracting with the fraudulent telemedicine and telemarketing company Real Time Physicians, LLC, (“Real Time”) Dr. Becerril signed false and fraudulent orders for genetic tests and braces for elderly Medicare beneficiaries that Dr. Becerril had never seen, spoken to, heard of, or had any contact with whatsoever, and which included deceased patients as well as elderly patients who had no limbs for the braces they were prescribed by Dr. Becerril. Dr. Becerril reviewed the Real Time prescriptions for, on average, 26 seconds before signing them and falsely attesting to their medical necessity. Real Time paid Dr. Becerril $20 for each phony prescription he falsely certified to be used to fraudulently bill Medicare.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Bastian remarked that while working for Real Time, Dr. Becerril performed no legitimate medical work and did not exercise any independent medical judgment. Doctors, like lawyers and judges, Judge Bastian pointed out, are trained to protect and maintain their licenses, protect their clients, and protect the system in which they operate, and Dr. Becerril failed to do that by essentially selling his medical license through his signature. Judge Bastian further agreed with the United States that through and even after trial, Dr. Becerril has been “steadfastly unapologetic” for his actions.
“Today’s sentencing reflects the seriousness of Dr. Becerril’s long‑running scheme to defraud the taxpayer-funded Medicare program, which is designed to provide medically necessary care to patients, not enrich fraudster physicians,” said Special Agent in Charge Robb R. Breeden of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Pacific Regional Office. “As Judge Bastian noted, Dr. Becerril’s conduct amounted to selling his medical license ‘for $20 a signature,’ demonstrating his limitless greed and a callous disregard for his patients and taxpayers. HHS‑OIG is proud of the relentless, collaborative work that brought this case to a successful conclusion. Working closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington, HHS-OIG will continue to aggressively investigate health care fraud allegations to protect federal health care programs and the millions of Americans who rely on them.”
“This sentence shows our office’s commitment to vigorously prosecute Medicare fraudsters and to hold them to account especially those who, like Dr. Becerril, violated their oaths and medical ethics for a buck at the expense of the taxpayer and the endangerment of the elderly and disabled,” said First Assistant United States Attorney, Pete Serrano. “We are very proud of our continued partnership with HHS-OIG in ensuring that those who defraud our public health programs have to deal with the very real consequences of their fraudulent actions.”
The case was investigated by Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Courtney R. Pratten and Tyler Tornabene and Health Care Fraud Contractor Echo D. Fatsis.
1:23-CR-02029-SAB
Verdict Press Release can be found here.
Clairton Woman Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Prison and Ordered to Pay $1.17 Million in Restitution for Repeated Fraud and Supervised Release ViolationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Clairton, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 76 months of incarceration and ordered to pay $1,172,209.80 in restitution to two former employers on her convictions for bank fraud, as well as violations of federal supervised release and a bond order, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Chief United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Tracey Smith, 58, on July 21, 2026.
According to information presented to the Court, while on federal supervised release for a prior wire fraud conviction for which she was sentenced in February 2023, Smith was hired as a comptroller by a Pittsburgh engineering firm and embezzled company funds for her personal use. As sentencing on those charges was pending, Smith was hired by another company as comptroller and embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars by creating unauthorized checks and misusing a company credit card.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Bissoon observed that the defendant had a serious criminal history for embezzlement.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Smith.
Chinese National Indicted for Role in Gift Card Fraud Conspiracy in Homeland Security Task Force InvestigationRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the District of New Hampshire returned an indictment yesterday charging a Chinese national and resident of Lynnfield, Massachusetts, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in an international gift card fraud conspiracy.
According to the indictment, Jinbin Ren, 38, and co-conspirators, acquired gift cards stolen from victims through romance fraud, elder fraud, hacking, theft, and other scams. The conspirators then used the gift cards to purchase and ship high-value electronics to Ren’s warehouse in Salem, New Hampshire. These electronics were then consolidated and reshipped to China. The conspirators used WeChat, a Chinese messaging application, to coordinate purchases, sales, shipments, and payments through cryptocurrency. Electronics found in Ren’s warehouse were traced to fraudulently obtained gift cards from American victims across multiple states.
The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan for the District of New Hampshire, Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Acting Inspector in Charge Jason Buckley of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division.
The case is being investigated by HSI New England, IRS Criminal Investigations Boston, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Boston, and the Concord, NH Police Department.
Trial Attorneys Emily Cohen and Madison Albrecht of the Justice Department’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Chen for the District of New Hampshire are prosecuting the case.
The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s (MNF) mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.
MNF’s Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit investigates and prosecutes sophisticated money laundering schemes involving financial facilitators, gatekeepers, and other individuals and entities laundering criminal proceeds, and litigates complex civil forfeiture cases to recover assets on behalf of victims.
This prosecution is also 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.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Charlotte Man Sentenced for Selling Guns and Fentanyl Connected to the Death of a Cary ManRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Kenneth Mark Rosado, age 40, to 15 years in federal prison for selling guns and fentanyl that led to the fentanyl overdose death of a 21-year-old Cary man. On October 21, 2025, Rosado pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Between 2023 and 2024, he sold 57 guns, knowing those weapons would end up in the hands of criminals on the streets. On November 20, 2024, he was federally charged in Charlotte with trafficking guns. A judge released him and placed him into a drug treatment center while that case was pending. On April 7, 2026, Rosado pleaded guilty to dealing in firearms without a license after his firearms case was transferred from the WDNC to the EDNC.
“The arrest and prosecution of this drug and gun dealing thug should give people of Eastern North Carolina a sense of relief,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “We will not tolerate despicable bottom-feeders who push poison and guns into our communities. Simple Lesson: Drugs Kill, Prison Awaits – Do Right.”
In January 2025, while in the treatment center awaiting trial, Rosado met and befriended a 21-year-old Cary man. Through their relationship, he indicated to the Cary man that he provides drugs. Rosado then absconded, fleeing to Charlotte where he met the 21-year-old victim in a hotel room. He sold fentanyl to the victim, who returned to Cary, used the fentanyl, and died. The victim’s parents discovered his dead body in his bedroom in the family room the following day.
Despite the fatal episode, Rosado continued selling drugs without remorse. Undercover officers subsequently carried out a controlled purchase of fentanyl from him, during which he admitted to routinely acquiring dealer‑level quantities of the drug.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Cary Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department investigated this case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-CR-63-M and 5:26-CR-1-M.
Boston Man Charged in Connection with Jail AssaultRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man has been charged with allegedly attacking a fellow inmate at the Norfolk County Correctional Center.
Javon Sylvester Coleman, a/k/a “J-Dott,” 22, of Boston was charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to kill or cause bodily injury to a witness, victim or informant with intent to retaliate against such person for providing information to law enforcement.
According to the charging documents, Coleman and others discussed the victim’s perceived status as an informant on a recorded jail call moments before the attack. Coleman allegedly boasted that he was about to “up that rank,” meaning increase his status within the jail by committing an act of violence. Coleman and his co-conspirators allegedly discussed different ways they could harm the victim (to whom they referred using the movie references “Ratatouille” and “Stuart Little”), such as finding a mousetrap and putting it on the victim’s tongue.
Surveillance video showed Coleman approach the victim from behind as the victim was seated watching television. Coleman allegedly punched the unsuspecting victim repeatedly from behind and knocked him to the ground. Coleman then got on top of the victim and allegedly strangled the victim with his hands around the victim’s neck, while calling him a “rat” and a “snitch.” The assault continued until corrections officers intervened and pulled Coleman off the victim.
The charge of conspiracy to kill or cause bodily injury to a witness, victim or informant with intent to retaliate provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Cutshall and Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Beebe Man Responsible for Fentanyl Pills that Killed Individual Sentenced to 27 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—The primary distributor in a fentanyl conspiracy responsible for the distribution of thousands of pills, including one that resulted in a death, will spend the next 27 years in federal prison. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr.
Trent Porter, 38, of Beebe, was sentenced to 324 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after his conviction for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death. There is no parole in the federal system.
A federal grand jury indicted Porter, along with co-defendants Lamont Kirk, 50, and Willie Johnson, 43, both of Little Rock, in the fentanyl conspiracy that resulted in the death of an individual identified in court documents as D.R. In addition to the conspiracy charge, Porter was charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. For their role in the conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl that resulted in death, on October 29, 2025, Kirk was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison and on November 7, 2025, Johnson received a sentence of more than 14 years.
