Middle District of Florida

Orlando, Florida – Paul Alexander Askew (46, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to influence major international sports competitions by doping. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, beginning on or about July 10, 2023, and continuing through to on or about January 31, 2024, Askew conspired with a professional track and field athlete and at least one other person to provide the athlete with testosterone, a banned substance, to improve the athlete’s performances at major international track and field competitions. The doping was ongoing during the athlete’s competitions in the 2023 Ed Murphey Classic, in Memphis, Tennessee; the 2023 Xiamen Diamond League, in China; and the 2023 Prefontaine Classic, in Eugene, Oregon. Although the doping conspiracy was revealed before the athlete could compete in other competitions, Askew and the athlete also intended to use illegal testosterone injections to improve the athlete’s performance at the 2024 American Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships, the 2024 United States Olympics Trials, and the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.

This case was investigated by the United States Anti-Doping Agency and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Flanigan.

Ocala, Florida – Ballardo Andres Polanco (32, Seffner) has pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. Polanco faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison for the attempted enticement offense and a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment for the attempted transfer of obscene material offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to the plea agreement, between December 29, 2025, and February 10, 2026, Polanco messaged an individual whom he believed was a 14-year-old girl. That individual was actually an undercover special agent from Homeland Security Investigations. During the conversation, Polanco graphically described the sexual activity in which he wanted to engage with the minor. Polanco also sent explicit images of himself during this conversation. Ultimately, Polanco encouraged the minor to skip school to engage in sexual activity with him. On February 10, 2026, Polanco traveled from Tampa to Marion County to meet the minor to engage in sexual activity. Polanco was arrested by law enforcement when he arrived at the meeting location.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. 

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 – Esai Pastrana Cruz (30, Puerto Rico) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to five years and three months in federal prison for conspiring to and making false statements to a federally licensed firearms dealer (“FFL”). Pastrana Cruz pleaded guilty on February 19, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. 

According to court documents, Pastrana Cruz purchased approximately 90 firearms from various FFLs within the Middle District of Florida and falsely represented to the FFLs that he was the actual purchaser and recipient of the firearms. At least 21 of the firearms were seized by various law enforcement agencies and traced to purchases that Pastrana Cruz had made. Among the recovered firearms, two had been associated with shootings, including a drive-by shooting where two individuals had been struck by gunfire. 

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.

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.

Ocala, Florida – Christopher Shaun Jonas (34, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Jonas faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to the plea agreement and court records, on July 23, 2024, Jonas contacted a profile on an internet application designed for prostitution. This profile, however, was operated by an undercover detective from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO). The undercover account identified themself as a 13-year-old girl. Jonas described in graphic detail the sexual acts in which he wanted to engage in with the minor and subsequently arranged to meet the minor for sexual activity at a location in Marion County. When Jonas arrived at the meeting location, he was taken into custody by law enforcement. 

This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s 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.

Ocala, Florida – Jason Shane Ejmali (51, Silver Springs) has been sentenced by United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber to 10 years in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Ejmali pleaded guilty on November 19, 2025. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, between July 24 and 26, 2025, Ejmali messaged an individual whom he believed was willing to provide their 13 to 14-year-old foster child to engage in sexual activity. That individual was actually an undercover special agent from Homeland Security Investigations. Ejmali discussed the type of sexual activity he wanted to have with the minor and agreed to meet for that purpose at a location in Marion County. When Ejmali arrived at that location, law enforcement placed him under arrest.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. 

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 – Meade Lewis (32, Temple Terrace) has been charged by indictment with five counts of wire fraud. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. The indictment also notifies Lewis that the United States intends to forfeit at least $7,096,458, which is alleged to represent proceeds obtained from the offenses. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to the indictment, Lewis was the founder, chief executive officer, and majority shareholder of mIQroTech, Inc., a purported technology company in the oil and gas industry. Lewis is alleged to have fraudulently raised more than $7 million from investors by making false and misleading statements about mIQroTech, Inc.’s financials, customers, and product. He also used some of the investors’ funds for his personal enrichment. 

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 Attorney Ross Roberts. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Blain Goff.

Orlando, Florida – A civil forfeiture complaint has been filed against 7 real properties and 11 vehicles allegedly purchased by Christopher Delgado with proceeds of a wire fraud scheme for which he was charged in February 2026, making them subject to civil forfeiture. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to the civil forfeiture complaint, Delgado was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Goliath Ventures (“Goliath”), formerly known as Gen-Z Venture Firm. From January 2023 through January 2026, Delgado operated Goliath as a “Ponzi scheme,” which is a form of investment fraud that involves the payment of purported returns to existing investors from funds contributed by new investors. Delgado’s scheme involved soliciting victims to invest substantial sums of money under false and fraudulent promises of monthly returns generated through cryptocurrency “liquidity pools.” Victims were induced to give money to Goliath through personal referrals, professional marketing materials, luxury events, charitable sponsorships, and some monthly payments of purported returns, all of which were designed to establish Goliath’s bona fides with investors. Based on these false and fraudulent representations, Goliath obtained at least $400 million from more than 1,000 victim investors. 

Although Goliath represented that it would place the victim investors’ funds in cryptocurrency liquidity pools, in reality, the funds were primarily used to pay purported returns to earlier investors, to return principal to investors who requested it, and for Goliath’s extravagant business gatherings, holiday parties, and luxury travel accommodations. Delgado used approximately $17 million in victim investors’ funds to buy five homes and office space. He also spent more than $2.5 million in victim investors’ funds to purchase, lease, or pay off loans on 11 vehicles (the “Defendant Assets”). Most of these purchases or loan satisfactions constituted monetary transactions knowingly conducted by Delgado with more than $10,000 in proceeds of wire fraud, making those Defendant Assets subject to forfeiture as property involved in money laundering. In addition, Delgado used victim investors’ funds to make mortgage payments on a home he had purchased in 2021. 

The chart below includes the Defendant Assets as well as their purchase price and acquisition date. 

Since February 2026, the United States has been seizing assets traceable to the fraud scheme perpetrated by Delgado and others through Goliath Ventures, Inc. The Defendant Assets are a particular subset of forfeitable assets that are expensive to maintain and either depreciating in value, secured by liens and/or subject to property taxes that are continuing to accrue significant interest and may be in default. In order to maximize the recovery of fraud proceeds, the United States has determined that these assets must be forfeited as expeditiously as possible. One of the primary goals of the Department of Justice’s Asset Forfeiture Program is recovering assets that may be used to compensate victims when authorized under federal law. See The Attorney General’s Guidelines on the Asset Forfeiture Program (July 2018), at 1, https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-mlars/file/1123146/dl?inline=. The civil forfeiture statutes relied upon in this case provide such authority. 

