Northern District of Georgia
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Illegal Aliens Face Federal Drug Trafficking Charges After Union City Meth Lab BustRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - David Miranda Gomez and Robert Gomez Garcia, both illegal aliens from Mexico, face federal drug distribution charges after a search of their Union City home resulted in the discovery of a methamphetamine laboratory and seizure of over 240 pounds of solid and liquid methamphetamine.
“These illegal aliens were allegedly concocting massive amounts of methamphetamine in the cul-de-sac of a neighborhood and intended to distribute their deadly drugs in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Thanks to the unwavering work of our law enforcement partner, Gomez and Garcia are in custody, their meth lab has been shut down, and the public is safer.”
“This case demonstrates the lengths drug traffickers will go to conceal their criminal activity and evade law enforcement,” said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “The defendants used a different method of concealment in an effort to thwart detection, but our investigators remained persistent and uncovered the operation. We will continue to pursue those who manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and hold them accountable.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On August 25, 2026, after previously observing Garcia allegedly sell nearly four and a half pounds of methamphetamine in the parking lot of a shopping plaza, DEA agents executed a search warrant at a Union City, Georgia residence occupied by Gomez and Garcia. Upon entry, agents discovered that multiple rooms of the home had been equipped with propane burners, large pots, electric fans, plastic sheeting, resealable bags, and other items used to convert and manufacture methamphetamine. Agents found large amounts of liquid and crystal methamphetamine on both floors and various painted trinkets, which allegedly contained liquid methamphetamine. In total, agents seized approximately 240 pounds of crystal and liquid methamphetamine, thousands of dollars of cash, and an AR-style pistol.
David Miranda Gomez, 34, and Robert Gomez Garcia, 33, both of Mexico, appeared in federal court yesterday on a criminal complaint charging them with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Both men were ordered detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending further proceedings.
Members of the public are reminded that the criminal complaint contains only charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
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.
Assistant United States Attorney James Hwang is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Illegal Alien Felon and Georgia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking over 700 Pounds of Methamphetamine Hidden in Cucumber ShipmentRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE – Andres Jasso, Jr. and Rufino Pineda-Perez, an illegal alien from Mexico and twice-convicted felon, were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in trafficking over 700 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in a tractor-trailer load of cucumbers outside of a Gainesville, Georgia warehouse.
“The defendants attempted to conceal an astonishing amount of deadly methamphetamine in a cucumber shipment, but the diligent and strategic efforts of law enforcement partners uncovered their ruse,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “As a result, Pineda-Perez, a twice-convicted and twice-deported felon, and Jasso, Jr. will now serve substantial time in federal prison with no possibility of parole.”
“This sentence reflects the seriousness of trafficking methamphetamine and the importance of holding repeat offenders accountable,” said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “This defendant, a twice-convicted felon, continued to engage in dangerous drug trafficking, going to great lengths to conceal methamphetamine in a shipment of cucumbers. Cases like this demonstrate why strong partnerships among law enforcement agencies are so critical. By working together, sharing information, and pursuing a common mission, we can disrupt drug trafficking organizations and protect our communities.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On June 30, 2025, DEA agents were surveilling a tractor-trailer parked at a Gainesville warehouse that agents believed contained a large amount of drugs. Agents arrested Jasso, Jr. and Pineda-Perez after seeing them in a sedan parked next to the tractor-trailer. During a search of the tractor-trailer, agents located 20 pallets of boxes containing cucumbers and thousands of individually wrapped packages of methamphetamine. The investigation established that co-conspirators had tasked Jasso, Jr. and Pineda-Perez with offloading the boxes from the tractor-trailer and separating the drugs from the cucumbers. The weight of the methamphetamine exceeded 700 pounds.
Pineda-Perez is a citizen and national of Mexico with no legal status in the United States. In 2001, Pineda-Perez was deported and removed from the United States following a felony conviction in Arizona for transporting marijuana. He illegally re-entered the United States thereafter and was encountered by federal agents in March 2014, while transporting nearly one kilogram of cocaine in the Atlanta area. In August 2015, a federal judge sentenced him to six and a half years of imprisonment. Upon completion of his prison sentence, Pineda-Perez was deported for a second time.
Earlier today, Rufino Pineda-Perez, 61, of Mexico, was sentenced to 15 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. On July 17, 2026, Andres Jasso, Jr., 39, of Brookhaven, Ga., was also sentenced to 15 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release.
On March 11, 2026, Pineda-Perez and Jasso, Jr. pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and Pineda-Perez also pleaded guilty to illegal reentry by a previously removed alien.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with valuable assistance provided by the Georgia State Patrol, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Assistant United States Attorney Johnny Baer prosecuted 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.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Drug-Dealing Killer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Firearm IllegallyRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Jesse James Williams, Jr., a 14-time convicted felon who once killed a man over a $10 drug debt, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after a jury found him guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm.
“Amassing more than a dozen felony convictions, this violent, incorrigible defendant spent decades breaking the law,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Williams’s sentence sends an unmistakable message: repeat offenders who arm themselves and endanger the community will be removed from our streets. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who refuse to respect the law face its full weight.”
“Williams has demonstrated time and again that he has no regard for the law or the safety of others. A violent convicted felon with a history of drug trafficking, robbery, and weapons offenses has no place on our streets with a firearm, and this sentence ensures he will be held accountable for his continued criminal conduct,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively pursue violent offenders who use firearms to threaten and harm our communities.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and evidence presented in court: On May 29, 2024, a Gwinnett County Police Department officer stopped Williams’s car for speeding. During the stop, officers recovered a stolen pistol and a baggie of crack cocaine in Williams’s waistband. Law enforcement agents later linked the gun to a shooting in Decatur, Georgia that injured a woman. Before the shooting, Williams allegedly warned the victim, “Bitch, I told you not to touch my stuff.”
Prior to his 2024 arrest, Williams had amassed more than a dozen felony convictions for crimes including cocaine trafficking, robbery, burglary, and weapon possession. In 2011, Williams was convicted of voluntary manslaughter after killing another man over a $10 drug debt.
On August 25, 2026, United States District Judge Steven D. Grimberg sentenced Jesse James Williams Jr., 51, of Decatur, Georgia, to 14 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. On December 18, 2025, a jury found Williams guilty of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, after a four-day trial.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with substantial assistance provided by the Gwinnett County Police Department, the DeKalb Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Georgia Department of Community Supervision.
Assistant United States Attorneys Dash A. Cooper and Phyllis Clerk prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Amazon Fraud Defendant Sentenced to More than 16 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Brittany Hudson was sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prison today for orchestrating a scheme that netted nearly $10 million from Amazon, laundering the fraudulent proceeds, defrauding a franchising company while out on bond, and forging a federal judge’s signature on fake court documents.
“Hudson and her partner engineered a massive fraud scheme against Amazon, stealing nearly $10 million in just a few months,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Hudson then showed utter contempt for the law by forging a federal judge’s signature in a failed effort to defraud another company while out on bond. Today’s significant sentence, which must be served without the possibility of parole, holds her accountable for her crime spree.”
“The sentencing in this case brings a brazen fraud operation to its inevitable conclusion - years behind bars for the criminals involved,” said Rob Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Field Office. “Our office remains steadfast in our commitment to uncover fraud, protect victims, and work with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring criminals like this to justice.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Brittany Hudson owned a business that contracted with Amazon to deliver packages. Hudson was in a romantic relationship with Kayricka Wortham (a/k/a Kayricka Dupree, a/k/a Kayricka Young), who was an operations manager at the Amazon warehouse in Smyrna, Georgia. Given her position, Wortham had the authority to approve new vendors and vendor invoice payments for Amazon.
From January 2022 to June 2022, Hudson and Wortham defrauded Amazon out of nearly $10 million through a scheme involving bogus vendors and invoices. Wortham and Hudson created dozens of fake vendors in Amazon’s vendor system. Wortham and another co-conspirator at Amazon approved the fake vendor profiles, enabling them to submit invoices.
Hudson and Wortham then submitted more than 1,000 fictitious invoices for the phony vendors, falsely claiming that the vendors had provided goods and services to Amazon. Wortham approved the invoices, causing Amazon to transfer approximately $9.4 million to bank accounts controlled by Hudson, Wortham, and co-conspirators. Hudson and Wortham used the fraudulent proceeds to purchase expensive real estate and luxury vehicles, including a nearly $1 million home in Smyrna, Georgia, a 2019 Lamborghini Urus, a 2021 Dodge Durango, a 2022 Tesla Model X, a 2018 Porsche Panamera, and a Kawasaki ZX636 motorcycle.
In September 2022, Hudson and Wortham were charged in federal court with defrauding Amazon. While on bond, in January 2023, they attempted to defraud a franchising company, resulting in the immediate revocation of their pretrial release. In an effort to enter a franchising agreement to open a hookah lounge in Midtown Atlanta, Hudson and Wortham falsely claimed that their Amazon-related criminal charges had been dismissed. In support of that lie, the two emailed counterfeit court documents that purported to dismiss the charges and contained the forged signatures of former Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr. and Cobb County Magistrate Judge Norman L. Barnett, who was then one of the prosecutors on the case. Hudson also emailed doctored financial statements with inflated account balances to support the franchise deal.
Brittany Hudson, 40, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced today to 16 years and three months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $9,469,731.45 of restitution to Amazon. The Court also entered a forfeiture money judgment of $7,859,135.54 and ordered Hudson to forfeit her Smyrna residence and money seized from her bank account as fraudulent proceeds of the Amazon scheme. On March 13, 2026, a jury convicted Hudson of 30 felony offenses, including two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, seventeen counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, nine counts of money laundering, and one count of forgery of the signature of a federal judge.
On June 27, 2023, Kayricka Wortham, 35, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to 16 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $9,469,731.45 in restitution. Wortham forfeited more than $3 million, the Smyrna home, and the vehicles purchased with fraudulent proceeds. On March 25, 2026, she was sentenced to an additional consecutive year in prison, bringing her total sentence to 17 years, after pleading guilty to forging the signature of a federal judge.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen H. McClain, Angela Adams, and Nicholas L. Evert prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga
Former Mail Carrier Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing More than $1 Million of Checks from MailRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Melissa McAfee, a former U.S. Postal Service mail carrier, was sentenced to federal prison today for stealing mail containing checks and gift cards worth more than $1 million.
“Mail carriers are entrusted with the responsibility of handling citizens’ valuable and personal communications, but McAfee abused that trust by stealing more than 200 checks and gift cards,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “My office works closely with our federal partners to aggressively prosecute any federal employee who misuses public office for private gain.”
“Today’s sentencing sends a strong message to anyone who thinks mail theft and check fraud will go unpunished,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Ulrich of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. “Our special agents, along with our federal and local law enforcement partners, will aggressively investigate these federal crimes to protect the sanctity of the U.S. Mail and maintain the public’s trust.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: From August 2022 to September 2024, McAfee worked as a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier in the Smyrna, Georgia area. The U.S. Postal Service - Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) launched an investigation after receiving customer complaints about mail stolen along McAfee’s postal route. During the investigation, USPS-OIG obtained surveillance footage of McAfee stealing mail on her route. Additional investigation determined that she stole mail containing 171 checks, with a total value exceeding $1,035,000. USPS-OIG agents executed a search warrant at McAfee’s home, where they discovered envelopes for stolen mail, 145 stolen checks, and 37 stolen gift cards. When confronted by USPS-OIG agents in September 2024, McAfee resigned from the Postal Service.
Melissa McAfee, 44, of Jonesboro, Ga., has been sentenced to two years in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution. McAfee pleaded guilty to possession of stolen mail on May 14, 2026.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Service - Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Samir Kaushal prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Georgia Man Faces Federal Charges Following Violent Social Media Threats Against Former FBI AgentRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Isiah Washington was arraigned yesterday in federal court after allegedly posting violent threats against a former FBI official on social media.
“Washington allegedly posted explicit threats to kill a former high-level FBI supervisor as part of a vicious online tirade aimed at multiple federal law enforcement agencies,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Threats to murder and maim are not protected speech, and they will not be tolerated. My office will aggressively prosecute anyone who threatens the life of a law enforcement officer.”
“Violent threats against FBI personnel are not taken lightly, whether they are made in person or from behind a keyboard,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “As alleged, Washington crossed the line with explicit threats against a former FBI supervisor, and the FBI will continue working with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who threaten the lives of law enforcement officers.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In April 2025, Washington allegedly posted on X multiple violent threats against federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, CIA, and DEA. Washington’s rant culminated when he posted photos of a retired supervisory FBI agent and a person resembling that man, commenting, “I’m going to kill him,” and “I’m going to kill this guy.”
On August 20, 2026, Isiah Washington, 49, of Covington, Georgia, appeared in federal court after a grand jury returned an indictment on July 29, 2026, charging him with one count of transmitting interstate threats. Washington also faces local charges in South Carolina for allegedly making threatening phone calls to a North Charleston, South Carolina police station in June 2025. He is detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending further proceedings.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Eric Boylan is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Convicted Felon Charged with Threatening Judge and DA's Office Handling Apalachee High Mass Shooting CaseRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Brandon Dontrail Scroggins, a convicted felon, faces federal charges in the Northern District of Georgia after allegedly threatening Barrow County Superior Court Judge Nicholas Primm and the Barrow County District Attorney’s Office on the sentencing day for Colin Gray, the father of Apalachee High School mass shooter Colt Gray.
“Scroggins allegedly threatened violence against the prosecutors and judge who were tasked with meting out justice for individuals responsible for the horrific mass shooting that claimed four innocent lives at Apalachee High School,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Public servants deserve to work free of intimidation, and anyone who threatens to harm them will be prosecuted.”
“Our justice system depends on the ability of prosecutors and judges to make their decisions based on the law, and not on fear,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI has zero tolerance for those trying to intimidate public servants from doing their jobs.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented to the court: On the morning of July 30, 2026, in the Superior Court of Barrow County, Judge Nicholas Primm presided over the sentencing hearing for Colin Gray, the father of the perpetrator of the September 4, 2024 Apalachee High School shooting. Gray’s son, Colin Cray, killed four people and injured nine in the deadliest act of school violence in Georgia’s history. Scroggins allegedly called the Barrow County District Attorney’s Office and informed the receptionist that he was coming to “take out” Barrow County because of purported injustice. Shortly thereafter, Scroggins called the district attorney’s office again and left a voicemail threatening to travel to Georgia and harm the office’s employees and their children.
A minute later, Scroggins allegedly called Judge Primm’s chambers and left a voicemail stating that “a death date just came up for Nicholas Primm.” In the voicemail, Scroggins allegedly warned Judge Primm’s assistant to separate herself from Judge Primm because Judge Primm and “everything he love[s]” is “dead.”
On August 7, 2026, Brandon Dontrail Scroggins, 39, of Abilene, Texas, was charged in a criminal complaint with transmitting interstate communications containing threats to injure another person. Scroggins also faces federal charges in the Middle District of Alabama for allegedly threatening a federal judge, and he faces state charges in Texas related to harassing phone calls.
Scroggins is being held in the custody of the United States Marshals Service in Texas awaiting transport for further proceedings in the Middle District of Alabama and Northern District of Georgia.
Members of the public are reminded that the complaint only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Smith is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods and Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is 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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Georgia Businessman Charged with $24 Million Bank FraudRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Thomas Mwangi, the former owner of a Cartersville, Georgia manufacturing business, was arraigned last week on federal bank and wire fraud charges after allegedly defrauding First Financial Bank (“First Financial”) out of more than $20 million.
“Mwangi allegedly conned a bank out of approximately $24 million by forging signatures and fabricating account statements,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Fraudulent loans not only harm banks but also restrict access to credit for honest businesses and individuals. We will work with our law enforcement partners to root out and punish manipulation of our financial institutions.”
