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15 July 2026
Honduran Alien Sentenced After Pleading Guilty to Illegal Entry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – EZEQUIEL LARA-REYES (“LARA-REYES”), age 28, a native of Honduras, was sentenced on July 15, 2026 to time served by U.S District Judge Lance M. Africk after previously pleading guilty to illegal entry into the United States, and avoidance of examination and inspection by U.S. immigration officials, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1325(a), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, in 2018, LARA-REYES, an illegal alien, failed to appear for his required immigration check-ins with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). On September 12, 2018, ICE determined that LARA-REYES had absconded from the Alternative-To-Detention program and, as such, was subject to Expedited Removal from the United States. On April 15, 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers located LARA-REYES in a vehicle in Tangipahoa Parish. Officers attempted to arrest LARA-REYES, but the vehicle drove off, after which he eventually barricaded himself inside a trailer for over 13 hours. Immigration enforcement officers then acquired a criminal Complaint and Search Warrant and entered the trailer and arrested LARA-REYES.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Special Assistant United States Attorney Rick Veters, of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.
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Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Results in the Sentencing of a Memphis Man to over 19 Years in Prison for Trafficking Narcotics While on Supervised Release for Trafficking NarcoticsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Antonio Caldwell, aka “Joe”, 40, of Memphis, was sentenced to 235 months in prison for narcotics trafficking. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
U.S. Attorney Dunavant said, “Caldwell is a recidivist drug dealer who was brazenly distributing deadly fentanyl into our communities while on supervised release. Every minute of his 19-year sentence is well-deserved and will ensure better public safety for the citizens of Memphis and West Tennessee.”
According to information presented in court, in 2023 a multi-agency investigation began into a suspected drug trafficking organization. Investigators determined that Caldwell was obtaining and supplying large quantities of narcotics, including fentanyl and methamphetamine, to other redistributors in West Tennessee. Investigators further determined Caldwell was committing these acts while on supervised release for two prior federal narcotics convictions.
While on supervised release, Caldwell traveled to California and mailed a parcel containing fentanyl hidden in rice. Investigators were able to intercept the parcel and seize approximately three kilograms of fentanyl. Investigators further determined Caldwell maintained a drug distribution house located in the area of Hollywood and Pershing. Caldwell directed individuals to this location to obtain narcotics. In November of 2023, investigators executed a search warrant at the drug distribution house and recovered fentanyl, methamphetamine, and three firearms.
“Drug traffickers like Mr. Caldwell have no regard for the lives they destroy, and the broken families left in their wake,” said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of DEA’s Louisville Division. “As a result of his own actions, Mr. Caldwell will spend nearly two decades in prison, giving him an opportunity to reflect on the harm he has caused and hopefully come out a better man upon his release.”
In April of 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Caldwell and nine others: Michael Merritt, Darius Carter, Deandre Eubanks, Jimmy Gibson, Telly Hammond, Deandre Howard, Marc Pharr, Samuel Washington, and Rico Winston, for narcotics offenses. Merritt, Eubanks, Gibson, Hammond, Howard, and Winston have all pleaded guilty and are pending sentencing.
In December of 2025, Caldwell pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute narcotics, including fentanyl and methamphetamine, and distribution of narcotics. On July 9, 2026, Senior U.S. District Judge Samuel H. Mays, Jr. sentenced Caldwell to 235 months' incarceration to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Antonio Caldwell continued trafficking dangerous narcotics despite being on supervised release for a prior drug conviction, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the law,” said HSI Nashville Special Agent in Charge Dennis M. Fetting. “Working alongside our partners, HSI will continue to pursue those who profit from the distribution of dangerous drugs into our communities and hold them accountable.”
“Fighting drug crimes is a crucial mission, and the Sheriff’s Office remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguard our communities,” said SCSO Chief Deputy Anthony Buckner. “Our cooperation with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners has reaped huge rewards in this case. Getting narcotics traffickers such as Caldwell off the streets is a win for all the citizens of Shelby County.”
“Our agency, alongside our dedicated law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively pursue those who fuel this deadly epidemic by illegally distributing fentanyl and other dangerous narcotics,” said TBI Director David Rausch.
This operation was 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 Memphis comprises agents and officers from ATF, Bartlett Police Department, Collierville Police Department, DEA, FBI, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Germantown Police Department, HSI, ICE/ERO, IRS, Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office, Memphis Airport Police, Memphis Police Department, Shelby County Sherriff's Office, SMILE OIG, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tipton County Sheriff’s Office, USMS, USPIS, USSS, West Tennessee 25th Judicial District Drug Task Force, West Tennessee Drug Task Force, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory Allen prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf.
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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.
Hoboken Accountant Charged with Preparing False Tax Returns for ClientsRead the Press Release
A grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging accountant a tax preparer with preparing false tax returns for clients and obstructing the IRS.
According to the indictment, Demetreus Hargrove operated The Wright Star LLC, a tax preparation business he used to prepare and file 30 false individual and business tax returns for the years 2019 through 2023. As part of his scheme, Hargrove allegedly encouraged and helped his clients to form businesses in order to claim fabricated business expenses. He also allegedly recharacterized his clients’ personal expenses as deductible business expenses and frequently filed business tax returns with the IRS without having first reviewed them with his clients. According to the indictment, Hargrove also prepared and filed tax returns for clients reporting false business losses and fabricated bad debts, even though his clients did not provide him with this information.
Hargrove was charged with 30 counts of aiding or assisting the filing of false tax returns. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of filing false returns for clients. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties.
Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Likhitha Butchireddygari and Lyndi McVey of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section 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.
Gulfport Man Guilty of Travelling for the Purpose of Engaging in Illicit Sexual Conduct with MinorsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DUSTIN LEE SEITZ (“SEITZ”), age 40, of Gulfport, Mississippi, plead guilty today to travelling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2423(b), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to the bill of information, beginning on or about March 2, 2026, and culminating on or about March 4, 2026, SEITZ travelled by car from Gulfport, Mississippi, to Mandeville, Louisiana, for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct with an individual that SEITZ believed to be a fifteen-year-old female.
SEITZ faces a maximum term of imprisonment of thirty (30) years, at least five (5) years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. SEITZ may also be required to register as a sex offender.
U.S. District Judge Darrel James Papillion set SEITZ‘s sentencing for October 20, 2026.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Kathryn McHugh of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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Grand jury indicts Iola man for online threats that included blowing up White House and killing law enforcementRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 35-year-old man from a small town in Grimes County has been indicted for allegedly transmitting interstate threats via social media.
Peter James Bloomfield remains in custody following his arrest June 24. A federal grand jury has now returned the three-count indictment, and he will appear for his arraignment before a U.S. magistrate judge in Houston in the near future.
The charges allege authorities discovered a Texas-based X account with multiple threatening messages directed at federal law enforcement and others. The account allegedly made several posts about where the closest FBI building was, killing federal agents and others, spending money to blow up the White House, and negative comments about America. Bloomfield is linked to that account, according to the indictment.
Law enforcement also allegedly identified a Facebook account in Bloomfield’s name that used the same profile image as the X account which posted additional threats against federal agents and notable figures. The indictment further alleges the Facebook account included comments about making a hit list that included President Trump during a Fox News broadcast of a recent Senate floor hearing.
A federal search warrant of Bloomfield’s residence allegedly resulted in the discovery of over 20 firearms and a significant amount of ammunition.
If convicted, Bloomfield faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine per count.
The FBI - Bryan Resident Agency conducted the investigation with the assistance of Texas Department of Public Safety; Houston County, Alabama, Sheriff’s Office; Secret Service; and Grimes County Constable’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ganz is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Goshen Man Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison for Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND –Luis Garcia, 25 years old, of Goshen, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to possession of a machinegun and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Garcia was sentenced to 63 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
“The Defendant will serve over five years in prison after he flashed a machine gun at another person inside a bar. Security removed him from the premises and took away his gun, which had a 30-round extended magazine loaded with 24 rounds plus a round chambered. It also had a Glock switch attached, which allowed the gun to fire in rapid succession, in fully automatic. Garcia escaped the grip of the guards and ran away before police arrived. Sometime later, police pulled over a car where Garcia was a passenger and found him in possession of yet another firearm and cocaine. Garcia had a felony conviction for unlawful carrying of a handgun, and he was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm. Thanks to the combined efforts of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Goshen Police Department and the support of the Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office led by Vicki Becker, the Defendant was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Katelan McKenzie Doyle and Joel Gabrielse. Our community is safer with him off the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Goshen Police Department and the Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Katelan McKenzie Doyle and Joel Gabrielse.
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.
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 Indianapolis comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, IRS, Indiana State Police, and other partners, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana.
Gladstone Man charged with Attempted Sex Trafficking of a MinorRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, MO. – Scott R. Smith, 35, of Gladstone, Mo., was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court today. Smith had his initial appearance this afternoon.
The federal complaint charges Smith with one count of Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Minor. According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Smith, over the course of four days, engaged in online communications with an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing online as a 15-year-old minor. During his communications with the person he believed to be a minor, Smith arranged to meet the purported minor to engage in sexual conduct in exchange for $200.00 and asked the purported minor to send him sexually graphic images. Smith was later arrested on July 13, 2026, after he arrived at a hotel where he had arranged to meet the minor to engage in sexual conduct.
The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Luna. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Four-Time Deported Mexican National Sentenced to 37 Months in Federal Prison for Illegal Reentry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Miguel Reyes Estrada (43, Mexico) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jordan E. Pratt to 37 months in federal prison for illegal reentry by a previously removed alien. Estrada pleaded guilty on March 16, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, in 2021, after being deported three times, Estrada reentered the United States and was convicted of state drug trafficking and money laundering offenses. In 2022, Estrada was convicted in the Southern District of Florida for illegal reentry and was subsequently removed to Mexico in May 2023.
On January 19, 2026, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office notified U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that Estrada was back in the United States and in custody on an unrelated charge. Estrada was subsequently indicted for illegal reentry by a previously removed alien.
This case was investigated by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard L. Lasseter.
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.
Former Ship Captain Pleads Guilty to the Drugging and Sexual Assault at Sea of Merchant Marine Academy Student CadetRead the Press Release
Today, in federal court in Brooklyn, John Merrone pleaded guilty to all five counts of an indictment charging him with aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, and abusive sexual contact relating to the rape of a 21-year-old United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) student cadet (Jane Doe) working on a vessel under the command of the defendant. Merrone pleaded guilty after a jury was selected yesterday. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Ramon E. Reyes. When sentenced, Merrone faces up to life in prison.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the guilty plea.
“The defendant today admitted abusing his authority as a ship captain to carry out a heinous sexual assault on a young woman, who was under his supervision, as she embarked on a career as a mariner,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “It is my hope that today’s guilty plea will give the survivor of this attack some measure of closure knowing that the defendant has been held accountable for his despicable conduct.”
Mr. Nocella also expressed his appreciation to the United States Coast Guard for its investigative work on the case.
“Former Captain John Merrone grossly violated his authority by drugging and raping a U.S. Merchant Marine cadet training aboard his ship. The FBI is dedicated to holding accountable those in trusted roles from heinously abusing the brave servicemembers protecting this country,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.
In September 2019, Jane Doe was aboard a commercial vessel as part of her participation in the USMMA Sea Year Program where cadets study to be midshipmen and are assigned to a U.S.-flagged merchant vessel to obtain experience being a merchant mariner. The vessel was in the Atlantic Ocean bound for Corpus Christi, Texas. Merrone, then 47 years-old, was the highest-ranking official on the vessel. On September 9, 2019, Merrone summoned Jane Doe and another female cadet to his stateroom for a soda and poured each of them an alcoholic drink from an open bottle. Shortly after consuming the drinks, Jane Doe and the fellow student lost recollection of the remainder of the evening. Jane Doe awoke the next morning in her bed wearing only a shirt and bra, and no underwear or pants. She felt nauseous, had a headache and felt like someone had had sex with her. The next day, Merrone called Jane Doe to his stateroom and said that he had “fun last night” and asked her to do it again. Jane Doe told him that she did not recall what had happened, and Merrone told her “one thing led to another.” Jane Doe reported the sexual assault to her mother and a friend when she returned to the United States, and sought medical attention. She reported the attack to law enforcement in 2021. At his guilty plea, the defendant admitted that he knowingly gave Jane Doe an intoxicant without her knowledge or consent, and she became incapacitated. He then had sex with her without her consent.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Human Trafficking and Civil Rights Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Kayla Bensing and Rachel Bennek are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Emily Woodruff.
The Defendant:JOHN MERRONE
Age: 54
Hohenwald, TennesseeE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-171 (RER)
Former Department of Education Employee Agrees to Pay More Than $160,000 to Resolve False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced, today, a former U.S. Department of Education employee agreed to pay a settlement in connection with federal False Claims Act violation allegations.
Natayah Adams, 44, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, agreed to pay the United States $161,248.30 to resolve allegations that she submitted false claims to obtain three Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes announced the settlement with Special Agent in Charge Jamila Davis, U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General Eastern Regional Office (ED-OIG).
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act — a federal law enacted in March 2020 — provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It gives financial assistance including forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and other expenses. Established by the CARES Act, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) — administered through the Small Business Administration (SBA) — along with the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), helped businesses meet their financial obligations.
