District of Massachusetts
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Dominican National Sentenced for Dealing FentanylRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Lawrence has been sentenced in federal court in Boston on drug distribution charges.
Hector Santana Guzman, a/k/a “DJ Black,” 34, was sentenced on Dec. 10, 2025 by United States District Judge Patti B. Saris to 30 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of the imposed sentence. In September 2025, Santana Guzman pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl.
During an investigation of the transnational criminal organization 18th Street Gang, Santana Guzman met with a cooperating witness on two dates in June 2024 to sell fentanyl. On June 6, 2024, Santana Guzman sold approximately 50 grams of powder fentanyl to a cooperating witness. Later, on June 25, 2024, Santana Guzman again sold approximately 70 grams of powder fentanyl.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations; Suffolk County and Middlesex County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Boston, Chelsea, Everett, Falmouth, Lynn, Medford, Nantucket and Revere Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak III of the Organized Crime & Gang 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.
Two Massachusetts Men Arrested for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two men have 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, of Roslindale, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Burden was arrested this morning and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, was ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for Dec. 17, 2025. Co-defendant, Kerry Charlotin, a/k/a “KG,” 36, of Rockland, was also arrested this morning in South Carolina. Charlotin was ordered detained and 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, in June 2025, law enforcement began an investigation into the alleged drug trafficking activities conducted by Burden and Charlotin. The investigation allegedly revealed that the defendants were actively selling fentanyl in the greater Boston area. On two separate dates in October and December 2025, Burden and Charlotin allegedly sold or arranged the sale of fentanyl to undercover law enforcement during controlled purchases. It is further alleged that one firearm was found in Burden’s Roslindale 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 today. 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 (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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.
Former Boston Teacher Pleads Guilty to Child ExploitationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former science teacher at Josiah Quincy Upper School in Boston pleaded guilty today to coercing or enticing at least one underage female to engage in sexual conversations online and requesting she produce and send child sexual abuse material (CSAM) of herself. Defendant, who also previously worked at the Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter Public School in Hyde Park and the Brookline Public Schools, possessed CSAM depicting rape of both female and male minors, ranging in age from approximately five to 17 years old.
John Magee Gavin, 35, of Brookline, pleaded guilty to one count of coercion and enticement of a minor; one count of receipt of child pornography; and one count of possession of child pornography. U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for March 12, 2026. Gavin was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2025, and remains in federal custody.
According to court filings, Gavin is a former teacher at the Josiah Quincy Upper School in Boston. Prior to that, he was a 6th grade teacher at the Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter Public School in Hyde Park and was a paraprofessional with the Brookline Public Schools.
In January 2025, Gavin was identified as the owner of a Discord account who messaged at least 20 underage females between the ages of 12 and 17 years old located throughout the country, including Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, West Virginia, North Carolina and Florida, as well as the United Kingdom and Canada. In these chats, Gavin disclosed that he was a teacher, engaged in sexual conversations and often asked the minors to send him pictures of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct – knowing that the children were underaged. He was arrested by local authorities in February 2025 and charged in Brookline District Court with enticing a child under 16, possession of child pornography and other offenses.
A forensic review of evidence seized from Gavin’s Brookline residence revealed approximately 147 files (94 images and 53 videos) on his iPhone depicting CSAM. The CSAM depicted rape of both female and male minors, ranging in age from approximately five to 17 years old.
Further analysis of Gavin’s Discord account identified numerous chats with underage females in which he engaged in online masturbation sessions with the minors; solicitated images from and exchanged images with the minors; and engaged in sexualized conversations with the minors while he was at school.
The chats also included conversations in which Gavin expressed his sexual interest in certain students at Josiah Quincy. In one conversation, Gavin discussed his sexual interest in a freshman student at the school where he was employed as a teacher and fantasied about having sex with her.
All victims involved in this matter have been identified and their families have been contacted by law enforcement.
The charge of coercion and enticement of a minor provides for a sentence of no less than 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 $250,000. The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of no less than five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least 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 and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Brookline Police Department; the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations; and the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of the Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Filipino Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Exploiting and Sex Trafficking ChildrenRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Filipino national living in Baltimore, Md., pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to sexually exploiting and conspiring to sex traffic minor children.
