Southern District of Florida
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Two Miami Men Sentenced to Nearly Five Years in Prison for $28 Million Scheme Involving Diverted PharmaceuticalsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Two men were each sentenced on Oct. 30 to 57 months in federal prison for their roles in two separate but related schemes involving the sale of diverted and misbranded pharmaceutical drugs, including medications used to treat HIV and cancer.
According to court documents, Boris Arencibia, 52, and Jose Armando Rivera Garcia, 45, both of Miami, purchased high-priced prescriptions medications from illicit street sources—including patients who sold their prescriptions instead of taking the drugs and individuals who obtained prescriptions through fraud. These medicines require carefully controlled storage conditions to remain effective, but the diverted drugs were stored without any safeguards.
“Diverted drugs put patients’ lives at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “These defendants pushed tainted and repackaged medications into pharmacies across the country, knowing full well the danger. Our Office will continue to work with FDA, HHS-OIG, and the FBI to protect patients and hold accountable anyone who turns the healthcare system into a criminal marketplace.”
After purchasing the drugs, members of the conspiracy repackaged them and falsified paperwork to make it appear as though the medicines were supplied directly by manufacturers or legitimate wholesalers. The conspirators marketed the drugs through fake pharmaceutical distribution companies and shipped them to pharmacies across the U.S., where unsuspecting patients purchased them. In some cases, bottles contained incorrect medications, vitamins, or even pebbles—endangering patients’ health.
The first case, indicted in 2019, involved a conspiracy of 20 defendants. All but one fugitive have now been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 30 months to 14 years. Arencibia was among those who procured large quantities of diverted drugs from street sources and sold them to other conspirators. Rivera Garcia established a corporation, LDD Distributors, which received the drugs from Arencibia and sold them to a wholesale distributor operated by another defendant. Arencibia and Rivera Garcia each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, for using financial transactions to conceal the source and ownership of proceeds from the misbranded drugs.
The second case, filed in 2025, charged Arencibia and Rivera Garcia with operating a pharmaceutical wholesale company that marketed diverted drugs to pharmacies nationwide using falsified documentation to conceal the medicines’ true origins and conditions. Arencibia and Rivera Garcia pleaded guilty to trafficking in medical products with falsified documentation.
In total, Arencibia and Rivera Garcia sold approximately $28 million worth of diverted pharmaceuticals between the two schemes.
U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles sentenced Arencibia and Rivera Garcia to 57 months in prison in the 2019 case, to be served concurrently with the 43-month prison terms imposed in the 2025 case.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida; Acting Special Agent in Charge Kelly McCoy of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI), Miami Field Office; Acting Special Agent in Charge Jesus Barranco of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, (HHS-OIG), Miami Regional Office; and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
The 2019 case was investigated by FDA-OCI and FBI Miami, and the 2025 case was investigated by HHS-OIG.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Tamen prosecuted the 2019 case, and Trial Attorney Jacqueline Zee DerOvanesian of the Department of Justice’s Fraud Section prosecuted the 2025 case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff is handling asset forfeiture.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case numbers 19-cr-20674 and 25-cr-20154.
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North Miami Man Convicted of Kidnapping and Firearm Offenses Following Violent Home InvasionRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A federal jury in Miami convicted a man on Oct. 2 of kidnapping and multiple firearm offenses stemming from a violent home invasion.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on July 11, 2023, at approximately 6 a.m., Alphonso Gainer, 37, of North Miami, broke into the victim’s North Miami residence and opened fire inside the home, nearly killing the victim. A 911 call placed by the victim captured the sound of Gainer firing three additional rounds as the victim sought cover.
“This victim endured unimaginable fear and terror in his own home,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Thanks to the courage of the victim and the swift work of law enforcement, justice was delivered. We will never relent in pursuing those who use guns to threaten, harm, or intimidate others.”
Responding officers arrived within minutes, but Gainer fled before law enforcement could locate him. Hours later, after officers had completed their initial investigation and left the scene, Gainer returned to the residence, kidnapped the victim at gunpoint, and forced the victim into his rental vehicle. The victim managed to escape unharmed but photographed the vehicle’s license plate, which law enforcement traced back to Gainer. Ballistics evidence introduced at trial linked a firearm recovered from Gainer’s residence to shell casings found at the scene of the shooting.
The jury convicted Gainer of one count of kidnapping and three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition. Gainer faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for the kidnapping count and up to 15 years in prison for each of the three firearm possession counts. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Reding A. Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, made the announcement.
ATF Miami Field Office is investigating the case, with substantial assistance from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael C. Mikulic and Altanese P. Phenelus are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20226.
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U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones Meets with Monroe County Leadership to Strengthen Public Safety and Environmental Protection PartnershipsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – United States Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones met this week with Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay, State Attorney Dennis Ward, and Monroe County Mayor Michelle Lincoln to discuss ongoing efforts to protect public safety and preserve the natural resources of the Florida Keys.
The meeting focused on the strong collaboration between federal, state, and local partners in areas including violent crime, narcotics trafficking, environmental enforcement, and maritime interdiction. U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones reaffirmed the continued commitment of federal resources, personnel, and joint operations to support Monroe County’s priorities.
During the visit, Mayor Michelle Lincoln honored U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones by naming him an Honorary Conch, a distinction reserved for those who have earned the trust of the Keys community but were not born in the Keys. The recognition reflects the long-standing partnership between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Monroe County in protecting residents, visitors, and the fragile ecosystem that defines the island chain.
“Monroe County is a model of how public safety, environmental stewardship, and community partnership can work together,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones. “Sheriff Ramsay, State Attorney Ward, and Mayor Lincoln are doing exceptional work for the people of the Keys. I am deeply grateful to be named an Honorary Conch, and our Office will continue to bring federal resources, coordination, and resolve to protect residents and to safeguard the extraordinary natural environment that makes Monroe County unlike anywhere else.”
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones emphasized that the Southern District of Florida will continue working closely with Monroe County leadership to strengthen enforcement efforts, support community safety initiatives, and preserve the protected ecosystems of the Keys.
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Georgia Businessman Sentenced in International Bribery and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Georgia businessman was sentenced yesterday to eight years in prison for his role in a nearly five-year long scheme to bribe Honduran government officials and to launder money to secure business for a Georgia-based manufacturer of law enforcement uniforms and accessories. He was also ordered to forfeit over $2 million.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Carl Alan Zaglin, 70, of Marietta, Georgia, agreed to pay bribes to Honduran officials in order to obtain and retain business with Comité Técnico del Fideicomiso para la Administración del Fondo de Protección y Seguridad Poblacional (TASA), a Honduran governmental entity that procured goods for the Honduran National Police.
“Bribery is theft from the public,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This defendant tried to buy influence, rig contracts, and corrupt a foreign government for his own gain. Today’s sentence makes clear that when you bribe public officials, anywhere in the world, you answer for it in an American courtroom.”
The trial evidence showed that, between March 2015 and November 2019, Zaglin, the owner and CEO of Atlanco LLC (Atlanco), orchestrated the payment of hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to Honduran officials — including former TASA Executive Director Francisco Roberto Cosenza Centeno and former TASA Titular Director Juan Ramon Molina — in order to secure contracts with TASA worth more than $10 million. The bribes were paid through Aldo Nestor Marchena, a third-party intermediary then residing in Boca Raton, Florida, who received $2.5 million in payments of sham invoices authorized by Zaglin. In exchange for the bribes, Cosenza and other Honduran government officials assisted Zaglin, Marchena, and others in obtaining contracts for the sale of uniforms and other goods for the Honduran National Police and securing payment on the contracts.
Zaglin was convicted after trial in September 2025. Marchena, Cosenza, and Molina all previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. Marchena was sentenced to 84 months in prison for his role in the scheme in November 2025. Cosenza and Molina are awaiting sentencing.
The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami Field Office investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and authorities in Belize, Colombia, and Spain provided assistance with the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli S. Rubin for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Peter L. Cooch and Clayton P. Solomon of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA and Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (FEPA) matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA and FEPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.
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Georgia Businessman Sentenced in International Bribery and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
A Georgia businessman was sentenced yesterday to eight years in prison for his role in a nearly five-year long scheme to bribe Honduran government officials and to launder money to secure business for a Georgia-based manufacturer of law enforcement uniforms and accessories. He was also ordered to forfeit over $2 million.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Carl Alan Zaglin, 70, of Marietta, Georgia, agreed to pay bribes to Honduran officials in order to obtain and retain business with Comité Técnico del Fideicomiso para la Administración del Fondo de Protección y Seguridad Poblacional (TASA), a Honduran governmental entity that procured goods for the Honduran National Police.
The trial evidence showed that, between March 2015 and November 2019, Zaglin, the owner and CEO of Atlanco LLC (Atlanco), orchestrated the payment of hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to Honduran officials — including former TASA Executive Director Francisco Roberto Cosenza Centeno and former TASA Titular Director Juan Ramon Molina — in order to secure contracts with TASA worth more than $10 million. The bribes were paid through Aldo Nestor Marchena, a third-party intermediary then residing in Boca Raton, Florida, who received $2.5 million in payments of sham invoices authorized by Zaglin. In exchange for the bribes, Cosenza and other Honduran government officials assisted Zaglin, Marchena, and others in obtaining contracts for the sale of uniforms and other goods for the Honduran National Police and securing payment on the contracts.
Zaglin was convicted after trial in September 2025. Marchena, Cosenza, and Molina all previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. Marchena was sentenced to 84 months in prison for his role in the scheme in November 2025. Cosenza and Molina are awaiting sentencing.
The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami Field Office investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and authorities in Belize, Colombia, and Spain provided assistance with the investigation.
Trial Attorneys Peter L. Cooch and Clayton P. Solomon of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli S. Rubin for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA and Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (FEPA) matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA and FEPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.
Miami Man Pleads Guilty to Making Online Threats Against U.S. SenatorRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Miami man pleaded guilty on Oct. 2 to making online threats against a U.S. Senator.
According to court documents, on June 9, Walter George Bechtel, III, 39, used an X (formerly Twitter) account to post a threatening message directed at a U.S. Senator. The post stated, in part:
“You used to hate millionaires when you first started and then began to hate billionaires once you yourself became a millionaire through shady backroom deals. I will kill you personally old man. (Smiling Halo Emoji)”
When confronted by law enforcement, Bechtel admitted to sending the communication and reaffirmed his desire to harm the Senator.
Bechtel pleaded guilty to the interstate transmission of threatening communications. A sentencing hearing is set for Dec. 18. Bechtel faces up to 5 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Chief Michael G. Sullivan of the U.S. Capitol Police made the announcement.
The U.S. Capitol Police Threat Assessment Section is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Anton is prosecuting the case.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20327.
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Former Guyanese Presidential Candidate and Businessman Charged in $50 Million Tax Evasion and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A federal grand jury in Miami returned an indictment on Oct. 2 charging two Guyanese nationals with participating in a multi-year scheme to evade millions of dollars in taxes and royalties owed to the Government of Guyana through fraudulent gold export practices and related money laundering activities.
According to court documents, Nazar Mohamed, 72, and Azruddin Mohamed, 38, were owners of Mohamed’s Enterprise, a gold wholesaler and exporter in Guyana that sold gold to buyers in Miami and Dubai. Guyanese authorities impose approximately a seven-percent tax and duty on exported gold. From about 2017 through at least 2024, the pair allegedly enriched themselves and defrauded the Government of Guyana by concealing the true quantity and value of gold exported by their company.
The indictment alleges that the couple devised a system in which Mohamed’s Enterprise paid taxes and royalties on one shipment of gold to obtain official government seals, then reused those same seals on subsequent shipments to avoid paying additional taxes and royalties. To further their scheme, they allegedly shipped empty boxes bearing Guyanese government seals from Dubai through Miami to Guyana and paid bribes to customs and other government officials to facilitate the illegal shipments.
In total, the pair allegedly exported at least 10,000 kilograms of gold through Miami, causing an estimated loss of approximately $50 million to the Government of Guyana.
Nazar Mohamed is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and mail fraud. Azruddin Mohamed is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud. The indictment also alleges that Azruddin Mohamed engaged in a separate scheme to evade over $1 million in Guyanese taxes in connection with the shipment of a Lamborghini from Miami to Guyana. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of approximately $5.3 million in gold bars shipped by Mohamed’s Enterprise that were seized at Miami International Airport on June 11, 2024.
Both were sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control in June 2024. Azruddin Mohamed, who unsuccessfully ran for president of Guyana in September 2025, is an incoming member of Guyana’s parliament.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Criminal Division, and Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa and Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami and New York, made the announcement.
This case was investigated by HSI Miami and New York, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, and Customs and Border Protection.
Senior Litigation Counsel Michael N. Berger and Trial Attorney Jil Simon of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Deputy Chief Josh Paster is handling asset forfeiture.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20441.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Honors AUSA Mary V. “Jena” King and Legal Assistant Niurka “Nikki” Machin on Their RetirementRead the Press Release
MIAMI – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida proudly celebrated the retirements of Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary V. “Jena” King and Legal Assistant Niurka “Nikki” Machin during a clap-out ceremony honoring their decades of dedicated federal service.
Jena King has been a steady and respected presence in this Office for more than 36-years. Her career stands as a model of integrity, professionalism, and devotion to justice that has shaped generations of prosecutors and staff. She has served this community faithfully in defense of the rule of law with the grace, judgment, and compassion throughout her time in the Southern District of Florida.