In 2021, Adams submitted applications for three PPP loans in less than three months, each with a different lender. In total, Adams received $62,499.32 in PPP loans. The United States contends that in her loan applications, Adams knowingly made material misrepresentations. Among other things, Adams falsely claimed that her business — in which Adams resold jewelry purchased from another company on Etsy — brought in a gross income of $100,000.00. But Adams knew, the gross income of the business was less than $100,000.00. Additionally, Adams did not use the loans for the approved purposes listed on her applications. Instead, she diverted the money for personal use and to put toward a separate business.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended ED-OIG for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Shea who handled this case.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Former Adviser to Federal Reserve Board of Governors Sentenced to Federal Prison TermRead the Press Release
Note: the release has been updated to include a quote from the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division.
John Harold Rogers, 64, a former senior adviser for the Federal Reserve Board of Governors (FRB), was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 38 months in federal prison in connection with making false statements to federal investigators about sharing restricted Federal Reserve information with Chinese intelligence operatives.
“The United States entrusted Rogers with its most sensitive economic data,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “He violated that sacred trust and lied repeatedly to conceal his collaboration with individuals in China with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, exposing his own country, the United States, to counterintelligence risks.”
“John Rogers spent years secretly funneling sensitive Federal Reserve information to Chinese spies, then looked investigators in the eye and lied about it. And when that wasn’t enough, he lied again under oath at trial,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for the District of Columbia. “Federal Reserve employees entrusted with America’s most sensitive economic information cannot sell out their country and their colleagues for personal gain and then expect to hide behind a single word.”
“When Rogers made the decision to share sensitive economic information from the Federal Reserve and give it to China’s intelligence service for personal gain, he betrayed both his country and his oath as a federal employee,” said Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “As this case makes clear, the Chinese Communist Party is employing increasingly aggressive tactics in its campaign to gain a strategic economic advantage over the U.S. by targeting our financial policies, trade secrets, and innovation. However, this sentencing underscores the FBI’s unwavering commitment to pursuing anyone who threatens our economic and national security and bringing them to justice.”
“John Rogers deliberately lied to our investigators to conceal the fact he shared restricted non-public Federal Reserve information with intelligence agents working for China,” said Michael E. Horowitz, Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that those who mislead and obstruct federal agents will be brought to justice. I commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office, our agents, and our federal law enforcement partners for their hard work and persistence, which led to this result.”
“While holding a position of trust, Rogers repeatedly violated Federal Reserve information security policies by taking sensitive, nonpublic information and sending it to himself, while he was in China, and to others affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel Wierzbicki of the Washington Field Office's Counterintelligence and Cyber Division. “Rogers then lied to federal agents about these disclosures. His sentencing underscores the shared commitment of the FBI and the Federal Reserve Board Office of Inspector General to pursue anyone who endangers U.S. economic and national security by passing confidential information to an adversarial government.”
A federal jury deliberated for two days before finding Rogers guilty on February 3 of making false statements to government investigators at the Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
In addition to the 38-month prison sentence, Judge Dabney Friedrich ordered Rogers to serve 12 months of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 60-month prison term.
Rogers, of Vienna, Virginia, is a U.S. citizen who holds a Ph.D. in economics.
According to court papers, Rogers served for decades as a Senior Advisor at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, where he had access to restricted, nonpublic information about monetary policy and the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). From 2010 until 2021, Rogers worked as a senior adviser in FRB’s Division of International Finance where he was entrusted with confidential FRB information.
Beginning in 2017, Rogers developed a clandestine relationship with Hummin Lee, a Chinese intelligence operative, whom he met at a conference in China. Over the following years, Rogers met Lee and associates in hotel rooms in China under the guise of teaching academic “classes,” using the sessions to convey Federal Reserve information that Lee had specifically tasked him to collect.
Rogers printed restricted documents to bring on a trip to China, stripped classification markings from materials before emailing them to his personal account, and forwarded sensitive information to a professor at Fudan University, a Chinese state-run institution, days before meeting Lee. Rogers understood that Lee was writing reports for the Chinese government using the information he provided, and knew China could use advance knowledge of Federal Reserve interest rate decisions to generate enormous profits trading its roughly $1.5 trillion in U.S. Treasury securities.
In exchange, Rogers received help with his new wife, university professorships, and substantial financial benefits from Lee and Chinese universities. He told investigators he “owed everything” to Hummin Lee.
On Feb. 4, 2020, Rogers agreed to be interviewed by investigators from the Federal Reserve’s Office of Inspector General. When asked directly whether he had ever shared restricted Federal Reserve information outside the Board, he answered: “Never.”
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office and the Federal Reserve Board Office of Inspector General.
The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Barry and Jocelyn Ballantine, Trial Attorneys Nicholas O. Hunter and Yifei Zheng of the National Security Division, and Paralegal Specialist Derra McQuaig of the National Security Division.
Former Adviser to Federal Reserve Board of Governors Sentenced to Federal Prison TermRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – John Harold Rogers, 64, a former senior adviser for the Federal Reserve Board of Governors (FRB), was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 38 months in federal prison in connection with making false statements to federal investigators about sharing restricted Federal Reserve information with Chinese intelligence operatives, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“John Rogers spent years secretly funneling sensitive Federal Reserve information to Chinese spies, then looked investigators in the eye and lied about it. And when that wasn’t enough, he lied again under oath at trial,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Federal Reserve employees entrusted with America’s most sensitive economic information cannot sell out their country and their colleagues for personal gain and then expect to hide behind a single word.”
A federal jury deliberated for two days before finding Rogers guilty on February 3 of making false statements to government investigators at the Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
In addition to the 38-month prison sentence, Judge Dabney Friedrich ordered Rogers to serve 12 months of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 60-month prison term.
“John Rogers deliberately lied to our investigators to conceal the fact he shared restricted non-public Federal Reserve information with intelligence agents working for China,” said Michael E. Horowitz, Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that those who mislead and obstruct federal agents will be brought to justice. I commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office, our agents, and our federal law enforcement partners for their hard work and persistence, which led to this result.”
“While holding a position of trust, Rogers repeatedly violated Federal Reserve information security policies by taking sensitive, nonpublic information and sending it to himself, while he was in China, and to others affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel Wierzbicki of the Washington Field Office's Counterintelligence and Cyber Division. “Rogers then lied to federal agents about these disclosures. His sentencing underscores the shared commitment of the FBI and the Federal Reserve Board Office of Inspector General to pursue anyone who endangers U.S. economic and national security by passing confidential information to an adversarial government.”
Rogers, of Vienna, Virginia, is a U.S. citizen who holds a Ph.D. in economics.
According to court papers, Rogers served for decades as a Senior Advisor at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, where he had access to restricted, nonpublic information about monetary policy and the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). From 2010 until 2021, Rogers worked as a senior adviser in FRB’s Division of International Finance where he was entrusted with confidential FRB information.
Beginning in 2017, Rogers developed a clandestine relationship with Hummin Lee, a Chinese intelligence operative, whom he met at a conference in China. Over the following years, Rogers met Lee and associates in hotel rooms in China under the guise of teaching academic “classes,” using the sessions to convey Federal Reserve information that Lee had specifically tasked him to collect.
Rogers printed restricted documents to bring on a trip to China, stripped classification markings from materials before emailing them to his personal account, and forwarded sensitive information to a professor at Fudan University, a Chinese state-run institution, days before meeting Lee. Rogers understood that Lee was writing reports for the Chinese government using the information he provided, and knew China could use advance knowledge of Federal Reserve interest rate decisions to generate enormous profits trading its roughly $1.5 trillion in U.S. Treasury securities.
In exchange, Rogers received help with his new wife, university professorships, and substantial financial benefits from Lee and Chinese universities. He told investigators he “owed everything” to Hummin Lee.
On Feb. 4, 2020, Rogers agreed to be interviewed by investigators from the Federal Reserve’s Office of Inspector General. When asked directly whether he had ever shared restricted Federal Reserve information outside the Board, he answered: “Never.”
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office and the Federal Reserve Board Office of Inspector General.
The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Barry and Jocelyn Ballantine, Trial Attorneys Nicholas O. Hunter and Yifei Zheng of the National Security Division, and Paralegal Specialist Derra McQuaig of the National Security Division.
25cr33
Florida Man Admits to Strangling Military Spouse on Two Occasions and Lying to FBIRead the Press Release
A Florida man pleaded guilty today to charges related to two incidents where he strangled his wife, lying to the FBI about the events, and lying about a prior arrest for a domestic violence battery in 2020.
According to court documents, Antonio Jabar Floyd Jr., 38, strangled his active-duty military wife on two occasions, once in 2025 and once in 2026, while he was living with her overseas in Misawa, Japan. In January 2025, while in the home of a mutual friend where children, including his own, were present, Floyd Jr. became enraged at his wife and began strangling her so hard that his hand shook, telling her “see how easy I can control you.” The friend attempted to intervene but was unable to pull Floyd Jr.’s hand from his wife’s neck. On another occasion in April 2026, Floyd Jr. strangled his wife in the family home and in the presence of their minor children. He became enraged upon reading her personal emails, told her she was “lucky I didn’t kill you” and told her that he would not leave her even if she served him with divorce papers.
In consensual meetings with investigating FBI agents, Floyd Jr. made several false statements including denying that he strangled his wife, that he had never engaged in physical violence against her, and that he had never been arrested for battery or assault. Court records show that Floyd was arrested in Pensacola, Florida, on Oct. 22, 2020, for first degree battery on his wife for reportedly grabbing her by the throat and slamming her into a hallway wall.
Floyd Jr. pleaded guilty to two counts of domestic violence (strangulation) and one count of making false statements to a federal agency. He will be sentenced on Oct. 15 and faces a statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison on each count and mandatory domestic violence counseling. A judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
FBI Los Angeles investigated this case with support from Air Force Office of Special Investigations.
Senior Trial Attorney Danielle Hickman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Goldberg for the Northern District of Florida are prosecuting this case.
Five Quad City Individual Sentenced to Federal Prison for Fentanyl ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – Five Quad City individuals were sentenced to federal prison for charges related to their conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, specifically counterfeit pills containing fentanyl.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, between April 2022 and March 2024, five individuals conspired together to distribute fentanyl across the Quad Cities area. In total, more than 26,000 pills containing fentanyl were attributed to the drug trafficking organization.
- Kendrick Eugene Lee, Jr., 25, was sentenced to a 292-month prison term, followed by a five-year term of supervised release on May 26, 2026, following his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing fentanyl.
- Juwan Dupri Crawford, 26, was sentenced to a 144-month prison term, followed by a five-year term of supervised release on May 27, 2026, following his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
- Dreyko Ryan Paul Veronie, 24, was sentenced to a 312-month prison term, followed by a five-year term of supervised release on May 27, 2026, following his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
- Kisha Renee Rockwood, 42, was sentenced to a 216-month prison term, followed by a five-year term of supervised release on July 14, 2026, following her guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
- Kee Syonne Arthur Edgar Rockwood-Brown, 23, was sentenced to a 300-month prison term, followed by a seven-year term of supervised release, on July 14, 2026, following his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Davenport Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Five Men Sentenced to Total of 518 Months’ Imprisonment for Role in Large-Scale Drug Trafficking in Wadena CountyRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that five defendants were collectively sentenced to over 500 months of imprisonment for their roles in a large-scale drug trafficking case out of Wadena County.
The following individuals were sentenced:
- Robert Joseph Anderson, 40, of Wadena, Minnesota, 132 months for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine
- Aaron Thomas Heifort, 30, of Clitherall, Minnesota, 122 months for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine
- Bill J. Rude, 63, of Wadena, Minnesota, 120 months for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine
- Carlos Deyvi Valdovinos‑Trejo, 39, 84 months for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine
- Jesus Alarcon Valdovinos, 44, 60 months for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine
On July 9, 2026, Aaron Heifort, the final of five these defendants, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim in Minneapolis.
According to court documents, beginning in or about December 2023, and continuing through in or about February 2024, Valdovinos‑Trejo, Valdovinos, Anderson, Heifort, and Rude knowingly and intentionally conspired with one another and others to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine in Minnesota.
On November 10, 2023, law enforcement responded to a death at a residence in Wadena County, Minnesota that was caused by a methamphetamine and fentanyl overdose. Investigators identified Rude as one of the decedent’s methamphetamine suppliers. Through further investigation, law enforcement successfully uncovered the broader distribution network. Anderson, a prominent regional distributor in the Wadena area, procured bulk quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine from Valdovinos-Trejo and Valdovinos, which he in turn sold to downstream distributors in Greater Minnesota, including Heifort and Rude.
Between December 2023 and January 2024, law enforcement seized more than 2.6 kilograms of methamphetamine and 29 grams of cocaine from the Wadena-based members of the conspiracy, including Rude, Heifort, and Anderson. In January 2024, law enforcement conducted two separate controlled buys from Valdovinos-Trejo, resulting in the seizure of an additional 1.35 kilograms of methamphetamine. On February 6, 2024, law enforcement conducted a third controlled buy from both Mr. Valdovinos-Trejo and Carlos Valdovinos for 2.3 kilograms of methamphetamine. That same day, law enforcement searched two residences associated with the trafficking conspiracy and seized an additional 5.2 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1.1 kilograms of heroin, and 1.3 kilograms of cocaine.
“Methamphetamine and fentanyl continue to destroy countless lives and communities throughout Greater Minnesota. The sentencing of these five individuals demonstrates the strong partnership across federal and local law enforcement to hold accountable those who distribute dangerous drugs into our communities,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
“Aaron Heifort and his methamphetamine-trafficking conspirators face a combined 43 years in federal prison for the significant amount of poison they brought into and distributed around our Minnesota communities,” DEA Omaha Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie said. “As a result of their actions, an individual lost their life. It’s an unfortunate tragedy seen all too frequently across the state, region and country. Drug traffickers like Heifort line their pocket with proceeds turning a blind eye to the lives lost and families left behind.”
