District of Massachusetts
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Large-Scale Counterfeit Pill Manufacturer Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Cambridge, Mass. man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with an ongoing investigation of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. Over the course of the past four years, the defendant is alleged to have been responsible for the manufacturing of over 200 kilograms of counterfeit pills.
Schuyler Oppenheimer, a/k/a “SK,” a/k/a “Michael Sylvain,” 35, of Cambridge pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and two counts of wire fraud. U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for April 17, 2026. In July 2025, Oppenheimer was arrested and charged. He was subsequently was indicted in August 2025.
According to court documents, Oppenheimer is known to be technically skilled in the chemical processes used in the synthesis of fentanyl, the compounding of controlled substances for distribution and the manufacturing of counterfeit pills. Recipes, pill press molds used in the manufacturing process, documents and invoices demonstrating that Oppenheimer purchased numerous pill presses and parts for pill presses from online vendors were seized. Multiple packages shipped from China to Oppenheimer, and various female associates of Oppenheimer, that contained pill press parts, were also seized.
Based on the review of orders and invoices from companies selling powders and other substances used in the pill manufacturing process, since 2019, Oppenheimer obtained over 200 kilograms of these filler powders. According to the recipes recovered during the investigation, when manufactured into counterfeit pills, 200 kilograms of filler powder equates to millions of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Additionally, Oppenheimer communicated directly with an illegal chemical supplier based in China. During this conversation, Oppenheimer inquired about the availability of controlled substances and fentanyl precursor chemicals and sought to purchase kilogram quantities of these substances. Fentanyl precursor chemicals are substances that can be used to synthesize raw fentanyl in a laboratory setting. Oppenheimer sought to synthesize his own fentanyl through the importation of these fentanyl precursor chemicals into the United States.
Lastly, Oppenheimer obtained over $40,000 through two fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan applications that were submitted in April 2021. Oppenheimer submitted false statements concerning his income through self-employment for the 2019 tax years and provided false tax return documents substantiating that income.
During the execution of a search warrant on Parker Street in Cambridge on July 18, 2024, over five kilograms of suspected counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine and a loaded firearm were recovered. Based on prior felony convictions, Oppenheimer is prohibited from possessing firearms.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, five years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $10,000,000. The charge of wire fraud provides for a maximum penalty of up to 20 years, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Jennifer B. De La O, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Cambridge Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime and Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
Biostatistician Charged with Insider TradingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Jersey biostatistician was charged today in federal court in Boston with allegedly earning more than $450,000 by trading on the material non-public information of a Massachusetts company.
Hong Wang, 59, of East Brunswick, N.J., was charged in an indictment with three counts of securities fraud. Wang was arrested this morning at his home and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the indictment, Wang was a biostatistician who worked as a consultant for a Massachusetts pharmaceutical company (Company A). In 2023, during the course of his work for Company A, Wang allegedly obtained material non-public information about the fact that in December 2023, Company A planned to publicly announce positive test results concerning one of its cancer-treating drugs (the December Disclosure).
While in possession of this material non-public information, and in violation of his fiduciary duties to Company A, Wang allegedly bought shares of Company A in advance of the December Disclosure. Over a roughly 22-day period, Wang allegedly purchased more than 150,000 shares across several different brokerage account he controlled. Wang allegedly sold 20,000 shares after Company A made the December Disclosure and held the remainder of the shares. It is alleged that Wang earned more than $450,000 trading in the securities of Company A based on its material non-public information.
The charges of securities fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a civil complaint against Wang alleging violations of the securities laws.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Saltzman of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Rhode Island Man Sentenced to Prison for Possessing over Six Kilograms of Methamphetamine Intended for DistributionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Rhode Island man was sentenced on Jan. 7, 2026 in federal court in Boston for drug possession and distribution charges.
Star Sirikhom, 39, of R.I., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to two years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In September 2025, Sirikhom pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The defendant was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2022 along with five alleged co-conspirators.
In 2019, an investigation began into a Colombia-based money laundering organization that was laundering drug proceeds on behalf of multiple drug trafficking organizations. During surveillance of a residence identified as a possible drug stash location, multiple people were observed entering the location with weighted bags or boxes and exiting with large trash bags, weighted bags, and five-gallon buckets which were placed in vehicles before departing the residence.
In June 2021, Sirikhom was observed entering the stash house carrying a black backpack and exiting six minutes later with the same black backpack, which appeared to be weighted. During a subsequent traffic stop of Sirikhom’s vehicle, the backpack was seized from the trunk and found to contain over six kilograms of orange pills containing methamphetamine.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Sullivan of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Plymouth Man Charged with Sexually Exploiting Minors in the PhilippinesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Plymouth, Mass. man has been arrested and charged with allegedly sexually exploiting two minor victims from the Philippines.
Robert Meserve, 38, is charged by criminal complaint with two counts of sexual exploitation of children. Meserve was arrested this morning in New Jersey and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to charging documents, in June 2025, law enforcement in Bergen County, New Jersey were notified of an individual – allegedly later identified as Meserve – engaging in communications, negotiating payment and directing the sexual abuse of children by their trusted adults on live streams, which Meserve screen recorded. It is alleged that an initial forensic examination of Meserve’s devices revealed files consistent with child sexual abuse material and numerous communications and corresponding payments, which detail the sexual abuse of these two minors in the Philippines – ages six and eight – including a non-verbal minor with disabilities.
The charge of sexual exploitation of minors (and attempt and conspiracy) provides for a sentence of at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations in Newark, NJ, the United States Marshals Service, the Bergen County, New Jersey Prosecutor’s Office, the Massachusetts State Police, and the Plymouth Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm, of the Major Crimes Unit and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Federal Authorities Seize Two Website Domains Used to Import Illegal Machine Gun Conversion Devices and Silencers from ChinaRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Federal authorities in Boston seized two internet domains and two cryptocurrency accounts that were allegedly used for the illegal importation of machine gun conversion devices (MCDs) from China. MCDs commonly known as “switches” or “sears” are parts designed to convert semiautomatic pistols into fully automatic machineguns. Possession of these items and their importation from certain countries, including China, are prohibited under the National Firearms Act (NFA). In addition, during the course of this investigation, 3,093 machine gun conversion devices (switches and auto sears) were seized along with 282 firearms; 124 silencers; and over 12,000 rounds of ammunition.
According to the court documents, beginning in 2023 and continuing through 2025, federal authorities began targeting multiple websites, businesses and individuals selling, offering for sale, importing and exporting machinegun conversion devices. Through undercover purchases from the website domains and MCD vendors promoting the sale of NFA-prohibited items – it was confirmed that the domains were being used to sell MCDs. Cryptocurrency accounts used by the MCD vendors to facilitate their sales were also later identified.
To conceal the alleged illegal importation, the contraband items sold from the domains were allegedly smuggled inside air cargo shipments from China to government-controlled mailboxes in the United States. The MCDs were packaged with other goods and were never properly declared with United States Customs.
It is further alleged that the website domains trafficked counterfeit goods and unlawfully used the Glock, Inc. trademark by offering purported “Glock” switches for sale. In reality however, Glock, Inc. has never manufactured switches.
Federal authorities ultimately established probable cause to seize for forfeiture the internet domains and funds within the cryptocurrency wallets which were used in connection with the scheme to import MCDs. Visitors to the websites will now be directed to a landing page indicating that the domain has been seized:
To date, the operation led by the District of Massachusetts targeting MCD vendors, has led to the seizure of approximately 360 internet domains and over 3,000 MCDs, 282 firearms, 124 silencers, over 12,000 rounds ammunition and approximately 125 investigative referrals.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Nicholas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Boston Field Office and National Targeting Center. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Annapurna Balakrishna of the Asset Recovery Unit and Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit obtained the seizure warrants in this case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
United States Attorney’s Office Files Civil Forfeiture Action to Recover Proceeds of Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The United States Attorney’s Office filed a civil forfeiture action to recover 200,000.039646 USDT (Tether), alleged to be proceeds of an online investment fraud scheme. The cryptocurrency currently has an estimated value of approximately $200,000.
In April 2025, an investigation began into a cryptocurrency investment fraud scheme that targeted a Massachusetts resident. In such fraud schemes, often called “pig-butchering” schemes, scammers obtain funds from victims using manipulative tactics. The scammer establishes a level of trust with a victim in online communications and then entices the victim into investing in a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme. Often the victim is enticed to make additional payments before realizing they are a victim of fraud. The victim’s funds are stolen by the criminal, or criminals, ultimately causing the victim financial and emotional harm. Perpetrators behind these cryptocurrency investment schemes are often located overseas.
As alleged in court documents, a Massachusetts resident matched with an individual on Tinder who went by the name “Nino Martin.” Martin suggested they leave Tinder and communicate via WhatsApp. He told the victim that he was a financial advisor and could help the victim make money by trading cryptocurrency. The victim then followed instructions to create an account and transfer funds to a trading platform that law enforcement believes was fraudulent. Individuals from the suspected fraudulent trading platform then contacted the victim with instructions on how to evade restrictions on the legitimate account from which the victim had transferred funds, as the prior transfers had been flagged as suspicious. The victim then continued to transfer funds to the suspected fraudulent trading platform. The victim transferred approximately $504,353 to the suspected fraudulent trading platform prior to contacting law enforcement.
Some victim funds were then traced to a cryptocurrency account, which was seized in June 2025.
It is a violation of federal law to use wire communications as part of a scheme to defraud or to obtain money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses. It is also a violation of federal law to conduct a financial transaction knowing that the transaction is designed to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, or control of criminal proceeds. A civil forfeiture action allows third parties to assert claims to property, which must be resolved before the property can be forfeited to the United States and returned to victims.
This is one of several civil forfeiture actions the U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed seeking to forfeit cryptocurrency traced to fraud schemes targeting Massachusetts victims.
Members of the public who believe they are victims of a cybercrime – including cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, investment scams and business email compromise fraud scams – should contact [email protected].
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Lyons of the Asset Recovery Unit is prosecuting the civil forfeiture action.
The details contained in the civil forfeiture complaint and criminal charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Walpole Man Convicted of Smuggling Gold Out of Colombia and Laundering Related FundsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Walpole man was convicted yesterday by federal jury in Boston for his role in a 2018 scheme to smuggle gold, platinum and other precious metals into the United States from Colombia and to launder money.
Thomas Cataloni, 46, was convicted of one count of money laundering conspiracy, one count of conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States and one count of international money laundering. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for April 15, 2026. The defendant was charged in November 2022.
In 2018, Cataloni and his co-conspirators sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to bank accounts in Colombia to pay for gold and platinum to be smuggled into the United States without being declared at U.S. customs. To facilitate the smuggling, the gold and platinum were melted in Colombia and formed to look like crude, unfinished jewelry such as chains, keychains and purse straps. The supposed jewelry was then worn by individuals who flew from Colombia into the United States without declaring the gold and platinum.
Two of Cataloni’s co-conspirators previously pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced later this year.
The charges of money laundering conspiracy and international money laundering each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000, or twice the amount involved, whichever is greater. The charge of conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England, made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Customs & Border Protection; Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority; and the Canton and Walpole Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian J. Sullivan and Samuel R. Feldman of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.
