Middle District of Florida

Tampa, FL — Dmitry Shushlebin (age 45), a Russian citizen living in Miami Beach, was sentenced to six years in prison and three years of supervised release for organizing an identity theft fraud scheme that included efforts by the conspirators to submit fraudulent voter registrations. He was also ordered to pay $458,839.69 in restitution.

“Voting is one of the most significant rights and responsibilities Americans have,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. “We will continue to investigate threats to the integrity of our electoral process and prosecute those who engage in fraud or other means to violate our nation’s voting laws.”  

“Those who engage in fraud and deception in our election processes will be investigated and prosecuted,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “After arriving in the United States, Dmitry Shushlebin created sham companies to facilitate a multi-year financial fraud scheme. He used these companies to commit identity theft, which allowed him to create synthetic or fake identities that appeared real after they were used to submit over 100 false voter registrations.” 

“The FBI is committed to supporting our election security partners ensuring fraudulent schemes, like the defendant’s identity-theft scheme using fraudulent voter registration applications, never have a chance to succeed,” said Special Agent in Charge Rodney Crawford of the FBI Tampa Division. “We have the investigative tools and the strong partnerships to detect and disrupt these crimes.”

“Combatting fraud and identity theft are critical missions of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service,” said Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Miami Division. “We will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to investigate those individuals who use the mail to enrich themselves at the expense of others.” 

On July 24, 2025, the United States filed a four-count superseding information charging Shushlebin with conspiracy to give false information in registering to vote and submit fraudulent voter registrations, wire fraud, making false statements, and aggravated identity theft. Shushlebin pleaded guilty to all four counts on July 25, 2025.

According to court documents, Shushlebin hired Sanjar Jamilov, an Uzbekistani national, and others to submit more than 100 fraudulent voter registration applications to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections in February and March 2023. One purpose of registering these fake voters was to create synthetic or fake identities that Shushlebin could use to commit financial fraud. Shushlebin used the fake identities to obtain fraudulent credit cards and loans. He perpetrated this scheme against the victim financial institutions hundreds of times using hundreds of different synthetic identities. 

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Schmidt for the Middle District of Florida and Acting Chief Edward P. Sullivan of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne C. Nebesky for the Middle District of Florida is handling the forfeiture.

Orlando, Florida – Jaloni McGhee (42) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton to 13 years and 4 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. McGhee was found guilty on June 8, 2026, following a bench trial. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. 

According to court documents, on October 11, 2025, officers from the Orlando Police Department conducted a traffic stop near Raleigh Street and Lenox Boulevard based on an alleged traffic violation. Upon approaching the SUV, the officers smelled the distinct odor of burnt cannabis emitting from the vehicle. McGhee was in the front passenger seat. 

Upon learning that neither McGhee nor the driver had a medical marijuana card, the officers ordered both occupants out of the vehicle. The driver exited without issue. McGhee claimed that he had been shot in his upper right leg and stabbed in his left leg the week before in Jacksonville, and that due to his injuries he had difficulty moving his legs. Officers attempted to escort McGhee out of the vehicle for approximately five minutes. During this time, McGhee scooted across the seat and retrieved a firearm from under his buttocks and hunched his body forward. Officers gave McGhee several commands to drop the firearm. It took several officers to get McGhee to the ground and recover the firearm. The firearm was loaded, with one round in the chamber. 

At the time of the offense, McGhee had multiple prior felony convictions. In May 2004, he was convicted of attempted robbery and sentenced to six months in jail followed by a term of probation. In July 2014, McGhee was convicted of aggravated assault and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment. In December 2022, McGhee was convicted of sale or delivery of fentanyl and sentenced to 22 months in the Florida Department of Corrections. As a convicted felon, McGhee was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Orlando Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

Dmitry Shushlebin, 45, a Russian citizen living in Miami Beach, Florida, was sentenced to six years in prison and three years of supervised release for organizing an identity theft fraud scheme that included efforts by the conspirators to submit fraudulent voter registrations.He was also ordered to pay $458,839.69 in restitution.

“Those who engage in fraud and deception in our election processes will be investigated and prosecuted,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “After arriving in the United States, Dmitry Shushlebin created sham companies to facilitate a multi-year financial fraud scheme. He used these companies to commit identity theft, which allowed him to create synthetic or fake identities that appeared real after they were used to submit over 100 false voter registrations.” 

“Voting is one of the most significant rights and responsibilities Americans have,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. “We will continue to investigate threats to the integrity of our electoral process and prosecute those who engage in fraud or other means to violate our nation’s voting laws.”  

“The FBI is committed to supporting our election security partners ensuring fraudulent schemes, like the defendant’s identity-theft scheme using fraudulent voter registration applications, never have a chance to succeed,” said Special Agent in Charge Rodney Crawford of the FBI Tampa Division. “We have the investigative tools and the strong partnerships to detect and disrupt these crimes.”

“Combatting fraud and identity theft are critical missions of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service” said Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Miami Division. “We will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to investigate those individuals who use the mail to enrich themselves at the expense of others.” 

On July 24, 2025, the United States filed a four-count superseding information charging Shushlebin with conspiracy to give false information in registering to vote and submit fraudulent voter registrations, wire fraud, making false statements, and aggravated identity theft. Shushlebin pleaded guilty to all four counts on July 25, 2025.

According to court documents, Shushlebin hired Sanjar Jamilov, an Uzbekistani national, and others to submit more than 100 fraudulent voter registration applications to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections in February and March 2023. One purpose of registering these fake voters was to create synthetic or fake identities that Shushlebin could use to commit financial fraud. Shushlebin used the fake identities to obtain fraudulent credit cards and loans. He perpetrated this scheme against the victim financial institutions hundreds of times using hundreds of different synthetic identities. 

The FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Acting Chief Edward P. Sullivan of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Schmidt for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Marcet for the Middle District of Florida and Public Integrity Section Trial Attorney Leo Wise provided substantial assistance with the investigation and prosecution. 

Ocala, Florida – Brandon Ejae Elliot (35, Tampa) has been sentenced by Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II to eight years in federal prison—the statutory maximum—for one count of involuntary manslaughter and one count of possession of contraband (a weapon) by a federal prisoner. A federal jury found Elliot guilty on May 7, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to the evidence presented during the four-day trial, on December 3, 2022, Elliot was a federal inmate in the United States Penitentiary-II in the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Sumter County. During a routine headcount of the prisoners, Elliot and his cellmate, C.W.J., were locked in their cell at 9:30 AM. When correctional officers opened the cell at 11:00 AM, they found C.W.J. unresponsive with multiple puncture wounds to his body. A sharpened metal shank lay nearby on the cell floor. C.W.J. was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. A medical examiner determined that C.W.J. had been stabbed 12 times by an object matching the appearance and dimensions of the shank found on the cell floor. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Hannah Nowalk Watson and William S. Hamilton. 

Orlando, Florida – Verlynn Horne has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Julie S. Sneed to two years and six months in federal prison for wire fraud and willful failure to file tax returns. Horne pleaded guilty on April 7, 2026. As part of her sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $2,517,930, the proceeds of the wire fraud scheme and for Horne’s real property located in Winter Garden. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, between June and August 2020, Horne fraudulently applied for and obtained COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans on behalf of non-operational businesses she controlled, which received $337,915. She also helped prepare and submit fraudulent COVID-19 loan applications on behalf of at least 35 other entities and individuals, who received $4,476,437. In exchange for her services, Horne received a portion of the other individuals’ loan proceeds. As a result of her scheme, Horne received $2,517,930 and used a portion of those funds to purchase a residence in Winter Garden. Despite receiving COVID-19 loan funds, Horne failed to file federal tax returns for herself or her businesses for the years 2020 and 2021. For those two years, she owed $766,707.20 to the Internal Revenue Service.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Diane S. Hu and Megan Testerman. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole M. Andrejko.

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

Tampa – U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces criminal charges, pleadings, and sentencings as part of a nationwide enforcement action led by the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Small Business Administration (SBA), and the SBA Office of Inspector General targeting fraud in the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)and its Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The Middle District of Florida was a key participant in this surge effort.

From June 12 to September 1, federal prosecutors across the country facilitated fraud enforcement actions spanning over 160 criminal defendants, including approximately 80 newly charged defendants, reaching approximately $245 million dollars in intended loss to America taxpayers.

“Middle District of Florida prosecutors, investigators, and law enforcement partners are part of an integrated team dedicated to protecting our citizens and their hard-earned dollars from criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “When individuals set out to deliberately defraud government programs for personal gain and profit, they compromise the solvency of programs and services designed to provide critical assistance to legitimate businesses and individuals in times of need. This criminal activity will not be tolerated.”