All three defendants pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge in separate hearings on June 25, 2025, following an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Little Rock Police Department (LRPD). On August 20, 2023, LRPD officers responded to a distress call at a residence in Little Rock. Officers found D.R. deceased from what a state medical examiner concluded was a lethal dose of fentanyl. It is believed that D.R. died after ingesting a single fentanyl pill. The investigation revealed that D.R. obtained the fentanyl that caused the death from Kirk, at Kirk’s residence, the day that D.R. died.
On August 23, 2023, DEA and LRPD officers searched Kirk’s residence, locating a firearm and a small amount of narcotics. Through continued investigation, officers discovered that Kirk obtained the pills he sold to D.R. from Johnson two days prior. Then, officers surveilling Johnson conducted a traffic stop on Johnson’s vehicle. Officers located 99 pills in Johnson’s pocket that were confirmed to contain fentanyl. As the investigation continued that same day, officers learned that Johnson obtained the fentanyl pills he was selling to Kirk from Porter.
After locating and conducting surveillance on Porter, officers made contact with Porter in his vehicle. Porter had 308 fentanyl pills in a bottle in his pocket. Officers then brought Porter back to his residence, where they located an additional 1,617 fentanyl pills throughout the house.
Porter was on active parole and had several prior felony convictions, including for multiple counts of possession with intent to deliver controlled substances, maintaining a drug premises, aggravated assault, possession of firearms by certain persons, breaking and entering, fleeing, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Because Porter has at least two prior convictions for a violent felony or serious drug offense, he is classified as a career offender.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Little Rock Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chris Givens.
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Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
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@USAO_EDAR
Barrio Azteca Member Pleads Guilty to Racketeering and Drug Conspiracy Charges Related to 2010 U.S. Consulate Murders in JuarezRead the Press Release
A Bario Azteca gang member pleaded guilty today in federal court in El Paso, Texas, for being part of a racketeering and drug trafficking conspiracy which included acting as the lookout in the murders by Barrio Azteca members of a U.S. Consulate Juarez employee, her husband, and the husband of another U.S. consulate employee.
Enrique Guajardo Lopez, also known as “Kiki,” 59, of Juarez, Mexico, pleaded guilty today to racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute and import drugs. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Lopez faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
According to court documents and information presented in court, Lopez is one of 35 Barrio Azteca members and associates based in the United States and Mexico who were charged in the third superseding indictment in 2011 for allegedly committing various criminal acts, including racketeering, narcotics distribution and importation, retaliation against persons providing information to U.S. law enforcement, extortion, money laundering, obstruction of justice, and murder. Of the 35 defendants, 10 Mexican nationals were charged for their role in the March 13, 2010 murders of U.S. Consulate employee Leslie Ann Enriquez Catton; her husband Arthur Redelfs; and Jorge Alberto Salcido Ceniceros, the husband of a U.S. Consulate employee. All the defendants have been apprehended, and 30 have pleaded guilty. Three defendants have been convicted at trial and one committed suicide before the conclusion of his trial. One defendant remains pending trial.
The Barrio Azteca (BA) is a violent street and prison gang that began in the late 1980s and expanded into a transnational criminal organization. In the 2000s, the BA formed an alliance in Mexico with “La Linea,” which is part of the Juarez Drug Cartel (also known as the Vincente Carrillo Fuentes Drug Cartel or VCF). The purpose of the BA-La Linea alliance was to battle the Chapo Guzman Cartel and its allies for control of the drug trafficking routes through Juarez and Chihuahua. The drug routes through Juarez, known as the Juarez Plaza, are important to drug trafficking organizations because they are a principal illicit drug trafficking conduit into the United States. The gang has a militaristic command structure and includes captains, lieutenants, sergeants, and soldiers — all with the purpose of maintaining power and enriching its members and associates through drug trafficking, money laundering, extortion, intimidation, violence, threats of violence, and murder. The BAs were directly involved in drug trafficking, and BA members would also conduct enforcement operations for VCF, including acting as hit men to commit murders and assaults. On the day of the Consulate murders, Lopez acted as a lookout for other BA members who targeted and murdered the victims. Enriquez was four months pregnant, and her fetus was also killed.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas, Acting Special Agent in Charge Conal Whetten of the FBI El Paso Field Office, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Mark Putnam of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) El Paso Field Division made the announcement.
This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Chief Jay Bauer of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, Trial Attorney Amy Schwartz of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Spitzer of the Western District of Texas. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico and the Criminal Division’s Offices of International Affairs and Enforcement Operations provided significant assistance in this case.
The case was investigated by the FBI El Paso Field Office, Albuquerque Field Office (Las Cruces Resident Agency); DEA Juarez; and DEA El Paso. Special assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Federal Bureau of Prisons; U.S. Diplomatic Security Service; the Texas Department of Public Safety; the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; El Paso Police Department; El Paso County Sheriff’s Office; El Paso Independent School District Police Department; Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission; New Mexico State Police; Dona Ana County, New Mexico Sheriff’s Office; Las Cruces, New Mexico Police Department; Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility and Otero County Prison Facility New Mexico.
Armed Illegal Alien from Mexico Faces Multiple Child Sexual Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – An illegal alien from Mexico is facing multiple child sexual exploitation charges and a firearms offense, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
A federal grand jury returned a criminal indictment, charging Francisco Rosales Ortiz, 41, with 10 counts of production of CSAM, possession and access with intent to view CSAM, and unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien.
According to allegations in the indictment, between June 2025 and March 2026, in Gaston County, Ortiz attempted to, and did, use a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct multiple times for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of the sexual abuse. It is further alleged that during that time, Ortiz also knowingly possessed and accessed with intent to view child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The indictment also alleges that Ortiz illegally possessed three firearms, two pistols and a rifle, while being an alien unlawfully and illegally in the United States.
“We are not going to stand by while illegal aliens come to our country and exploit our children,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “There are plenty of people in line to legally come to the United States. They should not be forced to the back of the line for someone like Ortiz, who is charged with sexually abusing a child and illegally possessing firearms.”
“Homeland Security Investigations is committed to protecting our communities from those who seek to exploit the most vulnerable among us—our children. HSI will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and bring to justice individuals who commit these heinous crimes,” said Mark M. Zito, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Carolinas. “We will use every tool at our disposal to ensure that offenders are held accountable and that our neighborhoods remain safe places for children to grow and thrive.”
If convicted, Ortiz faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 325 years in prison, which includes 30 years in prison for each count of production of CSAM; up to 10 years in prison for possession and access with intent to view CSAM; and a maximum of 15 years in prison for the firearms offense. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations handled the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Cervantes of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
The charges against the defendant are allegations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Arlington man sentenced to nine years in prison for downloading child sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Arlington man was sentenced today to nine years in prison for receipt of child sexual abuse material.
According to court documents, Patrick Wanamaker, 35, viewed, downloaded, and possessed images and videos depicting minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. On Oct. 1, 2025, federal authorities searched Wanamaker’s residence and recovered nine electronic devices, eight of which belonged to Wanamaker. On Wanamaker’s cellphone and laptop, investigators identified 81 CSAM images, which he had downloaded between December 2015 and October 2023.
A forensic analysis also revealed that Wanamaker had emailed himself Mega links containing CSAM. The Mega links exclusively contained CSAM images and videos, including depictions of the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers. In total, the links included 279 images and 777 videos. Wanamaker accessed these links at various times between January 2022 and October 2023.
The FBI Washington Field Office's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Clement and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra Minghella prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-cr-53.
Arizona Man Sentenced to over 21 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring with Others to Distribute Fentanyl in Western South DakotaRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced an Arizona man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on July 20, 2026.
John Parrado, 38, was sentenced to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Parrado was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in September 2025. He pleaded guilty on January 5, 2026.
In 2025, Parrado conspired with other people to obtain fentanyl and distribute it in South Dakota. He received much of his supply from out of state through the U.S. mail. Ultimately, Parrado was personally involved in the distribution of 400 grams of the drug in the state.
“This is another step forward in eliminating these deadly substances from our state,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “My deepest thanks go out to the strong detective work of the Rapid City Police, the DEA, ATF, and Postal Inspection Service, working together to reel in this fentanyl dealer and put him away.”
This case was investigated by the Rapid City Police Department, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Peterson prosecuted the case.
Parrado was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.