Previously Convicted Felon from Maine Sentenced for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Maine man has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.
Kirk Wilson, 46, of Maine, was sentenced on Jan. 7, 2026 by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Indira Talwani to five years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. In September 2025, Wilson pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Wilson was charged in March 2024.
Shortly after 1 a.m. on Dec. 14, 2023, Wilson was found unconscious inside a vehicle that was stopped on the side of a road in Littleton. During a subsequent search of the vehicle and his person, Wilson was found with a Taurus International 22-caliber handgun with eight rounds of ammunition in a magazine inside his pocket. Wilson is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to multiple prior felony convictions which include: a 2008 conviction for assaulting a pregnant person; a 2018 conviction for trafficking fentanyl powder and/or methamphetamine and alprazolam; and a 2023 conviction for unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs and unlawful possession of fentanyl powder.
The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Littleton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Maynard of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Operator of Sober Homes Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Fraud Schemes Involving Sober Home Client, Sober Homes Mortgages, Mass Save Program and COVID-19 Business LoansRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The operator of numerous sober homes in Massachusetts, who also operated insulation companies receiving funds through the Mass Save Program, was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his involvement in four different fraud schemes involving sober homes in the Greater Boston area, the Mass Save Program, mortgage lenders and a federal loan program that assisted businesses during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Daniel Cleggett, 39, of Kingston, formerly of Braintree and Quincy, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to six years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Cleggett was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,856,329 and forfeit $1,544,185. In December 2024, Cleggett pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud conspiracy; one count of conspiracy to make false statements to a mortgage lending business (mortgage fraud conspiracy); 25 counts of wire fraud; six counts of unlawful monetary transactions (money laundering); and three counts of making false statements to a mortgage lending business. Cleggett was arrested and charged in March 2023 along with co-conspirator Nicholas Espinosa.
Espinosa pleaded guilty to his role in the fraud schemes on Oct. 3, 2024 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 22, 2026.
Cleggett was the founder of the sober home business A Vision From God LLC (AVFG). Established in November 2016, AVFG owned and operated sober homes in Boston, Wakefield, Quincy and Weymouth under trade names including Brady’s Place, Lakeshore Retreat and Lambert House. Espinosa managed the day-to-day affairs of Cleggett’s sober home business.
Cleggett, Espinosa and a sober home client entered into a conspiracy to defraud a New York-based family trust that was paying for the client’s room and board at Brady’s Place, located in Quincy. Specifically, Cleggett and Espinosa overcharged the family trust for room and board by up to $12,500 per month by submitting false and fraudulent invoices to the family trust. Cleggett and Espinosa would then issue “refund” checks to the client in furtherance of the fraud scheme.
From approximately October 2019 to December 2021, Cleggett personally, and through straw purchasers including Espinosa, purchased the three residential properties in Weymouth and Boston to use as sober homes. Cleggett, Espinosa and others submitted false information and fraudulent documentation including falsely representing that the three properties were intended to be purchased as primary residences when in reality, each was intended to be a sober home.
In addition to the sober home business, Cleggett operated numerous insulation contracting companies that participated in the Mass Save Program: Green Save Energy Corporation; Environmental Construction Objective Inc. (ECO); Green Giants, LLC; and Insulation Situation, LLC.
Mass Save is a Massachusetts public/private partnership sponsored by gas and electric utility companies that fund energy conservation projects and improvements via energy efficiency funds charged to Massachusetts residents’ utility bills.
Specifically, Green Save and ECO received millions of dollars for residential insulation work from a lead vendor company under the Mass Save program. From 2018 through mid-2021, Green Save and ECO fraudulently billed the vendor company for required permits that were not actually obtained. Green Save and ECO were ultimately terminated from participating in the lead vendor company’s program in June 2021, and Cleggett was banned from participating in the Mass Save program. In response to this, Cleggett, Espinosa and other co-conspirators formed Insulation Situation and Green Giants to enter as new lead vendors with the same company under straw owners. As a result, Cleggett obtained a total of $945,473 in payments from the company to Green Giants and Insulation Situation, despite him being banned from participating in the Mass Save program.
Additionally, on April 1, 2020, Cleggett submitted three Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications to the Small Business Administration for AVFG, the Daniel Cleggett Sole Proprietorship and Green Save. Cleggett obtained a total of $792,106 in EIDL loans and advances. In the applications, Cleggett falsely denied involvement in illegal activity despite his involvement in the sober home wire fraud scheme and the mortgage fraud scheme involving one of his Weymouth sober homes. Cleggett’s Sole Proprietorship EIDL application was false because the Daniel Cleggett Sole Proprietorship did not exist. Despite certifying that EIDL proceeds would only be used for “working capital” for the entity seeking the loan, Cleggett used tens of thousands of dollars from the funds to pay for personal expenses including EZ-Pass bills, gym membership fees, pet expenses, airline tickets, car rentals, vacation trips to Yellowstone, Montana and Aruba and thousands of dollars in hotel resort stays for Cleggett and his girlfriend – which included spa fees as well as a wine and caviar dinner, among other expenses. Cleggett also used Green Save EIDL funds for $37,997 in wedding expenses.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Kingston, Randolph and Quincy Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys and John T. Mulcahy and Dustin Chao of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit are prosecuting the case.Leader of Violent Gang Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Involving Attempted Murder and Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston area man pleaded guilty today to his role in Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang.
Anthony Centeio, a/k/a “Wheezy,” 37 of Boston and Rehoboth, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise; conspiracy to distribute 500 grams of more of cocaine, cocaine base and methamphetamine; and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled sentencing for May 7, 2026 Centeio was among 22 defendants charged in May 2023.
Centeio was identified as a leader of Cameron Street, a violent gang based largely in the Dorchester section of Boston that uses violence and threats of violence to preserve, protect and expand its territory, promote a climate of fear and enhance its reputation. Members of Cameron Street have tattoos or wear clothing signifying their membership in the gang. Members post videos or use social media applications to promote Cameron Street, celebrate murders and other violent crimes committed by the gang as well as to denigrate rivals, in particular NOB (Norton, Onley and Barry Streets), known more generally as Wendover. Cameron Street members possess, carry and use firearms to murder and assault gang rivals as well as protect narcotics and drug proceeds.As part of his role in the Cameron Street enterprise, Centeio and another Cameron Street member, Daronde Bethea, a/k/a “Freeze,” committed an attempted murder with a firearm of an NOB/Wendover gang member in Dorchester in June 2018. Bethea was sentenced to nearly 24 years in prison for his role in Cameron Street, including the attempted murder in June 2024:
Between February 2021 and March 2022, law enforcement recorded controlled purchases of a firearm from Centeio, as well as purchases of over 500 grams of cocaine and cocaine base from Centeio directly or through his cousin and co-defendant Michael Lopes. Lopes was sentenced to more than four years in prison in May 2024:
During an April 2022 search of Centeio’s home in Rehoboth, $25,760 in cash, a Glock .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, 21 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition, clothing and jewelry associated with Cameron Street was recovered. Centeio was encountered at Lopes’ residence in Pawtucket, where hundreds of grams of cocaine, cocaine base and methamphetamine, packaging materials for street level sales and cash were seized:
The charge of RICO conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, cocaine base and methamphetamine provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Jared A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth and Pawtucket (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Pohl and Charles Dell’Anno of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
The remaining defendants named in the indictment are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
General Contractor Sentenced for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The former owner of JMS Contracting, a general contracting business based in South Boston and Quincy, was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for concealing business income from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
John Michael Sacco, 54, formerly of Quincy, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to six months of home confinement and three years of supervised release. Sacco was also ordered to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $3,059,887.
Sacco managed construction projects under the name JMS Contracting. From 2014 through 2021, Sacco received over $9 million from JMS’s customers. Rather than depositing JMS’s gross receipts into business bank accounts, Sacco cashed most checks from customers, used proceeds to purchase supplies and pay subcontractors in cash and retained remaining cash to pay personal expenses. Sacco failed to issue required tax forms to subcontractors and failed to file required forms with the IRS with respect to amounts that JMS paid to its subcontractors. By not reporting JMS’s actual receipts on tax returns that he filed for certain years and by filing no tax returns in other years, Sacco underreported his personal income tax obligations, causing a loss to the IRS of over $3 million.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Holcomb of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Former Executive from Marlborough Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud the IRS and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former accounting and real estate executive in Sudbury pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to a multi-year scheme to cheat the Internal Revenue Service by getting paid more than $1.6 million in compensation and fringe benefits under the table, all while lying to the U.S. Attorney’s Office about his income to avoid paying restitution he owed to victims of an earlier fraud scheme.
Stephen L. Hochberg, 77, of Marlborough, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and to obstruction of justice. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for April 6, 2026. Hochberg was charged in December 2025.
Hochberg and Charles D. Katz agreed in as early as 2014 to cheat the IRS. They agreed that Hochberg, who served as the Director of Corporate Services at Katz’s accounting firm and as Chief Operating Officer at Katz’s real estate firm, would be paid significant compensation off the books so that Hochberg would have tax-free income and so that Katz’s firms – CD Katz LLC and Gebsco Realty Corporation – would owe less employment taxes. Over time, Katz paid Hochberg’s family, provided rent-free housing to Hochberg’s ex-wife, paid college tuition for his children and paid personal expenses that Hochberg and his ex-wife charged on corporate credit cards.
All told, Katz paid Hochberg at least $1,668,487 in unreported income and avoided taxes of at least $835,105.
In 2008, Hochberg was convicted of eight counts of wire fraud and nine counts of securities fraud, for which he was sentenced to more than five years in federal prison and ordered to pay $1,791,500 to his victims. In addition to his and Katz’s tax scheme, Hochberg lied to the U.S. Attorney’s Office about his income from Katz’s firms and obstructed the collection of restitution Hochberg owed to victims.
Katz was charged and agreed to plead guilty in October 2025. The Court accepted his plea and scheduled a sentencing hearing for Feb. 2, 2026.
The charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of obstruction of justice provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, restitution and forfeiture. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol Head, Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit is prosecuting the case.
New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Participating in Scheme to Generate Revenue for North Korean Weapons ProgramsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Jersey man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to his involvement in a scheme to generate revenue for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs. The scheme involved the dispatchment of skilled information technology (IT) workers who, using stolen identities of U.S. persons, posed as domestic workers to obtain remote IT jobs with U.S. companies, including several Fortune 500 companies and a defense contractor.
Zhenxing “Danny” Wang, 39, of New Jersey, pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for April 14, 2026. In June 2025, Zhenxing Wang was indicted by a federal grand jury along with nine co-conspirators, including eight overseas operatives.
In response to U.S. and U.N. sanctions, the DPRK government dispatched thousands of skilled IT workers around the world, who falsified and stole identities of U.S. persons and posed as domestic workers to obtain remote IT jobs with U.S. companies and generate revenue for DPRK WMD programs. The DPRK IT workers’ scheme involved the use of pseudonymous email, social media, payment platform and online job site accounts, as well as false websites, proxy computers, and third-party enablers in the United States and abroad. According to the court documents, the IT workers employed under this scheme also gained access to sensitive employer data and source code, including International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) data from a California-based defense contractor that develops artificial intelligence-powered equipment and technologies.
