Eastern District of California
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to More Than 16 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking in Sacramento AreaRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Felix Ortiz-Plata, 45, a Mexican national illegally residing in Stockton, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins to 16 years and three months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, in 2022 Ortiz-Plata was at the center of a substantial drug trafficking operation and operated a clandestine stash house with multiple firearms and was responsible for 377 pounds of methamphetamine and 11 ounces of cocaine. Ortiz-Plata has a history of large-scale drug trafficking and was on court-ordered supervision for a state court conviction at the age of 33 when he became involved in this extensive drug trafficking conspiracy.
On Aug. 18, 2025, Ortiz-Plata pleaded guilty.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Forest Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Land Management, and the California Highway Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hitt prosecuted the case.
Sacramento Man Sentenced to 4.5 Years in Prison for Covid-Related Unemployment Insurance Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif — Roosevelt Gulley, 42, of Sacramento, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to four years and six months in prison and ordered to pay $575,425 in restitution for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft related to unemployment insurance fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
“Today’s sentence holds the defendant accountable for exploiting a national crisis for personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “By stealing identities and siphoning COVID-19 relief funds, he diverted critical resources intended to help struggling individuals and small businesses. Our office remains committed to protecting the integrity of federal relief programs and ensuring that those who commit fraud are brought to justice.”
“While American workers were facing unemployment lines and an uncertain future during the COVID-19 crisis, Roosevelt Gulley was picking their pockets and gaming the system. This sentence is justice for every victim whose identity he stole and every hard-earned dollar he ripped off. We will not stop until every pandemic fraudster is held accountable,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor.
DHS Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari, Ph.D., said, “Exploiting pandemic relief programs for personal enrichment is unconscionable. DHS OIG will continue to prioritize these investigations, and together with our law enforcement partners, we will hold these individuals accountable for their actions.”
“The weaknesses in the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program enabled widespread criminal fraud across the country,” said EDD Director Nancy Farias. “We have since recovered more than $6 billion, supported the prosecution of thousands of fraudsters, and today – more than 99 percent of our benefit payments do not involve criminal fraud. We will continue working closely with local, state, and federal investigators to ensure those who commit fraud are identified, pursued, and brought to justice.”
According to court documents, between July and September 2020, Gulley used personally identifiable information of others to electronically submit fraudulent applications for unemployment insurance benefits to the California Employment Development Department. The claims falsely stated that the beneficiaries were self-employed, and. Gulley knew the claimants were not eligible for unemployment insurance. After benefits cards were issued, he withdrew funds at various ATMs.
Gulley also used personally identifiable information from at least two victims without their knowledge to file fraudulent benefits applications and obtain thousands of dollars in benefits. Over the course of his scheme, Gulley attempted to obtain more than $1.5 million and actually received more than $500,000 in fraudulent benefits.
Gulley pleaded guilty on Sept. 15, 2025.
The U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General’s COVID Fraud Unit, and California EDD Investigation Division conducted the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Harman prosecuted the case.
Fresno Man Sentenced to over 15 Years in Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Through the U.S. Mail and at Trolley Creek Park in FresnoRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Isaac James Ocejo, 22, of Fresno, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to 15 years and 10 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between July 2023 and October 2024, Ocejo mailed several packages containing methamphetamine and fentanyl, through the U.S. Mail from post offices in Fresno to addresses in other states. In total, Ocejo and others shipped more than 10 kilograms of methamphetamine and more than a kilogram of fentanyl through the mail.
Ocejo and others also distributed significant quantities of methamphetamine in Fresno. In August 2024, Ocejo sold 10 pounds of methamphetamine to an individual in Fresno. The following month, Ocejo and co‑defendant Isaac Estrada sold an additional 10 pounds to an individual at Trolley Creek Park in Fresno in broad daylight.
On Jan. 26, 2026, Ocejo pleaded guilty. Estrada pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and distributing methamphetamine in August 2025 and was sentenced to 46 months in prison on Nov. 7, 2025.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple prosecuted the case.
Nashville Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud Fresno CountyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Jafaar September Nyangoro, 53, of Nashville, Tennessee, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud related to a scheme to defraud Fresno County, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, sometime before Sept. 14, 2020, Nyangoro, co‑defendant Peter Bah Acha, 46, of Berlin, Germany, and others secretly gained control of an email account used by the finance director of a Fresno nonprofit to submit fraudulent invoices to Fresno County for payment through Automated Clearing House (ACH) transactions. Posing as the finance director, they fraudulently represented to the County of Fresno that the nonprofit’s bank account information had changed and that payments should be sent to an account at a different bank that Nyangoro had recently opened. Believing that they were communicating with the legitimate nonprofit business, the county employees updated the nonprofit’s bank account information accordingly.
According to court documents, between Sept. 24, 2020, and Oct. 13, 2020, the County of Fresno initiated several ACH transfers totaling more than $1.5 million to Nyangoro’s bank account instead of the nonprofit’s bank account. At times, Nyangoro, Acha, and others communicated with each other through various means, including WhatsApp. For example, on Oct. 16, 2020, after Regions Bank reversed some of the ACH transfers for suspected fraud, Nyangoro sent a WhatsApp message: “We’re in deep s***. The last 3 transactions from County of Fresno have been reversed. Please call me ASAP!”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David L. Gappa and Cody Chapple are prosecuting the case.
Nyangoro is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Sept. 21, 2026. Nyangoro faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 as well as restitution. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Jury Finds Former South Lake Tahoe Man Guilty of Multiple Cryptocurrency and Investment Fraud Schemes That Defrauded Investors of Nearly $1 MillionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — After an eight-day trial, a federal jury today returned a guilty verdict against Daniel Chartraw, 53, formerly of South Lake Tahoe and Lodi, finding him responsible for a wide-ranging series of fraudulent schemes involving cryptocurrency companies, sham business ventures, and false investment guarantees that caused substantial financial losses to numerous victims across the country, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
“This verdict sends a clear message: individuals who exploit the trust of others and steal through deception will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “The defendant lied to investors and caused serious financial and emotional harm. Our office will continue to pursue those who use emerging technologies, including cryptocurrency, as vehicles for fraud.”
According to evidence presented at trial, between March 2021 and February 2022, Chartraw and an associate controlled multiple companies, including Crypto‑Pal LLC and TDA Global LLC. Chartraw and individuals acting on his behalf represented that Crypto‑Pal was a web‑based cryptocurrency trading company that guaranteed high returns with no risk. At various points, Chartraw also claimed that TDA Global was engaged in supplying jet fuel to airlines or operated its own cryptocurrency trading platform.
Chartraw communicated with potential and existing investors through phone calls, text messages, email, and virtual meetings using platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom. Although he was directing operations, Chartraw frequently used aliases such as “Leonard” or “Leon,” telling associates that he needed to conceal his identity because of a prior fraud conviction. Despite this, many investors ultimately learned that Chartraw—not “Leonard”—was controlling the businesses and their accounts.
Even though Chartraw was not a signatory on the Crypto‑Pal business bank account, he repeatedly accessed it to withdraw cash, make purchases, and transfer investor funds to accounts he personally controlled.
Chartraw also cultivated trust through personal and professional relationships, using fabricated account statements, false assurances of growth, and repeated misrepresentations to persuade victims to invest additional funds. When investors attempted to recover their money or questioned delays, he provided excuses, deflected responsibility, or stopped communicating altogether.
In several cases, individuals were referred to him through friends or family and were convinced to transfer cryptocurrency or cash, based on promises that their money would be actively traded. None of these funds were ever invested as represented. Across all schemes, investors received neither returns nor the return of their principal. The total loss to investors was nearly $1 million.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Delaney and J. Douglas Harman are prosecuting the case.
Chartraw is scheduled to be sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb on Sept. 28, 2026. Chartraw faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Investigation Results in Federal Charges Against 3 Men for Distribution of Cocaine in Yuba CountyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment today against Julian Ayala, 26, of Oroville; Javier Alvarez, 52, of Olivehurst; and Henry Gomez, 49, of Yuba City, charging them with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on June 26, 2025, Ayala sold a confidential source 3 ounces of cocaine and agreed to sell an additional 3 ounces. Ayala contacted Alvarez for the supply and Alvarez instructed Gomez to deliver the cocaine. Ayala then sold the additional 3 ounces to the confidential source. The parties repeated this exact pattern during a second controlled purchase on Aug. 13, 2025. On Sept. 17, 2025, Alvarez again supplied Ayala with cocaine, which Ayala sold to the confidential source. Over the three controlled purchases, Ayala sold the confidential source more than 18 ounces of cocaine, all of which had been supplied by Alvarez.
On March 19, 2026, Ayala arranged another cocaine sale to the confidential source. Before the transaction, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Ayala’s vehicle. A K-9 search revealed more than 300 grams of cocaine inside.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin L. Lee and Nicole M. Vanek are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine for the conspiracy charge. For the other counts, the defendants face a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Sacramento is composed of agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Northern California High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.