Antiques and Art Dealer Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge Stemming from $2.1 Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that DAVID L. JOHNSON, 66, of Greenwich, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Sarah F. Russell in New Haven to an offense stemming from his embezzlement of more than $2 million from an elderly victim and his estate.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Johnson operated an antiques business, Antique Treasures LLC, and an auction business, Greenwich Auction, both based in Stamford. In approximately October 2018, an individual (“the victim”) executed a power of attorney, will, and trust naming Johnson as the victim’s agent, executor, and successor trustee, respectively. Johnson was not a beneficiary of the victim’s estate or trust. The victim died at the age of 87 in August 2020. After the victim’s death, Johnson stole more than $436,000 from one of the victim’s federal tax refund checks. The investigation revealed that Johnson stole a total of $2,168,719.24 from the victim and his estate.
To date, Johnson has paid approximately $1.1 million in restitution.
Johnson pleaded guilty to money laundering, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 30.
Johnson has been released on a $250,000 bond since his arrest on December 18, 2025.
This matter is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.
22-Year-Old Humberty J. Carrillo-García Charged with 5 Counts of Threatening Interstate CommunicationsRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On July 16, 2026, a grand jury returned an indictment against Humberty Jesús Carrillo-García, 22, from Gurabo, for making threatening interstate communications between March and June 2026 in violation of 18 U.S.C. 875(c), announced Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The defendant was arrested on July 20, 2026, and remains detained pending trial.
“This individual made statements about his desire to do harm to various groups of people, including federal and state law enforcement, and motivated others to commit acts of violence against multiple groups of people. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has no tolerance for illegal threats, especially threats that target innocent people,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ramírez-Carbó. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect our community from those individuals who jeopardize our public safety.”
“This individual publicly expressed a desire to commit acts of violence against multiple groups—including federal and state law enforcement, members of our armed forces, religious communities, and the public at large—and attempted to motivate others to do the same. Threats of domestic terrorism, religious‑motivated violence, and harm against our servicemembers or public institutions are intolerable. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has zero tolerance for illegal threats designed to intimidate or endanger innocent people,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ramírez‑Carbó. “We will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners to protect our community and respond decisively to anyone who threatens our public safety.”
“Threatening federal government employees, and inciting violence of any kind, against members of our community, is unacceptable and the FBI will not allow this type of behavior to impact the quality of life of our people,” said Carlos Goris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are generally joyful communities, where this type of violence is unheard of, and we will continue to work with our local, and federal law enforcement partners to keep it that way. As always, we encourage anyone to report suspicious behavior to the FBI and local authorities, before it's too late.”
According to the indictment and the motion for detention, Carrillo-García used TikTok and X (previously Twitter) to post threats to do harm to various groups. The defendant identified himself as a Nazi, has emphasized his idea/desire of killing Jewish people, American soldiers, and other groups. He has also highlighted his desire to carry out a terroristic attack. The defendant posted videos of himself speaking about his desire to do harm to various groups of people and to bomb different locations – with the intent to scare people. Here are examples of Carrillo-García’s interstate threats published on social media:
- The Defendant posted publicly on X pictures of himself holding a knife and stating that he would use it to tear apart American soldiers and Jews, as well as another picture of himself with a machete.
- The Defendant posted a public video in which he says that arms must be taken up against the United States, and he calls on the listener to shoot at North American soldiers, hit and stab Jews, burn “gringo” businesses, and to burn Jewish synagogues and Judeo Cristian churches including Jehovah’s Witnesses and Pentecostal churches.
- The Defendant posted a public video in which he says that police and CIA agents must be killed.
- The Defendant posted a public video in which he states that various locations must be bombed, including the White House, Fort Buchannan, Camp Santiago, First Bank, Oriental Bank, Banco Popular, and the United States Post Office.
- The Defendant posted public videos in which he states and demonstrates with a knife and stick that “yankees” and “gringos” should be cut and beat to death, and he also states that Police of Puerto Rico must be killed.
Each of the five counts of conviction carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. If the defendant is found guilty, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Vance Eaton of the Violent Crimes Division is prosecuting the case. The FBI’s San Juan Cyber and Violent Crimes Divisions are in charge of the investigation.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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16 Charged in Trafficking Ring Allegedly Operating Out of a Mansfield Car WashRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – Sixteen individuals have been charged for their alleged involvement in a drug trafficking ring operating out of a car wash in Mansfield, Ohio. The charges are the result of a three-year-long investigation by federal and local officials.
According to the superseding indictment filed July 8, the defendants are alleged to be responsible for trafficking large quantities of controlled substances in Richland County and the surrounding areas. Oxycodone was obtained from suppliers in Detroit, Cleveland, and Toledo which co-conspirators redistributed in Mansfield. The drugs and proceeds, were then stored at the New Millinium Car Wash and at a residence on Johns Avenue, both in Mansfield.
Throughout the investigation, agents seized approximately 895 grams of cocaine, 127 oxycodone pills, and 50 grams of cocaine base (crack), as well as 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1,980 pressed fentanyl tablets, and 120 grams of powdered fentanyl. Agents also seized cash proceeds totaling more than $61,832 and numerous illegally possessed firearms during the investigation.
Individuals were apprehended in a series of coordinated arrests. One defendant, Carl Henderson, 56, of Los Angeles, California, remains at large.
A federal grand jury returned an 18-count indictment charging the following individuals with Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Cocaine Base (Crack), and Oxycodone:
- Calvin Caldwell, aka Petey, 67, of Mansfield, Ohio
- Carl Henderson, 56, of Los Angeles, California
- Damell Owens, 48, of Cleveland, Ohio
- Leon Moses, aka Lee, 47, of Toledo, Ohio
- Phillip Douglas Jr., 44, of Fraser, Michigan
- Robert Wade, aka Hollywood, 53, of Mansfield, Ohio
- Nashone Howard, aka Black, 53, of Mansfield, Ohio
- Edward Brooks, 67, of Ontario, Ohio
- Joann Robertson, 73, of Mansfield, Ohio
- Effie James, 69, of Mansfield, Ohio
- Jaynell Thornton, 67, of Mansfield, Ohio
- Timothy Moyer, 67, of Mansfield, Ohio
- Paul Baumer, 59, of Mansfield, Ohio
- Dreama Henderson, 42, of Mansfield, Ohio
- David George, 55, of Mansfield, Ohio,
- Toni Crawford, 66, of Mansfield, Ohio
Caldwell was additionally charged with:
- Distribution of Oxycodone
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
- Felon in Possession of Ammunition; prior convictions include Aggravated Trafficking in 1995, Possession of Drugs in 2004, Distribution of Cocaine Base in 2008, and Trafficking in Cocaine in 2014
- Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
- Distribution of Cocaine Base (Crack)
- Distribution of Oxycodone
- Maintenance of Drug Premises
Owens was additionally charged with:
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; prior convictions include Felonious Assault in 2004, and Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of Cocaine and Cocaine Base in 2013
- Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
Howard was additionally charged with Felon in Possession of a Firearm; prior convictions include Aggravated Battery/Great Bodily Harm in 1991; Possession of Controlled Substances and Manufacture/Deliver Controlled Substances in 1994.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney David Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio, Special Agent in Charge Joshua Del Manzo of the FBI Cleveland Division, and Mansfield Police Chief Jason Bammann.
This case was investigated by the FBI Mansfield Resident Agency and the Metro-Richland County (METRICH) enforcement unit with assistance from the Mansfield Police Department, Richland County Sheriff Department, and the Marion County Drug Task Force (MARMET). The U.S. Marshals Service and Wyandot County Sheriff Office assisted with the arrests. The Richland County Prosecutors office provided valuable legal support throughout the investigation.
The prosecution is being led by Assistant United States Attorney Vasile Katsaros for the Northern District of Ohio.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
21 July 2026
Wichita man sold pipe bombs and drugs to ATF undercover agentRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Wichita man was sentenced to 126 months in prison for after selling illegal drugs and explosive devices to an undercover federal agent.
According to court documents, Adam C. Garcia, 31, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of drug conspiracy.
Between March 2024 and April 2024, an undercover agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) purchased cocaine, fentanyl, and pipe bombs either directly from Garcia or from a coconspirator acting under Garcia’s direction.
Analysis showed the total amounts sold to the agent as 316.05 grams of fentanyl, 67.59 grams of cocaine, and three explosive devices.
“Selling narcotics is pretty bad by itself but in combination with pipe bombs, this kind of criminal behavior could easily turn deadly,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Had these explosive devices ended up in the wrong hands and been detonated against law enforcement or civilians, it could have been a disaster. We can all rest easier knowing that ATF is working hard to keep these devices off the street.”