“Pandemic load relief was meant to keep American small businesses alive during government lockdowns – not line the pockets of fraudsters,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The defendants charged during our summer surge allegedly fabricated businesses, submitted false payroll and revenue claims, stole identities, and concealed foreign ties on their applications – but they will now be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

“This summer surge shows what is possible when dedicated public servants across the country work together with a single purpose,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Our mission is clear: protect taxpayer funds, safeguard the integrity of federal relieve programs, and deliver justice to those who exploited them. We will remain steadfast ever day – standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners – to identify fraud, pursue those responsible, and restore confidence in programs meant to help American small businesses thrive.”

“Today’s announcement represents the largest-ever action against perpetrators of SBA fraud, with 870,000 suspended borrowers tied to $39 billion in suspected fraudulent PPP and COVID EIDL activity. In partnership with Vice President Vance and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, we’re putting fraudsters on notice: the federal government will no longer turn a blind eye to those who stole from taxpayers and exploited programs designed to sustain small businesses during the pandemic,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “With demand letters going out to suspected fraudsters, we’re also sending a clear message that they must repay their debts or face Treasury collections and possible federal law enforcement. Under this Administration, the free ride is over. We are restoring accountability, recovering taxpayer dollars, and protecting SBA programs for the legitimate small businesses they were created to serve.”

“Operation No Doze brings a focused and coordinated approach to pursuing fraud in SBA’s pandemic relief programs,” said SBA Inspector General William Kirk. “By concentrating our investigative resources and working closely with SBA and our law enforcement partners, we are strengthening our ability to identify fraud, recover taxpayer funds, and hold accountable those who exploited programs created to help small businesses in a time of extraordinary need. This initiative makes clear that the passage of time does not diminish our commitment to accountability.”

The following cases are being prosecuted in the Middle District of Florida as part of the national surge: 

Jared Eakes (34, Jacksonville) pleaded guilty to wire fraud and bank fraud and was sentenced to six years and six months in federal prison. He was also ordered to forfeit $7,340,742.20 and pay restitution to victims in the total amount of $5,101,200.92. According to court documents, between January 2019 and February 2020, Eakes portrayed himself as an investment advisor and stole approximately $2.7 million from victim investors’ retirement and investment accounts by withdrawing the funds in cash, using investor funds to pay personal expenses, transferring investor funds to a Las Vegas-based casino company, and by engaging in unauthorized options trading in a personal brokerage account. Additionally, between March 2020 and November 2021, Eakes fraudulently obtained four PPP loans totaling $4,752,270 for different shell companies he controlled, including two of the entities involved in the scheme to defraud investors. Once he obtained the PPP loans, Eakes used the funds to engage in options trading or withdrew them in cash. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Clint J. Locke.

Shawn Michael Simmerer (50, Winter Haven) was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. Simmerer and his co-conspirator, Seth Downes (31, Portland, MI), submitted fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of multiple companies, including Simmerer’s “leadership training” company, claiming nonexistent employees, payroll, and falsified tax records. They obtained more than $344,000 in PPP loan proceeds and later secured forgiveness of those loans using additional false documentation. Simmerer also filed fraudulent tax returns seeking COVID-related Employee Retention Credits and Sick and Family Leave Credits, ultimately obtaining more than $680,000 in IRS refunds. Simmerer was ordered to forfeit $334,300 and pay more than $1 million in restitution. Downes received three years of probation and was ordered to forfeit $194,000 and pay more than $195,000 in restitution. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Richard Varadan and Noah P. Dorman. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Andrejko.

Michael Harvey (43, Tampa) has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. According to court documents, between March and June 2020, Harvey engaged in a scheme to fraudulently obtain a PPP loan for himself and EIDL loans for his company from the SBA. Harvey caused PPP and EIDL applications to be submitted that overstated gross monthly payroll, gross monthly income, gross annual revenues, and the number of employees. These misstatements, and others, fraudulently induced the SBA and PPP lenders to fund the loans. Harvey obtained $679,487 in proceeds from his illegal scheme, which he used for his own personal enrichment, including the purchase of a home in Tampa. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross Roberts. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.

Earlisha Louis (45, Newnan, GA) and her husband Somoza Louis (46, Newnan, GA) were sentenced to 37 months and 24 months of imprisonment, respectively, for their roles in attempting to steal more than $2 million in COVID relief funds. Additionally, the court entered a final order of forfeiture for their residence. According to court records, the Louises filed over 22 fraudulent loan applications for businesses they claimed to own and operate during the COVID pandemic. However, every application they submitted contained false information regarding the number of employees, payroll costs, and business operating expenses. Instead of using the funds for their intended purpose, the Louises spent the majority of the funds gambling at casinos and towards the purchase of a new house. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Merrilyn Hoenemeyer. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney James Muench. 

Rashard Hutcherson (32 Wimauma), Chevell Hallback (55, Plant City), and Antonio Tinsley (47, Riverview) were each sentenced to probation for fraudulently receiving a PPP loan in the amount of $20,832. According to court records, Hutcherson, Hallback, and Tinsley were United States Postal Service employees at the time they submitted a false PPP loan application claiming to be a sole proprietor of a business. However, none of them actually owned the businesses they claimed on their applications and they spent all of the funds on personal expenses. These cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Merrilyn Hoenemeyer. The forfeiture for each case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky. 

Neil Bryant (46, Winter Haven) pleaded guilty to fraudulently receiving a $52,500 EIDL for his business BOE Entertainment. Bryant’s application fraudulently claimed that BOE was a legitimate business with 12 employees, and that he would use the funds to keep his business open during the pandemic. Bryant spent the funds on paying off a car loan, paying for dental procedures, purchasing jewelry, and cash withdrawals. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Merrilyn Hoenemeyer. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky. 

Raymond Carvil (61, Miami) pleaded guilty to fraudulently receiving a PPP loan in the amount of $97,500. According to court records, Carvil, with the help of others, submitted a fraudulent application for his business E & S Security. His application not only included false information, but also altered bank statements to make it appear his business was profitable. Once Carvil received his loan, he kicked back a portion of the funds to the co-conspirator that had helped him submit the application. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Merrilyn Hoenemeyer. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.

Edward Malone (52, Jacksonville) has been charged with two counts of wire fraud affecting a financial institution. If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in federal prison on each count. According to court documents, Malone completed fake rental agreements in order to obtain money from the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), a program designed to help struggling renters pay their rent during the COVID pandemic. Malone allegedly filled out nine fraudulent landlord applications directly, or through his company Rags II Riches Consulting Inc., which resulted in payment of approximately $54,100 in ERAP funds. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Clint J. Locke.

Marcus Eichelberger (47, Jacksonville), formerly a church pastor, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and aiding and abetting wire fraud. According to court records, between March 2021 and February 2022, Eichelberger directed another individual, who was a congregant at Eichelberger’s church, to fraudulently complete and submit applications for PPP loans, purportedly on behalf of a catering business that did not exist. Eichelberger, in conjunction with the other individual, then fraudulently applied for forgiveness of the loans causing $49,999 in loss. Eichelberger and the individual retained the proceeds for their personal use. In addition, Eichelberger, in conjunction with another former church congregant, fraudulently applied for an EIDL, resulting in another $129,900 in loss. Eichelberger used the second congregant’s information to fraudulently apply for an additional EIDL to which he was not entitled, leading to another $129,900 in loss. In total, Eichelberger’s actions resulted in over $300,000 in loss. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelli Swaney. The assert forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Clint Locke. 

Justin Burns (36, formerly of Jacksonville) pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aiding and abetting wire fraud. Burns, in conjunction with another individual, fraudulently applied for an EIDL and an EIDL advance, purportedly on behalf of a business which did not exist. Ultimately, the EIDL was charged off by the SBA due to non-repayment, resulting in a total loss of $129,900. Burns and the individual retained the proceeds for their personal use. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelli Swaney. The assert forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Clint Locke. 

The Middle District of Florida worked with the following law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute the cases filed during the Surge: the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, the Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, the Department of Veterans Affairs - Office of Inspector General, the City of Jacksonville Office of Inspector General, and the Tampa Police Department.

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

An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Report Fraud: 

Contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), or online at TIPS.FBI.GOV.

If you are reporting cyber-enabled crime, to include online scams, email hoaxes, or other internet-enabled crimes, please submit a tip to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.GOV.

Orlando, FL – Michael Saracco (40, Cocoa) has pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison per count. Sentencing has been set for December 2, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, Saracco is a former attorney who owned Driftwood Title located in Cocoa and All Florida Property Solutions (AFPS). Saracco maintained various Driftwood escrow accounts. Between August 2019 and July 2025, Saracco defrauded private lending companies, financial institutions, and title insurance underwriters.

