Northern District of California
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Former Antioch Police Officer Sentenced to 7.5 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Violate Civil Rights and Distribute Anabolic Steroids, and Obstructing JusticeRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Former Antioch police officer Devon Christopher Wenger was sentenced today to seven-and-a-half years in federal prison for conspiring to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate residents of Antioch through the use of unreasonable force, conspiring to distribute anabolic steroids, and obstructing justice. Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White handed down the sentence.
Wenger, 33, formerly of Oakley, California, was indicted in two separate cases. In April 2025, following a three-day trial, a federal jury convicted Wenger on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids and one count of obstruction of justice. In September 2025, following a seven-day trial, a jury convicted Wenger of conspiracy against rights. Wenger was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals in September 2025 and has remained in federal custody since then.
“Devon Wenger and his co-conspirators believed the badges they wore gave them a license to break the law. They were wrong. Today, the court held Mr. Wenger accountable for his betrayal of the public trust placed in him,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian.
“Devon Wenger’s sentencing marks another significant step in a multi-year effort to uncover and confront corruption within the Antioch and Pittsburg police departments. His conviction, along with the earlier convictions in this case, underscores that no one is above the law. The FBI and our partners are committed to holding those who violate the civil rights of others and betray the public’s trust accountable,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Agustin Lopez.
According to court documents and the evidence presented at the September 2025 trial, Wenger and two other Antioch Police Department officers, Morteza Amiri and Eric Rombough, conspired with each other and others about using excessive force against individuals in and around Antioch. The uses and intended uses of excessive force included deployment of a police K9, deployment of a 40mm “less lethal” launcher, and other unnecessary violence. The evidence showed that Wenger and others deployed uses of force as punishment to subjects beyond any punishment appropriately imposed by the criminal justice system. Wenger also withheld details about uses of excessive force from police reports and other official documents.
Wenger, Amiri, and or Rombough engaged in numerous communications in furtherance of the conspiracy, including an April 2019 communication in which Wenger sent a photo and booking information for a suspect to Amiri and Rombough and requested that they “[p]lease find this guy[] and f--- him in the a--.” Rombough responded “Deal,” and Amiri responded “ill bite em.”
Later in 2019, Wenger broke the arm of a young female shoplifting suspect, then pushed her sister to the ground, handcuffed the sister, picked the sister up and grabbed her neck, and smashed the sister’s face into the side of the patrol car, as captured on video. However, Wenger wrote in his police report that as he was escorting the sister to a patrol car, she attempted to pull away from him and that as a result of her actions she “subsequently fell onto the side of the patrol vehicle.”
In August 2020, after Amiri deployed his K9 to apprehend a suspect in Pittsburg, California, with Wenger, he wrote to Wenger “if pitt didn’t have all those body cams and that was us... we would have f---ed him up more. he didn’t get what he deserved.” Wenger responded, “I agree. That’s why I don’t like body cams.” The next night, Wenger wrote to Amiri, “We need to get into something tonight bro!! Lets go 3 nights in a row dog bite!!!” Amiri and Wenger exchanged additional messages and bloodied photographs after engaging with another suspect that night, and following Amiri’s deployment of his K9 to bite a suspect in a homeless encampment the subsequent evening. At the end of the week, Amiri wrote to Wenger, “let’s f--- some people up next work week,” to which Wenger agreed.
According to court documents and evidence presented at the April 2025 trial, in February 2022, Wenger set up the sale of anabolic steroids, a Schedule III controlled substance, between Daniel Harris, who was at the time also an Antioch Police Department officer, and a third individual. Law enforcement officials seized the package of anabolic steroids destined for Harris before they arrived, although Wenger continued to communicate with Harris about supplying the third individual with anabolic steroids, including offering to give this individual some of Wenger’s own while they waited for the delayed package.
On March 23, 2022, at 8:03 a.m., the FBI began calling and sending text messages to Wenger telling him that they were outside of his residence with a warrant. It was not until 9:00 a.m. that Wenger appeared for the FBI to seize Wenger’s cellular phone. Later forensic examination of that device showed that specific entries related to the anabolic steroid distribution conspiracy had been deleted.
In addition to the prison term, Judge White also sentenced the defendant to a three-year period of supervised release. A hearing to determine the amounts of restitution owed to victims is scheduled for January 27, 2026.
The case is being prosecuted by the National Security & Special Prosecutions Section and the Oakland Branch of the United States Attorney’s Office. This prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the Office of the Contra Costa County District Attorney.
***
These charges against Wenger were brought as part of an investigation into the Antioch and Pittsburg police departments that resulted in multiple federal charges against 10 current and former officers and employees of these two police departments for various crimes ranging from the use of excessive force to fraud. The status of these cases, all of which are before Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White, is below:
Case Name and NumberStatute(s)Defendant
(Bold: multiple case numbers)
StatusFraud
23-cr-00264
18 U.S.C. §§ 1349 (Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud; 1343 (Wire Fraud)Patrick BerhanSentenced to 30 months custody, 2 years supervised release concurrent with 24-cr-157 on 9/5/24Morteza AmiriSentenced to 84 months custody, 3 years supervised release concurrent with 23-cr-269 on 6/24/25Amanda Theodosy a/k/a NashSentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release 11/15/24Samantha PetersonSentenced to time served, 3 years supervised release 4/24/24Ernesto Mejia-OrozcoSentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release on 9/19/24Brauli Jalapa RodriguezSentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release on 10/25/24Obstruction
23-cr-00267
18 U.S.C. §§ 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations); 1512(c)(2) (Obstruction of Official Proceedings); 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law)Timothy Manly WilliamsPleaded guilty 11/28/23, sentencing set for 1/13/2026Steroid Distribution
23-cr-00268
21 U.S.C. §§ 846 (Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids), 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Possession with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids)Daniel HarrisPleaded guilty 9/17/24, sentencing set for 1/13/202621 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids);
18 U.S.C.§ 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations)
Devon WengerSentenced to 90 months custody, 3 years supervised release on 12/2/2025Civil Rights
23-cr-00269
18 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law); § 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations)Morteza AmiriSentenced to 84 months custody, 3 years supervised release concurrent with 23-cr-264 on 6/24/2518 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law)Eric RomboughPleaded guilty 1/14/25, sentencing set for 1/13/202618 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law)Devon WengerSentenced to 90 months custody, 3 years supervised release on 12/2/2025Steroid Distribution
24-cr-00157
21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Possession with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids)Patrick BerhanSentenced to 30 months custody, 2 years supervised release concurrent with 23-cr-264 on 9/5/24Bank fraud
24-cr-00502
18 U.S.C. § 1344(1), (2) (Bank fraud)Daniel HarrisPleaded guilty 9/17/24, sentencing set for 1/13/2026Founder/CEO and Clinical President of Digital Health Company Convicted in $100M Adderall Distribution and Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal jury in San Francisco yesterday convicted Ruthia He, the founder and CEO of Done, a California-based digital health company, and David Brody, its clinical president, for their roles in a years-long scheme to illegally distribute Adderall over the internet and conspire to commit health care fraud in connection with the submission of false and fraudulent claims for reimbursement for Adderall and other stimulants. Ruthia He was also convicted of conspiring to obstruct justice.
“These defendants carried out a $100 million scheme to unlawfully provide easy online access to Adderall and other stimulants by targeting drug seekers, engaging in deceptive advertising, and putting profits above patient care,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This verdict sends a clear message that the Criminal Division will hold accountable criminals who attempt to exploit telehealth to write illegal prescriptions for their personal gain. Innovation in health care must never come at the cost of patient safety, professional integrity, or the rule of law.”
“Not all drug dealers operate in the shadows or on street corners,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California. “Some, like Ruthia He and David Brody, use computers and social media instead. Doctors take an oath to do no harm. David Brody and other doctors were only too willing to sell their integrity to He and put money ahead of patient wellbeing. Medical necessity must always drive the decision to prescribe controlled substances like Adderall and other stimulants. Ruthia He and David Brody violated that core principle when they exploited telehealth rules to push prescription medication, and hurt patients in the process. This prosecution marks the beginning of a sustained effort. Digital health companies that engage in unlawful drug distribution should take notice that they will not escape accountability.”
"These criminals turned telehealth into a pipeline for addiction, recklessly distributing controlled medications with no regard for safety, science, or the law,” said Assistant Administrator Cheri Oz of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Diversion Control Division. “This verdict makes clear that DEA will shut down anyone who abuses medicine, exploits patients, or puts profit above the American people."
“This case represents one of the most egregious abuses of telehealth we’ve seen,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “The defendants built a brazen business model based on addiction, deception, and disregard for patient safety — flooding the market with controlled substances while defrauding federal health care programs. Their intentional disregard for patient safety and the law put lives at risk and eroded public trust in digital medicine. HHS-OIG will relentlessly pursue those who exploit innovation to endanger lives and steal from taxpayers.”
“The fraudulent acts of He and Brody led to clients’ substance abuse, addiction and, in some cases, overdose. Instead of putting the care of their customers first, they prioritized their own greed by fraudulently prescribing more that $100 million worth of Adderall and other stimulants. These were shameful acts, and a jury of their peers agreed. Both He and Brody will now face the consequences of this egregious fraud,” said Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis of IRS Criminal Investigation New York.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, He and Brody conspired with others to build a billion-dollar technology company and raise money from investors by providing easy access to over 40 million pills of Adderall and other stimulants in exchange for payment of a monthly subscription fee.
He and Done spent over $40 million on deceptive advertisements on social media networks that sought to convince Americans challenged by a lack of structure during the COVID-19 pandemic that they were suffering from ADHD. Defendants also paid for targeted keyword search advertisements for drug seekers who wanted to obtain Adderall without a legal prescription. The evidence at trial showed that He and Brody sought to place “hard limits” on clinical discretion by limiting the length of the initial appointment to less than half the length of a typical psychiatric examination, and seeking to increase profits by refusing to pay for any follow-up treatment. In order to facilitate the illegal prescriptions, He paid nurse practitioners around the country up to $60,000 per month to refill prescriptions without clinical interaction, and enabled an “auto-refill” technology feature where patients could receive prescriptions without clinical interaction for years based on an auto-generated email sent each month requesting additional prescriptions. The auto-refill policy, in some instances, resulted in prescriptions being issued for deceased patients.
He instructed employees that successful technology companies profit off addiction, and offered an expensive luxury electric vehicle to employees who broke the law. Brody told nurses to continue prescribing Adderall, even to patients who were abusing other medications, and to disregard the risk of going to jail. He and Brody also prohibited independent clinical practitioners from discharging patients, and patients were not discharged and continued to receive Adderall even after concerned family members repeatedly notified Done that their children were suffering from bipolar, Adderall-induced psychosis, or other mental health conditions that could be worsened by continued prescriptions.
In order to ensure that members continued paying monthly subscription fees, He, Brody, and others conspired to defraud insurers so that Done members would be able to use insurance to pay for Adderall dispensed at pharmacies. He, Brody, and others submitted false and fraudulent prior authorization requests to insurers, which claimed that Done followed the DSM-5 in diagnosing ADHD, utilized urine drug screens, and falsely claimed that non-stimulants had previously been tried without success. As a result, Medicare, Medicaid, and the commercial insurers paid in excess of approximately $14 million.
In 2022, national media outlets reported that Done was making Adderall too easy to get online. In response to questions from the media, investors, and certain major pharmacy chains, the defendants made deceptive statements about Done’s policies. While internal documents showed that the defendants followed a “customer-first” philosophy where they attempted to obtain customer approval ratings higher than America’s highest-rated retailers, offered second opinions to patients who complained of being denied Adderall, and that He – who had no medical training – ultimately was responsible for approving clinical practices, the defendants falsely denied the existence of these policies and claimed Done was run by independent clinical leadership.
To obstruct the government’s investigation, the evidence at trial showed that He moved operations to China to make personnel and evidence unavailable. He limited her communications on company platforms, used encrypted messaging apps with disappearing messages, and deleted incriminatory documents, such as language encouraging Done providers to provide Adderall even to patients who did not have ADHD. He also transferred over $1 million to a Chinese shell company named Make Believe Asia, conducted internet searches for countries that did not have extradition, and was stopped by law enforcement leaving the country.
He and Brody were both convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, four counts of distribution of controlled substances, and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. He was also convicted of one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. He and Brody each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances counts. Sentencings are set for Feb. 25, 2026. Judge Breyer will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The DEA, HHS-OIG, HSI, and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating the case.
Acting Health Care Fraud Unit Chief Jacob Foster, Assistant Chief Emily Gurskis, and Trial Attorney Arun Bodapati of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina Green, for the Northern District of California are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Founder/CEO and Clinical President of Digital Health Company Convicted in $100m Adderall Distribution and Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A federal jury yesterday convicted Ruthia He, the founder and CEO of Done, a California-based digital health company, and David Brody, its clinical president, yesterday for their roles in a years-long scheme to illegally distribute Adderall over the internet and conspire to commit health care fraud in connection with the submission of false and fraudulent claims for reimbursement for Adderall and other stimulants. Ruthia He was also convicted of conspiring to obstruct justice.
“Not all drug dealers operate in the shadows or on street corners,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California. “Some, like Ruthia He and David Brody, use computers and social media instead. Doctors take an oath to do no harm. David Brody and other doctors were only too willing to sell their integrity to He and put money ahead of patient wellbeing. Medical necessity must always drive the decision to prescribe controlled substances like Adderall and other stimulants. Ruthia He and David Brody violated that core principle when they exploited telehealth rules to push prescription medication, and hurt patients in the process. This prosecution marks the beginning of a sustained effort. Digital health companies that engage in unlawful drug distribution should take notice that they will not escape accountability.”
“These defendants carried out a $100 million scheme to unlawfully provide easy online access to Adderall and other stimulants by targeting drug seekers, engaging in deceptive advertising, and putting profits above patient care,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This verdict sends a clear message that the Criminal Division will hold accountable criminals who attempt to exploit telehealth to write illegal prescriptions for their personal gain. Innovation in health care must never come at the cost of patient safety, professional integrity, or the rule of law.”
“This case represents one of the most egregious abuses of telehealth we’ve seen,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “The defendants built a brazen business model based on addiction, deception, and disregard for patient safety—flooding the market with controlled substances while defrauding federal health care programs. Their intentional disregard for patient safety and the law put lives at risk and eroded public trust in digital medicine. HHS-OIG will relentlessly pursue those who exploit innovation to endanger lives and steal from taxpayers.”
“The fraudulent acts of He and Brody led to clients’ substance abuse, addiction and, in some cases, overdose. Instead of putting the care of their customers first, they prioritized their own greed by fraudulently prescribing more that $100 million worth of Adderall and other stimulants. These were shameful acts, and a jury of their peers agreed. Both He and Brody will now face the consequences of this egregious fraud,” said Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis of IRS Criminal Investigation New York.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, He and Brody conspired with others to build a billion-dollar technology company and raise money from investors by providing easy access to over 40 million pills of Adderall and other stimulants in exchange for payment of a monthly subscription fee.
He and Done spent over $40 million on deceptive advertisements on social media networks that sought to convince Americans challenged by a lack of structure during the COVID-19 pandemic that they were suffering from ADHD. Defendants also paid for targeted keyword search advertisements for drug seekers who wanted to obtain Adderall without a legal prescription. The evidence at trial showed that He and Brody sought to place “hard limits” on clinical discretion by limiting the length of the initial appointment to less than half the length of a typical psychiatric examination, and seeking to increase profits by refusing to pay for any follow-up treatment. In order to facilitate the illegal prescriptions, He paid nurse practitioners around the country up to $60,000 per month to refill prescriptions without clinical interaction, and enabled an “auto-refill” technology feature where patients could receive prescriptions without clinical interaction for years based on an auto-generated email sent each month requesting additional prescriptions. The auto-refill policy, in some instances, resulted in prescriptions being issued for deceased patients.
He instructed employees that successful technology companies profit off addiction, and offered an expensive luxury electric vehicle to employees who broke the law. Brody told nurses to continue prescribing Adderall, even to patients who were abusing other medications, and to disregard the risk of going to jail. He and Brody also prohibited independent clinical practitioners from discharging patients, and patients were not discharged and continued to receive Adderall even after concerned family members repeatedly notified Done that their children were suffering from bipolar, Adderall-induced psychosis, or other mental health conditions that could be worsened by continued prescriptions.
In order to ensure that members continued paying monthly subscription fees, He, Brody, and others conspired to defraud insurers so that Done members would be able to use insurance to pay for Adderall dispensed at pharmacies. He, Brody, and others submitted false and fraudulent prior authorization requests to insurers, which claimed that Done followed the DSM-5 in diagnosing ADHD, utilized urine drug screens, and falsely claimed that non-stimulants had previously been tried without success. As a result, Medicare, Medicaid, and the commercial insurers paid in excess of approximately $14 million.
In 2022, national media outlets reported that Done was making Adderall too easy to get online. In response to questions from the media, investors, and certain major pharmacy chains, the defendants made deceptive statements about Done’s policies. While internal documents showed that the defendants followed a “customer-first” philosophy where they attempted to obtain customer approval ratings higher than America’s highest-rated retailers, offered second opinions to patients who complained of being denied Adderall, and that He – who had no medical training – ultimately was responsible for approving clinical practices, The defendants falsely denied the existence of these policies and claimed Done was run by independent clinical leadership.