Federal prosecutors charged three other defendants in this case. Anthony Stephen Dennis, 27, of Wichita was sentenced to 46 months in prison after pleading guilty to drug conspiracy.
Jonathan Scott Peacock, 42, of Wichita was sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to making an explosive device.
Paola Michelle Sosa-Rios, a Mexican national living in Wichita, also pleaded guilty to criminal charges related to this case and is awaiting sentencing.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kari Burks prosecuted the case.
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Wichita brothers sentenced for drug trafficking crimesRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – Two Kansas brothers were sentenced to prison for offenses related to a drug trafficking ring that moved fentanyl across state lines into Kansas.
According to court documents, Raashad Robinson, 30, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of drug conspiracy. He was sentenced to 300 months in prison.
Starting in March 2024, Raashad Robinson drove from Kansas to Arizona and back five times to obtain fentanyl for distribution in Wichita. While returning to Kansas in September 2024, he was stopped by officers in Stratford, Texas. Officers found fentanyl powder and fentanyl pills while searching the vehicle. Raashad Robinson admitted to law enforcement that he supplied fentanyl that he and his co-conspirators sold in Kansas.
A federal grand jury indicted seven other defendants in connection with the drug trafficking ring including Raashad’s brother Eddie Robinson, 31, of Wichita. Eddie Robinson was sentenced to 120 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Martel Costello, 30, and Jevante Oliver, 34, 22, both of Wichita pleaded guilty to crimes related to this case and are awaiting sentencing. Emmanuel Recinos, 27, and Lisandro Ruiz-Uzagarra, 28, both of Phoenix, Arizona, and James Wilkinson, 31, of St. Joseph, Missouri, pleaded guilty to crimes related to this case and are awaiting sentencing.
“Raashad Robinson and Eddie Robinson saw selling drugs as a way to make easy money. When Raashad Robinson decided to drive thousands of miles between Wichita and Phoenix to transport fentanyl, he didn’t know he was actually on the road to federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Wichita Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak is prosecuting the case.
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Vanderwagen Man Pleads Guilty to AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Vanderwagen man pleaded guilty to an assault that left the victim with serious injuries.
According to court documents, on March 10, 2025, Larry Begay, 66, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted John Doe with an exercise bar and the assault caused serious bodily injury.
Begay pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury and faces up to ten years in prison at sentencing.
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 Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Mondragon is prosecuting the case.
Two Philadelphia Men Sentenced to Decades in Prison for 2022 Armed Robbery SpreeRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that two Philadelphia men have each been sentenced to some two decades in prison for conspiring to carry out a string of gunpoint robberies throughout the city in 2022. Three people were shot in two separate incidents during the defendants’ crime spree.
Lance Ryan, 28, was sentenced this afternoon to 262 months in prison and five years of supervised release by United States District Chief Judge Wendy Beetlestone. Ryan pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy to commit robbery which interferes with interstate commerce, two counts of robbery which interferes with interstate commerce, and two counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Co-defendant Rodney Whiting, 33, was sentenced by Chief Judge Beetlestone last month to 231 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release. Whiting pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to commit robbery which interferes with interstate commerce, four counts of robbery which interferes with interstate commerce, and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
As detailed in court filings and statements, between May and October 2022, Whiting, Ryan, and an accomplice, charged separately, agreed to rob several commercial businesses across Philadelphia, either in pairs or as a group, using a least one privately manufactured semi-automatic pistol (a “ghost gun”). Law enforcement’s investigation revealed that several businesses the men targeted were within one block of Whiting’s residence on the 6800 block of Ogontz Avenue.
On May 23, 2022, Whiting and the accomplice robbed a 7-Eleven on Mascher Street, stealing approximately $200 and tobacco products while the accomplice pointed the ghost gun at the cashier. The next day, Whiting, Ryan and the accomplice attempted to rob patrons at a bar in South Philadelphia. When a patron intervened in the robbery and confronted Whiting, Ryan fired the ghost gun into the crowded barroom and struck one victim in his leg and another victim in his hand. The trio fled the bar empty-handed.
On June 2, 2022, Whiting and the accomplice brandished the ghost gun at an employee of a Little Caesar’s Pizza on Ogontz Avenue and stole approximately $200 from the register.
On June 17, 2022, Whiting and an accomplice attempted to rob the Ogontz Minimart, where the accomplice pointed the ghost gun at the cashier and demanded that he open the security door. When the cashier reached for the alarm, Whiting threw a brick through the security door and smashed the glass; the accomplice then pointed the ghost gun through a hole in the glass and fired one shot, striking the cashier in his leg. Whiting and the accomplice fled the store empty-handed.
On September 6, 2022, Ryan and the accomplice brandished a pistol at an employee of a dry-cleaning business on Ogontz Avenue and stole approximately $100 from the register. On September 10, 2022, Ryan went to a neighboring laundromat on Ogontz Avenue, pointed a pistol at the owner of the business, and stole approximately $2,000 from the register.
Finally, on October 4, 2022, Whiting, Ryan, and their accomplice entered the Dollar General store on the 6000 block of North Broad Street, where the accomplice pointed the ghost gun at the store’s cashier, Whiting corralled two customers away from the register area, and Ryan stole approximately $1,500 from two registers. After the robbery, the three men fled in different directions. Whiting was arrested while running from Philadelphia Police officers on Ogontz Avenue, and their accomplice was also arrested on Ogontz Avenue in possession of the ghost gun and the money stolen from Dollar General. Ballistic evidence confirmed that the trio used that same ghost gun to commit the shootings on May 24, 2022, at the South Philadelphia bar and on June 17, 2022, at the Ogontz Minimart.
A warrant was later issued for Ryan’s arrest, and he was taken into federal custody on December 1, 2022, while hiding at a residence in Baltimore, Maryland.
As part of his guilty plea, Ryan also admitted that he used a firearm to rob the Three Tree Grocery on South 6th Street on September 3, 2022.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin Ashenfelter and Special Assistant United States Attorney Meagan Gordon.
Two Men Charged with $52 million COVID-19 Tax Credit Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A California man was arrested yesterday after a grand jury sitting in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania returned an indictment charging him with conspiracy, mail fraud and money laundering.
According to the indictment, Christopher Slater was part of a multi-state conspiracy to defraud the United States of more than $52.7 million by filing hundreds of false tax returns claiming Paid Sick and Family Leave Credit (SFLC) and Employee Retention Credit (ERC) credits. Congress authorized the SFLC tax credit to reimburse businesses for wages paid to employees who were on sick or family leave and could not work because of COVID-19. Congress authorized the ERC to incentivize businesses to keep employees on their payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This indictment alleges that Christopher Slater orchestrated a multi-state fraud scheme that sought more than $50 million in taxpayer-funded pandemic relief funds,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “This brazen fraud is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The Fraud Division will continue to hold anyone accountable who steals from American taxpayers and abuses programs intended to provide relief during a national crisis.”
Slater allegedly conspired with others to recruit business owners, use their information to file false tax returns and then launder the proceeds of the fraud. In total, Slater allegedly caused at least 290 false tax returns to be filed for 35 businesses claiming over $52.7 million in COVID-19 tax credits, of which the IRS paid out over $32.2 million.
The indictment also charged Mark Keagel, of York, Pennsylvania, with money laundering, conspiracy and theft of government property. Keagel owned two defunct businesses whose information he allegedly passed on to one of Slater’s co-conspirators. According to the indictment, Slater’s associates filed false tax returns on behalf of Keagel’s businesses. In response, the IRS mailed approximately $3.6 million in fraudulent Treasury checks to Keagel, who then allegedly laundered those proceeds.
If convicted, Slater faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison for each of the seven mail fraud and mail fraud conspiracy counts. Slater and Keagel also face a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison for each of the money laundering and money laundering conspiracy counts. Keagel faces a sentence of up to ten years in prison for each count of theft of government property.
Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller of the Middle District of Pennsylvania the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant Deputy Chief Ezra Spiro of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Romel Sharma of the Middle District of Pennsylvania are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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.
Two Men Charged in $52 million COVID-19 Tax Credit Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller announced that a California man was arrested on Monday after a grand jury sitting in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania returned an indictment charging him with conspiracy, mail fraud and money laundering.