“Jena’s family’s legacy of public service is woven into the very fabric of our community. Every day, we walk through the doors of the King Federal Justice Building—a powerful reminder of her father’s enduring contributions to the bench and to this District. Jena has carried that same spirit forward in her own distinguished service, leaving behind a record of excellence that will continue to inspire those who follow.” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida.
Nikki Machin has served the Office for nearly 20 years, primarily supporting the Narcotics Section. She is known for her discipline, reliability, and her ability to manage complex and demanding casework with calm and care. Prosecutors relied on her judgment and steady presence. Her work strengthened this Office’s mission and contributed to some of the most significant prosecutions in the District.
“Nikki was a constant source of support for our Narcotics Section. She kept demanding cases on track and brought order and professionalism to the most complex cases. She made our mission stronger, and we are deeply grateful for the service she gave this Office and the people of South Florida.” – U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones
The clap-out ceremony brought together colleagues and leadership to recognize King and Machin as they concluded their federal careers and embarked on the next chapter of their lives. Their legacy of excellence, professionalism, and service will remain an enduring part of the Office’s history. The Office extends its thanks to City of Miami Chief of Police Manny Morales for his continued support and for his officers joining the Office in recognizing the distinguished service of both honorees.
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North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Enticing Okeechobee MinorRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Charlotte, North Carolina man has pleaded guilty in Fort Pierce on Oct. 14 to enticing a minor to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Kaleb Harrison Childs, 26, began communicating in February 2025 with a minor from Okeechobee through a social media application. The minor told Childs that she was 13 years old, but she was actually 12. During their online exchanges, Childs offered to provide gift cards and video game credits in exchange for sexually explicit images and videos of the minor.
In May 2025, Childs was arrested as he reentered the U.S aboard a cruise ship. Following his arrest, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence and discovered hundreds of images of CSAM.
Childs pleaded guilty to one count of enticement of a minor and one count of producing material involving the sexual exploitation of minors. Childs faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for the enticement count and up to 30 years in prison for the production count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida, Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Division, and Sheriff Noel E. Stephen of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.
HSI Fort Pierce and the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Hoover is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-14034.
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Florida Man Ordered to Pay More Than $300,000 in Restitution for Sex Trafficking VictimsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Lake Placid man has been ordered to pay $327,735 in restitution to the victims he trafficked for sex. The restitution order was entered on Oct. 6 by U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon.
Shannima Yuantrell Session, also known as “Shalamar,” 47, was previously sentenced to life in federal prison after a jury found him guilty of 10 counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and three counts of sex trafficking of a minor. The charges stemmed from Session’s exploitation of nearly a dozen women and girls.
“Human trafficking is one of the most vicious crimes imaginable—it strips victims of their freedom, dignity, and humanity,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This restitution order ensures that the survivors of Session’s cruelty receive some measure of justice for the years of exploitation and abuse they endured. Our Office will continue to pursue traffickers relentlessly and stand with the victims they sought to silence.”
According to evidence presented during the nine-day trial in September 2024, Session compelled his victims to engage in thousands of commercial sex acts between July 2011 and July 2013, and again between February 2016 and February 2019. Session lured women and girls facing unstable housing, substance abuse, or neglect with false promises of legitimate employment and housing assistance—promises calculated to gain their trust, expose their vulnerabilities, and ultimately allow him to control and exploit them.
Session forced victims to engage in commercial sex acts in squalid trailers housing migrant workers and in local orange groves. He used food, shelter, and drugs to maintain control, exploiting victims’ addictions and dependence. Evidence showed that Session used a firearm to intimidate and threaten his victims, and that he often resorted to brutal violence—punching and beating them with weapons, and, in one instance, taking victims to a nearby lake where he held two of their heads underwater and threatened to drown them if they disobeyed.
At trial and at the restitution hearing, the government demonstrated that Session made approximately $327,735 by compelling the victims’ coerced commercial sex acts. The restitution order requires Session to repay those illicit proceeds to his victims.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
The FBI Miami, Fort Pierce Resident Agency, investigated the case, with assistance from the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Hoover for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Leah Branch and Matthew Thiman of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit prosecuted the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 22-cr-14074.
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South African National Convicted of Passport Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A federal jury in Miami convicted a South African national on Oct. 15 of making a false statement on a passport application and committing aggravated identity theft.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Vasudevan Pillay, 68, first entered the United States in 1985 on a six-month tourist visa. Upon his arrival, Pillay stole the identity of a U.S. citizen who had died decades earlier as a toddler. Evidence introduced at trial showed that Pillay obtained the victim’s birth certificate and, using the stolen identity, secured a Social Security number and Florida driver license in the victim’s name.
On Nov. 28, 2023, Pillay fraudulently applied for a U.S. passport using the victim’s name.
“For nearly forty years, this defendant lived under a lie,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “He stole the identity of a deceased child, defrauded the government, and tried to pass himself off as an American citizen. This conviction restores accountability and reaffirms that the rule of law still matters.”
Pillay faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for the false statement on a passport application count and a mandatory two-year prison term for aggravated identity theft, which must run consecutively to any other sentence imposed. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Pillay is subject to removal after he is sentenced.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan McSeveney of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Miami Field Office made the announcement.
The DSS Miami Field Office is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ilana Malkin and Tim Farina are prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20260.
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Illegal Mexican National with Five Prior Removals Caught with 50,000 Fentanyl Pills Hidden in Child’s ToyRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Mexican national made his initial appearance in federal court in Fort Lauderdale on Nov. 17 after law enforcement recovered more than 50,000 fentanyl pills concealed inside a child’s toy.
According to the complaint affidavit, officers approached a vehicle driven by Guillermo Higuera German, 37. During a consensual encounter, a certified narcotics K-9 conducted an open-air sniff and alerted to narcotics.
A search of the vehicle followed. Officers found several boxes and a Sesame Street-style school bus toy packed with thousands of fentanyl pills that weighed about five kilograms. The investigation also determined that Higuera German was illegally in the U.S. and had been deported five times.
Higuera German is again subject to removal.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, made the announcement.
The DEA Miami Field Division and Fort Lauderdale Police Department are investigating, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection on potential immigration offenses.
About the Border and Immigration Crimes Enforcement (BICE) Section
This case is being prosecuted by the newly formed Border and Immigration Crimes Enforcement (BICE) Section. BICE was created by U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones to strengthen South Florida’s border security posture, protect maritime and land points of entry, enforce federal immigration law, and dismantle transnational smuggling networks operating through the region. The Section brings together narcotics, immigration, fraud, and violent-crime expertise into a single coordinated unit focused on border-driven threats.
BICE Deputy Chief Jeremy Fugate is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.sdfl.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.sdfl.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-mj-06666.
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Chinese National Pleads Guilty to South Florida Gift Card Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Chinese national pleaded guilty on Sept. 23 in Fort Pierce federal court for participating in a fraud scheme targeting grocery stores across South Florida, including St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties.
According to court records, between Jan. 14 and Dec. 17, 2024, Cao Yuan Liu, 22, and a co-conspirator traveled to grocery stores throughout Florida and tampered with gift cards. Investigators discovered cards in which the packaging had been carefully opened, serial numbers and PINs exposed or removed, and the packaging resealed to appear intact. Once unsuspecting customers purchased and activated the compromised cards, Liu and his co-conspirator illicitly accessed the funds for their own use.
“Gift card fraud schemes like this prey on unsuspecting consumers and erode trust in our everyday retail systems,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Liu’s conviction sends a clear message: those who tamper with gift cards and steal from innocent consumers will be held accountable. Our Office is committed to protecting South Florida communities from these sophisticated fraud operations and ensuring justice for those affected.”
Surveillance footage captured Liu and his co-conspirator leaving multiple stores in a black Bentley SUV with a New York license plate. On Dec. 17, 2024, law enforcement located Liu and his co-conspirator, executed a search warrant at their shared Jensen Beach apartment, and recovered multiple tampered gift cards. Six days later, after seizing the Bentley SUV, law enforcement executed a search warrant of the vehicle and located additional gift cards linked to the scheme.
In total, investigators have identified approximately 42 grocery stores across Florida that were targeted.
Liu pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess 15 or more counterfeit or unauthorized access devices. He faces up to five years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami made the announcement.
HSI Fort Pierce and Martin County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.
Managing Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Lineberger is prosecuting this case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-14043.
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Vohra Wound Physicians and its Owner Agree to Pay $45M to Settle Fraud Allegations of Overbilling for Wound Care ServicesRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Dr. Ameet Vohra and his companies, including Vohra Wound Physicians Management LLC (Vohra), have agreed to pay $45 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly causing the submission of claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary surgical procedures, for more lucrative surgical procedures when only routine non-surgical wound management had been done, and for evaluation and management services that were not billable under Medicare coverage and coding rules.
Vohra is one of the nation’s largest providers of bedside specialty wound care for patients in nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities. In April 2025, the United States filed a lawsuit alleging that Vohra engaged in a nationwide scheme to bill Medicare for surgical excisional debridement procedures that were either not medically necessary or had not been performed. In its complaint, the United States alleged that Vohra pressured, trained, and provided financial incentives for Vohra physicians to perform debridement procedures during as many patient visits as possible regardless of the patients’ needs. Furthermore, it did not matter which kind of debridement a Vohra physician performed because Vohra allegedly programmed its electronic health record and billing software to ensure that Medicare was always billed for the higher-reimbursed surgical excisional procedure and to create false medical record documentation to support the scheme. Finally, the United States alleged that this widespread scheme was orchestrated by Dr. Vohra and implemented by his senior management team.
“Providers that manipulate electronic health records systems to drive inappropriate utilization or billing of Medicare services undermine the integrity of the Medicare program and waste taxpayer dollars,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will hold accountable providers who prioritize their own enrichment over the medical needs of their patients.”
“When corporations design systems to inflate profits at taxpayer expense, they are stealing from the American people,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “We will not tolerate fraud in our healthcare system and will hold those accountable who manipulate public programs for personal gain. Our Office will protect taxpayer dollars and defend the integrity of programs that serve America’s seniors.”
“When medical providers submit inflated claims, they contribute to rising healthcare costs for all consumers,” said U.S. Attorney Margaret E. Heap for the Southern District of Georgia. “My office will continue to combat fraudulent billing by unravelling these schemes.”
“Billing Medicare for medically unnecessary procedures and manipulating documentation to maximize profits not only defrauds taxpayers — it puts vulnerable patients at risk,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This settlement sends a clear message: those who exploit federal healthcare programs for personal gain will face serious consequences. The Corporate Integrity Agreement ensures continued oversight and serves as a powerful deterrent against future misconduct.”
Under the settlement, Vohra will enter into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services. Under the CIA, Vohra must develop and maintain a compliance program, implement a risk assessment process and hire an independent review organization (IRO) to review its claims and health information technology systems. The CIA requires monitoring of Vohra’s operations and obligates company executives and owners to certify compliance annually with the terms of the CIA.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Florida and the Southern District of Georgia, and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The matter was handled by Fraud Section Attorneys Kirsten Mayer, David Finkelstein, Samuel Robins, Yifan Wang, and William Olson, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rosaline Chan and Matthew Feeley for the Southern District of Florida and Bradford Patrick for the Southern District of Georgia.
The claims resolved by the United States in the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
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Vohra Wound Physicians and its Owner Agree to Pay $45M to Settle Fraud Allegations of Overbilling for Wound Care ServicesRead the Press Release
Dr. Ameet Vohra and his companies, including Vohra Wound Physicians Management LLC (Vohra), have agreed to pay $45 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly causing the submission of claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary surgical procedures, for more lucrative surgical procedures when only routine non-surgical wound management had been done, and for evaluation and management services that were not billable under Medicare coverage and coding rules.
Vohra is one of the nation’s largest providers of bedside specialty wound care for patients in nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities. In April 2025, the United States filed a lawsuit alleging that Vohra engaged in a nationwide scheme to bill Medicare for surgical excisional debridement procedures that were either not medically necessary or had not been performed.
In its complaint, the United States alleged that Vohra pressured, trained, and provided financial incentives for Vohra physicians to perform debridement procedures during as many patient visits as possible regardless of the patients’ needs. Furthermore, it did not matter which kind of debridement a Vohra physician performed because Vohra allegedly programmed its electronic health record and billing software to ensure that Medicare was always billed for the higher-reimbursed surgical excisional procedure and to create false medical record documentation to support the scheme. Finally, the United States alleged that this widespread scheme was orchestrated by Dr. Vohra and implemented by his senior management team.
“Providers that manipulate electronic health records systems to drive inappropriate utilization or billing of Medicare services undermine the integrity of the Medicare program and waste taxpayer dollars,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will hold accountable providers who prioritize their own enrichment over the medical needs of their patients.”
“When corporations design systems to inflate profits at taxpayer expense, they are stealing from the American people,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “We will not tolerate fraud in our healthcare system and will hold those accountable who manipulate public programs for personal gain. Our Office will protect taxpayer dollars and defend the integrity of programs that serve America’s seniors.”
“When medical providers submit inflated claims, they contribute to rising healthcare costs for all consumers,” said U.S. Attorney Margaret E. Heap for the Southern District of Georgia. “My office will continue to combat fraudulent billing by unravelling these schemes.”
“Billing Medicare for medically unnecessary procedures and manipulating documentation to maximize profits not only defrauds taxpayers — it puts vulnerable patients at risk,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This settlement sends a clear message: those who exploit federal healthcare programs for personal gain will face serious consequences. The Corporate Integrity Agreement ensures continued oversight and serves as a powerful deterrent against future misconduct.”
