Middle District of Alabama
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Montgomery Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Series of Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A Montgomery man was sentenced today to 300 months in federal prison for his role in a series of armed robberies targeting businesses throughout Montgomery.
On August 26, 2026, a federal judge sentenced 21-year-old Najari Denarka Mitchell of Montgomery to 25 years in federal prison. Mitchell previously pleaded guilty to multiple federal robbery and firearm charges arising from armed robberies committed during the summer of 2025. Following his prison sentence, Mitchell will serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Thomas Govan and Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Flowers with the FBI Mobile Division made the announcement.
“Mr. Mitchell participated in multiple armed robberies that terrorized employees and customers and put innocent people at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Govan. “His 25-year federal sentence reflects the seriousness of his conduct and should serve as a warning to others who choose to use firearms to commit violent crimes.”
“Our partnerships remain essential to driving violent crime down to historic lows,” said Special Agent in Charge Flowers. “Today’s sentence of Mr. Mitchell reflects the strength of those collaborations and our shared commitment to protecting the public. This case is a clear example of what happens when federal, state, and local agencies work as one team. Together with our partners, we remain committed to supporting victims and strengthening stability across the region.”
According to his plea agreement and other court records, between June 5 and July 28, 2025, Mitchell committed four armed robberies targeting a cell phone store and three gas stations throughout Montgomery, including businesses located on Troy Highway, Eastern Boulevard, and Virginia Loop Road.
Mitchell later partnered with co-defendant Rayshon Frances Demonta Hall in three additional armed robberies. On August 1, 2025, Mitchell and Hall robbed a fast-food restaurant on Troy Highway while threatening an employee with a firearm. The following day, they robbed an auto parts store on Fairview Avenue. On August 4, 2025, Mitchell and Hall robbed a gas station on Troy Highway. Mitchell also pleaded guilty to his role in an attempted robbery of an auto parts store in Montgomery involving Hall.
In addition to the robbery offenses, Mitchell pleaded guilty to two counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a federal crime of violence.
Mitchell’s co-defendant, Hall, was convicted by a federal jury on May 20, 2026, of three counts of robbery and three counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a federal crime of violence. Hall is scheduled to be sentenced on September 9, 2026.
The FBI and Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark E. Andreu and Eric M. Counts prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and the Middle District of Alabama’s Violent Offender Intervention and Deterrence (VOID) program.
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.
VOID aims to reduce violent crime by enhancing coordination, communication, and collaboration with law enforcement partners. The program focuses on working directly with local agencies and traditional federal partners to prosecute violent offenders and armed felons, dismantle drug trafficking organizations, and build proactive cases targeting gangs and repeat violent offenders. VOID prioritizes the most serious violent crime cases and fosters close working relationships with state and local prosecutors and law enforcement throughout the Montgomery River Region.
Georgia Man Sentenced for Wire Fraud Conspiracy Involving Stolen U.S. Treasury ChecksRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – A Marietta, Georgia, man has been sentenced for his role in a scheme to cash stolen U.S. Treasury checks in the Montgomery area using false identification.
On August 20, 2026, a federal judge sentenced Devin Zia Adkins, 33, to 60 months in federal prison for conspiring to commit wire fraud. Adkins previously pleaded guilty to the offense. Following his prison term, Adkins will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and evidence presented in court, Adkins and his co-conspirator, Sylena Christina Salikram, 40, of Brooklyn, New York, obtained stolen U.S. Treasury checks and used stolen and fraudulent identification information to negotiate the checks at multiple United States Post Office locations in Montgomery. Salikram previously pleaded guilty to the same offense and was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison.
The scheme occurred on May 8 and 9, 2025. During the course of the scheme, Adkins and Salikram successfully cashed four stolen U.S. Treasury checks at four separate post offices, resulting in a total loss of $14,229.97. The defendants also attempted to negotiate 10 additional stolen checks at other locations totaling just over $8,600, but those attempts were unsuccessful.
On May 9, 2025, law enforcement became aware of the defendants’ activities and began looking for the vehicle they were using. Officers subsequently located the suspects and conducted a traffic stop. Adkins initially stopped and spoke with officers but suddenly sped away, leading law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit through Montgomery, including residential neighborhoods. While traveling on the interstate, Adkins drove at speeds in excess of 125 miles per hour, and at one point, Adkin’s vehicle collided with another.
During the pursuit, officers observed the suspects discarding items, which appeared to be paper documents, from the vehicle’s window. The pursuit ended when the defendants crashed the vehicle into a light pole. Both defendants were taken into custody.
“Fleeing from law enforcement at speeds exceeding 125 miles per hour is not only incredibly reckless, but it also puts lives at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas Govan. “The crash was so severe, the engine and exhaust were completely separated from the vehicle. Adkins endangered himself, the officers pursuing him, and innocent members of the public. The decision to flee turned a financial crime into a dangerous pursuit that could have resulted in someone being killed.”
“An important part of the U. S. Postal Inspection Service mission is protecting the integrity of the nation’s mail system from criminals seeking illicit financial gain,” said Shameka Jackson, Inspector in Charge of the Houston Division of the US Postal Inspection Service. “The sentencing of Devin Zia Adkins should serve as a reminder that mail theft will not be tolerated, and we are committed to holding those responsible accountable. We would like to thank the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Metro Area Crime Suppression (MACS) unit, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and the Montgomery Police Department for their assistance in this case.”
In addition to his term of imprisonment, the court ordered Adkins to pay $14,229.97 in restitution jointly and severally with Salikram, meaning the defendants are collectively responsible for the full amount of restitution.
The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) investigated this case, with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Metro Area Crime Suppression (MACS) unit, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and the Montgomery Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Joel Feil and Faith Mote prosecuted the case.
Brooklyn, New York Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Bank and Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft in Alabama’s River RegionRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – A Brooklyn, New York man has been sentenced for his role in a debit card scheme that resulted in more than $214,000 in losses.
On August 12, 2026, 34-year-old Eric Kendrie Shuler, was sentenced 87 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Thomas Govan for the Middle District of Alabama. Following his prison term, Shuler will be subject to three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to his plea agreement and other court documents, in the fall of 2024, Shuler and co-defendant Kyara Ivelisse Rosario-Berenguer, 30, from Reading, Pennsylvania, conspired to illegally obtain debit cards and associated account information belonging to members of a local credit union. The defendants then used the unlawfully obtained debit cards to make approximately 201 unauthorized withdrawals from ATMs in and around Montgomery, Alabama totaling $214,757.
On September 8, 2024, officers with the Prattville Police Department spotted Shuler and Rosario-Berenguer and attempted to make contact with them. Both defendants fled in a vehicle. During the pursuit, Shuler maneuvered around numerous vehicles at high speeds, recklessly swapping lanes, driving on the wrong side of the road, running red lights, and reaching speeds of at least 140 mph through traffic on Interstates 65 and 85.
The pursuit ended when Shuler’s vehicle collided with a guardrail near the Perry Hill Road exit on I-85 in Montgomery. Shuler continued to resist arrest following the crash but was ultimately taken into custody by law enforcement.
During their respective plea hearings, both Shuler and Rosario-Berenguer specifically admitted that, on a single day in September of 2024, they used unlawfully obtained debit cards and account information to make 138 ATM withdrawals totaling $190,250.
Shuler pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud and aggravated identity theft on April 28, 2026. In addition to the term of imprisonment, the court ordered Shuler to pay $214,757 in restitution jointly and severally with Rosario-Berenguer, meaning the defendants are collectively responsible for the full amount of restitution.
Rosario-Berenguer previously pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and was sentenced on May 28, 2026, to 24 months in federal prison. She was also ordered to pay $214,757 in restitution jointly and severally with Shuler.
The U.S. Secret Service (USSS) and the Prattville Police Department investigated this case, with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and Montgomery Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Feil prosecuted the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama.
Second Superseding Indictment Adds Defendant and Charges in Southern Poverty Law Center CaseRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — On August 11, 2026, a federal grand jury in Montgomery returned a second superseding indictment adding a defendant and additional charges in the case involving the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).
The second superseding indictment, which was unsealed today, charges Heidi L. Beirich, 59, of Palm Springs, California, along with the SPLC, with new charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to submit false statements to a federally insured bank. The new indictment also adds Beirich as a defendant to the previously charged count of conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering and charges the SPLC with an additional count of concealment money laundering. Beirich was served with an arrest warrant this morning in the Central District of California and is expected to make her initial appearance in federal court there this afternoon.
The charges arise from an alleged scheme involving the use of donated funds and financial accounts associated with fictitious entities. As previously alleged, the scheme involved efforts to conceal the source, ownership, and control of funds and to make false representations concerning the use of donated money and the operation of financial accounts.
The second superseding indictment expands the case to include the alleged participation of Beirich and additional conduct involving the movement and concealment of proceeds.
The Southern Poverty Law Center was previously charged in an 11-count indictment returned in April 2026 with wire fraud, false statements to a federally insured bank, and conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering. The second superseding indictment alleges that, between 2007 and 2023, more than $4 million in donated funds were secretly funneled to individuals associated with various violent extremist groups.
“The indictment unsealed today reflects the continued work of federal investigators and prosecutors in examining this alleged scheme,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas Govan. “We look forward to presenting the evidence in court and allowing the judicial process to determine the facts and the defendants’ responsibility for the alleged crimes.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating this case. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin P. Davidson is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Geneva County Insurance Agent Sentenced for Falsifying Federal Crop Insurance ApplicationRead the Press Release
A Slocomb, Alabama, man has been sentenced for providing false information in connection with a federal crop insurance application.
On August 11, 2026, Jonathan Lawrence Eubanks, 46, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for making a false statement to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) or a company insured by the FCIC. Following his prison term, Eubanks will serve two years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. The court also ordered Eubanks to pay a $1000 fine and $30,164.14 in restitution.
United States Attorney Thomas Govan and U.S. Department of Agriculture Inspector General John Walk made the announcement.
“Federal crop insurance provides a critical safety net for farmers, but that safety net is built on honesty and integrity,” said U.S. Attorney Govan. “Forging a farmer’s signature and fabricating an email to obtain federal crop insurance is not a simple paperwork mistake, it is fraud. We will hold accountable those who intentionally falsify information to manipulate federally supported programs.”
“Crop Insurance fraud directly harms taxpayers who subsidize insurance premiums and undermines public trust,” said USDA Inspector General Walk. “It will not be tolerated. Our law enforcement agents will vigorously pursue those who cheat the crop insurance program that supports honest, hardworking American farmers and bring the fraudsters to justice.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, Eubanks obtained a license to sell insurance in 2017 and subsequently sold policies covered by the Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP) for an insurance group based in Hartford, Alabama.
The FCIP provides federally supported crop insurance to help protect farmers against certain losses to their crops, including losses caused by adverse weather, natural disasters, and other covered events. The program is designed to provide farmers with financial protection and stability when covered crop losses occur.
For a particular crop to be eligible for federal crop insurance coverage, policy documents must be submitted to the insurance company by specified deadlines. When an insurance company requests documentation showing that policy documents had been properly signed by the farmer and insurance agent, the agent is required to provide documentation accurately reflecting when the documents were signed.
In 2024, Eubanks forged a farmer’s signature on a federal crop insurance application. He then falsified an email purporting to show that the farmer had signed the application on Tuesday, February 10, 2024. In fact, February 10, 2024, was a Saturday.
On November 12, 2024, Eubanks submitted the falsified email to an insurance company with the intent of influencing the company to provide federal crop insurance coverage for the farmer’s 2024 crop in Covington County.
On April 14, 2026, Eubanks pleaded guilty to making a false statement to the FCIC or a company insured by the FCIC.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General and the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) investigated this case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan A. Kirkpatrick prosecuted.
Final Defendant Sentenced in Montgomery Dry Cleaning Business Robbery CaseRead the Press Release
The final defendant has been sentenced for his role in the violent robbery of a Montgomery dry cleaning business, bringing the federal prosecution of all four participants in the March 10, 2025, crime to a close.
On August 5, 2026, a federal judge sentenced Clinton Thompson, 56, of Birmingham, Alabama, to 121 months in federal prison after he pleaded guilty on April 13, 2026, to one count of Hobbs Act robbery. Following his prison term, Thompson will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Thomas Govan and Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Flowers with the FBI Mobile Field Office made the announcement.
“Violent crime has no place in our communities, and those who commit these offenses should expect substantial federal prison sentences,” said United States Attorney Govan. “This was a calculated and violent robbery that left a hardworking business owner injured and traumatized. With the sentencing of the final defendant, every member of this robbery crew has now been brought to justice. Together, the defendants received nearly 53 years in federal prison, a result that reflects the severity of their conduct and the outstanding work of our law enforcement partners.”