The United States’ criminal investigation of the fraud scheme is ongoing. Investigators are also working to locate and seize additional property— held by Christopher Delgado or others—traceable to proceeds of Goliath fraud. If you have information related to execution of the fraud scheme or the identification or location of assets traceable to the fraud, please contact [email protected].

This civil forfeiture case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anita Cream and Blain Goff.

Ocala, Florida – Jonathan Travis Pruitt (46, Ocala) has been sentenced by United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber to six years and three months in federal prison for bank fraud. Pruitt pleaded guilty on February 4, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. 

According to court documents, Pruitt and his associates stole checks written by local businesses from their outgoing mailboxes. Pruitt then created fake businesses with nearly identical names as the intended recipients of the stolen checks. Afterward, he opened bank accounts for the newly created businesses and deposited the stolen checks. Pruitt then extracted the funds from these accounts by making large ATM withdrawals. Ultimately, Pruitt was responsible for fraudulently depositing 36 stolen checks with a total face value of more than $860,000. When he was arrested by federal agents, a search of his phone revealed scans of some of the stolen checks as well as the photo-editing software Pruitt had used to alter them. 

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Ocala Police Department, and the Belleview Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton.

Tampa, FL – Mohamed Jaber (33, Tampa), Irving Bruzon (28, Tampa), Christian Andujar (28, Tampa), Kyle Miller (34, Orlando), and Julissa Collazo (29, Tampa) have each pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana. Andujar also pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering and one count of financial institution fraud. Bruzon also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering and one count of financial institution fraud. Jaber pleaded guilty to an additional count of financial institution fraud. Each faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. Sentencing dates have not yet been set. A sixth individual, Xavier Garnder, has been charged and has entered a plea of not guilty. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court records and hearings, these individuals were members of a street gang called Alexander Park, or AP. The gang, or enterprise, operated in part by selling and distributing marijuana and by robbing other drug dealers of their marijuana and money. The gang also carried out acts of violence in furtherance of these activities and to maintain the credibility of the gang and strengthen the position of members within the gang. The gang also obtained high end vehicles by making misrepresentations about their employment and incomes. Some of the vehicles were used during their crimes.

Beginning in January 2020 and continuing through July of 2021, Andujar and Garnder, who has pleaded not guilty, conspired to kill a rival gang member. In April 2023, Andujar, Bruzon, Garnder, and an unknown fourth co-conspirator conspired to kill an individual who had angered them. The victim was shot 17 times while sleeping in his car and died of his injuries. 

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tampa Police Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the Shelby Township Police Department (Michigan). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Samantha Newman and Brooke Padgett. Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky is handling the forfeiture. 

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.

Tampa, Florida – Demontrae Fagan (36, Tampa) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber to 33 years and 9 months in federal prison for sex trafficking. Fagan pleaded guilty on February 5, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.      

According to court documents, through means of force, threats of force and coercion, Fagan sex trafficked three victims in 2022. Fagan created advertisements on escort websites and scheduled dates for commercial sexual activity for Victim 1. Fagan used Victim 1 to encourage Victim 2 and Victim 3 to cooperate and used Victim 1 to manage their advertisements and dates for commercial sexual activity. Fagan received the money made by the victims for their sex acts. Fagan physically abused the victims and provided them with drugs which affected their mental state. The victims knew Fagan to regularly carry firearms which contributed to their fear of him and compliance with commercial sexual activity.

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

Tampa, Florida – Ahli Fields (34, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, Hobbs Act robbery, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Fields faces a minimum penalty of seven years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to the plea agreement, on June 9, 2020, Fields and a co-conspirator drove together to a grocery store in Ormond Beach to commit an armed robbery. Prior to the robbery, Fields provided the co-conspirator with a revolver. He dropped the co-conspirator off near the store and waited nearby for the co-conspirator to return. Fields’s co-conspirator entered the store, brandished the revolver to two employees, and demanded cash from a safe before leaving with several thousand dollars. The co-conspirator returned to Fields’s vehicle before they drove away together. Fields received a portion of the proceeds for his involvement. 

Agents subsequently obtained cellphone records and location data that showed Fields and the co-conspirator traveling from Jacksonville together on the day of the robbery. They were also in communication during the timeframe of the robbery, which placed them in the area during the robbery. 

Fields’s co-defendant, Nathaniel Cox, has been charged for his alleged role in this case. Cox has also been charged with additional armed robberies and attempted robberies of commercial business locations throughout the Middle District of Florida. His case is pending trial. 

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the Ormond Beach Police Department, the Titusville Police Department, the Palmetto Police Department, and the Ocala Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang. 

Tampa, Florida – Lee Hughes (46, Pinellas Park) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber to 20 years in federal prison for attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, and receipt and possession of child sex abuse material.  Hughes pleaded guilty on January 30, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.      

According to court documents, Hughes communicated with an undercover officer online for months with the understanding the undercover officer had a 9-year-old daughter. Hughes expressed his specific explicit desire to sexually abuse the purported girl. During those conversations, he also sent explicit photos and videos of himself, which he requested be shown to the purported child. On May 1, 2025, Hughes arrived at a predetermined location to engage in sexual activity with the child. He was apprehended by the FBI on scene.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Abigail K. King and Courtney Derry.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

Jacksonville, FL – A Jacksonville businessman was sentenced today to 22 months in prison for evading millions of dollars in federal income taxes.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Phillip Mak, a sales representative, earned more than $10 million during the years 2008 through 2020. Mak owed more than $3.7 million in federal taxes on that income but did not pay them when required to do so. The IRS sent notices to Mak reminding him of his obligation to pay taxes and eventually filed a Notice of Federal Tax Lien against his property. Nevertheless, by the end of 2021, Mak still had not paid any federal income tax for the last 13 years.

In fact, Mak took steps to move his assets out of the reach of the IRS. Between 2019 and 2021, Mak transferred $1 million to his domestic partner instead of paying taxes to the IRS. He also transferred ownership of his personal residence to a trust created and controlled by his domestic partner. Finally, he created a corporate entity and deposited his personal income into the corporate entity’s bank account.

“Tax evasion isn’t financial strategy—it’s a deliberate choice with predictable consequences,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “Evading your true tax obligation is not a harmless oversight—it’s a serious violation of federal law. IRS Special Agents will follow the money and present the facts in court.”

Mak pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion. In addition to the prison sentence, Mak was sentenced to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $3,751,485 in restitution to the United States.

U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Gregory W. Kehoe and Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division made the announcement.

IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Cannizzaro of the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Isaiah Boyd and Michael Jones of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section prosecuted the case.

