District of Columbia

WASHINGTON – Jakiem Miller, 28, of South Carolina, was sentenced today, to 18.5 years in prison for shooting and killing Avon Perkins, 30, and also shooting an innocent bystander college student, outside Air Nightclub in Washington, D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

After a February 2026 mistrial due to an attorney’s mid-trial hospitalization, defendant pleaded guilty on May 6, 2026, to one count of voluntary manslaughter while armed, for the killing of Avon Perkins on December 17, 2022, and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, for the shooting of an innocent bystander, a college student, that same night. Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman sentenced Miller, on August 7, to the prison term to be follow by five years of supervised release.

According to the government’s evidence, a little after midnight on December 17, 2022, Mr. Perkins was asked by management to leave Air Nightclub on 18th St. NW in Adams Morgan. While waiting outside for his friend, Mr. Perkins was approached by Miller, who had also been in the club that night.  After a brief discussion, the Mr. Perkins punched the defendant in the face.  The defendant responded by pulling out a firearm from his groin area and firing off nine shots at Mr. Perkins, shooting him twice in the back as the victim ran away for his life, killing him on scene.  One of Miller’s bullets also struck an innocent bystander college student in the butt who was walking out of Andy’s Pizza a few storefronts down. Her injuries were non-life threatening. She was treated at a local hospital and released.

Joining the announcement was Interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including former Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Danai, Paralegal Specialists Grazy Rivera and Lauren Douglas, Victim/Witness Advocates Jenn Clark and Deidria Ellis, Litigation Technology Specialists Sigourney Jackson and Leif Hickling, Victim/Witness Services Coordinators Shanika McCollough and Katina Adams, and intern Yushi Liu.  

Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony Cocuzza and Erin DeRiso, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

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WASHINGTON – Tremayne Coombs, 32, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 36 months in prison in connection with his unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition while he was on supervised release for another offense, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Coombs pleaded guilty on March 6, 2026, before Judge Jia M. Cobb to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 36-month prison term, Judge Cobb ordered Coombs to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 71-month prison term. 

According to court documents, on Aug. 4, 2023, at about 12:13 a.m., Metropolitan Police Department officers were patrolling the 4600 block of Benning Road SE when they spotted an unoccupied 2017 Nissan Sentra parked on the side of the road. A bag of marijuana sat in plain view on the Sentra’s rear floorboard. Officers gained access to the car and recovered the bag, along with a second bag of marijuana in a backpack on the front passenger seat. The two bags collectively weighed 32 ounces. 

Inside the car’s glovebox, officers found a loaded Glock 23 .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol. The gun held 13 rounds in a 15-round magazine, with one round in the chamber. Coombs' DNA was later found on both the firearm and its magazine. Due to his status as a previously convicted felon, Coombs was prohibited from possessing any firearm. 

Coombs’ record includes a lengthy history of firearm and narcotics convictions. In 2013, he was convicted in D.C. Superior Court of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, unlawful possession of ammunition and unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm. In 2016, he was convicted in D.C. Superior Court of unlawful possession of a firearm after officers recovered a Glock 27 from the car he was driving.  

In 2018, he was convicted in D.C. Superior Court of marijuana possession after officers found multiple bags of marijuana and pills containing oxycodone during a traffic stop. In 2019, he was convicted in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia of unlawful possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, and was sentenced to 45 months in prison. He was still on supervised release from that case when he was arrested in this case. 

The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Office. 

This case was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared English. 

Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.   

The Glock 23x found in the Nissan Sentra. Coombs DNA was found on the firearm and the magazine.  

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WASHINGTON — Avtandil Kalandadze, 47, the former ship master of a shadow fleet tanker Bella 1 that historically transported Iran- and Venezuela-origin oil for the ultimate benefit of U.S. adversaries, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 10 months imprisonment in connection with refusing to obey orders from the U.S. Coast Guard during a multi-week pursuit from the Caribbean Sea through to the North Atlantic Ocean, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“Kalandadze captained a vessel used to conceal illicit oil shipments for U.S. adversaries, and when the Coast Guard ordered him to stop, he fled,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This case demonstrates that those who try to evade U.S. law enforcement even on the open sea will be held accountable. The ocean does not place anyone beyond our reach.” 

Kalandadze, of the Republic of Georgia, pleaded guilty on June 12 before Judge Beryl A. Howell to one count of failing to heave to a Coast Guard cutter. Kalandadze will be deported at the completion of his 10-month prison term. 

According to the plea agreement, from September 2025 until late December 2025, Kalandadze was the Master of the Motor Tanker Bella 1. During his time as Master, the Bella 1 transported approximately 1.8 million barrels of Iran-origin oil to Asia. During this time, Kalandadze employed common obfuscation techniques to hide the activities of the Bella 1, including sailing with an inactivated Automatic Identification System (AIS) and concealing the name of the Bella 1 while engaging in a ship-to-ship transfer of the Iran-origin oil to another vessel.  

In December 2025, while under his charge, the Bella 1 was en route to Venezuela when it was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro. The Bella 1 failed to comply with the Coast Guard’s order to heave to and fled across the Atlantic Ocean. The Munro pursued the Bella 1 throughout its flight and, on Jan. 7, aided in the execution of a lawful seizure of the vessel.   

During the flight and at the direction of a corporate representative of the operator, Kalandadze took multiple steps to avoid the Coast Guard interdiction, including disobeying multiple orders by authorized federal law enforcement officers to heave to for the U.S. Coast Guard’s Munro and destroying records and information on board the Bella 1. 

This case is being investigated by HSI and the FBI. Significant assistance on this matter was provided by the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section and the Office of International Affairs. The Department extends its gratitude to the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Department of War for their bravery, dedication, and assistance on this matter. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher T. Tortorice, Rajbir Datta, and Jonathan Hornok for the District of Columbia and Acting Deputy Chief Sean R. Heiden of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.  

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WASHINGTON – Kirk Perry, 62, a former United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) program director, was sentenced today to 24 months in prison in connection with a kickback scheme in which he and his nephew, Jamarea Grant, 32, of Cleveland, Ohio, conspired to bill the government nearly $400,000 for work that Grant did not actually perform, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

 “Kirk Perry brazenly abused his position of authority and betrayed the public trust by diverting hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars for his own benefit,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Today’s sentence makes clear that he will be required to repay the very funds he siphoned from the American taxpayer and serve a prison term for his conduct. My office will continue to pursue anyone who exploits a government role for personal gain and ensure that taxpayer money is protected from fraud and abuse.” 

Perry, of Lorain, Ohio, pleaded guilty April 29, 2025, before U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly to conspiracy to commit money, property, and honest services wire fraud. His nephew, Grant, pleaded guilty on Nov. 27, 2024, to the same charge.  

In addition to the 24-month prison term, Judge Kollar-Kotelly ordered Perry to serve two years of supervised release and to pay restitution of $399,319. Federal prosecutors had requested restitution and a prison term of 33 to 41 months. 

“The sentence issued today reflects our commitment to thoroughly investigate fraud, waste, and abuse by those entrusted with high-level government positions. This employee not only abused his authority by ensuring a family member was hired on contracts he oversaw, but he also devised a scheme ultimately to direct these monies to himself,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeldrys Lowry of the USDA OIG Sensitive Investigations Office. “Uncovering fraud requires diligent review and the USDA OIG will relentlessly pursue these illicit schemes ensuring taxpayer dollars are safeguarded. We are grateful to our partners at the USAO for their support in bringing this investigation to its culmination.”  

According to court documents, Perry was a senior director within the USDA’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights and used his position to secure employment for Grant as an Equal Opportunity Assistant. They billed the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights and Grant received about $399,319 from the government for work that was not performed.  

Perry worked the same scheme with his longtime partner with whom he resides; a cousin by marriage; and a personal acquaintance who he previously coached in basketball. None of those individuals had any background, education, or experience in EEO related matters. 

In pleading guilty, Perry and Grant admitted that, from August 2015 through November 2022, Perry arranged for Grant to be hired by two companies under contract with the USDA Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. Grant reported directly to Perry, who also approved the invoices billing for Grant’s time, and the two of them conspired to bill the government for work that Grant did not perform. 

Perry additionally had access to Grant’s bank account. As part of the criminal scheme, Perry transferred approximately $125,000 of the USDA payments from Grant’s account to his own account. Grant’s sentencing is pending. 

This case was investigated by the USDA Office of Inspector General - Sensitive Investigations Office. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Kelly. 

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars.  Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. 

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WASHINGTON – Michael Ralph Collins, 33, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 71 months in prison in connection with his unlawful possession of a loaded Ruger .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol that he stashed inside an open washing machine as he was pursued by police, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“As a convicted felon, Collins wasted no time after his release from custody; he armed himself with a loaded firearm and then tried to hide the weapon in a washing machine while fleeing from police,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “His record shows a persistent pattern of using firearms to threaten and harm others. This sentence removes him from our streets, and our communities are safer as a result.” 

Collins pleaded guilty on May 7, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 71-month prison term, Judge Howell ordered Collins to serve three years of supervised release.  

Collins has an extensive prior criminal record, including a 2011 conviction for attempted burglary and two 2013 convictions for armed robbery. Less than two weeks before this offense, Collins had been released from custody following a 2025 conviction for armed theft of a motor vehicle. 

The case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Division. 

This case was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Liss. 

Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.  

Retracing Collins’ path, officers found a loaded Ruger .45-caliber semiautomatic handgun hidden inside an open washing machine in a laundry room along his flight route. 

Still photo from a video that Collins posted to the victim’s TikTok account. 

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WASHINGTON – Anthony Thomas, 31, a previously convicted felon of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 42 months in prison in connection with his unlawful possession of a loaded ghost gun, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Thomas pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. In addition to the 42-month prison term, Judge Kelly ordered Thomas to serve three years of supervised release.  

According to court documents, on May 19, 2025, Metropolitan Police Department officers approached a group of people at the Stanton Terrace Apartments in Southeast D.C. When an officer noticed a bulge on Thomas' back, officers stopped him and recovered a ghost gun, which is a privately manufactured firearm, bearing no serial number and untraceable by law enforcement. The gun was loaded with 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition. 

A search incident to arrest recovered suspected narcotics and a digital scale. Lab testing confirmed the substances included marijuana, hashish, methamphetamine mixed with cocaine, and pills, two of which tested positive for fentanyl. 

This is Thomas' third conviction involving the illegal possession or use of a handgun. He was previously convicted of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence as a juvenile, and later of armed robbery and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence as an adult. He was on supervised release from that case when he committed the offense here. 

This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Office.  

This case was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nihar Mohanty. 

Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. 

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WASHINGTON – William Edwin Allaun IV, 44, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison in connection with his possession of child sexual abuse material depicting images of the rape and torture of young children, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Allaun pleaded guilty on Dec. 15, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth to one count of possession of child pornography. In addition to the 60-month prison term, Judge Lamberth ordered Allaun to serve 10 years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 78-month prison term, followed by 15 years of supervised release. Judge Lamberth also ordered Allaun to register as a sex offender. 

According to court documents, in May 2025, Allaun was added to a group chat on an encrypted messaging application that was used to distribute child sexual abuse material. Allaun received multiple videos depicting the sexual abuse of prepubescent children and expressed interest in receiving additional material. 

A search of Allaun's residence in July 2025 led to the recovery of additional videos depicting child sexual abuse material, sent through the same group chat. 

As part of his sentence, Allaun agreed to forfeit an iPad and an iPhone seized during the investigation.  He also agreed to pay restitution to the victims.  

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard Kelley.  

It was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.  

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WASHINGTON – Robert A. Terrell, 51, of Washington, D.C., and Bowie, Maryland, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to falsifying documents to secure $1.35 million in COVID-19 relief funds for his business, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

“Robert Terrell lied to steal over a million dollars meant to keep struggling businesses afloat, then gambled much of it away,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “He forged documents, he denied his own name, and he thumbed his nose at a federal judge. Today, he was held accountable for his actions. My office will continue to aggressively identify fraud, bring consequences to those who misuse federal programs, and enforce strict protections for taxpayer resources.” 