Under the settlement, Vohra will enter into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services. Under the CIA, Vohra must develop and maintain a compliance program, implement a risk assessment process and hire an independent review organization (IRO) to review its claims and health information technology systems. The CIA requires monitoring of Vohra’s operations and obligates company executives and owners to certify compliance annually with the terms of the CIA.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Florida and the Southern District of Georgia, and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The matter was handled by Fraud Section Attorneys Kirsten Mayer, David Finkelstein, Samuel Robins, Yifan Wang, and William Olson, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rosaline Chan and Matthew Feeley for the Southern District of Florida and Bradford Patrick for the Southern District of Georgia.
The claims resolved by the United States in the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Miami Man Sentenced to More Than 19 Years in Prison for $40 Million Investment Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Miami man was sentenced on Oct. 2 to 230 months in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $16 million in restitution for operating an investment Ponzi scheme disguised as a merchant cash advance (MCA) business.
Chief U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga imposed the sentence on Pablo Silverio Rebollido, 48, of Miami, who previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
“This defendant built his fortune on lies while leaving investors in ruin,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “We will continue to protect investors, safeguard our markets, and ensure that criminals who commit financial crimes face justice.”
According to court documents, Rebollido owned and founded two Miami-based companies, E-Card Lending LLC and E-Card Merchant LLC (collectively E-Card). E-Card purported to engage in the business of providing MCAs—a type of short-term financing typically used by small and medium-sized businesses.
E-Card claimed to loan money at high interest rates to its clients in the form of lump-sum cash advances in exchange for a percentage of future credit card sales or daily bank deposits. From August 2019 through February 2024, Rebollido fraudulently solicited money from investors under the false pretense that their funds would be used to finance E-Card’s MCAs, promising them regular monthly returns based on company profits. In reality, E-Card had no legitimate clients. Rebollido used new investor funds to make payments to earlier investors and to finance his lavish personal lifestyle. More than 70 investors were defrauded, resulting in losses exceeding $40 million.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
FBI Miami investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert F. Moore and Jon Juenger prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff is handling asset forfeiture.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20127.
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Justice Department Secures Denaturalization of Health Care FraudsterRead the Press Release
On Nov. 17, the Justice Department secured the denaturalization of Marieva Briceno, who defrauded more than $5.4 million from Medicare and then obtained U.S. citizenship by concealing her crimes from immigration officials.
A native of Venezuela, Briceno owned three purported medical clinics in the Detroit, Michigan, area that paid individuals on Medicare to undergo unnecessary tests and procedures. From May 2007 to January 2010, Briceno and her co-conspirators submitted approximately $5,460,323 in fraudulent claims to Medicare for those medically unnecessary services. Ultimately, Medicare paid $2,998,321.94 on those fraudulent claims, with Briceno personally receiving approximately $513,200 in fraudulent payouts.
“The denaturalization of Marieva Briceno shows that if you steal from the programs that serve our most vulnerable citizens, you will be found out, prosecuted, and suffer the consequences of your actions, up to and including the loss of your U.S. citizenship,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
“American citizenship is a privilege built on honesty and respect for our laws. You cannot defraud Medicare, conceal your crimes, and expect to secure the benefits of citizenship,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Fraud against programs that serve our most vulnerable citizens and lies told to obtain naturalization undermine the integrity of both our healthcare system and our immigration process. Our Office will continue to protect taxpayer dollars, defend the rule of law, and ensure that U.S. citizenship is reserved for those who earn it lawfully.”
On Dec. 21, 2009, Briceno applied for U.S. citizenship. On both her citizenship application and while under oath during an interview with immigration officials, Briceno concealed her health care fraud and denied ever committing a crime for which she had not been arrested. Briceno’s misrepresentations allowed her to illegally procure her U.S. citizenship on March 19, 2010.
On Sept. 12, 2011, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida charged Briceno with health care fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1347, and conspiracy to commit health care fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349. On March 14, 2012, Briceno pleaded guilty to the latter count, and was sentenced to 60 months in prison.
On Aug. 12, the Justice Department filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida seeking Briceno’s denaturalization based on her criminal conspiracy and her failure to disclose it during her naturalization process. On Nov. 17, the Honorable Darrin Gayles, U.S. District Judge, entered an order revoking Briceno’s U.S. citizenship.
This case was prosecuted by Deputy Chief Hans H. Chen of the Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation, General Litigation and Appeals Section, Affirmative Litigation Unit, with assistance from HSI, ICE’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Feeley for the Southern District of Florida.
Fort Lauderdale Financial Advisor Pleads Guilty to $94 Million International Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Fort Lauderdale man pleaded guilty on Nov. 14 to charges arising from a years-long scheme that defrauded international investors—primarily Venezuelan nationals—of more than $94 million.
According to court documents, Andrew Hamilton Jacobus, 64, falsely portrayed himself as a seasoned financial advisor managing legitimate investment portfolios, while misappropriating investor funds for personal use and to pay returns to earlier investors in classic Ponzi-scheme fashion.
Between 2004 and 2023, Jacobus solicited funds through entities under his control, including Kronus Financial Corporation and Finser International Corporation, promising access to secure investment products and high-yield returns. In reality, Jacobus forged account statements, falsified documentation, and diverted client funds to luxury personal expenditures and Ponzi payments.
Jacobus pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each count. A federal district court judge will determine a sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Ronald A. Loecker of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Florida Field Office, made the announcement.
IRS-CI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moore is prosecuting. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitch Hyman is handling asset forfeiture.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20309.
South Florida Congresswoman Charged with Stealing $5 Million in FEMA Funds and Making Illegal Campaign ContributionsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A federal grand jury in Miami has returned an indictment charging Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and several co-defendants with stealing federal disaster funds, laundering the proceeds, and using the money to support her 2021 congressional campaign.
According to the indictment, Cherfilus-McCormick, 46, and her brother Edwin Cherfilus, 51, both of Miramar, worked through their family health-care company on a FEMA-funded COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract in 2021. In July 2021, the company received an overpayment of $5 million in FEMA funds.
The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired to steal that $5 million and routed it through multiple accounts to disguise its source. Prosecutors allege that a substantial portion of the misappropriated funds was used as candidate contributions to Cherfilus-McCormick’s 2021 congressional campaign and for the personal benefit of the defendants.
The indictment further alleges that Cherfilus-McCormick and Nadege Leblanc, 46, of Miramar, arranged additional contributions using straw donors, funneling other monies from the FEMA-funded Covid-19 contract to friends and relatives who then donated to the campaign as if using their own money.
The indictment also charges Cherfilus-McCormick and her 2021 tax preparer David K. Spencer, 41, of Davie, with conspiring to file a false federal tax return. According to the indictment, they falsely claimed political spending and other personal expenses as business deductions and inflated charitable contributions in order to reduce her tax obligations.
“Using disaster relief funds for self-enrichment is a particularly selfish, cynical crime,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “No one is above the law, least of all powerful people who rob taxpayers for personal gain. We will follow the facts in this case and deliver justice.”
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida stated, “Today’s indictment shows no one is above the law. This indictment reflects our Office’s commitment to follow the facts, apply the law, and protect the American taxpayer. Public money belongs to the American people. When FEMA funds are diverted for personal or political gain, it erodes trust and harms us all. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that American taxpayer dollars are used as intended and that the public’s trust is safeguarded.”
If convicted, Cherfilus-McCormick faces up to 53 years in prison. Edwin Cherfilus faces up to 35 years, Leblanc up to 10 years, and Spencer up to 33 years.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones; Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Ronald A. Loecker of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Florida Field Office, made the announcement.FBI Miami and the IRS-CI Florida Field Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alejandra L. López and Yeney Hernández and DOJ Criminal Division Trial Attorney John P. Taddei are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at PACER. Case number is forthcoming.
South Florida Congresswoman Charged with Stealing $5 Million in FEMA Funds and Making Illegal Campaign ContributionsRead the Press Release
This press release has been updated to include the case number.
MIAMI – A federal grand jury in Miami has returned an indictment charging Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and several co-defendants with stealing federal disaster funds, laundering the proceeds, and using the money to support her 2021 congressional campaign.
According to the indictment, Cherfilus-McCormick, 46, and her brother Edwin Cherfilus, 51, both of Miramar, worked through their family health-care company on a FEMA-funded COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract in 2021. In July 2021, the company received an overpayment of $5 million in FEMA funds.
The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired to steal that $5 million and routed it through multiple accounts to disguise its source. Prosecutors allege that a substantial portion of the misappropriated funds was used as candidate contributions to Cherfilus-McCormick’s 2021 congressional campaign and for the personal benefit of the defendants.
The indictment further alleges that Cherfilus-McCormick and Nadege Leblanc, 46, of Miramar, arranged additional contributions using straw donors, funneling other monies from the FEMA-funded Covid-19 contract to friends and relatives who then donated to the campaign as if using their own money.
The indictment also charges Cherfilus-McCormick and her 2021 tax preparer David K. Spencer, 41, of Davie, with conspiring to file a false federal tax return. According to the indictment, they falsely claimed political spending and other personal expenses as business deductions and inflated charitable contributions in order to reduce her tax obligations.
“Using disaster relief funds for self-enrichment is a particularly selfish, cynical crime,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “No one is above the law, least of all powerful people who rob taxpayers for personal gain. We will follow the facts in this case and deliver justice.”
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida stated, “Today’s indictment shows no one is above the law. This indictment reflects our Office’s commitment to follow the facts, apply the law, and protect the American taxpayer. Public money belongs to the American people. When FEMA funds are diverted for personal or political gain, it erodes trust and harms us all. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that American taxpayer dollars are used as intended and that the public’s trust is safeguarded.”
If convicted, Cherfilus-McCormick faces up to 53 years in prison. Edwin Cherfilus faces up to 35 years, Leblanc up to 10 years, and Spencer up to 33 years.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones; Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Ronald A. Loecker of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Florida Field Office, made the announcement.
FBI Miami and the IRS-CI Florida Field Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alejandra L. López and Yeney Hernández and DOJ Criminal Division Trial Attorney John P. Taddei are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at PACER, under case number 25-cr-20500.
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Justice Department Secures Denaturalization of Health Care FraudsterRead the Press Release
On Nov. 17, the Justice Department secured the denaturalization of Marieva Briceno, who defrauded more than $5.4 million from Medicare and then obtained U.S. citizenship by concealing her crimes from immigration officials.
A native of Venezuela, Briceno owned three purported medical clinics in the Detroit, Michigan, area that paid individuals on Medicare to undergo unnecessary tests and procedures. From May 2007 to January 2010, Briceno and her co-conspirators submitted approximately $5,460,323 in fraudulent claims to Medicare for those medically unnecessary services. Ultimately, Medicare paid $2,998,321.94 on those fraudulent claims, with Briceno personally receiving approximately $513,200 in fraudulent payouts.
“The denaturalization of Marieva Briceno shows that if you steal from the programs that serve our most vulnerable citizens, you will be found out, prosecuted, and suffer the consequences of your actions, up to and including the loss of your U.S. citizenship,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
“American citizenship is a privilege built on honesty and respect for our laws. You cannot defraud Medicare, conceal your crimes, and expect to secure the benefits of citizenship,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Fraud against programs that serve our most vulnerable citizens and lies told to obtain naturalization undermine the integrity of both our healthcare system and our immigration process. Our Office will continue to protect taxpayer dollars, defend the rule of law, and ensure that U.S. citizenship is reserved for those who earn it lawfully.”
On Dec. 21, 2009, Briceno applied for U.S. citizenship. On both her citizenship application and while under oath during an interview with immigration officials, Briceno concealed her health care fraud and denied ever committing a crime for which she had not been arrested. Briceno’s misrepresentations allowed her to illegally procure her U.S. citizenship on March 19, 2010.
On Sept. 12, 2011, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida charged Briceno with health care fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1347, and conspiracy to commit health care fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349. On March 14, 2012, Briceno pleaded guilty to the latter count, and was sentenced to 60 months in prison.
On Aug. 12, the Justice Department filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida seeking Briceno’s denaturalization based on her criminal conspiracy and her failure to disclose it during her naturalization process. On Nov. 17, the Honorable Darrin Gayles, U.S. District Judge, entered an order revoking Briceno’s U.S. citizenship.
This case was prosecuted by Deputy Chief Hans H. Chen of the Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation, General Litigation and Appeals Section, Affirmative Litigation Unit, with assistance from HSI, ICE’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Feeley for the Southern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones Swears in Veteran Trial Lawyer Maria Guzman as Assistant United States AttorneyRead the Press Release
MIAMI – United States Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones today announced the swearing-in of Maria Guzman as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. Guzman joins the Narcotics Section, bringing more than three decades of trial experience in state and federal courts.
Guzman is a graduate of Columbia University and the University of Miami School of Law. She began her career as an Assistant District Attorney in Houston, Texas, where she tried more than fifty misdemeanor and felony jury trials. After several years in private practice handling criminal and civil matters, she returned to public service in Miami as an Assistant State Attorney for Miami-Dade County. There, she prosecuted violent crime, robbery, and homicide cases, rising to Assistant Chief of the Robbery/Career Criminal Unit and Felony Division Chief. She tried approximately thirty homicide cases during her tenure.
Following her time in Miami, Guzman served for seventeen years as an Assistant Federal Public Defender in the Middle District of Florida. She was lead trial counsel on hundreds of federal cases, including matters involving firearms, narcotics, RICO conspiracies, child exploitation, fraud, immigration, and international money laundering. Her years as an AFPD shaped her reputation as a skilled litigator, a demanding courtroom advocate, and a trusted trainer for young attorneys.