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

Jacksonville, Florida –A federal jury has found Frederick Karl Hildenbrand (56, Cocoa) guilty of nine counts of producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and two counts of possessing CSAM. Hildenbrand faces a minimum of 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison for each production count, and up to 20 years’ imprisonment for each possession count. The maximum penalty for the possession counts was enhanced due to the jury’s finding that the material depicted young children. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 22, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to evidence presented at trial, Hildenbrand was residing in Ohio from at least 2004 through 2014. He and his wife later relocated to northeast Florida. While in Ohio, Hildenbrand produced a number of tapes and electronic files depicting himself sexually abusing children, including toddlers and infants. He brought these materials with him to Florida, and in 2018, rented a storage unit in which he placed a safe containing the CSAM.

In May 2024, after the storage unit company had changed ownership, Hildenbrand’s payments were no longer processed, and the storage unit was auctioned. The purchaser of the contents retrieved the safe from the storage unit and, after opening it, discovered multiple pairs of soiled children’s undergarments labeled with names and individually packaged in plastic baggies. Also, inside the safe were the tapes and electronic devices. The purchaser turned the materials over to the Baker County Sheriff’s Office, and child exploitation material was discovered on the electronic media.

In July 2024, Hildenbrand realized that his unit had been auctioned and contacted the storage company to try and have his items returned. During multiple recorded phone calls, Hildenbrand expressed that he especially wanted the items returned from his safe. Unknown to Hildenbrand, he was communicating with an undercover detective from the Clay County Sheriff's Office. On August 5, 2024, Hildenbrand drove three hours from Cocoa to Clay County intending to get the safe back. Instead, he was arrested. 

On the same day, detectives searched Hildenbrand’s residence and recovered electronic devices which also contained CSAM. Searches of these devices revealed that Hildenbrand had continued to film himself sexually abusing children through at least June 2024.

In total, Hildenbrand possessed at least 10,000 depictions of children being sexually abused. One of his computers contained two versions of a “poem” written by Hildenbrand about his insatiable lust for children, in which he described himself as “an Elite ranked pedophile” for over 30 years.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Cocoa Police Department, the Baker County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Children and Families. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.

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 – Esequiel Maldonado (47, Texas) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine. He faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, Maldonado worked with his three co-conspirators to distribute cocaine. From Texas, Maldonado authorized sales of kilogram-quantities of cocaine, served as a broker, and set cocaine prices. A co-conspirator then distributed the cocaine in the Middle District of Florida and arranged for drug proceeds to be paid back to Maldonado.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Virginia State Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray.

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 – Alex Robert Cookshott (56, Palm Bay) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. Cookshott pleaded guilty on December 17, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, throughout January 2025, Cookshott sold a confidential source methamphetamine in Palm Bay. The first transaction was for approximately two ounces of methamphetamine, and the second was for approximately six ounces of methamphetamine. Surrounding these deals, Cookshott obtained the methamphetamine from his source of supply to then sell to the confidential source. In total, Cookshott was responsible for distributing more than 220 grams of pure methamphetamine. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.

Orlando, Florida – Jose Manuel Gonzalez Roman (31, Orlando) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza to seven years in federal prison for distributing counterfeit pills containing fentanyl. Gonzalez Roman pleaded guilty on February 4, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, between January and April 2024, Gonzalez Roman sold a confidential source increasingly large quantities of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl from various locations in Orlando. The first transaction was for 30 pills, the second was for 100 pills, and the third transaction was for 700 pills. In total, Gonzalez Roman was responsible for distributing nearly 500 grams of fentanyl. 

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

Orlando, Florida – Victor Raul Cordero Arocho (39, Melbourne) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Julie S. Sneed to 15 years in federal prison for distributing and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine as well as possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Cordero Arocho pleaded guilty on January 29, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, between August and September 2025, Cordero Arocho sold a confidential source approximately 3 pounds of methamphetamine and 2 ounces of fentanyl from his residence in Melbourne. Law enforcement then executed a search warrant on the residence in October 2025 resulting in the recovery of over 12 ounces of cocaine, approximately 2.5 ounces of fentanyl, and drug processing materials. Law enforcement also located a loaded handgun and a loaded rifle inside the residence.

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.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.

Tampa, Florida – Nidia Roxana Maradiaga-Flores (28), an illegal alien from Honduras, has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday to two years and two months in federal prison for aggravated identity theft, false representation of a Social Security number, and making a false claim of United States citizenship for employment purposes. Maradiaga-Flores was found guilty on January 14, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.      

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Archer Western-de Moya Group Joint Venture II (Joint Venture) is enrolled in E-Verify, a web-based system through which employers electronically confirm the employment eligibility of their employees. Maradiaga-Flores was an illegal alien from Honduras with no lawful status in the United States. On March 23, 2022, Maradiaga-Flores applied for employment with the Joint Venture in Pinellas County and filled out an I-9 form for use in the E-Verify system. On that form, Maradiaga-Flores falsely identified herself as a United States citizen and used another person’s means of identification to defeat the E-Verify system.        

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General, the Social Security Administration–Office of the Inspector General, the United States Border Patrol, the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Wheeler III and Assistant United States Attorney Karyna Valdes. 

Tampa, FL - The Justice Department today announced that Rental Marketing Solutions, LLC (RMS), a property management company based in St. Petersburg, Florida, will pay $60,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by obtaining an unlawful eviction judgment against an active duty Navy sailor. This is the largest amount the Department has ever obtained for a single servicemember in a case involving the filing of a false military service affidavit.

“Protecting the civil rights of our servicemembers is a top priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. “We will continue to aggressively enforce the SCRA to protect the servicemembers who fight to protect us here at home. These servicemembers, along with their families, sacrifice to serve our country and deserve to be treated with dignity. No servicemember should ever be denied housing or have their record tarnished based on a false affidavit.”

“It is unacceptable and illegal for a landlord or property management company to file a false affidavit stating that an active duty servicemember is not in military service,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This SCRA violation had significant consequences, as potential landlords refused to rent to a sailor once they learned of the eviction on his record. He became homeless and his wife was forced to move back in with her parents in another state. The Justice Department will continue to fight to protect the rights of military families.”

The Department alleges that RMS named the sailor as a defendant in an eviction action for a property he had not lived in for several years, filed a false affidavit stating he was not on active duty, and obtained an eviction judgment against him in a Florida county court while he was assigned to the USS Nimitz at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. Because the eviction judgment showed up on his background reports, a dozen or more landlords refused to rent to him and his wife. For four months, he had to live separately from his wife and rotate among temporary accommodations, including sleeping on the berthed Naval ship, which had no heat.

The SCRA requires a plaintiff in a case where a defendant does not make an appearance to file an affidavit stating whether the defendant is in military service, with necessary supporting facts. This allows the court to appoint an attorney to represent the servicemember and to postpone the proceedings if a defense cannot be presented without the servicemember’s presence. Because RMS filed a false affidavit stating that the sailor was not in military service, he did not receive the benefit of those protections.

Under the settlement, RMS will pay $60,000 in compensation to the sailor and for ten years of credit monitoring for him. RMS will also be required to pay a $6,000 civil penalty and maintain SCRA policies and procedures to avoid committing future violations.

