Northern District of Illinois
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Undocumented Immigrant Sentenced to More than a Year in Prison for Unlawfully Re-Entering United States After DeportationRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — An undocumented immigrant with an extensive criminal history in Illinois has been sentenced to more than a year in federal prison for illegally re-entering the United States after deportation.
LUIS CHAVEZ was deported from the United States to his native Mexico in 2015 after being convicted of firearm and attempted burglary offenses in Kankakee County, Ill. At some point between 2015 and 2024, Chavez re-entered the United States without inspection or admission by U.S. immigration authorities. On Feb. 17, 2024, Chavez was found to be present in Kankakee County and was later taken into federal custody.
Chavez, 34, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal charge of illegal re-entry. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins sentenced Chavez to 15 months in federal prison with credit for the time he already served in federal custody pending the final disposition of his case.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Russell Hott, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Chicago.
“The defendant in this case committed serious criminal offenses in the United States before his deportation and removal,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “He then ignored a Court order and returned to the United States without authorization. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago will continue to enforce all federal criminal immigration laws to promote respect for the law, keep our communities safe from defendants with criminal histories, and protect the integrity and sovereignty of our borders.”
“This case underscores the critical importance of enforcing our nation’s immigration laws,” said Field Office Director Hott. “Chavez’s unlawful re-entry into the United States after deportation, combined with his extensive criminal history, posed a threat to public safety and the rule of law. ERO Chicago remains committed to identifying, apprehending, and removing individuals who violate our immigration laws and endanger our communities.”
Three Individuals Charged in Federal Court in Chicago with Using Their Vehicles to Impede and Interfere with the Work of Federal AgentsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO – Three individuals have been charged in federal court in Chicago with using their vehicles to impede and interfere with the work of federal agents in the Chicago area.
The charges allege that two of the three defendants rammed their vehicles into vehicles being driven by federal agents, while the third defendant rear-ended a federal law enforcement vehicle, according to criminal complaints filed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago.
The defendants have made their initial appearances in federal court. The charges are as follows:
WIDMAN OSBERTO LOPEZ FUNES, 18, of Bensenville, Ill., is charged with felony assault of a federal officer and depredation of U.S. property. Lopez Funes was driving a vehicle in Bensenville, Ill., on Oct. 1, 2025, when he allegedly forcibly struck a vehicle being driven by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations.
MIGUEL ESCARENO DE LOERA, 20, of Woodridge, Ill., is charged with felony assault of a federal officer. De Loera was driving a vehicle in Woodridge, Ill., on Oct. 2, 2025, when on three occasions he allegedly forcibly struck a vehicle being driven by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations.
JOEL GONZALEZ, 23, of Chicago, is charged with forcibly impeding and interfering with a federal officer, a misdemeanor. Gonzalez was driving a vehicle in Chicago on Oct. 2, 2025, when he allegedly impeded and interfered with a group of vehicles being driven by agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The federal charges were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew J. Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago.
The public is reminded that a complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
lopez_funes_complaint.pdf de_loera_complaint.pdf gonzalez_complaint.pdfRockford Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Rockford man was sentenced yesterday to nine years in federal prison for possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number and selling firearms without a license
ANGEL BARRERA-ESTEVES, 27, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of possessing a firearm with the serial number removed and one count of selling firearms without a federal firearms dealer’s license. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston sentenced Barrera-Esteves to 108 months in prison.
Barrera-Esteves admitted that in 2022, he illegally possessed a semi-automatic handgun that he defaced and later sold. Barrera-Esteves further admitted that between 2021 and 2022, he sold seven firearms, manufactured or obtained by him, without a federal firearms dealer’s license. Several of those firearms were obtained illegally through his mother, JESSICA BARRERA, who purchased the firearms and transferred them to Barrera-Esteves. Once received, Barrera-Esteves removed the serial numbers and sold the firearms to people he knew could not possess firearms or would use the firearms for illegal purposes. Barrera-Esteves also sold ammunition that he illegally obtained through his mother, as well as a Glock auto-sear.
Jessica Barrera, 56, of Rockford, was sentenced last month to nearly three years in federal prison for her involvement.
Barrera-Esteves’s sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of ATF’s Chicago Field Division. The Rockford Police Department assisted in the investigation. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vincenza L. Tomlinson.
Holding illegal firearm possessors accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to tackle a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.
Three Chicago-Area Men Indicted in Federal Court for Allegedly Scheming to Open Credit Cards in the Names of Deceased IndividualsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO – A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted three men for allegedly orchestrating a scheme to fraudulently open credit cards in the names of recently deceased individuals. Two of the men—brothers from suburban Chicago—are also charged with fraudulently obtaining small business loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act and falsely claiming tax credits to which they were not entitled.
In the alleged credit card fraud, ROOSEVELT GARRETT and his brother, TORIENCE GARRETT, schemed with FRANKLIN SIMMONS to fraudulently obtain credit cards in the names of recently deceased individuals, including two former residents of Illinois, according to an indictment returned in the Northern District of Illinois. After using the deceased individuals’ personal identifying information to obtain the cards, the Garretts and Simmons made purchases for themselves and did not repay the credit card companies, the indictment states. The Garretts and Simmons also charged the cards to purported business entities that they controlled, allowing them to convert the credit card fraud proceeds to cash, the indictment states.
The indictment also alleges that the Garretts engaged in fraud related to the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL)—a source of relief under the CARES Act. The indictment alleges that in June 2020, the Garretts submitted two fraudulent applications for EIDL loans on behalf of business entities that they purportedly owned and operated. The applications contained materially false statements and misrepresentations about the purported entities, including the number of employees and gross revenues, the indictment states. The Garretts allegedly used the EIDL funds to make cash withdrawals and transfers for their personal use and not for the operations of the purported entities.
The tax charges accuse the Garretts of misstating in corporate tax returns the number of employees of the purported entities they controlled and the wages allegedly paid by those companies. Additionally, Simmons fraudulently underreported to the IRS the income he derived from a purported entity he controlled and which he used in connection with the fraudulent credit card scheme, the indictment states.
The indictment charges Roosevelt Garrett, 57, of Itasca, Ill., with four counts of wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud, four counts of filing false corporate tax returns, and one count of failing to file an individual tax return. Torience Garrett, 53, of Bolingbrook, Ill., is charged with four counts of wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud, four counts of filing false corporate tax returns, and one count of money laundering. Simmons, 64, of Chicago, is charged with three counts of wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud, and two counts of filing a false individual tax return.
The defendants were arraigned in federal court in Chicago and pleaded not guilty to the charges. A status hearing is scheduled for Oct. 22, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman.
The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Adam Jobes, Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago. Substantial assistance was provided by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Chicago. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Maione.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Anyone with information about attempted fraud involving Covid-19 is encouraged to report it to the Department of Justice by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or filing an online complaint at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
garrett_et_al_indictment.pdfFive Individuals Charged in Federal Court in Chicago with Assaulting or Resisting Federal Agents Engaged in Immigration Enforcement OperationsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO – Five individuals have been charged in federal court in Chicago with assaulting or forcibly resisting federal agents who were engaged in immigration enforcement operations in Broadview, Ill. over the weekend.
The defendants were among a crowd of people who descended in front of the entrance to a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on Saturday evening, according to criminal complaints filed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The charges allege that the defendants made criminal physical contact against federal agents who were working outside of the facility to ensure the safe passage of agents, detainees, and vehicles into and out of the building. Two of the defendants possessed loaded firearms while assaulting federal agents, according to the federal complaint.
“Under my leadership, the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will take swift action when law enforcement personnel are criminally assaulted or individuals cross the line from peaceful protests to criminal mischief, assaults on federal officers, obstruction of justice, or the destruction of federal property,” said Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. “We are working hand-and-glove with our federal law enforcement partners across the various federal agencies to maintain peace, respect individual rights, and prosecute those who violate federal criminal laws, including through activity that endangers officer and public safety. We will not hesitate to hold accountable those who attack and undermine the rule of law, including by resorting to violence and criminal mischief to interfere, obstruct, or impede the important work of the federal government as it is conducted in the Northern District of Illinois.”
The defendants made their initial appearances today in federal court in Chicago. The charges are as follows:
RAY COLLINS, 31, of Chicago, is charged with felony assault of a federal officer. Collins allegedly possessed a loaded handgun when he charged toward agents and struggled with them, causing an injury to one of the agents.
JOCELYNE ROBLEDO, 30, of Chicago, is charged with felony assault of a federal officer. Robledo allegedly possessed a loaded handgun when she pushed agents who were attempting to extend a safety perimeter around the facility.
PAUL IVERY, 26, of Oak Park, Ill., is charged with felony assault of a federal officer. Ivery allegedly grabbed an agent's helmet and pulled the agent's head down. Ivery allegedly told agents, "I'll [expletive] kill you right now."
DANA BRIGGS, 70, of Rockford, Ill., is charged with felony assault of a federal officer. Briggs allegedly made physical contact with an agent’s arm while the agent attempted to extend the safety perimeter around the facility.
HUBERT MAZUR, 21, of Medinah, Ill., is charged with forcibly resisting, opposing, impeding, and interfering with a federal officer, a misdemeanor. Mazur allegedly grabbed an agent’s arm before he and the agent ended up on the ground. Mazur allegedly continued to resist arrest while struggling with the agent.
U.S. Attorney Boutros announced the charges along with Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Lucas Rothaar, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Matthew J. Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago.
“Federal law enforcement officers risk their lives daily to enforce the laws of this nation and safeguard our communities,” said HSI SAC Scarpino. “Any acts of violence, obstruction, or resistance against these brave professionals will be met with forceful and unyielding action. This blatant lawlessness and baseless attacks on the integrity of ICE agents and officers are intolerable and must cease immediately.”
“The FBI is committed to bringing swift and decisive action against anyone who seeks to bring harm to federal law enforcement,” said FBI Acting SAC Rothaar. “Officers who are sworn to protect and serve our communities must be able to do their jobs free from intimidation. The FBI will continue to work with our prosecutorial and law enforcement partners to investigate those who compromise the safety of our public servants.”
“While assisting our federal partners in securing the ICE Broadview facility on Saturday, ATF and Border Patrol agents were assaulted by violent and armed protestors, resulting in injury to an ATF agent,” said ATF SAC Amon. “ATF takes all assaults on law enforcement seriously and will continue to work closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure those responsible are held fully accountable for their actions.”
The public is reminded that a complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
ivery_complaint.pdf briggs_complaint.pdf mazur_complaint.pdf collins_and_robledo_complaint.pdfMore Than Two Million Illicit Vaping Products Seized in Nationwide SweepRead the Press Release
The Justice Department, together with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), announced today that recent actions targeting unauthorized flavored e-cigarettes, or vapes, resulted in the seizure of more than 2.1 million illicit vaping products taken from five distributors and six retailers across seven different states.
In seizure complaints and accompanying court papers filed in U.S. District Court, the government alleged that the distributors and retailers where the electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) products were seized received previous warnings from the FDA that their ENDS products required premarket authorization before they could legally be sold. According to the seizure complaints, recent FDA inspections and undercover purchases by agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) showed that the firms continued to sell or distribute unauthorized ENDS products.
The seizures were carried out by the U.S. Marshals Service, ATF agents, and other law enforcement partners, with support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and FDA.
