Northern District of Illinois

CHICAGO — Two former vendors of Evanston/Skokie School District 65 pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges today and admitted their roles in a kickback scheme orchestrated by the District’s former Superintendent.

ANTONIO ROSS and ALFONZO LEWIS admitted in plea agreements that they paid kickbacks to District 65’s then-Superintendent, DEVON HORTON, in exchange for Horton’s efforts to steer District 65 contracts to consulting companies that Antonio Ross and Lewis owned.  Antonio Ross obtained approximately $119,500 from District 65 and paid Horton at least $41,900 in cash from the proceeds of the contracts with his company.  Lewis obtained approximately $24,000 from District 65 and paid Horton at least $6,000 in cash kickbacks from the proceeds of a contract with his company.  Antonio Ross and Lewis admitted that their companies did not perform some of the services for which they invoiced the District.

Antonio Ross, 49, of Chicago, and Lewis, 49, of Chicago, each pleaded guilty to a federal wire fraud charge, which is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin scheduled sentencing for Lewis on Jan. 25, 2027, and for Antonio Ross on March 10, 2027. 

The guilty pleas were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Scott Wingle, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s Central Regional Office; Ryan Whalen, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; and Marta Grijalva, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago.  Substantial assistance was provided by Chicago Public Schools Office of Inspector General.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily C.R. Vermylen, Elie Zenner, and Morris Pasqual.

Horton, 49, of Stone Mountain, Ga., pleaded guilty earlier this month to wire fraud, embezzlement, and tax charges. Horton admitted receiving the kickbacks from Antonio Ross and Lewis, as well as an additional $30,000 in kickbacks from a third school vendor, SAMUEL ROSS, whose company obtained $124,500 from District 65 purportedly to provide loss prevention services.  Judge Durkin scheduled Horton’s sentencing for Jan. 5, 2027.

Samuel Ross, 47, of Berwyn, Ill., pleaded guilty last month to a wire fraud charge.  Judge Durkin has not yet scheduled Samuel Ross’s sentencing.

CHICAGO — A man has been indicted in federal court for allegedly aiming a laser pointer at a Chicago Police Department helicopter.

IGNACIN RAMOS, 36, of Chicago, knowingly aimed the beam of a laser pointer at the CPD helicopter on Aug. 11, 2026, according to an indictment returned Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago.  The indictment charges Ramos with one count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.

Ramos pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Thursday in federal court in Chicago.  A status hearing was scheduled for Dec. 3, 2026, at 9:30 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Mary M. Rowland.

The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.  Valuable assistance was provided by the Chicago Police Department and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Davis Price Shugrue.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.  The charge in the indictment is punishable by up to five years in federal prison.   If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

CHICAGO — A leader of a Chicago street gang has been sentenced to life in federal prison for committing multiple murders and engaging in other acts of violence.

ROMEO BLACKMAN personally committed four murders and three attempted murders while leading a Chicago street gang known as the Goonie Boss/Goonie Gang.  Blackman also sold narcotics, trafficked stolen firearms, violently prevented witnesses from cooperating with law enforcement, and publicly boasted about the gang’s activities on social media.  As a leader of the gang, Blackman instructed and encouraged juvenile Goonie members to commit murders as well.

The Goonie gang terrorized the Englewood neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side until a series of federal indictments disrupted the gang’s activities.  A federal jury in 2023 convicted Blackman, 30, of Chicago, of racketeering conspiracy and violence in aid of racketeering.  On Sept. 29, 2026, U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey sentenced Blackman to life in federal prison.

The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Ryan Whalen, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; and Fred Waller, Interim Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.  Valuable assistance was provided by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and the LaSalle County State’s Attorney’s Office.  The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Simar Khera.  

“The seriousness of the defendant’s crimes cannot be overstated,” the government argued in its sentencing memorandum.  “His actions ended the life of numerous individuals, depriving their families of time with their loved ones.  His leadership of the Goonies corrupted numerous young minds and assisted their turn into violent individuals.”

The federal investigation of the Goonie gang spanned several years and resulted in the convictions of numerous other Goonie members and associates for various crimes.

CHICAGO — A California businessman has been sentenced to three and a half years in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining more than $14 million in small business loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act.

DARREN CARLYLE SADLER participated in a scheme to fraudulently obtain loans pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), which was created by the CARES Act to provide financial relief for small businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic.  In 2020, Sadler submitted and caused the submission of at least 63 PPP loan applications for himself and his clients.  The applications falsely represented, among other things, the number of employees and the average monthly payroll of the purported businesses.  The false applications resulted in the issuance of more than $14 million in loans to Sadler and his clients, including $1.3 million in loans for Sadler himself.  Sadler also received more than $1.9 million in fees from clients for fraudulently obtaining the loans on their behalf.

Sadler used the fraud proceeds to rent a villa for several months during the pandemic and to travel across the country on private jets to meet clients at bank branches to secure fund transfers.  He also purchased luxury vehicles, including a Rolls Royce, multiple Mercedes-Benzes, and a Land Rover.

Sadler, 40, of Sacramento, Calif., pleaded guilty last year to a federal wire fraud charge.  On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin sentenced Sadler to 42 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay more than $14,692,762 in restitution.  The government also seized a bank account controlled by Sadler worth more than $1.8 million, which was turned over to the government pursuant to court order.

The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Ryan Whalen, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; Nicholas Bucciarelli, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and William W. Kirk, Inspector General of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of the Inspector General.  

“It is uncontroverted that defendant’s offense conduct was serious and borne of greed,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Kartik K. Raman argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.  “To enrich himself, defendant engaged in an extremely large, complex scheme that defrauded an important pandemic financial assistance program during a time of great uncertainty.”

Consistent with the Administration’s priorities to identify, investigate, and prosecute criminal fraud in the federal government entitlement and benefit programs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois has been taking a fresh look at Covid-19 fraud.

On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division.  The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people.  The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

ROCKFORD — A Rockford woman has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges for operating a scheme to illegally obtain more than $2 million in federally funded unemployment benefits under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program.   

CARISSA JORDAN, 46, admitted in a plea agreement that she used the personal identifying information of various individuals to submit false Pandemic Unemployment Assistance applications.  Jordan had obtained the personal identifying information through social media, with and without the individuals’ knowledge and consent. After receiving debit cards containing the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance funds, Jordan used the money for her own personal benefit. 

Jordan pleaded guilty in federal court in Rockford on Wednesday to wire fraud charges. She faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.  U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston set sentencing for March 31, 2027.

The guilty plea was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ladd.

On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division.  The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people.  The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

ROCKFORD — An Ogle County man has been sentenced to fourteen years in federal prison for distributing child pornography via social media and instant messaging platforms. 

RANDY WITHROW, 42, of Leaf River, Ill., admitted in a plea agreement earlier this year that he used multiple Instagram and Viber accounts to receive, upload, and distribute videos and images that he knew depicted child pornography.  Withrow acknowledged that, in total, he knowingly possessed at least 1,447 videos and 1,406 images of child pornography on his electronic devices, including material involving the sexual abuse or exploitation of an infant or toddler.

On Oct. 1, 2026, U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston sentenced Withrow to a term of 14 years in federal prison and ordered that it be followed by 20 years of court-supervised release.  Judge Johnston also ordered Withrow to pay $22,500 in restitution to his known victims.

The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago.  The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodora Anderson. 

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 — The creator of the digital asset Kishu Inu has been indicted in federal court in Chicago for allegedly operating a $9 million “rug pull” fraud scheme.

ALEXANDER SISEMORE, also known as “Kishu man” and “Kimbo,” founded and created the digital asset Kishu Inu, which launched in 2021 and subsequently reached a market capitalization of more than $1.6 billion.  An indictment returned Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois alleges that Sisemore and others made materially false statements to investors in order to maintain Kishu Inu’s liquidity and increase its price in the cryptocurrency market while surreptitiously selling a large quantity of Kishu Inu tokens that Sisemore and others secretly allocated to themselves at the time the asset was created.  Many of Sisemore’s alleged misrepresentations and falsehoods were made to actual and potential investors on social media applications, including Telegram, Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit.

The alleged fraud scheme—known colloquially as a “rug pull”—generated personal profits for Sisemore of approximately $9 million, the indictment states.

The indictment charges Sisemore, 28, of Fayetteville, Ark., with three counts of wire fraud, each of which is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. Arraignment in federal court in Chicago has not yet been scheduled.

The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elie Zenner and Matthew Getter.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

The FBI Chicago Field Office is seeking to identify investors in Kishu Inu.  If you invested in Kishu Inu or have information relevant to this investigation, you are encouraged to complete this online form.  Responses are voluntary but may be useful in the federal investigation and to identify potential victims.

CHICAGO — A Virginia man who co-created and operated “Empire Market”—a dark web marketplace that enabled users to anonymously buy and sell illegal goods and services—has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison.

RAHEIM HAMILTON co-owned and operated Empire Market from 2018 to 2020.  During that time, the online market facilitated more than four million transactions between vendors and buyers valued at more than $430 million.  The illegal products and services available on the site included controlled substances, compromised or stolen account credentials, stolen personally identifying information, counterfeit currency, and computer-hacking tools.  Sales of controlled substances were the most prevalent activity, with net drug sales totaling nearly $375 million over the life of the site.  The controlled substances sold on the market included approximately at least 13,314.23 grams of fentanyl, 446,683.15 grams of cocaine, 71,992.33 grams of methamphetamine, and 103,396.21 grams of heroin. 

Hamilton and co-creator THOMAS PAVEY designed Empire Market to help its users avoid detection by law enforcement and to assist users with laundering money from the illicit transactions.  Hamilton and Pavey established that all transactions on the site must be conducted using only cryptocurrency.  They encouraged users to use tumbling and mixing services to conceal cryptocurrency transactions and utilize encryption while communicating on the site.  They also allowed users to rate vendors based on how well the vendors concealed the drugs they shipped.

Hamilton, 30, of Suffolk, Va., pleaded guilty earlier this year in U.S. District Court in Chicago to a drug conspiracy charge.  Hamilton agreed to forfeit certain ill-gotten proceeds, including, among things, approximately 1,230 bitcoin and 24.4 Ether, as well as three properties in Virginia.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger sentenced Hamilton to 40 years in federal prison and fined him $5 million.