According to the indictment, Christopher Slater was part of a multi-state conspiracy to defraud the United States of more than $52.7 million by filing hundreds of false tax returns claiming Paid Sick and Family Leave Credit (SFLC) and Employee Retention Credit (ERC) credits. Congress authorized the SFLC tax credit to reimburse businesses for wages paid to employees who were on sick or family leave and could not work because of COVID-19. Congress authorized the ERC to incentivize businesses to keep employees on their payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Slater allegedly conspired with others to recruit business owners, use their information to file false tax returns and then launder the proceeds of the fraud. In total, Slater allegedly caused at least 280 false tax returns to be filed for 35 businesses claiming over $52.7 million in COVID-19 tax credits, of which the IRS paid out over $32.2 million.
The indictment also charged Mark Keagel, of York, Pennsylvania, with money laundering, conspiracy and theft of government property. Keagel owned two defunct businesses whose information he allegedly passed on to one of Slater’s co-conspirators. According to the indictment, Slater’s associates filed false tax returns on behalf of Keagel’s businesses. In response, the IRS mailed approximately $3.6 million in fraudulent Treasury checks to Keagel, who then allegedly laundered those proceeds.
“This indictment alleges that Christopher Slater orchestrated a multi-state fraud scheme that sought more than $50 million in taxpayer-funded pandemic relief funds,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division.
“This brazen fraud is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The Fraud Division will continue to hold anyone accountable who steals from American taxpayers and abuses programs intended to provide relief during a national crisis.”
“This indictment shows our Office’s longstanding commitment to prosecuting fraudsters and protecting our tax dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller.” “This Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to stop these schemes and protect taxpayers hard earned money.”
“IRS-Criminal Investigation is committed to protecting the integrity of our financial system by disrupting complex financial crimes and pursuing those responsible, stated Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Philadelphia Field Office.”
If convicted, Slater faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison for each of the seven mail fraud and mail fraud conspiracy counts. Slater and Keagel also face a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison for each of the money laundering and money laundering conspiracy counts. Keagel faces a sentence of up to ten years in prison for each count of theft of government property.
Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller of the Middle District of Pennsylvania made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant Deputy Chief Ezra Spiro of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Romel Sharma of the Middle District of Pennsylvania are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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Two Individuals Sentenced for Staged Automobile Accident ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ADONTE TURNER (“A. TURNER”), age 28, of New Orleans; and TIFFANY TURNER (“T. TURNER”), age 55, also of New Orleans, were sentenced on July 17, 2026 for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, announced the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
According to court documents, on November 13, 2017, A. TURNER, and T. TURNER were passengers in a vehicle that intentionally struck a tractor-trailer in the area of Interstate 10 near Paris Road in New Orleans. A. TURNER, and T. TURNER made false police reports, filed fraudulent lawsuits, lied during deposition testimony, and sought unnecessary medical treatment in furtherance of their fraud.
U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance sentenced both A. TURNER and T. TURNER to eighteen (18) months of probation. A mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00 will also be imposed.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Louisiana State Police, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni, of the Public Integrity Unit; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Rivera, Deputy Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Acting Criminal Chief and Supervisor of the Financial Crimes Unit.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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Two Illegal Aliens and Marietta Man Face Federal Charges After Seizure of Nearly 500 Pounds of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Juan Rueda-Palacios and Lourdes Prudente Blanco, both illegal aliens from Mexico, and Alan Hernandez, of Marietta, Georgia, are facing federal drug charges related to the recent seizure of nearly 500 pounds of methamphetamine from a vehicle in Brookhaven, Georgia, and an apartment in Sandy Springs.
“These charges reflect the commitment of my office and our law enforcement partners to dismantle large‑scale drug trafficking operations that endanger our community,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “If you choose to traffic dangerous drugs in our community, we will investigate, arrest, and prosecute you.”
“This investigation reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting communities from the deadly drugs and violence tied to drug trafficking organizations,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “These defendants trafficked dangerous narcotics while unlawfully present in the United States, creating a serious threat to public safety. Working side by side with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, DEA will continue removing drugs, guns, and violent offenders from our streets.”
“This amount of methamphetamine flooding our streets would have devastated countless lives and families,” said Steven N. Schrank, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “Meth is not just a drug—it brings violence, addiction, and fear into our neighborhoods. Our message is clear: if you try to poison our communities with dangerous drugs, we will find you and bring you to justice. HSI and our partners are committed to keeping our communities safe and standing up for the families who call Georgia home.”
“Nearly 500 pounds of methamphetamine will never reach Georgia's communities because of the relentless work and collaboration of local, state, and federal law enforcement,” said Chris Hosey, Director, Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “This investigation should serve as a warning to those who seek to traffic drugs in Georgia: we will relentlessly pursue those who bring these deadly substances into our communities and work tirelessly alongside our partners to ensure the safety of every Georgian.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On April 2, 2026, Rueda-Palacios and Prudente allegedly drove a vehicle from Ellenwood, Georgia to a shopping center in Brookhaven and abandoned it with roughly 130 pounds of methamphetamine inside. Agents arrested Hernandez and retrieved the drugs after observing Hernandez enter and exit the vehicle later that day.
On July 15, 2026, agents arrested Rueda‑Palacios and Prudente. A search of their Sandy Springs apartment the same day uncovered approximately 350 pounds of methamphetamine along with a Mexican passport belonging to Rueda‑Palacios. Allegedly, neither Rueda‑Palacios nor Prudente is lawfully present in the United States, and Rueda‑Palacios returned illegally after having been deported in 2013.
Juan Rueda-Palacios, 47, and Lourdes Prudente Blanco, 48, both of Mexico, and Alan Hernandez, 34, of Marietta, Georgia, appeared in federal court yesterday on a criminal complaint charging them with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Rueda-Palacios was also charged with illegally reentering the United States.
Members of the public are reminded that the criminal complaint only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office provided substantial assistance to the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Amy Schwarzl and Sandy Strippoli are prosecuting the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.
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.
Twelve Indicted in National Cargo Theft Conspiracy Targeting Nike in West TennesseeRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Twelve people have been indicted in the Western District of Tennessee and are facing federal charges for their involvement in an organized cargo theft conspiracy targeting Nike’s North American Logistics Center in Memphis, Tennessee, according to recently unsealed indictments. The charges are the culmination of a multi-year investigation by FBI’s Cargo Theft Task Force. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the unsealing of the indictments today.
As alleged in the indictment and documents submitted to the District Court: Between July 2021 and continuing to on or about June 19, 2024, the defendants worked together and with others to transport stolen Nike retail product throughout the United States. The investigation revealed the co-defendants stole at least $2 million in Nike product during this timeframe.
In a typical theft, the defendants would identify product that they wanted to resell, locate it in the Nike warehouse, and place shipping labels to predetermined locations throughout the United States where they would retrieve and resell the stolen product.
The individuals named in the indictment are:
- Roy Harvey, Jr., 39, of Los Angeles, CA
- Bereket Abraham, 39, of Los Angeles, CA
- Jorge Cuellar, 30, of Los Angeles, CA
- Keith Cannon, 40, of Memphis, TN
- Cadarian Mack, 35, of Memphis, TN
- Julian Baker, 36, of Memphis, TN
- Cortez Spencer, 39, of Memphis, TN
- Roderico McClellan, 33, of Memphis, TN
- Damon Johnson, 30, of Memphis, TN
- Joel Deluna, 42, of Chicago, IL
- Michael Perkins, 40, of Olive Branch, MS
- Marquesio Robinson, 47, of Charlestown, IN
On May 21, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging all twelve individuals with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, and one defendant with interstate transportation of stolen property. The case has been assigned to United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Memphis is proudly known as ‘America’s Distribution Center’, and organized cargo theft conspiracies disrupt and harm crucial interstate commerce and businesses here in West Tennessee and across America. In order to protect the critical economic and logistics infrastructure of Memphis, we will always aggressively prosecute those who threaten it."
“As alleged, these twelve defendants stole millions of dollars’ worth of merchandise and sold those stolen goods at the direct expense of sellers, shippers, and buyers,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “Organized cargo theft doesn’t just steal products – it steals time, trust, and profitability across the entire supply chain. Those who conspire to disrupt commerce and harm consumers will be met with a coordinated law enforcement response. The FBI’s Cargo Theft Task Force is committed to ridding our supply chains of organized crime and will relentlessly pursue those who seek to exploit or disrupt it.”
This case was investigated by the FBI Nashville Field Office with assistance from the FBI Chicago Field Office and the FBI Los Angeles Field Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Lynn Crum and Special Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Cohenmeyer, of the United States Navy Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps, are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.