“The rewards for lying, stealing, and falsifying records are serious charges and potential prison time,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will continue to use our expertise to investigate and prosecute all those who defraud American businesses.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Mwangi owned and operated CAMaster, a manufacturing company in Cartersville, Georgia. In 2023, Mwangi allegedly duped First Financial into financing his purchase of two Texas companies by falsely pledging millions of dollars as collateral. On one occasion, Mwangi allegedly falsified his brokerage statement to claim he had $22 million dollars when he actually had less than $1 million. Additionally, Mwangi allegedly presented First Financial with a forged document from a brokerage house purporting to acknowledge First Financial’s security interest in Mwangi’s account.
Based on Mwangi’s fraudulent representations, First Financial loaned Mwangi $24 million in 2023. After receiving the fraudulent funds, Mwangi allegedly emailed fake financial statements to First Financial on at least 23 occasions to lull the bank into believing he had sufficient collateral for his loans. Last summer, Mwangi defaulted on his loan payments to First Financial.
On August 10, 2026, Thomas Mwangi, 48, of Atlanta, Georgia, was arraigned in federal court on an indictment charging two counts of bank fraud and thirteen counts of wire fraud. A federal grand jury returned the indictment on August 4, 2026.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwayne A. Brown Jr. is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Alleged Mastermind of $165 Million Cryptocurrency Ponzi Scheme Facing Federal Charges after Deportation from FijiRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, Ga. - After allegedly perpetrating a $165 million Ponzi scheme, fleeing to Fiji, and being deported back to the United States, Edward Zimbardi will appear in federal court today to face wire fraud and money laundering charges.
“Zimbardi allegedly tricked thousands of people to invest in his ‘Crypto Program’ with false promises of enormous returns. Instead, he spent the money on risky currency trades, payments to early investors, and treating himself to a house and expensive vehicles,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “When his scam imploded, he allegedly tried to evade federal prosecution by fleeing to the other side of the world. Thanks to law enforcement and diplomatic authorities in Fiji and the United States, Zimbardi is back on American soil and will face trial.”
“Zimbardi allegedly preyed on trusting individuals through a complex scheme to separate people from their hard-earned money and then reportedly fled more than 7300 miles to the South Pacific,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Scammers are trying everything they can to defraud people out of their hard-earned money, but the FBI is doing everything we can to make sure they don’t succeed, no matter where they hide.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Between June 2022 and August 2023, Edward Zimbardi allegedly created and promoted an alleged Ponzi scheme called The Crypto Program. In his promotional videos and websites, Zimbardi allegedly told investors that The Crypto Program was an opportunity to invest in advertising packages with a guaranteed 25% monthly return. Investors were encouraged to pay for their advertising packages by moving cryptocurrency into wallets Zimbardi secretly controlled. Together, thousands of investors sent more than $165 million to those wallets.
Instead of using investments to buy advertising packages, Zimbardi allegedly gambled more than $34 million on risky foreign currency bets and lost substantial money. To keep the Ponzi scheme going, Zimbardi allegedly used funds from later investors to pay earlier investors. Finally, he allegedly spent at least $10 million on personal expenses, including buying a house for his son, purchasing luxury vehicles, and making alimony payments to his ex-wife.
When The Crypto Program imploded in August 2023 and victims lost their invested funds, Zimbardi traveled to Hawaii, Fiji, and other locations around the world. In July 2025, after becoming aware of the FBI’s investigation, he fled to Fiji and lived there for over a year. In May 2026, Zimbardi canceled plans to attend his son’s wedding in Virginia after suspecting—correctly—that FBI agents would attempt to arrest him there. On August 14, 2026, after Fijian authorities learned of the charges against Zimbardi, they deported Zimbardi to the United States, in coordination with the FBI and U.S. Department of State.
On July 8, 2026, Edward Zimbardi, 59, of Flowery Branch, Georgia, was charged in a federal indictment with twelve counts of wire fraud, twelve counts of money laundering, and one count of money laundering conspiracy. He will appear before a federal magistrate judge in Los Angeles, California later today, and the Government will argue he should be detained in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending further proceedings in the Northern District of Georgia.
Individuals who invested in The Crypto Program are encouraged to provide victim information to the FBI at http://fbi.gov/thecryptoprogram. The FBI will contact victims at a later date regarding further proceedings, including potential documentation needed for restitution.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Substantial assistance has been provided by the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs; the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Overseas Criminal Investigations Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Suva, Fiji; the Fiji Ministry of Immigration; the Fiji Police Force; the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission; the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the Georgia Secretary of State; and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
Assistant United States Attorney Bethany L. Rupert is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Previously Deported Illegal Alien Faces Federal Methamphetamine and Immigration Charges after Gainesville BustRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE – Pedro Guadarrama Loza, a convicted felon and previously deported illegal alien from Mexico, faces federal drug trafficking and immigration charges after the seizure of more than 275 pounds of methamphetamine shipped from Mexico.
“This illegal alien, convicted felon, and drug dealer allegedly attempted to coordinate the trafficking of a massive amount of methamphetamine in North Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Due to the skilled coordination of our law enforcement partners, a load of deadly drugs concealed in industrial powder was seized, and Loza now faces serious charges in federal court.”
“This seizure represents a significant victory in our ongoing efforts to disrupt the flow of dangerous narcotics into our communities. By working closely with our local and federal partners, HSI agents successfully intercepted over 275 pounds of methamphetamine and apprehended an individual who had already been removed from the United States,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI and its partners will continue to utilize all available resources to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who threaten the safety of our communities by trafficking illicit drugs.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On July 29, 2026, law enforcement identified a suspicious shipment of five boxes from Mexico en route to the Gainesville, Georgia area. Inside the boxes, law enforcement discovered plastic bags, each of which contained a black industrial powder that tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine. The methamphetamine-laden powder in the boxes weighed a total of 277 pounds.
On August 12, 2026, agents delivered the boxes to the recipient address, a residence in Gainesville, Georgia, in an undercover operation. Shortly thereafter, Loza allegedly emerged from the residence, took possession of the boxes, and went inside. Agents executed a federal search warrant on the residence, seized the boxes, and arrested Loza, who was attempting to flee out of the back door.
The investigation further revealed that Loza was convicted in 2014 of trafficking in controlled substances in DeKalb County, Georgia and was removed to Mexico in 2017, after completing his prison sentence. Sometime thereafter, Loza allegedly re-entered the United States without legal authority.
Yesterday, Pedro Guadarrama Loza, 38, of Michoacán, Mexico, appeared in federal court on a criminal complaint charging him with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and illegal reentry by a previously removed alien. Loza was ordered to be detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending further proceedings.
Members of the public are reminded that the criminal complaint contains only charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with valuable assistance provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Hall County Sheriff’s Office.
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.
Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Herskowitz and Drew Waldbeser are prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Drive Planning Fraudsters Sentenced to Federal Prison for Operating Massive $380 Million Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Todd Burkhalter, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Georgia-based financial advisory group Drive Planning LLC (“Drive Planning”), was sentenced today to serve 20 years in federal prison, the maximum allowed by law, for orchestrating a years-long Ponzi scheme that resulted in thousands of investors losing nearly $400 million. Two other top executives of Drive Planning, David Bradford and Julie Edwards, were sentenced to federal prison earlier this week for their roles in the scheme.
“Todd Burkhalter lured investors to send millions of dollars to Drive Planning for investments that he knew didn’t actually exist,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “He promised investors that they were guaranteed substantial returns on their investments, and he ruthlessly encouraged them to deplete their kids’ college funds, take early distributions from retirement accounts, and borrow significant sums at high interest rates. The sentences in this case should discourage other financial advisors from choosing insatiable greed and lies over honest investment strategies.”
“Todd Burkhalter organized what is likely the largest Ponzi scheme in Georgia history to fund an extravagant lifestyle. He even continued to exploit victims while under federal investigation,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI is committed pursue fraudsters like Burkhalter and seek justice for every victim.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: between September 2020 and June 2024, Drive Planning, at Burkhalter’s direction, marketed several investment opportunities, including: (a) the “Real Estate Acceleration Loan” opportunity or “REAL,” and (b) the “Cash Out Real Estate Fund” or “CORE Fund.” Drive Planning claimed that investing in REAL and the CORE Fund was “easy and simple,” telling prospective investors that they did not have to be accredited investors to participate and encouraging them to invest money from retirement accounts, savings, and lines of credit.
REAL was Drive Planning’s primary investment vehicle, which Burkhalter fraudulently marketed as a bridge loan opportunity that would guarantee investors a 10% return every three months. Drive Planning claimed that it offered short-term loans—the bridge loans—to real estate developers who needed immediate cash flow to complete existing projects or fund new ones. Burkhalter and Drive Planning deceived investors into believing their investments were safe by claiming they were fully collateralized by real estate. To perpetuate these lies, Burkhalter directed Drive Planning to prepare fraudulent “collateral sheets” identifying properties—some of which did not even exist— with fictitious valuations that purportedly served as collateral for investments.
Burkhalter and Drive Planning also falsely represented the extent of its relationship with real estate developers. In particular, Drive Planning highlighted its supposed relationship with a well-known real estate developer in Atlanta, Georgia (“Real Estate Developer-1”). In promissory notes with investors, Drive Planning falsely claimed investments were secured by real property within Real Estate Developer-1’s portfolio. Eventually, Real Estate Developer-1 became aware that Drive Planning and Burkhalter were fraudulently using its name to promote the REAL opportunity. Real Estate Developer-1 sued Drive Planning and Burkhalter, seeking to enjoin them from further using Real Estate Developer-1’s name.
For the CORE Fund, Drive Planning falsely claimed that it provided “100% Passive Income from Tax Liens.” Drive Planning guaranteed investors a return of 10% every six months or a 22% return per year for up to three years. Drive Planning further misrepresented that investors’ contributions to the CORE Fund were pooled together, government-protected, and fully collateralized. Additionally, Burkhalter and others at Drive Planning failed to disclose that Drive Planning did not invest any funds in the CORE Fund after approximately December 9, 2022. In total, Drive Planning received at least $4.1 million from individuals who sought to invest in the CORE Fund.
Burkhalter operated REAL as a Ponzi scheme from the inception. In September 2020, after Drive Planning received its first $50,000 investment in REAL, Burkhalter used at least $21,000 to repay an earlier Drive Planning investor. None of the REAL funds were used for their supposed intended purpose: to finance bridge loans or enter joint ventures with any real estate developers. Indeed, within the first couple of months of marketing REAL, Burkhalter used at least $80,000 in investor money to pay his ex-wife’s attorneys and expenses related to recreational vehicles.
Throughout the scheme, investors’ monies were used to pay off other Drive Planning investors, make commission payments to Drive Planning’s agents, and pay for personal expenditures. For example, Burkhalter spent approximately:
- $2 million to purchase a yacht;
- $2.1 million as part of a purchase of a luxury condo in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico;
- $800,000 on multiple luxury vehicles, including a 2020 Prevost Marathon motorcoach and two 2024 Land Rovers;
- Millions of dollars on luxury travel, including chartering private jets; and
- $320,000 on clothing, jewelry, and beauty treatments.
Even after the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) began investigating Drive Planning in approximately March 2024, Burkhalter and others continued to solicit tens of millions of dollars in investments for REAL and the CORE Fund. Over the course of the scheme, Burkhalter defrauded more than 2,000 investors out of approximately $380 million.
In August 2024, the SEC obtained a temporary restraining order against Drive Planning and filed civil enforcement actions in federal court against Drive Planning and others related to the above-described scheme. Court-appointed receiver Kenneth D. Murena is responsible for attempting to recover funds and sell assets to repay Drive Planning’s many victims.
Today, U.S. District Judge Tiffany R. Johnson sentenced Todd Burkhalter, 55, of St. Petersburg, Florida to 20 years in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Burkhalter was also ordered to pay $233,777,763.82 in restitution to victims.
Earlier this week, Judge Johnson sentenced two other Drive Planning employees, David Bradford and Julie Edwards:
- David Bradford, 53, of Peachtree Corners, Georgia, was Drive Planning’s Chief Operating Officer. He previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in the CORE Fund scheme. He was sentenced to four years and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $4,297,878.16 in restitution to victims.
- Julie Edwards, 59, of Cumming, Georgia, was Drive Planning’s Chief Administrative Officer. She previously pleaded guilty to laundering proceeds of the Ponzi scheme. She was sentenced to two years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $630,000 in restitution to victims.
The defendants’ sentences will be served without the possibility of parole. Parole has been abolished in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with substantial assistance from the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Assistant United States Attorney Kelly K. Connors and former Assistant United States Attorney Alex R. Sistla prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Violent Drug Dealer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking Kilograms of Fentanyl Hidden in Car Batteries, Fentanyl Pills, and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Gabriel Ojeda Murguia, a violent criminal with a history of hurting other people, was sentenced to nine years in prison after his conviction for trafficking over 25 kilograms of fentanyl and other drugs in the Atlanta area.
“The obscene amount of fentanyl Murguia possessed posed a significant threat to public health and public safety. If law enforcement had not stopped it from hitting the street, this poison could have ended tens of thousands of lives,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “The success of this operation came from the coordinated teamwork of multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in our Homeland Security Task Force.”
“Murguia was moving an extraordinary amount of fentanyl into our communities, putting countless lives at risk for profit,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This investigation and sentencing demonstrate the impact we can have when federal, state, and local law enforcement work together to stop dangerous drugs before they reach the streets.”
“This sentence demonstrates what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies work together with a common goal, which is protecting our communities from the deadly threat of fentanyl,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Our joint law enforcement efforts with the Homeland Security Task Force will continue to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those responsible for trafficking these dangerous drugs. Together, we are working toward safer communities and a Fentanyl-Free America.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Between April 2024 and April 2025, Gabriel Ojeda Murguia, a/k/a “Taliban,” sold fentanyl and methamphetamine on several occasions in Gwinnett County. Over two transactions, Murguia sold more than 100 grams of fentanyl powder. In another, he sold over 2,000 fentanyl pills. He had previously sold a kilogram of methamphetamine for $2,700 and offered to sell cocaine for $18,000 per kilogram.
On April 17, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on a Lilburn, Georgia residence after observing Murguia enter the home. During the search, agents found approximately 25 kilograms of fentanyl and cocaine, including at least 15 kilograms of fentanyl hidden inside vehicle batteries. Murguia and another man were both arrested that same day. Murguia was previously convicted of battery and family violence battery.
On August 12, 2026, United States District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. sentenced Gabriel Ojeda Murguia, a/k/a Taliban, 46, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, to nine years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Murguia was convicted on May 4, 2026, after he pleaded guilty to possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute, possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and conspiring to possess fentanyl with the intent to distribute.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with substantial assistance from the Gwinnett County Police Department and the Georgia State Patrol.
Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas M. Forsyth III and Sara Lim prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Atlanta comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Two Georgia Men and a Chinese National Indicted for Forced Labor and Related OffensesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia returned an indictment today charging Zhu Chen, 60, and Jiayi Chen, 31, both U.S. Citizens, and Jianjun Lu, 55, a Chinese national, all residing in Cartersville, Georgia, with forced labor, conspiracy to commit forced labor, and alien harboring.
According to court documents, Zhu Chen, together with Jiayi Chen and Jianjun Lu, recruited Chinese nationals through false pretenses to enter the United States on B-1 and L-1 visas to work at Wellmade Industries, a flooring manufacturer in Georgia. Upon the victims’ arrivals into the United States, the defendants kept their immigration documents and had them work 12-hour shifts, six days a week at the Wellmade Industries factory in Cartersville, Georgia. The defendants paid the victims less than promised and did not provide overtime or health benefits. They also threatened the victims with deportation and the imposition of sizeable debts and subjected them to verbal, psychological, and physical abuse. The defendants housed the victims in residences owned by Wellmade even though the victims did not have legal status under their visas.