The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Ryan Whalen, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; Nicholas Bucciarelli, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Pete Gizas, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations.  The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Marie E. Ursini.

Pavey, 41, of Ormond Beach, Fla., pleaded guilty last year to a federal drug conspiracy charge and admitted his role in creating and operating Empire Market.  Pavey agreed to forfeit certain ill-gotten proceeds, including, among things, approximately 1,584 bitcoin, two boxes containing 25-ounce gold bars, three automobiles, and two properties in Florida. Pavey is set to be sentenced before Judge Seeger later this month.

CHICAGO — A felon has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for illegally possessing a handgun and using it to fatally shoot a man in Chicago.

LEVION THOMAS illegally possessed the handgun on March 20, 2023, when he sold it to an undercover law enforcement officer.  As a previously convicted felon, Thomas was prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm.

Two weeks earlier, Thomas used the same gun to fatally shoot Troy Pouncey in the 7100 block of South Calumet Avenue in Chicago. The fatal shooting occurred in the afternoon next to a children’s playground in nearby William Meyering Park.

Thomas, 31, of Chicago, pleaded guilty in 2024 to a federal charge of illegal firearm possession.  On Oct. 1, 2026, U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin sentenced Thomas to 15 years in federal prison.

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 Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Fred Waller, Interim Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. 

“Thomas’s gun possession and sale were serious, but this case presents unique aggravating circumstances because Thomas used the firearm that he sold to murder someone,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julia K. Schwartz and Jessica R. Ecker argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.  “Too many people in this city believe that they can unlawfully possess firearms with impunity.  This needs to stop.”

“The defendant knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm, yet chose to arm himself and use that firearm to take another person’s life," said ATF SAC Amon.  "Through the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), agents were able to connect the firearm recovered from the defendant to a murder committed two weeks earlier, providing a critical link in the investigation.  The statutory maximum 15-year federal prison sentence imposed in this case reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s actions and the consequences of illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.  ATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate offenders who illegally possess firearms and use them to threaten the safety of our communities.”

CHICAGO — A man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for willfully failing to pay child support for two children in the Chicago area.

From 2009 to 2017, EVAN MUSIKANTOW willfully failed to pay more than $1 million of child support (including interest) that the Circuit Court of Cook County ordered him to pay following a divorce.  During those years, Musikantow paid only $3,000 towards child support, with most of that money having been remitted involuntarily via interceptions of Musikantow’s tax refunds by the State of Illinois. 

A federal jury in Chicago last year convicted Musikantow, 60, of Scottsdale, Ariz., of the willful failure to pay court-ordered child support.  On Oct. 1, 2026, U.S. District Judge John J. Tharp, Jr. sentenced Musikantow to two years in federal prison and ordered him to pay $1,092,561.80 in restitution.

The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Thomas Ethridge, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Region of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. 

“Defendant ignored and otherwise dodged his duty to support his children despite the longstanding efforts of the Circuit Court of Cook County, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and the mother of the two children to get defendant to provide support,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward G. Kohler and Edward A. Liva, Jr. argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.  “Defendant committed this continuing offense over a period of many years, apparently motivated to abandon his children’s financial support to chase his own lavish lifestyle.”

CHICAGO — A federal jury in Chicago has convicted a man of trafficking methamphetamine to Illinois from California.

HUGO STEVEN DE LA CRUZ CORONA, 24, of San Jacinto, Calif., trafficked the meth on behalf of a Los Angeles-based drug trafficking organization that distributed narcotics throughout the country via the U.S. Postal Service.  In October 2020, De La Cruz traveled to Chicago and attempted to pick up two parcels containing multi-pound quantities of meth that the organization had shipped from California.  Unbeknownst to De La Cruz, law enforcement had intercepted both parcels and replaced the meth with sham drugs.

After a four-day trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago, the jury on Sept. 25, 2026, convicted De La Cruz of both drug charges against him.  The convictions are punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah set sentencing for Jan. 20, 2027, at 1:30 p.m.

The convictions were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Nicholas Bucciarelli, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Ryan Whalen, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Todd C. Smith, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chester Choi and Holly Lanchantin. 

The federal investigation was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion.  The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad.  Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders.  In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.  The task force in this investigation was comprised of agents from USPIS, FBI, and DEA, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois.

Four other defendants, including the leader of the drug trafficking organization—MARCO TORRES, SR., 49, of Hesperia, Calif.—pleaded guilty prior to trial. Torres Sr. is awaiting sentencing; a status hearing in his case is set for Oct. 13, 2026, at 10:15 a.m.  The three other defendants were sentenced to prison terms of six years, five years, and 14 months.

CHICAGO — The former Chief Executive Officer of an Illinois railcar management company has been charged in federal court with embezzling more than $22 million from the company.

MICHAEL CALOMINO served as CEO of a company that provided railcar management services for clients who owned railcars throughout North America.  The company contracted with the railcar owners to provide, among other things, maintenance and repair work on the railcars, often collecting funds from clients in advance of services to be arranged. 

From 2016 to 2025, Calomino embezzled more than $22 million from the company by fraudulently converting funds held by the company on behalf of clients, according to a criminal information filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago.  Calomino transferred the money to personal bank accounts for his own use, including to pay gambling expenses, the information states.

The information charges Calomino, 69, of Frederick, Md., with one count of wire fraud.  Arraignment in federal court has not yet been scheduled.

The information was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Ryan Whalen, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; and Ben Wagner, Inspector General, Tennessee Valley Authority Office of the Inspector General.  Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Trustee Program.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Snell.

The public is reminded that an information 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.  Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison.   If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

ROCKFORD — A federal judge has sentenced a Freeport, Ill. man to more than 15 years in federal prison for illegally possessing firearms during a lengthy standoff with law enforcement.

In September 2024, GRADY CLARK unlawfully restrained an individual by the use of a firearm in Clark’s apartment, resulting in a welfare check by police.  The victim was able to flee before Clark barricaded himself in the apartment, causing an eleven-hour standoff with law enforcement.  During the standoff, Clark repeatedly discharged a firearm and threw Molotov cocktails out a window.

Clark eventually surrendered, after which law enforcement discovered a rifle with four 40-round capacity magazines, a 30-round capacity magazine, and a stolen and chambered semiautomatic handgun inside his apartment.

Clark, 54, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal charge of illegal firearm possession.  As a previously convicted felon, Clark was prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms.  On Friday, U.S. District Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins sentenced Clark to 15 years and eight 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 Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The Freeport, Ill. Police Department and the Illinois State Police assisted in the investigation.  

“This case is extremely serious,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodora A. Anderson argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Defendant’s actions created a significant risk to the public.”

WASHINGTON -- Today, the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division announced the results of a surge of criminal enforcement actions targeting fraud in the Social Security Administration (SSA)’s benefits programs, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI). 

Between Aug. 21 and Sept. 18, the Fraud Division and U.S. Attorneys in 11 districts, along with the assistance of the SSA Office of Inspector General (SSA OIG), brought charges against 17 defendants who are allegedly responsible for more than $1.3 million in intended loss to the United States.

“The Social Security Administration’s benefits programs are meant to safeguard America’s elderly and most vulnerable — not to bankroll fraudsters,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Every dollar stolen is a dollar taken from a retiree’s medicine, meals, or housing. These cases represent just a fraction of the fraud we are aggressively pursuing every day. The egregious facts uncovered in these cases underscore why our mission to combat fraud — large or small — is vital to protecting public trust and ensuring justice.”

“President Trump and Vice President Vance have given the federal government an unprecedented mandate — and the tools and resources to back it up — to find fraud wherever it exists and root it out,” said Commissioner Frank Bisignano of the Social Security Administration. “At Social Security, we are putting that mandate into action. Working hand-in-hand with the Department of Justice, we are aggressively pursuing fraud, safeguarding taxpayer dollars, and protecting Social Security.”

“Fraud involving Social Security’s retirement and disability programs will not be tolerated. Thanks to OIG’s partnership with the Department of Justice, those targeting taxpayer dollars and jeopardizing our most vulnerable populations will be held accountable,” said Michelle L. Anderson, Assistant Inspector General for Audit as First Assistant at SSA OIG. “These cases demonstrate the value of focusing resources to identify and prosecuting fraud schemes to ensure taxpayers dollars are paid only to those who are rightfully entitled.”

Notable Cases (Intended Loss Figures):

U.S. v. Eva Bratcher (Indictment) – $21,402 – Northern District of Illinois      

Bratcher allegedly concealed her mother’s body in a deep freezer in her garage for two years. During those two years, Bratcher assumed her mother’s identity, collected her mother’s SSA benefits, and used her mother’s SNAP benefits. The defendant also allegedly used an alternative Social Security Number to steal additional SNAP benefits to which she was not entitled.

Charges: 18 U.S. Code § 641 (Theft of Government Property); 42 U.S. Code § 408 (Fraud, Misrepresentation, or misuse of Social Security Benefits)

Maximum Penalties: 10 years; 5 years in prison

Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Parker Gardner-Erickson and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Niranjan Emani for the Northern District of Illinois. District Fraud Counsel AOR: Assistant U.S. Attorney Vincenza Tomlinson for Northern District of Illinois.  

U.S. v. David Darling (Indictment) – $ 109,746 – Northern District of New York

Darling had control of his deceased brother’s ATM card and began withdrawing money the day after death. SSA was unaware of the death and continued to pay into the account. Darling continued his scheme for a total of $109,746 in stolen social security benefits.

Charges: 18 U.S. Code § 1029 (Access Device Fraud); 18 U.S. Code § 641 (Theft of Government Property); 18 U.S. Code § 1028A (Aggravated Identify Theft)

Maximum Penalties: 15 years; 10 years; 2-year mandatory minimum in prison

Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Arne Soldwedel for the Northern District of New York. District Fraud Counsel AOR: Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Clark for the Northern District of New York.  