Terrell pleaded guilty to wire fraud before the Honorable Emmet G. Sullivan.  Following the plea hearing, Judge Sullivan scheduled sentencing for February 4, 2027.   

Court documents establish that Terrell was the sole owner of District Logistics LLC, which was established in the District of Columbia in 2016. The company’s services include hauling sand, dirt, gravel, and asphalt, and performing snow and ice removal. Between July 2020 and January 2022, on behalf of District Logistics, Terrell applied for an Economic Injury Disaster loan (EIDL) and two EIDL modifications.  

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offered Economic Injury Disaster Loans to certain entities, including small business owners. These loans were provided directly from the SBA and were low-interest, fixed-rate, long-term loans that could only be used for specified purposes.  

District Logistics initially received $125,800 in EIDL funds in July 2020. After Terrell applied for a modification to the loan, the business received an additional $384,100 in EIDL money in September 2021. Terrell then sought a second loan modification requesting $2 million.  

On November 29, 2021, in connection with his second modification request, Terrell submitted a Schedule of Liabilities to the SBA, which showed District Logistics as having approximately $518,000 in outstanding debt to a creditor. Approximately one month later, on January 6, 2022, Terrell emailed the SBA an updated Schedule of Liabilities, which falsely showed District Logistics as now owing the same creditor just over $71,000. Terrell attached four PNC wire transfer receipts to the email, which he had doctored to show his business as having wired more than $400,000 to the creditor when it really had wired less than $20,000. By falsely attesting that District Logistics owed less money than it did, Terrell succeeded in getting the SBA to approve a second modification to the EIDL, which resulted in District Logistics receiving an additional $1.35 million that it otherwise would not have received.  

The government’s investigation revealed that Terrell spent some of the EIDL funds day trading through his Robinhood account and gambling at casinos.  

After he was indicted, Terrell’s case took an unusual turn. At his initial appearance in U.S. District Court, Terrell admitted that his name was “Robert Alphonso Terrell.” However, at his next court hearing and several thereafter, Terrell denied that he was “Robert A. Terrell” and instead insisted that he was “Robert Alphonso III, the General Executor of the Terrell Estate.” He repeated this bogus assertion in various pleadings while representing himself. In March 2026, in flagrant disregard of his pretrial release conditions, Terrell traveled to the Turks and Caicos for a weekend trip after securing a new passport. Although Terrell returned to the United States following the trip, as a result of his outrageous conduct, Judge Sullivan issued an arrest warrant for Terrell and ordered him detained after he was arrested on the warrant. 

Terrell was previously convicted in 1998 of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Possession of a Firearm during a Crime of Violence, and Carrying a Pistol Without a License.  

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.   

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Washington Field Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kondi Kleinman and David Liss of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.  

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WASHINGTON – Jermaine Fairnot, 46, a three-time convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was found guilty in U.S. District Court today of his fourth felony in connection with intending to deal narcotics out of his car in the parking lot of a recreation center in Southwest Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

“Jermaine Fairnot is a repeat offender who chose to possess PCP while armed with a loaded gun just feet from a children's playground,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Today a federal jury found him guilty on all counts, and now he's facing a mandatory minimum of 25 years in federal prison, which is exactly where career criminals like Fairnot belong.” 

Following a four-day trial, the federal jury deliberated for approximately six hours and found Fairnot guilty of two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, two counts of unlawful possession with intent to distribute PCP, and unlawful possession of PCP with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a playground. Chief Judge James E. Boasberg scheduled sentencing for Nov. 24, 2026. 

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Metropolitan Police Department officers on Oct. 14, 2022, were on patrol at the King Greenleaf Recreation Center in Southwest Washington when they encountered a group of men standing around a Toyota Camry registered to Fairnot.  

Upon arrival of MPD, the men dispersed. Officers got out of their vehicle and shone their flashlights into the Camry, illuminating the barrel of a handgun protruding from under the driver’s seat. Police recovered a loaded Smith and Wesson semiautomatic pistol, roughly four ounces of PCP, and 56 empty vials.  

A few weeks later, on Nov. 9, 2022, law enforcement executed a warrant for Fairnot’s arrest while he was meeting with his probation officer at the courthouse. Officers seized Fairnot’s car keys and called in a canine unit to conduct a sweep of his Camry in a nearby parking lot. The dogs indicated the presence of firearms or ammunition and officers uncovered 4.85 grams of cocaine base, three vials filled with approximately 30 grams of PCP, empty glass vials, a scale, and a loaded Glock semiautomatic pistol. Officers also recovered mail, receipts, and a vehicle registration card belonging to Fairnot.  

Fairnot subsequently was indicted on two counts of possessing a firearm as a felon, one count of possession with intent to distribute (PWID) PCP, one count of PWID PCP within 1,000 feet of a playground, one count of PWID cocaine, and two counts of possession of a firearm during a drug-trafficking offense. 

Fairnot has three prior narcotics convictions for which he was sentenced to terms of more than a year and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm.  

This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Washington Field Office, with valuable assistance from the FBI Washington Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Helfand and Joshua Satter. 

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WASHINGTON – Kanard Bishop, 28, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 180 months in prison in connection with a violent spree of armed robberies and carjackings that spanned six weeks and 13 incidents across the District of Columbia and Maryland, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“Violent conduct and a blatant disregard for human life have no place in the District,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. "This sentence sends an unmistakable message: those who bring violence to our communities will be found, prosecuted, and held accountable. The people who live, work, and visit our Nation’s Capital deserve safety and security, and we will continue working every day to deliver it.” 

Bishop pleaded guilty on March 26, 2026, before Judge Rudolph Contreras to conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery and to using and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. In addition to the 180-month prison sentence, Judge Contreras ordered Bishop to serve five years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 252-month prison term. 

Co-defendants Edward Leroy Brown, 26, aka “Shiesty,” and Khalil Boyd, 20, pleaded guilty to the same charges on March 26 and were sentenced today to 150 months and 144 months, respectively.  

According to court papers, beginning on Feb. 14, 2024, and continuing through March 28, 2024, Bishop and his co-conspirators agreed to rob retail stores and carjack victims at gunpoint across the District and Maryland, carrying out or attempting at least 13 separate robberies and carjackings. 

The conspiracy began on Feb. 14, 2024, when Bishop and Brown entered a convenience store in Capitol Heights, Maryland, pointed firearms at an employee, and demanded cash. Unable to open the register, they fled to a nearby McDonald’s, where they opened the drive-through window from the outside and pointed a firearm at an employee before fleeing again. 

On March 17, 2024, Bishop and a co-conspirator carjacked two victims at gunpoint in the 4300 block of Southern Avenue SE, stealing a 2008 Mercedes-Benz along with cell phones, a wallet, identification, a credit card, and $2,000 in cash. 

The pace of the conspiracy accelerated on March 20, 2024. In the early morning hours, Bishop and Boyd carjacked a victim near 35th Street NE, stealing his 2018 Dodge Durango. Using the stolen vehicle, the group attempted a second McDonald’s drive-through robbery, robbed a Denny’s restaurant on Benning Road NE, where Bishop ripped the cash register off the counter, attempted a robbery at a second McDonald’s in Landover, Maryland, robbed a 7-Eleven in Landover, where Bishop jumped the counter to grab the register, and robbed a convenience store in District Heights, forcing an employee inside at gunpoint and stealing cash and tobacco products. 

On March 27, 2024, Bishop and Boyd carjacked another motorist at a gas station in District Heights, knocking him to the ground during a struggle before fleeing in his 2022 Dodge Challenger. Later that day, the pair approached two FedEx employees working in a delivery truck in Southeast Washington, pointed firearms at both workers, and stole their wallets, cellphones, and four packages. 

The conspiracy ended on March 28, 2024, at a GameStop in District Heights. Bishop and Brown entered the store, struck an employee, and demanded that workers open the cash registers and safe. When police arrived, both men fled on foot with firearms. A detective shot Brown in the lower body as he fled, and Bishop discarded his loaded firearm before he was apprehended. Boyd, who had waited outside in the stolen Challenger, fled the scene, carjacked another driver at gunpoint, and crashed into two police cruisers before he was taken into custody. 

Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office. 

The case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office Violent Crime Task Force and the Metropolitan Police Department’s Carjacking Task Force, with valuable assistance from the Prince George’s County Police Department. 

The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Satter. 

Defendant later identified as Bishop enters a convenience store in Capitol Heights with a firearm during a Feb. 14, 2024, attempted armed robbery. 

Suspect points a firearm with a laser sight at a restaurant employee during the March 20, 2024 armed robbery of a Denny’s. 

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WASHINGTON – Michelle Shropshire, 55, of Waldorf, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 24 months in prison in connection with a four-year scheme to defraud AFLAC insurance company of hundreds of thousands of dollars, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“Michelle Shropshire turned her own coworkers into accomplices, forged the signatures of doctors who had nothing to do with her lies, and built a four-year fraud operation on the backs of injured workers,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Health care fraud steals from every honest policyholder who pays their premiums, and this office will keep prosecuting those who exploit that trust.” 

Shropshire was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras to two years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Contreras also ordered Shropshire to pay restitution of $362,035.14 to AFLAC and entered a forfeiture money judgment of $80,520.36. Federal prosecutors had requested a prison term of 41 months. 

According to court papers, Shropshire worked as a train operator for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). For about four years, Shropshire orchestrated a scheme in which she and numerous WMATA employees submitted fraudulent disability and health care claims to AFLAC, claiming injuries they never suffered. 

Shropshire prepared and submitted the fraudulent claims on behalf of herself and her co-conspirators, fabricating medical records and forging the signatures of real doctors to support the false claims. She and her co-conspirators continued to work and collect their regular WMATA paychecks throughout the periods they claimed to be disabled. 

In exchange, each co-conspirator paid Shropshire a kickback of about 20 percent of the fraudulent insurance payout. Shropshire was responsible for defrauding AFLAC of at least $362,035.14, and personally profited by about $80,520.36. 

Codefendant Harlisha Jones pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy charge and is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 6, 2026. Six other WMATA employees have also pleaded guilty to related health care fraud offenses arising from the investigation. 

Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in today’s announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox and Inspector General Michelle Zamarin of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. 

This investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office and the WMATA Office of Inspector General. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian P. Kelly and Diane G. Lucas. 

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse. 

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WASHINGTON – Deondre Rogers, 20, and Hanif Brown, 20, both of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty yesterday to armed carjacking, armed robbery, and related charges stemming from a 2023 crime spree, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

Both Rogers and Brown pleaded guilty to one count each of carjacking, armed robbery, robbery, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of carrying a pistol without a license. Sentencing is scheduled for September 25, 2026, before Superior Court Judge Jason Park. This plea agreement resolves an 87-count indictment filed against the defendants. Both Rogers and Brown were 17 years old at the time of the offenses. The government is requesting 17 years’ incarceration for each defendant for the carjacking, armed robbery and robbery charges. 

According to the government’s evidence, on April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:00 p.m., Rogers and Brown rear-ended a white Jeep inside the Third Street Tunnel while driving a stolen Mercedes sedan. The defendants exited the Mercedes sedan, and each pointed a firearm at the two occupants of the white Jeep, demanding that they exit the vehicle. The victims complied, and the defendants entered the Jeep and drove away. 

On April 16, 2023, at approximately 12:45 a.m., Rogers and Brown robbed another victim at gunpoint in the 1600 block of 5th Street NW. The victim was walking with a friend when the defendants pulled alongside them in a white Chevrolet sedan. One of the defendants exited the vehicle, pointed a firearm at the victim, and demanded his keys and cell phone. Meanwhile, the second defendant remained seated in the Chevrolet sedan. While held at gunpoint, the victim handed over his vehicle keys and cell phone. The defendants drove away in the Chevrolet sedan and the victim’s vehicle. 