To obstruct the government’s investigation, the evidence at trial showed that He moved operations to China to make personnel and evidence unavailable. He limited her communications on company platforms, used encrypted messaging apps with disappearing messages, and deleted incriminatory documents, such as language encouraging Done providers to provide Adderall even to patients who did not have ADHD. He also transferred over $1 million to a Chinese shell company named Make Believe Asia, conducted internet searches for countries that did not have extradition, and was stopped by law enforcement leaving the country.
He and Brody were both convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, four counts of distribution of controlled substances, and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. He was also convicted of one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. He and Brody each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances counts. Sentencings are set for Feb. 25, 2026. Judge Breyer will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The DEA, HHS-OIG, HSI, and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating the case.
Acting Health Care Fraud Unit Chief Jacob Foster, Assistant Chief Emily Gurskis, and Trial Attorney Arun Bodapati of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina Green for the Northern District of California are prosecuting the case, with the assistance of Maryam Beros and Lynette Dixon.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 25 federal districts, has charged more than 5,000 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $24 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Former CFO Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for Embezzling over $9 Million from SF Seafood WholesalerRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Antonietta Nguyen was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for her role in orchestrating multiple fraud schemes against ABS Seafood, Inc., a seafood wholesaler in San Francisco where Nguyen previously served as Chief Financial Officer. Senior U.S. District Judge Susan Illston handed down the sentence on November 14, 2025.
At the conclusion of a two-week trial in June 2025, a federal jury convicted Nguyen of 12 felony counts, including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Nguyen used her access to ABS Seafood’s bank account and credit cards to divert millions of dollars to pay off her personal credit card, pay personal expenses on her corporate credit card, and authorize payment of fraudulent invoices from a seafood exporter in the Philippines that was formally owned by Nguyen’s brother. Nguyen used the stolen funds to pay property taxes for her residence and a rental property, her children’s college tuition, and over a million dollars in luxury goods, among other expenses.
From at least 2015 and continuing into 2020, Nguyen misappropriated approximately $2.7 million in company funds. Nguyen traveled the world to purchase luxury purses, scarves, and other items, which she stored in a designated room in her home. She also provided corporate credit cards to her family members and authorized charges including luxury vacations that were ultimately paid for by ABS Seafood.
The Court found that over the course of six-and-a-half years, Nguyen cost ABS Seafood over $9 million through her fraud schemes.
The jury also convicted Nguyen of evading federal taxes by failing to report her true income from ABS Seafood. Nguyen’s personal income taxes omitted the millions in benefits that she received from ABS Seafood through the payment for personal expenses. In total, the Court found that Nguyen owed an additional $121,336.08 in unpaid taxes related to the unreported income.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani, and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen made the announcement.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Illston also sentenced the defendant to a three-year period of supervised release. The defendant will begin serving the sentence on February 6, 2026. A restitution hearing is scheduled for January 16, 2026.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sailaja M. Paidipaty and Colin Sampson are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sara Slattery. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and IRS-CI.
Sham Technology Company Operator Sentenced to over Four Years for Defrauding Dozens of Victims, Many of Whom Were VeteransRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Ramesh Kris Nathan was sentenced this week to 51 months in federal prison in connection with fraudulently obtaining investors’ money for a company that had no legitimate business activities. U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria handed down the sentence.
At the conclusion of an eight-day trial in February 2025, a federal jury convicted Nathan, 43, on six counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Nathan, 43, a U.S. national, promised investors that their money would fund Relativity Research Fund, Inc., a company for which Nathan set up a bank account in San Francisco. Nathan induced potential investors to provide funds by making false and misleading statements on his company’s website, promotional materials, and in emails to potential investors, including, for example, by representing that the company was involved in the development of advanced robotics and space travel technology. He made false promises of future trading of the company’s shares on the Nasdaq Private Market. Nathan also made false statements that the company had significant capital investments, worldwide offices with over 15,000 employees, and tens of billions of dollars in profits and revenue.
The jury also found that Nathan laundered investor funds through various bank accounts, and then used the funds for his personal expenses or family transfers to his mother and his then-girlfriend. Nathan carried out his fraudulent scheme by recruiting an intermediary to share his lies with investors, who consisted primarily of veterans of the United States military or friends and family of veterans.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Chhabria also sentenced the defendant to a period of supervised release and ordered restitution of approximately $300,000. The defendant will begin serving the sentence on March 13, 2026.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roland Chang and Sara Henderson prosecuted the case, with the assistance of Tina Rosenbaum. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Contra Costa County Woman Indicted on Charges of Assaulting Crew Members During Flight and Assaulting Federal Officer and Security Personnel at SFORead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury has indicted Reshma Kamath on two counts of interference with flight crew members and attendants, one count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal officer, and one count of interference with security screening personnel.
According to an indictment filed on November 5, 2025, and unsealed yesterday, Kamath, 40, of Bethel Island, California, was a passenger on board Air India flight 173 flying from Delhi, India, to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on June 28 and 29, 2025. During the flight, Kamath allegedly assaulted and intimidated two flight crew members, including by verbally abusing, threatening, and striking them. Upon landing at SFO, Kamath allegedly assaulted an SFO employee with security duties and resisted arrest by and struck a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer.
Kamath made her initial appearance in district court on November 13, 2025. She is next scheduled to appear in federal court on January 7, 2026, before Senior U.S. District Judge Edward M. Chen.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Kamath faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of interference with flight crew members and attendants in violation of 49 U.S.C. § 46504, eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal officer in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(a), and 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the count of interference with security screening personnel in violation of 49 U.S.C. § 46503. Any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by a court only upon consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Yeh is prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the San Francisco Police Department Airport Bureau, and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.
Individual Charged with Assault on Federal Officers by Accelerating U-Haul Truck Toward Coast Guard PersonnelRead the Press Release
OAKLAND—Brendan Munro Thompson, aka Bella Thompson and Bella Castillo, 26, was charged by criminal complaint with the federal crime of assaulting federal officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon by accelerating a U-Haul truck as it approached several United States Coast Guard (USCG) personnel on October 23, 2025. Thompson’s initial appearance in federal district court took place this morning.
According to the complaint and court documents filed on October 30, 2025, and unsealed today, on the night of October 23, USCG personnel were standing guard on the bridge connecting Coast Guard Island with Oakland. Coast Guard Base Alameda is located on Coast Guard Island, a small island on an estuary separating Alameda and Oakland, and can be accessed via the bridge. At the time, demonstrators had congregated near the eastern end of the bridge, protesting the potential deployment of U.S. Department of Homeland Security personnel to conduct enforcement of U.S. immigration law in San Francisco.
The complaint alleges that at approximately 10:00 p.m. on October 23, Thompson drove a 10-foot-long U-Haul truck onto the eastern part of the bridge. Thompson then backed the truck onto the bridge, with its rear end facing toward Coast Guard Island. Several USCG personnel were positioned in a line across the bridge. As the truck reversed towards the USCG personnel, they backed away toward a USCG law enforcement vehicle parked on the bridge. The truck stopped and started several times and then accelerated rapidly backward towards the USCG personnel. As the U-Haul gained speed, USCG personnel shouted orders to the driver to stop.
The U-Haul accelerated towards USCG personnel to an estimated 15 to 20 feet, causing USCG personnel to fear the possibility that the truck would strike them or their colleagues, or that it contained explosives or had an explosive device. When the driver did not stop and continued to rapidly accelerate backward toward the line of USCG personnel, USCG personnel defensively fired their weapons at the U-Haul truck.
Thompson drove away in the U-Haul and later received medical treatment for a non-life-threatening gunshot injury sustained during the incident.
“As alleged, Thompson drove a U-Haul truck directly into a line of Coast Guard personnel who were protecting the Coast Guard base, as they bravely do day in and day out. Let this be clear: there is zero tolerance for assault on federal officers or property, and those who do so will face federal criminal charges,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian.
“The FBI stands firmly with our federal law enforcement partners and will always work to protect those who protect our communities,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo. “Attempting to use a truck to assault federal officers performing their lawful duties is not protest, it is a violent and serious federal crime. Federal officers must be able to carry out their mission without fear of violence, and we will continue to support efforts to ensure that anyone who commits violence against them is held fully accountable under the law.”
Thompson will next appear in federal district court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore for a status on detention and preliminary hearing on November 10, 2025.
A criminal complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of assault on a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(b). Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The case is being prosecuted by the Oakland Branch of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Thompson Complaint
Nine Alleged Oakland Sureño Gang Members Charged with Racketeering Conspiracy in Connection with Murders and Related CrimesRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – A federal grand jury has indicted nine men on charges of racketeering conspiracy in connection with two murders, three attempted murders, narcotics and firearms distribution, and other related crimes allegedly perpetrated on behalf of two Oakland-based Sureño street gangs.
The nine defendants, Marvin Bonilla, a/k/a “Malandro,” 24; Edwin Cano-Merida, aka “Zombie,” 24; Cesar Rolando Lucas-Pablo, a/k/a “Lobo,” 28; Walfer Mendoza-Mendoza, a/k/a “Shorty,” 31; Gonzalo Pablo, a/k/a “Chalo,” 25; Jeronimo “Orlando” Pablo-Carrillo, a/k/a “Paisano,” 41; Mario Pablo-Matias, a/k/a “Chuco,” 24; Raymundo Pablo-Matias, a/k/a “El Moch,” 31; and Carlos Ramiro-Mendoza, a/k/a “Minch,” 28, were charged in an indictment filed October 9, 2025, and unsealed today.
Six of the nine defendants were arrested this morning in coordinated law enforcement operations. Lucas-Pablo and Pablo-Carrillo were already in custody, and Gonzalo Pablo remains at large. A number of the defendants are unlawfully residing in the United States.
“Like people everywhere, the residents of Oakland deserve safe and peaceful neighborhoods, not ones filled with fear and senseless violence. The Administration has made it clear that enough is enough. This indictment charges nine members of the Oakland Sureños for their roles in a dangerous criminal enterprise that inflicted harm throughout Oakland,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “My office will continue to partner with local and federal law enforcement to reclaim our streets from the gangs who threaten our residents. We could not have done this case without the involvement of many law enforcement partners and, in particular, I would like to thank the FBI and the Oakland Police Department for their excellent work.”
“The alleged criminal activity of these gang members has plagued Oakland’s neighborhoods and put innocent residents at risk,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo. “The FBI remains steadfast in our commitment to prioritize violent crime and eradicate gang activity that threatens the safety and stability of our communities. While we continue to focus on disrupting the violent and illicit operations of local street gangs, today’s arrests mark significant progress in that ongoing fight. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will not allow violent gangs to operate with impunity or endanger the citizens we are sworn to protect.”
“These individuals have caused lasting damage to our community for years,” said Assistant Chief James Beere of the Oakland Police Department. “Their violent actions, including shootings and homicides, have left families mourning and communities forever changed. We are grateful for the efforts of our local law enforcement partners, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, as we work together to seek justice for the victims and their families.”
According to the indictment, the nine defendants were members of a racketeering enterprise referred to in the indictment as the Oakland Sureños, a criminal street gang whose members lived in and around Oakland, California. The Oakland Sureños were part of the larger Sureños criminal street gang and, like the larger Sureños gang, generally recognized the primacy of the Mexican Mafia prison gang. The larger Sureños gang was organized into “cliques,” smaller groups that typically operated within specific territory.
SAP and SSL-502 were among the Oakland Sureños cliques. SAP originally stood for “San Antonio Park,” a public park located between 16th Avenue and 18th Avenue in Oakland, which SAP had claimed as its primary turf before moving to Estuary Park around 2019. SSL-502, which stood for South Side Locos combined with “502,” the telephone country code for Guatemala, originally claimed as its turf the area surrounding the 1300 and 1400 blocks of 72nd Avenue before expanding to Arroyo Viejo Park in approximately 2017. Members of the cliques engaged in criminal conduct for the benefit of the street gang, its members, and the larger Sureños organization. Gang members perpetrated crimes, including murder, shootings, firearms trafficking, and narcotics trafficking, to enhance and protect the power, territory, and profit of the gang and to gain entry into, and improve a member’s status in, the gang. These crimes included committing violence against gang rivals perceived as disrespecting the Oakland Sureños, which led to innocent members of the public being injured or killed.
In furtherance of the Oakland Surenos, defendants allegedly committed more than a dozen criminal acts. The list of crimes includes two murders, both occurring in 2019, of men who were perceived to be rivals of the Oakland Sureños. In addition to the murder allegations, additional crimes described in the indictment that defendants allegedly committed include three attempted murders (two with firearms and one with a baseball bat), attempted robbery, narcotics trafficking, and firearms trafficking.
In sum, each defendant is charged with one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. In addition, the indictment alleges that special sentencing factors apply to six defendants as follows:
- Gonzalo Pablo for his role in the November 22, 2018, attempted murder of an unidentified victim;
- Cesar Rolando Lucas-Pablo, Jeronimo “Orlando” Pablo-Carrillo, and Carlos Ramiro-Mendoza for their respective roles in the January 5, 2019, murder of a victim identified as “R.B.P.”;
- Carlos Ramiro-Mendoza and Jeronimo “Orlando” Pablo-Carillo for their respective roles in the January 19, 2019, murder of a victim identified as “S.R.J.”; and
- Edwin Cano-Merida and Mario Pablo-Matias for their respective roles in the May 15, 2021 attempted murder of a victim identified “M.M.”
The maximum statutory penalty applying to these violations is life in prison. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Defendants are scheduled to be arraigned on October 30, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna M. Ryu.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexis James, Andy Scoble, Jonah Ross, and Wendy Garbers, with the assistance of Kevin Costello and Yenni Weinberg. The prosecution is the result of a multi-year investigation by the FBI, the Oakland Police Department, and the FBI SF East Bay Violent Crime Task Force, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration for today’s arrests.
This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Region 2 San Francisco/Sacramento Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline). HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Stipulated Court Order Resolves Allegations that Chinese Toy Maker Apitor Technology Co. Violated Children’s Privacy LawRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice, together with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), announced today that a federal court has entered a stipulated order resolving a case alleging that China-based toy maker Apitor Technology Co., Ltd. (Apitor) violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and its implementing regulations (COPPA) in connection with its programmable robotic toys.
“The Justice Department will vigorously work to ensure businesses respect parents’ rights to decide when their children’s personal information can be collected and used,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to work with the FTC to stop unlawful intrusions on children’s privacy.”
COPPA prohibits operators of online services from knowingly collecting, using, or disclosing personal information from children under the age of 13 (hereinafter, children), unless they provide notice to and obtain consent from those children’s parents. In a civil complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, the government alleges Apitor collected geolocation data from children who used Apitor’s app to control its robotic toys, without notifying parents or obtaining parental consent.
The stipulated order resolving this case enjoins Apitor from collecting or using data from children without making reasonable efforts to directly notify parents and obtaining verifiable parental consent, and it also requires Apitor to delete children’s personal information that was previously collected without parental consent. The order additionally imposes a $500,000 civil penalty, which is suspended due to Apitor’s inability to pay.
This matter is being handled by Trial Attorney David Crockett, Senior Trial Attorney Daniel Crane-Hirsch, and Assistant Director Zachary Dietert from the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Sapna Mehta for the Northern District of California and Shining Hsu and Evan Rose from the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.
Santa Clara Woman Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining More Than $2.8 Million in Pandemic Relief FundsRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – Cassie Will-Darnall was sentenced today to 18 months in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining more than $2.8 million in pandemic relief funds. U.S. District Judge P. Casey Pitts handed down the sentence.
Will-Darnall, 53, of Santa Clara, pleaded guilty on Jan. 15, 2025, to one count of bank fraud and one count of wire fraud arising out of two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans she obtained. The PPP was administered by the SBA as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, a federal law enacted in March 2020 to provide billions of dollars in emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The PPP provided forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other qualified business expenses. PPP funds were disbursed by SBA-approved third-party lenders.
In connection with pleading guilty, Will-Darnall admitted that in May 2020, she fraudulently submitted a PPP application to Lender 1 as the sole partner of Alternative Health Services Inc., falsely stating that the company had 10 employees and an average monthly payroll of $387,595.67, when it had no employees and no payroll. Based on the false information, Lender 1 approved and funded the PPP loan in the amount of $968,989.
In July 2020, Will-Darnall submitted a PPP application to Lender 2 as the CEO of Rosswood Properties LLC, falsely stating that the company had 35 employees and an average monthly payroll of $816,551, when it had no employees and no payroll. Based on the false information, Lender 2 approved and funded the PPP loan in the amount of $1,864,565.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo, and SBA Office of Inspector General (OIG) Western Region Acting Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Huang made the announcement.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Pitts also sentenced the defendant to a three-year period of supervised release. Judge Pitts set a hearing on forfeiture on Oct. 14, 2025, and a hearing on restitution on Dec. 3, 2025. The defendant will begin serving the sentence on Jan. 7, 2026.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Griswold and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Johnny E. James Jr. prosecuted the case with the assistance of Veronica Hernandez, Lynette Dixon, and Elise Etter. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and SBA-OIG.
Former Executive Director Who Embezzled over $500,000 from Non-Profit Serving Oakland Youth Sentenced to More Than Two Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Howard Solomon, also known as Solomon Howard, was sentenced today to 27 months in federal prison in connection with a years-long scheme in which he stole at least $549,000 from his former employer, the non-profit East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA). He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $549,132.74 to the EOBA and $287,185 to the Internal Revenue Service. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers handed down the sentence.