According to the indictment, from approximately 2021 through October 2024, Zhenxing Wang and his alleged co-conspirators perpetuated a massive fraud scheme resulting in the transmission of false and misleading information to dozens of U.S. companies, financial institutions, and government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration. Specifically, Zhenxing Wang and his alleged co-conspirators compromised the identities of more than 80 U.S. persons; fraudulently obtained remote jobs at more than 100 U.S. companies, including several Fortune 500 companies; received laptops and other hardware from U.S. companies; accessed, without authorization, the internal systems of these U.S. companies, including sensitive employer data and source code; generated at least $5 million in revenue for the overseas IT workers; and caused U.S. victim companies to incur legal fees, computer network remediation costs and other damages and losses of at least $3 million.
The overseas IT workers were assisted in this scheme by Zhenxing Wang, Kejia Wang and at least four other identified U.S. facilitators. Kejia Wang pleaded guilty to his role in the scheme in September 2025.
Zhenxing Wang and other U.S. facilitators received and/or hosted laptops belonging to U.S. victim companies at their residences to deceive the U.S. companies into believing the IT workers were in the United States. Zhenxing Wang and his alleged co-conspirators facilitated remote access to the computers for the overseas IT workers through illicit means, including downloading software to the computers without authorization from the U.S. companies, connecting the U.S. companies’ computers to internet-connected KVM switches, and creating shell companies with corresponding websites and financial accounts, including Hopana Tech LLC, Tony WKJ LLC and Independent Lab LLC, to make it appear as though the overseas IT workers were affiliated with legitimate U.S. businesses. These facilitators also allegedly established accounts at U.S. financial institutions and online money transfer services to receive money from victimized U.S. companies, much of which was subsequently transferred to overseas co-conspirators. In exchange for their services, Zhenxing Wang and Kejia Wang collected at least $700,000 in fees.
This investigation is the culmination of a multi-year investigation by federal law enforcement agencies and is one of several charged as part of the Justice Department’s initiative, DPRK: Domestic Enabler. Under the initiative, Department prosecutors and agents continue to prioritize high-impact, strategic, and unified enforcement and disruption operations targeting DPRK’s illicit revenue generation efforts through remote IT workers and the U.S.-based individuals who enable them.
The U.S. Department of State has offered potential rewards for up to $5 million in support of international efforts to disrupt North Korea’s illicit financial activities, including for certain information related to individuals who are sent outside of North Korea to work to generate money for the North Korean government or who facilitate the activities of such North Korean nationals.
The charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Chistopher S. Delzotto, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Las Vegas Division; John E. Helsing, Special Agent in Charge for the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Western Field Office; and Kevin Murphy, Acting Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in San Diego made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Casey, Deputy Chief of the National Security Unit is prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorney Gregory J. Nicosia, Jr. of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section. Valuable assistance was provided by FBI New York, Newark and San Diego Field Offices; HSI Newark Field Office; United States Postal Inspection Service’s San Diego Field Office; and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of New Jersey, the Eastern District of New York and the Southern District of California.
\The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Massachusetts Man Sentenced for Knowingly Concealing the Source of Material Support or Resources to ISISRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Wakefield, Mass. man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for knowingly concealing the source of material support or resources intended for the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).
Mateo Ventura, 21, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper to 50 months in prison, to be followed by seven years of supervised release. In October 2025, Ventura pleaded guilty to one count of concealment of financing of terrorism. Ventura was charged by complaint in June 2023 and was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2023.
Ventura provided multiple gift cards to an individual he believed was an ISIS supporter, with the intention that they be sold on the dark web for a little less than face value, and with the profits being used to support ISIS. Ventura stated that he wanted the proceeds to go to ISIS “for war on kuffar,” (disbelievers), and believed the money was being used to purchase ammunition and explosives. Ventura also expressed his desire to fight alongside ISIS overseas and purchased plane tickets in order to travel to the Middle East and join ISIS. In total between January and May 2023, Ventura made donations totaling $705.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Assistant Attorney John A. Eisenberg for the Justice Department’s National Security Division; and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy H. Kistner of the National Security Unit prosecuted the case. Valuable assistance was provided by Trial Attorney Michael Dittoe of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
H Block Gang Associate Pleads Guilty to Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An associate of the violent Boston-based gang, H-Block, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to drug conspiracy charges.
Mark Linnehan, 26, of West Roxbury, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for April 7, 2026.
Linnehan was one of 10 H-Block gang members and associates charged in August 2024 following a multi-year investigation of H-Block beginning in 2021 in response to an uptick in gang-related drug trafficking, shootings and violence. According to court documents, over 500 grams of cocaine, cocaine base (crack cocaine) and fentanyl, as well as over 20,000 doses of drug-laced paper were seized during the investigation.
The investigation of H Block began in response to an uptick in gang-related drug trafficking, shootings and violence. Since the start of the investigation in 2021, law enforcement attributed 12 incidents of gunfire to growing tensions involving H Block gang associates. Six H Block members and associates were arrested and charged with drug dealing in Boston and the surrounding communities. Four additional H Block members and associates were already in state custody at the time of the arrests. Additional drugs and four firearms were seized during the subsequent arrests.
From 2022 through 2023, Linnehan, a long-time H Block gang associate, participated in a conspiracy to distribute various controlled substances, in particular, fentanyl and cocaine. According to court filings, Linnehan was a supplier of fentanyl to his co-conspirators and also engaged in various drug deals with an undercover officer.
According to the charging documents, the H Block Street Gang is one of the most feared and influential city-wide gangs in Boston. Originally formed in the 1980s as the Humboldt Raiders in the Roxbury section of Boston, the gang re-emerged in the 2000s as H Block. Current members of H Block have a history of violent confrontation with law enforcement, including an incident in 2015 when a member shot a Boston Police officer at point blank range without warning or provocation.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Linnehan is the ninth defendant to plead guilty in the case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Randy Maloney, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office; Ted E., Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; and Russell W. Cunningham Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Mid-Atlantic Region made the announcement. The investigation was supported by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office; Massachusetts Department of Corrections; and the Braintree, Quincy, Randolph, and Watertown Police Departments. Assistant United States Attorney John T. Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit and Jeremy Franker of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime & Racketeering Section are prosecuting the cases.The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Wildlife TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Reading, Mass. man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to trafficking in wildlife parts from endangered and protected species.
Adam Bied, 40, has pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States, specifically, illegally imported wildlife parts, and two counts of violating the Lacey Act, which prohibits trafficking in wildlife. The wildlife that Bied unlawfully imported and conspired to import was protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as well as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for April 2, 2026. Bied was charged by an Information in June 2024.
Beginning in least January 2018 and continuing until at least June 2021, Bied bought, sold and traded in wildlife parts and products from threatened and endangered species knowing that many of the transactions violated U.S. laws and regulations, including the ESA and the Lacey Act. Bied also knowingly failed to declare the wildlife to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) upon importation into the United States.
Specifically, Bied placed orders with individuals in Cameroon and Indonesia who were in the businesses of killing and acquiring wildlife, including endangered and protected species. Bied purchased the wildlife parts from two individuals, received the parts in the United States unlawfully, and then resold or traded the wildlife to customers in the United States. Bied neither sought nor obtained the necessary USFWS import/export licenses or CITES permits before importing these items, nor did he declare the wildlife to the USFWS upon import as required. Instead, Bied and his co-conspirators took steps to conceal the wildlife parts from U.S. authorities by falsely labeling them as “decorative masks” and “rodents,” among other things. Bied unlawfully imported skulls from the following wildlife species, among others: baboon, chimpanzee, pangolin, orangutan and leopard.
Bied also consented to the civil forfeiture of over 100 wildlife parts from endangered, threatened, or protected species seized by the USFWS in July 2021 from Bied’s residence, storage unit and vehicle.
The wildlife parts identified in the civil forfeiture complaint include:
- Orangutan skulls
- Tiger skulls
- Leopard skin, skulls and a claw
- Jaguar skin and skull
- African lion skulls
- Polar bear skull
- Narwhal tusk
- Otter skeleton
- Harp seal skull
- Pangolin skull
- South American fur seal skull
- Elephant seal skull
- Babirusa skulls
- Mandrillus skulls
- Wallaby skull
- Jackal skull
Federal wildlife statutes and regulations prohibit international and illegal trade in vulnerable wildlife species. The ESA, the Lacey Act and CITES, as well as the accompanying regulations, prohibit the import, export, possession, transport, purchase and sale of protected species. The restrictions apply to live and dead wildlife specimens, as well as the skins, parts and products made in whole or in part from listed species. Additional documents are also required for wildlife protected by the CITES treaty, which regulates trade in endangered or threatened species through permit requirements.
The lawful importation of vulnerable wildlife species requires a CITES permit. The lawful importation of any foreign species requires a USFWS wildlife declaration. Individuals are also required to have a USFWS import/export license to import wildlife for commercial purposes.
The charges of conspiracy as well as the charges under the Lacey Act each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Preston Fant, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement made the announcement. This case was worked jointly with the United States Marshals Service and the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Casey and Carol E. Head are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol E. Head, Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit is prosecuting the civil forfeiture case.
Lynn Man Sentenced for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lynn man has been sentenced in federal court in Boston in connection with an investigation into drug conspiracy.
Meliek Bennett, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy to three years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In August 2025, Meliek Bennett pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. He was arrested and charged in May 2025 along with his brother Maurice Bennett.
Maurice Bennett was identified as a member of the Bloods street gang in Lynn with prior convictions for carrying firearms and other violent crimes. During the investigation, numerous text messages between Maurice and his brother Meliek were intercepted, wherein they coordinated the distribution of drugs including cocaine, prescription medication, counterfeit pills and marijuana. The brothers discussed sharing drug customers, sharing drug supplies, paying Meliek Bennett’s drug debts and making a trip to New Hampshire to sell controlled substances together.
In September 2024, during a recorded conversation, Meliek Bennett described intending to use a silenced pistol to shoot up the residence of a drug supplier and potentially murdering the drug supplier to whom he owed a drug debt – after the supplier had beaten up Meliek Bennett. Shortly thereafter, a search warrant was executed at Meliek Bennett’s residence in Lynn, where fentanyl tablets, oxycodone, gabapentin and marijuana, as well as a .22 caliber pistol with a threaded barrel and ammunition were discovered.
On Nov. 3, 2025, Maurice Bennett was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty in August 2025.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Boston made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lynn Police and Massachusetts Department of Corrections. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip A. Mallard and David Cutshall of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
Illinois Man Charged in Snapchat Hacking InvestigationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Illinois man has been charged in federal court in Boston with phishing the Snapchat access codes of nearly 600 women in an effort to hack their Snapchat accounts and steal nude photos, which he kept, sold, or traded on the internet.
Kyle Svara, 26, of Oswego, Ill., is charged with aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, computer fraud, conspiracy to commit computer fraud and false statements related to child pornography. The defendant will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston on Feb. 4, 2026.