Saracco’s participation and acts in furtherance of the scheme to defraud included, but were not limited to the following: (i) soliciting private lenders and funding companies for loans secured by properties Saracco purported to own or planned to purchase; (ii) falsely representing to these private lenders and funding companies that these properties were not encumbered; (iii) conducting real estate closings of the loan transactions and representing to the lenders that he recorded the mortgage documents in the appropriate county clerk’s office as represented; (iv) failing to record the corresponding mortgage documents granted by private lenders; (v) seeking subsequent loans from private lenders without disclosing the existence of pre-existing private lender mortgages on his properties on the real estate settlement statements; (vi) arranging for the properties to be sold, which caused financial institutions, to fund loans via interstate wire funds transfers to buyers through Driftwood escrow accounts, without knowledge of the unrecorded mortgages granted in favor of the private lenders, which netted Saracco hundreds of thousands of dollars in seller proceeds; (vii) submitting closing disclosures that did not accurately disclose the existing encumbrances; (viii) submitting closing disclosures to the mortgage lenders through interstate wires, which listed certain encumbrances to be paid off, but were not paid off; (ix) diverting proceeds from the mortgage lenders meant to pay off liens to himself through AFPS; and (x) issuing Title Commitments falsely stating that Driftwood had issued title insurance policies backed by title insurance underwriters, when in fact no such polices had been issued.

This case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.

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.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the  unsealing of an indictment charging Brandon “Dutch” Mendenhall (47, Brandon, Florida) and Amy Marie Smith Vaughn (48, New Port Richey, Florida) with 10 counts of theft or embezzlement from employee benefit plans and five counts of theft or embezzlement in connection with health care. If convicted, Mendenhall and Vaughn each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Mendenhall and Vaughn that the United States intends to forfeit the proceeds traceable to the offenses.

According to the indictment, Mendenhall and Vaughn were the founders, registered agents, or officers of several entities, including RAD Diversified REIT, RADD Capital, The Seminar Solution, and DHI Holdings. The employees of these entities could participate in the companies’ 401(k) retirement plan and health insurance plan by having funds directly withheld from their paychecks. Beginning in the spring of 2024, Mendenhall and Vaughn stopped contributing the funds that were being withheld from their employees’ paychecks to the 401(k) plan. Then beginning in September of 2024, Mendenhall and Vaughn stopped contributing the funds being withheld from their employee’s paychecks to the company’s health insurance plan.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Department of Labor – Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the Florida Office of Financial Regulation – Bureau of Financial Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Merrilyn Hoenemeyer.

Tampa, Florida – Aleksandr Golovchenko (50, Oregon) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti to 25 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for three counts of production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

Golovchenko pleaded guilty on April 29, 2026.  

According to court documents, in or around February 2025, Golovchenko met a 12-year-old female online. Between February and April 2025, Golovchenko persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced the victim to engage in sexual activity over the social media application Snapchat. Golovchenko also employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced the victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct. 

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Sarasota Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Tampa, FL – Pulmonary Associates of Brandon, P.A. has agreed to pay $419,410 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to Medicare for certain Evaluation and Management (“E&M”) codes. The government contends that the underlying services were medically unnecessary and the claims in issue should have been properly submitted under a lower E&M code from January 2017 through March 2020. 

“The submission of false and medically unnecessary claims to Medicare for office visits compromises the integrity of our nation’s federal health care programs and will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “This resolution sends a clear message to the provider community and our district that we will actively investigate and prosecute this fraudulent conduct whenever it appears.”

“Medicare enrollees depend on medical providers to bill honestly and provide only medically necessary services,” said Special Agent in Charge Isaac M. Bledsoe of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “When health care providers submit improper or inflated claims, they undermine the integrity of our federal health care programs and erode patient trust. Today’s resolution reflects our continued commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to hold providers accountable for improperly billing federal health care programs and to protect taxpayer funds.”

The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Sheryl Turner, a former employee at Pulmonary Associates of Brandon. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Sheryl Turner v. Pulmonary Associates of Brandon, P.A., Case No. 8:23-cv-382-KKM-NHA (M.D. Fla). 

This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General. It was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley Howard-Allen.  

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination or admission of liability by Pulmonary Associates of Brandon.

The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act.  Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

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.

Tampa, Florida – Justin Alan Seymour (37, Tampa) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to 18 years in federal prison for Hobbs Act robbery, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. A federal jury found Seymour guilty in April 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. 

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, in October 2024, while robbing a pizza store in Tampa, Seymour pointed a gun at the store clerk. Law enforcement obtained their first break in the case when they obtained dashcam video from a delivery vehicle parked outside the store, then utilized the video to ascertain specific unique characteristics of the suspect’s vehicle. Two days later, law enforcement pulled over the vehicle being driven by Seymour, who had a firearm in his waistband. Seymour’s cellphone data placed him near the pizza store at the time of the robbery.

At the time of the offense, Seymour had a prior felony conviction for attempted robbery with a firearm or deadly weapon. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. 

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. The Federal Bureau of Investigation assisted with the cellphone analysis. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

Tampa, Florida – Desmin Terrell Belvin Jr. (21, Palmetto) today pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a federally licensed firearm dealer. Belvin faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court records, on March 21, 2026, Belvin was the transferee of a Glock handgun from a firearm store in Bradenton. During the transfer, Belvin falsely stated that he was the actual transferee or buyer of the handgun, when in fact, he was obtaining the handgun on behalf of a juvenile. Belvin subsequently provided the handgun to the juvenile after leaving the store. 

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Palmetto Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

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Orlando, Florida – Ivvan Hernandez Servin (38, Mexico) has been sentenced by United States District Judge Paul Byron three years in federal prison for aggravated identity theft, passport fraud, and firearms offenses. Hernandez Servin pleaded guilty on May 28, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, Hernandez Servin is a Mexican national who was unlawfully in the United States. He used the stolen identity of a United States citizen to fraudulently obtain a United States passport, which he used to travel back and forth between the United States and Mexico. At the time of his arrest, Hernandez Servin was found in possession of several firearms, despite being a prohibited person. To obtain two of those firearms, Hernandez Servin had falsely stated that he was born in the United States.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Orlando, Florida – Marcos Moreno-Navarro (33, Mexico) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron to two years in federal prison for illegal reentry into the United States. Moreno-Navarro pleaded guilty on May 22, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, Moreno-Navarro is a citizen of Mexico. He was previously deported from the United States in 2015 and again in 2022. Moreno-Navarro was previously convicted of two felony offenses. In 2017, Moreno-Navarro was convicted of illegal reentry by a previously deported alien and sentenced to three months and seven days’ imprisonment. In 2022, Moreno-Navarro was convicted of possession of methamphetamine and sentenced to one month imprisonment and one year of probation. On February 27, 2026, Moreno-Navarro was encountered by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and arrested for driving under the influence, for which he was subsequently convicted. He was identified as an alien unlawfully present in the United States, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was contacted. 

This case was investigated by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jerry M. Harre.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. 

Jacksonville, Florida – Alexander Charles Whitaker (41, Jacksonville) has been sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard to 10 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for possession of child sex abuse material (CSAM). Whitaker pleaded guilty on May 8, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. 

According to court documents, law enforcement officers received a cybertip that a social media user from Jacksonville had uploaded files of CSAM. After reviewing the information in the cybertip, law enforcement officers obtained a search warrant for the social media account and learned that it belonged to Whitaker. After reviewing Whitaker’s Facebook account, further evidence led to a search warrant of Whitaker’s home where his cellphone was seized and searched. Whitaker’s phone contained more than 100 images and videos depicting CSAM.

At the time of this offense, Whitaker was on probation following a Florida state prison sentence for possession of child pornography. In addition, since Whitaker has been classified as a sexually violent predator, once he serves his prison sentence, under Florida law, he will be committed to a security facility for control, care, and treatment.     

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro.

It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.  

Orlando, Florida – Daquan Lamont Smith (20, Chicago, IL) has been charged by indictment with interstate transmission of a threat. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to the indictment, on December 6, 2025, Smith knowingly transmitted in interstate commerce a communication containing a true threat to injure passengers on a cruise ship, including during a recorded call to the cruise, during which Smith stated: “I’m coming from, I’m coming. I’m on the cruise boat coming from Bahamas that left two days ago, and I’m letting you guys know now I have a bomb on the boat and I want to blow it up.”

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys in the Orlando division of the United States Attorney’s Office. 

Tampa, Florida – Javontez Daniels (31, Tampa) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge William F. Jung to more than 30 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, possession of 400 grams or more of fentanyl with the intent to distribute it, and possession of ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Daniels to forfeit ammunition, an instrumentality of the offense. A federal jury found Daniels guilty on April 22, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. 