“This case reflects a strong partnership between the Wadena County Sheriff’s Office and our local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and our shared commitment to holding drug traffickers accountable. We remain committed to pursuing those who distribute dangerous drugs in our communities and seeking justice for the victims and their families,” said Wadena County Sheriff Michael D. Carr.
“What started out as a local drug related overdose death, resulted in the federal indictments and convictions of several people. The investigation by deputies of the West Central Minnesota Violent Crime and Drug Task Force discovered a large-scale drug trafficking ring. This case outlines the importance of multi-jurisdictional task forces and relationships with state and federal partners and its impact on public safety,” said Otter Tail County Minnesota Sheriff Barry Fitzgibbons.
“Drug trafficking doesn’t stop at city or county lines,” said Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans. “Cases like this demonstrate why strong partnerships across Minnesota are so important. By working together and following the evidence wherever it leads, law enforcement agencies can better disrupt the networks bringing dangerous drugs into our communities.”
“The Minnesota State Patrol remains committed to supporting our law enforcement partners by contributing our unique capabilities and resources to initiatives that enhance public safety. While each agency plays a distinct role, our shared commitment to cooperation, information sharing, and coordinated enforcement allows us to remain steadfast in our collective mission to protect the communities we serve,” said Minnesota State Patrol Colonel Christina Bogojevic.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Wadena County Sheriff’s Office, Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office, West Central Drug Task Force, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Minnesota State Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, and other federal and local law enforcement partners.
United States Assistant Attorney Garrett S. Fields prosecuted the case.
Federal Correctional Officer Charged with Sexual Abuse of an Inmate at FCI OtisvilleRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (“DOJ OIG”), Ryan T. Geach, and Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (“BOP”), William K. Marshall III, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging KYLE BROWN, a former federal correctional officer with the BOP, with three counts of sexual abuse of a ward for engaging in sexual acts with an inmate he was responsible for guarding. BROWN was arrested this morning and presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Victoria Reznik. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern.
“Sexual abuse will be met with federal charges throughout our society; it has no place anywhere and victims deserve protection everywhere,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “When a correctional officer abuses their power and harms an inmate, it is not only a violation of federal law—it is a betrayal of the trust that New York families place in our institutions. We will continue to protect victims, pursue the truth, and hold accountable anyone who abuses their power for their own sexual gratification.”
“As alleged, Kyle Brown abused his authority to engage in sexual acts with an inmate under his protection,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “The FBI is committed to holding corrupt civil servants accountable.”
“The safety and security of federal prisons are of the utmost importance, and the DOJ OIG vigorously investigates allegations of abuse of inmates by Federal Bureau of Prisons staff to ensure that those who break the law and the public’s trust are held accountable,” said DOJ OIG Special Agent in Charge Ryan T. Geach.
“The allegations in the case represent a profound abuse of authority and a betrayal of public trust,” said BOP Director William K. Marshall III. “Anyone who exploits their position of authority disgraces this profession and has no place in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Working alongside our law enforcement partners, we will pursue anyone who violates the law and ensure they are held accountable.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment and other public filings:
Between in or about 2024 and on or about July 1, 2026, BROWN was employed as a federal correctional officer at Federal Correctional Institution, Otisville (“FCI Otisville”). On three occasions between December 26, 2025, and April 4, 2026, BROWN engaged in anal and/or oral sex with an inmate who was incarcerated at FCI Otisville and over whom BROWN had authority.
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BROWN, 27, of Newburgh, New York, is charged with three counts of sexual abuse of a ward, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and DOJ OIG, as well as the FBI Hudson Valley White Collar Crime Task Force and Otisville FCI Special Investigative Swift Response.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Unit in the Criminal Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Morel and Madison Reddick Smyser are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Federal Agent Sentenced to 84 Months’ Imprisonment for Role in the Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Timothy Ryan Gregg, 53, of Eagan, Minnesota, has been sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment for his role in transporting and producing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
According to court documents, Gregg admitted to knowingly producing child pornography that depicted Gregg engaging in sexually explicit conduct with a minor. At the time of his conduct, Gregg was a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations based in Minnesota and served as a Task Force Officer with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
“My office will always pursue these cases with unwavering resolve. Protecting children is one of our highest priorities, and we will hold accountable anyone who exploits them. This case reflects a critical mission across federal and local law enforcement. The United States Attorney’s Office remains committed in our duty to protect children and will aggressively investigate and prosecute those who violate that trust,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
“No badge, title or position places anyone above the law. The conduct in this case is appalling and wholly inconsistent with the values of ICE and Homeland Security Investigations,” said ICE Director David J. Venturella. “We have zero tolerance for crimes against children, and anyone who commits these offenses will be held fully accountable. ICE remains steadfast in its mission to protect children, support victims and pursue those who seek to exploit the most vulnerable.”
“This defendant knew better than almost anyone that what he was doing was illegal and wrong, yet he chose to do it anyhow,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “The sexual exploitation of children in any context is reprehensible. This defendant’s crimes while employed as a law enforcement officer are doubly disgraceful. We hope this sentence provides some sense of justice and safety for the victim and their family. This sentence should also serve as a warning to others who think they might get away with sexually exploiting a minor—regardless of who you are or the position you hold, the FBI will always take swift action to protect children and hold offenders accountable.”
“Protecting children and vulnerable members of our Rochester community is among our highest priorities,” said Rochester Police Department Chief Jim Franklin. “The Rochester Police Department takes these crimes extremely seriously, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to dedicating the resources necessary to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who prey upon the most vulnerable. This case also demonstrates the critical importance of strong partnerships with our federal law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. We are grateful for their vigilance, professionalism, and shared commitment to protecting our community and ensuring justice is served.”
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Rochester Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney LeeAnn Bell prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Note: The previous press release detailing the case is available here.
Elyria Man Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Prison for Receipt, Distribution, and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A Lorain County man was sentenced to federal prison for receipt, possession and distribution of pornographic materials involving children.
Christopher Jackson, 27, of Elyria, Ohio, was sentenced to 186 months (15.5 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker, after pleading guilty in March to the following charges in the indictment:
- Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Real Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct
- Possession of Child Pornography, or Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM)
He was also ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release after imprisonment. Restitution will be determined at a later date.
According to court records, agents were conducting investigation into suspected CSAM activity on social media platforms and identified Jackson as an individual downloading child pornography. Jackson was later apprehended. During a forensic analysis of his electronic devices and online accounts, investigators found approximately 955 images and 371 videos of CSAM. Further investigation revealed that Jackson had been possessing and viewing CSAM for more than 17 years.
The investigation leading to the indictment was led by the FBI Cleveland Division and the Elyria Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Margaret Kane for the Northern District Ohio led the prosecution.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.
To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Eight Sentenced to Federal Prison for $1.2 Million Travel Insurance Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS - Eight individuals have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a $1.2 million travel insurance fraud kickback scheme. Each defendant pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.
DefendantSentenceRestitution Jennifer Fleener, 60, Indianapolis57 months’ imprisonment; 2 years of supervised release$1,199,149.32Mike Fleener, 54, Camby48 months’ imprisonment; 2 years of supervised release $1,188,470.58Asha Mimms, 46, Indianapolis12 months’ and 1 day imprisonment; 2 years of supervised release$365,570.85Jasmin Aldava Grimes, 44, Martinsville3 years’ probation$788,321.14Jennifer Thompson, 45, Indianapolis3 years’ probation$604,745.12Amber McDaniel, 45, Indianapolis2 years’ probation $85,894.94 Christopher Perdue, 38, Indianapolis 3 years’ probation $89,403.49Dasha Pearson, 28, Indianapolis2 years’ probation$42,628.32According to court documents, beginning in 2016, Jennifer Fleener devised a scheme to submit and approve fraudulent travel‑insurance claims through Jennifer’s employer, “T.M.” T.M., headquartered in Houston with a travel division in Indianapolis, sells short‑term travel medical insurance to individuals traveling outside the United States. Jennifer Fleener received money from the fraudulent claims.
Jennifer Fleener worked at T.M. from 2012 to 2021 as a case‑management supervisor and claims handler. In this role, she had detailed knowledge of T.M.’s policy‑issuance and claims‑processing procedures.
In 2016, Jennifer Fleener’s ex-husband Mike Fleener joined the scheme and began recruiting individuals, most of whom lived in the Philippines, to participate in the fraud. He recruited Jasmin Aldava Grimes, a Philippine national, who purchased travel‑insurance policies from T.M. using her own information and the information of others, despite having no intention of traveling as stated on the applications. When T.M. paid out the fraudulent claims, Grimes shared a portion of the proceeds with Mike Fleener, who in turn provided a portion of the proceeds to Jennifer Fleener. Grimes participated in the scheme for roughly two years and recruited additional participants.
Beginning in 2019, Jennifer Fleener expanded the scheme by recruiting T.M. employees, their families, and associates. She recruited T.M. auditor Asha Mimms, who then recruited her daughter, Dasha Pearson, and associate Amber McDaniel. She also recruited former T.M. employee, Jennifer Thompson. Jennifer Fleener instructed each recruit to purchase insurance policies for themselves or others and then submitted falsified claims. As a claims handler, Fleener approved fraudulent submissions without secondary review. T.M. mailed payout checks directly to the claimants, and the proceeds were divided among the co‑conspirators, with Fleener receiving a share.
Christopher Perdue, the husband of Fleener’s niece, knowingly allowed his personal information to be used to obtain fraudulent policies and submit false claims. In return, he received a portion of the kickbacks. Perdue also pled guilty to making false statements and false declarations before a federal grand jury. When interviewed by FBI agents about his involvement in the scheme, he lied and denied any knowledge of the conspiracy and later repeated those falsehoods under oath before the grand jury.
In total, the conspiracy was responsible for filing 441 fraudulent claims, resulting in $1,199,149.32 in losses to T.M.
“Fraud schemes of any kind erode trust in programs designed to protect people in times of need,” said Tom Wheeler, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “These defendants abused their positions and exploited legitimate insurance processes for personal gain, resulting in significant losses. Today’s sentences reflect our office’s commitment to holding accountable those who engage in coordinated, long‑running fraud and to protecting businesses and consumers from financial harm.”
"Complex fraud schemes often rely on calculated deception and abuse of trust for personal enrichment," said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. "The FBI, alongside our law enforcement partners, remains committed to uncovering these schemes, following the money, and ensuring those responsible are held accountable under the law.”
FBI Indianapolis investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley P. Shepard and Meredith Wood, who prosecuted this case.
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Drug Investigation in Dane County Successfully Concludes After Last Defendant SentencedRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced the successful conclusion of a multi-year drug trafficking investigation in Dane County, following the sentencing of the last of thirteen defendants.
U.S. Attorney Elgersma praised the tireless efforts of the law enforcement agents throughout the State who worked together to dismantle this large-scale narcotics distribution organization. “These thirteen convictions mark a decisive blow against a multi-state criminal organization that threatened the safety of our communities. The success of this investigation is the direct result of a coordinated effort between federal, state, and local law enforcement partners who worked together, through a whole of government strategy, to dismantle a high-level fentanyl trafficking operation. I commend the investigators who worked tirelessly to protect families and hold the individuals who sell this poison accountable.”
The investigation revealed a large-scale drug trafficking organization led by Lloyd McKire-Bennett that was responsible for bringing kilograms of fentanyl pills into Madison from Arizona. Law enforcement began investigating the organization in January 2022, following the seizure of two mail packages that each contained a kilogram of fentanyl pills (almost 20,000 pills in total). Both packages were mailed by individuals in Arizona to addresses in Madison.
The year-long investigation involved twenty-three controlled purchases of fentanyl pills, the seizure of a third drug-laden mail package (which contained 1.75 kilograms of fentanyl pills), arrests and warranted searches of residences and vehicles where narcotics and firearms were seized. As part of the investigation, officers seized almost 5 kilograms of fentanyl pills, 10 firearms, and over $97,000 in U.S. currency. Photos from the case include:
Photos of two kilograms of fentanyl pills seized from the mail in January 2022.
Photo of fentanyl, cocaine, and cash seized from McKire-Bennett’s residence on November 28, 2022.
The following defendants were sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson as part of the federal prosecution:
• Messiah A. Fleming, 24, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced in December 2023 to 4 years in federal prison followed by 4 years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a felon and possessing fentanyl intended for distribution.
• Lloyd M. McKire-Bennett, 30, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced in May 2024 to 164 months in federal prison followed by 6 years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and possessing firearms and ammunition as a felon.
• Deshawn P. Davis, 31, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced in May 2024 to 66 months in federal prison followed by 4 years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
• Dejon C. Glover, 25, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced in May 2024 to 4 ½ years in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release, for attempting to possess fentanyl intended for distribution.
• Alicia M. Allen, 40, Windsor, Wisconsin, was sentenced in May 2024 to 4 years in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release, for possessing 40 grams or more of fentanyl intended for distribution and money laundering.
• Yoshi R. Walker, 27, New Brighton, Minnesota, was sentenced in July 2024 to 6 years in federal prison followed by 3 years of supervised release, for attempting to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
• Christopher S. Wilson, 30, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced in July 2024 to 5 years in federal prison followed by 4 years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
• John A. Maser, 37, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced in August 2024 to 4 months in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release, for attempting to possess fentanyl intended for distribution.
• Davonte F. King, 31, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced in September 2024 to 7 years in federal prison followed by 6 years of supervised release, for possessing fentanyl intended for distribution and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
• Tyez D. D. Boyd, 28, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced in November 2024 to 3 years in federal prison followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a felon.