“Today’s sentencing of Clinton Thompson ends the final, real-life chapter of something you would only expect to find in a true crime story,” said Special Agent in Charge Flowers. “This brazen group of criminals pre-planned a robbery, then executed that plan with violence and intimidation, and stole not only the victim’s cash, but also the victim’s car. What this robbery crew did not expect was the relentless tenacity of federal, state, and local law enforcement. The FBI and our partners worked quickly and aggressively to investigate this case, and ensured these violent offenders were held accountable.”
According to his plea agreement and other court records, Thompson joined co-defendants Zedekiah Sykes, Spirit Hooks, and Spencer Thomas in carrying out the robbery of the Montgomery business located on East South Street. After shattering the front door with a rock, the four men forced their way inside and confronted the business owner.
During the robbery, Thomas brandished what appeared to be a handgun, pointed it at the victim’s head, and demanded that the safe be opened. The weapon was later determined to be a BB gun. When the victim struggled to remember the safe’s combination, Hooks struck him in the left eye, causing visible bruising and swelling. The group ultimately gained access to the safe and stole approximately $8,000 in cash. Before fleeing, the men zip-tied the victim’s hands and feet, stole his cell phone and car keys, and escaped in the victim’s vehicle.
Thompson is the fourth and final defendant to be sentenced in the case. Sykes, the organizer and ringleader of the robbery, was sentenced to 195 months in federal prison on October 23, 2025. Hooks was sentenced to 175 months in federal prison, and Thomas received a sentence of 144 months in federal prison, both on January 13, 2026. Sykes, Hooks, and Thomas were also ordered to pay $9,598.74 in restitution to the victimized business. Thompson was ordered to pay restitution jointly and severally with his co-defendants.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Montgomery Police Department, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), and the Metro Area Crime Suppression (MACS) Unit investigated this case, with assistance from the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joel Feil.
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.
Final Sentencing Completed in Multi‑Defendant Scheme to Deliver Contraband into Alabama PrisonRead the Press Release
A federal judge in Montgomery has sentenced the final defendant in a drug‑trafficking conspiracy that funneled narcotics and other contraband into a correctional facility in Elmore, Alabama. In total, five defendants have now been sentenced for their roles in the scheme.
On July 30, 2026, Lilbrian Rondarrius Ladd, 28, a former inmate at the Elmore Correctional Facility, was sentenced to 215 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Following his term of imprisonment, Ladd will serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Thomas Govan and Special Agent in Charge John P. Scott of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New Orleans Field Division made the announcement.
“Those who attempt to smuggle drugs into our prisons, whether they are inmates or individuals on the outside, must be held accountable,” said United States Attorney Govan. “This conduct endangers staff, inmates, and the public, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to stop it.”
“Whether you are coordinating from behind bars or driving the drop-off from the outside, your illicit business will end in a federal courtroom,” said Special Agent in Charge Scott. “This operation is a clear win for public safety and reflects our unwavering commitment to Operation Take Back America.”
The other co‑defendants were previously sentenced as follows:
- Lawrence Alexander Dudley, 48, of Birmingham, Alabama, was sentenced to 240 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.
- Ja’meria Quanay Snowden, 27, also from Birmingham, Alabama, received a sentence of 120 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.
- Jarod Allen Poe, 39, another former inmate at the Elmore Correctional Facility, was sentenced to 145 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.
- Chasity Pearl Lee Cox, 38, of Mobile, Alabama, was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court documents and statements made during the plea hearings, the Alabama Department of Corrections Law Enforcement Services Division and DEA began investigating the conspiracy in 2024 after learning that Ladd was coordinating the delivery of narcotics into the prison. Ladd worked with Poe, while he was also incarcerated at the Elmore Correctional Facility, along with Dudley, Snowden, and Cox, three individuals outside the facility, to smuggle methamphetamine and other contraband behind prison walls.
On May 23, 2024, agents arrested Dudley near the Elmore Correctional Facility after he attempted to access the grounds to deliver contraband. Snowden and Cox also admitted to making multiple deliveries using various methods to conceal their activities.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Alabama Department of Corrections Law Enforcement Services Division investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Christine Levi, Eric M. Counts, and John J. Geer, III prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Two Men Charged in Alleged $1.7 Million Counterfeit Postage SchemeRead the Press Release
Two men have been charged in federal court for their alleged roles in a scheme to acquire and sell counterfeit United States postage stamps.
On April 21, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging John Patrick Best, 55, of Hoschton, Georgia, and Kevin Douglas Padgett, 48, of Phenix City, Alabama, with conspiracy to commit money laundering related to the purchase and distribution of large quantities of counterfeit postage stamps. The indictment further charges Best with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, possession with intent to sell counterfeit postage stamps, concealment money laundering, and spending money laundering.
United States Attorney Thomas Govan, Inspector in Charge Shameka Jackson of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Houston Division, and Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office made the announcement.
“This case reflects the strong partnership between our office and federal law‑enforcement agencies committed to protecting the U.S. mail and the financial system,” said United States Attorney Thomas Govan. “We appreciate the dedicated work of the Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigations, and Homeland Security Investigations in bringing these allegations to light.”
“The US Postal Service is committed to protecting consumers and the US Mail from fraudulent activity and has no tolerance for people who create, distribute or use counterfeit postage,” said Shameka Jackson, Inspector in Charge of the Houston Division. “These practices undermine the inherent trust of the USPS brand, and postal inspectors will continue work with our law enforcement partners and federal prosecutors to disrupt these criminal schemes and bring those responsible to justice.”
“The defendants are accused of moving approximately $1.7 million in proceeds through multiple bank accounts in an effort to disguise the source and ownership of their illicit profits from the counterfeit postage stamps scheme,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office. “Although individuals may attempt to disguise illicit profits through intricate financial maneuvers, IRS Criminal Investigation special agents excel at unraveling complex money flows and revealing the hidden trail they leave behind.”
According to the indictment and other court records, beginning in or around January 2024, Best and Padgett conspired to purchase counterfeit U.S. postage stamps from suppliers in China and resell the stamps within the United States. As part of the alleged scheme, the defendants formed a shipping supply company in Georgia and opened bank accounts in the company’s name.
The indictment alleges that Best and Padgett knowingly purchased counterfeit postage stamps from sources in China and elsewhere. The conspirators purchased a product listed by the vendor as “Patriotic Series American Independence Day Doodle Stickers” and resold them as genuine U.S. flag forever stamps. After receiving the counterfeit stamps, Best allegedly used his position with a media company to advertise and sell them through an online vendor marketplace under the newly created business name. Padgett then allegedly packaged and mailed the counterfeit stamps from multiple locations, including post offices in Smiths Station and Phenix City, Alabama.
According to the indictment, the scheme generated at least $1.7 million in proceeds. The government alleges that the proceeds were derived from the sale of approximately 6,483,700 counterfeit stamps, with an additional 544,596 stamps seized before distribution. It is further alleged that Best and Padgett attempted to conceal the illicit funds through a series of financial transactions involving multiple bank accounts.
On June 30, 2026, Padgett pleaded guilty to the money laundering conspiracy charge. His sentencing hearing is scheduled in October. Best made his initial appearance in federal court on July 22, 2026.
The charges against both men carry a potential maximum sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison, along with substantial monetary penalties and restitution. There is no parole in the federal system.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case with assistance from IRS Criminal Investigations and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Joel Feil is prosecuting the matter.
An indictment is merely an allegation. Best is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Montgomery Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison Following Federal Drug and Gun ConvictionsRead the Press Release
Today, United States Attorney Thomas Govan announced that a Montgomery, Alabama man has been sentenced to prison following convictions for methamphetamine distribution and the illegal possession of a firearm.
On July 9, 2026, a United States District Court Judge sentenced 33-year-old Robert Marshall Jr. to 140 months in prison. Following his term of imprisonment, Marshall will serve four years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to his plea agreement and other court records, on February 6, 2023, law enforcement in Montgomery conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Marshall. A search of the vehicle revealed approximately 20 grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale, and a handgun. Marshall has previous felony convictions in Autauga County and is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
On February 25, 2026, Marshall pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Montgomery Police Department investigated the case, which Assistant United States Attorneys Mark E. Andreu and John J. Geer, III prosecuted.
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.
Hope Hull Woman Sentenced for False Testimony During Federal Court ProceedingRead the Press Release
Today, United States Attorney Thomas Govan announced the sentencing of Cindy Coffman Jacques, 59, of Hope Hull, Alabama, following her conviction for perjury.
According to court records and her plea agreement, the case stems from a domestic disturbance reported on July 13, 2025, at a residence in Tallassee, Alabama. When law enforcement officers responded to a 911 call, the victim reported that Jacques’s son, Raymond David Jacques III, who was serving a term of federal probation, had assaulted her. Raymond Jacques was arrested at the scene. His arrest and new criminal conduct triggered federal probation‑revocation proceedings.
On July 28, 2025, during those proceedings, Cindy Jacques testified under oath. Evidence later established that she knowingly made materially false statements when she denied instructing a witness on what to say in an effort to have the charges against her son dismissed. A recorded conversation between Jacques and the victim on July 16, 2025, directly contradicted her sworn testimony.
“Our justice system depends upon truthful testimony under oath,” said United States Attorney Govan. “Those who deliberately lie in federal court to influence the outcome of a case must be held accountable. A felony conviction carries significant and lasting consequences and affirms our commitment to protecting the integrity of judicial proceedings.”
On July 8, 2026, a United States District Judge sentenced Cindy Jacques to two years of probation. As special conditions of her probation, the court ordered Jacques to serve four consecutive weekends in jail, followed by five months of home detention with location monitoring at her own expense.
Previously, on September 14, 2025, Raymond Jacques received a 48-month prison sentence, followed by five years of supervised release, for violating the conditions of his previous terms of supervised release.
The Tallassee Police Department and the United States Probation Office for the Middle District of Alabama investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Geer, III prosecuted the case.
Alabama Provider Pays $300,000 to Resolve False Claims as Part of 2026 National Health Care Fraud TakedownRead the Press Release
Today, United States Attorney Thomas Govan announced that the Middle District of Alabama has reached a $300,000 civil settlement resolving allegations that New Life Center for Change, Inc., doing business as Teen University, and its owner, Alfonza Smith, 72, of Smiths Station, Alabama, submitted false claims to the Alabama Medicaid Agency. The settlement, filed in federal court, is part of the Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. According to the government, the Phenix City-based provider billed Alabama Medicaid for Basic Living Skills services for at-risk children that were not actually rendered.
“Protecting the integrity of Medicaid and ensuring that vulnerable children receive the services they are promised are among our highest priorities,” said United States Attorney Thomas Govan. “When providers bill for care that was never delivered, they waste taxpayer dollars and betray the trust placed in them. I want to thank the Alabama Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General for their exceptional work and collaboration in helping us hold providers accountable and safeguard taxpayer funds.”
The settlement announced today by U.S. Attorney Govan is part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes involving over $6.5 billion in false claims and significant patient harm, including death.
Today’s Takedown represents a new era in federal, state, and international cooperation to combat health care fraud: cases in 56 federal districts and 45 U.S. states and territories, with 50 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units participating, the most in Department history.
In addition, unprecedented international cooperation over the two-week Takedown resulted in the apprehension and return to the United States of the following health care fraudsters: one defendant in Kyrenia in connection with an over $3.7 billion scheme; two defendants in Estonia in connection with a previously charged $10.6 billion scheme; and, in the Philippines, one of FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters in connection with a previously charged $1.2 billion telemedicine fraud scheme.
The Takedown involves the cutting-edge use of data analytics to target the worst actors; the seizure of over $182 million in cash, luxury vehicles, jewelry, and other assets; and full-spectrum accountability for all criminal actors from doctor’s offices to corporate boardrooms.
Today’s coordinated enforcement action involves a whole-of-government approach, including:
- Actions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to suspend 1,079 providers and revoke billing privileges for 1,403 providers.
- 48 Civil Monetary Payment settlements amounting to over $73 million, over 1,400 provider exclusions, and 25 actions by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”) under the Civil Monetary Penalties Law seeking more than $10 billion in payments to the Medicare Trust Fund from payments that CMS caught and suspended before the funds were paid to the fraudulent providers.
- Civil charges against 13 defendants for $14.8 million in health care fraud schemes, as well as civil settlements with 31 defendants totaling $23 million.
- 928 administrative cases by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seeking the revocation of authority to handle and/or prescribe controlled substances since October 1, 2025.