Solomon, 38, of Oakland, pleaded guilty on April 23, 2025, to one count of mail fraud and one count of tax evasion for tax year 2018.
From 2017 until 2021, Solomon served as the Executive Director of EOBA, a non-profit that provides after-school and summer programming to East Oakland children and families, including tutoring and literacy support, boxing lessons and coaching, and internship opportunities for teenagers. Solomon embezzled at least $549,000 from his former employer and diverted funds and donations to EOBA to pay for personal expenses, including a vacation rental and a Ford Explorer.
“Howard Solomon used his position of trust to steal from kids and working families and threatened the very existence of an organization that is and must remain an important part of the East Oakland community. With this sentence, he is rightly being held accountable for his unspeakable greed,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian.
“Mr. Solomon’s embezzlement scheme not only victimized the East Oakland Boxing Association, but also deprived low-income, high-risk children in East Oakland of the internships, mentoring, and boxing programs the organization offers,” said Linda Nguyen, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office. “While Mr. Solomon siphoned funds from a nonprofit to serve his own greed, IRS-CI agents expertly sifted through evidence and followed the money in pursuit of justice.”
Among the misappropriated funds was a $50,000 donation made to EOBA that Solomon diverted into a personal account. The $50,000 donation was made to EOBA by a television studio in connection with a December 2019 appearance by Stephen Curry and Ayesha Curry on the Ellen DeGeneres Show for a segment known as “Ellen’s Greatest Night of Giveaways,” during which the Currys delivered various gifts to EOBA, including the donation check.
Solomon failed to disclose the money he embezzled from EOBA as income and misstated expenses associated with two alleged businesses Solomon claimed lost money in his tax filings for the years 2017 through 2021. In total, Solomon evaded the payment of approximately $287,185 in taxes.
In addition to the prison term and restitution, Judge Gonzalez Rogers also sentenced the defendant to a three-year period of supervised release. The defendant was ordered to begin serving his sentence on Oct. 30, 2025.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas R. Green is prosecuting this case with the assistance of Amala James and Alycee Lane. This prosecution is the result of an investigation by IRS-CI.
Former CEO of Canadian AI Company Charged with Investment Fraud Scheme Targeting U.S. InvestorsRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Matthew Derrick Hudson, the former CEO and founder of Invenia Technical Computing Corporation, has been charged with wire fraud in connection with a scheme that raised over $100 million from outside investors. Hudson was arrested last week in the Northern District of California and appeared in federal court in San Francisco today for a detention hearing.
According to the criminal complaint filed on Sept. 18, 2025, and unsealed today, Hudson, 42, a Canadian national, is alleged to have lied to Invenia’s investors from 2020 and continuing through 2022. The complaint alleges that some of the investors were located in or had representatives in the Northern District of California, and that other investors were based elsewhere in the United States. During the relevant period, Invenia was a private company based in Canada and the United Kingdom that claimed to apply artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions to the North American energy markets.
Hudson allegedly led investors to believe that Invenia had already achieved significant financial success, with growing revenues and cash balances exceeding hundreds of millions of dollars. Hudson did so by distributing and causing the distribution of falsified audited financial statements, invoices, and other financial documents. For example, the complaint alleges that shortly before Invenia closed its Series B fundraising round, Hudson sent an audit report that purported to verify Invenia’s 2019 balance sheet and financial statement that, among other things, claimed Invenia had approximately $218 million CAD in cash and approximately $295 million CAD in revenue. The real audit report for that year produced by Invenia’s Canadian auditor showed Invenia had approximately $6 million CAD in cash and $26 million CAD in revenue.
The complaint also describes how Hudson used fake email accounts and invoices to advance the fraud scheme. Invenia partnered with Energy Company 1, a company based in North Dakota, to engage with North American energy markets. On multiple occasions, Hudson introduced fake email accounts for an Energy Company 1 employee to representatives of Invenia investors who were conducting diligence on Invenia. Hudson then told a real person at Energy Company 1 to ignore any outreach from representatives of Invenia’s investors. Fabricated invoices and other documents were also sent to Invenia investors that included a fake phone number for Energy Company 1 that was associated with an account allegedly paid for by Hudson.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo made the announcement.
Hudson was released on bond pending trial. He is next scheduled to appear in federal court on Nov. 17, 2025, for a status conference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler.
A criminal complaint merely alleges that a crime has been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Hudson faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, plus restitution, for the charge of wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has also filed a civil enforcement action in the Northern District of California against Hudson alleging violations of securities laws.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick O’Brien is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Maryam Beros and Mimi Lam. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks the San Francisco Regional Office of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for its assistance in the investigation.
Domestic Terrorist Sentenced to More Than 19 Years in Prison for Firebombing University Police Car and Attempting to Firebomb Oakland Federal BuildingRead the Press Release
Casey Robert Goonan, 35, of Oakland and Pleasant Hill, California, was sentenced on Sept. 23 in the Northern District of California to 235 months in federal prison for committing a series of arsons and firebombings at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Oakland federal building in June 2024.
In January 2025, Goonan pleaded guilty to one count of maliciously damaging or destroying property used in or affecting interstate commerce by means of fire or an explosive.
“This domestic terrorist could have taken untold lives had his violent attacks been more successful, and using the evils of Hamas as motivation speaks to his depravity,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “He will have many long years in prison to think about his crimes, and the Department of Justice will continue prosecuting political violence across America.”
“Targeting law enforcement and government facilities is unacceptable and all of the FBI’s investigative resources will be used to bring to justice all who engage in such violent actions,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The FBI is committed to aggressively investigating every instance of such targeting and to working with the Justice Department to make sure these criminals pay the price of their despicable actions.”
“The defendant’s actions — firebombing a police vehicle, targeting a federal building, and calling on others to join his campaign of destruction — reflect a disturbing trend in the United States. Not long ago, we shared the view that our fellow citizens were entitled to hold and voice opinions, including those we found objectionable. Now, our country stands at the edge of a dangerous precipice as a growing segment of our society appears to reject these traditions, believing that violence is a legitimate means of protest,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “This sentence is a sharp rebuke of that disastrous view. Now, more than ever, we must unite in condemning political violence in all its forms.”
“Freedom of expression and peaceful protest are deeply enshrined values in America. We are all free to think what we want and express those views peacefully, but the use of violence to achieve political aims — or to silence those with whom you may disagree — has no place in our community and our country,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California. “Anyone who crosses the line between peaceful protest and violence will be met with the full force of the law.”
According to a plea agreement filed in open court, in the early morning hours of June 1, 2024, Goonan placed a bag containing six explosive devices commonly known as “Molotov cocktails” underneath the fuel tank of a marked University of California Police Department (UCPD) patrol car parked near the UC Berkeley campus. Goonan lit the bag on fire and fled, causing the patrol car to catch on fire. A video capturing the events on the morning of June 1, 2024, can be viewed here.
Goonan also attempted to firebomb the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on June 11, 2024. Goonan arrived at the federal building carrying a bag containing three Molotov cocktails. Goonan threw rocks at the building, hoping to break a window in order to throw lit Molotov cocktails inside. That plan was disrupted by protective services officers. Upon fleeing from the officers, Goonan placed the Molotov cocktails in a planter on the side of building and lit them on fire.
In addition to these two attacks, Goonan set other fires on the UC Berkeley campus on June 1, June 13, and June 16, 2024.
Goonan acknowledged that these attacks were inspired by Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, and that he called on others to attack property on Bay Area college campuses in support of Palestine. Goonan admitted that his conduct was designed to influence and affect the conduct of governments by intimidation and coercion and to retaliate against the governments of the United States and the State of California for their conduct.
At sentencing, the court referred to Goonan as a “domestic terrorist” and found that he had committed a felony offense that involved or was intended to promote a federal crime of terrorism.
In addition to the prison term, Judge White also ordered the defendant serve 15 years of supervised release after he is released from custody and ordered restitution in the amount of $94,267.51 and a $100 special assessment. The defendant has been in custody since his initial arrest on state charges on June 17, 2024.
The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the California Office of the State Fire Marshal, and University of California Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nikhil Bhagat for the Northern District of California is prosecuting the case.
Domestic Terrorist Sentenced to More Than 19 Years in Prison for Firebombing University Police Car and Attempting to Firebomb Oakland Federal BuildingRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Casey Robert Goonan was sentenced today to 235 months in federal prison for committing a series of arsons and firebombings at the University of California, Berkeley and the Oakland federal building in June 2024. Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White handed down the sentence.
In January 2025, Goonan, 35, of Oakland and Pleasant Hill, pleaded guilty to one count of maliciously damaging or destroying property used in or affecting interstate commerce by means of fire or an explosive.
According to a plea agreement filed in open court, in the early morning hours of June 1, 2024, Goonan placed a bag containing six explosive devices commonly known as “Molotov cocktails” underneath the fuel tank of a marked University of California Police Department (UCPD) patrol car parked near the UC Berkeley campus. Goonan lit the bag on fire and fled, causing the patrol car to catch on fire. A video capturing the events on the morning of June 1, 2024, can be viewed here.
Goonan also attempted to firebomb the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on June 11, 2024. Goonan arrived at the federal building carrying a bag containing three Molotov cocktails. Goonan threw rocks at the building, hoping to break a window in order to throw lit Molotov cocktails inside. That plan was disrupted by protective services officers. Upon fleeing from the officers, Goonan placed the Molotov cocktails in a planter on the side of building and lit them on fire.
In addition to these two attacks, Goonan set other fires on the UC Berkeley campus on June 1, June 13, and June 16, 2024.
Goonan acknowledged that these attacks were inspired by Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, and that he called on others to attack property on Bay Area college campuses in support of Palestine. Goonan admitted that his conduct was designed to influence and affect the conduct of governments by intimidation and coercion and to retaliate against the governments of the United States and the State of California for their conduct.
“Freedom of expression and peaceful protest are deeply enshrined values in America. We are all free to think what we want and express those views peacefully, but the use of violence to achieve political aims—or to silence those with whom you may disagree—has no place in our community and our country,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “Anyone who crosses the line between peaceful protest and violence will be met with the full force of the law.”
“Safeguarding our communities from violence remains at the forefront of the FBI’s mission. While free speech and peaceful protest are protected rights, turning to firebombs and arson crosses into criminal conduct that endangers lives and threatens public safety,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo. “Today’s sentencing makes clear that the FBI and our partners will not tolerate violence, and we will hold accountable anyone who seeks to harm our communities.”
At sentencing, the Court referred to Goonan as a “domestic terrorist” and found that he had committed a felony offense that involved or was intended to promote a federal crime of terrorism.
In addition to the prison term, Judge White also ordered the defendant serve 15 years of supervised release after he is released from custody and ordered restitution in the amount of $94,267.51 and a $100 special assessment. The defendant has been in custody since his initial arrest on state charges on June 17, 2024.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nikhil Bhagat is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Tina Rosenbaum. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, ATF, the California Office of the State Fire Marshal, and UCPD.
Oakland Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Firearms Trafficking and PossessionRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Robert Earl Davis was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison for dealing firearms without a license and illegally possessing firearms and ammunition as a felon. U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín handed down the sentence.
At the conclusion of a week-long trial in February 2025, a jury found Davis guilty of one count of dealing firearms without a license and one count of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition as a felon. The jury acquitted Davis of a second count of being a felon in possession of firearms.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between August 2020 and December 2021, Davis regularly traveled between Texas and California, purchasing firearms in Texas that he shipped to the East Bay. Davis advertised and sold the firearms for profit using social media platforms and mobile communications. Over this period of time, Davis trafficked and sold dozens of firearms, most of which were illegal under California law. In addition, on Dec. 21, 2022, a federal task force executed a search warrant on Davis’s residence and vehicle, where they found a firearm hidden in a hole in the wall and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in various calibers.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Topper made the announcement.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Martínez-Olguín also sentenced Davis to a three-year period of supervised release and ordered him to pay a $200 special assessment. The defendant was immediately remanded into custody.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evan Mateer and Jonah Ross are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Kevin Costello, Mark DiCenzo, and Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the ATF, Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, and Fort Worth (TX) Police Department.
Former Antioch Police Officer Found Guilty of Conspiracy Against RightsRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – A federal jury today convicted former Antioch police officer Devon Wenger of one count of conspiracy against rights. The jury’s verdict follows a seven-day trial before Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White.
Wenger, 33, was previously employed as a police officer with the Antioch Police Department. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Wenger conspired with other Antioch Police Department officers to use unreasonable force to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate residents of Antioch, California.
“Public trust must be at the forefront of the duty to protect. By using unnecessary and unreasonable force under the guise of law enforcement, Wenger betrayed the community he was entrusted to protect. Officers who hold themselves above the law and dishonor their oath of office will be held to account. The people of Antioch deserve no less,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian.
“Today’s conviction makes clear that when an officer violates the civil rights of those he was sworn to protect, it will not be overlooked or excused. This marks the second time a jury has held Devon Wenger accountable, and it reflects the FBI’s commitment to pursuing justice in every instance where authority is abused. We will continue working with our partners to ensure that those who betray the public’s trust face consequences,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Agustin Lopez.
According to the evidence at trial, Wenger and two other Antioch Police Department officers, Morteza Amiri and Eric Rombough, communicated with each other and others about using and intending to use excessive force against individuals in and around Antioch. The uses of excessive force included deployment of a K9, deployment of a 40mm “less lethal” launcher, and other unnecessary violence. The evidence showed that Wenger and others deployed uses of force as punishment to subjects beyond any punishment appropriately imposed by the criminal justice system. Wenger also withheld details about uses of excessive force from police reports and other official documents.
The jury convicted Wenger of one count of conspiracy against rights in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 241. The court dismissed a second count that charged Wenger with deprivation of rights under color of law in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242.
Wenger was previously convicted of conspiracy to distribute steroids and obstruction of justice following a jury trial in April 2025.
The Court ordered Wenger remanded to custody pending sentencing, which is scheduled for Dec. 2, 2025. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Any sentence will be imposed by the Court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The case is being prosecuted by the National Security & Special Prosecutions Section and the Oakland Branch of the United States Attorney’s Office. This prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the Office of the Contra Costa County District Attorney.
* * *
These civil rights charges against Wenger were brought as part of an investigation into the Antioch and Pittsburg police departments that resulted in multiple charges against 10 current and former officers and employees of these two police departments for various crimes ranging from the use of excessive force to fraud. The status of these cases, all of which are before Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White, is below:
Case Name and NumberStatute(s)Defendant
(Bold: multiple case numbers)
StatusFraud
23-cr-00264
18 U.S.C. §§ 1349 (Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud; 1343 (Wire Fraud)Patrick BerhanSentenced to 30 months custody, 2 years supervised release concurrent with 24-cr-157 on 9/5/24Morteza AmiriSentenced to 84 months custody, 3 years supervised release concurrent with 23-cr-269 on 6/24/25Amanda Theodosy a/k/a NashSentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release 11/15/24Samantha PetersonSentenced to time served, 3 years supervised release 4/24/24Ernesto Mejia-OrozcoSentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release on 9/19/24Brauli Jalapa RodriguezSentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release on 10/25/24Obstruction
23-cr-00267
18 U.S.C. §§ 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations); 1512(c)(2) (Obstruction of Official Proceedings); 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law)Timothy Manly WilliamsPleaded guilty 11/28/23, status conference 10/7/25Steroid Distribution
23-cr-00268
21 U.S.C. §§ 846 (Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids), 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Possession with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids)Daniel HarrisPleaded guilty 9/17/24, status conference 10/7/2521 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids);
18 U.S.C.§ 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations)
Devon WengerConvicted at trial 4/30/25, sentencing pendingCivil Rights
23-cr-00269
18 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law); § 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations)Morteza AmiriSentenced to 84 months custody, 3 years supervised release concurrent with 23-cr-264 on 6/24/2518 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law)Eric RomboughPleaded guilty 1/14/25, status conference 10/7/2518 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law)Devon WengerConvicted at trial 9/18/25, sentencing 12/2/25Steroid Distribution
24-cr-00157
21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Possession with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids)Patrick BerhanSentenced to 30 months custody, 2 years supervised release concurrent with 23-cr-264 on 9/5/24Bank fraud
24-cr-00502
18 U.S.C. § 1344(1), (2) (Bank fraud)Daniel HarrisPleaded guilty 9/17/24, status conference 10/7/25U.S. District Court Appoints Craig H. Missakian as United States Attorney for the Northern District of CaliforniaRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has approved the appointment of Craig H. Missakian as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of California. Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg administered the oath of office to U.S. Attorney Missakian this afternoon.
Mr. Missakian has been serving in the position of United States Attorney since May 27, 2025, following his appointment for 120 days by Attorney General Pamela Bondi, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 546.
“I am grateful to the judges of the Northern District of California for their decision and for the opportunity to continue working with the talented women and men of this Office to serve the people of this remarkable district. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is entrusted with the important responsibilities of protecting our communities and upholding the rule of law, and our commitment to the mission remains deep and unwavering,” said United States Attorney Missakian.
As the United States Attorney, Mr. Missakian serves as the chief federal law enforcement officer in the Northern District of California, home to nearly nine million residents in 15 counties spanning from Del Norte in the north to Monterey in the south, more than 300 public companies centered in Silicon Valley, and three major metropolitan areas in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose.