The Department’s enforcement of the SCRA is conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Since 2011, the Department has obtained $489 million in monetary relief for 152,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the Department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov.

Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA may have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations can be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil

TAMPA, FL — The Justice Department today announced that Rental Marketing Solutions, LLC (RMS), a property management company based in St. Petersburg, Florida, will pay $60,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by obtaining an unlawful eviction judgment against an active duty Navy sailor. This is the largest amount the Department has ever obtained for a single servicemember in a case involving the filing of a false military service affidavit. 

“Protecting the civil rights of our servicemembers is a top priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. “We will continue to aggressively enforce the SCRA to protect the servicemembers who fight to protect us here at home. These servicemembers, along with their families, sacrifice to serve our country and deserve to be treated with dignity. No servicemember should ever be denied housing or have their record tarnished based on a false affidavit.”

“It is unacceptable and illegal for a landlord or property management company to file a false affidavit stating that an active duty servicemember is not in military service,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This SCRA violation had significant consequences, as potential landlords refused to rent to a sailor once they learned of the eviction on his record. He became homeless and his wife was forced to move back in with her parents in another state. The Justice Department will continue to fight to protect the rights of military families.”

The Department alleges that RMS named the sailor as a defendant in an eviction action for a property he had not lived in for several years, filed a false affidavit stating he was not on active duty, and obtained an eviction judgment against him in a Florida county court while he was assigned to the USS Nimitz at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. Because the eviction judgment showed up on his background reports, a dozen or more landlords refused to rent to him and his wife. For four months, he had to live separately from his wife and rotate among temporary accommodations, including sleeping on the berthed Naval ship, which had no heat.

The SCRA requires a plaintiff in a case where a defendant does not make an appearance to file an affidavit stating whether the defendant is in military service, with necessary supporting facts. This allows the court to appoint an attorney to represent the servicemember and to postpone the proceedings if a defense cannot be presented without the servicemember’s presence. Because RMS filed a false affidavit stating that the sailor was not in military service, he did not receive the benefit of those protections.

Under the settlement, RMS will pay $60,000 in compensation to the sailor and for ten years of credit monitoring for him. RMS will also be required to pay a $6,000 civil penalty and maintain SCRA policies and procedures to avoid committing future violations.

The Department’s enforcement of the SCRA is conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Since 2011, the Department has obtained $489 million in monetary relief for 152,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the Department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov.

Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA may have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations can be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil. Do not reply to this message.  If you have questions, please use the contacts in the message or call the Office of Public Affairs at 202-514-2007.

Tampa, FL – Micro Matic USA, Inc. (Micro Matic), a Delaware corporation with a principal place of business in Brooksville, Florida, has agreed to pay a settlement of $2,593,219.18 to resolve allegations that Micro Matic violated the False Claims Act by improperly obtaining a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). This action is part of the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

Congress created the PPP in March 2020 as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide emergency loans to small businesses suffering economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The PPP was expanded and modified by the Economic Aid Act in December 2020 and the American Recovery Plan Act in March 2021. The PPP authorized small businesses to seek forgiveness of the loans if they spent the loan funds on eligible expenses. When applying for PPP loans, borrowers were required to certify the truthfulness and accuracy of all information provided in their loan applications. The PPP was administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Under the second round of PPP, only a business with 300 or fewer employees was eligible for a PPP loan. To determine size, businesses were required to apply the affiliation rules under 13 C.F.R. § 121.301(f), which require aggregating the employees and revenue of related companies, including companies outside the United States.

GNGH2, Inc. filed a qui tam complaint in the Middle District of Florida alleging that Micro Matic improperly obtained a $2 million PPP loan. According to the allegations in the complaint, Micro Matic was ineligible for its PPP loan because it was not a small business due to its size after inclusion of its foreign affiliates. The United States investigated GNGH2’s allegations with the cooperation of Micro Matic. This settlement concludes the litigation and GNGH2 will receive $259,321.91 as a share in the recovery. The civil case is captioned United States ex rel. GNGH2, Inc. v. Micro Matic USA, Inc., Case No. 8:24-cv-00442-MSS-UAM (M.D. Fla.).

“PPP loans were intended to provide economic assistance to legitimate businesses during a national catastrophic event,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “We will continue to prosecute those who abuse this federal program and pursue the recovery of improperly obtained funds from anyone found ineligible to receive taxpayer dollars.”

“Investigations like this one reflect the collaboration of the Small Business Administration and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, as well as the work of private individuals who uncover fraudulent conduct, to recover COVID pandemic relief funds obtained through fraud,” said SBA General Counsel Wendell Davis.

This civil settlement resulted from an investigation by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher J. Emden, with the support of Arlene Embrey and Alexis Pinkston from SBA’s Office of General Counsel.

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

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 – Janie Martinez Castillo has been charged by federal indictment with 20 counts of willfully failing to account for and pay employment taxes, filing a false personal tax return, and corruptly endeavoring to obstruct the internal revenue laws. If convicted, Martinez Castillo faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison on each count for willfully failing to account for and pay over employment taxes, and up to 3 years on each remaining count. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to the indictment, Martinez Castillo was responsible for collecting, truthfully accounting for, and paying over to the IRS employment taxes owed by her payroll and tax business, Castillo Payroll and Tax Service Inc. (CPTS). Despite the fact that CPTS owed employment taxes for numerous calendar quarters from 2019 to 2023, Martinez Castillo failed to account for and pay over those taxes. Martinez Castillo also filed personal tax returns falsifying the amount withheld from her income and fraudulently altered CPTS’s books and records after receiving an IRS summons but before providing the records.

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 Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Winter.

Orlando, Florida – Matthew Leach (41, Tennessee) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron to 65 months in federal prison for the transportation and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The court also ordered Leach to forfeit a cellphone, which was used to commit the offense. Leach pleaded guilty on January 20, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, Leach encountered law enforcement when his cellphone was searched upon his departure from a cruise ship. During that search, law enforcement found images and videos of CSAM. Leach admitted that he had received or downloaded CSAM on various internet platforms and to having the material on his cellphone prior to going on the cruise. A subsequent forensic review of Leach’s cellphone uncovered hundreds of images and videos of CSAM.

This case was investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Noah Dorman and Courtney Richardson-Jones. 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 – Desiree Doreen Segari (41, Sarasota) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Katheryn Kimball Mizell to 14 months in federal prison for interstate communication of a threat to injure. A federal jury found Segari guilty on January 13, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

Segari was indicted on September 18, 2025.

