District of Kansas
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Kansas man Indicted on Drug Trafficking and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN.– A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned an indictment charging a Kansas man on drug trafficking and illegal firearms offenses.
According to court documents, Marquis V. Bridgeman, 26, of Kansas City, Kansas, is charged with two counts of felon in possession of a firearm, one count of possession of a machinegun, one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Kansas Highway Patrol are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Jaylen Stallworth, 24, of Wylie, Texas, was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Topeka man indicted for alleged assault on Tribal landRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Topeka returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with committing an assault on Tribal land.
According to court documents, Wesley Reel Bennett, 23, of Topeka was indicted on one count of assaults within maritime and territorial jurisdiction.
In June 2025, Bennett is accused of assaulting and seriously injuring a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation within the confines of its Tribal territory.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Prairie Band Potawatomi Tribal Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hunting is prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Hector Alvarado, 55, of Topeka was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hunting is prosecuting the case.
Kenneth Norman Baker, 41, of Baxter Springs was indicted on one count of receipt of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Kansan sentenced to 30 years in prison for creating child pornographyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas resident was sentenced to 30 years in prison for charges related to child sexual abuse materials (CSAM).
According to court documents, Chloe Wade Gullotto, 25, of Leavenworth pled guilty to one count of production of child pornography and one count of receipt of child pornography.
From September 2023 to November 2023, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a series of CyberTips about images and videos connected to a cloud account belonging to Gullotto. During an interview with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the defendant admitted to using a cellphone to download CSAM and to create CSAM images.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey McCormick prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.###
Baxter Springs man charged with child pornography possessionRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man has been charged through criminal complaint in Wichita, Kansas, on allegations related to child sexual abuse materials.
According to court documents, Kenneth Norman Baker, 41, of Baxter Springs is charged with one count of receipt of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Kansas man indicted for machinegun possessionRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with a firearms offense.
According to court documents, Leonard Rrapaj, 61, of Topeka, is charged with illegal possession of a machinegun.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated the case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey Debenham and Stephen Hunting are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Alejandro Espinosa-Hinostroza, 32, a Mexican national residing illegally in Topeka, Kansas, was indicted on one count of illegal alien in possession of a firearm and one count of reentry of a removed alien. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hunting is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Fort Scott man charged with trafficking methamphetamineRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with drug trafficking.
According to court documents, Jeffery Michael Roark, 56, of Fort Scott is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Topeka farmer indicted for defrauding federal governmentRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Topeka returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with defrauding the federal government, by selling crops that he used as collateral for a federal government loan.
According to court documents, Steven W. Porubsky, 48, of Topeka is charged with one count of conversion of mortgaged collateral.
Porubsky is accused of intentionally defrauding the Farm Service Agency, which is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), by converting to his own use agricultural products that were mortgaged to the USDA.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Debenham is prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Jesse J. Rivera, 43, of Topeka was indicted on one count of theft of government property. The Railroad Retirement Board is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Debenham is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Haysville woman indicted for distributing child pornographyRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas woman made her initial appearance in federal court after a grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging her with distributing child sexual abuse materials.
According to court documents, Addilynn Jean Onuffer, 21, of Haysville is charged with three counts of distribution of child pornography for alleged actions that took place between June 2024 and July 2024.
The defendant made her initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brooks Severson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.
The Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce (ICAC) and Wichita Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon is prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Colorado man indicted for drug trafficking and firearmsRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Colorado man for drug trafficking and illegal firearms.
According to court documents, Russell Scott IV, 37, of Denver was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Chase Boyd, 39, of Wichita was indicted on two counts of possession of firearms and ammunition by a prohibited person. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting the case.
Jose Galan-Andrade, 39, was indicted on one count of illegal reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon is prosecuting the case.
Jose Louis Gonzalez-Gonzalez, 35, was indicted on one count of illegal reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
Darius Isaiah Jackson, 25, of Wichita was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
Greggory K. O’Neal, 41, of Wichita was indicted on one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and Park City Kansas Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting the case.
Guadalupe Rios-Edeza, 29, was indicted on one count of illegal reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Six people arrested in drug smuggling operationRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Six people have been charged by criminal complaint in connection with an alleged multi-national drug smuggling operation that used a commercial charter bus to transport liquid methamphetamine from Mexico to Emporia, Kansas.
According to court documents, the following defendants are charged with one count of possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine:
• Omar Villa Carranza, 45, a Mexican national unlawfully residing in Emporia,
• Tiburcio Ayala Rangel, 42, a Mexican national unlawfully residing in Emporia,
• Troy Wagaman, 42, of Emporia,
• Jesus Cruz Rodriguez, 28, of Emporia,
• Moises Cervantes Sanchez, 67, of McAllen, Texas, and
• Elizabeth Benitez, 33, of Emporia.Between March and April 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) noted a charter bus making multiple crossings into the United States from Mexico carrying few or no passengers. License plate reader information showed the bus travelling to Emporia on all trips before returning to Mexico. During one crossing, CBP officers conducted a secondary inspection and found several aftermarket anomalies, including bolts around the fuel tank that had been tampered with. Investigators learned the bus’s destination to be a rural property in the Emporia area.
When the bus again arrived at the U.S. border on May 4, 2025, a canine alerted to the presence of controlled substances. CBP took a sample of a substance found in the gas tank that tested as liquid methamphetamine. The driver was allowed to proceed, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents followed the bus, which eventually arrived at the rural property. The Emporia Police Department arrested Wagaman, Villa Carranza, Cruz Rodriguez, Cervantes Sanchez, and Ayala Rangel while the men were either at the property or shortly after leaving. Benitez, who lived with Villa Carranza, was also arrested at a different location.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), and the Emporia Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Krug and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Hines are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Former USPS employees indicted for mail theftRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned an indictment charging five former U.S. Postal Service employees with stealing mail.