U.S. v. Debra Reed (Indictment) – $ 59,070 – Western District of Pennsylvania

On Nov. 23, 2020, Debra Reed’s father died. Between Nov. 24, 2020, and Oct. 26, 2023, the Social Security Administration continued to pay social security retirement payments to the father’s account, and Reed either personally stole the money or caused her daughter to take the money and transfer it to her directly.

Charges: 18 U.S. Code § 641 (Theft of Government Property)

Maximum Penalties: 10 years in prison

Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan J. McKenna for the Western District of Pennsylvania. District Fraud Counsel AOR: Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Stockey for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

U.S. v. Laura Whisenant – $ 121, 980 – Eastern District of Michigan (Complaint)

Laura Whisenant served as a representative payee for her elderly, mentally disabled uncle.  For seven years, she stole and misused nearly $121 K of her uncle’s SSA benefits — all while he lived in squalor, in a house without running water, electricity, or heat. 

Charges: 42 U.S.C. § 408(a)(5)

Maximum Penalties: 5 years in prison

Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne M. Lambert for the Eastern District of Michigan. District Fraud Counsel AOR: Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Norwood for the Eastern District of Michigan.

U.S. v. Keshaune Pace also known as Keshaune Jenkins – Southeast Michigan (Complaint)

Keshaune Pace served as representative payee for her minor son, who was a recipient of SSI benefits due to disability. In order to maintain the receipt of her son’s benefits after he left her custody, she lied to the SSA about her son’s living arrangements, going so far as to have another person impersonate her son during an SSA-initiated review. Pace stole and misused $30,000 of the benefits paid on behalf of her son; $6,000 of those benefits should have been used for her son’s needs and were not, $24,000 should have been paid to no one at all.

Charges: 18 U.S. Code § 641 (Theft of Government Property); 42 U.S.C. § 1383a(a)(4) (Social Security Representative Payee Fraud)

Maximum Penalties: 10 years; 5 years in prison

Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne M. Lambert for the Eastern District of Michigan. District Fraud Counsel AOR: Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Norwood for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Additional Charges During SSA Surge:

• United States v. Tammy Phillips - $65,000 – Western District of Pennsylvania
• United States v. Israel Gonzalez - $139,952 – Western District of North Carolina
• United States vs. John Zaccaria - $143,685 – District of Rhode Island
• United States v. Sherry Freude - $100,845 – Southern District of Texas
• United States v. Lisa Martinez - $50,501 – Western District of Texas
• United States v. Stacey L. Stoudermire - $31,237 – Northern District of Ohio
• United States vs. Ruthie M. Lewis - $33,131 – Northern District of Ohio
• United States vs. Lizbeth A. Reinhard - $170,166 – Northern District of Ohio
• United States vs. Carrie Miller - $50,658 – District of Idaho
• United States vs. Calandra Davis - $53,234 – Northern District of Indiana
• United States v. Tammy Hopkins - $98,879 – Eastern District of Michigan
• United States v. Darlette Williams - $46,844 – Eastern District of Michigan

U.S. Attorney Partners: District of Idaho, District of Rhode Island, Eastern District of Michigan, Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of New York, Northern District of Ohio, Southern District of California, Southern District of Texas, Western District of North Carolina, Western District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Texas.

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

ROCKFORD — A Rockford man has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for illegally selling a handgun and “machine gun” conversion devices to a convicted felon.

In the spring and summer of 2024, BRIAN RODRIGUEZ sold a handgun, ammunition, and components designed to be assembled into machine gun conversion devices, also known as “Glock switches.”  When attached to a firearm, a switch makes the gun capable of firing in fully automatic mode. 

Rodriguez, 24, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of knowingly possessing and transferring a machine gun.  On Friday, U.S. District Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins sentenced Rodriguez to 27 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 Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

“The risk of danger to the community when convicted felons possess firearms, especially machine guns, is serious,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor N. Burnett argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.  “A criminal with a converted Glock handgun can more easily inflict damage on an individual or group of individuals, and can easily hit unintended targets as well, given the automatic firing and the difficulty of controlling the multiple rounds being expelled in short bursts by the handgun.”

CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for sex trafficking and abusing a 16-year-old girl.

RUBEN CARTER knew the girl was 16 years old when he caused her to engage in commercial sex acts over a four-month period in 2019.  Carter took nude and explicit photographs of the girl and used them in online advertisements for sexual services.  He then arranged for the girl to meet individuals for commercial sex in various locations in the Chicago area.  The girl gave Carter all the money she received from the customers.

Carter often beat the girl and threatened to kill her if she did not comply with his demands. Carter also engaged in sex acts with the girl on multiple occasions, often recording the abuse on his cell phone.

Carter, 39, of Forest Park, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of sex trafficking of a minor.  On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Martha M. Pacold sentenced Carter to a term of 25 years in federal prison and ordered that it be followed by ten years of court-supervised release.

The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.  Substantial assistance was provided by the Forest Park, Ill. Police Department.

“Ruben Carter targeted a vulnerable sixteen-year-old runaway, lured her into his orbit, and sexually exploited her for his own financial benefit,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Asheeka Desai argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.  “Defendant’s crimes were violent, exploitative, and incredibly serious.”

If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by calling 1-800-843-5678 or logging on to http://www.missingkids.com.  The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

CHICAGO — A federal jury in Chicago today convicted a United States Customs and Border Protection officer on civil rights charges for sexually assaulting and robbing multiple women in the Chicago suburbs.

LUIS URIBE, who performed customs and immigration duties for CBP in the Chicago area, acted under color of law when he sexually assaulted and robbed two women in 2022.  Uribe brandished a firearm in at least one of the assaults.  He also robbed and attempted to sexually assault two other women. The robberies, sexual assaults, and attempted sexual assaults occurred in Schaumburg, Ill., and Naperville, Ill.

After a nearly two-week trial in federal court in Chicago, the jury today convicted Uribe, 45, of Pingree Grove, Ill., on all counts, specifically, ten counts of deprivation of civil rights under color of law and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.  The convictions carry a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in federal prison and a maximum of life.  U.S. District Judge Jorge L. Alonso set sentencing for Jan. 21, 2027.

The convictions were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Ryan Whalen, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Erin Silk, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Midwest Region of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan L. Shih and Richard Rothblatt.

CHICAGO — A man has been sentenced to eleven and a half years in federal prison for robbing two U.S. Postal Service carriers and a food delivery driver in a Chicago suburb.

DEVAN FLAX violently robbed a postal carrier on Nov. 25, 2023, and another carrier on Nov. 28, 2023, both in Forest Park, Ill.  On Nov. 26, 2023, Flax robbed a food delivery driver who was working for a Berwyn, Ill. pizzeria.  Flax brandished a handgun in two of the robberies.

Flax, 23, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal robbery and firearm charges.  On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey I. Cummings sentenced Flax to eleven and a half years in federal prison.

The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Nicholas Bucciarelli, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  Substantial assistance was provided by the Chicago Police Department; Forest Park, Ill. Police Department; and Lombard, Ill. Police Department. 

“Defendant’s robbery spree occurred in public places and jeopardized the work of postal carriers,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily C.R. Vermylen argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.  “Motivated only by his own greed, defendant showed a complete disregard for human life.”

ROCKFORD — An Alabama man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Rockford to sex trafficking and child pornography charges. 

JAMES PRICE, 39, of Bay Minette, Ala., admitted in plea declaration on Wednesday that he traveled to Illinois to meet a minor for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct.  Price also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, causing a minor to engage in a commercial sex act, and producing, transporting, and receiving child pornography. 

Price pleaded guilty in the middle of his trial in federal court in Rockford.  A jury was selected on Monday, and testimony began on Tuesday.  Price pleaded guilty after multiple government witnesses had testified, including the minor victim, who courageously described her ordeals for the jury.

The convictions are punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of life. U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston set sentencing for Jan. 25, 2027.

The guilty plea was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI Chicago Field Office.  The South Beloit, Ill. Police Department, Roscoe, Ill. Police Department, and Rockton, Ill. Police Department provided valuable assistance during the investigation.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Ladd and Taylor N. Burnett.

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 — A federal judge has sentenced the president of an environmental services company to more than six and a half years in federal prison for knowingly leaving asbestos at a suburban Chicago demolition site after accepting full payment for the purported remediation.

CARL FIORAVANTI is the president of Alliance Environmental Control, Inc., a Lansing, Ill.-based company that performs asbestos removal services.  In 2023, Alliance was hired to remove asbestos-containing materials ahead of a planned demolition of a largely abandoned medical campus in Waukegan, Ill.  The owner of the site agreed to pay Alliance nearly $1.8 million to remove the asbestos-containing materials in accordance with laws designed to prevent people from breathing or ingesting airborne asbestos fibers, which have been shown to cause lung cancer and other serious illnesses.  During the purported remediation, Fioravanti fabricated air-sampling clearance reports that fraudulently stated that the site had been scientifically tested and was clear of asbestos.  Two months after Fioravanti certified the project as fully remediated, the property owner learned that Alliance had left enormous amounts of asbestos-containing materials throughout portions of the site. 

Substantial amounts of the toxic materials had become commingled with ordinary demolition debris, releasing asbestos into the air and substantially increasing the remediation costs. To date, the owner has spent more than $26 million on large-scale remediation of the property.

In addition to the asbestos-related fraud, Fioravanti also defrauded the IRS and the State of Illinois of more than $2.7 million in combined tax revenues by causing a tax preparer to file false individual and corporate income tax returns that greatly understated the amount of income Alliance and Fioravanti had earned from 2013 to 2022.

Fioravanti, 58, of Lansing, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal wire fraud and tax charges.  On Sept. 10, 2026, U.S. District Judge Franklin U. Valderrama sentenced Fioravanti to six years and eight months in federal prison.

The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Allison Landsman, Acting Director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division (EPA CID); Robert J. Kuszynski, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago; Machelle L. Jindra, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General (HUD OIG) in Chicago; and Ryan Whalen, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.  Substantial assistance was provided by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Chapman and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Cardick.

“Environmental fraud causes substantial damage to the health, safety, and economic security of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros.  “When individuals falsify emissions reports or fabricate safety data, they are trading public welfare for illicit profit.  As this case demonstrates, the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will work hard with its law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who commit environmental frauds.”

