Northern District of Illinois
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Wisconsin Man Charged in Federal Court with Possessing Child Pornography on International Flight to ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Wisconsin man was charged today in federal court with possessing child pornography on a flight from Tanzania to Chicago.
ECA BARUANI, 36, of Green Bay, Wisc., possessed videos of child pornography on his cell phone when he flew from the United Republic of Tanzania to O’Hare International Airport in Chicago on Thursday, according to a criminal complaint filed today in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Upon arrival at O’Hare, Baruani was selected for secondary customs inspection by United States Customs and Border Protection, the complaint states. After observing what appeared to be images of child pornography on Baruani’s cell phone, CBP officers handed the phone to Homeland Security Investigations special agents for a manual search, the complaint states. HSI agents searched the phone and discovered multiple videos of prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct with adults, the complaint states. Baruani was taken into custody.
The complaint charges Baruani with one count of possession of child pornography. The charge is punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Baruani was expected to make an initial appearance on Friday afternoon in federal court in Chicago.
The complaint was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of HSI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Pope.
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
baruani_complaint.pdfFederal Judge Sentences Man to Six Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing Five Loaded Firearms During High-Speed Chase on Chicago ExpresswayRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A felon has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for illegally possessing five loaded firearms during a high-speed chase on the John F. Kennedy Expressway in Chicago.
On July 30, 2024, TIMOTHY MCDOWELL was a passenger in a stolen car traveling on the Kennedy Expressway in Chicago. As a police helicopter followed overhead, the car increased its speed to more than 100 miles per hour before exiting the highway and speeding through residential streets. After the vehicle parked in a garage, McDowell ran from pursuing officers and attempted to abandon a backpack he was carrying. He was arrested after a brief chase. Inside his backpack were five loaded handguns, one of which had a defaced serial number while another had a large-capacity magazine attached to it. McDowell had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses and was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
McDowell, 36, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal charge of unlawful possession of a firearm. On Aug. 20, 2026, U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman sentenced McDowell to six years in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of Homeland Security Investigations. The Chicago Police Department provided valuable assistance.
“The fact that defendant possessed five firearms is itself serious, but the fact that he possessed them with compatriots in a stolen vehicle that was fleeing from police increases the seriousness here,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Schied argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “He was out and up to no good with others, a danger that compounds his possession of dangerous weapons as a multiple convicted felon.”
Felon Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Loaded Handgun While on Pre-Trial Release for State Firearm CaseRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A felon has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for illegally possessing a loaded handgun while on pre-trial release in a state firearm case.
ANTONIO TUCKER, 22, possessed the loaded handgun on June 14, 2025, in a relative’s apartment in Chicago. During an argument with the relative, Tucker threw an object at the relative’s head and then picked up the loaded handgun. Another relative intervened, allowing the victim-relative to safely flee the apartment and call Chicago Police, who arrived on the scene and discovered the gun on a bed in a room where Tucker was staying. Tucker had been residing in the relative’s apartment while he was on pre-trial release for a firearm case pending in state court.
While federal authorities were investigating this case, Tucker pressured other relatives from jail to encourage the victim-relative to recant their statements to police and avoid giving truthful testimony before a federal grand jury. Tucker was ultimately indicted in federal court on a charge of illegal possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, to which he pleaded guilty in May 2026.
On Aug. 5, 2026, U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah sentenced Tucker to two years in federal prison. The sentence fell in the middle of the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines range.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. The Chicago Police Department provided valuable assistance. The investigation was conducted in coordination with ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago. The CGIC is a centralized law enforcement partnership that focuses exclusively on investigating and prosecuting violent offenders who utilize firearms in commission of their crimes in Chicago and throughout northern Illinois. Every firearm-related case in Chicago is processed through the CGIC on a daily basis.
“Defendant is a felon who is not permitted to possess a gun under any circumstances, but the circumstances in which he committed this offense were particularly dangerous,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Sushma Raju argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “He kept a loaded gun in his bedroom and brought it out in the midst of a domestic incident. But for the intervention of the family member who urged defendant to back down (and the quick arrival of the police thereafter), defendant’s actions may have caused the fight to escalate even further and led to one or more family members being hurt.”
Felon Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing “Machine Gun” in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A felon has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for illegally possessing a machine gun in Chicago.
On Sept. 12, 2025, ANTONIO LUKES possessed a handgun equipped with a “Glock switch” conversion device that made the firearm capable of firing in fully automatic mode. Lukes was standing next to an empty vehicle near Jackson Boulevard and Western Avenue on the West Side of Chicago with the firearm concealed in his waistband. As Chicago Police officers drove by Lukes in their squad car, the firearm fell out of his waistband to his feet. Lukes ran from the officers but was arrested after a brief chase. Lukes had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses and was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Lukes, 40, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal charge of unlawful possession of a firearm. On Aug. 17, 2026, U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman sentenced Lukes to 28 months in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. The investigation was conducted in coordination with ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago. The CGIC is a centralized law enforcement partnership that focuses exclusively on investigating and prosecuting violent offenders who utilize firearms in commission of their crimes in Chicago and throughout northern Illinois. Every firearm-related case in Chicago is processed through the CGIC on a daily basis.
“Defendant’s crime is a serious one,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Skiba argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “The Glock that defendant possessed that night was no ordinary firearm. The switch made a dangerous weapon even more dangerous still.”
Federal Jury in Chicago Convicts Engineer of Unlawfully Stealing Trade Secrets from Philips Medical Systems on Behalf of Chinese CompetitorRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal jury in Chicago has convicted a former engineer at Philips Medical Systems of conspiring to steal Philips’ trade secrets and bring them to a Chinese competitor.
CHIH-YEE JEN worked as an engineer at Philips’ facility in Aurora, Ill., where employees researched, developed, and manufactured X-ray tubes used in computed tomography (CT) medical imaging machines. Through its Dunlee brand, Philips spent years developing proprietary X-ray technology and selling various devices to medical facilities. In 2017, as Philips prepared to close the facility in Aurora, China-based KUNSHAN GUOLI ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD. and a Kunshan GuoLi vice president, XIAOQIN DU, began communicating with Jen about creating a U.S. subsidiary for Kunshan GuoLi to help it compete with Philips in developing, manufacturing, and selling X-ray tubes. While still employed at Philips, Jen began sharing confidential Philips documents with Kunshan GuoLi and Du and successfully recruited multiple Philips engineers to join him at the Kunshan GuoLi subsidiary. Jen copied Philips’ proprietary X-ray trade secret information from internal Philips databases and used the stolen information in connection with his new work developing the technology for the Kunshan GuoLi subsidiary.
After a week-long trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago, the jury on Friday convicted Jen, 71, of Mequon, Wisc., of both counts against him, including conspiracy to steal, misappropriate, or possess trade secrets and possession or attempted possession of stolen trade secrets. U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang set Jen’s sentencing for Jan. 5, 2027, at 10:00 a.m.
The conviction was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ramon Villalpando and Michael Maione.
“The theft of proprietary information is a serious economic crime that harms American jobs and stifles critically important research and development driving the future of our nation,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “When individuals, corporate entities, or nation states steal proprietary information, they are threatening our country’s technological edge. The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prosecute trade secret theft to protect innovation, ensure fair competition, and safeguard national economic security.”
“The FBI and our prosecutorial partners are relentless in combatting trade secret theft and holding accountable those who seek to compromise private sector innovation and the safety of our nation,” said FBI Acting SAC Whalen. “As detailed throughout the trial, Jen's conspiracy to steal, misappropriate, or possess trade secrets and his possession of stolen trade secrets shows a blatant disregard for his former employer's proprietary information and America's security. This conviction reaffirms that the theft of trade secrets will be thoroughly investigated and punished to the fullest extent of the law.”
Two other former Philips engineers—FINCE TENDIAN, 57, of Aurora, Ill., and VLADIMIR NEVTONENKO, 77, of Arlington Heights, Ill.—pleaded guilty prior to trial and admitted possessing stolen trade secrets. Judge Chang scheduled Nevtonenko’s sentencing for Dec. 1, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., and Tendian’s sentencing for Dec. 8, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.
Du, 64, of Suzhou, China, Kunshan GuoLi, and a related Chinese company, KUNSHAN YIYUAN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD., were also indicted in the case. They were placed on the Court’s Fugitive Calendar and have not been arraigned.
Federal Jury in Chicago Convicts Engineer for Stealing Trade Secrets from Philips Medical Systems on Behalf of Chinese CompetitorRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Chicago convicted a former engineer at Philips Medical Systems Friday of conspiring to steal Philips’ trade secrets and bring them to a Chinese competitor.
“The theft of proprietary information is a serious economic crime that harms American jobs and stifles critically important research and development driving the future of our nation,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros for the Northern District of Illinois. “When individuals, corporate entities, or nation states steal proprietary information, they are threatening our country’s technological edge. The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prosecute trade secret theft to protect innovation, ensure fair competition, and safeguard national economic security.”
“Jen acted at the expense of his U.S. employer by stealing closely guarded x-ray technology trade secrets for the benefit of a Chinese competitor,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “Protecting America’s private sector companies is a priority for the FBI, and this conviction underscores our commitment to defend the homeland. Know that if you choose to steal trade secrets, the FBI will find you and hold you accountable.”
Chih-Yee Jen, 71, of Mequon, Wisconsin, worked as an engineer at Philips’ facility in Aurora, Illinois, where employees researched, developed, and manufactured X-ray tubes used in computed tomography (CT) medical imaging machines. Through its Dunlee brand, Philips spent years developing proprietary X-ray technology and selling various devices to medical facilities. In 2017, as Philips prepared to close the facility in Aurora, China-based Kunshan GuoLi Electronic Technology Co Ltd. and a Kunshan GuoLi vice president, Xiaoqin Du, began communicating with Jen about creating a U.S. subsidiary for Kunshan GuoLi to help it compete with Philips in developing, manufacturing, and selling X-ray tubes. While still employed at Philips, Jen began sharing confidential Philips documents with Kunshan GuoLi and Du and successfully recruited multiple Philips engineers to join him at the Kunshan GuoLi subsidiary. Jen copied Philips’ proprietary X-ray trade secret information from internal Philips databases and used the stolen information in connection with his new work developing the technology for the Kunshan GuoLi subsidiary.
After a week-long trial, Jen was convicted of both counts against him, including conspiracy to steal, misappropriate, or possess trade secrets and possession or attempted possession of stolen trade secrets. U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang set Jen’s sentencing for Jan. 5, 2027, at 10:00 a.m.
Two other former Philips engineers — Fince Tendian, 57, of Aurora, Illinois, and Vladimir Nevtonenko, 77, of Arlington Heights, Illinois — pleaded guilty prior to trial and admitted possessing stolen trade secrets. Judge Chang scheduled Nevtonenko’s sentencing for Dec. 1 at 10:00 a.m., and Tendian’s sentencing for Dec. 8 at 10:00 a.m.
Du, 64, of Suzhou, China, Kunshan GuoLi, and a related Chinese company, Kunshan Yiyuan Medical Technology Co. Ltd., were also indicted in the case. They were placed on the court’s Fugitive Calendar and have not been arraigned.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ramon Villalpando and Michael Maione for the Northern District of Illinois prosecuted the case.
Restaurateur Sentenced to Two and a Half Years in Federal Prison for $2.8 Million Covid-Relief and Tax FraudsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO – A restaurateur who operated several eateries in Illinois and Colorado has been sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison for submitting fraudulent Covid-relief loan applications and failing to pay tax withholdings from his employees. Under the leadership of United States Attorney Andrew S. Boutros and consistent with the Administration’s priorities to identify, investigate, and prosecute criminal fraud in the federal government entitlement and benefit programs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois has been taking a fresh look at Covid-19 fraud.
In 2020 and 2021, JARED LEONARD schemed to fraudulently obtain more than $2.3 million in small business loans and grants under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”). Leonard submitted at least ten fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) loans and grants purportedly on behalf of his restaurant businesses. The applications contained numerous false statements and misrepresentations regarding the businesses’ operations, including the number of employees, gross revenues, and payroll expenses. Leonard used the funds to purchase, among other things, vehicles, international travel, and a luxurious personal residence on more than seven acres in Evergreen, Colo.
In the 15 months prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Leonard failed to pay to the IRS federal income taxes, Social Security taxes, and Medicare taxes that he had withheld on behalf of his employees in amounts totaling more than $430,000.
Leonard, 45, of Littleton, Colo., pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal wire fraud and tax charges. On Aug. 13, 2026, U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang sentenced Leonard to 30 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay approximately $2.8 million in restitution to the IRS and U.S. Small Business Administration.
U.S. Attorney Boutros announced Leonard’s sentence along with Marta Grijalva, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago, and Vincent R. Zehme, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Region of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Office of Inspector General. Valuable assistance was provided by the Denver Field Office of the FBI.
“The crimes defendant committed were undertaken for his personal benefit, not to aid his employees,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Hayes argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “He purchased a luxurious home on several acres in a scenic mountain town outright with cash taken directly from the Covid-relief programs. Defendant also subsequently purchased motor vehicles and travel to high-end resorts in Mexico and other locations.”
On April 7, 2026, 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.
Former Chicago School Principal and Two Others Sentenced to Federal Prison in Connection with Million-Dollar Procurement Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A former Chicago school principal and two others have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in procurement fraud schemes that defrauded a pair of school systems and a non-profit organization out of more than $1 million.
BRIAN METCALF, KIMBERLY MADDOX, and JAMES DARNELL CAMPBELL schemed to illegally profit from various roles Metcalf held in school systems in Chicago and Indianapolis, as well as a non-profit corporation. Over the course of nearly ten years, Metcalf and Maddox falsely claimed that Maddox or her spouse were providing services to the schools and the non-profit corporation, when in reality, no such services were provided. As a result of Metcalf’s and Maddox’s fraud, the school systems and the non-profit organization paid Maddox nearly $700,000, which she split with Metcalf.
While Metcalf and Maddox were engaging in their fraud, Campbell, who worked as a consultant, approached Metcalf and said he wanted to join the scheme. At that time Metcalf was serving as the superintendent of a school system in Indianapolis. Metcalf caused the Indianapolis school system to pay Campbell nearly $400,000 based on bogus invoices for consulting work that was never performed. Campbell split those fraud proceeds with Metcalf.
Metcalf, 52, of Baltimore, Md., Maddox, 55, of Matteson, Ill., and Campbell, 59, of Frankfort, Ill., pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins sentenced Metcalf to a year and a day in federal prison. Last month, Judge Jenkins sentenced Maddox to two years in prison and Campbell to a year and a day. All three defendants were ordered to pay restitution totaling $1,099,200.
The sentences were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Michael Pritchard, the Official Performing the Duty of Inspector General for AmeriCorps; Scott Wingle, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s Central Regional Office; and Philip Wagenknecht, Inspector General for Chicago Public Schools. The U.S. Small Business Administration participated in the investigation. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Chang.
“When officials defraud school systems, they are eroding trust and stealing from the very futures they are meant to protect,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “Holding individuals accountable when they exploit their positions for personal gain sends a strong message that such betrayal will not be tolerated and even more, that the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement will work hard to protect the integrity of our education system and to ensure that taxpayer funds are properly safeguarded.”
“The outcome of this case serves as a strong deterrent to anyone considering similar criminal acts,” said AmeriCorps OIG Official Pritchard. “Those who steal from organizations funded by federal support will face serious consequences. AmeriCorps OIG is committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners to uncover and address such misconduct. We extend our sincere gratitude to the U.S. Department of Education OIG, the Small Business Administration OIG, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois for their unwavering cooperation and dedication to the pursuit of justice.”
“I am proud of the work of OIG Special Agents and our law enforcement partners in holding these individuals accountable for their criminal actions,” said DOE-OIG Acting SAC Wingle. “And rest assured that we will continue to aggressively pursue those who misappropriate education funds or try to game the system for their own selfish purposes. Our nation’s students and taxpayers deserve nothing less.”
“Administrators who use their position to enrich themselves and deprive CPS families of critical resources will not be tolerated, and neither will vendors who steal from CPS,” said Inspector General Wagenknecht. “CPS OIG investigators are committed to rooting out fraud and corruption in the school district, and we greatly appreciate the work of our law enforcement partners in holding these individuals accountable.”
United States and State of Illinois File Complaint in Intervention in False Claims Act Lawsuit Against Chicago-Area Medical Practice and Billing Company for Allegedly Submitting Fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid ClaimsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — The United States and the State of Illinois have filed a joint complaint in intervention alleging that a Chicago-area medical practice and billing company knowingly submitted fraudulent claims to Medicaid and Medicare, resulting in the payment of more than $5.2 million in false claims.
The government’s complaint alleges that FOOT & ANKLE HEALTH CARE CENTER, LTD., EUROPEAN FOOT & ANKLE SURGICAL CARE, LTD., their owner, DR. VADIM GOSHKO, and the billing companies, ATLANTIC WAVE HOLDINGS, LLC and ATLANTIC WAVE II, LLC, knowingly submitted fraudulent claims to Medicaid for podiatry services performed by Dr. Goshko after he had already been terminated from the Medicaid program. Because Illinois Medicaid was no longer paying Dr. Goshko’s claims, the defendants allegedly worked together to submit claims that listed other physicians as having provided the podiatry services that were actually performed by Dr. Goshko. Although Dr. Goshko and other defendants had an affirmative obligation to inform Medicare of his exclusion from Medicaid, the complaint alleges that they failed to do so. Medicare eventually revoked Dr. Goshko’s privileges after learning of his Medicaid exclusion.
As a result of the fraud, the United States and the State of Illinois, through the Medicare and Medicaid programs, paid the defendants more than $5.2 million in federal and state monies to which the defendants were not entitled, the complaint states.
The government’s complaint was filed on Monday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The government had previously notified the Court that it was intervening in a lawsuit filed by PayrHealth, LLC, which had acquired the billing company in December 2020, under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. After acquiring the billing company, PayrHealth discovered the Goshko entities’ fraudulent conduct, terminated them as clients, and notified the government of the alleged fraud. The government’s complaint seeks treble damages and civil penalties under the federal False Claims Act, the Illinois False Claims Act, and common law claims for payments by mistake and unjust enrichment.
The lawsuit was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Kwame Raoul, Illinois Attorney General; Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; and Mario Pinto, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Region of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Valerie R. Raedy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Deputy Chief Melissa Guske of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.