According to court documents, the defendants all charged with one count of conspiracy to steal mail and one count of theft of mail are:
• Terrence Luster, 49, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri,
• Laura Dantzler, 64, of Kansas City, Kansas,
• Arthur Hook, 49, of Lathrop, Missouri,
• Craig Roland, 54, of Kansas City, Kansas, and
• Cheryl Wankum, 60, of Overland Park, Kansas.The defendants, who were employees at a post office on North 51st Street, are accused of stealing Amazon return packages, mail, and other items of value for their own personal use between early 2023 and mid-October 2023.
The U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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- Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice:
Hutchinson man sentenced for child pornography distributionRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 151 months in prison for distributing child exploitation sexual abuse materials.
According to court documents, Zachary Charles Hiskey, 27, of Hutchinson pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.
In June 2021, Hiskey used his account on a messaging app called Kik to share videos depicting adult males engaged in sexually explicit activities with prepubescent children. Kik detected the videos and reported the account to law enforcement through a cyber tipline. This led to the discovery of other child exploitation sexual abuse materials connected to Hiskey’s email account and to IP logs at his home in Hutchinson.
While executing a search warrant at Hiskey's home, investigators found an electronic device with an Internet browser thumbnail of recently viewed child exploitation sexual abuse materials. A forensic examination revealed the Kik account in question had been installed and then deleted on his cell phone.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.###
Kansas woman indicted for unemployment fraud using stolen identitiesRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas woman with illegally collecting more than $100,000 by defrauding a federal program aimed at helping people who lost their livelihoods during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to court documents, Kylie Charles, 35, of Wichita is charged with 17 counts of wire fraud and 17 counts of aggravated identity theft.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) provided financial relief to Americans dealing with the economic impacts of COVID-19 pandemic. The program expanded unemployment benefits to some people who would not typically qualify such as business owners, self-employed workers, independent contractors, those with a limited work history, and people who lost their business as a result of the pandemic.
Between May 2020 and August 2021, Charles is accused of stealing the identities of people she knew and using their information without their knowledge or consent to file false claims in multiple states for unemployment benefits under the CARES Act program.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon is prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Chad M. Abildgaard, 33, of Wichita was indicted on one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is investigation the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting the case.
Nelson Agustin Gonzalez-Diaz, 74, was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
Manuel Jacquez Ibarra, 45, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
David Yitzhak Espinoza, 31, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Overland Park man sentenced for abusing incentive rewards programRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 15 months in prison for causing a $1.2 million loss to a company by submitting false invoices in connection a performance incentive rewards program. The prison sentence will be followed by two years of supervised release, and Cummings is ordered to pay more than $1.2 million in restitution.
According to court documents, Barry Cummings, 52, of Overland Park, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud.
An energy management company offered a performance-based rewards program as an incentive to non-employee resellers, contractors, and others to sell its products. Participants submitted information regarding sales to earn points they could then redeem for items like airline vouchers, hotel stays, gift cards, and electronic devices.
In 2017, a business in Lenexa, Kansas, hired Cummings, and he enrolled in the victim company’s rewards program through that affiliation. In his plea agreement, Cummings admitted to orchestrating a years-long scheme to defraud the victim company’s rewards program. Cummings admitted to logging into the rewards site and submitting fraudulent sales claims, which falsely represented that he had sold the company’s products. Cummings admitted that he never sold a single one of the company’s products despite the thousands of sales claims he submitted representing that he did.
After his termination from the Lenexa business in April 2018, Cummings continually logged into the rewards website to submit fraudulent invoices and redeem points, using the email he previously had at the Lenexa business. As an example, during a 12-hour period in November 2018, Cummings submitted 834 fraudulent invoices for which he received more than 2.8 million points. In 2019, he submitted 5,543 false claims for 22.5 million points. Cummings used point redemptions to receive more than 2,000 rewards at a value that caused a $1,233,024 loss to the victim company.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case. The victim energy company cooperated and provided invaluable assistance in the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Huschka prosecuted the case.
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Missouri man indicted for attempted drug traffickingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned an indictment charging a Missouri man with a drug trafficking related offense.
According to court documents, Otis J. Newton, 58, of Kansas City, Missouri, was indicted on one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Final defendant sentenced to prison in child sexual abuse conspiracyRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his involvement in manufacturing child sexual abuse materials.
According to court documents, Taylor Mullen, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child – production of child pornography.
Mullen is the fourth person sentenced in a case involving two separate conspiracies both led by Joel Womochil, 39, of Manhattan, Kansas. Womochil pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child – production of child pornography. In March, he was sentenced to 720 months in prison.
In 2021, Mullen and his girlfriend Jessica Quave, 38, created videos of themselves engaging in sexually explicit behavior with a child under six years old and sent the videos to Womochil.
Quave pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child - production of child pornography. She was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Another conspiracy in 2019 took place between Womochil and Denise Renee Sandman, 40, of Indiana. After meeting Womochil online, Sandmann agreed to create images of a child under the age of five engaged in sexually explicit conduct and send the images to Womochil, which he saved to his hard drive.
Sandmann pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child – production of child pornography and one count of sexual exploitation of a child – production of child pornography. She was sentenced to 720 months in prison.
“We are grateful to the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations for securing the overwhelming evidence against these child predators which led to guilty pleas and ultimately long prison sentences for their crimes,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard.
The Butler County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.###
Arizona man gets life in prison for kidnapping victim and sexually exploiting minorsRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – An Arizona man was sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping and sexually assaulting his victim at gunpoint as he transported her across state lines. A federal judge also sentenced the defendant to 95 years in prison for other related crimes, to be served concurrent with his life sentence.
Martin Brandon Gillen, 27, of Phoenix, Arizona, pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping, two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of transportation for criminal sexual activity, one count of transportation of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography.
In late 2021, Martin Brandon Gillen began an online relationship with a minor female who was then 17 years of age. He persuaded her to take and send him sexually explicit images and videos which he kept and later used to threaten the victim. Over the course of the online relationship, Gillen repeatedly made violent threats against the victim. In March 2024, Gillen traveled to Illinois to pick up the victim then transported her across state lines, from Illinois to Missouri to Kansas. During this trip, Gillen sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions.