“By falsely certifying that asbestos at an old hospital site had been properly abated, the defendant ensured that piles of friable asbestos wrongly remaining were cast about during demolition, contaminating the entire site and endangering workers and the community members,” said EPA CID Acting Director Landsman.  “Fraud under environmental programs does more than financial harm—it places real humans in danger and poisons communities.  This sentencing underscores that there are criminal consequences for those who deliberately cut corners that endangers human health and the environment.”

“Workers trusted that a hidden danger had been removed before they entered that building,” said IRS-CI Acting SAC Kuszynski.  “The paperwork said the site was safe, but the physical and financial evidence told another story.  Our agents followed the payments and tax records to help show what was concealed, who profited, and the human cost of putting money ahead of people.” 

“Carl Fioravanti placed workers, families, and the environment at risk of exposure to asbestos by falsely claiming that enormous amounts of asbestos-containing material had been removed and disposed of when he knew that it had not,” said HUD OIG SAC Jindra.  “This was not an oversight or a mistake; it was a deliberate scheme that placed personal financial gain above the safety of others.  HUD OIG remains committed to working with the U.S Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners to hold bad actors accountable and bring to justice those who exploit federal programs and endanger the public for personal gain.”

“This environmental fraud scheme was a purposeful attack on public safety, putting innocent Americans and their health at risk,” said FBI SAC Whalen.  “This sentencing confirms that the FBI, along with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, are committed to defending our homeland, which includes the very environment that surrounds the communities we serve.  Anyone who endangers the health and safety of Chicago’s residents for unlawful profit will be fully held accountable and be brought swiftly to justice.”

ROCKFORD — A former employee of the Federal Correctional Institute in Thomson, Ill., has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for sexually abusing two inmates.

DANNY L. SPYKER, 42, a corrections officer who was working as a cook supervisor, knowingly engaged in sexual acts with two inmates, which is a federal crime. At the time of the abuse in March 2024, both victims were in official detention in the prison and under the custodial, supervisory, and disciplinary authority of prison employees, including Spyker.

A jury in U.S. District Court in Rockford earlier this year convicted Spyker of two counts of knowingly engaging in sexual acts with inmates.  On Monday, U.S. District Judge Sunil R. Harjani sentenced Spyker to three years and five months in federal prison. 

The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matt Loux, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Midwest Regional Office of the Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General.

“Defendant’s criminal conduct was not the result of a one-time mistake or a momentary lapse of judgment,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Kim argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.  “He used his knowledge and position as a corrections officer/cook supervisor for his own sexual gratification.  When a correctional officer abuses his power and harms an inmate, it is not only a violation of federal law—it is a betrayal of the trust that the community places in our penal institutions.”

“Today’s sentencing shows the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ commitment to protecting the people in our custody and holding anyone who breaks the law accountable,” said William K. Marshall III, Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.  “We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to keep every BOP facility safe, secure, and worthy of the public’s trust.”

CHICAGO — A Chicago man who smuggled five firearms and more than 1,700 rounds of ammunition into Mexico has been sentenced to three years in federal prison. Two of the smuggled firearms were allegedly “straw purchased” by a Chicago Police Officer. 

In the fall of 2024, DIEGO VALDEZ and Chicago Police Officer KEVIN RODRIGUEZ schemed for Rodriguez to purchase an AR-15 style rifle on Valdez’s behalf from a firearms dealer in Indiana.  A few days later, Rodriguez purchased a handgun for Valdez in Illinois.  Valdez had identified which firearms he wanted and paid Rodriguez to buy them. 

Valdez then smuggled the straw-purchased firearms and three other guns, along with the ammunition, into Mexico, with the intention of selling them on the streets.  Mexican police stopped Valdez and others in December 2025 while they were traveling to the Mexican state of Michoacan.

Valdez, 26, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of unlawfully receiving a firearm.  On Sept. 8, 2026, U.S. District Judge John J. Tharp, Jr. sentenced Valdez to three years in federal prison.

The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.

The investigation was conducted in coordination with ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago.  The CGIC is a centralized law enforcement partnership that focuses exclusively on investigating and prosecuting violent offenders who utilize firearms in commission of their crimes in Chicago and throughout northern Illinois.  Every firearm-related case in Chicago is processed through the CGIC on a daily basis.

“Gun trafficking is a scourge on both our local community and the international community,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Elie Zenner argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.  “It is important to send a message to the individuals that might traffic guns to Mexico for money that there are serious consequences for doing so.”

Rodriguez, 29, of Chicago, has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and firearm charges. A change-of-plea hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 27, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., before Judge Tharp. 

CHICAGO — Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, today announced a criminal indictment and a guilty plea as part of a nationwide enforcement action led by the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Small Business Administration, and the SBA Office of Inspector General targeting fraud in the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

From June 12, 2026, to Sept. 1, 2026, federal prosecutors across the country facilitated fraud enforcement actions spanning more than 160 criminal defendants, including approximately 80 newly charged defendants, reaching approximately $245 million in intended loss to American taxpayers.  Consistent with the Administration’s priorities to identify, investigate, and prosecute criminal fraud in the federal government entitlement and benefit programs, the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office for the past year and a half has been taking a fresh look at Covid-related fraud.

“Pandemic loan relief was meant to keep American small businesses alive during government lockdowns—not line the pockets of fraudsters,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche.  “The defendants charged during our summer surge allegedly fabricated businesses, submitted false payroll and revenue claims, stole identities, and concealed foreign ties on their applications—but they will now be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

“This summer surge shows what is possible when dedicated public servants across the country work together with a single purpose,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division.  “Our mission is clear: protect taxpayer funds, safeguard the integrity of federal relief programs, and deliver justice to those who exploited them.  We will remain steadfast every day—standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners—to identify fraud, pursue those responsible, and restore confidence in the programs meant to help American small businesses thrive.”

“When individuals exploit government programs for personal gain, they do more than steal taxpayer dollars—they undermine public trust and divert resources from the people who need them the most,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros.  “Prosecuting Covid‑related fraud is an important way to preserve the integrity of government assistance programs and ensure that relief funds reach their intended recipients.  The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to holding accountable those who sought to profit from the pandemic, protecting both taxpayers and the vital institutions that support our communities.”

“Today’s announcement represents the largest-ever action against perpetrators of SBA fraud, with 870,000 suspended borrowers tied to $39 billion in suspected fraudulent PPP and Covid EIDL activity,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler.  “In partnership with Vice President Vance and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, we’re putting fraudsters on notice: the federal government will no longer turn a blind eye to those who stole from taxpayers and exploited programs designed to sustain small businesses during the pandemic.  With demand letters going out to suspected fraudsters, we’re also sending a clear message that they must repay their debts or face Treasury collections and possible federal law enforcement.  Under this Administration, the free ride is over.  We are restoring accountability, recovering taxpayer dollars, and protecting SBA programs for the legitimate small businesses they were created to serve.”

“Operation No Doze brings a focused and coordinated approach to pursuing fraud in SBA’s pandemic relief programs,” said SBA Inspector General William Kirk.  “By concentrating our investigative resources and working closely with SBA and our law enforcement partners, we are strengthening our ability to identify fraud, recover taxpayer funds, and hold accountable those who exploited programs created to help small businesses in a time of extraordinary need.  This initiative makes clear that the passage of time does not diminish our commitment to accountability.”

In the Northern District of Illinois, COSETTE DEAL, 37, of Oak Park, Ill., was indicted on federal wire fraud charges.  The indictment accuses Deal of submitting fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of businesses purportedly owned and operated by Deal and others, including purported sole proprietorships in the performing arts.  The applications contained materially false statements and misrepresentations concerning, among other things, the purported entities’ number of employees, gross income, payroll, and existence of ongoing operations, the indictment states.  Deal allegedly caused a loss of at least approximately $440,000.  Deal has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is awaiting trial.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward A. Liva, Jr. of the Northern District of Illinois is prosecuting the case.  The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt.  Deal is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 

In another case in the Northern District of Illinois, WILLIAM FREDERICK REED, of Hazel Crest, Ill., pleaded guilty to false statement and tax offenses.  Reed admitted in a plea agreement that he submitted fraudulent PPP loans on behalf of his sole proprietorship, Off Duty Security.  Among other things, Reed falsified his business’s payroll numbers, gross receipts, and net profits so that the business would appear as eligible to receive PPP loans, even though Reed knew it would otherwise not have been eligible.  Reed caused a loss of $17,584.  Reed’s sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hayley Altabef and Elie Zenner of the Northern District of Illinois are prosecuting the case. 

On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division.  The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people.  The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.  In the Northern District of Illinois, Assistant U.S. Attorney Vincenza Tomlinson serves as District Fraud Counsel for the Fraud Division.

CHICAGO — A Chicago trader has been sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prison for engaging in unauthorized speculative bond trading that cost his employer and others more than $30 million in losses and also caused his employer to become insolvent, which in turn led to more than 200 people losing their jobs.

KEITH WAKEFIELD worked as the head of fixed income trading for IFS Securities, Inc., a broker-dealer in Chicago.  In 2019, Wakefield knowingly and fraudulently engaged in unauthorized speculative trading in U.S. Treasury bonds using his employer’s trading accounts, exposing his trading to approximately $250 million in losses and actually causing more than $30 million in losses to the employer and its counterparties.  Wakefield attempted to conceal the unauthorized trades and losses by entering fake off-setting trades into a clearing broker’s order system, creating the false impression that he had profitably traded through a different clearing broker.

In addition to the fraudulent trading scheme, Wakefield from 2017 to 2019 embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from IFS Securities by falsifying the company’s books and records to create fake commissions that Wakefield knew were not actually owed to him.

A jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago in 2024 convicted Wakefield, 52, of Chicago, of securities fraud and wire fraud.  On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger sentenced Wakefield 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, and Ryan Whalen, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.  The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission provided valuable assistance. 

“This crime was driven by pure greed,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Hasten argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.  “Defendant’s fraud had a ripple effect causing multiple financial institutions to lose money and causing IFS to go out of business.”

CHICAGO — A man has been sentenced to nearly ten years in federal prison for committing an armed carjacking in Chicago.