“These dangerous and unauthorized vapes are often smuggled in from China to be sold near schools and military bases, putting our kids and service members directly at risk,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This is a national security issue, and this month’s raids are just the beginning. Working with our partners at HHS, we will prosecute anyone participating in the illegal sale of these products.”
“Along with our partners, the U.S. Marshals seized and removed from the marketplace more than 2 million non-FDA approved products from five warehouse distribution centers and six retail locations across the country,” said Director Gadyaces S. Serralta of the U.S. Marshals Service. “This operation is a great example of the U.S. Marshals Service and its partners joining forces to protect our youth and to Make America Healthy Again.”
“The vaping products seized by the United States Marshals Service threatened the health and safety of our communities and undermined the integrity of statutory and regulatory safeguards designed to protect consumers, including our nation’s youth,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros for the Northern District of Illinois, where one of the largest seizures took place. “Americans expect and deserve that prohibited products never make their way on consumer shelves, and that other products are lawfully marketed and comply with all federal laws and regulations. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure illegal products never enter into the stream of commerce and pursue all possible civil and criminal remedies against those who violate federal laws and regulations.”
The Department of Justice also filed civil injunctive actions against the distributors and retailers where the products were seized to prevent future violations. Those complaints allege that the defendants continued to market adulterated and misbranded tobacco products despite receiving warnings from FDA that they were violating the law. The injunction actions were filed against the same entities where the seizures took place along with related individuals, including:
- Tampa Vapor, a Tampa, Florida company, and its owner, Michael R. Synychak, filed in the Middle District of Florida;
- Progressive Retail Inc., doing business as Rainbow Food Mart, a Tampa, Florida company, and its president, Varun Chawla, filed in the Middle District of Florida;
- Bouslimi Holdings, Inc., doing business as Marathon/Food Center, a Tampa, Florida company, and its president, Imed Bouslimi, filed in the Middle District of Florida;
- A Joint Effort, Inc. doing business as Blvd Smoke Shop, a Miami, Florida, company, and its officer and director, Husam Bahhur, filed in the Southern District of Florida;
- Calle 8 Petroleum LLC, doing business as UGAS/Circle K, a company based in Miami, Florida, and its owner, Rashid A. Saeed, filed in the Southern District of Florida;
- Smoke House Sunset, a company based in Los Angeles, California, and its owner, Ali Masoud, filed in the Central District of California;
- D&A Distribution, LLC, doing business as Strictly E-Cig, a corporation based in Savannah, Georgia, and owner Robert S. Ali, filed in the Southern District of Georgia;
- PSM101, LLC doing business as Center Point Distributors, a corporation based in South Plainfield, New Jersey, and its owner Niravkumar G. Vora, filed in the District of New Jersey;
- B&G Trading LLC doing business as Vaportech Wholesale, a corporation based in Phoenix, Arizona, and its co-owners Ataman Bilgin and Hasmet Girgin, filed in the District of Arizona;
- Midwest Goods Inc. doing business as Midwest Distribution and Midwest Distribution Illinois, a corporation based in Bensenville, Illinois, and its owner and CEO, Kamran Yasin, filed in the Northern District of Illinois; and
- Dream Distro LLC, a company based in Garner, North Carolina, and its owner, Faisal A. Alhadrami, filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina.
An additional injunctive action was filed against Gorilla Vapes LLC, a New Jersey company, and its co-owners Nick Jurczyk and Russell Jurczyk, in the District of New Jersey.
Under the law, ENDS manufacturers generally must obtain premarket review of new tobacco products and obtain FDA’s marketing authorization before they can be legally sold through interstate commerce. In each of the seizure actions, the court issued a warrant authorizing the seizure of specified unapproved vapes that lacked marketing authorization.
Trial Attorneys Coleen Schoch, James T. Nelson, Roger Gural, Zachary L. Cowan, and Pauline A. Stamatelos of the Justice Department’s Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch are handling the cases under the leadership of Sarmad Khojasteh, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott D. Heffron for the Northern District of Illinois, Carlos Raurell for the Southern District of Florida, Joseph Bozdech for the District of Arizona, and other AUSAs from districts across the country provided critical support, along with attorneys at the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of General Counsel and FDA’s Office of the Chief Counsel.
Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.
The claims announced today are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
Federal Indictment Charges Man with Forging Signatures of United States District Court JudgesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted a man for allegedly forging the signatures of two United States District Court judges in court filings.
WALTER BRZOWSKI, 67, of Chicago, is charged with eleven counts of forgery in an indictment returned Tuesday in the Northern District of Illinois. Each count is punishable by a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. Arraignment in federal court in Chicago has not yet been scheduled.
According to the indictment and a criminal complaint previously filed in the case, Brzowski represented himself in numerous civil lawsuits that he initiated in federal court in Chicago. The U.S. District Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit dismissed the lawsuits and found that many of Brzowski’s filings were frivolous. In 2021, the Executive Committee of the U.S. District Court in Chicago issued an order placing restrictions on Brzowski’s ability to file new civil cases and warned that violating the order may lead to monetary sanctions or a contempt of court finding.
In 2023, Brzowski filed a “notice” in the District Court stating that he was relieved of any previously imposed prohibitions and instructing the District Court Clerk’s Office to “rescind any filing restrictions,” the charges allege. The notice included an attached Executive Committee Order that was purportedly signed by U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer. The District Court determined that Brzowski had forged Judge Pallmeyer’s signature and sanctioned him $25,000, the charges allege. Brzowski allegedly continued to file materials with the Court, including multiple filings in 2025 that contained forged signatures of Judge Pallmeyer and U.S. District Chief Judge Virginia M. Kendall.
The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Ruth Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and LaDon A. Reynolds, United States Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Stern.
“The forgery of a judge’s signature is a serious matter and an attack on the rule of law,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “We will hold accountable those who use forgeries and frauds to undermine the important judicial work of the Honorable Judges of the Northern District of Illinois.”
“The defendant allegedly sent fraudulent court orders through the U.S. mail bearing forged signatures of multiple United States District Court judges in an effort to circumvent standing orders and unlawfully twist the legal system to his favor,” said Inspector-in-Charge Mendonça. “Thankfully, Chicago Postal Inspectors uncovered his scheme to delegitimize the rule of law, and brought him to justice."
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.
brzowski_complaint.pdf brzowski_indictment_stamped.pdfFederal Indictment Charges Chicago Police Officer with Conspiring to “Straw Purchase” Firearms on Behalf of AcquaintanceRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Chicago Police officer has been indicted on federal firearm charges for allegedly conspiring to “straw purchase” firearms on behalf of an acquaintance who transported the guns to Mexico.
In the fall of 2024, KEVIN RODRIGUEZ used his status as a Chicago Police officer to purchase an AR-15 style assault rifle in Dyer, Ind., and a handgun in Monee, Ill., and falsely certified on required forms that he was the actual buyer of the guns, according to an indictment unsealed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Rodriguez purchased the guns on behalf of an acquaintance, DIEGO VALDEZ, who identified which firearms he wanted and paid Rodriguez to buy them, the indictment states. After falsely completing the forms and making the purchases, Rodriguez provided the firearms to Valdez, who then smuggled them into Mexico, the indictment states.
The indictment charges Rodriguez, 27, of Chicago, with one count of conspiracy, one count of knowingly making false statements in connection with the acquisition of a firearm, and one count of knowingly purchasing a firearm intended for another individual in furtherance of a felony. Valdez, 25, of Chicago, is charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of knowingly receiving a straw purchased firearm. The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges during their arraignments earlier this week in federal court in Chicago. A status hearing is set for Oct. 8, 2025, before U.S. District Judge John J. Tharp, Jr.
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 government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elie Zenner.
The investigation is being conducted in coordination with ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago. The CGIC is a centralized law enforcement hub that focuses exclusively on investigating and preventing gun violence in Chicago and throughout northern Illinois. The CGIC is an interagency collaboration that brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and intelligence analysts to move quickly to investigate and prosecute violent crimes.
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.
rodriguez_and_valdez_indictment.pdfRockford Man Sentenced to More than Six Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Rockford man has been sentenced to more than six years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm.
WESLEY SMITH, 37, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston sentenced Smith to 77 months in prison.
Smith admitted in a plea agreement that on May 2, 2024, he possessed a loaded firearm in a residence in Rockford.
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 & Explosives, and Gary Caruana, Winnebago County Sheriff. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Kim.
Holding illegal firearm possessors accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.
Federal Judge Sentences Man to More than Seven Years in Prison for Robbing U.S. Postal Service Carrier in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a man to more than seven years in prison for robbing a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier at gunpoint in Chicago.
The robbery occurred on the afternoon of Nov. 10, 2023, in the 900 block of North Francisco Avenue in Chicago. RICHARD THOMPSON approached the carrier as she was stepping out of her USPS vehicle. The carrier retreated into the vehicle when she saw Thompson approaching, but Thompson followed her inside and blocked her exit. He then displayed a handgun and demanded and obtained the carrier’s USPS-issued Arrow Key, which opens certain postal collection boxes. Thompson then fled the area with the Arrow Key. He was arrested in May 2024 and has remained in federal custody since then.
At the time of the robbery, Thompson was on pre-trial release in the Circuit Cook of Cook County for an unrelated criminal charge.
Thompson, 54, of Chicago, pleaded guilty last year to a federal robbery charge. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Andrea R. Wood sentenced Thompson to seven 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 Ruth Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Valuable assistance was provided by the Chicago Police Department. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Branka Cimesa.
“The U.S. Postal Service serves a critically important government function and its employees must be allowed to deliver mail to the American people safely and securely,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “Furthermore, stealing a mailbox Arrow Key is a serious crime; it gives criminals access to certain mailboxes of everyday citizens, who rely on the Postal Service to receive their mail. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago will work closely with our law enforcement partners to prosecute to the full extent of the law those individuals who seek to gain access to the public’s mail whether through violence, theft, or fraud.”
“This sentencing is another example of the roles postal inspectors and our law enforcement partners play in protecting Postal Service employees and customers,” said USPIS Inspector-in-Charge Mendonça. “As Postal Service employees continue to play an integral role in our communities, we are clear in our resolve to aggressively investigate anyone who brings harm to these invaluable public servants.”
Rockford Man Sentenced to over a Year in Prison for Straw Purchasing FirearmsRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Rockford man was sentenced yesterday to thirteen months in federal prison for straw purchasing three firearms.
JAMARIUS HOLMAN, 25, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of knowingly providing a false and fictitious written statement to a federally licensed dealer of firearms, misrepresenting that he was the actual buyer of the firearms, when, in fact, he knew he was not the actual buyer.
Holman admitted that in May of 2023, he purchased three firearms in two separate transactions for an individual who was legally prohibited from owning a firearm and did not have a valid Firearm Owners Identification. Holman falsely completed firearms transaction records indicating that he was the actual transferee/buyer of the firearms.
Holman was sentenced on Thursday by U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston 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 ATF’s Chicago Field Division.
Holding illegal firearm possessors accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to tackle a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ladd.
Exchange of Gunfire in Suburban Chicago Parking Lot Leads to 20-Year Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man involved in an exchange of gunfire in a suburban Chicago parking lot has been sentenced to more than 20 years in federal prison.