Gillen and the victim were found in Kansas by officers with the Iola Police Department. In his possession, Gillen had a firearm, multiple magazines, and zip ties. Gillen admitted to officers that his cell phone contained child sexual abuse materials. Subsequent examination by law enforcement revealed hundreds of images and videos of child sexual abuse materials on his cell phone, as well as sexually explicit images of the female from when she was 17 years old. Agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) also found images of Gillen sexually abusing an unrelated 4-year-old child from Utah on the phone.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Iola Police Department, the New Baden, Illinois Police Department, and the Illinois State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.###
Tennessee man pleads guilty to fraudulent investment schemeRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Tennessee man was convicted for running a Ponzi scheme that victimized individuals across the country.
According to court documents, Alcides Roman, 66, of Lebanon, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
While operating Remain in Control LLC, Roman defrauded a victim in Overland Park, Kansas, after offering investment opportunities and attractive returns.
From June 2020 to October 2020, the victim made multiple wire transfers into Roman’s company bank account and subsequently received “returns” that were in reality partial amounts from the victim’s own investment funds. When the victim stopped receiving payments and inquired, Roman made excuses and sought to lull the victim into a false sense of security.
Other victims of Roman’s investment fraud scheme included individuals in New York, New York, Houston, Texas, and Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada.
The total known loss, based on victims identified to date, is $1,977,857.88.
Roman used funds from his schemes to pay for his personal living expenses, buy vehicles and land, send money to numerous foreign and domestic companies, and to make purported “returns” to other victim investors.
Roman is scheduled to be sentenced on June 26, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Huschka is prosecuting the case.
If you believe you have been victimized by this defendant, please contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation by calling 816-512-8200 or visiting https://tips.fbi.gov/home.
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Mexican national indicted for assaulting federal agentRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Mexican national with physically attacking a federal law enforcement agent.
According to court documents, Diego Barron-Esquivel, 23, of Wichita was indicted on one count of forcible assault of a federal officer.
In February 2025, Barron-Esquivel is accused of forcibly assaulting and causing bodily harm to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation officer while the officer was performing his official duties.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon is prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Charles Wayne Franke, 21, of Wellington, Kansas, was indicted on two counts of sexual exploitation of a child-production of child pornography, four counts of distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting the case.
Juan Francisco Ulloa-Gonzalez, 46, was indicted on one count of reentry of a removed alien. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon is prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Nebraska businessman indicted for fraudRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned an indictment charging a Nebraska contractor for allegedly defrauding customers across multiple states by failing to construct buildings after being paid.
According to court documents, Bobby Bates Sr., 42, of Grand Island, Nebraska, is charged with two counts of wire fraud.
Bates, as the owner of Built Rite Construction, is accused of accepting deposits for construction projects and not starting or completing the work. Between February 2023 and October 2023, he allegedly defrauded customers in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, Nebraska, South Dakota, Illinois, Georgia, Alabama, and Texas resulting in total losses of more than $700,000.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask is prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Enoch Kennon, 38, was indicted on one count of felon in possession of a firearm. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Christopher Oakley is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Kansas man sentenced for possession of child sexual abuse materialsRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 188 months in prison after federal law enforcement officers discovered child sexual abuse materials at his home.
According to court documents, Scott Warren Vass, 57, of Arkansas City pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.
In April 2023, while executing a search warrant at Vass’ home, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents seized multiple devices belonging to Vass containing child sexual abuse materials. Further investigation revealed several of Vass’ Google accounts also contained sexually explicit depictions of minors under 12 years of age.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.###
Three men indicted for distribution of methamphetamineRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned indictments charging three defendants in two separate cases of distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Yonivert Martinez-Montano, 36, of Wichita is charged with five counts of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of use a telephone to facilitate drug trafficking. Rocio Basurto Ayala, 35, of Wichita was indicted on one count of distribution of methamphetamine.
In a separate, unrelated indictment, Shannon Church, 55, of Wichita, was indicted on three counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) are investigating the cases.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Barnett is prosecuting the cases.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Wilson Dubon-Melgar, 32, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Krug is prosecuting the case.
Raul Ayon Lizarraga, 24, was indicted on one count of alien in possession of a firearm. U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Huschka is prosecuting the case.
Miguel Lozoya-Serrano, 50, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon is prosecuting the case.
Anthony Suazo-Brown, 20, was indicted on one count of reentry of removed alien. U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Faiza Alhambra is prosecuting the case.
Dalton Wayne Woods, 32, was indicted on two counts of distribution of child pornography. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Kansas man sentenced for crimes related to child sexual abuseRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man received a combined sentence of 87 months in prison after pleading guilty in two separate cases related to criminal misconduct involving minors.
According to court documents, Daniel Paul Prekopa, 46, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of attempted travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. In a separate case, Prekopa pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child sexual abuse materials.
In September 2023, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) notified the Wichita Police Department about a cybertip concerning child sexual abuse materials uploaded to a Dropbox account. Law enforcement confirmed through investigation that the account to belonged to Prekopa. The materials depicted children under the age of 12 years old engaged in sexual conduct.
In a separate investigation in September 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Child Exploitation Task Force engaged in covert chat sessions on platforms known to be frequented by adults attempting to lure children into sexual acts. An undercover agent posing as a minor received a direct message from a user later to be confirmed as Daniel Prekopa. Prekopa sent provocative photos of himself and made sexually illicit comments during multiple exchanges with whom he thought to be a minor, at one point writing, “I could get in major trouble since you're under 16. But idc either” and “And you have damn cops online trying to catfish people to get them in trouble”.
FBI agents arrested Prekopa after he traveled from Kansas City, Missouri, to Overland Park, Kansas, for the intended purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a person under the age of 18.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), and the Wichita Police Department investigated the cases.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Faiza Alhambra prosecuted the cases.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
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Woman indicted for spending $260,000 on handbags using company debit cardRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned an indictment charging a Kansas woman with using her former employer’s company debit card to make hundreds of thousands of dollars in unauthorized purchases.According to court documents, Kendra Gonzalez, 32, of Olathe was indicted on one count of wire fraud.
While working as a comptroller, Gonzalez is accused of using a company debit card to purchase 150 luxury handbags from a social commerce marketplace for online buying and selling of secondhand goods.