Modesto Dark Web Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Devlin Hosner, 37, of Modesto, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to 10 years in prison for a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Hosner and co-defendant Holly Adams, 36, made hundreds of thousands of dollars selling fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills and methamphetamine on the dark web, and laundered the proceeds through cryptocurrency mixers, wallets, and other online tools. In September 2021, state law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at their residence. Hosner tried to block their entry while Adams destroyed pills by pouring them into a chemical solution. Both were arrested, released, and soon resumed selling fentanyl on the dark web while unknowingly under federal investigation.
In March 2022, federal law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at a hotel room in Riverside County where Hosner and Adams were staying and seized nearly a kilogram of fentanyl-pressed pills and 60 grams of methamphetamine.
On Dec. 9, 2026, Hosner pleaded guilty. Adams pleaded guilty on June 18, 2024, and was sentenced to 12 years in prison on June 3, 2025.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Northern California Illicit Digital Economy (NCIDE) Task Force, which includes agents from the IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The NCIDE Task Force is a federal task force focused on targeting all forms of illicit dark web and cryptocurrency activity in the Eastern District of California and beyond. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stefanki prosecuted the case.
Sacramento Man Indicted for Bringing Explosive Material into Sacramento International AirportRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury today returned a three-count indictment today against Kimani Osayande Jones, aka Kimani Osayande Jackson, 49, of Sacramento, charging him with attempting to place a destructive device on an aircraft, unlawfully possessing explosive material in an airport, and attempting to carry a dangerous weapon or explosive onto an aircraft, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at approximately 9 p.m. Jones attempted to pass through a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint at the Sacramento International Airport to board American Airlines flight 2464. Jones was wearing a scarf covering his face and latex gloves. Inside his carry-on bag, Jones had an M-type explosive device, a torch lighter capable of igniting the device, a knife, scissors and scissor blades, an aerosol can, and zip ties. Jones also had five cellphones; one displayed a 15‑minute timer ready to begin.
The explosive device was safely removed by Sacramento County Sheriff bomb technicians and an FBI Special Agent bomb technician. When the device was later examined and tested, authorities determined that both the powder and fuse were viable and energetic. The device had the potential to cause injury and, if it had detonated near a window on a pressurized aircraft flying above 10,000 feet, it could have damaged the aircraft and potentially caused a loss of cabin pressure.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Wong is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Jones faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for attempt to place a destructive device in an aircraft, a maximum of five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 for unlawful possession of explosive material in an airport, and up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for attempt to carry a dangerous weapon on an aircraft. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Reno Man Indicted for Sexually Exploiting Child in 2008 in Placer CountyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Jeffrey Alan Koehl, 60, of Reno, Nevada, charging him with sexual exploitation of a child, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, in February 2008, in a residence in Roseville, Koehl coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct and used a handheld camera to record two videos.
The victim, now an adult, learned of the videos, and on Jan. 20, 2025, submitted an online tip that was received by the FBI National Threat Operations Center (NTOC) leading to the federal investigation. Koehl has been in custody since his arrest on Jan. 30, 2026, in Carmichael.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from the Reno Police Department and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dhruv M. Sharma is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Koehl faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of the sexual exploitation counts. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Modesto Gang Member Indicted for Being a Felon in Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury today returned an indictment charging Bendrelle Williams, 28, of Modesto, with being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on May 17, 2026, Williams, a member of a violent Modesto street gang, possessed an assault-style rifle loaded with 50 rounds of 5.56 ammunition. Williams is prohibited from possessing ammunition because of prior felony convictions including attempted robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The Modesto Police Department conducted the investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney George Biko is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Williams faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Modesto Felon Indicted for Two Charges of Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Anthony Welch, 27, of Modesto, charging him with two counts of being a felon in possession of firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on Feb. 1, 2026, Welch possessed a Glock 26 handgun, and on June 2, 2026, he possessed a Glock 23 Gen4 .40 caliber handgun. Welch is prohibited from possessing firearms because of a prior felony conviction of assault with a deadly weapon with a firearm.
The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zulkar Khan is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Welch faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Sacramento Man Charged with Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a single-count indictment against Raymond Fetzer, 38, of Sacramento, charging him with receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. The indictment was unsealed today following Fetzer’s arrest.
According to court documents, between April 16, 2024, and March 2, 2026, Fetzer was in receipt of CSAM downloaded from the internet.
The Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Sokolich is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Fetzer faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty by beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Wisconsin Man Sentenced for Assault of a Ranger and Other Crimes Committed in Yosemite National ParkRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Michael Anthony Valencia, 32, of Appleton, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff to time served followed by three years of supervised release for assault of a federal officer, interfering with a government employee engaged in official duties, and camping without a permit, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, beginning in June and continuing through July 22, 2024, Valencia began misusing the 911 emergency system that serves Yosemite National Park by making a series of non-emergency calls intended to harass dispatchers and law enforcement officers. Investigators identified the source and location of the calls and hiked to the location where Valencia had been camping without a permit for an extended time. Valencia stated that if he had had a gun, he would have shot one of the rangers. Valencia then punched and injured one of the rangers who served citations to Valencia. Valencia has been in custody since his arrest in July 2024.
Valencia pleaded guilty on March 23, 2026.
The National Park Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Gappa prosecuted the case.
Three Arrested in Kansas and California, Charged with Plot to Support ISISRead the Press Release
Early this morning, the FBI arrested three men in Kansas City, Kansas, San Diego, and Sacramento, California, on charges that they conspired to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Bisaam Ghafoor, 21, of Leawood, Kansas; Elias Shamsaldeen, 21, of Porterville, California; and Bereen Dzayee, 25, of Lakeside, California, were arrested on a complaint filed in the District of Kansas for conspiring to provide material support to terrorism after collectively providing over $2,000 to an individual they understood to be a member of ISIS. As detailed in the complaint, in various messaging exchanges, Ghafoor exclaimed it would be “sick” if his name could be written on the drone used in an attack on Americans. Dzayee suggested that targets of drones should include U.S. Special Forces. In other exchanges, Shamsaldeen expressed a desire to stab and injure a U.S. servicemember. Ghafoor said he has always wanted to kill a female soldier by beheading, and added, “I wish I could kill 300,000,000 Americans.”
“This administration has put terrorists, cartels, and gangs on notice,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Today’s arrest of three individuals who allegedly conspired to provide material support to ISIS makes clear our commitment to taking down terrorist networks — anywhere. Thanks to the vigilance of the FBI, their alleged scheme was dismantled and further acts of violence against U.S. service members were prevented.”
“These subjects allegedly swore allegiance to ISIS, plotted multiple attacks, and even targeted U.S. service members — but this FBI stopped them cold,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The success of this op shows once again this FBI’s continued record of stopping terrorist attacks before they happen, simply the best way to defend the homeland — and shows we’ll stop at nothing to defend Americans from those who seek to do us harm. I want to thank our teams in Kansas City, San Diego, Sacramento, Newark, and Richmond, and the Counterterrorism Division for their outstanding efforts on this investigation and commitment to mission.”
“According to the complaint, these defendants conspired to support ISIS, a ruthless terrorist organization, with the intent, among other things, to fund plans to kill American servicemembers abroad,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Thanks to the work of the FBI, their plans to betray their country in the gravest way lies in ruin. Instead, these defendants will face justice in our courts.”
“For years, the Department of Justice has been encouraging Americans that if they see suspicious activity, they should report it to law enforcement. That’s because long gone are the days where terrorist threats and attacks are incidents that only take place far away on foreign soil,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser for the District of Kansas. “Unfortunately, we must face the reality of bad actors living within our borders clandestinely conspiring on ways to create fear and havoc. The only way to root out and prevent terrorism plots is through collaboration among all levels of law enforcement and across jurisdictions. Collaboration is what facilitated the arrests of these three suspects.”
According to the complaint, filed in the District of Kansas, beginning by at least February 2025 to about June 2026, the individuals communicated about several plans to support ISIS, including through the provision of personnel, services, and money. Through Discord chats, voice calls, and other messaging platforms, the coconspirators pledged allegiance to ISIS and its leader. The defendants exchanged messages in social media groups promoting violence in furtherance of ISIS.
The defendants collectively provided over $2,000 to an individual they believed to be an ISIS member. Ghafoor’s name was written on the projectile of one of the rocket-propelled grenades purportedly to be used in an attack overseas to kill U.S. servicemembers. Shamsaldeen provided financial resources for the purpose of purchasing drones, which, in turn, were to be used to attack and kill U.S. servicemembers deployed overseas.
The defendants and others communicated their desires to travel outside the United States to fight on behalf of ISIS. In some of these communications, they expressed a willingness to die on behalf of ISIS.
The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force in the Kansas City Field Office, the San Diego Field Office, and the Sacramento Field Office investigated the cases, with assistance from FBI Field Offices in Richmond and Newark.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Rask and Michelle MacFarlane for the District of Kansas and Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and Jay Rezai of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of California and the Southern District of California.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Jury Finds Former Sacramento Man Guilty for Knowingly Misusing Money Stolen from a School DistrictRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — After a four-day trial, a jury found former Sacramento resident, William A. Sassman, 58, guilty of knowingly engaging in monetary transactions with criminally derived property, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to the evidence at trial, in September 2019, the Tukwila School District in Washington mistakenly wired more than $6.5 million into Sassman’s bank account. District employees were duped into sending the funds to Sassman’s account instead of the account of a legitimate construction contractor.