All three defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit forced labor and forced labor. Zhu Chen is also charged with alien harboring. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia, and Special Agent in Charge Steven N. Schrank of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Atlanta made the announcement.
HSI Dalton, Georgia; Bartow County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations; and Georgia Bureau of Investigations are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Elizabeth Hutson of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Leanne Marek for the Northern District of Georgia 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.
Two Cartersville Men and a Chinese National Indicted for Forced Labor and Related OffensesRead the Press Release
ROME, Ga. - Zhu Chen, the owner of Cartersville-based flooring manufacturer Wellmade Industries; his nephew, Jiayi Chen; and Jianjun Lu, a Chinese national, face federal charges of forced labor, conspiracy to commit forced labor, and alien harboring arising from alleged illegal operations at Wellmade Industries.
“The defendants allegedly threatened foreign workers with physical violence, deportation, and crippling debt; forced them to work lengthy shifts; and housed them in overcrowded and dirty residences,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “My office will ensure that predators who traffic at-risk laborers and violate our immigration laws to enrich themselves are investigated, apprehended, and prosecuted.”
“The federal indictment of Zhu Chen, Jiayi Chen, and Jianjun Lu marks an important step forward in our pursuit of justice for the victims in this alleged forced labor scheme,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI and our law enforcement partners remain focused on uncovering labor trafficking networks, protecting victims, and holding accountable those who use coercion, threats, and exploitation to profit from vulnerable individuals.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg and the charges: Zhu Chen, together with Jiayi Chen and Jianjun Lu, recruited Chinese nationals through false pretenses to enter the United States on B-1 and L-1 visas to work at Wellmade Industries, a flooring manufacturer in Cartersville, Georgia. Upon the victims’ arrivals into the United States, the defendants allegedly made them work twelve-hour shifts for six days a week in unsafe factory conditions, paid them less than promised, and threatened deportation and the imposition of sizeable debts if they stopped working at the factory. The defendants allegedly also housed aliens in residences owned by Wellmade, knowing those aliens did not have legal status in the United States.
Yesterday, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Zhu Chen, 60, and Jiayi Chen, 31, both of Cartersville, Georgia, and Jianjun Lu, 55, of China, with conspiracy to commit forced labor and forced labor. Zhu Chen is also charged with alien harboring. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leanne Marek and Jennifer Keen, and Trial Attorney Elizabeth Hutson of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, are prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Atlanta Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Dealing Fentanyl While Armed with Fully Automatic MachinegunRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Reginald Pierce, a twice-convicted felon, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison on federal drug and weapons charges after possessing a fully automatic machine-gun while dealing fentanyl and other drugs.
“Pierce is a violent repeat offender who trafficked lethal fentanyl while armed with a machinegun,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Thanks to the efforts of federal and local law enforcement, he will serve a significant sentence equal to more than half his lifetime thus far, and our community is safer for it.”
“Machine gun conversion devices transform firearms into exceptionally dangerous weapons that have no place in our communities,” said Benjamin Gibbons, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Atlanta Field Division. “Through NIBIN intelligence and strong investigative partnerships, we connected this firearm to a prior shooting and helped bring this repeat offender to justice.”
“This outcome demonstrates the importance of strong partnerships and collaborations between local and federal agencies,” said Fulton County Sheriff Patrick “Pat” Labat. “Apprehending dangerous criminals is a vital part of our mission at the Fulton County Sheriff's Office to keep the members of our community safe.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On May 30, 2023, a Fulton County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) investigator stopped a vehicle in which Pierce was a passenger. Pierce attempted to flee from the vehicle and tackled the FCSO investigator, but his efforts to evade arrest failed. From Pierce’s pants pocket, FCSO investigators recovered an illegally converted, fully automatic pistol that law enforcement later linked to a drive-by shooting in East Point, Georgia a week earlier. Law enforcement also recovered 469 fentanyl pills, $10,020 in cash, and oxycodone and methamphetamine pills in and near the vehicle.
Pierce’s criminal history includes convictions for armed robbery and a gang-related aggravated assault that involved the stabbing of five victims. As a twice-convicted felon, Pierce was prohibited from possessing any firearm, let alone a fully automatic machinegun.
On July 30, 2026, Reginald Pierce, 28, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee to 15 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Pierce pled guilty on March 17, 2026, to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of unlawful possession of a machinegun, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Lauren E. Renaud prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods and Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is 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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Griffin Grifter Sentenced to Federal Prison for DogfightingRead the Press Release
NEWNAN, Ga. - Norman Dixson, a convicted drug dealer who fraudulently obtained federal pandemic relief money to fund his lifestyle, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for promoting dogfighting.
“Dixson exploited federal relief programs while breeding, training, and abusing dogs in horrific conditions for his barbaric entertainment and monetary gain,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Dogfighting has no place in civilized society. Depraved individuals who abuse animals for profit should take notice: we will aggressively prosecute these offenses and ensure the perpetrators are sent to prison.”
“Norman Dixson was sentenced to federal prison for his vile acts of animal cruelty, the killing of animals, and his involvement in brutal dog-fighting operations. Dixson also defrauded the Indiana Department of Workforce Development by fraudulently filing for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits he knew he was not entitled to receive, stealing taxpayer-funded relief intended for people in genuine need,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. “We will continue to work relentlessly with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of the unemployment insurance system and aggressively pursue those who seek to exploit, loot, and abuse these critical public benefit programs.”
“Dogfighting is grossly inhuman and it is against the law,” said USDA Inspector General John Walk. “USDA OIG remains resolute to bring those who commit this gruesome crime to justice. Let this prison sentence be a warning that violations of animal welfare laws will not be tolerated. It is unconscionable that this criminal supported himself by fraudulently exploiting a public relief program. I commend acting Special Agent in Charge Nathan Unger for his investigative work.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Dogfighting is an extreme form of animal cruelty. Dogs forced into dogfighting are often kept on short, heavy chains in squalid conditions. Dog fights often last hours, with dogs suffering puncture wounds, lacerations, blood loss, and broken bones. Injured dogs do not receive professional medical care because the injuries would quickly expose dogfighting rings. Instead, the dogs must suffer through bootleg “treatment” from criminals. Losing dogs and those that refuse to fight are often brutally executed.
Videos and photographs obtained from Dixson’s Facebook and iCloud accounts showed that, since at least 2018, Dixson bred dogs for the purpose of dogfighting. He used treadmills and other devices to condition them to fight from birth, and he marketed puppies on Facebook for dogfighting. Dixson’s dogs spent much of their lives on heavy chains and in makeshift pens or overcrowded crates, surrounded by waste. Dixson recorded numerous dog fights in which his dogs were seriously injured, and he captured video of dead and dying dogs, some hanging by their necks from leashes, suggesting that they had been strangled to death.
While promoting dogfighting ventures, Dixson relied on fraudulently obtained taxpayer money to support his lifestyle. He exploited relief programs designed to help struggling citizens and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic to receive more than $170,000 in Paycheck Protection Program and Unemployment Insurance funds, lying to state and federal government agencies in the process.
On August 7, 2026, Norman Dixson, 35, of Griffin, Georgia, was sentenced to two years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Additionally, he was ordered to pay restitution of $171,069. As part of his sentence, Dixson was barred from possessing dogs for the entire term of supervised release. Dixson was convicted of one count of sponsoring and exhibiting a dog in an animal fighting venture after pleading guilty on April 30, 2026.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General and U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General.
Assistant United States Attorney Samir Kaushal and former Assistant United States Attorney Alex R. Sistla prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Atlanta Man Convicted of Laundering over $2.7 Million Stolen from Victims of Online FraudRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Following an eight-day trial, a federal jury convicted Babajide Adesayo of laundering over $2.7 million obtained from victims of romance fraud and other types of online scams.
“Adesayo was a key member of a complex, transnational network that preyed upon elderly victims and siphoned their retirement savings overseas, mainly to China, Hong Kong, and Nigeria, to make recovery impossible,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “As a prolific money launderer, Adesayo facilitated the theft of nearly $3 million from victims and continued even after he was indicted, arrested, and released on bond. Now behind bars awaiting a significant sentence, this incorrigible swindler will face the full consequences of his actions.”
“Adesayo helped steal millions from vulnerable victims, including elderly people who lost their hard-earned savings. He then moved that money overseas to hide it from those he had defrauded. Even after his indictment, he continued laundering stolen funds,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Today’s conviction sends a clear message: the FBI will relentlessly pursue those who prey on vulnerable victims and profit from fraud.”
“Adesayo’s conviction demonstrates that those who help transnational fraud networks move stolen money will be held accountable,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “This case involved vulnerable victims, including seniors, who were deceived out of their life savings through online fraud schemes. HSI, alongside our federal, state, and local partners, will continue to target the financial facilitators who enable these crimes and attempt to move illicit proceeds beyond the reach of law enforcement.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Between April 2020 and September 2021, fraudsters engaged unwitting, elderly victims online and corresponded with them as friends, business associates, or even romantic partners. After developing relationships with the victims, the online fraudsters made pleas to the victims for help, falsely claiming that they needed equipment for their businesses, were imprisoned, or were suffering from injuries or illnesses.
The fraudsters directed most victims to send hundreds of thousands of dollars, including the victims’ retirement savings and other hard-earned income, to the business accounts of Adesayo’s co-defendant, Nigerian national Efemena Igbe. As soon as Igbe received funds from the victims, he immediately sent most of the money to Adesayo and tried to hide the fraudulent transactions by falsely notating that the money was intended for the purchase of cars from Adesayo’s automotive business. When Adesayo received the money, he immediately sent most of it to overseas accounts in China, Hong Kong, Nigeria, and other countries. Over a period of 17 months, Adesayo received and moved over $2.7 million in victim funds.
Following his June 2024 arrest, Adesayo was released on bond without being required to pay bail. While under indictment and awaiting trial, Adesayo persisted in laundering money. Victims sent funds either directly to Adesayo’s business accounts or to the accounts of others who subsequently transferred the funds to Adesayo. Adesayo then withdrew those funds, sending them to himself or to other accounts, nearly as soon as he received them. After this new criminal conduct was discovered, a federal magistrate judge revoked Adesayo’s bond. Adesayo has been held in federal custody since March 2, 2026.
On August 6, 2026, a federal jury convicted Babajide Adesayo, 41, of Douglasville, Georgia, of all charges against him, including two counts of conspiracy to commit money laundering and sixteen counts of transactional money laundering.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 20, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., before United States District Judge Mark H. Cohen. Adesayo faces up to 20 years of imprisonment on each of the conspiracy counts, up to 10 years of imprisonment on the transactional money laundering counts, and a consecutive sentence of up to 10 years of imprisonment for committing offenses while on release. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. Substantial assistance was provided by the U.S. Secret Service, the Concord (New Hampshire) Police Department, DeSoto County (Mississippi) Sheriff’s Office, and New York City Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Bethany L. Rupert, Sara Lim, and Kelly Connors are prosecuting the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is part of the Department of Justice Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force. The Strike Force focuses on investigating and prosecuting defendants associated with foreign-based fraud schemes that disproportionately affect American seniors. These include romance scams, phone scams, mass-mailing fraud schemes, and tech-support fraud schemes. For further information on these scams, see https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/senior-scam-alert.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Atlanta's "Master of Disguise" Faces Federal Charges for Nearly a Dozen Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Tracy Daryl Mingo, who came to be known as a “master of disguise,” was arraigned today on federal charges after he allegedly robbed ten Atlanta-area businesses at gunpoint from October 2025 to January 2026.
“During his months-long reign of terror, Mingo allegedly endangered the lives of more than a dozen store employees across ten different locations by robbing them at gunpoint,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “I am proud of the collaborative efforts of the FBI and our local police partners to identify Mingo and arrest him before anyone was seriously hurt.”
“For months, Mingo allegedly used disguises in an attempt to evade identification and continue targeting innocent workers at gunpoint. He underestimated the determination of the investigators pursuing him and the strength of the partnerships that exist between the FBI and our state and local law enforcement partners,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Together, we shared information across jurisdictions, followed the evidence, and stopped an individual accused of threatening communities throughout metro Atlanta.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Between October 20, 2025 and January 1, 2026, Mingo allegedly robbed ten Circle K, Subway, and Family Dollar stores in the Atlanta-area cities of College Park, Decatur, East Point, Fairburn, Marietta, and Union City. In each of these incidents, Mingo allegedly entered the store late at night, after all or nearly all customers had left, and then robbed store employees at gunpoint. Mingo allegedly wore different disguises during the robberies, including dressing as a construction worker, health care professional, and security guard.
The FBI and local law enforcement partners found and arrested Mingo on January 2, 2026, when it appeared he was putting on the same security guard disguise used during the robbery of a Circle K store the night before. News of Mingo’s arrest and his methods for committing the robberies led to some media outlets calling him a “master of disguise.”
Today, Tracy Daryl Mingo, 33, of College Park, Georgia, appeared in federal court to face twenty total counts of Hobbs Act robbery, attempted Hobbs Act robbery, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, after a grand jury returned an indictment on July 28, 2026. If convicted of these charges, Mingo would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 63 years of imprisonment. He is detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending further proceedings.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with valuable assistance from the College Park Police Department, DeKalb County Police Department, East Point Police Department, Fairburn Police Department, Marietta Police Department, and Union City Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin Wylly is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Bahamian Drug Trafficker Faces Federal Cocaine Charges Following At-Sea Rescue from Plane CrashRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – An indictment unsealed today in the Northern District of Georgia charges Jonathan Eric Gardiner, a convicted felon and Bahamian national, with federal drug importation and conspiracy offenses. U.S. officials arrested Gardiner after rescuing him from the Atlantic Ocean following a plane crash on May 14, 2026.
“Operating from The Bahamas, Gardiner allegedly coordinated the delivery of massive quantities of cocaine into the Northern District of Georgia and elsewhere,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Because of the quick action and dedication of federal law enforcement in Atlanta’s Homeland Security Task Force, this recidivist felon, alleged high-level drug trafficker, and priority target will be held accountable for his crimes.”
“International cocaine trafficking fuels addiction, violence, and organized criminal activity that impacts communities across the United States,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “DEA remains steadfast in working alongside our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those charged with bringing dangerous drugs into our country.”
“This indictment alleges Gardiner peddled cocaine into Atlanta and across the region for years,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Marlo Graham. “Our fight against international drug traffickers who spread poison into our communities requires all hands-on deck. Thanks to the collaboration of federal, state, and local agencies, Gardiner will face justice for his alleged crimes.”
“The arrest of this individual underscores the relentless pursuit of transnational criminal organizations by Homeland Security Investigations,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI remains committed to leveraging our interagency partnerships to dismantle drug networks that threaten the safety of our communities, regardless of where the perpetrators attempt to operate.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other publicly available information: From approximately December 2022 to May 2026, Gardiner, who resided in The Bahamas, allegedly supplied large quantities of cocaine to drug trafficking organizations in the Northern District of Georgia and elsewhere. Gardiner could allegedly distribute more than 2,000 kilograms at a time. When the cocaine arrived in metro Atlanta, the organization then allegedly distributed the drugs to multiple states. More than twenty alleged members of the drug trafficking organization were previously charged, and thirteen have pleaded guilty.
In May 2026, Gardiner and ten other people were traveling on a private plane near the coast of Florida when the plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. The U.S. Coast Guard rescued all of the passengers, including Gardiner, who was in possession of $30,000 in Bahamian currency.
Nearly 20 years ago, Gardiner was convicted in the Southern District of Florida of conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States and was sentenced to over 18 years in federal prison.
On June 9, 2026, a grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia returned an indictment charging Jonathan Eric Gardiner, a/k/a Player, 58, of Long Island, Bahamas, with conspiracy to import a controlled substance into the United States and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance. Gardiner is presently in the custody of the United States Marshals Service awaiting trial on additional drug charges in the Southern District of New York. He will appear in the Northern District of Georgia at a later date.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, with valuable assistance provided by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Coast Guard, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
Assistant United States Attorneys John T. DeGenova and Dwayne A. Brown Jr. are prosecuting the case.