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For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates
Truck driver admits hauling illegal aliens instead of carrotsRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 61-year-old Houston man has pleaded guilty to transporting illegal aliens.
Rodney William Gipson admitted that, despite nearly 30 years as a commercial truck driver, he knew or recklessly disregarded the fact he was illegally transporting two dozen illegal aliens in his truck.
On Feb. 19, Gipson drove a tractor-trailer to the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint. He claimed he was transporting a load from the Rio Grande Valley to Houston, but a K-9 soon alerted to the rear of the trailer.
At secondary inspection, law enforcement discovered 24 illegal aliens hidden inside the vehicle. They also found a cargo document showing the truck was supposed to be hauling a load of carrots.
Gipson was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.
Sentencing will be set a later date before U.S. District Judge David S. Morales. At that time, Gipson faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Griffith is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigrants, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Ten Charged in Grant County Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Ten individuals have been charged in a federal indictment alleging they participated in a Grant County drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl throughout southwest New Mexico between 2023 and 2026.
According to court documents, Margarita Encarnacion Dominguez, 43, is alleged to have led a Grant County drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl between August 2023 and June 2026. The indictment alleges Dominguez obtained narcotics from Arizona-based supplier Marco Elias Martinez, 32, coordinated couriers to transport drugs and cash between Arizona and New Mexico, collected payments through wire transfers and electronic payment applications, and redistributed methamphetamine and fentanyl through a network of family members and associates.
The indictment alleges Martinez supplied Dominguez with multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine and hundreds of grams of fentanyl for redistribution throughout southwest New Mexico. Investigators allege the two regularly communicated about drug shipments, payments, couriers, inventory levels, and customer demand. On multiple occasions, Dominguez allegedly sent couriers carrying thousands of dollars in cash to Arizona to purchase narcotics, while Martinez coordinated the delivery of methamphetamine and fentanyl to New Mexico.
The indictment further alleges that Dominguez relied on several co-conspirators to distribute narcotics and transport drug proceeds. Her son, Danny Joe Muñoz, 26, is alleged to have possessed and distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl obtained through the conspiracy. Her nephew, Joshua Jake Padilla, 33, allegedly sought methamphetamine and fentanyl for redistribution and used cellular phones to coordinate drug transactions. Angelica R’Shae Salas, 32, and Michael Joseph Alirez, 41, allegedly purchased methamphetamine from Dominguez, pooled money to finance narcotics purchases, and made trips to Arizona to retrieve drug shipments on behalf of the organization.
According to the indictment, Patrick Flores, 40, acted as a courier and distributor for the organization and, on August 2, 2024, allegedly delivered approximately 3.1 kilograms of methamphetamine and approximately 200 grams of fentanyl to Dominguez. Cynthia Jimenez, 42, allegedly received distribution quantities of methamphetamine from Dominguez and participated in financing additional narcotics purchases. Tania Diaz, 33, a Mexican national illegally present in the United States, is alleged to have assisted with financial transactions and communications related to drug trafficking activities.
The indictment also alleges members of the conspiracy discussed buying, selling, and exchanging firearms in connection with narcotics trafficking. In addition, Martinez and Flores are charged with conspiring to obstruct justice after allegedly arranging for the seizure and destruction of Dominguez’s cellphone to prevent investigators from accessing communications related to the conspiracy. Martinez is separately charged with transmitting interstate threats after allegedly threatening to kill a courier and the courier’s brother following the loss of a narcotics shipment in April 2025.
The indictment charges Dominguez with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, multiple counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, distribution of methamphetamine, and multiple counts of using a communication facility to further a drug trafficking crime. If convicted on the most serious charges, she faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison.
Martinez is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, multiple counts of using a communication facility to further a drug trafficking crime, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and transmitting interstate threats. If convicted on the most serious drug trafficking charges, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison.
Muñoz is charged with conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison.
Padilla is charged with conspiracy, attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, and using a communication facility to further a drug trafficking crime. If convicted on the most serious charges, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison.
Salas is charged with conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and using a communication facility to further a drug trafficking crime. If convicted on the most serious charges, she faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison.
Alirez is charged with conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and using a communication facility to further a drug trafficking crime. If convicted on the most serious charges, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison.
Jimenez is charged with conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted on the most serious charges, she faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison.
Flores is charged with conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and related drug trafficking offenses. If convicted on the most serious charges, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison.
Diaz is charged with conspiracy and using a communication facility to further a drug trafficking crime. If convicted on the most serious charges, she faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison.
In separate but related cases, Joseph De La Torre, 35, is charged with federal drug trafficking and firearms offenses. According to court documents, agents executing a search warrant at his residence on July 16, 2026, recovered methamphetamine, a substance that tested presumptively positive for cocaine and fentanyl, packaging materials commonly associated with narcotics distribution, and a loaded handgun.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today on behalf of the Homeland Security Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Devon Aragon Martinez, Renee Camacho and Judith Crews are prosecuting these cases.
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 Region II CORE 7 is comprised of agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Customs and Border Protection – Office of Field Operations (OFO), U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) and Air and Marine (AMO), Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), United States Department of the Interior – Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Joint Task Force North (JTF-N), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), United States Marshal Service (USMS), Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Texas Department of Public Safety (TXDPS), El Paso Police Department (EPPD), New Mexico State Police (NMSP), West Texas / New Mexico High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA), Albuquerque Police Department, New Mexico Sixth Judicial District, Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics Agency, and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Districts of Western Texas and New Mexico.
An indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Smith County sex offender guilty of child pornography violationsRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Tyler man previously convicted of a child pornography violation, has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
John Matthew Emerson, 42, pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on July 21, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell.
According to information presented in court, Emerson, while on supervised release for a prior conviction for possession of child pornography, was found in possession of a cellular phone containing child pornography.
Emerson faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Jackson.
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Shots Fired, Drugs Land Wheeling Man in PrisonRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A shots-fired investigation has resulted in a lengthy prison sentence for a Wheeling, West Virginia, man, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Roland N. Copney, 37, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison for a methamphetamine offense. The investigation began in March 2024 after reports of shots fired on Wheeling Island led officers to a South Broadway Street residence linked to Copney. A search warrant executed at the home uncovered nearly 200 grams of methamphetamine, a 9mm shell casing, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia. A subsequent search of the property revealed additional methamphetamine, cocaine, two firearms, and more ammunition. Copney has a criminal history that includes domestic violence and assault.
“Violent offenders will not be tolerated in the Northern District of West Virginia,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. “Protecting our communities is our highest priority. If you combine drugs and firearms, you will face a lengthy sentence.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Conklin prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Wheeling Police Department investigated.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Sheep Spring Man Charged in StabbingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Sheep Spring man has been charged in federal court with assault after allegedly stabbing another individual.
According to court documents, on July 12, 2026, Justin Brown, 50, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, attended a gathering in Sheep Springs, New Mexico. After arriving, Brown allegedly became aggressive and, during an ensuing confrontation, stabbed another individual in the left forearm and inflicted cuts on the victim's abdomen and back. The victim fled the scene in a vehicle with another adult and four minor children while Brown allegedly attempted to gain access to the vehicle and pursued it as it drove away.
Medical records showed the victim suffered a stab wound to the left forearm requiring 16 staples, as well as superficial cuts to the abdomen and back.
The investigation further revealed that, earlier in the evening, Brown allegedly threatened another attendee with a box cutter-style knife and sent threatening text messages before the assault. Witnesses reported that a second victim also suffered a cut during the incident.
During a post-arrest interview with investigators, Brown allegedly admitted to using a box cutter to stab the male victim and cut a female victim. Brown claimed he acted because he believed the victims were attempting to harm him.
Brown is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing. If convicted of the current charge, Brown faces up to 10 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Mondragon 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.
Seventh Defendant Pleads Guilty in Atlanta to Milledgeville Meth Trafficking CaseRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – The final of seven defendants involved in a methamphetamine trafficking network sourcing methamphetamine from Atlanta for distribution in Milledgeville, Georgia, has been brought to justice resulting from an Operation Take Back America investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office.
“This case demonstrates our firm commitment to work with law enforcement to rid our communities of armed drug trafficking networks and ensure repeat offenders in the Middle District of Georgia face the consequences of their actions,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. "I want to thank our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners for their tireless efforts to keep our communities safe."