The carjacking occurred on Oct. 23, 2024, on a street in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side.  The victim and a companion—who played a part in the carjacking—were sitting in the victim’s idling Dodge Challenger when the companion reached over to the gear shift to attempt to place the Challenger into park.  The victim and the companion struggled over the gear shift. JAMES HAMPTON and ANDY COLON, JR. then approached the vehicle and brandished firearms.  Hampton told the victim, “Don’t be stupid,” meaning that he would shoot the victim if he did not comply with his demands.  Hampton and Colon stole the victim’s watch, gold necklace, and cell phone before they and the companion drove off in the Challenger. They were arrested a short time later after Chicago Police gave chase. 

Unbeknownst to the victim, the companion—MELIZA CALDERON—had been communicating with another individual about setting up the carjacking.  The other individual allegedly told Calderon that he would send “the guys” to “handle it.”

Hampton, 19, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal carjacking and firearm charges.  On Sept. 3, 2026, U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey sentenced Hampton to nine years and nine months in federal prison.

Hampton’s sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.  The Chicago Police Department provided valuable assistance. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan L. Shih.

Colon pleaded guilty earlier this year to carjacking and firearm charges.  Judge Blakey set Colon’s sentencing for Sept. 24, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.

Calderon pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiracy, carjacking, and firearm charges. Judge Blakey set Calderon’s sentencing for Oct. 15, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.

CHICAGO — A woman has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for using information stolen from physicians to fraudulently write opioid prescriptions.

AMANI IBRAHIM fraudulently caused prescriptions for oxycodone, hydrocodone, and other controlled substances to be issued under the names of real medical providers and often in the names of nominal patients, neither of whom knew the prescriptions were being written. Ibrahim or others involved in the scheme would then pick up the prescriptions at Chicago-area pharmacies and work to distribute the drugs on the streets.  Ibrahim was not a licensed physician and could not lawfully prescribe medications. 

From 2022 to 2025, Ibrahim was responsible for the unlawful distribution of 149,152 dosage units of oxycodone, 41,853 dosage units of hydrocodone, 30,517 dosage units of alprazolam, 22,625 dosage units of promethazine-codeine syrup, and 6,990 dosage units of amphetamine. Ibrahim also financially benefited from the scheme, resulting in the forfeiture of $200,800 in illicit proceeds that was seized from her residence.

Ibrahim, 48, of Palos Hills, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal drug conspiracy charge.  On Sept. 4, 2026, U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly sentenced Ibrahim to five years in federal prison.

The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Todd C. Smith, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.  The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Hennessy. 

Four other defendants were also convicted as part of the federal investigation.

CHICAGO — A man who carjacked a vehicle at gunpoint in the backyard of a Chicago residence has been sentenced to 14 and a half years in federal prison.

On the evening of Nov. 2, 2023, KENNETH MERRITT and DAMARRI CONNER carjacked an Audi sedan in the backyard of a residence in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood.  A woman and her daughter had just returned home in another vehicle when Conner and Merritt sprang from a hiding place and attacked them.  Merritt threw the mother violently to the ground, ripped her purse from her arms, and threatened to kill her and her daughter.  Conner then pointed a gun at the woman’s husband, who had rushed outside to help his family.  The carjackers took the Audi and drove off.  The carjacking was captured on a home-security video, which can be viewed here.

Merritt, 29, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to carjacking and firearm offenses.  On Sept. 3, 2026, U.S. District Judge Sunil R. Harjani sentenced Merritt to 14 and a half years in federal prison.

Conner, 23, of Chicago, also pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal carjacking and firearm offenses. Judge Harjani sentenced Conner on April 8, 2026, to the same period of incarceration as Merritt. 

Merritt’s sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; and Fred Waller, Interim Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.

“This crime was heinous and violent,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Elie Zenner argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum in Merritt’s case.  “The trauma he inflicted on his victims will take years to repair.”

CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a man to 76 years in prison for violently robbing or attempting to rob four banks in downtown Chicago while on supervised release for prior bank robbery convictions.

JOSEPH DONELSON, JR., 68, of Chicago, committed four robberies or attempted robberies in a two-month period in 2023.  Donelson struck a bank teller in the face in one of the robberies and leapt onto the counter to take money in another one. 

The robberies were as follows:

1. Oct. 11, 2023: Attempted robbery of Citibank, 180 N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago’s Loop neighborhood.

2. Nov. 7, 2023: Robbery of Citibank, 180 N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago’s Loop neighborhood.

3. Dec. 8, 2023: Robbery of Citibank, 539 N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood.

4. Dec. 19, 2023: Attempted robbery of Citibank, 100 S. Michigan Ave. in Chicago’s Loop neighborhood.

Donelson committed the robberies and attempted robberies while he was on court-supervised release following a period of imprisonment for robbing two other banks in Chicago’s Loop neighborhood in 2007. 

A jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago earlier this year convicted Donelson of the four robberies and attempted robberies from 2023.  On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger sentenced Donelson to 76 years in federal prison.

The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.  Substantial assistance was provided by the Chicago Police Department.

“Defendant’s actions terrorized multiple bank employees, causing injury to one and lasting psychological trauma to another,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Minje Shin argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “His crimes demonstrated utter disrespect for the law, and a severe sentence is necessary as just punishment.”

CHICAGO — A federal jury has convicted two defendants of conspiring to retaliate against individuals who provided information to law enforcement during an investigation of a violent Chicago street gang.

MARKEEVES BROOKS knowingly conspired to retaliate against an individual and DONNITA BRYANT knowingly conspired to retaliate against two individuals who cooperated with law enforcement in a federal investigation of the Faceworld street gang.  Bryant’s son, DIONTAE HARPER, was a member of Faceworld and a subject of the investigation and prosecution.  The two cooperating individuals provided information against Harper in a murder case in which he was charged and were providing additional information in a related investigation into the Faceworld gang.  From January to September 2025, Brooks and Bryant publicly disseminated a video of a law enforcement interview with one of the cooperators and discussed publicizing a sworn grand jury statement by the other cooperator.  Harper had received the video and the grand jury statement during the discovery and sentencing phases of his murder case. The discovery materials were subject to a protective order and were legally prohibited from being shared with others.

After an eight-day trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago, the jury on Wednesday convicted Brooks, 28, of Chicago and Dubuque, Iowa, and Bryant, 47, of Chicago, of conspiracy to commit witness retaliation.  Brooks was also convicted of a substantive offense of witness retaliation.  The jury acquitted Bryant of the same substantive offense, and also acquitted a third defendant, MICHAELA RICHARD, 26, of Chicago, of the sole conspiracy count against her.  U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin has not yet set sentencing dates for Brooks and Bryant.

Harper, 26, of Chicago, pleaded guilty prior to trial to a witness retaliation charge. Harper’s sentencing has not yet been scheduled. 

The verdicts were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; and Fred Waller, Interim Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julia K. Schwartz, Sushma Raju, John “L.J.” Pavletic, and Jessica Ecker.

In May 2025, Harper was convicted in the murder case and subsequently sentenced to 34 years in federal prison.  The murder occurred in 2020 in Chicago’s Auburn Gresham neighborhood.  Harper admitted in a plea agreement that he fatally shot a man so that Harper could maintain and increase his position in Faceworld, whose members engaged in violent crimes and trafficked narcotics.

CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for distributing synthetic cannabinoids to prison and jail inmates and others throughout the country.

In 2024 and 2025, DENIS JOINER processed powder synthetic cannabinoids into liquid form, which he then used to soak sheets of paper and books.  Joiner disguised the paper and books as inmate reading material or legal documents and mailed them to customers in federal and state correctional institutions in the Chicago area and throughout the United States.

Joiner produced the drug-soaked paper in a residence in Calumet City, Ill.  On July 29, 2025, law enforcement agents conducted a court-authorized search of the residence and discovered what appeared to be a makeshift laboratory, with multiple Pyrex trays, bottles, funnels, mixing bowls, and latex gloves, as well as shipping-related items, including mailing labels containing the names of correctional institutions.  Agents seized more than 1,500 grams of MDMB 4-en PINACA in powder form. 

Synthetic cannabinoids are a class of controlled substance that are chemically similar to marijuana but significantly more potent. Synthetic cannabinoids pose a risk of overdose and could cause seizures, stroke, heart attacks, and death.

Joiner, 33, of Lansing, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal drug charge.  On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Jeremy C. Daniel sentenced Joiner to four years in federal prison.

The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; Todd C. Smith, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the DEA; Nicholas Bucciarelli, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Thomas J. Dart, Cook County Sheriff.

“Drug trafficking is a serious offense, and the drugs sold here are dangerous,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan L. Shih argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.  “Even more concerning, defendant distributed cannabinoids into prisons and jails, creating a risk that inmates would be subjected to overdoses and potentially death.”

CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a man to 19 years in prison for violently robbing two banks in downtown Chicago.

JAWAD H. HAKEEM, 51, of Waukegan, Ill., committed two armed bank robberies within a week in 2023. The first robbery occurred on March 3, 2023, at a Chase Bank branch in Chicago’s River North neighborhood.  The second robbery occurred on March 9, 2023, at a Fifth Third Bank branch in Chicago’s Loop neighborhood.  In both robberies, Hakeem brandished a handgun at bank tellers and customers.  In the second robbery, Hakeem fired nine shots at a security guard, who returned fire, but no one was wounded.

Hakeem was arrested on March 13, 2023, in Waukegan, Ill.  He has remained in law enforcement custody since then.

Hakeem pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal bank robbery and firearm charges.  On Aug. 26, 2026, U.S. District Judge John F. Kness sentenced Hakeem to 19 years in federal prison.

The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.  Valuable assistance was provided by the Chicago Police Department and the Waukegan Police Department.

“Defendant created extraordinarily dangerous situations that put bank patrons and bystanders at grave risk,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Sushma Raju argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.  “It is pure chance that defendant did not seriously injure or kill anyone.”

CHICAGO — A Wisconsin man was charged today in federal court with possessing child pornography on a flight from Tanzania to Chicago.