The False Claims Act permits private individuals to sue for false claims on behalf of the government and to share in any recovery. The Act allows the government to intervene or take over the lawsuit, as it has done in this case, and to recover three times its damages plus civil penalties ranging from $5,500 to $11,000 for each false claim. Medicaid is a state-administered program, and each state sets its own guidelines regarding eligibility and services. For Illinois Medicaid recipients, funding is shared between the federal government and the State of Illinois.
The case is captioned as United States and State of Illinois, ex rel. PayrHealth v. Foot Ankle, et al., No. 21 C 2536 (N.D. Ill.). The public is reminded that civil allegations are only accusations, and there has been no determination of liability. In a civil case, the government has the burden of proving the allegations by a preponderance of the evidence.
dkt._54_-_joint_complaint_in_intervention_-_us_and_il_ex_rel_payrhealth_v._foot_and_ankle.pdfMan Charged in Federal Court with Robbing Victim at Gunpoint During Facebook Marketplace Meeting in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago today charged a man with robbing an individual at gunpoint of his laptop computer during a Facebook Marketplace meeting on the city’s North Side.
The robbery occurred on the evening of Aug. 5, 2026, in the 700 block of West Belmont Avenue in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. The victim had offered his MacBook Pro laptop for sale on Facebook Marketplace and agreed to meet with a purported buyer, later identified as MAYKEL GONZALEZ DEMARIA. According to a criminal complaint filed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago, Gonzalez Demaria arrived at the pre-arranged meeting location driving a Blue Toyota Corolla and asked the victim to get inside. The victim declined but handed the laptop and a charger to Gonzalez Demaria to inspect, the complaint states. After the pair discussed a price for the laptop, Gonzalez Demaria reached into the backseat, grabbed a firearm, and pointed it at the victim, the complaint states. Gonzalez Demaria then allegedly drove off with the laptop and charger.
The victim was able to take a photograph of the Corolla and its license plate number, which he conveyed to Chicago Police in a 911 call. Less than 30 minutes later, police observed a car matching the description about a mile away and conducted a traffic stop, during which they discovered the laptop, the charger, and the firearm, the complaint states. Gonzalez Demaria was placed under arrest.
The complaint charges Gonzalez Demaria, 19, with one count of robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. His initial appearance in federal court in Chicago has not yet been scheduled.
The complaint was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; and Fred Waller, Interim Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The Chicago Police Department provided valuable assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jalan L. Jaskot.
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
gonzalez_demaria_complaint.pdfFlorida Man Indicted for Allegedly Swindling Victims from Illinois in Fraudulent Investment SchemeRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Florida man who previously resided in Illinois has been indicted for allegedly swindling numerous individuals in a fraudulent investment scheme.
MAKAIO’ KEKOA falsely informed victim investors, including four individuals residing in the Northern District of Illinois, that he had the ability to invest their money in short-term, high-yield investment opportunities, when, in reality, Kekoa knew that no such investment opportunities existed, according to an indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Instead of investing the victims’ money, Kekoa misappropriated the funds for his personal use, including gambling, the indictment states.
From 2019 to 2022, Kekoa allegedly caused the victim investors to incur cumulative losses of at least $180,000.
Kekoa, formerly known as “Lorenzo Hood,” “Lorenzo Chryssikos Hood,” or “Zo,” 39, of Wimauma, Fla., is charged with two counts of wire fraud. He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Tuesday in federal court in Chicago. A status hearing was set for Sept. 24, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin.
The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Hillsborough County, Fla. Sheriff's Office provided valuable assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kartik K. Raman.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Each count of wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and must also order restitution to the victims.
kekoa_indictment.pdfFederal Grand Jury Indicts Man for Allegedly Conspiring to Traffic Fentanyl and Cocaine in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal grand jury has indicted a man for allegedly conspiring to traffic fentanyl and cocaine in Chicago.
JAYLIN ARNOLD, 28, of Chicago, conspired with four other individuals to distribute fentanyl and cocaine in Chicago from January to June of 2025, according to an indictment returned Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The indictment seeks forfeiture from Arnold of three handguns and associated ammunition. Arnold’s arraignment in federal court in Chicago has not yet been scheduled. Arnold was recently convicted of a firearm crime in state court in connection with the June 5, 2025, police chase that led to the shooting of Chicago Police Department Officer Krystal Rivera.
The four alleged co-conspirators—DASHAWN POWELL, 40, TARELL SMITH, 39, JOSHUA THOMAS, 42, and BERNARD SPENCER, 33, all of Chicago —were indicted separately earlier this year on federal drug conspiracy and related firearm charges. They have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.
All five defendants are currently being held in law enforcement custody.
The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. The Chicago Police Department provided valuable assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elie Zenner.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
arnold_indictment.pdfFederal Grand Jury Indicts Illegal Alien for Allegedly Possessing Eight “Molotov Cocktail” Destructive Devices in Chicago SuburbRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal grand jury has indicted a man for illegally possessing eight “Molotov cocktail” destructive devices in a Chicago suburb earlier this month.
On Aug. 1, 2026, in Mokena, Ill., HAMED ALSAIDI knowingly possessed eight glass liquor and beer bottles containing an ignitable liquid and a wicking component in the form commonly referred to as a “Molotov cocktail,” according to an indictment returned today in U.S. District Court in Chicago.
The indictment charges Alsaidi with eight counts of possessing an unregistered destructive device. Each count is punishable by up to ten years in federal prison.
Alsaidi, 31, who most recently resided in Oak Forest, Ill., is an illegal alien in the United States and currently in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Arraignment in federal court in Chicago has not yet been scheduled.
The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. The Mokena, Ill. Police Department and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal provided valuable assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Davis Price Shugrue.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
alsaidi_indictment_stamped.pdfFederal Grand Jury Indicts Grundy County Man on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted a Grundy County man on child pornography charges for allegedly inducing two minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct.
In February 2026, DUANE DEMICHELE used, persuaded, induced, and enticed two minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct, according to an indictment unsealed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. In addition, the indictment states that in February and March 2026, DeMichele received numerous video files containing child pornography.
DeMichele, 45, of Diamond, Ill., was arrested on June 30, 2026. He remains detained in federal custody pending trial. The indictment charges him with two counts of production of child pornography and five counts of receipt of child pornography. Arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 18, 2026, at 9:30 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel A. Fuentes.
The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the Cook County State's Attorney's Office Investigations Bureau’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC). The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Marie E. Ursini.
Production of child pornography is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of 30 years. Receipt of child pornography is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a maximum of 20 years. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
demichele_indictment.pdfWill County Man Who Transported a Minor to Illinois to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity Sentenced to More Than 27 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Will County man who transported a minor to Illinois from Iowa to engage in criminal sexual activity has been sentenced to more than 27 years in federal prison.
In the summer of 2021, RYAN ZELEK communicated with a 13-year-old girl on the social media application Snapchat. Zelek, knowing the girl was 13 years old, drove to Iowa, picked up the girl outside of a movie theatre, and transported her to his residence in Illinois, where he sexually assaulted her. Zelek then drove the victim back to Iowa.
Law enforcement later conducted a court-authorized search of Zelek’s electronic devices and discovered thousands of images and videos of child pornography, including sadistic acts being perpetrated against very young children.
Zelek, 33, of Wilmington, Ill., pleaded guilty last year to a federal charge of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey sentenced Zelek to 27 and a half years in federal prison. Judge Blakey also ordered Zelek to pay a total of $54,298 in restitution.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Wilmington, Ill., Police Department and the FBI Field Office in Mobile, Ala. provided valuable assistance.
“Ryan Zelek raped and brutalized a 13-year-old girl and recorded a video of it on his cell phone,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin M. Pinkston argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Defendant clearly foresaw the consequences of his actions, knew exactly how abhorrent his actions were, and yet abused the minor anyway.”
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by calling 1-800-843-5678 or logging on to www.cybertipline.com. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Illegal Alien with Sexual Assault Conviction Sentenced to Federal Prison for Unlawfully Re-Entering United States After DeportationRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — An illegal alien with a sexual assault conviction has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for unlawfully re-entering the United States after previously being deported.
RAMON SALGADO-DELGADILLO, a native of Mexico, was unlawfully present in the United States on Nov. 5, 2023, when he was found to be in Chicago. Salgado-Delgadillo had been deported from the United States to Mexico eight months earlier after being convicted of a felony sexual assault offense in the Circuit Court of Cook County, for which he was sentenced to four years in state prison.
Salgado-Delgadillo, 38, pleaded guilty in federal court in February 2026 to one count of unlawful reentry after removal. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge John F. Kness imposed the 18-month prison sentence and ordered that it be followed by a year of court-supervised release. The conviction subjects Salgado-Delgadillo to removal from the United States.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Frank Padula, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Chicago.
“Defendant’s prior criminal conviction was serious, and his four-year sentence did not deter him from returning to the United States and continuing to violate the law through his illegal reentry and failure to register as a sex offender,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill J. Bhalakia argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Illegal reentry by a convicted felon is a serious crime, and the United States has a strong interest in keeping convicted criminals from returning to the United States.”
Illegal Alien Sentenced to Two and a Half Years in Federal Prison for Firing Shots Near Border Patrol Agents During Operation Midway Blitz in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — An illegal alien has been sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison for firing shots near U.S. Border Patrol agents during Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago last fall.
HECTOR GOMEZ was driving a Jeep Wrangler in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago on Nov. 8, 2025, when he discharged at least two rounds from a handgun. Gomez fired the shots in proximity of Border Patrol agents who were engaged in the performance of their official duties as part of Operation Midway Blitz. Later that day, Gomez brandished the handgun at an individual in a parking lot a few blocks from where he fired the shots.
Gomez had previously been convicted of a felony firearm offense in the Circuit Court of Cook County and was prohibited under federal law from possessing a gun.
Gomez pleaded guilty in April 2026 to a federal charge of illegal possession of a firearm as a previously convicted felon. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly sentenced Gomez to two and a half years in federal prison, which was the high end of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines range.
Gomez, 46, is a citizen of Mexico who had been residing in Chicago. He has no claim to United States citizenship or lawful permanent residence and is now subject to removal.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. This case was investigated by the Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago (CGIC), a multi-agency task force that focuses exclusively on investigating and preventing gun violence in Chicago and throughout Northern Illinois. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill J. Bhalakia.
“Hector Gomez was in this country illegally and was prohibited from possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “Even more, when Gomez illegally discharged a gun near law enforcement carrying out their sworn duties, it seriously endangered law enforcement and caused chaos in the community during an already intense and tumultuous time in Chicagoland. The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office is fully committed to holding accountable those who use violence to attack, intimidate, or endanger the brave law enforcement officers who risk their lives to enforce the law.”
“Hector Gomez’s reckless conduct that day put countless lives at risk and demonstrated a complete disregard for the safety of law enforcement and members of the public,” said ATF SAC Amon. “I want to recognize the exceptional work of law enforcement that responded to the scene as well as the ATF National Laboratory. The ATF lab’s timely DNA analysis provided a critical investigative link that ensured Gomez would no longer be on the streets and a threat to the community.”
"The FBI has zero tolerance for any threats or violence against law enforcement, and any attempt to impede their service or endanger their lives will be met with the full force of the government,” said FBI Acting SAC Whalen. “Thanks to the swift action by investigators and the strong partnership with the ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Gomez was identified, apprehended, and taken into custody without further harm to our community. These collaborative efforts underscore how critical our interagency partnerships are in protecting the public, and collectively, we will continue to selflessly answer the call to make our communities safe."
Winnebago County Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Straw Purchase FirearmsRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Winnebago County man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for conspiring to straw purchase five firearms.
From 2022 to 2024, MATTHEW S. MEYERS conspired to make false or fictious written statements to licensed firearms dealers in connection with the acquisition of five firearms. Meyers instructed another individual to straw purchase firearms on his behalf, knowing that the other individual would falsely certify on federal forms that they were the actual buyer. Meyers then sold or transferred some of the straw-purchased firearms to others.
Meyers, 41, of Machesney Park, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of conspiracy to provide false and fictitious written statements to federally licensed dealers of firearms. On July 31, 2026, U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston imposed a 60-month prison sentence during a hearing in federal court in Rockford.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The Winnebago County, Ill. Sheriff’s Office provided valuable assistance. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Kim.
Man Who Shot Federal Law Enforcement Officer and Service Canine Pleads Guilty to Attempted Murder and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man who shot a federal law enforcement officer and a service canine during the execution of an arrest warrant has pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges.
In 2022, an Illinois state court issued an arrest warrant for TARRION JOHNSON on state charges of attempted murder and attempted robbery. On June 2, 2022, members of the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force gathered at an apartment building in the 5200 block of West Belmont Avenue in Chicago to execute the arrest warrant and take Johnson into custody.
After announcing themselves as police with an arrest warrant, the officers entered an apartment unit and encountered Johnson holding a firearm. Johnson ignored commands to put down the gun and instead shot a Senior Inspector United States Marshal and a service canine. Johnson then shot a Special Deputy United States Marshal, striking the Special Deputy Marshal’s ballistic shield.
Johnson fled the residence but was quickly arrested and taken into custody.
Johnson, 23, of Chicago, pleaded guilty on July 20, 2026, to federal charges of attempted murder of a federal officer and using and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, namely, using a deadly and dangerous weapon and inflicting bodily injury. U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey set a sentencing hearing for Nov. 17, 2026.
The guilty plea was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Substantial assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Chicago Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Chapman and Branka Cimesa.
Federal Judge Sentences Man to 14 Years in Prison for Violently Robbing Six Banks in Chicago SuburbsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a man to 14 years in prison for violently robbing six banks in the Chicago suburbs.
GERMAN CAMPOS JR., 26, of Franklin Park, Ill., committed six bank robberies over the course of ten months in 2023 and 2024. Campos brandished a gun at bank tellers and customers in five of the robberies.
The robberies were as follows:
Oct. 18, 2023: U.S. Bank in Schaumburg, Ill.
Dec. 16, 2023: U.S. Bank in Elmhurst, Ill.
March 6, 2024: U.S. Bank in Schaumburg, Ill.
June 13, 2024: U.S. Bank in Elmhurst, Ill.
Aug. 9, 2024: BMO Bank in Park Ridge, Ill.
Aug. 28, 2024: U.S. Bank in Niles, Ill.
Campos was arrested on Sept. 17, 2024, and he has remained in law enforcement custody since then. Campos pleaded guilty in March 2026 to federal bank robbery and firearm charges. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin sentenced Campos to 14 years in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Substantial assistance in the investigation was provided by the Schaumburg, Ill. Police Department, Elmhurst, Ill. Police Department, Park Ridge, Ill. Police Department, Niles, Ill. Police Department, and Franklin Park, Ill. Police Department.
“Defendant’s repeated use of a gun during robberies, including pointing that gun into victim faces over and over again, posed a significant threat to the safety of the bank employees, customers, and general public,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie C. Stern argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “The only reason why defendant stopped his violent robbery spree was because he was finally caught after ten months of terrorizing bank employees and customers.”
Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to Six Months in Federal Prison for Sending Threatening Letters to Two Federal JudgesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to six months in federal prison for sending threatening letters to federal judges in Texas and Florida.
Last year, JAMES LEBUHN mailed letters to U.S. District Court judges in Amarillo, Texas, and Fort Pierce, Fla. The letters stated, “THE CITIZENS DO NOT LIKE WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO OUR DEMOCRACY. THEY KNOW WHO YOU ARE.” This language was followed by photographs of two ammunition rounds and the words, “BE CAREFUL. THE LEVEL OF ANGER IS RISING.” LeBuhn mailed the letters for the purpose of making a true threat and knowing that the letters would be viewed as such. In March 2026, Lebuhn was charged by criminal information with two counts of sending threatening communications to federal judges in Texas and Florida in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 876(c).
LeBuhn also mailed similarly threatening letters to employees of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management in Washington, D.C.
LeBuhn, 66, of Libertyville, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois to two counts of mailing a threatening communication. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis sentenced LeBuhn to six months in federal prison and fined him $5,000.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. The case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Protective Service, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Rothblatt of the Northern District of Illinois, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Weybrecht of the Northern District of Texas and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Dobbins of the Southern District of Florida.
“Judges are empowered and entrusted to make difficult and controversial decisions on cases and controversies before them,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Rothblatt argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “The public may vehemently disagree with those decisions, and there are myriad ways for individuals to communicate such disagreement under the First Amendment. True threats of violence, and the fear and disruption they cause, have consequences and will not be tolerated.”
Felon Sentenced to More Than Two and a Half Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Handgun in Chicago After Being Released on Bond in State Court for Prior Violent OffenseRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A felon has been sentenced to more than two and a half years in federal prison for illegally possessing a handgun outside a Chicago fast food restaurant shortly after he was released on bond for a violent crime case pending in state court.
JONATHAN SCOTT was arrested on May 25, 2025, after he displayed a handgun during an argument with an employee of a McDonald’s restaurant on the West Side of Chicago. Chicago Police were called to the scene and discovered the handgun in Scott’s vehicle, which was parked outside the restaurant. Scott had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses and was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
At the time of his arrest outside of the McDonald’s restaurant, Scott was on pre-trial release for a violent crime case pending in state court. In that case, Scott forced his way into his ex-girlfriend’s car in March 2025 and took her cell phone, causing injury to the ex-girlfriend. Scott was later convicted of unlawful vehicular invasion and sentenced to four years in state prison.
Scott, 33, of Oak Park, Ill., pleaded guilty in the federal case in March 2026 to a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm. On July 24, 2026, U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis sentenced Scott to 32 months in federal prison, which was a sentence within the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines range.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The federal investigation was conducted in coordination with ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago. The CGIC is a centralized law enforcement partnership that focuses exclusively on investigating and prosecuting violent offenders who utilize firearms in commission of their crimes in Chicago and throughout northern Illinois. Every firearm-related case in Chicago is processed through the CGIC on a daily basis.
“The defendant has, between the ages of 19 and 32, racked up eleven felony convictions, including convictions for aggravated battery, violating orders of protection, escaping a penal institution, unlawful vehicular invasion, and aggravated assault and use of a deadly weapon,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Stern argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “It is critical that the defendant’s increasingly escalating criminal conduct be halted.”