Finally, on May 4, 2023, at approximately 12:09 a.m., the defendants robbed two victims at gun point in the 1400 block of U Street NW. Specifically, Rogers and Brown got out of a white sedan carrying handguns and demanded the victims’ property. The defendants took two necklaces, an iPhone, a Louis Vuitton belt, a rose/white gold Audemars watch valued at approximately $40,000, and a gold and silver Rolex valued at approximately $7,000. 

The same night of the robbery, Rogers posted videos and photographs to Instagram that showed him wearing the stolen Audemars watch. In the days following the robbery, both defendants posted multiple videos and appeared in a music video wearing both the stolen Audemars and Rolex watches. 

This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Travis Wolf, Valerie Tsesarenko, and Brian Hanley.  

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Jean Robert Casimir, 53, a naturalized U.S. citizen of Lauderhill, Florida, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiracy, smuggling, and violations of U.S. export control law for his role in an extensive firearms trafficking operation through which he illegally exported at least 140 firearms to Haiti since 2020. 

According to court documents, from at least August 2020 through December 2024, Casimir illegally exported no less than 140 firearms from the United States to Haiti without having first obtained the required license from the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, located in the District of Columbia. 

Between at least August 2020 and December 2024, Casimir purchased at least 108 firearms from Federal Firearms Licensees and at least 30-35 firearms from a U.S. person in Florida, all of which he exported to Haiti without a license. These firearms included rifles, pistols, and shotguns of various makes and models. To smuggle the firearms to Haiti, Casimir and his co-conspirators used, among other techniques, industrial air compressors that they cut open and welded back together, packing disassembled rifles and handguns with foam insulation. Casimir and his co-conspirators then shipped these and other packages to Haiti via boats leaving from the Miami area. Casimir is a former Haitian National Police officer.

Casimir was arrested on Dec. 16, 2024 in Lauderhill and later indicted on Jan. 23, 2025. 

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia, Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami. 

This case is being investigated by the FBI Miami Field Office, HSI Washington D.C. and HSI Miami with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Dean for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Beau Barnes of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, with assistance provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Paschall for the District of Columbia made valuable contributions to this prosecution. 

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.

WASHINGTON — Jean Robert Casimir, 53, a naturalized U.S. citizen of Lauderhill, Florida, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiracy, smuggling, and violations of U.S. export control law for his role in an extensive firearms trafficking operation through which he illegally exported at least 140 firearms to Haiti since 2020, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

“Casimir exploited his access to firearms in our country to arm buyers in Haiti, disguising his shipments and evading the licensing laws that exist to keep weapons out of the hands of those who would use them to fuel violence abroad,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This office will continue to hold accountable anyone who treats our export laws as an obstacle to work around rather than the law of the land.” 

Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement were Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg, Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami. 

According to court documents, from at least August 2020 through December 2024, Casimir illegally exported no less than 140 firearms from the United States to Haiti without having first obtained the required license from the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, located in the District of Columbia. 

Between at least August 2020 and December 2024, Casimir purchased at least 108 firearms from Federal Firearms Licensees and at least 30-35 firearms from a U.S. person in Florida, all of which he exported to Haiti without a license. These firearms included rifles, pistols, and shotguns of various makes and models. To smuggle the firearms to Haiti, Casimir and his co-conspirators used, among other techniques, industrial air compressors that they cut open and welded back together, packing disassembled rifles and handguns with foam insulation. Casimir and his co-conspirators then shipped these and other packages to Haiti via boats leaving from the Miami area. Casimir is a former Haitian National Police officer. 

Casimir was arrested on Dec. 16, 2024, in Lauderhill, Florida, and later indicted on Jan. 23, 2025.  

This case is being investigated by the FBI Miami Field Office, HSI Washington, D.C. and HSI Miami with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.  

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Dean for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Beau Barnes of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, with assistance provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.  

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad.  

Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. 

Jean Robert Casimir 

Casimir shipped the firearms inside air compressors. 

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WASHINGTON – Four members of the violent “Push Dat Sh*t” (PDS) street crew were found guilty yesterday by a federal jury in connection with their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed marijuana and oxycodone in Southeast Washington, D.C. and used machine guns to protect their drug-dealing territory and kill an innocent bystander, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“We continue to take down the drivers of violence in our community, and these convictions reflect that commitment,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “The defendants were part of a violent crew that fueled senseless, retaliatory attacks and put entire neighborhoods at risk. Their actions weren’t just destructive—they cost an innocent young man his life. Today’s verdict sends a clear message: we will not tolerate armed gangs terrorizing D.C., and we will use every tool available to hold violent offenders accountable and protect the public.” 

Markquette Rajon Cowan, 27, of Maryland, aka "Quette" and "Lil Why," was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 kilograms or more of marijuana and a quantity of oxycodone, conspiracy to use firearms, including machine guns, in furtherance of drug trafficking, first-degree murder while armed, causing death through the use of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense, and related firearms counts and drug distribution charges. 

Christopher Jordan Broady, 26, of the District, aka "Suave" and "Swerve," was found guilty of the same drug trafficking and firearms conspiracy charges, first-degree murder while armed, causing death through the use of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense, and related firearms counts and drug distribution charges. 

Joshua Nicholas Stephenson, 25, of the District, aka “Migo,” was found guilty of the drug trafficking and firearms conspiracy charges, first-degree murder while armed, causing death through the use of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense, carrying a pistol without a license, and multiple counts of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute marijuana while armed with a firearm, including discharging a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. 

 Larry Duncan, 35, of the District, aka “Larry Love,” was found guilty of the drug trafficking and firearms conspiracy charges, first-degree murder while armed, causing death through the use of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense, and unlawfully using and possessing a machinegun in furtherance of drug trafficking. 

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson scheduled sentencing for Christopher Broady for Nov. 13, 2026, Markquette Cowan for Nov. 20, 2026, Joshua Stephenson for Dec. 3, 2026, and Larry Duncan for Dec. 4, 2026. Each defendant faces a statutory maximum sentence of up to life in prison. Any sentence will be determined by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Each defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 30 years for the murder.  

The verdicts came August 3 following a four-week trial and three days of jury deliberation. 

According to the evidence presented at trial, Cowan, Broady, Stephenson, and Duncan were members of the PDS street crew, which distributed marijuana and oxycodone in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Southeast D.C., beginning as early as April 2018. The co-conspirators used firearms to protect themselves, their money, their drugs, and their drug-dealing territory, and carried firearms to discourage rival crews from entering their territory. 

PDS maintained gang territory on the 3300 – 3500 blocks of Wheeler Road, Southeast, and adjacent areas, and operated an open-air drug market outside the Holiday Market. In August 2018, PDS became allied with a neighboring street gang known as Jugg Gang, or “JG.”  Between August 2018 and April 2023, members of the allied PDS/JG street crew sold drugs from Holiday Market and from “trap houses” that they maintained in apartment buildings surrounding that location.  

As their drug business grew, PDS/JG became the target of drive-by shootings conducted by rival gangs – shootings they referred to as “spinning the block.” Beginning in approximately August 2019, a PDS/JG member began assembling and distributing fully automatic AR-pistols that he purchased as “kits” from online retailers. Such firearms are defined as “privately made firearms” by the ATF but frequently are referred to as “ghost guns” on the street.  

PDS/JG members possessed the ghost guns to both defend their territory from rival gangs, but also to “spin the block” on rival gangs in order to deter and dissuade the rivals from entering PDS/JG territory. PDS/JG members “kept score” with rival gangs, and the points earned by “spinning the block” varied depending on the “importance” of the people that were injured or killed. 

 On May 9, 2019, while in a trap house in the 3300 block of Wheeler Road SE, Larry Duncan supplied a car (leaving a fingerprint on the outside) to fellow crew members and asked for “volunteers” to spin the block (shoot up rival territory). Duncan was in a leadership role of the PDS gang. Stephenson drove Cowan and Broady until they found a target. Mark Milline Jr. was walking up the street looking down at his phone when Cowan and Broady jumped out of the car and opened fire on Milline. Broady then chased Milline down and stood over his body firing several shots. Stephenson then drove Broady and Cowan back to 10th Place where they entered apartments where Duncan was waiting. Cowan, Broady, and Stephenson were middle level members of the gang.   

Milline was shot 13 times with RIP ammunition (radically invasive projectiles) and died from his injuries that day. Milline had no crew affiliation.  

The crew maintained “trap houses” throughout their territory to store drugs and firearms, and communicated using coded language, referring to ammunition as “eggs” and firearms as “dogs,” “irons,” and “joints,” in an effort to conceal their activity from law enforcement. 

In September 2025, Duncan was found to be in possession of approximately 38 pounds of marijuana, $72,000 in cash, and a firearm fitted with a device that converted it into a machine gun. Duncan faces an additional mandatory minimum of 30 years for his possession of the machinegun in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. 

These convictions are part of an ongoing joint investigation which has resulted in 30 convictions and the seizure of two vehicles, 47 firearms, six machine guns, more than 1,500 rounds of ammunition, over 100 pounds of marijuana, 41 grams of cocaine base, dozens of oxycodone pills, and approximately $581,000 in cash. 

 Other members of the PDS crew who have been sentenced include: 

Eugene Tracey Hill, aka “Geno” and “Cheese,” of the District, was sentenced in October 2024 to 15 years in prison for his role as leader in the drug trafficking conspiracy and multiple firearms offenses. He held a leadership role in the PDS gang.   

 Dartanyan Ricardo Hawkins, aka “Shitty,” of the District, was sentenced in April 2025 to five years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute more than 50 kilos of marijuana and firearms offenses. 

Isjalon Jermiah Armstead, aka “Smaut” and “Lil Blow Diddy,” of the District, was sentenced in May 2025 to 10 years in federal prison for discharging a firearm during a drug trafficking offense in connection with a shootout in a residential neighborhood. 

Andre Alone Willis, aka “Boogie,” of the District, was sentenced in February 2025 to 20 years in federal prison in connection with drug and gun charges related to a drug trafficking conspiracy. He held a leadership role in the PDS gang.   

Broadus Jamal Daniels, aka “Wardy,” of the District, was sentenced in April 2025 to 35 years in federal prison in connection with drug and gun charges related to a drug trafficking conspiracy.  

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the ATF’s Washington Field Division. 

 The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emma McArthur, Matthew Mattis, and Alyssa Levey-Weinstein.  

Screen grab from surveillance footage of the May 9, 2019, slaying of Mark Milline Jr., who was shot 13 times and died from his injuries. 

Evidence presented during the trial of PDS members Cowen, Broady, Stephenson, and Duncan. 

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WASHINGTON – Antoine Jones, 24, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 114 months in prison in connection with the armed kidnapping of a 14-year-old girl, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“Antoine Jones held a gun to the face of a 14-year-old girl, drove her across the city, and delivered her to a man he knew would continue terrorizing her,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Targeting a child is heinous under any circumstance, but pointing a gun at her head to force her compliance is uniquely cruel. My office will continue to pursue prison sentences for anyone who preys on the young people of this city.” 

Jones pleaded guilty before Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly to one count of kidnapping while armed. In addition to the 114-month prison term, Judge Kollar-Kotelly ordered Jones to serve five years of supervised release.  

According to court papers, on Sept. 26, 2024, Jones was driving a car in Northwest D.C. when he crossed paths with Keishawn Johnson, who was driving a separate vehicle. Johnson gestured for Jones to follow him, and Jones did so. 

The two men drove to the 1300 block of Longfellow Street NW, where Johnson pulled over near the minor victim, who was standing on the sidewalk. 

The minor victim got into Johnson's vehicle. Johnson then got out, came around to where the victim was sitting, and pointed a firearm in her face, demanding that she tell him the location of a gun he believed she had taken. 