Christopher Allan Tisoy, 27, a Filipino national residing in Baltimore, Md., pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of children (and attempt and conspiracy) and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for May 6, 2026.
Tisoy was arrested and charged in May 2025 along with Joshua DeWitte, a former local music teacher. The two were subsequently charged by an Information and indictment, respectively, in October 2025. Both defendants remain in federal custody.
According to the charging documents, at the time of the alleged conduct, DeWitte was a music teacher at a local school in Massachusetts. Tisoy, a citizen of the Philippines who lawfully entered the United States in September 2024 on a H-1B Visa, was employed as a medical technologist at the Sinai Hospital of Baltimore.
In December 2024, DeWitte was allegedly identified as the owner of a Snapchat account that uploaded child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting the abuse of a boy who appears to be between approximately eight and 10 years old. Snapchat records showed that, in September 2024, DeWitte allegedly requested nude pictures from multiple purported minors; sent pictures of his genitals to the purported minors; and discussed previous and potential in-person meetups for sexual relations with minors. Additionally, it is further alleged that DeWitte paid, and offered to pay, another Snapchat user to obtain and produce child pornography and to recruit minor boys for himself.
Based on that information, DeWitte was arrested and charged in Cambridge District Court with six counts of disseminating obscene material to a child, one count of distribution of material depicting a child in a sexual act and one count of possession of child pornography. He was later released on conditions.
According to the charging documents, a Telegram conversation between DeWitte and Tisoy was located on DeWitte’s phone, in which they arranged for the production of videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minor boys in the Philippines. Specifically, it is alleged that in the conversations, DeWitte and Tisoy negotiated the terms of creating sexually explicit videos involving minors, including which minors should be involved; which sex acts the minors should perform; who should film, including whether a third party or one of the minors themselves should film; what angles should be filmed; and how much DeWitte should pay Tisoy for each video. The negotiation allegedly incorporated the sexual preferences of both DeWitte and Tisoy, with both agreeing on what they would each find sexually gratifying. Tisoy then relayed instructions to the minor victims to create a video.
DeWitte allegedly paid Tisoy for each video Tisoy produced and sent. Between July 3, 2023 and Dec. 27, 2024, DeWitte allegedly sent 87 PayPal payments to Tisoy, in amounts ranging from $27 to $958, to film the sexual exploitation of minors in the Philippines – totaling approximately $23,752.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274 or contact [email protected].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. The charge of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of distribution of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime 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 Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Cambridge Police Department; HSI-Baltimore; the Maryland Department of State Police; and the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra Gonzalez Sanchez and Anne Paruti of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
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.
Fall River Woman Sentenced to Nearly Six Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Fall River woman was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for her role in a sex trafficking conspiracy.
Cory Primo, 43, of Fall River, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Angel Kelley to 70 months in prison and five years of supervised release. Primo was also ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution to the three victims in this matter. In August 2025, Primo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. She was among six individuals charged in July 2024.
From in and around April 2023 until August 2023, Primo conspired with others to traffic a Massachusetts adult woman and two minors. Primo indicated that she started helping her co-defendant sell the victims because she was “broke.” Primo sent pictures of the victims to sex buyers, communicated with sex buyers to schedule commercial sex acts and negotiated prices. Primo joked about her role in the conspiracy, referring to it as like “playing a game of Tetris.” She also encouraged another co-defendant to be violent toward the victims and expressed indifference to what the victims had to endure, as long as they continued to make money.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Somerset Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Riley, Chief of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit and Trial Attorney Francisco Zornosa of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Everett Man Pleads Guilty to Selling FirearmsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Everett man pleaded guilty today to trafficking more than half a dozen firearms, including AM-15 rifles.
Joao Victor Da Silva Soares, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of dealing firearms without a license and one count of conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing in firearms without a license. U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun scheduled sentencing for April 1, 2026. Da Silva Soares was charged by criminal complaint in January 2025 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2025.