The cases are being prosecuted by the Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, New England, Northeast, Texas, and West Coast Strike Forces; U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle District of Alabama, District of Arizona, Central District of California, Southern District of California, District of Colorado, District of Connecticut, District of Delaware, Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, District of Hawaii, District of Idaho, Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of Iowa, Southern District of Iowa, Western District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern District of Mississippi, District of Montana, District of Nebraska, District of New Hampshire, District of New Jersey, District of New Mexico, Eastern District of New York, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina, Northern District of Ohio, Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma, District of Oregon, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania, District of Puerto Rico, District of Rhode Island, District of South Carolina, District of South Dakota, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, District of Vermont, Eastern District of Virginia, Western District of Virginia, Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Western District of Wisconsin; and State Attorneys General’s Offices, through their MFCUs, in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. In addition, the MFCUs for Alabama, North Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Virigina participated in the investigation of federal cases announced today.
Descriptions of each case involved in today’s enforcement action are available on the Department’s website here.
Assistant U.S. Attorney MaryLou E. Bowdre worked with the Alabama Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) to resolve the Middle District of Alabama case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Third Defendant from Texas Sentenced for Prattville ATM RobberyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Thomas Govan announced today that a third defendant has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in the robbery of an ATM at a credit union in Prattville, Alabama.
On June 17, 2026, Dominique Jeremiah Pearson, 34, of Spring, Texas, was sentenced to 77 months in prison after pleading guilty to bank robbery. Upon completion of his prison term, Pearson will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Pearson’s co‑defendants, Onarri Bond, 27, of Cedar Hill, Texas, and Xavier Rashad Ross, 35, of Houston, Texas, previously pleaded guilty to the same charge. In February 2026, Bond was sentenced to 52 months in prison. In March 2026, Ross received a 72-month sentence, to run concurrently with a previously imposed sentence for an earlier bank robbery conviction.
According to court documents and statements made during the plea hearings, on December 13, 2024, Pearson, Bond, and Ross approached a credit union ATM in Prattville while it was being serviced by technicians. The defendants used force to overpower the technicians, removed cash cassettes containing approximately $179,234, and fled. During the robbery, one technician was struck by a cassette as it was forcibly removed, and another technician was shoved by one of the defendants. Investigators later identified Pearson, Bond, and Ross as the perpetrators, leading to federal charges.
In addition to the prison sentences, the court ordered the three defendants to forfeit the proceeds stolen from the credit union.
This case was investigated by Federal Bureau Investigation, the Prattville Police Department, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Tara S. Ratz and Joel Feil prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Russell County Man Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
Today, United States Attorney Thomas Govan announced that Ira Cicero Smith, 67, formerly of Jefferson County, Alabama, has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for failing to register as a sex offender as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). There is no parole in the federal system.
“Ensuring that convicted sex offenders comply with their registration obligations is essential to protecting the public,” said United States Attorney Govan. “When individuals disregard those requirements, they undermine a system designed to help keep communities safe. This sentence sends a clear message that failing to register is a serious federal offense and that our office will continue to pursue these cases to deter others from violating the law.”
According to court documents and Smith’s plea agreement, Smith was convicted of a sex offense occurring in Jefferson County in 1987. As a result of that conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender in each jurisdiction where he resides and works.
In April 2025, Smith established a residence in Russell County, Alabama, and failed to register his new address in Alabama or update his registration information from a previous residence in Georgia, as required under SORNA.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Smith will serve five years of supervised release. He will also be required to continue registering as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.
The United States Marshals Service investigated this case, with assistance from the Phenix City, Alabama Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Megan A. Kirkpatrick prosecuted the case for the Middle District of Alabama.
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 and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it 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.
Opelika Woman Sentenced to over 11 Years for Sex Trafficking Scheme Involving MinorRead the Press Release
Today, United States Attorney Thomas Govan announced that an Opelika, Alabama, woman has been sentenced for her role in a commercial sex trafficking scheme involving a minor.
On June 10, 2026, a federal judge sentenced 24-year-old Jada Renee Coggins to 135 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Coggins is also required to register as a sex offender for life. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Commercial sex trafficking inflicts deep and lasting harm, especially when minors are involved,” said U.S. Attorney Govan. “Removing those who exploit minors from our streets makes our communities safer and protects future potential victims. Our office will continue to aggressively prosecute individuals who participate in these schemes and seek justice for the victims.”
“Sex trafficking of minors is one of the most appalling crimes our society faces, " said Steven N. Schrank, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. "No child should ever be subjected to this kind of exploitation and abuse. The pain inflicted on victims and their families is profound and lasting. HSI, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively investigate and dismantle trafficking networks, and we will not rest until those who prey on children are brought to justice.”
According to court documents and her plea agreement, in December 2023, Coggins conspired with her co-defendant, Chloe Michelle Alexander, 31, also of Opelika, to induce a 17‑year‑old to engage in commercial sex acts. As part of the conspiracy, Coggins admitted that she photographed the minor and used sexually explicit images to advertise commercial sex on various websites. She also admitted transporting the minor to locations where the minor engaged in commercial sex acts.
Both Coggins and Alexander pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. Alexander is scheduled to be sentenced in August and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district judge will determine her sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and the Opelika Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Tara S. Ratz, J. Patrick Lamb, and Russell T. Duraski 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 and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it 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.
Justice Department Encourages Communities to Apply for Nearly $700M in Grants to Support Law Enforcement Around the CountryRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced that the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) has released nearly $700 million in grant Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) to support law enforcement.
The released NOFOs include the COPS Hiring Program (CHP) and several other grant programs that:
- Support the hiring and retention of sworn law enforcement officers,
- Keep school students safe,
- Promote the health and safety of our nation’s law enforcement personnel,
- Keep communities safe by providing active shooter training, and
- Provide critical technology resources through congressionally designated projects.
“The funding announced today reflects our unwavering commitment to supporting the men and women of law enforcement who keep our communities safe,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “By investing directly in law enforcement, we are empowering agencies across the country to respond more effectively to evolving threats. This is another key step in the Trump Administration’s mission to make America Safe Again — and one that will support our nationwide effort to reduce crime in every zip code.”
“These grants will deliver real, measurable impact in communities across the country,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. “This Administration is committed to strengthening public safety and ensuring accountability to the taxpayer. The Department will make certain that every dollar invested goes directly toward reducing crime and upholding the rule of law. Supporting the heroic work of state, local, and tribal law enforcement is not only an honor, but an essential step forward in our shared mission to keep the American people safe.”
The COPS Hiring Program is intended to reduce crime and advance public safety by providing direct funding to state, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies for the hiring of career law enforcement personnel in an effort to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Up to $158 million will be available.
The STOP School Violence Prevention Program provides funding to improve security at schools and on school grounds in the grantees’ jurisdictions through evidence-based school safety programs. Up to $73 million will be available.
The Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Program provides funding to improve the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services for law enforcement and their families through training and technical assistance, demonstration projects, and implementation of promising practices related to peer mentoring, access to mental health services and wellness programs. Up to $9 million will be available.
The Preparing for Active Shooter Situations Program provides funding for scenario-based training that prepares officers, deputies, and other first responders to safely and effectively handle active-shooter and other violent threats. This year’s program will train at least 20,000 first responders through scenario-based, multi-disciplinary training classes. Up to $10 million will be available.
The COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force Program advances public safety by providing funds directly to state law enforcement to locate and investigate illicit activities through statewide collaboration related to the distribution of heroin, fentanyl, or carfentanil or the unlawful distribution of prescription opioids. Up to $34 million will be available.
The COPS Anti-Methamphetamine Program is designed to investigate illicit activities related to the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine. Funding must be used to locate or investigate illicit activities such as precursor diversion, laboratories, or methamphetamine traffickers. Up to $13 million will be available.
The COPS Technology and Equipment Program provides congressionally designated and directed spending to develop and acquire effective law enforcement equipment, technologies and interoperable communications that assist in responding to and preventing crime. This is not a competitive NOFO and Congress has allocated $400 million for the COPS Technology and Equipment Program.
State and local governmental entities must comply with 8 U.S.C. § 1373, which provides that state and local government entities may not prohibit, or in any way restrict, any government entity or official from sending to, receiving from, maintaining, or exchanging information regarding citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual with components of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or any other federal, state or local government entity. Priority consideration will be given to jurisdictions that cooperate with federal law enforcement to address illegal immigration and coordinate and participate with the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF).
The COPS Office is the component of the U.S. Department of Justice responsible for advancing the practice of community policing and the Administration’s priority of Making America Safe Again by supporting the nation’s state, local, territorial and Tribal law enforcement agencies through information and grant resources.
For more information on COPS Office NOFOs, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/grants.
Daleville Resident Receives 35 Year Prison Sentence for Role in Large‑Scale Methamphetamine and Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Today, United States Attorney Thomas Govan and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge John P. Scott of the New Orleans Field Division announced that a Daleville, Alabama man has been sentenced for his role in a large-scale drug trafficking organization operating in Alabama’s Wiregrass region.
On June 3, 2026, Eric Demetrius King, 42, was sentenced to 420 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. King will also serve five years of supervised release following his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“This case demonstrates what can be accomplished when federal, state, and local law enforcement work together,” said United States Attorney Thomas Govan. “Our partners played a critical role in dismantling this drug trafficking network, and we will continue working side by side to combat the flow of illegal narcotics into the Middle District of Alabama.”
"Today's announcement reflects the tireless dedication of investigators who spent years unraveling a sophisticated network responsible for trafficking vast quantities of meth and cocaine into Alabama,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge John P. Scott. “With the organization's leader facing 35 years in federal prison, and 18 additional defendants being held accountable, we have dealt a substantial blow to drug trafficking in the Wiregrass region. The DEA New Orleans Field Division remains deeply committed to keeping our communities safe and ensuring that those who profit from the illicit drug trade face the full weight of federal justice."
According to court documents, in the spring of 2022, DEA, working in coordination with multiple local law enforcement agencies, began investigating a suspected drug trafficking operation in southeast Alabama. Investigators determined that at least 19 individuals, including King, were part of a conspiracy responsible for transporting and distributing significant quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine into the Wiregrass.
During the investigation, agents identified King as a major participant who exercised a leadership role within the conspiracy.
To date, eight of King’s co-conspirators have been sentenced:
• Marco Lionel Agee, 51, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida – 276 months in prison; five years of supervised release
• Curtis Antonio Fitzpatrick, 44, of Elba, Alabama – 151 months in prison; five years of supervised release
• Alexander Travarez Richardson, 34, of Daleville, Alabama – 135 months in prison; five years of supervised release
• Cristion Martinez, 32, of Ellenwood, Georgia – 120 months in prison; five years of supervised release
• Steven L. Cole, 50, of Enterprise, Alabama – 97 months in prison; four years of supervised release
• Benjamin Maurice Sanders, 51, of Chancellor, Alabama – 78 months in prison; five years of supervised release
• Tavon Marquis Davies, 30, of Enterprise, Alabama – 48 months in prison; four years of supervised release
• Freddy Rodriguez, 68, of Daleville, Alabama – 15 months in prison; two years of supervised release
Sentencing hearings for the remaining ten defendants are pending.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Eufaula Police Department, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Dothan Police Department, the Geneva Police Department, the Dale County Sheriff’s Office, the Geneva County Sheriff’s Office, theOkaloosa County, Florida Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Chelsea Wilson is prosecuting the case.
Abbeville Man Who Fled to Mexico Convicted on Federal Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
Today, United States Attorney Thomas Govan announced the conviction of an Abbeville, Alabama, man on federal methamphetamine and firearms charges.
On June 2, 2026, a federal jury convicted 42-year-old Cassime Dion Lingo of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and receipt of a firearm while under indictment for a 2017 felony drug offense in Houston County, Alabama.
“The defendant’s decision to flee to Mexico delayed justice, but it did not prevent it,” said U.S. Attorney Govan. “I commend the United States Marshals Service and our law enforcement partners for their diligence in locating the defendant, securing his return to the United States, and ensuring that he was held accountable for his crimes.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Lingo’s residence in April 2021. During the search, officers recovered more than 100 grams of methamphetamine, two firearms, and additional controlled substances, including cocaine, MDMA tablets, and marijuana.
Following his arrest on state charges, Lingo was released on bond and fled to Mexico. After a federal indictment was returned, the United States Marshals Service (USMS) worked with law enforcement partners to locate Lingo in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 2022. In 2025, Mexican authorities deported Lingo to the United States, where he was taken into USMS custody.
Following a two-day trial in Dothan, Alabama, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all three counts charged in the indictment. Lingo faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, consisting of a 10-year mandatory minimum term for the methamphetamine offense and a consecutive 5-year mandatory minimum term for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine Lingo’s sentence after considering the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Alabama Drug Task Force, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, the Eufaula Police Department, and the Abbeville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Christine Levi and John J. Geer III are prosecuting the case.
Career Prosecutor Thomas R. Govan, Jr. Sworn in as United States Attorney for the Middle District of AlabamaRead the Press Release
Thomas R. Govan, Jr. was sworn in as the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama on May 29, 2026, following his nomination by President Donald Trump on October 21, 2025, and confirmation by the United States Senate on May 18, 2026. The oath of office was administered by Chief United States District Judge R. Austin Huffaker, Jr.