Federal Grand Jury in Chicago Indicts Film Producer for Allegedly Defrauding Clients of More Than $100 MillionRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted a film producer for allegedly defrauding clients of more than $100 million by soliciting them to invest in purported film and entertainment projects.
JASON CLOTH, 60, of Beverly Hills, Calif., was charged with seven counts of wire fraud in an indictment unsealed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Cloth was arrested on Tuesday in Los Angeles, Calif. He made his initial court appearance on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.
According to the indictment, Cloth operated Canadien-based Creative Wealth Media Finance Corp. From 2019 to 2026, Cloth solicited various clients, including an investment advisor in Illinois, to invest in purported film and entertainment projects or to fund a gaming entertainment investment platform. Cloth fraudulently obtained more than $100 million from the Illinois investment advisor, the advisor’s clients, and other investors based on false representations about the performance and value of their investments, the indictment states. Cloth knew at the time of the investments that he would use the money for other purposes, including the development of a real estate project in Canada, the indictment states.
Cloth allegedly engaged in a Ponzi scheme by using some investor funds to repay prior investors. The indictment seeks forfeiture from Cloth in the amount of at least $12.25 million for the projects identified in the indictment.
The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared Hasten and Sean Hennessy.
Each count of wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
If you believe you are a victim of defendant Jason Cloth’s alleged fraud scheme whether committed through Creative Wealth Media Finance Corp. or any other entity, please contact the Chicago Field Office of the FBI by completing this short form at fbi.gov/jasonclothvictims. The schemes could involve purported film and entertainment projects, gaming entertainment investment platforms, or other conduct.
cloth_indictment.pdfCartel Member Who Trafficked Victims from Mexico to Chicagoland into Forced Labor Sentenced to 9 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A woman who schemed to smuggle individuals from Mexico to Highland Park, Illinois and then forced them to work multiple jobs while turning over their salaries to her has been sentenced to 108 months in prison.
GLADYS IBANEZ-OLEA, 37, served as a mid-level member of the Juarez Cartel. From September 2022 to February 2024, Ibanez-Olea engaged in a human trafficking scheme: she would recruit victims in Mexico, arrange for them to be smuggled them into the United States, and then harbor them in her home in Highland Park, Illinois. Ibanez-Olea then forced the victims to work, took any income they earned to pay off debts she claimed the victims owed, and effectively held the victims in captivity under harsh conditions as she continued to demand they pay her.
In February 2026, Ibanez-Olea pleaded guilty to federal charges of illegally bringing unauthorized aliens into the United States and of forcing individuals to work by means of serious harm or abuse and threats of serious harm or abuse.
In support of its 114-month sentencing recommendation, the government argued such a sentence was warranted based on evidence of Ibanez-Olea’s cruel treatment of her victims, threats she made to victims that she would kill their families and sell them into slavery, and evidence showing she was a willing participant in the Juarez Cartel’s scheme.
On July 21, 2026, U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman sentenced Ibanez-Olea to 108 months in prison, finding the sentence was appropriate given the aggravating facts raised by the government.
Ibanez-Olea’s sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of Homeland Security Investigations, and John Idleburg, Lake County Sheriff. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elie Zenner.
“[D]efendant used her role as a recruiter in the cartel to create a cadre of indentured servants whose entire salaries belonged to defendant,” AUSA Zenner argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “She took advantage of extremely vulnerable victims—women and children who were desperate to come to America and found themselves trapped in a cycle of debt, threats, and mistreatment."
“Gladys Ibanez-Olea preyed upon and exploited her victims for personal gain, deserving every day of her 108-month prison sentence,” said Homeland Security Investigations Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino. “HSI will continue to relentlessly pursue and dismantle criminal organizations that engage in human trafficking.”
Winnebago County Woman Who Embezzled Funds from a Booster Club Sentenced to Six Months in Federal Prison and Ordered to Pay Full RestitutionRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A former Treasurer of a booster club in Rockford, Ill. has been sentenced to six months in federal prison for embezzling more than $44,000 from a booster club.
SHONDRA MCLARTY, 55, embezzled and stole money from the Tumbling and Acro Boosters Club (“TAB”) from 2023 to 2024 while she served as Treasurer. During this 10-month period, McLarty fraudulently used TAB’s business debit card and fraudulently caused TAB to issue business checks, which she used for personal expenses such as Netflix, dog grooming, a Menards purchase, a stretch limousine, and a partial payment for a vacation to Cancún, Mexico. McLarty also concealed her misappropriation of funds by changing the mailing address of TAB’s business bank accounts to her personal residence.
McLarty, of Rockton, Ill., pleaded guilty to wire fraud earlier this year. On Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Iain D. Johnston sentenced McLarty to six months in federal prison and ordered her to pay full restitution.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Rockford Police Department assisted in the investigation.
“Defendant’s actions were deliberate and repeated, not the product of negligence or confusion,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Kim argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “[The sentence] will signal to others who might be tempted to engage in similar schemes that such conduct carries significant consequences.”
Five-Week Trial Results in Federal Jury Convicting Three Members of Violent Robbery Crew Responsible for Robbing or Attempting to Rob 14 Stores and Bars in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal jury has convicted three members of a robbery crew responsible for violently robbing or attempting to rob 14 liquor stores, convenience stores, and bars in Chicago.
XAVIER HARRIS and his brother, ARDARIES HARRIS, conspired with JORDAN FOX to rob more than a dozen Chicago businesses in 2023 and 2024. The robbers used stolen cars as getaway vehicles, wore masks and gloves, and brandished firearms in the heists. In some of the robberies, members of the crew fired shots from machine guns.
After a five-week trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago, the jury on July 21, 20226 convicted Xavier Harris, 27, of Chicago, Ardaries Harris, 28, of Chicago, and Fox, 26, of Chicago, of conspiracy, robbery, and firearm offenses. The jury found that Jordan Fox brandished firearms in 9 of the robberies; Ardaries Harris brandished firearms in 8 of the robberies; and Xavier Harris brandished firearms in 3 of the robberies. The jury also found that Jordan Fox discharged a machinegun during the robbery of the Irish Nobleman Pub on May 4, 2024, and that Ardaries Harris aided Fox’s discharge of a machinegun. The convictions carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
According to evidence presented at trial, the three defendants conspired to commit the following robberies or attempted robberies in Chicago:
- Aug. 24, 2023: Ace’s Liquor and Tap, 4400 block of West Armitage Avenue.
- Jan. 10, 2024: A&R Food Mart, 5900 block of West Grand Avenue.
- Jan. 11, 2024: Central Extra Value Food and Liquor, 2900 block of North Central Avenue.
- Jan. 13, 2024: Buchanas Food & Liquor, 1800 block of West 47th Street.
- Jan. 15, 2024: Mr. P Beverage Depot, 2000 block of West Division Street.
- Jan. 15, 2024: Before You Go Liquor, 1900 block of West Fullerton Avenue.
- Jan. 15, 2024: Clybourn Market, 2800 block of North Clybourn Avenue.
- May 3, 2024: Humboldt Haus Liquor, 2900 block of West North Avenue.
- May 3, 2024: Gladstone Food Mart, 5700 block of North Milwaukee Avenue.
- May 4, 2024: Irish Nobleman Pub, 1300 block of West Erie Street.
- May 7, 2024: Buchanas Food & Liquor, 1800 block of West 47th Street.
- May 7, 2024: El Trebol Liquors and Bar, 1100 block of West 18th Street.
- May 7, 2024: Community Food and Liquor, 5500 block of North Milwaukee Avenue.
- May 9, 2024: Basil Food & Liquor, 7700 block of North Western Avenue in Chicago.
The government expects it will introduce evidence of additional robberies in the Chicagoland area at sentencing, which the government will ask the Court to consider in determining the appropriate sentence.
The convictions were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Fred Waller, Interim Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago, the Illinois State Police, and the U.S. Marshals Service’s Great Lakes Regional Task Force. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily C.R. Vermylen, Stephanie Stern, and Jalan Jaskot.
The verdict was particularly important because this case involved charges that carried a 30-year mandatory minimum for use of a machinegun during a crime of violence, given the defendants’ use of machinegun conversion devices.
“Machinegun conversion devices turn semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic weapons, capable of firing multiple bullets at the single pull of a trigger,” U.S. Attorney Boutros said. “They have proliferated on the streets of Chicago. The office will continue to prosecute the use of these lethal weapons vigorously.”
A fourth defendant charged in the case—ROOSEVELT VEAL, 28, of Rockford—will be tried separately. Veal’s trial date has not yet been scheduled.
- Employee Who Fraudulently Embezzled Approximately $4 Million from Big Ten Network Sentenced 28 Months in Prison and Ordered to Repay Funds
Member of 10-Person Robbery Crew Targeting Chicago Suburbs Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A member of a crew that conspired to commit 11 brazen daytime robberies in the Chicago suburbs has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Between January 2022 and March 2023, PERRY MAPLE, 23, participated directly in three armed robberies of armored trucks and ATMs in Calumet City and Orland Park. During one armed robbery, Maple drove a stolen car to a bank in a crowded shopping plaza, shoved an ATM technician to the ground, and pointed a gun in the technician’s face as he and his co-defendant stole approximately $155,000 from the ATM. Maple and his co-defendant committed the violent robbery on a Friday afternoon with innocent bystanders mere feet away. In the other two robberies, Maple acted as a getaway driver. Maple and his co-defendants stole nearly $700,000 during the three robberies.
In June 2024, Maple and 10 other members of the armed robbery crew were charged in federal court in connection with 11 armed robberies of armored trucks, ATMs, and banks. On March 26, 2026, Maple pleaded guilty to federal charges of robbery and armed robbery, and on July 16, 2026, U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman sentenced Maple to 15 years in prison.
Maple’s sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elie Zenner and Simar Khera.
“Along with his co-conspirators, defendant repeatedly and violently robbed armed armored truck couriers and ATM technicians at gunpoint,” AUSA Zenner argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Each robbery was a high-stakes, high-reward robbery, and defendant willingly risked getting into a deadly shootout for the chance at hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen proceeds.”
Federal Jury in Chicago Convicts Woman of Assaulting United States Postal Carrier After Two-Day TrialRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal jury in Chicago has convicted a woman of assaulting a United States Postal Service mail carrier following a two-day trial.
DIANE BRINKLEY assaulted the mail carrier on June 9, 2025, in Chicago. The mail carrier was delivering mail at a home near Brinkley’s former residence when Brinkley approached and began yelling at her. Brinkley shoved the postal carrier, causing the mail carrier to fall onto the concrete steps of a home. When the mail carrier stood up, Brinkley struck her a second time, knocking the mail carrier down again.
Brinkley, 56, of Chicago, was convicted of a federal assault charge. The jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago returned its verdict on July 16, 2026. The conviction is punishable by up to a year in federal prison. U.S. Magistrate Judge Heather K. McShain set sentencing for November 16.
The conviction was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Nicholas Bucciarelli, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hayley Altabef and Eric Rigoli.
Mid-Year Report: U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago Dramatically Increases Federal Violent Crime and Other Prosecutions While Implementing Numerous Significant Policy Initiatives and ReformsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — The United States Attorney’s Office in Chicago continues to increase its federal caseload to tackle violent crime, national security threats, narcoterrorism, child exploitation, fraud, corruption, cybercrime, and other serious federal criminal offenses, while implementing numerous first-of-their-kind policy initiatives that have unified the District’s federal law enforcement apparatus to better serve the people, Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, said today as part of the Office’s first-ever “Mid-Year Report.” The Northern District of Illinois is the third largest federal judicial district in the country, encompassing a population of approximately 9.3 million people across 18 counties.
“Since becoming the United States Attorney on April 7, 2025, I have made the federal fight against violence my marquee priority. In doing so, my team and I have worked tirelessly and relentlessly to keep the citizens of the Northern District of Illinois safe,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “I have also reimagined how the federal government can play a larger and more impactful role in tackling the persistent scourge of violence in Chicago. That has required me to think outside the box to propose novel strategies that offer pioneering federal solutions to Chicago’s intractable violence problem. In doing so, the goal has been singular: to use a whole-of-federal-government approach to attack violent crime at the speed of violence. By moving with speed, purpose, impact, effectiveness, and accuracy, the Northern District of Illinois’s federal anti-violence apparatus is delivering relief to the people, who have suffered for too long because of Chicagoland’s difficult relationship with violence.”
“As we look back on the first half of 2026, I can report that the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to significantly increase its violent crime prosecutions across the board, while vigorously enforcing all other federal priorities,” U.S. Attorney Boutros added. “To be sure, a lot more work still needs to be done, but it is clear that our bold strategies and policies are delivering exactly what the public wants and deserves: real, measurable reductions in violent crime and a renewed focus on holding lawbreakers accountable across the entire portfolio of criminal cases we prosecute. Although we are immensely proud of what we have achieved in 2026, our work is far from done, and we are already busy planning our next initiatives and operations to close out the second half of the year.”
Significant Surge in Office Productivity and Other Key Statistical Measures. In the first six months of 2026, federal criminal indictments across all program areas in the Northern District of Illinois were up 82% compared to the same period in 2024—the baseline timeframe immediately preceding U.S. Attorney Boutros being sworn into office. The number of defendants charged overall in the first six months of 2026 increased 81% compared to the same period in 2024. Notably, these marked improvements were achieved with substantially fewer federal prosecutors on staff than in 2024, demonstrating a profound increase in productivity and operational efficiency.
The statistics are particularly notable when comparing year-to-date figures from 2024 to 2026 in specific anti-violence program areas, including a 154% increase in firearms charges, a 78% increase in Project Safe Neighborhood gun cases, a 50% increase in sex crime prosecutions, a 24% increase in narcotics cases, and an almost 300% surge in criminal immigration cases, such as illegal re-entry into the United States. In addition, the Office is on track to achieve a projected 433% increase in firearms charges originating from ATF Chicago’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) for full-year 2026 compared to 2024, if the current year-to-date pace holds. Furthermore, in the white-collar portfolio, U.S. Attorney Boutros has overseen the charging of approximately $2.135 billion in alleged healthcare fraud losses in the District since taking office.
“Operation New Dawn” Delivers Extraordinary Results. The sharp increase in violent crime prosecutions in the first half of 2026 was perhaps best exemplified in the tremendous success of Operation New Dawn, U.S. Attorney Boutros’s anti-violence initiative that began in the spring and concluded on July 1, 2026. Launched in special recognition of our nation’s 250th anniversary, this historic, multi-agency initiative marked the first “badgeless” operation in the District. Operation New Dawn resulted in 484 total arrests, including 179 newly charged defendants across 140 newly filed cases, the apprehension of 305 violent fugitives, and the recovery of 24 children, many of whom had been abducted. Operation New Dawn was described as “badgeless” because multiple federal agencies came together and integrated under the banner of the United States flag as opposed to the shield of any one agency.
U.S. Attorney Boutros constructed Operation New Dawn using an innovative federal law enforcement approach to fighting violent crime that represented a first for the Northern District of Illinois: eleven federal agencies worked arm-in-arm as one cohesive, unified partnership to arrest dangerous criminals responsible for serious offenses, including armed robbery, kidnapping, kidnapping resulting in death, firearms trafficking, firearm offenses, drug trafficking, immigration violations, child exploitation, and various other federal violent crimes. During Operation New Dawn, federal law enforcement engaged in rapid, targeted, and responsive interventions that interrupted violence in real time.
“It is my view that to combat violence, federal law enforcement must move at the speed of violence,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The remarkable results of Operation New Dawn resoundingly proved that point. Recognizing that crime doesn’t stop or operate at business hours, federal prosecutors, agents, Office and agency leaders, and others, worked many long days, nights, weekends, and holidays to make New Dawn a success. I couldn’t be prouder of the work of our Assistant U.S. Attorneys—many of whom joined our ranks within the past year-plus—and our law enforcement partners, some of whom literally endured violent attacks and attempted robberies by criminals who apparently didn’t get the message that we are in a new era of federal crime fighting in Chicago. Combatting violent crime remains among the federal government’s highest priorities both for this Office and our law enforcement partners across Chicagoland.”
U.S. Attorney and ATF Special Agent in Charge Pen Op-Ed Offering New Model to Disrupt Violence in Chicago. U.S. Attorney Boutros outlined his anti-violence framework for Operation New Dawn in an April full-page Chicago Tribune Op-Ed he co-authored with ATF Chicago Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon. In the Op-Ed, U.S. Attorney Boutros and Special Agent in Charge Amon discussed violence in Chicago and how they intended to use federal tools to disrupt it. The Op-Ed stated, “What is needed is clear deterrence and accountability through immediate arrest, detention and prosecution of worthy targets. Arresting and federally charging a dangerous felon in possession of a firearm before he shoots someone are far more effective—and decent—actions than prosecuting that defendant for murder after he has already killed somebody.”
U.S. Attorney Innovates Across Federal Program Areas and Responds to Challenges. Operation New Dawn was just one of many successful initiatives, strategies, and responses launched by U.S. Attorney Boutros in the first six months of this year. Some of the others include:
- Individual Self-Disclosure Program. In May, U.S. Attorney Boutros announced the formation of a first-of-its kind Program that both encourages and incentivizes individuals to voluntarily report and/or self-report criminal wrongdoing for non-violent offenses and fully cooperate with the government in its investigation and any subsequent prosecution of other offenders. Under the Program, those who fully and voluntarily self-report criminal wrongdoing that is previously unknown to the government will have the opportunity to secure one of three tiers of potential benefits: (1) letter immunity; (2) a deferred or non-prosecution agreement; or (3) criminal prosecution with substantial sentencing relief. Drawing upon more than 25 years’ experience in the criminal law field, including nearly ten years as a practice leader in private white-collar defense, nearly eight years as a federal prosecutor in Chicago handling sophisticated white-collar prosecutions, and 16 years of teaching criminal law at the University of Chicago Law School, U.S. Attorney Boutros created this ground-breaking Program to provide greater certainty and transparent, equal-access to individuals and their counsel as to what they can expect in exchange for their full, truthful, and complete reporting of criminal wrongdoing and subsequent cooperation.