Jones joined Johnson at the vehicle, blocking the victim from getting away. Jones pointed his own firearm in the victim's face and demanded the same information. 

When the minor victim said she did not have the gun, Johnson grabbed her by the arm and moved her into Jones's car. Johnson buckled her into the passenger seat and directed Jones to take her cell phone, which Jones did. 

Police arrived at the scene after a bystander called 911. Johnson fled in his vehicle, and Jones followed with the minor victim still in his car. 

Jones drove the minor victim to Johnson's residence in Southeast D.C., against her will and waited outside while Johnson brought her inside to continue searching for the missing firearm. Johnson later brought the minor victim back out, placed her in his vehicle, and drove off with her again. Jones left the scene at that point. 

Jones has three prior adult criminal convictions and was on probation in two of those cases at the time of the offense. 

Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office and Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. 

The investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. 

The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Burrell. 

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WASHINGTON – Mekhi Greene, 18, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to five years in prison today in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the carjacking of a local resident, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.   

Greene pleaded guilty to carjacking on September 19, 2025. His co-defendant, Keon Preston, also pleaded guilty to this offense and was sentenced to four years in prison on May 15, 2026. In addition to the 5-year sentence for Greene, the Honorable Judge Deborah Israel ordered him to serve 36 months of probation. Greene was 17 years old at the time of the offense. This case was prosecuted under Title 16 of the D.C. Code.  

According to court documents, on March 23, 2025, at approximately 9:19 p.m., Greene, his co-defendant Preston, and two other unidentified suspects carjacked the victim at gunpoint in the 3500 block of East Capitol Street Northeast. All four men were seen wearing masks, dark clothing, and one had a large weapon with an extended clip.  

Police located the vehicle, a white Volkswagen Jetta, and attempted a traffic stop before three of the suspects fled on foot. Officers were able to stop and apprehend Greene and Preston. Officers later recovered two firearms, one in the flight path of Preston and one in the rear passenger seat of the stolen vehicle, with an automatic conversion switch and a round chambered inside.  

Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.   

In announcing the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll acknowledged the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Green, who prosecuted the case. 

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WASHINGTON — Davon Boyd, 28, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for his unlawful possession of a “ghost gun” and ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Boyd was found guilty on April 3, 2026, following a stipulated bench trial before U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell, of one count of unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm, and one count of possession of a prohibited weapon. Judge Howell sentenced Boyd to 36 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 60-month prison term. 

According to court papers, on Sept. 26, 2025, at about 10 p.m., Metropolitan Police Department officers were on routine patrol in the 1500 block of Marion Barry Avenue SE when they pulled into an alley and made contact with a group of individuals. 

Officers approached Boyd, who was among the group, and who had appeared to be concealing something in his waistband. Officers stopped Boyd and during a pat-down, an officer detected a firearm on Boyd's person and placed him in handcuffs. Officers then lifted Boyd's hoodie and removed the firearm from his waistband. 

The firearm was later identified as a ghost AR pistol, privately manufactured, bearing no serial number and untraceable by law enforcement. The firearm was loaded with 29 rounds of ammunition, 28 in the magazine and one in the chamber. 

Boyd did not have a valid permit to carry a firearm in the District of Columbia. 

Boyd had previously been convicted of robbery and attempted robbery in Superior Court for the District of Columbia.

The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Office. 

The matter was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barclay. 

Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. 

Police recovered an AR pistol (above) and 29 of rounds of ammunition from Boyd. 

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WASHINGTON – Makai Bridges, 17, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 12 years in prison for a string of crimes that included robbery, carjacking, and assault, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“At just 16, Bridges repeatedly victimized members of our community through violence, intimidation, and theft,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Even after being detained, he continued to endanger others by assaulting fellow detainees. This 12-year sentence ensures he will be held accountable for his actions and protects the public from further harm.” 

Bridges pleaded guilty on March 5, 2026, to carjacking, robbery, possession of a prohibited weapon, and simple assault. Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld sentenced Bridges to 12 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. The government requested 12 years in prison, which was the maximum under the sentencing guidelines.  

According to the government’s evidence, on May 1, 2025, at around 2:00 am, Bridges and an additional accomplice approached the victim near the intersection of 3rd Street NE and Rhode Island Avenue NE, Washington, D.C. while she was waiting at the bus stop. The two men both pointed what appeared to be firearms at the victim, one pointing the weapon at her head and the other pushing his weapon into her stomach. They then pulled the victim’s purse from her shoulder and took her cellphone out of her hand. The defendant and his conspirator threatened the victim, saying they would kill her if she called the police, and then fled the scene. The victim contacted MPD around 7:38 am, on May 1, 2025, and reported the crime. 

In a separate incident, on May 7, 2025, at around 10:10 pm. Bridges and four other accomplices approached another victim as he was exiting his vehicle at 1430 Otis Street NE. One member of the group pulled out what appeared to be a firearm, while the others demanded the victim’s keys. All five entered the vehicle and drove away.  

At around 10:50 pm, officers attempted to apprehend the defendant and his accomplices in a traffic stop after confirming the vehicle had been reported stolen earlier that evening. The vehicle fled, eventually colliding with a tree box near the 1200 block of 3rd St NE. After crashing, all five men exited the vehicle and fled the officers. Officers pursued and apprehended Bridges. 

While in custody at the Department of Youth and Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) Youth Services Center, located at 1000 Mount Oliver Rd. NE, Bridges and seven other individuals assaulted three detainees as they were being escorted through the cell block. The group rushed into the cell block, pushing past DYRS staff in an attempt to reach the detainees. Bridges was ultimately restrained by DYRS staff and then struggled to free himself in an effort to join the assault of the three victims.  

Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. 

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Valerie Tsesarenko and Brian Hanley, who prosecuted the case. 

2025 CF3 010940 & 2025 CF3 015480 

WASHINGTON – Johnny Gregory, 42, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for strangling his wife in January 2026, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“Strangulation is an unmistakable warning sign that a victim's life is in imminent danger,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Research shows that after just one episode of strangulation, a victim is approximately 800% more likely to die at the hands of the same aggressor. Crimes like this deserve stronger punishment and the criminal justice system must treat strangulation with the gravity it deserves and do everything possible to protect victims before domestic violence turns fatal." 

Gregory was found guilty at trial on May 4, 2026, of one count of strangulation. Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel sentenced Gregory to 24 months, a top of the guidelines sentence.  The judge suspended part of that sentence and ordered Gregory to complete 18 months of probation. The government requested 24 months in prison for the strangulation offense, which was the maximum under the sentencing guidelines.  

According to the government’s evidence, on January 5, 2026, Gregory and his wife had an argument over laundry detergent. Gregory pushed her to the ground, punched her in the face multiple times then put his knee on her chest and strangled her with both his hands. She lost consciousness and was taken to a local hospital where she was treated for her injuries. At the time of the assault, the victim’s 15-year-old daughter was present. 

Gregory was arrested on January 6, 2026, and has remained in custody since. 

Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. 

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrea Friedman and Charles Klug, who prosecuted the case. 

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WASHINGTON – Kevin Johnson, 40, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 18 years in prison today in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the fatal stabbing of 44-year-old D.C. resident Antonio Pierre Woody, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.   

Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder while armed on February 24, 2026. Johnson’s guilty plea was pursuant to Rule 11(c)(1)(c) where the parties agreed to a prison sentence range between 18 and 23 years. In addition to the 18-year sentence, the Honorable Rainey Brandt ordered Johnson to serve five years of supervised release.  

According to court documents, in the early morning hours of October 6, 2024, in Northeast D.C., Johnson and the victim were socializing in a group on the sidewalk outside 1719 Lincoln Road, NE and the adjacent parking lot of 1725 Lincoln Road, NE. Johnson, agitated from a previous altercation on October 5, 2024, made threats before approaching the victim, lunging at him and stabbing him multiple times. The victim, wheelchair-bound, attempted to crawl away from the defendant, before the defendant struck and stabbed him again.  

The defendant then proceeded to dispose of the victim’s cell phone down a storm drain and leave the scene, walking back towards the parking lot of 1725 Lincoln Road, NE. Officers arrived on the scene, noting that the only exit from the parking lot was into a Department of Human Services Shelter. The defendant was identified by an individual working security. Police located the defendant and transported him to the MPD Homicide Branch where he was arrested for murder in the second degree. 

Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.   

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marybeth Manfreda and Rashmika Nedungadi, who prosecuted the case. 

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WASHINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced today that it has reached a civil settlement agreement with the Club at Morningside Inc., whereby the club agreed to pay $850,000, plus interest, to resolve allegations that the club violated the False Claims Act when it applied for and received a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for which it was not eligible.  

When Congress enacted the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, it authorized forgivable PPP loans to eligible small businesses and nonprofit organizations for job retention and certain other expenses. The PPP loan program was administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA). At the time of the loan covered by this settlement, certain entities organized under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code were not eligible for PPP loans, including section 501(c)(7) organizations. 

In 2020, Morningside, a country club located in Rancho Mirage, California, applied for a PPP loan in the amount of $727,427 and certified that it was eligible to receive the loan even though it was ineligible as a section 501(c)(7) nonprofit organization. After receiving the PPP loan, Morningside sought and received forgiveness of the entire loan amount. The United States contended that Morningside knowingly falsely represented its eligibility to receive the PPP loan, and that it caused the SBA to pay lender fees to the bank that processed the loan. After an analysis of Morningside’s ability to pay pursuant to a settlement, Morningside agreed to pay $850,000, plus interest, to the United States to resolve these allegations. 

The settlement resolves claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under these provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the recovery. The qui tam complaint was filed by Relator Aidan Forsyth and is captioned United States ex rel. Aidan Forsyth v. Club at Morningside Inc., et al., Civ. A. No. 24-1175 (D.D.C.). Forsyth will receive a total share of approximately $83,266.55, plus a portion of interest paid by Morningside, in connection with the settlement. 

The civil settlement resulted from an investigation by Assistant United States Attorney Sean M. Tepe and Auditor Timothy J. Hurley with the support of attorney Caitlin J. Kelly of SBA’s Office of the General Counsel.    

Tips and complaint regarding potential fraud affecting COVID-19 government relief programs can be reported by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or by submitting a NCDF Web Complaint form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.  

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars.  Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.    

The claims resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. 

WASHINGTON — Antoine Gatling, 33, a previously convicted violent felon, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 36 months in prison in connection with his unlawful possession of a .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Gatling was found guilty following a stipulated trial before Judge Richard J. Leon of one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 36-month prison term, Judge Leon ordered Gatling to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 37-month prison term. 

According to court papers, on March 1, 2024, at about 9:04 a.m., a 911 caller reported a man trying to break into an apartment in the 4500 block of 3rd Street SE, describing him as wearing a black jacket, black pants, and black-and-white shoes, carrying a black bag, and armed with a handgun tucked into his waistband. 

Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to the scene. The first officer arrived at about 9:11 a.m. and found Gatling in the doorway of the apartment complex, matching the caller's description. 

The officer asked Gatling to step outside for a pat-down. As the officer reached a satchel worn across Gatling's back, Gatling began to resist. Additional officers responded, and Gatling was handcuffed. 

Officers removed the satchel and felt the outline of a firearm inside. Inside, they found a .380 Llama semi-automatic pistol. A further search of Gatling's clothing turned up a round of ammunition and a loaded magazine. 

Gatling was previously convicted of robbery with a dangerous weapon in Prince George's County, Maryland, for which he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with 13 years suspended, followed by five years of probation. 

The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Office. 

The matter was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nickolas Reck. 

Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. 

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WASHINGTON – Samuel Fapohunda, 27, a previously convicted felon residing in Maryland, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with his illegal possession of a Glock 19 pistol with a 17-round magazine, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

Fapohunda pleaded guilty before Judge Trevor N. McFadden to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. Judge McFadden scheduled sentencing for Dec. 3, 2026. 

According to court documents, on June 25, 2026, at 6:45 p.m., officers on patrol in the 1800 block of 18th Street SE found a vehicle parked with its engine running and an illegally-tinted window. 