As United States Attorney, Govan serves as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Middle District of Alabama and is responsible for overseeing all federal criminal prosecutions and civil litigation involving the United States within the district’s 23 counties.
“I am honored by the trust placed in me to serve as the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama,” said U.S. Attorney Govan. “I look forward to working alongside our outstanding federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to uphold the rule of law, protect our communities, and faithfully serve the people of this district.”
U.S. Attorney Govan brings nearly twenty years of prosecutorial experience in federal, state, and military courts to the position. Before his appointment as United States Attorney, Govan served as Chief of the Criminal Trials Division in the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, where he oversaw the prosecution of violent crime cases across the State of Alabama. Prior to that role, Govan served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Middle District of Alabama, prosecuting a broad range of federal criminal matters, including violent crime and fraud cases.
Govan began his legal career in the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, serving in both the Capital Litigation Division and White-Collar Crime Division. He later served as Chief of the Capital Litigation Division, where he directed the prosecution of capital appeals and post-conviction litigation in state and federal courts. In 2018, he argued a capital murder case before the Supreme Court of the United States.
In addition to his civilian legal service, U.S. Attorney Govan serves as a Judge Advocate General’s Corps officer in the United States Air Force Reserve with the rank of Major.
U.S. Attorney Govan earned both his undergraduate degree and Juris Doctor from The University of Alabama.
Govan succeeds Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson, who will continue serving the Middle District of Alabama as First Assistant United States Attorney.
Man Convicted on Federal Robbery and Firearm Charges Following Armed Crime Spree in MontgomeryRead the Press Release
On May 20, 2026, a jury convicted 24-year-old Rayshon Frances Demonta Hall, of Montgomery, Alabama, on multiple federal robbery and firearm charges, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson and Special Agent in Charge Sara J. Jones with the FBI Mobile, Alabama Field Office.
“Armed robberies place innocent employees and customers in danger and create fear throughout the community,” said Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson. “This verdict demonstrates that those who choose to terrorize businesses with violence and firearms will be held accountable in federal court.”
“FBI Mobile is focused on protecting our neighborhoods from violent crime and the fear it creates,” said Special Agent in Charge Jones. “We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who threaten public safety.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Hall and 21-year-old co-defendant Najari Denarka Mitchell carried out a series of armed robberies targeting three Montgomery businesses over a four-day period. The crime spree began on August 1, 2025, when the defendants robbed a fast-food restaurant on Troy Highway while threatening an employee with a firearm. The following day, the pair committed a similar robbery at an auto parts store on Fairview Avenue. On August 4, 2025, Hall and Mitchell robbed a gas station on Troy Highway.
At the conclusion of his three-day trial, the jury found Hall guilty of three counts of robbery and three counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a federal crime of violence. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled in the coming months. At sentencing, Hall faces a sentence of 21 years to life in federal prison without the possibility of parole.
Mitchell previously pleaded guilty to his role in three robberies and one attempted robbery involving Hall. In addition, Mitchell pleaded guilty to four other armed robberies he committed in Montgomery before partnering with Hall, along with two charges for brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a federal crime of violence. Those robberies targeted a cell phone store on June 5, 2025; the same Troy Highway gas station on June 20, 2025; a gas station on Eastern Boulevard on June 24, 2025; and another gas station on Virginia Loop Road on July 28, 2025.
Mitchell’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 26, 2026. Per his plea agreement, Mitchell is facing a sentence of 300 months in prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Montgomery Police Department, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mark E. Andreu and Eric M. Counts.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (OTBA) and the Middle District of Alabama’s Violent Offender Intervention and Deterrence (VOID) program. OTBA is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
VOID aims to reduce violent crime by enhancing coordination, communication, and collaboration with law enforcement partners. The program focuses on working directly with local agencies and traditional federal partners to prosecute violent offenders and armed felons, dismantle drug trafficking organizations, and build proactive cases targeting gangs and repeat violent offenders. VOID prioritizes the most serious violent crime cases and fosters close working relationships with state and local prosecutors and law enforcement throughout the Montgomery River Region.
Coosada Man Sentenced to 130 Months in Federal Prison Following Federal Drug and Gun ConvictionsRead the Press Release
Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced that a Coosada, Alabama man has been sentenced to prison following convictions for methamphetamine distribution and the illegal possession of a firearm.
On May 6, 2026, a federal judge sentenced 39-year-old Deandre Maurice Jennings to 130 months in prison. Following his term of imprisonment, Jennings will serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to his agreement and other court records, on February 20, 2025, law enforcement in Montgomery conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Jennings. A search of the vehicle revealed 434 grams of methamphetamine and a handgun. Jennings has previous felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
On October 6, 2025, Jennings pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Millbrook Police Department, Montgomery Police Department and Elmore County Drug Task Force investigated the case, which Assistant United States Attorney Christine Levi prosecuted.
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.
Thorsby, Alabama Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sara J. Jones announced the sentencing of a Thorsby, Alabama man for producing child sexual abuse material.
On April 30, 2026, a federal judge ordered 36-year-old Matthew Louis Hourany to serve 360 months in prison. The judge also ordered that Hourany remain on supervised release for life following his prison term and to register as a sex offender. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Children deserve to grow up safe from harm and protecting them remains one of law enforcement’s highest priorities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Davidson. “This sentence reflects the gravity of the defendant’s conduct and emphasizes our commitment to stopping predators who target children. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to ensure offenders are held fully accountable.”
“The FBI remains unwavering in our mission to identify, locate, and apprehend those who exploit our most vulnerable, our children,” said Special Agent in Charge Jones. “We will work tirelessly to keep our community’s children safe and to bring justice to these victims.”
According to Hourany’s plea agreement and other court records, in September 2024, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a tip about the upload of child sexual abuse materials to a cloud storage drive. NCMEC provided the tip to the FBI.
Agents reviewed files on the drive and found numerous videos and images of child sexual abuse material. The investigation ultimately revealed Hourany as the owner of the account. Agents arrested Hourany on March 23, 2025.
Hourany pleaded guilty to production of child pornography on January 8, 2026. During his plea hearing, Hourany specifically admitted to enticing or coercing minors to produce child sexual abuse videos or images on at least six separate occasions with different victims each time.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case, with assistance from the Alabama Attorney General’s Office and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Assistant United States Attorneys Tara S. Ratz, John J. Geer III, and Patrick Lamb 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 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 Justice.gov/PSC.
Wetumpka Man Sentence to over 12 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced that a Wetumpka, Alabama man has been sentenced to prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
On April 21, 2026, a federal judge sentenced 48-year-old Michael David Wilson to 151 months in prison. Following his term of imprisonment, Wilson will serve four years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to his plea agreement and other court records, on May 30, 2025, deputies with the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Wilson. During the stop, Wilson became belligerent and was asked to exit the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a methamphetamine pipe and more than 14 grams of methamphetamine.
On January 13, 2026, Wilson pleaded guilty to the federal drug charge. Due in part to his extensive criminal history, Wilson faced an elevated advisory sentencing guideline range, which contributed to the length of his sentence.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, which Assistant United States Attorney Christine Levi prosecuted.
Federal Grand Jury Charges Southern Poverty Law Center for Wire Fraud, False Statements, and Conspiracy to Commit Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
A Grand Jury in Montgomery, Alabama, today returned an indictment charging the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) with 11 counts of wire fraud, false statements to a federally insured bank, and conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama Northern Division filed two forfeiture actions to recover alleged proceeds of the organization’s fraud scheme. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated this case with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
“The SPLC is manufacturing racism to justify its existence,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Using donor money to allegedly profit off Klansmen cannot go unchecked. This Department of Justice will hold the SPLC and every other fraudulent organization operating with the same deceptive playbook accountable. No entity is above the law.”
“The SPLC allegedly engaged in a massive fraud operation to deceive their donors, enrich themselves, and hide their deceptive operations from the public," said FBI Director Kash Patel. "They lied to their donors, vowing to dismantle violent extremist groups, and actually turned around and paid the leaders of these very extremist groups - even utilizing the funds to have these groups facilitate the commission of state and federal crimes. That is illegal – and this is an ongoing investigation against all individuals involved.”
The SPLC is a non-profit organization headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama, whose mission, according to its website during the relevant time period, was to be a “catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements, and advance the human rights of all people.”
According to the indictment starting in the 1980s, the SPLC began operating a covert network of individuals who were either associated with violent and extremist groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan, or who had infiltrated violent extremist groups at the SPLC’s direction. Unbeknownst to donors, some of their donated money was being used to fund the leaders and organizers of racist groups at the same time that the SPLC was denouncing the same groups on its website.
“Donors gave their money believing they were supporting the fight against violent extremism,” said Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson. “As alleged, the SPLC instead diverted a portion of those funds to benefit individuals and groups they claimed to oppose. That kind of deception undermines public trust and social cohesion.”
"Today’s indictment reflects that no one – no organization – is above the law,” said Special Agent in Charge Sara J. Jones with the FBI-Mobile Field Office. “Charitable donors deserve transparency about how their contributions will be used, and those who betray that trust through concealment and fraudulent means must be held accountable. The alleged fraudulent activities of the Southern Poverty Law Center sowed hate-filled discord and spurred criminal conduct as set forth in the indictment. The FBI will continue to work tirelessly to protect the American public from financial crimes and to pursue justice against those who violate public trust."
Between 2014 and 2023, the SPLC secretly funneled more than $3 million in donated funds to individuals who were associated with various violent extremist groups including:
- Ku Klux Klan
- United Klans of America
- Unite the Right
- National Alliance
- National Socialist Movement
- Aryan Nations affiliated Sadistic Souls Motorcycle Club
- National Socialist Party of America (American Nazi Party)
- American Front
According to the indictment, the objective of the scheme and artifice was to obtain money via donations through materially false representations and omissions about what the donated funds would be used for.
In order to covertly pay the individuals, the SPLC opened bank accounts connected to a series of fictitious entities. The covert nature of the accounts allowed the SPLC to disguise the true nature, source, ownership, and control of the fraudulently obtained donated money the SPLC paid the individuals. In order to keep the scheme going, the SPLC made a series of false statements related to the operation of the accounts.
A conviction will result in the forfeiture of financial gains from the alleged illegal activities.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel made the announcement in Washington.
The details contained in the civil forfeiture complaint are allegations only.
Pennsylvania Woman Sentenced to Nearly 14 Years in Prison for Role in $2 Million Fraud Scheme Against the Federal GovernmentRead the Press Release
Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson and Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman of the IRS Criminal Investigation’s Atlanta Field Office, announced the sentencing of a York, Pennsylvania woman for her role in a scheme that defrauded the United States government of more than $2 million.
On April 15, 2026, a federal judge sentenced 45-year-old Queen Naja, also known as Renata Winifred Ince and Naja Talibah Zahir, to 165 months in prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud. In addition to her term of imprisonment, the court ordered Naja to serve three years of supervised release following her release from prison. The court also ordered restitution in the amount of $2,065,797.26.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, in April 2021, Naja contacted co-conspirator Quentin Diego Sturgeon of Montgomery, Alabama, through social media with a plan to fraudulently obtain funds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The scheme involved creating a legal trust, submitting false tax documents, and filing a fraudulent payment in order to generate a refund to which the conspirators were not entitled. As a result, the IRS issued a U.S. Treasury check in the amount of $1,010,561.26.
Sturgeon previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and money laundering and was sentenced on August 26, 2025, to 12 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $1,010,561 in restitution jointly with Naja.
In addition to Queen Naja’s scheme with Sturgeon, the court determined that her criminal activity included filing false returns and fraudulent payments on behalf of herself and other individuals. Specifically, the court ordered her to pay restitution for $1,055,236.12 in refunds issued to Queen Naja’s mother as a result of Queen Naja’s fraudulent payments.
With part of the refund checks that her mother received, Queen Naja bought a house, where she lived for several years while continuing to commit her fraudulent activity. Between trial and sentencing, she listed that house and all its furniture for sale. IRS-CI obtained a seizure warrant for the proceeds of that sale, securing $214,010.42 for the government.
The court also determined that Queen Naja submitted numerous fraudulent payments to the IRS in an effort to obtain additional refunds. If Queen Naja’s efforts had been successful, she would have caused the IRS an additional $428,732,324.56 in losses.
“This defendant orchestrated a complex fraud scheme designed to exploit the United States government and steal taxpayer funds,” said Acting United States Attorney Davidson. “Crimes like this strike at the heart of our nation’s tax system and undermine public trust. Those who engage in this type of criminal conduct must be held accountable and face serious consequences.”