Gonzalez also allegedly used the company debit card for unauthorized personal expenses such as meals, entertainment, and hotel accommodations, and to send money to other people.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Hoover Rafael Alberto-Zuniga, 34, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle McFarlane is prosecuting the case.
Jose Melecio Bolivar-Chaidez, 54, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation - subsequent to a felony conviction. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting the case.
Jose Cristobal Rubio-Bardales, 43, was indicted on one count of reentry of a previously removed alien convicted of an aggravated felony. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting the case.
Lazarro Tiburcio-Nevarro, 38, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Christopher Oakley is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Jury convicts wife of murdering husband on military installationRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A federal jury convicted a Kansas woman of murdering her husband who was a U.S. Army soldier assigned to Fort Riley, a federal military installation in Kansas.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Margaret E. Shafe, 31, was found guilty of murder in the second degree for shooting and killing her husband Greg Shafe in February 2024 at their home on Fort Riley.
Shafe faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Department of Army Criminal Investigation Division, and the Fort Riley Directorate of Emergency Services are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Walton and Lindsey Debenham and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Graham are prosecuting the case.
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Topeka man indicted for possession of child sexual abuse materialsRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Topeka returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with having child sexual abuse materials.
According to court documents, Joseph Donald Dube, 38, of Topeka was indicted on one count of possession of child sexual abuse materials.
Dube is accused of knowingly accessing and possessing materials depicting minors under 12 years of age engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
The defendant made his initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.
The U.S. Secret Service and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Hunting is prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Gardner business owner sentenced to prison for failing to pay taxesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas business owner was sentenced to 17 months in prison for failing to forward more than one million dollars in employment tax collections to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
According to court documents, Marvin Vail, 53, of Gardner pleaded guilty to one count of failure to account for and pay over employment taxes.
As the owner and operator of Marvin's Tow Service, Inc. in Gardner, Kansas, Vail failed to pay employment taxes for at least 23 calendar quarters between 2012-2017. Employers are required to withhold Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA) taxes and income taxes from the wages paid to their employees then forward the withheld amounts to the IRS. IRS-Criminal Investigation agents interviewed the office administrator for Marvin's Tow Service and were told Vail wouldn’t allow the office administrator to pay the owed federal taxes.
As part of his sentence, a federal judge ordered Vail to pay the IRS $1,512,283 in restitution.
The IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask prosecuted the case.
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Kansas man sentenced for assault on federal officerRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 72 months in prison for deliberately ramming his vehicle into a federal law enforcement officer who was attempting to take the passenger of the vehicle into custody.
According to court documents, Diego Almaguer, 19, of Kansas City, Kansas, pleaded guilty to one count of forcible assault of a federal officer.
On February 23, 2024, members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force went to a home in Kansas City, Kansas, to execute an arrest warrant. They watched the person they were seeking and Almaguer get into a vehicle that had been backed into the driveway with Almaguer in the driver’s seat. Agents pulled up in their law enforcement vehicles with emergency lights flashing. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation officer, wearing a ballistic vest with police markings, positioned himself in front of the vehicle. Almaguer struck the officer causing him to bounce over the windshield before hitting the ground.
Almaguer led law enforcement on a high-speed chase across the state line into Missouri, at times reaching speeds over 100 miles per hour. He and the second person were ultimately arrested in Kansas City, Missouri, hiding in an outbuilding behind a residence.
The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Faiza Alhambra prosecuted the case.
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Husband & wife sentenced for theft of deceased father’s Social Security benefitsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas couple was sentenced to prison for illegally taking proceeds from a relative’s Social Security and retirement benefits for years after his death.
According to court documents, Lynn Ritter, 62, and Kirk Ritter, 62, of Overland Park pleaded guilty to wire fraud and theft of government funds. A federal judge sentenced Lynn Ritter to 12 months and one day in prison. Kirk Ritter was sentenced to seven months in prison.
The couple lived with Lynn’s father in a single-family house in Overland Park with Lynn acting as his caretaker. On October 23, 2022, Kirk Ritter contacted the Overland Park Police Department. He advised that his father-in-law was deceased, and his body was in the residence. Officers found the body lying in a bed, in a mummified state. It was later determined the man died on or about July 1, 2016.
The father had been receiving monthly Social Security and retirement pension payments as direct deposits to his bank account. After July 2016, $68,637 in pension payments and $147,429 in Social Security payments were deposited into the bank account. Lynn and Kirk Ritter did not report the death, and instead without authority, wrote checks on the deceased’s account and transferred funds into their bank accounts to use for their own personal benefit. The Ritters paid the funds back during their prosecution.
Mark Underwood, Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration’s Kansas City Regional Office said, “These sentencings show the Labor Department is committed to ensuring that justice is served for those who steal from retirement plans.”
The Overland Park Police Department, Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Labor investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble prosecuted the case.
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Wichita men indicted for trafficking methRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging three Kansas men with crimes related to drug trafficking.
According to court documents, Patrick M. Kornelson, 49, Cameron Rigsby, 38, and Tyler Devaney, 42, all of Wichita are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. The defendants are accused of allegedly conspiring to traffic methamphetamine.
Kornelson is also charged with one count of using and maintaining drug premises, one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and one count of a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
The federal grand jury also indicted Rigsby on one count of using or maintaining drug premises, one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and 11 counts of use of a telephone to facilitate drug trafficking.
Devaney is additionally charged with one count of using or maintaining drug premises, one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, on court of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Deb Barnett is prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Leopoldo Lopez-Lopez, 41, of Wichita was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, and one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
Zane Tilcock, 20, of Wichita was indicted on three counts of bank robbery and three counts of brandish and use of firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Wichita Police Department, Junction City Police Department, and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kari Burks is prosecuting the case.
Emily Wise, 18, of Wichita was indicted on one count of bank robbery. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Wichita Police Department, Junction City Police Department, and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kari Burks is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Wichita man pleads guilty to child pornography distributionRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man pleaded guilty to distributing child sexual abuse materials over the internet.
According to court documents, Sebastian Grattan, 28, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.