The indictment is a result 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. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Illegal Alien Faces Federal Fentanyl and Firearms Charges after Stockbridge ArrestRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Rogelio Moises Rosel Dimas, an illegal alien from Mexico, appeared in federal court yesterday to answer a criminal complaint after the alleged discovery of a handgun in his Stockbridge, Georgia home and a hidden fentanyl stash in nearby woods.
“Fentanyl and illegal firearms are a lethal combination that gravely threatens the safety of our citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “My office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to hold fentanyl traffickers accountable and eradicate this deadly drug from our streets.”
“Our mission has always been about protecting people,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Every seizure of fentanyl is an opportunity to prevent tragedy, and every trafficker held accountable makes our communities safer. This case underscores the importance of the strong partnerships that make these investigations possible, and DEA will continue pursuing those who endanger lives as we work toward a Fentanyl Free America.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On July 29, 2026, federal agents conducting a narcotics investigation executed a search warrant at Rosel Dimas’s residence in Stockbridge, Georgia. Inside of the residence, agents found a 9mm pistol, which Rosel Dimas is allegedly prohibited from possessing as an illegal alien. Agents also found over two pounds of fentanyl, allegedly belonging to Rosel Dimas, hidden in the woods near his residence.
On July 30, 2026, Rogelio Moises Rosel Dimas, 39, of Mexico, appeared in federal court on a criminal complaint charging him with possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. Rosel Dimas was detained in the custody of the United States Marshals Service.
Members of the public are reminded that the criminal complaint only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with valuable assistance provided by the Henry County Police Department.
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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Austin Hall and Kendall Runyan are prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Third Georgia State Representative Pleads Guilty to Pandemic Unemployment FraudRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Sharon Henderson, a suspended member of the Georgia House of Representatives, pled guilty today in federal court to making false statements to fraudulently obtain thousands of dollars of emergency pandemic-era unemployment assistance payments.
“While running for and holding political office, Representative Henderson was fleecing taxpayers, lying to steal money from federal programs intended to help people who lost their jobs due to the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Her prosecution and conviction demonstrate that elected officials who enrich themselves through fraud will be held accountable for violating the public’s trust.”
“Sharon Henderson, while holding elected office in the Georgia House of Representatives, illegally obtained taxpayer-funded unemployment benefits that were intended to provide financial assistance to workers who lost their jobs through no fault of their own,” said Nigel Lange, Inspector General for the State of Georgia. “Our office remains committed to investigating and holding accountable those who misuse public funds and defraud American taxpayers.”
“Sharon Henderson was elected to serve the people of Georgia—not steal from them,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. “By exploiting her position for personal gain, she violated the public’s trust and undermined the integrity of our institutions. Public officials who betray the American people and abuse their power for personal benefit will be held fully accountable for their despicable actions. No one is above the law. My office will aggressively investigate those who dare to exploit public trust and defraud the American people.”
“Pandemic relief programs were created to help Americans facing genuine hardship—not to enrich those willing to lie for personal gain,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “When an elected official abuses taxpayer-funded programs through fraud, it undermines public confidence in both government institutions and the integrity of public service. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to investigate and hold accountable anyone who exploits federal programs for personal benefit.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In 2020, in response to unprecedented economic hardship resulting from the COVID-19 emergency, Congress created special unemployment compensation programs to provide cash assistance to individuals who lost their jobs due to the pandemic. Applicants had to provide their recent work histories and confirm, among other things, that COVID-19 was the reason they were unemployed. Applicants also had to provide a weekly certification attesting that they were actively seeking work and providing the reason they were unemployed.
In June 2020, while a candidate for a seat in the Georgia House of Representatives, Henderson applied for federal pandemic unemployment benefits, claiming that her current employer was Henry County Schools. However, Henderson had not worked for Henry County Schools for almost two years. Before that, she had only worked for five days as a substitute teacher. Additionally, when she worked those five days in 2018, Henderson signed an acknowledgment that noted substitute teachers were not eligible to draw unemployment wages.
Nevertheless, in her unemployment benefits application, Henderson falsely stated that she had worked for the school system throughout 2019 and as recently as March 10, 2020; that she had paystubs as evidence of that employment; and that her place of employment was closed as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. She then submitted fraudulent weekly certifications claiming that she was unable to reach her place of employment because of a COVID-19 quarantine. She filed eight of those fraudulent certifications in June 2021, after she was sworn in and serving as the state representative for District 113, which covers western Newton County and part of Covington, Georgia.
Henderson fraudulently collected $17,811 of pandemic unemployment benefits as a result of the false statements in her application and weekly certifications.
Sharon Henderson, 67, of Covington, Georgia, pled guilty this morning to making false statements to obtain funds administered by the U.S. Department of Labor. Sentencing is scheduled for November 3, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown.
Two other Georgia State Representatives were previously convicted of similar pandemic unemployment assistance fraud:
- Karen L. Bennett, former State Representative for District 94, pled guilty on January 21, 2026, to federal charges of making false statements to collect $13,940 of pandemic unemployment benefits.
- Dexter L. Sharper, former State Representative for District 177, pled guilty on March 11, 2026, to federal charges of making false statements to collect $13,825 of pandemic unemployment benefits.
This case is being investigated by the Georgia Office of the State Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Garrett L. Bradford is prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Texas Laboratory, Former CEO, and Florida Businessman Pay a Total of $36.4M to Settle Allegations of Kickbacks and Unnecessary Genetic TestingRead the Press Release
Access DX Laboratory, located in Houston, Texas, its former CEO Michael Stewart, and Florida businessman Harold Shatz, have each entered into settlements and will pay a combined total of $36.4 million to the United States to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by paying kickbacks and billing Medicare and Medicaid for medically unnecessary genetic testing.
The United States alleged that, from January 2018 through January 2020, Access DX, Stewart, and Shatz paid kickbacks to marketers in return for referrals of patients for genetic testing, unbundled billing codes for genetic testing, paid telemedicine providers for false and fraudulent doctors’ orders, and submitted and caused the submission of false claims for genetic testing.
“Healthcare referrals must reflect the best decision for patients, not the influence of kickbacks,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This resolution demonstrates the Department’s commitment to hold accountable both corporations and individuals who profit from improper kickback arrangements and who burden federal healthcare programs with claims for medically unnecessary services.”
“This settlement sends a clear message that we will not tolerate fraudulent schemes that waste taxpayer dollars and undermine trust in our medical system,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia. “We will aggressively pursue any provider or entity that seeks to exploit federal programs through excessive billing and illegal kickbacks.”
“Kickbacks and medically unnecessary genetic testing schemes not only drain taxpayer-funded federal health care programs, but undermine the integrity of our U.S. health care system and drive up health care costs for all of us,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue health care fraud and protect Medicare, Medicaid, and the people who rely on them.”
In connection with its settlement, Access DX entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). The CIA requires Access DX to implement auditing and accountability provisions, including implementation of a robust compliance program, training and education requirements, and a review of arrangements with referral sources.
On June 24, Stewart agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive health care kickbacks in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. United States v. Stewart, Case No. 4:22-cr-328 (S.D. Tex.). On Oct. 15, 2025, Shatz agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive health care kickbacks in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. United States v. Shatz, No. 4:24-cr-330 (S.D. Tex.). Both men entered into civil FCA settlements at the time of their pleas.
The civil settlements include the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Douglas Green, president of a Massachusetts marketing company hired to market genetic testing to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Green v. Access DX Lab LLC, et al., No. 1:19-cv-2845 (N.D. Ga.). The settlements provide for the whistleblower to receive a $7.2 million share of the total settlement amount.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, with assistance from HHS-OIG.
The matter was handled by Fraud Section Senior Litigation Counsel Laurie A. Oberembt of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeli Ben-David for the Northern District of Georgia.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
Except to the extent admitted by Stewart and Shatz in their plea agreements, the claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Texas Laboratory, Former CEO, and Florida Businessman Pay $36.4 Million to Settle Health Care Fraud AllegationsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Access DX Laboratory (“Access DX”), its former CEO Michael Stewart, and Florida businessman Harold Shatz will pay a combined total of $36.4 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by paying kickbacks and billing Medicare and Medicaid for medically unnecessary genetic testing.
“This settlement sends a clear message that we will not tolerate fraudulent schemes that waste taxpayer dollars and undermine trust in our medical system,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “We will aggressively pursue any provider or entity that seeks to exploit federal programs through excessive billing and illegal kickbacks.”
“Healthcare referrals must reflect the best decision for patients, not the influence of kickbacks,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This resolution demonstrates the Department’s commitment to hold accountable both corporations and individuals who profit from improper kickback arrangements and who burden federal healthcare programs with claims for medically unnecessary services.”
“Kickbacks and medically unnecessary genetic testing schemes not only drain taxpayer-funded federal health care programs, but undermine the integrity of our U.S. health care system and drive up health care costs for all of us,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”). “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue health care fraud and protect Medicare, Medicaid, and the people who rely on them.”
The government’s investigation arose after a whistleblower filed a complaint alleging that, from January 2018 through January 2020, Access DX, a laboratory based in Houston, Texas; Stewart; and Shatz paid kickbacks to marketers in return for referrals of patients for genetic testing, unbundled billing codes for genetic testing, paid telemedicine providers for false and fraudulent doctors’ orders, and submitted and caused the submission of false claims for genetic testing. Based on this conduct, Shatz and Stewart pleaded guilty in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas to conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive health care kickbacks.
The $36.4 million civil settlement resolves a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, U.S. ex rel. Green v. Access DX Lab LLC, et al., No. 1:19-cv-2845. In connection with its settlement, Access DX entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (“CIA”) with HHS-OIG. The CIA requires Access DX to implement auditing and accountability provisions, including implementation of a robust compliance program, training and education requirements, and a review of arrangements with referral sources.
Except to the extent admitted by Stewart and Shatz in their plea agreements, the claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Under the False Claims Act, private citizens may bring suit for false claims on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery obtained by the government. Douglas Green, the whistleblower and president of a Massachusetts marketing company hired to market genetic testing to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, will receive $7.2 million from the settlement.
The investigation and resolution of this matter were handled by Northern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeli Ben-David and Senior Litigation Counsel Laurie A. Oberembt of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, with substantial assistance from HHS-OIG.
This year, the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Department of Justice’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Department’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement affecting federal health care programs can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Illegal Alien Faces Federal Charges After Shooting on MARTA BusRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Guillermo Cruz Velazquez, an illegal alien from Mexico, faces federal charges after a handgun he allegedly carried onto a Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) bus in Sandy Springs, Georgia last week fired a bullet that passed through his arm and into another passenger.
“Illegal aliens are not permitted to possess a firearm in our country,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “My office will prosecute criminals who unlawfully possess and misuse dangerous weapons, putting the public’s safety at risk.”
“A firearm in the hands of a prohibited individual is a serious threat to public safety,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Benjamin Gibbons. “ATF works closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and apprehend those who disregard our laws and threaten our communities.”
“The safety of our passengers and employees remains our top priority. This incident resulted in injuries to an innocent individual, and our thoughts are with those affected,” said Chief M. Scott Kreher of the MARTA Police Department. “We are working closely with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners as the investigation continues. Reckless actions that place the public at risk have no place on our transit system, and we remain committed to maintaining a safe environment for everyone who relies on MARTA.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On July 22, 2026, Guillermo Cruz Velazquez, an illegal alien from Mexico, was traveling on a MARTA bus in Sandy Springs, Georgia, when a firearm allegedly located in his bag discharged a single round that struck a female passenger and himself. After the shooting, the bus pulled over, and Cruz Velazquez allegedly fled the scene on foot. Sandy Springs Police Department officers followed a trail of blood to a nearby parking lot and found Cruz Velazquez with a gunshot wound in his forearm and a bag with a hole in it. From nearby bushes, law enforcement recovered a loaded .45 caliber pistol with a spent cartridge case stuck in the ejection port.
Guillermo Cruz Velazquez, 53, of Iztapalapa, Mexico, appeared in federal court today on a criminal complaint charging him with unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien illegally or unlawfully present in the United States. Cruz Velazquez will be held in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending further proceedings.
Members of the public are reminded that the complaint only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, MARTA Police Department, and Sandy Springs Police Department, with assistance from Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Bircoll is 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.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
German Subsidiary in Peachtree City Settles PPP Fraud Claim for $2.6 MillionRead the Press Release
NEWNAN, Ga. - Universal Environmental Services, LLC (“UES”), a Peachtree City, Georgia-based subsidiary of a large German conglomerate, will pay $2.6 million to resolve allegations that the company violated the False Claims Act in connection with applying and obtaining forgiveness for a loan under the COVID-era Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”).
“When people provide false information to obtain government-backed loans, they break the law and misdirect resources away from those who need them,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Our office will continue to enforce the False Claims Act to recover such funds, plus penalties.”
The government’s investigation arose after a whistleblower filed a complaint alleging that, in 2020, UES applied for a second-draw loan under the PPP. Such loans were only offered to “small” businesses, which the program rules and loan application defined to mean businesses that employed fewer than 300 employees, including all members of the corporate family. UES is a subsidiary of a large German conglomerate, the Avista Oil Group, and the entire corporate family employs well over 300 employees. Yet UES stated on the loan application that it employed 287 employees, a figure that reflected only its domestic employees. Based on this incorrect information, a bank approved an approximately $2 million loan, which the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) later paid off at taxpayers’ expense.
Under the False Claims Act, private citizens may bring suit for false claims on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery obtained by the government. The whistleblower will receive $312,000 from the settlement. UES will also pay the whistleblower’s attorney fees.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
This civil settlement resolves a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, United States ex rel. Verity Investigations LLC v. Universal Environmental Services, LLC, No. 3:24-cv-00109-LMM.
The investigation and resolution of this matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony DeCinque. Former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Karem also participated in the investigation, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted Pandemic Program fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or via the SBA Office of the Inspector General Complaint Submission at: https://sbax.sba.gov/oigcss.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Illegal Alien, Convicted Felon, and Austell Man Face Federal Charges Following Tri-County Narcotics OperationsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – An illegal alien from Mexico, a convicted felon, and an Austell man appeared in federal court to answer criminal complaints charging them with narcotics offenses following operations across metro Atlanta that resulted in the seizure of more than 280 pounds of methamphetamine, over four pounds of fentanyl, and two illegally possessed firearms.
“Due to quick actions and diligent work of law enforcement across the region, the operations of these three alleged drug traffickers have been dismantled,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “My office stands committed to prosecute—to the fullest extent of the law—illegal aliens, felons, and others who poison and endanger our communities.”
“Drug traffickers continue to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other illicit drugs, which pose a significant threat to public safety,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “These federal charges reflect our unwavering commitment to protect the public and disrupt the criminal organizations responsible for this deadly trade. We will continue working with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to stop fentanyl and other dangerous drugs at every level of distribution.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the criminal complaints, and other information presented in court:
On July 21, 2026, DEA agents arrested Silvano Mendoza-Valencia in Morrow, Georgia, after he allegedly sold approximately two pounds of methamphetamine to a drug customer. Following his arrest, agents searched his residence and located approximately 85 pounds of methamphetamine and two pounds of fentanyl in his bedroom. The investigation further revealed that Mendoza-Valencia is allegedly an illegal alien from Mexico.
On July 22, 2026, DEA agents stopped Christian Garcia-Esparza in Austell, Georgia, after he allegedly sold more than six pounds of methamphetamine to a drug customer. Agents searched Garcia-Esparza’s car and located an additional ten pounds of methamphetamine on the floorboard and in a gift bag. Thereafter, agents searched his residence and located approximately 100 pounds of methamphetamine scattered throughout the residence and backyard.