• Dantrell T. Stevenson, 33, Matteson, Illinois, was sentenced in December 2024 to 2 years in federal prison followed by 4 years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute fentanyl.
• Jessica E. Leyvas, 40, Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced in January 2026 to 5 years of probation, for attempting to distribute fentanyl.
• Kevin L. Simmons, 32, Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced on June 30, 2026, to 12 years in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute fentanyl.
The charges against these individuals were the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS Criminal Investigation, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and Dane County Narcotics Task Force. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force also assisted with the case. The task force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. The investigation was awarded the 2023 Wisconsin Narcotics Officers Association Investigation of the Year. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Program 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 federal 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.
Defendant who continued to traffic drugs after federal indictment sentenced to more than 14 years in prisonRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A Georgia man who continued to traffic drugs after being indicted federally was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 170 months in prison.
David Gullatte, 39, of Lithonia, Georgia, was a prolific drug trafficker who brought bulk amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine into the Southern District of Ohio from a source of supply in California.
According to court documents, between 2020 and 2021, law enforcement intercepted multiple kilograms of narcotics being mailed to Gullatte. Gullatte would buy the drugs from California then arrange for the supplier to mail the drugs to homes in Atlanta and Dayton. Upon receiving the drug shipments, Gullatte resold them in southern Ohio and elsewhere.
For example, in September 2020, Gullatte obtained a drug shipment of more than 20 kilograms of methamphetamine in Atlanta and then arranged for another person to transport the drugs for delivery and resale in Dayton.
While under indictment for this conduct and pending trial, investigators caught Gullatte supplying cocaine and other drugs to a drug trafficking ring in Xenia.
Throughout the drug conspiracies, Gullatte was responsible for the trafficking of more than 30 kilograms of various controlled substances including cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl.
Gullatte was originally indicted in May 2024. He was charged for his continued drug trafficking in March 2025. He pleaded guilty in both cases in September 2025.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence imposed by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Walter H. Rice. Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi, Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Amy M. Smith and Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth McCormick are representing the United States in these cases.
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Davenport Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man was sentenced on July 14, 2026, to 18 years in federal prison for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to public court documents, Anthony Michael Duyvejonck, 33, conspired with others to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine across Iowa. In July 2025, officers located 3.5 pounds of methamphetamine in Duyvejonck’s vehicle. In total, Duyvejonck distributed nearly 13 pounds of methamphetamine. Duyvejonck was paroled from state prison in late March 2025, just four months before his July arrest.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Duyvejonck will be required to serve a six-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Bettendorf Police Department investigated the case.
Court Orders Michigan Tax Return Preparer to Shut Down Tax Preparation BusinessRead the Press Release
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan issued a permanent injunction against Detroit area tax return preparer Ann Heibeck and Detroit area tax return preparation businesses J&A Tax Services LLC doing business as Equitax (Equitax) and J&A Tax and Accounting Services LLC doing business as Equitax Accounting and Tax Service (J&A 2). The injunction bars Heibeck, Equitax, and J&A 2 from preparing tax returns, working for, or having any ownership stake in any tax preparation business, assisting others prepare tax returns or set up business as a preparer, and transferring or assigning customer lists to any other person or entity. The court previously entered similar judgments of permanent injunction against Tasha Washington, Crystal Patrick, Debra Washington, and Sade Cooper, after they failed to appear to defend against the United States’ claims.
According to the complaint, Heibeck and Equitax prepared and filed tax returns that falsely understated their customers’ federal income tax liabilities by claiming, among other things:
- Fictitious or inflated Schedule C business expenses;
- Fictitious or inflated Dependent Care expenses;
- Fictitious or inflated Education expenses; and
- Fictitious or inflated credits available under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
The court found that Heibeck prepared and filed thousands of false income tax returns through J&A 2, an entity she owned, using her husband’s Personal Tax Identification Number. It enjoined J&A 2 as an active participant in her scheme.
As a result of the court’s order, Heibeck, Equitax, and J&A 2 must post a copy of the injunction at all locations where they conduct business and post a link to the injunction on their business’s website.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Joshua Wu of the Civil Division’s Tax Litigation Branch made the announcement. Tax Litigation Branch attorneys Julia Glen, Franklin Sandrea-Rivero, and Claire Shimberg handled this matter.
Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers 10 tips to avoid tax season fraud and ways to safeguard their personal information.
In the past decade, the Department of Justice has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Civil Division, Tax Litigation Branch, with details.
Convicted Felon Who Was Apprehended by U.S. Marshals After Fleeing Halfway House Pleads Guilty to Escaping Bureau of Prisons CustodyRead the Press Release
Convicted Felon Who Was Apprehended by U.S. Marshals After Fleeing Halfway House Pleads Guilty to Escaping Bureau of Prisons Custody
CONCORD – A Bureau of Prisons (BOP) inmate has pled guilty for attempting to escape custody after he left a Manchester halfway house and was later apprehended by the U.S. Marshals, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Sentencing is set for November 4, 2026 before U.S. District Court Judge Steven J. McAuliffe.
Daniel Irving, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of escape from federal custody. According to court documents and statements made in court, Irving was assigned to complete his prior federal sentence at the Hampshire House in Manchester after being transferred from a BOP facility in West Virginia. In October 2025, law enforcement was alerted that Irving had removed his electronic GPS monitoring device and absconded. The United States Marshals then initiated a search for Irving, before locating him at a home in Goffstown.
The charge of escape carries a maximum prison term of 5 years, a maximum fine of $250,000 and term of supervised release not to exceed 3 years. 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.
The United States Marshals Service led the investigation. The Goffstown Police Department and the Manchester Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo is prosecuting the case.
Colombian National Sentenced to 25 Months in Prison for Illegal Use of a False Social Security Number and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Oscar Andres Lopez-Gomez, 52 years old, a citizen of Colombia, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to felony use of a false Social Security Number and Aggravated Identity Theft, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Lopez-Gomez was sentenced to 25 months in prison.
“The Defendant, a citizen of Columbia, committed Aggravated Identity Theft by using another person’s name, date of birth, and Social Security Number in an attempt to circumvent rules regarding employment. Circumventing those rules is not “victimless” conduct in that it affects the economic opportunities available to citizens and guests of our country who lawfully participate in the economy in good faith. As a result of the collaboration between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations, the case was able to be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Clay County Man Charged with Carjacking and Attempted KidnappingRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Clay County man charged with carjacking, attempted kidnapping, and multiple other crimes has been arraigned in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr.
A five-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Stevie Earl Harris with attempted kidnapping, carjacking, using/carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, explosive materials – transport by non-licensee, and explosive materials – transport with intent to injure. This incident occurred on September 5, 2024, in Clay County, Alabama.
“As alleged in the indictment, the defendant is accused of crimes that threatened the safety of an innocent victim and others nearby,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy M. Peoples. “We appreciate the outstanding work of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners whose coordinated efforts made this prosecution possible.”
“ATF’s number one priority is to combat violent crime,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge James VanVliet. “We will continue to work in lockstep with our law enforcement partners to bring justice to individuals that harm our communities.”
The ATF investigated the case along with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Lineville Police Department, and Ashland Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darius C. Greene and Kristy Peoples are prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Champaign County man pleads guilty to distributing child pornographyRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – Christopher Creamer, 40, of Urbana, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to distributing child pornography.
The plea agreement includes a recommended sentence of between 60 and 210 months in prison.
According to court documents, from June to August 2025, Creamer communicated online with who he believed to be a Telegram user but was actually an FBI agent. Creamer admitted to sending two images and 16 videos of child pornography to the agent. He also discussed his interest in the sexual abuse of children.
In a subsequent search of Creamer’s electronic devices, agents discovered more than 3,000 images and 130 videos depicting child pornography, including images of the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers and sadomasochistic abuse.
Creamer was arrested and charged by federal criminal complaint in March 2026.
Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the guilty plea entered today before Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose. Assistant United States Attorney Christina E. Mahy is representing the United States in this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
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Cartel Partner Gets 30 Year Federal Sentence for Guns and MethRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced, Fernando Chaidez, 46, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. On April 1, 2026, a federal jury convicted Chaidez of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams of meth, possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of meth, possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a firearm used to help selling drugs.
On November 8, 2023, Customs and Border Enforcement intercepted a package coming from Guerrero, Mexico to Duplin County, North Carolina. The package contained flip‑flops with approximately 2.2 pounds of meth hidden inside the lining. A week later, the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, HSI, and NCSBI carried out a controlled delivery of the package at the home of Stephen Darden in Duplin County. Darden accepted the package and they arrested him. Shortly after that, Chaidez arrived at Darden’s home, picked up the package, and they arrested him too. When they searched Chaidez’s car, they found meth and a garage door opener for his home in Wayne County. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, along with HSI, executed a search warrant where they found several cut open flip-flops that appeared to have previously contained drugs. They also found several firearms, including an AR‑15, a 5.7 semi‑automatic handgun, and a large 5.7‑caliber drum magazine.
“Cartels spread evil from south of the border and destroy our communities in Eastern North Carolina. Drug thugs like this Big Shark Bad Boy pose a serious threat to public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “We will continue partnering with our local, state, and federal teams to shut down these operations, clean these villains off our streets, and protect our citizens. If you sell drugs, we will find you, prosecute you, and throw you in prison for a long time.”
Chaidez had a page full of prior convictions for manufacturing and selling meth dating as far back as 2010. Chaidez spent time in prison until his release in 2022, but he went right back to selling drugs by distributing more than 154 pounds of meth from 2022 until the time of his federal arrest in 2023. Darden eventually received a sentence of three years and four months for his involvement.
"The successful prosecution of Fernando Chaidez removes a significant quantity of methamphetamine and multiple firearms from our streets," said Mark M. Zito, special agent in charge of HSI Carolinas. "This investigation highlights the grave dangers posed by the illicit drug trade and the tenacity of our agents to hold offenders accountable. This sentence sends a clear message that Homeland Security Investigations will continue to relentlessly pursue those who attempt to profit from the distribution of poison in our neighborhoods."
"This is the result of hard work and strong partnerships between every agency involved in this investigation. When we work together, we send a clear message that crime won't be tolerated in our communities. I'm grateful to everyone who worked on this case, and we'll continue working every day to keep Wayne County safe,” said Wayne County Sheriff Larry Pierce
"This case is a great example of why strategic partnerships are so effective. HSI Wilmington brought federal resources, our SBI Coastal District agents brought the local knowledge, and the Duplin and Wayne County Sheriff's Offices were partners from day one. Four agencies, one case, one Cartel trafficker who was moving meth through eastern North Carolina and is now going to prison for 30 years. This is what great partnerships and outstanding teamwork does,” said SBI Director Chip Hawley.
This prosecution is part of Operation Tsunami Rising which 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.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. HSI, Custom and Border Patrol Enforcement, FBI, Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, and NCSBI investigated the 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. 7:24-CR-102-FL
Cambridge Man Convicted of Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A previously convicted felon from Cambridge has been found guilty by a federal jury of possessing cocaine intended for distribution and unlawfully possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking while a convicted felon.
Abdelouahab Adel, 26, was convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Oct. 20, 2026.
Adel met and sold cocaine to a cooperating witness on Sept. 19, 2023 in Revere, Mass. After selling the cocaine, he was arrested with a Glock, Model 26, 9mm semiautomatic pistol and an additional quantity of cocaine and MDMA, also known as ecstasy. As a person who had previously having been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison, Adel was prohibited from possessing a firearm. Specifically, in 2018, Adel was convicted in Suffolk Superior Court for Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, among other charges.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to life in prison, to be served consecutively to the sentence for other crimes, 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; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Massachusetts State Police; the Billerica and Lowell Police Departments; and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Crowley and John J. Reynolds III of the Organized Crime and Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
California Duo Charged with Operating Nationwide Darknet Drug Trafficking Operation, Laundering Cryptocurrency ProceedsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A California duo accused of operating a darknet drug trafficking business that sold fentanyl and methamphetamine nationwide, including in South Florida, and laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency has been indicted by a Southern District of Florida grand jury.
According to court documents, Nicholas Aguilar, 44, and Jessica Marcolina, 37, both of Los Angeles, allegedly operated vendor accounts under the moniker “HotGirlzClub” on multiple darknet marketplaces, where they conspired to distribute controlled substances — including fentanyl and methamphetamine — to customers throughout the U.S., including in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Aguilar and Marcolina also allegedly conspired to launder cryptocurrency proceeds from the drug sales through transactions designed to conceal the source and ownership of the funds.
It is alleged that from as early as 2020, continuing through the date of their arrest, the defendants were consistently shipping parcels containing controlled substances using the U.S. Mail. According to the complaint, in a seven-month period alone in 2025, law enforcement allegedly identified more than 500 shipped parcels believed to contain narcotics that were linked to the operation.
Searches of the defendants’ residences in California revealed distribution quantities of suspected controlled substances, drug packaging materials, printed warning labels, U.S. Postal Service (USPS) shipping supplies, a label maker, heat and vacuum sealer, a food processor containing suspected narcotics residue, electronic devices, fraudulent identification documents bearing the names of identity theft victims, and firearms. Law enforcement also recovered warning inserts identical to those included in undercover purchases. The inserts cautioned customers about the risk of overdose, advising them to “be safe until you know you tolerance for the product,” demonstrating the defendants’ awareness of the dangers posed by the narcotics they allegedly distributed.
The search also revealed that Aguilar possessed two loaded handguns and a rifle and operated an illicit firearms manufacturing operation that produced ghost guns, suppressors, and firearm upper and lower receivers.