Sassman then used part of the stolen funds to buy two luxury watches — a Patek Philippe for $195,000 and a Richard Mille for $318,324 — plus other personal items. After the school district discovered the fraud and reported it to Sassman’s bank, the bank froze Sassman’s account and informed Sassman that it had been funded with fraudulent proceeds. Even after knowing the money was stolen, Sassman resold the watches and deposited the resulting checks into an account at another bank in Sacramento.
“The evidence at trial showed that after being told by his bank that this money didn’t belong to him, Sassman nevertheless chose to spend it on high-end watches rather than return it to its rightful owner,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “Today’s verdict demonstrates that those who knowingly profit from stolen funds will be held accountable.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Veronica M.A. Alegría and Zachary B.L. Malinski are prosecuting the case.
Sassman is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins on Sept. 25, 2026. Sassman faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or up to twice the amount of the laundered money. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Stockton Felon Indicted for Illegal Possession of a Sawed-Off ShotgunRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Steven Refugio Rodriguez, 57, of Stockton, today charging him with being a felon in possession of firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on May 7, 2026, Rodriguez was stopped by a deputy sheriff for expired vehicle registration. Because Rodriguez was on parole and subject to a search, the deputy searched the car and found a Harrington and Richardson, 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun with an 8-inch barrel and several 12-gauge rounds. Rodriguez has multiple felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
On May 3, 2021, Rodriguez was sentenced to 21 years in prison for assault with a machine gun on a peace officer. In November 2025, Rodriguez was granted compassionate release in state court on the grounds that he had only a few months to live, could not walk, feed himself, or perform daily tasks without assistance. Yet when deputies pulled him over on May 7, he showed no signs of trouble walking unassisted. While incarcerated in the San Joaquin County Jail, Rodriguez made several calls indicating that he planned to flee from prosecution once he posted bail.
The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zulkar Khan is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Rodriguez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty for Role in Shipping Half-a-Million Fentanyl Pills Across the United States Following Homeland Security Task Force InvestigationRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Reginald Jones, 36, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to 15 counts of drug trafficking offenses and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Jones and his fellow conspirators shipped hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills around the country for more than a year. On several occasions, law enforcement seized packages shipped by Jones and his co-conspirators, and found fentanyl pills, often hidden inside children’s toys. In total, law enforcement seized approximately 450,000 fentanyl pills connected to the conspiracy through seized shipments and search warrants. Based on additional evidence, law enforcement estimates that members of the conspiracy have shipped more than one million fentanyl pills to customers in several different states.
During searches connected to the conspiracy, agents found hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills, more than $80,000 in cash, and 17 firearms. Some of the pills and a firearm were hidden inside a secret compartment in Miller’s vehicle.
Jones is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta on Oct. 8, 2026. Jones faces a mandatory sentence of at least 10 years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Sacramento is composed of agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Northern California High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with assistance from the Sacramento Police Department, the Folsom Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Citrus Heights Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross Pearson is prosecuting the case.
Mexican National Arrested After Indictment for Methamphetamine and Heroin Trafficking and Money Laundering Following Homeland Security Task Force InvestigationRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — An eight-count indictment was unsealed today charging Hugo Alberto Herrera Rodriguez, 41, a Mexican national residing unlawfully in California, with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, distributing methamphetamine and heroin, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
The indictment was returned on June 13, 2024, and was unsealed following Herrera Rodriguez’s arrest on Tuesday in Grass Valley.
According to court documents, between June 2019 and October 2019, Herrera Rodriguez was the Mexico-based leader and organizer of a drug trafficking organization that distributed methamphetamine and heroin throughout northern California. Herrera Rodriguez conspired with others in Sacramento, San Joaquin, Placer, Nevada, and Stanislaus Counties to transfer the drug trafficking proceeds from the United States to Mexico in a manner designed to conceal the source and ownership of the money.
If convicted of the conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, or the distribution of methamphetamine counts, Herrera Rogriguez faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million. For the distribution of heroin counts, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $5 million for each of the counts and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. For the conspiracy to commit money laundering count, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Sacramento is composed of agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Northern California High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.
The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, the Sacramento Area Intelligence and Narcotics Team (SAINT), the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, the Nevada City Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew De Moura are prosecuting the case.
Sacramento Man Charged with Bringing Explosive Material into Sacramento International AirportRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A criminal complaint was filed today charging Kimani Osayande Jones, aka Kimani Osayande Jackson, 49, of Sacramento, with unlawfully possessing explosive material in an airport, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, at about 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, 2026, Jones attempted to go through a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint at the Sacramento International Airport and board a flight. He was wearing a scarf covering his face and latex gloves on his hands. In his carry-on bag, Jones had an M-type explosive device and a torch lighter capable of lighting the explosive, as well as a knife, scissors and scissor blades, an aerosol can, and zip ties. Jones also have five cellphones, one of which had a 15-minute timer ready to start, and another had a message from an unidentified number on the screen that stated, “we will be awaiting your call.” Jones was arrested, and the explosive device was safely removed by Sacramento County Sheriff Bomb Technicians and an FBI Special Agent Bomb Technician.
The explosive device was subsequently examined and tested, and the powder and fuse were determined to be viable and energetic. The explosive device had the potential to cause injury and, if the explosive device had detonated next to a window on a pressurized aircraft flying above 10,000 feet, it had the potential to damage the aircraft and cause a possible loss of cabin pressure.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Wong is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Jones faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Stericycle Resolves Criminal and Civil Investigations with over $56 Million Agreement for Long Running Failures in Handling Controlled Substances Bound for DisposalRead the Press Release
Full Settlement:
stericycle_civil_settlement_fully_executed_w_sof.pdfInformation:
stericycle_information_felony.pdfBrief/Settlement
stericycle_pre_hearing_brief_by_usa.pdfSACRAMENTO, Calif. — Stericycle Inc., an international waste management company headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois, has agreed to pay more than $56 million to resolve parallel criminal and civil investigations into its improper handling of controlled substances between 2015 and 2020, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
Stericycle collected, transported, and disposed of pharmaceutical waste for hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and other health care providers across the United States and abroad.
“Stericycle has accepted responsibility for handling controlled substances in a manner that was insecure, unsafe, and unlawful,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “Despite being warned by the DEA that it needed to correct its deficient handling procedures, the company operated an insecure transportation network, relied on multiple unregistered facilities, and failed to notify the DEA of diversions and significant losses as required by law. Today’s resolution demonstrates the Justice Department’s continuing commitment to ensuring that all registrants safely and securely handle controlled substances so that dangerous drugs are not diverted into the community.”
“DEA will hold organizations accountable who violate the Controlled Substances Act and improperly handle controlled substances. Stericycle’s actions were far more troubling than a simple reporting error,” said Bob P. Beris, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, San Francisco Field Division. “These drugs did not merely go unaccounted for, employees and others stole them, used them, or diverted them into the community. Such conduct endangers public safety, fuels addiction, and undermines the integrity of our regulatory system. The DEA remains committed to ensuring that every registrant fulfills their obligations to protect the public from exactly these kinds of risks.”
“Controlled substance regulations are designed to keep dangerous and addictive medications out of the wrong hands. Stericycle ignored those responsibilities, resulting in expired medications being stolen and sold illegally on the street,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue pursuing those who endanger the public through negligence or criminal conduct.”
Criminal charges filed today allege that Stericycle conspired to defraud the United States by failing to report thefts and significant losses of controlled substances to the DEA. On four separate occasions, the company offered justifications for failing to file required Form 106s that were unsupported by federal regulations. As part of a one‑year deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with the Department of Justice, Stericycle will pay a $19.08 million criminal penalty.
Separately, Stericycle has agreed to pay $37.81 million to resolve civil liability for repeated violations of the CSA.
Because of the risk that prescription drugs can be diverted or misused, the handling of controlled substances is tightly regulated under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
According to court documents, Stericycle was registered with the DEA as a “reverse distributor,” allowing it to receive unwanted, unusable, or expired controlled substances from hospitals, pharmacies, and other registrants. As a reverse distributor, Stericycle was subject to strict recordkeeping, reporting obligations, security requirements, and regular DEA inspections of its registered facilities, including the duty to promptly notify the local DEA Field Division Office in writing of any theft or significant loss.
As admitted by the company, Stericycle circumvented these requirements by using temporary storage facilities that were not registered with the DEA and thus not subject to regular inspection. Security was inadequate at many locations, including at the company’s former facility in Rancho Cordova. In some instances, controlled substances were stored in unlocked trailers within fenced yards. Though some facilities had security cameras, several cameras were non‑operational.
Stericycle conspired to defraud the DEA by avoiding the filing of reports that would have alerted the agency to thefts and significant losses of controlled substances in its care. Multiple Stericycle managers and executives were aware that the company lacked a reliable system for tracking packages across its transportation network or auditing packages received in Indianapolis, creating opportunities for diversion.