“With fabricated documents and a fraudulent refund request, Queen Naja sought to exploit the federal tax system for more than a million dollars.” said Special Agent in Charge Hardeman. “The special agents of IRS CI are committed to identifying and investigating individuals who deliberately attempt to misuse the tax system for personal gain.”
Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) investigated this case with assistance from the Montgomery Police Department and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorney Megan A. Kirkpatrick prosecuted the case.
Chinese National Pleads Guilty to Escaping from FCI DanburyRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that XIAOQIN YAN, 32, a citizen of China, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to escape from the custody of the Attorney General.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 10, 2024, Yan escaped from the Federal Satellite Low facility at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury (FCI Danbury) where she was serving a federal prison sentence imposed in the Middle District of Alabama for arson and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.
Yan was apprehended on December 10, 2024, and has been detained since her arrest.
Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for July 21, at which time Yan faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.
This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Danbury Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anastasia E. King.
Montgomery Woman Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Conspiracy Involving Stolen Mail and Bank FraudRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced today that a Montgomery woman has been sentenced to federal prison for her role in a mail theft and bank fraud scheme that resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent deposits.
On April 1, 2026, a federal judge sentenced Rhashema Shackleford, 37, of Montgomery, Alabama, to 120 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. In addition to her term of imprisonment, the court entered a money judgment against Shackleford in the amount of $376,679.95.
According to her plea agreement and other court records, from August 2022 through June 2023, Shackleford participated in a scheme with multiple co-conspirators to steal mail and use stolen checks to commit bank fraud in Montgomery, Alabama. Shackleford worked with others, including 32-year-old Laportia Webster and 48-year-old Otis Daniels, to obtain checks from the mail, alter them, or use them to create counterfeit checks for deposit into various bank accounts.
As part of the scheme, between August 26, 2022, and January 20, 2023, Shackleford conspired with Webster to use Webster’s bank accounts to conduct approximately $114,311.50 in fraudulent deposits. Additionally, between December 29, 2022, and February 7, 2023, Shackleford worked with Daniels to use his accounts for approximately $264,368.16 in fraudulent deposits and withdrawals. As a result of these transactions, Shackleford obtained and cashed three cashier’s checks totaling $64,000.
The investigation further revealed that on March 31, 2023, Shackleford fraudulently deposited a check in the amount of $12,480.29 drawn on the account of a business victim. On June 16, 2023, agents executed a search at Shackleford’s residence in Montgomery, where they discovered stolen checks, identification documents, and other materials used to facilitate fraud.
Shackleford pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank and mail fraud on September 18, 2025. Daniels was previously sentenced to 27 months in prison for his role in the scheme. A sentencing hearing for Webster is scheduled on April 15, 2026.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and the Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorney J. Patrick Lamb prosecuted.
Former Medicaid Provider Sentenced to Federal Prison for Health Care Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama, the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) announced today that an Anniston, Alabama, man has been sentenced for health care fraud and identity theft offenses.
On April 2, 2026, a federal judge sentenced 54-year-old Hasan Jermel Pulliam to 54 months in prison. The court also ordered Pulliam to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and to pay $718,967.20 in restitution to the Alabama Medicaid Agency. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Health care fraud diverts limited resources away from the patients and families who depend on programs like Medicaid,” said Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson. “This sentence holds the defendant accountable for abusing his position of trust and sending false claims to obtain money he was not entitled to receive. Our office will continue to work closely with our federal and state partners to protect taxpayer-funded health care programs from fraud and abuse.”
“This sentence reflects our commitment to protecting taxpayer resources and upholding the rule of law in Alabama,” said Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall. “I commend our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for their excellent work on this case, and I thank our federal partners at the U.S. Attorney's Office and HHS-OIG for their collaboration in holding Mr. Pulliam accountable for defrauding Alabama taxpayers of over $700,000. We will continue this collaborative effort to root out fraud and ensure justice is served.”
“Health care providers who fraudulently bill Medicaid for services not rendered and exploit personal information for their own gain will be held accountable,” said Kelly Blackmon, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to safeguard the integrity of Medicaid and other federally funded health care programs.”
According to his plea agreement and other court records, Pulliam was a child and family therapist who enrolled as a provider with Alabama Medicaid in October 2018. After enrolling, Pulliam received referrals from other medical providers that included Medicaid beneficiaries’ names, dates of birth, Medicaid Recipient Identification Numbers, and other personally identifying information.
The Alabama Medicaid Agency’s Program Integrity Unit identified questionable billing activity associated with Pulliam and referred the matter to the Alabama Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) in Montgomery and HHS-OIG in Birmingham for investigation.
The subsequent investigation revealed that Pulliam submitted numerous fraudulent claims to the Alabama Medicaid Agency for counseling services that were never provided. In submitting those claims, Pulliam used Medicaid beneficiaries’ identifying information without their consent, or, in cases involving minor beneficiaries, without the consent of their families. This fraudulent conduct continued through November 2023.
As a result of Pulliam’s fraudulent claims, the Alabama Medicaid Agency issued payments totaling $718,967.20, to which he was not entitled.
On October 25, 2025, Pulliam pleaded guilty to health care fraud and aggravated identity theft.
This case was investigated by the Alabama Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Joel Feil prosecuted the case.
The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is a division of the Alabama Attorney General’s Office and 75 percent of its funding is provided by a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. That amount was $1.14 million for fiscal year 2025.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced the sentencing of a Prattville, Alabama man for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
On April 1, 2026, a federal judge sentenced 33-year-old Harry Deonta Bailey to 108 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to Bailey’s plea agreement and other court records, during the early morning hours of November 16, 2025, officers with the Montgomery Police Department responded to reports of shots fired during an altercation between a man and a woman just south of downtown Montgomery.
Upon arrival, officers heard a gunshot and observed several individuals engaged in a physical altercation. As officers approached, a man matching the description provided in the initial report attempted to flee. During a brief foot pursuit, officers observed the individual discard a firearm.
Officers quickly detained the individual, later identified as Bailey. A second firearm was recovered from his person. Bailey has prior felony convictions in Alabama and Georgia and is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition. He pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm on December 12, 2025.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (OTBA) and the Middle District of Alabama’s Violent Offender Intervention and Deterrence (VOID) program. OTBA is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
VOID aims to reduce violent crime by enhancing coordination, communication, and collaboration with law enforcement partners. The program focuses on working directly with local agencies and traditional federal partners to prosecute violent offenders and armed felons, dismantle drug trafficking organizations, and build proactive cases targeting gangs and repeat violent offenders. VOID prioritizes the most serious violent crime cases and fosters close working relationships with state and local prosecutors and law enforcement throughout the Montgomery River Region.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Montgomery Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Megan A. Kirkpatrick prosecuted the case.
Two Illegal Aliens from Romania Sentenced for Credit Card Skimmer Scheme in Alabama and MississippiRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced today that two Romanian nationals unlawfully present in the United States have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a scheme to install credit card “skimming” devices on grocery store point-of-sale terminals across Alabama and Mississippi.
On March 26, 2026, a federal judge sentenced 24-year-old Denis Adelin Ionescu, of Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Romania, to 46 months in prison, and 33-year-old Ioan Victor Stanciu, also of Drobeta-Turnu Severin, to 24 months in prison. Ionescu previously pleaded guilty to possession of device-making equipment, while Stanciu pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit access device fraud. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to plea agreements and other court records, in March 2025, law enforcement began investigating the installation of a “skimmer” device on a point-of-sale terminal at a grocery store in Ozark, Alabama. Investigators quickly identified Ionescu and Stanciu, along with others, as suspects in the scheme.
A “skimmer” is an electronic device used to capture and store information from credit, debit, or Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards when they are swiped or inserted. After installing these devices, members of the conspiracy, including Ionescu and Stanciu, retrieved the skimmers and extracted stolen account information. The conspirators then used the compromised data to conduct fraudulent transactions, including unauthorized withdrawals and purchases.
Further investigation revealed that Ionescu and Stanciu were linked to additional skimming devices installed at retail locations in Dothan, Alexander City, Eufaula, Bessemer, Tuscaloosa, Gadsden, Mobile, Talladega, and Gulfport, Mississippi. In total, the conspirators placed 23 skimming devices at 12 separate locations.
Based on the volume of compromised card data, the intended loss was calculated at $1,794,978.36. The actual loss attributable to known fraudulent transactions was $50,978.36. The court ordered restitution in that amount.
A co-conspirator, Marian Catalin Matei, 24, also a Romanian national, previously pleaded guilty to possession of device-making equipment and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 21, 2026.
The United States Secret Service, Bessemer Police Department, and Ozark Police Department investigated the case, with Assistant United States Attorney Joel Feil prosecuting.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to over 14 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Firearm Used in a Brundidge, Alabama ShootingRead the Press Release
Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced the sentencing of a Montgomery, Alabama man for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
On March 24, 2026, a federal judge sentenced 43-year-old Brian Oneal Guice to 174 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, on April 7, 2024, law enforcement officers responded to reports of shots fired at a convenience store in Brundidge, Alabama. Upon arrival, officers learned that the individuals involved had fled the scene. One bystander sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and received medical treatment. Investigators quickly identified Guice as a person of interest in the shooting.
On May 1, 2024, members of the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force located and arrested Guice at an apartment in Troy, Alabama. At the time of his arrest, Guice was found in possession of a handgun. Due to his prior felony convictions, Guice is prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
A forensic examination of the recovered firearm linked it to shell casings collected from the April 7th shooting. In imposing the sentence, the court considered the firearm’s connection to the shooting, Guice’s criminal history, and other relevant factors.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Brundidge Police Department, and the Troy Police Department investigated this case, with assistance from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Assistant United States Attorney Christine Levi prosecuted the case.
Foreign National from the Congo Sentenced for Role in Email Fraud and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson and Special Agent in Charge Sara J. Jones with the FBI Mobile, Alabama Field Office announced the sentencing of a foreign national from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who was residing in Hockley, Texas for his role in an email compromise scheme that defrauded a business of more than $200,000.
On March 24, 2026, a federal judge sentenced 27-year-old Chris Kasimbo Kalwahali to 33 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering. Following his prison term, Kalwahali will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Business email compromise schemes are a growing threat to companies across our district and the nation,” said Acting United States Attorney Davidson. “Those who seek to exploit trusted business relationships for personal gain must be pursued and held accountable.”
“The FBI is working every day to disrupt and dismantle cybercriminals who prey on victims in southern Alabama,” said Special Agent in Charge Jones. “Today’s outcome is another example of our commitment to protecting victims and imposing consequences on the criminals who perpetrate cyber intrusions in our area. We encourage anyone who has been the victim of cybercrime to report it immediately at www.ic3.gov. Quick reporting gives us the best chance to work with victims and our partners to recover stolen funds and bring criminals to justice.”
According to his plea agreement and other court records, in March 2023, Kalwahali’s co-conspirators targeted a business in Auburn, Alabama, by gaining unauthorized access to a business email account. Such access is commonly obtained through methods including hacking or social engineering to acquire login credentials.
Once access is obtained, perpetrators often impersonate the legitimate account holder and send fraudulent messages directing business partners to update payment information. Victims are then instructed to send payments to bank accounts controlled by members of the scheme.
In this case, the compromised email account was used to request wire transfers from two companies that conducted business with the Auburn company. One transfer, totaling $209,308.45, was deposited into a bank account controlled by Kalwahali. He then transferred the proceeds to other participants in the scheme.
As part of his plea agreement, Kalwahali admitted that he received and redistributed fraud proceeds, including transferring more than $83,000 to a Houston, Texas car dealership to purchase a vehicle.
During the sentencing hearing, the court also ordered Kalwahali to pay a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $185,667.20. Additional restitution amounts are also pending.
The FBI Mobile Field Office investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle R. Turner and Eric M. Counts prosecuted for the Middle District of Alabama.
Dothan Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Meth Trafficking CaseRead the Press Release
On March 24, 2026, a federal judge sentenced 38-year-old Larenta Deshawn Dawkins, of Dothan, Alabama, to 360 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson and Special Agent in Charge Steven L. Hofer of the Drug Enforcement Administration's New Orleans Division. Following his term of imprisonment, Dawkins will serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Drug traffickers who bring dangerous narcotics into our communities will be identified, investigated, and prosecuted,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Davidson. “This sentence reflects our commitment to holding accountable those who profit from the distribution of methamphetamine.”
“Thirty years in federal prison, without the possibility of parole, is a definitive message to those who think they can use Alabama as a hub for their illicit trade,” said Special Agent in Charge Hofer. “By working side-by-side with the Dothan and Eufaula Police Departments, we successfully intercepted five pounds of methamphetamine before it could destroy more lives in our neighborhoods. Whether the poison is shipped from out of state or hidden in a local storage unit, we will find it, and we will ensure those responsible face the full weight of federal justice.”