That same day, DEA agents searched Robert Louis Burr’s College Park, Georgia apartment and found Burr next to a kitchen drawer containing two pounds of fentanyl. In the living room, agents allegedly found approximately 30 pounds of methamphetamine in a luggage case, 20 pounds of methamphetamine in a trash bag, and two firearms, including a FN57 semiautomatic pistol loaded with armor-piercing ammunition. Burr was previously convicted of multiple felony drug trafficking and weapons offenses and thus was not legally permitted to possess a firearm.
Earlier this week, Silvano Mendoza-Valencia, 40, of Mexico, and Robert Louis Burr, 45, of College Park, Georgia, appeared in federal court on separate criminal complaints charging them with conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Today, Christian Garcia-Esparza, 20, of Austell, Georgia, will appear in federal court on a criminal complaint charging him with the same offenses. All three defendants are presently detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals.
Members of the public are reminded that the criminal complaints contain only charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
These cases are being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with valuable assistance provided by the Alpharetta Police Department, Cobb County Police Department, Clayton County Police Department, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office, Heard County Sheriff’s Office, Hiram Police Department, Marietta-Cobb-Smyrna Narcotics Unit, Marietta Police Department, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, Roswell Police Department, Sandy Springs Police Department, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
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.
Assistant United States Attorney Steve A. Hsieh is prosecuting the cases.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Federal Jury Convicts Michigan Man for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender in GeorgiaRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – After a trial in federal court, a jury convicted Nicholas Anthony for failing to register as a sex offender while living in Georgia after absconding from Michigan.
“Dangerous sex offenders like Anthony who refuse to register with law enforcement as required by law cannot hide in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “They will be found, arrested, and face the full prosecutorial resources of my office.”
“This conviction is a result of diligent investigative work by dedicated Deputy U.S. Marshals who support our Sex Offender Investigative Initiative here in North Georgia,” said Acting U.S. Marshal Stephen G. Serrao. “Working with state and local police and coordinating with the United States Attorney’s Office, we were able to locate, apprehend, and successfully prosecute this convicted sex offender who posed a potential threat to our community.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In 2011, Nicholas Anthony was arrested by police officers in Warren, Michigan, after engaging in sexual contact with a then-15-year-old child. In March 2015, Anthony pled no contest to criminal sexual conduct assault with intent to commit sex penetration based on the 2011 incident. The sentencing court ordered Anthony to register as a sex offender and comply with all conditions of sex offender registration, including a lifelong requirement to verify his address and residency status quarterly with the Michigan State Police. Anthony complied with his registration requirements until August 2016 but not thereafter.
In 2025, Deputy U.S. Marshals located Anthony after he was reported to be residing in a Doraville, Georgia hotel despite not having notified Michigan authorities that he had left the state. Hotel staff confirmed that Anthony was staying at the hotel and provided records showing that he had resided there since at least December 2024. Deputy U.S. Marshals then arrested Anthony after confirming that he had never registered as a sex offender in the State of Georgia.
On July 22, 2026, a federal jury convicted Nicholas Anthony, 41, of Pontiac, Michigan, of failing to register as a sex offender in violation of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 29, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., before United States District Judge Tiffany R. Johnson.
This case is being investigated by the United States Marshals Service, the Michigan State Police Sex Offender Registry Unit, and the Oakland County, Michigan, Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorneys Robert B. Shapiro, Laurel Milam, and Leanne Marek are prosecuting the case.
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Former CPA Sentenced to Federal Prison for Laundering Funds Stolen from Children's Healthcare of AtlantaRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Ronald Deabler was sentenced to serve four years in prison following his federal conviction for conspiring to launder $5.3 million of fraud proceeds stolen from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc.
“Deabler used his knowledge of the banking system to launder millions of dollars stolen from a not-for-profit pediatric healthcare system that is dedicated to the welfare of Georgia’s infants, children, and teens,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Scammers, swindlers, and thieves who target our vital healthcare institutions, and their associates who launder stolen money, will face the full consequences of their actions.”
“Criminals who steal from a children’s hospital are not just committing financial fraud—they are exploiting an institution that exists to care for vulnerable children and support their families,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Deabler chose to use his financial expertise to help conceal and distribute millions of dollars stolen from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. This sentence demonstrates that anyone who profits from these schemes will face serious consequences.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In early June 2023, a hacker gained access to the email system of a commercial furniture vendor for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA). Pretending to be one of the vendor’s employees, the unknown hacker contacted CHOA and updated the vendor’s bank account information on file with CHOA for ACH payments. The bank account information provided was, in actuality, for Deabler’s bank account. On or about June 13, 2023, the hacker directed CHOA to wire $5.3 million into Deabler’s bank account.
Deabler, a business owner and former Certified Public Accountant, agreed to distribute the stolen money in exchange for a commission. Shortly after the $5.3 million was deposited into his account, Deabler opened a second bank account into which he attempted to move the entire proceeds of the fraud. When the bank prevented him from doing so, Deabler instead transferred more than $1 million to the new account. Deabler then converted approximately $3.5 million of the fraud proceeds into four cashier’s checks that he promptly mailed to individuals and entities as directed by the hacker.
CHOA and its vendor detected the fraud within a few days after the transfer of funds. CHOA then notified its bank, which traced the funds to Deabler’s bank account. Further tracing of the proceeds resulted in the recovery of approximately $4 million from Deabler’s accounts and the bank accounts that received Deabler’s cashier’s checks.
On July 22, 2026, Ronald Deabler, 66, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to four years in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $682,860. Deabler was found guilty by a jury on February 12, 2026.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Tracia M. King and Phyllis Clerk prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Two Illegal Aliens and Marietta Man Face Federal Charges After Seizure of Nearly 500 Pounds of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Juan Rueda-Palacios and Lourdes Prudente Blanco, both illegal aliens from Mexico, and Alan Hernandez, of Marietta, Georgia, are facing federal drug charges related to the recent seizure of nearly 500 pounds of methamphetamine from a vehicle in Brookhaven, Georgia, and an apartment in Sandy Springs.
“These charges reflect the commitment of my office and our law enforcement partners to dismantle large‑scale drug trafficking operations that endanger our community,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “If you choose to traffic dangerous drugs in our community, we will investigate, arrest, and prosecute you.”
“This investigation reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting communities from the deadly drugs and violence tied to drug trafficking organizations,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “These defendants trafficked dangerous narcotics while unlawfully present in the United States, creating a serious threat to public safety. Working side by side with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, DEA will continue removing drugs, guns, and violent offenders from our streets.”
“This amount of methamphetamine flooding our streets would have devastated countless lives and families,” said Steven N. Schrank, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “Meth is not just a drug—it brings violence, addiction, and fear into our neighborhoods. Our message is clear: if you try to poison our communities with dangerous drugs, we will find you and bring you to justice. HSI and our partners are committed to keeping our communities safe and standing up for the families who call Georgia home.”
“Nearly 500 pounds of methamphetamine will never reach Georgia's communities because of the relentless work and collaboration of local, state, and federal law enforcement,” said Chris Hosey, Director, Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “This investigation should serve as a warning to those who seek to traffic drugs in Georgia: we will relentlessly pursue those who bring these deadly substances into our communities and work tirelessly alongside our partners to ensure the safety of every Georgian.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On April 2, 2026, Rueda-Palacios and Prudente allegedly drove a vehicle from Ellenwood, Georgia to a shopping center in Brookhaven and abandoned it with roughly 130 pounds of methamphetamine inside. Agents arrested Hernandez and retrieved the drugs after observing Hernandez enter and exit the vehicle later that day.
On July 15, 2026, agents arrested Rueda‑Palacios and Prudente. A search of their Sandy Springs apartment the same day uncovered approximately 350 pounds of methamphetamine along with a Mexican passport belonging to Rueda‑Palacios. Allegedly, neither Rueda‑Palacios nor Prudente is lawfully present in the United States, and Rueda‑Palacios returned illegally after having been deported in 2013.
Juan Rueda-Palacios, 47, and Lourdes Prudente Blanco, 48, both of Mexico, and Alan Hernandez, 34, of Marietta, Georgia, appeared in federal court yesterday on a criminal complaint charging them with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Rueda-Palacios was also charged with illegally reentering the United States.
Members of the public are reminded that the criminal complaint only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office provided substantial assistance to the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Amy Schwarzl and Sandy Strippoli are prosecuting the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
High Museum of Art's Former Chief Operating Officer Pleads Guilty to EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Brady Lum, the former chief operating officer of the High Museum of Art who pilfered more than $600,000 from the museum by doctoring invoices and approving transactions for personal purchases, has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds.
“Over several years, Lum deceptively plundered the southeast’s premier museum of visual art, embezzling more than half a million dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Criminals like Lum who steal from institutions that receive taxpayer money to serve the public will face prison time for their thievery and be compelled to repay their ill-gotten gains.”
“As he admitted in court, Brady Lum breached the trust of his organization and undermined the integrity of the museum,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI remains unwavering in its pursuit to hold accountable those who exploit their positions for selfish purposes.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Lum served as the High Museum of Art’s chief operating officer from January 2, 2019, until his resignation on December 9, 2025. As COO, he was responsible for planning, implementing, managing, and controlling the High Museum’s operational and financial activities.
During his tenure as COO, Lum repeatedly purchased non-business items and services for himself, including luxury guitars and other music equipment, personal music lessons, and woodworking equipment, through direct supplier invoicing and through the High Museum’s corporate credit card reimbursement process. Lum concealed the nature of his transactions in several ways, including by submitting altered invoices, using his position to exercise delegated expense approval authority, and using accounting adjustments to spread his expenses across different cost centers so that they would not be readily identified.
For example, in one instance, on or about November 29, 2024, Lum submitted an altered invoice for reimbursement through the High Museum’s online expense processing platform. While the submitted invoice showed a $9,147.87 purchase of equipment that appeared to be for the museum’s benefit, the original version of the invoice was for a high-end guitar and accessories that Lum kept for himself. Over the course of his scheme, Lum received more than 700 reimbursements, most of which were for less than $1,000, and stole more than $600,000 from the High Museum.
Brady Lum, 59, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 2, 2026 at 10 a.m. As part of his plea agreement, Lum will pay full restitution to the High Museum.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas N. Joy is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Convicted Felons Sentenced to Federal Prison on Drug Trafficking and Firearm Charges Following Deadly CrashRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Daryl Hubbard and Carl Todd, who were previously convicted of felony drug distribution, were sentenced to federal prison after their drug dealing resulted in a high-speed chase ending in death and serious injury.
“This case is a prime example of the consequences that could result from trafficking illegal drugs – one man dead, another paralyzed, and a police officer injured,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Due to the hard work and sacrifices of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners and the Homeland Security Task Force, Hubbard and Todd were held accountable for their crimes and will serve lengthy prison sentences without parole.”
“These sentences reflect the tragic consequences of illegal drug distribution,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “The defendant’s actions resulted in devastating loss of life and serious injury, an outcome that serves as a stark reminder that drug trafficking destroys lives and families. Through the unwavering commitment of our Homeland Security Task Force and our local law enforcement partners, we will continue to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who profit from distributing deadly drugs. Together, we remain steadfast in our mission to protect our communities.”
“This sentencing sends a clear message that those who illegally traffic drugs and unlawfully possess or use firearms will be held accountable,” stated Ryan Todd, ATF Atlanta Assistant Special Agent in Charge. “ATF will continue working with our law enforcement partners to enforce our nation’s firearms laws and protect our communities from the violence these crimes create.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: From about 2022 until their arrests in 2024, Hubbard and Todd maintained commercial and residential properties throughout DeKalb County, Georgia, for the purpose of distributing large quantities of cocaine and marijuana.
On March 20, 2023, Hubbard provided two drug dealers with duffle bags of narcotics from a warehouse he leased in Lithonia, Georgia. When law enforcement attempted to stop the drug dealers’ SUV in Lamar County, the duo led police on a high-speed chase while tossing drugs out of the vehicle’s window. The SUV reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour, forced a state patrol cruiser off the road, and caused the cruiser to flip multiple times, injuring a trooper. The chase ended after the drug dealers crashed into a tree, killing the passenger and paralyzing the driver.
After this incident, Hubbard emptied the warehouse and set up another stash house in Stonecrest, Georgia. On July 23, 2024, law enforcement executed search warrants on the Stonecrest stash house and Hubbard’s home in Conyers, Georgia. During the searches, law enforcement recovered cocaine, marijuana, and five guns, including a stolen handgun. Two of the firearms—a high-powered rifle with a 30-round magazine and a pistol loaded with ammunition capable of piercing body armor—were recovered within arm’s reach of Todd when law enforcement searched the Stonecrest stash house. Hubbard’s and Todd’s criminal association spanned over a decade as they were arrested together in 2013 and later convicted in a DeKalb County felony drug distribution case.
On July 10, 2026, Daryl Hubbard, a/k/a “Dirt,” 46, of Conyers, Georgia, was sentenced to 12 years and 4 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $5,000. Hubbard was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, after he pleaded guilty on February 25, 2026.
On December 1, 2025, Carl Todd, 49, of Snellville, Georgia, was sentenced to 10 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Todd was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, after he pleaded guilty on August 15, 2025.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office. The Georgia State Patrol provided substantial assistance to the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney John T. DeGenova and Special Assistant United States Attorney Steve A. Hsieh prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force 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. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF is comprised of agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Antisemitic Threats Result in Four Federal Prosecutions by Atlanta-Based U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Today, as part of the Justice Department’s ongoing and concerted effort to crack down on rising antisemitism, United States Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg announced federal charges against a Texas man who threatened to kill Jews at a Georgia company. Jordan Nicholas Hadley is the fourth defendant in 12 months to face federal prosecution in the Northern District of Georgia for allegedly making antisemitic threats online or by phone. Each defendant faces up to five years in prison for transmitting threatening communications through means of interstate or foreign commerce.
“These men allegedly spewed vile hate and threatened violent attacks against Jews,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Threats against any person based on his or her religious beliefs will not be tolerated, and these charges reflect my office’s commitment to working with law enforcement partners to combat the pernicious evil of antisemitism and hold accountable anyone who threatens members of our community.”
“Antisemitic hate has no place in Georgia or anywhere,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI's work to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution includes the assurance to every single American that they are allowed to practice their religion without fear of threats or harm.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On April 24, 2026, Jordan Nicholas Hadley, 31, of Houston, Texas, allegedly left a message in the voicemail inbox of Flock Safety, a company based in Atlanta, Georgia. The message stated, “You’re a bunch of Jewish fa--ots who are breaking the Constitution. Film me and see what f--king happens. I’ll find you and I’ll f--king kill you.” Hadley was arrested on a criminal complaint on July 9, 2026, and will make an initial appearance in Atlanta at a later date.
Since August 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged three additional individuals with communicating interstate antisemitic threats. One of those defendants has pleaded guilty and will be sentenced later this week.
Aaron John Sasser
On or around April 3, 2026, Aaron John Sasser, 36, of Finksburg, Maryland, allegedly sent numerous threatening messages to employees of PrizePicks, a company based in Atlanta, Georgia, via the company’s online customer service chat. Directing his messages to multiple specific PrizePicks employees, Sasser allegedly wrote, among other messages, “You better leave town because I’m driving down to Atlanta to blow up the PrizePicks headquarters and then I’ll head to your house, tie you up and rape your wife in front of you. Then, I’ll dismember the both of you before heading off to [Jewish PrizePicks employee’s] place. I’m gonna have fun tying up [his] Zionist wife. Before that though, I’m gonna cut [his] eyelids off. So he’s forced to watch. Then I’m gonna blow his f--king body up in the name of Palestine because he’s a Zionist piece of s--t and every last one of them are going to die.”
Sasser was arrested on a criminal complaint on April 6, 2026, and his charges are currently pending.