Under the DPA, Stericycle has agreed to continue cooperating in any ongoing or future criminal investigations related to this conduct. The company also agreed to enhance its compliance program, including measures for independent oversight, training, internal investigations of reported misconduct, and compliance reporting to the Department of Justice for the remainder of the agreement’s term. The resolutions do not include the criminal release of any individuals.
The government reached this resolution based on several factors, including the nature and seriousness of Stericycle’s conduct, its knowing and willful decisions not to report thefts or significant losses, its use of unregistered facilities to store controlled substances, and the company’s divestiture of the business component at issue in April 2020 to a non‑affiliated company that brought the business segment into compliance. The remaining business was acquired by another company in November 2024. Stericycle also enhanced its compliance program and committed to continuing improvements to meet the minimum requirements set forth in the DPA. The company received credit for accepting responsibility for its criminal conduct.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Anderson and Adrian T. Kinsella are prosecuting the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David E. Thiess assisted with the civil settlement.
Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty for Role in Shipping Half-a-Million Fentanyl Pills Across the United States a result of Homeland Security Task ForceRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Marcus Miller, 36, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty Thursday to 15 counts of drug trafficking offenses and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Miller and his fellow conspirators shipped hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills around the country for more than a year. On several occasions, law enforcement seized packages shipped by Miller, Jones, and their co-conspirators, and found fentanyl pills, often hidden inside children’s toys. In total, law enforcement seized approximately 450,000 fentanyl pills connected to the conspiracy through seized shipments and search warrants. Based on additional evidence, law enforcement estimates that members of the conspiracy have shipped more than one million fentanyl pills to customers in several different states.
During searches connected to the conspiracy, agents found hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills, more than $80,000 in cash, and 17 firearms. Some of the pills and a firearm were hidden inside a secret compartment in Miller’s vehicle. Miller is prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions that include burglary, carrying a loaded firearm, carrying a loaded concealed weapon, and convictions in 2009, 2017, and 2020 of being felon in possession of a firearm.
Miller is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta on Oct. 8, 2026. Miller faces a mandatory sentence of at least 10 years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Sacramento is composed of agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Northern California High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, the Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.
The Sacramento Police Department, the Folsom Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Citrus Heights Police Department assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross Pearson is prosecuting the case.
Jury Convicts Former National Guard Task Force Member for Illegal Firearm Possession Offenses That Came to Light During an Investigation into Leaks of Sensitive Operational InformationRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal jury on Tuesday found Ruby Celly Uribe, 37, of Sacramento, guilty of unlawfully possessing a machine gun and possessing an unregistered short‑barreled rifle, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
With certain exceptions, federal law prohibits the possession of machine guns and unregistered rifles with barrels shorter than 16 inches.
According to court documents and evidence presented at a trial, Uribe was assigned to the logistics shop at the California National Guard Headquarters in Mather, California, and was a member of the Counterdrug Task Force (CDTF). The CDTF supports local, tribal, and federal law enforcement entities in the interdiction of drug trafficking organizations. While assigned to this unit, Uribe leaked information about upcoming drug raids to a person she knew to be involved with drug dealing. Text messages recovered from Uribe’s and the drug dealer’s phones revealed she shared sensitive information about upcoming operations, including the date and location and the number of military vehicles and aircraft involved.
A federal search warrant of Uribe’s residence resulted in the discovery of a short-barreled rifle. The firearm had been modified to fire in full-automatic mode as a machine gun. In addition, it was a privately made firearm with no serial number, commonly referred to as a ghost gun. A search of Uribe’s cellphone revealed that she was also engaged in trafficking other non‑serialized, short-barreled machine guns, including to a coworker on July 20, 2022.
During preparation for trial in this case, the FBI learned of another illegal firearm that Uribe sold in August 2022. The FBI safely recovered that firearm, which is also a machine gun and short-barreled rifle.
Image of an illegal firearm Uribe sold to a coworker on July 20, 2022.
Image of two illegal firearms Uribe offered to sell to a customer on Aug. 11, 2022. The customer purchased the black one. Officers later recovered the green one from Uribe’s residence on Dec. 13, 2022.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with assistance from the California Military Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adrian T. Kinsella and Nicole M. Vanek are prosecuting the case.
Uribe is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins on Sept. 11, 2026. Uribe faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Stanislaus County Deputy District Attorney Appointed to Federal Team Prosecuting Transnational Drug Organizations in Stanislaus County as part of the Homeland Security Task ForceRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — U.S. Attorney Eric Grant and Stanislaus County District Attorney Jeff Laugero announced today the appointment of Deputy District Attorney Cindy De Silva to be a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney to prosecute cases in federal court relating to transnational drug organizations with ties to Stanislaus County.
De Silva will work on the Homeland Security Task Force, a team of federal and state prosecutors, agents, and analysts dedicated to combatting transnational organized crime and targeting cartels. As a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, De Silva will remain employed by the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office and will be able to prosecute cases in both state and federal court. De Silva will work in this role for at least two years.
“Communities across the Central Valley continue to feel the devastating effects of dangerous drugs: addiction, homelessness, property crime, violence, and loss of life,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “Our partnership with the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office strengthens our ability to investigate and prosecute transnational drug trafficking organizations that threaten the safety of Stanislaus County residents. Cindy De Silva is a highly skilled and experienced prosecutor whose work will help ensure that drug traffickers are held accountable. I appreciate the continued collaboration and commitment of District Attorney Laugero and his office in protecting our communities.”
“I am proud to join with the United States Attorney’s Office in the fight against drug trafficking organizations,” said Stanislaus County District Attorney Jeff Laugero. “The resources and capabilities this partnership provides will directly improve our ability to prosecute and punish drug dealers operating in our region and devastating lives in Stanislaus County. By combining resources and expertise, and cross-designating exceptional Deputy District Attorneys such as Cindy De Silva as Special Assistant United States Attorneys, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant has demonstrated his commitment to enhancing public safety, and I thank him for his continued support for law enforcement in Stanislaus County.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office currently has Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the District Attorney’s Offices of Yolo, Sacramento, and Fresno Counties.
Sacramento Man Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison for Defrauding the IRS of over $270,000Read the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Toyed Xiong, 40, of Sacramento, was sentenced Thursday to 12 months and one day in prison for one count of aiding or assisting in the preparation or presentation of a false or fraudulent tax return, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, for the tax years from 2018 through 2021, Xiong falsified more than 20 of his clients’ tax returns to increase his clients’ refund amounts and reduce their tax liabilities. He reported false businesses, false income, false expenses, and false deductions for his clients to the Internal Revenue Service. In one instance, Xiong prepared a client’s 2021 tax return and falsely reported that the client incurred $10,017 in business losses when the client did not operate any business. On the same return, Xiong also falsely reported that the client was entitled to a $3,000 loss on the client’s Schedule D. He knew that the client was not entitled to the Schedule C or Schedule D losses. Xiong repeated similar fraudulent conduct with respect to several of his clients’ tax returns.
On Dec. 4, 2025, Xiong pleaded guilty. Xiong’s conduct resulted in a loss to the IRS in the amount of $270,592, which he was ordered to pay in restitution to the IRS.
IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nchekube Onyima prosecuted the case.
Sacramento Man Indicted for Cannabis Investment Scheme Involving Victims Solicited at Casinos, Bars, and Restaurants Throughout the RegionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Keinyatey Deboros Chambers, 49, of Sacramento, is scheduled to make an initial appearance today after a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging him with 10 counts of wire fraud for an investment scheme, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between December 2017 and March 2026, Chambers falsely represented that he was involved in the cannabis industry. He met victims at various casinos, bars, and restaurants throughout California and represented that if they invested with his cannabis company, they would receive very high returns within days or weeks. Chambers, however, was not involved in the legitimate cannabis industry, and he never invested or used the investment money as promised. Instead, he stole it and used it to finance his personal life, spent it at casinos, or paid his associates.
After receiving investment money, Chambers pressured the investor-victims to invest additional money, and he encouraged investor-victims to find and recruit other investors. In total, Chambers is charged with having obtained more than half a million dollars through the scheme.
If you have information related to this case or believe you may be a victim, contact your local FBI office.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Gambling Control conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Delaney is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Chambers faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Rancho Cordova Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Production and Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Daragh Finbar Hayes, 45, of Rancho Cordova, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins to 40 years in prison for production of child sexual abuse material and one count of distribution of child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between June 25, 2024, and Sept. 30, 2024, Hayes used a child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of that conduct. Hayes hid cameras inside a bathroom that he knew the victim used and used the cameras to take videos and pictures of the victim while they were undressed. He then edited and saved those images in a hidden folder on his computer. Hayes went into illicit online chatrooms where he bragged about these images and shared them with others. Hayes pleaded guilty on Jan. 9, 2026.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Campbell prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Two Charged with Trafficking Fentanyl After 7 Kilos Found Hidden in Car Door During a Traffic Stop in Fresno CountyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Mexican nationals Victor Piceno Madrigal, 46, and Erick Larios Acosta, 25, charging them with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on May 13, 2026, Madrigal and Acosta were driving northbound on U.S. Interstate-5 in Fresno County when they were stopped for a traffic violation. A subsequent search of the vehicle yielded 7 kilograms of fentanyl powder divided into single-kilogram packages hidden inside the rear passenger door panel.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio Pataca is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Madrigal and Acosta face a mandatory minimum 10 years in prison up to life in prison and a $10 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Shasta County Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Running a $35 Million Investment Fraud Scheme and Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Matthew Piercey, 49, of Palo Cedro, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley to 30 years in prison for wire fraud, concealment money laundering, and witness tampering in connection with a $35 million investment fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
On May 15, 2025, four days before trial, Piercey pleaded guilty without a written plea agreement to 27 counts charged in the indictment.