According to the charging documents, from at least May 2020 to February 2021, Svara used social engineering and other resources to collect victim emails, phone numbers and/or Snapchat usernames. He allegedly used those means of identification to access victim Snapchat accounts, which prompted Snap Inc. to send account security codes to victims. Using anonymized phone numbers, Svara allegedly posed as a representative of Snap Inc. and texted more than 4,500 victims requesting those Snapchat access codes. When approximately 570 women provided those codes, it is alleged that Svara accessed the Snapchat accounts of at least 59 women without permission and downloaded their nude or semi-nude images. It is alleged that once he had the stolen images, Svara sold or traded on them on internet forums or in transactions with others who had hired him to hack the Snapchat accounts. Svara allegedly advertised on internet forums like Reddit that he could “get into girls snap accounts” for others and provide content “for you or trade.”
As further detailed in the charging documents, one of Svara’s co-conspirators was Steve Waithe, a former Track and Field Coach at Northeastern University who allegedly hired and paid Svara to hack the Snapchat accounts of women Waithe coached or had other relationships with. In November 2023, Waithe was convicted in federal court in Boston of 12 counts of wire fraud; one count of cyberstalking; one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud; and one count of computer fraud, aiding and abetting. In March 2024, Waithe was sentenced to five years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.
In addition to the women Waithe and others allegedly hired Svara to hack, it is alleged that Svara also targeted women who resided in or around the area of Plainfield, Ill. or who were students at Colby College in Waterville, Maine.
Members of the public who believe they may be a victim of this case or have any relevant information related to this case are requested to please fill out the attached form to be contacted by a member of law enforcement: https://forms.fbi.gov/victims/snaphackvictims
The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a sentence of no less than two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain/loss from the offense. The charges of computer fraud and conspiracy to commit computer fraud provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of false statements provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Boston made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Chicago and the Oswego Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Cleary of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Dominican National Sentenced to Prison for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for illegally reentering the United States after deportation.
Yonelin Manuel Baez Soto, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to one year and one day in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release. In May 2025, Baez Soto pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Baez Soto was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2025.
In November 2020, Baez Soto was removed from the United States after being convicted of a felony narcotics offense in Essex Superior Court. Additionally, prior to his removal, Baez Soto was also convicted of multiple counts of misuse of a Social Security number and aggravated identity theft in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Sometime after his November 2020 removal, Baez Soto illegally reentered the United States without permission.
Also in May 2025, Baez Soto was indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and other offenses. That case is currently pending in federal court in Boston. Baez Soto is subject to deportation upon completion of all imposed sentences.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Cutshall of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national in state custody at Souza-Baronowski Correction Center in Lancaster, Mass., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Carlos Alexander Martinez-Jimenez, 48, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for Feb. 9, 2026. In December 2025, Martinez-Jimenez, who is currently serving a state prison sentence, was indicted by a federal grand jury.
In February 2017, Martinez-Jimenez was convicted of Furnishing a False Name or Social Security Number as well as Identity Fraud in Fall River District Court, for which he was sentenced to 134 days in state prison. He was subsequently removed from the United States in April 2017 after serving his sentence.
On Jan. 31, 2024, Martinez-Jimenez was convicted of Trafficking 18 grams or more (Less Than 36 grams) of Heroin/Morphine/Opium/Fentanyl in Essex Superior Court. He was sentenced to three-and-a-half to five years in state prison and is currently serving that sentence.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan C. Cleary and Zachary Stendig of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
Update on Investigation into Brown University and Brookline ShootingsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The Department of Justice, alongside our law enforcement partners, has been actively investigating the facts and circumstances surrounding the mass shooting at Brown University and the homicide of an MIT professor in Brookline, Mass. The investigation into these horrific acts remains ongoing.
As part of the investigation on Dec. 18, 2025, investigators executed a federal search warrant at a storage facility used by Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, the Portuguese national responsible for the senseless murders. During the search of the storage facility, the FBI recovered an electronic device containing a series of short videos made by Neves Valente after the shootings.
Today, the Department of Justice is releasing the transcripts of these videos, which have been translated from Portuguese to English. In these videos, Neves Valente admitted that he had been planning the Brown University shooting for a long time. Although Neves Valente stated that Brown University was his intended target, based on initial review of the evidence collected, he did not provide a motive for targeting students at Brown University or the professor at MIT. Neves Valente showed no remorse during the recordings; on the contrary, he exposed his true nature when he blamed innocent, unarmed children for their deaths at his hand and grumbled about a self-inflicted injury he suffered when he shot the MIT professor at close range. Our investigation into the motives behind Neves Valente’s heinous acts will continue.
Based on the evidence seized and analyzed to date, authorities do not believe there are any ongoing public safety threats associated with the shootings. Additional updates will be provided as further information is developed and following appropriate victim notification.
neves-valente_tanscript.pdfAyer Company Agrees to Pay over $1.3 Million to Resolve Allegations of PPP Loan FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Ajinomoto Cambrooke, Inc. (Cambrooke), a company headquartered in Ayer, Mass., has agreed to pay $1,360,819.04 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for which it was not eligible.
cambrooke_settlement_agreement.pdf
Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) on March 29, 2020, to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain approved expenses through the PPP, which the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) administered. The PPP provided for loans in two “draws”—first draw loans became available in March 2020. Businesses were required to certify on their loan applications that they met certain size standards based on, for example, the number of employees they employed. On May 5, 2020, the SBA issued guidance that, for purposes of assessing whether the borrower met the size standards for a first draw loan, an applicant must count all of its employees, as well as the employees of its U.S. and foreign affiliates, absent an exception.
As detailed in the settlement agreement, Cambrooke admitted that, on or about May 15, 2020, it applied for a first draw PPP loan and certified that it was eligible to receive the loan under the PPP rules. When it applied, Cambrooke, together with its Japanese parent company, exceeded the applicable size standards for eligibility. Cambrooke later sought and received forgiveness from the SBA of the full amount of that loan.
The settlement credits Cambrooke for cooperation under the Department of Justice’s Guidelines for Taking Voluntary Disclosure, Cooperation and Remediation into Account in False Claims Act Matters.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The relator will receive 10% of the settlement amount under today’s settlement. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Verity Investigations, LLC v. Ajinomoto Cambrooke, Inc., No. 25-cv-10220-RGS (D. Mass.).
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley and the U.S. Small Business Administration made the announcement today. Assistant United States Attorney Lindsey E. Weinstein of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit handled the case.
Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Loan and Check FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and stealing both a U.S. Treasury tax refund check and a check from a New York law firm.
Lonnie Smith-Matthews, 33, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud; one count of theft of government funds; two counts of bank fraud; and two counts of money laundering. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for March 19, 2026. In June 2025, Smith-Matthews was arrested and charged by criminal complaint as part of a federal crackdown on stolen U.S. Treasury checks. He was later indicted in September 2025.
In 2021, Smith-Matthews fraudulently obtained two PPP loans by falsely claiming business income of $128,000, when he made less than half that amount and did not actually have a business. Additionally, in 2024, Smith-Matthews obtained and deposited a U.S. Treasury tax refund check for $150,000 that had been altered and forged to be payable to a defunct clothing company that Smith-Matthews owned. In fact, the U.S. Treasury check had been issued to a married couple in North Carolina as a refund on their 2023 income taxes. After depositing the check, Smith-Matthews laundered the proceeds using cashier’s checks made payable to a purported roofing company. In 2024, Smith-Matthews obtained and deposited a $232,000 check stolen from a New York firm. Like the U.S. Treasury check, the law firm check had been altered and forged to be payable to Smith-Matthews’ defunct company.
The charge of theft of government funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three of supervised release and a fine of $500,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; Christopher J. Gust, Assistant Special Agent in charge of the U.S. Dept. of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Northeast Field Division; and Nicholas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto, Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.West Roxbury Man Indicted for Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A West Roxbury man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for drug distribution offenses involving fentanyl.
Santo Leandro Duverge Tejeda, a/k/a “La Niña,” 29, was indicted on two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The defendant will be arraigned in federal court in Boston at a future date. Duverge Tejeda was previously arrested and charged by complaint on Nov. 20, 2025.
According to the charging documents, the defendant distributed fentanyl on four separate occasions in Watertown and Waltham. On the day of his arrest, he allegedly possessed over 400 grams of fentanyl intended for distribution.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew A. Caffrey, III of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Roslindale Man Arrested for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Roslindale man has been arrested and charged in connection with an alleged fentanyl distribution conspiracy, following a series of controlled purchases in Brookline and Boston.
Shaquylle Burden, 31, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Burden was arrested on Dec. 11, 2025 and remains in federal custody. A co-defendant, Kerry Charlotin, a/k/a “KG,” 36, of Rockland, was also arrested in South Carolina and remains in federal custody. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. Charlotin is currently on federal supervised release for a 2020 conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
According to the charging documents, the defendants trafficked fentanyl in and around the greater Boston area since at least June 2025. It is alleged that, on separate dates in October and December of 2025, Burden and Charlotin sold or arranged the sale of fentanyl during repeated controlled purchases. One firearm was also allegedly located at Burden’s residence at the time of his arrest.
The charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Boston; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Columbia Field Office in South Carolina. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations 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 and Project Safe Neighborhood.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
New Hampshire Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Delivery of a FirearmRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Hampshire man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to unlawfully purchasing a semi-automatic pistol for an unlicensed individual. The unlicensed individual was later seen in online videos firing the pistol near a public school and was arrested in connection with a large-scale car theft enterprise.
Isaiah Johnson, 24, of Merrimack, N.H., pleaded guilty to one count of firearm trafficking by unlawful delivery. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for March 11, 2026. Johnson was arrested and charged in June 2025.
In February 2024, Johnson purchased a tan-colored 9-millimeter Glock 19X semi-automatic pistol from a gun store in New Hampshire, for a co-conspirator who was ineligible for a gun license. Johnson ultimately delivered the firearm to the co-conspirator approximately one week later.
In December 2024, the co-conspirator was arrested at his Brockton residence on state charges in connection with an investigation into a high-end car theft enterprise responsible for approximately 63 stolen vehicles worth more than $2.6 million. The firearm Johnson had purchased, as well as two large-capacity magazines, were located during a search of the Brockton residence. Videos posted online show the co-conspirator firing the same firearm while it was equipped with a “selector switch,” rendering it a fully automatic weapon. The video was filmed nearby a public school in Brockton where approximately 43 9-millimeter shell casings and 10 .40 caliber shell casings were later located.
The co-conspirator was later charged in Brockton Superior Court with firearm and other charges in connection with the car theft investigation.
The charge of firearm trafficking by unlawful delivery provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office; Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the Brockton (Mass.), Merrimack (N.H.) and Manchester (N.H.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Cutshall of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
Member of the Lynn Chapter of the Trinitarios Pleads Guilty to Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A member of the Lynn Chapter of the Trinitarios has pleaded guilty to racketeering charges, including his participation in two murders and two other attempted murders.
Michael Miliano, a/k/a “Trucho,” 23, pleaded guilty on Dec. 15, 2025 to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for March 19, 2026. Miliano was arrested and charged in February 2025, and was alleged to have participated in the murder of Jandriel Heredia and Abraham Diaz in September 2023.
The Trinitarios is a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Trinitarios adhere to a Magna Carta, employ an internal hierarchy to or organize and execute violence, and undertaken extensive efforts to maintain the secrecy of the organization and its members.