Christopher Robertson
On July 30, 2025, staff members at the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta notified security staff that they observed a man, later identified as Christopher Robertson, 43, of Fairburn, Georgia, allegedly wandering around the parking lot inside the secure area of its Midtown Atlanta facility. Security staff met Robertson in the parking lot, who allegedly stated that he was “the official spokesperson for the white race” and that he wanted to speak with a high-ranking Jewish official.
After being asked to leave, Robertson allegedly drove to The Temple, a Jewish synagogue, also located in Midtown Atlanta. At The Temple, Robertson encountered two staff members and asked to speak to a rabbi. Robertson allegedly made derogatory remarks about Jewish people and ranted about the decline of the white race. An Atlanta Police Department officer was present inside The Temple, and Robertson left.
On July 31, 2025, Robertson allegedly entered a Jewish Chabad building in Peachtree City, Georgia. The Chabad rabbi called 911 while members of the staff barricaded themselves in an office. Robertson allegedly recorded the encounter and posted it on Facebook. In the post, Robertson identified himself as the “official delegate of the white race” and told the rabbi that Jewish people were on the “verge of extermination.” After police arrived at the Chabad, Robertson left.
Robertson allegedly used several social media accounts to post antisemitic and threatening video posts before and immediately after these incidents. On July 24, 2025, Robertson allegedly posted a video to Facebook in which he chanted, “This is not Israel. Jews don’t have no protection. F--k the Jews, and f--k you if you Jewish, b--ch. Hey, f--k the Jews, f--k you if you Jewish. Hey, one shot, two shot, three shot, leave you in the sewage.” On July 28, 2025, Robertson allegedly posted on Facebook a photo of himself holding a black pistol while speaking about the “cultural genocide” of the white race. A caption on the video read, “I will not tolerate cultural genocide get that understood -- I will fight for it, I will die for it, I will kill for it.”
Robertson was arrested on a criminal complaint on August 1, 2025, and a federal grand jury later indicted him on two counts of communicating interstate threats. Robertson has been detained since his initial arrest, and his charges are currently pending.
Matthew Alan Souza
On or about July 15, 2025, Matthew Alan Souza, 25, of Acworth, Georgia, posted on X: “I just want more Jews dead / The more Jew lives I take / The better a place the world can be / Death to the Jewish people.” One week later, Souza posted, “Death to every Jew breathing / I can’t wait for the war of America against Israel / The day I snipe a Jew will put a huge smile on my face.”
On June 11, 2026, Souza pled guilty to two counts of communicating interstate threats. He has been detained since May 8, 2026, and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 14, 2026.
Each case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Grill is prosecuting the case against Hadley, Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wylly is prosecuting the case against Sasser, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brent Alan Gray and Bret R. Hobson are prosecuting the case against Robertson, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chloe Smith and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Conor Woods are prosecuting the case against Souza.
Members of the public are reminded that the defendants who have not yet pled guilty are presumed innocent of the charges, and the government bears the burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Mexican Drug Supplier Pleads Guilty to Trafficking More than 170 Pounds of Cocaine in Metro AtlantaRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Orfael Macedo Bustos, a high-level drug trafficker who was extradited to the United States from Mexico late last year, has pleaded guilty to federal drug charges in connection with the importation of large quantities of cocaine from Mexico to metro Atlanta.
“Macedo Bustos introduced massive amounts of cocaine into our community,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “As a result of strong agency partnerships through the Homeland Security Task Force and valuable international coordination, Macedo Bustos now faces a significant sentence in federal prison and millions of dollars’ worth of cocaine have been taken off the street.”
“International drug traffickers often believe they can operate beyond the reach of U.S. law enforcement,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Today’s guilty plea proves otherwise. By working alongside our law enforcement partners, DEA will continue targeting the organizations responsible for transporting massive quantities of cocaine into our communities and ensuring those who profit from this criminal activity are held accountable.”
“The guilty plea of Macedo Bustos is a direct result of the collaborative efforts of the Homeland Security Task Force. By leveraging the unique authorities and capabilities of our federal, state, and local partners, HSI remains committed to dismantling the transnational criminal organizations that attempt to flood our streets with illicit drugs,” said HSI Atlanta Acting Special Agent in Charge, Ellen Johnson. “We will continue to utilize every tool at our disposal to investigate and bring these offenders to justice, ensuring the safety of our communities in metro Atlanta and across the nation.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Beginning in 2017, federal law enforcement identified a drug trafficking organization that was importing large quantities of cocaine from Mexico into the United States. Macedo Bustos, one of the organization’s leaders and primary drug suppliers, coordinated with others to transport cocaine, usually via tractor trailers, to the metro Atlanta area for distribution.
During the investigation, federal authorities seized at least five large shipments of cocaine from tractor trailers, including:
- 44 pounds of cocaine in October 2017 in Fulton County, Georgia;
- 30 pounds of cocaine in November 2017 in Fulton County, Georgia;
- 44 pounds of cocaine in February 2018 in Fulton County, Georgia;
- 33 pounds of cocaine in April 2018 in Cobb County, Georgia; and
- 22 pounds of cocaine in November 2018 in Fulton County, Georgia.
Today, Orfael Macedo Bustos, 52, of Guerrero, Mexico, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine after a federal grand jury indicted him in December 2018. In November 2025, Macedo Bustos was extradited from Mexico to the Northern District of Georgia, and he has been in federal custody since that time.
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 15, 2026, at 1:30 pm before U.S. District Judge William M. Ray II. Macedo Bustos faces at least ten years of imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations with valuable assistance provided by the Georgia State Patrol and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Assistant United States Attorney Dwayne A. Brown Jr. and former Assistant United States Attorney Tyler A. Mann prosecuted the case, with valuable assistance provided by the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.
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. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Convicted Felon Faces Federal Charges for Allegedly Robbing Atlanta Pawn ShopRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Quintavious Bailey, a multi-convicted felon, was arraigned today on multiple federal charges after he allegedly robbed a pawn shop in Atlanta.
“Bailey allegedly jeopardized the lives of ordinary people by discharging a firearm during a robbery,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “In this district, we will not tolerate violent crime that endangers members of our community. Working with our law enforcement partners, we will hold perpetrators accountable.”
“According to the charges, innocent employees and customers were simply going about their day when they were forced to fear for their lives,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI remains committed to partnering with local law enforcement to investigate violent offenders and protect the people who live and work in our communities.”
“Armed robberies that place innocent employees, customers, and local businesses in harm’s way have no place in our city and will not be tolerated,” said Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum. “We appreciate the strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI in helping hold dangerous offenders accountable. The Atlanta Police Department remains committed to protecting our community and working alongside our law enforcement partners to keep every neighborhood safe.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On October 24, 2024, Quintavious Bailey allegedly used a firearm to rob an Atlanta pawn shop while employees and customers were present. Upon entering the store, Bailey immediately discharged a firearm into the ceiling. Bailey allegedly then pointed his gun at customers and forced a store employee to open a jewelry case and a cash register. Allegedly, Bailey grabbed cash from the register and jewelry from the case before fleeing.
Earlier today, Quintavious Bailey, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, appeared in federal court after a federal grand jury returned an indictment on June 3, 2026, charging him with Hobbs Act robbery, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Bailey is currently being held without bail by the U.S. Marshals Service.
Previously, Bailey was convicted of Burglary and Armed Robbery in Fulton County. Because of his criminal history, Bailey will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years of imprisonment if he is convicted of the firearm- and ammunition-related offenses in the indictment.
Members of the public are reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Atlanta Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Austin Hall is 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Violent Repeat Offender Faces Federal Firearms Charge after Alleged Shooting at Atlanta Homeless EncampmentRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Alexander Wood, a multi-convicted felon, faces a federal charge of illegal possession of a firearm after he allegedly shot at a homeless encampment in downtown Atlanta and was prosecuted by local authorities for related offenses.
“After more than 20 years of racking up felony convictions in state court, Wood allegedly armed himself and shot at a homeless encampment, jeopardizing innocent lives with an unlawfully possessed firearm,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Unrepentant and undeterred violent criminals who possess firearms despite repeated state-court convictions will be held accountable in federal court, where there is no opportunity for parole.”
“Multiple convictions at the state level have not deterred Alexander Wood from continuing his alleged life of crime,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will continue to find and arrest dangerous criminals who repeatedly are a danger to society.”
“The Atlanta Police Department remains committed to protecting all members of our community from acts of violence and gun crime,” said Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum. “Our officers responded quickly and worked closely with our federal partners to ensure this incident was thoroughly investigated. We remain committed to protecting all who call Atlanta home and to strengthening the trust and collaboration we share with the communities we serve.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On October 10, 2025, Alexander Wood allegedly drove to a homeless encampment in downtown Atlanta and discharged a firearm at the encampment. After an Atlanta Police Department officer responded to the scene, Wood fled in a high-speed chase and allegedly tried to run into the police car pursuing him.
Officers arrested Wood at an apartment shortly thereafter. Under bushes near the apartment entrance, officers located a Smith & Wesson handgun. Surveillance footage allegedly showed that, moments before officers arrived, Wood ran through the area where the police found the gun.
On June 25, 2026, Alexander Wood, 43, of Atlanta, Georgia, appeared in federal court and pled not guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, after a grand jury returned an indictment charging him with that crime on April 14, 2026. Wood has multiple prior felony convictions for violent crimes and drug trafficking, such as burglary, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and armed robbery. Based on that criminal history, Wood faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years of imprisonment and could be sentenced to imprisonment for life.
In April 2026, Wood pled guilty in the Superior Court of Fulton County to fleeing from the police and several misdemeanors arising from the October 2025 shooting and was sentenced to just one year of imprisonment with credit for time served. As a result of the federal indictment, Wood is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and is being held without bail.
Members of the public are reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent of the charges contained in the federal indictment, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Atlanta Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Sara Lim is 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.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Two Georgia Men Charged in National Health Care Fraud TakedownRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Today, United States Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg announced criminal charges against two defendants for health care fraud schemes that exploited Medicare, Medicaid, and health care providers. The charges filed in federal court are part of the Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The charges stem from services not rendered and services misrepresented that were billed to health care programs, including Medicare and the Georgia Medicaid program. In total, the defendants in the two cases are alleged to have obtained $2.7 million through fraud.
“These defendants exploited our health care system to enrich themselves,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Not only did they steal from taxpayers, but they also harmed Medicare and Medicaid’s ability to provide critical health care benefits to patients in need. We will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to bring to justice criminals who prey on government health care programs.”
“We’re prosecuting fraud in all its forms, and we’re fighting to protect taxpayer dollars,” said Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr. “Let me be clear – if you steal from our Medicaid program, you will be held accountable and forced to pay back all the money you stole. This is a nationwide effort, and we’re proud to work with all of our state and federal partners to ensure the integrity of our publicly funded healthcare programs.”
“Medicare and Medicaid funds are intended to provide essential services to some of our most vulnerable populations. When individuals exploit these programs for personal gain, they not only steal taxpayer dollars but also compromise the integrity of these programs,” said Kelly Blackmon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Working with our federal and state partners, we will continue to hold accountable those who defraud the Medicare and Medicaid programs.”
The charges announced today by U.S. Attorney Hertzberg are part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes involving over $6.5 billion in false claims and significant patient harm, including death. This Takedown represents a new era in federal, state, and international cooperation to combat health care fraud: charges in 56 federal districts and involving 45 U.S. states and territories, with 50 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units participating, the most in Department history. In addition, unprecedented international cooperation over the two-week Takedown resulted in the apprehension and return to the United States of the following health care fraudsters: one defendant in Kyrenia in connection with an over $3.7 billion scheme; two defendants in Estonia in connection with a previously charged $10.6 billion scheme; and, in the Philippines, one of FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters in connection with a $1.2 billion telemedicine scheme. The Takedown involves the cutting-edge use of data analytics to target the worst actors; seize over $182 million in cash, houses, luxury vehicles, jewelry, and other assets; and provide full-spectrum accountability for all criminal actors from doctor’s offices to corporate boardrooms.
This coordinated enforcement action involves a whole-of-government approach, including:
- Actions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to suspend 1,079 providers and revoke billing privileges for 1,403 providers.
- 48 Civil Monetary Payment settlements amounting to over $73 million, over 1,400 provider exclusions, and 25 actions by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) under the Civil Monetary Penalties Law seeking more than $10 billion in payments to the Medicare Trust Fund from payments that CMS caught and suspended before the funds were paid to the fraudulent providers.
- Civil charges against 13 defendants for $14.8 million in health care fraud schemes, as well as civil settlements with 31 defendants totaling $23 million.
- 928 administrative cases by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) seeking the revocation of authority to handle and/or prescribe controlled substances since October 1, 2025.
The two individuals charged in the Northern District of Georgia in connection with the nationwide Takedown are Murrell Carnel Rutledge, Jr. and Lonnie Releford.
Murrell Carnel Rutledge, Jr.
On June 17, 2026, the United States moved to unseal a federal indictment charging Murrell Carnel Rutledge, Jr., 52, of Atlanta, Georgia, with 40 counts of health care fraud. According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Rutledge established Rutledge Medical Associates, a medical practice located in East Point, Georgia, in May 2014. Beginning in or about January 2017 and continuing for at least six years, Rutledge billed Georgia Medicaid for thousands of wound care, cyst removal, psychotherapy, and allergy testing services that were never performed:
- Between in or about February 2019 and in or about June 2022, Rutledgesubmitted and caused to be submitted nearly 900 false and fraudulent claims for purportedly excising and removing complex pilonidal cysts.
- Between in or about January 2018 and in or about June 2022, Rutledge submitted and caused to be submitted nearly 1,500 false and fraudulent claims for purportedly completing the incision and drainage of deep abscesses or hematomas.
- Between in or about July 2017 and in or about March 2023, Rutledge submitted and caused to be submitted nearly 7,900 false and fraudulent claims for extended, face-to-face psychotherapy sessions.
- Between in or about January 2017 and in or about June 2022, Rutledge submitted and caused to be submitted over 1,000 false and fraudulent claims for purportedly completing medically unnecessary percutaneous allergy tests.
These false and fraudulent claims sought $4.3 million from Georgia Medicaid, with approximately $2.6 million actually being paid out.
Lonnie Releford
On June 11, 2026, Lonnie Releford, 57, of Atlanta, Georgia, was charged in a federal criminal information with one count of concealment of material facts related to health care matters. According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: From August 2021 to April 2025, Releford allegedly applied for and obtained nursing jobs at hospitals and nursing homes around metro Atlanta by lying about his educational and professional qualifications, submitting fraudulent documents, and stealing the identity of a real licensed practical nurse. Releford did not have a nursing degree, nor was he qualified to practice as a licensed practical nurse in Georgia. When asked about his criminal history, Releford allegedly falsely stated he had none, despite his prior convictions for identity theft and fraud. Based on these alleged misrepresentations, numerous health care providers paid Releford’s salary and billed Medicare and Medicaid for services Releford could not legally perform.
The cases are being prosecuted by the Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, New England, Northeast, Texas, and West Coast Strike Forces; U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle District of Alabama, District of Arizona, Central District of California, Southern District of California, District of Colorado, District of Connecticut, District of Delaware, Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, District of Hawaii, District of Idaho, Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of Iowa, Southern District of Iowa, Western District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern District of Mississippi, District of Montana, District of Nebraska, District of New Hampshire, District of New Jersey, District of New Mexico, Eastern District of New York, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina, Northern District of Ohio, Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma, District of Oregon, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania, District of Puerto Rico, District of Rhode Island, District of South Carolina, District of South Dakota, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, District of Vermont, Eastern District of Virginia, Western District of Virginia, Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Western District of Wisconsin; and State Attorneys General’s Offices, through their MFCUs, in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. In addition, the MFCUs for Alabama, North Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Virigina participated in the investigation of federal cases announced today.