“Today’s sentence reflects the devastating human toll of this fraud scheme,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “Piercey preyed on trusting investors, many of whom he met at church, convincing them to hand over decades’ worth of savings. The losses are measured not only in dollars but also in shattered futures and other personal hardship for families. This prosecution demonstrates our commitment to holding accountable those who enrich themselves through deception.”
“Matthew Piercey made complicated but empty promises that his investment advice would guarantee profits. He also had a detailed plan to avoid prosecution,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. “He greatly underestimated the skill and determination of the FBI agents, forensic accountants, and specialists, who carefully unraveled his web of lies and stopped his attempt to escape arrest. The FBI will continue to go after anyone who takes advantage of investors for personal gain.”
According to court documents, between July 2015 and August 2020, Piercey solicited investor funds by holding himself out as an investment advisor through his purported investment companies Family Wealth Legacy and Zolla. He made a variety of false and misleading statements to investors about the nature and success of trading algorithms, commissions and fees, investment strategies, the liquidity of investments, and the financial stability of Family Wealth Legacy and Zolla. For example, Piercey marketed the “Upvesting Fund,” an automated algorithmic trading fund that he falsely claimed had a history of success. He took money from numerous investors in this purported fund but privately admitted to an associate that there was no Upvesting Fund.
Running a Ponzi-like fraud scheme, Piercey used some investor money to make payments to other investors. As the scheme progressed, Piercey used a Redding-area chiropractor to conceal his continued operation of the investment fraud and take in new money.
In total, Piercey paid back only approximately $8.8 million to investors of the approximately $35 million invested. He used the additional money for various business and personal expenses, including paying a criminal defense firm and buying two residential properties. Few, if any, liquid assets remained to repay investors.
According to court documents, when Piercey learned he was under investigation, he took steps to dissuade investors and witnesses from responding to grand jury subpoenas. His actions caused several individuals to delay producing documents, while at the same time, he syphoned off nearly $775,000 from victim investors into a bank account he controlled.
On Nov. 16, 2020, when law enforcement agents attempted to arrest Piercey, he fled from arrest and led agents on a vehicle chase through residential neighborhoods and onto the highway before abandoning his vehicle and entering Lake Shasta with an underwater submersible device. After about 20 minutes in the water, he emerged from the lake where he was arrested.
After his arrest, Piercey used coded language to communicate with two individuals who visited him in jail. He directed these individuals to take actions with the contents of a U-Haul storage locker he had rented in Redding. A subsequent FBI search of the storage locker revealed that Piercey had rented the locker under a fictitious name, Chadwick Givens, using a fake California driver’s license. The locker contained, among other things, a wig and ₣31,000 in Swiss francs.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Thuesen, Audrey B. Hemesath, and Kevin Khasigian prosecuted the case.
Kenneth Winton, 73, of Chico, who conspired with Piercey in the scheme, pleaded guilty in December 2020 and is scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 27, 2026.
Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Exploiting a Child over Snapchat and InstagramRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Francisco Mariano Orantes, 33, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to one count of sexually exploiting a minor, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between 2023 and 2024, Orantes persuaded or coerced at least seven minor female victims to produce sexually explicit images and videos. Using digital communication applications like Snapchat and Instagram on his cellphones, Orantes gained his victims’ trust by impersonating a teenage-aged girl and convinced them to trade content. Often, he sent his victims sexually explicit images or videos of the girl he was impersonating and convinced them to produce similar imagery or videos. When his victims would replicate, Orantes would screen record his conversations and download and store the content on his devices. He categorized the images and videos by the child’s name, age or other identifier, in a folder called “Children.”
One victim told law enforcement that she was coerced into sending Orantes additional material because he found out where she went to school and threatened to tell everyone at school if she did not perform as instructed. In fact, law enforcement later recovered screen recordings showing Orantes using geolocation tools to identify that minor’s address and school, and a saved text file in which he threatened to share the minor’s nude images with people at her school. Another victim similarly reported that Orantes knew her full name and address and threatened to leak her images if she did not comply with his instructions. In total, Orantes was found in possession of more than 11,000 images and more than 14,000 videos of child sexual abuse material on his devices, including images and videos showing the sexual abuse of infants or toddlers.
The Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dhruv M. Sharma is prosecuting the case.
Orantes is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta on Sept. 17, 2026. Orantes faces a minimum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those 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.
Nevada Felon with Sacramento Ties Indicted for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment today against Taisia Soloai Fauolo, 29, of Henderson, Nevada, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on Oct. 21, 2025, Fauolo was arrested in Sacramento after acting suspiciously during a law enforcement action. The officers observed Fauolo crouch behind a parked car, then running through a nearby apartment complex. Fauolo was detained and a 9 mm Glock 19 handgun was recovered beneath the rear axle of the car where Fauolo had been observed crouching. A 30-round magazine was inserted into the firearm, and one round was chambered. Fauolo is prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions for unlawful transport of firearms, participation in a criminal street gang, robbery, and for carrying a loaded firearm.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from the San Francisco Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zulkar Khan is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Fauolo faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Mexican Nationals Charged with Drug Trafficking and Illegal Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Mexican nationals Manuel Gomez-Sanchez, 39, and David Alejandro Sandoval Canales, 41, charging both men with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on March 24, 2026, Gomez-Sanchez and Sandoval were driving northbound on U.S. Interstate-5 in Kings County when they were stopped for traffic violations. A subsequent search of the vehicle yielded 10 pounds of methamphetamine packaged into single-pounds increments, a digital scale, ammunition, two notebooks containing information consistent with narcotic sales and purchases, a loaded Berretta semiautomatic handgun, and an AR-15 rifle.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the California Highway Patrol, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Initiative (HIDTA) and the High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT) conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas E. Karp is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Gomez-Sanchez and Sandoval face a minimum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime both defendants face a minimum sentence of five consecutive years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, and a fine up to $250,000. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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.
Vacaville Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Firearm and Drug PossessionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — James Cargill, 45, of Vacaville, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to 15 years in prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on Jan. 21, 2025, police officers found Cargill to be in possession of more than a pound of methamphetamine. Cargill was arrested and released on parole. He was arrested again on May 9, 2025, after police officers found him in possession of just under a half a pound of methamphetamine and a loaded Glock 20 semi-automatic pistol.
Cargill pleaded guilty on Feb. 10, 2026.
The Vacaville Police Department, the Fairfield Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Campbell 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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Fresno Man Sentenced to Almost 10 Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm Connected to a Shooting at ResidenceRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Randall McBride, 39, of Fresno, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to nine years and eight months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on Jan. 8, 2024, McBride’s vehicle was seen on surveillance video driving by a residence as the driver shot out multiple times, striking both the house and a vehicle in front of it as a victim hid behind the vehicle. When McBride was arrested later that month, he was in possession of a Glock handgun loaded with a high-capacity magazine that he had stolen. Ballistic testing linked the handgun to the earlier shooting at the residence. McBride is prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions including six convictions for illegally possessing a firearm, stalking, and burglary.
McBride pleaded guilty on Oct. 21, 2025.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fresno Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Veneman-Hughes prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Stockton Man Pleads Guilty to Multi-State Scheme to Defraud Factoring CompaniesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Hector Perez, 35, of Stockton, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for his role in a scheme to defraud companies of $2 million, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between May 2018 and November 2020, Hector Perez and his brother Flavio Perez, 30, of Stockton, carried out a fraudulent scheme targeting invoice factoring companies.
Invoice factoring is a financial service that provides immediate cash flow to a business in exchange for the business’s outstanding invoices. The invoice factoring company, which has bought the outstanding invoices, then has the right to collect the money owed by the debtors on those invoices.
To execute the scheme, the brothers created corporate entities posing as businesses seeking to sell fabricated debt in the form of fraudulent invoices. The defendants then sold these fraudulent invoices to at least four different factoring companies. As a result of this deception, the victim factoring companies transferred money to bank accounts held under the control of one or both of the defendants. The victim factoring companies would either never get paid on the fake invoices that they had purchased or if they did, would get paid much less than they were due. If they were paid, the money generally came from the defendants, most often via bank accounts held in the names of fictitious debtors. These payments were designed to disguise the fraud so that the defendants could avoid detection and continue the fraudulent enterprise. From May 2018 through September 2020, the overall loss to the victims totaled more than $2 million.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Thuesen is prosecuting the case.