ANTHONY HAYES and JAMARI WILLIAMS each fired multiple rounds at REGINALD DANIELS in a parking lot of an auto repair shop in Calumet City, Ill., on Aug. 9, 2021. Daniels and another individual with him were wounded. Daniels drew a gun from his waistband and fired multiple rounds at Hayes and Williams as they ran away. One of Daniels’s shots struck an innocent bystander who happened to be driving near the store. The innocent bystander suffered life-altering injuries.
Three days after the shootings, law enforcement executed a court-authorized search of Hayes’s residence and discovered eight firearms, including the guns used by Hayes and Williams in the shooting of Daniels and the individual with him. Hayes, Williams, and Daniels were indicted in federal court in 2022 and have been in federal custody since then.
Hayes, 27, of Dolton, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal charge of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. On Monday, U.S. District Judge John J. Tharp, Jr., sentenced Hayes to 20 years and eight months in federal prison.
Williams, 26, and Daniels, 33, both of Chicago, also pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal firearm charges. Williams was sentenced last month to ten years in prison, while Daniels was sentenced in June to eight and a half years.
The sentences 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 and Explosives. Substantial assistance was provided by the Calumet City, Ill. Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, South Suburban Emergency Response Team, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, and Illinois State Police.
“By letting loose a hail of bullets towards an open business abutting a busy four-lane thoroughfare, defendant threatened countless other repair shop customers, employees, and passersby,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mower argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum in Hayes’s case. “Justice accordingly demands commensurate punishment.”
Man Sentenced to More than Six and a Half Years in Prison for ATM Card-Skimming FraudRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man has been sentenced to more than six and a half years in federal prison for installing card-skimming devices on ATMs in Chicago and New Jersey to steal debit card numbers and PINs from unsuspecting victims.
FLORIN NICOLAE TARTA and two others installed the devices on numerous Bank of America ATMs. The devices consisted of a metallic plate on which a card reader, memory chip, and battery had been affixed. Once inserted into the ATM, the device could capture financial account information from users’ cards. Tarta and the co-schemers also placed a pinhole camera near the ATM’s keypad to record ATM users inputting their PINs.
Several days after the devices were installed, Tarta and the others removed them from the ATMs and used a computer to convert the captured data to magnetic strips on the back of gift cards. The defendants then used the counterfeit gift cards to withdraw cash at various banks. Losses from the unauthorized transactions totaled $177,280.
The defendants’ scheme came to end in March 2024 when law enforcement located the hidden camera on an ATM in Westfield, N.J. Tarta was arrested when he returned to the ATM.
A jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago earlier this year convicted Tarta, 40, of Satu Mare, Romania, on bank fraud, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft charges. On Sept. 10, 2025, U.S. District Judge LaShonda A. Hunt sentenced Tarta to six years and 9 months in federal prison.
Two co-defendants pleaded guilty and were previously sentenced in the case. LEONID GRIGORE SMETANCA, 45, of Satu Mare, Romania, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, while RADU FARCAS, 42, of London, England, was sentenced to two and a half years.
The sentences were 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. Valuable assistance was provided by the Westfield, N.J. Police Department.
“Defendant repeatedly engaged in criminal conduct that imposes an enormous toll on the U.S. economy,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Hayes argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum in Tarta’s case. “Card skimming is a widespread problem plaguing financial institutions and consumers.”
Suburban Chicago Man Indicted on Federal Healthcare Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been indicted on federal healthcare fraud charges for allegedly submitting more than $17.3 million in fraudulent claims to a private insurer.
SHAWN BASHIR created fictitious entities called Success for Kids and Growing Kids Therapy, which purportedly provided early intervention services to children. From 2019 to 2025, Bashir submitted and caused to be submitted false and fraudulent claims from those entities to a private insurer for therapy services that had not actually been provided, according to an indictment unsealed Friday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Bashir submitted and caused the submission of approximately $17.3 million in false and fraudulent claims, causing the private insurer to pay at least $1.4 million for services that were not provided, the indictment states.
The indictment charges Bashir, 39, of Grayslake, Ill., with eight counts of healthcare fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. Bashir pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment on Friday in federal court in Chicago. A status hearing was scheduled for Nov. 12, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis.
The charges against Bashir mark the first indictment returned by the newly created Healthcare Fraud Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago. U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros created the Section last month to bring greater focus, efficiency, and impact to one of the Department of Justice’s top fraud enforcement priorities. The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged nearly $2 billion in alleged healthcare fraud schemes since Mr. Boutros became U.S. Attorney in April 2025.
The indictment against Bashir was announced by U.S. Attorney Boutros and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, Megan Howell, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, and Kelli Hammerl, Acting Regional Director of the Chicago Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Irene Hickey Sullivan.
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.
bashir_indictment.pdfU.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Settlement with Chicago Pharmacy for Alleged Violations of the Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
CHICAGO – The U.S. Attorney’s Office today announced a civil settlement with a Chicago pharmacy to resolve alleged violations of the Controlled Substances Act.
The alleged violations by Allcare Discount Pharmacy in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood enabled the diversion of opioids from the pharmacy over an extended period. An inspection and audit by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration found that Allcare failed to keep adequate records pertaining to the receipt and disposition of various controlled substances, including hydrocodone-acetaminophen and alprazolam. The DEA determined that Allcare also failed to provide effective controls and procedures to prevent theft and diversion of controlled substances.
From 2015 to 2017, two Allcare pharmacy techs conspired to steal more than 56,000 pills of hydrocodone and sell them outside the pharmacy. One of the techs concealed the theft by falsifying the pharmacy’s inventory to make it look like the pills had either not been received from the distributor or had been dispensed to patients. The techs pleaded guilty to federal drug charges and were sentenced in 2019 to prison terms of five years and one year.
Under the terms of the civil settlement, Allcare will pay a $250,000 penalty to the United States. Allcare also successfully fulfilled its obligations under a Memorandum of Agreement with the DEA that required the pharmacy to maintain complete and accurate records pertaining to the receipt and sale of controlled substances. The settlement is not an admission of liability by Allcare, nor a concession by the United States that its potential claims were not well-founded.
The settlement was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Shane Catone, Special Agent-in-Charge of the DEA Chicago Field Division. The civil case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Valerie R. Raedy and the Affirmative Civil Enforcement (ACE) Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“Pharmacies must take their responsibilities under the Controlled Substances Act seriously and comply with security protocols and proper oversight to prevent diversion of controlled substances,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to enforce full compliance with the Controlled Substances Act and protect our communities from the dangers of opioid diversion and abuse.”
allcare_discount_pharmacy_settlement_agreement_fully_executed.final_-_readable_copy.pdfMan Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Carjacking Three Vehicles in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a man to 22 years in prison for carjacking three vehicles at gunpoint in Chicago and shooting one of the victims.
JAMARI EDWARDS carjacked the vehicles in August 2022 in the West Englewood neighborhood of Chicago. The first carjacking occurred in the drive-thru area of a coffee shop, while the other two occurred outside of a convenience store at a gas station. In each of the carjackings, Edwards pointed a gun at the driver and demanded the keys to the car. In the coffee shop carjacking, Edwards shot the driver in the leg after the driver had already given Edwards the key and exited the vehicle. Before shooting the driver, Edwards asked him words to the effect of, “Why are you not scared?”
Edwards, 23, of Chicago, was arrested in 2022 and has remained in law enforcement custody since then. He pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal carjacking and firearm charges. On Sept. 4, 2025, U.S. District Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins sentenced Edwards to 22 years in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Simar Khera.
Man Charged in Federal Court with Robbing Armored Truck Driver in Downtown ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man was charged in federal court today with robbing an armored truck driver in downtown Chicago earlier this week.
DAJON HARRIS robbed a Brinks armored truck driver on Wednesday morning in the first block of South State Street in Chicago’s Loop neighborhood, according to a criminal complaint filed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The armored truck driver had just exited a store carrying several bags of cash when Harris allegedly approached him and tried to rip a bag out of his hand. A struggle ensued, and Harris punched the driver and took a bag of cash, the complaint states. During the struggle, the driver unholstered his gun and fired shots at Harris, the complaint states.
Harris fled west on Madison Street toward a Chicago Transit Authority subway station, the complaint states. Law enforcement officers encountered Harris in the station and recovered the stolen money. Harris was transported to a hospital for medical treatment.
The complaint charges Harris, 23, of Evergreen Park, Ill., with robbery, which is punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. 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, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Chicago Police Department provided valuable assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hanna Helwig.
The robbery occurred in the newly designated Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”) enforcement zone in downtown Chicago. On June 4, 2025, U.S. Attorney Boutros announced an expansion of PSN to include the economic centers in downtown Chicago and the entire rail system operated by the Chicago Transit Authority. The enforcement efforts in the newly designated PSN Enforcement Zones focus on the investigation and prosecution of individuals and organized groups who engage in robberies, illegal firearm possession, drug trafficking, carjackings, and other violent offenses most often involving the use of firearms. For violent offenders arrested downtown or aboard CTA trains, criminal prosecutors will bring appropriate charges to achieve maximum deterrence.
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.
harris_complaint.pdfRockford Man Indicted on Federal Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Rockford man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on child pornography charges.
ALEX REINHARD LEDOUX, 34, is charged with receipt, transportation, and possession of child pornography, according to an indictment returned today in U.S. District Court in Rockford. LeDoux possessed images of child pornography in 2023, the indictment states.
The counts of receiving and transporting child pornography each carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years. The count of possessing child pornography carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.
The indictment 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. The Rockford Police Department assisted in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Kim.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and 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.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, while also providing critical services to victims.
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.
Chicago Man Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Immigration FraudRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Chicago man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for knowingly providing false verifications of employment for foreign nationals seeking to stay in the United States on an immigration visa.
ZHAO TAI CUI charged F-1 visa holders a fee to falsely represent that they were employed by Cui’s company so they could improperly extend their stay in the United States. Cui advertised his fraudulent visa-related employment services on various websites and incorporated a company in Illinois with the sole purpose of serving as a sham employer. During the scheme, which began in 2013 and continued until 2019, Cui falsely claimed that at least 250 F-1 visa holders worked for his sham company.
Cui, 60, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman sentenced Cui to two years in prison and ordered him to pay a personal money judgment of $652,963.
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.
“Cui’s scheme was expansive and involved multiple levels of deception,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin Walgamuth argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “This type of crime erodes the public’s faith in the immigration system.”
Federal Indictment Charges Man with Illegally Possessing Loaded Machine Gun in Chicago ParkRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man has been indicted on a federal firearm charge for allegedly illegally possessing a loaded machine gun in a Chicago park.
EDDIE ARGUELLES possessed the firearm on May 14, 2025, in Riis Park in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood of Chicago, according to an indictment returned Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago and a criminal complaint previously filed in the case. The Glock handgun was equipped with a conversion device, also known as a “Glock switch” or “auto sear,” allowing the gun to fire multiple rounds with a single pull of the trigger. Chicago Police officers responded to the scene after receiving calls of a person with a gun firing a shot in the park, the charges allege. When officers approached Arguelles, he tried to drive away on a moped but lost control and fell to the ground on a football field in the park, the charges allege. The officers took Arguelles into custody and discovered the firearm in his possession, the charges allege. He remains detained without bond.