Brentwood Man Sentenced to More Than Eight Years in Prison for Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse Materials, Possession of Unregistered FirearmRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Michael Lee Patterson was sentenced today to 103 months in federal prison for receipt of child pornography and possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle. U.S. District Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr. handed down the sentence.
Patterson, 44, of Brentwood, was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 18, 2024, and pleaded guilty on May 21, 2025, to both counts. According to the plea agreement, Patterson attempted to meet an individual whom he believed to be a 13-year-old girl to perform sexual acts on her. After his arrest, Patterson was found to be in possession of over 600 videos and 1,000 images containing depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Law enforcement also found Patterson in possession of a short-barreled rifle, which he had not registered with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required by law.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, U.S. Secret Service (USSS) San Francisco Field Office Special Agent in Charge Shawn Bradstreet, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Topper made the announcement.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Gilliam also sentenced Patterson to a 10-year period of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution. The defendant was immediately remanded into custody to begin serving his sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonah P. Ross is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Claudia Hyslop. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the USSS, ATF, Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Brentwood, Concord, and Walnut Creek Police Departments, and the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office.
Justice Department Sues Uber for Denying Rides to Passengers with Service Dogs, WheelchairsRead the Press Release
Yesterday, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Uber Technologies Inc. for discriminating against passengers with disabilities, including those who use service animals and mobility devices such as stowable wheelchairs. Uber is the largest provider of ride-hailing services in the United States. The lawsuit seeks $125 million for individuals who have been subject to discrimination and previously submitted complaints to Uber or the Department.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges Uber violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination based on disability by private transportation companies like Uber. The ADA also requires Uber to allow service animals to accompany individuals with disabilities in vehicles and to provide rides to, and assist, riders with stowable wheelchairs and mobility devices.
The Department’s civil complaint alleges that Uber and its drivers routinely refuse to serve individuals with disabilities; impose impermissible surcharges by charging cleaning fees for service animal shedding and cancellation fees to riders whom Uber has unlawfully denied service; and refuse to reasonably modify Uber’s policies, practices, or procedures, where necessary, to avoid discriminating against riders with disabilities, including by denying individuals with mobility disabilities the option to sit in the front seat when needed. Due to Uber’s ride denials, individuals with disabilities have experienced significant delays, missed appointments, and have been left stranded in inclement weather.
“For too long, blind riders have suffered repeated ride denials by Uber because they are traveling with a service dog,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This lawsuit seeks to end this persistent discrimination and allow riders with disabilities to use Uber. We will enforce the ADA’s guarantee that people with disabilities have equal opportunity and full participation in all aspects of American society, including transportation.”
“Rideshare companies like Uber are prohibited from denying riders with disabilities the same access to transportation that riders without disabilities enjoy,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian of the Northern District of California. “This complaint underscores the United States’ commitment to enforcing the ADA’s promise of equal access.”
The lawsuit seeks a court order to force Uber to stop discriminating against individuals with disabilities, to modify its policies to comply with the ADA, and to train its staff and drivers on the ADA. In addition to the monetary damages to compensate aggrieved individuals subjected to Uber’s discrimination, the lawsuit demands that Uber pay a civil penalty to vindicate the public’s interest in eliminating disability discrimination.
To learn more about the Civil Rights Division visit www.justice.gov/crt, and to report possible violations of federal civil rights laws go to www.civilrights.justice.gov. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TTY 1-833-610-1264) or visit www.ada.gov.
Justice Department Sues Uber for Denying Rides to Passengers with Service Dogs, WheelchairsRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Yesterday, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Uber Technologies Inc. for discriminating against passengers with disabilities, including those who use service animals and mobility devices such as stowable wheelchairs. Uber is the largest provider of ride-hailing services in the United States. The lawsuit seeks $125 million for individuals who have been subject to discrimination and previously submitted complaints to Uber or the Department.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges Uber violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination based on disability by private transportation companies like Uber. The ADA also requires Uber to allow service animals to accompany individuals with disabilities in vehicles and to provide rides to, and assist, riders with stowable wheelchairs and mobility devices.
The Department’s civil complaint alleges that Uber and its drivers routinely refuse to serve individuals with disabilities; impose impermissible surcharges by charging cleaning fees for service animal shedding and cancellation fees to riders whom Uber has unlawfully denied service; and refuse to reasonably modify Uber’s policies, practices, or procedures, where necessary, to avoid discriminating against riders with disabilities, including by denying individuals with mobility disabilities the option to sit in the front seat when needed. Due to Uber’s ride denials, individuals with disabilities have experienced significant delays, missed appointments, and have been left stranded in inclement weather.
“Rideshare companies like Uber are prohibited from denying riders with disabilities the same access to transportation that riders without disabilities enjoy,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian of the Northern District of California. “This complaint underscores the United States’ commitment to enforcing the ADA’s promise of equal access.”
“For too long, blind riders have suffered repeated ride denials by Uber because they are traveling with a service dog,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This lawsuit seeks to end this persistent discrimination and allow riders with disabilities to use Uber. We will enforce the ADA’s guarantee that people with disabilities have equal opportunity and full participation in all aspects of American society, including transportation.”
The lawsuit seeks a court order to force Uber to stop discriminating against individuals with disabilities, to modify its policies to comply with the ADA, and to train its staff and drivers on the ADA. In addition to the monetary damages to compensate aggrieved individuals subjected to Uber’s discrimination, the lawsuit demands that Uber pay a civil penalty to vindicate the public’s interest in eliminating disability discrimination.
To learn more about the Civil Rights Division visit www.justice.gov/crt, and to report possible violations of federal civil rights laws go to www.civilrights.justice.gov. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TTY 1-833-610-1264) or visit www.ada.gov.
Uber Complaint
Contra Costa County Man Charged with Attempted Enticement and Coercion of A MinorRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – A criminal complaint was unsealed today charging Joel Lawrence Benitzhar with the federal crime of attempted enticement and coercion of a minor victim to engage in illegal sexual conduct. Benitzhar was arrested yesterday and made his initial appearance in federal district court in Oakland this morning.
According to the criminal complaint and court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a CyberTip from a popular social media platform that an account, later determined to be associated with Benitzhar, 18, of Martinez, California, contained possible enticement and coercion of at least nine potential minor victims.
The complaint alleges that in chat messages with Minor Victim 1, Benitzhar claimed to have “traded CP” (i.e., child pornography), had sexual intercourse with the minor victim, and arranged to meet up with the minor victim in January 2025. Benitzhar is also alleged to have messaged another social media user that he met with a 14-year-old girl in real life.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Brannigan made the announcement.
Benitzhar is currently in federal custody. Benitzhar is next scheduled to appear in district court on Sept. 16, 2025, for a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Kang.
A criminal complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine of $250,000 for the charge of attempted enticement and coercion of a minor in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b). Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly I. Volkar is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Amala James and Yenni Weinberg. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, including the FBI, HSI, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, and the Walnut Creek Police Department, with assistance from the Martinez Police Department.
Anyone who has information relevant to this case can report it by contacting the FBI at (415) 553-7400 or tips.fbi.gov.
Former CEO of Tribal Telecom Subsidiary Pleads Guilty to Embezzling over $500,000 from Yurok TribeRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Jessica Engle pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday afternoon to embezzling more than $500,000 from the Yurok Tribe.
Engle, 42, of Gold Hill, Oregon, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Sept. 25, 2024, on charges of embezzling approximately $579,574 from an Indian tribal organization and theft from programs receiving federal funds. She pleaded guilty to both counts in the indictment. In connection with pleading guilty, Engle admitted that she embezzled funds from the Yurok Tribe while she served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Yurok Telecommunications Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Yurok Tribe, and converted the funds to her own use.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement.
Engle’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 14, 2026, before Senior U.S. District Court Judge Maxine M. Chesney. Engle faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of theft from programs receiving federal funds in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 666 and five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of embezzlement from an Indian tribal organization in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1163. Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Sampson and Sophia Cooper are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Laurie Worthen. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI appreciate the assistance of the Yurok Tribal Police.
Multiple Defendants Charged in Organized Retail Theft Conspiracy Involving Returns of Counterfeit Electronic GoodsRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury has charged seven defendants with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, mail fraud, conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods, and trafficking in counterfeit goods in connection with an organized retail theft scheme. Three of the defendants were arrested yesterday.
According to the indictment filed on Aug. 26, 2025, and unsealed today, Weidong Liu, 33, Chen Shen, 37, and Weiqin Xu, 34, all of whom are Chinese nationals, and four other defendants, who remain subject to arrest, engaged in a year-long scheme to steal genuine brand-name consumer electronics products, including computer tablets and earphones.
Under the scheme, the defendants allegedly purchased iPad tablets and AirPods earphones from a major retailer with stores throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and elsewhere. The indictment describes that the defendants then returned to the same retailer counterfeit versions bearing the brand name’s trademarks and serial numbers that matched the iPad tablets and AirPods earphones previously purchased from that retailer, in order to obtain the original purchase value back. The counterfeits were returned in the purchased, genuine original packaging that also bore the brand name’s trademarks and the genuine products’ serial numbers. In many instances, the original packaging was resealed with imitation stickers that matched the original sealing stickers to make the return appear unopened. The defendants allegedly imported the counterfeits and the imitation sealing stickers from China. The indictment also alleges that the defendants exported the genuine iPad tablets and AirPods earphones to China.
United States Attorney Craig Missakian and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Brannigan made the announcement.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, defendants each face a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349 and mail fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341, and 10 years in prison and a $2,000,000 fine for each count of conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2320(a) and trafficking in counterfeit goods in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2320(a)(1). Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Liu, Shen, and Xu all made their initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim. All three defendants will next appear on Sept. 3, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alex Tse for a continued arraignment and detention hearing.
This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Northern California Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Kassabian is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Andy Ding and Lance Libatique. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by HSI, the California Highway Patrol C.T.I.P. (Cargo Theft Interdiction Program) Taskforce, Federal Air Marshal Service, Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and FBI.
Former CEO and CFO of Cryptocurrency Lender Cred LLC Sentenced to Multiple Years in Prison for Wire Fraud Conspiracy ConvictionsRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Former Cred LLC executives Daniel Schatt and Joseph Podulka were sentenced today to 52 months and 36 months in federal prison, respectively, for wire fraud conspiracy. Senior U.S. District Judge William Alsup handed down the sentences.
Schatt, 55, of San Mateo, and Podulka, 53, of Palo Alto, were indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024. Defendants each pleaded guilty on May 13, 2025, to one count of wire fraud conspiracy in connection with their roles in defrauding customers of Cred, a San Francisco-based firm that provided financial services to holders of cryptocurrency and other assets. Schatt, who co-founded Cred, served as the CEO and Podulka served as the company’s CFO. According to the plea agreements, Schatt and Podulka conspired to present an incomplete, unreasonably positive, and thus misleading portrayal of Cred’s business while failing to disclose negative material information about Cred’s business challenges and risks to Cred’s customers.
“The defendants’ criminal conspiracy caused significant harm to Cred’s customers,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “This prosecution should serve as a reminder that my Office will aggressively prosecute fraud schemes undermining the integrity of cryptocurrency markets. Fraud targeting cryptocurrency investors and customers will not be tolerated and wrongdoers will be held accountable for their actions.”
“Daniel Schatt and Joseph Podulka orchestrated a scheme in which they deceived both investors and customers out of their hard-earned funds in an attempt to extend a failing business. The FBI is committed to investigating investment fraud schemes targeting cryptocurrency holders and working with our partners to bring fraudsters to justice,” said Acting FBI Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo.
“Cryptocurrency may still seem foreign to some people, but investment fraud schemes are nothing new,” said IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen. “IRS-CI special agents are the best financial investigators in the world and will not stand by and allow companies to defraud their customers through malicious actions. Our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI has never been stronger as we will continue to relentlessly pursue these types of crimes based on greed and egoism.”
By late 2018, Cred’s business included two principal customer offerings: offering loans in U.S. dollars to customers using customers’ cryptocurrency as collateral and accepting deposits of cryptocurrency in exchange for a promise for a yield (interest payments) for that cryptocurrency. Cred’s business depended on a relationship with a Chinese company founded by one of Cred’s co-founders to generate the interest yield for Cred’s customers, a fact that many Cred customers did not know. Under this arrangement, Cred would loan the Chinese company a percentage of Cred’s customers’ funds, and the Chinse company would make short-term, high-interest microloans to Chinese gamers to generate interest to pay back to Cred. Cred’s business also depended on a hedging strategy using a third-party company to protect Cred from overexposure to cryptocurrency market fluctuations given Cred’s promises to its customers about specific yields they would earn while keeping their assets safe.
According to the plea agreements, Defendants’ conspiracy began in March 2020 following the onset of the COVID pandemic and a sudden and dramatic decrease in the price of Bitcoin. Within days of the crash, Cred learned from its hedging partner that Cred was underwater and needed to liquidate all its trading positions. The hedging partner then ended its relationship with Cred, leaving Cred with no hedges and no hedging strategy going forward. As the conspiracy progressed, Defendants also learned that the Chinese company would not be able to pay back tens of millions of dollars to Cred.
Rather than convey Cred’s worsening financial situation to its customers, the defendants each made misleading representations to customers or investors about Cred’s financial situation, including a public Ask Management Anything session that Schatt conducted on March 18, 2020, during which he stated that Cred’s business was “operating normally.”
On Nov. 7, 2020, Cred filed for bankruptcy. Cred customers and investors filed more than 6,000 claims totaling more than $140 million in the Cred bankruptcy proceedings. According to the government’s sentencing memorandum, those claims are worth over $1 billion using August 2025 valuations for the different cryptocurrencies that customers lost.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Alsup also sentenced Schatt and Podulka each to a three-year period of supervised release and ordered payment of a $25,000 fine. The defendants will begin serving their sentences on Oct. 28, 2025. Judge Alsup set a restitution hearing for Oct. 7, 2025.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Barbara Valliere, Patrick O’Brien, Richard Ewenstein, and Adam Reeves prosecuted the case with the assistance of Helen Yee and Maryam Beros. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and IRS-CI.
United States Files Civil Complaint Against S.F.-Based Air Carrier to Enforce Penalties for Alleged Drug and Alcohol Testing Program NoncomplianceRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – The United States filed a civil complaint in federal district court this week against passenger air carrier Boutique Air, Inc. to enforce civil penalties that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) assessed for alleged violations of federal regulations governing drug and alcohol records checks on employees.
Boutique Air is a San Francisco-based air carrier that operates scheduled and charter flights. As an FAA-certified air carrier, Boutique Air is required to comply with federal regulations governing workplace drug and alcohol testing, records checks, training, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements. Among other requirements, FAA-certified air carriers are prohibited from permitting a newly hired employee to continue performing safety-sensitive functions for more than 30 days unless the carrier checks the employee’s drug and alcohol testing records from the employee’s prior transportation industry employers or makes a good faith effort to obtain the required information.
According to the complaint, Boutique Air failed to conduct requisite drug and alcohol records checks on 21 employees that it hired into safety-sensitive positions, including mechanics, a pilot, and a ground security coordinator. The FAA found that between August 2020 and September 2021, Boutique Air allegedly authorized 21 new employees to perform safety-sensitive functions beyond the 30-day threshold without obtaining, or making a good faith effort to obtain, requisite drug and alcohol testing information from those employees’ previous transportation industry employers.
On Sept. 22, 2023, the FAA issued a letter to Boutique Air outlining the FAA’s conclusion that Boutique Air violated federal regulations governing drug and alcohol records checks on employees on 21 occasions and seeking payment of a civil penalty. The maximum allowed penalty totals $291,417. The complaint seeks collection of the civil penalty.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FAA Chief Counsel Liam McKenna made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sapna Mehta is handling this case. The FAA investigated this matter.
The complaint contains allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Former Silicon Valley CEO Charged with Fraud and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the Northern District of California returned an indictment charging a Hawaii man with wire fraud, securities fraud, and obstruction in connection with a scheme to defraud investors of $170 million as the CEO and Founder of the social media company Get Together, a privately held social media startup known as “IRL”.
According to court documents, Abraham Shafi, 38, of Pepeekeo, Hawaii, allegedly committed fraud in connection with Get Together’s 2021 “Series C” funding round, which raised $170 million at a valuation of over $1 billion. In seeking investment, Shafi told potential investors that IRL was spending only $50,000 a month in paid advertising and that user signups “were not incentivized or paid.” However, Shafi had spent millions of dollars on paid advertising in the form of incentive advertising, a form of advertising in which users are provided a reward in a third-party app if they download IRL. In the lead up to Series C, Shafi asked his vendor for a “big burst” of ads for “a few days” to drive more installs of the IRL app. During the Series C process, investors specifically asked about paid advertising, and Shafi falsely responded that “[u]nlike other apps that spend aggressively to acquire new users, we spend very little.” Shafi concealed IRL’s spending on incentive ads by having them invoiced to a third-party firm, ensuring that the nature and amount of the expense did not appear on IRL’s ledger.