- “Davos in Chicago.” In May, U.S. Attorney Boutros assembled the highest law enforcement leadership from the entire federal apparatus in the Chicago region for the Chicago-Area Federal Agency Leadership Summit, a first-of-its-kind conference to discuss collaborative efforts to oversee important federal enforcement priorities and execute systemic solutions. The most senior leaders from more than 40 federal agencies operating in the Chicagoland region participated in the summit, as did nine U.S. Attorneys from the Seventh Circuit (Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin) and other federal districts, alongside the Head of the Department of Justice’s Trade Fraud Task Force. The day-long summit was informally dubbed “Davos in Chicago” because it drew comparisons to the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting, which brings together world leaders and top businesspersons for a renowned conference each January in Davos, Switzerland. Davos in Chicago laid the foundation for the extraordinary success of Operation New Dawn and continues to lay the groundwork for additional initiatives and operations that are in the pipeline.
- Grand Jury Reforms and Phase I and II Remediation Plans. In May, after learning of grand jury irregularities in one of the Office’s cases, U.S. Attorney Boutros promptly conducted a root-cause review of those and related issues. Thereafter, he formulated and implemented comprehensive and sweeping reforms and process improvements to the Office’s grand jury policies and practices as well as to the treatment of grand jury materials for discovery purposes. This initiative, designated as the Phase I Remediation Plan, went into effect immediately and is a best-in-class program to ensure the integrity of our criminal prosecutions. In addition to requiring extensive Criminal Division-wide training by Department of Justice experts from outside the District, these systemic reforms and process improvements were designed to address root-cause issues, create bright-line rules that remove discretion and judgment calls from Assistant U.S. Attorneys, and streamline and simplify the decision-making and disclosure processes for grand jury materials. The instituted changes were created with the purpose of being deeply curative and to put to rest once and for all any divergent practices that may have existed across the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including from one Assistant U.S. Attorney to another as well as from one generation to the next. Furthermore, in June 2026, U.S. Attorney Boutros sought and obtained court permission to issue a rare Special Report Regarding Federal Grand Jury Appearances that brought unprecedented clarity and transparency regarding his role as the District’s Chief Legal Advisor to all federal grand juries, especially during the tumultuous time of Operation Midway Blitz, the largest ever enforcement surge in the history of the Northern District of Illinois.
U.S. Attorney Boutros also has formulated a comprehensive Phase II Remediation Plan that is actively underway. Phase II includes the review of a large volume of grand jury minutes for pending criminal cases charged by indictment and currently at the pre-trial phase, as well as certain other grand jury minutes from adjudicated cases, including some cases going back to 2007. U.S. Attorney Boutros authorized this Phase II Remediation Plan to (i) ensure the absence of grand jury irregularities in the cases charged by indictment by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois; (ii) to address the judiciary’s, defense bar’s, and public’s concerns regarding the grand jury practices and proceedings of the District given the discovery of grand jury irregularities in various cases charged by indictment going back years; and (iii) ensure that Assistant U.S. Attorneys who have appeared before the grand jury in the Northern District of Illinois during the relevant time frame and/or as otherwise being defined, have acted in accordance with law and consistent with the highest ethical standards demanded of those who represent the United States and the people of this District. In the face of the substantial time, effort, and resources that have been required for these various studies, reviews, projects, and reform implementations, U.S. Attorney Boutros has been both unwavering and laser-focused on addressing these legacy institutional challenges, implementing root-cause reforms that dramatically reduce the likelihood of these same errors reoccurring, and continuing to deliver historic results in the Office’s core mission work.
- Trade Fraud Task Force. In February, U.S. Attorney Boutros announced that the Department of Justice had selected the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago to be the lead prosecutorial partner on the Trade Fraud Task Force launched in August 2025, which brings robust enforcement against importers, purchasers, supply chain actors, and other parties who commit trade, customs, forced labor, and other adjacent federal crimes. When U.S. Attorney Boutros served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Chicago from 2008 to 2015, he led what still stand as the Department of Justice’s largest-ever criminal trade fraud prosecutions, spanning 27 corporate and individual defendants across multiple indictments, with losses totaling approximately $260 million. Those cases provide valuable insight into how the Trade Fraud Task Force will build future criminal prosecutions.
This month, at a press conference in Chicago attended by national leadership of the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and other law enforcement partners, the Department of Justice announced that the Trade Fraud Task Force has surpassed $1 billion in civil and criminal recoveries, penalties, forfeitures, and publicly charged losses in less than one year. The Northern District of Illinois was selected as the site of this historic press event because of the District’s expansive venue and U.S. Attorney Boutros’s decades of experience in handling cases in this space, and because “the key roads for trade fraud enforcement lead from, to, and through Chicago past, present, and future,” as U.S. Attorney Boutros stated in his press comments.
- Resource Guide to Trade Fraud Enforcement. In July, the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security released a trade fraud enforcement Resource Guide (the “Guide”), which U.S. Attorney Boutros was instrumental in developing with DOJ and HSI leadership and other team members. As the first joint comprehensive framework of its kind, the Guide is a historic and seminal roadmap for cross-border compliance and enforcement priorities. The Guide provides critical information to enterprises of all sizes and addresses a wide variety of topics, including who and what is covered by customs regulations and anti-trade fraud laws and the different types of civil and criminal resolutions available in trade fraud enforcement. On these and other topics, the Guide takes a multi-faceted approach toward setting forth the statutory and regulatory requirements and providing insights into the enforcement practices of the DOJ and DHS.
U.S. Attorney Boutros Appointed to Attorney General’s Advisory Committee and Thereafter Selected to Co-Chair Two AGAC Sub-Committees and to Serve on a Third Sub-Committee. In May, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche selected U.S. Attorney Boutros to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (“AGAC”), a select and prestigious body of United States Attorneys chosen by the Acting Attorney General to advise Department of Justice leadership on national law enforcement priorities. Created in 1973, the AGAC is comprised of an exclusive group of 18 United States Attorneys and is designed to ensure broad geographic, operational, and subject-matter representation. Members work through Subcommittees and working groups on issues including violent crime, national security, fraud, narcoterrorism, and other critical priorities as set by the President of the United States. The Committee plays a central role in ensuring that the experience of federal prosecutors in the field informs national Department of Justice strategy.
Thereafter, in July, U.S. Attorney Boutros was appointed to Co-Chair two critical AGAC Subcommittees: (1) Artificial Intelligence and (2) White Collar, Cyber, and Crypto Crime, in addition to being appointed on a third Subcommittee, namely, (3) Counterespionage & Research Security (CRS). As U.S. Attorney Boutros stated when he learned of his various appointments, “I am deeply grateful to General Todd Blanche for giving me the opportunity to Co-Chair two cutting-edge AGAC Subcommittees. I am confident that the Subcommittees on Artificial Intelligence as well as White Collar, Cyber, and Crypto will have a strong, positive impact on these various areas at the local, regional, and national level. Our work will very much focus on innovation as well as ways to maximize effectiveness, accuracy, productivity, and efficiency. Just look at the Department of Justice’s exceptional work on the Trade Fraud Task Force, for example; through our work on the AGAC we’ll be able to bring even more awareness and support to that top enforcement priority. Similarly, artificial intelligence is a revolutionary, generational tool that dramatically impacts all performance metrics. Working through the AGAC, our Subcommittee will study and recommend ways the Department can harness the power and versatility of artificial intelligence in a responsible, thoughtful, and effective way.” The CRS Subcommittee will focus on foreign bad actors who are infiltrating our research institutions, includinfg colleges, universities, and corporations, to commit espionage, steal trade secrets and proprietary data, and bypass sanctions.
U.S. Attorney’s Office in Middle of Enormous Hiring Spree. Much of the success in increasing the Office’s caseload and executing the Office’s strategies is due to the steady hand of the more experienced federal prosecutors and freshly-installed supervisors who carry enormous responsibilities as well as the many Assistant U.S. Attorneys that U.S. Attorney Boutros has hired for the Office from federal, state, and local prosecuting offices; other federal agencies; private practice; and federal clerkships that included prior work experience. In his 15 months as United States Attorney, U.S. Attorney Boutros has already hired approximately 40 federal prosecutors in the Criminal and Civil Divisions, both in Chicago and Rockford, many of whom many have deep experience, including trial experience, handling significant cases in federal and state courts around the country. He expects to hire an additional dozen or more Assistant United States Attorneys before the end of the year, which would bring the Office’s total hires for 2026 to more than 50 Assistant U.S. Attorneys. Federal, state, and local prosecutors have joined the Office from Main Justice as well as prosecuting offices in Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, and Washington, D.C. The newly hired Assistant U.S. Attorneys bring a depth of knowledge and a wealth of experience that has enabled them to be immediately impactful in the Northern District of Illinois. Last year, U.S. Attorney Boutros completely redesigned the Office’s hiring process, which included him taking on a substantially more active role in the hiring of Assistant United States Attorneys. The result of those reforms and substantial efforts is that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is now hiring more applicants with diverse backgrounds and skillsets from across the country to the great benefit of the people of the Northern District of Illinois.
U.S. Attorney Creates Important, New eLitigation Position. In close consultation with senior colleagues in the U.S. Attorney’s Office who had been advocating for an eLitigation position for many years, for the first time in the Office, U.S. Attorney Boutros established an eLitigation Assistant United States Attorney position. The newly created eLitigation AUSA role is one of only a few across U.S. Attorneys’ Offices community and was established to create a dedicated role for the development of the Office’s eLitigation systems, controls, operations, policies, and protocols in the eLitigation space. It also will prove critical for allowing the Office to stay up to date on new emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, that when fully deployed, will revolutionize the everyday work of our Assistant United States Attorneys, including their impact and effectiveness as well as the efficiency with which they tackle our mission work.
Unified Federal Partners in the Northern District of Illinois. The U.S. Attorney’s Office works closely with U.S. law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), various federal Offices of Inspector Generals, among many others, to investigate and prosecute federal crimes. State and local partners in this effort include the Chicago Police Department, Illinois State Police, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Rockford Police Department, and many other police departments and prosecutors’ offices throughout northern Illinois.
Examples of the many significant cases prosecuted by the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office in the first six months of 2026 are featured below:
National Security / Terrorism
Man Arrested in Connection With Planned Violent Attack at Ultimate Fighting Championship Event at White House
Alex Mercado was charged as an alleged administrator and member of Signal messaging groups that included members who appeared to communicate with others regarding the planning of a violent attack targeting the UFC event at the White House. “The investigation in this case involved serious threats to public safety, including the safety of President Donald J. Trump, the 45th and 47th President of the United States of America,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros.
Man Sentenced to More Than Three Years for Threatening To Kill President Donald J. Trump
Trent Schneider was sentenced following federal charges that he posted a video of himself stating that he would kill President Donald J. Trump, the 47th and 45th President of the United States. “As I have repeatedly stated since becoming U.S. Attorney, threats against public officials are an attack on our democracy and must be met with swift and serious consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros.
Suburban Chicago Man Charged With Sending Threatening Letters to Two Federal Judges
James Lebuhn charged with mailing threatening letters to federal judges in Amarillo, Texas, and Fort Pierce, Fla. “The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to holding accountable anyone who seeks to intimidate and instill fear in members of the federal government, including the esteemed public servants on the bench,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros.
Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Setting Fire to Two Rockford Churches
Marzavious Thomas was sentenced to five years in federal prison for setting fires at Bethesda Covenant Church and Crosspoint Church, causing a combined damage of more than $35,000.
Chicago Man Charged With Threatening To “Shoot Up” a Jewish Synagogue
Timothy Holmes was charged for transmitting a threat over interstate commerce after allegedly posting the threat on his X account. “Anti-Semitism has no place in our society,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago is using all available legal tools to combat criminal conduct that rears its head in hateful anti-Semitism.”
Chicago Man Charged With Threatening To “Shoot Up” United States Secret Service Office
Michael Kovco allegedly transmitted threats via the official White House website targeting a Secret Service field facility. “Under my watch, political violence will be dealt with as the serious federal crime that it is,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros.
Alleged Member of Criminal Cyber Hacking Group “Scattered Spider” Arrested in Finland and Extradited to United States
Peter Stokes was allegedly a member of Scattered Spider, a group of criminal cyber actors that has been involved with more than 100 network intrusions, resulting in more than approximately $100 million in ransom payments and millions of dollars in damages to the victims.
Chicago Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIS
Ashraf Al Safoo was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for his leadership role in the Khattab Media Foundation, a sophisticated online organization that swore allegiance to ISIS and created and disseminated threats and ISIS propaganda on social media.
Chinese Telecommunications Company Fined $50 Million for Conspiring To Steal Technology From Motorola Solutions
Hytera Communications Corp. Ltd. recruited Motorola employees and directed them to take proprietary and trade secret information without authorization, including information Motorola had developed through years of research and design. Hytera pleaded guilty in the Northern District of Illinois to a federal charge of conspiracy to steal trade secrets.
Drug Trafficking / Cartels / Transnational Criminal Organizations
Eight Illegal Alien Tren De Aragua Members From Venezuela Charged With Kidnappings That Resulted in Death, Racketeering Involving Murder, and Other Violent Offenses in Texas and Illinois Following Homeland Security Task Force Investigations
Three alleged members of the Tren de Aragua (TdA) transnational criminal organization were charged in Chicago with conspiring to kidnap a man who was walking near Meyering Park on the city’s South Side, an offense that allegedly resulted in the victim’s murder inside an abandoned building. Five other alleged TdA members were indicted on separate offenses in the Northern District of Texas as part of a coordinated Homeland Security Task Force operation.
Alleged Boss of Violent Sinaloa Cartel Indicted in Chicago on Drug, Firearm, and Material Support of Terrorism Charges
Jesus Omar Ibarra Felix, also known as “El Chuta,” allegedly led an armed security group known as the Las Fuerzas Especiales de Chuta (FECH), which engaged in armed conflict on behalf of the Guzman faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, a U.S. designated foreign terrorist organization previously headed by Joaquin Guzman Loera, also known as “El Chapo.” Ibarra Felix’s group allegedly provided armed security in support of Guzman Loera’s four sons, collectively known as “the Chapitos,” who took over leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel after Guzman Loera’s arrest in 2016.
Man Sentenced to More Than 26 Years in Prison for Using the Dark Web To Distribute Narcotics
Darren Hughes operated a vendor store on the Nemesis Market, one of the world’s largest dark web marketplaces. In a three-year period, Nemesis Market processed more than 400,000 orders, including more than 55,000 orders for stimulants, including meth, cocaine, crack cocaine, and other controlled substances, and 17,000 orders for opioids, including fentanyl, heroin, and oxycodone.
Co-Creator of Dark Web Marketplace Pleads Guilty in Chicago to Drug Conspiracy Charge
Raheim Hamilton operated Empire Market—one of the largest dark web marketplaces of its kind at the time. The online market facilitated more than four million transactions between vendors and buyers valued at more than $430 million. The illegal products and services available on the site included controlled substances, compromised or stolen account credentials, stolen personally identifying information, counterfeit currency, and computer-hacking tools.
Chicago Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Selling Heroin and Cocaine on the Dark Web
Tommy Spaulding sold large amounts of drugs on dark-web vendor stores known as AVALANCHE and ETHER_MART. Spaulding managed the vendor stores’ finances, including distributing money to others to purchase the drugs and helping to operate the stores. Four other defendants were convicted as part of this investigation.
Man Who Transported $9 Million in Illicit Cash Proceeds for Mexico-Based Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison
Ricardo Tello transported bulk cash proceeds for Mexico-based traffickers who distributed cocaine to U.S. cities. Tello also used his logistics company to support the drug traffickers by exporting nearly 50 loads of plastic sheeting that had been used to smuggle at least 450 kilograms of cocaine into the United States.
Violent Crime / Firearms
Eight Defendants Charged as Part of Federal Investigation Into Violent Home Invasion in Winnetka, Ill.
The eight defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and kidnapping in connection with the alleged home invasion, which occurred on the afternoon of March 8, 2026. Some of the defendants forcibly entered the home, kept an individual in the residence captive for approximately an hour, and used firearms to physically restrain the victim. All eight defendants have been ordered to remain detained in federal custody without bond.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Charges Man With Illegally Possessing Loaded Firearm in Downtown Chicago Federal Courthouse
James Lake allegedly illegally possessed a loaded gun in the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago. An inspector with the U.S. Marshals Service took Lake into custody and seized the gun.
Suburban Chicago Man Charged With Robbing Undercover Federal Task Force Officer
Marcus Lewis and a juvenile allegedly beat a federal task force officer with a firearm and robbed the officer of $10,000 in government funds that the officer planned to use to purchase cocaine from the pair. “FBI task force officers and agents are first responders in the fight against violent crime in our neighborhoods and communities,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The dangerous and brave work they do requires them to put their lives on the line every day. We all owe our law enforcement agents and task force officers a debt of gratitude for their dedication to the mission and their commitment to public safety.”
Chicago Man Convicted of Plotting To Kill Two Witnesses in Cousin’s Murder Trial
Chris Yates sought the killings of two individuals he believed would testify against his cousin, who was set to go to trial in Cook County for allegedly fatally shooting a woman in 2020. Yates was arrested before the killings could be carried out.
Federal Judge Sentences Man to Eight Years in Prison for Robbing U.S. Postal Service Carrier in Chicago
The carrier was delivering mail when Henry Moorer approached on foot and demanded postal property. Moorer then pulled a semiautomatic handgun from the pocket of his sweatshirt and displayed the butt of the firearm before grabbing the property from the carrier.
Rockford Man Sentenced to More Than Six and a Half Years in Federal Prison for Robbing a United States Post Office With a Firearm
Anthony Johnson walked approximately one block from his residence in Rockford to the Post Office, where he reached for a firearm in his waistband and told the clerk to give him all the money in the cash register. “The U.S. Postal Service serves a critically important government function, and its employees must be allowed to perform their duties for the American people safely and securely,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “Under my leadership, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prioritize cases that involve threats, violence, and intimidation against federal officials.”
Man Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Loaded Handgun on Chicago Train and Doing So While on Court-Ordered Supervised Release
Gerald Pittman was arrested aboard the Chicago Transit Authority’s Blue Line train while possessing a loaded gun. Pittman had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses and was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. One of Pittman’s prior felonies was a federal drug trafficking conviction, for which Pittman was on court-supervised released at the time of his arrest on the Blue Line. Shortly before Pittman’s arrest and federal prosecution, U.S. Attorney Boutros expanded the Project Safe Neighborhoods program to include the economic centers in downtown Chicago and the entire rail system operated by the CTA, including all train lines operating in every neighborhood from every part of the city. The expansion represented the first time anywhere in the country that the PSN program was deployed on mass transit and the first time in Chicago that the city’s downtown economic corridors were given the federal PSN designation.