In February 2025, federal racketeering charges were unsealed against 22 leaders and members of the Trinitarios. The charges were the result of a multijurisdictional investigation, dubbed Operation Paper Machetes, which began in the aftermath of four murders as well as a series of attempted murders and shootings that took place in Lynn in 2023, allegedly committed by the Trinitarios criminal enterprise and its members. In March 2025, a Lynn member of the Trinitarios was sentenced to ten years in prison. In June 2025, two members of the Trinitarios were charged with kidnapping a drug supplier. In July 2025, the leader of the Lynn Chapter was sentenced to fourteen years in prison. Miliano is the seventh Defendant to plead guilty.
During court proceedings, Miliano admitted to his membership in the gang and participation in three shootings where the Trinitarios intended to kill rival gang members. The first incident took place in May 2023, where Miliano and other members of the Trinitarios proceeded to rival gang territory in Lynn and discharged numerous rounds at rival gang members. Miliano fired during this shooting.
The second incident took in August 2023, following the death of a Trinitario member, who was believed to have been killed by a rival gang member. For this incident, Miliano and five other Trinitarios set out to ambush and kill rival gang members who were at a music studio in Lynn. Miliano also fired during this incident.
Miliano also admitted to his participation in the Sept. 2, 2023 murder of Jandriel Heredia and Abraham Diaz. Miliano met with other Trinitario members prior to the shooting and learning about the plan to kill a rival gang member who the Trinitarios believed was present at a party in Lynn. The rival gang member was not, in fact, present at the party. Miliano admitted to driving by the party a number of times, and relaying information about what he observed as he drove by to the other Trinitarios knowing that it would be used by the other members to further their plan to murder rival gang members. Later that night, members of the Trinitarios drove by the party and discharged numerous rounds at the people gathered outside celebrating a recent graduation. Seven people were shot during this incident, and Abraham Diaz and Jandriel Heredia later died from the gunshot wounds they sustained. None of the victims at the party were members of a gang.
The charge of conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity (also known as “racketeering conspiracy” or “RICO conspiracy”) provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Ted Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble; and Lynn Police Chief Christopher P. Reddy made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations 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 and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Lawrence Man Indicted for Distributing Counterfeit Pills Containing Methamphetamine and FentanylRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence man has been charged in a seven-count indictment for allegedly distributing thousands of counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Randy Recinos, 31, was indicted by a federal grand jury on four counts of distribution of methamphetamine, including three counts alleging 50 grams or more; two counts of distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl; and one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Recinos was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint in August 2025.
According to charging documents, between July 2024 and August 2025, Recinos repeatedly sold thousands of counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine and fentanyl to a cooperating source working with law enforcement. On Aug. 27, 2025, Recinos allegedly delivered 5,000 fentanyl pills to the cooperating source in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant in Lawrence and was arrested.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charges of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl provide for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of distribution of methamphetamine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jared A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Justice Department Files Denaturalization Complaint against Bosnian War Persecutor Who Fraudulently Obtained U.S. CitizenshipRead the Press Release
Today, the Department of Justice filed a civil complaint to revoke the citizenship of Kemal Mrndzic, who failed to disclose during his immigration proceedings that he served as a guard at the notorious Čelebići prison camp during the Bosnian War. At Čelebići, prison guards subjected Bosnian-Serbs to beatings, torture, sexual assault, starvation, and murder.
“The allegations in this complaint demonstrate the value this Administration places upon both the integrity of its naturalization process and, more importantly, ensuring that those who persecute others based on protected bases, especially in war time, do not reap the benefits of refuge in the United States by gaming America’s immigration process,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
In October 2024, a federal jury found Mrndzic guilty of several criminal fraud and misrepresentation counts relating to his successful efforts to obtain a naturalization certificate and a U.S. passport. The jury’s guilty verdict established that Mrndzic falsified and misrepresented information material to his naturalization eligibility.
Among other facts, Mrndzic failed to disclose to immigration authorities the nature and timing of his military service during the Bosnian War. Specifically, he failed to disclose that he persecuted Bosnian-Serb inmates as a prison guard at Čelebići. Mrndzic’s 2024 conviction established his ineligibility to naturalize, as the Justice Department alleges in the naturalization revocation complaint.
This case is being civilly prosecuted by the Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation, Affirmative Litigation Unit, after extensive investigation by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations and criminal prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Former State Senator Pleads Guilty to Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Former Massachusetts State Senator Dean Tran pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to attempting to cover up a sham job offer from his sister’s company.
Tran, 50, of Fitchburg, pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice and one count of making a false statement before U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled by the Court. In June 2024, Tran was indicted along with his sister, Tuyet T. Martin.
Tran was convicted by a federal jury in September 2024 for fraudulent collection of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits and his willful omission of consulting and rental income from his tax returns in 2020, 2021 and 2022. He is currently serving an 18-month sentence in federal prison for those convictions.
As part of an ongoing investigation into unemployment benefits and tax fraud schemes federal law enforcement interviewed Tran at his residence while executing a federal search warrant. During the interview, Tran was asked about a letter that he provided to unemployment agency officials when his benefits were briefly suspended and he was attempting to have benefits reinstated. Tran made material misrepresentations to the federal law enforcement agents about the letter, including that his sister and co-defendant, Tuyet Martin, had authored the letter when she was not the sole author of the letter and Tran had revised it before it was finalized and submitted to unemployment officials. Tran also told federal law enforcement agents that his sister’s signature appeared on the letter when in fact Tran had signed the letter, not his sister.
The charge of obstruction of justice provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of false statements provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Labor Racketeering and Fraud, Northeast Region; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Mulcahy, Lauren Maynard and Dustin Chao of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former New York Doctor Sentenced for Receiving KickbacksRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New York doctor has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for receiving kickbacks in exchange for ordering medically unnecessary brain scans.
Dr. Vishnudat Seodat, 76, of Mattituck, N.Y. was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton on Dec. 17, 2025 to two years of supervised release, one year of which will be served in home confinement. Seodat was also ordered to pay a fine of $50,000, forfeiture in the amount of $52,100 and $342,876 in restitution. In December 2024, Seodat pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Seodat was charged in December 2024.
Seodat, an internist in Long Island, N.Y., was a licensed medical doctor in the State of New York for approximately 36 years. From approximately June 2013 through June 2019, Seodat conspired with others, including a principal for a mobile medical diagnostics company that performed transcranial doppler (TCD) scans, to order hundreds of medically unnecessary TCD scans in exchange for kickbacks. TCD scans are brain scans that measure blood flow in parts of the brain. Seodat and his alleged co-conspirators used false diagnoses to order the unnecessary brain scans, for which a co-conspirator would submit claims to Medicare and other insurance companies, including private insurance companies, on behalf of the medical diagnostic company for payment. In exchange, Seodat was paid cash kickbacks of approximately $100 per test. The scheme resulted in fraudulent bills of approximately $1 million to Medicare and private insurance companies.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division, Boston Field Office; Kelly M. Lawson, Acting Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Boston Regional Office; Nicholas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney and Mackenzie Queenin of the Health Care Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Fall River Man Convicted of Drug Distribution Resulting in Death of a Minor and the Sale of Drugs and Machineguns on Telegram AppRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Fall River man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to drug distribution resulting in the death of a minor, as well as multiple other charges filed this week associated with his sale of drugs, machineguns and firearm parts on the Telegram app.
Benjamin Hunt, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of fentanyl, MDMA, MDA, Ketamine and LSD resulting in death; two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl; two counts of unlawful transfer and possession of a machinegun; and one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine and cocaine.
U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for March 19, 2026. Hunt was arrested and charged in August 2024 on drug and firearm charges and has remained in federal custody while the investigation continued. Hunt was recently charged with additional crimes, including drug distribution resulting in the death of a minor, and he pled guilty to those crimes yesterday. Under the terms of Hunt’s guilty plea, at sentencing, the court will sentence Hunt to between 20 years and 25 years in federal custody.
From at least 2022 through 2024, Benjamin Hunt operated an online marketplace on the Telegram application through which he advertised and sold large quantities of controlled substances and firearms to customers across the United States. Hunt controlled multiple Telegram accounts and used the platform to conduct drug and weapons transactions while concealing his identity and seeking payment primarily in cryptocurrency.
Through his Telegram marketplace, Hunt offered for sale numerous dangerous drugs, including fentanyl, cocaine, LSD, MDMA, ketamine and counterfeit pharmaceutical pills made to resemble oxycodone but containing fentanyl. Hunt also advertised firearms and firearm components, including privately made firearms (“ghost guns”) and machinegun conversion devices (“switches”), some of which he manufactured himself using 3-D printing technology. Hunt typically required payment via Bitcoin, though in some instances accepted CashApp, and then shipped the contraband through the U.S. Postal Service, either directly or through suppliers.
In February, May, and June 2024, Hunt sold counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl to an undercover law enforcement officer, including quantities exceeding 40 grams of fentanyl. During one of these transactions, Hunt simultaneously sold a privately made Glock-style firearm and multiple machinegun conversion devices along with an extended magazine and 3D printed brass knuckles.
In August 2024, Hunt mailed an additional package containing approximately 1,600 fentanyl pills to undercover law enforcement in exchange for cryptocurrency. Law enforcement intercepted multiple packages being sent to or from Hunt, including one package sent by him that contained a smoke grenade and one package sent to an address associated with him that contained 13 switches or machinegun conversion devices.
A search at Hunt’s residence resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of drugs, including fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA and ketamine, as well as an arsenal of firearms and firearm components, including dozens of privately made firearms, machinegun conversion devices, silencers, extended magazines, large quantities of ammunition and 3-D printers used to manufacture firearm parts. In total, approximately 95 firearms and related items were seized.
Law enforcement in Massachusetts learned about an overdose death of a 17-year-old minor in May 2023 in Indiana. Investigators uncovered evidence of Hunt having communicated with the victim through the Telegram app and offering various drugs for sale. The minor purchased multiple drugs from Hunt. Hunt sought payment in Bitcoin, but when the minor did not have access to Bitcoin, Hunt agreed to receive payment via Cashapp. Hunt then mailed drugs to the minor in Indiana through the U.S. mail. Messages between Hunt and the minor in the hours leading to the minor’s death were uncovered, including messages discussing the minor’s consumption of drugs that had been supplied by Hunt. The drugs distributed by Hunt—including fentanyl, MDMA, MDA, ketamine and LSD—were determined to be the but-for cause of the minor’s death, which was ruled an acute mixed drug intoxication. As part of his plea, Hunt admitted that his distribution of these drugs resulted in the minor victim’s death.
“This defendant made a business out of selling poisonous drugs and flooding our communities with illegal guns – and a 17-year-old victim paid for it with his life,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “By exploiting online platforms to sell lethal drugs and guns, the defendant showed a complete disregard for human life and public safety. This guilty plea makes clear that those who deal in death and violence, whether on the street or through online encrypted apps, will be held fully accountable.”