The indictment charges Arguelles, 20, of Chicago, with one count of possession of a machine gun, which is punishable by a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison. Arraignment is set for Sept. 17, 2025, at 11:30 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will seek Arguelles’s continued pre-trial detention.
The indictment 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 Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wesley Morrissette.
The investigation is being conducted in coordination with ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago. The CGIC is a centralized law enforcement hub that focuses exclusively on investigating and preventing gun violence in Chicago and throughout northern Illinois. The CGIC is an interagency collaboration that brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and intelligence analysts to move quickly to investigate and prosecute violent crimes.
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.
arguelles_indictment.pdf arguelles_complaint.pdfAlleged Boss of Violent Sinaloa Cartel Faction Indicted in Chicago on Narcoterrorism, Drug, and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted an alleged boss of a violent faction of the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico on narcoterrorism, drug, and firearm charges.
OSCAR MANUEL GASTELUM IRIBE, also known as “El Musico,” oversaw the importation of substantial quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and other drugs—at times in individual shipments of hundreds or thousands or kilograms—into the United States on behalf of the Beltran Leyva faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, a foreign terrorist organization, according to a superseding indictment returned Thursday in the Northern District of Illinois. Gastelum Iribe served as a co-leader of the faction after its initial leaders were arrested or killed, the indictment states. Once in charge, Gastelum Iribe conspired with other members and associates of the faction to continue transporting the drugs throughout the United States, including in the Chicago area, using cars, trucks, rail cars, and other interstate carriers, the indictment states.
The charges allege that Gastelum Iribe sought to protect the faction’s drug trafficking activities by attacking rivals, military personnel, and law enforcement, including commanding the murder of a Mexican police officer and two others. The Beltran Leyva faction under Gastelum Iribe’s leadership armed its members with machine guns, semiautomatic firearms, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, and explosive devices, bribed corrupt public officials and law enforcement, and engaged in numerous kidnappings and assaults, the indictment states.
The indictment charges Gastelum Iribe, 50, of Sinaloa, Mexico, with terrorism, drug, and firearm offenses. The terrorism charges, which accuse Gastelum Iribe of engaging in narcoterrorism and providing material support and resources to the Sinaloa Cartel, is a result of President Trump’s Executive Order 14157 designating the Sinaloa Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and the United States Secretary of State’s subsequent designation of the same in February of this year.
Gastelum Iribe faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison if convicted of the charges in the indictment. Gastelum Iribe is not in custody and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
The indictment is the result of a collaboration between prosecutors in the Northern District of Illinois and Southern District of California and the Justice Department's Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, as well as law enforcement partners from Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, and DEA.
The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Matthew R. Galeotti, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Adam Gordon, United States Attorney for the Southern District of California, Reid Davis, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal Division, Shawn Gibson, Special Agent-in-Charge of HSI San Diego, and Terrance Cole, Administrator of the DEA. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Maione and Andrew Erskine of the Northern District of Illinois, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Mellor and Matthew Sutton of the Southern District of California, and Trial Attorney Kirk Handrich of NDDS.
The indictment was announced as part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve various law enforcement goals, including the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), as well as protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs).
“Today’s narcoterrorism indictment of El Musico sends a powerful message that this Administration is going to aggressively pursue transnational criminal organizations and hold their highest-ranking members and associates accountable for poisoning the American public with illegal and harmful drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office has a proud history going back many decades of prosecuting some of the nation’s biggest and most significant narcotrafficking cartel cases. Building on that tradition, under my leadership, our Office will continue to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of violent drug cartels, several of which, including the Sinaloa Cartel, have very deservedly been designated as foreign terrorist organizations. Working closely with other prosecutors and law enforcement partners across the United States, our goal remains unchanged: to disrupt and dismantle the Sinaloa Cartel’s drug empire and bring its leaders to justice.”
“As alleged, Oscar Manuel Gastelum Iribe led a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel that flooded the United States with fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin and used murder and intimidation to protect its profits,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Galeotti. “The Sinaloa Cartel has been designated a foreign terrorist organization because of the kinds of crimes announced today. This indictment further demonstrates that the Criminal Division will use every tool at its disposal to target cartel leaders, including by holding them accountable for acts of terrorism against our country.”
“From narcocorridos to narcoterrorist, El Musico famously writes his own lyrics, but his next one will be written from the Bureau of Prisons,” said U.S. Attorney Gordon. “As El Musico once boasted, 'La vida es curiosa, hoy soy poderoso,' but soon his 'Rancho Querido' will be nothing but a distant memory.”
“The indictment of El Musico and the dismantlement of the leadership structure of these foreign terrorist organizations are direct results of the unwavering commitment of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and our law enforcement partners to protect the United States,” said HSI SAC Gibson. “We remain resolute in our mission to bring all members of these criminal cartels to justice, regardless of where they attempt to evade accountability."
“As a leader of a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, Gastelum Iribe allegedly directed the importation of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and other lethal drugs into the United States and oversaw atrocious acts of violence, including kidnappings and murders, in Mexico,” said FBI SAC Davis. “The superseding indictment against him is the result of years of collaboration among multiple federal agencies and judicial districts. The FBI and our partners will continue to work toward dismantling the Sinaloa Cartel and bringing its violent leaders—including El Musico—to justice.”
“This indictment sends a clear and uncompromising message: cartel leaders who flood our streets with fentanyl and arm their networks with machine guns and grenades are not just drug traffickers—they are terrorists,” said DEA Administrator Cole. “Oscar Manuel Gastelum Iribe and his faction turned cartel violence into a campaign of terror, targeting police, military, and civilians alike. DEA remains relentless in our pursuit of these narco-terrorists, and we will not stop until the Sinaloa Cartel—and every organization like it—is dismantled, its leaders brought to justice, and American families protected.”
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.
gastelum_iribe_indictment.pdfSuburban Chicago Man Sentenced to 34 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting Multiple ChildrenRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to 34 years in federal prison for enticing multiple children to produce sexually explicit images of themselves.
RICHARD BARNETT falsely claimed to be 12 or 13 years old when he contacted young girls online and requested—and sometimes demanded—that they send him sexually explicit images of themselves. Many of the girls were nine to 13 years old when Barnett enticed them into sending him the images. Barnett threatened some of his victims with physical harm, including telling one girl that he would kidnap, assault, and murder her if she did not comply with his demands.
Barnett, 46, of Aurora, Ill., and previously of Rochester, N.Y., has been in law enforcement custody since 2017. Earlier this year, he pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey imposed the 34-year prison sentence and ordered that it be followed by a lifetime of court-supervised release.
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. Valuable assistance was provided by the New Orleans, La. Field Office of the FBI, the Buffalo, N.Y. Field Office of the FBI, the Jacksonville, Fla. Sheriff’s Office, and the Ouachita Parish, La. Sheriff’s Office.
“Barnett remorselessly used these girls as objects to be employed in furtherance of his sexual gratification, inflicting trauma that will forever impact his victims’ lives,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Chapman argued in the government’s sentencing recommendation. “He threatened his victims, humiliated them, degraded them, and viciously attacked any sense of self-esteem or confidence that stood in his way.”
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 https://www.missingkids.org or calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Man Indicted on Federal Fraud and Tax Charges for Allegedly Defrauding Individuals out of $2.6 Million and Evading Income TaxesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man has been indicted on federal fraud and tax charges for allegedly defrauding numerous individuals out of at least $2.6 million and willfully evading income taxes.
An indictment returned Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago charges JAWAD FAKROUNE, also known as “Angelino Escobar,” “Anjelino Escobar,” “Angelo Escobar,” “Giovanni Escobar,” and “Angelo Baldini,” 45, with seven counts of wire fraud, four counts of tax evasion, and four counts of failing to file income taxes. Arraignment in federal court has not yet been scheduled.
According to the indictment, Fakroune is a foreign national who recently resided in the Chicago area. In 2022, Fakroune fraudulently obtained approximately $2.45 million from an individual by falsely representing that Fakroune would invest the money in a shipping container business and a marijuana growing operation, the indictment states. Instead of investing the money, Fakroune used nearly all of it for his personal purposes, including purchasing a residence in Lemont, Ill., paying rent for a residence in New York, funding restaurant and shopping trips in New York City, purchasing a 2022 Cadillac Escalade, and buying multiple high-end watches, the indictment states.
The indictment alleges that Fakroune engaged in similar fraud schemes between 2023 and 2025. One scheme involved Fakroune obtaining $150,000 from a victim by falsely representing that Fakroune would invest the money in a coffee shop or Mexican restaurant. Fakroune allegedly caused this victim to sign a lease on Fakroune’s behalf for a residence in Michigan City, Ind., based upon Fakroune’s false representations that, in exchange for signing the lease, Fakroune would repay the victim $300,000 in connection with the purported coffee shop or Mexican restaurant investment. In fact, Fakroune did not repay any of the victim’s money, the indictment states.
The tax charges accuse Fakroune of attempting to evade income taxes and willfully failing to file income taxes for the calendar years 2020 through 2023.
The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Jason Bushey, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Hennessy and Richard M. Rothblatt.
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.
fakroune_indictment.pdfFormer Chicago Attorney Sentenced to Two and a Half Years in Prison for Tax Fraud and Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A former Chicago attorney has been sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison for committing tax fraud, attempting to tamper with a witness, and violating a court order.
MICHAEL ABRAMSON provided more than $1 million in personal expenses to a woman with whom he was romantically involved and then deducted the payments on his individual taxes by falsely characterizing them as commissions or loans. He also listed the fraudulent loans as an asset in corporate tax returns that he caused to be filed for a company in which he held an ownership interest. The payments related to a condo in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood, several luxury automobiles, and travel, shopping, and restaurant expenses.
Following the indictment in this case, the Court ordered Abramson not to have any contact with witnesses, including Abramson’s bookkeeper, whom Abramson knew would be an important government witness at trial. Weeks before trial was initially set to begin, Abramson gave the bookkeeper a copy of her previous court testimony, on which he had made handwritten notes changing, supplementing, or otherwise scripting her answers, and told her to review it before trial. Although Abramson told the bookkeeper not to bring the notes to a meeting with law enforcement, the bookkeeper nonetheless turned the scripted transcript over to law enforcement.
A jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago last year convicted Abramson, 76, of Wilmette Ill., on all 15 tax fraud, witness tampering, and violation of court order charges against him. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah sentenced Abramson to 30 months in federal prison and fined him $25,000.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Jason Bushey, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.
“Defendant, an attorney practicing in the State of Illinois for decades, defrauded the IRS, repeatedly attempted to obstruct the IRS and FBI’s investigation into his misconduct, and tampered with a key witness in violation of a court order during his prosecution,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard M. Rothblatt and Edward A. Liva, Jr. argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “As an attorney well-versed in business, tax, and financial matters, defendant knew better, yet sought to conceal and profit from personal payments to his mistress.”
Man Sentenced to a Year and a Half in Federal Prison for Covid-Relief FraudRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal judge in Chicago has sentenced a man to a year and half in prison for scheming to fraudulently obtain nearly $2 million in small business loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
In 2020, SAMUEL W. JACKSON engaged in fraud related to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL)—two sources of relief under the CARES Act. Jackson submitted to lenders and the U.S. Small Business Administration numerous applications on behalf of businesses he controlled. The applications contained false statements and misrepresentations concerning, among other things, the purported businesses’ employment figures, payroll costs, and operating expenses. The fraud scheme caused a loss to lenders and the SBA of more than $1.9 million.