According to evidence and testimony introduced at trial, Daniels and a co-defendant maintained a premises to process fentanyl, which they distributed in the Middle District of Florida. Daniels had more than 250 grams of fentanyl mixtures in the stash location when it was searched in December 2024. Agents also recovered blenders with fentanyl residue, a kilo press, a mask, a vacuum sealer, and cutting agents. Daniels was apprehended by federal agents after he fled in the parking garage of his apartment complex. Daniels failed to stop his car, ultimately crashing into an agent’s vehicle, and attempting to flee on foot. 

During the investigation, agents learned that Daniels had conspired to deliver fentanyl to at least four individuals in Pinellas and Pasco Counties. He also discussed an overdose with his co-conspirator before arranging to deliver more fentanyl to her for distribution. Daniels also transported fentanyl for distribution to gas stations in Pasco County, where he sat to solicit customers.

Daniels was held accountable for conspiring to distribute more than two kilograms of fentanyl between October and December 2024. He was previously convicted of cocaine sales in Pinellas County and served more than four years’ imprisonment before committing these offenses. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Tampa Police Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, the Sarasota Police Department, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bradenton Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha E. Beckman.

Ocala, FL – Justin Tyler Kress (34, Eustis) has been sentenced by United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber to 15 months in federal prison for the attempted destruction of an aircraft (law enforcement drone). The court also ordered Kress to pay $8,200 in restitution. Kress pleaded guilty on May 26, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregroy W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, on March 4, 2025, Kress shot and damaged a drone belonging to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies had been using the drone to conduct physical surveillance of Kress on his rural, multi-acre property as they attempted to arrest him on a warrant for felony criminal mischief. Kress had told his neighbors earlier that he would shoot at law enforcement officers if they tried to arrest him for damaging nearby fences. After taking Kress into custody, deputies obtained a search warrant and located 20-gauge shotgun shells in the area where Kress had been shooting at the drone. Inside the residence, they found three firearms—a 20-gauge shotgun, a rifle, and a pistol.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Belkis H. Callaos.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

Tampa, Florida – Leundro Childs (42, Tampa) and Edilberto Mojica (41, Polk County) have been sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Childs was sentenced to 19 years and 7 months and Mojica was sentenced to 24 years and 4 months in federal prison. Both previously pleaded guilty. The court also ordered Childs to forfeit a HiPoint rifle, magazines, and assorted ammunition, assets used to facilitate the commission of the offenses. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.  

According to court documents, Mojica, while serving a sentence in the Florida Department of Corrections, instructed Childs and another co-conspirator to travel to Georgia to purchase large quantities of fentanyl and bring it back for distribution in the Middle District of Florida. Childs, after being arrested on unrelated narcotics possession charges, directed the continued movement and distribution of the fentanyl. Following an undercover purchase from co-conspirators, investigators recovered more than 1,500 grams of fentanyl, two firearms, and materials used to package narcotics for sale.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael A. Peterson and Candace Garcia Rich.

Fort Myers, Florida – Johnny Lewis Hunter (53, Clewiston) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kyle Dudek to 19 years and 2 months in federal prison for distributing fentanyl. He pleaded guilty on June 3, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.     

According to court records, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) received information that Hunter was distributing fentanyl in Moore Haven and Clewiston. Between January 6 and February 5, 2026, an undercover agent purchased a total of 139 grams of fentanyl from Hunter in Moore Haven. On March 26, 2026, the DEA executed an arrest warrant on Hunter and located an additional 81.4 grams of fentanyl in his possession. 

Hunter was sentenced as a career offender due to his two prior federal drug trafficking convictions. At the time of arrest, Hunter was under supervised release for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime out of the Western District of Virginia (5:14-cr-02) for which he previously served 10 years in federal prison. He also had a prior federal conviction for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base out of the Middle District of Florida (5:00-cr-38) for which he served 13 years in federal prison. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Redavid.

Tampa, FL – Mahmoud Mehdi has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to three years and ten months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making and subscribing a false tax return. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $137,931.33, the proceeds of his criminal conduct, and ordered Mehdi to pay restitution in the amount of $732,521.18. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, beginning in January 2019, and continuing through December 2022, Mehdi conspired with others to commit wire fraud by knowingly causing the electronic submission of fraudulent forms to the IRS. The tax returns contained fabricated figures for gambling winnings and losses, as well as for federal tax withholding amounts (based on the fake gambling winnings). The false tax returns requested substantial refunds from the IRS that the taxpayers were not legally entitled to receive. The total intended tax loss from Mehdi’s conduct was $1,401,587.88. The actual tax loss was $732,521.18, which was paid by the IRS to taxpayers, including Mehdi, either as tax refunds or credits applied to prior debts.

“Tax fraud isn’t just a numbers game—it’s a crime that harms every honest taxpayer,” said Charles Miller, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “This sentencing reinforces that those who cheat the system will be held accountable.”

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Samantha Newman, Brooke Padgett and Jennifer Peresie. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne C. Nebesky.

Ocala, Florida – Samantha Calvente (44, Winter Haven) has pleaded guilty to possession of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. She faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to the court records, on August 21, 2022, Calvente went to the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex (“FCC Coleman”) in Sumter Countyto visit her husband, R.C, who was an inmate at the facility. As Calvente entered the prison, she told correctional officers that she did not have any prohibited items on her person, including narcotics. When Calvente entered the visitation room, however, staff observed her retrieving an unknown object from her waistband and placing it between her legs. Correctional officers promptly escorted Calvente out of the visitation room. Before a search could take place, Calvente handed the officers an object wrapped in a black latex material that contained over 24 grams of methamphetamine. Calvente then admitted that she had introduced contraband into prison facilities for her husband on prior occasions.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Watson and Anthony C. Marek.

Tampa, FL – Celso Navarro Diaz (65, Colombia) has been sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to 30 years in federal prison for conspiring to traffic more than five kilograms of cocaine on vessels subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and conspiring to import more than five kilograms of cocaine into the United States. A federal jury found Navarro Diaz guilty on January 30, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to testimony and evidence presented during the five-day trial, Navarro Diaz was the head of an organization in Colombia that transported cocaine and marijuana from the Pacific coast of Colombia to Costa Rica. Over a two-year period, Panamanian, Colombian, and U.S. Coast Guard authorities interdicted four of his organization’s vessels. The investigation revealed that Navarro Diaz discussed the smuggling operations in heavily coded language and had talked about the seizures in coded language after three of the events. The cocaine was intended to be smuggled from Costa Rica through Central America and Mexico prior to importation into the United States. Navarro Diaz was previously convicted of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and pleaded guilty to that offense in 2010, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Colombian National Police. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Judicial Attaché Office in Bogotá worked with the Government of Colombia to secure the arrest and September 2024 extradition from Colombia of Navarro Diaz. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Region 20 (Tampa) comprises agents and officers from multiple law enforcement agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.

Tampa, FL – Kenneth Blair (54, Clermont) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti to 30 months in federal prison for bank fraud. Blair pleaded guilty on May 15, 2024. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $15,475, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, from as early as August 2020, and continuing through July 2021, in the Middle District of Florida and elsewhere, Blair and others devised a scheme to defraud financial institutions by making materially false and fraudulent representations. Blair’s role in the bank fraud scheme included preparing and submitting fictitious and fraudulent paystubs for his clients in the names of companies to show fabricated income from employers as well as altered bank statements showing vastly overstated account balances. This caused the mortgage lenders to approve and fund mortgage loans for otherwise unqualified borrowers in exchange for undisclosed payments to Blair from his clients. The fraudulent mortgage loans were subsequently purchased and guaranteed by government-sponsored entities Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as well as the Federal Housing Administration.

This case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Blain Goff.

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.

Ocala, Florida – Christopher Carl Brown (43, of Mississippi) has pleaded guilty to possession of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. Brown faces a minimum sentence of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court records, in 2025, Brown was an inmate in the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex (“FCC Coleman”) where he was serving a sentence for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. On July 3, 2025, a Federal Bureau of Prisons correctional officer discovered Brown in possession of a sock containing a pill bottle. Inside the bottle were four plastic bags containing over 10 grams of methamphetamine. These drugs were intended for distribution inside FCC Coleman. 

This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Hannah Watson and Angela Palacios.