“DEA is committed to investigating and dismantling drug trafficking organizations and individuals like Mr. Hunt who are responsible for distributing lethal drugs like fentanyl, MDMA, Ketamine and LSD,” said Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. “DEA’s top priority is combatting the drug epidemic by working with our local, county, state, and federal partners to bring to justice anyone who distributes deadly drugs, including if it’s online or out of state. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative law enforcement efforts in Massachusetts and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
“Hunt’s entire livelihood was derived from endangering the public. Hunt’s drug enterprise killed a customer. Hunt manufactured and distributed 3D printed machine gun conversion devices, capable of spraying bullets across neighborhoods. This case highlights the collaboration of law enforcement agencies and the United States Attorney’s Office to target and disrupt threats to the safety of our community. Individuals manufacturing and distributing machine gun conversion devices are a priority for the Department of Justice and will remain so,” said Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division.
“Mr. Hunt’s guilty plea today highlights the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s commitment to dismantle any criminal syndicate that uses the U.S. Mail to traffic illicit firearms or narcotics. Removing dangerous items from the U.S. Mail is one of our highest priorities as these items pose a significant risk to Postal Service employees and the customers they serve. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to aggressively pursue and investigate anyone who attempts to use the mail to encourage gun violence and ongoing drug use in our communities. I commend our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts for their shared dedication on this outcome,” said Nicholas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division.
The charge of distribution of Fentanyl, MDMA, MDA, Ketamine and LSD resulting in death provides for a sentence of at least 20 years and up to life in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charges of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl each provide a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charges of unlawful transfer and possession of a machinegun each provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Foley, DEA SAC Forget, ATF SAC Greco, USPIS Acting INC Bucciarelli, New Bedford Police Chief Jason Thody and Fairhaven Police Chief Daniel Dorgan made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations in New England; the Massachusetts State Police; and the Attleboro, Fall River, Norton, Scituate and Taunton Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kunal Pasricha and J. Mackenzie Duane of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering and Identity Theft ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican man unlawfully residing in Lawrence has pleaded guilty to money laundering, false use of a Social Security number and aggravated identity theft.
Juan Carlos Lugo Gonzalez, a/k/a “Josue Cabrera,” 45, pleaded guilty on Dec. 16, 2025 to one count of money laundering, one count of false use of a Social Security number and one count of aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for March 26, 2026. Lugo Gonzalez was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025. The defendant is subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of any sentence imposed.
Beginning at least as early as 2020, an investigation began into Lugo Gonzalez and others for laundering proceeds of drug trafficking. In August 2023, following a series of communications with undercover law enforcement, Lugo Gonzalez arranged and carried out the delivery of approximately $109,715 in drug proceeds to an undercover agent in Lawrence. During the exchange, Lugo Gonzalez confirmed his identity using a prearranged token and discussed his involvement in trafficking multiple drugs – claiming control over drug activity in the Lawrence area.
Additionally, in June 2023, Lugo Gonzalez used a Social Security number assigned to another individual to apply for and obtain a Massachusetts ID.
The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount of laundered funds, whichever is greater. The charge of misuse of a Social Security number provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, two years of supervised release and a fine of $25,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory two-year sentence in prison to be served consecutively to a sentence imposed, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea E. Porter and John O. Wray of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Dominican National Indicted for Emergency Rental Assistance COVID-19 Relief Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national lawfully residing in Worcester has been indicted for using other peoples’ identities – including a deceased individual – to fraudulently obtain $137,100 in emergency rental assistance funds intended to provide housing assistance for individuals unable to pay rent due to financial hardship related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Felix Mercedes-Castillo, 35, was indicted on five counts of theft of government money and three counts of aggravated identity theft. The defendant is currently serving a state prison sentence for unrelated offenses and will appear in federal court in Worcester at a later date.
In 2021, Congress established the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) to provide financial assistance to eligible low-income households to cover the costs of rent and rental arrears during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to court records, between October 2021 and August 2022, Mercedes-Castillo allegedly enriched himself by engaging in a scheme to fraudulently obtain ERAP funds. Specifically, it is alleged that Mercedes-Castillo used the identities of other individuals to apply for ERAP funding. In the applications, Mercedes-Castillo allegedly claimed that the applicants were landlords and tenants of rental properties in Massachusetts, and that the applicants were in need of ERAP funds, when in fact the applicants were neither landlords nor tenants, nor in need of ERAP funding. Mercedes-Castillo allegedly included in the ERAP applications, copies of the applicants’ identifying records, including social security cards.
According to the indictment, one of the individuals whom Mercedes-Castillo falsely claimed was a landlord and who was owed rent, was a person who had been deceased for more than a year. Allegedly, as a result of the misrepresentations in the ERAP applications, ERAP checks were issued and made payable to the applicants, and Mercedes-Castillo collected the checks in the mail and retained the funds.
The charge of theft of government money provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, forfeiture and restitution. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory two-year sentence in prison to be served consecutive to any sentence imposed, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Massachusetts Inspector General Jeffrey S. Shapiro made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan D. O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus and https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/webform/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Charlton Woman Charged with Bank FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Charlton woman was arrested today for scheming to fraudulently obtain Social Security benefits and pension payments.
Gina M. Cummings, 60, was charged with one count of bank fraud. Cummings was released on conditions following an initial appearance today before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Jennifer C. Boal.
According to the charging documents, from January 2020 through July 2025, Cummings fraudulently obtained approximately $111,853 in Social Security benefits, private pension payments and COVID Economic Impact Payments. Cummings is alleged to have had access to the checkbook of a Social Security beneficiary and pensioner who died in August 2019. She allegedly failed to report the beneficiary’s death to the Social Security Administration, the pension plan, or the bank where the funds were deposited. Instead, Cummings allegedly accessed the improperly paid funds by forging the deceased beneficiary’s name on 84 checks and regularly depleted the account funds through recurring bill payments.
The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Byfield Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Byfield man pleaded guilty today to his role in a conspiracy to distribute crystal methamphetamine.
James Adams, a/k/a “Jimmy,” 43, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor, IV scheduled sentencing for March 20, 2026.
Adams was one of four individuals charged in connection with a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking ring operating in Eastern Massachusetts by members and associates of the Unknown Bikers Motorcycle Club.
In approximately October 2023, law enforcement received information about drug trafficking activities of a large-scale methamphetamine supplier in the Eastern Massachusetts area. Over the next several months, investigators identified Adams as a drug trafficker who distributed methamphetamine to customers throughout Eastern Massachusetts. Investigators also conducted controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Adams, as well as from his co-conspirators James Snow of Tewksbury, Danielle Steenbruggen of Peabody and Daniel Loughman of Wakefield. Approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine and four firearms were seized throughout the investigation from controlled purchases, motor vehicle stops and search warrants.
Adams is the fourth defendant to plead guilty in the case. Steenbruggen pleaded guilty in August 2025 and, in November 2025, was sentenced to 93 months in prison. Snow pleaded guilty on Dec. 1, 2025 and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 5, 2026. Loughman pleaded guilty on Dec. 2, 2025 and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 10, 2026.
The charges of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England; Nicholas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Chief Steven A. Skory of the Wakefield Police Department made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Newbury, Newburyport, Haverhill and Peabody Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
Veterans Affairs Nursing Assistant Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining PPP LoanRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Veterans Affairs Nursing Assistant has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to frequently obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan.
Wigenie Francois, 44, of Brockton, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud on Dec. 11, 2025. U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for March 11, 2026. Francois was charged in October 2025.
In April 2021, Francois submitted an application seeking a PPP loan. In the application, Francois made false claims regarding gross income purportedly earned from a sole proprietorship. To support these false claims, Francois attached fraudulent tax documents as part of the application. The PPP loan application was approved and Francois received $20,833. Francois used that money on personal expenses. However, in March 2024, Francois submitted a loan forgiveness application that falsely claimed the entire $20,833 was spent on payroll. Based on the misrepresentation, the entire loan was forgiven.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Sullivan of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
H Block Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A member of the violent Boston-based gang, H-Block, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to drug conspiracy charges.
Eric Celestino, 31, of Boston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for March 18, 2026.
Celestino was one of 10 H-Block gang members and associates charged in August 2024 following a multi-year investigation beginning in 2021 in response to an uptick in gang-related drug trafficking, shootings and violence. According to court documents, over 500 grams of cocaine, cocaine base (crack cocaine) and fentanyl, as well as over 20,000 doses of drug-laced paper were seized during the investigation.
Since the investigation began in 2021, law enforcement attributed 12 incidents of gunfire to growing tensions involving H Block gang associates. Six H Block members and associates were arrested and charged with drug dealing in Boston and surrounding communities. Four additional H Block members and associates were already in state custody at the time of the arrests. Additional drugs and four firearms were seized during the subsequent arrests.
From 2022 through 2023, Celestino, a long-time H Block gang member, participated in a conspiracy to distribute various controlled substances, in particular, powdered cocaine and cocaine base (crack). According to court filings, Celestino was a supplier of cocaine to his co-conspirators, who engaged in various drug deals with an undercover officer.
According to the charging documents, the H Block Street Gang is one of the most feared and influential city-wide gangs in Boston. Originally formed in the 1980s as the Humboldt Raiders in the Roxbury section of Boston, the gang re-emerged in the 2000s as H Block. Current members of H Block have a history of violent confrontation with law enforcement, including an incident in 2015 when a member shot a Boston Police officer at point blank range without warning or provocation.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Celestino is the eighth defendant to plead guilty in the case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Randy Maloney of the U.S. Secret Service Boston Field Office; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the Depart of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. The investigation was supported by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office; Massachusetts Department of Corrections; and the Braintree, Quincy, Randolph, and Watertown Police Departments. Assistant United States Attorney John T. Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit and Jeremy Franker of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime & Racketeering Section are prosecuting the cases.This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Massachusetts Men Charged with Large-Scale SNAP Benefits TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two men have been arrested and charged in an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars’ worth of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits through small retail stores they operated in Boston. Defendants’ monthly SNAP redemptions allegedly ranged from $100,000 - $500,000 per month, outpacing full-service supermarkets. Defendants also allegedly sold donated food product intended for food-insecure children overseas.
Antonio Bonheur, 74, of Mattapan and Saul Alisme, 21, of Hyde Park, were each charged with one count of food stamp fraud. The defendants were arrested this morning and will appear in federal court in Boston at 3:15 p.m. today.
Bonheur owned Jesula Variety Store and Alisme owned Saul Mache Mixe Store, both of which operated as small variety stores within a single street-facing storefront in the Mattapan neighborhood of Boston. Jesula Variety Store occupied about 150 square feet. Saul Mache Mixe Store occupied about 500 square feet.
According to the charging documents, despite their limited size, inventory and food offerings, both stores allegedly exhibited extraordinarily high SNAP redemption volumes, far beyond what could reasonably be supported by legitimate food sales. Specifically, transaction data allegedly revealed that the stores had exceptionally large and anomalous average monthly SNAP redemption rates when compared to similarly situated businesses of the same size, type and location. It is alleged that the defendants’ monthly SNAP redemptions for Jesula Variety Store regularly exceeded $100,000 – with many months exceeding $300,000 and, at times, $500,000. By comparison, one full-service supermarket in the same area redeems approximately $82,000 per month in SNAP benefits.
Additionally, transaction-level data showed that only approximately 10%of SNAP transactions were for amounts under $40, while more than 70% of transactions exceeded $95. Such transaction patterns are typically associated with large supermarkets, not small variety stores with limited food inventory.