Shafi continued to conceal the amount that IRL was spending in incentive ads after the Series C closed, instructing an IRL employee to create false invoices that listed the ad spending as being related to infrastructure, or “infra costs,” and falsely telling his investors that the money spent on incentive ads had instead been used for other forms of advertising. When the SEC opened an investigation into IRL, Shafi restored his cell phone to a previously saved backup, resulting in the deletion of records, and instructed other IRL employees to lie about his involvement in the scheme.
Shafi is charged with wire fraud, securities fraud, and obstruction. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California; and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani of the FBI San Francisco Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Acting Assistant Chief Attorney Laura Connelly of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sailaja Paidipaty and Evan Mateer for the Northern District of California are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Silicon Valley CEO Charged with Fraud and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO — A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging a Hawaii man with wire fraud, securities fraud, and obstruction in connection with a scheme to defraud investors of $170 million as the CEO and Founder of the social media company Get Together, a privately held social media startup known as “IRL.”
According to court documents, Abraham Shafi, 38, of Pepeekeo, Hawaii, allegedly committed fraud in connection with Get Together’s 2021 “Series C” funding round, which raised $170 million at a valuation of over $1 billion. In seeking investment, Shafi told potential investors that IRL was spending only $50,000 a month in paid advertising and that user signups “were not incentivized or paid.” However, Shafi had spent millions of dollars on paid advertising in the form of incentive advertising, a type of advertising in which users are provided a reward in a third-party app if they download IRL. In the lead up to Series C, Shafi asked his vendor for a “big burst” of ads for “a few days” to drive more installs of the IRL app. During the Series C process, investors specifically asked about paid advertising, and Shafi falsely responded that “[u]nlike other apps that spend aggressively to acquire new users, we spend very little.” Shafi concealed IRL’s spending on incentive ads by having them invoiced to a third-party firm, ensuring that the nature and amount of the expense did not appear on IRL’s ledger.
Shafi continued to conceal the amount that IRL was spending in incentive ads after the Series C closed, instructing an IRL employee to create false invoices that listed the ad spending as being related to infrastructure, or “infra costs,” and falsely telling his investors that the money spent on incentive ads had instead been used for other forms of advertising. When the SEC opened an investigation into IRL, Shafi restored his cell phone to a previously saved backup, resulting in the deletion of records, and instructed other IRL employees to lie about his involvement in the scheme.
Shafi is charged with wire fraud, securities fraud, and obstruction. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sailaja Paidipaty and Evan Mateer for the Northern District of California and Acting Assistant Chief Attorney Laura Connelly of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Shafi Indictment
California Behavioral Medicine Provider Agrees to Pay $2.75 Million to Resolve Alleged False Claims for Psychotherapy ServicesRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – American Psychiatric Centers, Inc., doing business under the name Comprehensive Psychiatric Services (CPS), has agreed to pay $2.75 million to resolve allegations that CPS violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to government healthcare payors for certain psychotherapy services.
CPS, which is headquartered in Walnut Creek, Calif., provides behavioral medicine services for individuals and families in the State of California. Since at least 2015, CPS and its healthcare providers have submitted claims to government payors using Current Procedural Terminology codes 90833 and 90836, which are “add-on” codes to be used when psychotherapy services are performed in conjunction with an evaluation and management visit, and which require specific documentation.
The settlement announced today resolves the government’s allegations that, from Jan. 1, 2015, through Dec. 31, 2022, CPS submitted fraudulent claims using these add-on codes in instances where its healthcare providers either had not provided the services described by those codes or had failed to sufficiently document that such services had been provided. CPS will pay $2,615,569.32 to the United States and $134,430.68 to the State of California.
“Providers that participate in federally funded health care programs must abide by the rules and submit proper claims for care that was in fact rendered. To do otherwise is to drain resources from our fellow Americans who rely on Medicare and other government programs. This settlement sends a clear message that we will continue to investigate and pursue any entity that fraudulently seeks to increase profits at taxpayers’ expense,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian.
“Holding health care providers accountable for submitting false claims to Federal health care programs is crucial for ensuring that taxpayer funds are appropriately used and for maintaining the American public’s trust,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey McIntosh of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Working closely with our law enforcement partners, our agency remains dedicated to protecting taxpayer-funded programs that deliver essential behavioral health services.”
“Today’s outcome concludes a collaborative effort to hold Comprehensive Psychiatric Services accountable for its improper billing practices. These actions undermined our Federal health care system, including the Department of Defense’s TRICARE program,” said John E. Helsing, Acting Special Agent in Charge for the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Western Field Office. “DCIS will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice to investigate health care providers that seek to enrich themselves at the expense of the American taxpayer.”
“Veterans and their families expect and deserve the highest quality healthcare delivered in a safe and accountable setting,” said Special Agent in Charge Dimitriana Nikolov with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northwest Field Office. “This settlement is a testament to the VA OIG’s commitment to safeguarding the integrity of VA’s healthcare programs and preserving taxpayer funds.”
“False claims increase costs and undermine the integrity of our federal health care programs, including the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program,” said Derek M. Holt, Special Agent in Charge, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Office of the Inspector General (OPM OIG). “We support the work of our law enforcement partners and colleagues to investigate fraudulent medical billing that wastes taxpayer dollars.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Helland handled this matter for the government, with the assistance of Garland He. The investigation and settlement resulted from a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, HHS-OIG, DCIS, VA OIG, OPM OIG, and the California Department of Justice, Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates 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 HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
South Bay Tech Startup and CEO Agree to Pay $630,000 to Resolve Allegations That They Improperly Obtained Federal Grant FundsRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO — eBibelot, a technology startup based in Saratoga, California, and its CEO, Melody Fallah-Khair, have agreed to pay $630,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by improperly certifying compliance with the terms of a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant restricting full-time outside employment.
The settlement concerns eBibelot’s 2019 application for a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research grant from NSF. In the application, Fallah-Khair certified that she would serve as the project’s principal investigator and maintain primary employment with eBibelot. The terms of the NSF grant required that principal investigators devote their primary employment to the small business at the time of the award and throughout the award period, a requirement that generally precludes other employment exceeding 19.6 hours per week.
The settlement resolves allegations that, contrary to this certification, Fallah-Khair began working full-time for a multi-national telecommunications company shortly after submitting the grant application and devoted at least 40 hours per week to this outside employment from May 2019 through April 2021. The United States contends that eBibelot failed to disclose its principal investigator’s full-time outside employment in multiple post-award certifications to the NSF. In one such certification, Fallah-Khair was explicitly required to disclose any other employment but reported none.
Under the settlement agreement, eBibelot and Fallah-Khair will pay $630,000.
“Taxpayer-funded research must be conducted with the highest integrity. When recipients of federal funds fail to comply with the terms of the grant, they divert valuable research dollars from deserving small businesses. My Office will continue to use the False Claims Act to protect federal grant programs from fraud and abuse,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian.
“The SBIR program is vital to fostering innovation in small businesses, and protecting it from abuse is essential. I appreciate the U.S. Attorney’s Office for its strong commitment to safeguarding its integrity,” said Megan E. Wallace, NSF’s Acting Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin J. Wolinsky handled this matter for the government, with the assistance of Alan Lopez, Jonathan Birch, and Garland He. The investigation and settlement resulted from a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and NSF-OIG.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Former Salinas Construction Company Controller Charged with Stealing More Than $8 Million Dollars from EmployerRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – Monique Marie Dodson, the former controller of a Salinas construction company, was charged by information yesterday with six counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering in connection with the alleged theft of more than $8 million from her employer.
According to the information, Dodson, 42, of Monterey County, was the controller of Company A, a civil contracting construction company headquartered in Salinas. Beginning around October 2021 until November 2023, Dodson allegedly conducted approximately 136 unauthorized wire transfers from Company A’s business account to her personal bank accounts that she falsely characterized as payments for materials for the company.
The information alleges that Dodson used a variety of means to conceal the unauthorized transfers to avoid detection and facilitate future transfers, including by intercepting and destroying paper bank statements sent by Company A’s bank documenting the unauthorized wire transfers. Dodson also allegedly downloaded Company A’s bank statements, modified the electronic bank statements by removing her name from wire transfer descriptions, and saved the altered bank statements in Company A’s records. The information further alleges that Dodson concealed the unauthorized wire transfers by falsely listing them in Company A’s expense accounts in the accounting journal.
Dodson is alleged to have conducted unauthorized wires totaling approximately $8,579,647.48.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen, and Special Agent in Charge Ryan Korner of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) made the announcement.
Dodson is scheduled to appear in federal district court in San Jose on Aug. 19, 2025, for an initial appearance and arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins.
An information merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each count of wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343 and 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for the count of money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Neal C. Hong is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sahib Kaur. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS-CI, and FDIC-OIG.
Dodson Information
Eight Defendants Charged in Nationwide Scheme to Defraud Two Mobile Shopping Service CompaniesRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – A federal grand jury has indicted eight individuals in California, Michigan, Ohio, and Oregon for their roles in a nationwide scheme to defraud two mobile shopping service companies.
According to the indictment filed Aug. 7, 2025, and unsealed today, Abdulkadir Mohamed Ali, 31, of Portland, Oregon; Mazen Mohamed Hassan, 24, of Columbus, Ohio; Ahmed Mohamed Ali, 36, of Troy, Michigan; Abdirahman Abdalla Mahamed, 28, of San Diego, California; Hussein Mohamed Ali, 27, of Troy, Michigan; Abubakar Mohamed Ali, 29, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Omar Mohamed Ali, 23, of Troy, Michigan; and Yusuf Mohamed Ali, 26, of Westerville, Ohio, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and eight counts of wire fraud and aiding and abetting.
The indictment alleges that defendants conducted a phishing scheme targeting two mobile shopping service companies based in San Francisco, California and Birmingham, Alabama. As part of the scheme to defraud, defendants obtained a stolen list of active and inactive accounts of “shoppers,” individuals who purchase groceries or other merchandise to fulfill customer orders. Upon fraudulently gaining control over the shopper accounts, defendants allegedly placed fictitious customer orders using the mobile applications. Some of the defendants would then impersonate the shoppers and accept the fictitious customer orders. This would then prompt the mobile application to load funds to the shopper’s digital debit card, which the defendants had access to and control over, to fulfill the orders. Defendants, acting as the shopper, would go into a store to purchase gift cards rather than the items that had been ordered while simultaneously canceling the customer order.
After obtaining gift cards from the stores, defendants allegedly used the gift cards to purchase cryptocurrency, which they converted into U.S. currency, or completed online orders for their own benefit. In total, defendants are charged with stealing more than $1 million from two mobile shopping service companies.
This morning, Yusuf Mohamed Ali and Mazen Hassan Mohamed were arrested in Columbus, Ohio; Abubakar Mohamed Ali was arrested in Grand Rapids, Michigan; Abdulkadir Mohamed Ali was arrested in Portland, Oregon; and Ahmed Mohamed Ali, Abdirahman Abdalla Mahamed, Hussein Mohamed Ali, Abubakar Mohamed Ali, Omar Mohamed Ali were arrested in Detroit, Michigan. Each defendant made an initial appearance in federal district court today.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani, and Special Agent in Charge Shawn Bradstreet, U.S. Secret Service (USSS) San Francisco Field Office made the announcement.
Defendants are currently released on bond. They are next scheduled to appear in federal district court in Oakland on Aug. 25, 2025, for an initial appearance before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna M. Ryu.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, defendants each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349 and wire fraud and aiding and abetting in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Chambers and Evan Mateer are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Amala James and Andy Ding. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and USSS.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials and Drug and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Rodney Williams was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography, possession of methamphetamine and cocaine with intent to distribute, and possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. Senior U.S. District Judge Susan Illston handed down the sentence.
Williams, 55, of San Francisco, was charged by information on Oct. 7, 2024. On May 16, 2025, he pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography, one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of cocaine, and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
According to the plea agreement, on or about July 24, 2024, law enforcement conducted a search of Williams’s home and vehicle in the Potrero Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, which led to the finding of his iPhone. Williams admitted that his iPhone contained 555 images and 147 videos depicting child sexual abuse materials, and that at least one of these files depicted a minor under 12 years old. Separately, Williams also admitted that on or about April 3, 2024, he knowingly possessed nine video files in his digital storage account depicting child sexual abuse materials, including at least one file that depicted a minor under 12 years old.
Law enforcement also found controlled substances and firearms during the July 24, 2024, search. Specifically, Williams possessed with intent to distribute nearly 3.8 kilograms of methamphetamine and over 1 kilogram of cocaine. Williams also acknowledged possessing approximately 100 grams net weight of heroin and approximately 17 grams of fentanyl. He also possessed 11 firearms and two other weapons, including two AK-style rifles, two AR-style rifles, a semiautomatic .22 caliber rifle, a bolt-action rifle, five semiautomatic handguns, a revolver handgun, and a shotgun, as well as over 116 pounds of ammunition of multiple calibers. In addition, he had body armor, as well as various firearm magazines and accessories, such as optical scopes and a firearm suppressor. At the time Williams possessed the firearms and ammunition, he had been convicted of multiple felonies, including, among others, assault with a firearm on a person and harmful material sent to induce a minor.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Brannigan, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Topper made the announcement.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Illston also sentenced the defendant to a five-year period of supervised release and ordered him to pay $89,000 in restitution to victims of the child sexual abuse material he possessed. The defendant was immediately remanded into custody to begin serving his sentence.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli J. Cohen prosecuted the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by HSI, ATF, and the San Francisco Police Department.
Two More FCI Dublin Correctional Officers Plead Guilty to Sexually Abusing Female InmatesRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Former Bureau of Prisons correctional officers Jeffrey Wilson and Lawrence Gacad pleaded guilty today to sexually abusing female inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, Calif., which operated as a low-security federal prison for females. Wilson also admitted to making false statements to federal investigators.
Wilson and Gacad were charged by information on June 25, 2025. They are the eighth and ninth correctional officers to have either pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial as part of an ongoing federal investigation into sexual abuse of inmates at FCI Dublin.
“There is zero tolerance for federal correctional officers who violate their positions of trust and authority. And that is especially true where they use those positions to sexually abuse individuals in their custody,” said United States Attorney Craig Missakian. “Our investigations remain ongoing, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law anyone who engages in these despicable acts.”
“The pattern of abuse of inmates at FCI Dublin is inexcusable. Gacad and Wilson’s guilty pleas are the eighth and ninth convictions of Federal Bureau of Prisons employees for sexually abusing inmates at that institution. The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General will continue to aggressively investigate these heinous crimes, and with our partners, vigorously pursue justice for the victims of sexual abuse,” said Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeremy Hunt.
“These guilty pleas mark yet another step toward accountability for a culture of predation that thrived for far too long behind the walls of FCI Dublin. Female inmates were exploited by those with power and access when they were most vulnerable,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani. “The FBI and our partners remain resolute in our work to expose every individual who used their position to harm, and to help restore the dignity stolen from the women who survived abuse.”
According to his plea agreement, Wilson was employed from July 2021 to September 2022 as a correctional officer at FCI Dublin, where he served as a health technician/paramedic. In that role, he was responsible for providing emergency assessment and medical care to the female inmates. Around August 2021, Wilson began interacting with a victim inmate after she started taking medication prescribed to her for seizures. He encouraged the victim to transfer from the prison to the FCI Dublin Camp where there were fewer medical staff who would see their interactions.
Wilson admitted to engaging in sexual acts on multiple occasions with the victim. He also provided the victim with a $60 pre-paid credit card and a cellphone while she was at the FCI Dublin Camp. The victim used that cellphone to take naked pictures of herself and send them to Wilson.
When he was interviewed by special agents from the DOJ OIG, Wilson falsely stated that he never had sexual contact with the victim inmate and that he had never given her contraband.
According to his plea agreement, Gacad was employed from July 2021 to June 2022 as a correctional officer at FCI Dublin. Between March and June 2022, Gacad kissed and groped a victim inmate. The victim lived in one of the housing units where Gacad was sometimes assigned as the guard on duty. Gacad also admitted that he exchanged handwritten notes and emails with the victim, some of which were sexually explicit. To disguise his identity, Gacad used email accounts that he set up using fake names.
Gacad resigned from the BOP after the abuse was discovered, but continued to exchange emails with the victim and speak with the victim on video chats that she had with her parents.
Both Wilson and Gacad were released on bond. Wilson is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 6, 2025, and Gacad is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 19, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.
Wilson faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each count of sexual abuse of a ward in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2243(b) and eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of false statements to a government agency in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2). Gacad faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of abusive sexual contact in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2244(a)(4). Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
* * *
As part of the Department of Justice’s ongoing investigation into FCI Dublin, 10 FCI Dublin correctional officers have been charged with crimes related to the sexual abuse of the female prisoners at the facility. The status of these cases is below:
DefendantCase NumberStatusWarden Ray J. Garcia4:21-cr-00429-YGRConvicted on all counts by jury on Dec. 8, 2022; sentenced to 70 months in prisonCO John Bellhouse4:22-cr-00066-YGRConvicted on all counts by jury on Jun. 5, 2023; sentenced to 63 months in prisonCO Darrell Smith (a/k/a “Dirty Dick Smith”)4:23-cr-00110-YGRIndicted on Apr. 13, 2023; trial scheduled for Sept. 2, 2025Chaplain James Highhouse4:22-cr-00016-HSGPleaded guilty on Feb. 24, 2022; sentenced to 84 months in prisonCO Ross Klinger4:22-cr-00031-YGRPleaded guilty on Feb. 10, 2022; sentenced to one year of home confinementCO Enrique Chavez4:22-cr-00104-YGRPleaded guilty on Oct. 27, 2022; sentenced to 20 months in prisonCO Andrew Jones4:23-cr-00212-YGRPleaded guilty on Aug.17, 2023; sentenced to 96 months in prisonCO Nakie Nunley4:23-cr-00213-YGRPleaded guilty on Sept. 5, 2023; sentenced to 72 months in prisonCO Jeffrey Wilson4:25-cr-00180-YGRPleaded guilty on Aug. 7, 2025; sentencing scheduled for Nov. 6, 2025CO Lawrence Gacad4:25-cr-00181-YGRPleaded guilty on Aug. 7, 2025; sentencing scheduled for Nov. 19, 2025Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Paulson, Alethea Sargent, Sailaja Paidipaty, and Molly Priedeman are prosecuting these cases with the assistance of Veronica Hernandez, Soana Katoa, and Amala James. The prosecutions are the result of an investigation by the DOJ OIG and the FBI.