Man Sentenced to More Than Four Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms and Injuring Law Enforcement Agent During Arrest Attempt
Andrew Vesely illegally possessed two guns and injured a DEA agent who was attempting to arrest him. “As I have repeatedly stated since becoming United States Attorney, criminal attacks on law enforcement constitute a direct assault on the rule of law as well as our justice system and will be met with swift, firm, and unequivocal legal consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros.
Federal Grand Jury in Chicago Returns Indictment Against Operation Midway Blitz Defendant for Alleged Vehicle-Ramming Attack on Federal Immigration Agent
Diego Emmanuel Reyes allegedly rammed his sport utility vehicle into the rear of a vehicle driven by the ICE agent, who was engaged in the performance of his official duties on the Southwest Side of Chicago, and upon doing so, accelerated his SUV forward pushing the agent’s vehicle. “What this defendant did on October 4, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois, during Operation Midway Blitz was a dangerous and brazen act of violence against a federal agent as well as an attack on the rule of law,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “Federal agents perform risky, essential work every single day to enforce our federal laws and keep our communities safe. The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will never tolerate such conduct and will continue to hold accountable those who seek to assault, impede, intimidate, or interfere with lawful federal operations.”
Illegal Alien Sentenced to a Year in Prison for Feloniously Assaulting Law Enforcement Officers During Arrest
Francisco Javier Acevedo-Caldera, who had recently been bonded out of the Kane County Jail, resisted ICE officers who attempted to arrest him. Acevedo-Caldera kicked one of the officers, head-butted the other officer, and then bit a Kane County Sheriff’s Deputy who offered to help, puncturing the Deputy’s skin.
Illegal Alien Who Fired Shots Near Border Agents During Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm Charge
Hector Gomez fired at least two shots in proximity of Border Patrol agents on Nov. 8, 2025. Gomez had previously been convicted of a felony firearm offense in state court and was prohibited under federal law from possessing a gun.
Man Who Committed Two Chicago Carjackings Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison
Edmond Singleton and two co-defendants conspired to commit a pair of carjackings on a single night of violence.
Man Sentenced to 14 and a Half Years in Prison for Carjacking Vehicle at Gunpoint in Backyard of Chicago Residence
Damarri Conner carjacked a vehicle in the backyard of a home in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood. A woman and her daughter had just returned home in another vehicle when Conner and co-defendant Kenneth Merritt sprang from a hiding place and attacked them. Merritt is awaiting sentencing.
Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Trafficking Firearms and Drugs
Efrain Jacobo sold seven firearms in a series of transactions in Joliet, Ill. Unbeknownst to Jacobo, the buyers were undercover law enforcement officers.
Federal Law Enforcement Seizes 22 Firearms and Multiple Kilograms of Narcotics From Chicago Storage Unit; Alleged Drug Trafficker Arrested
Mario Neustadter allegedly sold fentanyl and meth to an undercover law enforcement officer. Law enforcement conducted a court-authorized search of Neustadter’s storage unit on the day of his arrest and discovered 22 firearms.
Federal Indictment Charges Reputed Chicago Gang Member With Illegally Possessing Firearms
Alexander Martinez-Quiroz recorded himself firing shots into the air from a handgun. While firing the shots, Martinez-Quiroz allegedly called out that he is a member of a certain street gang.
Federal Law Enforcement Seizes Eleven Firearms, Ammunition, and Twenty Machine Gun Conversion Devices From Chicago Residence; Two Suspected Gang Members Arrested
Law enforcement conducted a court-authorized search of two alleged gang members’ residence in Chicago and discovered a short-barrel rifle, ten handguns, 20 machine gun conversion devices, assorted ammunition, and firearm accessories.
Child Exploitation / Human Trafficking
Stephenson County, Ill. Man Sentenced to 150 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting Children
Matthew Kaufman enticed multiple children to engage in sexually explicit conduct and recorded it.
Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to 48 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting a Minor
Tercalo Thomas enticed a prepubescent minor to engage in illegal sexual conduct, which he recorded. Thomas then trafficked the images as barter to amass a vast collection of images of other children’s sexual abuse.
Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to 37 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting Nearly 100 Children
Shaun Healy used Snapchat to contact and persuade young girls to create and send him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves. Healy often posed as a young girl himself to gain his victims’ trust and induce them to produce the sexually abusive material.
Man Sentenced to More Than 33 Years in Prison for Operating Online Chat Group That Shared Child Pornography
Christopher Martin operated and led a group chat on the instant-messaging mobile application Kik. Martin moderated the chat and enforced the rules, the primary rule being that if members wanted to stay in the group, they had to constantly share photos and videos of child pornography.
Violent Sex Trafficker Sentenced to 28 Years in Federal Prison
Dennis Williams trafficked five young victims, including a 15-year-old girl. Williams also caused a 17-year-old girl, whom he also assaulted repeatedly, to assist him in trafficking the victims.
Chicago Man Sentenced to 24 Years in Prison for Producing Child Pornography
Denikos Hawkins induced two children to engage in sexual acts with him. When one of the victims stopped responding to Hawkins on Instagram, he threatened to send the videos of her to her school and to “everyone” she knew.
Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking a Minor in Chicago Suburb
Kennard Cameron recruited and enticed a 15-year-old girl to engage in commercial sex acts in a motel in Lansing, Ill.
Chicago Man Charged With Transporting Child Pornography on Flight to Mexico
Thomas Neal allegedly possessed images and videos of child pornography on his cell phone when he flew from Chicago to Mexico City. At the time of his arrest, Neal was employed as a teacher at a high school in the Northern District of Illinois.
Trade Fraud / Financial Fraud / Other Fraud
Trade Fraud Task Force Surpasses $1 Billion in Recoveries and Charged Losses in Less Than One Year
The Trade Fraud Task Force (TFTF) selected the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office as its lead prosecutorial partner. Two Chicago cases contributed to the TFTF surpassing the $1 billion milestone in enforced trade fraud matters in less than a year. As alleged, Raj Kohli and Veena Kohli’s California-based company, together with foreign manufacturers and other U.S. entities, imported and brought into the United States approximately 563 separate entries of gold jewelry that were falsely declared as having been manufactured in Singapore and in doing so avoided paying customs duties of between 5.5% and 5.8% of the declared value of the imported gold jewelry. According to court documents, the gold jewelry from the Kohlis’ criminal prosecution had an estimated total value of more than approximately $693 million, thus causing the avoidance of more than approximately $38 million in United States customs duties.
Separately, Narain Gulabani, who owned a gold jewelry importer and wholesaler in Naperville, Ill., was charged with falsely declaring the country of origin for imported gold jewelry. The charges allege that Gulabani, together with foreign manufacturers and other U.S. entities, imported or caused to be imported into the United States approximately 242 separate entries of gold jewelry that were falsely declared as having been manufactured in Oman or Singapore and in doing so avoided paying customs duties of between 5.5% and 5.8% of the declared value of the imported gold jewelry. According to court documents, the gold jewelry from Gulabani’s criminal prosecution had an estimated total value of more than approximately $240 million, thus causing the avoidance of more than approximately $13.6 million in United States customs duties.
Engineer for Illinois Company Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trade Fraud, Counterfeiting, and Other Fraud Schemes
Shaun Brouwer manufactured and sold counterfeit versions of his employer’s products and asked a vendor in China to create fake payment documents to lower the perceived value of some of the counterfeit items to avoid attracting attention from U.S. customs officials and avoid paying additional customs duty fees. He further engaged in fraud related to the Covid-relief Paycheck Protection Program. He was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.
Former Accountant for Middle Eastern Jewelry Exporter Sentenced to Prison for Evading More Than $1.89 Million in U.S. Customs Duties
A former accountant for a gold jewelry exporter in the United Arab Emirates, Ravi Kapadia, conspired to avoid United States Customs duties on imports from India and falsely declare that the jewelry originated in Oman and was sentenced to ten months in federal prison.
Texas Man Who Orchestrated $20 Million Cryptocurrency Scam Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison
Robert Dunlap orchestrated a cryptocurrency scam that bilked nearly 1,000 investors out of more than $20 million. Dunlap made numerous false and misleading statements to potential and actual investors, including claims that his so-called Meta-1 Coin was backed by as much as $1 billion in art and $44 billion in gold.
Foreign National Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Federal Prison for Conducting “Tech Support” Fraud Scheme That Victimized Senior Citizens in United States
Kartik Saini and co-schemers falsely represented to victims that their computers had been hacked and their bank accounts had been compromised. Saini or a co-schemer then convinced the victims to transfer significant funds to various bank accounts, claiming the companies would safely hold the money while the purported cyber hack was investigated by law enforcement.
Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Stealing More Than $10 Million in Interstate Shipments
Aivaras Zigmantas stole more than $10 million in goods, including liquor and commercial-grade copper, from interstate shipments.
Federal Judge Sentences Man to Four Years in Prison for $2 Million COVID-Relief Fraud
James Townsend schemed to fraudulently obtain more than $2 million in small business loans under the CARES Act. Under the leadership of U.S. Attorney Boutros and consistent with the Administration’s priorities to identify, investigate, and prosecute criminal fraud in the federal government entitlement and benefit programs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois has been taking a fresh look at Covid-19 fraud.
Illinois Investment Advisor Indicted on Fraud Charges for Allegedly Swindling Clients in Ponzi Scheme
Paaris Kopsaftis, who operated Illinois-based Blackwater Assets, Inc., allegedly used investor funds to pay his bills.
Former CEO of Chicago Charter School Network Charged With Misappropriating More Than $103,000
Timothy King allegedly embezzled $103,833 from Urban Prep Academies to pay off his personal credit card.
Two Plead Guilty to Operating Nearly $12 Million Fraudulent Loan Program Harming Dozens of Victims
Mark Carroll and Luke Curry operated a scheme that caused borrowers, lenders, and investors to turn over nearly $12 million through sham loan programs and investments.
Public Corruption
Former Suburban Chicago Police Officer Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Prison on Corruption Charges
Antoine Larry was serving as a patrol officer for the Phoenix, Ill. Police Department when he conspired with another officer to corruptly solicit cash and drugs from the occupants of vehicles during traffic stops.
Deputy District Director to United States Congressman Indicted for Fraudulently Obtaining Covid-Relief Benefits
Gerard Moorer allegedly fraudulently pocketed nearly $32,000 in benefits under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program.
Federal Indictment Charges Former Chicago Housing Authority Director and Construction Company Owner With Engaging in $4.8 Million Kickback Scheme
Ryan Ross, a former property director for the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA), was allegedly given more than $421,000 in kickbacks from the owner of a construction company in exchange for steering that owner more than $4.8 million in construction and renovation work at CHA properties.
Former Federal Prison Employee Convicted of Sexually Abusing Two Inmates
Danny Spyker abused two male inmates at the Federal Correctional Institute in Thomson, Ill. Spyker worked as a cook supervisor when he knowingly engaged in sexual acts with the two inmates.
Immigration
Illegal Alien Facing State Murder Charge Now Charged in Federal Court With Illegally Possessing Firearm in Chicago
An illegal alien unlawfully residing in the United States, who is charged in state court with murdering an 18-year-old Loyola University student, was charged in federal court with illegally possessing a firearm. “Given the senseless, cold-blooded nature of the murder of a young student with a bright future ahead of her, the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will take no chances that this illegal alien perpetrator will be released back into our community,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros.
Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Immigration Fraud, Possession of Child Pornography, and Tax Offenses
Jose Gregorio Sosa Cardona fabricated foreign law enforcement reports and other documents to falsely corroborate his clients’ asylum claims. A court-authorized search of Sosa Cardona’s electronic devices turned up thousands of photos and videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Illegal Alien With Extensive Criminal Record Sentenced to 14 Months in Prison for Unlawfully Re-Entering United States After Multiple Deportations
Manuel Alberto Cortes Cuan was unlawfully present in the United States on June 17, 2025, when he was arrested in Lyons, Ill. Cortes Cuan was previously deported from the United States on five occasions. Each deportation occurred after Cortes Cuan sustained criminal convictions while unlawfully present here. The prior offenses of convictions included theft, escape, trespassing, aggravated assault, and aggravated DUI.
Illegal Alien With Violent Criminal Record Sentenced to Prison for Unlawfully Re-Entering United States After Seven Deportations
Jefry Estrada-Pastrana was unlawfully present in the United States on Jan. 20, 2026, when he was arrested in Chicago. Estrada-Pastrana was previously deported from the United States on seven occasions. During the times in which he was illegally present in the United States, Estrada-Pastrana was convicted of criminal offenses including robbery and aggravated fleeing. Estrada-Pastrana was sentenced to ten months in prison for his illegal re-entry conviction.
Illegal Alien Who Possessed a Dangerous Weapon in Cook County Jail and Committed an Attempted Vehicular Hijacking Indicted for Allegedly Unlawfully Re-Entering U.S. After Deportation
Hector Daniel Gamboa-Mantalvo, a Mexican national who resided in Palatine, Ill., was removed from the United States in July 2020. Gamboa-Mantalvo was later discovered in the United States in 2023 when he was arrested for committing an attempted vehicular hijacking. In April, he was indicted on federal immigration charges.
Foreign National Residing in Chicago Suburb Indicted for Allegedly Bringing Illegal Aliens Into United States and Forcing Them To Work
Fredy Hernandez allegedly brought four individuals from Honduras into the U.S. in 2022 and 2023 and forced them to work for his private financial gain.
Healthcare Fraud
United States Attorney Andrew S. Boutros Announces Charges Against Two Chicago-Area Defendants as Part of Department of Justice’s National Healthcare Fraud Takedown
In the first matter, a defendant was charged with participating in a scheme to defraud Medicare out of approximately $240 million in reimbursements for over-the-counter Covid-19 test kits that were either never provided or never requested by Medicare beneficiaries, all within a span of less than six months. In the second matter, a healthcare provider was charged with orchestrating a scheme to defraud the Illinois Medicaid program out of more than $75 million for purported behavioral health counseling and therapy services that were never provided.
The charges filed in federal court in Chicago were part of the Department of Justice’s 2026 National Healthcare Fraud Takedown. The charges continue the trend of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago as well as the Midwest Strike Force to bring criminal healthcare fraud prosecutions, especially against gatekeepers, that dismantle significant schemes that syphon taxpayer funds from Medicare and Medicaid. Two Foreign Nationals Indicted in Chicago as Part of $10 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme
Burhan Mirza and Kashif Iqbal allegedly used nominee-owned laboratories and durable medical equipment providers to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare and private healthcare benefit programs for items and services that were not provided. “Every fraudulent submission in this case diverts much needed monies from senior citizens and disabled persons who rely on Medicare to fund critically important health needs,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The defendants didn’t just steal from a government program; they did damage to the promise of healthcare in this country and the peace of mind that comes with it.”
Suburban Chicago Chiropractor Convicted of Healthcare Fraud
Seung Han Lim and his clinic fraudulently billed more than $600,000 to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois for services not rendered.
PDF version of the Mid-Year Report is available here: NDIL USAO Mid-Year Report_July 2026.pdf
Former Suburban Chicago Police Chief Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for Bribery and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — The former Chief of Police in the village of Summit, Ill., has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for corruptly accepting money from a local businessman to help facilitate the transfer of a liquor license.
A jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago in December 2025 convicted JOHN KOSMOWSKI, 58, of Lockport, Ill., of bribery conspiracy, bribery, and obstruction of justice. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger sentenced Kosmowski to three years in federal prison.
Evidence at trial revealed that Kosmowski conspired with a Summit building inspector—WILLIAM MUNDY—to accept $10,000 from businessman KRZYSTOF HODUREK in 2017. Kosmowski and Mundy accepted the money intending to be influenced and rewarded in connection with the transfer of a liquor license to another person. Kosmowski received a cash payment from Hodurek in 2017 and then gave Mundy a portion of it.
Mundy pleaded guilty prior to trial to bribery and tax offenses. He is awaiting sentencing. Hodurek pleaded guilty last year to a federal wire fraud charge in connection with an unrelated scheme to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits from the state of Illinois. As part of his guilty plea, Hodurek admitted to participating in the bribery scheme with Kosmowski and Mundy. Hodurek is awaiting sentencing.
The obstruction conviction against Kosmowski stemmed from a meeting he had with Mundy in which Kosmowski informed Mundy of the federal investigation into the bribe. During the meeting, Kosmowski sought to corruptly persuade Mundy to mischaracterize the purpose of the payment by falsely suggesting that it was a loan.
Kosmowski’s sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Marta Grijalva, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago.
“Defendant was a sworn law enforcement official who put personal profit over the public that he had a duty to protect,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Hasten argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Corruption by law enforcement officials strikes at the heart of government, eroding public confidence in those very officials that the public trusts to ensure their safety.”
Convicted Felon on State Pre-Trial Release Indicted in Federal Court for Trafficking Fentanyl in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal grand jury has indicted a man for allegedly trafficking fentanyl in Chicago while on state pre-trial release for a felony drug charge in Cook County, Ill.
RISHONE RASPBERRY sold approximately 52 grams of fentanyl to an undercover federal law enforcement agent on May 27, 2026, according to an indictment and a criminal complaint previously filed in the case. The transaction occurred in the Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago, the charges allege.
At the time of the undercover federal drug deal, Raspberry was on pre-trial bond for a pending felony drug charge in Cook County, Ill. related to a drug transaction that allegedly occurred three weeks prior to this federal undercover drug deal. In addition, Raspberry was serving a three-year term of probation for a 2025 felony drug conviction in Cook County.
Raspberry, 32, of Chicago, was taken into federal custody on July 7, 2026. The federal indictment charges him with drug distribution. On Monday, Raspberry pleaded not guilty to the charge during his arraignment in federal court in Chicago. U.S. Magistrate Judge Heather K. McShain granted the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s motion that Raspberry be detained pending his trial. A status hearing was set for Aug. 13, 2026, at 9:15 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins.
The indictment and detention order were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosive. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Chmura.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
raspberry_indictment.pdf raspberry_complaint.pdfConvicted Felon Who Participated in Exchange of Gunfire Outside Chicago Gas Station Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A convicted felon who participated in an exchange of gunfire outside a Chicago gas station has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison.