During undercover operations conducted at both businesses over the course of the investigation, SNAP benefits were allegedly trafficked for cash on four occasions from Jesula Variety Store and on two occasions from Saul Mache Mixe Store. In each instance, the defendants themselves allegedly worked the cash registers and personally exchanged SNAP benefits for cash. Both stores were also allegedly observed selling liquor in exchange for SNAP benefits.
It is further alleged that both stores sold MannaPack meals, a donated food product manufactured by the nonprofit Feed My Starving Children. These meals are paid for entirely by charitable donations intended for shipment and distribution to food-insecure children overseas and are never authorized for retail sale. The defendants allegedly sold donated MannaPack meals in their stores for approximately $8 per package, profiting from food intended for humanitarian relief.
According to the charging documents, because both stores carried little legitimate food inventory and generated minimal lawful revenue, the defendants allegedly relied almost entirely on USDA-funded SNAP redemptions as their source of income. To conceal the nature and source of these funds, the defendants allegedly maintained numerous secondary bank accounts through which SNAP proceeds were transferred, withdrawn as cash and redeposited to create the appearance of legitimate business activity while obscuring the true source of funds.
The charge of food stamp fraud greater than $100 provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations – Northeast Region; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Former TSA Security Officer Charged with Fraudulently Obtaining Pandemic Unemployment AssistanceRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man has been charged with fraudulently obtaining tens of thousands of dollars in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) while employed as a TSA Security Officer full-time.
Ismael Rosado Jr., 40, was charged with one count of wire fraud. The defendant will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging documents, Rosado was employed full-time as a TSA Security Officer at Boston Logan International Airport from November 2018 through October 2021. It is alleged that, between May 2020 and September 2021, Rosado submitted an application seeking PUA and weekly certifications claiming he was unemployed and making no income. Based on the misrepresentations in the application and weekly certifications, Rosado received $47,526 in unemployment benefits to which he was not entitled.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Joseph V. Cuffari, Ph.D., Inspector General, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Sullivan of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Member of the Lynn Chapter of the Trinitarios Pleads Guilty to Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A member of the Lynn Chapter of the Trinitarios pleaded guilty today to racketeering charges, including his participation in two murders and one attempted murder.
James Jimenez, 25, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy. U.S. Senior District Court Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for March 24, 2026. Jimenez was arrested and charged in February 2025, and was alleged to have participated in the murders of Jandriel Heredia and Abraham Diaz in September 2023.
The Trinitarios is a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Trinitarios adhere to a Magna Carta, employ an internal hierarchy to organize and execute violence and undertake extensive efforts to maintain the secrecy of the organization and its members.
In February 2025, federal racketeering charges were unsealed against 22 leaders and members of the Trinitarios. The charges were the result of a multi jurisdictional investigation that began in the aftermath of four murders and a series of attempted murders and shootings that took place in Lynn in 2023, allegedly committed by the Trinitarios criminal enterprise and its members. In March 2025, a Lynn member of the Trinitarios was sentenced to 10 years in prison. In June 2025, two members of the Trinitarios were charged with kidnapping a drug supplier. In July 2025, the leader of the Lynn Chapter was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Jimenez is the eighth defendant to plead guilty.
During today’s court proceeding, Jimenez admitted to his membership in the gang and participation in two shootings where the Trinitarios intended to kill rival gang members. The first incident took place in August 2023 following the death of a Trinitario member who was believed to have been killed by a rival gang member. Jimenez and five other Trinitarios set out to ambush and kill rival gang members who were at a music studio in Lynn.
Jimenez also admitted to his participation in the Sept. 2, 2023 murders of Jandriel Heredia and Abraham Diaz. Jimenez admitted to meeting with other Trinitario members prior to the shooting and learning about the plan to kill a rival gang member who the Trinitarios believed was present at a party on Essex Street in Lynn. Jimenez admitted to driving by the party a number of times, and relaying information about what he observed to the other Trinitarios knowing that the information would be used to further their plan to murder rival gang members. Later that night, members of the Trinitarios drove by the party and discharged numerous rounds at the people gathered outside celebrating a recent graduation. Seven people were shot during this incident, and Abraham Diaz and Jandriel Heredia later died from the gunshot wounds they sustained. After the shooting, Jimenez also worked with other Trinitarios and assisted in concealing and destroying evidence.
The charge of conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity (also known as “racketeering conspiracy” or “RICO conspiracy”) provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Ted Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble; and Lynn Police Chief Christopher P. Reddy made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations 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 and Project Safe Neighborhood.Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Agrees to Pay $15M to Settle Fraud Allegations Related to Scientific Research GrantsRead the Press Release
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Inc. (Dana-Farber) has agreed to pay $15,000,000 to resolve allegations that, between 2014 and 2024, it violated the False Claims Act by making materially false statements and certifications related to National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grants.
Dana-Farber is a cancer treatment and research center headquartered in Boston, with locations across Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Dana-Farber receives research grant funding from federal government agencies, including NIH.
“NIH has limited resources to support important research being conducted at institutions across the country,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement demonstrates that the Department of Justice will pursue grantees that undermine the integrity of federal funding decisions by failing to use research funds appropriately or by failing to abide by grant awards’ terms and conditions.”
“There is no place in scientific research, particularly cancer research, for fraud, waste and abuse, and my office will continue to investigate institutions, no matter how prestigious, to ensure that research data is not tainted and that taxpayer funds are used appropriately,” said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley for the District of Massachusetts. “Patients, and the medical community, rely on the important research conducted by institutions like Dana-Farber. It is critical, to say the least, that all research findings are accurately reported,”
“The alleged falsification of research data and improper use of federal funds represents a serious breach of public trust and threatens the rigorous standards that uphold the credibility of the scientific process,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Individuals who violate federal grant-making rules not only risk legal consequences but also compromise the stewardship of taxpayer resources. HHS-OIG remains firmly committed to ensuring accountability and safeguarding the integrity of Department programs.”
As part of the settlement, Dana-Farber admitted that its researchers used funds from six NIH grants to conduct research that resulted in 14 publications in scientific journals containing misrepresented and/or duplicated images and data. The publications reused images to represent different experimental conditions; duplicated images to represent different testing conditions, mice, and/or timepoints; or rotated, magnified, or stretched images. Further, Dana-Farber admitted that a supervising researcher failed to exercise sufficient oversight over these researchers, and that Dana-Farber spent funds from those six NIH grants that were unallowable. As part of the settlement, Dana-Farber also admitted that another researcher received four NIH grants after submitting grant applications that discussed a journal article authored by the researcher but did not disclose that certain images and data in that article were misrepresented and/or duplicated. The United States contends that Dana-Farber caused the submission of false claims to NIH by falsely certifying compliance with grant terms and conditions, spending grant funds on unallowable expenses, and obtaining grants through false and misleading statements.
Dana-Farber cooperated with the government in this matter and received credit under the Department’s guidelines for taking disclosure, cooperation, and remediation into account in False Claims Act cases. Among other actions, Dana-Farber summarized voluminous materials relevant to the government’s investigation, voluntarily disclosed additional allegations of research misconduct relevant to the government’s investigation, voluntarily produced materials without a subpoena, sought to resolve this matter expeditiously, accepted responsibility for its conduct, and implemented remedial measures.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Sholto David. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. David will receive $2,625,000 under today’s settlement. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Sholto David v. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc., No. 2:24-cv-11059-WGY (D. Mass.).
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, with assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The matter was handled by Trial Attorney Megan Engel of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch (Fraud Section) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olivia Benjamin and Brian LaMacchia for the District of Massachusetts.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Agrees to Pay $15 Million to Settle Fraud Allegations Related to Scientific Research GrantsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc. (Dana-Farber) has agreed to pay $15 million to resolve allegations that, between 2014 and 2024, it made materially false statements and certifications related to National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grants. Specifically, Dana-Farber admitted that its researchers mispresented data and images that resulted in misinformation about research being published in 14 scientific journal articles.
As part of the settlement, Dana-Farber admitted that publications reused images to represent different experimental conditions; duplicated images to represent different testing conditions, mice, and/or timepoints; or rotated, magnified, or stretched images. Further, Dana-Farber admitted that a supervising researcher failed to exercise sufficient oversight over the researchers responsible for these publications, and that Dana-Farber spent funds from six NIH grants for these publications that were unallowable. As part of the settlement, Dana-Farber also admitted that another researcher received four NIH grants after submitting grant applications that discussed a journal article authored by the researcher, but did not disclose that certain images and data in that article were misrepresented and/or duplicated. The United States contends that Dana-Farber caused the submission of false claims to NIH by falsely certifying compliance with grant terms and conditions, spending grants funds on unallowable expenses, and obtaining grants through false and misleading statements.
“There is no place in scientific research, particularly cancer research, for fraud, waste and abuse, and my office will continue to investigate institutions, no matter how prestigious, to ensure that research data is not tainted and that taxpayer funds are used appropriately. Patients, and the medical community, rely on the important research conducted by institutions like Dana-Farber. It is critical, to say the least, that all research findings are accurately reported,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley.
“NIH has limited resources to support important research being conducted at institutions across the country,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement demonstrates that the Department of Justice will pursue grantees that undermine the integrity of federal funding decisions by failing to use research funds appropriately or by failing to abide by grant awards’ terms and conditions.”
“The alleged falsification of research data and improper use of federal funds represents a serious breach of public trust and threatens the rigorous standards that uphold the credibility of the scientific process,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Individuals who violate federal grant-making rules not only risk legal consequences but also compromise the stewardship of taxpayer resources. HHS-OIG remains firmly committed to ensuring accountability and safeguarding the integrity of Department programs.”
Dana-Farber is a cancer treatment and research center headquartered in Boston, with locations across Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Dana-Farber receives research grant funding from federal government agencies, including NIH. Dana-Farber cooperated with the government in this matter and received credit under the Department’s guidelines for taking disclosure, cooperation, and remediation into account in False Claims Act cases.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The relator will receive $2,625,000 under today’s settlement. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Sholto David v. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc., No. 2:24-cv-11059-WGY (D. Mass.).
U.S. Attorney Foley; AAG Shumate; and AIG Globerman made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olivia Benjamin and Brian LaMacchia, Chief of the Affirmative Litigation Unit, handled the matter, along with Trial Attorney Megan Engel of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch (Fraud Section).
Medical Software Company Agrees to Pay $500,000 to Resolve Allegations of Causing Medically Unnecessary Breast Cancer Screening ClaimsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – PenRad Technologies, Inc. (PenRad), a software company headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., has agreed to pay $529,069 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by causing health care providers to bill Medicare and MassHealth for medically unnecessary breast cancer screenings.
PenRad’s software allowed health care providers to use the Tyrer-Cusick risk calculator to assess patients’ breast cancer risk. The Tyrer-Cusick model is a publicly available risk-assessment tool that health care providers use to calculate patients’ risk of developing breast cancer and to make treatment decisions. The risk calculator, which was developed by researchers unaffiliated with PenRad, allows a user the option of either calculating a patient’s risk score by enabling or disabling “competing mortality.” If enabled, competing mortality considers the risk that the patient will die from something other than breast cancer. The Tyrer-Cusick documentation recommended that, in a clinical setting, competing mortality be enabled.