Grattan admits to creating an account on a messaging app and using it to distribute child sex abuse materials in November 2023.
The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 10, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), Wichita Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon is prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
###Kansas man pleads guilty to child pornography possessionRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man pleaded guilty to possession of child sexual abuse materials which was found on multiple electronic devices.
According to court documents, Alexander James Rosell, 34, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.
Rosell's activity was discovered through an international investigation into a particular dark web website, as well as reports made against IP addresses connected to a residence to which he had access. During a search warrant at the home, investigators found Rosell had child pornography images on a cell phone and multiple laptops.
Rosell was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 4, 2025. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Wichita Police Department, and the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.###
United States Attorney Kate E. Brubacher announces resignationRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – United States Attorney for the District of Kansas Kate E. Brubacher announced that she has submitted her resignation to President Joe Biden effective January 19, 2025. Brubacher was sworn in as the 42nd presidentially appointed U.S. Attorney (USA) for the District of Kansas on March 10, 2023. She was nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the first woman to serve as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the District.
“Serving the People in my home state as United States Attorney for the District of Kansas has been a high honor,” said Brubacher. “I am grateful to President Biden for nominating me. I am also grateful to Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall for their support for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and prioritizing the rule of law in Kansas.”
The District of Kansas employs Assistant U.S. Attorneys and support staff who work in three offices associated with the federal courts which are in Kansas City, Kan., Topeka, and Wichita. The jurisdiction covers all 105 counties of Kansas, with a population of approximately 2.9 million.
“I leave this position with overwhelming respect for the career attorneys, professional staff, and the dedicated law enforcement officers who work diligently and in good faith every day to protect the public and uphold our Constitution,” Brubacher said. “Together, we focused on confronting the fentanyl epidemic and keeping Kansans safe from violent crime, including crimes against children, and we paid just amounts when there were just claims against the United States. The people and partnerships in Kansas are unsurpassed, and I look forward to seeing the continued success of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the years ahead.”
The District of Kansas’ mission is to protect citizens from terrorism, enforce federal laws, and advance the interests of the U.S. government. Some accomplishments under Brubacher’s tenure include disrupting international drug trafficking cartels, bringing child pornography offenders to justice, and prosecuting white collar criminal acts. Here are some of the noteworthy cases.
FINANCIAL FRAUD
• A Kansas man was sentenced to 293 months in prison for using his former position as chief executive officer (CEO) of a bank to embezzle tens of millions of dollars in a cryptocurrency scheme which led the bank to fail at a complete loss of equity for investors.
• A federal grand jury in Kansas indicted seven defendants, including five current and former high-level officers of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmith, Forgers and Helpers (Boilermakers Union) for their alleged roles in a 15-year, $20 million embezzlement scheme.CIVIL RIGHTS
• A Kansas jury convicted six members of a religious cult on charges related to compelling forced the labor on victims including multiple minors as young as eight years old.
• A Kansas man was sentenced to 80 months in prison for threatening multiple Black people in and around the Wichita area, and for interfering with the housing rights of a white woman because he believed that she was dating and associating with Black people.NATIONAL SECURITY
• A grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, indicted a North Korean national for his involvement in a conspiracy to hack and extort U.S. hospitals and other health care providers, launder the ransom proceeds, and then use these proceeds to fund additional computer intrusions into defense, technology, and government entities worldwide. The ransomware attacks prevented victim health care providers from providing full and timely care to patients.
• Two U.S. businessmen pleaded guilty to conspiring to circumvent U.S. export laws prohibiting the sale, repair and shipment of U.S.-origin avionics equipment to customers in Russia and in other countries that operate Russian-built aircraft, including the Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB).FENTANYL & OTHER NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING
• A Kansas man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for giving a man a fentanyl pill which caused his death.
• Indictments charging hundreds of individuals in alleged drug trafficking rings.
o https://www.justice.gov/usao-ks/pr/eight-defendants-indicted-drug-trafficking-ring
o https://www.justice.gov/usao-ks/pr/man-sentenced-kansas-city-drug-ring-tied-mexican-cartel
o https://www.justice.gov/usao-ks/pr/multiple-people-indicted-meth-traffickingKate E. Brubacher
Brubacher is a native of Newton, Kansas. She previously served as an assistant prosecuting attorney in the Jackson County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Prior to her government service, She was an associate at Cooley LLP and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, both in New York, New York.
Brubacher received her bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and her law degree from Yale Law School. She also holds a Master of Arts in Religion from Yale Divinity School.
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Two people from Wichita charged with robbing Kansas banksRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A man and woman from Kansas have been charged through criminal complaint in Wichita on charges related to a series of bank robberies involving a firearm.
According to court documents, Zane Tilcock, 20, of Wichita is charged with three counts of bank robbery. Emily Wise, 18, of Wichita is charged with one count of bank robbery.
Tilcock is accused of brandishing a firearm to rob three banks in December of 2024. He allegedly robbed Intrust Bank on South Webb Road in Wichita on December 11, Emprise Bank on East Harry Street in Wichita on December 16, and Sunflower Bank on North Jefferson Street in Junction City on December 27.
Wise is accused of robbing Emprise Bank in Wichita on December 16, 2024.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Wichita Police Department, Junction City Police Department, and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kari Burks is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Overland Park Officers Recognized with Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community PolicingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced the recipients of the Seventh Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing, including Officer Wesley Griffith and Officer Bill Koehn, of the Overland Park, Kansas, Police Department.
This prestigious award recognizes law enforcement officers who demonstrate exceptional dedication to strengthening trust, promoting community engagement, and enhancing public safety.
“Community policing is essential to building trust and ensuring public safety,” said Attorney General Garland. “These officers have gone above and beyond their duty to foster partnerships with the communities they serve. Their work is an inspiration to us all and a reminder of the profound impact law enforcement can have on individuals, neighborhoods, and society.”
Officers Koehn and Griffith have elevated community policing to new heights through their community education and awareness building of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, (or CTPTED). From giving presentations to hundreds of residents and businesses, to conducting physical security assessments and launching impactful programs, their work has both deeply engaged the community while at the same time strengthening crime prevention efforts. Their efforts stand as a model of how all facets of community policing can be seamlessly integrated for lasting impact.