Former East Bay Middle School Aide Indicted for Receipt and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – A federal grand jury has indicted Dominic James Vannucci, who was employed as a teacher’s aide at a middle school in Contra Costa County until June 2025, on charges of receipt and possession of child pornography. Vannucci made his initial appearance in federal court in Oakland today.
According to the indictment filed and unsealed last week, Vannucci, 25, of Discovery Bay, Calif., allegedly received child sexual abuse materials involving a minor in May 2025. Vannucci is also charged with possessing child sexual abuse materials involving a prepubescent minor beginning from an unknown date continuing through June 2025.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Vannucci faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a minimum sentence of five years in prison, and a $250,000 fine for each count of receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Vannucci was transferred to federal custody earlier today and is currently on conditional release. He is next scheduled to appear in district court on Sept. 19, 2025, for a status conference before U.S. District Judge Jon S. Tigar.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Brannigan made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly I. Volkar is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Alycee Lane and Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by HSI, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.
Anyone who has information relevant to this case can report it by contacting HSI at [email protected] or (877) 477-4847.
Vannucci Indictment
Santa Cruz Man Who Owned Purported Music Streaming Service Indicted on Wire Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – A federal grand jury has indicted Hank Risan on four counts of wire fraud stemming from alleged misrepresentations to investors about his software company and his purported music streaming service. Risan was arrested this morning and made his initial appearance today in federal court in San Jose.
According to the indictment filed on July 31, 2025, and unsealed today, Risan, 70, of Santa Cruz, allegedly offered and sold stock and stock conversion in his software company, Media Rights Technologies, Inc. (MRT), and his music streaming service, BlueBeat, Inc., to investors based on false representations, including: (1) false claims of BlueBeat’s copyright ownership of approximately 2.5 million songs by various well-known artists; (2) false and misleading comparisons and valuations of BlueBeat; (3) false claims of imminent acquisition of BlueBeat by a multi-national media and entertainment conglomerate; and (4) false claims of association and involvement with the companies by a former undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce. As an example, on Nov. 3, 2020, Risan informed investors that he “received a very favorable comparable regarding the BlueBeat Catalog” and noted, “To put that news in perspective, BlueBeat contains approximately 2.5 million songs and $10K per song brings music to my ears. You can do the math!”
In reality, the indictment alleges, BlueBeat did not own the copyrights to the 2.5 million songs, the valuations of MRT and BlueBeat were fictional, the advertised multi-media conglomerate was not in the process of acquiring BlueBeat or its catalog, and the former Commerce official was not involved with BlueBeat.
Risan allegedly induced investors to purchase approximately $1,959,187 in stock and stock conversions, and to make payments characterized as “loans.” In total, he obtained approximately $3,165,859 from the charged scheme. Risan allegedly used the fraudulently obtained funds to pay personal credit cards, purchase collectables, and make mortgage payments on his personal residence.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement.
Risan was released on a $100,000 unsecured bond. He is next scheduled to appear in district court on Oct. 8, 2025, for a status conference before U.S. District Judge P. Casey Pitts.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each count of wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Chang and Jeff Nedrow are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Natachiana Burney and Susan Kreider. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Five Bay Area Men Charged for Their Roles in Armed Robbery of 200 iPhones and Five Cameras from Oregon BusinessRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury has indicted Cankun He, Hailong Ma, Robert Maynard, Yuxiang Wei, and Jordan Cantie on charges of conspiring to rob a business located in Portland, Oregon, of Apple iPhones that were being shipped by the company. Ma and Wei were arrested on Aug. 1, 2025, and He was arrested yesterday; all three made their initial appearances in federal district court yesterday. Maynard was already in custody on another matter and made his initial appearance today.
According to the indictment filed July 22, 2025, and unsealed yesterday, He, 31, Ma, 30, Maynard, 41, Wei, 25, and Cantie, 48—all believed to be residing in the Bay Area—conspired to rob a reshipping business in Portland of Apple iPhones that were being shipped by the company. He, Ma, and Wei allegedly participated in planning the robbery, and Maynard and Cantie were recruited to conduct the robbery itself.
The indictment alleges that Ma, Wei, Maynard, and Cantie traveled from the Northern District of California to Portland to conduct the robbery, with Ma providing jackets falsely marked with “FBI,” bulletproof vests, zip ties, and other supplies for the robbery. On April 14, 2025, while Ma and Wei waited nearby, Maynard and Cantie drove into the victim business’s parking lot using blue and red flashing lights similar to police vehicle lights. Cantie allegedly brandished a gun and, along with Maynard, forced employees into the building, zip-tied them, and issued verbal threats. The two men then stole approximately 200 Apple iPhones and five cameras before driving away, the indictment alleges. They later drove back to California and, along the way, met with He and others to deliver the stolen iPhones.
On or about May 19, 2025, Ma, Wei, Maynard, and others again allegedly conspired to rob another reshipping business in Hillsboro, Oregon, and drove to Oregon to do so. Maynard and four unindicted co-conspirators were arrested that day.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement.
He, Ma, Maynard, and Wei have remained in custody since their arrests. Cantie remains at large. Wei is scheduled for a detention hearing on Aug. 18, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim. Ma and He are scheduled to be arraigned before Judge Kim on Aug. 6, 2025. Maynard was remanded into federal custody.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain for the count of conspiracy to engage in robbery affecting interstate commerce in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a). Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Yeh and Kenneth Chambers are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Claudia Hyslop and Lance Libatique. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Cankun He, et al. Indictment
Romanian National Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Involving over $500,000 in EBT Funds, Illegal Reentry, and Asylum FraudRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Marius Marian pleaded guilty in federal court today to fraudulently obtaining over $500,000 in Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) funds, illegally reentering the United States following an aggravated felony conviction, and making false statements on his asylum application.
Marian, 39, a citizen of Romania, was charged by information on July 23, 2025, with one count of bank fraud, one count of illegal re-entry into the United States following an aggravated felony conviction, and one count of asylum fraud. He pleaded guilty to all three counts today.
In pleading guilty, Marian admitted that from March 2, 2024, through June 3, 2025, he fraudulently obtained EBT funds by using over 601 unique victim EBT account identifiers. As described in court documents, EBT benefits are federal funds distributed through the California Department of Social Services to individuals in need in California. Marian obtained EBT cards numbers by using skimmer devices on ATM and point of sale machines that captured the victim’s EBT account information when the victim uses the card. After encoding the victim’s EBT account information on counterfeit bank cards, Marian used the counterfeit bank cards to fraudulently withdraw EBT funds from ATMs in Northern California.
As a result of his scheme, Marian withdrew $507,916 in cash and intended to withdraw $611,845 in EBT funds. Marian further admitted that his conduct involved sophisticated means and caused substantial financial hardship to at least 25 victims.
Additionally, Marian admitted that on or around April 27, 2023, he knowingly submitted false statements on an application for asylum to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Specifically, Marian knowingly failed to disclose in his asylum application that he had been previously deported from the United States and that he had previously been convicted in 2019 of bank fraud.
Finally, Marian acknowledged that he had been previously deported after his 2019 conviction for bank fraud and that he thereafter illegally reentered and was found in the United States.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), San Francisco Field Office, Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Diamond, Special Agent-in-Charge Shawn Dionida, U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General (USDA OIG), and ICE Field Office Director Sergio Albarran made the announcement.
Marian is currently in federal custody. Marian’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 20, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine for the count of bank fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344; 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of illegal re-entry following an aggravated felony conviction in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1326(a) and (b)(2); and 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of asylum fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1546(a). Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily R. Dahlke is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Alycee Lane and Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, DSS, USDA OIG, and ICE.
Colombian National Pleads Guilty to Orchestrating Scheme to Submit Fraudulent Asylum ApplicationsRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Carlos Adolfo Haeckermann Cardenas pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to orchestrating in a scheme to submit dozens of false and fraudulent asylum applications to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Haeckermann, 62, a Colombian national residing in Doral, Fla., was indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 13, 2024. Under the plea agreement, Haeckermann pleaded guilty to all four counts in the indictment, which each charge him with aiding and abetting a false statement on an immigration document, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1546(a) and 2.
In pleading guilty, Haeckermann admitted he operated a business, first in Colombia and then in the United States, in which he charged fees to guide Colombian nationals through the visa and asylum application processes, including by telling his clients what to say on their applications and in their interviews to gain permission to travel to, or to remain in, the United States. Specifically, Haeckermann frequently instructed his visa-applicant clients to inflate their professional status and business interests in, and their personal connections to, Colombia to deceive U.S. immigration officers into believing the applicants would return to Colombia without overstaying their visas. He also often embellished—and, in some cases, outright concocted—his asylum-applicant clients’ stories of persecution in Colombia to deceive U.S. immigration officers and to bolster his clients’ chances of being granted asylum in the United States.
The four counts to which Haeckermann pleaded guilty related to asylum applications submitted by four of Haeckermann’s clients between November 2019 and May 2020. With respect to those four applications, Haeckermann made up a story of alleged political persecution that he recycled among each of the four applicants after changing inconsequential details. At Haeckermann’s urging and direction, all four of these applicants included the falsified story in their asylum applications. Haeckermann admitted that he also worked on dozens of other fraudulent asylum applications.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Criminal Fraud Investigations Branch Chief Jeff Rusinek made the announcement.
Haeckermann was released on bond. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 5, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria. Haeckermann faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on each count. Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Parker is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Lance Libatique. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by DSS and USCIS.
Man Charged with Arson of U.S. Post Office in San JoseRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – A criminal complaint was unsealed today charging Richard Tillman with the federal crime of malicious destruction by fire of a U.S. post office in San Jose. Tillman made his initial appearance in federal district court in San Jose today.
According to the criminal complaint, in the early hours of July 20, 2025, Tillman, 44, set fire to the Almaden Valley United States Post Office located on Crown Boulevard in San Jose. Tillman allegedly purchased “instalogs” and lighter fluid and drove to the U.S. post office. The complaint describes that Tillman then placed the instalogs throughout his vehicle, poured lighter fluid over the instalogs, backed his vehicle into the lobby of the U.S. post office, exited the vehicle, and lit the vehicle on fire with a match.
Tillman then allegedly began spray painting the words “Viva La Me” on the outside of the building after starting the fire, but did not finish the graffiti because the heat from the fire was too intense.
The Almaden Valley United States Post Office was partially destroyed by the fire, as depicted below:
The San Jose Fire Department and the San Jose Police Department responded to the fire. Tillman allegedly told law enforcement officers that he set the fire to make a statement to the U.S. government and that he livestreamed the event on YouTube using his phone.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), San Francisco Division Inspector in Charge Stephen M. Sherwood, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Topper, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement.
Tillman is currently in federal custody. He is next scheduled to appear in district court on Aug. 6, 2025, for a status conference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins.
A criminal complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a minimum sentence of five years in prison, and a fine of $250,000 for the charge of malicious destruction of government property by fire in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 844(f)(1). Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael G. Pitman is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sahib Kaur. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the USPIS, ATF, FBI, and the San Jose Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office appreciates the assistance of the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.
Tillman Complaint
Founder and CEO of AML Bitcoin Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Multi-Million-Dollar Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Cryptocurrency founder and CEO Rowland Marcus Andrade was sentenced today to 84 months in federal prison for wire fraud and money laundering. Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg handed down the sentence.
At the conclusion of a five-week trial in March 2025, a jury found Andrade, 47, guilty of wire fraud and money laundering in connection with the fraudulent marketing and sale of a cryptocurrency called AML Bitcoin, a scheme that raised millions of dollars through false and misleading statements to investors about the cryptocurrency and the purported technology behind it.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Andrade made false statements to the public and potential purchasers of AML Bitcoin misrepresenting the development of the technology, its viability, potential business deals, and release date. Among other misrepresentations, Andrade falsely claimed that the Panama Canal Authority was close to permitting AML Bitcoin to be used for ships passing through the Panama Canal when no such agreement existed.
Court documents and evidence presented at trial established that Andrade defrauded cryptocurrency investors out of approximately $10 million. Andrade diverted more than $2 million in proceeds from the sale of AML Bitcoin and spent it on personal expenses, including the purchase of two properties in Texas and two luxury automobiles. The jury also found that Andrade laundered investor funds through a series of bank accounts and then used the funds for his personal expenses and the purchase of the properties and automobiles.
“The defendant made one false claim after another about a sophisticated cryptocurrency offering to create the illusion of a legitimate business. He exploited numerous investors who put their trust in him, not knowing that their hard-earned money was in fact funding his lavish lifestyle. Today, Andrade learned the price of his greed,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “This case emphasizes my Office’s ongoing commitment to prosecuting anyone who undermines the integrity of traditional financial or digital asset markets.”
“Rowland Marcus Andrade promised innovation but delivered deception. He misled innocent people who believed they were investing in the future of digital currency. Instead, their money was used to fund his personal luxury,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani. “The FBI remains committed to protecting the public from financial fraud and ensuring justice for those who were harmed.”
“Today’s sentencing of Rowland Marcus Andrade is another definitive statement about how white-collar crime does not pay. Mr. Andrade enriched himself by misrepresenting cryptocurrency technological advances he never delivered upon,” said IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen. “IRS-CI agents understand the technology, see through the nefarious lies, and follow the money. Our commitment to protecting individuals from financial fraud is unwavering.”
In addition to the prison term, Chief Judge Seeborg also sentenced the defendant to a three-year period of supervised release and ordered that the defendant pay forfeiture representing the amount of fraudulent proceeds obtained from his crimes. The court ordered a hearing on Sept. 16, 2025, to determine the amount of forfeiture and the amount of restitution owed to victims of Andrade’s crimes. Andrade will begin serving his sentence on Oct. 31, 2025.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christiaan Highsmith, David Ward, and Karen Beausey and Trial Attorney Matthew Chou are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Tina Rosenbaum. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and IRS-CI.
Cadence Design Systems Agrees to Plead Guilty and Pay over $140 Million for Unlawfully Exporting Semiconductor Design Tools to a Restricted PRC Military UniversityRead the Press Release
Note: View a copy of the plea agreement and criminal information.
The Counterintelligence and Export Control Section (CES) of the Justice Department’s National Security Division (NSD), and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California (NDCA) today announced that Cadence Design Systems Inc. (Cadence), a multinational electronic design automation (EDA) technology company headquartered in San Jose, California, has agreed to plead guilty to resolve charges that Cadence committed criminal violations of export controls by selling EDA hardware, software, and semiconductor design intellectual property (IP) technology to the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT).
NUDT, a university in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) under the leadership of the PRC’s Central Military Commission, was added to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Entity List in February 2015 due to its use of U.S.-origin components to produce supercomputers believed to support nuclear explosive simulation and military simulation activities in the PRC.
Today, the Department filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California a criminal information charging Cadence with conspiracy to commit export control violations and the Department’s plea agreement with Cadence, pursuant to which the company has agreed to plead guilty and pay criminal penalties of nearly $118 million to resolve the charges.
In addition to the criminal charges, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) today announced the resolution of a parallel civil enforcement action against Cadence in which Cadence has agreed to pay over $95 million in civil penalties. The Department of Justice and BIS have coordinated the resolution of the parallel criminal and civil actions, with each agreeing to credit against their respective fines a portion of the payments made by Cadence to satisfy the other agency’s fine. After the Department of Justice and BIS credit payments made by Cadence under the coordinated agreements, Cadence will pay aggregate net criminal and civil penalties and forfeiture totaling more than $140 million.
“Cadence has agreed to accept responsibility for unlawfully exporting sensitive semiconductor design tools to a restricted Chinese military university and has implemented a strong export compliance program to help prevent any further illegal transmission of American technology,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “American ingenuity is one of our Nation’s most precious assets, and the National Security Division will vigorously enforce U.S. export control laws to protect the technological advantage we enjoy because of that ingenuity.”
“Export controls safeguard America’s advanced technological know-how from falling into the wrong hands, which is particularly important in the Silicon Valley as the epicenter of groundbreaking innovation,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California. “With this plea, Cadence has admitted to unlawfully exporting its semiconductor design technology to a restricted PRC military university using a front company, and accepted responsibility for its wrongdoing. Cadence’s remedial measures are a positive step toward rectifying the company’s violations of export control laws and demonstrating corporate responsibility.”