Between August and September 2024, Da Silva Soares supplied firearms for sale in Eastern Massachusetts. Specifically, on Aug. 26, 2024, Da Silva Soares delivered two AM-15 rifles and sold them for $6,000 in a parking lot in Malden. On Sept. 11, 2024, Da Silva Soares participated in another sale involving a total of five firearms (consisting of rifles, pistols and a shotgun) outside a residence in Milford.
The charges of conspiracy and engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license 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; Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Malden and Milford Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Reynolds of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
Dorchester Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Felon in Possession of Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dorchester man pleaded guilty yesterday to unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.
Robert Campbell, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Jan. 13, 2027. Campbell was charged in January 2025 and later indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025.
On Jan. 28, 2025, in Dorchester, Campbell possessed a Glock 32, .357 caliber handgun, 14 rounds of .357 caliber ammunition, 40 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition and 75 rounds of 9mm ammunition, after having been convicted of a felony.
The charge of being a felon in possession provides for a sentence of up to 15 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 Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Grady and Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.
Canton Man Sentenced for Multi-Million-Dollar Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Canton, Mass., man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston in connection with a scheme to defraud Medicare of over $4 million by submitting claims for durable medical equipment (DME) that was medically unnecessary, not wanted by the Medicare beneficiaries and tainted by kickbacks.
Krishna Gidwani, 55, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 30 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Gidwani was also ordered to pay more than $3 million in restitution to Medicare. In August 2025, Gidwani pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
Gidwani worked with Raju Sharma, and other co-conspirators, to own and operate a DME company that paid telemarketing companies for DME orders for orthotics such as ankle, wrist, knee and back braces. Often, the Medicare beneficiaries did not need or want the braces the defendants shipped them and as further alleged, the doctors whose signatures appeared on these DME orders often did not treat these beneficiaries and did not prescribe the DME.This case is part of the Department of Justice’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown – a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and illegal drug diversion schemes that involved the submission of over $14.6 billion in intended loss and over 15 million pills of illegally diverted controlled substances. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets. The United States has seized over $245 million in cash, luxury vehicles and other assets in connection with the takedown.
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 of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren A. Graber and Sarah B. Hoefle of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.Brockton Woman Charged with Theft of Government Funds in Connection with Stolen $931,000 Tax Refund CheckRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton woman has been arrested and charged with stealing a nearly $1 million United States Treasury tax refund check.
Lana Ruel, 70, was charged with one count of theft of government funds. Ruel was arrested today and released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston.
According to the charging documents, Ruel attempted to deposit a United States Treasury tax refund check issued to a healthcare company in Brooklyn. Prior to the attempted deposit, Ruel allegedly incorporated a company in Massachusetts in the same name as Company A and then opened a bank account in the name of the victim company. After the attempted deposit, the bank froze Ruel’s account. Ruel then allegedly called the bank and said that she could “explain what the check was, where it came from, and what it’s for…”
It is further alleged that, over the past two years, Ruel created four additional companies in Massachusetts that do not appear to have a legitimate business purpose. With respect to one of those companies, Ruel allegedly opened an account at each of approximately eight different banks. Ruel also allegedly received wire transfers in some of the accounts and then wired the funds to different accounts or made cash withdrawals. The banks have closed all these accounts.
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 $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 Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; 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 Benjamin 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 to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Boston Man Indicted for Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Minor and Other Sex Trafficking CrimesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly sex trafficking three victims, including a minor, between New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
Orland Reyes, a/k/a “Snow,” 33, was charged with one count of attempted sex trafficking of a child; one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in prostitution; one count of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in prostitution; two counts of transporting an individual with intent to engage in prostitution; and two counts of coercion and enticement of an individual to engage in prostitution. The defendant was arrested in Puerto Rico on Aug. 20, 2025. Reyes made his initial appearance in Massachusetts on Dec. 9, 2025 and was ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for Dec. 18, 2025 in federal court in Worcester.
It is alleged that Reyes was the sole occupant in a vehicle that was stopped by law enforcement and that he had outstanding arrest warrants. A subsequent search of Reyes’ three cellphones allegedly revealed numerous communications detailing his sex trafficking operation.