“Whether they are patrolling neighborhoods, investigating criminal cases, or holding community events to build bridges between law enforcement and residents, police officers are invaluable to public safety and our justice system. The U.S. Attorney’s Office – District of Kansas congratulates Officer Wesley Griffith and Officer Bill Koehn for their exceptional work,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher.
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and Tribal sworn officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded individuals have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations, or innovations in community policing.
The awardees were selected from a nationwide pool of nominees for their outstanding achievements in fostering safer, more inclusive communities.
The Department of Justice commends these officers for their service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to their communities. For more information about the awards, visit www.justice.gov.
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Jury convicts Lenexa man of federal loan fraudRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal jury convicted a Kansas businessman of submitting false information on applications to secure loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA is a federal government agency that provides support to entrepreneurs and small businesses.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Scott W. Anderson, 53, of Lenexa was found guilty of four counts of false statement in a loan application, four counts of wire fraud, and six counts of aggravated identity theft.
Anderson was part owner of Riley Drive, a company that operated restaurants in Kansas and Iowa. In 2018 and 2019, Anderson applied for separate loans from SBA on behalf of Riley Drive. At the time Anderson submitted the applications the company was a defendant in civil lawsuits. Anderson falsely responded “no” to questions on the loan applications concerning whether he or companies he controlled were involved in any legal actions.
The SBA approved a loan to Riley Drive in March 2018 for $3,600,000. The company defaulted in June 2019, causing a loss to the SBA of $2,173,766.
Additionally, the SBA approved a loan in April 2019 for $700,000. The company defaulted on the loan in June 2019, causing a loss of $658,141.
The Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley is prosecuting the case.
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California man sentenced to 240 months for receiving child pornographyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A California man was sentenced to 240 months in prison after soliciting and receiving child sexual abuse materials.
According to court documents, Timothy Vigil, 38, of Lemore, California pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography.
In 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested Jordan Escobar,18, of Kansas City, Kansas. Escobar admitted to recording child sexual abuse material then distributing it on an online platform. After reviewing Escobar’s electronic devices and a subsequent investigation, agents identified Timothy Vigil as the owner of an account to which Escobar sent the images. Vigil direct messaged Escobar specifically requesting materials containing child pornography.
Between December 2023 and January 2024, Vigil also distributed 29 MEGA links to other platform users that contained child sexual abuse material, including more than 3,000 videos.
Escobar pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography and is awaiting sentencing.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey McCormick prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
###Victims of cryptocurrency scam awarded restitutionRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – After a $47.1 million cryptocurrency scheme caused a Kansas bank to fail, a federal judge ordered during a restitution hearing that millions of dollars seized by the government be divided among investors who suffered financial losses.
In August 2024, Shan Hanes, 53, of Elkhart was sentenced to 293 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of embezzlement by a bank officer.
While the chief executive officer (CEO) of Heartland Tri-State Bank (HTSB), Hanes initiated outgoing wire transfers of bank funds to a cryptocurrency wallet belonging to third parties. This caused Heartland to collapse, and the bank investors to lose approximately $9 million.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was able to recover $8 million in funds associated with the fraud.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office – District of Kansas thanks the FBI for its diligent investigations that led to the discovery and recovery of over $8 million in stolen funds. Through Hanes’ conviction and prison sentence, the Department of Justice obtained justice for the victims, and now with this court order, those victims will receive some financial relief,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), Federal Reserve Board - Office of Inspector General (FRB-OIG), and Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General ((FHFA-OIG) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith prosecuted the case.
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USAO-KS Announces Election Day ProgramRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – United States Attorney Kate E. Brubacher announced that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Jared Maag will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA Maag has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Kansas, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
U.S. Attorney Brubacher said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
U.S. Attorney Brubacher stated that: “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Maag will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: (785) 295-2850.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 816-512-8200.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.
U.S. Attorney Brubacher said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
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Kansas Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Filing False Returns for ClientsRead the Press Release
A Kansas man pleaded guilty yesterday to preparing and filing false income tax returns on behalf of his clients.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Hophine Bwosinde, of Lenexa, operated Ambroseli Professional Services, a tax preparation business. From 2018 through 2022, Bwosinde prepared and filed false tax returns on behalf of his clients by either inflating legitimate business expenses or by claiming losses related to fake businesses. In addition, Bwosinde falsely reported negative income on clients’ returns. These false items caused his clients to significantly underreport their income to the IRS, which reduced the amount of taxes the clients owed and generated refunds for many to which they were not entitled.
In total, Bwosinde caused a total tax loss exceeding $1.5 million.
A sentencing hearing will take place on Feb. 18, 2025. Bwosinde faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher for the District of Kansas made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Erika V. Suhr of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Huschka for the District of Kansas are prosecuting the case.
Missouri woman pleads guilty in PPP Loan fraudRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Missouri woman pleaded guilty to charges related to criminal conduct connected to a federal government program intended to help small business owners during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to court documents, Venester Fayne, 57, of Kansas City, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering.
In May 2020, Fayne applied to the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) on behalf of a company she controlled. She admitted that to receive the PPP loans, she submitted fraudulent federal income tax documents with false information about the amount of the company’s gross sales. The documents had never been filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Federal law requires borrowers to use PPP funds only for certain qualified expenses. Fayne spent most of the money she received on personal expenses like jewelry and other luxury items.
In addition to the PPP loans, Fayne fraudulently obtained an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EDIL) loan through the U.S. Small Business Administration for a total of $600,284 in fraudulent PPP and EIDL loans.
Fayne is scheduled to be sentenced on February 18, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Secret Service is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley is prosecuting the case.
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Kansas Man Sentenced for Issuing Race-Based Death Threats to Multiple Black PeopleRead the Press Release
A Kansas man was sentenced today to 80 months in prison for threatening multiple Black people in and around the Wichita area, and for interfering with the housing rights of a white woman because he believed that she was dating and associating with Black people.