Jackson and others used the loan proceeds for their personal benefit, including $500,000 on luxury vehicles, nearly $230,000 at restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues, and $116,000 on rent.
Jackson, 45, formerly of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to wire fraud and money laundering charges. On Aug. 20, 2025, U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly sentenced Jackson to 18 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay approximately $1.9 million in restitution.
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. Substantial assistance was provided by the SBA Office of Inspector General.
“Defendant was the hub of a fraudulent scheme,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher K. Veatch and Branka Cimesa argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Defendant abused a federal program funded by taxpayer money and designed to help those in need.”
Federal Prison Inmate Sentenced to Life Term for Murdering Fellow Inmate Due to His Religious FaithRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — An inmate at Thomson Penitentiary in Thomson, Ill., has been sentenced to a life term of imprisonment after being convicted of murder and hate crime in the death of a fellow inmate.
BRANDON SIMONSON conspired with a co-defendant, KRISTOPHER MARTIN, to beat Matthew Phillips because Phillips was Jewish. Simonson and Martin assaulted Phillips to gain recognition and membership into a white supremacist antisemitic prison gang called the Valhalla Bound Skinheads. Simonson punched and kicked Phillips in the face and head, despite Phillips being knocked unconscious and unable to defend himself. The assault occurred on March 2, 2020, leading to Phillips’ death three days later.
A jury in U.S. District Court in Rockford earlier this year convicted Simonson 41, of Moorhead, Minn., of second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, hate crime, and assault. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston sentenced Simonson to life in federal prison.
Martin, 43, of Brazil, Ind., pleaded guilty earlier this year and will be sentenced on Oct. 9, 2025.
Simonson’s sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Lucas Rothaar, Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vincenza L. Tomlinson and Ronald DeWald.
“Antisemitic violence has no place in our society,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “Violence against people of faith is illegal and unacceptable and will not be tolerated anywhere in our district, including in our prison system. My Office and our law enforcement partners will aggressively enforce federal laws to ensure that all Americans feel safe in practicing and expressing their faith.”
“The FBI and our law enforcement partners hold those who compromise the safety or lives of others accountable, even those serving sentences in prison,” said FBI ASAC Rothaar. “We continue to ask the public to help keep our communities safe from any acts of violence like those detailed in this case by reporting threatening or suspicious behavior immediately to local law enforcement or the FBI.”
Chicago Grocery Store Owner Sentenced to Three and a Half Years in Prison for Fraudulently Redeeming SNAP and WIC BenefitsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — The owner of a Chicago grocery store has been sentenced to three and a half years in federal prison for fraudulently redeeming millions of dollars in benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (“WIC”).
YOUSEF ABU ALHAWA owned a grocery store in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood on Chicago’s Southwest Side. From 2011 to 2019, Alhawa fraudulently redeemed or caused to redeem SNAP and WIC benefits for non-eligible items or cash, and redeemed SNAP and WIC benefits on behalf of stores ineligible to participate in SNAP and WIC. Alhawa admitted in a plea agreement with the government that he caused a loss to those programs of more than $8.3 million.
Alhawa, 50, of Lockport, Ill., pleaded guilty last year to wire fraud and tax charges. The tax offenses pertained to Alhawa’s filing of false income tax returns for the calendar years 2015 to 2017. The tax offenses caused a federal and state tax loss of more than $610,000.
On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger imposed the 42-month prison sentence and ordered Alhawa to pay $8.9 million in restitution to the U.S. Treasury, IRS, and State of Illinois.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Ramsey E. Covington, Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General.
“Defendant’s offense conduct was serious,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mower argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “SNAP is the nation’s largest federally funded nutrition assistance program. His actions not only deprived those programs of vital financial resources that could otherwise have been made available to deserving recipients, but also risked sowing general disfavor and distrust of government benefit systems.”
Whiteside County, Ill. Man Sentenced to More than Eight Years in Prison for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Whiteside County, Ill. man has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison for distributing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.
THOMAS DUGGER, 55, of Rock Falls, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine. Duggar admitted in a plea agreement that in July 2021 he sold 55.7 grams of methamphetamine.
U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston imposed a 100-month prison sentence during a hearing on Wednesday in federal court in Rockford.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Shane R. Catone, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ladd.
United States Attorney’s Office in Chicago Creates New Section to Prosecute Criminal Healthcare Fraud ViolationsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, today announced publicly the creation of a new section within the Office’s Criminal Division dedicated to the prosecution of healthcare fraud, which is among the Department of Justice’s top fraud enforcement priorities and the first time the Office has created such a section. The new Healthcare Fraud Section will consist of six federal prosecutors and will be led by Heidi Manschreck, who will serve as the inaugural Section Chief, and Prashant Kolluri, who will serve as the Section’s inaugural Deputy Chief. Both prosecutors have dozens of years of combined experience investigating and prosecuting healthcare fraud cases. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Kelly, Kate McClelland, Alejandro G. Ortega, and Kristin Pinkston have also been assigned to the Section full time. The work of this new section will be in addition to the healthcare fraud-related matters in this district that are being handled by the Healthcare Fraud Strike Force, which is part of the Fraud Section of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. The Healthcare Fraud Strike Force, which is housed in the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office, is led locally by Assistant Chief Patrick M. Mott and collaborates extensively with the Office.
The newly created Healthcare Fraud Section will be tasked with prosecuting defendants in all types of healthcare fraud, such as false and fraudulent claims submitted by transnational criminal organizations to America’s health insurance programs; upcoding and unbundling schemes; scams by providers and individuals against Medicare and Medicaid; fraudulent billing; and illegal kickbacks, among many other healthcare-related frauds and schemes.
“Every year, healthcare fraud causes billions of dollars in losses to the federal government and private insurers and siphons off hard-earned tax dollars meant to provide care for people in need,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “Since becoming U.S. Attorney, my Office has charged nearly $2 billion in healthcare fraud schemes involving alleged criminal conduct that has stretched across the country, and even transnationally. The newly created Healthcare Fraud Section that I’ve launched will bring greater focus, efficiency, and impact to our efforts in this important program area, which often involves the exploitation of patients through unnecessary and/or unsafe medical tests and procedures.”
U.S. Attorney Boutros continued, “In addition, under the direct leadership of our Section Chief and Deputy Chief, our Healthcare Fraud Section and its team of federal prosecutors will continue to closely coordinate and collaborate with the Healthcare Fraud Strike Force, which is part of the Fraud Section of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division and has proven to be a highly effective and dynamic prosecutorial partner. Healthcare providers, gatekeepers, and others who criminally cheat the system will be vigorously investigated, prosecuted, and punished under federal law and pursuant to the Department’s priorities.”
In announcing the new Section, U.S. Attorney Boutros acknowledged the cooperation and determination of the Office’s investigative partners, including the FBI, DEA, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and other federal, state, and local agencies.
The newly created Healthcare Fraud Section will also strengthen coordination with the Health Care Fraud Unit of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, which has partnered with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago and other districts across the country to combat healthcare fraud. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. Recently, the Health Care Fraud Unit led and coordinated the National Health Care Fraud Takedown, which resulted in charges against more than 320 defendants nationwide for allegedly participating in various health care fraud schemes involving more than $14.6 billion in intended losses. This was the largest national health care fraud enforcement action in Department of Justice history–and the largest ever in the Northern District of Illinois.
“The Health Care Fraud Unit and its U.S. Attorneys’ Office partners continue to build on historic successes in health care fraud enforcement—protecting American taxpayer funds, ensuring programs for our most vulnerable citizens receive what they are due, and safeguarding patients from medically unnecessary procedures and false diagnoses,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Beyond our proven track record of holding individuals accountable, the Health Care Fraud Unit is now for the first time focusing on corporate enforcement in the health care space to ensure that all culpable actors are held responsible. The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office has been an exceptional partner and our Health Care Fraud Unit Strike Force in the district is excited to partner with this new unit to increase our collective reach and enhance our ability to protect the American public from health care fraud.”
“Healthcare fraud is not a victimless crime,” said Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “These complex schemes not only drain critical resources intended to provide care and protect some our most vulnerable citizens, but can also lead to patient harm. The enhanced collaboration and focus this new section brings will enable federal and state law enforcement partners to strengthen our ability to identify and hold accountable those who seek to defraud our federal healthcare programs and keep patients safe.”
“The DEA Chicago Field Division applauds U.S. Attorney Boutros's decision to launch the Healthcare Fraud Section,” said Shane Catone, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Chicago Field Division. “This will only enhance our capabilities to keep Americans safe from anyone who exploits financial, pharmaceutical, and criminal systems, in collaboration with our federal, state and local law enforcement and prosecutorial partners.”
“FBI Chicago stands committed with our federal partners to find and prosecute all offenders who perpetrate fraud in our healthcare system and violate the trust of vulnerable people seeking care,” said Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. “Together we are sending a clear message to those who steal from the U.S. taxpayers by committing healthcare fraud: you will be caught and you will face justice.”
Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to Nearly Six Years in Prison for Covid-Relief FraudRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a suburban Chicago man to nearly six years in prison for fraudulently obtaining more than $550,000 in small business loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
In 2020 and 2021, CHRISTOPHER SCOTT engaged in fraud related to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL)—two sources of relief under the CARES Act. Scott submitted to lenders and the U.S. Small Business Administration numerous applications on behalf of non-existent or non-operating businesses. The applications contained false statements and misrepresentations concerning, among other things, the purported businesses’ revenues, payrolls, and operating expenses. The fraud scheme caused lenders and the SBA to disburse more than $550,000 in loans to Scott.
Scott and others used the loan proceeds on personal expenses, including numerous purchases at luxury retailers Tiffany & Co., Jared Jewelers, Von Maur, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Scott, 46, of Hazel Crest, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal wire fraud charge. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Elaine E. Bucklo sentenced Scott to five years and ten months in federal prison and ordered him to pay $567,333 in restitution.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Dai Tran, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Chicago Field Office. Substantial assistance was provided by the SBA Office of Inspector General.
“Put simply, Scott’s crime was motivated by greed,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandro G. Ortega argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “This offense was not a simple lapse in judgment, or a crime born out of economic poverty or necessity. It was, at least, a year-long scheme to fraudulently obtain free money from the government.”
“The government programs exploited in this case were intended to help struggling small businesses stay afloat during the pandemic,” Secret Service SAIC Tran said. “Instead, this man pilfered more than half a million dollars from these programs—and by extension, taxpayers—to go on an outrageous high-end spending spree to benefit himself. I’m proud of the work the Secret Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of Illinois did to bring justice in this case.”
Man Sentenced to Four and a Half Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearm in Chicago Residence Full of ChildrenRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man has been sentenced to more than four and a half years in federal prison for illegally possessing a loaded handgun in a Chicago residence full of children.
BRANDON JOHNSON illegally possessed the gun on Jan. 25, 2020, in a residence on Chicago’s Near West Side. Chicago Police officers were called to the residence by an individual who claimed that Johnson had brandished the gun and threatened to shoot the individual. Several children were inside the residence when Johnson illegally possessed the firearm.