ECA BARUANI, 36, of Green Bay, Wisc., possessed videos of child pornography on his cell phone when he flew from the United Republic of Tanzania to O’Hare International Airport in Chicago on Thursday, according to a criminal complaint filed today in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Upon arrival at O’Hare, Baruani was selected for secondary customs inspection by United States Customs and Border Protection, the complaint states.  After observing what appeared to be images of child pornography on Baruani’s cell phone, CBP officers handed the phone to Homeland Security Investigations special agents for a manual search, the complaint states.  HSI agents searched the phone and discovered multiple videos of prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct with adults, the complaint states.  Baruani was taken into custody.

The complaint charges Baruani with one count of possession of child pornography.  The charge is punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.  Baruani was expected to make an initial appearance on Friday afternoon in federal court in Chicago.

The complaint was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of HSI.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Pope.

The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678.  The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

CHICAGO — A felon has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for illegally possessing five loaded firearms during a high-speed chase on the John F. Kennedy Expressway in Chicago.

On July 30, 2024, TIMOTHY MCDOWELL was a passenger in a stolen car traveling on the Kennedy Expressway in Chicago.  As a police helicopter followed overhead, the car increased its speed to more than 100 miles per hour before exiting the highway and speeding through residential streets.  After the vehicle parked in a garage, McDowell ran from pursuing officers and attempted to abandon a backpack he was carrying.  He was arrested after a brief chase.  Inside his backpack were five loaded handguns, one of which had a defaced serial number while another had a large-capacity magazine attached to it. McDowell had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses and was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.

McDowell, 36, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal charge of unlawful possession of a firearm.  On Aug. 20, 2026, U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman sentenced McDowell to six years in federal prison. 

The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of Homeland Security Investigations.  The Chicago Police Department provided valuable assistance.

“The fact that defendant possessed five firearms is itself serious, but the fact that he possessed them with compatriots in a stolen vehicle that was fleeing from police increases the seriousness here,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Schied argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.  “He was out and up to no good with others, a danger that compounds his possession of dangerous weapons as a multiple convicted felon.”

CHICAGO — A felon has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for illegally possessing a loaded handgun while on pre-trial release in a state firearm case.

ANTONIO TUCKER, 22, possessed the loaded handgun on June 14, 2025, in a relative’s apartment in Chicago.  During an argument with the relative, Tucker threw an object at the relative’s head and then picked up the loaded handgun.  Another relative intervened, allowing the victim-relative to safely flee the apartment and call Chicago Police, who arrived on the scene and discovered the gun on a bed in a room where Tucker was staying.  Tucker had been residing in the relative’s apartment while he was on pre-trial release for a firearm case pending in state court. 

While federal authorities were investigating this case, Tucker pressured other relatives from jail to encourage the victim-relative to recant their statements to police and avoid giving truthful testimony before a federal grand jury.  Tucker was ultimately indicted in federal court on a charge of illegal possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, to which he pleaded guilty in May 2026. 

On Aug. 5, 2026, U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah sentenced Tucker to two years in federal prison.  The sentence fell in the middle of the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines range.

The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.  The Chicago Police Department provided valuable assistance.  The investigation was conducted in coordination with ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago.  The CGIC is a centralized law enforcement partnership that focuses exclusively on investigating and prosecuting violent offenders who utilize firearms in commission of their crimes in Chicago and throughout northern Illinois.  Every firearm-related case in Chicago is processed through the CGIC on a daily basis.

“Defendant is a felon who is not permitted to possess a gun under any circumstances, but the circumstances in which he committed this offense were particularly dangerous,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Sushma Raju argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.  “He kept a loaded gun in his bedroom and brought it out in the midst of a domestic incident.  But for the intervention of the family member who urged defendant to back down (and the quick arrival of the police thereafter), defendant’s actions may have caused the fight to escalate even further and led to one or more family members being hurt.”

CHICAGO — A felon has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for illegally possessing a machine gun in Chicago.

On Sept. 12, 2025, ANTONIO LUKES possessed a handgun equipped with a “Glock switch” conversion device that made the firearm capable of firing in fully automatic mode.  Lukes was standing next to an empty vehicle near Jackson Boulevard and Western Avenue on the West Side of Chicago with the firearm concealed in his waistband.  As Chicago Police officers drove by Lukes in their squad car, the firearm fell out of his waistband to his feet.  Lukes ran from the officers but was arrested after a brief chase.  Lukes had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses and was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Lukes, 40, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal charge of unlawful possession of a firearm.  On Aug. 17, 2026, U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman sentenced Lukes to 28 months in federal prison. 

The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.  The investigation was conducted in coordination with ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago.  The CGIC is a centralized law enforcement partnership that focuses exclusively on investigating and prosecuting violent offenders who utilize firearms in commission of their crimes in Chicago and throughout northern Illinois.  Every firearm-related case in Chicago is processed through the CGIC on a daily basis.

“Defendant’s crime is a serious one,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Skiba argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.  “The Glock that defendant possessed that night was no ordinary firearm.  The switch made a dangerous weapon even more dangerous still.”

CHICAGO — A federal jury in Chicago has convicted a former engineer at Philips Medical Systems of conspiring to steal Philips’ trade secrets and bring them to a Chinese competitor.

CHIH-YEE JEN worked as an engineer at Philips’ facility in Aurora, Ill., where employees researched, developed, and manufactured X-ray tubes used in computed tomography (CT) medical imaging machines.  Through its Dunlee brand, Philips spent years developing proprietary X-ray technology and selling various devices to medical facilities. In 2017, as Philips prepared to close the facility in Aurora, China-based KUNSHAN GUOLI ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD. and a Kunshan GuoLi vice president, XIAOQIN DU, began communicating with Jen about creating a U.S. subsidiary for Kunshan GuoLi to help it compete with Philips in developing, manufacturing, and selling X-ray tubes.  While still employed at Philips, Jen began sharing confidential Philips documents with Kunshan GuoLi and Du and successfully recruited multiple Philips engineers to join him at the Kunshan GuoLi subsidiary.  Jen copied Philips’ proprietary X-ray trade secret information from internal Philips databases and used the stolen information in connection with his new work developing the technology for the Kunshan GuoLi subsidiary.

After a week-long trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago, the jury on Friday convicted Jen, 71, of Mequon, Wisc., of both counts against him, including conspiracy to steal, misappropriate, or possess trade secrets and possession or attempted possession of stolen trade secrets.  U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang set Jen’s sentencing for Jan. 5, 2027, at 10:00 a.m.

The conviction was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ramon Villalpando and Michael Maione.

“The theft of proprietary information is a serious economic crime that harms American jobs and stifles critically important research and development driving the future of our nation,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “When individuals, corporate entities, or nation states steal proprietary information, they are threatening our country’s technological edge.  The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prosecute trade secret theft to protect innovation, ensure fair competition, and safeguard national economic security.”

“The FBI and our prosecutorial partners are relentless in combatting trade secret theft and holding accountable those who seek to compromise private sector innovation and the safety of our nation,” said FBI Acting SAC Whalen.  “As detailed throughout the trial, Jen's conspiracy to steal, misappropriate, or possess trade secrets and his possession of stolen trade secrets shows a blatant disregard for his former employer's proprietary information and America's security.  This conviction reaffirms that the theft of trade secrets will be thoroughly investigated and punished to the fullest extent of the law.”

Two other former Philips engineers—FINCE TENDIAN, 57, of Aurora, Ill., and VLADIMIR NEVTONENKO, 77, of Arlington Heights, Ill.—pleaded guilty prior to trial and admitted possessing stolen trade secrets.  Judge Chang scheduled Nevtonenko’s sentencing for Dec. 1, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., and Tendian’s sentencing for Dec. 8, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. 

Du, 64, of Suzhou, China, Kunshan GuoLi, and a related Chinese company, KUNSHAN YIYUAN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD., were also indicted in the case.  They were placed on the Court’s Fugitive Calendar and have not been arraigned.

A federal jury in Chicago convicted a former engineer at Philips Medical Systems Friday of conspiring to steal Philips’ trade secrets and bring them to a Chinese competitor.

“The theft of proprietary information is a serious economic crime that harms American jobs and stifles critically important research and development driving the future of our nation,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros for the Northern District of Illinois. “When individuals, corporate entities, or nation states steal proprietary information, they are threatening our country’s technological edge. The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prosecute trade secret theft to protect innovation, ensure fair competition, and safeguard national economic security.”

“Jen acted at the expense of his U.S. employer by stealing closely guarded x-ray technology trade secrets for the benefit of a Chinese competitor,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “Protecting America’s private sector companies is a priority for the FBI, and this conviction underscores our commitment to defend the homeland. Know that if you choose to steal trade secrets, the FBI will find you and hold you accountable.”

Chih-Yee Jen, 71, of Mequon, Wisconsin, worked as an engineer at Philips’ facility in Aurora, Illinois, where employees researched, developed, and manufactured X-ray tubes used in computed tomography (CT) medical imaging machines. Through its Dunlee brand, Philips spent years developing proprietary X-ray technology and selling various devices to medical facilities. In 2017, as Philips prepared to close the facility in Aurora, China-based Kunshan GuoLi Electronic Technology Co Ltd. and a Kunshan GuoLi vice president, Xiaoqin Du, began communicating with Jen about creating a U.S. subsidiary for Kunshan GuoLi to help it compete with Philips in developing, manufacturing, and selling X-ray tubes. While still employed at Philips, Jen began sharing confidential Philips documents with Kunshan GuoLi and Du and successfully recruited multiple Philips engineers to join him at the Kunshan GuoLi subsidiary. Jen copied Philips’ proprietary X-ray trade secret information from internal Philips databases and used the stolen information in connection with his new work developing the technology for the Kunshan GuoLi subsidiary.

After a week-long trial, Jen was convicted of both counts against him, including conspiracy to steal, misappropriate, or possess trade secrets and possession or attempted possession of stolen trade secrets. U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang set Jen’s sentencing for Jan. 5, 2027, at 10:00 a.m.

Two other former Philips engineers — Fince Tendian, 57, of Aurora, Illinois, and Vladimir Nevtonenko, 77, of Arlington Heights, Illinois — pleaded guilty prior to trial and admitted possessing stolen trade secrets. Judge Chang scheduled Nevtonenko’s sentencing for Dec. 1 at 10:00 a.m., and Tendian’s sentencing for Dec. 8 at 10:00 a.m. 