Tampa, Florida – Michael Devante Curry (31, Tampa) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle to 60 years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a machinegun in furtherance of drug trafficking, and two counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. A federal jury found Curry guilty on May 29, 2026. The court also ordered Curry to forfeit the firearms and assorted rounds of ammunition used in the commission of the offense. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to the evidence presented at trial, from at least January through June 2025, Curry conspired with others to possess methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana. On June 1, 2025, officers from the Tampa Police Department executed a search warrant at a residence and found Curry hiding in a kitchen cabinet with fentanyl in his pocket and more than $3,000 in cash. Ultimately, officers located nine firearms, including one equipped with a machinegun conversion device that rendered it a fully automatic weapon. They also seized methamphetamine, crack cocaine, oxycodone pills, an assortment of ammunition, a bullet proof vest, and firearm accessories, including drum magazines. 

Agents seized multiple cellphones attributed to Curry and later obtained warrants to search these devices and Curry’s iCloud account. Contained within these records were extensive messages in which Curry discussed distributing fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana within the Tampa area from January through June 2025. In addition, Curry was documented in photographs and videos possessing multiple firearms, some of which were equipped with machinegun conversion devices. 

Prior to the offense, Curry had an extensive criminal history, including felony convictions for possession of cocaine, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and fleeing and eluding law enforcement officers.

This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christian Adkins, James C. Preston, and Jeff Chang.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

Tampa, FL - Edward Anderson (45, Bradenton) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti to eight years and four months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a machinegun. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents and proceedings, Anderson is a convicted felon with multiple felony narcotics convictions and a prior firearm conviction. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

On July 30, 2025, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Anderson’s residence. Inside, they found four firearms, one of which had been converted into a machinegun by way of a machinegun conversion device. Law enforcement later swabbed this firearm for DNA, and the Pinellas County Forensic Laboratory determined that Anderson’s DNA was present on the firearm.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. 

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Tampa, Florida – Brian Francis McArdle (34, Clearwater) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to 10 years in federal prison for transportation and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

McArdle pleaded guilty on March 9, 2026.

According to court documents, from January 1, 2023, through April 2, 2024, McArdle used Telegram to distribute and sell CSAM, the production of which involved the use of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Following the execution of a search warrant, the FBI located hundreds of images and videos of CSAM on McArdle’s cell phone, including images which depicted a minor who had not attained 12 years of age engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Arlington County Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Ocala, Florida – Jeremiah James Schwier (47, Dunnellon) has been arrested and charged by criminal complaint with interstate transmission of a threat to injure. If convicted, Schwier faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. 

According to the complaint, between April and May 2026, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) received approximately 60 telephone calls from phone numbers that were later determined to be associated with Schwier. Those calls were sexual in nature and used inflammatory language. On May 20, 2026, a caller with a similar voice told NAACP staff that he would walk into their office with an “AK 57, or whatever you call those things.” By August 2026, the NAACP received 14 similar calls threatening to kill former President Obama and the NAACP President and Chief Executive Officer. Federal investigators obtained Schwier’s cellphone records and confirmed that Schwier had made the calls to the specific NAACP phone number that had received the threats. The records also confirmed that the timing of numerous calls placed by Schwier were generally consistent with the threats received by the NAACP. 

Investigators arrested Schwier on August 26, 2026. He has been detained pending the resolution of the criminal case. 

A criminal complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Angela M. Palacios.

Tampa, FL — The Villages Health System LLC (TVH), a healthcare provider group headquartered in The Villages, Florida, has agreed to a $541.5 million settlement to resolve self-disclosed allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by causing the submission of false diagnosis codes in order to increase payments that they received from the Medicare Advantage program.

“The Villages Health System LLC knowingly submitted false diagnosis codes to increase their payments from the Medicare Advantage program and increase their profits,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. “Our Office will continue protecting the integrity of the Medicare program and hold those who seek to defraud federal health care programs accountable.”

“The Medicare Advantage program relies on accurate diagnoses to protect the federal fisc,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement reflects that we will hold accountable entities that inflate payments through invalid diagnoses; at the same time, we will continue to credit organizations that disclose wrongdoing, take appropriate remedial actions, and fully cooperate with the government’s investigation.”

“The accuracy of diagnosis information submitted to Medicare Advantage is vital to protecting taxpayer dollars,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This case underscores that entities will be held accountable when they submit unsupported information that inflates payments. The provider’s use of the OIG Self Disclosure Protocol and its cooperation were important factors in resolving this matter, and the protocol remains available for managed care entities and other providers that bill managed care entities that seek to disclose potential liability.”

Under the Medicare Advantage (MA) Program, also known as Medicare Part C, Medicare beneficiaries may opt out of traditional Medicare and enroll in private health plans offered by insurance companies known as Medicare Advantage Organizations, or MAOs. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) pays the MAOs a fixed monthly amount for each Medicare beneficiary enrolled in their plans. CMS adjusts these monthly payments to account for various “risk” factors that affect expected health expenditures for the beneficiary. In general, CMS pays MAOs more for sicker beneficiaries expected to incur higher healthcare costs and less for healthier beneficiaries expected to incur lower costs. To make these “risk adjustments,” CMS collects medical diagnosis codes from the MAOs. The diagnoses must be supported by the medical record from a face-to-face visit between a patient and a provider, and for outpatient visits, must have required or affected patient care, treatment, or management at the visit. Providers generally submit diagnosis codes to MAOs that are, in turn, submitted to CMS to increase payments. At times, MAOs agree to pay provider groups like TVH a set percentage of what the MAO receives from CMS. Under such agreements, the provider groups receive more reimbursement for sicker beneficiaries expected to incur higher healthcare costs and less reimbursement for healthier beneficiaries expected to incur lower costs.

On Dec. 27, 2024, TVH made a submission pursuant to the HHS-OIG’s Health Care Fraud Self-Disclosure Protocol disclosing that it had submitted invalid diagnosis codes to multiple MAOs for certain beneficiaries enrolled in their plans and that these diagnosis codes increased the capitated payments made by CMS to the MAOs under the MA program. 

The settlement announced today resolves allegations that, from 2020 through 2024, TVH violated the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 2729-3733, by knowingly submitting false diagnosis codes to MAOs and causing MAOs to submit false diagnosis codes to the MA program resulting in inflated payments from CMS to MAOs. The diagnosis codes were invalid because they did not have adequate support in the patient’s medical record or were based on amendments to the medical record that were not initiated by the rendering provider and were not timely or were not approved by the rendering provider. TVH’s knowing submission of the unsupported and/or undocumented codes identified above caused CMS to make inflated payments to the MAOs, which inflated the MAOs’ payments to TVH.

In connection with the settlement, the United States acknowledged that TVH took a number of significant steps entitling them to credit for cooperating with the government. TVH promptly took remedial actions and self-disclosed the invalid diagnoses to HHS-OIG. TVH also provided the government with a detailed and thorough written disclosure and cooperated with the government throughout its investigation.

On July 3, 2025, TVH filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida. In re Villages Health System, LLC, Case No. 6:25-bk-04156-LVV (Bankr. M.D. Fla.). The bankruptcy court approved the settlement announced today on Aug. 25. 

TVH submitted the invalid diagnosis codes covered by the settlement announced today to three MAOs: Humana Inc., UnitedHealthcare (UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, United Healthcare of Florida Inc., Preferred Care Partners Inc., and Care Improvement Plus South Central Insurance Company, Inc.), and GuideWell Mutual Holding Corporation (Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Inc. and Florida Blue Medicare Inc.). Pursuant to their contracts with CMS, the MAOs are returning overpayments they received as a result of TVH’s conduct by deleting invalid codes and/or by entering into agreements with the Department of Justice and CMS to return the funds.

This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, with assistance from HHS-OIG.

The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at www.oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/ or 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

The matter was handled by Fraud Section Attorneys Edward Crooke and Martha Glover and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Emden for the Middle District of Florida.

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

Note: Read the agreements with United here and Florida Blue here.

Tampa, Florida – George Russell Isbell, Jr. (70, San Diego) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti to eleven months in federal prison for mailing a threatening communication. He pleaded guilty on June 24, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. 

According to court documents, on or about September 18, 2025, Isbell mailed an angry, offensive, and threatening letter from San Diego, California to his victim, a media personality located in Tampa. In the letter, Isbell referenced one of the victim’s friends, Mr. Charlie Kirk, a conservative political activist who had recently been murdered during a public engagement on a college campus. The letter went on to state:

“Maybe someone will blow your head off!!! We can hope! Planning any public engagements? Love to see your head explode and your blood stain the concrete red. What a sight!” 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Tampa Field Office, the Tampa Police Department, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Additional

support was provided by the FBI San Diego Field Office, the San Diego Police Department, and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Wheeler, III.

Fort Myers, Florida – Miguel Lauzado Hernandez (37, Naples) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kyle C. Dudek to 16 years in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine. Hernandez pleaded guilty on June 3, 2025. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. 