“Protecting the U.S. semiconductor industry is critical to our national defense,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “Working with NUDT, which has been on the entity list for a decade for its work to advance China’s military capabilities, is unacceptable. The FBI will stop at nothing to defend the homeland from China’s Communist Party.”
According to Cadence’s admissions and court documents, from February 2015 to April 2021, Cadence and its indirectly owned and wholly controlled subsidiary in the PRC, Cadence Design Systems Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. (Cadence China), engaged in a conspiracy to commit export control violations in connection with the provision of EDA tools that were subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to NUDT through Central South CAD Center (CSCC), an alias for NUDT, and another associated entity, Phytium Technology Co. Ltd. (Phytium), without seeking or obtaining the requisite licenses from BIS. Specifically, Cadence, Cadence China, and their employees exported, reexported, and transferred in-country U.S.-origin EDA tools to CSCC in the PRC, despite having knowledge that CSCC was an alias for NUDT. As a result, Cadence and Cadence China exported and caused to be exported EDA tools at least 59 times through September 2020, when Cadence terminated Cadence China’s business relationship with CSCC due to CSCC’s association with NUDT.
In court documents, Cadence admitted that Cadence China employees installed EDA hardware on NUDT’s Changsha, China, campus and that NUDT personnel downloaded EDA software and IP technology from Cadence’s download portals while Cadence and Cadence China, through its employees, had knowledge that NUDT had been added to the Entity List. On Feb. 18, 2015, the same day that NUDT was added to the Entity List, Cadence’s export control officer emailed Cadence and Cadence China employees that NUDT had been added to the Entity List “meaning that export licenses will be required if sales are made.” Further, in March 2016, a Cadence China employee authored a presentation for a quarterly sales review meeting with her colleagues stating (as translated from Chinese) that as of Feb. 18, 2015, the U.S. Department of Commerce had “embargoed” four national supercomputer centers in the PRC, including NUDT, due to U.S. microprocessor chips being used in the “TianHe” supercomputing systems believed to be used for nuclear explosion simulation. Cadence also admitted that its employees who conducted work at CSCC’s location on NUDT’s campus knew about connections between CSCC and the PRC military.
According to Cadence’s admissions and court documents, employees of Cadence China did not disclose to and/or concealed from other Cadence personnel, including Cadence’s export compliance personnel, that exports to CSCC were in fact intended for delivery to NUDT and/or the PRC military. For example, in May 2015, a few months after NUDT was added to the Entity List, Cadence’s then-head of sales in China emailed colleagues, cautioning them to refer to their customer as CSCC in English and NUDT only in Chinese characters, writing that “the subject [was] too sensitive.” Further, in October 2019, a Cadence China employee instructed another to recall and recirculate an updated version of a weekly email on Cadence China’s customers in the PRC. The updated version of the weekly email removed a reference to the People’s Liberation Army of the PRC in relation to CSCC that was written in the original version. Employees of Cadence’s subsidiaries, including employees of Cadence China involved in sales to CSCC, also received sales commissions that incentivized achieving sales quotas as part of their compensation packages.
Further, in October 2020, while Cadence and Cadence China had knowledge that items previously sold and exported to CSCC had in fact been exported to NUDT in violation of U.S. export control laws, Cadence consented to CSCC’s assignment to Phytium, a semiconductor company closely associated with CSCC and NUDT in the PRC, of CSCC’s contracts for Cadence EDA tools. Prior to the transfer of Cadence’s business from CSCC to Phytium in or about October 2020, Cadence’s business with CSCC included contractual agreements with Phytium, reflecting Phytium’s ongoing collaboration with CSCC and NUDT during the period in which CSCC was used as an alias for NUDT. Cadence, through its subsidiaries, including Cadence China also had knowledge that Cadence China’s business with CSCC involved Phytium, and that NUDT personnel were affiliated with Phytium. Some of Cadence China’s contracts with CSCC listed Phytium as the contractual party and stated that the work would occur at NUDT. Internal Cadence communications show certain Cadence employees’ understanding that CSCC and Phytium were effectively the same entity both before and after the decision to transfer Cadence China’s business from CSCC to Phytium. Cadence and Cadence China transferred U.S.-origin EDA software and IP technology to Phytium until February 2021. In March 2021, Cadence placed Phytium on export hold as a result of its internal compliance review and discontinued transactions with Phytium without completing all of the originally anticipated transfers, including any hardware transfers. Phytium was later designated on the Entity List in April 2021.
CES and NDCA entered into the plea agreement with Cadence after considering the factors set forth in the Department’s Principles of Federal Prosecution of Business Organizations and the National Security Division Enforcement Policy for Business Organizations (NSD Enforcement Policy). The Department reached this resolution with Cadence based on a number of factors, including Cadence’s failure to voluntarily disclose the misconduct to NSD pursuant to the NSD Enforcement Policy; the nature and seriousness of the offense, which included exports of sensitive semiconductor design tools and technology to a restricted PRC military university involved in the development of supercomputers with applications for military and nuclear explosive simulations, and which included Cadence agreeing to an assignment of the hardware and software contracts to another PRC-based company despite being aware that those items had been unlawfully exported to a restricted PRC military university; Cadence’s willingness to accept responsibility for the actions of its employees and agents, including its subsidiary Cadence China, by entering into the plea agreement with the Department and resolving the parallel civil investigation with BIS; and Cadence’s efforts to remediate the root cause of the offense conduct by enhancing and agreeing to enhance further its export control compliance program. Cadence received partial credit for its cooperation with the Department’s investigation, which involved collecting and disclosing relevant evidence, facilitating interviews with certain employees, making detailed factual presentations, and agreeing to toll the statute of limitations, but Cadence did not receive full credit for cooperation because it failed proactively to obtain and disclose to the government relevant communications, and it failed proactively to facilitate interviews of certain China-based employees with information relevant to the offense conduct. Accordingly, the amount of the criminal monetary penalty attributable to the criminal fine reflects a 20 percent reduction off the statutory maximum fine.
The plea agreement is subject to the approval of a federal district judge in the Northern District of California.
BIS’s Office of Export Enforcement and the FBI investigated the case.
Chief Counsel Ian C. Richardson, Deputy Chief Counsel Christian J. Nauvel, and Trial Attorney Emma Dinan Ellenrieder of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, together with Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Cheng of the National Security and Special Prosecutions Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, are prosecuting this case.
Cadence Design Systems Agrees to Plead Guilty and Pay over $140 Million for Unlawfully Exporting Semiconductor Design Tools to A Restricted PRC Military UniversityRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California (NDCA) and the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section (CES) of the Justice Department’s National Security Division (NSD) today announced that Cadence Design Systems Inc. (Cadence), a multinational electronic design automation (EDA) technology company headquartered in San Jose, California, has agreed to plead guilty to resolve charges that Cadence committed criminal violations of export controls by selling EDA hardware, software, and semiconductor design intellectual property (IP) technology to the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT).
NUDT, a university in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) under the leadership of the PRC’s Central Military Commission, was added to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Entity List in February 2015 due to its use of U.S.-origin components to produce supercomputers believed to support nuclear explosive simulation and military simulation activities in the PRC.
Today, the Department filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California a criminal information charging Cadence with conspiracy to commit export control violations and the Department’s plea agreement with Cadence, pursuant to which the company has agreed to plead guilty and pay criminal penalties of nearly $118 million to resolve the charges.
In addition to the criminal charges, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) today announced the resolution of a parallel civil enforcement action against Cadence in which Cadence has agreed to pay over $95 million in civil penalties. The Department of Justice and BIS have coordinated the resolution of the parallel criminal and civil actions, with each agreeing to credit against their respective fines a portion of the payments made by Cadence to satisfy the other agency’s fine. After the Department of Justice and BIS credit payments made by Cadence under the coordinated agreements, Cadence will pay aggregate net criminal and civil penalties and forfeiture totaling more than $140 million.
“Export controls safeguard America’s advanced technological know-how from falling into the wrong hands, which is particularly important in the Silicon Valley as the epicenter of groundbreaking innovation,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California. “With this plea, Cadence has admitted to unlawfully exporting its semiconductor design technology to a restricted PRC military university using a front company, and accepted responsibility for its wrongdoing. Cadence’s remedial measures are a positive step toward rectifying the company’s violations of export control laws and demonstrating corporate responsibility.”
“Cadence has agreed to accept responsibility for unlawfully exporting sensitive semiconductor design tools to a restricted Chinese military university and has implemented a strong export compliance program to help prevent any further illegal transmission of American technology,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “American ingenuity is one of our Nation’s most precious assets, and the National Security Division will vigorously enforce U.S. export control laws to protect the technological advantage we enjoy because of that ingenuity.”
“Protecting the U.S. semiconductor industry is critical to our national defense,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “Working with NUDT, which has been on the entity list for a decade for its work to advance China’s military capabilities, is unacceptable. The FBI will stop at nothing to defend the homeland from China’s Communist Party.”
“The United States leads the world in semiconductor innovation, with Silicon Valley at the forefront of that global leadership. The FBI, working alongside our partners at the Department of Commerce, is committed to protecting sensitive U.S. technology from falling into the hands of the PRC government,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani. “Today’s guilty plea is a clear reminder that U.S. companies must take export control laws seriously and closely monitor where their most advanced technologies are headed. This case should serve as a wake-up call to the broader emerging tech and innovation ecosystem: safeguarding our technological edge is not optional – it is essential to national security.”
According to Cadence’s admissions and court documents, from February 2015 to April 2021, Cadence and its indirectly owned and wholly controlled subsidiary in the PRC, Cadence Design Systems Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. (Cadence China), engaged in a conspiracy to commit export control violations in connection with the provision of EDA tools that were subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to NUDT through Central South CAD Center (CSCC), an alias for NUDT, and another associated entity, Phytium Technology Co. Ltd. (Phytium), without seeking or obtaining the requisite licenses from BIS. Specifically, Cadence, Cadence China, and their employees exported, reexported, and transferred in-country U.S.-origin EDA tools to CSCC in the PRC, despite having knowledge that CSCC was an alias for NUDT. As a result, Cadence and Cadence China exported and caused to be exported EDA tools at least 59 times through September 2020, when Cadence terminated Cadence China’s business relationship with CSCC due to CSCC’s association with NUDT.
In court documents, Cadence admitted that Cadence China employees installed EDA hardware on NUDT’s Changsha, China, campus and that NUDT personnel downloaded EDA software and IP technology from Cadence’s download portals while Cadence and Cadence China, through its employees, had knowledge that NUDT had been added to the Entity List. On Feb. 18, 2015, the same day that NUDT was added to the Entity List, Cadence’s export control officer emailed Cadence and Cadence China employees that NUDT had been added to the Entity List “meaning that export licenses will be required if sales are made.” Further, in March 2016, a Cadence China employee authored a presentation for a quarterly sales review meeting with her colleagues stating (as translated from Chinese) that as of Feb. 18, 2015, the U.S. Department of Commerce had “embargoed” four national supercomputer centers in the PRC, including NUDT, due to U.S. microprocessor chips being used in the “TianHe” supercomputing systems believed to be used for nuclear explosion simulation. Cadence also admitted that its employees who conducted work at CSCC’s location on NUDT’s campus knew about connections between CSCC and the PRC military.
According to Cadence’s admissions and court documents, employees of Cadence China did not disclose to and/or concealed from other Cadence personnel, including Cadence’s export compliance personnel, that exports to CSCC were in fact intended for delivery to NUDT and/or the PRC military. For example, in May 2015, a few months after NUDT was added to the Entity List, Cadence’s then-head of sales in China emailed colleagues, cautioning them to refer to their customer as CSCC in English and NUDT only in Chinese characters, writing that “the subject [was] too sensitive.” Further, in October 2019, a Cadence China employee instructed another to recall and recirculate an updated version of a weekly email on Cadence China’s customers in the PRC. The updated version of the weekly email removed a reference to the People’s Liberation Army of the PRC in relation to CSCC that was written in the original version. Employees of Cadence’s subsidiaries, including employees of Cadence China involved in sales to CSCC, also received sales commissions that incentivized achieving sales quotas as part of their compensation packages.
Further, in October 2020, while Cadence and Cadence China had knowledge that items previously sold and exported to CSCC had in fact been exported to NUDT in violation of U.S. export control laws, Cadence consented to CSCC’s assignment to Phytium, a semiconductor company closely associated with CSCC and NUDT in the PRC, of CSCC’s contracts for Cadence EDA tools. Prior to the transfer of Cadence’s business from CSCC to Phytium in or about October 2020, Cadence’s business with CSCC included contractual agreements with Phytium, reflecting Phytium’s ongoing collaboration with CSCC and NUDT during the period in which CSCC was used as an alias for NUDT. Cadence, through its subsidiaries, including Cadence China also had knowledge that Cadence China’s business with CSCC involved Phytium, and that NUDT personnel were affiliated with Phytium. Some of Cadence China’s contracts with CSCC listed Phytium as the contractual party and stated that the work would occur at NUDT. Internal Cadence communications show certain Cadence employees’ understanding that CSCC and Phytium were effectively the same entity both before and after the decision to transfer Cadence China’s business from CSCC to Phytium. Cadence and Cadence China transferred U.S.-origin EDA software and IP technology to Phytium until February 2021. In March 2021, Cadence placed Phytium on export hold as a result of its internal compliance review and discontinued transactions with Phytium without completing all of the originally anticipated transfers, including any hardware transfers. Phytium was later designated on the Entity List in April 2021.
NDCA and CES entered into the plea agreement with Cadence after considering the factors set forth in the Department’s Principles of Federal Prosecution of Business Organizations and the National Security Division Enforcement Policy for Business Organizations (NSD Enforcement Policy). The Department reached this resolution with Cadence based on a number of factors, including Cadence’s failure to voluntarily disclose the misconduct to NSD pursuant to the NSD Enforcement Policy; the nature and seriousness of the offense, which included exports of sensitive semiconductor design tools and technology to a restricted PRC military university involved in the development of supercomputers with applications for military and nuclear explosive simulations, and which included Cadence agreeing to an assignment of the hardware and software contracts to another PRC-based company despite being aware that those items had been unlawfully exported to a restricted PRC military university; Cadence’s willingness to accept responsibility for the actions of its employees and agents, including its subsidiary Cadence China, by entering into the plea agreement with the Department and resolving the parallel civil investigation with BIS; and Cadence’s efforts to remediate the root cause of the offense conduct by enhancing and agreeing to enhance further its export control compliance program. Cadence received partial credit for its cooperation with the Department’s investigation, which involved collecting and disclosing relevant evidence, facilitating interviews with certain employees, making detailed factual presentations, and agreeing to toll the statute of limitations, but Cadence did not receive full credit for cooperation because it failed proactively to obtain and disclose to the government relevant communications, and it failed proactively to facilitate interviews of certain China-based employees with information relevant to the offense conduct. Accordingly, the amount of the criminal monetary penalty attributable to the criminal fine reflects a 20 percent reduction off the statutory maximum fine.
The plea agreement is subject to the approval of a federal district judge in the Northern District of California.
BIS’s Office of Export Enforcement and the FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Cheng of the National Security and Special Prosecutions Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and Chief Counsel Ian C. Richardson, Deputy Chief Counsel Christian J. Nauvel, and Trial Attorney Emma Dinan Ellenrieder of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting this case.
Cadence Information
Cadence Plea Agreement
U.S. Attorney’s Office Ramps up Prosecution of Illegal Re-Entry into the United States Following DeportationRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – In the latest example of federal prosecutors’ increased focus on defendants alleged to have been found in the United States following removal, a federal grand jury yesterday returned an indictment charging Jesus Alexis Cervantes-Luna, aka “Sinaloa,” with one count of illegal reentry following removal from the United States and multiple counts of drug and firearms offenses.
Cervantes-Luna, 29, a Mexican national, was initially charged by complaint on July 8, 2025. The eight-count indictment filed on July 24, 2025, charges Cervantes-Luna with one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl; two counts of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams and more of fentanyl; two counts of possession with intent to distribute five grams and more of methamphetamine; one count of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition as a felon; one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; and one count of illegal reentry following removal.
According to the complaint, in February 2025, law enforcement responded to a hit-and-run collision in Salinas, Calif., involving a grey GMC SUV registered to an individual at an address in Soledad, Calif. While heading to the Soledad address, law enforcement observed a grey GMC SUV matching the description of the hit-and-run vehicle parked at a nearby gas station and made contact with the alleged driver, Cervantes-Luna. During a search of the GMC, law enforcement allegedly found a backpack with suspected narcotics, two boxes of 9mm ammunition, clear plastic baggies, shaved keys, and a glass pipe.
The complaint further describes that, on March 25, 2025, based on an outstanding warrant, law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a van that Cervantes-Luna was driving. When officers exited their patrol car, the van accelerated at a high rate of speed and led officers on a 23.5-mile pursuit from Soledad to Paicines, Calif. Officers were unable to locate Cervantes-Luna, but found a black backpack that they had previously seen Cervantes-Luna hold. Inside the backpack, officers allegedly located approximately 17 net grams of suspected methamphetamine, a baggie of suspected fentanyl pills weighing approximately 51.4 net grams, a baggie of suspected fentanyl powder weighing approximately 59.7 net grams and a digital scale.
On March 31, 2025, law enforcement arrested Cervantes-Luna for an outstanding warrant while he was driving a Jeep in Monterey County. During a search incident to arrest, officers allegedly found a semiautomatic firearm in Cervantes-Luna’s waistband, and also located on his person a black satchel containing approximately 37 net grams of suspected methamphetamine and approximately 75.2 net grams of suspected fentanyl.