Aguilar and Marcolina are charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, they each face up to life imprisonment on the drug trafficking conspiracy count and up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the money laundering conspiracy count.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Ronald A. Loecker of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Florida Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division; Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Miami Division; and Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation – Cyber Crimes Unit and the DEA Miami Counternarcotic Cyber Investigations Task Force, a multi-agency task force, including the DEA, IRS Criminal Investigation, FBI, USPIS, and the Fort Lauderdale Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Monique Botero is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of 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 U.S. HSTF Miami comprises of agents and officers from IRS-CI, DEA, FBI, USIS, and the Fort Lauderdale Police Department with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern district of Florida.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 26-cr-20280.
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Buffalo man sentenced to more than 14 years in prison for narcotics conspiracy, sentence to be served consecutive to previous murder sentenceRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Ernest Brown, a/k/a Wayne Perry, a/k/a Wayne Brown, 43, Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 400 grams of fentanyl, was sentenced to serve 175 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. Brown’s federal sentence will be served consecutive to the sentence of 25 years to life that he received after an Erie County Court jury convicted him of Murder, 2nd degree, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon, 2nd degree.
During the conspiracy, Brown was a source of supply for Joseph Zaso. Zaso met Brown through co-defendant James Jackson, a middleman for narcotics transactions. Brown met his co-conspirators at various locations in Buffalo, including Zaso’s and Jackson’s residences. At times, Jackson delivered fentanyl to Zaso on behalf of Brown. Joseph Zaso was previously charged and convicted and is awaiting sentencing. Charges remain pending against James Jackson.
This case was 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 Buffalo comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, Department of Homeland Security Emergency Removal Operations, Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Diplomatic Security Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti and Louis A. Testani. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Forster, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.
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Brooksville Man Found Guilty of Receiving, Distributing, and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – A federal jury has found Julian Russell Clawson (43, Tampa) guilty of receiving, distributing, and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Clawson faces a minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison for each count of receiving and distributing CSAM, and a minimum of 10 years, up to 20 years, in prison for possessing CSAM. He faces enhanced penalties in this case and a violation of supervised release based on a previous conviction for possessing CSAM. His combined violation and sentencing hearing will be held at a future date. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Clawson traded CSAM on a social media application (app). He engaged in graphic sexual discussions around the abuse of minors in public groups on the app, as well as with two different undercover FBI agents from the Sarasota and Jacksonville offices. As part of Clawson’s direct messages with the FBI agents, he distributed CSAM to both undercover agents on multiple dates in April 2023. Through records obtained from the social media platform, the investigation revealed that Clawson also received CSAM through this application. In June 2023, a search warrant was executed for Clawson’s cellphone revealing that he possessed more than 250 images and videos of CSAM on his phone.
This case was investigated by the FBI in Sarasota and Jacksonville, the Tampa Police Department, and the Hernando County Sherriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.
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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to 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.justice.gov/psc.
Billings man sentenced to 4 years in prison for defrauding customers in scrap metal business schemeRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings man who never turned over promised payments to customers on scrap metal he sold was sentenced today to four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, a $50,000 fine, and $300 in assessment fees, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Chad Miller Costello, 36, pleaded guilty in May 2025 to one count of wire fraud, one count of money laundering, and one count of filing a false tax return.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that from 2018 to 2023 Costello ran a scrap metal business in Billings under different names that stole money from customers.
The scheme involved Costello promising to buy scrap metal at premium prices from various businesses across the United States and selling it to recyclers. When it was time to buy the scrap from customers, Costello would only pay a portion or nothing of the contract price, promising to pay later. He would then pick up the scrap metal, sell it to recyclers and keep the money. When the customers contacted him about the money he owed them, Costello would offer excuses, delay responses, and then stop communicating altogether. Costello would then launch a new business and repeat the scheme. The business names he used include M&M Recycling, Industrial Surplus Buying, A-1 Surplus, and ABC Iron & Metal.
The contracts typically involved large sums. In October 2022, Costello paid $150,000 in an initial installment for scrap metal that he took from a company in Coolidge, Arizona. Costello then sold the material to a recycler for more than $1 million and did not pay the balance he owed to the seller. Costello also filed his taxes in 2020, falsifying the documents and claiming an annual income significantly smaller than what he was making from his sales of scrap metal.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Rubich prosecuted the case. IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation.
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.
Bethlehem Man Sentenced for Election Fraud OffensesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Matthew Laiss, 32, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to three years of probation with the first six months on home confinement, a $6,000 fine, and $200 special assessment by United States District Judge Joseph F. Leeson Jr. for election fraud offenses in connection with the 2020 presidential election.
The defendant was charged by indictment in September of last year with one count of voting more than once in a federal election and one count of voter fraud. In March, he was convicted on both charges at trial.
As detailed in court filings, from at least October 2012 until about August 2020, Laiss resided in, and was lawfully registered to vote in, Ottsville, Pennsylvania, a municipality located in Bucks County. In or around August 2020, Laiss moved his primary residence from Ottsville, Pennsylvania, to Frostproof, Florida. The same month, he applied for and obtained a Florida driver’s license and registered to vote in Florida.
In or about October 2020, the Bucks County Board of Elections mailed a ballot for the November 2020 general election to the defendant’s former address in Ottsville, Pennsylvania, where Laiss’s parents continued to reside.
As proven at trial, on or about October 31, 2020, Laiss filled out and returned the Pennsylvania mail-in ballot, casting a vote for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States of America.
Then, on or about November 3, 2020, Laiss went to a polling location in or around Frostproof, Florida, and voted in the 2020 general election, casting a vote for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States of America.
This case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the Pennsylvania Department of State, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Dubnoff.
A‑Plus Management and Its Owner Agree to Pay $1M to Settle Alleged False Claims at Post for Office RepairsRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A-Plus Management, LLC and its owner, Jared Chavis of Maxton, agreed to pay $1,000,000 to the U.S. government to resolve alleged false claims for overstated repairs at United States Postal Service (USPS) facilities.
“This civil fraud settlement demonstrates our commitment to protect taxpayer money from dishonest contractors,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Our office zealously pursues those who submit false invoices to wrongfully take government funds, whether large or small amounts.”
This settlement arose from allegations that A-Plus and Jared Chavis falsely overstated labor, mischarged travel expenses, altered invoices, and failed to provide accurate documentation for repairs at USPS properties. The False Claims Act allows the Government to seek recovery of three times the money falsely obtained, plus substantial penalties for each false claim submitted. It should be noted that the civil claims resolved by settlement here are allegations only, that there has been no judicial determination or admission of liability, and that A-Plus and Jared Chavis deny these fraud allegations.
“The USPS OIG will continue to aggressively investigate companies that engage in activities designed to defraud the Postal Service’s contracting process,” said Executive Special Agent in Charge Kevin Cloninger of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), Office of Inspector General (OIG). “This settlement demonstrates that our special agents, along with the United States Attorney’s Office, will pursue contractors that overcharge the government and enrich themselves at the expense of USPS customers.”
The USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG) is an independent oversight and law enforcement agency established under the Inspector General Act. Responsibilities include conducting investigations, detecting fraud, waste, and abuse.
W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. This investigation came from the United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.
Arlington man sentenced to prison for sexually exploiting minors and attempting to destroy evidenceRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Arlington man was sentenced today to 18 years and 10 months in prison for coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity and destruction or removal of property to prevent search or seizure.
According to court documents, from at least May 2023 through May 2025, Stephen Chadwick Howell, 25, engaged in sexually explicit conversations with at least three minor victims. Howell at times misrepresented his age, sent sexually explicit images of himself, and requested and received sexually explicit images. Howell met at least one minor victim with whom he engaged in sex and produced sexually explicit images and videos of the victim, which he later distributed to her. Howell sent money to a 16-year-old victim who sent sexually explicit images of herself that were later found on Howell’s cellphone.
Between January 2023 and January 2024, Howell communicated online with an individual in Brooklyn, New York, about their shared interest in CSAM. Howell distributed sexually explicit images of minors to the individual and requested advice on grooming minors such as what age to represent himself to victims online. Howell asked the individual’s assistance rebuilding his CSAM collection after having deleted it.
On May 7, 2025, the FBI executed a search warrant at Howell’s residence. When investigators arrived, however, Howell did not comply with orders to exit the residence. Instead, he retrieved two knives from the kitchen and barricaded himself in his bedroom, leading to a nine-hour standoff. During the standoff, Howell urinated on his laptop in an attempt to prevent the FBI from accessing its contents. Investigators were able to partially repair the laptop and recover sexually explicit images of minors.
The FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated this case. The FBI’s New York Field Office provided substantial assistance in the investigation of this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura D. Withers and Lauren Halper 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. 1:25-cr-235.
Amherst man going to prison for receipt of child pornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Marcus Elliott, 40, of Amherst, NY, who was convicted of receipt of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 78 months in prison followed by 30 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
In September 2020, Elliott began to communicate with a 12-year-old female on Snapchat, during which the minor victim took a sexually explicit photograph and sent it to Elliott. In June 2025, following a disclosure by the minor victim, Elliott’s cellular telephone was searched, and the sexually explicit image of the minor victim was recovered. In addition, Elliott admits that he engaged in sexual activity with the minor victim on one occasion and requested that she produce child pornography on other occasions.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis II, the West Seneca Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Cosgrove, and the Amherst Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Chamberlin.
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Adams County Man Sentenced to 10 Years Imprisonment for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jason Lee White, age 39, of Abbottstown, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for receiving child pornography. Judge Wilson also ordered White to pay victims restitution in the amount of $133,500, and to pay assessments totaling $17,100.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, law enforcement began investigating White in 2023 after learning that he had been communicating with underage girls on Instagram and soliciting sexually explicit images from them. Following the execution of a search warrant at White’s home in November 2023, law enforcement seized computer devices that contained tens of thousands of images and videos depicting child pornography, which White received via the internet.
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 investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christian T. Haugsby.
14 July 2026
Westfield Woman Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Elderly Victim of More Than $500,000Read the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Shayna Williams, 51, of Westfield, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud for her role in a six‑year scheme that targeted and financially devastated an elderly victim.
According to court documents, Williams was involved in a car accident with an elderly woman. Following the accident, over the course of six years, Williams defrauded the victim and the victim’s friend of $672,086 by repeatedly lying about injuries, medical conditions, and other expenses she claimed resulted from the car accident.
Williams falsely asserted that her daughter had suffered severe back injuries in the accident, requiring costly surgery and specialized medical equipment, including a walker and an in‑home elevator. She also claimed that she and other family members were undergoing expensive medical treatments and were burdened with substantial medical bills.
To further the scheme, Williams sent text messages to the victim while impersonating insurance agents who were supposedly negotiating with hospitals over the alleged medical bills. These messages falsely promised that the victim would be reimbursed by the insurance company if she paid Williams’s expenses. Williams also took steps to disguise her phone number to make the impersonations more convincing.
The financial impact on the victim was severe. The victim took out personal loans, worked as a food delivery driver, obtained a second mortgage on her home, and borrowed money from a friend to pay the fraudulent bills. In total, the victim paid Williams more than $500,000. Despite knowing the victim was incurring significant debt, Williams continued to request additional funds and spent the money on personal expenses, including restaurants, travel, and gambling.
FBI Indianapolis and the Carmel Police Department investigated this case. U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker will sentence Williams at a later date.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Eakman and Meredith Wood, who are prosecuting this case.
Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcements’ efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is aged 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available from the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. [ET]. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. More information about the Department’s elder justice efforts can be found on the Department’s Elder Justice website.
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Two Men Sentenced to Prison for Unlawful Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – Two men in separate cases were sentenced to prison today for unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
According to court documents and statements made in court:
- Marc Christopher Viloria was sentenced by United States District Judge Cristina D. Silva to 30 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. On November 20, 2024, Viloria was involved in a high-speed chase with police while fleeing the scene of a shooting in which he was likely involved. He admitted that he possessed a privately made 9mm semiautomatic pistol with no serial number and a 9mm semiautomatic pistol. He had previously been convicted of sale of a hallucinogen, criminal possession of a firearm, and distribution of a hallucinogen, all in Geary County, Kansas. He is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm. The government recommended a sentence of 30 months’ imprisonment.
- Manuel Edwin Martinez was sentenced by United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro to 37 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Martinez admitted that, on January 12, 2022, he possessed a 9x19mm semiautomatic pistol at a gas station and convenience store in Las Vegas, Nevada. He had previously been convicted for of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury, both in Denver, Colorado. He is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm. The government recommended a sentence of 37 months’ imprisonment.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge John Wester of the San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
These cases were investigated by ATF and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Cowhig and Joseph Sciscento prosecuted these cases.
Anyone with information about unlawful firearms activity should call ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477), email ATFTips@atf.gov or submit an anonymous tip at www.reportit.com/.
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Two Men Indicted for Alleged Roles in ATM Jackpotting SchemeRead the Press Release
RENO – A federal grand jury indicted two men for their alleged roles in a scheme to steal money from multiple ATMs located in Reno and Sparks, Nevada. This crime is commonly referred to as “ATM jackpotting.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 3, 2026, Kleiber Jovanny Garcia Rojas and Yeiker Andres Diaz-Calatayud, aka “Jose Soto,” installed a digital device on an ATM at a federal credit union. The device allowed them to bypass security functions without authorization and withdraw cash. They allegedly stole approximately $76,000 in cash.
Defendants installing malware device on ATM
Garcia Rojas and Diaz-Calatayud are each charged with one count of bank theft. If convicted, they each face the maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison. Both defendants made their initial court appearances and were ordered detained. A jury trial is scheduled for September 15, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Anne Traum. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“As alleged, the defendants hacked into an ATM in northern Nevada and stole approximately $76,000 in cash through a scheme known as ATM jackpotting,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “This indictment is another shining example of our focused efforts with partners in law enforcement to protect financial institutions.”