On the afternoon of May 27, 2022, MALIK WILLIAMS was standing outside of a gas station on the South Side of Chicago when he fired two shots toward a minivan that was driving nearby. Individuals in the minivan returned fire, and a bystander who was filling up gas in his work van was shot in the leg. The area was busy with traffic at the time of the shooting, and several individuals were present at the gas station, including a woman who was mere feet from Williams when he fired at the minivan.
Williams, 29, of Chicago, pleaded guilty in July 2025 to a federal charge of illegal possession of ammunition. Williams had previously been convicted of a felony offense. On July 8, 2026, U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger sentenced Williams to nine years in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Chicago Police Department assisted in the investigation.
“Defendant fired twice at the occupied minivan,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Schied argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Had his aim been true, he would have killed one or more people on purpose. Everyone at that intersection that day is fortunate to be alive, including defendant.”
Boone County Man Sentenced to More Than 24 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Boone County, Ill. man has been sentenced to more than 24 years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine.
On Oct. 25, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at BRADLEY WALTERS’s place of business, Black Sheep Vintage, in Roscoe, Ill. Inside the premises, officers located more than a kilogram of fentanyl pills, more than 100 grams of pure methamphetamine, more than four kilograms of methamphetamine pills, and other suspected controlled substances. Officers also located a loaded pellet gun modeled to resemble a Glock firearm.
A search warrant was obtained after law enforcement made several controlled purchases of drugs from Walters, including at his business the day before the execution of the warrant.
Walters, 51, Caledonia, Ill., pleaded guilty in 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. On July 10, 2026, U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston sentenced Walters to 24 years and four months in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Todd C. Smith, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office participated in the investigation with the DEA. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ladd.
Trade Fraud Task Force Surpasses $1 Billion in Recoveries and Charged Losses in Less Than One YearRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice announced today that the Trade Fraud Task Force (TFTF), launched in August 2025, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has surpassed $1 billion in civil and criminal recoveries, penalties, forfeitures, and publicly charged losses in less than one year. This milestone reflects a fundamental shift in the federal government’s approach to customs and trade enforcement, emphasizing rigorous criminal prosecution and civil enforcement under the False Claims Act (FCA).
“For too long, fraud actors have viewed customs violations as a mere surcharge or cost of doing business,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “By utilizing the Department’s full weight, we are making it clear that trade fraud is a serious economic crime. This billion-dollar milestone demonstrates that the United States and the National Fraud Enforcement Division will no longer allow the integrity of our country’s borders and markets to be compromised for illicit profit. This message should be heard loud and clear by all supply-chain actors.”
The TFTF was established by DOJ and DHS to investigate and prosecute those who defraud the government through material misrepresentations to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), including transshipment, mislabeling, and false declaration. Its mandate covers the entire supply chain, including importers, customs brokers, downstream distributors, industrial and commercial end-users, and other supply-chain actors who knowingly profit from merchandise imported contrary to law. Although the TFTF maintains broad enforcement authority, the task force focuses on key revenue and enforcement priorities, including the evasion of Section 301 tariffs, antidumping duties (AD), and countervailing duties (CVD), the eradication of forced labor from global supply chains that seek to exploit U.S. markets, and the prosecution of criminal violations concerning imported goods that threaten public health and safety. By prioritizing clear, high-impact enforcement actions within established legal frameworks, the TFTF ensures swift accountability and a level playing field for law-abiding American businesses.
“Ensuring that the global supply chain remains a level playing field for law-abiding American businesses is a critical component of CBP’s mission,” said U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney S. Scott. “By pairing CBP’s operational reach with DOJ’s prosecutorial authority, we are dismantling the networks that seek to bypass our laws and undermine our economic security. Every day, CBP confronts criminal networks that exploit our supply chains, endanger American families with unsafe goods, threaten the integrity of our consumer and industrial markets, and undermine confidence in international commerce. Our message is clear: those who seek to exploit America’s trade system will be identified, investigated, and brought to justice.”
“Through the Trade Fraud Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations is actively protecting American families and businesses from the dangers and consequences of illegal trade practices,” said Homeland Security Investigations Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon. “HSI combines investigative expertise and global partnerships to confront criminal networks that threaten fair trade and the security of our nation’s economic interests. By holding offenders accountable, we build trust in the products people rely on every day and support a fair marketplace for honest businesses.”
U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE ANNOUNCES CHARGES IN TWO SIGNIFICANT CHICAGO TRADE FRAUD CASES
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois (NDIL) today announced charges against multiple defendants in significant customs duty evasion schemes involving the false declaration of countries of origin for gold jewelry. The Trade Fraud Task Force (TFTF) has selected NDIL as its lead prosecutorial partner. These Chicago cases contributed to the TFTF surpassing the $1 billion milestone in enforced trade fraud matters.
Raj Kohli and Veena Kohli, who operate Surya International, Inc., a gold jewelry importer and wholesaler in South San Francisco, California, were charged in U.S. District Court in Chicago with falsely declaring that the gold jewelry they imported into the United States had originated in Singapore and not its true country of origin—India and United Arab Emirates. The charges allege that from approximately August 2020 through May 2024, the company, together with foreign manufacturers and other United States entities, imported and brought into the United States approximately 563 separate entries of gold jewelry that were falsely declared as having been manufactured in Singapore and in doing so avoided paying customs duties of between 5.5% and 5.8% of the declared value of the imported gold jewelry. The gold jewelry had an estimated total value of more than approximately $693 million, thus causing the avoidance of more than approximately $38 million in United States customs duties.
Separately, Narain Gulabani who owned and operated Barkha Wholesale, Inc., a gold jewelry importer and wholesaler in Naperville, Illinois, was charged in U.S. District Court in Chicago with falsely declaring the country of origin for imported gold jewelry. The charges allege that, from approximately May 2016 and October 2021, Gulabani, together with foreign manufacturers and other United States entities, imported or caused to be imported into the United States approximately 242 separate entries of gold jewelry that were falsely declared as having been manufactured in Oman or Singapore and in doing so avoided paying customs duties of between 5.5% and 5.8% of the declared value of the imported gold jewelry. The gold jewelry had an estimated total value of more than approximately $240 million, thus causing the avoidance of more than approximately $13.6 million in United States customs duties.
These charges are part of a broader federal effort to combat trade fraud schemes that undermine fair competition, harm domestic industries, deprive the United States of substantial revenue, and ultimately hurt the American taxpayer.
Gold jewelry and objects seized by law enforcement in May 2022.
CRIMINAL AND CIVIL ENFORCEMENT
The TFTF has a nationwide mandate to investigate and prosecute trade fraud and related cases, from coast-to-coast. Any offense involving the importation of an object may be inquired of and prosecuted in any district from, through, or into which the imported object moves. Moreover, federal law criminalizes down-chain activities involving merchandise entered contrary to law when done with knowledge of the illegal entry. As a result, the port of entry is only the starting point for these actions, which may also be prosecuted in the district that feels the impact of the trade fraud.
The TFTF has secured major victories across a diverse range of industries. Recent high-impact matters include:
Perfectus Aluminum (May 12, 2026) (CDCA): U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)-led criminal investigation resulted in the collection of $549.5 million through a FCA settlement concerning massive scheme to evade antidumping and countervailing duties on aluminum extrusions.
Boise Cascade (April 27, 2026) (SDFL): HSI-led criminal investigation resulted in a $6.3 million fine and guilty plea for Lacey Act violations where the company demonstrated willful blindness toward illegally imported birch plywood.
Ceratizit USA (December 18, 2025) (EDMI): $54 million FCA settlement to resolve allegations of knowingly failing to pay duties on tungsten carbide products imported from China.
Royal Sovereign (April 28, 2026) (DNJ): $8 million criminal fine and restitution ordered after failure to report to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission dangerously defective imported air conditioners allegedly linked to more than 40 fires and one death.
MGI International (December 12, 2025) (DNH): HSI-led criminal investigation leading to resolutions against a global plastic resin distributor and its former executive concerning misrepresentations of the goods’ country of origin to avoid paying Section 301 duties.
CBP ENFORCEMENT
In addition to the civil and criminal enforcement efforts that led to this historic milestone, CBP continues to exercise its enforcement authorities to address trade violations. So far this Fiscal Year, CBP has assessed more than $2.1 billion in commercial trade penalties and debarred 35 parties from doing business with the federal government. These actions complement DOJ’s enforcement mechanisms and strengthen CBP’s mission to protect our national and economic security by preventing fraud, waste, and abuse.
THE TRADE FRAUD RESOURCE GUIDE
The DOJ and the DHS today released A Resource Guide to Trade Fraud Enforcement (the Guide). As the first joint comprehensive framework of its kind, the Guide is a historic and seminal roadmap for cross-border compliance and enforcement priorities. The Guide provides critical information to enterprises of all sizes and addresses a wide variety of topics, including who and what is covered by customs regulations and anti-trade fraud laws and the different types of civil and criminal resolutions available in trade fraud enforcement. On these and other topics, the Guide takes a multi-faceted approach toward setting forth the statutory and regulatory requirements and providing insights into the enforcement practices of the DOJ and DHS.
Since January 2025, the Department has brought trade fraud enforcement actions all over the country as shown in the map below:
“When companies commit trade fraud, the prosperity and safety of American workers, families, and communities are put at risk,” said the DHS Assistant Secretary for Trade and Economic Security, Aris Kourkoumelis. “To level the playing field and protect the American people, DOJ and DHS have forged the Trade Fraud Task Force and have produced this Resource Guide which provides the private sector with a transparent, comprehensive manual on trade fraud enforcement.”
GLOBAL TRADE & COMMERCE ENFORCEMENT SECTION
The Department is announcing the creation of the Global Trade & Commerce Enforcement Section (GTCES) within the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The GTCES’s mission is to investigate and prosecute criminal import, trade, and other fraud offenses that undermine American industries, evade external revenue collection, threaten consumers’ health and safety, finance foreign adversaries, promote forced labor through illegal trade practices, and violate United States laws and regulations governing domestic and foreign commerce.
A FOUNDATION OF PARTNERSHIP
The success of the GTCES and TFTF is built upon unprecedented cooperation between Main Justice, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, and law enforcement partners.
“It has been a tremendous honor to work closely with the Department and its leadership to envision what the Trade Fraud Task Force could be, and then to convert concept into reality,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros of the Northern District of Illinois. “Helping stand up the Task Force from the ground up has been a vision of mine for nearly 20 years, dating back to when I was a federal prosecutor in Chicago bringing what has still stood as the largest criminal trade fraud cases of their kind and doing so against a stacked deck. It is deeply satisfying to know that we were decades ahead of our time and that our strategy from years ago has now been adopted at the highest levels of the Department and is being implemented across the whole of government. It is a great privilege and responsibility for the Northern District of Illinois to be selected as lead prosecutorial partner for the Trade Fraud Task Force. With our expansive venue and my decades of experience in this space, the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office intends to be the tip of the spear when it comes to robust and vigorous enforcement of our nation’s trade, forced labor, and other related laws. There should be no doubt, the key roads for trade fraud enforcement lead from, to, and through Chicago past, present, and future.”
The Department extends its gratitude to the 35 TFTF masthead U.S. Attorneys’ Offices: District of Arizona, Eastern District of Arkansas, Northern District of California, Central District of California, Eastern District of California, Southern District of California, District of Colorado, District of Columbia, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, Central District of Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of Illinois, Northern District of Indiana, Southern District of Indiana, District of Maryland, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Missouri, District of Nebraska, District of New Jersey, District of New Mexico, Eastern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Middle District of North Carolina, District of Oregon, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, District of Puerto Rico, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Eastern District of Virginia, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Western District of Wisconsin.
The Task Force also acknowledges the indispensable contributions of its law enforcement and agency partners, including CBP, HSI, IRS Criminal Investigation, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the Food and Drug Administration.
The Department-wide Corporate Enforcement Policy provides concrete benefits to incentivize companies to voluntarily disclose discovered misconduct, cooperate with our investigations, and timely and appropriately remediate the wrongdoing.
The Justice Department encourages whistleblowers to alert the government to credible allegations of fraud, including utilizing the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act or through the Department’s Corporate Whistleblower Program at [email protected] using the form available here.
Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Federal Prison for Threatening to Kill Multiple Public OfficialsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for making a true threat to kill multiple public officials, including President Donald J. Trump, the 47th and 45th President of the United States.
On Oct. 21, 2025, TRENT SCHNEIDER posted a video of himself on Instagram in which he stated, “People like me have suffered real [expletive] crimes from [expletive] judges, doctors, lawyers, police. They all should be killed. All of them should be executed for what they’ve done . . . I’m going to get some guns. I know where I can get a lot of [expletive] guns and I am going to take care of business myself. I’m tired of all you [expletive] frauds. People need to [expletive] die and people are going to die. [Expletive] all of you, especially you Trump. You should be executed.”
On the same day, Schneider appeared at the Lake County, Ill. courthouse and told the judge presiding over Schneider’s pending foreclosure case that he would burn the courthouse down.
A federal jury in Chicago earlier this year convicted Schneider, 58, of Winthrop Harbor, Ill., of making a true threat in interstate commerce to injure a person. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman sentenced Schneider to three years and two months in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Jim Morley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Chicago Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lake County, Ill. Sheriff’s Office and the Winthrop Harbor, Ill. Police Department. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hanna Helwig and Paige Nutini.
“As I have repeatedly stated since becoming U.S. Attorney, threats against public officials are an attack on our democracy and must be met with swift and serious consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office is working in lockstep with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to vigorously investigate and prosecute criminal threats of violence, including political violence. Those who cross the line into such conduct and activity will not find safe haven in the Northern District of Illinois.”
“Safeguarding the President of the United States and all our protectees is the U.S. Secret Service’s top priority, as this case demonstrates,” said Acting SAIC Morley. “Political violence has no place in civil society, and we will vigorously pursue threats against our protectees. I commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois for its diligent prosecution in this important case. I also thank our law enforcement partners at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Winthrop Harbor Police Department for their support and collaboration throughout this investigation.”
Rockford Man Sentenced to More Than Six and a Half Years in Federal Prison for Robbing a United States Post Office with a FirearmRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A man has been sentenced to more than six and a half years in federal prison for robbing a United States Post Office in Rockford last year.
On May 27, 2025, ANTHONY JOHNSON walked approximately one block from his residence in Rockford to the Post Office, where he reached for a firearm in his waistband and told the clerk to give him all the money in the cash register. After stealing approximately $219, Johnson ran back to his residence, crossing private backyards on his way.
Johnson, 59, of Rockford, pleaded guilty in March 2026 to one count of robbing money from the United States. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston sentenced Johnson to six years and eight months in federal prison and ordered him to pay full restitution to the U.S. Postal Service.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Nicholas Bucciarelli, Inspector in Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The Rockford Police Department assisted in the investigation. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Kim.
“Robbing a Post Office with a gun is a violent offense that places innocent human lives in immediate, terrifying danger,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The U.S. Postal Service serves a critically important government function, and its employees must be allowed to perform their duties for the American people safely and securely. Under my leadership, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prioritize cases that involve threats, violence, and intimidation against federal officials. The federal law enforcement apparatus in Chicago will pursue, apprehend, and convict those who choose to compromise the safety of our public servants.”
“The safety of our postal employees and postal infrastructure is paramount,” said USPIS Inspector in Charge Bucciarelli. “Letter carriers, clerks, and other postal employees serve our communities, and violence against them affects us all. This conviction serves as a warning that targeting the U.S. Postal Service will result in federal law enforcement relentlessly pursuing those responsible until they are brought to justice. We thank the Rockford Police Department and the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office for their dedication and partnership in securing this conviction.”
Federal Judge Sentences Man to Four Years in Prison for $2 Million COVID-Relief FraudRead the Press Release
CHICAGO – A man has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for submitting—and teaching others how to submit—false Covid-relief loan applications on behalf of themselves and others who paid kickbacks to him and his co-schemers. Under the leadership of United States Attorney Andrew S. Boutros and consistent with the Administration’s priorities to identify, investigate, and prosecute criminal fraud in the federal government entitlement and benefit programs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois has been taking a fresh look at Covid-19 fraud.
JAMES TOWNSEND schemed to fraudulently obtain more than $2 million in small business loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). In 2021, Townsend submitted and caused to be submitted more than 100 applications for loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) on behalf of dozens of sole proprietorships purportedly operated by Townsend and others. The applications contained numerous false statements and misrepresentations regarding the purported proprietorships’ operations, including the number of employees, gross revenues, and payroll expenses. In reality, the applicants did not operate sole proprietorships, nor did they employ any individuals or incur operational expenses such as payroll. For each successful fraudulent loan, Townsend and his co-schemers received kickback payments from the loan applicants.
Townsend pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal wire fraud charge. On June 24, 2026, U.S. District Chief Judge Virginia M. Kendall sentenced Townsend to four years in federal prison and ordered him to pay full restitution.
Townsend also recruited and directed co-defendants SARAH STOKES 37, of Crestwood, Ill., and AMANDA HELLER, 40, of Crestwood, Ill., to find putative borrowers, complete and submit fraudulent applications on their behalf, and then share the proceeds. Stokes and Heller each pleaded guilty to a federal wire fraud charge. Stokes was sentenced in November 2025 to 18 months in federal prison. Heller’s sentencing is set for Oct. 28, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Boutros announced Townsend’s sentence along with Lucas Rothaar, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.
“Defendant’s crime was serious,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam L. Rosenbloom argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum in Townsend’s case. “He defrauded the government of millions of dollars meant to help regular Americans survive a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic.”
On April 7, 2026, 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.
Chicago Man Convicted of Plotting to Kill Two Witnesses in Cousin’s Murder TrialRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Chicago man has been convicted on federal murder-for-hire charges for plotting to kill two potential witnesses in his cousin’s murder trial.
In the summer of 2024, CHRISTOPHER YATES sought the killings of two individuals he believed would testify against his cousin, who was set to go to trial in Cook County for allegedly fatally shooting a woman in 2020. Yates recruited two individuals to carry out the killings of the witnesses and provided them with a handgun and ammunition. Yates told them, “I want them both off the board. Both of them got to [expletive] go.”
Yates provided them with $250 in cash and said he could offer more money later as payment for the killings. “Whatever you charge, I’m working on that,” Yates told them.
Yates, 41, was arrested on July 31, 2024, before the killings could be carried out. He has remained detained in federal custody since then.