Johnson had previously been convicted of multiple felonies and was not lawfully allowed to possess a firearm.
Johnson, 37, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal firearm charge. On Aug. 13, 2025, U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey imposed a 55-month prison sentence. Johnson has been in law enforcement custody since December 2020 and will receive credit for time served.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher C. Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. Valuable assistance was provided by the Chicago Police Department.
“The City of Chicago has been plagued by gun violence for many years,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Prashant Kolluri argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “The possession of a loaded firearm is a significant contributor to that gun violence.”
Chicago Man Sentenced to More than 16 Years in Prison for Unlawfully Dealing More than a Dozen FirearmsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Chicago man has been sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prison for unlawfully dealing more than a dozen firearms.
In 2020 and 2021, JOHNATHAN BURGOS, 33, illegally sold 14 firearms and multiple large-capacity magazines to an individual who was surreptitiously working on behalf of the FBI. The sales involved several stolen handguns, a gun with an obliterated serial number, and a rifle. During most of the transactions, Burgos was on either parole or bond with electronic monitoring from the Illinois Department of Corrections for firearm cases in state court.
Burgos pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal firearm charges. On Aug. 15, 2025, U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger sentenced Burgos to 16 years and eight months in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.
“Defendant’s gun trafficking posed a severe danger to the community,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mower argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “He personally coordinated each sale and used coded language in phone calls and text messages to mask the illicit nature of his discussions.”
Former Chief Financial Officer of Staffing Firm Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Federal Prison for Embezzling More Than $510,000Read the Press Release
CHICAGO — The former Chief Financial Officer of a staffing firm has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for embezzling more than $510,000 from the firm.
CHARLES NELSON misappropriated the money in 2018 and 2019 while working in the firm’s Chicago office. Nelson made a series of unauthorized credit card purchases for his personal benefit, initially on meals and travel and later on jewelry, gold, and renovations of his personal residence. Nelson used the fraud proceeds to purchase many extravagant items, including Cartier and Rolex watches, a gold and diamond bracelet, and high-end appliances for his home. Nelson executed the fraud scheme by circumventing multiple corporate controls over expenditures.
Nelson, 67, of Valparaiso, Ind., pleaded guilty last year to a federal wire fraud charge. On Aug. 4, 2025, U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey imposed a 27-month prison sentence and ordered Nelson to pay $510,319 in restitution.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Dai Tran, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Chicago Field Office.
“Defendant squandered the company’s money on extravagant items, such as gold, coins, jewelry, trips, and meals,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Kelly argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “His offense was not an isolated lapse in judgment or simple mistake. It was a carefully orchestrated pattern of theft from a company that trusted defendant to serve as CFO, and his offense took a financial and emotional toll on the honest, hard-working employees left in its wake.”
Federal Grand Jury in Chicago Indicts Four Individuals for Alleged Covid-Relief FraudRead the Press Release
CHICAGO – A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted four individuals for allegedly fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars in small business loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act.
DEXTER M. CRAWFORD, JR., TIMIKA ROYSTON, ORLANDO PATRICK, and JERMIE MILLER engaged in fraud related to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL)—two sources of relief under the CARES Act, according to an indictment unsealed this week in the Northern District of Illinois. The indictment alleges that the defendants defrauded lenders and the U.S. Small Business Administration of millions of dollars in PPP loans and EIDL funds. From 2020 to 2022, the defendants submitted numerous fraudulent applications on behalf of themselves and business entities purportedly owned by some of the defendants, the indictment states. The applications contained materially false statements and misrepresentations about the defendants’ companies, including the number of purported employees, payroll and revenue amounts, and other expenses, the indictment states.
The indictment charges Crawford, 41, of Woodridge, Ill., with seven counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering; Royston, 49, of Chicago, with three counts of wire fraud; Patrick, 54, of Chicago, with two counts of wire fraud; and Miller, 42, of Plainfield, Ill., with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Each wire fraud count is punishable by up to 30 years in federal prison, while each money laundering count is punishable by up to ten years.
Royston and Miller have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Arraignment for Patrick is scheduled for Aug. 28, 2025. Arraignment for Crawford has not yet been scheduled.
The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ramsey E. Covington, Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago. Valuable assistance was provided by the SBA Office of Inspector General. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Snell.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Anyone with information about attempted fraud involving Covid-19 is encouraged to report it to the Department of Justice by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or filing an online complaint at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
crawford_et_al_indictment.pdfChicago Man Sentenced to 45 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting ChildrenRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a Chicago man to 45 years in prison for sexually exploiting and receiving child sexual abuse material from at least 14 children with whom he communicated on social media.
In 2019 and 2020, ARMANDO TORRES used social media to contact and persuade young girls, most of whom were younger than ten years old, to create and send him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves. Torres sought out children on popular applications, including Snapchat and Instagram, and his social media screennames were designed to appeal to them. Torres often pretended he was a child in order to gain his victims’ trust. He provided graphic step-by-step instructions to his victims, including how to pose their bodies, the sexual language to use, and how to film and send the images and videos.
Torres, 35, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to exploitation and child pornography charges. On Aug. 11, 2025, U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger imposed the 45-year prison sentence.
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.
“Children are the most vulnerable members of our community,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin Walgamuth argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Their innocence and trust in others make them defenseless to predators like Torres, who easily manipulated them online. Torres’s sexualization of the victims deprived them of their childhood and inflicted significant trauma on them, as well as their families, that will continue to impact them long after the experience is over.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, while also providing critical services to victims.
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 https://www.missingkids.org/ or calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Man Sentenced to More than Ten Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms and Violating Supervised Release TermsRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A man has been sentenced to more than ten years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm in Rockford and violating the terms of his court-supervised release.
STEVEN BAXTER, 40, of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges of illegal firearm possession and violating the terms of supervised release. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston sentenced Baxter to 104 months in federal prison on the firearms charge, and an additional 22 months for violating his supervised release, for a total sentence of 126 months in prison.
Baxter admitted in a plea declaration that while visiting Rockford in 2022 he entered a local Wing Stop restaurant while in possession of a handgun. Baxter became agitated about his order and threatened multiple store employees. He displayed the gun and held it at his hip before exiting the restaurant. During a later traffic stop, Baxter admitted to driving a vehicle on Interstate 90 in Kane County, Ill., while in possession of a loaded firearm and an additional pistol. As a previously convicted felon, Baxter was prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms.
At the time of his arrest, Baxter was serving a term of supervised release following his imprisonment for an unrelated federal firearms conviction, the terms of which prohibited him from committing additional federal, state, or local crimes. Baxter’s illegal possession of the firearms violated the terms of the court supervision.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Christopher C. Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. The Rockford Police Department and the Kane County Sheriff’s Department assisted in the investigation.
“It is highly concerning to the government that defendant has shown a pattern of not only illegal possession of firearms as a felon, but a pattern of brandishing and threatening people with firearms in moments of anger or rage,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodora A. Anderson argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Defendant’s history shows a disrespect for the law, for the safety of the community, and a disregard for court orders.”
U.S. Attorney's Office, ATF, and Chicago Police Department Announce Results of Enforcement InitiativeRead the Press Release
CHICAGO – The U.S. Attorney's Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Chicago Police Department today announced results of a two-month enhanced enforcement initiative that targeted offenders believed to have illegally possessed, used, and trafficked firearms and machinegun conversion devices in the Chicagoland area.
The initiative, led by ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago (CGIC), used both federal and state charges, resulting in the arrest of 41 offenders and the recovery of approximately 171 firearms, and 64 machinegun conversion devices. National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) data shows that a significant number of the recovered firearms are connected to violent criminal activity, including homicide and aggravated assault, that took place in the Chicagoland area and throughout the U.S., from 2017 through 2025.
“The illegal possession, use, and trafficking of firearms equipped with conversion devices pose a grave threat to public safety,” said Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago will lean into using various federal law enforcement tools and law enforcement partnerships to hold firearm offenders accountable and reduce violent crime in Chicago. We are proud to partner with ATF, CPD, and state prosecutors in this important initiative, and I commend their outstanding work to keep dangerous weapons off the streets and out of the wrong hands.”
“Machinegun conversion devices are increasingly being used by criminals, putting both innocent civilians and law enforcement in danger,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon. “This operation aggressively targeted offenders suspected of trafficking illegal machinegun conversion devices into our communities. I want to thank our federal, state, and local partners whose support of the Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago was integral to the success of this initiative. This multi-agency effort is a testament to what can be accomplished when we combine our resources and expertise towards a common goal of making our communities safer for all.”
The number of suspected machinegun conversion devices recovered by law enforcement and subsequently traced by ATF increased more than 784% nationwide between 2019 (658) and 2023 (5,816), according to the National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment. In the year 2024 alone, the Chicago Police Department recovered 604 machine gun conversion devices—up from 81 in 2020.
“This operation directly addresses the proliferation of machine gun devices inflicting trauma in our communities,” said Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling. “Far too many lives have been lost to the senseless violence that only becomes more dangerous and fatal because of these conversion devices.”
“Combatting gun violence is my office’s highest priority, and there is no doubt the recent proliferation of MCD’s is a threat to our progress,” said Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke. “A firearm equipped with one of these devices and an extended magazine can fire off 30 rounds in less than two seconds, terrorizing our neighborhoods and too often catching innocent bystanders in the crossfire. The CGIC is a national model, and working in a collaborative fashion with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners on this threat is a force multiplier. This initiative is a great start, and shows what’s possible when we work together strategically.”
“State-federal partnerships, such as with the ATF, are essential to my office’s work to prevent illegal firearms from entering communities, hold gun traffickers accountable and address other gun crime cases,” Attorney General Kwame Raoul said. “Collaborations and resource sharing between all levels of law enforcement – local, state and federal – are vital in our work to prevent gun violence in Illinois.”
The 18 federal cases are being coordinated by Violent Crime Section Chief Scott Edenfield and Violent Crime Section Deputy Chief Jared Jodrey of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The 23 state cases are being coordinated by Multi-Jurisdiction Bureau Chief Maureen McCurry of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and Assistant Attorney General Greg Gansmann of the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.
Special Agent in Charge Amon, Superintendent Snelling, U.S. Attorney Boutros, State’s Attorney Burke, and Illinois Attorney General Raoul also acknowledged the valuable investigative assistance provided by our federal, state, and local partners at the Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Illinois State Police, and Cook County Sheriff’s Police.
The charges outlined in the indictments and complaints are merely allegations and not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the government proves their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Chicago Man Charged with Receiving and Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A criminal complaint unsealed today in federal court charges a Chicago man with receiving and distributing child pornography.
The complaint alleges that JARON WOODSLEY, 27, shared images of child pornography last fall with another individual on the social media application Telegram. Using Telegram, Woodsley distributed at least thirteen videos and received six videos from the other individual, the complaint states. The other individual was indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Colorado last year.
Woodsley was arrested this morning. He is scheduled to make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Chicago today at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez.
The complaint 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. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige A. Nutini.
The charge in the complaint is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in a federal prison and a maximum of 20 years. 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.
woodsley_complaint.pdfMan Sentenced to Eleven Years in Prison for Robbing Taxi and Rideshare Drivers in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man who robbed two taxi drivers and a rideshare driver at gunpoint in Chicago has been sentenced to eleven years in federal prison.