At the time it released its Series 7 software, PenRad was aware that the Tyrer-Cusick documentation recommended enabling competing mortality in clinical settings, and internally, PenRad recommended to employees the enabling of competing mortality. However, if PenRad customers upgraded to Series 7 in subsequent years and added the Tyrer-Cusick risk calculator function, PenRad sometimes installed the Tyrer-Cusick risk calculator with competing mortality disabled for that customer and did not consistently communicate to its customers when enabling the Tyrer-Cusick risk calculator that competing mortality should be enabled. At least one PenRad customer unknowingly using the calculator with competing mortality disabled led to some patients receiving elevated risk scores, which caused those patients to receive medically unnecessary Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRIs). Healthcare providers billed some of those medically unnecessary MRIs to Medicare and MassHealth.
As part of the settlement, PenRad admitted, acknowledged, and accepted responsibility for the facts supporting the settlement. The settlement credits PenRad for cooperation under the Department of Justice’s Guidelines for Taking Voluntary Disclosure, Cooperation and Remediation into Account in False Claims Act Matters.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The relator will receive a portion of today’s settlement. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Community Health Programs, Inc. v. PenRad Technologies, Inc., No. 22-cv-10680-MGM (D. Mass.).
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. LaMacchia, Chief of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit, handled the matter, along with Assistant Attorney General Scott Grannemann, Medicaid Fraud Division at the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General.
Southwick Company Agrees to Pay $2 Million to Resolve Allegations of PPP Loan FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Kokusai Denki Electric America, Inc., formerly known as Hitachi Kokusai Electric Comark, LLC (Comark), a company headquartered in Southwick, Mass., has agreed to pay $2,092,371 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for which it was not eligible.
Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) on March 29, 2020, to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain approved expenses through the PPP. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) administered the PPP in two rounds – the second began in early 2021. To be eligible for a second-round loan, an entity, among other things, had to have fewer than 300 employees, including affiliates’ employees.
As part of the settlement, Comark admitted that, in January 2021, it received a $1,342,232 second round PPP loan. Comark certified that it was eligible for the loan under the PPP regulations in effect at the time of the application and represented that it had 67 employees, including affiliates’ employees. Comark later sought and received forgiveness from SBA of the full amount of that loan. When it applied for the loan and when it applied for forgiveness, Comark did not qualify for the loan because it had more than 300 employees, when considering employees of its affiliates. Prior to 2021 and through 2022, Comark was a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc., a company based in Tokyo. Between 2021 and through 2022, Kokusai had more than 300 employees, not including Comark’s employees.
The settlement credits Comark for cooperation under the Department of Justice’s Guidelines for Taking Voluntary Disclosure, Cooperation and Remediation into Account in False Claims Act Matters.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and the U.S. Small Business Administration made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. LaMacchia, Chief of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit handled the matter.
Southbridge Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Cocaine Conspiracy and Possession of a MachinegunRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Southbridge man pleaded guilty yesterday to his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, including possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possessing a machinegun.
Miguel Lopez, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine; one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances; and one count of unlawful possession of a machine gun. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for March 11, 2026. Lopez was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024.
From in or about April 2023 through in or about April 2024, Lopez conspired with others to distribute cocaine shipped from Puerto Rico to Massachusetts. On at least four different occasions during that period, Lopez was observed collecting packages suspected of containing controlled substances. On or about Jan. 29, 2024, a package addressed to Lopez was seized and found one kilogram of cocaine hidden inside. During an April 2024 search of Lopez’s residence, approximately two kilograms of cocaine was found hidden inside a package that had been delivered earlier that day. A Glock pistol with a machinegun conversion device attached to the back along with ammunition, a 30-round magazine and a 50-round drum magazine were also found at Lopez’s residence.
The charge of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The unlawful possession of a machinegun provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Nicholas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin Brown is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.New York Developer Charged with Defrauding Pandemic Relief Loan Programs of More Than $8 MillionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New York real estate developer and investor has been charged in connection with a scheme to defraud pandemic relief programs in 2020 and 2021.
David Ebrahimzadeh, 45, of New York City, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston on one count of bank fraud, two counts of wire fraud affecting a financial institution, one count of wire fraud and two counts of procuring a false tax return. The defendant was arrested and will make his initial appearance in federal court in Massachusetts later today.
According to the charging documents, Ebrahimzadeh operated Corniche Capital, LLC as a holding company for various limited liability companies that he used to buy and sell commercial real estate and to lease out properties to commercial tenants. Under Small Business Administration rules, such businesses were allegedly ineligible for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans, as well as for loans funded by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston as part of the Main Street Lending Program.
Soon after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ebrahimzadeh allegedly applied for and received loans through each of these programs. It is alleged that Ebrahimzadeh’s loan applications were riddled with false and fraudulent information, including false revenue and payroll figures. Ebrahimzadeh also allegedly provided false financial information about his debts and liabilities to lenders and applied for pandemic relief loans for a number of companies that had been dissolved years before the pandemic. It is further alleged that Ebrahimzadeh illegally spent loan proceeds on luxury items, on personal and business debt and a personal home on Long Island. It is further alleged that, having succeeded in buying a personal home, he and a family member obtained another pandemic relief loan to buy a second Long Island home.
In 2021, it is alleged that Ebrahimzadeh also fraudulently applied for forgiveness of a PPP loan by falsely claiming that he had paid employees in 2020. As part of that alleged fraud, Ebrahimzadeh filed tax returns that falsely claimed expense deductions in 2019 and about $600,000 in wage expenses in 2020.
In total, Ebrahimzadeh allegedly obtained approximately $8.5 million in loans he was not entitled to.
The charges of bank fraud and wire fraud affecting a financial institution each provide for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of procuring a false tax return provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Brian Tucker, Special Agent in Charge, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Office of Inspector General, Eastern Region; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division; and Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kriss Basil and Elianna Nuzum of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Med Spa Owner Agrees to Plead Guilty to Performing Illegal Injections Using Unapproved Prescription DrugsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Quincy man has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty to allegedly injecting clients of his business, Rodrigo Beauty Inc., with unapproved botulinum toxin obtained from illegitimate sources outside the United States, resulting in numerous severe cases of botulism.
Rodrigo de Medeiros Siqueira, 33, was charged and agreed to plead guilty to one count of misbranding of a drug after shipment in interstate commerce with the intent to defraud or mislead. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court. Medeiros Siqueira was arrested and charged by complaint in October 2025.
According to the charging documents, beginning in or around August 2022, Medeiros Siqueira offered various cosmetic injection procedures, including the injection of botulinum toxin prescription drugs, to clients of Rodrigo Beauty, despite not being licensed to prescribe, dispense, or administer prescription drugs or perform injections. It is alleged that Medeiros Siqueira falsely represented to clients that he was a licensed medical professional authorized to perform injections and made false statements to clients regarding the identity and source of the botulinum toxin products he was using for their injection procedures. Beginning in or around late May 2025, numerous Rodrigo Beauty clients were diagnosed with botulism, allegedly as a result of injections Medeiros Siqueira performed using unapproved botulinum toxin.
Botulism is a rare and dangerous illness that can result from, among other things, the injection of botulinum toxin. Iatrogenic botulism is caused by botulinum toxin circulating in the blood and spreading beyond the injection site, potentially resulting in life-threatening symptoms, including blurred or double vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, and/or difficulty swallowing or breathing. While botulinum toxin is generally safe when administered by trained medical professionals, improper dosing, administration technique, or use of non-FDA-approved products can result in severe cases of botulism.
The charge of misbranding of a drug after shipment in interstate commerce with the intent to defraud or mislead provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
If you or a family member believe you received services involving illegal injections and/or unapproved drugs or devices from Medeiros Siqueira or Rodrigo Beauty, please complete the questionnaire located on the FDA’s website at: https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/criminal-investigations/oci-vw-assistance-rodrigo-beauty. Information about the status of the case is located on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/victim-and-witness-assistance-program/united-states-v-rodrigo-de-medeiros-siqueira.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Fernando McMillan, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie A. Wright of the Health Care Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Technology Company Executives Charged with Defrauding Boston Private Equity Firm of $20 MillionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The former Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President of Mozaic Payment System, Inc. have been charged with defrauding a Boston-based investment firm out of $20 million in equity funding.
Marcus Cobb, 48, and Rachel Knepp, 39, both of Nashville, Tenn., have been charged with wire fraud conspiracy. Cobb was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston on Nov. 20, 2025 and was arrested on Dec. 8, 2025 in Chicago. He will appear in federal court in Boston on Jan. 8, 2026. Knepp was previously charged by an Information and, on Nov. 19, 2025, pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 19, 2026.
According to the charging documents, Mozaic Payment System was a technology company that purported to have an application that processed royalty payments for performers, recording labels and music distributors. Mozaic’s application did not work, however, and generated no revenue. Nevertheless, in the late spring of 2023, Cobb and Knepp allegedly engaged a Boston-based private equity firm to fund the business, which they represented to be growing and profitable. During due diligence by the Boston firm, Cobb and Knepp allegedly fabricated Mozaic bank and financial statements that falsely showed growing revenue and increasing cash on hand. It is alleged that based on these false representations, Cobb and Knepp obtained $20 million in funding from the investment firm in September 2023. Thereafter, to lull the investor, it is alleged that Cobb and Knepp regularly provided additional false financial documents that showed increasing revenue, when, in fact, Mozaic was burning through its cash. By February 2025, the investor discovered the alleged fraud and Mozaic collapsed.
The charge of wire fraud conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, or twice the monetary gain or loss, whichever is more, restitution and forfeiture. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kriss Basil and Elianna Nuzum of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Former New York Doctor Sentenced for Receiving KickbacksRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New York doctor has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for receiving kickbacks in exchange for ordering medically unnecessary brain scans.
Dr. Kenneth Fishberger, 76, of East Setauket, N.Y. was sentenced on Dec. 9, 2025 by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to two years of supervised release, one year of which will be served in home confinement with location monitoring. He also was ordered to pay a fine of $50,000, forfeiture in the amount of $48,000 and restitution of $342,876. In November 2024, Fishberger pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
Fishberger, an internist in Long Island, N.Y., was a licensed medical doctor in the State of New York for approximately 47 years. From approximately June 2013 through December 2019, Fishberger conspired with others, including a principal for a mobile medical diagnostics company that performed transcranial doppler (TCD) scans, to order hundreds of medically unnecessary TCD scans in exchange for kickbacks. TCD scans are brain scans that measure blood flow in parts of the brain. Fishberger and his alleged co-conspirators used false diagnoses to order the unnecessary brain scans, for which a co-conspirator would submit claims to Medicare and other insurance companies, including private insurance companies, on behalf of the medical diagnostic company for payment. In exchange, Fishberger was paid cash kickbacks of approximately $100 per test. The scheme resulted in fraudulent bills of approximately $891,978 to Medicare and private insurance companies.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division, Boston Field Office; Kelly M. Lawson, Acting Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Boston Regional Office; Nicholas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie Queenin, Chief of the Health Care Fraud Unit, prosecuted the case.