After a week-long trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago, the jury convicted Yates on June 29, 2026, of two counts of murder-for-hire and one count of unlawful transfer of a firearm and ammunition. The unlawful transfer charge is punishable by up to 15 years in federal prison, while each murder-for-hire count is punishable by up to ten years. U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger set sentencing for Oct. 28, 2026.
The conviction was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of Homeland Security Investigations. Substantial assistance was provided by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kirsten Moran and Megan Donohue.
Former Accountant for Middle Eastern Jewelry Exporter Sentenced to Prison for Evading More Than $1.89 Million in U.S. Customs DutiesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A former accountant for a gold jewelry exporter in the United Arab Emirates has been sentenced to ten months in federal prison for conspiring to avoid United States Customs duties on gold jewelry shipments imported by a suburban Chicago company.
RAVI KAPADIA conspired with the owner of a UAE exporter and others to fraudulently import gold jewelry from certain countries, including India, and avoid the payment of customs duties by falsely declaring that the jewelry originated in Oman. When agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection inquired about one of the UAE company’s shipments bound for the Northern District of Illinois and asked for information about the jewelry’s country of origin, Kapadia and others created and obtained false documentation to substantiate that the jewelry was purportedly manufactured in Oman. The false documentation included the creation of a list of purported employees with fictitious roles and salary information. The false documentation was then furnished to CBP.
Kapadia, 46, a citizen of India who most recently resided in Jersey City, N.J., pleaded guilty in October 2025 in U.S. District Court in Chicago to a charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States and enter goods by means of false statements. On June 26, 2026, U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey sentenced Kapadia to ten months in federal prison and ordered him to pay restitution to the United States. Kapadia was held accountable at sentencing for evading more than $1.89 million in U.S. Customs duties from June 2019 to April 2020.
The conviction subjects Kapadia to removal from the United States.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of Homeland Security Investigations. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Kelly.
The Department of Justice recently selected the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office to be the lead prosecutorial partner to the Trade Fraud Task Force, which vigorously pursues enforcement actions against parties who seek to evade federal customs, trade, and adjacent laws. When U.S. Attorney Boutros served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Chicago from 2008 to 2015, he led what still stand as the Department of Justice’s largest-ever criminal trade fraud prosecutions, spanning 27 corporate and individual defendants across multiple indictments, with losses totaling approximately $260 million.
“Trade fraud, like the conspiracy perpetrated in this case, deprives the United States government of vital revenue and undermines consumer confidence,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “Trade compliance is critically important to not only our region’s economic security and public safety, but also that of our entire nation’s. I can assure the citizens of the Northern District of Illinois that the U.S. Attorney’s Office will be strongly committed to holding parties accountable for evading applicable duties and tariffs, which undermine the rule of law, harm American industry, and create a two-tier pricing structure: higher prices for buyers and sellers unwilling to transact in illegally-entered goods and cheaper prices for those willing to do so or who are otherwise indifferent.”
“Protecting the integrity of our nation’s borders and trade systems is a core mission for Homeland Security Investigations,” said HSI SAC Scarpino. “This case demonstrates HSI’s commitment to working alongside our partners to identify and disrupt complex schemes that threaten the U.S. economy and undermine lawful commerce. We will continue to pursue those who attempt to defraud the government and ensure that individuals and businesses are held accountable for violating federal customs laws.”
On April 7, 2026, 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.
Man Sentenced to Six and a Half Years in Prison for Extorting Money from Chicago RestaurateurRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — After being convicted by a federal jury, a man has been sentenced to six and a half years in federal prison for threatening and assaulting a Chicago restaurateur to collect a debt.
JAWAD FAKROUNE loaned approximately $405,000 to the restaurateur to develop and open a new restaurant in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago and to pay certain taxes. In November 2024, Fakroune began to threaten the restaurateur about repayment of the loan. On the evening of Nov. 25, 2024, Fakroune confronted the restaurateur and threatened him over the manner and nature of the repayments. Fakroune choked, kicked, and punched the restaurateur, while continuing to demand money and repeatedly threatening the lives of the restaurateur and his family.
A jury in federal court in Chicago earlier this year convicted Fakroune, also known as “Angelino Escobar” or “Anjelino Escobar,” 46, on both extortion counts against him. On June 30, 2026, U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah sentenced Fakroune to 78 months in federal prison. Fakroune is a foreign national who recently resided in the Chicago area.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Lucas Rothaar, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Marta Grijalva, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago.
“The offenses of conviction reflect defendant’s violent nature, danger to the community, and lawlessness,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Hennessy and Richard M. Rothblatt argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Business disputes are resolved in courts of law—not through violent confrontations in public restaurants.”
Foreign National Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Federal Prison for Conducting “Tech Support” Fraud Scheme That Victimized Senior Citizens in United StatesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A foreign national has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for conducting a “tech support” fraud scheme that victimized senior citizens in the United States.
While residing in his native India in 2020 and 2021, KARTIK SAINI and co-schemers falsely represented to individuals in the United States that they were tech support or security employees of large companies, such as Google, Apple, or Citibank. Saini or a co-schemer falsely informed the victims that their computers had been hacked and that their bank accounts had been compromised. Saini or a co-schemer then convinced the victims to transfer significant funds to various bank accounts, claiming the companies would safely hold the money while the purported cyber hack was investigated by law enforcement. In reality, those bank accounts were controlled by Saini and his co-schemers, who used the accounts to steal the victims’ money.
In addition to the tech support fraud, Saini also convinced some of his victims to transfer cryptocurrency or gift cards to him or his co-schemers. In all, Saini defrauded at least four victims with an intended loss of more than $1.2 million. One of the victims, a Chicago resident, suffered a loss of more than $746,000, which reflected a large portion of her retirement savings.
Saini, 33, was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on Aug. 26, 2024, where he arrived from India. He pleaded guilty in federal court in Chicago in March 2026 to a wire fraud charge. On June 25, 2026, U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey sentenced Saini to six years and a month in federal prison and ordered him to pay full restitution to his victims.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Lucas Rothaar, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.
“Defendant’s scheme caused significant financial loss and emotional trauma to victims,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan L. Shih argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “A significant sentence of incarceration will send a message to those would-be participants in these types of schemes, including those located in India, that those who defraud American citizens from abroad will face a meaningful term of imprisonment.”
United States Attorney Andrew S. Boutros Announces Results from Operation New Dawn: 179 Defendants Charged in Approximately Sixty Days as Part of First-of-Its-Kind Spring and Summer Anti-Violence Initiative in Chicago AreaRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, today announced that 179 individuals were charged across 140 newly-filed cases as part of the massively successful Operation New Dawn, a first-of-its-kind “badgeless” enforcement initiative in Chicagoland that focused on a single mission for roughly 60 days: to set aside barriers and focus exclusively on disrupting violence in the Chicago and Rockford areas by arresting the worst of the worst offenders, who would then face federal criminal prosecution. This Operation is described as “badgeless” because multiple federal agencies came together under the banner of the United States flag as opposed to the shield of any agency. Doing so created shared accountability and unified, mission-minded, anti-violence work in the Northern District of Illinois starting in the spring and continuing into the summer in special recognition of our nation’s 250th birthday. U.S. Attorney Boutros constructed Operation New Dawn using an innovative federal law enforcement approach to fighting violent crime that had not been done before in the District: eleven federal agencies worked arm-in-arm as one cohesive, unified partnership to arrest dangerous criminals responsible for serious offenses, including robberies, kidnapping, kidnapping resulting in death, firearms trafficking, firearm offenses, drug trafficking, immigration violations, child exploitation, and various other federal violent crimes.
The results of this new approach exceeded all expectations: Since roughly May 1, 2026, 179 criminal defendants were charged in federal court across 140 newly-filed criminal cases; 305 fugitives were apprehended and brought into custody, many of whom had previously been charged with serious criminal offenses; and 24 children, many of whom were kidnapped, were located and safely returned home.
“It is my view that to combat violence, federal law enforcement must move at the speed of violence,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The remarkable success of Operation New Dawn resoundingly proves that point. Chicago’s federal anti-violence apparatus united under one banner—the United States flag and not the shield, badge, banner, or logo of any agency—to make their presence felt on the streets of Chicago and make it known that they are a force to be reckoned with in the battle against violence. As the name New Dawn embodies, it’s the dawn of a new federal law enforcement era when it comes to combating violent crime in the Northern District of Illinois and being responsive to the people of the District, who want to be and feel safe. During Operation New Dawn, federal law enforcement engaged in rapid, targeted, and responsive interventions that interrupted violence in real time. Our law enforcement goal was singular: to tackle the scourge of violence that has gripped this incredible, American city for too long.”
U.S. Attorney Boutros wishes to personally thank Robert Cekada, Director of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), who flew from Washington, D.C. to Chicago to jointly announce the tremendous results of Operation New Dawn. The ATF Chicago Field Division has been an extraordinary partner in the fight against violence in Chicago. In addition, U.S. Attorney Boutros also wishes to thank all eleven of the Special Agents in Charge (SACs), other law enforcement agency heads, and all their various leadership teams for their exceptional and strong partnership in this “whole of federal law enforcement” Operation. The leadership, resources, and energy they brought to Operation New Dawn were truly outstanding. Those thanks are extended to Christopher Amon of ATF; Todd C. Smith of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Douglas S. DePodesta of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Matthew Scarpino of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Diego Grimaldo of the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force (GLRFTF); Marta Grijalva of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS CI); Arturo E. Hernandez of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Central Field Office; LaDon Reynolds of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS); Nicholas Bucciarelli of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Mario Pinto of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Frank Padula of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Chicago (ICE). The Chicago Police Department provided strong, sustained support and assistance throughout Operation New Dawn.
“The significance of Operation New Dawn, in which eleven federal agencies agreed to come together with one common mission, is truly historic and a powerful and manifestly visible testament to how united the federal law enforcement community is in Chicago,” stated U.S. Attorney Boutros. “I couldn’t be prouder of the work of our Assistant U.S. Attorneys—many of whom I personally hired within the past year-plus—and our law enforcement partners who literally endured violent attacks and attempted robberies by criminals who apparently didn’t get the message that a new era of federal crime fighting in Chicago started more than a year ago when I became U.S. Attorney. Recognizing that crime doesn’t stop or operate at normal hours, federal prosecutors, agents, Office and agency leaders, and others, worked many long days, nights, weekends, and holidays to make Operation New Dawn a success. But it was worth it, because it’s our way to uniquely give back to the country in celebration of the 250th birthday of the greatest nation ever to be formed.”
Although many notable cases could be singled out, a selection of significant charges from Operation New Dawn are highlighted in these “Top 5” reports from ATF, FBI, HSI, and DEA. These cases involve serious violent offenses, including murder, carjacking, fentanyl trafficking, firearms trafficking, and child sex offenses. The cases are representative of the type of significant federal arrests that were made and charges that were filed under Operation New Dawn to remove dangerous offenders from our neighborhoods.
“Law enforcement has always been, and always will be, a team sport,” said Christopher Amon, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Chicago Field Division. “The success of Operation New Dawn reflects the leadership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the trust, commitment, and collaboration among our Chicago federal law enforcement partners. Together, we made a meaningful impact by removing shooters and other violent offenders from our streets making Chicago safer for all.”
“Operation New Dawn demonstrates the power of coordinated law enforcement efforts to address the interconnected threats of violent crime and drug trafficking,” said Todd C. Smith, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Chicago Field Division. “Through the Homeland Security Task Force and in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies combined intelligence, resources and expertise to target individuals and criminal networks that threaten public safety. Reducing violent crime remains one of DEA’s top strategic priorities, and the significant drug seizures resulting from this operation underscore the close relationship between violence and drug trafficking activity. By working together to disrupt criminal organizations, remove dangerous drugs from our communities, and hold offenders accountable, we are enhancing public safety while advancing our commitment to a Fentanyl Free America.”
“Operation New Dawn served as an opportunity for the public to see the relentless and talented work by the men and women of the FBI Chicago Field Office,” said Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Chicago Field Office. "These successes showcase the sophisticated and brave work done by the FBI every day. The FBI remains committed to keeping our communities safe, removing violent criminals from our streets, and disrupting the networks criminals use when attempting to harm the people law enforcement is sworn to serve and protect. The FBI’s operational period protecting this city knows no end date, and we are proud to continue to work with our partners and the public to ensure those who live and work in Chicago are free from threats or harm.”
“Operation New Dawn is a testament to what can be achieved when law enforcement agencies unite to fight against violent crime,” said Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago office of HSI. “HSI is proud to have played a critical role in this unprecedented anti-violence initiative, leveraging our investigative expertise to disrupt violent criminal networks, dismantle drug trafficking organizations, and protect vulnerable children in the greater Chicago area. The results of this operation demonstrate the power of unified action and the dedication of HSI agents to safeguarding our communities. As we mark our nation’s 250th birthday, HSI remains steadfast in our mission to ensure the safety and security of every resident in our great city.”
“Violent crime has no place in one of America’s greatest cities,” said Marta Grijalva, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation is proud to stand alongside our federal, state, and local partners to dismantle the criminal organizations that bring violence into our neighborhoods. By exposing the financial networks that fuel violent crime, we help dismantle the organizations that profit from fear and make our communities safer.”
The public is reminded that charges are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Eight Illegal Alien Tren De Aragua Members from Venezuela Charged with Kidnappings That Resulted in Death, Racketeering Involving Murder, and Other Violent Offenses in Texas and Illinois Following Homeland Security Task Force InvestigationsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice announced charges filed in the Northern Districts of Illinois and Texas against eight alleged members of designated foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (TdA) for murders, kidnappings, and firearms offenses. All eight defendants charged in these Homeland Security Task Force operations are illegal aliens believed to be from Venezuela who illegally enter the United States between December 2021 and April 2024. One defendant charged in Northern Texas is now in custody in Colombia for unrelated charges.
“Eight TdA members illegally entered the United States between 2021 and 2024 and are alleged to have committed horrific crimes, including murdering a father in front of his teenage daughter,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This should never have happened in the first place, but under the Biden administration, open-border policies left the doors wide open, and hundreds of suspected and convicted Tren de Aragua terrorists poured into this country. In the 18 months since President Trump stopped this madness, designating Tren de Aragua a foreign terrorist organization, we have charged nearly 350 of its members and associates with egregious violent crimes – murders, sex trafficking, kidnapping – along with weapons and drug trafficking, robbery, and widespread financial crimes. This work requires an all government, all law enforcement approach, which is precisely what has happened under the leadership of President Trump.”
TdA is a violent transnational criminal organization that originated as a prison gang in Venezuela in the mid-2000s. TdA has expanded its criminal network throughout the Western Hemisphere and established a presence in the United States. TdA’s criminal activities include a variety of violent and criminal offenses, including drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, commercial sex trafficking, kidnapping, robbery, theft, fraud, and extortion. TdA members also commit murder, assault, and other acts of violence to enforce and further the organization’s criminal activities.
As alleged in court documents, in the United States, TdA is organized into subsets or cells based on geographic area of operation. Each regional cell typically has one or more leaders who are responsible for, among other things, managing the criminal enterprise’s activities in the territory, collecting money from other members and associates to finance gang activities and crimes, directing day-to-day management of the region, and planning and ordering acts of violence against rival gang members, associates, and other victims. The leaders of these subsets or cells report to, receive directives from, and distribute criminally-derived assets and proceeds to TdA leaders throughout the United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America.
Since Jan. 20, 2025, the Department has federally charged over 300 members and associates of TdA across 28 districts.
“President Trump‘s historic leadership designating Tren de Aragua as a Foreign Terrorist Organization has given this FBI and our law-enforcement partners the tools we need to wipe out their operations,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Now, every single day across this country, we are decimating their presence in America - dismantling and disrupting over 2,700 violent gangs, a 365% increase, with a 500% increase in Tren de Aragua arrests since 2024. Today, thanks to tremendous work from FBI Chicago, FBI Dallas, and our partners as part of the FBI’s nationwide violent crime initiative Summer Heat 2.0, eight more alleged TdA members who entered the United States under the previous administration have been indicted or arrested and will face justice for their crimes.”
“The complaint against these three TdA members should leave no doubt that the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office is going to aggressively pursue transnational criminal organizations and hold their members and associates accountable for their violent criminal acts,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros for the Northern District of Illinois. “We will continue to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of TdA, which very deservedly has been designated by President Trump and his Administration as a terrorist organization. Our shared goal is crystal clear: to disrupt and dismantle TdA and not allow it to gain a foothold in the United States or Chicagoland. This Fourth of July weekend, as we celebrate the 250th birthday of the greatest nation on earth, many families in the Chicago area will celebrate with loved ones because the whole of federal government in Chicago is taking violent crime seriously and in a way that hasn’t been seen in years. The result is that the scourge of violence that has gripped Chicago for too long is beginning to see relief.”
“On this 250th anniversary of the birth of our great nation, I am reminded of how lucky we are to enjoy the many freedoms that our country provides. Which is why, as U.S. Attorney, I am laser focused on ensuring that North Texans can enjoy freedom and safety in all our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould for the Northern District of Texas. “This indictment of TdA gang members is a significant step to ensure that this dangerous transnational gang does not oppress, intimidate or harm our fellow North Texans. Let this serve as a warning to all TdA members: you will not gain a stronghold in the Northern District of Texas.”
“Violent transnational gangs like Tren de Aragua pose a significant and ongoing threat to the safety of our communities,” said Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “This indictment is a testament to the dedication of our agents and the strength of our partnership through the Homeland Security Task Force. By working closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement, HSI continues to disrupt violent criminal organizations and protect communities across the United States.”
Case summaries are below:
Northern District of Illinois
On June 29, 2026, three alleged members of the transnational criminal organization, TdA, were charged in the Northern District of Illinois with participating in a conspiracy to kidnap and murder a man in Chicago.
The criminal complaint charges Josue Pacheco Torres, 26, Julian Pachano, 19, and Kleiver Monasterio Briceno, also known as “Goofy,” 20, with kidnapping conspiracy and committing a kidnapping that resulted in death. The three defendants are believed to be Venezuelan nationals. Pachano was arrested late last night, while Torres was arrested early yesterday morning. Monasterio Briceno was already in law enforcement custody.
According to the complaint, the defendants conspired to kidnap a man who was walking near Meyering Park on the South Side of Chicago on May 18. The victim was forced into a car and initially driven to a Chicago apartment. The defendants and other co-conspirators later transported the victim — while his wrists were bound together behind his back — to an abandoned building in Chicago, the complaint states.