An officer approached the car and the driver rolled down his window when officers smelled marijuana. The driver, identified as Fapohunda, admitted he had been smoking. Officers ordered the occupants out of the car. As the passenger stepped out, officers saw a burnt marijuana cigarette in her hand. 

A federal law enforcement officer conducted a protective pat-down of Fapohunda and felt a firearm in his waistband. Before officers recovered it, Fapohunda blurted out, “it’s under my shorts,” repeating the phrase three times. Officers recovered a loaded Glock 19 9mm handgun with a 17-round magazine. 

A search of the vehicle turned up marijuana, a nearly full bottle of codeine-based cough syrup, drug paraphernalia including a scale and baggies with residue, and $985 in cash. 

A criminal history check showed Fapohunda was previously convicted of robbery in Arlington County, Virginia, and sentenced to five years incarceration, with four years suspended, making his possession of the firearm and ammunition illegal under federal law. 

The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Office. 

The matter was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Liss. 

Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. 

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WASHINGTON – Hieu Trung Vu, 37, a previously convicted felon and illegal alien from Vietnam, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in prison in connection with drug trafficking from a Georgetown Airbnb and unlawful possession of two firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“This defendant showed a complete disregard for our laws and our borders, yet he chose to arm himself with weapons and narcotics. A previously convicted felon, he continued to put American communities at risk by trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamines,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This illegal alien is exactly the type of offender the Trump administration is working tirelessly to remove from our country and after serving his sentence, he will be deported.” 

Vu pleaded guilty on March 17, 2026, before Judge Amit P. Mehta to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, amphetamine, cocaine base, and fentanyl, and to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Because of his illegal status, after Vu serves his 60-month prison term he will be subject to deportation to Vietnam. 

According to court papers, on Dec. 4, 2025, police received an emergency call reporting that a woman was in an apartment with a man, later identified as Vu, who was in possession of narcotics. Officers determined the location was a short-term rental in the 1400 block of Wisconsin Avenue NW in Georgetown and obtained a search warrant. 

When officers executed the warrant, they recovered two handguns from a backpack in a bedroom, along with a substantial quantity of narcotics, drug paraphernalia, and a debit card bearing Vu's name from a bag in the kitchen. Vu acknowledged that the firearms and narcotics were his, court papers state. 

Laboratory testing confirmed the narcotics included methamphetamine, cocaine, cocaine base, amphetamine, and fentanyl. One of the recovered firearms was loaded, court papers state. 

Vu has a previous 2022 felony conviction in Fairfax County, Virginia, for possession with intent to manufacture or sell a controlled substance, for which he received a five-year sentence with more than two years suspended. 

This investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Division. 

The matter was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David B. Liss and Caelainn Carney. Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. 

Police recovered this Glock 43X, 9mm pistol from Vu’s Airbnb.  

Police also recovered this CZ Model 27, 7.65mm pistol from Vu’s Georgetown Airbnb. 

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WASHINGTON – The United States Attorney for the District of Columbia announced today that it reached a civil settlement agreement with Ventana Productions, Inc. (“Ventana”) to resolve allegations that on multiple occasions over a period of years Ventana hid food expenses for its employees by charging the Government for non-existent products and services.  Pursuant to the settlement, Ventana agreed to pay the United States $50,000.  

“Waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Every day, this Office works aggressively to expose fraud and abuse that diverts taxpayer dollars from their intended purpose. Contractors have a duty to bill the government honestly, and when they violate that trust, we will act decisively to hold them accountable.” 

“Federal contractors are expected to bill the government honestly and accurately,” said Judd Leinum, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General. “Disguising employee meal expenses as information technology products and services undermines the integrity of the federal procurement process. Any attempt to falsely bill the Department will not be tolerated. This settlement demonstrates our commitment to protecting taxpayer funds and holding contractors accountable for false claims. We appreciate the partnership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia in resolving this matter.” 

Ventana is a video production company with offices in Washington, DC and New York, NY. Ventana performed multimedia production support work for the U.S. Census Bureau (“Census”), a component of the U.S. Department of Commerce, under two General Services Administration contracts.  Acting on an anonymous tip, the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) conducted an investigation that found seven instances of Ventana invoicing Census for charges that were designed to hide the costs of employee meals.  Based on Ventana records and interviews, the OIG uncovered Ventana falsely invoicing Census for “hard drives,” “media transfer,” and “parking” that were disguising food purchased from a variety of establishments, including among others, Dunkin Donuts, Corner Bakery, Panera Bread, and Joe Theismann’s Restaurant. Based on seven false invoices, spanning July 2019 to February 2024, Census paid Ventana $1,533.27 that it would not have otherwise paid.  To settle potential claims for damages and penalties under the False Claims Act and related causes of action, Ventana has agreed to pay the United States $50,000. 

After OIG and the U.S. Attorney’s Office investigated the matter, a settlement was completed by Assistant United States Attorney Sean M. Tepe, with the assistance of Auditor Timothy J. Hurley, and a Special Agent with the Department of Commerce OIG.    

The claims resolved by the civil settlements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. 

WASHINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced today that it reached a civil settlement agreement with Carleena Graham, whereby the former Vice President of Human Resources for World Learning has agreed to pay $160,000 to resolve allegations that she violated the False Claims Act by submitting false invoices to her employer for reimbursement of expenses that benefitted her personally and organizations with which she was affiliated.  

World Learning is a nonprofit global development and exchange organization that delivers educational and professional training programs around the world. It was also a recipient of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and U.S. Department of State funds through various grants, contracts, and negotiated indirect cost rate agreements totaling several million dollars. 

The Government asserts that, from approximately 2015 to 2022, Graham orchestrated a scheme to submit false invoices to World Learning for reimbursement of hundreds of thousands of dollars of expenses. As part of that scheme, Graham arranged for goods and services to be delivered to third-party organizations and then arranged for World Learning to pay for these goods and services via electronic transfers of funds from its bank account or use of World Learning’s credit cards. The Government also found that Graham falsified invoices submitted by vendors for payment of the goods and services to make them appear as though World Learning was the recipient of the goods and services. By defrauding World Learning, the Government contends Graham was also misappropriating funds the nonprofit received from USAID and the State Department. 

The settlement concludes a joint investigation conducted by USAID Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the State Department OIG that followed Graham’s guilty plea in the District of Vermont to one count of wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343 for the above-described conduct. United States v. Carleena Graham, Case No. 23-cr-57.  

The civil settlement resulted from the work of Assistant United States Attorney Sam Escher and Auditor Timothy J. Hurley with the support of Special Agents from USAID and the State Department’s OIGs. 

The claims resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. 

WASHINGTON – Marcus Reavenell, 48, of Washington, D.C., was convicted on charges related to a road rage shooting that occurred on May 14, 2025, in Northeast, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

Reavenell was found guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful discharge of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, reckless driving, and destruction of property less than $1,000 on July 27, 2026. The possession of a firearm during a crime of violence conviction carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years imprisonment. 

Sentencing is scheduled for October 2, 2026, before Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur. 

According to the Government’s evidence, on May 14, 2025, at the intersection of Eastern Avenue and Division Avenue NE, Reavenell attempted to cut off the victim in traffic before tailgating the victim and driving erratically. The defendant continued to follow the victim until he pointed a pistol out of his van and fired a round at the victim’s work vehicle, striking its rear door. Reavenell then fled the scene in his van.  

Reavenell was arrested on July 9, 2025, and has been in custody since. 

Joining the announcement was Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.  

This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.  

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randle Wilson and Kadian Carter.  

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WASHINGTON – Collin L. Welch, 40, of Arlington, Virginia, a Major in the D.C. National Guard, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to unlawfully inducing aliens to enter and remain in the United States and to theft of about $54,000 in government money, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Welch pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali to unlawfully inducing aliens to enter and remain in the United States and to theft of government money. As part of the plea, Welch agreed to forfeit a money judgment of $54,000 to the United States. Judge Ali scheduled sentencing for Dec 3, 2026. 

According to court documents, Welch is a National Guard officer who previously served in the Alaska and D.C. National Guard with prior deployments to Afghanistan and Djibouti. In 2019, despite being married, he began a relationship with a Mongolian national while he was posted to the U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. 

Welch later fabricated a divorce decree to convince the Mongolian woman he was no longer married, and in 2022 married her in Mongolia while still legally married to his wife. In 2024, Welch brought the Mongolian woman and her minor daughter to the United States on tourist visas, and in October 2024 married the Mongolian woman a second time, in Virginia, again while still legally married. 

After the woman and her daughter’s tourist visas expired in early 2025, Welch knowingly continued to support them financially and house them. When the Mongolian woman asked about her immigration status, Welch fabricated a series of documents, including fake permanent residency approvals, Social Security cards, and a letter falsely indicating military dependent health benefits, to convince her that a citizenship process was underway. None of the documents were ever filed with any government agency. 

Separately, Welch used his government travel card to submit fraudulent travel vouchers and fabricated receipts for hotel stays and rental cars that never occurred, and used the card without authorization to fund personal travel and to pay for the woman and her daughter’s living and travel expenses, resulting in about $54,000 in unauthorized charges to the United States. 

The investigation was conducted by U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID), with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Investigations Unit. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney S. Babu Kaza, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia - Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section. 

On April 7, 2026,  the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

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WASHINGTON – Fulani Hasan Tahrike Herrod, 24, a Maryland resident and a convicted felon, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with his possession of a “ghost gun,” ammunition, and crack cocaine recovered following a police pursuit through Northwest Washington that ended when he crashed a stolen vehicle, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Herrod pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss to one count of unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. A sentencing date is scheduled for Nov. 6, 2026. Herrod faces a statutory maximum of 15 years in prison on the ammunition count and 20 years in prison on the drug count. 

According to court papers, on March 8, 2026, a United States Park Police (USPP) officer monitoring police radio during a high-visibility patrol learned that a license plate reader had spotted a stolen vehicle, a black BMW sedan with Maryland tags, traveling in the area of Columbia Road NW. 

The officer located the BMW near 16th Street and Irving Street NW and attempted to stop it. Herrod, the sole occupant, disregarded the officer's emergency lights and sirens and fled, running multiple traffic lights, driving at a high rate of speed, driving the wrong way, and colliding with several parked vehicles. 

The pursuit ended in the area of 14th Street and Military Road NW, when Herrod drove over a curb and struck a parking sign, disabling the vehicle. As the officer attempted to handcuff him, Herrod got up and ran on foot, jumping a stone wall and crossing a grassy area before he was taken into custody with the assistance of the Metropolitan Police Department. 

A search incident to arrest recovered a Maryland driver's license and $170 in cash from Herrod. In plain view on the driver's side floorboard of the vehicle, officers found a loaded, privately manufactured 9mm “ghost gun” bearing no serial number and untraceable by law enforcement. A backpack recovered from behind the driver's seat contained cocaine base, baking soda, a substance labeled as a cannabis concentrate, and a large quantity of small plastic bags. Laboratory testing by the Drug Enforcement Administration confirmed 22.34 grams of cocaine base and 6.06 grams of cocaine. 

Herrod previously had been convicted in Montgomery County, Maryland, of possessing a loaded handgun in a vehicle, attempting to elude a uniformed police officer by fleeing on foot, and related traffic offenses. 

The investigation was conducted by the United States Park Police, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington Division Office. 

The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Liss, with significant assistance from former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ursula Simmons. 

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WASHINGTON – Carter Camacho, 18,  of Smyrna, Georgia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with his possession of a loaded 12-gauge shotgun on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol Building as well as possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

Camacho entered his plea before Judge Amit P. Mehta to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm within the United States Capitol Buildings or Grounds and one count of receipt of visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct. Judge Mehta scheduled sentencing for Dec. 8, 2026.  