Most recently, Guzman served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Middle District of Florida, prosecuting violent crime, narcotics trafficking, health care fraud, immigration offenses, overdose death cases, and OCDETF investigations. She served as the office’s Violent Crimes Coordinator, leading significant investigations and securing notable jury verdicts in complex robbery and firearms cases.
In announcing her appointment, U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones stated: “Maria is the kind of prosecutor who makes a district stronger the moment she walks through the door. She has tried more than 300 cases, served our justice system from every angle, and brings a depth of experience that is rare in any district. Our Narcotics Section gains a steady hand, a battle-tested trial lawyer, and a public servant committed to protecting our community.”
Guzman is fluent in English and Spanish and is admitted to practice in Florida and Texas.
She will begin her duties in the Narcotics Section immediately.
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Boat Owner and Captain Arraigned in Miami on Federal Cocaine Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A boat owner and captain were arraigned in Miami on Sept. 26 to face charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
According to court documents, between Aug. 24 and 28, Jeffry Dominguez, 34, and Luis Antonio Garcia Rosario, 37, planned to transport hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from the Dominican Republic to Miami.
On Aug. 29, the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a 44-foot vessel entering U.S. waters. During a boarding of the vessel, law enforcement identified Dominguez, the registered boat owner, and Garcia Rosario. A search revealed 741 packages that contained approximately 742 kilograms of cocaine, concealed in a hidden compartment on board.
Dominguez and Garcia Rosario are charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute. If convicted, Dominguez and Garcia Rosario face a maximum penalty of life in prison for each charge.
Garcia Rosario is a Dominican national and faces removal from the U.S. if convicted.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, and Sheriff Gregory Tony of the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) made the announcement.
DEA Miami Field Division and the Broward Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin McCormack is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/ or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20407.
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U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones Delivers Keynote Remarks at the Investiture of Judge Joanne HernandezRead the Press Release
MIAMI – United States Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones served as one of the keynote speakers at Friday’s investiture ceremony for the Honorable Joanne Hernandez, newly appointed to the Miami-Dade County Court by Governor Ron DeSantis.
Judge Hernandez, an FIU Law alumna, longtime practitioner, and committed member of the Miami-Dade community, was formally sworn in during a ceremony attended by state trial and appellate judges, elected officials, community leaders, and colleagues from her years of philanthropic service and private practice.
During his remarks, U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones reflected on their shared journey beginning in law school, her unwavering work ethic, and her deep commitment to serving families, the vulnerable, and the community at large.
In his address, U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones stated: “Governor DeSantis appointed an exceptional judge, but more importantly, Miami-Dade County gained a servant of the people who understands that justice is not about power, but responsibility.”
He continued: “Joanne, today we honor not only your achievement, but the values that carried you here: faith, perseverance, and love for your community. You remind us that success and humility are not opposites, they belong together.”
As United States Attorney, Reding Quiñones leads one of the largest and most complex federal districts in the nation, overseeing offices in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Fort Pierce. Before his presidential appointment and Senate confirmation, he served as a state court trial judge presiding over civil and criminal domestic violence cases in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida.
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U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones Attends Grand Opening of Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice CenterRead the Press Release
MIAMI – U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones joined federal, state, and local leaders on Nov. 10 for the ceremonial opening of the Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center, a new courthouse facility designed to expand access to justice and serve the growing needs of Miami-Dade County.
For U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones—who previously served as a state court judge in Miami-Dade County—the courthouse’s opening holds special significance. The new courthouse reflects both the county’s evolving needs and its enduring commitment to a fair, accessible, and well-resourced justice system.
“This courthouse reflects who we are as a community: resilient, forward-looking, and committed to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones. “It also stands as a proud tribute to Osvaldo N. Soto, a Cuban exile, Bay of Pigs veteran, and trailblazing attorney who spent his life defending liberty. I sat on the state bench just a few blocks from here, and I know how much this building will mean for the people we serve. Miami-Dade is investing in its future, and we’re honored to stand with our state and local partners as we continue the work of protecting our community and defending the rule of law.”
Named in honor of Osvaldo N. Soto, a Cuban-American lawyer and civil rights pioneer, the courthouse will house multiple judicial operations and provide modern, secure, and technologically advanced courtrooms, improved public services, and additional space for justice partners.
Before his presidential appointment and Senate confirmation, U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones served as a state court trial judge presiding over civil and criminal domestic violence cases in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in and for Miami-Dade County.
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Owners and CEO of Wholesale Pharmaceutical Company Convicted of Distributing More Than $92 Million of Black-Market HIV DrugsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A federal jury in Fort Lauderdale convicted two Maryland brothers who owned a pharmaceutical wholesale company on Oct. 29 for their roles in a scheme to purchase and resell more than $92 million worth of illegally obtained misbranded HIV drugs.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Patrick Boyd, 47, and Charles Boyd, 43, of Easton, Maryland, owned and operated a pharmaceutical wholesale company called Safe Chain Solutions. Their co-owner and co-defendant, Adam Brosius, previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud with the Boyds.
“This case exposed a reckless disregard for human life,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones. “The defendants put profit ahead of patient safety, moving more than $92 million in tampered, black-market HIV medication through pharmacies across the country. Our Office will continue holding accountable those who endanger the public and betray the trust that underpins our healthcare system.”
Trial evidence showed that the Boyds conspired with at least five black-market suppliers to purchase HIV drugs obtained through patient “buyback schemes.” The Boyds then resold the drugs to thousands of pharmacies nationwide—including South Florida—while using falsified paperwork to make the medications appear to have been purchased from legitimate distributors.
One of their suppliers, Peter Khaim, owner of Boulevard 9229, testified that he purchased HIV drugs from patients on the street, removed the original prescription labels, and packaged the bottles in cardboard boxes—sometimes scavenged from trash on pick-up days—before shipping them to the Boyds. On one occasion, Khaim used a diaper box he found on the street to ship the drugs because it was sturdy enough to hold the bottles. In a separate shipment, he sent approximately $500,000 worth of HIV medications in a single cardboard box to Safe Chain Solutions. Many of the bottles were dirty, scuffed, and missing patient instructions, yet the Boyds accepted and resold them with falsified paperwork concealing their origin.
In total, the Boyds purchased and resold more than $35 million in black-market HIV drugs from Boulevard 9229 and more than $42 million from another supplier, Gentek, whose leaders were based in Miami. One Gentek leader has already been convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Throughout the conspiracy, pharmacies repeatedly complained that the drugs purchased from Safe Chain Solutions were dirty, tampered with, or contained the wrong medication. On at least a dozen occasions, pharmacies reported receiving bottles labeled as HIV medication that instead contained other drugs, including Seroquel, an anti-psychotic, and pain medication.
One patient who ingested Seroquel believing it was his prescribed HIV medication lost consciousness for 24 hours. Evidence at trial established that missing even a single dose of HIV medication can increase a patient’s viral load and heighten community transmission risk in areas with high HIV infection rates.
A former attorney for the Boyds testified that they concealed and misrepresented material information while seeking legal advice about pharmacy complaints and reporting obligations to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). According to the evidence, the Boyds failed to report numerous incidents to the FDA involving pharmacies that had received incorrect or tampered medications.
Safe Chain Solutions’ former Director of Compliance testified over four days that she repeatedly warned the Boyds about the risks of purchasing from black-market suppliers, but her concerns were ignored. She testified that Charles Boyd falsely told her the company could continue doing business with Boulevard 9229 because the lawyers had approved it, contradicting both attorney testimony and contemporaneous emails.
A second former Compliance Manager testified that the Boyds instructed her not to document concerns in writing and often responded to compliance questions by saying, “Figure it the **** out,” or “FITFO,” a phrase she said was commonly used by the Boyds.
After a multi-week trial, the jury convicted the Boyds each of one count of conspiracy to introduce misbranded drugs, two counts of introducing misbranded drugs into interstate commerce, one count of conspiracy to traffic in medical products with false documentation, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of wire fraud.
The Boyds each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy to introduce misbranded drugs count, three years in prison for each count of introducing misbranded drugs into interstate commerce, 15 years in prison for conspiracy to traffic in medical products with false documentation, 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and 20 years in prison for the wire fraud count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida; Acting Special Agent in Charge Fernando Porras of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, (HHS-OIG), Miami Regional Office; and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
HHS-OIG Miami and FBI Miami are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Thor Pogozelski and Trial Attorney Jacqueline Zee DerOvanesian of the Department of Justice’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff is handling asset forfeiture.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-20255.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones Meets with Miami-Dade County Mayor to Discuss Public-Safety PartnershipRead the Press Release
MIAMI — U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Yara Klukas met yesterday with Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and senior members of her administration to discuss shared public-safety priorities and opportunities for deeper collaboration between the County and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The meeting focused on three central issues: enhancing the protection of public officials, supporting the continued improvement of the Miami-Dade County Corrections and Rehabilitation system, and strengthening coordination on future initiatives that safeguard the residents of Miami-Dade County.
Mayor Levine Cava briefed federal leadership on her administration’s progress at the Miami-Dade County Jail, including reforms aimed at improving safety, accountability, and conditions inside the system. The discussion also covered joint efforts to confront threats facing public officials and government institutions, an area where federal and local cooperation remains vital.
“This was a productive conversation about how we can work together to protect our institutions and the people who serve them,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones. “Mayor Levine Cava has made real progress reforming the County’s jail system, and our Office looks forward to building on that work through stronger coordination and shared commitments to public safety.”
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Mayor Levine Cava also outlined practical areas for expanded partnership in the months ahead, including enhanced information-sharing, coordinated strategies, and future joint opportunities for county and federal personnel.
Three Men Sentenced to Decades in Prison for Smuggling, Kidnapping, and Extortion of AliensRead the Press Release
Miami – Three men have been sentenced to decades in federal prison for their roles in a violent alien smuggling and kidnapping conspiracy that operated between Cuba, South Florida, and Louisiana.
On Sept. 18, U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman sentenced Osmel Benitez, 40, of Miami, to 408 months in prison, Victor Manuel Perez Cardenas, 39, of Tampa, to 210 months in prison. On Sept. 25, Judge Altman sentenced Jhonny Walther Izaguirre Lopez, 45, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 346 months in prison.
“This was human smuggling at its most brutal—marked by kidnapping, extortion, and torture,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Those who traffic in human lives and prey upon the desperation of their victims, will find no refuge in our District. We will pursue them relentlessly until justice is done.”
“The violent, inhumane conduct that Benitez, Cardenas, and Lopez doled out to the victims of their illegal alien smuggling and kidnapping operation is almost beyond imagination,” said Brett Skiles, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami. “The depths of their depredation included mock hangings, forced labor, and threats to kill or harm – heinous conduct commensurate with their sentences. Let this case serve as a warning to other human smugglers that their illegal actions will not be tolerated.”
Benitez, Perez Cardenas, and Izaguirre Lopez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap. In addition, Benitez and Izaguirre Lopez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide and obtain forced labor, violent crimes in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to possess a firearm, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Benitez and Perez Cardenas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to smuggle, transport, and harbor aliens in violation of U.S. law, while Izaguirre Lopez pleaded guilty to transporting aliens within the U.S.
According to court papers, in May 2024, Benitez, Perez Cardenas, and Izaguirre Lopez conspired to kidnap aliens who had been smuggled from Cuba to the U.S. On May 18, 2024, Perez Cardenas transported the smuggled aliens by boat to a deserted shoreline on Key Largo. Armed with a firearm, Perez Cardenas escorted the aliens to a nearby road, where Benitez and other members of the enterprise were waiting with vehicles to transport them to Miami.
That same day, several aliens were taken to a farm property in Miami. There, Benitez, Perez Cardenas, Izaguirre Lopez, and other members of the enterprise held the aliens captive while extorting and attempting to extort money from their families and friends.
At the property, Benitez and other members of the enterprise beat the aliens with a stick and a machete and conducted mock hangings of two aliens. In one recorded incident, Benitez and another co-conspirator forced an alien to stand on a chair, placed a noose around his neck, and struck him with the flat side of a machete. The video was sent to the alien’s family to coerce payment. Izaguirre Lopez and other members of the enterprise contacted the aliens’ families and friends, threatening to kill or harm the captives unless money was sent.
When four aliens were unable to pay, Benitez, Izaguirre Lopez, and other members of the enterprise agreed that Izaguirre Lopez would transport them to Louisiana to work for his construction company in order to pay off their debts. On May 20, 2024, law enforcement intercepted Izaguirre Lopez on the Florida Turnpike in Sumter County, as he was transporting the aliens.
Three additional alleged co-conspirators, Victor Rafael Arcia Albeja, Jose Angel Marrero Rodriguez, and Yoelys Prada Ramos are awaiting trial.
Benitez and Perez Cardenas, citizens of Cuba, and Izaguirre Lopez, a citizen of Honduras, are subject to deportation following their sentences.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
FBI Miami is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dwayne E. Williams and Bertila L. Fernandez are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika Miranda is handling asset forfeiture.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Miami comprises of agents and officers from FBI Miami with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-20397.
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Romanian Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Laundering Proceeds of Online Auction Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Romanian national illegally present in the U.S. pleaded guilty in Miami federal court on Oct. 20 to participating in a concealment money laundering scheme operating out of South Florida.
According to court documents, Dan Flaviu Komuves, 28, admitted to laundering the illegal proceeds of a nationwide online auction fraud scheme that targeted U.S. citizens who believed they were purchasing high-value vehicles, boats, and tractors through online auction platforms. In reality, the listings were part of an elaborate scam that deceived victims into wiring money to accounts opened by Komuves in South Florida.