According to the charging documents, beginning as early as June 2023, Reyes coerced and enticed women from New Hampshire to travel to Massachusetts to engage in prostitution at his direction. It is alleged that one victim was a 17-year-old minor at the time. It is further alleged that Reyes encouraged another victim to take Percocet to “help her feel better,” about engaging in prostitution at his direction and, eventually, the victim became drug dependent as a result. Reyes also allegedly transported an 18-year-old victim and her infant to his apartment in Boston and, when the victim refused to engage in prostitution at his direction, he kicked her and her infant out of his apartment.
The charges of attempted sex trafficking of a minor, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in prostitution and coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in prostitution each provide for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of transporting an individual with intent to engage in prostitution provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The charge of coercion and enticement of an individual to engage in prostitution provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. 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, and Explosives; and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip C. Cheng and Brian A. Fogerty 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 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.
South Carolina Businessman who Operated Bowling Entertainment Business in Massachusetts Charged with $1.2 Million Covid Relief FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A South Carolina businessman has been charged today in federal court in Worcester with COVID relief fraud.
David Breen, 54, of Mount Pleasant, S.C., was charged by an Information with one count of theft of government property, for allegedly misappropriating COVID-19 funds for personal use.
According to court filings, Breen allegedly spent more than $1.2 million in Economic Injury and Disaster Loan (EIDL) money that he obtained from the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) to build a home and purchase motor vehicles. Through the EIDL program, the SBA provided loans to small businesses that suffered substantial economic injury due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Specifically, it is alleged that in March 2022, Breen applied for EIDL funds on behalf of ‘Fun Zone,’ an entity through which he operated ‘Pinz,’ a bowling alley and other entertainment venue in Milford, Mass. To obtain the loan, Breen allegedly entered into a loan agreement with the SBA in which he agreed, among other things, to use the loan proceeds as working capital for his business. After receiving approximately $1.5 million from the SBA, Breen allegedly used more than $1.2 million of this money, through June 2023, to build a home for himself in Mount Pleasant, S.C., to purchase a $111,000 truck and for a downpayment on a $98,289 Mercedes.
The charge of theft of government property carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine 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 of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Massachusetts Inspector General Jeffrey S. Shapiro made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, Boston Region. 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 theNCDF Web 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.
Lynn Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking Two WomenRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lynn man pleaded guilty yesterday to benefitting financially from trafficking two women for sex and knowingly persuading and coercing both women to travel to another state to engage in prostitution.
Anthony Coleman, 36, pleaded guilty to two counts of benefitting financially from trafficking and one count of knowingly persuading and coercing a person to travel to engage in prostitution. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for March 11, 2026. Coleman was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024. He remains in federal custody.
Coleman targeted victims who had lost their jobs or homes during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns in March through August of 2020. Coleman had his victims move with him into a house in Lawrence, posted or controlled online commercial sex advertisements for them, provided them scripts to negotiate payment and terms with commercial sex buyers and transported his victims to hotels and other places to engage in commercial sex – requiring them to give him all the money they made. Coleman also regularly coerced and forced his victims to have sex with him.
Specifically, in March 2020, Coleman recruited one victim who had lost her job due to the pandemic. The victim would sometimes serve up to 10-16 clients per day, with Coleman taking all the profits. Coleman also took the victim to Florida on multiple occasions and had her engage in commercial sex in Florida. Coleman also physically abused the victim – one time holding the victim underwater and threatening to drown her.
Around March and April 2020, Coleman recruited a second victim, convincing her to come live with him after she was kicked out of her home by a relative following their disagreements around COVID-19 safety practices. The victim was unable to get a job because many businesses were closed due to COVID-19. The victim began engaging in commercial sex for Coleman and in May 2020, Coleman persuaded the victim to travel to California to engage in commercial sex. When she wanted to leave Coleman threatened the victim – telling her that if she left, he would hurt her mother and her sibling.