ANTHONY REED committed the violent robberies within a week in February 2022. In each of the robberies, Reed threatened to kill the driver if they did not hand over their money and other belongings. During one of the robberies, Reed used the butt of his gun to hit the driver in the head.
The robberies were as follows:
Feb. 4, 2022: Reed stole a tablet and cell phone from a Flash Cab taxi driver.
Feb. 5, 2022: Reed stole $120 in cash, a tablet, and cell phone from a Flash Cab taxi driver.
Feb. 8, 2022: Reed stole a wallet containing $200 to $400 in cash, as well as a cell phone and jacket from an Uber driver.
Reed, 28, of Chicago, has been in law enforcement custody since his arrest in 2022. He pleaded guilty earlier this year to three counts of robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge John J. Tharp, Jr. sentenced Reed to eleven years in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.
“Over the course of only four days, defendant robbed three victims at gunpoint while the victims were doing their job,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret A. Steindorf and Paul Schied argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “A significant sentence is warranted to protect the public from defendant’s criminal appetite and deter defendant from committing future violent acts.”
Federal Grand Jury in Chicago Indicts Man for Felony Assault of Law Enforcement Officers for Alleged Attack During ArrestRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted a man for felony assault of three law enforcement officers for an alleged attack during the execution of an arrest warrant.
The assaults occurred on the afternoon of July 17, 2025, in the lobby of the Kane County Sheriff’s Department in St. Charles, Ill., according to the indictment and a criminal complaint previously filed in the case. Two officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations approached FRANCISCO JAVIER ACEVEDO-CALDERA and informed him that they had a warrant for his arrest, the charges allege. Acevedo-Caldera, who had recently been bonded out of the Kane County Jail, resisted the arrest, kicked one of the officers, head-butted the other officer, and then bit a Kane County Sheriff’s Deputy who offered to assist the ICE-ERO officers, the charges allege. The officers were eventually able to subdue Acevedo-Caldera and execute the arrest warrant.
Acevedo-Caldera, 39, who resided in Aurora, Ill., remains detained in federal custody. The indictment charges him with three counts of forcibly assaulting a law enforcement officer. Two of the counts are punishable by a maximum sentence of twenty years in federal prison, while one of the counts is punishable by up to eight years. Arraignment in federal court has not yet been scheduled.
The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Shawn L. Byers, Field Office Director for ICE-ERO in Chicago. Valuable assistance was provided by the Kane County Sheriff’s Department. The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Finch.
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.
acevedo-caldera_indictment.pdf acevedo-caldera_complaint.pdfFederal Grand Jury in Chicago Indicts Five Individuals for Alleged Covid-Relief FraudRead the Press Release
CHICAGO – A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted five individuals for allegedly fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars in small business loans and other benefits under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act.
GEORGE KAVROULAKIS, ATHANASIOS INTZES, ADAM JABER, HASSAN KURDI, and ABDALLAH ISSA engaged in fraud related to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL), and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program (PUA)—three sources of relief under the CARES Act, according to an indictment unsealed this week in the Northern District of Illinois. The indictment charges Kavroulakis, 33, of Tinley Park, Ill., with nine counts of wire fraud; Intzes, 35, of Orland Park, Ill., with five counts of wire fraud; Jaber, 34, of Chicago, with nine counts of wire fraud; Kurdi, 35, of Chicago, with four counts of wire fraud; and Issa, 26, of Tinley Park, Ill., with four counts of wire fraud. Each count is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison.
The defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges. A status hearing is scheduled for Aug. 14, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins.
The indictment alleges that the defendants defrauded lenders and the U.S. Small Business Administration of millions of dollars in PPP loans and EIDL funds. In 2020 and 2021, the defendants submitted numerous fraudulent applications on behalf of themselves, other individuals, and corporate entities purportedly owned by some of the defendants, the indictment states. The applications contained materially false statements and misrepresentations about the defendants’ companies, including the number of purported employees, revenue and payroll amounts, and other expenses, the indictment states.
The indictment further accuses Kavroulakis, Jaber, and Intzes of causing the disbursement of approximately $750,000 in fraudulent PUA benefits in Illinois and California. The defendants obtained the PUA benefits by submitting materially false statements and misrepresentations regarding the unemployment status of themselves and others, the indictment states.
Much of the fraud proceeds was used for the defendants’ personal benefit, including the purchase of multiple Mercedes-Benz vehicles and a Rolex Submariner watch, the indictment states.
The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, Robert Collins, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Central Region, Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, and Megan Howell, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward A. Liva, Jr. and Beth E. Palmer.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Anyone with information about attempted fraud involving Covid-19 is encouraged to report it to the Department of Justice by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or filing an online complaint at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
kavroulakis_et_al_indictment.pdfChicago Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Carjacking and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Chicago man who carjacked a vehicle at gunpoint on the city’s West Side and fired a handgun while attempting to carjack another vehicle has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison.
The carjacking and attempted carjacking by KIAR EVANS occurred within minutes of each other on the afternoon of May 20, 2021. Evans first approached a Chevrolet Impala near the intersection of Independence Boulevard and Congress Parkway in Chicago and fired shots through a window while attempting to get inside. The driver of the Impala was able to drive away from the scene.
Evans then approached the driver-side window of a Nissan Altima, pointed a firearm at the driver, and demanded that the driver exit the vehicle. The victim complied and Evans drove off in the Nissan. Evans was driving the stolen vehicle a short time later when he was involved in a multi-vehicle crash at the intersection of Harrison Street and Ogden Avenue in Chicago. Chicago Police officers arrested Evans and discovered a loaded semi-automatic handgun in his possession. As a previously convicted felon, Evans was not lawfully allowed to possess the firearm.
Evans, 26, has remained detained in federal custody since his arrest. Last year, a jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago convicted Evans on all four counts against him, including one count of carjacking, one count of attempted carjacking, one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count of illegal possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.
U.S. District Judge Martha M. Pacold imposed the 18-year prison sentence during a hearing in federal court on July 18, 2025.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.
“Defendant wielded a gun that had been rendered fully automatic throughout his spree of violence and did not hesitate to use that gun to intimidate his victims and force his will upon them,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paige A. Nutini and Jimmy L. Arce argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “His selfish actions exhibited a total disregard for the safety and well-being of others; and by sheer luck, none of defendant’s victims was seriously injured. Defendant’s conduct is a very serious crime, and the public needs to understand that these crimes justify a substantial sentence.”
U.S. District Court in Chicago Approves the Appointment of Andrew S. Boutros as United States Attorney for the Northern District of IllinoisRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — The U.S. District Court in Chicago has approved the appointment of Andrew S. Boutros as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.
U.S. Attorney Boutros has been serving in the position of United States Attorney since April 7, 2025, pursuant to a 120-day appointment by Attorney General Pamela Bondi. The order to approve the appointment beyond Aug. 5, 2025, was entered on Thursday by U.S. District Chief Judge Virginia M. Kendall after the full Court met in executive session.
“I am deeply grateful that two branches of our government have agreed upon my appointment,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “President Donald J. Trump, acting through Attorney General Pamela Bondi, appointed me as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois on April 7, 2025. Then the full U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois met in executive session on July 21, 2025, and, pursuant to Title 28, United States Code, Section 546(d), approved my appointment as U.S. Attorney effective Aug. 5, 2025. I am thankful to President Trump and Attorney General Bondi, as well as Chief Judge Kendall and the U.S. District Court judges of the Northern District of Illinois for their confidence in me. It is an honor of a lifetime to have the trust and support of both the Executive (Article II) and Judicial (Article III) branches of our constitutional government. As the son of Coptic Christian parents who immigrated from Egypt to this great land, it is incredibly special to be the first person of any color to assume the role of Chicago U.S. Attorney in the 170-year history of this extraordinary and esteemed Office. The strong support I’ve received from so many different communities has been heartwarming and profoundly touching. I am energized to tackle the enormous challenges that our district faces and to do so by calling balls and strikes in the proudest ways of this incredibly storied Office. I am grateful for the extraordinary talent, work ethic, and warm reception I have received from the Office and its exceptional attorneys and staff. I look forward to working with them for years to come, along with our various law enforcement partner agencies and leaders. The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office has always been one of the crown jewels of the Department of Justice, and I intend to carry forward that tradition under my leadership.”
As an Assistant U.S. Attorney from 2008 to 2015, U.S. Attorney Boutros investigated and prosecuted hundreds of cases, many of which involved matters of national and international significance. Among the types of matters he handled, U.S. Attorney Boutros investigated and prosecuted drug trafficking organizations, street gangs, violent criminals, illegal immigrants with criminal records of violence, and money launderers, as well as fraud and white collar crimes. U.S. Attorney Boutros worked closely with law enforcement partners in the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, IRS, Secret Service, and the U.S. Marshals Service, among other law enforcement partners, as well as with various DOJ components and U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country--and in some cases, law enforcement authorities throughout the world. U.S. Attorney Boutros’s notable convictions included the world’s largest online drug trafficker on the dark web, one of the country’s “Top Ten Most Wanted” mortgage fraud defendants, and the owner of a Chicago hospital who thwarted collection of more than $188 million in civil judgments. U.S. Attorney Boutros also successfully prosecuted a series of cases involving unprecedented criminal violations of international trade, customs, and anti-dumping laws, which have been described as the largest of their kind ever prosecuted in the country.
U.S. Attorney Boutros received numerous awards and accolades for his work as a federal prosecutor. The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association selected him as the National Prosecutor of the Year, presenting him with the National Prosecutorial Award. The American Bar Association honored U.S. Attorney Boutros with the Criminal Justice Section’s Norm Maleng Minister of Justice Award for best exemplifying the prosecutor’s duty to seek justice. U.S. Attorney Boutros also received honors from the FBI, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
From 2015 until his appointment as United States Attorney, U.S. Attorney Boutros worked in private law practice in Chicago, holding various leadership roles. For 15 consecutive years, U.S. Attorney Boutros has taught an advanced criminal law course at the University of Chicago Law School. While practicing law full time, Mr. Boutros has also written and spoken extensively on criminal law and criminal law adjacent topics, including publishing two books, authoring nearly 160 articles and book chapters, and presenting at 90 speaking engagements.
U.S. Attorney Boutros earned a bachelor’s degree, In-Honors summa cum laude, from Virginia Tech, and his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. He clerked for the Honorable Eugene E. Siler, Jr. of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Charges Man with Felony Possession of a Dangerous Weapon During Standoff in Federal Courthouse in Downtown ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — The U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged a man with feloniously possessing a dangerous weapon during a standoff in the federal courthouse in downtown Chicago earlier this week.
MARIO SANTOYO, 38, of Chicago, was charged with possession of a dangerous weapon in a federal facility with intent to use the weapon in the commission of a crime, according to a criminal complaint filed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The charge is punishable by up to five years in federal prison. Santoyo made an initial appearance in federal court this afternoon and was ordered to remain detained in federal custody. A detention hearing was set for July 31, 2025, at 11:30 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel P. McLaughlin.