According to court documents, on September 12, 2024, Hernandez sold approximately one pound of methamphetamine to a DEA confidential source in Naples. Hernandez and his co-defendant, Juan Carlos Rodriguez Perez, distributed approximately two pounds of methamphetamine to a DEA confidential source in Naples on February 19, 2025. Perez was previously sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his role in the offense.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.

Jacksonville, Florida – George Joshua Floyd (45, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to wire fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Floyd has agreed to forfeit $1,159,596.26, the proceeds of the scheme to defraud that he personally obtained. He also agreed to make full restitution to the victims of his offense conduct. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. 

According to the plea agreement, beginning in April 2022, Floyd raised approximately $1.44 million from investors for a new restaurant he planned to open in Jacksonville, making various representations as to how the money would be used and how he would manage the restaurant. After the restaurant opened in November 2022 and generated significant cash flow, Floyd maintained control of the business’s bank account. He began embezzling funds by withdrawing large amounts of cash, wiring money to his personal account, using a business credit card for personal expenses, and causing the restaurant to enter into unauthorized merchant cash advance loans—the proceeds of which he transferred to himself or used to cover deficits that he had already created—which also led the restaurant to owe interest and fees. Further, in 2024, Floyd began soliciting individuals to invest money into a second restaurant concept to be opened in Clay County, raising approximately $570,000. Floyd stole those investors’ funds by using them to pay for personal expenses, trade in cryptocurrency, and repay losses he had caused at the first restaurant. The total fraud loss caused by Floyd through his scheme was approximately $1,397,500.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Clint J. Locke.

The Villages Health System LLC (TVH), a healthcare provider group headquartered in The Villages, Florida, has agreed to a $541.5 million settlement to resolve self-disclosed allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by causing the submission of false diagnosis codes in order to increase payments that they received from the Medicare Advantage program.

“The Medicare Advantage program relies on accurate diagnoses to protect the federal fisc,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement reflects that we will hold accountable entities that inflate payments through invalid diagnoses; at the same time, we will continue to credit organizations that disclose wrongdoing, take appropriate remedial actions, and fully cooperate with the government’s investigation.”

“The Villages Health System LLC knowingly submitted false diagnosis codes to increase their payments from the Medicare Advantage program and increase their profits,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. “Our Office will continue protecting the integrity of the Medicare program and hold those who seek to defraud federal health care programs accountable.”

“The accuracy of diagnosis information submitted to Medicare Advantage is vital to protecting taxpayer dollars,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This case underscores that entities will be held accountable when they submit unsupported information that inflates payments. The provider’s use of the OIG Self Disclosure Protocol and its cooperation were important factors in resolving this matter, and the protocol remains available for managed care entities and other providers that bill managed care entities that seek to disclose potential liability.”

Under the Medicare Advantage (MA) Program, also known as Medicare Part C, Medicare beneficiaries may opt out of traditional Medicare and enroll in private health plans offered by insurance companies known as Medicare Advantage Organizations, or MAOs. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) pays the MAOs a fixed monthly amount for each Medicare beneficiary enrolled in their plans. CMS adjusts these monthly payments to account for various “risk” factors that affect expected health expenditures for the beneficiary. In general, CMS pays MAOs more for sicker beneficiaries expected to incur higher healthcare costs and less for healthier beneficiaries expected to incur lower costs. To make these “risk adjustments,” CMS collects medical diagnosis codes from the MAOs. The diagnoses must be supported by the medical record from a face-to-face visit between a patient and a provider, and for outpatient visits, must have required or affected patient care, treatment, or management at the visit.  Providers generally submit diagnosis codes to MAOs that are, in turn, submitted to CMS to increase payments. At times, MAOs agree to pay provider groups like TVH a set percentage of what the MAO receives from CMS. Under such agreements, the provider groups receive more reimbursement for sicker beneficiaries expected to incur higher healthcare costs and less reimbursement for healthier beneficiaries expected to incur lower costs.

On Dec. 27, 2024, TVH made a submission pursuant to the HHS-OIG’s Health Care Fraud Self-Disclosure Protocol disclosing that it had submitted invalid diagnosis codes to multiple MAOs for certain beneficiaries enrolled in their plans and that these diagnosis codes increased the capitated payments made by CMS to the MAOs under the MA program. 

The settlement announced today resolves allegations that, from 2020 through 2024, TVH violated the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 2729-3733, by knowingly submitting false diagnosis codes to MAOs and causing MAOs to submit false diagnosis codes to the MA program resulting in inflated payments from CMS to MAOs. The diagnosis codes were invalid because they did not have adequate support in the patient’s medical record or were based on amendments to the medical record that were not initiated by the rendering provider and were not timely or were not approved by the rendering provider. TVH’s knowing submission of the unsupported and/or undocumented codes identified above caused CMS to make inflated payments to the MAOs, which inflated the MAOs’ payments to TVH.

In connection with the settlement, the United States acknowledged that TVH took a number of significant steps entitling them to credit for cooperating with the government. TVH promptly took remedial actions and self-disclosed the invalid diagnoses to HHS-OIG. TVH also provided the government with a detailed and thorough written disclosure and cooperated with the government throughout its investigation.

On July 3, 2025, TVH filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida. In re Villages Health System, LLC, Case No. 6:25-bk-04156-LVV (Bankr. M.D. Fla.). The bankruptcy court approved the settlement announced today on Aug. 25. 

TVH submitted the invalid diagnosis codes covered by the settlement announced today to three MAOs: Humana Inc., UnitedHealthcare (UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, United Healthcare of Florida Inc., Preferred Care Partners Inc., and Care Improvement Plus South Central Insurance Company, Inc.), and GuideWell Mutual Holding Corporation (Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Inc. and Florida Blue Medicare Inc.). Pursuant to their contracts with CMS, the MAOs are returning overpayments they received as a result of TVH’s conduct by deleting invalid codes and/or by entering into agreements with the Department of Justice and CMS to return the funds.

This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, with assistance from HHS-OIG.

The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at www.oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/ or 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

The matter was handled by Fraud Section Attorneys Edward Crooke and Martha Glover and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Emden for the Middle District of Florida.

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

Note: Read the agreements with United here and Florida Blue here.

Fort Myers, Florida – Paul Richard Lukas (51, Cape Coral) was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kyle Dudek to four years in federal prison for making interstate communications of threats to injure. Lukas pleaded guilty on May 20, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court records, on January 30, 2026, approximately one month after Lukas was released from Florida state prison for violent offenses, Lukas made several threatening phone calls to kill multiple individuals located in Florida, Georgia, and Alaska. One of the victims reported the threat to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. FBI then requested assistance from the Cape Coral Police Department (CCPD). Less than one hour after the FBI had received notification of the threats, CCPD made contact with Lukas at his home where they located several empty rifle cases.

In imposing the sentence, the court varied upward after considering Lukas’s lengthy criminal history consisting of approximately 40 prior adult convictions, many of which involved batteries, assaults, and threats against other individuals.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cape Coral Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Redavid.

Orlando, Florida – Matthew John Sanguine (49, Orlando) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe to five years and five months in federal prison for bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and impersonating an officer of the United States. Sanguine pleaded guilty on December 4, 2025. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $10,000, the proceeds of bank fraud conviction. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.      

According to court documents, on May 2, 2022, Sanguine was stopped by the Orlando Police Department while driving a stolen vehicle. Officers found a Florida driver license bearing Sanguine’s photo but listing the identity of an Arizona resident (“J.R.”). The officers kept that fraudulent document as part of the evidence involved in that case. 

While his case was progressing in state court in Orlando, Sanguine presented the State Attorney’s Office with a fraudulent letter that was purportedly authored by an agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration. The fake letter included claims that Sanguine was authorized to have the false driver license bearing the name “J.R.” because Sanguine was working as an informant for the DEA. The letter demanded that the State Attorney’s Office return the confiscated driver license because Sanguine needed this fake identity to avoid detection by drug cartels. The letter warned of a “grave risk” unless the license was returned to Sanguine “immediately” and all records of this license were removed from the court records. 

The State Attorney’s Office suspected the letter was not authentic and referred the matter to the FBI. The FBI’s investigation revealed that Sanguine was using “J.R.’s” identity for at least a decade and had used it to perpetrate bank fraud for $10,000. 

This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Orlando Police Department and the State Attorney’s Office for the Ninth Judicial Circuit. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Felicetta and Dana E. Hill. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole M. Andrejko.

Orlando, Florida – Kelean Lerod Cobb (38, Orlando) has been charged by indictment with bank robbery, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, and possessing a firearm as a prohibited person. If convicted of all counts, Cobb faces a minimum of 7 years, up to life, in federal prison. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. 