“Drug trafficking organizations don’t just deal drugs—they bring guns, violence, and instability into our neighborhoods,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “The significant prison sentences imposed, and guilty plea reflect the serious danger these defendants posed, and the harm caused by flooding our communities with methamphetamine and other illicit drugs.”
Cory Wilson, 41, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine on July 20 and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison up to a maximum of life in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and a maximum $10 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for October 10.
The following codefendants previously pleaded guilty, and some have been sentenced:
Ruby Fogg, 39, of Austell, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 324 months in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release on June 10, after she previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Robert Matthew Wood, 43, of Marietta, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 262 months in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release on June 10, after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Desmond Glenn, 35, of Milledgeville, Georgia, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Feb. 17 and faces a maximum of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 12.
Rodney May, 38, of Milledgeville, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine on Dec. 17, 2025, and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison up to a maximum of life in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release and a maximum $20 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 12.
Tony Baker, 39, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 92 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on June 10, after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
Katherine Short-Barcenas, 36, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine on Dec. 17, 2025, and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison up to a maximum of life in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and a maximum $10 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 12.
U.S. District Judge Marc T. Treadwell is presiding over the case. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and statements referenced in court, federal agents began investigating a group of individuals distributing methamphetamine in the Baldwin County, Georgia, area beginning in early 2023. Between April 25, 2023, and July 31, 2023, agents conducted four separate controlled purchases from Glenn totaling approximately 162 grams of methamphetamine. Under surveillance, Glenn was recorded selling methamphetamine and other controlled substances to people in Baldwin County as well as obtaining large amounts of methamphetamine from several sources of supply, including Fogg, who was the leader of the criminal network. Short-Barcenas and Wilson, members of this drug trafficking ring, sold methamphetamine twice to a confidential source in early March 2023, as part of this investigation.
Fogg was working closely with Wood to obtain and distribute large amounts of methamphetamine. Fogg and Wood often rented hotel rooms in Atlanta where they stored and sold narcotics. On Nov. 14, 2023, Fogg directed Glenn to pick up methamphetamine from Wood at an Atlanta area hotel, at a time she was making a trip to deliver drug proceeds to Jackson, Georgia. May and Baker traveled with Glenn to the Atlanta hotel; on the return trip, their vehicle was stopped by law enforcement, and nearly one kilo of methamphetamine was found in a bag, along with a smaller amount in the floorboard. Officers also found a firearm tucked between Glenn’s seat and the center console, and another firearm in the backseat. A search warrant was executed at Glenn’s Milledgeville home, where officers found an additional 64.68 grams of methamphetamine and five firearms in his bedroom. Glenn was previously convicted of robbery by force in Baldwin County, Georgia. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
Two days later, on Nov. 16, 2023, Fogg and Wood were arrested; the hotel they were renting was searched, and an additional 154.97 grams of methamphetamine was located, plus drug paraphernalia.
Fogg has three prior criminal felony methamphetamine distribution convictions in Douglas County, Georgia, Superior Court.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The DEA and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Howard is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Rutland, Vermont Man Charged with Attempted Convenience Store RobberyRead the Press Release
BURLINGTON – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on June 25, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Todd Bussino, age 42, of Rutland, Vermont, with interfering with commerce by attempted robbery.
Bussino entered a plea of not guilty to the charges during an arraignment on July 21, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Bussino also appeared on allegations he violated his federal supervised release. Judge Doyle ordered that Bussino be detained pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled.
According to court records, on June 14, 2026, Bussino walked into a Rutland convenience store while wearing a hat and mask, displayed a box cutter, and demanded the money in the cash register. The cashier told Bussino no and retreated to the store’s office. Bussino attempted to open the register himself, failed, and left the store after stealing a beverage.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Bussino is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Bussino faces up to 20 years of imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the Rutland City Police Department and the FBI.
The prosecutor is First Assistant United States Attorney Ophardt. Bussino is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.
Richmond man sentenced after being caught with drugs and a firearm while on supervision for the same crimes in the same placeRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to a year and three months in prison for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.
According to court documents, on July 10, 2025, Richmond Police observed several individuals loitering around a vacant unit in the Southwood Apartment Complex in Richmond, including Atio Terrain Walton, 23. The officers, who were familiar with Walton, searched him and found a knotted baggie containing over five grams of cocaine base hidden in Walton's underwear. They also located a handgun on a chair in the apartment and recognized it as the same firearm Walton possessed in an image he had posted on Instagram.
On June 10, 2025, one month before this offense, Walton was convicted of possession of seven grams of cocaine and a concealed firearm with an extended magazine while in the Southwood Apartment Complex. Walton was on supervised release for the prior conviction at the time he committed the latest offense. As a previously convicted felon, Walton cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
The FBI’s Richmond Field Office and the Richmond Police Department investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine E. Groover and Stephen E. Anthony prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-155.
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Dawaun Shunard Jackson, 40, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced in federal court to 20 years in prison for one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of penalties for registered sex offenders. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This predator has clearly shown from his repeated crimes that the only way we can guarantee the safety of our children from his continued sexual deviance is by keeping him locked away in federal prison. My office is happy to oblige, and he’ll spend the next two decades behind bars. I deeply appreciate the excellent, collaborative work of the Tallahassee Police Department and the FBI to identify and stop offenders, like this defendant, from harming our kids, and my office will back up their great work with aggressive prosecutions to keep those sexual predators off our streets.”
Court documents reflect that between November 20 and 22, 2025, the Tallahassee Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other state and federal law enforcement agencies, conducted an undercover operation focused on identifying individuals using the internet to sexually exploit children. During the operation, an undercover officer posed as a 15-year-old girl and posted an ad on a website known for the solicitation of escorts. Court records show that the defendant responded to the ad and believed that he was communicating with a minor child, and that the defendant offered money in exchange for sex with the child and arranged to meet in Tallahassee. Further investigation that the defendant was a registered sex offender. After the defendant was arrested, his cell phone was seized as evidence, and a subsequent search of the device confirmed that he communicated with the undercover officer who posed as a 15-year-old girl.
After serving his term of 20 years’ imprisonment, Jackson will have to serve a lifetime term of supervised release. He will also have to continue registering as a sexual offender.
“Children should never become the target of someone seeking to exploit them,” said Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell. “Our investigators work alongside our federal partners every day to identify offenders, intervene before they can harm a child, and hold them accountable. This sentence sends a clear message that those who prey on children will be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice.”
“Predators who target children should know there is no place to hide,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “Protecting children from sexual exploitation remains one of the FBI’s highest priorities. The FBI, alongside our partners, will use every resource available to identify, investigate and bring child predators to justice.”
The case involved a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Tallahassee Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.
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.
Pittsfield Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Pittsfield man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Springfield to conspiring to traffic large quantities of cocaine in Western Massachusetts.
Theodore Warren, a/k/a “Monty,” 42, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and four counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Oct. 20, 2026. In December 2024, Warren was charged with his co-conspirator Lavante Wiggins, the former Dean of Pittsfield High School.
According to the charging documents, Wiggins, the former Dean of Students at Pittsfield High School, allegedly operated a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed large amounts of cocaine in and around the Pittsfield area. Warren was a trusted member of the DTO who served as a runner for Wiggins. According to the charging documents, in August 2024, Wiggins expressed concern that he was under investigation and that he would send Warren to complete drug sales and deliver cocaine on his behalf. It is alleged that one of Wiggins’ customers amassed a debt of more than $34,000 for cocaine that Wiggins provided on credit. Warren and, allegedly, Wiggins went about collecting on that debt while continuing to supply large amounts of cocaine to the customer. Specifically, Wiggins allegedly directed Warren to distribute cocaine to the customer on four separate occasions between September and December 2024: approximately 91 grams of cocaine on Sept. 10, 2024; approximately 100 grams of cocaine on Oct. 14, 2024; 125 grams of cocaine on Oct. 31, 2024; and 150 grams of cocaine on Dec. 10, 2024.
The charges of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $2 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Holyoke, Springfield, Chicopee, West Springfield, Easthampton and Pittsfield Police Departments; Berkshire, Hampden and Franklin County Sherriff’s Offices; Massachusetts State Police; and the Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil L. Desroches, Chief of the Springfield Branch Unit, is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Pelican Rapids Man is 68th Defendant to be Convicted in Feeding Our Future Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Abdirashid Bixi Dool, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud for his role in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme of more than $330,000. He is the 68th Feeding Our Future defendant convicted.