The charges of benefitting financially from trafficking provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of knowingly persuading and coercing a person to travel to engage in prostitution provides for a sentence of up to 20 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 today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Revere and Cambridge Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Torey B. Cummings of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit is prosecuting the case.
Brookline Man Arrested for Attempted Coercion and Enticement and Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to a MinorRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brookline man has been arrested and charged for allegedly attempting to coerce and entice the transfer of obscene material to a minor.
William Kahn, 28, was charged with attempted coercion and enticement and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. Following an initial appearance in federal court yesterday, Kahn was detained pending a detention hearing on Dec. 17, 2025.
According to the charging document, between June 2025 and August 2025, Kahn engaged in online conversations with an undercover agent purporting to be a 14-year-old girl. It is alleged that Kahn engaged in sexually explicit chat discussions with the purported minor, sent a photograph of adult genitalia and discussed meeting in person with the purported minor.
The charge of attempted coercion and enticement provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor provides for a sentence of up to 10 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, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuabe assistance was provided by the Brookline, Boston and Arlington Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit is 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 identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
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.
Gang Members Indicted for Interstate Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two previously convicted gang members have been indicted by a federal grand jury on drug and firearm charges. At the time of the alleged offenses, the defendants were on federal supervised release and state probation for prior drug and firearm offenses, respectively.
Stanley Earl Jenkins, a/k/a “Poolside Stixx,” 42, of Boston and Xavier Puello, a/k/a “Bodega,” 22, of Lawrence, were indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base and 40 grams or more of fentanyl; and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The defendants are currently in state custody and appeared in federal court in Boston today.
According to court documents, Jenkins is a member of the Franklin Hill street gang. At the time of his arrest, Jenkins was on supervised release for a prior federal drug conspiracy conviction. Additionally, in 2013, Jenkins was convicted of two counts of Manslaughter in Suffolk County Superior Court in connection with the shooting deaths of two victims in the Franklin Hill Projects in July 2007. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Puello is alleged in court documents to be a member of the Trinitarios transnational criminal organization, reporting to the Lawrence chapter. At the time of his arrest, Puello was on probation in Lawrence District Court following a two-year jail sentence for unlawfully carrying a loaded firearm and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building.
According to the charging documents, during a search of a residence in Abbot, Maine in May 2025, Jenkins and Puello were located in a downstairs bedroom with a large amount of cash. Puello also allegedly had a paper with notations identified as a “menu” of prices for different amounts of crack cocaine and fentanyl. It is further alleged that two loaded firearms – a Ruger 9mm pistol and an Anderson Arms 5.56 caliber rifle with a 60-round magazine – as well as a digital scale and numerous tied-off baggies containing cocaine, crack cocaine and ketamine were located above a ceiling tile. Jenkins and Puello were immediately taken into custody.
It is alleged that cell phones seized during the search were found to contain numerous text messages in which Jenkins and Puello discussed drug dealing and arranged sales of fentanyl and cocaine to customers. Phone records indicated that Jenkins was allegedly directing the drug conspiracy from Massachusetts at times when he was away from the Abbot residence.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base and 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to life in prison, consecutive to the term of imprisonment for the drug trafficking crime, supervised release for up to life 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 for Homeland Security Investigations in New England, made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Piscataquis County (Maine) Sheriff’s Office, Greenville (Maine) Police Department, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, Office of the Maine Attorney General and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Cutshall and Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Dorchester Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dorchester man has pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.
Rickey Simmons, 46, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. District Court Senior Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for March 6, 2026. Simmons was charged in January 2025 and later indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025.
On Jan. 28, 2025, Simmons possessed a Tisas, Model Zig M1911, .45 caliber firearm, eight rounds of .45 caliber ammunition and nine rounds of .22 caliber ammunition, after having been convicted of a felony.
The charge of being a felon in possession provides for a sentence of up to 15 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 Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement today. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Grady and Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.
Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Tens of Thousands of Fentanyl PillsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Dorchester pleaded guilty on Friday in federal court in Boston to his role in a large-scale fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.