According to court documents, on February 27, 2026, Cobb robbed a bank in Altamonte Springs at gunpoint. Cobb entered the bank wearing a mask and dark colored clothing. He jumped over the teller counter and brandished a dark colored pistol at one of the bank tellers before pointing the firearm at another bank teller and directing her to open her drawer. Cobb then took approximately $277 and fled from the bank. A follow up investigation by law enforcement identified Cobb as the perpetrator. 

In addition, Cobb possessed a firearm on August 12, 2026. Cobb is a convicted felon and therefore prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law. His prior offenses include robbery with a firearm, aggravated fleeing and eluding law enforcement, and trafficking in stolen property.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Altamonte Springs Police Department, and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

Orlando, Florida – Alex Justin Miller (26, Columbus, OH) has been arrested and charged by criminal complaint with interstate transmission of a threat to injure. If convicted, Miller faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to the criminal complaint, on August 18, 2026, Miller sent a true threat to a U.S. Congressman via email. In the email, Miller threatened to murder the congressman and the congressman’s family. 

A criminal complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the U.S. Capitol Police and the U.S. Secret Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney D. Richardson-Jones.

Jacksonville – Reberiano Santana-Ayala (35, Mexico) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger to the statutory maximum of two years in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States after previously being deported. Santana-Ayala pleaded guilty in May 2026. After serving this federal prison sentence, Santana-Ayala will be deported and removed back to Mexico. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. 

According to court documents, Santana-Ayala is a citizen of Mexico. In  2019, Santana-Ayala was charged and pleaded no contest to domestic violence charges, associated with two different women, in Putnam County. He was subsequently removed from the United States by immigration authorities and returned to Mexico. After he was removed, Santana-Ayala illegally reentered the United States. On September 2, 2023, Santana-Ayala was found voluntarily back in the United States during a traffic stop in Putnam County. During that encounter, Santana-Ayala provided a false name to law enforcement and has at least seven known aliases that he has used when in the United States. 

Santana-Ayala was subsequently convicted in state court in connection with violating the terms of probation issued in connection with his prior domestic battery charges. Record checks confirmed that Santana-Ayala had never applied to U.S. immigration authorities for permission to lawfully reenter the United States after his removal. 

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard L. Lasseter.

Jacksonville, Florida – Juan Jesus Mendoza (60, Mexico) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard to two years in federal prison for illegal reentry into the United States. Mendoza pleaded guilty on May 19, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, Mendoza is a citizen of Mexico and was previously deported from the United States in 2002 and 2015. Mendoza was also previously convicted of two felony offenses. In 1994, Mendoza was convicted of aggravated possession of marijuana in Texas and sentenced to 25 years in prison, for which he was then paroled in 2002. 

In 2013, after being encountered by law enforcement again in the United States, Mendoza was convicted of illegal reentry in the Orlando division of the Middle District of Florida. He has never obtained permission from the Attorney General or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to apply for readmission to the United States. On March 21, 2026, law enforcement in Putnam County encountered Mendoza during a traffic stop, identified him as an alien unlawfully present in the United States, and contacted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian.

Jacksonville, Florida – Leo Denard Robinson (39) and Brian Gregory Brightman (33), both of Jacksonville, have been charged by indictment with obstruction of the due administration of justice. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to the indictment, between approximately August 10 and August 19, 2026, Brightman and Robinson aided and abetted each other in corruptly trying to influence, obstruct, and impede the due administration of justice in a pending case in the Middle District of Florida, specifically United States v. Brian Gregory Brightman, et al. (case no. 3:26-cr-170-MMH-LLL). The indictment alleges that Brightman and Robinson committed the offense by intimidating, pressuring, and implicitly threatening an individual they perceived to be a witness in an attempt to influence or prevent the witnesses’ testimony.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Nassau County Sherriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel Lasry and Kelli Swaney.

Tampa, Florida – Michael Antwohn Wilson (38, Tampa) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervision, for producing and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Wilson pleaded guilty in March 2026. The court ordered Wilson to forfeit a cellphone and two SD cards, which were used in the commission of the offenses. Wilson was also ordered to pay $58,500 in restitution to the victims and must register as a sex offender. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, on February 23 and April 27, 2023, Wilson produced CSAM videos involving a child. From an unknown date until June 2025, Wilson also possessed CSAM, which included children under 12 years old.

This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.

This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Jacksonville, Florida – Eric James Stone (43, St. Augustine) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jordan E. Pratt to six years and eight months in federal prison for committing wire fraud and money laundering. Stone was also ordered to pay $2,037,103 in restitution to his victim. He pleaded guilty on March 24, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. 

According to court documents, Stone used his position as a financial advisor to befriend the victim, a 75-year-old woman, in order to solicit money from her. During the span of approximately three years, Stone convinced the victim to make over 600 transactions, sending him money that amounted to over $2 million. To convince the victim to send him money, Stone sent fraudulent emails from purported attorneys, banks, and other internet websites. Stone spent most of the victim’s money on foreign gambling websites. 

“Our seniors are among our nation’s most vulnerable population and must be protected,” said U.S. Attorney Kehoe. “The defendant in this case used his position of trust to deliberately deceive and exploit the victim for his own personal gain. For that, he will be punished for his crimes.” 

“Every dollar stolen is a story of hardship for the victim, and IRS-CI is dedicated to making sure those stories end with accountability,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “Our agents’ expertise in tracing complex financial transactions is unmatched. IRS-CI Special Agents are the backbone of financial crime enforcement.”

“Stealing $2 million isn’t just a financial crime, it’s a betrayal of trust that has life-altering consequences for a victim long after the crime is committed,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “This sentence sends a clear message: fraudsters who think they can lie and steal will face the consequences of their actions. The FBI will work with our partners to ensure those who exploit others for financial gain are brought to justice. You can’t hide from accountability.”

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro. Assistant United States Attorney Clint J. Locke is handling the forfeiture. 

Jacksonville, Florida – James Elliott Davis, II (37, Ponte Vedra Beach) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jordan Pratt to seven years and seven months in federal prison in connection to his guilty plea to bank fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, and theft of mail. As part of his sentence, the court ordered the forfeiture of the proceeds of the crimes, which cumulatively totaled $6,726,800. Further, the court ordered Davis to pay restitution to the victims of his offenses. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. 

According to court documents, from March 2018 through 2022, Davis ran a purported medical supply company named Medisale Inc. By using false representations, Davis enticed individuals and business entities to invest large sums of money in Medisale and falsely represented to victim-investors that Medisale was making significant profits on the sale of COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE). Davis claimed to have contact with CEOs at various hospitals and that Medisale had contracts with hospitals to sell large volumes of N95 masks and other PPE. As part of convincing victim-investors to give him money, Davis showed fraudulent bank statements with large balances, claiming the money was from the sale of PPE. 

In reality, Medisale had no such contracts and had no true revenue from the sale of PPE. Davis kited checks and conducted fraudulent ACH/wire transfers between multiple financial institutions to artificially inflate the apparent balances on his bank accounts. Utilizing victim-investor money, Davis paid off previous debts, paid other investors purported profits from the sale of PPE, and paid personal expenses. 

“Exploiting the fears of individuals and businesses for profit during a national crisis is untenable,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “Today’s court judgment sends a clear message that this type of fraudulent behavior will not be tolerated.” 

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when communities needed real protection, Davis chose deception,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “Schemes that prey on public emergencies are among the most serious frauds we investigate. IRS-CI and our partners will continue to pursue those who exploit emergencies for profit and hold them fully accountable.” 

“Today’s sentencing holds Mr. Davis accountable for orchestrating a scheme that obtained millions of dollars by defrauding innocent investors and multiple financial institutions,” said Special Agent in Charge Quenton Sallows, of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG), Miami Region. “The FDIC OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate financial crimes that harm investors and undermine the integrity of our Nation’s financial institutions.” 

This case was investigated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation - Office of Inspector General, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin C. Frein and Michael J. Coolican. The asset forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Clint Locke.

Orlando, Florida – Douglas Cody Barron (56, Orlando) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe to five years in federal prison for transportation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Barron pleaded guilty on November 24, 2025. The court also ordered Barron to forfeit his cellphone, which was used to commit the charged conduct. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orlando Police Department investigated a cyber-tip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). The investigation revealed that Barron had used reverse image search applications online to find CSAM, and uploaded CSAM online to find more CSAM. Law enforcement found additional images containing CSAM on Barron’s phone.