Descriptions of each case involved in today’s enforcement action are available on the Department’s website here.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cathelynn Tio and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James Mooney are prosecuting the case against Rutledge, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Robinson Jr. is prosecuting the case against Releford. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia worked with the Georgia Medicaid Fraud and Patient Protection Division and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) to investigate and prosecute the cases filed during the Takedown.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment against Rutledge and information against Releford only contain charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges until they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt or admit guilt in a court of law.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
73-Year-Old Former Cub Scout Leader Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Ernest Vera, a former Cub Scout leader and baseball and football coach, was sentenced to six years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing child sex abuse videos on the Kik messaging application.
“No matter their age, child sex predators like Ernest Vera must be prosecuted and punished,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Thanks to the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners, this sex offender should remain in federal prison until he is nearly 80 years old, helping to achieve justice for his victims, prevent him from exploiting others, and deter others from similar misconduct.”
“Every image of child sexual abuse material represents the exploitation and victimization of a real child,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Vera actively sought out and traded these horrific images online, fueling the demand for child exploitation. The FBI remains committed to identifying those who prey on children and bringing them to justice, regardless of their age or where they operate.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In September 2021, FBI agents searched Ernest Vera’s home after learning he used social media to send and receive depictions of child sex abuse. During an interview at his home, Vera admitted that he used the Kik messaging application to view and trade sexually explicit images of children as young as thirteen years old. Vera also told investigators that he used Kik to encourage users whom he believed to be female teenagers living in India, Thailand, and South Africa to send sexual images of themselves, which they did. The FBI later searched Vera’s digital devices and his cellphone, where they found approximately 90 images and a dozen videos of child sex abuse.
On June 22, 2026, Ernest Vera, 73, of Powder Springs, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown to serve six years in prison without the possibility of parole. Vera was taken into custody immediately following the sentencing hearing. After he completes his prison sentence, Vera will be on supervised release for 10 years. Vera was convicted of distribution of child sexual abuse material after he pleaded guilty on January 7, 2026.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Eric Boylan prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
New York Man Faces Federal Cyberstalking Charge After Posting AI-Generated Nude Images and Racist Messages from Fake Social Media ProfilesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Anthony Belford was arraigned last week on federal charges of cyberstalking after allegedly using social media accounts to post more than a dozen messages with nude images generated by artificial intelligence and racist comments during a three-month online harassment scheme.
“Belford allegedly waged a lengthy online campaign, hiding behind spoofed social media and email accounts to harass, intimidate, and cause substantial distress to his victim with racist messages and AI-generated nude images,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Cyberstalking and other forms of online abuse, just like physical violence, can ruin lives and disrupt communities. Victims of such crimes should not suffer in silence, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold the perpetrators of these crimes accountable using all available tools.”
“The alleged use of AI-generated images and fake online accounts to harass and intimidate a victim shows that digital abuse can have very real consequences,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will continue working with our law enforcement partners to identify offenders and hold them accountable for using digital platforms to harass, threaten, and cause emotional distress.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Between January and March 2025, Anthony Belford allegedly devised and carried out a scheme to create fake social media and email accounts to harass, intimidate, and cause substantial emotional distress to a college student in Georgia. Belford allegedly created and used fake social media accounts to spread lies in the victim’s community that the victim was racist and to send racist and derogatory messages, posing as the victim, to student groups at the victim’s college. He also repeatedly posted AI-generated nude images of the victim online, created fake social media accounts that appeared to belong to the victim, and used those accounts to distribute the AI-generated images. To amplify the impact of his campaign to cause the victim substantial emotional distress, Belford allegedly used spoofed accounts on an online forum to direct community members to the fake information he disseminated through other social media platforms.
On June 10, 2026, Anthony Belford, 21, of New York, appeared in federal court after a federal grand jury returned an indictment on June 3, 2026, charging him with one count of cyberstalking. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
It is a federal crime for someone to share, or threaten to share, intimate photos or videos of someone without their consent, including AI-generated images. Victims should report the conduct to local law enforcement and the FBI. Online platforms are required to remove nonconsensual intimate photos or videos and any duplicates upon request, and victims are urged to report online platforms that do not comply with a request to remove the content to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) within 48 hours. More information about steps you can take to protect yourself and hold perpetrators and online platforms accountable is available here: Take it Down Act: What Else You Can Do.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Illegal Alien Faces Federal Charges Following Massive Clayton County Methamphetamine SeizureRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Maira Porras Corras, an illegal alien from Mexico, is facing federal drug charges related to the recent seizure of roughly 200 pounds of methamphetamine from a residence in Forest Park, Georgia.
“Porras Corras allegedly stashed nearly 200 pounds of dangerous methamphetamine near her bed and in trash bags in her detached garage,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “My office will continue to prosecute, to the fullest extent of the law, illegal aliens and others who traffic deadly narcotics in our community.”
“The seizure of approximately 200 pounds of methamphetamine prevented a devastating amount of methamphetamine from reaching neighborhoods and families,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “We will continue pursuing those who threaten the safety and well-being of our communities through drug trafficking activity.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: on March 24, 2026, Porras Corras allegedly sold approximately two pounds of methamphetamine to another individual in a church parking lot. On June 11, 2026, federal agents arrested Porras Corras at her residence in Forest Park, Georgia. Agents searched the home and located about four pounds of suspected methamphetamine next to her bed. In a detached garage, agents located and seized just under 200 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in large trash bags. Agents also located drug paraphernalia and other items used to distribute the drugs, including a digital scale and wrapping material, and seized nearly $56,000 in cash.
Yesterday, Maira Porras Corras, 36, of Hidalgo, Mexico, appeared in federal court on a criminal complaint charging her with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Members of the public are reminded that the criminal complaint only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
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.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Illegal Alien Felon Arrested for Flying Drone in World Cup Restricted Airspace after Prior DeportationsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Lorenzo Rojas-Martinez, an illegal alien from Mexico with a prior cocaine distribution conviction, faces federal charges for flying a drone over Centennial Olympic Park during the FIFA Fan Festival in Atlanta and for illegally reentering the United States after two prior deportations.
“Unauthorized drone operations in restricted airspace present a serious risk to public safety, particularly during major international events such as the FIFA World Cup,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “This enforcement action reflects the coordinated efforts of our federal and local partners to detect, disrupt, and deter unlawful activity that could endanger spectators, athletes, and first responders.”
“FBI Atlanta's Counter UAV Task Force has seized 21 drones, including Rojas-Martinez's,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “As these operators are putting the community at risk, our Ground Intercept Teams will continue to locate operators, seize drones, and pursue prosecution of those who violate the restricted airspace in place around FIFA World Cup activities.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg and the criminal complaint: on June 12, 2026, federal agents allegedly observed Lorenzo Rojas‑Martinez operating a drone in restricted airspace near Centennial Olympic Park during the 2026 FIFA Fan Festival in Atlanta while standing in a nearby parking area and recording video of the event. After requesting his identification and reviewing his driver’s license, agents allegedly confirmed that he was unlawfully present in the United States following two prior removals. Rojas-Martinez has a prior conviction for cocaine distribution among other charges.
Lorenzo Rojas-Martinez, 37, of Mexico was charged in a federal complaint on June 15, 2026, with operating a drone in a temporary flight restricted zone and illegal reentry by a removed alien. Members of the public are reminded that the complaint contains only charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Assistant United States Attorney Dash A. Cooper is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution 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.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Atlanta Attorney Sentenced to Federal Prison for Serial Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Amjad Ibrahim will serve more than a year in federal prison following his conviction for evading nearly $1.5 million in federal income taxes over a four-year span.
“Ibrahim was a licensed attorney fully aware of his legal duty to file returns and pay federal taxes. Rather than meeting his obligations and paying the taxes he owed to the government, he intentionally and deceptively concealed his income,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “This prison sentence should send a clear message that my office will pursue, prosecute, and punish tax cheats.”
“This case sends an unmistakable message that if you try to hide income and cheat the tax system, IRS Criminal Investigation will find you,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “Our special agents are highly skilled at following the money, uncovering complex schemes, and ensuring that those who try to cheat the tax system are held fully accountable.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Amjad Ibrahim, an attorney since 1994, willfully evaded paying federal income taxes for tax years 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, resulting in nearly $1.5 million in unpaid personal taxes. During those years, Ibrahim managed and earned substantial income from at least seven businesses. He sought to hide his earnings from these companies by issuing at least 70 checks to himself, totaling approximately $700,000.
On June 12, 2026, Chief U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May sentenced Amjad Ibrahim, 60, of Johns Creek, Georgia, to one year and three months in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release. Additionally, the Court ordered Ibrahim to pay $1,934,115 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service and a fine of $35,000. Ibrahim was convicted of three counts of tax evasion on December 16, 2024, after he pleaded guilty. As part of his plea agreement, Ibrahim was required to file back tax returns covering tax years 2016 through 2023.
This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Kelly K. Connors and former Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Krepp prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Out-of-State Duo Faces Federal Charges for Attacking "Cop City" Contractor and Intimidating EmployeesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – A federal grand jury has indicted Katie Marie Kloth and Tyler John Norman for allegedly using fire and explosives to damage and attempt to damage the property of Brasfield & Gorrie, a general contractor for the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, and to intimidate the company’s employees.
“The law does not protect, and the Department of Justice will not tolerate, organized acts of violence or targeted intimidation,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Criminal agitators who travel to this district to engage in such conduct will be prosecuted and held accountable, even years after the fact.”
“This indictment underscores our commitment to ensuring that acts of violence and intimidation will not be tolerated in our communities,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ryan Todd of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Atlanta Field Division.
“This indictment represents our continued commitment to work alongside the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of Georgia and our local, state, and federal partners to protect the citizens of Georgia,” said Chris Hosey, Director, Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “The criminal acts of these individuals have repeatedly placed members of the community, construction personnel, and public safety officials in danger. Acts of violence and intimidation will not be tolerated in our state.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information released previously: On May 12, 2022, Katie Marie Kloth and Tyler John Norman allegedly gathered during a riot and civil disorder outside the Cobb County, Georgia offices of Brasfield & Gorrie. At the time, Brasfield & Gorrie was the general contractor for the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, a police and fire department training center often referred to as “Cop City” by its opponents. As the crowd approached the office building, Kloth and Norman allegedly launched explosives at the building and started fires to intimidate Brasfield & Gorrie employees. Those explosives and fires allegedly damaged Brasfield & Gorrie’s property.
On June 9, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Katie Marie Kloth, 39, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Tyler John Norman, 42, of Blue Mountain, Wisconsin, with maliciously damaging or attempting to damage property used in interstate commerce by means of fire and an explosive. The grand jury also charged Kloth and Norman with using fire and explosives to intimidate and interfere with Brasfield & Gorrie employees during and incident to a civil disorder. On June 8, 2026, the Acting Attorney General of the United States certified that prosecution of Kloth and Norman for the intimidation offense is in the public interest and is necessary to secure substantial justice.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The Office of the Attorney General of Georgia and the Cobb County Police Department provided substantial assistance to the investigation.
This case is part of the nationwide National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 initiative, which is a White House directed, interagency effort to integrate federal, state, and local partners in protecting First Amendment rights while targeting individuals and organizations engaged in political violence and is led by the investigative and prosecutorial Joint Task Force Vanguard.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
GoodFellas Gang Members Sentenced to Federal Prison for Crimes of Violence, Firearms Offenses, and Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Five members of the GoodFellas criminal street gang, four of whom were convicted felons, have been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking, armed robbery, and firearms offenses.
“These gang members maimed children in a drive-by shooting, beat and robbed a man, introduced poisonous drugs into a state prison, trafficked cocaine, and unlawfully possessed firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “We will continue to partner with federal and local law enforcement to dismantle the GoodFellas gang and prosecute its members who engage in violence or traffic drugs in our community.”
“Violent gangs like the Goodfellas terrorize local communities and threaten everyone’s safety,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI and its local, state, and federal partners will remain relentless in the fight to identify, disrupt, and dismantle violent criminal organizations.”
“Violent gangs that engage in shootings, armed robberies, drug trafficking, and firearms offenses have no place in our communities,” said Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum. “These sentences send a clear message that individuals who use violence and intimidation to further criminal enterprises will be brought to justice. We are proud of the collaborative work with our federal and local partners that helped secure these outcomes and make Atlanta safer for our residents.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: The GoodFellas is an Atlanta-based gang that primarily recruits members in Atlanta neighborhoods as well as jails and prisons within Georgia. The gang generates money through, among other criminal activities, drug trafficking, robbery, carjacking, fraud, and firearms trafficking. The gang protects its operation, turf, and reputation through violence and threats of violence.
This week, three GoodFellas gang members were sentenced after pleading guilty to federal crimes tied to their gang activity. Additionally, two other gang members were sentenced previously, and a sixth gang member is scheduled to be sentenced next month.
De’Andre Jackson
On January 17, 2021, Jackson and other armed members of the GoodFellas gang drove to an Atlanta apartment complex, where they intended to shoot a woman who they believed was not loyal to their gang. Jackson and the others discharged multiple firearms—striking the intended target, her 6-year-old son, and a 14-year-old child—after the mother and son walked to a mailbox to retrieve their mail. The intended target was shot more than six times; her son was shot three times, including in the abdomen and knee; and the 14-year-old victim was shot in the ear. Approximately 50 shell casings were recovered from the scene. Each victim survived.
Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Geraghty sentenced De’Andre Jackson, also known as “Gen,” “Glock,” and “Glizzy,” 23, of Clarkston, Georgia, to 15 years and six months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Jackson was convicted of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence after he pleaded guilty on March 9, 2026.
Trayvon Hawkins
On April 17, 2024, Hawkins went to a relative’s home in Atlanta, Georgia and struck a man there in the head with a firearm. During the attack, two additional males arrived, kicked down the front door, and joined in attacking the victim. Before leaving, Hawkins stole a backpack from the victim that contained narcotics. During a later search of Hawkins’s residence in Atlanta, law enforcement agents found four firearms that Hawkins was prohibited from possessing due to his violent criminal history.
Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Mark H. Cohen sentenced Trayvon Hawkins, a/k/a “Baby Cold World” and “Freeze,” 27, of Atlanta, Georgia, to nine years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Hawkins was convicted of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence after he pleaded guilty on February 24, 2026.
Daquan Cosby, Jerrell Rucker, Bentorrey Moore, and Tavarus Beard
On August 3, 2023, Cosby and a co-conspirator, Jerrell Rucker, used a drone to drop contraband into Telfair State Prison from a nearby car. After law enforcement attempted to stop the vehicle, Cosby and Rucker sped off, and a chase ensued. When the vehicle hit a ditch, Cosby and Rucker fled on foot. Rucker was apprehended but Cosby escaped. A search of the vehicle revealed a drone and more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. During a subsequent search of Cosby’s residence in Decatur, Georgia, law enforcement agents arrested Cosby and recovered a dozen firearms and a kilogram of cocaine that belonged to co-defendants Bentorrey Moore and Tavarus Beard, who were both convicted felons prohibited from possessing firearms.
On June 8, 2026, Chief U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May sentenced Daquan Cosby, 28, of Decatur, Georgia, to nine years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release. Cosby was convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine after pleading guilty on November 7, 2024. Chief Judge May previously sentenced Rucker to 10 years in prison and Moore to 5 years in prison. On February 17, 2026, Beard pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, and felon in possession of a firearm. His sentencing hearing has been scheduled for July 13, 2026.
All of these cases were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Renaud. Additionally, Trial Attorney Sarah J. Rasalam of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section prosecuted the Jackson case, and the Atlanta Police Department investigated the Hawkins case.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
GoodFellas Gang Member Sentenced to over 15 Years for Using a Firearm During Attempted Murder in Aid of RacketeeringRead the Press Release
A Georgia man was sentenced today to 186 months in prison and five years of supervised release for using a firearm during a drive-by shooting at an apartment complex, resulting in multiple victims, including a 6-year-old child.