According to court records and evidence presented at Dawkins’s December 2025 trial, law enforcement began investigating suspected drug trafficking activity in Houston County in July 2024. Investigators determined that Dawkins was receiving packages in Dothan containing methamphetamine shipped to Alabama from out of state. Further investigation revealed that Dawkins used a storage unit in Dothan to store the drugs after receiving them.
During the execution of a search warrant at the storage unit, investigators recovered two boxes containing approximately five pounds of methamphetamine, along with three bags of marijuana. Agents later obtained and executed a search warrant at Dawkins’s residence, where they seized numerous items linking him to the storage unit and the narcotics.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Dothan Police Department, and Eufaula Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Chelsea Wilson and Joel Feil prosecuted the case.
Mississippi Man Ordered to Pay $31 Million for Role in Healthcare Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced that the United States has obtained a civil judgment against a Batesville, Mississippi man for his role in orchestrating a commission-based referral scheme targeting federal healthcare programs, in violation of the False Claims Act (FCA) and the Anti-Kickback Statute.
On March 16, 2026, a federal judge entered judgment against 67-year-old Robert L. Crites, the owner of Health Services Plus and TriCom, LLC, and a contractor of Extraordinary Scripts, Inc., in the amount of $31,039,134.82.
According to court records, Crites and others associated with Extraordinary Scripts participated in an illegal kickback scheme in which they identified and referred patients across the country to Cloverland Pharmacy in Montgomery, Alabama. Crites primarily recruited beneficiaries of TRICARE, the health care program for members of the U.S. military and their families. In turn, the pharmacy paid Crites and his co-conspirators kickbacks for each referral.
The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits the offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving of compensation to induce referrals for items or services reimbursable by federally funded healthcare programs. The statute is designed to safeguard medical decision-making by ensuring that patient care is not influenced by improper financial incentives.
The $31,039,134.82 judgment against Crite includes $16,342,424.82 in damages — which is three times the $5,447,474.94 in losses sustained by TRICARE — as required under the False Claims Act, as well as $14,696,710 in civil penalties imposed by the court. Crites was the last remaining defendant in the case. The United States previously settled with five other co-defendants named in the suit as well as others involved in a parallel civil forfeiture action.
This matter reflects the government’s ongoing commitment to combating healthcare fraud and protecting the integrity of federal healthcare programs. The False Claims Act remains one of the government’s most effective tools in this effort.
This case was investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General, and Federal Bureau of Investigation, and was handled for the United States by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen D. Wadsworth.
Five Members of Sex Trafficking Ring Sentenced to Nearly 120 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Five defendants were sentenced today for a total of nearly 120 years in prison for their participation in a violent sex trafficking ring led by Kimani Jones, 32, also known as Statik. Jones was sentenced to 54 years in prison, and his father Tremayne Lambert, 50, also known as Bayrock, both of Montgomery, Alabama, to 30 years in prison. Jones and Lambert were previously convicted of multiple charges of sex trafficking following a 5-day trial in October 2025. The court also ordered the defendants to pay $1,010,926.50 and $510,850 in restitution respectively to the victims.
Three additional co-defendants, who previously pleaded guilty in connection with this case, were also sentenced for their respective roles in the sex trafficking ring. Joseph Keon Bowe, 39, of Notasulga, Alabama, was sentenced to 235 months in prison and ordered to pay $3,200 in restitution. Daryle Gardner, 32, of Marbury, Alabama, was sentenced to 195 months in prison and ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution. Aleecia Scott, 30, of Dothan, Alabama, was sentenced to 36 months of probation and ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution.
“Today’s lengthy sentences reflect the heinous and depraved conduct of the defendants, who abused numerous women and girls for years,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Department of Justice is committed to rooting out sex trafficking in the United States, seeking lengthy sentences for perpetrators and obtaining restitution for survivors so they can rebuild their lives. I thank the prosecutors and law enforcement who tirelessly pursued what was right and brought this case to a just conclusion.”
“These defendants preyed on vulnerable individuals and subjected them to exploitation for their own profit,” said Acting US. Attorney Kevin Davidson for the Middle District of Alabama. “We hope these sentences provide a measure of justice for the victims and send a clear message that this office, along with our law enforcement partners, will relentlessly pursue those who engage in human trafficking.”
Evidence presented during the trial showed that for five years, Jones organized and led an extensive commercial sex operation and forced women and girls to participate through violence and abuse. Jones rented hotel rooms where commercial sex acts occurred; provided food, clothing and drugs to the victims; constructed advertisements for commercial sex that he then posted online to solicit customers; communicated with potential customers regarding the sex acts and prices involved for them; dictated in which cities the victims would live and engage in commercial sex acts; and set rules that he required the victims to follow, which included, for example, the minimal amount of money that they needed to earn each day. Jones did not have a lawful job during the years he ran his sex trafficking operation, but instead, lived off the earnings of the sex trafficking and frequently flaunted the money that he made on social media.
To execute the operation, Jones used extensive violence against the victims and others in the victims’ presence. For instance, the jury heard evidence that on one occasion Jones grabbed a victim, who was a minor at the time, by the throat and dragged her across the floor for moving too slowly. Jones routinely struck women in the face, knocking out one individual’s teeth, breaking another’s jaw and striking one so hard she urinated on herself. Jones also sexually assaulted the victims to assert his dominance and control over them, threatened to hurt them, and in some instances, their family members, telling one victim that her son would not be able to play sports if his legs were broken. Jones, who has a prior federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, also intimidated the victims by possessing, brandishing and shooting firearms within the victims’ presence. He also facilitated addiction to drugs, such as heroin and methamphetamine, to compel their continued commercial sex acts for his financial benefit.
Co-defendant Lambert, the biological father of Jones who also has a prior federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, facilitated his son’s sex trafficking scheme by serving as a monitor of the victims and rule enforcer. Bowe, Gardner and Scott played various roles for Jones as enforcers, monitors, and drivers.
Jones was convicted at trial of two counts of sex trafficking of a minor by force, fraud and coercion; five counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; one count of interstate transportation of a minor for purposes of prostitution; and one count of interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution. Lambert was convicted at trial of three counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion. Bowe and Gardner pleaded guilty to sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and Scott pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the Montgomery Police Department investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Kate Alexander of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecution Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Ratz for the Middle District of Alabama prosecuted the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Five Members of Sex Trafficking Ring Sentenced to Nearly 120 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Five defendants were sentenced today for a total of nearly 120 years in prison for their participation in a violent sex trafficking ring led by Kimani Jones, 32, also known as Statik. Jones was sentenced to 54 years in prison, and his father Tremayne Lambert, 50, also known as Bayrock, both of Montgomery, Alabama, was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Jones and Lambert were previously convicted of multiple charges of sex trafficking following a 5-day trial in October 2025. The court also ordered the defendants to pay $1,010,926.50 and $510,850 in restitution respectively to the victims.
Three additional co-defendants, who previously pleaded guilty in connection with this case, were also sentenced for their respective roles in the sex trafficking ring. Joseph Keon Bowe, 39, of Notasulga, Alabama, was sentenced to 235 months in prison and ordered to pay $3,200 in restitution. Daryle Gardner, 32, of Marbury, Alabama, was sentenced to 195 months in prison and ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution. Aleecia Scott, 30, of Dothan, Alabama, was sentenced to 36 months of probation and ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution.
“Today’s lengthy sentences reflect the heinous and depraved conduct of the defendants, who abused numerous women and girls for years,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Department of Justice is committed to rooting out sex trafficking in the United States, seeking lengthy sentences for perpetrators and obtaining restitution for survivors so they can rebuild their lives. I thank the prosecutors and law enforcement who tirelessly pursued what was right and brought this case to a just conclusion.”
“These defendants preyed on vulnerable individuals and subjected them to exploitation for their own profit,” said Acting US. Attorney Kevin Davidson for the Middle District of Alabama. “We hope these sentences provide a measure of justice for the victims and send a clear message that this office, along with our law enforcement partners, will relentlessly pursue those who engage in human trafficking.”
Evidence presented during the trial showed that for five years, Jones organized and led an extensive commercial sex operation and forced women and girls to participate through violence and abuse. Jones rented hotel rooms where commercial sex acts occurred; provided food, clothing and drugs to the victims; constructed advertisements for commercial sex that he then posted online to solicit customers; communicated with potential customers regarding the sex acts and prices involved for them; dictated in which cities the victims would live and engage in commercial sex acts; and set rules that he required the victims to follow, which included, for example, the minimal amount of money that they needed to earn each day. Jones did not have a lawful job during the years he ran his sex trafficking operation, but instead, lived off the earnings of the sex trafficking and frequently flaunted the money that he made on social media.
To execute the operation, Jones used extensive violence against the victims and others in the victims’ presence. For instance, the jury heard evidence that on one occasion Jones grabbed a victim, who was a minor at the time, by the throat and dragged her across the floor for moving too slowly. Jones routinely struck women in the face, knocking out one individual’s teeth, breaking another’s jaw and striking one so hard she urinated on herself. Jones also sexually assaulted the victims to assert his dominance and control over them, threatened to hurt them, and in some instances, their family members, telling one victim that her son would not be able to play sports if his legs were broken. Jones, who has a prior federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, also intimidated the victims by possessing, brandishing and shooting firearms within the victims’ presence. He also facilitated addiction to drugs, such as heroin and methamphetamine, to compel their continued commercial sex acts for his financial benefit.
Co-defendant Lambert, the biological father of Jones who also has a prior federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, facilitated his son’s sex trafficking scheme by serving as a monitor of the victims and rule enforcer. Bowe, Gardner and Scott played various roles for Jones as enforcers, monitors, and drivers.
Jones was convicted at trial of two counts of sex trafficking of a minor by force, fraud and coercion; five counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; one count of interstate transportation of a minor for purposes of prostitution; and one count of interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution. Lambert was convicted at trial of three counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion. Bowe and Gardner pleaded guilty to sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and Scott pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the Montgomery Police Department investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Kate Alexander of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecution Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Ratz for the Middle District of Alabama prosecuted the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Maryland and Alabama Men Sentenced to a Combined 64 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Traffic Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – A Maryland man was sentenced yesterday to 40 years in prison followed by 20 years of supervised release for his involvement with a website dedicated to child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Sean Edward Young, 47, of Rockville, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise and to distribute child pornography on Sept. 24, 2025. According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, Young was a high-ranking member of a website dedicated to CSAM and discussions of child sexual abuse. He advertised and distributed CSAM on this website, counseled other users on how to avoid law enforcement, and bragged about having sexually abused children in the past.
Young’s sentencing follows the earlier sentencing of co-defendant and co-conspirator Jacob Parker, 49, of Auburn, Alabama. On Jan. 15 Parker was sentenced to more than 24 years in prison, having previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise child pornography. According to court documents, Parker, like Young, was a high-level moderator of the same website and spent time and effort managing it and sharing CSAM with fellow users.
“Sean Young and Jacob Parker were part of an online community of offenders who came together to share, discuss, and celebrate depictions of child sexual abuse,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Both made every effort to use technology to hide from law enforcement, but they could not. People who prey on our children will pay a heavy price by losing their liberty with the imposition of significant incarcerative sentences like these.”
“The exploitation of children through the distribution of child sexual abuse material is a disturbing crime that causes lasting harm to its victims,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin Davidson for the Middle District of Alabama. “Those who participate in online networks that advertise and distribute this material will be identified, prosecuted, and held accountable. Our office remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to protect children and bring offenders to justice.”
“It is unconscionable for someone to advertise and brag about sexually abusing children,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland. “We must bring depraved people like Young and his co-conspirators to justice and ensure that they lose their freedom for a very long time. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland will always stand ready to assist our partners to ensure that all predators are met with the full force of the law.”
“Child predators victimize the most vulnerable and innocent members of our society, their families, and their communities,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “Young’s role as a high-ranking member of a website dedicated to CSAM and his purposeful actions to conceal his activities and advise others how to avoid law enforcement makes him amongst the worst offenders. Now he will serve time for what he has done. Along with The Department of Justice and our federal, state, and local partners, the FBI is fully committed to identifying individuals who exploit children and bringing them to justice as quickly as possible.”
The FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit investigated the case along with the FBI’s Auburn Resident Agency and Baltimore field office. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Cyber Division and the Auburn Police Department.
Acting Deputy Chief Kyle P. Reynolds of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara S. Ratz and J. Patrick Lamb of the Middle District of Alabama prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan McKoy of the District of Maryland provided valuable assistance.
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 www.justice.gov/psc.