Du, 64, of Suzhou, China, Kunshan GuoLi, and a related Chinese company, Kunshan Yiyuan Medical Technology Co. Ltd., were also indicted in the case. They were placed on the court’s Fugitive Calendar and have not been arraigned.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ramon Villalpando and Michael Maione for the Northern District of Illinois prosecuted the case.

CHICAGO – A restaurateur who operated several eateries in Illinois and Colorado has been sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison for submitting fraudulent Covid-relief loan applications and failing to pay tax withholdings from his employees.  Under the leadership of United States Attorney Andrew S. Boutros and consistent with the Administration’s priorities to identify, investigate, and prosecute criminal fraud in the federal government entitlement and benefit programs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois has been taking a fresh look at Covid-19 fraud.

In 2020 and 2021, JARED LEONARD schemed to fraudulently obtain more than $2.3 million in small business loans and grants under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”).  Leonard submitted at least ten fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) loans and grants purportedly on behalf of his restaurant businesses. The applications contained numerous false statements and misrepresentations regarding the businesses’ operations, including the number of employees, gross revenues, and payroll expenses.  Leonard used the funds to purchase, among other things, vehicles, international travel, and a luxurious personal residence on more than seven acres in Evergreen, Colo.

In the 15 months prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Leonard failed to pay to the IRS federal income taxes, Social Security taxes, and Medicare taxes that he had withheld on behalf of his employees in amounts totaling more than $430,000.

Leonard, 45, of Littleton, Colo., pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal wire fraud and tax charges.  On Aug. 13, 2026, U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang sentenced Leonard to 30 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay approximately $2.8 million in restitution to the IRS and U.S. Small Business Administration.

U.S. Attorney Boutros announced Leonard’s sentence along with Marta Grijalva, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago, and Vincent R. Zehme, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Region of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Office of Inspector General.  Valuable assistance was provided by the Denver Field Office of the FBI.

“The crimes defendant committed were undertaken for his personal benefit, not to aid his employees,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Hayes argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.  “He purchased a luxurious home on several acres in a scenic mountain town outright with cash taken directly from the Covid-relief programs. Defendant also subsequently purchased motor vehicles and travel to high-end resorts in Mexico and other locations.”

On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”).  The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people.  The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

CHICAGO — A former Chicago school principal and two others have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in procurement fraud schemes that defrauded a pair of school systems and a non-profit organization out of more than $1 million.

BRIAN METCALF, KIMBERLY MADDOX, and JAMES DARNELL CAMPBELL schemed to illegally profit from various roles Metcalf held in school systems in Chicago and Indianapolis, as well as a non-profit corporation.  Over the course of nearly ten years, Metcalf and Maddox falsely claimed that Maddox or her spouse were providing services to the schools and the non-profit corporation, when in reality, no such services were provided.  As a result of Metcalf’s and Maddox’s fraud, the school systems and the non-profit organization paid Maddox nearly $700,000, which she split with Metcalf. 

While Metcalf and Maddox were engaging in their fraud, Campbell, who worked as a consultant, approached Metcalf and said he wanted to join the scheme.  At that time Metcalf was serving as the superintendent of a school system in Indianapolis.  Metcalf caused the Indianapolis school system to pay Campbell nearly $400,000 based on bogus invoices for consulting work that was never performed.  Campbell split those fraud proceeds with Metcalf.

Metcalf, 52, of Baltimore, Md., Maddox, 55, of Matteson, Ill., and Campbell, 59, of Frankfort, Ill., pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges.  On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins sentenced Metcalf to a year and a day in federal prison.  Last month, Judge Jenkins sentenced Maddox to two years in prison and Campbell to a year and a day.  All three defendants were ordered to pay restitution totaling $1,099,200.

The sentences were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Michael Pritchard, the Official Performing the Duty of Inspector General for AmeriCorps; Scott Wingle, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s Central Regional Office; and Philip Wagenknecht, Inspector General for Chicago Public Schools.  The U.S. Small Business Administration participated in the investigation.  The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Chang.

“When officials defraud school systems, they are eroding trust and stealing from the very futures they are meant to protect,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros.  “Holding individuals accountable when they exploit their positions for personal gain sends a strong message that such betrayal will not be tolerated and even more, that the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement will work hard to protect the integrity of our education system and to ensure that taxpayer funds are properly safeguarded.” 

“The outcome of this case serves as a strong deterrent to anyone considering similar criminal acts,” said AmeriCorps OIG Official Pritchard.  “Those who steal from organizations funded by federal support will face serious consequences. AmeriCorps OIG is committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners to uncover and address such misconduct.  We extend our sincere gratitude to the U.S. Department of Education OIG, the Small Business Administration OIG, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois for their unwavering cooperation and dedication to the pursuit of justice.”

“I am proud of the work of OIG Special Agents and our law enforcement partners in holding these individuals accountable for their criminal actions,” said DOE-OIG Acting SAC Wingle.  “And rest assured that we will continue to aggressively pursue those who misappropriate education funds or try to game the system for their own selfish purposes.  Our nation’s students and taxpayers deserve nothing less.”

“Administrators who use their position to enrich themselves and deprive CPS families of critical resources will not be tolerated, and neither will vendors who steal from CPS,” said Inspector General Wagenknecht. “CPS OIG investigators are committed to rooting out fraud and corruption in the school district, and we greatly appreciate the work of our law enforcement partners in holding these individuals accountable.”

CHICAGO — The United States and the State of Illinois have filed a joint complaint in intervention alleging that a Chicago-area medical practice and billing company knowingly submitted fraudulent claims to Medicaid and Medicare, resulting in the payment of more than $5.2 million in false claims.

The government’s complaint alleges that FOOT & ANKLE HEALTH CARE CENTER, LTD., EUROPEAN FOOT & ANKLE SURGICAL CARE, LTD., their owner, DR. VADIM GOSHKO, and the billing companies, ATLANTIC WAVE HOLDINGS, LLC and ATLANTIC WAVE II, LLC, knowingly submitted fraudulent claims to Medicaid for podiatry services performed by Dr. Goshko after he had already been terminated from the Medicaid program.  Because Illinois Medicaid was no longer paying Dr. Goshko’s claims, the defendants allegedly worked together to submit claims that listed other physicians as having provided the podiatry services that were actually performed by Dr. Goshko. Although Dr. Goshko and other defendants had an affirmative obligation to inform Medicare of his exclusion from Medicaid, the complaint alleges that they failed to do so.  Medicare eventually revoked Dr. Goshko’s privileges after learning of his Medicaid exclusion. 

As a result of the fraud, the United States and the State of Illinois, through the Medicare and Medicaid programs, paid the defendants more than $5.2 million in federal and state monies to which the defendants were not entitled, the complaint states.

The government’s complaint was filed on Monday in U.S. District Court in Chicago.  The government had previously notified the Court that it was intervening in a lawsuit filed by PayrHealth, LLC, which had acquired the billing company in December 2020, under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act.  After acquiring the billing company, PayrHealth discovered the Goshko entities’ fraudulent conduct, terminated them as clients, and notified the government of the alleged fraud.  The government’s complaint seeks treble damages and civil penalties under the federal False Claims Act, the Illinois False Claims Act, and common law claims for payments by mistake and unjust enrichment.

The lawsuit was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Kwame Raoul, Illinois Attorney General; Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; and Mario Pinto, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Region of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Valerie R. Raedy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Deputy Chief Melissa Guske of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. 

The False Claims Act permits private individuals to sue for false claims on behalf of the government and to share in any recovery. The Act allows the government to intervene or take over the lawsuit, as it has done in this case, and to recover three times its damages plus civil penalties ranging from $5,500 to $11,000 for each false claim.  Medicaid is a state-administered program, and each state sets its own guidelines regarding eligibility and services.  For Illinois Medicaid recipients, funding is shared between the federal government and the State of Illinois.

The case is captioned as United States and State of Illinois, ex rel. PayrHealth v. Foot Ankle, et al., No. 21 C 2536 (N.D. Ill.).  The public is reminded that civil allegations are only accusations, and there has been no determination of liability.  In a civil case, the government has the burden of proving the allegations by a preponderance of the evidence. 

CHICAGO — The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago today charged a man with robbing an individual at gunpoint of his laptop computer during a Facebook Marketplace meeting on the city’s North Side.

The robbery occurred on the evening of Aug. 5, 2026, in the 700 block of West Belmont Avenue in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood.  The victim had offered his MacBook Pro laptop for sale on Facebook Marketplace and agreed to meet with a purported buyer, later identified as MAYKEL GONZALEZ DEMARIA.  According to a criminal complaint filed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago, Gonzalez Demaria arrived at the pre-arranged meeting location driving a Blue Toyota Corolla and asked the victim to get inside.  The victim declined but handed the laptop and a charger to Gonzalez Demaria to inspect, the complaint states.  After the pair discussed a price for the laptop, Gonzalez Demaria reached into the backseat, grabbed a firearm, and pointed it at the victim, the complaint states.  Gonzalez Demaria then allegedly drove off with the laptop and charger.

The victim was able to take a photograph of the Corolla and its license plate number, which he conveyed to Chicago Police in a 911 call.  Less than 30 minutes later, police observed a car matching the description about a mile away and conducted a traffic stop, during which they discovered the laptop, the charger, and the firearm, the complaint states. Gonzalez Demaria was placed under arrest.

The complaint charges Gonzalez Demaria, 19, with one count of robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.  His initial appearance in federal court in Chicago has not yet been scheduled.

The complaint was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; and Fred Waller, Interim Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.  The Chicago Police Department provided valuable assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jalan L. Jaskot.

The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. 

CHICAGO — A Florida man who previously resided in Illinois has been indicted for allegedly swindling numerous individuals in a fraudulent investment scheme.

MAKAIO’ KEKOA falsely informed victim investors, including four individuals residing in the Northern District of Illinois, that he had the ability to invest their money in short-term, high-yield investment opportunities, when, in reality, Kekoa knew that no such investment opportunities existed, according to an indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago.  Instead of investing the victims’ money, Kekoa misappropriated the funds for his personal use, including gambling, the indictment states.