According to the court documents, on Feb. 17, 2026, Camacho parked a white Mercedes SUV on Maryland Ave. SE, between First and Third Streets. About 12:07 p.m., Camacho exited the vehicle and ran toward the United States Capitol carrying a firearm while wearing a tactical-style vest and camouflage-style clothing. 

Camacho reached the steps on the western side of the Capitol. A uniformed officer with the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) asked Camacho what he was carrying. Camacho produced the firearm. The officer ordered Camacho to halt and lie down on the ground. 

Once Camacho was on the ground, USCP officers recovered a Mossberg Model 88 12-gauge shotgun loaded with seven rounds in the tube and one in the chamber, with the safety off. An additional 17 rounds of ammunition were held in a carrier attached to the shotgun’s stock. 

Officers placed Camacho in handcuffs. Camacho told USCP officers that he was there to talk to a Member of Congress. 

USCP officers traced Camacho’s path to the white Mercedes SUV and located a fixed blade knife on the ground about forty feet from the vehicle. Officers then searched the vehicle and located Camacho’s cell phone. A subsequent search of the cell phone, led to the discovery of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Investigators determined that Camacho had purchased CSAM and was in possession of dozens of CSAM images and over 100 CSAM videos. 

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Capitol Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Washington Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan M. Horan, who is detailed to the U.S. Attorney’s Office from the United States Capitol Police. 

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Camacho ran toward the United States Capitol carrying a firearm while wearing a tactical-style vest and camouflage-style clothing.  Photo Credit: United States Capitol Police 

USCP officers recovered a Mossberg Model 88 12-gauge shotgun loaded with seven rounds in the tube and one in the chamber, with the safety off. An additional 17 rounds of ammunition were held in a carrier attached to the shotgun’s stock.  Photo Credit: United States Capitol Police 

WASHINGTON – Tyree Irving, 29, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced in D.C. Superior Court to 18 years in prison for the killing of Davane Williams on January 15, 2019, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

Irving pleaded guilty on February 2, 2026, to one count of second-degree murder while armed, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. On July 24, 2026, the Honorable Judge Neil Kravitz ordered Irving to the 18-year prison term to be followed by five years of supervised release. 

On January 15, 2019, at 2:59 p.m., Irving walked toward the Tyler House, at the 1200 block of North Capitol Street, NW. Williams and several other men were standing on the sidewalk outside the entrance pathway to the Tyler House. Irving, who had a .40 caliber pistol concealed in his clothing, approached the group and immediately started yelling at Williams. After yelling at Williams for less than 10 seconds, Irving pulled the .40 caliber pistol out and fired five shots at Williams, striking him five times. Irving put the pistol away and then ran away southbound across M Street and changed clothes before fleeing southbound away from the Sursum Corda neighborhood. Irving was arrested on February 27, 2019, and has been in custody since.  

Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery W. Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. 

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Hall and Wes Faulkner, who prosecuted the case.

WASHINGTON – Derrick Gladden, 55, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 96 months in prison today in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for shooting Christopher Seward during a dispute in April 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.    

Gladden was found guilty by a jury on March 11, 2026, of one count each of aggravated assault while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. In addition to the 96-month sentence, Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt ordered Gladden to serve five years of supervised release.  

According to the government’s evidence, on April 15, 2024, at approximately 2:15 p.m., the victim was standing on the first-floor patio of his friend’s apartment in the 2300 block of Marion Barry Avenue SE. Gladden, who lived in the apartment next door, saw the victim and confronted him about an ongoing dispute over money. He then pulled out a firearm and shot the victim once in the chest. The victim suffered a serious injury and almost died, however, thanks to the Whole Blood Program, which had been launched earlier that month, the victim received a blood transfusion in the ambulance and survived. In April 2025, before having a chance to testify, Seward died of cancer.   

After learning the identity of the shooter from the victim, police obtained an emergency search warrant for the defendant’s residence and located ammunition that matched a casing found near the location of the shooting, along with firearms accessories and a holster. Additionally, a neighbor provided Ring camera footage showing the defendant fleeing from the front door of his apartment after the shooting.   

Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.  

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. 

They also thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Eliot Folsom and Natalie Anderson, who prosecuted the case. 

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WASHINGTON – Rodney Bennett, 20, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia for two robberies in 2024 and one assault with a dangerous weapon while confined in a D.C. Correctional Facility in 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

Bennett pleaded guilty on March 23, 2026, to one count of armed robbery, one count of robbery, and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan sentenced Bennett to 9 years in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. 

According to the government’s evidence, on August 28, 2024, at approximately 11:10 p.m., Bennett approached a man who was returning a rental scooter at 5th and Neal Place NE, Washington, D.C. Bennett pointed a firearm at him and demanded his cellphone and wallet. The man handed over both items but later grabbed his phone back and fled to a nearby bar, where he called the police. Bennett fled the scene with the wallet. Bennett was wearing a GPS monitor, and his coordinates placed him at the scene at the time of the robbery. 

Just over an hour later, on August 29, 2024, at approximately 12:24 p.m., Bennett followed two individuals walking to 1924 8th Street NW, Washington, D.C., into an underground parking garage. When Bennett exited his vehicle and approached, both individuals ran. Bennett chased one of them, stopping him at the entrance to the elevator. Bennett pointed a firearm at him and demanded his watch and cash and then fled with the stolen items. His GPS monitor again placed him at the scene during the offense. 

Bennett was arrest on October 9, 2024, by the Metropolitan Police Department and has remained in custody since that time. 

While incarcerated, on November 10, 2025, at approximately 9:50 p.m., inside the Northwest Three Housing Unit of the Department of Corrections’ Central Detention Facility, Bennett became involved in a verbal altercation with another inmate. During the dispute, Bennett produced a sharp metal object and stabbed the inmate, causing lacerations to the face and head. 

Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.  

This matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Hanley. 

2024 CF3 010193, 2025 CF3 015306 

WASHINGTON – Luis Figueroa, 67, of Washington, D.C., was convicted on charges of First- and Second-Degree Child Sexual Abuse with Aggravating Circumstances, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.   

Figueroa was found guilty of First- and Second-Degree Child Sexual Abuse with Aggravating Circumstances on July 23, 2026. Sentencing is scheduled for September 25, 2026, before Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt. Due to the aggravating circumstances for which the defendant was convicted, the defendant is eligible for a sentence of over 30 years imprisonment up to life imprisonment without possibility of release.   

According to court documents, in 2017, the victim, six-years-old at the time, and her family were living in a basement apartment in the defendant’s home. The defendant maintained a friendly relationship with the victim, instructing her to call him “the Cookie Monster.”  

One day, the defendant entered the apartment to fix a broken shower and called the victim into the bathroom to help him. Upon entering the bathroom, the defendant instructed the victim to shut the door behind her. The defendant then proceeded to sexually assault the victim.   

Afterwards the victim was disgusted and confused which led her to keep the abuse to herself until coming forward in 2021. The victim was inspired to come forward and tell her mother about the abuse that occurred after seeing other individuals share their stories online. The victim’s mother then alerted a social worker. The case was indicted and Figueroa was arrested pursuant to a bench warrant on April 3, 2024.    

Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.   

This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kate Ballou and Lindsey Miller. 

WASHINGTON – Darryl Dacota Riley, Jr., 40, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 120 months in prison in connection with his role as a wholesale PCP supplier in a large-scale narcotics trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“Riley wasn’t just selling drugs in the summer of 2024, he was pumping lethal substances into a neighborhood already reeling from violence and daily fear,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “His operation sat at the center of a zone where families were living through murders, armed assaults, robberies, and break‑ins within steps of his stash house. This sentence delivers accountability for the violence his trafficking fueled, the fentanyl and PCP he chose to sell, and the firearms he kept ready to defend his profit. To every parent and resident of D.C.: we have your back. Drug traffickers will be caught, charged, and face federal prison time.” 

Riley, also known as "Slice," pleaded guilty on Feb. 12, 2026, before Judge Timothy J. Kelly to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of phencyclidine (PCP), 500 grams or more of cocaine, and 40 grams or more of fentanyl; and to unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In addition to the 120-month prison term, Judge Kelly ordered Riley to serve five years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 121-month prison term, followed by five years of supervised release. 

According to court documents, in the summer of 2024, FBI agents initiated a long-term investigation of a drug trafficking conspiracy centered around the 2900 block of Knox Place, SE. Law enforcement had identified an alleged fentanyl and PCP trafficker in the 2900 block of Knox Place. Over the course of their investigation into the trafficker’s narcotics suppliers, investigating agents determined that Riley was conspiring with members of the drug trafficking operation in the redistribution of cocaine, PCP, fentanyl, among other narcotics. 

During the conspiracy, five homicides, seventeen assaults with dangerous weapons, five robberies and eight burglaries occurred within 1,000 feet of the conspiracy's primary stash location on Knox Place SE, court papers state. 

According to court papers, from July 2024 through his arrest in August 2025, Riley served as a wholesale supplier of PCP to a co-defendant who redistributed narcotics from the 2900 block of Knox Place SE. Riley repeatedly supplied bulk quantities of liquid PCP for redistribution, at times traveling to Knox Place to personally deliver the drugs, which he referred to in intercepted calls as the “Deer Park.” 

On August 26, 2025, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Riley’s residence in the 1900 block of Naylor Road, SE. Over the course of the search, law enforcement recovered more than 930 grams of cocaine and nearly 120 grams of fentanyl, amongst other narcotics, more than $20,000 in cash, and three loaded firearms, including a privately made rifle. 

Riley has a previous 2012 conviction for attempted possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. 

The investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office, with valuable assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration – Washington Field Office, and the Metropolitan Police Department. 

The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Kinskey and John Crabb of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section. 

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WASHINGTON — Christian Malik White, 26, a previously convicted felon residing in Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 40 months in prison, to be followed by 10 months home confinement, in connection with possessing a loaded firearm and ammunition discovered after he was found in possession of a stolen pickup truck in the District of Columbia, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

White pleaded guilty on Dec. 2, 2025, before Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. In addition to the 40-month prison term, Judge Sooknanan ordered White to serve three years of supervised release, with the first 10 of those months being in home detention. Federal prosecutors had requested a minimum sentence of 57 months in prison. 

According to court papers, at about 3:15 a.m. on Aug. 29, 2025, Metropolitan Police Department officers on patrol saw a pickup truck with no front or rear license plate parked in the 1800 block of 9th Street NW. White was leaning against the passenger side of the pickup. When officers asked him about the vehicle, White lied about whether he had driven it and whether he had a key to it. Officers determined the truck had been reported stolen out of Maryland and arrested White, finding a key to the truck in his pocket.  

Inside the pickup, officers found a loaded Glock 19 with a laser sight and a 15-round magazine, along with a second extended magazine loaded with 24 rounds of ammunition, for a total of 39 rounds. The firearm had been reported lost by a District resident in February 2025. 

White was on probation for a Maryland cocaine distribution conviction at the time of this offense and faces additional probation revocation proceedings in Maryland. This conviction is his fourth felony conviction and third involving a firearm. His prior convictions include serving as a straw purchaser for firearms in 2019, distributing cocaine in 2018, eluding law enforcement and reckless driving in June 2020, and possessing a handgun with a laser attachment in September 2020. 

The Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Office investigated the case. 

This case was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tejpal Chawla. 

Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. 

Inside the pickup truck was White's Glock 19 Gen4 9mm pistol with laser attachment and a magazine containing 15 rounds.

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WASHINGTON – Michael Anderson Thomas, 50, of Chino, California, pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia in connection with his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy that reached across the United States and sold PCP, cocaine, and fentanyl in the 2900 block of Knox Place in Southeast Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Thomas pleaded guilty on July 22, 2026, before Judge Timothy J. Kelly to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of phencyclidine (PCP) and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking conspiracy. Thomas is a convicted felon, with prior federal felony convictions in the Northern District of Alabama and the District of Oregon for controlled substance offenses. 