Maryland and Alabama Men Sentenced to a Combined 64 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Traffic Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
A Maryland man was sentenced yesterday to 40 years in prison followed by 20 years of supervised release for his involvement with a website dedicated to child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Sean Edward Young, 47, of Rockville, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise and to distribute child pornography on Sept. 24, 2025. According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, Young was a high-ranking member of a website dedicated to CSAM and discussions of child sexual abuse. He advertised and distributed CSAM on this website, counseled other users on how to avoid law enforcement, and bragged about having sexually abused children in the past.
Young’s sentencing follows the earlier sentencing of co-defendant and co-conspirator Jacob Parker, 49, of Auburn, Alabama. On Jan. 15 Parker was sentenced to more than 24 years in prison, having previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise child pornography. According to court documents, Parker, like Young, was a high-level moderator of the same website and spent time and effort managing it and sharing CSAM with fellow users.
“Sean Young and Jacob Parker were part of an online community of offenders who came together to share, discuss, and celebrate depictions of child sexual abuse,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Both made every effort to use technology to hide from law enforcement, but they could not. People who prey on our children will pay a heavy price by losing their liberty with the imposition of significant incarcerative sentences like these.”
“The exploitation of children through the distribution of child sexual abuse material is a disturbing crime that causes lasting harm to its victims,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin Davidson for the Middle District of Alabama. “Those who participate in online networks that advertise and distribute this material will be identified, prosecuted, and held accountable. Our office remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to protect children and bring offenders to justice.”
“It is unconscionable for someone to advertise and brag about sexually abusing children,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland. “We must bring depraved people like Young and his co-conspirators to justice and ensure that they lose their freedom for a very long time. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland will always stand ready to assist our partners to ensure that all predators are met with the full force of the law.”
“Child predators victimize the most vulnerable and innocent members of our society, their families, and their communities,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “Young’s role as a high-ranking member of a website dedicated to CSAM and his purposeful actions to conceal his activities and advise others how to avoid law enforcement makes him amongst the worst offenders. Now he will serve time for what he has done. Along with The Department of Justice and our federal, state, and local partners, the FBI is fully committed to identifying individuals who exploit children and bringing them to justice as quickly as possible.”
The FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit investigated the case along with the FBI’s Auburn Resident Agency and Baltimore field office. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Cyber Division and the Auburn Police Department.
Acting Deputy Chief Kyle P. Reynolds of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara S. Ratz and J. Patrick Lamb of the Middle District of Alabama prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan McKoy of the District of Maryland provided valuable assistance.
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 www.justice.gov/psc.
Two Additional Men Sentenced for Role in Mail and Bank Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced two additional sentencings in a mail theft and bank fraud conspiracy involving four defendants.
On March 5, 2026, 24-year-old Tra’von Charles Rogers, of Prattville, Alabama, received a sentence of 24 months in federal prison. Two days prior, on March 3, 2026, a judge ordered 27-year-old Joseph Deshun Sheppard, Jr., of Montgomery, Alabama, to serve 24 months in prison. Both men previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank and mail fraud. Following their prison terms, Rogers and Sheppard will each serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to their plea agreements and other court records, from March 2022 through February 2025, Rogers and Sheppard participated in a scheme with Kahneil Jahe Oliver, 28, of Montgomery, to steal mail and illegally alter or counterfeit stolen checks. The conspirators then deposited the fraudulently altered checks into numerous bank accounts under their control.
At sentencing, the court ordered forfeiture money judgments of $159,742.65 against Rogers and $62,050 against Sheppard.
A sentencing hearing for a fourth co-conspirator, Cedric Lanoid Hunter, Jr., 24, of Montgomery, is scheduled for next month. Previously, Kahneil Jahe Oliver was sentenced to 130 months in prison for his role in the scheme. On March 5, 2026, the court also ordered Oliver to pay $14,718.48 in restitution to a financial institution that incurred losses as a result of the conspiracy.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency State Bureau of Investigation, and the Montgomery Police Department, with assistance from the Prattville Police Department and Fulton County, Georgia Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney J. Patrick Lamb is prosecuting the case.
Miami Man Sentenced for Installing Card Skimmers on Grocery Store Payment Terminals in Central AlabamaRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced today that a Miami, Florida, man has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a scheme to install card skimming devices on grocery store terminals in Alabama’s River Region.
On February 25, 2026, a federal judge sentenced 40-year-old Yosniel Sotomayor Rodriguez to 18 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to unlawfully use a counterfeit access device. Following his term of imprisonment, Rodriguez will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Card skimming devices are designed to blend in, but consumers can protect themselves by staying alert,” said Acting United States Attorney Davidson. “Before inserting or swiping your card, take a moment to inspect the card reader. If the keypad feels loose, the card slot appears bulky or misaligned, or any part of the machine appears tampered with, do not use it. Consumers should also monitor their bank statements regularly for unauthorized transactions. I am grateful for the swift work of law enforcement and store personnel whose quick actions led to the removal of the devices before any stolen financial information could be used to harm unsuspecting victims.”
“The Secret Service is dedicated to going after those who aim to exploit our financial systems and target innocent victims, especially here in Alabama where folks work hard for every dollar,” said Resident Agent in Charge Todd Haralson with the U.S. Secret Service Montgomery Resident Office. “We are thankful for the hard work and dedication of our state, local, and federal law enforcement partners, including the pivotal role played by the ALEA Trooper whose traffic stop set this case in motion. With support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, we will continue to investigate, arrest, and support prosecution of criminals who choose to commit fraud in Alabama and across the nation.”
According to Rodriguez’s plea agreement and other court records, in May 2024, a regional grocery store chain discovered that four counterfeit access devices, commonly known as card skimming devices, had been installed on point-of-sale terminals at locations in Montgomery, Prattville, and Millbrook. Approximately 221 unique card numbers were stolen.
The investigation revealed that Rodriguez entered the stores and used distractions to conceal his installation of the devices over the payment terminals without detection. The devices were discovered and removed before any stolen account information could be used. On October 20, 2025, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge.
The United States Secret Service investigated the case, with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant United States Attorney Megan A. Kirkpatrick prosecuted this case.
Two Montgomery Men Sentenced on Federal Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced that two Montgomery men have been sentenced to federal prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm.
On February 25, 2026, a federal judge sentenced 37-year-old Stacy Rodrekus Calloway, of Montgomery, Alabama, to 60 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for violating the terms of his federal supervised release. The court also imposed three years of supervised release to follow his term of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to his plea agreement and court records, Calloway was residing in Montgomery in 2025 while on supervised release after completing a 148-month federal sentence imposed in 2013 for drug and firearms convictions.
On April 11, 2025, law enforcement officers with the Montgomery Area Crime Suppression (MACS) Unit conducted a traffic stop after observing a traffic violation. Before bringing the vehicle to a stop, officers observed the driver, later identified as Calloway, throwing an object from the window. Officers recovered the object, which was a handgun. Because of his prior felony convictions, federal law prohibited Calloway from possessing a firearm. His possession of the handgun also violated the conditions of his supervised release.
Officers also identified a passenger in the vehicle, 47-year-old British Tremain George, of Montgomery. George, who has prior felony convictions, was also found in possession of a handgun. As a convicted felon, George is prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
On November 3, 2025, both Calloway and George pleaded guilty to being felons in possession of firearms. The court sentenced George to 20 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the United States Probation Office for the Middle District of Alabama investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney J. Patrick Lamb prosecuted this case.
Montgomery Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison Following Gas Station ShootingRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced the sentencing of a Montgomery man for his role in a deadly shooting at a local gas station.
On February 24, 2026, a federal judge sentenced Rodriques Javaun Humphrey, 20, of Montgomery, Alabama, to 480 months in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, on January 7, 2025, officers with the Montgomery Police Department and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency were on Zelda Road in Montgomery when they heard gunshots being exchanged between two vehicles at a nearby gas station. As officers responded, they observed three individuals fleeing the scene. Gunfire struck a fourth individual, who died at the scene.
Two of the suspects ran toward an apartment complex located behind the gas station. One of those individuals, later identified as Humphrey, was carrying a rifle and a backpack and shot at responding MPD officers as he fled. Deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, along with an MPD K-9 unit, responded to assist in locating the fleeing suspects. One individual complied with officers’ commands and was taken into custody. Humphrey, however, continued to flee but was ultimately apprehended. Officers recovered the rifle he had been carrying.
A search of Humphrey’s backpack revealed multiple plastic bags containing marijuana and a digital scale. Investigators also recovered an AR-style pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device, causing the firearm to function as a fully automatic weapon. The serial number on the firearm had been scratched off.
On August 13, 2025, Humphrey pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a machinegun, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The third individual who fled the scene, Ladarius Lamar Knight, ran into a fast-food restaurant across the street while armed with a firearm and was apprehended by ALEA officers. Knight previously pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), including its Metro Area Crime Suppression (MACS) Unit, the Montgomery Police Department, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney John J. Geer, III is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Hope Hull Man Sentenced in Federal Court for Stealing Firearms from Montgomery Gun StoreRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced the sentencing of a Hope Hull, Alabama, man for his role in stealing firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Montgomery.
Last week, a federal judge sentenced 22-year-old Ethan Daniel Turner to 70 months in federal prison. Following his term of imprisonment, Turner will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to Turner’s plea agreement and other court records, just after midnight on June 29, 2025, law enforcement officers responded to a burglary alarm at a sporting goods store on North Eastern Boulevard in Montgomery. Upon arrival, officers observed that the store’s front entrance doors had been forcibly rammed open using a vehicle.
Two individuals were seen fleeing the business and escaping in a second vehicle, leading officers on a high-speed pursuit. The chase ended when the fleeing vehicle stopped, and the occupants fled on foot. Turner was eventually apprehended and identified as one of the individuals involved in the burglary.
As part of his plea agreement, Turner pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen firearm and theft of a firearm from a federal firearms licensee, admitting that he stole two rifles and a shotgun from the sporting goods store.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Montgomery Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle R. Turner and Chelsea Wilson prosecuted the case.
Montgomery Man Sentenced for Role in Mail and Bank Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced the first sentencing in a mail theft conspiracy involving four defendants.
On February 18, 2026, 28-year-old Kahneil Jahe Oliver, of Montgomery, Alabama, was sentenced to 130 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank and mail fraud and theft of a postal key. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to Oliver’s plea agreement and other court records, from May 2020 through February 2025, Oliver and his co-conspirators executed a scheme to steal checks from the mail, alter them, and deposit the fraudulently altered checks into numerous bank accounts under their control.
The investigation determined that Oliver coordinated the conspiracy and personally facilitated criminal acts in furtherance of the scheme. His sentence was enhanced based on his possession of a firearm in furtherance of the offense, the number of victims involved, and the sophisticated nature of the scheme. Oliver also admitted to using a stolen postal key to access postal receptacles and retrieve checks from the mail.
In total, investigators determined that Oliver and his co-conspirators possessed both physical checks and digital images of checks reflecting an intended loss exceeding $9.5 million.
“This defendant helped orchestrate a large-scale scheme that targeted numerous individuals and businesses by exploiting the U.S. mail system,” said Acting United States Attorney Davidson. “Mail theft and financial fraud cause significant economic harm to victims. This sentence reflects the seriousness of these crimes and our commitment to holding organizers of fraud schemes fully accountable.”
“An important part of the U. S. Postal Inspection Service mission is to ensure public trust in the mail and to defend the nation’s mail system from illicit financial gain,” said Shameka Jackson, Inspector in Charge of the Houston Division. “As a result of coordinated investigative efforts, the sentence handed down to Kahneil Jahe Oliver sends a clear message to mail thieves that you will be vigorously pursued and brought to justice. We thank the USPS Office of Inspector General, ALEA, Montgomery Police Department, Prattville Police Department and Fulton County, Georgia Sheriff’s Office for partnering with us in this investigation.”
“Yesterday’s sentencing sends a clear message that stealing Postal arrow keys and U.S. Mail to commit financial fraud will not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Ulrich of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. “These federal crimes undermine public trust and disrupt the lives of hardworking citizens. Our special agents and law enforcement partners remain committed to finding these fraudsters and holding them accountable to protect the sanctity of the U.S. Mail.”
Oliver’s co-conspirators, Cedric Lanoid Hunter, Jr., 24, of Montgomery, Alabama; Joseph Deshun Sheppard, Jr., 27, of Montgomery; and Tra’von Charles Rogers, 24, of Prattville, Alabama, have each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud. Their sentencings are scheduled for early March 2026.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency State Bureau of Investigation, and the Montgomery Police Department, with assistance from the Prattville Police Department and Fulton County, Georgia Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney J. Patrick Lamb is prosecuting the case.