To facilitate the scheme, Komuves used eight shell companies, false identities, and counterfeit identity documents—including fake passports—to open bank accounts and conceal his true identity. Once victims’ funds were deposited, Komuves withdrew large amounts of cash from multiple accounts, often visiting several branches on the same day to prevent recovery of the funds and to conceal the nature, location, and control of the proceeds.
Komuves admitted to laundering more than $1 million dollars between March and August of 2024. Komuves was taken into custody in June after previously pleading guilty to illegal reentry in California.
Komuves admitted to laundering more than $1 million dollars between March and August of 2024. Komuves was taken into custody in June after previously pleading guilty to illegal reentry in California.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami made the announcement.
HSI Miami and HSI Salt Lake City are investigating the case with help from U.S. Secret Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Juenger is prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20286.
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Malaysian National Convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor on Cruise ShipRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A federal jury in Miami convicted a Malaysian national on Oct. 23 for abusive sexual contact of a minor aboard a cruise ship sailing in international waters.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Lay Ong, 67, was walking down a stateroom corridor when he encountered two boys, ages seven and nine, playing outside their cabin. Evidence showed that Ong began speaking with the children while touching the seven-year-old’s head and chin, then reached down and squeezed the child’s genitalia before walking away.
“Abusing a child is an unforgivable act,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This verdict makes clear that anyone who preys on a child—anywhere, and under any flag—will be held to account. We will continue working with the FBI to protect young victims and bring their abusers to justice.”
The jury found Ong guilty of abusive sexual contact of a minor. He faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Ong will be subject to deportation following his sentence.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
FBI Miami is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ilana Malkin and Yeney Hernandez are prosecuting the case.
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 the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate better, 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
To report suspected human trafficking or to obtain resources for victims, please call 1-888-373-7888; text “BeFree” (233733), or live chat at HumanTraffickingHotline.org. The toll-free phone, SMS text lines, and online chat function are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Help is available in English, Spanish, Creole, or in more than 200 additional languages. The National Hotline is not managed by law enforcement, immigration, or an investigative agency. Correspondence with the National Hotline is confidential, and you may request assistance or report a tip anonymously.
“To report online child sexual exploitation, use the electronic Cyber Tip Line or call 1-800-843-5678. The Cyber Tip Line is operated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in partnership with the HSI and other law enforcement agencies.”
To learn more about the National Resource Hotline, visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. To learn more about the U.S. Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking, visit www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20173.
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Justice Department Announces Nationwide Actions to Combat Illicit North Korean Government Revenue GenerationRead the Press Release
Four U.S. Nationals and Ukrainian Identity Broker Plead Guilty
Department Seeks Forfeiture of More Than $15M in Virtual Currency Stolen and Laundered by North Korean Hackers
MIAMI – The Justice Department today announced five guilty pleas and more than $15 million in civil forfeiture actions against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) remote information technology (IT) work and virtual currency heist schemes. The DPRK government uses both types of schemes to fund its weapons and other priorities in violation of sanctions.
First, as described in court documents associated with the guilty pleas, facilitators in the United States and Ukraine assisted North Korean actors with obtaining remote IT employment with U.S. companies. For example, the facilitators’ provided their own, false, or stolen identities, and hosted U.S. victim company-provided laptops at residences across the United States to create the false appearance that the IT workers were working domestically. In total, these defendants’ fraudulent employment schemes impacted more than 136 U.S. victim companies, generated more than $2.2 million in revenue for the DPRK regime, and compromised the identities of more than 18 U.S. persons.
Second, as described in the two civil forfeiture complaints, a North Korean military hacking group known to the private sector as Advanced Persistent Threat 38 (APT38) carried out multimillion-dollar virtual currency heists at four overseas virtual currency platforms in 2023. While APT38 actors continued to launder their ill-gotten gains for these heists, the U.S. government froze and seized more than $15 million worth of virtual currency that it now seeks to forfeit for eventual return to the rightful owners.
“These actions demonstrate the Department’s comprehensive approach to disrupting North Korean efforts to finance their weapons program on the backs of Americans,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The Department will use every available tool to protect our Nation from this regime’s depredations.”
“Ensuring national and economic security are paramount to the Department’s mission,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Hostile nation-states raising funds for illicit programs by stealing from digital asset exchanges threatens both. The Criminal Division is steadfast in its determination to forfeit ill-gotten gains from bad actors and return funds to victims.”
“FBI investigations continue to expose the North Korean government’s relentless campaign to evade U.S. sanctions and generate millions of dollars to fund its authoritarian regime and weapons programs,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “These guilty pleas send a clear message: No matter who or where you are, if you support North Korea's efforts to victimize U.S. businesses and citizens, the FBI will find you and bring you to justice. We ask all our private sector partners to improve their security process for vetting remote workers and to remain vigilant regarding this emerging threat.”
The Department’s actions to combat both the North Korean IT worker and hacking schemes are the latest in a series of law enforcement actions under a joint National Security Division (NSD) and FBI Cyber and Counterintelligence Divisions effort, the DPRK RevGen: Domestic Enabler Initiative. This effort prioritizes targeting and disrupting the DPRK’s illicit revenue generation schemes and its U.S.-based enablers. The Department previously announced other actions pursuant to the initiative, including in January and June 2025.
As the FBI has described in Public Service Announcements published in May 2024 and January 2025, North Korean remote IT workers posing as legitimate remote IT workers have committed data extortion and exfiltrated the proprietary and sensitive data from U.S. companies. DPRK IT worker schemes typically involve the use of stolen identities, alias emails, social media, online cross-border payment platforms, and online job site accounts, as well as false websites, proxy computers, and witting and unwitting third parties located in the U.S. and elsewhere.
Erick Ntekereze Prince Guilty Plea – Southern District of Florida
On Nov. 6, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, U.S. national Erick Ntekereze Prince, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy. From approximately June 2020 through August 2024, Prince, through his company Taggcar Inc., contracted to supply allegedly “certified” IT workers to victim U.S. companies, knowing that the IT workers were located outside the United States and were using false and stolen identities to gain employment. In addition, Prince hosted victim U.S. company-provided laptops at Florida residences and installed remote access software on those laptops without authorization, so that the IT workers could create the false appearance that they were remote working from Prince’s residence. Prince earned more than $89,000 for his participation in the scheme.
“These prosecutions make one point clear: the United States will not permit the DPRK to bankroll its weapons programs by preying on American companies and workers,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “We will keep working with our partners across the Justice Department to uncover these schemes, recover stolen funds, and pursue every individual who enables North Korea’s operations.”
Prince, U.S. national Emanuel Ashtor, and a Mexican national Pedro Ernesto Alonso de los Reyes were charged in January 2025 by indictment alleging their participation in a criminal scheme that obtained work for North Korean IT workers from more than 64 U.S. companies. The fraudulent scheme earned more than $943,069 in salary payments from victim U.S. companies, the vast majority of which were sent to the IT workers overseas. Ashtor is awaiting trial, and de los Reyes is in custody in The Netherlands awaiting extradition.
The case was investigated by the FBI Miami Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Cronin for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Gregory J. Nicosia Jr. of NSD’s National Security Cyber Section are prosecuting the case.
Three Guilty Pleas – Southern District of Georgia
Yesterday, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, U.S. nationals Audricus Phagnasay, 24, Jason Salazar, 30, and Alexander Paul Travis, 34, each pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy. From approximately September 2019 through November 2022, Phagnasay, Salazar, and Travis provided their U.S. identities to IT workers they knew were located outside the United States so that the workers could fraudulently apply for and obtain employment with victim U.S. companies. In addition, the three defendants hosted victim U.S. company-provided laptops at their residences, and installed remote access software on those laptops without authorization, so that the IT workers could create the false appearance that they were remote working from the defendants’ residences. Each defendant also assisted overseas IT workers in passing employer vetting procedures. Travis and Salazar, in particular, appeared for drug testing on behalf of the overseas IT workers.
“My office is committed to pursuing individuals that seek to harm the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Margaret E. Heap for the Southern District of Georgia. “This collaboration with our law enforcement agencies exemplifies how our joint efforts are successful in identifying, investigating and prosecuting those defendants.”
Travis, an active-duty member of the U.S. Army at the time, received at least $51,397 for his participation in the scheme. Phagnasay and Salazar earned at least $3,450 and $4,500, respectively. The fraudulent scheme earned approximately $1.28 million in salary payments from the victim U.S. companies, the vast majority of which were sent to the IT workers overseas.
The FBI Augusta (Georgia) Resident Agency is investigating the cases.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Hamner for the Southern District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Jacques Singer-Emery of the NSD National Security Cyber Section are prosecuting the cases.
Oleksandr Didenko Guilty Plea – District of Columbia
On Nov. 10, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Ukrainian national Oleksandr Didenko pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy and one count of aggravated identity theft in connection with a years-long scheme that stole the identities of U.S. citizens and sold them to overseas IT workers, including North Korean IT workers, so they could fraudulently gain employment at 40 U.S. companies. Victim U.S. companies paid Didenko’s IT worker clients hundreds of thousands of dollars for their work. As part of his plea, Didenko agreed to forfeit more than $1.4 million, which includes more than $570,000 in fiat and virtual currency seized from Didenko and his co-conspirators.
“North Korea is focused on victimizing and perpetrating fraud on American citizens, companies, and banks by stealing the identity of U.S. citizens and selling them around the world so foreign actors can gain employment in America,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “These convictions prove that we will stop at nothing to uncover complex fraud schemes especially when they are committed by North Korean actors to fund their weapons program.”
The case was investigated by the FBI New York Field Office, with assistance from the FBI Norfolk and San Diego Field Offices and the Jefferson City (Tennessee) Resident Agency. In May 2024, Polish authorities arrested Didenko and on Dec. 10, 2024, he was extradited to the United States.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen P. Seifert and Steven Wasserman for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from Trial Attorney Jacques Singer-Emery of the NSD National Security Cyber Section. The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Southern District of California, Eastern District of Tennessee, and Eastern District of Virginia, and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance.
Forfeiture Complaints for More Than $15 Million in Stolen Funds – District of Columbia
The Department recently filed two civil complaints to forfeit USDT, a virtual currency stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar, that the FBI seized in March 2025 from North Korean APT38 actors: an Oct. 24, 2025 complaint (1:25-cv-03771) to forfeit 1,159,834.52 USDT; and a complaint filed today (1:25-cv-03943) to forfeit 13,980,951.103 USDT. In total, the seized USDT is valued at more than $15 million.
As alleged in the complaints, the seized virtual currency relates to North Korean APT38 actors’ efforts to raise revenue for the DPRK government through four heists from virtual currency providers: (1) a July 2023 theft of approximately $37 million in virtual currency from an Estonia-based virtual currency payments processor; (2) a July 2023 theft of approximately $100 million from a Panama-based virtual currency payment processor; (3) a November 2023 theft of approximately $138 million from a Panama-based virtual currency exchange; and (4) a November 2023 theft of approximately $107 million in virtual currency from a Seychelles-based virtual currency exchange. Efforts to trace, seize, and forfeit related stolen virtual currency remain ongoing, as the APT38 actors continue to launder such funds through various virtual currency bridges, mixers, exchanges, and over-the-counter traders.
The FBI Los Angeles Field Office and the FBI’s Virtual Assets Unit are investigating the cases associated with these complaints.
Senior Counsel Jessica Peck of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Trial Attorneys Gregory J. Nicosia Jr. and Prava Palacharla of NSD’s National Security Cyber Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Blaylock for the District of Columbia are handling the forfeiture actions.
Other public advisories about the threats, red flag indicators, and potential mitigation measures for these schemes include a May 2022 advisory released by the FBI, Department of the Treasury, and Department of State; a July 2023 advisory from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; and guidance issued in October 2023 by the United States and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). As described the May 2022 advisory, North Korean IT workers have been known individually to earn up to $300,000 annually, generating hundreds of millions of dollars collectively each year, on behalf of designated entities, such as the North Korean Ministry of Defense and others directly involved in the DPRK’s weapons programs.
The U.S. Department of State has offered potential rewards for up to $5 million in support of international efforts to disrupt the DPRK’s illicit financial activities, including for cybercrimes, money laundering, and sanctions evasion.
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U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones Receives Key to the City of Miami from Mayor Francis SuarezRead the Press Release
MIAMI – At the City of Miami Commission meeting on October 23, 2025, Mayor Francis Suarez presented U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones with the Key to the City of Miami in recognition of his deep hometown roots and more than 22 years of service to the community and nation.
A proud Miami native and the son of a Cuban political refugee, U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones has devoted his career to protecting and serving the people of South Florida, as a national security official, prosecutor, military officer, trial judge, and now as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Southern District of Florida. Mayor Suarez commended him for his steadfast dedication to justice and for leading one of the nation’s busiest and most impactful U.S. Attorney’s Offices.
“This is an incredible honor from our incredible city, and I’m proud to serve the people who make Miami safe,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones. “The safety of our community is a shared responsibility between state, local, and federal partners. Mayor Suarez’s leadership and unwavering commitment to public safety have made our city stronger, and I’m deeply grateful to accept this recognition on behalf of all who dedicate their lives to serving our community.”
Mayor Suarez praised Reding Quiñones for his long record of integrity, professionalism, and commitment to safeguarding Miami’s residents. He highlighted the partnership between the City of Miami and federal law enforcement in addressing violent crime, public corruption, and emerging public safety challenges.
The Key to the City of Miami is among the city’s most distinguished honors, tracing its roots to the medieval tradition of granting trusted individuals freedom to enter the city’s gates. Today, it symbolizes the highest civic gratitude, bestowed on those who, through leadership, sacrifice, and public service, have earned the confidence and respect of the community. Recipients are recognized not only for their professional accomplishments, but for their lasting impact on the city’s safety, integrity, and spirit.