Thomas faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison for the drug conspiracy charge and a consecutive mandatory minimum of five years for the firearm charge, for a combined mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison. Judge Kelly scheduled sentencing for Nov. 19, 2026. 

According to court documents, in the summer of 2024, FBI agents initiated a long-term investigation of a drug trafficking conspiracy centered around the 2900 block of Knox Place, SE. Law enforcement had identified an alleged fentanyl and PCP trafficker in the 2900 block of Knox Place. As the investigation progressed, law enforcement was able to identify sources of supply for both narcotics, including California-based co-conspirators like Thomas. 

During the conspiracy, five homicides, seventeen assaults with dangerous weapons, five robberies and eight burglaries occurred within 1,000 feet of the conspiracy's primary stash location on Knox Place SE, court papers state. 

According to court documents, from at least July 2024 through his arrest in August 2025, Thomas conspired with others to distribute PCP in and around the District of Columbia from his operating base in Los Angeles. 

Thomas's role was to arrange bulk PCP shipments to co-defendant Thomas Wilton Hancock, Jr., for redistribution within the greater Washington, D.C.-Baltimore Metro Area. Beginning in late 2024, Hancock brokered the purchase of 17 gallons of PCP from Thomas, to be delivered to Hancock in March 2025. Payments, transmitted through peer-to-peer platforms, cashier’s check, and cash, were routed to “Never To Late Transportation, LLC,” a shell company Thomas had incorporated with co-defendant Darrell Lamont Smith in Los Angeles, California. From August 2024 to March 2025, Thomas was paid about $170,000 through the company, reflecting a price of $10,000 per gallon. 

In late-March 2025, Darrell Smith drove a pickup truck carrying 17 gallons of PCP from Los Angeles to Baltimore while Thomas flew to the region to meet the purchaser. On March 26, 2025, Kansas state police stopped the pickup truck, arrested Darrell Smith, and seized the PCP from a lockbox in the truck bed. 

On Aug. 26, 2025, FBI agents, in coordination with partner law enforcement agencies, conducted a coordinated search and arrest operation at locations in the District of Columbia, Baltimore, and Los Angeles. A search of Thomas's residence in Chino, California, turned up chemical production materials, including chemical precursors for PCP production, in a backyard shed. From Thomas’s home, law enforcement also recovered two firearms, ammunition, about $26,000 in cash, a money counter, and a can sealer. 

Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office.  

The investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office, with valuable assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington Division Office, and the Metropolitan Police Department. 

The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Kinskey and John Crabb of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. 

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WASHINGTON – George Bernard Shaw, 53, of the District of Columbia., was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed, for the killing of Adeyinka Aderemi in the early morning of July 4, 2026, in Northeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Shaw made his initial appearance today before Superior Court Magistrate Judge Renee Raymond. Judge Raymond found probable cause that Shaw committed the offense of first-degree murder while armed and ordered that Shaw be held without bond pending trial.  

According to court documents, Shaw and Aderemi lived for several months in the same apartment on the 1800 block Irving Street, NE. Prior to the homicide, Shaw had made threats to kill Aderemi. On the date of the homicide, Shaw approached the victim in a parking lot outside the apartment and shot him once in the back of the head. Aderemi was pronounced dead at the scene. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Shaw’s apartment and recovered a revolver from his bedroom.  

This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rashmika Nedungadi. 

Shaw is scheduled to appear before Judge Raymond for a preliminary hearing on Aug.31, 2026. 

These charges are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

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The Justice Department, together with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), announced today the filing of a complaint against Cixi Miaojie Electrical Appliance Co. Ltd., and Changsha Jiayi Tianzhuo Trading Co. Ltd. of China, seeking mandatory recall relief for consumers under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) for Defendants’ manufacture and sale of allegedly imminently hazardous immersion water heaters.

“The Department of Justice will not allow dangerous products manufactured in China or elsewhere to flow to American consumers and expose unwitting families to the risk of serious injury or death,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This complaint seeks the urgent recall of these products in order to protect American consumers from imminent danger.”

“The Justice Department is committed to protecting Americans from hazardous products, including deadly products made in China and imported into the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Working with the CPSC, we will hold accountable those who put hazardous products in the hands of American consumers.”

“When dangerous products threaten American families, the Commission will not hesitate to use every authority Congress has entrusted to us,” said CPSC Acting Chairman Peter Feldman. “Today’s action is the Commission’s first use of its Section 12 imminent hazard authority since 1987, underscoring our commitment to making full use of the tools Congress provided to protect consumers. I want to thank the Department of Justice for its outstanding partnership in this effort. Our collaboration has never been stronger, and together we are ensuring that those who place imminently hazardous products into the U.S. marketplace are held accountable.”

The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, alleges that Defendants manufactured and sold immersion water heaters to consumers in the United States under the label “Lakkzoom” and that Defendants’ immersion water heaters are imminently hazardous consumer products because the immersion heaters can overheat and catch fire within minutes when energized and either completely or partially out of water. The complaint further alleges that the CPSC received 235 fire-related reports, investigated several of those incidents involving Defendants’ immersion water heaters and that the CPSC’s testing of the heaters showed that they could catch fire within minutes in certain circumstances. 

The CPSA authorizes lawsuits to be brought against manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers to require a recall of consumer products that present an imminent and unreasonable risk of death, serious illness, or severe personal injury.

The United States is represented in this action by Senior Trial Attorney James T. Nelson and Trial Attorney Jordan A. Ryan Rinear from the Enforcement Section of the Civil Division’s Enforcement & Affirmative Litigation Branch, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean M. Tepe for the District of Columbia, with the assistance of Michael Rogal, Joseph Kessler, Renee McCune and Alex Dennis of the CPSC.

For more information about the Enforcement & Affirmative Litigation Branch and its enforcement efforts visit www.justice.gov/civil/enforcement-affirmative-litigation-branch.

The claims made in the complaint are allegations that, if the case were to proceed to trial, the government would be required to prove by a preponderance of the evidence.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, together with the U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office announced today that multiple investigations conducted by its Cyber Fraud Task Force have resulted in the seizure of more than $25 million in cryptocurrency tied to international fraud schemes targeting residents of the United States and Canada. The seizures represent part of the more than $800 million recovered through the Scam Center Strike Force, launched in 2025 by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“This $25 million seizure is a direct result of the Scam Center Strike Force I launched in November 2025, and it demonstrates the power of aggressively targeting these international fraud networks,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Our investigators cut through complex laundering schemes, protected victims, and shut down criminal pipelines. We will continue to identify these actors, dismantle their operations, and bring them to justice.” 

On July 21, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia filed five civil forfeiture complaints in U.S. District Court seeking forfeiture of more than $25 million in cryptocurrency recovered during separate fraud investigations conducted by Secret Service Washington Field Office agents. As part of these investigations, agents identified multiple laundering networks and confirmed thousands of victims worldwide who were misled into believing they were making legitimate cryptocurrency investments.  

“This seizure is the result of months of tireless work by Washington Field Office investigators, who are among the best in the world at tracking down cyber criminals and tracing their illicit transactions,” said Special Agent in Charge Tara McLeese of the U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office. “These investigations are far from over and we encourage anyone who thinks they may be a victim of these scams, or similar cryptocurrency crimes, to contact us. I want to thank the Special Agents and Investigative Analysts who continue to work on these cases and symbolize the dual mission of the Secret Service every day.” 

The complete list of investigations is as follows:  

• Investigation 1: In late 2024, Canadian authorities alerted Secret Service agents to a large network of virtual currency wallet addresses suspected of transferring illicit proceeds. Investigators froze the identified addresses and traced more than 270 suspected victim transactions involving fraudulent investment platforms. The civil forfeiture complaint seeks approximately $10,400,913. 

• Investigation 2: A private sector partner alerted the U.S. Secret Service’s Cyber Fraud Task Force to multiple suspicious transactions. Investigators determined that more than 200 victims had been defrauded through online romance schemes. The illicit proceeds had been laundered through hundreds of intermediary addresses and commingled with funds from other victims. The civil forfeiture complaint seeks approximately $12,086,914. 

• Investigation 3: In May 2026, a victim in the National Capital Region reported a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment scheme. After the victim attempted to withdraw funds, the perpetrators cut off contact. Investigators traced the victim’s investments across multiple cryptocurrency addresses. The civil forfeiture complaint seeks approximately $1,230,900. 

• Investigation 4: In March 2026, another victim in the National Capital Region transferred millions of dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency to what they believed was a legitimate investment account. Investigators identified a second victim linked to the same fraudulent platform. A portion of the funds was traced to six cryptocurrency addresses and subsequently frozen. The civil forfeiture complaint seeks approximately $2,392,231. 

• Investigation 5: The victim of an unrelated fraud was contacted by scammers claiming to have recovered previously stolen funds. The victim was persuaded to pay a fee in order to retrieve the money and made a series of transactions to the new scammers. Investigators have traced some of these transactions and continue working to recover additional funds. The civil forfeiture complaint seeks approximately $285,000. 

These five investigations are ongoing and Secret Service investigators continue to work to identify the suspects behind these scamming networks and will work with our law enforcement partners to hold them accountable. 

In each of these five cases, launderers were predominantly located in Southeast Asia, with IP addresses located in China, Malaysia, and Cambodia. These funds are the latest in the more than $800 million recovered as part of the Scam Center Strike Force 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen P. Seifert for the District of Columbia directs the Strike Force, in consultation with Associate Counsel Richard Goldberg of the Department’s Criminal Division. These matters are handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rick Blaylock from the District of Columbia and Jehiel Baer from the Western District of Washington. 

Individuals who believe they may be victims of cryptocurrency fraud are encouraged to contact their local U.S. Secret Service field office at www.secretservice.gov/contact and submit a report through www.ic3.gov. 

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WASHINGTON — Robert D'Angelo Poteat, 40, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 33 months in prison in connection with illegally possessing a loaded firearm and high-capacity magazines that were recovered after he fled from a police traffic stop, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Poteat pleaded guilty on April 22, 2026, before Judge Timothy J. Kelly to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. In addition to the 33-month prison sentence, Judge Kelly ordered Poteat to serve three years of supervised release.  

According to court papers, at about 12:35 a.m. on Dec. 22, 2025, Metropolitan Police Department officers stopped a pickup truck that Poteat was driving in the 2400 block of 14th Street, NW for a lane violation. An officer saw a firearm with an extended magazine in plain view on the passenger side floorboard and called for backup. As additional officers arrived and one opened the driver's side door, Poteat sped off at a high rate of speed. Officers later identified Poteat from department records as the driver who fled. 

About two hours later, officers found the truck parked in the 800 block of Princeton Place NW with Poteat unconscious in the driver's seat. Officers called MPD's Emergency Response Team, which established contact with Poteat and ordered him out of the vehicle. Poteat exited with a cross-body satchel and a firearm tucked into his waistband.  

Officers recovered a loaded .40-caliber Glock 23 with an extended, 29-round magazine from his waistband, and a 50-round drum magazine and a 15-round magazine from the satchel. 

Poteat was previously convicted in D.C. Superior Court of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in two separate cases, including a 2015 case in which he was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by 18 months of supervised probation. 

The Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Washington Field Office investigated the case. 

This case was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Travis Wolf and Lauren Ibanez. 

Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. 

Officers recovered a loaded .40-caliber Glock 23 with an extended, 29-round magazine. 

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WASHINGTON – Christopher Murphy, 37, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 100 months in prison in connection with distributing child sexual abuse materials, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Murphy pleaded guilty on March 16, 2026, before Judge Royce C. Lamberth to one count of distribution of child pornography. In addition to the 100-month prison sentence, Judge Lamberth ordered Murphy to serve 10 years of supervised release. Murphy will also be required to register as a sex offender.   

According to court papers, on various occasions, Murphy used two encrypted messaging applications – Signal and Telegram – to distribute and receive child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), including materials involving extremely young children.  