The complaint alleges that Santoyo entered the Dirksen Federal Building, 219 S. Dearborn St. in Chicago, at 10:27 a.m. on Tuesday and asked to speak with the FBI about “gangsters” or “gangbangers” who were trying to kill him. After a Court Security Officer advised Santoyo that the FBI does not have an office in the Dirksen Building and that he could not remain in the building if he had no other business there, Santoyo put a knife to his throat and threatened to hurt himself, the complaint states. Law enforcement attempted to get Santoyo to drop the knife, but he refused, the complaint states. An hours-long standoff ensued, with Santoyo remaining in the lobby of the building with the knife to his throat and carrying a dark bag the contents of which were unknown. Santoyo’s conduct prevented individuals from entering or exiting the Dirksen Building.
Approximately nine and a half hours after the standoff began, and after the federal building had been evacuated throughout the day—causing enormous disruption to the business of the federal courthouse, including criminal and civil trials, hearings, and other proceedings—law enforcement used non-lethal force and took Santoyo into custody at 7:55 p.m. He was transported to a Chicago hospital for treatment.
The complaint was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, LaDon A. Reynolds, United States Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the Chicago Police Department, Chicago Fire Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Protective Service. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Chmura.
“As I have said before, under my leadership, there will be zero tolerance for violence against federal officials or violence against the important work of the federal government as it is conducted in the Northern District of Illinois,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The defendant’s actions impeded the due administration of justice in the largest federal courthouse in the country both by square footage as well as number of federal judges, as it houses the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and the offices of various governmental agencies. The Court Security Officers, Deputy U.S. Marshals, and FBI Special Agents who bravely resolved the situation and took Santoyo into custody deserve our utmost respect and appreciation.”
“The defendant created a dangerous situation for himself, law enforcement, and the thousands of federal employees and members of the public inside the Dirksen Building,” said Marshal Reynolds. “The standoff in this case was peacefully resolved thanks to the courage and professionalism of the law enforcement officers from the U.S. Marshals Service and FBI. I am deeply appreciative of this U.S. Attorney’s strong partnership with the U.S. Marshals Service and for his strong leadership in choosing to bring a felony charge to hold the defendant accountable for his intolerable actions.”
“Federal agents courageously put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe from harm," said FBI SAC DePodesta. “I remain grateful that this situation resolved without incident, thanks to the heroic efforts of law enforcement professionals, and in particular, the U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI's SWAT and Crisis Negotiations Teams. The dedicated agents who comprise these highly trained teams ensure that when dangerous situations occur, everyone affected has the best probability of returning home safely.”
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.
santoyo_complaint.pdfFive People Indicted in Rockford for Fraudulently Obtaining More Than $1 Million in Federal BenefitsRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — Five individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Rockford in a scheme alleging more than $1 million in federal benefit fraud.
The indictment returned Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Rockford charges TYESHA BOWMAN, 32, of Beloit, Wis., with thirty-four counts of mail and wire fraud; LIBRA MARTIN, 48, of Rockford, with fourteen counts of wire fraud; LAMONT FOSTER, 38, of Rockford, with eight counts of mail and wire fraud; KHADIJAH BROWN, 31, of Rockford, with two counts of mail fraud; and SIETA CARRINGTON, 36, of Rockford, with one count of mail fraud. Arraignments have not yet been scheduled.
According to the indictment, Bowman and Martin schemed to defraud and fraudulently obtain over $500,000 in connection with the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, both programs enacted under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”). Bowman, Foster, Brown, and Carrington schemed to defraud and fraudulently obtain over $500,000 in connection with the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program.
The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ladd.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and 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. Each count of mail and wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Consultant Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Falsify Records and Evade Internal Controls at Commonwealth Edison as Part of Scheme to Bribe Former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. MadiganRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal judge in Chicago today sentenced a consultant to two years in prison for conspiring with Commonwealth Edison executives and another consultant to falsify corporate books and records and evade internal controls at the electric utility company as part of an effort to bribe former Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives Michael J. Madigan and gain his assistance with the passage of certain legislation.
MICHAEL McCLAIN, 77, of Quincy, Ill., and three others were convicted in 2023 by a jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago on conspiracy and other charges related to the bribery scheme. U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah sentenced McClain to two years imprisonment during a sentencing hearing today in federal court in Chicago.
McClain worked as a lobbyist and consultant for ComEd after serving in the Illinois House of Representatives in the 1970s and 1980s. Evidence at trial revealed that from 2011 to 2019, McClain conspired with ComEd’s then-Chief Executive Officer, ANNE PRAMAGGIORE, ComEd’s Executive Vice President of Legislative and External Affairs and lobbyist, JOHN HOOKER, and ComEd’s outside lobbyist and consultant, JAY DOHERTY, to corruptly influence Madigan by arranging for jobs and contracts at ComEd for Madigan’s political allies, often in instances where those people performed little or no actual work. The conspirators caused the creation of false contracts, invoices, and other books and records to disguise the true nature of the payments and to circumvent internal controls at ComEd and its parent company, Exelon Corp.
Pramaggiore, 66, of Barrington, Ill., was sentenced earlier this week to two years in federal prison and fined $750,000. Hooker, 76, of Chicago, was sentenced last week to 18 months in prison and fined $500,000. Doherty, 71, of Chicago, is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 5, 2025.
The sentences were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Ramsey E. Covington, Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago. The government was represented today by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Streicker, Diane MacArthur, and Julia Schwartz, and was previously represented by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet S. Bhachu.
“Through their web of lies, defendants deceived internal auditors, rate payers, and shareholders, and abused the highest levels of state government,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Streicker, Diane MacArthur, and Julia Schwartz argued in the government’s memorandum ahead of McClain’s sentencing. “Many public officials, and many lobbyists, adhere to the rules and to the law. But for those who do not, or who may be tempted to design their own illegal plan as a way around them, a message must be sent that a long prison sentence awaits them when they are caught.”
Madigan, 83, of Chicago, was convicted by a separate federal jury earlier this year on ten corruption charges, many of them related to the ComEd bribery scheme. Madigan was sentenced last month to seven and a half years in federal prison and fined $2.5 million.
Chicago Man Sentenced to Nearly Two Years in Prison for Violating Conditions of Court-Supervised Release Following ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Chicago man has been sentenced to nearly two years in federal prison for violating the conditions of court-supervised release following his imprisonment for a firearms offense.
KEESHON SAMSON, 31, was released from federal prison in 2023 after being convicted of illegally possessing a loaded semiautomatic handgun on Chicago’s South Side. The gun had been reported stolen in a burglary of a licensed firearms dealer. Samson remained under court-supervised release for three years following imprisonment.
In February 2025, Samson was accused of breaking windows out of an acquaintance’s house and threatening the physical safety of an Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) investigator in a series of harassing telephone calls from a masked phone number.
On July 2, 2025, U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey found that Samson threatened the DCFS investigator and thus violated the supervised release conditions, one of which prohibited him from committing a federal, state, or local crime while under supervision. Judge Blakey sentenced Samson to 21 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, and Explosives. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Snell.
“In our federal system of justice, supervised release is a critically important part of the sentencing process,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “It is designed to help offenders transition back into society while also ensuring public safety. When a defendant on supervised release chooses to violate clear conditions designed to protect the community, my Office will not hesitate to prosecute the violation and hold the defendant accountable.”
“The defendant’s conduct while on supervised release demonstrated a reckless disregard for the law, the safety of others, and the Court’s orders,” said ATF SAC Amon. “This sentence sends a clear message that violations of Court-imposed conditions of release will not be tolerated.”
Former Accountant for Chicago Construction Company Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Prison for $1.8 Million EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A former senior accountant for a Chicago construction company has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for embezzling company funds.
RICHARD A. MANDARINO entered false payment requests in the construction company’s accounting system, causing checks to be issued to vendor companies for goods and services that Mandarino knew were never provided. Mandarino then converted those payments to his and others’ personal use. He concealed the thefts by creating fictitious credits and offsets in the construction company’s accounting system.
Mandarino committed the fraud from 2015 to 2017 while he resided in Canada and worked on the Chicago construction company’s Canadian business projects. As a result of his conduct, Mandarino caused losses totaling more than $1.8 million.
Mandarino, 46, of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, pleaded guilty last year to a federal wire fraud charge. In an order issued on Friday, U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger sentenced Mandarino to two years and two months in federal prison and ordered him to pay more than $1.8 million in restitution to his victims.
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. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kartik K. Raman and former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Yusef Dale and Patrick J. King, Jr.
“Defendant engaged in a deceptive and calculated scheme against his employer who trusted him with its finances,” the government argued in its sentencing memorandum. “The scheme was complex and multilayered.”
Man Sentenced to Seven and a Half Years in Prison for Robbing Five Suburban Chicago Financial InstitutionsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man who robbed four banks and a credit union in the Chicago suburbs has been sentenced to more than seven and a half years in federal prison.
CHARLES LAWLER entered the financial institutions and presented demand notes while his friend, TARANDLE LEE, waited outside as the getaway driver. Together, the pair robbed three banks and a credit union, while Lawler also robbed an additional bank by himself.
The robberies were as follows:
- Sept. 22, 2021: Lawler robbed BMO Harris Bank in Naperville, Ill.
- Sept. 28, 2021: Lawler and Lee robbed Old Second Bank in Lisle, Ill.
- Oct. 6, 2021: Lawler and Lee robbed Bank Financial in Westmont, Ill.
- Jan. 3, 2022: Lawler and Lee robbed BMO Harris Bank in Woodridge, Ill.
- April 14, 2022: Lawler and Lee robbed DuPage Credit Union in Downers Grove, Ill.
Lawler, 54, of Villa Park, Ill., was arrested in 2023 and has remained detained in law enforcement custody. He pleaded guilty to the first three robberies and stipulated to his role in the final two. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman sentenced Lawler to seven years and eight months in federal prison.
Lee, 45, of Bolingbrook, Ill., was arrested in 2023 and has remained detained in law enforcement custody. A federal jury in Chicago earlier this year convicted Lee on all four robbery counts against him. Lee’s sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.
Lawler’s 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. Valuable assistance was provided by the Downers Grove, Ill. Police Department, Bellwood, Ill. Police Department, Woodridge, Ill. Police Department, and Villa Park, Ill. Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alejandro G. Ortega and Jonathan L. Shih.
Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Arranging Utility Services for Thousands of Chicago-Area PropertiesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man who fraudulently arranged for more than $5 million in utility services to be provided to two thousand Chicago-area properties has pleaded guilty to a federal fraud charge.
DAVID W. BROWN admitted in a plea agreement that he offered to arrange electricity and natural gas services for residential and commercial properties in the Chicago area in return for a fee. 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, the plea agreement states. Brown knew it would typically take 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 and avoid financial responsibility, the plea agreement states. Once a utility company initiated the process to terminate, Brown fraudulently continued the service by opening new accounts in the names of different false customers at the same address, the plea agreement states.
Brown typically received payments ranging from $50 to $150 every few months from the property owners and tenants who received the services, the plea agreement states. In total, Brown admitted in the plea agreement that from 2017 to 2024, he caused utility companies to fraudulently provide more than $5 million in services to more than two thousand residential and commercial properties in the Chicago area.
Brown, 55, of Chicago, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a federal wire fraud charge. The conviction is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge LaShonda A. Hunt set sentencing for Oct. 15, 2025.
The guilty plea 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. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick D. Young.
brown_plea_agreement.pdf