According to evidence presented at trial, on August 17, 2025, Segari posted a video on TikTok calling for MAGA supporters to be shot on sight. Segari stated, “so if we all get our guns and use our second amendment right…and you see somebody with a MAGA hat, ‘pew pew’ that’s what we do, that’s the way, it’s the only way.” While saying “pew pew,” Segari used hand gestures mimicking the firing of a gun. She further stated, “Put them back in their basements, make them scared again to be racist, homophobic, and terrible just awful [expletive],” and “MAGA people deserve to be terrified and scared to walk in the streets because they should know that real Americans are gonna [mouths expletive] kill them.” When Segari posted the video, she included a caption: “#seemagapewpewmaga starting a new trend, hope it catches on. Please spread the word. Share this video. Repost it. Use the hashtag all over the internet. Let's go guys. It's time to fight back in a potentially effective manner.”

The next day, Segari posted another video on TikTok, in which she stated, “See MAGA pew pew MAGA, see MAGA pew pew MAGA, see MAGA pew pew MAGA so these [expletive] know we ain’t here to play” while again using hand gestures to mimic the firing of a gun. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sinacore.

Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that nine members or associates of the RMS/EBK gang (Respect Money Structure/Everybody Killer) have pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges. A summary of the charges by defendant is as follows:

Defendant

Charges

Penalties

Sentencing Date

Christian Rou-Rey

(23, Kissimmee)

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Distribution of controlled substances

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense

July 29, 2026

Jeremiah Maldonado

(21, Orlando)

Benajmin Rivard

(31, Clermont)

Distribution of fentanyl resulting in death

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense

August 19, 2026

Elena Falzone

(23, Orlando)

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Distribution of fentanyl

August 19, 2026

Paul Jacas

(32, Orlando)

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense

July 1, 2026

Carlos Carrasquillo-Rodriguez

(21, Orlando)

May 27, 2026

Zaviar Wanya Kidd

(28, Orlando)

Drug trafficking conspiracy

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances

July 1, 2026

Olivia Goen

(23, Orlando)

May 27, 2026

Rebecca Murray

(21, Deltona)

July 1, 2026

According to court documents, the criminal activities of the RMS/EBK gang have been under investigation since December 2022, when an overdose death exposed the organization and its criminal enterprise. RMS/EBK members and their associates conspired to distribute controlled substances, including methamphetamine and fentanyl, among other criminal acts. The gang often disguised the true nature of these substances. In particular, RMS/EBK sold blue, circular fentanyl pills with an “M” and the number “30”. The investigation was named “Operation Dirty 30s”.

Christian A. Roux-Rey was the leader of the drug trafficking organization and supplied controlled substances to and directed other members of the conspiracy.

Rebecca Murray assisted Roux-Rey with storing controlled substances, including fentanyl and methamphetamine, in their shared residence. She would also weigh, package, and transport controlled substances.

Jeremiah Maldonado was a senior-ranking member of RMS/EBK, also known as a “black flag” and directed lower ranking members. He distributed fentanyl to an individual who died within hours of consuming it.

Benajmin Rivard was also a black flag and directed lower-ranking members. Rivard distributed fentanyl to an individual who began overdosing within hours and subsequently died. Rivard was armed during drug transactions.

Paul Jacas was a member of RMS/EBK and sold fentanyl on behalf of the organization. Jacas also sold firearms.

Elena Falzone was a member of RMS/EBK and sold controlled substances on behalf of the organization. Falzone distributed fentanyl and bromazolam (counterfeit Xanax) to an individual who died within hours of consuming the substances.

Carlos Carrasquillo-Rodriguez was an associate of RMS/EBK and sold controlled substances or supplied controlled substances for the gang. Carrasquillo provided fentanyl and firearms to Jacas which were subsequently sold.

Zaviar Kidd is an associate of RMS/EBK and sold methamphetamine and fentanyl on behalf of the organization.

Olivia Marie Goen was a member of RMS/EBK and distributed fentanyl on behalf of the organization.

This case was investigated by the Orlando Police Department, the Orange County Sherriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel S. Lyons.

Ocala, Florida – A federal jury has found Brandon Ejae Elliot (35, Tampa) guilty of one count of involuntary manslaughter and one count of possession of contraband (a weapon) by a federal prisoner. Elliot faces up to 13 years in federal prison. A federal grand jury indicted Elliot on December 17, 2024. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.  

According to the evidence presented at trial, on December 3, 2022, Elliot was a federal inmate in the United States Penitentiary-II at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Sumter County, Florida. During a routine count of the prisoners, Elliot and his cellmate, C.W.J., were locked in their cell at 9:30 AM. When corrections 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. Elliot admitted to stabbing the victim in the heart during a struggle for the weapon.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hannah Nowalk Watson and William S. Hamilton.

Orlando, FL – Emmet Bowens (57, Apopka) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dalton to 63 months in federal prison for wire fraud and money laundering. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $739,582, the proceeds of the offenses. Bowens pleaded guilty on January 26, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, on May 5, 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bowens submitted a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan application claiming to own the business “Buccaneer Technologies.” The PPP was a provision of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act enacted to provide immediate assistance to individuals, families, and organizations affected by the COVID-19 emergency. Under the terms of the program, the loans were backed by the United States Small Business Administration and the full principal amount of could qualify for forgiveness.

As part of his application, Bowens certified that Buccaneer Technologies had 102 employees with an average monthly payroll of $295,883. In support of his loan application, Bowens submitted fraudulent tax records. Bowens also filed Articles of Incorporation for his sham business six days after his loan application was filed. The IP address used to submit the loan application was registered to Bowens’ residential address. The application information included Bowens’ social security number and a copy of his drivers license.

The loan was approved in the amount of $739,582 which was disbursed to Bowens’ personal checking account. Bowens then further distributed the funds into various accounts, including funding three new accounts with $250,000, $250,000 and $115,000, respectively. Bowens spent some of the funds on across-country road trip, during which he and his wife were captured on bank surveillance withdrawing $44,000 in cash.

After being charged and released on bond conditions, Bowens cut off his ankle monitor and fled the jurisdiction. Bowens was a fugitive for a year and a half before being located and arrested in the Northern District of Mississippi.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Small Business Administration. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel S. Lyons and Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Testerman. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Andrejko.

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 – Rebecca Stewart Vaughn (64, Tampa) has been charged by federal indictment with four counts of wire fraud and one count of theft of government money. If convicted, Vaughn faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each wire fraud count and up to 10 years for the theft of government money. The indictment also notifies Vaughn that the United States is seeking the forfeiture of more than $75,000, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to the indictment, Vaughn engaged in a fraud scheme to obtain Social Security benefits and City of New York pension benefits that did not belong to her. The benefits were being paid to Vaughn’s aunt, J.C. When J.C. died, Vaughn concealed her death by wrapping J.C.’s body in layers of blankets, sheets, and plastic bags, placing her body in a mattress bag, and disposing of the body in a wooded lot adjacent to a wastewater treatment plant. Vaughn also falsely represented to law enforcement officers that J.C. was still alive. By concealing J.C.’s death, Vaughn fraudulently induced the Social Security Administration and the Teacher’s Retirement System of the City of New York to continue to pay monthly benefits for J.C., which Vaughn then spent on herself and others.