Dool pleaded guilty on July 13, 2026, and faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
According to court documents, from about March 2021 through December 2021, Dool and his co‑conspirators submitted fraudulent reimbursement claims to Feeding Our Future on behalf of two Minnesota nonprofit organizations, Bilaal Mosque, Inc. and Multicultural Resource Center, Inc. (MRC). Although the nonprofits claimed to be operating meal sites in Pelican Rapids and Moorhead, Minnesota, that served tens of thousands of meals to children, the actual number of meals served was only a fraction of what was reported.
As part of the scheme, Dool knowingly submitted falsified meal count sheets, inflated food purchase invoices, and fabricated rosters of children purportedly served at the sites. On some occasions, he knowingly and falsely claimed the sites served over 40,000 meals per week.
In total, between approximately March 2021 and February 2022, Bilaal and MRC claimed to have served over 505,000 meals to children. The fraudulent submissions led the Minnesota Department of Education to pay nearly $1.1 million in federal child‑nutrition funds to the two nonprofit entities.
“This guilty plea is another step toward restoring integrity to programs meant to support children and families, and it highlights the importance of strong interagency cooperation to stop the fraud and seek accountability for taxpayers,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
“Programs like the Federal Child Nutrition Program were created to help children at a time when many families were struggling just to put food on the table,” said Adam Jobes, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “Exploiting that hardship for personal gain is a betrayal of the public’s trust. Working shoulder to shoulder with our federal law enforcement partners, IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to follow the financial trail, expose these schemes, and hold accountable those who steal from programs meant to help our most vulnerable.”
“The conviction of Abdirashid Dool reflects the FBI’s commitment to protecting Minnesotans and holding offenders accountable wherever they attempt to operate. The FBI, alongside our partners in the IRS-CI and the United States Attorney’s Office, will continue to aggressively pursue cases across the state to ensure those who misuse American taxpayer dollars are brought to justice,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson.
“Today's guilty plea showcases our commitment to holding accountable the criminal actors who abused the U.S. Mail in an effort to commit widespread fraud and to divert funds intended for those most in need,” said Bryan Musgrove, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service's Denver Division. “We stand ready with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who exploit taxpayer funded benefit programs through fraud schemes.”
“Financial fraud threatens the integrity of our communities, and HSI is unwavering in our commitment to confront it,” said Homeland Security Investigations St. Paul Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy. “By working side by side with our partners, we ensure those who commit these crimes are held accountable and justice is served.”
This case is part of an ongoing federal investigation into fraud involving pandemic‑related child‑nutrition programs.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca E. Kline, Matthew C. Murphy, and Austin L. Bowyer are prosecuting the case.
Note: Previous press release detailing Dool’s charges here. This press release has been updated on July 24, 2026, to correct the number of Feeding Our Future defendants convicted. Previous versions misstated this figure. Dool is the 68th defendant convicted.
Owner of Long Island Ambulette Services Company Sentenced to Prison for Multimillion Dollar Healthcare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Adnan Arshad, also known as “Eddie,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 97 months in prison for conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with a scheme to steal over $19 million from Medicaid. Arshad was also ordered to pay forfeiture of over $19 million, including the forfeiture of several real properties and vehicles.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Naomi Gruchacz, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI); and Raymond A. Tierney, Suffolk County District Attorney, announced the sentence.
“While taxpayers footed the bill, Arshad financed a lavish lifestyle with multimillion-dollar homes and luxury vehicles. Today’s sentence sends a clear message that those who defraud public healthcare programs for personal enrichment should take notice of the price this defendant will now pay for his greed,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office and the Administration are vigorously prosecuting criminals like the defendant who treat Medicaid like their own personal piggy bank.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the Office of the New York State Comptroller and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the New York State Attorney General's Office for their work on the case.
“The defendant in this case brazenly defrauded the Medicaid program of tens of millions of dollars for transportation services that were never provided,” stated HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Gruchacz. “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable individuals who, to satisfy their own greed, exploit federal health care programs.”
“Adnan Arshad and his co-conspirators orchestrated a scheme that siphoned millions from Medicaid, depriving vulnerable patients of resources and fueling a lavish lifestyle built on fraud,” stated IRS-CI New York Special Agent in Charge Chavis. “This sentencing demonstrates that IRS Criminal Investigation will relentlessly pursue those who exploit public healthcare programs for personal gain. Today, justice has caught up with those who treat taxpayer dollars as their own.”
“Healthcare fraud on this scale does not stay hidden, and it will not go unpunished. This defendant saw hard-earned taxpayer funds meant for the less-fortunate as nothing more than a way to line his pockets. He billed Medicaid for transportation that never happened to finance a lavish lifestyle at the public's expense," stated Suffolk County District Attorney Tierney. “My Office is proud to stand with our federal partners to ensure that this defendant answers for his greed and forfeits what he stole.”
As set forth in court filings and facts presented in court, Arshad owned MTK Taxi LLC in Montauk, Long Island, and co-owned All-Star Taxi LLC, in Ronkonkoma. From approximately December 2020 to his arrest in June 2024, Arshad and his co-conspirators orchestrated a scheme to defraud Medicaid by paying illegal health care kickbacks to Medicaid beneficiaries in exchange for ordering transportation services through their companies, including transportation purportedly for methadone treatment at addiction treatment centers. In reality, Arshad’s companies generally did not provide the medical transportation services for which they billed Medicaid. Instead, they submitted millions of dollars in fraudulent claims for nonexistent rides, including claims for individuals who were deceased, hospitalized or incarcerated.
Arshad and his co-conspirators also inflated their Medicaid reimbursements by directing beneficiaries to request transportation to addiction treatment centers in New York City, despite the availability of numerous treatment centers on Long Island, and by instructing beneficiaries to provide false pickup addresses to make the trips appear longer and therefore more lucrative. Through this scheme, the transportation companies owned or operated by Arshad and his co-conspirators billed Medicaid over $16 million for trips to three addiction treatment centers in New York City.
Arshad used the illicit proceeds to expand and perpetuate the scheme by purchasing several additional transportation vehicles and to finance a lavish lifestyle, including the purchase of multimillion-dollar homes and luxury vehicles, such as a Ferrari and multiple BMWs and Mercedes.
To date, at least five of Arshad’s co-conspirators have pleaded guilty for their participation in the scheme and are awaiting sentencing.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorney Adam Toporovsky and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Milito of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Janelle Robinson. Assistant United States Attorney Tanisha Payne of the Office’s Asset Forfeiture Section is handling forfeiture matters.
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people.
The Defendant:
ADNAN ARSHAD (also known as “Eddie”)
Age: 47
Mount Sinai, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-231 (JMA)
Oregon Payment Processing Broker Sentenced for $14 Million Dollar Wire Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A payment processing broker who facilitated stealing money from businesses bank accounts was sentenced Monday to three years in prison. Through his scheme, sham merchants stole and attempted to steal $14 million dollars from victims’ bank accounts.
According to court documents, Jeremy Todd Briley, 47, of Happy Valley, Oregon, worked as a payment processing broker. Acting on behalf of clients (merchants), Briley identified payment processors in the U.S. for his clients to use in processing charges. Briley’s two largest clients were sham companies that falsely represented that they provided online marketing services to businesses. Instead, they stole from victims by fraudulently debiting their bank accounts, causing over $14 million in unauthorized debits and attempted debits.
“Jeremy Todd Briley was not an innocent middleman. He knew these sham companies were taking millions of dollars from victims’ bank accounts without permission, yet he helped them keep the scheme running and worked to hide the fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This sentence sends a clear message that those who knowingly help fraudsters steal from others will be held accountable.”
From February 2017 to December 2023, Briley obtained and maintained payment processing relationships for those sham companies so that they could process fraudulent debits, knowing that the sham companies were fraudulently debiting bank accounts. Despite repeatedly receiving information that the debits processed on behalf of the sham companies were not authorized by the victims, Briley concealed the fraudulent activities of the sham companies in various ways, and he arranged for a payment processor to deceive banks by manipulating return rates on the fraudulent debits.
Briley was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $460,000 in proceeds of the fraud.
In April 2026, Briley pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones; Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group; and Special Agent in Charge Vincent R. Zehme of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), Chicago Region, made the announcement.
The USPIS and FDIC-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Daniel Zytnick of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff for the Southern District of Florida handled forfeiture.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case numbers 25-cr-20350.
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