As United States Attorney, Reding Quiñones leads one of the largest and most complex federal districts in the nation, overseeing offices in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Fort Pierce. Before his presidential appointment and Senate confirmation, he served as a state court trial judge presiding over civil and criminal domestic violence cases in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida.
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Miami Lakes Attorney Charged with Wire Fraud and Money Laundering in Connection with Multi-Million Dollar Embezzlement SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Miami Lakes attorney made his initial appearance in federal court on Oct. 28 to face charges in connection with a scheme to embezzle millions of dollars in investment funds entrusted to his attorney trust account.
According to court documents, Rodolfo Mario Blanco, 60, was retained to serve as an escrow agent for an investment fund. Between September and December 2023, Blanco received several million dollars from corporate and individual investors into his attorney trust account under the false pretense that he would securely hold the funds on behalf of investors and the fund.
Beginning in November 2023 and continuing through July 2024, Blanco allegedly made a series of large teller transfers, cash withdrawals, and wire transfers from his trust account, including two substantial transfers used to purchase a residence in the Miami area. During this time, Blanco is alleged to have made multiple false representations to investors and fund directors regarding the status and balance of the trust account.
It is alleged that in February and April 2024, Blanco emailed fund directors falsely claiming that he could not release the investment funds because his trust account was subject to diligence and compliance reviews. Blanco allegedly included fabricated bank communications and falsified account screenshots to support these misrepresentations.
Blanco is charged with 11 counts of wire fraud and 11 counts of engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property. If convicted, Blanco faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count and ten years for each money laundering count.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
FBI Miami is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sterling M. Paulson is prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20465.
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Miami Influencer Sentenced to More than 2 Years in Prison for COVID Relief Loan Fraud and Fake Check SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A popular social media influencer and singer has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for orchestrating a years-long fraud scheme that began with COVID-19 relief loan fraud and ended with attempts to use fake checks to pay for luxury cars.
On Sept. 11, U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore sentenced Scott Lee Huss, 28, to 27 months in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
“Pandemic relief programs were designed to help struggling businesses and families—not to fund luxury lifestyles,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Those who exploited these programs for their personal gain stole from the American people. Our Office will continue holding anyone accountable who defrauded COVID-19 relief funds, regardless of status or notoriety.”
According to court documents, Huss fraudulently applied for and received six Paycheck Protection Program loans totaling more than $600,000. Instead of using the funds for business expenses and employee payroll, Huss spent the money on cryptocurrency and luxury cars.
In 2023, Huss mailed fraudulent “payment vouchers” purporting to be checks to car finance companies in an effort to discharge loans on his vehicles. In total, Huss sent more than $300,000 in false checks in an attempt to fraudulently obtain a Lamborghini and a Mercedes-Benz.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones, Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of the Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) Miami, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan McSeveney of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
HSI Miami and DSS Miami Field Office investigated the case with assistance from the Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General, the Small Business Administration-Office of Inspector General, the Sunny Isles Police Department, and the Aventura Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosenfeld and Senior Litigation Counsel Michael Berger prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20087.
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Cuban Air Force Pilot Indicted for Immigration FraudRead the Press Release
MIAMI – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe and United States Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones announce the unsealing of an indictment charging Luis Raul Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez (64, Cuba) with fraud and misuse of visa, permits, and other documents, and making a false statement to a federal agency. If convicted on all counts, Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.
“This man’s past as a longtime military pilot for the evil Castro regime — which has wrought untold suffering on the Cuban people — should have been front and center in his immigration file,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This Department of Justice will vigorously prosecute anyone who lies about their past to take advantage of America’s immigration system.”
According to the indictment, on or about April 20, 2025, Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez presented or caused to be presented a Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status containing false statements to the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Specifically, the false statements pertained to his prior membership in the Cuban Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force from 1980 to 2009. In the Form I-485 Application, the indictment alleges that Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez falsely stated he had never received any weapons or military training, never participated in any group of any kind that used weapons or threatened to use weapons, and never served in a military or police unit, when in reality, he received such training and served in the Cuban military as part of the Air Defense Force. The indictment included a photograph depicting Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez in the Air Defense Force:
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.
FBI Miami is investigating the case, with assistance from the FBI Jacksonville Field Office, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), and U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Miami Field Office. The Middle District of Florida and Southern District of Florida are partners in this investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Milliron for the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida and Assistant United States Attorney Abbie D. Waxman from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
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Voting Machine Company Charged in Philippine Bribery and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A federal grand jury in Miami returned a superseding indictment today charging a multinational company that provides voting machine and election services for participating in a scheme to pay and launder more than $1 million in bribes to a Philippine government official in connection with contracts related to the 2016 Philippine national elections.
The superseding indictment charges SGO Corporation Limited—which, together with the entities within its corporate structure, is commonly known as “Smartmatic” or the “Smartmatic Group”—as well as three of its executives and the former Chairman of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) of the Republic of the Philippines. The four individuals were initially indicted in August 2024.
According to the superseding indictment, between 2015 and 2018, Roger Alejandro Piñate Martinez, 50, a Venezuelan citizen residing in Boca Raton, and Jorge Miguel Vasquez, 64, of Davie, together with others, caused at least $1 million in bribes to be paid to Juan Andres Donato Bautista, 61, the former Chairman of COMELEC. The bribes were allegedly paid to obtain and retain business from COMELEC, including the release of favorable value added tax (VAT) reimbursements and other contractual payments for the benefit of SGO Corporation Limited and its affiliates.
To finance the bribes, the co-conspirators allegedly created a slush fund by over-invoicing the cost per voting machine supplied for the 2016 Philippine elections. To conceal the corrupt payments, they used coded language, created fraudulent contracts and sham loan agreements, and routed transactions through bank accounts in Asia, Europe, and the U.S., including within the Southern District of Florida.
SGO Corporation Limited, Piñate, and Vasquez are charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Piñate and Vasquez are charged with one count of violating the FCPA. Additionally, SGO Corporation Limited, Bautista, Piñate, Vasquez, and Elie Moreno, 45, a dual citizen of Venezuela and Israel, are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and three counts of international laundering of monetary instruments. If convicted, Bautista, Piñate, Vasquez, and Moreno each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of international laundering of monetary instruments and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Piñate and Vasquez face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each of the FCPA and conspiracy to violate the FCPA counts. Bautista and Moreno are fugitives and remain at large.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami, and Special Agent in Charge Emmanuel Gomez of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Miami made the announcement.
HSI’s El Dorado Task Force Miami is investigating the case, with assistance from IRS-CI Miami.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Emery for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Connor Mullin and Jil Simon of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Paster is handling asset forfeiture. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Philippine Department of Justice and Office of the Ombudsman provided assistance.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number case no. 24-cr-20343.
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Peruvian National Sentenced to More than Six Years in Prison in Transnational Scheme to Defraud Spanish-Speaking US ConsumersRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Peruvian national was sentenced yesterday to 80 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $3,000,000 in restitution for his participation in transnational fraud schemes that victimized vulnerable consumers in the U.S.
According to court documents, David Cornejo Fernandez, 36, of Lima, Peru, facilitated fraudulent schemes that stole millions of dollars from thousands of Spanish-speaking victims across the U.S. Cornejo provided Internet-based telephone lines, caller-ID spoofing services, and recording capabilities to a network of fraudulent call centers in Peru. Relying on Cornejo’s services, those call centers defrauded and extorted thousands of Spanish-speaking victims by falsely threatening them with court proceedings, fines, and other consequences if they did not pay for English-language products. Cornejo was extradited from Peru in November 2024 to face charges related to the scheme and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in July.
In pleading guilty, Cornejo admitted that he provided fraudulent call centers in Peru with the technology to impersonate federal agents, police officers, attorneys, court personnel, and other government officials to extort payments from victims. Cornejo provided telephone lines to his call center co-conspirators, which they used to place unsolicited, fraudulent and extortionate telephone calls to vulnerable U.S. victims. Cornejo also provided caller-ID spoofing software that allowed his co-conspirators to convincingly impersonate government officials and threaten victims with severe legal and financial consequences if they did not pay. Cornejo placed pre-recorded messages on his co-conspirators’ telephone lines that fraudulently convinced victims they had reached actual U.S. courts, police departments, and federal agencies. When victims reported that specific telephone numbers were fraudulent, Cornejo provided new telephone lines and numbers to his co-conspirators so they could continue the fraudulent scheme.
Cornejo and his co-conspirators ultimately caused more than $3 million in losses to more than 8,800 victims across the U.S.
With today’s sentencing in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, 13 defendants have now been convicted and sentenced in connection with transnational fraud schemes that defrauded and threatened Spanish-speaking U.S. consumers, claiming they would suffer legal consequences if they did not pay for English-language learning products they never requested. Collectively, these defendants were responsible for defrauding more than 30,000 U.S. consumers.
The 13 defendants include eight Peruvian call center owner-operators; four distribution center owner-operators who processed payments and distributed products in the U.S.; and now Cornejo, who facilitated the fraud schemes from Peru. Cornejo and many of these defendants shared strategies on how to impersonate the U.S. government and defraud Spanish-speaking residents of the U.S.
Cornejo is the ninth defendant to be extradited from Peru and sentenced in federal court for fraud related to Peruvian call centers involved in English language learning scams. In 2021 and 2022, U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola Jr., sentenced Henrry Milla, Carlos Espinoza, Jerson Renteria, Fernan Huerta, Omar Cuzcano, Evelyng Milla, and Josmell Espinoza to sentences ranging from 88 months to 110 months in prison. In 2024, U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams sentenced Jose Alejandro Zuñiga Cano to 98 months in prison.
USPIS and the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch investigated the case.
Senior Trial Attorney and Transnational Criminal Litigation Coordinator Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorney Carolyn Rice of the Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika Miranda for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Peruvian National Prosecutor General’s Office, and the Peruvian National Police provided critical assistance.
The Justice Department continues to investigate and bring charges in other similar matters involving threats against Spanish-speaking residents of the U.S.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.
Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its fraud enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-cr-20055.
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Nigerian National Extradited from Poland to Face Elder Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Tochuwku Albert Nnebocha, 43, of Nigeria was extradited from the Republic of Poland and faces federal charges of engaging in a transnational criminal organization that operated an inheritance fraud scheme that cheated many American seniors out of their savings. Nnebocha made his initial appearance in federal court yesterday in Miami.
Nnebocha was arrested in April 2025 by authorities in Poland, based on an indictment filed in the Southern District of Florida, and has remained incarcerated since then.
According to court documents, Nnebocha is charged with operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme. Over the course of more than five years, he, along with others, allegedly sent personalized letters to elderly consumers in the U.S., falsely claiming that the sender was a representative of a bank in Spain and that the recipient was entitled to receive a multimillion-dollar inheritance left for the recipient by a family member who purportedly had died years before in Spain. Victims were told that, before they could receive their purported inheritance, they were required to send money for delivery fees, taxes, and payments to avoid questioning from government authorities. Victims sent money to the defendants through a complex web of U.S.-based former victims, whom the defendants convinced to receive money and forward to the defendants or persons associated with them. According to the indictment, victims who sent money never received their purported inheritance funds.
The defendant is charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, as well as mail fraud and wire fraud. Nnebocha made his initial court appearance yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjolique Lett. If convicted, Nnebocha faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Two additional defendants have pleaded guilty and been sentenced in this case. U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman previously sentenced both Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, who was extradited from Portugal, and Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, who was extradited from the United Kingdom, to 97 months of incarceration for their roles in the scheme.
USPIS and HSI are investigating the case.
This case is one example of efforts by the Justice Department to protect American seniors from domestic and foreign based scams. These efforts include cases against those who engage in, and knowingly facilitate, romance fraud, lottery fraud, tech support fraud, and grandparent scams. Romance fraud is a confidence scheme where a perpetrator feigns romantic interest with a victim only to later extract money or property under false pretenses. Lottery fraud schemes trick victims into believing they have won a non-existent lottery or sweepstakes prize in order to extract fake fees, taxes, or other fabricated charges from the victim. Tech support fraud scams involve perpetrators tricking victims into believing that their computer or phone has a problem, often through fake pop-up messages, and to later seek funds from the victims in order to “fix” the “problem.” Grandparent scams, another type of confidence scheme, involve scammers impersonating a grandchild or close family member who experiences a fictitious emergency and needs money from the victim as soon as possible.
Senior Trial Attorney and Transnational Criminal Litigation Coordinator Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorney Josh Rothman of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the case. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, the Federal Bureau of Investigations Legal Attache in Poland, INTERPOL, and Polish Authorities, all provided critical assistance.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
More information about the Department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-20140.
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US Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones Attends “Passing of the Gavel” Ceremony Honoring Chief Judge Ariana Fajardo OrshanRead the Press Release
MIAMI - U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones joined colleagues, judges, and community leaders at this year’s Passing of the Gavel ceremony, marking the investiture of Chief Judge Ariana Fajardo Orshan as Chief Judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida.
Chief Judge Fajardo Orshan, who previously served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida during President Donald J. Trump’s first administration (Trump 45), led the Office in landmark prosecutions that strengthened the district’s reputation as one of the nation’s most active and impactful. Prior to her federal appointment, she served with distinction as a circuit judge in Miami-Dade County.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones reflected on their long professional connection:
“I had the privilege of serving as a line prosecutor under Judge Ariana’s leadership during her tenure as U.S. Attorney. Later, we served together on the bench as judges. Today, it is a deep honor to return to this Court, now as U.S. Attorney myself, and to celebrate Judge Ariana’s elevation by her peers to Chief Judge and her career of service to justice and to our community.”