“Criminal acts, such as ATM jackpotting schemes, significantly disrupt business operations and endanger customers and bystanders,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “The FBI has a longstanding commitment to investigating bank robberies and as criminal tactics evolve, we remain steadfast in our mission to combat violent crime and uphold public safety.”
The FBI, Reno Police Department, and Washoe County Sherriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Gaeta is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Two Illegal Aliens with Prior Felony Convictions and Multiple Deportations Sentenced for Illegal Reentry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – Two illegal aliens unlawfully residing in Las Vegas were sentenced to prison today for illegally reentering the United States after having been previously removed from the country.
Rito Lopez-Mundo, also known as “Cora Aguayo-Mundo,” “Everado Cobarubia Altamirano,” “Everado Cobarubia Lopez,” “Rito Everado-Cobarubia,” “Everado Cobarubia Mundo,” “Joaquin Altamiran-Bobadillo,” and “Jose River-Lopez,” pleaded guilty to one count of deported alien found in the United States. He was sentenced by United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro to 30 months in prison. The government recommended a sentence of 24 months in prison.
According to court documents and statements made during court proceedings, on June 14, 2023, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) learned that Lopez-Mundo was in custody at the Clark County Detention Center. On November 26, 2025, the Nevada Department of Corrections remanded Lopez-Mundo to ICE custody after he served a 19-48 month sentence for conspiracy to commit robbery. Lopez-Mundo was previously removed and deported from the United States to Mexico on May 13, 1996; November 3, 1997; August 12, 1998; March 25, 2005; May 28, 2013; and October 5, 2018.
Lopez-Mundo has prior felony convictions including attempted robbery in San Diego, California; and five times deported alien found unlawfully in the United States in the Southern District of California.
Jose Leonel Gomez-Palma, a citizen of Nicaragua, also known as “Erik Gonzalez,” Jose Lopez,” “Jose Godinez,” and “Jose Gomez,” pleaded guilty to one count of deported alien found in the United States. He was sentenced by United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to 15 months in prison. The government recommended a sentence of 15 months in prison.
According to court documents and statements made during court proceedings, on April 30, 2026, officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrested Gomez-Palma for driving under the influence and possession of a gun under the influence of alcohol/drugs. On May 2, 2026, the Clark County Detention Center remanded him to ICE custody. Gomez-Palma was previously removed and deported from the United States to Nicaragua on September 8, 2012.
Gomez-Palma has previous felony convictions including possession of narcotic/controlled substance (cocaine); carjacking; kidnapping; attempted robbery; assault with a deadly weapon, all in Los Angeles County, California.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada made the announcement.
The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated these cases; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada prosecuted these cases.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Trade Fraud Task Force Surpasses $1 Billion in Recoveries and Charged Losses in Less Than One YearRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced today that the Trade Fraud Task Force (TFTF), launched in August 2025, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has surpassed $1 billion in civil and criminal recoveries, penalties, forfeitures, and publicly charged losses in less than one year This milestone reflects a fundamental shift in the federal government’s approach to customs and trade enforcement, emphasizing rigorous criminal prosecution and civil enforcement under the False Claims Act (FCA).
“For too long, fraud actors have viewed customs violations as a mere surcharge or cost of doing business,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “By utilizing the Department’s full weight, we are making it clear that trade fraud is a serious economic crime. This billion-dollar milestone demonstrates that the United States and the National Fraud Enforcement Division will no longer allow the integrity of our country’s borders and markets to be compromised for illicit profit. This message should be heard loud and clear by all supply-chain actors.”
The TFTF was established by DOJ and DHS to investigate and prosecute those who defraud the government through material misrepresentations to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), including transshipment, mislabeling, and false declaration. Its mandate covers the entire supply chain, including importers, customs brokers, downstream distributors, industrial and commercial end-users, and other supply-chain actors who knowingly profit from merchandise imported contrary to law. Although the TFTF maintains broad enforcement authority, the task force focuses on key revenue and enforcement priorities, including the evasion of Section 301 tariffs, antidumping duties (AD), and countervailing duties (CVD), the eradication of forced labor from global supply chains that seek to exploit U.S. markets, and the prosecution of criminal violations concerning imported goods that threaten public health and safety. By prioritizing clear, high-impact enforcement actions within established legal frameworks, the TFTF ensures swift accountability and a level playing field for law-abiding American businesses.
“Ensuring that the global supply chain remains a level playing field for law-abiding American businesses is a critical component of CBP’s mission,” said U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney S. Scott. “By pairing CBP’s operational reach with DOJ’s prosecutorial authority, we are dismantling the networks that seek to bypass our laws and undermine our economic security. Every day, CBP confronts criminal networks that exploit our supply chains, endanger American families with unsafe goods, threaten the integrity of our consumer and industrial markets, and undermine confidence in international commerce. Our message is clear: those who seek to exploit America’s trade system will be identified, investigated, and brought to justice.”
“Through the Trade Fraud Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations is actively protecting American families and businesses from the dangers and consequences of illegal trade practices,” said Homeland Security Investigations Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon. “HSI combines investigative expertise and global partnerships to confront criminal networks that threaten fair trade and the security of our nation’s economic interests. By holding offenders accountable, we build trust in the products people rely on every day and support a fair marketplace for honest businesses.”
U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE ANNOUNCES CHARGES IN TWO SIGNIFICANT CHICAGO TRADE FRAUD CASES
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois (NDIL) today announced charges against multiple defendants in significant customs duty evasion schemes involving the false declaration of countries of origin for gold jewelry. The Trade Fraud Task Force (TFTF) has selected NDIL as its lead prosecutorial partner. These Chicago cases contributed to the TFTF surpassing the $1 billion milestone in enforced trade fraud matters.
Raj Kohli and Veena Kohli, who operate Surya International, Inc., a gold jewelry importer and wholesaler in South San Francisco, California, were charged in U.S. District Court in Chicago with falsely declaring that the gold jewelry they imported into the United States had originated in Singapore and not its true country of origin—India and United Arab Emirates. The charges allege that from approximately August 2020 through May 2024, the company, together with foreign manufacturers and other United States entities, imported and brought into the United States approximately 563 separate entries of gold jewelry that were falsely declared as having been manufactured in Singapore and in doing so avoided paying customs duties of between 5.5% and 5.8% of the declared value of the imported gold jewelry. The gold jewelry had an estimated total value of more than approximately $693 million, thus causing the avoidance of more than approximately $38 million in United States customs duties.
Separately, Narain Gulabani who owned and operated Barkha Wholesale, Inc., a gold jewelry importer and wholesaler in Naperville, Illinois, was charged in U.S. District Court in Chicago with falsely declaring the country of origin for imported gold jewelry. The charges allege that, from approximately May 2016 and October 2021, Gulabani, together with foreign manufacturers and other United States entities, imported or caused to be imported into the United States approximately 242 separate entries of gold jewelry that were falsely declared as having been manufactured in Oman or Singapore and in doing so avoided paying customs duties of between 5.5% and 5.8% of the declared value of the imported gold jewelry. The gold jewelry had an estimated total value of more than approximately $240 million, thus causing the avoidance of more than approximately $13.6 million in United States customs duties.
These charges are part of a broader federal effort to combat trade fraud schemes that undermine fair competition, harm domestic industries, deprive the United States of substantial revenue, and ultimately hurt the American taxpayer.
Gold jewelry and objects seized by law enforcement in May 2022.CRIMINAL AND CIVIL ENFORCEMENT
The TFTF has a nationwide mandate to investigate and prosecute trade fraud and related cases, from coast-to-coast. Any offense involving the importation of an object may be inquired of and prosecuted in any district from, through, or into which the imported object moves. Moreover, federal law criminalizes down-chain activities involving merchandise entered contrary to law when done with knowledge of the illegal entry. As a result, the port of entry is only the starting point for these actions, which may also be prosecuted in the district that feels the impact of the trade fraud.
The TFTF has secured major victories across a diverse range of industries. Recent high-impact matters include:
- Perfectus Aluminum (May 12, 2026) (CDCA): S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)-led criminal investigation resulted in the collection of $549.5 million through a FCA settlement concerning massive scheme to evade antidumping and countervailing duties on aluminum extrusions.
- Boise Cascade (April 27, 2026) (SDFL): HSI-led criminal investigation resulted in a $6.3 million fine and guilty plea for Lacey Act violations where the company demonstrated willful blindness toward illegally imported birch plywood.
- Ceratizit USA (December 18, 2025) (EDMI): $54 million FCA settlement to resolve allegations of knowingly failing to pay duties on tungsten carbide products imported from China.
- Royal Sovereign (April 28, 2026) (DNJ): $8 million criminal fine and restitution ordered after failure to report to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission dangerously defective imported air conditioners allegedly linked to more than 40 fires and one death.
- MGI International (December 12, 2025) (DNH): HSI-led criminal investigation leading to resolutions against a global plastic resin distributor and its former executive concerning misrepresentations of the goods’ country of origin to avoid paying Section 301 duties.
CBP ENFORCEMENT
In addition to the civil and criminal enforcement efforts that led to this historic milestone, CBP continues to exercise its enforcement authorities to address trade violations. So far this Fiscal Year, CBP has assessed more than $2.1 billion in commercial trade penalties and debarred 35 parties from doing business with the federal government. These actions complement DOJ’s enforcement mechanisms and strengthen CBP’s mission to protect our national and economic security by preventing fraud, waste, and abuse.
THE TRADE FRAUD RESOURCE GUIDE
The DOJ and the DHS today released A Resource Guide to Trade Fraud Enforcement (the Guide). As the first joint comprehensive framework of its kind, the Guide is a historic and seminal roadmap for cross-border compliance and enforcement priorities. The Guide provides critical information to enterprises of all sizes and addresses a wide variety of topics, including who and what is covered by customs regulations and anti-trade fraud laws and the different types of civil and criminal resolutions available in trade fraud enforcement. On these and other topics, the Guide takes a multi-faceted approach toward setting forth the statutory and regulatory requirements and providing insights into the enforcement practices of the DOJ and DHS.
Since January 2025, the Department has brought trade fraud enforcement actions all over the country as shown in the map below:
“When companies commit trade fraud, the prosperity and safety of American workers, families, and communities are put at risk,” said the DHS Assistant Secretary for Trade and Economic Security, Aris Kourkoumelis. “To level the playing field and protect the American people, DOJ and DHS have forged the Trade Fraud Task Force and have produced this Resource Guide which provides the private sector with a transparent, comprehensive manual on trade fraud enforcement.”
GLOBAL TRADE & COMMERCE ENFORCEMENT SECTION
The Department is announcing the creation of the Global Trade & Commerce Enforcement Section (GTCES) within the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The GTCES’s mission is to investigate and prosecute criminal import, trade, and other fraud offenses that undermine American industries, evade external revenue collection, threaten consumers’ health and safety, finance foreign adversaries, promote forced labor through illegal trade practices, and violate United States laws and regulations governing domestic and foreign commerce.
A FOUNDATION OF PARTNERSHIP
The success of the GTCES and TFTF is built upon unprecedented cooperation between Main Justice, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, and law enforcement partners.
“It has been a tremendous honor to work closely with the Department and its leadership to envision what the Trade Fraud Task Force could be, and then to convert concept into reality,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros of the Northern District of Illinois. “Helping stand up the Task Force from the ground up has been a vision of mine for nearly 20 years, dating back to when I was a federal prosecutor in Chicago bringing what has still stood as the largest criminal trade fraud cases of their kind and doing so against a stacked deck. It is deeply satisfying to know that we were decades ahead of our time and that our strategy from years ago has now been adopted at the highest levels of the Department and is being implemented across the whole of government. It is a great privilege and responsibility for the Northern District of Illinois to be selected as lead prosecutorial partner for the Trade Fraud Task Force. With our expansive venue and my decades of experience in this space, the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office intends to be the tip of the spear when it comes to robust and vigorous enforcement of our nation’s trade, forced labor, and other related laws. There should be no doubt, the key roads for trade fraud enforcement lead from, to, and through Chicago past, present, and future.”
The Department extends its gratitude to the 35 TFTF masthead U.S. Attorneys’ Offices: District of Arizona, Eastern District of Arkansas, Northern District of California, Central District of California, Eastern District of California, Southern District of California, District of Colorado, District of Columbia, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, Central District of Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of Illinois, Northern District of Indiana, Southern District of Indiana, District of Maryland, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Missouri, District of Nebraska, District of New Jersey, District of New Mexico, Eastern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Middle District of North Carolina, District of Oregon, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, District of Puerto Rico, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Eastern District of Virigina, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Western District of Wisconsin.
The Task Force also acknowledges the indispensable contributions of its law enforcement and agency partners, including CBP, HSI, IRS Criminal Investigation, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the Food and Drug Administration.
The Department-wide Corporate Enforcement Policy provides concrete benefits to incentivize companies to voluntarily disclose discovered misconduct, cooperate with our investigations, and timely and appropriately remediate the wrongdoing.
The Justice Department encourages whistleblowers to alert the government to credible allegations of fraud, including utilizing the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act or through the Department’s Corporate Whistleblower Program at CorporateWhistleblower@usdoj.gov using the form available here.
Trade Fraud Task Force Surpasses $1 Billion in Recoveries and Charged Losses in Less Than One YearRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice announced today that the Trade Fraud Task Force (TFTF), launched in August 2025, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has surpassed $1 billion in civil and criminal recoveries, penalties, forfeitures, and publicly charged losses in less than one year. This milestone reflects a fundamental shift in the federal government’s approach to customs and trade enforcement, emphasizing rigorous criminal prosecution and civil enforcement under the False Claims Act (FCA).