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 Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.

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 – James Gregory Ford (34, Port Charlotte) has pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. He faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to the plea agreement, in October 2025, Ford was communicating with a minor using a social media application. He asked the minor to send him nude pictures and videos of herself. Further, Ford sent a nude picture of himself to the minor.

Law enforcement began an investigation into Ford after the child’s parent reported observing the conversations with Ford and seeing the nude photographs and videos on the minor’s cellphone that had been sent on a social media platform.

On October 28, 2025, law enforcement interviewed Ford concerning his communications with the minor. Ford admitted to engaging in conversations and exchanging inappropriate messages and images with the minor. He also admitted that he had initiated communications with the minor. He further acknowledged receiving and sending explicit photographs.

Subsequent to a search warrant for Ford’s cellphone, the forensic examination revealed the social media account belonging to Ford that had been used to communicate with the minor. Images and videos of the minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct were also located on Ford’s cellphone.   

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.

This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 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 child victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Jacksonville, FL – James Herbert Asberry, III (39, Jacksonville) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger to 11 years and 3 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl and methamphetamine. As part of his sentence, the court ordered the forfeiture of $18,938, the proceeds of Asberry’s drug trafficking, which were seized at the time of his arrest. Asberry pleaded guilty on July 17, 2024. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, during a series of meetings in late 2023 and early 2024, Asberry sold fentanyl and methamphetamine to a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) undercover task force officer and confidential source. On February 23, 2024, the DEA arrested Asberry and law enforcement executed search warrants both at his home in St. Johns County and at a Jacksonville apartment where Asberry stored drugs. Investigators located $18,938 in cash, as well as cocaine, fentanyl, and nearly two kilograms of methamphetamine.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole M. Andrejko.

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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).

Tampa, Florida – Dekarri Nixon (28, Jasper) has pleaded guilty to accepting a bribe as a public official. He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. The government is also seeking forfeiture from Nixon of $4,000, the proceeds that Nixon obtained by accepting a bribe. A sentencing hearing has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, Nixon worked as a correctional officer at the Citrus County Detention Facility (CCDF), a facility where federal detainees are held as they await trial and sentencing. In his role, Nixon was responsible for supervising federal inmates on behalf of the United States. While working at CCDF, Nixon agreed to receive $4,000 in exchange for bringing a cellphone into the facility. Smuggling contraband, including cellphones, was a violation of Nixon’s official duty. The introduction of contraband, such as cellphones, into secure detention facilities presents a security risk to those both inside and outside the facility.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, and the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Buchanan.

Tampa, Florida –A federal jury has found Miguel Cintron (38, Tampa) and Darrius Gustafson (22, Tampa) guilty of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death. Each faces a minimum penalty of 20 years, up to life, in federal prison. Sentencing dates have not yet been set. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Cintron, Gustafson, David Chudhabuddhi, and Marquis Trant distributed a lethal amount of fentanyl that resulted in the death of Victim-1. After Victim-1’s death, all four individuals continued to distribute fentanyl to undercover deputies and detectives with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. 

On April 10, 2024, all four were arrested and a search warrant was executed at Cintron’s residence where law enforcement recovered more than seven kilograms of cocaine, fentanyl, and over $200,000 in cash. 

Chudhabuddhi and Trant previously pleaded guilty and are scheduled for sentencing on June 18, 2026.  

This case was investigated by the University of South Florida Police Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Candace Garcia Rich.

Jacksonville, Florida – Rene Mauricio Escobar (55) and Juana Nelida Escobar (36), residents of Orlando, have been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger for conspiracy to commit tax fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Rene Escobar was sentenced to four years and nine months in federal prison. Juana Escobar was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. The court also ordered the defendants to pay $37,174,388 in restitution to the IRS for unpaid payroll taxes. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

Juana Escobar pleaded guilty on July 8, 2025, and Rene Escobar pleaded guilty on November 20, 2025.

Juana Escobar is a legal permanent resident from Mexico. Her conviction will likely result in her deportation from the United States. Rene Escobar is a naturalized U.S. citizen from Ecuador.

According to court documents and information presented in court, over the period of approximately December 2015 through August 2024, the defendants conspired to facilitate the payment of construction workers “off the books” to avoid paying payroll taxes and workers’ compensation insurance premiums. The scheme also facilitated the employment of undocumented workers who were not legally authorized to work in the United States. The defendants, through their company, Escobar Plastering, entered into agreements with hundreds of construction subcontractors to enable the subcontractors to obtain contracts with, and perform work for, construction contractors. In exchange for 7% to 8% of the subcontractors’ payroll, the defendants caused certificates of insurance in the name of the defendants’ company to be sent to construction contractors from which the subcontractors wished to obtain work, representing that the subcontractors worked for their company and were covered by the company’s workers’ compensation insurance. In fact, the company’s insurance policies were based on applications representing that the policies would cover a handful of employees and a minimal payroll.

As a result of the defendants’ using their certificate of insurance to represent that the subcontractors worked for their company, the insurers unwittingly covered hundreds of workers. If the insurers had known the amount of payroll they were in fact covering, they would have charged annual premiums totaling approximately $14,878,207. Thousands of payroll checks totaling approximately $148,760,824 were deposited into bank accounts of the defendants’ company, from which they withdrew cash to pay the subcontractors’ workers, after subtracting their 7% to 8% fee, which totaled, at 7%, approximately $10,413,258—all without withholding, or paying over, payroll taxes to the IRS. As a result, the U.S. Treasury lost $37,174,388 in unpaid payroll taxes. The defendants’ scheme allowed the construction contractors and subcontractors to disclaim responsibility for paying payroll taxes to the IRS, for ensuring that adequate workers’ compensation insurance was obtained, and for verifying that the workers were legally authorized to work in the United States.

“Complex investigations such as this require the skills and diligence of dedicated investigators and prosecutors,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “Because of the interagency cooperation and expertise displayed in this case, an intricate fraud scheme was unraveled, and the defendants were brought to justice.”

“Payroll and workers’ comp fraud doesn’t just break the law—it puts honest contractors at a competitive disadvantage,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “Don't be fooled into thinking these schemes are victimless crimes. The actions by these defendants alone cost the US taxpayers $37 million. Alongside our law-enforcement partners, IRS Special Agents will keep exposing complex schemes that exploit workers and steal from American taxpayers.”

“Multi-million-dollar payroll and worker’s insurance fraud schemes fuel the underground economy, create unfair advantages over honest businesses, and put workers at risk, especially when these schemes exploit illegal alien workers for personal gain,” said Homeland Security Investigations Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tim Hemker. “HSI is committed to dismantling complex criminal enterprises that exploit our financial and labor systems and exploit workers. By working in close partnership with IRS-CI, we uncovered this fraud, and these criminals will now be held accountable for their actions.”