The Passing of the Gavel ceremony, a longstanding tradition in South Florida’s legal community, recognizes the installation of the new Chief Judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit and the continuity of leadership within the judiciary.
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Peruvian National Sentenced to More than 6 Years in Prison in Transnational Scheme to Defraud Spanish-Speaking United States ConsumersRead the Press Release
A Peruvian national was sentenced today to 80 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $3,000,000 in restitution for his participation in transnational fraud schemes that victimized vulnerable consumers in the United States.
According to court documents, David Cornejo Fernandez, 36, of Lima, Peru, facilitated fraudulent schemes that stole millions of dollars from thousands of Spanish-speaking victims across the United States. Cornejo provided Internet-based telephone lines, caller-ID spoofing services, and recording capabilities to a network of fraudulent call centers in Peru. Relying on Cornejo’s services, those call centers defrauded and extorted thousands of Spanish-speaking victims by falsely threatening them with court proceedings, fines, and other consequences if they did not pay for English-language products. Cornejo was extradited from Peru in November 2024 to face charges related to the scheme and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in July.
In pleading guilty, Cornejo admitted that he provided fraudulent call centers in Peru with the technology to impersonate federal agents, police officers, attorneys, court personnel, and other government officials to extort payments from victims. Cornejo provided telephone lines to his call center co-conspirators, which they used to place unsolicited, fraudulent and extortionate telephone calls to vulnerable U.S. victims. Cornejo also provided caller-ID spoofing software that allowed his co-conspirators to convincingly impersonate government officials and threaten victims with severe legal and financial consequences if they did not pay. Cornejo placed pre-recorded messages on his co-conspirators’ telephone lines that fraudulently convinced victims they had reached actual U.S. courts, police departments, and federal agencies. When victims reported that specific telephone numbers were fraudulent, Cornejo provided new telephone lines and numbers to his co-conspirators so they could continue the fraudulent scheme.
Cornejo and his co-conspirators ultimately caused more than $3 million in losses to more than 8,800 victims across the United States.
With today’s sentencing in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, 13 defendants have now been convicted and sentenced in connection with transnational fraud schemes that defrauded and threatened Spanish-speaking U.S. consumers, claiming they would suffer legal consequences if they did not pay for English-language learning products they never requested. Collectively, these defendants were responsible for defrauding more than 30,000 U.S. consumers.
The 13 defendants include eight Peruvian call center owner-operators; four distribution center owner-operators who processed payments and distributed products in the United States; and now Cornejo, who facilitated the fraud schemes from Peru. Cornejo and many of these defendants shared strategies on how to impersonate the U.S. government and defraud Spanish-speaking residents of the United States.
Cornejo is the ninth defendant to be extradited from Peru and sentenced in federal court for fraud related to Peruvian call centers involved in English language learning scams. In 2021 and 2022, U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola Jr., sentenced Henrry Milla, Carlos Espinoza, Jerson Renteria, Fernan Huerta, Omar Cuzcano, Evelyng Milla, and Josmell Espinoza to sentences ranging from 88 months to 110 months in prison. In 2024, U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams sentenced Jose Alejandro Zuñiga Cano to 98 months in prison.
USPIS and the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch investigated the case.
Senior Trial Attorney and Transnational Criminal Litigation Coordinator Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorney Carolyn Rice of the Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika Miranda for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Peruvian National Prosecutor General’s Office, and the Peruvian National Police provided critical assistance.
The Justice Department continues to investigate and bring charges in other similar matters involving threats against Spanish-speaking residents of the United States.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.
Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its fraud enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.
Nigerian National Extradited from Poland to Face Elder Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Tochuwku Albert Nnebocha, 43, of Nigeria was extradited from the Republic of Poland and faces federal charges of engaging in a transnational criminal organization that operated an inheritance fraud scheme that cheated many American seniors out of their savings. Nnebocha made his initial appearance in federal court today in Miami.
Nnebocha was arrested in April 2025 by authorities in Poland, based on an indictment filed in the Southern District of Florida, and has remained incarcerated since then.
According to court documents, Nnebocha is charged with operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme. Over the course of more than five years, he, along with others, allegedly sent personalized letters to elderly consumers in the United States, falsely claiming that the sender was a representative of a bank in Spain and that the recipient was entitled to receive a multimillion-dollar inheritance left for the recipient by a family member who purportedly had died years before in Spain. Victims were told that, before they could receive their purported inheritance, they were required to send money for delivery fees, taxes, and payments to avoid questioning from government authorities. Victims sent money to the defendants through a complex web of U.S.-based former victims, whom the defendants convinced to receive money and forward to the defendants or persons associated with them. According to the indictment, victims who sent money never received their purported inheritance funds.
The defendant is charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, as well as mail fraud and wire fraud. Nnebocha made his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjolique Lett of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. If convicted, Nnebocha faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Two additional defendants have pleaded guilty and been sentenced in this case. The Honorable Roy K. Altman previously sentenced both Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, who was extradited from Portugal, and Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, who was extradited from the United Kingdom, to 97 months of incarceration for their roles in the scheme.
USPIS and HSI are investigating the case.
This case is one example of efforts by the Justice Department to protect American seniors from domestic and foreign based scams. These efforts include cases against those who engage in, and knowingly facilitate, romance fraud, lottery fraud, tech support fraud, and grandparent scams. Romance fraud is a confidence scheme where a perpetrator feigns romantic interest with a victim only to later extract money or property under false pretenses. Lottery fraud schemes trick victims into believing they have won a non-existent lottery or sweepstakes prize in order to extract fake fees, taxes, or other fabricated charges from the victim. Tech support fraud scams involve perpetrators tricking victims into believing that their computer or phone has a problem, often through fake pop-up messages, and to later seek funds from the victims in order to “fix” the “problem.” Grandparent scams, another type of confidence scheme, involve scammers impersonating a grandchild or close family member who experiences a fictitious emergency and needs money from the victim as soon as possible.
Senior Trial Attorney and Transnational Criminal Litigation Coordinator Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorney Josh Rothman of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the case. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, the Federal Bureau of Investigations Legal Attache in Poland, INTERPOL, and Polish Authorities, all provided critical assistance.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
More information about the Department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Miami Jury Convicts Argentine National for Producing and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
MIAMI – On Sept. 10, a federal jury in Miami convicted Argentine national Osvaldo Daniel Fernandez, 61, of two counts of production and one count of possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Fernandez sexually abused two minor victims and recorded the abuse.
In May 2022, law enforcement opened an investigation into the sexual abuse of two minor victims. Investigators determined that Minor 1 was abused between the ages of 9 and 17, and Minor 2 between the ages of six and 15. During the investigation, Minor 1 disclosed that Fernandez had recorded the abuse.
A search warrant executed at Fernandez’s residence led to the seizure of multiple cellphones and a laptop. The laptop contained over 500 sexually explicit images/videos of Minor 1 between 9 and 17 years of age and several images/videos of Minor 2 at 9 years old. Investigators also discovered more than 900 images of other pre-pubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Fernandez is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 11, and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison on each of the production counts and 20 years on the possession count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“Crimes against children are the most vile and unforgivable," said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. "Fernandez robbed these victims of their innocence and dignity, and then sought to immortalize their pain. That cruelty will now be met with justice. The Southern District of Florida will relentlessly pursue predators who exploit children and will ensure they face the full weight of the law. No sanctuary, no excuse, and no escape—those who prey on children will be hunted down and held to account.”
Fernandez is subject to deportation after he is sentenced.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI Miami, Field Office announced the charges.
FBI Miami investigated the case, with substantial assistance from the Miami Beach Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elena Smukler and Audrey Pence Tomanelli are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (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, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-20406.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones Awarded Defense Meritorious Service Medal for Military ServiceRead the Press Release
MIAMI – U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones was presented with the Defense Meritorious Service Medal today in a ceremony held at MacDill Air Force Base.
The medal was awarded in recognition of his exceptional performance as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, assigned to Headquarters U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM). The presentation was made by Major General Richard A. Harrison, Chief of Staff, Headquarters USCENTCOM, accompanied by Colonel Joseph M. Fairfield, Staff Judge Advocate, Headquarters USCENTCOM.
The award acknowledges U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones’s distinguished service as a lawyer and military officer while assigned to USCENTCOM, supporting OPERATION MIDNIGHT HAMMER, OPERATION ROUGH RIDER, and other critical national security missions. In that role, he provided senior legal counsel on national security and counterterrorism matters to the Commander, USCENTCOM, ensuring mission success in one of the most complex operational theaters in the world.
“Serving in uniform remains one of the greatest honors of my life,” said U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones. “I am humbled to receive this medal, but the true credit belongs to the extraordinary men and women of CENTCOM, whose dedication and sacrifice protect our nation every day. As both a U.S. Attorney and a military officer, I will continue to defend the rule of law, safeguard our freedoms, and serve the American people.”
The Defense Meritorious Service Medal is the third highest award bestowed in the War Department for non-combat service, recognizing exceptionally meritorious service while assigned to a joint activity.
As U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Reding Quiñones leads one of the nation’s largest and most active federal prosecutorial offices, overseeing the prosecution of violent crime, narcotics trafficking, corruption, immigration offenses, and other matters of national importance.
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Fort Lauderdale Man Charged with Child Sexual Abuse Material OffensesRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Fort Lauderdale man was arraigned today on a three-count indictment charging him with distribution, production, and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Ian Zachary Adams, 29, created multiple anonymous profiles on a social media platform to upload and distribute CSAM depicting children between the ages of two and 16. Investigators also recovered from one of Adams’s electronic devices a screen recording of a video chat in which a 10-year-old child engaged in sexually explicit conduct at his request.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of FBI, Miami Field Office, and Sheriff Gregory Tony of the Broward Sheriff’s Office announced the charges.
FBI Miami, Fort Lauderdale Police Department, and the Broward Sheriff's Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Camille Smith is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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 the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/ or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-60222.
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Three Miami Men Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses in Connection with Narcotics Distribution Operation from Local StorefrontsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Three Miami men have been charged with federal drug trafficking and firearms offenses in connection with the distribution of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and other controlled substances.
The nine-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury charges Antwan Bailey, 45; Eddie Gene Worthy Jr., 52; and Willie Weatherspoon, 52, all of Miami, with conspiracy to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance. Worthy is also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and Bailey is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to allegations in the court record, including a previously filed criminal complaint, Weatherspoon, Bailey, and Worthy conducted drug trafficking activities through a restaurant and neighboring businesses located in a Miami retail plaza. These establishments served as distribution points, with the shared parking lot used to facilitate quick meetings and deliveries.
The indictment charges Weatherspoon, Bailey, and Worthy with distribution of more than 400 grams of fentanyl, 30 grams of heroin, and marijuana.
If convicted, Weatherspoon, Bailey, and Worthy face up to life in prison.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida, acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI Miami, Field Office announced the charges.
FBI Miami is investigating the case. The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office and City of Miami Police Department provided invaluable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elena Smukler for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Jennifer Burns and Jingh Chang of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20375.
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Five Men Indicted in Nationwide Refund and Payment Processing “Glitch” SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A federal grand jury in Miami has returned a 22-count indictment charging five men in connection with a novel nationwide fraud and money laundering scheme that exploited payment processors and financial technology systems to generate millions of dollars in bogus refunds.
Michael Jerry Phanor, 35; John Ngotho, 33; William Lopes, 35; Armani Amado, 28; and Henry Nunez, 27, are charged with wire fraud and money laundering offenses. According to the indictment, an earlier-filed criminal complaint affidavit, and statements made during initial court hearings, the defendants conspired with others to manipulate refund transactions at retail chains across the United States.
It is alleged that the defendants used a “split-tender” method to purchase merchandise with two debit cards. They then returned the merchandise, securing a refund to the first card while intentionally stalling the process for the second refund by presenting the wrong card, entering incorrect pin numbers, or feigning calls to financial institutions. By holding the refund transaction open, the defendants triggered repeat refund signals, causing multiple credits to be issued to the first debit card.
While one conspirator conducted the staged return in-store, others monitored the account associated with the first card, quickly withdrawing and transferring funds. After receiving multiple refund credits, the defendants terminated the return and brought the merchandise to other store locations to repeat the process. This scheme allowed the conspirators to generate tens of thousands of dollars in fraudulent credits from a single purchase.
The charged scheme was carried out at dozens of stores nationwide, including Miami, Tampa, New York City, Chicago, Phoenix, and Southern California. Law enforcement has traced $1.5 million in fraudulent refund credits and continues to identify additional accounts and transactions.
The defendants flaunted their proceeds on social media, showcasing private jet travel, luxury vehicles, and bottle service at exclusive clubs, and referring to themselves as the “Money Grows On Trees” collective.
On Aug. 26, Phanor, Ngotho, Lopes, and Nunez were arrested during the execution of search warrants at two luxury penthouse apartments in downtown Miami.
Ngotho, a citizen of Kenya, and Phanor, a citizen of Haiti, are subject to deportation if convicted.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami announced the charges.
HSI Miami investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sterling M. Paulson and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Roca Shaw are prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-CR-20396.
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Coral Springs Man Arraigned for Attempting to Bomb the New York Stock ExchangeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Coral Springs man was arraigned on a superseding indictment related to a plot to bomb the New York Stock Exchange.