Austin Schoemann, 31, of Wichita, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of interference with federally protected activities, two counts of interstate threats and one count of interference with housing. In connection with the plea, Schoemann admitted that, in July 2022, he brandished a firearm and used racial slurs in order to threaten two Black juveniles while they were entering a QuikTrip gasoline station, and that he also used his firearm to threaten a Black adult who intervened to support the juveniles. Schoemann also acknowledged that, from January 2022 through August 2022, he interfered with the federally protected housing rights of a white woman by making threats to hurt or kill any Black people who visited her home. Schoemann further admitted that he sent videos and messages to the woman’s family members and others in which he repeatedly threatened to shoot and kill Black people.
“Racially-motivated threats of violence cannot be tolerated in our society,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “For months, this defendant made threats to a woman and her family that he would shoot and kill any Black person who visited the woman’s home. After that campaign of terror, the defendant called two Black children racist slurs, and threatened the children and a Black woman with a gun when they happened to cross paths at a convenience store. This case should make clear that the Justice Department will not rest in bringing the perpetrators of racially-motivated hate crimes to justice.”
“Perpetrators of hate crimes inflict pain upon victims in furtherance of a larger goal of breeding fear and divisiveness within our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher for the District of Kansas. “The Justice Department is standing against racial violence and threats of racial violence by prosecuting offenders, but we need the public’s help. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas encourages those who are victims of or witnesses to hate crimes to report these incidents to law enforcement.”
The FBI Kansas City Field Office and Wichita Police investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith for the District of Kansas and Trial Attorneys Thomas Johnson and Erin Monju of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Wichita brothers plead guilty to defrauding the governmentRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – Two Kansas men pleaded guilty to taking part in a scheme to defraud a federal healthcare program.
According to court documents, Todd Eck, 60, of Wichita, and Bradley Eck, 56, of Wichita, both pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.
From January 2017 to April 2019, Todd Eck and Bradley Eck utilized four healthcare related companies they created to enroll to receive Medicare reimbursements for billed medical procedures. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for the Medicare Program, a federal healthcare benefits program.
The Ecks concealed their ownership and control of the businesses on the Medicare enrollment form and omitted background information about themselves. Each omission was material to determine if Todd Eck and Bradley Eck were eligible to enroll, thus, all billing reimbursements made by Medicare to the Ecks were fraudulent.
Brad Eck’s license to practice chiropractic medicine was revoked by the Kansas Board of Healing Arts in 2013 for gross negligence, professional incompetency, and dishonesty.
Todd Eck had his license to practice chiropractic medicine revoked by the Kansas Board of Healing Arts in 2018 for violation of an order, fraud during license renewal, practicing medicine without a license, fraudulent medical records, and failure to maintain records.
As part of the plea agreement, the Eck brothers must pay $3.4 million in restitution.
Todd Eck and Bradley Eck are scheduled to be sentenced on January 13, 2025. The brothers face a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
The U.S. Department of Defense- Defense Criminal Investigative Service and Defense Contract Audit Agency, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, and IRS-Criminal Investigation are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith is prosecuting the case.
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Garden City woman indicted for drug traffickingRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas woman on charges related to drug trafficking.
According to court documents, Nicole Rae Kiesel, 38, of Garden City is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Enrique Alonso Estrada-Barrios, 26, of Belen, New Mexico, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
Armando Venzor-Marquez, 37, of Great Bend is charged with one count of unlawful re-entry after deportation and one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. US. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Lawrence man indicted for bank robberyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with robbing a bank in Lawrence, Kansas.
According to court documents, Alfonzo Cole, 41, of Lawrence is charged with one count of bank robbery.
Cole is accused of using force, violence, and intimidation on July 2, 2024, to take U.S. currency from an employee at a Bank of America branch on Ohio Street.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
David Mark Jones, 33, of Shawnee, was indicted on two counts of distribution of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey McCormick is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Six Members of a Former Cult Convicted of Forced Labor Conspiracy Charges in Years-Long Scheme that Included Multiple MinorsRead the Press Release
Following a 26-day trial, a jury in Kansas convicted Kaaba Majeed, 50, Yunus Rassoul, 39, James Staton, 62, Randolph Rodney Hadley, 49, Daniel Aubrey Jenkins, 43, and Dana Peach, 60, of conspiracy to commit forced labor. The jury additionally convicted Kaaba Majeed of five counts of forced labor. Two other co-defendants, Etenia Kinard, 48, and Jacelyn Greenwell, 45, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit forced labor.
According to the evidence presented in court during the course of the trial, the defendants were all former high-ranking members of the United Nation of Islam (UNOI), or were wives to the UNOI founder, Royall Jenkins.
“The United Nation of Islam and these defendants held themselves out as a beacon of hope for the community, promising to educate and teach important life skills to members, particularly children,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Instead, the defendants betrayed this trust, exploiting young children in the organization by callously compelling their labor. Prosecuting this case is a testament to the Justice Department’s unwavering commitment to hold human traffickers accountable. The Justice Department will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute parasitic criminals who target vulnerable victims to finance their lifestyles.”
”The bravery shown by victims of the United Nation of Islam is inspiring, because they spoke up about heinous atrocities committed against them as vulnerable children,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher for the District of Kansas. “In childhood, they suffered physical and emotional abuse, were denied a proper education, and were subject to forced labor. As adults, these victims found the strength and courage to pursue justice and face their abusers.”
“Under the guise of false pretenses and coercion, these victims, some of whom were as young as eight years old, endured inhumane and abhorrent conditions,” said Special Agent in Charge Stephen Cyrus of the FBI Kansas City Field Office. “Today’s convictions should serve as a stark warning that forced labor will not be tolerated by the FBI.”
UNOI principles included many rules that members had to follow, required “duty” or unpaid labor and emphasized the negative eternal religious consequences of noncompliance. UNOI operated businesses in various cities around the United States, including Kansas City, Kansas; New York City; Newark, New Jersey; Cincinnati, Ohio; Dayton, Ohio; and Atlanta, among other locations.