Anderson Ernesto Andujar Echavarria, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; three counts of distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl; one count of distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl and methamphetamine; and one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for April 6, 2026. The defendant was arrested and charged in September 2024 along with three co-conspirators: Waner Bernabel Presinal; Carlos Fabal; and Freddy Artemio Guerrero Soto.
In November 2023, law enforcement identified Andujar as a large-scale drug trafficker distributing various narcotics. Over the course of the investigation, Andujar distributed tens of thousands of press fentanyl tablets as well as powdered fentanyl, cocaine and crystal methamphetamine to undercover law enforcement.
Bernabel was identified as a co-conspirator who worked with Andujar to distribute fentanyl pills and Fabal was identified as a fentanyl pill supplier to Andujar. Fabal was previously convicted in 2007 in federal court in Boston of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, for which he was sentenced to 67 months in prison and five years of supervised release.
At the time of the arrests, 30,000 blue pressed fentanyl pills were seized along with and 500 grams of powder fentanyl from Andujar and Guerrero Soto.
All three of Andujar’s co-defendants have pleaded guilty. Fabal and Bernabel each pleaded guilty in September 2025 and October 2025, respectively, and are scheduled to be sentenced in March 2026. Guerrero Soto pleaded guilty in February 2025 and, in May 2025, was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess 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 40 grams or more of fentanyl and distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl and methamphetamine each provide for a sentence of at least five years up to 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised and a fine of up to $5 million. 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 Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to Nearly Seven Years in Prison for Second Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Rockland, Mass. man was sentenced on Dec. 3, 2025 in federal court in Boston for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Lamont Boswell, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 83 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. In September 2025, Boswell pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition while being a convicted felon as well as violating the terms of his supervised release.
On April 2, 2025, while conducting a wellness check on Boswell who appeared to be passed out in the driver’s seat of his parked car, law enforcement found a pistol inside the vehicle. The recovered firearm was a Smith and Wesson semi-automatic handgun, loaded with 13 9mm rounds of ammunition in the magazine and one 9mm round in the chamber.
At the time of the offense, Boswell was under federal supervision after being convicted in 2021 of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, for which he was sentenced to 57 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In that case, Boswell was also found to have illegally possessed a loaded firearms while driving his car.
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. Special assistance was provided by Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office and the Scituate Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted 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.
Serial Bank Robber Pleads Guilty to Robbing Weymouth Bank at GunpointRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Quincy man pleaded guilty today in connection with the December 2024 armed robbery of a Santander Bank in Weymouth.
Glenn Legere, 46, pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled sentencing for March 10, 2026. Legere was arrested and charged in June 2025.
At approximately 4:52 p.m. on Dec. 17, 2024, law enforcement was dispatched to a Santander bank branch in Weymouth for a reported bank robbery. There, a bank teller told law enforcement that as employees were preparing to close the bank, a man wearing a sweatshirt, baseball hat, face covering and gloves entered the bank through the main entrance. The suspect approached a teller’s window, removed a black firearm from the front pocket of his sweatshirt, opened a black cloth bag and demanded all the money. As the bank teller handed the suspect money from the cash box, the suspect yelled words to the effect of “I need money,” “I want the money” and “I don’t play.” At various times, the suspect pointed the firearm directly at the teller. The suspect also ran towards other teller windows, gesturing towards the cash box areas and demanding more money, but the teller explained that there was no more money and displayed an empty cash drawer. The suspect then left the bank with approximately $947 in stolen cash.
A subsequent review of surveillance video footage from nearby locations determined that the suspect drove to and from the robbery location in a silver or grey Jeep Grand Cherokee. A vehicle matching the description was captured on cameras in Quincy immediately before and after the robbery. The vehicle was registered to Legere.
Legere has multiple prior convictions for committing armed and unarmed robberies, including a 2011 conviction of armed robbery in Norfolk Superior Court for which he was sentenced to three to five years in state prison, as well as a 2010 conviction for armed and unarmed robbery of banks in Braintree, Hanover, Duxbury and Plymouth for which he was sentenced to three years in state prison.At the time of Legere’s arrest, a firearm and some of the clothing believed to be used by Legere during the robbery were recovered.