According to court documents, De’Andre Jackson, also known as “Gen,” also known as “Glock,” also known as “Glizzy,” 23, of Clarkston, and other armed GoodFellas gang members drove in two vehicles to an apartment complex, where they intended to shoot the intended victim whom they believed was a “snitch” and not loyal to the gang. Jackson and others discharged multiple firearms and shot the intended victim, her 6-year-old-son, and another victim who was 14 years old. The intended target was shot 6 to 9 times, her son was shot 3 times, and the 14-year-old victim was shot in the ear. Approximately 50 shell casings were recovered from the scene. Each victim survived.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia, and Special Agent in Charge Marlo Graham of the FBI Atlanta Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Sarah J. Rasalam of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Renaud of the Northern District of Georgia 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 achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Former Hapeville Police Officer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Tasing Handcuffed Detainee and Obstructing JusticeRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Shevoy Brown, a former officer with the Hapeville, Georgia Police Department, was sentenced to more than three years in prison for using unreasonable force by repeatedly tasing a handcuffed detainee and then writing a false report to cover up his crime.
“Brown willfully violated our Constitution by abusing his power to violently and unnecessarily assault a man in his custody. He then made matters worse by writing a false report in a failed effort to obstruct any investigation of the matter,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Brown’s misconduct was a violation of his oath and is an affront to our district’s many honorable law enforcement officers who serve with great integrity.”
“This sentence demonstrates that no one is above the law, including those entrusted to enforce it,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “When a law enforcement officer abuses their authority and violates an individual’s civil rights, the FBI will work to ensure they are held accountable.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other evidence presented during Brown’s trial: On the evening of June 3, 2024, Hapeville Police Department officers arrested a man for trespassing at an apartment complex and transported him to police headquarters. The man was placed alone in a small holding cell and handcuffed to a stationary bench. Although the detainee posed no threat, Brown entered the cell twice and tased him at least six times, including in the genitals, without any legal justification. Brown stopped tasing the victim only after another officer intervened.
Brown’s repeated tasing caused injury that required medical attention. After the victim was transported from police headquarters by ambulance, Brown wrote a false use of force report in an attempt to justify and minimize his actions. In the report, Brown stated that he tased the victim twice to gain compliance after the victim supposedly kicked the door and window to the holding cell. But the victim had stopped hitting the window before Brown entered the cell and had never kicked anything. Moreover, Brown omitted that he handcuffed the victim to a bench and then tased the victim four additional times.
Earlier today, U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg sentenced Shevoy Brown, 31, of Hampton, Georgia, to three years and one month in prison, followed by two years of supervised release. Brown was convicted on February 26, 2026, following a jury trial.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Bret R. Hobson and Brent Alan Gray prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Convicted Felon Faces Federal Charges Following Shooting on Atlanta's MARTA Rail SystemRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Anthony Gresham, a multi-convicted felon, has been charged with three federal crimes after he allegedly shot a 17-year-old boy aboard a Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) train last Friday.
“My office and federal law enforcement will continue to lean in and partner with local agencies to hold criminals accountable for violent attacks on MARTA, a critical component of Atlanta’s transportation infrastructure that is subsidized by federal funds,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Gresham was allegedly undeterred by decades of prosecution for robberies, drug trafficking, and other crimes, which compounds the need for federal intervention in this case.”
“Violence will not be tolerated on Marta,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The citizens of Metro Atlanta and our visitors deserve a safe and secure transportation system. This is a great example of the collaborative work of law enforcement to protect everyone’s right to safety.”
“The riders who depend on MARTA, and the officers who work to protect them, deserve to see violent offenders held accountable,” said Chief M. Scott Kreher of the MARTA Police Department. “I support and appreciate U.S. Attorney Hertzberg for his leadership in this area and for the continued partnership with the FBI AMMO task force as we work together to keep our communities safe.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information released previously: On June 5, 2026, a 17-year-old boy boarded a MARTA train stopped at the Midtown station in Atlanta. Anthony Gresham allegedly walked into the train car where the boy was seated, produced a handgun from his bag, and fired three times in the boy’s direction. The boy sustained gunshot wounds to his left hand and left leg and was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital. Later, law enforcement recovered spent shell casings from the scene of the shooting. Gresham allegedly fled from the train station but was apprehended two days later by FBI agents and local law enforcement officers in Douglas County.
Gresham allegedly has a lengthy criminal history that disqualifies him from being able to legally possess firearms or ammunition. That criminal history includes felony convictions in at least three different counties for armed robbery, aggravated assault, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, burglary, theft, and robbery by force.
On June 8, 2026, Anthony Gresham, 42, of Lithia Springs, Ga., was charged by criminal complaint with committing an act of violence with intent to cause serious bodily injury on a mass transportation system, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Gresham will appear in federal court to answer those charges at a later date.
Members of the public are reminded that the complaint only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and MARTA Police Department with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Douglasville Police Department, Haralson County Sheriff’s Office, and Georgia Department of Public Safety assisted with the defendant’s apprehension.
Gresham is the second defendant charged within the past week with a federal crime related to violent attacks on MARTA trains. On June 2, 2026, John Elijah Matthews, 25, of Decatur, Ga., was named in a federal complaint charging him with committing an act of violence using a dangerous weapon with the intent to cause death on a mass transportation system. If convicted, Matthews faces the possibility of life imprisonment or the death penalty.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Three-Time Convicted Felon Sentenced to Prison for Dealing Fentanyl and Carrying Stolen HandgunRead the Press Release
ROME, Ga. – Sincere M. Billingslea, a three-time convicted felon and armed fentanyl dealer who operated in northwest Georgia, was sentenced to nine years in prison after his conviction on federal drug and weapons charges.
“The successful prosecution of this serial offender is a prime example of law enforcement working together to rid the streets of dangerous recidivist felons who continue to peddle poison for profit,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “With nearly a decade of imprisonment ahead of him, Billingslea will no longer cause trouble for the citizens of northwest Georgia.”
“Billingslea is a repeat offender who continued to pollute our community with his drugs, all while having guns he wasn’t supposed to be carrying,” said Mitchell Jackson, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent in FBI Atlanta’s Cartersville office. “The FBI will continue to work hand-in-hand with our law enforcement partners to keep dangerous criminals off our streets.”
“Cases like this highlight the importance of strong partnerships between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The successful removal of a repeat offender involved in trafficking fentanyl and illegally possessing firearms makes our community safer and sends a clear message that these crimes will not be tolerated,” said Major Mark Mayton, Special Operations Commander of the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office. “Sheriff Clark Millsap is proud of the work performed by the men and women of the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office and our law enforcement partners. Their dedication, professionalism, and commitment to public safety continue to make a difference in the lives of the citizens we serve.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On December 30, 2024, law enforcement attempted to arrest Billingslea on an outstanding warrant as he left a Cartersville, Georgia motel in the backseat of a taxicab. As officers approached the taxicab, Billingslea yelled to the driver, “Go, go, go!” When the cab driver did not comply with Billingslea’s demand to drive off, Billingslea threw items into the front seat, including a recently stolen Glock pistol, another handgun, approximately two ounces of purple-colored fentanyl, over six ounces of methamphetamine, a black digital scale with suspected drug residue, a Gucci bag, and $3,450 in cash. Law enforcement promptly seized the contraband and took Billingslea into custody.
When law enforcement later searched Billingslea’s cellphone, they found several pictures and videos of Billingslea pointing a Glock handgun at the camera and flaunting drugs and stacks of cash. Billingslea was already a three-time convicted felon whose criminal history included aggravated assault, armed robbery, and obstruction of law enforcement. Accordingly, Billingslea was prohibited from possessing firearms.
The investigation further revealed that Billingslea had bought thousands of dollars’ worth of fentanyl and methamphetamine in Atlanta the night before his arrest and was selling it out of his Cartersville motel room.
On June 5, 2026, U.S. District Judge William M. Ray, II, sentenced Sincere M. Billingslea, a/k/a “Trouble,” 27, of Rockmart, Ga., to nine years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Billingslea was convicted on February 25, 2026, after he pleaded guilty possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bartow County Sheriff's Office, and Bartow-Cartersville Drug Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorneys Calvin A. Leipold, III and Thomas M. Forsyth, III prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force 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. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF is comprised of agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Jury Finds Norcross Man Guilty of Laundering More than $400,000 in Proceeds from Fraudulent Tax RefundsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – After a one-week trial, a federal jury convicted Festus Anyiam of stealing government funds and laundering the proceeds of fraudulent tax refunds obtained through identity theft.
“This defendant attempted to conceal his brazen theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent tax refund payments by converting the stolen refunds into money orders and then transferring the cashed money orders into accounts he controlled,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “My office will always pursue wrongdoers who steal from the tax system and attempt to conceal their wrongdoing.”
“This verdict is a victory for the U.S. tax system. It should send a message to would-be thieves that IRS-Criminal Investigation and its law enforcement partners will aggressively pursue those who seek to enrich themselves on the backs of U.S. taxpayers,” said Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, St. Louis Field Office, Special Agent in Charge William Steenson. “No matter how many steps a thief takes to hide their ill-gotten gains, our special agents will track them down and bring them to justice.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In 2015, the IRS received fraudulent tax returns claiming refunds that used the personally identifiable information (PII) of taxpayers in Illinois and Missouri. The returns directed the IRS to send the refund payments to a third-party tax preparation software company, which deposited the tax refunds into prepaid debit cards that had been activated using taxpayers’ stolen PII. After the debit cards were loaded with refund payments, the debit cards were used to purchase money orders from various retail stores in the Atlanta area.
During a three-week period in June and July 2015, Anyiam used ATMs throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area to deposit hundreds of those money orders into his personal bank account. To conceal the true source of the funds, Anyiam later sought to clear the tax refund proceeds from his bank account by buying a cashier’s check for $406,000 and depositing it at another bank.
On June 5, 2026, a federal jury found Festus Anyiam, 41, of Norcross, Georgia, guilty of four counts of theft of government funds and one count of money laundering.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 10, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Mark H. Cohen. The Court may sentence the defendant to not more than 10 years of imprisonment on each of the theft counts and not more than 20 years of imprisonment on the money laundering count. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.
This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Sekret T. Sneed and Daniel Grill are prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Five Atlanta Men Arrested on International Firearms Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Five Atlanta men, including a U.S./Jamaican dual citizen, have been charged with numerous offenses involving the alleged trafficking of hundreds of stolen firearms to the Caribbean.
“These defendants allegedly perpetrated a multi-year crime spree in the city of Atlanta—breaking into vehicles and stealing guns—to source firearms to be smuggled out of our country, fueling violence overseas,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Thanks to the collaboration between a wide range of federal law enforcement agencies through our Homeland Security Task Force and the Atlanta Police Department, the trafficking ring allegedly responsible for these crimes has been dismantled.”
“This multi-agency operation underscores HSI’s commitment to combat the illegal trafficking of firearms and protect our communities both domestically and abroad,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. We will continue to pursue transnational criminal networks who threaten public safety and violate U.S. laws, wherever they operate.”
“Among ATF’s top priorities is ensuring that firearm traffickers are aggressively investigated and swiftly brought to justice. This investigation is an excellent example of multiple partner agencies working collaboratively to achieve outstanding results,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ryan Todd of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Atlanta Field Division.
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is devoted to defending the nation’s mail system from illegal use. We remain steadfast in our resolve to seek justice to the end and to keep communities safe,” stated Rodney M. Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Atlanta Division. “This goal is achieved through collaborative investigative efforts with fellow law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the indictment, and other information presented in court: On April 2, 2025, HSI and CBP agents at Miami International Airport interdicted a package destined for Georgetown, St. Vincent. The package contained three 9mm pistols, which had not been declared as required by law, hidden in a package containing a queen air mattress. One of the three handguns was reported stolen on March 1, 2025, in Atlanta.
A multi-agency investigation conducted by HSI, ATF, and U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security special agents, USPIS inspectors, and Atlanta Police Department officers revealed that the stolen handgun seized at the Miami airport was one of dozens of guns taken during a rash of car break-ins and burglaries allegedly perpetrated by Lorenzo Harris-Brown, D’Anthony Varner, and Albert Brown in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Harris-Brown, Varner, and Brown allegedly broke into scores of vehicles, stole the vehicles’ contents, including firearms, and provided the stolen firearms to Sanchaz Turner. After receiving the guns, Turner allegedly contacted Andre Lalor to sell the firearms. A court-authorized search of Turner’s cell phone allegedly led to the discovery of text messages between Turner and Lalor in which Turner sent Lalor photographs or descriptions of more than 350 firearms. After acquiring firearms from Turner, Lalor allegedly tried to send those guns to contacts in the Caribbean and Canada, but several of Lalor’s alleged shipments were intercepted, resulting in the seizure of dozens of stolen weapons.
On May 27, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Andre Lalor, a/k/a “Plug Dre,” 48, of Conyers, Georgia, and Sanchaz Turner, a/k/a “Chezz,” 20; D’Anthony Varner, 23; Lorenzo Harris-Brown, 21; and Albert Brown, 21, all of Atlanta, Georgia, with conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking, trafficking in firearms, possession of stolen firearms, and dealing in firearms without a license. The indictment also charged Lalor with attempted smuggling goods from the United States, failure to notify a common carrier, and failure to file electronic export information. Andre Lalor, Sanchaz Turner, and Lorenzo Harris-Brown appeared in federal court last week following their arrests, and Albert Brown was arraigned yesterday. D’Anthony Varner will be arraigned at a later date.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Department of Commerce - Bureau of Industry and Security, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Atlanta Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Smith and Jamil Favors are prosecuting the case.
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. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
One of Atlanta Police Department's Top 5 Most Wanted Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Marcus Lydell Molden, Jr, who was recently listed on the Atlanta Police Department’s top five fugitives list, has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. In addition to the federal charges, Molden also faces charges in Fulton County for various violent crimes and gang-related offenses.
“A convicted felon several times over, Marcus Molden was strictly prohibited from possessing any firearm, let alone an illegally converted machinegun with an extended magazine,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Thankfully, shortly after Molden secured a position on the Atlanta Police Department’s ignoble ‘most wanted’ list, federal and local law enforcement captured him, seized his ultra-dangerous weapon, and made our community safer.”
“Violent offenders must understand there are serious consequences for the illegal possession of firearms. ATF and our law enforcement partners will dedicate all necessary time and resources to ensure those responsible are brought to justice,” said ATF Atlanta Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ryan Todd.
“Getting Marcus Molden off the streets was a priority for the Atlanta Police Department because of the danger he posed to our community,” said Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum. “I am proud of the officers and investigators whose relentless work led to his arrest, and I am grateful for the strong partnership with our federal law enforcement partners that helped bring this case to a successful outcome. This guilty plea reflects the impact of coordinated enforcement efforts and our shared commitment to holding violent offenders accountable. Most importantly, it means a dangerous offender has been removed from our streets, making Atlanta safer for the residents, businesses, and visitors we serve every day.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In the summer of 2025, the Atlanta Police Department (APD) classified Molden, a convicted felon, as one of APD’s most wanted fugitives. In July 2025, officers and detectives with APD’s gangs and automobile crimes units, along with federal law enforcement partners, observed Molden enter the passenger seat of a vehicle with a firearm tucked in his waistband.
After stopping the vehicle, officers found a black Glock pistol under the passenger seat. The magazine was designed to hold up to 22 rounds of ammunition, and a machinegun conversion device, which allowed the gun to function as a fully automatic firearm, was attached to the pistol.
Sentencing for Marcus Lydell Molden, Jr, a/k/a Meat, 25, is scheduled for September 15, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Victoria M. Calvert. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.
Members of the public are reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent of the pending Fulton County charges, and it will be the State’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The federal case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Atlanta Police Department.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve A. Hsieh is 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.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.