Harun Abdul-Hamid Yener, 30, is charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, attempting to use an explosive device to damage or destroy a building used in interstate commerce, threatening to murder federal law enforcement officers, and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, law enforcement received information in February 2024 that Yener was storing bombmaking schematics in an unlocked storage unit. A search of the unit revealed sketches, multiple watches with timers, electronic circuit boards, and other components consistent with construction of an explosive device. Investigators also uncovered internet searches dating back to 2017 related to bombmaking. A search of Yener’s cellphones revealed numerous AI-generated images and videos depicting CSAM.
In October 2024, Yener told an individual he believed to be affiliated with an anti-government militia that he desired to target the New York Stock Exchange the week before Thanksgiving. Over the following months, Yener built a remote trigger, researched potential placement for the bomb, and tasked others to obtain explosive materials, conduct surveillance, and photograph the building. Yener also recorded a message he intended for release to the press explaining his motivations. Yener anticipated catastrophic effects from the explosion.
During this same period, Yener repeatedly voiced his intent to murder law enforcement agents who searched his storage unit.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida; Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
FBI Miami investigated the case with assistance from the Coral Springs Police Department and the Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Abbie D. Waxman and Ajay J. Alexander of the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Michael Dittoe of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/ or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-20523.
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Chairman of the Board of Puerto Rican Bank Pleads Guilty to Multimillion-Dollar Wire Fraud Conspiracy That Led to Bank’s CollapseRead the Press Release
MIAMI – The chairman of the board of Nodus International Bank (Nodus), a Puerto Rican international banking entity, pleaded guilty on Sept. 22 for his role in leading a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $13.6 million from Nodus, which ultimately led to the bank’s failure in 2023.
According to court documents, Juan Francisco Ramirez, 60, of Miami, conspired with others to siphon money from Nodus. Ramirez and a co-conspirator concealed from other Nodus board members and executives, and the bank’s regulator—the Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions of Puerto Rico (OCIF)—that certain investments or loans were for the benefit of Ramirez and a co-conspirator, in violation of Puerto Rican law and Nodus policy regarding insider transactions.
“The defendant abused his position as Chairman of the board of directors to fraudulently divert funds from the bank that he had been entrusted to run, resulting in the bank’s collapse,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Criminal Division is committed to investigating and prosecuting white-collar fraudsters, no matter how lofty their position, to ensure their crimes do not pay.”
“Banks hold a sacred trust — the savings, investments, and livelihoods of the communities they serve,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Ramirez abused that trust, siphoning millions for personal gain and leaving behind collapse and loss. The Southern District of Florida will hold corporate leaders accountable when they turn financial institutions into vehicles of fraud. Our Office will continue to protect investors, safeguard the integrity of the banking system, and defend the rule of law.”
“The Chairman’s fraud brought down more than a bank — it undermined public trust,” said Special Agent in Charge Emmanuel Gomez of Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Miami. “IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to use our financial expertise to protect the integrity of the U.S. financial system.”
From 2017 to 2023, Ramirez conspired with others to invest more than $11 million of Nodus’s funds in a Miami-based lender so that it could loan those funds to Ramirez and a co-conspirator for their own benefit. Ramirez and his co-conspirators knew that these transactions were illegal and took steps to conceal their prohibited nature by having the bank make sham investments in the lending entity.
Further, between January 2018 and September 2021, Ramirez and a co-conspirator fraudulently induced the bank’s board and comptroller to agree to, or facilitate, the purchase of at least 47 promissory notes totaling approximately $25.3 million from Miami-based finance company that Ramirez and the co-conspirator jointly owned. These promissory notes purported to fund loans to legitimate individuals or businesses, but in fact Ramirez and a co-conspirator used the loan proceeds for their own benefit, including to make personal investments in third-party companies, pay personal mortgages, or cover personal credit card expenses.
In early March 2023, OCIF notified Nodus of its intention to place the Bank into liquidation, and later that month Nodus agreed to enter into a voluntary liquidation. On April 28, 2023, knowing that the liquidation process would commence imminently and without authorization from OCIF, Ramirez and a co-conspirator caused Nodus to purchase from their Miami-based finance company a loan portfolio totaling approximately $26 million. Most of these loans were delinquent, nonperforming, and otherwise uncollateralized. Ramirez and a co-conspirator caused Nodus to accept the loan portfolio as payment of their Miami-based finance company’s debt arising from the 47 promissory notes that Nodus had purchased during 2018 to 2021. This resulted in a direct benefit to the finance company (and Ramirez and his co-conspirator) by relieving the finance company of its debt to the bank.
As part of his plea agreement, Ramirez agreed to forfeiture in the amount of at least $13.6 million, which represents the value of the proceeds he derived from the conspiracy.
Ramirez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on a later date and faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Javier Urbina and Samir Paul of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), Bank Integrity Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Felipe Plechac-Diaz for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20384.
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Jury Convicts Man of Attempted Assassination of President Donald J. Trump and Assault of a Federal Law Enforcement OfficerRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A federal jury today convicted Ryan Wesley Routh, 59, of Hawaii, for attempting to assassinate President Donald J. Trump when he was a major presidential candidate in a planned sniper attack at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
“Today’s verdict against a would-be assassin of President Trump illustrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to punishing those who engage in political violence,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This attempted assassination was not only an attack on our President, but an affront to our very nation itself. I am grateful to our attorneys and law enforcement partners for protecting President Trump and securing this important verdict.”
“This verdict sends a clear message. An attempt to assassinate a presidential candidate is an attack on our Republic and on the rights of every citizen,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The Department of Justice will relentlessly pursue those who try to silence political voices, and no enemy, foreign or domestic, will ever silence the will of the American people. I want to thank and congratulate the trial team and our law enforcement partners for their outstanding work and dedication in bringing this case to justice.”
“Today’s jury verdict delivers justice. What Routh did was objectively evil — an attempt not only to take a life, but to rob Americans of their right to vote and to silence free speech. This was nothing less than an attempted assassination of both a man and the democratic voice he represented,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “We have seen over the past decade how political violence — from the assassination of Charlie Kirk to threats meant to silence conservative voices — has poisoned our public square. Such violence is un-American. It is an assault on every one of us, no matter our politics. The Southern District of Florida will relentlessly pursue those who try to steal our freedoms, and we will ensure that the rule of law — not fear, not violence — prevails.”
“Ryan Routh’s attempted assassination of President Trump was a disgusting act — mere weeks before an election and only months after a separate assassination attempt came dangerously close to succeeding,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “FBI teams worked quickly and diligently with local partners and the Department of Justice to demonstrate a clear fact pattern of Routh’s planning and intent, and we are grateful to see a quick resolution. The FBI will continue working aggressively to take violent offenders off American streets and protect public officials from threats of all nature.”
“Thanks to the quick reaction by the U.S. Secret Service, Ryan Wesley Routh was unsuccessful in his attempt to inflict political violence. The verdict against Routh is indicative of the professionalism, determination, and resilience of the investigative team who rapidly and thoroughly pursued every lead in this top priority case. No stone was left unturned,” said Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI’s Miami Field Office. “It was an around-the-clock, full court press that put the FBI’s investigative acumen on full display. We are joined in this effort with the full support of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the U.S. Secret Service, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, and DOJ’s National Security Division. I commend their diligence and commitment in pursuit of this outcome.”
According to the evidence presented at trial, then-U.S. Secret Service Special Agent Robert Fercano – who was patrolling one hole ahead of the President at the golf course – spotted Routh pointing an AK-style rifle at Special Agent Fercano from a sniper’s hide in the fence abutting the golf course. Special Agent Fercano, in fear for his life and the life of President Trump, opened fire at Routh who fled. Law enforcement subsequently found a loaded SKS-style rifle equipped with a scope, a magazine containing an additional nineteen rounds of ammunition and the safety off, steel armor plates, and a camera attached to the fence pointing toward the sixth hole green of the golf course, where Routh had been hiding:
A witness saw Routh running across the road from the golf course and getting into a black Nissan Xterra. Based on information provided by the witness, Routh was later apprehended heading northbound on I-95 by officers from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
A search of Routh’s Nissan Xterra found numerous mobile phones, and a list of flights out of the country in the afternoon and evening of Sept. 15, 2024 – the day of the attempted assassination – along with directions to Miami International Airport. Cell records for two of the cell phones found in the Nissan Xterra showed that on multiple days and times from Aug. 18 to Sept. 15, Routh’s cell phone accessed cell towers located near Trump International and the President’s residence at Mar-a-Lago.
A witness testified at trial that he contacted law enforcement stating that Routh had dropped off a box at his residence in April after Routh made another trip to the area near the golf course. Included in the box was a handwritten letter from Routh addressed “Dear World,” which stated, among other things, “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry I failed you.”
Routh was convicted of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment; possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment; assaulting a federal officer (the Secret Service Special Agent, Robert Fercano), which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison; felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison; and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI is investigating the case, with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office and Martin County Sheriff’s Office also assisted with this case.
Senior Counsel John C. Shipley, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher B. Browne, National Security Section Chief Maria K. Medetis Long, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Luce for the Southern District of Florida, and Trial Attorneys James Donnelly and John Cella of the Justice Department’s National Security Division Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
The Justice Department will continue to defend the democratic process, safeguard our leaders, and ensure accountability for political violence.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-CR-80116.
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Jury Convicts Man of Attempted Assassination of President Donald J. Trump and Assault of a Federal Law Enforcement OfficerRead the Press Release
A federal jury today convicted Ryan Wesley Routh, 59, of Hawaii, for attempting to assassinate President Donald J. Trump when he was a major presidential candidate in a planned sniper attack at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
“Today’s guilty verdict against would-be Trump assassin Ryan Routh illustrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to punishing those who engage in political violence,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This attempted assassination was not only an attack on our President, but an affront to our very nation itself. I am grateful to U.S. Attorney Jason Quiñones, his entire trial team, and our law enforcement partners for protecting President Trump and securing this important verdict.”
“This verdict sends a clear message. An attempt to assassinate a presidential candidate is an attack on our Republic and on the rights of every citizen,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The Department of Justice will relentlessly pursue those who try to silence political voices, and no enemy, foreign or domestic, will ever silence the will of the American people. I want to thank and congratulate the trial team and our law enforcement partners for their outstanding work and dedication in bringing this case to justice.”
“Ryan Routh’s attempted assassination of President Trump was a disgusting act — mere weeks before an election and only months after a separate assassination attempt came dangerously close to succeeding,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “FBI teams worked quickly and diligently with local partners and the Department of Justice to demonstrate a clear fact pattern of Routh’s planning and intent, and we are grateful to see a quick resolution. The FBI will continue working aggressively to take violent offenders off American streets and protect public officials from threats of all nature.”
“There are few crimes more serious than attempting to assassinate a President or former President of the United States, for such an act strikes at the very heart of our Nation and our democracy,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The evidence was clear – a loaded rifle with its serial number obliterated, a backpack and gear found in the woods near Trump International, cellphone records placing the defendant at the scene, and a letter confessing intent – all pointing to a chilling attempt to assassinate then former-President Trump. Today’s jury verdict is a resounding rejection of political violence and a reminder of how perilously close we came to a tragedy of historic proportions.”
“Today’s jury verdict delivers justice. What Routh did was objectively evil — an attempt not only to take a life, but to rob Americans of their right to vote and to silence free speech. This was nothing less than an attempted assassination of both a man and the democratic voice he represented,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “We have seen over the past decade how political violence — from the assassination of Charlie Kirk to threats meant to silence conservative voices — has poisoned our public square. Such violence is un-American. It is an assault on every one of us, no matter our politics. The Southern District of Florida will relentlessly pursue those who try to steal our freedoms, and we will ensure that the rule of law — not fear, not violence — prevails.”
According to the evidence presented at trial, then-U.S. Secret Service Special Agent Robert Fercano – who was patrolling one hole ahead of the president at the golf course – spotted Routh pointing an AK-style rifle at Special Agent Fercano from a sniper’s hide in the fence abutting the golf course. Agent Fercano, in fear for his life and the life of President Trump, opened fire at Routh, who fled. Law enforcement subsequently found a loaded SKS-style rifle equipped with a scope, a magazine containing an additional nineteen rounds of ammunition and the safety off, steel armor plates, and a camera attached to the fence pointing toward the sixth hole green of the golf course, where Routh had been hiding:
A witness saw Routh running across the road from the golf course and getting into a black Nissan Xterra. Based on information provided by the witness, Routh was later apprehended heading northbound on I-95 by officers from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
A search of Routh’s Nissan Xterra found numerous mobile phones, and a list of flights out of the country in the afternoon and evening of Sept. 15, 2024 – the day of the attempted assassination – along with directions to Miami International Airport. Cell records for two of the cell phones found in the Nissan Xterra showed that on multiple days and times from Aug. 18 to Sept. 15, Routh’s cell phone accessed cell towers located near Trump International and the President’s residence at Mar-a-Lago.
A witness testified at trial that he contacted law enforcement stating that Routh had dropped off a box at his residence in April after Routh made another trip to the area near the golf course. Included in the box was a handwritten letter from Routh addressed “Dear World,” which stated, among other things, “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry I failed you.”
Routh was convicted of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment; possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment; assaulting a federal officer (the Secret Service Special Agent, Robert Fercano), which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison; felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison; and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI is investigating the case, with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office and Martin County Sheriff’s Office also assisted with this case.
Senior Counsel John C. Shipley, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher B. Browne, National Security Section Chief Maria K. Medetis Long, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Luce for the Southern District of Florida, and Trial Attorneys James Donnelly and John Cella of the Justice Department’s National Security Division Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
The Justice Department will continue to defend the democratic process, safeguard our leaders, and ensure accountability for political violence.