“For too long, fraud actors have viewed customs violations as a mere surcharge or cost of doing business,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “By utilizing the Department’s full weight, we are making it clear that trade fraud is a serious economic crime. This billion-dollar milestone demonstrates that the United States and the National Fraud Enforcement Division will no longer allow the integrity of our country’s borders and markets to be compromised for illicit profit. This message should be heard loud and clear by all supply-chain actors.”
The TFTF was established by DOJ and DHS to investigate and prosecute those who defraud the government through material misrepresentations to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), including transshipment, mislabeling, and false declaration. Its mandate covers the entire supply chain, including importers, customs brokers, downstream distributors, industrial and commercial end-users, and other supply-chain actors who knowingly profit from merchandise imported contrary to law. Although the TFTF maintains broad enforcement authority, the task force focuses on key revenue and enforcement priorities, including the evasion of Section 301 tariffs, antidumping duties (AD), and countervailing duties (CVD), the eradication of forced labor from global supply chains that seek to exploit U.S. markets, and the prosecution of criminal violations concerning imported goods that threaten public health and safety. By prioritizing clear, high-impact enforcement actions within established legal frameworks, the TFTF ensures swift accountability and a level playing field for law-abiding American businesses.
“Ensuring that the global supply chain remains a level playing field for law-abiding American businesses is a critical component of CBP’s mission,” said U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney S. Scott. “By pairing CBP’s operational reach with DOJ’s prosecutorial authority, we are dismantling the networks that seek to bypass our laws and undermine our economic security. Every day, CBP confronts criminal networks that exploit our supply chains, endanger American families with unsafe goods, threaten the integrity of our consumer and industrial markets, and undermine confidence in international commerce. Our message is clear: those who seek to exploit America’s trade system will be identified, investigated, and brought to justice.”
“Through the Trade Fraud Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations is actively protecting American families and businesses from the dangers and consequences of illegal trade practices,” said Homeland Security Investigations Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon. “HSI combines investigative expertise and global partnerships to confront criminal networks that threaten fair trade and the security of our nation’s economic interests. By holding offenders accountable, we build trust in the products people rely on every day and support a fair marketplace for honest businesses.”
U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE ANNOUNCES CHARGES IN TWO SIGNIFICANT CHICAGO TRADE FRAUD CASES
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois (NDIL) today announced charges against multiple defendants in significant customs duty evasion schemes involving the false declaration of countries of origin for gold jewelry. The Trade Fraud Task Force (TFTF) has selected NDIL as its lead prosecutorial partner. These Chicago cases contributed to the TFTF surpassing the $1 billion milestone in enforced trade fraud matters.
Raj Kohli and Veena Kohli, who operate Surya International, Inc., a gold jewelry importer and wholesaler in South San Francisco, California, were charged in U.S. District Court in Chicago with falsely declaring that the gold jewelry they imported into the United States had originated in Singapore and not its true country of origin—India and United Arab Emirates. The charges allege that from approximately August 2020 through May 2024, the company, together with foreign manufacturers and other United States entities, imported and brought into the United States approximately 563 separate entries of gold jewelry that were falsely declared as having been manufactured in Singapore and in doing so avoided paying customs duties of between 5.5% and 5.8% of the declared value of the imported gold jewelry. The gold jewelry had an estimated total value of more than approximately $693 million, thus causing the avoidance of more than approximately $38 million in United States customs duties.
Separately, Narain Gulabani who owned and operated Barkha Wholesale, Inc., a gold jewelry importer and wholesaler in Naperville, Illinois, was charged in U.S. District Court in Chicago with falsely declaring the country of origin for imported gold jewelry. The charges allege that, from approximately May 2016 and October 2021, Gulabani, together with foreign manufacturers and other United States entities, imported or caused to be imported into the United States approximately 242 separate entries of gold jewelry that were falsely declared as having been manufactured in Oman or Singapore and in doing so avoided paying customs duties of between 5.5% and 5.8% of the declared value of the imported gold jewelry. The gold jewelry had an estimated total value of more than approximately $240 million, thus causing the avoidance of more than approximately $13.6 million in United States customs duties.
These charges are part of a broader federal effort to combat trade fraud schemes that undermine fair competition, harm domestic industries, deprive the United States of substantial revenue, and ultimately hurt the American taxpayer.
Gold jewelry and objects seized by law enforcement in May 2022.
CRIMINAL AND CIVIL ENFORCEMENT
The TFTF has a nationwide mandate to investigate and prosecute trade fraud and related cases, from coast-to-coast. Any offense involving the importation of an object may be inquired of and prosecuted in any district from, through, or into which the imported object moves. Moreover, federal law criminalizes down-chain activities involving merchandise entered contrary to law when done with knowledge of the illegal entry. As a result, the port of entry is only the starting point for these actions, which may also be prosecuted in the district that feels the impact of the trade fraud.
The TFTF has secured major victories across a diverse range of industries. Recent high-impact matters include:
Perfectus Aluminum (May 12, 2026) (CDCA): U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)-led criminal investigation resulted in the collection of $549.5 million through a FCA settlement concerning massive scheme to evade antidumping and countervailing duties on aluminum extrusions.
Boise Cascade (April 27, 2026) (SDFL): HSI-led criminal investigation resulted in a $6.3 million fine and guilty plea for Lacey Act violations where the company demonstrated willful blindness toward illegally imported birch plywood.
Ceratizit USA (December 18, 2025) (EDMI): $54 million FCA settlement to resolve allegations of knowingly failing to pay duties on tungsten carbide products imported from China.
Royal Sovereign (April 28, 2026) (DNJ): $8 million criminal fine and restitution ordered after failure to report to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission dangerously defective imported air conditioners allegedly linked to more than 40 fires and one death.
MGI International (December 12, 2025) (DNH): HSI-led criminal investigation leading to resolutions against a global plastic resin distributor and its former executive concerning misrepresentations of the goods’ country of origin to avoid paying Section 301 duties.
CBP ENFORCEMENT
In addition to the civil and criminal enforcement efforts that led to this historic milestone, CBP continues to exercise its enforcement authorities to address trade violations. So far this Fiscal Year, CBP has assessed more than $2.1 billion in commercial trade penalties and debarred 35 parties from doing business with the federal government. These actions complement DOJ’s enforcement mechanisms and strengthen CBP’s mission to protect our national and economic security by preventing fraud, waste, and abuse.
THE TRADE FRAUD RESOURCE GUIDE
The DOJ and the DHS today released A Resource Guide to Trade Fraud Enforcement (the Guide). As the first joint comprehensive framework of its kind, the Guide is a historic and seminal roadmap for cross-border compliance and enforcement priorities. The Guide provides critical information to enterprises of all sizes and addresses a wide variety of topics, including who and what is covered by customs regulations and anti-trade fraud laws and the different types of civil and criminal resolutions available in trade fraud enforcement. On these and other topics, the Guide takes a multi-faceted approach toward setting forth the statutory and regulatory requirements and providing insights into the enforcement practices of the DOJ and DHS.
Since January 2025, the Department has brought trade fraud enforcement actions all over the country as shown in the map below:
“When companies commit trade fraud, the prosperity and safety of American workers, families, and communities are put at risk,” said the DHS Assistant Secretary for Trade and Economic Security, Aris Kourkoumelis. “To level the playing field and protect the American people, DOJ and DHS have forged the Trade Fraud Task Force and have produced this Resource Guide which provides the private sector with a transparent, comprehensive manual on trade fraud enforcement.”
GLOBAL TRADE & COMMERCE ENFORCEMENT SECTION
The Department is announcing the creation of the Global Trade & Commerce Enforcement Section (GTCES) within the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The GTCES’s mission is to investigate and prosecute criminal import, trade, and other fraud offenses that undermine American industries, evade external revenue collection, threaten consumers’ health and safety, finance foreign adversaries, promote forced labor through illegal trade practices, and violate United States laws and regulations governing domestic and foreign commerce.
A FOUNDATION OF PARTNERSHIP
The success of the GTCES and TFTF is built upon unprecedented cooperation between Main Justice, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, and law enforcement partners.
“It has been a tremendous honor to work closely with the Department and its leadership to envision what the Trade Fraud Task Force could be, and then to convert concept into reality,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros of the Northern District of Illinois. “Helping stand up the Task Force from the ground up has been a vision of mine for nearly 20 years, dating back to when I was a federal prosecutor in Chicago bringing what has still stood as the largest criminal trade fraud cases of their kind and doing so against a stacked deck. It is deeply satisfying to know that we were decades ahead of our time and that our strategy from years ago has now been adopted at the highest levels of the Department and is being implemented across the whole of government. It is a great privilege and responsibility for the Northern District of Illinois to be selected as lead prosecutorial partner for the Trade Fraud Task Force. With our expansive venue and my decades of experience in this space, the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office intends to be the tip of the spear when it comes to robust and vigorous enforcement of our nation’s trade, forced labor, and other related laws. There should be no doubt, the key roads for trade fraud enforcement lead from, to, and through Chicago past, present, and future.”
The Department extends its gratitude to the 35 TFTF masthead U.S. Attorneys’ Offices: District of Arizona, Eastern District of Arkansas, Northern District of California, Central District of California, Eastern District of California, Southern District of California, District of Colorado, District of Columbia, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, Central District of Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of Illinois, Northern District of Indiana, Southern District of Indiana, District of Maryland, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Missouri, District of Nebraska, District of New Jersey, District of New Mexico, Eastern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Middle District of North Carolina, District of Oregon, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, District of Puerto Rico, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Eastern District of Virginia, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Western District of Wisconsin.
The Task Force also acknowledges the indispensable contributions of its law enforcement and agency partners, including CBP, HSI, IRS Criminal Investigation, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the Food and Drug Administration.
The Department-wide Corporate Enforcement Policy provides concrete benefits to incentivize companies to voluntarily disclose discovered misconduct, cooperate with our investigations, and timely and appropriately remediate the wrongdoing.
The Justice Department encourages whistleblowers to alert the government to credible allegations of fraud, including utilizing the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act or through the Department’s Corporate Whistleblower Program at CorporateWhistleblower@usdoj.gov using the form available here.
Three Russian Nationals and Two Companies Indicted for International Cybercrimes Resulting in More Than $62M in Victim LossesRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today in the Northern District of Ohio charging three Russian nationals and two related “bulletproof hosting” companies for their roles in cybercrimes against U.S. victims, causing tens of millions of dollars in losses.
The indictment, returned in December 2024, charges the following defendants with conspiracy to commit and aid and abet computer fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering:
- Alexander Alexandrovich Volosovik, 43, of St. Petersburg, Russia;
- Kirill Andreevich Zatolokin, 34, of St. Petersburg, Russia;
- Yulia Vladimirovna Pankova, 29, of St. Petersburg, Russia;
- Medialand LLC, headquartered in St. Petersburg, Russia; and
- ML.Cloud LLC, headquartered in St. Petersburg, Russia
In addition to the unsealing of the indictment, the U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program announced today that it is offering a reward of up to $10 million and possible relocation for actionable information on foreign government-linked associates of Pankova, Volosovik and Zatolokin, their malicious cyber activities, or foreign government-linked use of Media Land or ML.Cloud. U.S. sanctions were announced in November 2025 against the indicted defendants and companies.
“From their overseas haven, these defendants ran the criminal infrastructure that powered attacks on critical institutions across our nation,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Their actions put the American public at risk. We will continue to dismantle these networks and protect our critical infrastructure from cybercriminals at home and abroad.”
“The victims in this case are not only in Ohio, but also in 20 other states across the country, touching every aspect of Americans’ lives. They include banks, schools, government entities, hospitals, and media companies,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “Together with our international partners, we will aggressively combat the efforts of individuals who hide behind computers anywhere in the world who seek to profit and wreak havoc by targeting the infrastructures that support our communities.”
“With today’s actions, the FBI and our partners are striking at the core services that cybercriminals rely on to attack U.S. critical infrastructure,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of FBI Cyber Division. “Media Land has enabled malicious activity causing tens of millions in losses and impacting victims across 21 states and multiple countries. This is another step in our broader campaign to shrink the space in which these actors can operate, forcing them to work harder, take greater risks, and lose the anonymity they depend on.”
“Today’s announcement underscores the importance of global partnerships and international collaboration, especially in a borderless world riddled with cyber criminals,” said Special Agent in Charge Josh DelManzo of the FBI Cleveland Field Office. “The methods used by these bad actors, including ransomware, malware, phishing and other cyber activity, serves as a reminder that whether for business or personal use, when you are online, criminal networks will stop at nothing to hack, attack, share, or sell your information for their own greed, gain, and profit. The FBI and its partners will continue to identify and cripple criminal networks and freeze their infrastructures to reduce or remove the threats to the public and further protect trusting individuals and companies.”
“The Department of State is committed to countering malicious cyber activities that threaten U.S. critical infrastructure and our national security,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary and Assistant Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service for Cyber & Technology Security Gharun Lacy. “We remain relentless in our efforts to generate information that helps our law enforcement partners disrupt campaigns against our national interest and bring these malicious cyber actors to justice.”