From 2019 to 2022, Kekoa allegedly caused the victim investors to incur cumulative losses of at least $180,000.

Kekoa, formerly known as “Lorenzo Hood,” “Lorenzo Chryssikos Hood,” or “Zo,” 39, of Wimauma, Fla., is charged with two counts of wire fraud. He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Tuesday in federal court in Chicago.  A status hearing was set for Sept. 24, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin.

The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.  The Hillsborough County, Fla. Sheriff's Office provided valuable assistance.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kartik K. Raman.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.  Each count of wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison.  If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and must also order restitution to the victims.

CHICAGO — A federal grand jury has indicted a man for allegedly conspiring to traffic fentanyl and cocaine in Chicago.

JAYLIN ARNOLD, 28, of Chicago, conspired with four other individuals to distribute fentanyl and cocaine in Chicago from January to June of 2025, according to an indictment returned Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago.  The indictment seeks forfeiture from Arnold of three handguns and associated ammunition. Arnold’s arraignment in federal court in Chicago has not yet been scheduled.  Arnold was recently convicted of a firearm crime in state court in connection with the June 5, 2025, police chase that led to the shooting of Chicago Police Department Officer Krystal Rivera. 

The four alleged co-conspirators—DASHAWN POWELL, 40, TARELL SMITH, 39, JOSHUA THOMAS, 42, and BERNARD SPENCER, 33, all of Chicago —were indicted separately earlier this year on federal drug conspiracy and related firearm charges.  They have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial. 

All five defendants are currently being held in law enforcement custody.

The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.  The Chicago Police Department provided valuable assistance.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elie Zenner.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. 

CHICAGO — A federal grand jury has indicted a man for illegally possessing eight “Molotov cocktail” destructive devices in a Chicago suburb earlier this month.

On Aug. 1, 2026, in Mokena, Ill., HAMED ALSAIDI knowingly possessed eight glass liquor and beer bottles containing an ignitable liquid and a wicking component in the form commonly referred to as a “Molotov cocktail,” according to an indictment returned today in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

The indictment charges Alsaidi with eight counts of possessing an unregistered destructive device.  Each count is punishable by up to ten years in federal prison.

Alsaidi, 31, who most recently resided in Oak Forest, Ill., is an illegal alien in the United States and currently in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Arraignment in federal court in Chicago has not yet been scheduled.

The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.  The Mokena, Ill. Police Department and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal provided valuable assistance.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Davis Price Shugrue.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. 

CHICAGO — A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted a Grundy County man on child pornography charges for allegedly inducing two minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct.

In February 2026, DUANE DEMICHELE used, persuaded, induced, and enticed two minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct, according to an indictment unsealed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago.  In addition, the indictment states that in February and March 2026, DeMichele received numerous video files containing child pornography.   

DeMichele, 45, of Diamond, Ill., was arrested on June 30, 2026.  He remains detained in federal custody pending trial. The indictment charges him with two counts of production of child pornography and five counts of receipt of child pornography.  Arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 18, 2026, at 9:30 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel A. Fuentes.

The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the Cook County State's Attorney's Office Investigations Bureau’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC).  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Marie E. Ursini.

Production of child pornography is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of 30 years. Receipt of child pornography is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a maximum of 20 years.  The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678.  The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

CHICAGO — A Will County man who transported a minor to Illinois from Iowa to engage in criminal sexual activity has been sentenced to more than 27 years in federal prison.

In the summer of 2021, RYAN ZELEK communicated with a 13-year-old girl on the social media application Snapchat.  Zelek, knowing the girl was 13 years old, drove to Iowa, picked up the girl outside of a movie theatre, and transported her to his residence in Illinois, where he sexually assaulted her.  Zelek then drove the victim back to Iowa.

Law enforcement later conducted a court-authorized search of Zelek’s electronic devices and discovered thousands of images and videos of child pornography, including sadistic acts being perpetrated against very young children.

Zelek, 33, of Wilmington, Ill., pleaded guilty last year to a federal charge of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey sentenced Zelek to 27 and a half years in federal prison. Judge Blakey also ordered Zelek to pay a total of $54,298 in restitution.

The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.  The Wilmington, Ill., Police Department and the FBI Field Office in Mobile, Ala. provided valuable assistance.

“Ryan Zelek raped and brutalized a 13-year-old girl and recorded a video of it on his cell phone,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin M. Pinkston argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.  “Defendant clearly foresaw the consequences of his actions, knew exactly how abhorrent his actions were, and yet abused the minor anyway.”

If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by calling 1-800-843-5678 or logging on to www.cybertipline.com.  The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

CHICAGO — An illegal alien with a sexual assault conviction has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for unlawfully re-entering the United States after previously being deported.

RAMON SALGADO-DELGADILLO, a native of Mexico, was unlawfully present in the United States on Nov. 5, 2023, when he was found to be in Chicago.  Salgado-Delgadillo had been deported from the United States to Mexico eight months earlier after being convicted of a felony sexual assault offense in the Circuit Court of Cook County, for which he was sentenced to four years in state prison.

Salgado-Delgadillo, 38, pleaded guilty in federal court in February 2026 to one count of unlawful reentry after removal.  On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge John F. Kness imposed the 18-month prison sentence and ordered that it be followed by a year of court-supervised release.  The conviction subjects Salgado-Delgadillo to removal from the United States.

The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Frank Padula, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Chicago.

“Defendant’s prior criminal conviction was serious, and his four-year sentence did not deter him from returning to the United States and continuing to violate the law through his illegal reentry and failure to register as a sex offender,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill J. Bhalakia argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.  “Illegal reentry by a convicted felon is a serious crime, and the United States has a strong interest in keeping convicted criminals from returning to the United States.”

CHICAGO — An illegal alien has been sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison for firing shots near U.S. Border Patrol agents during Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago last fall.

HECTOR GOMEZ was driving a Jeep Wrangler in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago on Nov. 8, 2025, when he discharged at least two rounds from a handgun.  Gomez fired the shots in proximity of Border Patrol agents who were engaged in the performance of their official duties as part of Operation Midway Blitz.  Later that day, Gomez brandished the handgun at an individual in a parking lot a few blocks from where he fired the shots.

Gomez had previously been convicted of a felony firearm offense in the Circuit Court of Cook County and was prohibited under federal law from possessing a gun. 

Gomez pleaded guilty in April 2026 to a federal charge of illegal possession of a firearm as a previously convicted felon. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly sentenced Gomez to two and a half years in federal prison, which was the high end of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines range.

Gomez, 46, is a citizen of Mexico who had been residing in Chicago.  He has no claim to United States citizenship or lawful permanent residence and is now subject to removal. 

The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.  This case was investigated by the Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago (CGIC), a multi-agency task force that focuses exclusively on investigating and preventing gun violence in Chicago and throughout Northern Illinois. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill J. Bhalakia.

“Hector Gomez was in this country illegally and was prohibited from possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “Even more, when Gomez illegally discharged a gun near law enforcement carrying out their sworn duties, it seriously endangered law enforcement and caused chaos in the community during an already intense and tumultuous time in Chicagoland.  The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office is fully committed to holding accountable those who use violence to attack, intimidate, or endanger the brave law enforcement officers who risk their lives to enforce the law.” 

“Hector Gomez’s reckless conduct that day put countless lives at risk and demonstrated a complete disregard for the safety of law enforcement and members of the public,” said ATF SAC Amon.  “I want to recognize the exceptional work of law enforcement that responded to the scene as well as the ATF National Laboratory.  The ATF lab’s timely DNA analysis provided a critical investigative link that ensured Gomez would no longer be on the streets and a threat to the community.”

"The FBI has zero tolerance for any threats or violence against law enforcement, and any attempt to impede their service or endanger their lives will be met with the full force of the government,” said FBI Acting SAC Whalen.  “Thanks to the swift action by investigators and the strong partnership with the ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Gomez was identified, apprehended, and taken into custody without further harm to our community.  These collaborative efforts underscore how critical our interagency partnerships are in protecting the public, and collectively, we will continue to selflessly answer the call to make our communities safe."

ROCKFORD — A Winnebago County man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for conspiring to straw purchase five firearms. 

From 2022 to 2024, MATTHEW S. MEYERS conspired to make false or fictious written statements to licensed firearms dealers in connection with the acquisition of five firearms.  Meyers instructed another individual to straw purchase firearms on his behalf, knowing that the other individual would falsely certify on federal forms that they were the actual buyer.  Meyers then sold or transferred some of the straw-purchased firearms to others.

Meyers, 41, of Machesney Park, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of conspiracy to provide false and fictitious written statements to federally licensed dealers of firearms.  On July 31, 2026, U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston imposed a 60-month prison sentence during a hearing in federal court in Rockford.

The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  The Winnebago County, Ill. Sheriff’s Office provided valuable assistance.  The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Kim. 

CHICAGO — A man who shot a federal law enforcement officer and a service canine during the execution of an arrest warrant has pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges. 

In 2022, an Illinois state court issued an arrest warrant for TARRION JOHNSON on state charges of attempted murder and attempted robbery.  On June 2, 2022, members of the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force gathered at an apartment building in the 5200 block of West Belmont Avenue in Chicago to execute the arrest warrant and take Johnson into custody. 

After announcing themselves as police with an arrest warrant, the officers entered an apartment unit and encountered Johnson holding a firearm.  Johnson ignored commands to put down the gun and instead shot a Senior Inspector United States Marshal and a service canine.  Johnson then shot a Special Deputy United States Marshal, striking the Special Deputy Marshal’s ballistic shield. 

Johnson fled the residence but was quickly arrested and taken into custody.  

Johnson, 23, of Chicago, pleaded guilty on July 20, 2026, to federal charges of attempted murder of a federal officer and using and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, namely, using a deadly and dangerous weapon and inflicting bodily injury.  U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey set a sentencing hearing for Nov. 17, 2026. 

The guilty plea was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.  Substantial assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Chicago Police Department.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Chapman and Branka Cimesa.