In their former leadership roles in UNOI, the defendants agreed to compel the labor and services of over a dozen victims, including multiple minors, some of whom were as young as eight years old, between October 2000 and November 2012. The victims worked in UNOI-owned and operated restaurants, bakeries, gas stations, laboratory and a clothing and sewing factory, often up to 16 hours a day. The victims also provided child care and domestic services inside defendants’ homes. None of the victims was ever compensated for the years of work they performed at UNOI businesses or at the behest of the defendants. The victims all lived in deplorable conditions, in overcrowded facilities often overrun with mold, mice and rats. In contrast, the defendants and their immediate families lived comfortably.
The evidence presented in court demonstrated that the defendants used a variety of coercive tactics to compel the victims’ labor and services. In essence, the defendants effectively controlled the victims by manipulating the UNOI rules originally created by the founder.
First, the defendants separated the minor victims from their parents and support network. UNOI enticed parents to send their children to Kansas by promising an education and development of life skills through work at UNOI-operated businesses. However, these promises were false. The minors did not receive an education from an accredited and licensed school but instead worked excessive hours for UNOI’s financial benefit. UNOI’s unlicensed and unaccredited school or “university” was little more than a vehicle for extracting unpaid labor and publicly humiliating victims who violated one of UNOI’s many rules.
Second, the defendants controlled (1) what the victims viewed and read; (2) how the victims dressed; (3) how the victims addressed the defendants and others; (4) with whom the victims communicated; (5) where the victims went; and (6) what the victims ate, to ensure that the victims, particularly the females, maintained a certain weight. The defendants restricted and monitored the victims’ communications with their families, members of the opposite sex and others. The defendants required some victims to undergo colonics, which is a procedure designed to cleanse the colon by streaming gallons of water through a tube inserted into the victims’ rectums. At the same time, the defendants rarely permitted victims to receive outside medical attention for illnesses or injuries.
Third, the defendants regularly punished the victims for violating the rules. The defendants withheld food, prohibited victims from speaking to others for over two weeks, locked them in a dark, frightening basement, imposed extra work and beat them, sometimes in front of others to create a climate of fear and intimidation. The defendants even held one victim upside down over train tracks because he would not admit to stealing food when he was hungry. Another victim drank water from a toilet because she was so thirsty after not being permitted to drink.
Finally, the defendants instilled a fear of noncompliance and of leaving the UNOI by depriving victims of any education or development of life skills. The defendants also told victims that they would burn in “eternal hellfire” if they left. Family members who remained at UNOI were required to shun as “detractors” any victim who left, and UNOI claimed credit for any negative consequence that occurred to members who left the organization.
Sentencing hearings are scheduled for Feb. 18, 2025. Kaaba Majeed faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison as well as mandatory restitution. The rest of the defendants each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Kansas City Field Office, with the assistance of the Department of Labor and New York State Department of Labor, investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Huschka for the District of Kansas and Trial Attorneys Kate Alexander, Maryam Zhuravitsky and Francisco Zornosa of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Jury convicts Galena man of assault with a deadly weaponRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A federal jury convicted a Kansas man of assault with a deadly weapon following an incident on a United States Army installation.
In November 2023, Jordan Thompson, 24, assaulted an adult male victim while at Fort Riley in Junction City, Kansas.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Thompson was involved in a domestic dispute with his estranged wife. He used a 9 mm caliber pistol to threaten the victim, who was at the home of the child’s mother, and then Thompson left with the minor.
Thompson is scheduled to be sentenced on December 12, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Department of Army Criminal Investigation Division, Fort Riley Department of the Army Civilian Police, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kansas Highway Patrol, and the Butler County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Graham and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Walton are prosecuting the case.
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Texas man charged with drug traffickingRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Texas man with charges related to drug trafficking.
According to court documents, Mario Guerrero, Jr, 33, of Houston is charged with one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and one count of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak is prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Humberto Argueta-Zavala, 42, of Wichita is charged with one count of unlawful re-entry after deportation and one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Latvian National Extradited for Scheme to Illegally Export Advanced U.S.-Origin Aircraft Technology to RussiaRead the Press Release
Oleg Chistyakov, also known as Olegs Čitsjakovs, 55, of Latvia, made his initial appearance in a federal court in Kansas City, Kansas, today after being extradited from Latvia. Chistyakov is the third defendant in this case to face charges in connection with a years-long conspiracy to sell sophisticated avionics equipment to Russian companies, after Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine and despite heightened additional U.S. economic countermeasures levied against Russia.
According to court documents, Chistyakov allegedly conspired with U.S. citizens Cyril Gregory Buyanovsky, 61, of Kansas, and Douglas Edward Robertson, 56, of Kansas, to facilitate the sale, repair and shipment of U.S.-origin avionics equipment to customers in Russia and in other countries that operate Russian-built aircraft, including the Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB). Buyanovksy and Robertson were charged and arrested in March 2023 and have both pleaded guilty. Buyanovsky is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 14 and Robertson is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 3.
As alleged, Chistyakov, while operating from Latvia and often through his Emirati company RosAero FZC, worked with Buyanovsky and Robertson through their U.S. company, KanRus Trading Company Inc. (KanRus), to circumvent U.S export laws by purchasing avionics equipment from U.S. companies for customers in Russia. Chistyakov allegedly acted as a broker for KanRus by soliciting quotes, negotiating prices and terms of delivery and facilitating payments between KanRus and customers in Russia. As alleged, Chistyakov and his conspirators attempted to conceal their illegal activities by creating false invoices, transshipping items through third-party countries, such as Germany and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), using bank accounts in third-party countries, such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and the UAE, and exporting items to intermediary companies which then reexported the items to the ultimate end destinations.
Many of the entities and individuals involved in Chistyakov’s alleged scheme were added to the Commerce Department’s Entity List in December 2023, which imposes specific license requirements on transactions made by all listed individuals and entities.
Chistyakov is charged with conspiracy, Export Control Reform Act violations, smuggling and money laundering violations. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and up to a $1 million fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod of the Commerce Department, Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI National Security Branch and U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher for the District of Kansas made the announcement.
The FBI and the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Rask and Ryan Huschka for the District of Kansas and Trial Attorney Adam Barry of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Latvian authorities to secure the extradition of Chistyakov to the United States.
The investigation was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.