Hector Perez is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb on Aug. 24, 2026. Hector Perez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the wire fraud counts, and a mandatory consecutive two-years in prison for the aggravated identity theft count. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
A status conference is scheduled for Flavio Perez on July 13, 2026. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy count. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Sacramento Man Sentenced to 22.5 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting a MinorRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Michael David Dickey, 31, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to 22 years and six months in prison for sexual exploitation of a child, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, in 2024, Dickey was identified during a law enforcement investigation into forums on the dark web where posters traded child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Law enforcement traced several usernames to Dickey whose posts indicated that he recorded video of a 13-year-old boy engaging in sexually explicit activity and posted it onto the forums. A search warrant revealed an extensive collection of CSAM. Dickey pleaded guilty on Dec. 8, 2025.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Yang prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Takeda Pharmaceuticals Agrees to Pay $13.6 Million to Resolve False Claims Allegations Relating to Improper Payments to PhysiciansRead the Press Release
Settlement found here:
takeda_settlement_-_final_executed_agreement_-_redacted.pdfSACRAMENTO, Calif. – Takeda Pharmaceuticals, U.S.A., Inc. has agreed to pay $13,670,921 to resolve allegations that it knowingly caused the submission of false claims to Medicare and other federal health care programs by paying kickbacks to healthcare providers to induce prescriptions of Trintellix, an antidepressant medication that Takeda marketed and sold to treat major depressive disorder.
“The Department of Justice is committed to vigorously pursuing violations of the False Claims Act arising from illegal kickbacks,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Such conduct can erode the trust that patients place in their healthcare providers and lead to higher drug costs for American taxpayers.”
“This settlement demonstrates the continued commitment of my office to ensure that patients’ best interests remain paramount,” said Eric Grant, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California. “Prescribing decisions should not be influenced by drug companies’ payments or side perks made available to physicians.”
“Alleged kickback schemes such as those described in this matter undermine the trust that patients place in their providers and federal health care programs,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG). “This settlement underscores that HHS-OIG, together with our law enforcement partners, will investigate and hold accountable entities that attempt to disguise purported honoraria or other improper payments as legitimate compensation. Decisions regarding patient care should never be influenced by extravagant meals or other inducements.”
The Anti‑Kickback Statute prohibits offering or paying anything of value to induce the referral of items or services covered by Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and other federal health care programs. The statute is intended to ensure that the judgments of healthcare professionals are not compromised by improper financial incentives.
The civil settlement resolves allegations that, from January 2014 to October 2020, Takeda paid improper remuneration, including in the form of speaker honoraria and meals at high-end restaurants, to healthcare professionals to induce them to prescribe the antidepressant medication Trintellix in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute. The United States contends that Takeda selected certain healthcare providers to be part of the Trintellix speaker bureau and provided them paid speaking opportunities with the intent that the speaker honoraria and meals would induce them to prescribe Trintellix. The government further contends that certain prescribers who attended multiple programs on the same topic and received meals and drinks from Takeda received no educational benefit from attending duplicate programs.
“As the investigative arm of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service is committed to protecting the integrity of programs that directly affect our service members and their families,” said John E. Helsing, Special Agent-in-Charge for the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Western Field Office. “When companies use kickbacks to influence prescribing, they erode trust in healthcare providers, misuse federal healthcare funds, and put the health and readiness of our warfighters at risk. DCIS will continue working with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice to stop schemes that threaten those who faithfully serve our country.”
This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, with assistance from the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and HHS’s Office of Inspector General.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Thiess for the Eastern District of California and Trial Attorney Kimya Saied of the Justice Department’s Civil Fraud Section handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Takeda Agrees to Pay $13.6M to Resolve False Claims Allegations Relating to Improper Payments to PhysiciansRead the Press Release
Takeda Pharmaceuticals, U.S.A. Inc. has agreed to pay $13,670,921 to resolve allegations that it knowingly caused the submission of false claims to Medicare and other federal health care programs by paying kickbacks to healthcare providers to induce prescriptions of Trintellix, an antidepressant medication that Takeda marketed and sold to treat major depressive disorder.
“The Department of Justice is committed to vigorously pursuing violations of the False Claims Act arising from illegal kickbacks,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Such conduct can erode the trust that patients place in their healthcare providers and lead to higher drug costs for American taxpayers.”
“This settlement demonstrates the continued commitment of my office to ensure that patients’ best interests remain paramount,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Grant for the Eastern District of California. “Prescribing decisions should not be influenced by drug companies’ payments or side perks made available to physicians.”
“Alleged kickback schemes such as those described in this matter undermine the trust that patients place in their providers and federal health care programs,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG). “This settlement underscores that HHS-OIG, together with our law enforcement partners, will investigate and hold accountable entities that attempt to disguise purported honoraria or other improper payments as legitimate compensation. Decisions regarding patient care should never be influenced by extravagant meals or other inducements.”
“As the investigative arm of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service is committed to protecting the integrity of programs that directly affect our service members and their families,” said Special Agent in Charge John E. Helsing for the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Western Field Office. “When companies use kickbacks to influence prescribing, they erode trust in healthcare providers, misuse federal healthcare funds, and put the health and readiness of our warfighters at risk. DCIS will continue working with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice to stop schemes that threaten those who faithfully serve our country.”
The Anti‑Kickback Statute prohibits offering or paying anything of value to induce the referral of items or services covered by Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and other federal health care programs. The statute is intended to ensure that the judgments of healthcare professionals are not compromised by improper financial incentives.
The civil settlement resolves allegations that, from January 2014 to October 2020, Takeda paid improper remuneration, including in the form of speaker honoraria and meals at high-end restaurants, to healthcare professionals to induce them to prescribe the antidepressant medication Trintellix in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute. The United States contends that Takeda selected certain healthcare providers to be part of the Trintellix speaker bureau and provided them paid speaking opportunities with the intent that the speaker honoraria and meals would induce them to prescribe Trintellix. The government further contends that certain prescribers who attended multiple programs on the same topic and received meals and drinks from Takeda received no educational benefit from attending duplicate programs.
This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, with assistance from the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and HHS’s Office of Inspector General.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
Trial Attorney Kimya Saied of the Justice Department’s Civil Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Thiess for the Eastern District of California handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
California Political Consultant and Former Public Official Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Fraud, Filing a False Tax Return, and Making False StatementsRead the Press Release
Plea agreement found here:
williamson_plea_agreement.pdfSACRAMENTO, Calif. — Political consultant Dana Williamson, 53, of Carmichael, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, subscribing to a false tax return, and making false statements to a federal agent, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
“As part of an investigation that began in 2022, Williamson joins the two others who were charged in the ‘Conduit Scheme’ conspiracy in pleading guilty,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “These conspirators, three of whom are former public officials, shockingly looted campaign funds for personal benefit. Our office and our law enforcement partners will continue working to protect the integrity of the electoral process and ensure that those who scorn the law are held accountable.”
“Dana Williamson and her co-conspirators weaponized public trust for personal gain,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. “They stole from a campaign account, fabricated contracts, filed false tax returns, and lied to federal agents. The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation spent years investigating this case because integrity in public service isn't optional. No title and no political connection places anyone above the law.”
“Today’s plea highlights the calculated and far reaching nature of this scheme, which involved using pass through payments, creating fabricated records, and taking steps to mislead federal investigators,” said Linda Nguyen, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Oakland Field Office. “IRS-CI remains committed to uncovering complex financial fraud and holding those responsible to account.”
The Conduit Scheme
According to court documents, between February 2022 and September 2024, Williamson conspired with Greg Campbell, 52, of Davis, Sean McCluskie, 57, of Davis, and others to steal approximately $225,000 in funds from a dormant political campaign and funnel it to McCluskie for his personal use. Collectively, they funneled the money through various business entities and disguised it as pay to McCluskie’s spouse for what was, in reality, a no-show job.
False Tax Returns
From 2021 to 2023, Williamson claimed a total of approximately $1,718,277 million in business deductions for what were actually personal and nondeductible expenditures, such as food delivery services, luxury vacations to Mexico (twice) and Santa Barbara, private jet travel, purported wages for family members, home goods, veterinary services, landscaping services, and other nondeductible personal expenses. Williamson’s false deductions resulted in a tax loss of approximately $504,523, which she agreed in her plea agreement to pay back to the IRS in full as restitution.
False Statements
When questioned by FBI agents in November 2024, Williamson made false statements regarding the diversion of campaign funds, Williamson’s request to Campbell to create false and backdated contracts after she received a civil subpoena from the U.S. Attorney’s Office regarding Paycheck Protection Program loans to her business, and allegations of public corruption. These statements were designed to lead the FBI away from Williamson’s criminal activity by concealing the nature of the conduit scheme, denying the backdating of contracts, and hiding Williamson’s involvement in passing information to former clients and business partners to give them an advantage in litigation against the state.
This case is the product of a multiyear investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Anderson, Katherine T. Lydon, and Matthew Thuesen, and Public Integrity Section Trial Attorney Alexandre Dempsey are prosecuting the case.
On Dec. 4, 2025, Campbell pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to commit offenses against the United States. On Nov. 20, 2025, McCluskie pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud. They are scheduled for a status of sentencing hearing before Chief U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on June 4, 2026.