This case was the result of a joint investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), working collaboratively as part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF). The Florida Department of Financial Services also assisted with this investigation. It is part of a continuing investigation by those agencies of the use of shell companies and “ghost” employees in the construction industry. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier. The asset forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Clint Locke.

Ocala, Florida – Bradly Dwayne Wimberly (32, Bradley) has pleaded guilty to attempted production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Wimberly faces a minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, between February 15, 2024, and July 10, 2025, Wimberly communicated online with someone he believed to be 13 to 14-year-old girl. He repeatedly asked the minor to produce sexually explicit images and videos of herself and send them to him. Wimberly was actually communicating with an undercover special agent from Homeland Security Investigations. 

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 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 child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Jacksonville, Florida – Carlos Felipe Jaramillo Grajales (55, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to making false statements in an application for a U.S. passport, aggravated identity theft, falsely claiming that a Social Security number had been assigned to him, and falsely claiming to be a U.S citizen to vote in an election. He faces a minimum term of 2 years, up to 22 years, in federal prison. His sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to the plea agreement, Jaramillo Grajales is a Colombian citizen who used the name, date of birth, and Social Security number of a U.S. citizen to apply for and obtain a passport. He used those same identifiers and claimed to be a U.S. citizen to apply for and obtain a Florida driver license and to register to vote. He then voted in several elections.

Jaramillo Grajales first obtained a driver license in the U.S. citizen’s name in March 2003 and subsequently renewed it several times, with the last renewal occurring in February 2024.

In April 2003, Jaramillo Grajales submitted an application for a U.S. passport. He identified himself as the U.S. citizen and provided a Puerto Rican birth certificate in the U.S. citizen’s name along with the driver license he had obtained. Based on these fraudulent—but authentic—documents, he was issued a passport in May 2003. He submitted passport renewal applications in February 2013 and March 2023 and a renewed passport was issued each time.

In December 2010, Jaramillo Grajales submitted a Florida Voter Registration Application, identifying himself as the U.S. citizen and affirming that he was a U.S. citizen who had been born in Puerto Rico. The registration was approved and he subsequently voted in several elections, including the election held in Duval County on November 3, 2020.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), Homeland Security Investigations, and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.

Ocala, Florida – Jiaan Cao (33, China) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Cao faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 31, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, beginning in at least October 2024 and continuing through December 12, 2024, Cao conspired with others to commit wire fraud by gaining access to a victim’s computer, fraudulently posing as a representative of a victim’s financial institution, and informing the victim their account had been subjected to fraudulent criminal activity. A member of the conspiracy then directed the victim to withdraw money from their account and purchase gold. Afterward, the victim was instructed to provide this gold to a “federal agent” for safekeeping. In actuality, the “federal agent” was another member of the conspiracy. Conspiracy members often exchanged electronic communications with each other, including the location details of the victims, for this purpose. On December 12, 2024, Cao was arrested at a victim’s residence in Marion County when he arrived to pick up gold that had been purchased in this manner. 

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

Tampa, Florida – Melissia Gauthreaux has been charged by federal indictment with six counts of wire fraud. If convicted, Gauthreaux faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. The indictment also notifies Gauthreaux that the United States is seeking an order of forfeiture in the amount of $894,274.26, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to the indictment, Gauthreaux was the founder, president, and managing member of Accounting Resources and Management Services, LLC. From 2017 through 2021, Gauthreaux used her business to steal more than $890,000 from one of her clients, a public figure who lived in the Middle District of Florida. Gauthreaux had signatory authority on her client’s bank accounts and was able to remove the funds without the client’s knowledge or consent. 

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 Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Merrilyn Hoenemeyer.

Fort Myers, Florida – Dagoberto Miguel Pena (37, Punta Gorda) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell to 60 years in federal prison for producing, receiving, possessing, and accessing with intent to view images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Pena was also sentenced to a life term of supervised release and ordered to register as a sex offender. Pena pleaded guilty on January 23, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, from October 2024 through February 2026, Pena used and persuaded two minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of their sexual abuse. 

In April 2025, law enforcement launched an investigation into Pena, a physical education teacher and a coach, after a parent discovered his inappropriate communications with a minor. Search warrants executed on Pena’s cellphone and online storage account revealed text messages with minors. In some text messages, Pena received images of a minor nude and engaging in sexually explicit conduct.  Additionally, images and videos that Pena had taken during his sexual abuse of two minors were located. The investigation further identified a third minor that Pena possessed images and videos of engaging in sexually explicit conduct. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, and with assistance from the Punta Gorda Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.

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.

Orlando, Florida – Jerry Smith (73, New Smyrna Beach) has pleaded guilty to one count of receiving stolen government money. Smith 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 the plea agreement, Smith falsely represented to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) that he was legally blind and that his vision conditions prevented him from driving, working, and performing various daily functions. As a result, Smith received $244,953.70 in VA disability compensation and benefits between 2017 and 2021. In reality, Smith’s vision was significantly better than what he had represented during eye examinations and in his statements to the VA, as he could drive, read, navigate around people and obstacles in stores, conduct transactions at cash registers and drive-through ATMs, and worked as a firearms specialist and school guardian. 

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diane S. Hu.

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 – Gilmar Pereira Da Silva, Jr. has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Katherine K. Mizelle to 37 months in federal prison for filing a false tax return. The court also ordered Pereira Da Silva to pay $103,646 in restitution to the United States Department of the Treasury associated with false IRS Forms 1040 filed by him for tax years 2019 and 2020. Pereira Da Silva pleaded guilty on February 9, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, Pereira Da Silva filed a false Form 1040 tax return with the IRS for tax year 2021, wherein he claimed a refund of taxes in the amount of $3,413,844, based upon false and fictitious claimed fuel tax credits to which he was not entitled. The 2021 Form 1040 was not processed by the IRS. Previously, Pereira Da Silva had likewise filed false Forms 1040 for tax years 2019 and 2020, claiming refunds in the amount of approximately $20,699 (for tax year 2019) and $82,947 (for tax year 2020), which were largely based upon false and fictitious fuel tax credits. Those false 2019 and 2020 Forms 1040 were processed by the IRS, and the resulting refunds were paid into accounts controlled by Pereira Da Silva.

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.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay G. Trezevant.

Tampa, Florida – A federal jury has found Jordan O’Keefe Woods (33, Seffner) guilty of two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of inducement to travel to engage in prostitution. Woods faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to evidence presented at trial, on September 22, 2024, and July 22, 2025, Woods knowingly trafficked the victim in reckless disregard of the fact that means of force, threats of force, and coercion would be used to cause the victim to engage in a commercial sex act. Woods orchestrated the victim’s commercial sexual activity, determining rates for sex acts and managing communication with soliciting dates, and controlled all the victim’s money.