The following night, the victim’s mother contacted Chicago Police to request a wellness check at the abandoned building. The mother told police that she had been directed to the building by an individual with whom the mother had been communicating on the online messaging application WhatsApp. According to the complaint, Chicago Police entered the building and found the victim deceased inside the bathroom of an abandoned unit. The victim, who was discovered facedown with his wrists bound behind his back, had been shot multiple times and had also suffered blunt force injuries to his head, arms, neck, hands, and torso, the complaint states.
According to the complaint, the conspiracy to kidnap and murder the victim was carried out in connection with the defendants’ involvement in TdA. Since 2024, law enforcement in Chicago has been investigating acts of violence, including murders and shootings, involving suspected members of TdA and its splinter faction, Anti-Tren.
Additionally, at the time of the murder, Pacheco Torres was wearing an ankle monitoring bracelet as a condition of his pretrial release in a criminal prosecution pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois.
The charges and arrests were announced by U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros for the Northern District of Illinois, Special Agent in Charge Douglas S. DePodesta of the FBI Chicago Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino of HSI Chicago Field Office. The Chicago Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Chicago Field Office provided valuable assistance in this investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sushma Raju, Simar Khera, and Michael Spitulnik for the Northern District of Illinois and Joint Task Force Vulcan Trial Attorneys Jun Xiang, Katelan Doyle, and Andrew K. Chan are prosecuting this case.
Northern District of Texas
On June 30, 2026, a grand jury in the Northern District of Texas returned charges against five alleged members of TdA. All five defendants are citizens and nationals of Venezuela.
The defendants Hector Asdrubal Garcia Zuniga, also known as “Murry” and “Munra,” 36; Carlos Luis Zambrano Bolivar, 27; Jhonny Jesus Martinez Serrano, 31; Jhonatan Nahin Toro Gonzalez, 23; and Ehiker Alexander Morales Mendoza, also known as “El Ingeniero” and “El Negro,” 39, were indicted on racketeering charges involving murder, kidnapping, and other violent offenses.
Each defendant is charged with racketeering conspiracy for allegedly conspiring and agreeing with one another, and with others, to conduct and participate directly and indirectly in the conduct of the affairs of the TdA enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity, which consisted of multiple acts involving murder, kidnapping, robbery, and bank fraud. Each defendant is charged with kidnapping in aid of racketeering for allegedly kidnapping three individuals on or about August 24, 2024, for the purpose of maintaining and increasing position in TdA. Garcia Zuniga, Zambrano Bolivar, and Martinez Serrano are also charged with murder in aid of racketeering for allegedly aiding and abetting each other in committing the murder of one of the individuals who was kidnapped on or about August 24, 2024. Additionally, Zambrano Bolivar is charged with using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and causing death through the use of a firearm.
The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould for the Northern District of Texas, Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the FBI Dallas Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard of HSI Dallas Field Office, and Chief of Police Kevin McCoy of the Farmers Branch, Texas Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy Fugate and Caroline Poore for the Northern District of Texas and Joint Task Force Vulcan Trial Attorneys Jacob Operskalski, Kelly McGann, Stefani Hepford, and Josie Thomas are prosecuting this case.
If convicted, the defendants in both the Northern District of Illinois and the Northern District of Texas face up to life in prison. Pacheco Torres, Monasteria Briceno, Garcia Zuniga, Zambrano Bolivar, and Martinez Serrano also face the possibility of the death penalty.
These cases are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTFs Chicago and Dallas comprise of agents and officers from the FBI, HSI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ATF, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), U.S. Secret Service (USSS), U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), HIDTA, and other federal, state, and local law enforcement, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern Districts of Illinois and Texas.
These cases are also part of Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV). JTFV was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded at the direction of the Attorney General to target TdA. JTFV is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina; Western District of Virginia; Southern District of Florida; Eastern District of Texas; Western District of Oklahoma; Northern District of Indiana; District of Nevada; and District of Arizona; as well as the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, and the Office of Judicial Attaché and DEA partners in Bogotá, Colombia. Additionally, the FBI, HSI, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons are essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.
A complaint and indictment are merely allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
torres_et_al_complaint.pdfAlleged Member of Criminal Cyber Hacking Group “Scattered Spider” Arrested in Finland and Extradited to the United StatesRead the Press Release
An alleged member of the criminal cyber hacking group Scattered Spider has been arrested in Finland and extradited to the United States to face federal criminal conspiracy charges in the Northern District of Illinois.
A criminal complaint unsealed Tuesday charges Peter Stokes, 19, a dual citizen of the United States and Estonia, with conspiracy, computer intrusion, and fraud. Stokes was arrested by Finnish authorities in April pursuant to an Interpol Red Notice and extradited to the United States last week. He made an initial appearance on Tuesday in federal court in Chicago and was ordered to remain in law enforcement custody.
“The criminal complaint charges Peter Stokes with membership in Scattered Spider, a hacking group that has been involved in over 100 network intrusions, resulting in more than $100 million in ransom payments and millions more in damages to the victims,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The charges unsealed today are the result of years of work by the Criminal Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, and the FBI. We will continue to partner to ensure that cybercriminals cannot evade the reach of the United States.”
“The malicious attacks from Scattered Spider caused widespread disruption to businesses and organizations throughout the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros for the Northern District of Illinois. “As Co-Chair of the White Collar, Cyber, and Crypto Subcommittee of Acting Attorney General Blanche’s Advisory Committee, I am acutely aware of the significant and growing threat posed by brazen cyber criminals. These charges underscore our unwavering commitment to keeping pace with technologically savvy criminal actors and holding accountable those who seek to profit from cyber intrusions, including those located in foreign jurisdictions who do harm to American businesses and victims.”
“Scattered Spider has repeatedly targeted U.S. companies, extorting employees, inflicting millions of dollars in losses, and disrupting essential operations,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “Through strong domestic and international partnerships, the FBI will continue to identify, disrupt, and hold cybercriminals accountable, no matter where they are located.”
According to the complaint, Scattered Spider, also known as “Octo Tempest,” “UNC3944,” and “0ktapus,” is a group of criminal cyber actors that has targeted numerous corporate victims in the United States by gaining access to companies’ employee accounts through fraudulent pretenses, encrypting the companies’ data or exfiltrating it to remote servers, and then extorting cryptocurrency from the companies to regain control over their data or prevent the dissemination of the data.
Among other offenses, the complaint alleges that Stokes and other co-conspirators breached a luxury jewelry retailer’s computer system, exfiltrated data from the company, and made a ransom demand of approximately $8 million in cryptocurrency in May 2025. The retailer’s security personnel successfully evicted the threat actors from the company’s computer network and no ransom was paid. The retailer nonetheless suffered a loss of at least $2 million due to business disruption, investigation, and mitigation of the threat.
The FBI Chicago Field Office investigated the case. The FBI’s Copenhagen Law Enforcement Attaché Office assisted.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Deputy Chief Adrienne L. Rose of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Chang and Ann Marie Ursini for the Northern District of Illinois. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Finnish authorities to secure the extradition of Stokes. The Department of Justice also acknowledges and appreciates the assistance of Finland's National Bureau of Investigation in this matter.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cyber and IP criminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
This action is part of Operation Riptide, an ongoing FBI campaign targeting the criminal actors, infrastructure, and financial networks behind cybercrime, cyber-enabled crime, and fraud against the American people. Last year, Americans reported over $20 billion in losses to cybercrime, a 26 percent single-year increase. Operation Riptide is the FBI’s sustained enforcement response to that threat.
A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Alleged Member of Criminal Cyber Hacking Group “Scattered Spider” Arrested in Finland and Extradited to United StatesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — An alleged member of the criminal cyber hacking group Scattered Spider has been arrested in Finland and extradited to the United States to face federal criminal conspiracy charges in the Northern District of Illinois.
A criminal complaint unsealed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago charges PETER STOKES, 19, a dual citizen of the United States and Estonia, with conspiracy, cyber intrusion, and fraud offenses. Stokes was arrested by Finnish authorities in April pursuant to an Interpol Red Notice and extradited to the United States last week. He made an initial appearance on Tuesday in federal court in Chicago and was ordered to remain detained in law enforcement custody.
According to the complaint, Scattered Spider, also known as “Octo Tempest,” “UNC3944,” and “0ktapus,” is a group of criminal cyber actors that has been involved with more than 100 network intrusions, resulting in more than approximately $100 million in ransom payments and millions of dollars in damages to the victims. The group has targeted numerous corporate victims in the United States by gaining access to companies’ employee accounts through fraudulent pretenses, encrypting the companies’ data or exfiltrating it to remote servers, and then extorting cryptocurrency from the companies to regain control over their data or prevent the dissemination of the data.
The complaint against Stokes describes a cyber intrusion in May 2025 against a luxury jewelry retailer. Stokes and likely other co-conspirators breached the retailer’s computer system, exfiltrated data from the company, and made a ransom demand of approximately $8 million in cryptocurrency, the complaint states. The retailer’s security personnel successfully evicted the threat actors from the company’s computer network and no ransom was paid. The retailer nonetheless suffered a loss of at least $2 million due to business disruption, investigation, and mitigation of the threat.
The charges and extradition were announced by A. Tysen Duva, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The FBI’s Copenhagen Law Enforcement Attaché Office and the FBI Las Vegas Field Office assisted. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Chang and Ann Marie Ursini of the Northern District of Illinois, and Assistant Deputy Chief Adrienne L. Rose of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS). The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Finnish authorities to secure the extradition of Stokes. The Department of Justice acknowledges and appreciates the assistance of Finland's National Bureau of Investigation in this matter.
“The criminal complaint charges Peter Stokes with membership in Scattered Spider, a hacking group that has been involved in over 100 network intrusions, resulting in more than $100 million in ransom payments and millions more in damages to the victims,” said Assistant Attorney General Duva. “The charges unsealed today are the result of years of work by the Criminal Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, and the FBI. We will continue to partner to ensure that cybercriminals cannot evade the reach of the United States.”
“The malicious attacks from Scattered Spider caused widespread disruption to businesses and organizations throughout the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “As Co-Chair of the White Collar, Cyber, and Crypto Subcommittee of Acting Attorney General Blanche’s Advisory Committee, I am acutely aware of the significant and growing threat posed by brazen cyber criminals. These charges underscore our unwavering commitment to keeping pace with technologically savvy criminal actors and holding accountable those who seek to profit from cyber intrusions, including those located in foreign jurisdictions who do harm to American businesses and victims.”
“The responsibility of protecting our nation's security and welfare extends beyond our borders, over international territories, and most critically, in the cyber universe,” said FBI SAC DePodesta. “Thanks to our international partnerships and cross-agency collaboration, the FBI successfully identified a known Scattered Spider actor alleged to have targeted hardworking Americans and critical infrastructure. The FBI will stop at nothing to ensure that Americans are free from attacks and danger, wherever it may be lurking.”
This action is part of Operation Riptide, an ongoing FBI campaign targeting the criminal actors, infrastructure, and financial networks behind cybercrime, cyber-enabled crime, and fraud against the American people. Last year, Americans reported over $20 billion in losses to cybercrime, a 26 percent single-year increase. Operation Riptide is the FBI's sustained enforcement response to that threat.
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
stokes_superseding_complaint.pdfFederal Judge Sentences Man to Eight Years in Prison for Robbing U.S. Postal Service Carrier in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a man to eight years in prison for robbing a U.S. Postal Service carrier in Chicago.
The robbery occurred on March 18, 2022, in the 700 block of South Claremont Avenue in Chicago. The carrier was delivering mail when HENRY L. MOORER approached on foot and demanded postal property from the carrier. Moorer then pulled a semiautomatic handgun from the pocket of his sweatshirt and displayed the butt of the firearm. The carrier raised his arms in the air as Moorer grabbed the postal property from the carrier and walked away. Moorer then fled the area in his vehicle.
At the time of the robbery, Moorer was on electronic monitoring for an unrelated criminal case in the Circuit Cook of Cook County. He was arrested in March 2024 and has remained detained in law enforcement custody since then.
Moorer, 33, of Chicago, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to a federal robbery charge. On June 18, 2026, U.S. District Judge John J. Tharp, Jr. sentenced Moorer to eight years in federal prison, to be served concurrently with a criminal sentence Moorer is serving for an unrelated state court conviction.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Nicholas Bucciarelli, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
“Robbery is a serious, dangerous crime that threatens public safety,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia K. Schwartz argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “The danger attendant to all robberies is heightened in cases where—like defendant—the robber possesses a firearm. This traumatized the victim Postal worker and could have escalated into a situation posing serious physical harm to the Postal worker and the public.”
Chicago Man Sentenced to Nearly Eight Years in Prison for Fraudulently Arranging Utility Services in Exchange for FeesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Chicago man has been sentenced to nearly eight years in federal prison for fraudulently arranging utility services to be provided to 2,000 properties in exchange for fees.
DAVID W. BROWN offered to arrange electricity and natural gas services for residential and commercial properties in the Chicago area in return for fees. After finding property owners and tenants willing to pay him, Brown opened new accounts for utility services at their addresses, knowing that neither he nor the purported customer intended to pay for it. Brown knew it would typically take from 90 days to several months for the utility companies to disconnect service for lack of payment, allowing the addresses to receive free services for significant periods of time.
Brown opened the accounts using false customer names and identifying information to deceive the service providers. Once a utility company initiated the process to terminate service, Brown often continued the service by fraudulently opening new accounts in the names of different false customers at the same address.
Brown typically received payments ranging from $50 to $150 every few months from the property owners and tenants who received the services. From 2017 to 2024, Brown caused Commonwealth Edison, Nicor Gas, and People’s Gas to fraudulently provide at least $8.5 million in services to more than two thousand residential and commercial properties in the Chicago area.
Brown, 56, of Chicago, pleaded guilty in July 2025 to a federal wire fraud charge. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge LaShonda A. Hunt sentenced Brown to 92 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay approximately $8.5 million in restitution to Commonwealth Edison, Nicor Gas, and People’s Gas.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.
“Defendant’s scheme caused significant losses to local utility service providers,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick D. Young argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “The fees collected by defendant demonstrate that his primary motivation was to benefit himself.”
Chicago Man Charged with Transporting Child Pornography on Flight to MexicoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Chicago man has been charged with transporting child pornography on a flight from Chicago to Mexico.
THOMAS NEAL, 42, possessed images and videos of child pornography on his cell phone when he flew from O’Hare International Airport in Chicago to Benito Juárez International Airport in Mexico City, Mexico, on June 17, 2026, according to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Upon arrival, Neal was selected for secondary screening by Mexican border authorities, at which time the authorities observed images on Neal’s phone that constituted child pornography, the complaint states. Mexican border authorities secured Neal’s phone and other luggage, which included two laptops and six electronic storage devices, and placed him and the luggage on a flight to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, the complaint states.
Upon arrival in Houston, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents reviewed Neal’s phone pursuant to their border search authority and observed hundreds of files that constitute child pornography, the complaint states. Neal is currently employed as a teacher at a high school in the Northern District of Illinois, the complaint states.
The complaint charges Neal with one count of transportation of child pornography. The charge is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in a federal prison and a maximum of 20 years.
Neal is currently detained in federal custody pending a detention hearing on June 29, 2026, at 12:30 p.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel A. Fuentes in Chicago.
The complaint was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of HSI. Substantial assistance was provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin Walgamuth.
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
neal_complaint.pdfChicago Man Arrested in Connection with Planned Violent Attack at Ultimate Fighting Championship Event at White HouseRead the Press Release
A Chicago man has been arrested in connection with the planned violent attack at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event at the White House earlier this month.
Alexander Iniguez Mercado, 20, of Chicago, was allegedly an administrator and member of Signal messaging groups that included members who appeared to communicate with others regarding the planning of a violent attack targeting the UFC event at the White House on June 14, according to an indictment returned Thursday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Seven other individuals from multiple states have been charged in connection with the planning of the violent attack. More information about the other defendants charged as part of this investigation is here and here.
According to the indictment against Mercado, the day before the UFC event, a special agent from the FBI spoke with Mercado by telephone. The agent informed Mercado that he was calling to discuss online threats regarding the UFC event, and he asked whether Mercado planned to travel to Washington, D.C., to help with the attack, the indictment states. Mercado allegedly denied those plans and advised the agent that he did not want to meet with the agent. Mercado then uninstalled the Signal application on his phone, which caused the data on his phone relating to those messages to become unavailable, the indictment states.
Mercado is charged with obstruction of justice. If convicted, the maximum penalty is 20 years in prison. Mercado was arrested on Thursday. He is scheduled to make an initial appearance in federal court in Chicago today at 3:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel A. Fuentes for the Northern District of Illinois.
“Obstructing justice in a law enforcement investigation into a planned violent domestic attack is a profoundly serious offense,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros for the Northern District of Illinois. “The investigation in this case involved serious threats to public safety, including the safety of President Donald J. Trump, the 45th and 47th President of the United States of America, other members of government, as well as the many attendees and athletes who attended the event at the White House. Any obstructive conduct to interfere with this investigation undermines the integrity of the justice system as well as the rule of law. The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will pursue all appropriate charges against those who act to obstruct law enforcement investigations because safeguarding the public depends on the full, unhindered pursuit of the evidence.”
“The FBI’s most important responsibility of protecting the American people means that our personnel work 24/7/365 to evaluate the ever-changing threat landscape and disrupt acts of violence before they occur,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas S. DePodesta of the FBI’s Chicago Field Office. “Thanks to the partnerships on the FBI Chicago’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, to include the relentless work by the U.S. Secret Service, this attack was successfully foiled before any innocent people were gravely injured or killed. While the FBI will continue to use every available resource to hold accountable those who seek to terrorize our community, we urge the public to join us in this effort by immediately calling 9-1-1, 1-800-CALL-FBI, or submitting to tips.fbi.gov if they encounter any suspicious or threatening behavior, in-person or online.”
“The safety and security of the President of the United States and all those under our protection is the U.S. Secret Service’s highest priority,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge James Morley of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) Chicago Field Office. “We approach this mission with dedication and vigilance in the current heightened threat environment. Successfully carrying out our protective mission is strengthened by strong partnerships. I want to thank the FBI for its steadfast collaboration and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of Illinois for its relentless pursuit of justice.”
The FBI and USSS are investigating the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois is prosecuting the case with valuable assistance provided by the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
An indictment merely contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.