A status conference regarding Williamson’s sentencing is scheduled before Chief Judge Nunley on July 9, 2026. Williamson faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine, and $225,000 in restitution for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud; up to three years in prison, a $100,000 fine and $504,523 in restitution to the IRS for filing a false tax return, and up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for making false statements. The actual sentence and amounts of restitution, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Jury Convicts Sacramento Man of Gun OffenseRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal jury found Anthony Carter, 23, of Sacramento, guilty on Tuesday of being a felon in possession of firearms, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents and evidence presented at a trial held before U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins, on Dec. 4, 2023, law enforcement officers responded to a call for service regarding a parking disturbance involving a firearm at an apartment complex in South Sacramento. When officers arrived, they saw four individuals, including the defendant and his co-defendant Isaiah Rowland, 30, of Antelope. While officers conducted their initial investigation, a nearby resident informed police that his Ring security cameras had just captured two men hiding firearms underneath a trash can at the corner of his apartment building.
Officers reviewed the Ring camera footage, which showed two individuals running toward the corner of the building at approximately 11:05 p.m. In a video, Rowland is seen kneeling to hide a firearm under a trash can while Carter stands nearby, looking around as if to act as a lookout. Immediately after Rowland finishes, Carter is seen crouching at the same trash can and placing a second firearm beneath it. Both men then leave the area on foot. The Ring cameras did not activate again from when Rowland and Carter discarded their firearms to when the Ring camera owner secured the firearms. Subsequently, the Ring camera owner turned the firearms over to police. The two firearms were a .40-caliber Glock 27 and a Springfield Armory XD 45 pistol. Carter is prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions including illegal firearms possession.
The Sacramento Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zulkar Khan and Caily Nelson are prosecuting the case.
In August 2024, a grand jury charged both Carter and Rowland with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Rowland pleaded guilty on June 13, 2025, and was sentenced on Sept. 19, 2025, to 33 months in prison.
Carter is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Coggins on Sept. 25, 2026. Carter faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case is the result of the ongoing collaboration between the Sacramento Police Department and its local, state, and federal partners as part of a Public Safety Partnership (PSP) to address violent crime in the community. Started in 2022, the Sacramento PSP is a multi-faceted violence-reduction strategy that relies on innovative data-driven strategies to promote public and community safety. Participating PSP partners include: the Sacramento District Attorney’s Office, Sacramento FBI, Sacramento DEA, Sacramento ATF, the Sacramento U.S. Marshals, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Founder of Punjabi Devils Motorcycle Club Stockton Sentenced to over 5 Years in Prison for Unlawfully Dealing in Firearms and Possessing a Machine GunRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —Jashanpreet Singh, 27, of Lodi, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to five years and four months in prison for unlawful dealing of firearms and unlawful possession of a machine gun, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Singh was the founder of the “Punjabi Devils” Motorcycle Club, a Stockton-based outlaw motorcycle gang associated with the Hells Angels. On June 6, 2025, Singh attempted to sell several weapons to an undercover officer, including a short-barreled rifle, three assault weapons, three machine gun conversion devices, and a revolver. A search of Singh’s residence resulted in the discovery of additional firearms, including a machine gun, another machine gun conversion device, and a silencer.
Firearms (including machine guns and a short-barreled rifle), firearms parts (including a silencer and high-capacity drum magazines), and other items seized from Singh’s vehicle and residence on June 6, 2025.
Officers also discovered a single pineapple-style capped and fused hand grenade, as well as what law enforcement believed was a military electronic capped claymore mine. The Explosives Ordinance Detail of the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department bomb team destroyed these items at the scene.
Singh initially faced state charges in San Joaquin County related to these offenses. On July 21, 2025, he failed to appear in court, and the state court issued a bench warrant for his arrest. On July 23, 2025, the FBI received an alert from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection that Singh had booked a ticket to India and was scheduled to depart from the San Francisco International Airport on July 26, 2025. On that date, officers located and arrested Singh at the airport before he could flee. Singh remains in federal custody. Singh pleaded guilty on Feb. 2, 2026.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations; Homeland Security Investigations; the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office; the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, Explosive Ordinance Detail; the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office, Special Investigations Unit; the Stockton Police Department; and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Former Central Valley Resident Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Steal Building Materials from a Tulare County CompanyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — David Theron Ross, 64, of Sparks, Nevada, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud as part of a two-person scheme to defraud a homebuilding company of building materials worth up to $1.5 million, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between March 2021 and December 2023, Ross and Eduardo Jara, 37, of Lindsay, conspired to defraud a construction company of building materials. Jara utilized his role as Assistant Purchasing Manager of the company to order building materials. Ross, a forklift driver for the same company during parts of the conspiracy, would pick up the materials to sell to local companies and share the proceeds with Jara. Jara would then complete the required purchase orders, purchase receipts, and purchase invoices to fictitiously show that the building materials were obtained by the company. This paperwork was turned into accounts payable and submitted to the company’s headquarters in Troy, Michigan, for payment. The company would then pay their supplier based on the fraudulently created documents.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chan Hee Chu is prosecuting the case.
Jara pleaded guilty on April 20, 2026, and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 27, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff.
Ross is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Sherriff on Aug. 24, 2026. Both defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Sacramento Gang Member Sentenced to over 18 Years in Prison for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jose Miguel Hernandez, 27, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins to 18 years and four months in prison for a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Hernandez was a member of a violent Sacramento street gang that distributed massive amounts of lethal drugs in the Sacramento region during 2024. As part of his guilty plea, Hernandez admitted to conspiring with other gang members to distribute methamphetamine in Sacramento between Jan. 26, 2023, and May 10, 2024. During the conspiracy, Hernandez sold a total of 8 pounds of methamphetamine to a confidential source. Hernandez pleaded guilty on Sept. 9, 2025.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Sacramento Police Department, the Yuba County Sheriff’s Department, and the California Highway Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hitt is prosecuting the case.
The Court previously sentenced co-defendants Johnny Bobby Truong to 19 years in prison and Michael Hutchison to 15 years in prison.
Defendant Julio Sarabia pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 14, 2026.
The remaining defendants, Mulan Keophimanh, Tanya Lawson, and Guadalupe Cervantes, are scheduled for a status conference on June 5, 2026. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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.
Folsom Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Paul Joseph Richards, 51, of Folsom, pleaded guilty today to receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, from December 2023 through April 2025, Richards used the web browser BitTorrent to access and download large quantities of pornography, including over 10,000 files containing CSAM. When law enforcement searched Richards’s devices pursuant to a warrant, they located CSAM on Richards’ desktop computer, on an external hard drive found attached to the computer, and on Richards’ iPhone. In an interview with law enforcement, Richards admitted he downloaded the files and viewed the files, including describing some of the content.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Folsom Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Harman is prosecuting the case.
Richards is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta on Aug. 27, 2026. Richards faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Guilty Verdict for California Biolab OperatorRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Following a two-week trial, a jury found Jia Bei Zhu, 64, a Chinese national, guilty of fraudulently selling more than a million COVID tests for nearly $4 million through his Fresno-based company Universal Meditech Inc. (UMI), to customers across the United States and of lying to the FDA about his identity and role with UMI, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
“This verdict holds the defendant accountable for actions that exploited a public health crisis for his own gain. He flouted the lawful authority of the FDA and deliberately deceived the public by repackaging low-quality, foreign-made test kits at a time when accuracy and reliability were critical,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “This conduct, tied to the unlawful operations uncovered at the Reedley laboratory, put lives at risk. Our office remains committed to prosecuting those who endanger the public through fraud, especially in matters affecting the health and safety of our communities.”
“The defendant’s scheme to distribute medical devices that were misbranded and falsely represented as FDA-approved undermined public health during a critical time,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Iwanicki, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Los Angeles Field Office. “The FDA works closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which is designed to ensure, among other things, that medical devices are safe and effective. We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who threaten the health of consumers by evading FDA requirements.”
"Mr. Zhu saw a public health crisis and chose to profit from it by misrepresenting the origin, quality, and FDA approval status of his tests with the intent to flood the market with misbranded medical devices," said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. "This verdict is the result of diligent investigative work, the courage and cooperation of the witnesses, and our strong partnership with the FDA. The FBI is committed to safeguarding the integrity of the medical supply chain that Americans depend on."
Zhu was convicted on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, eight counts of substantive wire fraud, two counts of distributing adulterated and misbranded medical devices, and one count of making a false statement to the FDA. His romantic partner Zhaoyan Wang is also charged in the case. She fled the United States shortly before Zhu’s arrest and remains a fugitive from justice in China.
Importantly, the FDA, CDC, and FBI determined that the vivarium and fridges with pathogens and toxins in inappropriate containers were part of a failed effort by UMI to manufacture the COVID tests at its Fresno facility. They did not pose any risk to humans.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Zhu founded UMI with Zhaoyan Wang and hired inexperienced employees who would not ask any questions. The employees were cellphone salespeople, supermarket workers, childcare workers, and stay-at-home parents before starting at UMI. Some of the employees were hired through the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation, which is a public organization that helps find jobs for unskilled workers and provides significant subsidies to employers that hire them.
From approximately August 2020 through March 2023, Zhu, Wang, and others at UMI conspired with each other to import faulty COVID tests from China and then sell them to customers based on several different false representations. The false representations included that the tests: (1) were authorized by the FDA, (2) were made in the USA, (3) were made in connection with a certified medical lab, and (4) worked.