Additionally, on September 20, 2024, and July 20, 2025, Woods knowingly persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced Victim 1 to travel from North Carolina to Florida to engage in prostitution and sexual activity. Law enforcement encountered the victim at hotels in Tampa, Florida in 2024 and 2025 and observed Woods conducting countersurveillance at both locations while the victim engaged in commercial sexual activity.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.

Orlando, Florida – Kasey James Caudill (29, Melbourne) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe to life in federal prison for coercing and enticing minors to engage in sexual activity. Caudill pleaded guilty on August 5, 2025. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, in August 2024, Caudill persuaded, induced, enticed, or coerced a minor to engage in the production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). In addition, between August 10 and 12, 2024, Caudill persuaded, induced, enticed, or coerced another minor to engage in the production of CSAM. The victims were both located in the Philippines. Caudill sent money to the children’s caregiver via PayPal in return for the videos and images of CSAM of her children, ages 7 and 12. 

“Those who target, exploit, and abuse children should know that we will leave no stone unturned to bring them to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “I applaud our law enforcement partners for their diligence and cooperation in investigating this case beyond our borders.”

“Protecting children from exploitation is a sacred duty, and it is through unwavering collaboration, determination, and courage that law enforcement agencies across the globe are able to locate and rescue victims of these heinous crimes from monsters and bring them to justice,” said HSI Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tim Hemker. “This level of accountability demonstrates the power of partnership and the relentless commitment of HSI Orlando, HSI Manilla, HSI Portland (Maine), and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office to safeguard the most vulnerable members of our communities.”

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, and Florida Department of Corrections Probation and Parole. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kaley Austin-Aronson and Patrick Flanigan.

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.

Fort Myers, Florida – The United States has filed a civil complaint in federal district court against Dr. Kevin Rosenbach, a doctor practicing in allergy and immunology in Naples Florida, and Kevin P. Rosenbach, M.D. P.A. The complaint alleges that Dr. Rosenbach and Kevin P. Rosenbach, M.D. P.A knowingly caused false claims for subcutaneous immune globulins to be submitted to Medicare Part B. As part of these claims, Dr. Rosenbach would change or add diagnoses to a rare immunodeficiency disease for patients who did not meet the definition of that disease to obtain Medicare Part B coverage. The complaint further alleges that by falsely diagnosing patients, Dr. Rosenbach caused the submission of false claims to Medicare Part B by special pharmacies dispensing immune globulins, resulting in a loss of over $1.9 million to Medicare Part B.

“The United States Attorney’s Office will vigorously pursue and prosecute those who violate the law and compromise the integrity of federally funded programs,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “This action sends a message that our office will continue to protect Medicare funds and the valuable healthcare services the program provides.”

The claims asserted against Dr. Rosenbach are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. 

This case was investigated by the Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General. It is being litigated on behalf of the United States by Assistant United States Attorney Chad Spraker.

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.

Ocala, Florida – Reshawn Graham (36, Ocala) and Tyrone Pierson (29, Ocala) have pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Graham faces a minimum penalty of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. Pierson faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. Graham’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 25, 2026. Pieron’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 21, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to the plea documents, on October 7, 2025, an undercover law enforcement officer negotiated the purchase of a pound of methamphetamine with Graham. Later that day, Pierson met with the undercover officer and told the officer that the source of supply for the drugs had been delayed. The next day, Graham again reached out to the undercover officer and stated that Pierson now had the methamphetamine. Afterward, Graham and Pierson were arrested by law enforcement at a predetermined meeting location for the drug transaction. Pierson was wearing a bag that contained approximately 438 grams of methamphetamine. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

The 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. 

Ocala, Florida – Shawn Adampeter Grunther (42, Marion County) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber to 10 years in federal prison for attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Grunther pleaded guilty on November 17, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, in July 2025, a Homeland Security Investigations special agent posed online as a 14-year-old girl (UC). Grunther messaged the UC account and, after learning the minor’s age, engaged in a sexually explicit conversation. On July 24, 2025, Grunther was arrested after he traveled to a location in Marion County to meet the UC to engage in sexual activity. 

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

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.

Ocala, Florida – Marlon Jefferson Fajardo-Paiz (22, Guatemala) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber to eight years and one month in federal prison for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. Fajardo-Paiz pleaded guilty pleas on November 13, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, Fajardo-Paiz is a citizen and national of Guatemala. He was previously removed from the United States on July 20, 2018, and has never received permission from the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to apply for readmission to the United States. On April 24, 2025, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office interviewed Fajardo-Paiz during an investigation of a Cybertip relating to an upload of CSAM to the internet. Fajardo-Paiz told investigators that he had participated in viewing, downloading, and transmitting CSAM. A subsequent search of Fajardo-Paiz’s cellphone revealed at least 20 items of CSAM in his possession.

This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

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.

Ocala, Florida – Keiron Jashua Williams (23, Deltona) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber to 15 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, for attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Williams pleaded guilty on November 19, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, in June 2025, a detective with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office posed online as a 13-year-old girl (UC). Williams messaged the UC account. After learning he was speaking with a minor, Williams engaged in a sexually explicit conversation. On July 5, 2025, Williams was arrested after he traveled to a location in Marion County to meet the minor to engage in sexual activity. A search of Williams’s car revealed he had brought an unopened box of condoms, a video game system, and marijuana for the meeting with the minor.

This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

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.

Orlando, Florida – Colleen Kieran (57, Clermont) has been charged by federal indictment with six counts of wire fraud. If convicted, Kieran faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. The indictment also notifies Kieran that the United States is seeking the forfeiture of $3.9 million, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to the indictment, Kieran oversaw the accounting department of a business based in Seminole County. Over the course of nearly 13 years, Kieran used her position to siphon more than $3.9 million from the company’s accounts into her own personal PayPal account. After taking the money, Kieran spent it on clothing, travel, entertainment, dining, consumer electronics, and entertainment media. Throughout the scheme, Kieran obtained loans in the company’s name to conceal the stolen money. She also provided false information about the company’s finances to her employers and the company’s tax preparer. 

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 is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Longwood Police Department, and the Seminole Financial Crimes Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard Varadan. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Andrejko. 

Ocala, Florida – Yoandris Jose Ruiz Bello (32, Venezuela) has been charged by federal indictment with attempted production of child sexual abuse material. If convicted, Ruiz Bello faces a minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to the indictment and evidence presented in court, on August 21, 2024, Ruiz Bello, believing he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl, asked the minor to produce a sexually explicit video of herself and send it to him. In fact, Ruiz Bellow was communicating with an undercover Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agent. Ruiz Bello is currently detained pending the resolution of the case. 

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 is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

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.