In addition to his receipt and distribution of CSAM, Murphy was a member of several Signal groups that were primarily used for the sharing of CSAM.  Murphy also hosted and attended Zoom video meetings to connect with other “pedos” and view and exchange CSAM. In chat messages recovered by law enforcement, Murphy talked about building his “collection” of child pornography, ultimately possessing thousands of images and videos on his devices, all of which were discovered following his arrest. 

This case was investigated by FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard Kelley. 

This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. 

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WASHINGTON – Jamil Whitley, 38, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today in D.C. Superior Court for the shooting death of 32-year-old Kevin Redd on June 11, 2020, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.   

Whitley was found guilty by a jury on May 12, 2026, on one count of second-degree murder while armed, one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, one count of carrying a pistol without a license, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. The Honorable Danya Dayson sentenced Whitley to 22 years and six months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. In its sentencing memorandum, the government asked the court for the top of the guidelines, which is 35 years and four months.  

“Unfortunately, the sentence imposed today does not reflect the severe harm suffered by the four young children who will now grow up without their father,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “His actions caused extraordinary damage, and my office sought a substantially longer sentence because the brutality of this crime demanded it. The impact on Mr. Redd’s family—especially his children—will last a lifetime, underscoring that violent conduct of this magnitude deserves the strongest response our justice system can deliver. Whitley’s murder of Kevin Redd, a father of four, left a hole in our community that can never be repaired.”

According to the government’s evidence, in the early morning hours of June 11, 2020, the victim, Kevin Redd, stopped at the Shell Gas Station located at 4321 Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE. The gas station surveillance video captured Whitley arriving three minutes earlier as the passenger of a vehicle. The surveillance video captured both Whitley and Redd speaking to each other. Eventually, Whitley returned to the vehicle and was driven from the gas station while Redd remained.    

Thirteen minutes later, Whitley returned to the gas station wearing a surgical mask. Whitley exited the vehicle and approached Redd, then returned to his car with the victim following behind him. Whitley entered the driver’s door and quickly pulled a small object from his pants. As the victim entered the passenger door the defendant sped off causing a vehicle to swerve to avoid hitting him and entered the alley leading to the rear of 4722 Jay Street, N.E. Seconds later, two gunshots rang out and Whitley was captured on surveillance video fleeing the area. Redd was found by responding officers, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and later succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.  

Whitley was arrested on August 25, 2021, and has been in custody since. 

Joining the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office and Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.  

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro, Assistant Director Cox and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

They also thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle D. Jackson and Negar Kordestani, who prosecuted the case. 

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WASHINGTON - Kenneth Watts, 59, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in prison in connection with his role in a conspiracy to distribute phencyclidine (PCP), announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Watts was convicted by a federal jury on May 20, 2025, in U.S. District Court on one count of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of PCP. In addition to the 60-month prison term, Judge Jia M. Cobb ordered Watts to serve five years of supervised release.

According to court papers, a two-year investigation by federal and local law enforcement uncovered a narcotics trafficking network operating in the metropolitan area. The network distributed large quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and PCP and relied on firearms to protect its operations and drug proceeds. 

Watts’s role in the conspiracy centered on obtaining bulk shipments of liquid PCP from a supplier in California. On Sept. 23, 2020, Prince George’s County police intercepted a package containing six kilograms of PCP at a FedEx facility in Maryland. The package was addressed to a fictitious name at an address in Temple Hills, Maryland.  

Officers conducted a controlled delivery to the address. After the package was dropped off, they observed Watts retrieve it and enter the residence. He emerged carrying a suitcase and drove away. He was pulled over a short distance from the house. Officers recovered the PCP from the suitcase in the truck bed. Laboratory testing confirmed the substance was approximately six kilograms of PCP. 

A search of Watts’s cellphone revealed text messages with the California supplier, including the delivery address and a fictitious recipient name. His phone also showed he had messaged a co-conspirator asking him to call “asap” the day before the package arrived. Evidence showed the co-conspirator later contacted Watts when seeking to obtain PCP.  

Co-defendant, James Kinard, 48, of Temple Hills, Md., also was found guilty by the jury on May 20, 2025, on the PCP conspiracy count, and additionally found guilty of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Sentencing for Kinard is pending. 

 Three other co-defendants pleaded guilty before the case went to trial. Melvin Grayson, 52, of District Heights, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, more than 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and more than one kilogram of PCP and was sentenced to 120 months. Tyrone Ragland, 57, aka “Tech,” of the District, pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram of PCP and was sentenced to 180 months. Charles Cunningham, 59, of the District, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and was sentenced to 180 months in prison. 

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Washington Field Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division Office, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the Prince George’s County Police Department. 

The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nihar R. Mohanty and Iris Y. McCranie. 

Police recovered six kilograms of PCP from a suitcase Watts had stashed in the back of his vehicle. 

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WASHINGTON – Saki Frost, 19, and Azhari Graves, 20, of Washington, D.C., were sentenced today for charges related to a shooting near Dunbar High School in May 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

“These defendants opened fire just steps from a school, injuring multiple students, including one who was struck in the head by a bullet and endangering countless others,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Students should be able to learn without fear of violence, and those who seek to disrupt that safety will be met with decisive action.” 

Frost and Graves each pleaded guilty to aggravated assault while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and carrying a pistol without a license on December 19, 2025.  Frost, who was 17 years old at the time of the shooting, was prosecuted as an adult under Title 16. As part of their sentences, both defendants will be required to register as gun offenders. The Honorable J. Michael Ryan ordered both defendants to 84 months in prison, suspended as for all except for 60 months, to be followed by two years of supervised probation. 

According to the government’s evidence, on the morning of May 3, 2024, Graves and Frost went to the area of Kirby Street NW, near Dunbar High School, and opened fire on a sedan that was driving down that street, before fleeing the area in a vehicle. A witness reported hearing machine gun fire and surveillance video captured Frost and Graves running down an alleyway holding firearms prior to the shooting. Surveillance video also captured the shooting, in which an individual appearing to be Frost, fires a gun toward the sedan. Investigators recovered a total of 29 shell casings from the scene of the shooting and numerous fragments from the exterior of Dunbar High School, as well as from classrooms inside the school. Investigators also observed at least six bullet strikes to the N Street side of Dunbar. During the shooting, one Dunbar student suffered a graze wound to the head from the gunfire.   

Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. 

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. They also acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Dal Lago, who prosecuted the case. 

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WASHINGTON – Oscar Diaz Romero, aka Oscar Alonzo Salguero, 47, of El Salvador, was sentenced today for shooting and killing Jose Roberto Molina, 21, and Jose Noel Coreas, 22, in August 1997, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

Diaz Romero was found guilty of two counts of second-degree murder on March 25, 2026. Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman ordered Diaz Romero to serve 24 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised probation. 

“Nearly thirty years after fleeing justice, Oscar Diaz Romero’s day of reckoning has come,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Let this be clear: if you commit murder in our community and attempt to escape accountability, my office will never rest until you are brought to justice. Today’s sentencing affirms that violent acts against our residents will be met with consequences.” 

According to the government’s evidence, in the early morning hours of August 9, 1997, Diaz Romero and several friends were out on the 2nd floor of the then-Las Rocas restaurant in the 2400 block of 18th Street, NW. Just before 2 a.m., a group of young men entered the restaurant and began fighting. Then Diaz Romero pulled out a revolver and fired several times. One round hit and killed Jose Molina, a 22-year-old father of two. Another round hit and killed Jose Coreas, who was out celebrating his 22nd birthday.  

Diaz Romero fled the scene to El Salvador, where he was arrested in 2024. He was extradited to the United States in January 2025, where he has been in custody since. 

Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. 

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. 

They also thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Dennis Clark and Richard Carlton, who prosecuted the case. 

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WASHINGTON – Wonell Jones, Jr., 38, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today in D.C. Superior Court, on charges stemming from the death of 33-year-old Audora Williams in her apartment on July 19, 2022, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.   

Jones was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder while armed, one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon on July 16, 2026. Superior Court Judge J. Michael Ryan scheduled sentencing for October 30, 2026. 

“Jones flouted a protective order, put in place to keep Audora Williams and her children safe, and proceeded to murder Williams, with her children just feet away,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “He shot Williams over 20 times, traumatizing these children, and changing the trajectory of their lives. Today’s verdict, guilty on all charges, is a step toward justice for Williams and a clear affirmation that such brutality will be met with unwavering accountability.” 

According to the government’s evidence, on July 19, 2022, around 1:30 p.m., in the 2900 block of Knox Place, SE, Jones returned to Audora Williams’s apartment following a grocery run with one of her young sons. At the time, there were eight children in the apartment, three were Jones’s, three were Williams’s, and a toddler and a baby were shared by Jones and Williams. Shortly after returning, Jones, who was not supposed to be at the home or in contact with Williams because of a temporary protective order she had against him, with a protective order trial scheduled just days later, closed the door to Williams’s room and began a loud argument with her. Jones could be heard accusing Williams of cheating and growing louder and angrier and then the gunshots began. Jones then partially stepped out of the room and fired more shots before exiting the apartment, leaving the kids behind, and ultimately fleeing to Florida.  

Surveillance video shows Jones entering the building and apartment with Williams’s child. The defendant shot Audora Williams more than 20 times, using two different guns. 

Jones was arrested and held in Florida on August 29, 2022, and extradited to the District of Columbia on October 26, 2022, and has been in custody since. 

Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.  

This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Horton and Shaniqua Butler. 

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WASHINGTON – James Davis, 36, of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in prison for distributing child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“James Davis exploited online anonymity to engage in the abuse of children and to seek out other predators,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “When investigators closed in, he attempted to destroy evidence rather than take responsibility. This office will continue to track down offenders who believe they can hide behind digital shadows.” 

Davis, who used the online screen name “Ulphednar,” pleaded guilty on Jan. 7, 2026, before Judge Amir H. Ali to distribution of child pornography. In addition to the five-year prison sentence, Judge Ali ordered Davis to serve 10 years of supervised release. 

According to court papers, the investigation began when a law enforcement officer, working in an undercover capacity for the Metropolitan Police Department-FBI Child Exploitation Task Force, encountered Davis on a website used to trade child sexual abuse material. 

Davis began exchanging messages with the undercover officer and later continued the conversation on a messaging application. During those exchanges, Davis said he had sexually abused a minor over a period of years and sent images depicting the abuse. 

Davis exchanged similar material with other users of the messaging application and discussed a shared sexual interest in children. 

On April 11, 2025, the FBI executed a search warrant at Davis’s residence. As agents arrived, Davis attempted to destroy a cellphone that contained evidence of the offense. Davis later waived his Miranda rights and admitted to trading child sexual abuse material online. 

The investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation Task Force, in partnership with the Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI’s Seattle Field Office. 

The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Shinskie of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. 

This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.  

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WASHINGTON – Joseph Thompson, 37,  a previously convicted felon residing in Oxon Hill, Maryland, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Thompson pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. Judge Mehta scheduled sentencing for Nov. 18, 2026. 

According to court papers, on March 7, 2025, members of the Metropolitan Police Department's Robbery Suppression Unit were on patrol in the 4600 block of Livingston Road SE when they saw Thompson standing outside the South Capitol Liquor Store. As officers approached, Thompson abruptly ended a conversation and entered the store. 

An officer addressed Thompson and noticed a heavy, rectangular object in Thompson's jacket pocket after his unzipped coat shifted open. As another officer remarked to Thompson that his pocket looked heavy, Thompson broke into a sprint. Officers chased him and during the pursuit Thompson tossed a firearm into the street. 

Officers recovered a loaded .45-caliber pistol with one round in the chamber and 13 additional rounds in the magazine. The firearm was not registered in the District, and Thompson did not have a concealed carry permit. 

Thompson has a previous 2017 felony conviction out of Arlington County, Virginia, for which he was sentenced to five years in prison, therefore making it unlawful for him to possess any firearm. 

The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Office. 

The matter was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole. 

Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. 

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