According to allegations in court documents, Medialand LLC (owned by Volosovik) and ML.Cloud (at the time of investigation and indictment, owned by Pankova) were both based in St. Petersburg, Russia, and provided infrastructure including computer servers and related internet services. Medialand’s infrastructure also operated out of multiple countries including China, Finland, the Netherlands, and the United States. These businesses provided what are known as “bulletproof hosting” services for client users to not only conduct criminal activities, but also to evade detection by law enforcement. Such businesses knowingly and intentionally market and/or lease their infrastructure to cybercriminals. According to the indictment, Volosovik advertised their services on criminal forums, touting features and services advantageous to cybercriminals. Medialand and ML.Cloud provided criminal client co-conspirators with the means to infect victim computers with malware and ransomware and then extort those victims for money and cryptocurrency. Other computer-based crimes facilitated by Medialand and ML.Cloud included supporting criminal marketplaces, registering fraudulent domain, and providing a platform from which to launch phishing and brute-force attacks. According to the indictment, 42 victims in 21 states were targeted by criminal groups who used Medialand’s and ML.Cloud’s services.
The November 2025 Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions against the named defendants and entities were joined in full by the United Kingdom’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and in part by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The OFAC sanctions block all U.S. property and prohibit transactions by U.S. persons. Volosovik, Zatolokin and Pankova were individually sanctioned. Medialand and its subsidiaries Media Land Technology (MLT) and Data Center Kirishi (DC Kirishi) along with Medialand’s sister company, ML Cloud were also sanctioned.
The criminal investigation is being led by the FBI Cleveland Division, with the assistance of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and OFAC. Valuable assistance was provided by the National Police of the Netherlands, the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Netherlands, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, the United Kingdom Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Australian Federal Police.
Trial Attorney Christen Gallagher of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Duncan T. Brown for the Northern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cyber and IP criminals and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
This action is part of Operation Riptide, an ongoing FBI campaign targeting the criminal actors, infrastructure, and financial networks behind cybercrime, cyber-enabled crime, and fraud against the American people. Last year, Americans reported over $20 billion in losses to cybercrime, a 26 percent single-year increase. Operation Riptide is the FBI’s sustained enforcement response to that threat.
Anyone with information should contact Rewards for Justice via its Tor-based tips-reporting channel at:
he5dybnt7sr6cm32xt77pazmtm65flqy6irivtflruqfc5ep7eiodiad.onion (Tor browser required).
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Three Russian Nationals Indicted for International Cybercrimes Resulting in More Than $62M in Losses to VictimsRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio has announced the unsealing of an indictment charging three Russian nationals for their roles in malicious cyber activities against U.S. critical infrastructure affecting victims in 21 states and in several countries, with losses amounting to tens of millions of dollars. These charges are the result of a seven-year-long investigation.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment in December 2024 charging the following defendants with Conspiracy to Commit and Aid and Abet Computer Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering:
- Alexander Alexandrovich Volosovik, 43, of St. Petersburg, Russia
- Kirill Andreevich Zatolokin, 34, of St. Petersburg, Russia
- Yulia Vladimirovna Pankova, 29, of St. Petersburg, Russia
- Media Land, LLC, headquartered in St. Petersburg, Russia
- ML.Cloud, LLC, headquartered in St. Petersburg, Russia
In addition to the unsealing of the indictment, the U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program announced today that it is offering a reward of up to $10 million and possible relocation for actionable information on foreign government-linked associates of Pankova, Volosovik and Zatolokin, their malicious cyber activities, or foreign government-linked use of Media Land or ML.Cloud. U.S. sanctions were announced in November 2025 against the indicted defendants and companies.
“From their overseas haven, these defendants ran the criminal infrastructure that powered attacks on critical institutions across our nation,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Their actions put the American public at risk. We will continue to dismantle these networks and protect our critical infrastructure from cybercriminals at home and abroad.”
"The victims in this case are not only in Ohio, but also in 20 other states across the country, touching every aspect of Americans’ lives. They include banks, schools, government entities, hospitals, and media companies,” said United States Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “Together with our international partners, we will aggressively combat the efforts of individuals who hide behind computers anywhere in the world who seek to profit and wreak havoc by targeting the infrastructures that support our communities.”
“With today’s actions, the FBI and our partners are striking at the core services that cybercriminals rely on to attack U.S. critical infrastructure,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of FBI Cyber Division. “Media Land has enabled malicious activity causing tens of millions in losses and impacting victims across 21 states and multiple countries. This is another step in our broader campaign to shrink the space in which these actors can operate, forcing them to work harder, take greater risks, and lose the anonymity they depend on.”
According to allegations in court documents, Media Land, LLC, owned by Volosovik, and ML.Cloud, owned by Pankova, at the time of investigation and indictment, were both based in St. Petersburg and provided infrastructure for computer servers and related internet services. Media Land’s infrastructure also operated out of multiple countries including China, Finland, the Netherlands, and the United States. These businesses provided what are known as “bulletproof hosting” services for client users to not only conduct criminal activities, but also to evade detection by law enforcement. Such businesses knowingly and intentionally market and/or lease their infrastructure to cybercriminals. According to the indictment, Media Land and ML.Cloud provided infrastructure and tech support to criminal client co-conspirators with the means to infect victim computers with malware and ransomware and then extorted those victims for money and cryptocurrency. Other computer-based crimes facilitated by Media Land and ML.Cloud included supporting criminal marketplaces, fraudulent domain registrations, and providing the platform from which to launch phishing and brute force attacks.
“Today’s announcement underscores the importance of global partnerships and international collaboration, especially in a borderless world riddled with cyber criminals,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Josh DelManzo. “The methods used by these bad actors, including ransomware, malware, phishing and other cyber activity, serves as a reminder that whether for business or personal use, when you are online, criminal networks will stop at nothing to hack, attack, share, or sell your information for their own greed, gain, and profit. The FBI and its partners will continue to identify and cripple criminal networks and freeze their infrastructures to reduce or remove the threats to the public and further protect trusting individuals and companies.”
“The Department of State is committed to countering malicious cyber activities that threaten U.S. critical infrastructure and our national security,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary and Assistant Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service for Cyber & Technology Security Gharun Lacy. “We remain relentless in our efforts to generate information that helps our law enforcement partners disrupt campaigns against our national interest and bring these malicious cyber actors to justice.”
Investigators found that dozens of victim organizations were targeted by criminal groups who used Media Land’s and ML.Cloud’s services. Victim entities included banks, schools, government entities, hospitals, and media companies. The victims were located throughout the U.S. and across the world. In the Northern District of Ohio, victims were located in: Akron, Brookfield, Canton, Cleveland, Elyria, Medina, Findlay, Solon, and Valley View. At least 20 other states were also affected including: California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington state, and Wisconsin. International victims were located in Australia, the European Union, the United Arab Emirates, Canada and the United Kingdom.
“Cybercriminals persist in their efforts to disrupt networks and systems while remaining undetectable and difficult to trace. Bulletproof hosting providers are increasingly becoming common accomplices, posing an imminent and significant risk to the resilience and safety of critical systems and services,” said CISA Industry Team Operations Manager, Nicholas Colella. “CISA’s global collaboration with governments, law enforcement, and the private sector is making it harder for cybercriminals to remain anonymous online. Our joint BulletProof Defense guide provides actionable information to reduce the effectiveness of this nefarious infrastructure and risk to this threat.”
Anyone with information should contact Rewards for Justice via its Tor-based tips-reporting channel at: he5dybnt7sr6cm32xt77pazmtm65flqy6irivtflruqfc5ep7eiodiad.onion (Tor browser required).
More information is available on the RFJ website at RewardsForJustice.net.
Rewards for Justice
Rewards for JusticeIn November 2025, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, joined by the United Kingdom’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, designated Media Land as a Specially Designated National (SDN) for facilitating global ransomware operations, DDoS attacks, and malicious cyber activities. The sanctions block all U.S. property and prohibit transactions by U.S. persons. Volosovik, Zatolokin, and Pankova were individually sanctioned. Media Land subsidiaries Media Land Technology (MLT) and Data Center Kirishi (DC Kirishi) along with Media Land’s sister company, ML Cloud were also sanctioned.
On July 13, the European Union also announced sanctions as a crucial step in the international fight against cybercrime.
This investigation is being led by the FBI Cleveland Division, with the assistance of the Cybersecurity/Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
U.S. Attorney Toepfer would like to acknowledge the valuable assistance of the following agencies in this investigation:
- National Police of the Netherlands
- Public Prosecutor's Office of the Netherlands
- United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency
- United Kingdom Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office
- Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Australian Federal Police
The prosecution in this case is being led Assistant United States Attorney Duncan T. Brown for the Northern District of Ohio and Trial Attorney Christen Gallagher of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS).
Additional Partner Statements
Australian Federal Police
“The AFP welcomes and supports the United States’ Department of Justice announcement on the indictment on the principal Media Land operator, Aleksandr Alexandrovich Volosovik – also known as Yalishanda,” AFP Assistant Commissioner Cyber and Special Investigations Sandra Booth said. “AFP’s cooperation with partner law enforcement agencies in the United States and internationally is critical in disrupting criminal activity. The AFP remains committed to continuing its relentless work to target cybercriminals.”
”Bulletproof hosting enables cybercriminal activity including ransomware, scams, malware infections, and other malicious offending that harms people online in Australia and overseas.
“The disruption and removal of bulletproof hosts is a vital step to prevent cybercriminals who prey on the victims online.”
National Police and Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Netherlands
Police and Public Prosecution Service: New EU sanctions crucial step in international fight against cybercrime
“The Netherlands Police and Public Prosecution Service welcome the EU sanctions that were imposed on two Russian companies, the CEO of these companies, and another key player in organised cybercrime. The sanctions were introduced to make it harder for cyber criminals to continue their activities, and to disrupt their criminal business model.”
United Kingdom National Crime Agency
The National Crime Agency welcomes today’s action against the key operators behind the bulletproof hosting service Media Land AKA Yalishanda.
Deputy Director Paul Foster, National Cyber Crime Unit, said “Working together across borders is essential to dismantling the infrastructure that enables serious cybercrime. This action reflects the strength of close collaboration between international partners to identify, disrupt, and bring cybercriminals to justice. Bulletproof hosting forms a critical part of the cybercriminal ecosystem, providing resilient infrastructure that facilitates ransomware, phishing, malware and other serious offences. Continued action against these key enablers is essential to reducing their resilience, disrupting the services cybercriminals depend on, and increasing the cost and risk of cybercrime.”
filed_indictment.pdf- This is a test
Tennessee Woman Sentenced to Prison for Fraud Scheme Involving $1.4 Million of Fake Property DeedsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Tennessee woman was sentenced to prison today for filing bogus deeds for residential real estate in North Carolina and other states and misusing the owners’ personal identifying information (PII), announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Alicia, England, 33, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, was ordered to serve 75 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay more than $300,000 as restitution.
“Filing fake deeds and stealing identities can wreak havoc on a victim’s life,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “England left a trail of victims forced to deal with the aftermath of her crimes—for that, she will pay the price.”
According to court documents and court proceedings, from October 2022 to August 2024, England engaged in a wire fraud scheme by filing fake deeds for residential real estate located in North Carolina and elsewhere. To carry out the scheme, England stole the identity of several victims, alive and deceased, and used their PII to open bank accounts, file fraudulent deeds, and enter into real estate sales for properties she did not actually own. In some cases, she also forged the signatures of notaries, while in others she used fake identifications. She then sold or attempted to sell the properties to third parties through various platforms, including Facebook Marketplace.
In total, the scheme involved at least 19 properties, including four properties in the Charlotte area, worth more than $1.4 million. Court documents show that England’s fraudulent scheme caused victims significant emotional distress and financial hardship.
England pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. She is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked United States Secret Service for the investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Ryan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Tampa Men Who Robbed and Zip-Tied Victims in Their Home IndictedRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida –A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment against Jay El Wilburn (47, Tampa) and Alvaughn Parker (27, Tampa) for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, robbery, use of a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. Wilburn previously served a federal sentence for using a firearm during a crime of violence. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of 25 years, up to life, in federal prison. Parker faces a minimum sentence of 7 years, up to life, federal prison, if convicted. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Wilburn and Parker conspired to commit an armed robbery in Tampa. On January 20, 2026, they made their way into an apartment at a Tampa apartment complex where they brandished firearms at the occupants—including a 13-year-old child—and restrained the victims by zip-tying their hands behind their backs. Wilburn and Parker stole cash, controlled substances, firearms, and other personal property, including jewelry, before fleeing the scene.
On February 2, 2026, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) executed a federal search warrant at Wilburn’s residence and recovered the loaded firearm, a Taurus PT58S .380 caliber pistol containing 10 rounds of ammunition, that had been used in the robbery. At the time, Wilburn had prior felony convictions, including carjacking and use of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime. Therefore, he was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.
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.
Suspected gang member arrested for possessing a machinegunRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Lorenzo Harris, 20, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with illegal possession of a machinegun, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Since 2024, the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Buffalo Police Department’s Gang Intelligence Unit have been investigating the criminal activities of the Newburg 118 Drop Boys Gang, a violent street gang operating in and around the City of Buffalo. The FBI has identified numerous gang members as well as gang territory located on the east side of Buffalo. Members have been arrested by several police departments for violent criminal acts, including drug and firearm trafficking. Newburg 118 Drop Boys members commit violent criminal acts to protect gang-controlled territory and associated houses. Harris has been identified as a suspected gang member involved in firearm trafficking.
On July 9, 2026, a search warrant was executed at an apartment at 80 Silo City Row in Buffalo, during which Harris, who was observed with a firearm in his hand, attempted to flee from law enforcement. Harris was taken into custody, and law enforcement seized the firearm, which had a machinegun conversion attached.
Harris made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was detained pending a detention hearing on July 20, 2026.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Richard Antoine. The complaint is the culmination of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis II and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Erika Shield.
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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