Georgia Man Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – On February 18, 2026, a federal judge sentenced 34-year-old Sydney Seymour Carpenter, Jr., of Ludowici, Georgia, to 72 months in federal prison for possession of child sexual abuse material, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson. Following his term of imprisonment, Carpenter will serve 20 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to his plea agreement and court records, during the summer of 2023, the United States Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force began investigating Carpenter for failing to register as a sex offender. At the same time, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency State Bureau of Investigation was investigating a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding uploads of child sexual abuse material.
The investigation determined that Carpenter possessed a laptop recovered in Montgomery that contained 49 images or videos of child sexual abuse material. Law enforcement officers later located Carpenter at a residence in Opp, Alabama, where he was arrested. On November 4, 2024, Carpenter pleaded guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency State Bureau of Investigation, and the FBI, with assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, and the Montgomery Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Tara S. Ratz, J. Patrick Lamb, and Russell T. Duraski 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 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.
Georgia Resident Sentenced for Scheme to Steal from Federal Employees’ Retirement AccountsRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced the sentencing of a LaGrange, Georgia woman for her role in a scheme to steal funds from federal employees’ Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) retirement accounts.
On February 11, 2026, a federal judge sentenced 31-year-old Tekia Sade Peay to 51 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Peay previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft. There is no parole in the federal system.
“This scheme targeted the retirement savings of hardworking employees, including accounts belonging to elderly and deceased individuals,” said Acting United States Attorney Davidson. “Exploiting the identity of someone who has passed away is not a victimless crime. Families should be focused on grieving for their loved one, not discovering that their loved one’s identity has been stolen and their retirement savings depleted. These sentences reflect the seriousness of this conduct and our commitment to protecting employees and their families from financial exploitation.”
“The sentencing in this case holds the defendant accountable for orchestrating an account takeover scheme that targeted elderly and deceased Thrift Savings Plan annuitants,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Scalzo, of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG), Electronic Crimes Unit. “The FDIC OIG will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who target our Nation’s most vulnerable, and threaten to undermine the integrity of our Nation’s financial system.”
“This sentencing demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to holding accountable those who use their positions of trust to steal other people’s hard-earned money to line their own pockets,” said Daniel Wierzbicki, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Counterintelligence and Cyber Division. “We work with our partner agencies every day to identify and bring to justice those who fraudulently access government systems.”
According to court records, in August 2023, the FBI received information regarding fraudulent TSP transactions conducted by an individual identified as Tekia Peay, who was employed by a company that provided recordkeeping services for the TSP.
An investigation revealed that Tekia Peay exploited her knowledge of TSP call center procedures to gain unauthorized access to victims’ online TSP accounts. Using account holders’ personal identifying information, Tekia Peay established online access to accounts without the owner’s knowledge or consent, including accounts belonging to elderly and deceased individuals.
After establishing and verifying online access using the victims’ personal identifying information, Tekia and a co-conspirator made unauthorized changes to the accounts and requested disbursements. The fraudulently obtained funds were deposited into bank accounts controlled by Peay.
Throughout the course of the scheme, Peay attempted to steal a total of $76,544.03 from TSP account holders but ultimately succeeded in obtaining $21,508.32. In addition to her term of imprisonment, the court ordered Peay to pay $21,508.32 in restitution to the recordkeeping company that formerly employed her, as the company had previously reimbursed the TSP account holders for their losses.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General’s Electronic Crimes Unit and the FBI Washington Field Office investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle R. Turner and Megan A. Kirkpatrick prosecuted the case.
Mexican National Illegally in the United States Sentenced for Drug Trafficking and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced today the sentencing of a Mexican national for federal drug and firearm offenses stemming from his unlawful reentry into the United States.
On February 10, 2026, a federal judge sentenced Agustin Osorio-Lopez, 42, originally from Hidalgo, Mexico, to 120 months in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system. Following his ten-year term of imprisonment, Osorio-Lopez will be subject to removal proceedings. The sentence follows Osorio-Lopez’s guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully present in the United States, and illegal reentry after deportation.
“The defendant repeatedly violated federal law by illegally reentering the United States and engaging in serious drug and firearm offenses,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Davidson. “This case demonstrates the importance of strong partnerships between federal, state, and local law enforcement in the Middle District of Alabama, and the sentence imposed should serve as a warning to those who disregard our immigration laws and threaten public safety.”
According to court records, law enforcement officers in Elmore County began investigating suspected drug-trafficking activity in July 2025. During the investigation, agents identified Osorio-Lopez as a person of interest and determined that he was unlawfully present in the United States after having been previously deported on two occasions.
On September 22, 2025, federal agents, along with deputies from the Elmore County Drug Task Force, executed an arrest warrant at a residence in Elmore, Alabama, where Osorio-Lopez was located. During the arrest, law enforcement officers seized methamphetamine, marijuana, multiple handguns, digital scales, and other items commonly associated with drug distribution.
The Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) and the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration Southeast Laboratory in Miami, Florida. Assistant United States Attorney Eric M. Counts prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Montgomery Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms and Machinegun ChargesRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – On February 4, 2026, Ladarius Lamar Knight, 25, of Montgomery, Alabama, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and to the unlawful possession of a machinegun, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson.
According to court records, on January 7, 2025, units with the Montgomery Police Department and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) were on Zelda Road in Montgomery when they heard gunshots coming from a nearby gas station. Responding officers observed three individuals fleeing the area.
ALEA troopers pursued one of the suspects into a fast-food restaurant across the street from the gas station. The suspect, later identified as Knight, was found hiding in the restaurant’s back storage area and was taken into custody. Troopers recovered a handgun Knight was attempting to conceal inside a box.
Further examination revealed that the handgun was equipped with a machinegun conversion device, commonly referred to as a “switch.” When installed, such a device enables the firearm to fire continuously with a single pull of the trigger, resulting in an extremely high rate of fire that allows the weapon to discharge an entire magazine in a matter of seconds.
Knight has prior felony convictions and is legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. At sentencing, Knight faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), including its Metro Area Crime Suppression (MACS) Unit; and the Montgomery Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys John J. Geer, III and Christine Levi are prosecuting the case.
United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama Recognizes National Human Trafficking Prevention MonthRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Today the Middle District of Alabama observes National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and joins the Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security (DHS) in reaffirming the administration’s commitment to combating all forms of human trafficking and protecting victims and survivors. Human Trafficking Prevention Month presents an opportunity for DHS and DOJ, through Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF) to intensify operational efforts, raise public awareness, and strengthen partnerships across federal, state, and local agencies to disrupt trafficking networks, protect vulnerable individuals, and ensure traffickers are brought to justice.
“This Department of Justice is working tirelessly alongside our partners to dismantle human trafficking networks, help survivors, and protect vulnerable populations from being exploited,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Under this administration we have seen an increase in human trafficking prosecutions, and during Human Trafficking Prevention Month we reaffirm our commitment to prosecuting traffickers and encourage Americans to report instances of human trafficking in their communities.”
“Through the Homeland Security Task Force, President Trump is taking the fight directly to human trafficking networks and disrupting their modern-day slave trade while seizing their assets and arresting their kingpins and foot soldiers. The American people should not have to live in fear of cartels, gang bangers, and foreign terrorists preying upon the most vulnerable among us,” the United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a statement. “The Homeland Security Task Force is the largest coordinated campaign against transnational criminal organizations in U.S. history, and I’m proud to co-lead it with Attorney General Bondi.”
“During Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the FBI reiterates our work with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and national victim-based advocacy groups in joint task forces to protect our communities across the country,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The horrifying reach of human trafficking spreads far and wide. Homeland Security Task Forces are fighting back to disrupt these perilous networks and put a stop to that reach. The FBI will continue our investigations and bring justice to those exploited by human traffickers.
“Human trafficking is a brutal crime that preys on the most vulnerable members of our communities, and this office is committed to using every available tool to hold traffickers accountable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin Davidson. “Through close coordination with our federal, state, and local partners, the Middle District of Alabama will continue to aggressively pursue traffickers, protect victims and survivors, and ensure that those who profit from exploitation are brought to justice.”
In January 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. Section 6 of this order directed the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to jointly establish HSTFs in every state nationwide. The HSTF objective is to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) throughout the United States; dismantle cross-border human smuggling and trafficking networks; end the scourge of human smuggling and trafficking, with a particular focus on such offenses involving children; and ensure the use of all available law enforcement tools to faithfully execute the immigration laws of the United States.
Since January 20, 2025, the Middle District of Alabama has made protecting victims from the scourge of human and sex trafficking a top priority. In one recent example, in November 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama, working with the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, secured the convictions of two Montgomery men for operating a multi-year sex trafficking enterprise involving multiple victims, including minors. The defendants used physical and sexual violence, threats against victims and their children, firearms intimidation, and the manipulation of victims’ drug addictions to coerce victims into engaging in commercial sex acts for their financial benefit. Both defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
In January 2026, DHS and DOJ are surging resources to fight and raise awareness about human trafficking, including:
- Identifying ongoing investigations and prioritizing featured operations across 45 federal locations and 10 state locations with an emphasis on border states.
- Coordinating with FBI Human Trafficking Squads and multi-agency Human Trafficking Task Forces to conduct victim recovery.
- Partnering with AMTRAK and FAMS to increase law enforcement resources and distribute posters with QR codes for reporting human trafficking in all station bathrooms and trains.
- Running advertisements related to $250 million recovery from Backpage to distribute to victims and additional victim restitution efforts by DOL-OIG.
- Organizing Human Trafficking seminars and outreach events with DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking at high schools and colleges to highlight the role of HSTFs in addressing human trafficking.
On August 25, 2025, HSTF officially launched its effort to protect the Homeland with a September Surge encompassing 400 operations nationwide. In just 43 days, HSTF nationwide operations resulted in 3,266 arrests and seizures including:
- 1,041 Sinaloa members,
- 856 Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (“CJNG”) members,
- 641 MS-13 members,
- 456 Tren de Aragua members,
- 1,067 weapons
- More than $3,250,000 in currency
- Approximately 91 metric tons of narcotics
If you believe you or someone else are the victim of human trafficking or have information about a potential trafficking situation, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline for confidential help by calling 1-888-373-7888, or texting “HELP” to 233733 (BEFREE), or start a live chat at humantraffickinghotline.org/chat.
Information on the Justice Department’s work to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Montgomery Man Sentenced to Prison for Gun Crime Committed While on Federal ProbationRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced that a Montgomery, Alabama, man has been sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to a federal gun charge.
On January 22, 2026, 36-year-old Jeremy Dionne Smiley received a sentence of 60 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Previously, in February 2025, a judge ordered a 24-month sentence for violating the terms of his federal supervised release. The sentences are related to the same incident and were ordered to run consecutively, for a total sentence of 84 months. At the January 2026 sentencing hearing, the court also ordered Smiley to serve an additional three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to Smiley’s plea agreement and other court records, in late 2024, Smiley was residing in Montgomery while on federal supervised release after completing a 71-month prison sentence for a prior federal firearms conviction. On December 20, 2024, law enforcement officers responded to a domestic disturbance call at Smiley’s residence, which included a report that shots had been fired.
Following the incident, Smiley admitted to his federal probation officer that he possessed an AR-15-style rifle and had discharged the firearm into the air during the disturbance. Smiley’s possession of the firearm violated the conditions of his supervised release and resulted in a new federal charge. On October 20, 2025, Smiley pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The Montgomery Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the United States Probation Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle R. Turner and J. Patrick Lamb prosecuted this case.
Former Brundidge Police Chief Ordered to Forfeit Three Properties Connected to Federal Rental Assistance FraudRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala, – A former Brundidge Police Chief has been ordered to forfeit three residential properties connected to a scheme to fraudulently obtain federal pandemic assistance funds.
On January 21, 2026, a federal judge entered a final order of forfeiture against Samuel Cornelius Green, 51, requiring him to forfeit his interest in three rental properties located in Troy, Alabama. The forfeiture follows Green’s guilty plea to illegally receiving funds through the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP).
The federal government implemented ERAP in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to provide financial assistance to households unable to pay rent or utilities, as well as to landlords seeking reimbursement for tenants’ unpaid rent during the pandemic.
According to Green’s plea agreement and other court records, beginning in March 2021, Green submitted multiple ERAP applications containing false and misleading information regarding tenants, rental arrangements, and payment histories in order to obtain funds to which he was not entitled. In some of the fraudulent applications, Green submitted counterfeit and altered utility bills. The scheme continued through November 2021.
In October 2025, Green pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. His co-conspirator, Schemillia Levera Fenn, of Troy, Alabama, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for her role in the scheme.
At sentencing hearings held on January 14, 2026, the court ordered Green and Fenn to pay $118,175 in restitution to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The court also imposed a $1,000 fine against Green.
The Department of the Treasury's Office of Inspector General investigated this case, with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle R. Turner, Russell T. Duraski, and J. Patrick Lamb prosecuted the case.