False Representation on Internet re: FDA Approval, Made in USA, and Test Accuracy
Several of the employees testified at trial. They explained that Zhu instructed them to make false representations to customers. The employees explained that they knew what they were doing was wrong but went through with it because they did not want to lose their jobs. They also explained that they feared Zhu would physically hurt them if they defied his orders.
Many of the victims also testified at trial. They explained how the tests they received from UMI were missing basic parts and could not even detect COVID.
Zhu’s scheme was first revealed in mid-2022 when one of the victims filed a civil lawsuit against UMI and performed a court-ordered inspection of UMI’s Fresno facility. The inspection showed that UMI lacked the ability to manufacture COVID tests and that it was nothing more than an unsanitary warehouse that was far below established quality standards for facilities that house medical devices. For example, there was vivarium that was not sealed off from the rest of the facility and multiple fridges with pathogens and toxins in juice, soda, and other inappropriate containers. A vivarium is supposed to be a dedicated space for housing and studying living animals in controlled environments.
Pathogens and Toxins in Inappropriate Containers
The inspection also showed hundreds of boxes of COVID tests from China.
Boxes of COVID Tests from China
Zhu tried to escape the civil lawsuit by moving UMI from Fresno to Reedley, a neighboring town, and changing its name to Prestige Biotech Inc. (PBI). This tactic, however, did not work and the FDA began investigating him. Zhu subsequently met with investigators from the FDA and CDC in May 2023 and falsely claimed to be a different person, Qiang “David” He, who had just recently come to the United States from China on an asylum application. He also falsely claimed that he did not know anything about UMI or PBI’s background.
The evidence showed that Zhu was previously an executive at the company IND in Canada in the early 2000s and that IND had gotten into trouble with the Canadian equivalent of the FDA for misconduct like the misconduct at issue in this case. He then came to the United States unlawfully, founded UMI, and began fraudulently selling COVID tests shortly thereafter.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Arelis Clemente and Joseph D. Barton are prosecuting the case.
Zhu is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on Aug. 24, 2026. Zhu faces maximum statutory penalties of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy charge and each of the wire fraud charges, three years in prison for each of the distribution of adulterated and misbranded medical device charges, and five years in prison for the false statements charge. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Sacramento Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Possession with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gabriel Cabrera, 23, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to eight years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on March 28, 2025, during a parole search of Cabrera’s home, agents discovered a firearm and some fentanyl that Cabrera had hidden in another resident’s bedroom. Agents also discovered drug paraphernalia and a drug sales ledger in Cabrera’s room. On Cabrera’s cellphone, officers discovered a video of Cabrera holding the same firearm and many messages between Cabrera and other individuals discussing Cabrera’s fentanyl sales. Cabrera is prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions for offenses including sale of a controlled substance, infliction of corporal injury on a spouse, and willfully discharging a firearm with gross negligence.
Cabrera pleaded guilty on Sept. 9, 2025.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from the Sacramento Couty Sheriff’s Office, the Sacramento Police Department, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Harman prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Bakersfield Man Sentenced to over 21 years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — David Garcia, 39, of Bakersfield, was sentenced Monday by Chief U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley to 21 years and 10 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on Oct. 17, 2022, law enforcement officers stopped an SUV for traffic violations. Garcia, the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, had an active parole warrant for his arrest. Garcia is also a documented former member of the Varrio Fillmore Trece Sureño criminal street gang. A search of Garcia’s SUV revealed a Glock 29, 9 mm semi-automatic handgun loaded with eight rounds. This firearm was later determined to be stolen. Garcia’s criminal history dates back approximately 20 years. Garcia is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of a prior felony conviction in 2016 for robbery.
Garcia pleaded guilty on Feb. 24, 2025.
In a black backpack on the front passenger seat, officers found one plastic bag containing 343.5 grams of methamphetamine, one plastic bag containing 11.2 grams of cocaine, and one plastic bag containing 8.5 grams of a mixture containing cocaine and methamphetamine. Officers also discovered three digital scales and a box of sandwich bags.
The Bakersfield Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Karp prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Former University Professor Convicted for Child Sexual Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Following a bench trial before visiting U.S. District Judge Jill A. Otake, Rodger Githens, 48, of West Sacramento, was found guilty of attempted enticement of a minor and receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
“This verdict stems from overwhelming evidence of a sickening attempt by a privileged defendant to sexually abuse a 7-year-old child,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “Protecting children from sexual exploitation is one of my highest priorities, and my office will continue to pursue these cases with the urgency and care they demand.”
According to court documents, Githens had been employed as a professor at a local university and had worked as a consultant for other colleges and universities. In March 2023, Githens, using the profile “Tall laid back,” initiated contact with a Grindr account controlled by an undercover agent. Githens quickly encouraged the undercover agent to establish a Telegram account, which he considered more secure. Githens told the agent he had taboo thoughts every day and was into “babies.” Githens stated that he “would love to have a dad or uncle invite me” and then described in graphic detail what he would like to do with the undercover agent and the agent’s fictional 7-year-old niece. Several times Githens discussed traveling to Fresno to meet the agent and the fictional niece, but on April 19, 2023, law enforcement served a search warrant at Githens’s residence and seized multiple electronic devices. Agents discovered numerous Telegram chats on Githens’s phone including several in which he was exchanging and commenting on videos of young children being raped.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from the West Sacramento Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa and McKenzie Hightower of the Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section are prosecuting the case.
Githens is scheduled to be sentenced on July 20, 2026, by Judge Otake. Githens faces prison terms of between five and 20 years for the child sexual abuse material charge and from 10 years to life for the attempted enticement charge. He also faces potential fines of $250,000 for each charge, and a lifetime term of supervised release. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Sacramento Man Charged with Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment Thursday against Anthony Julian Ramirez, 32, of Sacramento, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on Jan. 14, 2026, Ramirez was the passenger in a car stopped by law enforcement officers for a traffic violation. During the stop, the driver of the car was found to have multiple pending arrest warrants and admitted to having drug paraphernalia in the car. Officers searched the car and under Ramirez’ passenger seat, found a loaded Springfield Armory Hellcat 9 mm handgun. When booking Ramirez into jail following his arrest, deputies also found a round of 9 mm ammunition in his shoe. Ramirez is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of multiple felony convictions, including for burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle, and five convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The FBI and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Conolly is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Ramirez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Illegal Alien from El Salvador Indicted: Two Counts of Assault on a Federal Officer with a Deadly Weapon and one count of Destruction of Government PropertyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment Thursday against Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, 36, a national of El Salvador residing in Stanislaus County, charging him with two counts of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon and one count of destruction of government property, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on the morning of April 7, 2026, four federal immigration officers conducted an operation in the city of Patterson to locate and arrest Mendoza Hernandez because he is illegally present in the United States. Officers stopped Mendoza Hernandez near an onramp to Interstate 5 by activating their emergency lights. Mendoza Hernandez pulled over on the right shoulder.
During the stop, Mendoza Hernandez identified himself and an agent informed Mendoza Hernandez that he was being detained and instructed him to step out of the vehicle. Despite repeated requests, Mendoza Hernandez kept his car running and did not comply with agent requests. Mendoza Hernandez eventually drove forward and hit an agent with his vehicle. Mendoza Hernandez then quickly shifted the vehicle in reverse and abruptly accelerated in a rapid backward motion. While in reverse, Mendoza Hernandez violently collided with the front of a law enforcement vehicle parked behind Mendoza Hernandez.
After striking the front of the agents’ vehicle, Mendoza Hernandez’s vehicle then directly faced two of the agents assisting in the stop. After a brief pause, Mendoza Hernandez accelerated forward toward the agents. One of the agents was in the direct path of Mendoza Hernandez’s vehicle and jumped out of the way to avoid being hit. Mendoza Hernandez jumped the center median and drove the wrong way against traffic toward the freeway. He then crossed the median, stopping his car on the side of the road.
During this incident, and in response to the vehicle’s movements, agents discharged their firearms at the vehicle and hit Mendoza Hernandez several times. Agents rendered medical aid at the scene and Mendoza Hernandez was transported to the hospital. After receiving medical treatment, Mendoza Hernandez was medically cleared and taken into FBI custody on Monday, April 13, 2026.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department helped secure the scene and provided substantial public safety assistance while Mendoza Hernandez recovered in the hospital. The Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office provided substantial support following the incident. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hitt is prosecuting the case.
On April 20, 2026, the District Court ordered Mendoza Hernandez to remain detained pending trial in this matter.
If convicted of the assault charges, Mendoza Hernandez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count. If convicted of the destruction charge, Mendoza Hernandez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Central Valley Men Indicted for Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment Thursday against Ruben Garcia, 49, of Turlock, and his brother-in-law Heriberto Ayala, 48, of Delhi, charging them with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and distribution of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between Nov. 1, 2025, and April 15, 2026, Garcia and Ayala worked together to sell methamphetamine. During the investigation, law enforcement agents used a confidential source to conduct methamphetamine purchases from Garcia and Ayala in the cities of Turlock and Delhi.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Modesto Police Department, the Stockton High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force conducted the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Campbell is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.