On April 2, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant in King City, Calif., during which they located an Audi that allegedly belonged to Cervantes-Luna. Inside the Audi, officers allegedly found a white compressed brick of suspected fentanyl with a net weight of 624.8 grams.
As charged in the indictment, Cervantes-Luna was previously deported and removed from the United States on or about September 2023.
Cervantes-Luna was previously arrested on the complaint on July 14, 2025, in Monterey, Calif., and made his initial appearance that same day. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on July 28, 2025.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Brannigan made the announcement.
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Since January 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California has significantly increased the number of such prosecutions and has publicly filed criminal charges against over a dozen defendants alleged to have been found in the United States following removal. Many of the charged defendants were previously convicted of felony offenses prior to their removal from the United States, including, for example:
- Juan Jose Vazquez Hernandez, 34, a Mexican national, was convicted of and has been sentenced for illegal reentry following removal, in violation of 8 U.S.C. §§ 1326(a) and (b)(1). Vazquez Hernandez was previously convicted of possessing an assault weapon. He has been deported or removed from the United States on at least nine occasions since 2010.
Jose and Jonathan Erazo: Jose Erazo, 36, and Jonathan Erazo, 33, Honduran nationals, were charged with illegal reentry into the United States following deportation, in violation of 8 U.S.C. §§ 1326(a) and (b)(1) and 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a), respectively. Both defendants were previously ordered removed from the United States.
On June 20, 2025, Jose Erazo pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams and more of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine, and illegal reentry following removal. According to the plea agreement, in May 2024, Jose Erazo was found with fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Law enforcement also found an industrial press, cutting agents, large amounts of currency, and packaging materials at his residence and stash house.
Jonathan Erazo also pleaded guilty on June 20, 2025, to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and illegal reentry following removal. According to the plea agreement, in May 2024, Jonathan Erazo was found with fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine base, and heroin that he intended to distribute.
- Wilson Acosta-Zuniga: 53, a Honduran national, was charged with being found in the United States following deportation, in violation of 8 U.S.C. §§ 1326(a) and (b)(1), and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). He pleaded guilty to both counts of the information on July 7, 2025. According to the plea agreement, Acosta-Zuniga was removed from the United States in 2011, following a felony illegal reentry conviction in 2009. On or about April 28, 2025, Acosta-Zuniga was arrested for selling methamphetamine near 9th and Mission Streets in San Francisco. Law enforcement found methamphetamine, cocaine base, heroin, and cocaine in Acosta-Zuniga’s possession.
- Augustin Luna-Gasca, 41, a Mexican national, was charged with illegal reentry into the United States following deportation, in violation of 8 U.S.C. §§ 1326(a) and (b)(2). According to the criminal complaint, Luna-Gasca was deported from the United States on two prior occasions in March 2022 and June 2019. Luna-Gasca has a prior felony conviction for lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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A criminal complaint or indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, defendants who were removed after a prior felony conviction face a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, and defendants removed after a prior aggravated felony conviction face a maximum of 20 years in prison. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The prosecutions are the result of investigations by HSI, DEA, ICE ERO, and FBI.
Monterey Man Charged with Production of Child Sexual Abuse Materials and Other Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – A federal grand jury has indicted Samuel Rios on seven counts of child exploitation and child pornography offenses.
Rios, 29, of Monterey, was initially charged by complaint on July 8, 2025, and was indicted yesterday on two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, three counts production of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography.
According to the complaint and indictment, Rios allegedly used the social media platform Snapchat to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce two different minor victims (Victim-1 and Victim-3) in Monterey County to engage in sexually explicit activity from July 24, 2023, through March 5, 2024, and from May 9, 2024, through May 10, 2024.
The indictment also alleges that Rios produced child sexual abuse materials with minor victims in the Northern District of California in 2023 and 2024, and further possessed and distributed child sexual abuse materials.
In May 2024, on behalf of an anonymous client, a therapist reported the possible sexual assault of a child by a male alleged to be Rios.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Brannigan made the announcement.
Rios has been in federal custody since July 16, 2025. He is next scheduled to appear in federal court on July 28, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. for a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Virginia K. DeMarchi.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Rios faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison for each count of coercion and enticement of a minor in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b); a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison for each count of production of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a); a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison for the count of distribution of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252(a)(2) and (b)(1); and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the count of possession of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2). Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Johnny Ellis James Jr. is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Natachiana Burney. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by HSI, the Monterey Police Department, and the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office.
Anyone who believes they are the victim of a crime perpetrated by Rios or has information relevant to this case can report it by contacting HSI at [email protected] or (877) 477-4847.
San Rafael Certified Public Accountant Indicted for Filing False Tax Returns and Mail Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment yesterday charging a California man with filing false tax returns, mail fraud, and money laundering.
The following is according to the superseding indictment: Michael M. Gilbert, of San Rafael, filed false tax returns for himself and two business entities he controlled. Gilbert, a certified public accountant since 1985, allegedly underreported the total income his accounting and tax return preparation business, M.M. Gilbert & Company Inc., received during the years 2017 through 2020.
The superseding indictment further alleges that Gilbert solicited payments from clients of M.M. Gilbert for “tax strategies” and “donations,” among other things, which the clients paid to White Mountain Properties Inc., another entity Gilbert controlled. Gilbert allegedly did not report these payments as income on the company’s 2017 through 2021 business tax returns. These payments to White Mountain were allegedly proceeds from Gilbert’s scheme to defraud his clients through the promise of some tax benefit. In fact, the White Mountain funds did not create a tax benefit for Gilbert’s clients, and Gilbert allegedly instead diverted the payments for his own personal enrichment. In 2020-2021, Gilbert is alleged to have transferred more than $5 million from White Mountain to himself and then failed to report that income on his individual tax returns.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, Gilbert faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of mail fraud, 10 years in prison for each count of money laundering, and three years for each count of filing a false tax return. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen made the announcement.
Assistant United States Attorney Sara E. Henderson, with the assistance of Marina Ponomarchuk, and Trial Attorneys Julia M. Rugg and Patrick Burns of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by IRS-CI.
California Certified Public Accountant Indicted for Filing False Tax Returns and Mail Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in San Francisco returned a superseding indictment yesterday charging a California man with filing false tax returns, mail fraud, and money laundering. Gilbert was previously charged with filing false tax returns earlier this year.
The following is according to the superseding indictment: Michael M. Gilbert, of San Rafael, filed false tax returns for himself and two business entities he controlled. Gilbert, a certified public accountant since 1985, allegedly underreported the total income his accounting and tax return preparation business, M.M. Gilbert & Company Inc., received during the years 2017 through 2020.
The superseding indictment further alleges that Gilbert solicited payments from clients of M.M. Gilbert for “tax strategies” and “donations,” among other things, which the clients paid to White Mountain Properties Inc., another entity Gilbert controlled. Gilbert allegedly did not report these payments as income on the company’s 2017 through 2021 business tax returns. These payments to White Mountain were allegedly proceeds from Gilbert’s scheme to defraud his clients through the promise of some tax benefit. In fact, the White Mountain funds did not create a tax benefit for Gilbert’s clients, and Gilbert allegedly instead diverted the payments for his own personal enrichment. In 2020-2021, Gilbert is alleged to have transferred more than $5 million from White Mountain to himself and then failed to report that income on his individual tax returns.
If convicted, Gilbert faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of mail fraud, a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count money laundering, and a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of filing a false tax return. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Julia M. Rugg and Patrick Burns of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara E. Henderson for the Northern District of California are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Salinas Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – Gregory Smith, aka “OG Nutty” and “GNutty,” was sentenced yesterday to 120 months in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman handed down the sentence.
Smith, 54, who previously resided in Salinas, was originally charged by complaint on Nov. 1, 2021, as part of an illegal firearms crackdown that led to charges being filed against multiple defendants in South Bay counties, and subsequently by a one-count information on Sept. 8, 2022.
On April 9, 2024, he pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). According to court documents and the plea agreement, on Feb. 10, 2021, Smith sold approximately 41.8 grams of methamphetamine and a privately manufactured pistol, also known as a “ghost gun,” to an individual in Salinas for $1,425. The following week, on Feb. 17, 2021, Smith sold approximately 28 grams of methamphetamine to the same individual in Salinas.
In its sentencing memorandum, the government argued that Smith’s conduct presented a danger to the community and noted his estimated 54 prior parole violations.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Freeman also sentenced the defendant to a three-year period of supervised release and ordered him to pay a $100 special assessment. Smith was immediately remanded back into custody to begin serving his sentence.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Topper made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Neal C. Hong prosecuted the case with the assistance of Sahib Kaur. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the ATF, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Investigative Unit, the Salinas Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol.
Former East Bay Financial Advisor Charged with Allegedly Operating Long-Running $9.5 Million Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – A federal grand jury indicted Edwin Emmett Lickiss, Jr., on one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering in connection with an alleged $9.5 million investment fraud scheme.
According to the indictment filed on July 17, 2025, and unsealed today, between 1998 and September 2024, Lickiss, 77, was a financial advisor based in Danville and Alamo, Calif., who owned and operated Foundation Financial Group, a firm that provided investment services to investors in the Northern District of California, Idaho, and throughout the United States. Lickiss was a registered broker until 2014, when the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority suspended his broker’s license. Despite the suspension and loss of his broker’s license, Lickiss allegedly continued to solicit and obtain investments from victim investors until around September 2024.
The indictment alleges that as part of his scheme, Lickiss falsely represented to investors that he would invest their funds in government bonds and other bonds. To induce his victims to invest their money with him, Lickiss claimed he had exclusive access to fictitious bonds that paid very high rates of returns, including rates in excess of 20 percent. Lickiss described the fictitious bonds as safe, secure, and tax-free, and falsely claimed, among other things, that they could be redeemed at any time.
In order to convince investors that he had invested their funds as promised, Lickiss allegedly gave fraudulent promissory notes that included the terms of the fake bond investments and purported to track investors’ total investment in the fake bonds. Lickiss also occasionally made lulling payments to victim investors, falsely describing the payments as interest that had accrued on the nonexistent bonds, when, in fact, the payments were made with funds Lickiss fraudulently obtained from subsequent victim investors. In addition to making the foregoing misrepresentations, Lickiss allegedly failed to disclose to victim investors that he had been suspended in 2014 from association with any broker-dealer and that he subsequently lost his broker’s license in 2016.
Instead of investing the funds as promised, Lickiss allegedly used victim investors’ funds to pay earlier investors, in the manner of a Ponzi scheme, and for his personal use, including cash withdrawals, home renovations, travel, and car, mortgage, and personal credit card payments. In all, Lickiss allegedly obtained at least $9.5 million from no fewer than 50 victim investors.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani, and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen made the announcement.
Lickiss is scheduled to make his initial appearance on July 22, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins in Courtroom F in San Francisco.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Defendant faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the wire fraud count, and 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the money laundering count. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has also filed a civil enforcement action against Lickiss in the Northern District of California.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Arash Rezaei and Benjamin J. Wolinsky are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Lynette Dixon. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and IRS-CI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks the Atlanta Regional Office of the SEC for its assistance in the investigation.
Lickiss Indictment
Former Bay Area Insurance Executive Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Insurance FraudRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Former insurance executive Jasbir Thandi pleaded guilty in federal court today for his role in fraud schemes that led to the collapse of two insurance companies, Global Hawk Risk Retention Group (Global Hawk) and Houston General Insurance Exchange (HGIE).
Thandi, 69, of San Francisco, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 16, 2023. In pleading guilty, Thandi admitted to two counts of conspiracy to commit insurance fraud.
According to court documents and the plea agreement, Thandi founded Global Century Insurance Brokers, an insurance brokerage based in Livermore, Calif., which helped manage the insurance business of Global Hawk. Beginning no later than May 2018, Thandi and his co-conspirators conspired to create fraudulent financial records, including bank and brokerage records, that falsely overstated the amount of insurance capital and reserves held by Global Hawk, which were submitted to the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation, Global Hawk’s insurance regulator. In May 2020, after regulators discovered the fraud, Global Hawk was declared insolvent and liquidated.
Thandi misappropriated more than $1.5 million in Global Hawk funds for personal use, including the purchase of a house and a luxury vehicle. He also bought and sold stocks using Global Hawk funds that were required by law to be maintained as insurance reserves to cover future losses or insurance claims.
Thandi also admitted that in August 2016, he obtained a $6.4 million line of credit, later increased to $14 million, on behalf of Global Hawk, which the company’s board of directors had not authorized. Around March 2017, Thandi applied for a second line of credit in the name of Global Hawk in the amount of $14.75 million, again misrepresenting that the line of credit had been authorized by the board of directors.
In addition, Thandi admitted to engaging in a similar fraud conspiracy with HGIE, a Texas-domiciled insurance company. Thandi and his co-conspirators created fraudulent financial documents that were used to create false financial statements submitted to the Texas Department of Insurance on behalf of HGIE. These false documents included bank statements and brokerage statements that falsely represented that HGIE had millions of dollars in insurance reserves and capital assets. These false financial documents were used to deceive the Texas Department of Insurance into believing that HGIE had more assets and monies than it in fact had, and to conceal the fact that HGIE did not have the capital reserves required by Texas law.
“Thandi and his co-conspirators’ scheme was far-reaching and had devastating financial consequences, including the collapse of two insurance companies and millions in losses to hundreds of victims. Together with our law enforcement partners, we work tirelessly to ensure that individuals who commit insurance and other forms of fraud are held accountable and this case is an important example of our efforts,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian.
“Today’s guilty plea reflects the FBI's commitment to holding accountable those who manipulate financial records and abuse positions of trust for personal gain. By misrepresenting assets and misappropriating funds, Thandi not only misled regulators but also defrauded his company’s customers,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani. “The FBI and our partners will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who exploit consumers through corporate fraud.”
“Criminals who would use the U.S. mail to commit fraud should know that postal inspectors and our federal law enforcement partners remain committed to protecting the public from financial crime,” said U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), San Francisco Division Inspector in Charge Stephen M. Sherwood.
Thandi is the fourth and final defendant to plead guilty to charges related to these insurance fraud schemes. Co-defendants Sandeep Sahota, Jaspreet Padda, and Gunjan Aggarwal all previously entered guilty pleas to the same charges.
Thandi is currently released on bail. He is next scheduled to appear in district court on Aug. 29, 2025, for a status hearing on sentencing before U.S. District Judge Jon S. Tigar. Defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of conspiracy to commit insurance fraud. Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The Department of Justice is notifying identified victims of these crimes through the Department of Justice Victim Notification System (VNS). If you believe you are a victim and have not received communication from the VNS at [email protected], please contact the Mega Victim Case Assistance Program (MCAP) toll free number 1-844-527-5299 (Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm Eastern), or send an email to [email protected].
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Ward and Evan Mateer are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Kevin Costello and Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and USPIS.
Two Men Plead Guilty to Money Laundering in Connection with Phishing Scams That Targeted SF-Based Company, Other VictimsRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – George Aboagye and Dennis Jordan pleaded guilty to money laundering in connection with their roles in online phishing scams. Aboagye entered his guilty plea today and Jordan pleaded guilty on July 10, 2025.
Aboagye, 44, who previously resided in Stone Mountain, Ga., and Jordan, 39, who previously resided in Dallas, Texas, were originally indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2024 and charged by superseding informations in July 2025.
According to court documents and the plea agreements, in December 2019, Aboagye laundered $922,445.34 fraudulently obtained from a San Francisco-based business through a business email compromise scam. Employees at the victim business received a fraudulent email that purported to be from one of the business’s actual service providers. The email induced employees at the victim business to send a wire transfer in the amount of $922,445.34 to a bank account for a fake company. Aboagye and others used the fake company’s bank account to receive and launder the proceeds from this scam.
To conceal the source of the fraudulently obtained funds, portions of the $922,445.34 were distributed to Aboagye and other individuals, including Jordan, who deposited a $20,000 cashier’s check derived from the fraud proceeds into a bank account he set up under another fake business name.
Aboagye also wired other ill-gotten proceeds into accounts held in his name, including portions of $173,315.70 fraudulently obtained from a North Dakota state agency in May 2020 as part of a business email compromise and fraudulent payments totaling $80,300 from the Small Business Administration in August 2020. In sum, Aboagye admitted to laundering between $1.5 million to $3.5 million in fraudulent proceeds.
Jordan also admitted to using multiple fake companies and identities to open bank accounts, which he then used to receive funds from various victims, including $15,000 in January 2020 from a victim in California who believed the money was going to be used to obtain a shipment of gold from Australia, and $40,000 in April 2020 from a victim in California who believed the money was being used to help Covid-19 research. Jordan also used one such account to obtain a $220,000 loan through the Small Business Administration’s Covid-19 Paycheck Protection Program. Jordan used some of these funds to purchase a residence for himself in Dallas. In sum, Jordan admitted to laundering $336,600 in fraudulent proceeds.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement.
Both defendants have remained in custody since their arrests and both were remanded into custody following their guilty pleas. Jordan and Aboagye are scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 24, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Rita F. Lin. Each defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Assistant United States Attorneys S. Waqar Hasib and Kevin Yeh are prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.