This case was investigated by the Orlando Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney D. Richardson-Jones and Michael Sartoian. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Andrejko.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (“CEOS”), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Tampa, Florida –Kylie Perez, a/k/a “Natalie Monroe,” has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber to one year in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for filing a false tax return. Perez pleaded guilty on May 20, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, Perez was a content creator who operated under the stage name “Natalie Monroe” on OnlyFans, a subscription-based social media platform. OnlyFans allows creators to share various types of content with subscribers, such as photos, videos, and live streams. Creators, like Perez, can monetize their content through subscription fees, pay-per-view content, and tips from subscribers. From 2019 through 2023, Perez earned more than $5.4 million from her social media accounts. Despite this fact, she engaged in a scheme to evade the assessment of taxes by filing a false tax return for calendar year 2019 and failing to pay at least $1.5 million in taxes owed for calendar years 2020 through 2023.

“Evading the payment of owed income tax is a violation of our federal tax laws,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “We will continue to prosecute those who purposely commit these crimes.”                   

“When someone chooses personal luxury over meeting their tax obligations, the consequences are inevitable,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “IRS CI Special Agents will continue to uncover the truth and safeguard the integrity of the tax system for all law-abiding taxpayers.”

This case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Merrilyn E. Hoenemeyer.

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.

Fort Myers, Florida – Jesse William Korff (32, North Fort Myers) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell to 24 years in federal prison for possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of unregistered silencers, possession of an unregistered destructive device, and attempted malicious use of an explosive while on federal supervised release. Korff pleaded guilty on January 14, 2026. The court also ordered Korff to forfeit the firearms, ammunition, silencers, and destructive device used to commit the offenses. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, on May 19, 2025, Korff was at a residence in Fort Myers when the Fort Myers Police Department was dispatched to a 911 hang-up call. Officers arrived and reported a hostage situation. Officers observed a male, later identified as Korff, in a scuffle with a female. The officers restrained Korff in handcuffs and seized a firearm and silencer that had come loose during the scuffle. Officers also located a pipe bomb coming out of Korff’s pocket.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) Bomb Squad used a robot to remove the pipe bomb and take Korff into custody. Further evidence and testing of the device by LCSO and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed that the device had attempted to be detonated. Another silencer, firearm, and ammunition were seized from Korff’s vehicle. Officers and agents also recovered other bomb-making materials inside Korff’s residence.

Korff is a convicted felon and prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition. He was previously convicted of transfer and possession of a toxin for use as a weapon, smuggling toxins from the United States, and conspiracy to kill, maim, or injure a person in a foreign country.

This case was investigated by the Fort Myers Police Department, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

Jacksonville, Florida – Miguel Solis-Morales (43, Mexico) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jordan E. Pratt to two years and six months in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States after he was deported by immigration authorities in 2015. After serving this federal prison sentence, Solis will be deported and removed back to Mexico. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. 

According to federal and state court documents, Solis was convicted of sexual battery on September 10, 2009, in Jacksonville. He was then designated as a sexual predator under Florida law and sentenced to five years in Florida state prison. After serving his state prison sentence, in May 2015, Solis-Morales was removed from the United States by immigration authorities and returned to Mexico. On February 16, 2026, Solis-Morales was found to be voluntarily back in the United States in Jacksonville and was arrested by the Florida Highway Patrol for a violation of state probation. Records checks confirmed that Solis-Morales had never applied to U.S. immigration authorities for permission to lawfully reenter the United States after his removal. 

This case was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced the last of nine co-defendants for charges related to an Orlando Drug Trafficking Organization. Each of the defendants previously pleaded guilty. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. See details below:

Name

(Age, Residence)

Charges

Sentencing Date

Sentence Imposed

Jonnathon Enrique Perez-Colon 

(38, Davenport)

Shaquille Omy Carino-Maysonet 

(27, Orlando)

Alberto Gabriel Velez-Concepcion 

(31, Orlando) 

Omar Echebalier Lugo-Villalobos 

(31, Orlando)

Jose Miguel Quinones-Echevarria 

(35, Orlando)

Yamauris Gabriel Sanchez 

(29, Orlando)

Janitza Marie Rojas-Ramos 

(38, Davenport)

According to court documents, these individuals were part of a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) known as the “6’s,” that operated in the City of Orlando. The DTO was led by Jonnathan Enrique Perez-Colon, a/k/a “Chuy,” and used three residential properties to weigh and package dealer packs of cocaine and fentanyl in small baggies, which were later delivered to lower-level drug dealers located in various distribution areas. Specifically, members of this DTO would “cut” and pre-package these narcotics in “packs.” These “packs” contained several dozens of small baggies containing cocaine, fentanyl, or a mix of fentanyl and cocaine called “hot shots” that provided drug users with a half-stimulant (“up”) and a half-depressant (“down”) effect. Each narcotic was packaged in a specific-colored small baggie. Once ready for delivery, some members of the DTO—who were also responsible for the DTO’s operations at the residential properties—would deliver these packs to the DTO’s street-level dealers to be sold to customers at the distribution areas. 

Throughout their investigation in 2022 and 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Orlando Police Department (OPD) identified the residential properties and the distribution areas where the 6s sold their narcotics. Investigators also identified the leader of the DTO as Jonnathan Perez-Colon, who also stored and packaged narcotics at a residence maintained by Neizliann Rivera-Rivera. Other DTO members who operated and resided at the stash houses were identified as Omar Lugo-Villalobos (a/k/a “Musol”), Yamauris Sanchez, Jose Quinones-Echevarria (a/k/a “Flako”), Yailyn Galva-Zapata and Shaquille Carino Maysonet (a/k/a “Shaq”). Law enforcement also identified the DTO members who operated the distribution locations where the narcotics were sold to customers, including Quinones-Echevarria and Alberto Velez-Concepcion (a/k/a “Gordo”). The investigation also revealed that Perez Colon resided in Davenport with Janitza Marie Rojas-Ramos, who laundered proceeds of the DTO for Perez-Colon through several different financial institutions.

On January 6, 2023, the DEA and OPD executed multiple simultaneous search warrants at the residential stash houses and distribution points. Agents seized over 1,200 individual baggies containing cocaine and/or fentanyl. They also recovered a larger amount of cocaine and fentanyl being used to resupply the dealers, which the DTO attempted to flush down the toilet as agents made forcible entry into one of the stash houses:

Above: 368 grams of fentanyl being packaged at one of the stash houses

Above: 366 grams of fentanyl and cocaine and 215 grams of methamphetamine, 

which Sanchez attempted to flush when DEA and OPD executed the warrant

In total, agents seized more than 2,000 grams of cocaine, over 800 grams of fentanyl, and at least 215 grams of methamphetamine. Additionally, agents recovered a “kilo press” used to press kilogram bricks of narcotics, two Glock pistols, two Smith & Wesson handguns, two rifles, and $15,720 in drug proceeds, all of which were ordered forfeited by the court.

In addition to the narcotics investigation, agents from the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation investigated the financial transactions related to the DTO and determined that Perez Colon, Sanchez, Rojas Ramos, and Rivera-Rivera each knowingly and willfully agreed to launder drug proceeds. The IRS identified more than $225,000 in laundered funds, and over $50,000 in wire transfers to individuals in the Dominican Republic used to pay for drugs. 

“Members of this drug trafficking organization distributed dangerous drugs such as fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine throughout the City of Orlando,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “The diligent pursuit and hard work by our local and federal law enforcement partners have brought these illegal activities to an end, and the defendants to justice.” 

“This drug trafficking organization operated with complete impunity, distributing dangerous substances in Central Florida,” said Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar, DEA Tampa Field Division. “The amount of fentanyl we seized could potentially contain 800,000 deadly doses. Orlando communities will be safer with these criminals off the streets.” 

“Drug traffickers may move product, but they always leave a financial trail—one that our IRS-CI Special Agents are uniquely trained to uncover,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “This case showcases how powerful it is when IRS-CI’s investigative efforts join forces with federal, state, and local partners.”    

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Orlando Police Department; and the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office, Financial Crimes Task Force, which is comprised of the St. Cloud Police Department, the Kissimmee Police Department, the Winter Park Police Department, the Casselberry Police Department, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael P. Felicetta, Dana E. Hill, Michael Sartoian, and Noah P. Dorman. Assistant United States Attorney Nicole M. Andrejko is handling the forfeiture. 

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Region 20 (Tampa) comprises agents and officers from multiple law enforcement agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.

Tampa, Florida – Yelson Zachary Matamoros Quinonez (32, Honduras) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara to two years in federal prison for illegal reentry by a deported alien. Matamoros Quinonez pleaded guilty on May 11, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, in 2019, Matamoros Quinonez, a citizen of Honduras, was arrested and later convicted of aggravated battery. After serving his sentence, he was deported from the United States to Honduras in 2021. In 2026, he was found voluntarily back in the United States. Matamoros Quinonez had not received the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Wheeler, III and Assistant United States Attorney Abigail King.