The charge of armed bank robbery provides for a sentence of up to 25 years in prison, five 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; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Weymouth Police Chief Richard M. Fuller made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police, the National Insurance Crime Bureau and the Wellesley Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Former Mail Carrier Pleads Guilty to Theft of Postal Customers' Prescription DrugsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former U.S. Postal Service mail carrier pleaded guilty today to stealing packages containing prescription medications from postal customers on his route.
Michael Vernon, 52, of Somerville, Mass., pleaded guilty to one count of theft of mail by a postal officer or employee. U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy scheduled sentencing for April 2, 2026. Vernon was arrested and charged in September 2025.
On Jan. 31, 2024, over 1,000 pieces of undelivered mail and 17 bottles of pills prescribed to 10 different postal customers on Vernon’s route were discovered in his personal vehicle. Most of the customers whose medications Vernon stole were elderly. The medications included Gabapentin, Chlorthalidone, Citalopram, Bupropion, Glipizide, Butalbital, Atomoxetine, Escitalopram and Tamsulosin Hydrochloride. These medications are used to treat nerve pain, seizures, diabetes, high blood pressure, enlarged prostate, depression, anxiety and ADHD. The pill bottles were dated as far back as June 2022.
The charge of theft of mail by a postal employee provides 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 Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Wichers of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case.
Former High School Wrestling Coach Convicted of Attempting to Send Obscene Material to MinorRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Burlington, Mass. man was convicted yesterday following a three-day jury trial of attempting to send obscene material to an undercover agent posing as a 14-year-old girl on Kik messenger.
Stephen James Lemelin, 51, was convicted of three counts of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for March 26, 2026. Lemelin was arrested and charged in May 2024 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2024.
Evidence presented at trial established that, over the course of five months, Lemelin – a Burlington High School wrestling coach at the time – sent sexually explicit messages and obscene material over Kik Messenger to an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old girl. In the messages, Lemelin sent three separate obscene photographs of his genitals to the purported child and proposed meeting in person for sex.
The charges of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor each provide 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 and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Customs and Border Protection and the Arlington, Boston, Brookline, Burlington, Salisbury and Winchester Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David G. Tobin and Eric L. Hawkins are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Brockton Man Arrested and Charged with Drug Trafficking; Attempted to Flush Fentanyl Pills Down ToiletRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man has been arrested and charged for allegedly trafficking fentanyl from his residence while on GPS home confinement for two pending drug cases in Massachusetts Superior Court. Hundreds of fentanyl pills, a respirator mask, cutting agents and other drug trafficking paraphernalia were allegedly recovered during a search.
Edmund Kelsey, 26, was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Kelsey is currently in state custody and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging documents, during a search of Kelsey’s Brockton residence on Oct. 30, 2025, Kelsey fled upon seeing law enforcement, ran inside the residence and locked the door. Kelsey then ran down to the basement, where he allegedly attempted to flush hundreds of grams of multi-colored pills and other material down the toilet. A sample of the pills field-tested positive for a fentanyl/methamphetamine compound. Kelsey was immediately taken into custody.
A respirator mask, two large containers of cutting powder, over 1,000 grams of marijuana, approximately 10 cell phones and over $1,000 in cash were also located inside the residence.
At the time of the search, Kelsey was on home confinement with GPS monitoring as a condition of release on two pending Massachusetts Superior Court drug trafficking cases. Kelsey was previously sentenced to a total of five years in state prison for multiple Superior Court convictions involving drug dealing and firearms.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of no less than 10 years and up to life in prison, at least 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 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 Brockton Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Cutshall and Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are 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.
Nihilistic Violent Extremist ArrestedRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Washington State man has been arrested and charged with allegedly threatening to murder a Massachusetts minor, distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and distributing videos of animals being crushed.
Joseph Pacheco, 23, of Everett, Wash., was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for knowingly distributing child pornography to a minor; five counts of transmitting threatening communications in interstate commerce; and possession and distribution of animal crushing videos. The defendant was arrested this morning and will appear in the Western District of Washington this afternoon. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
It is alleged that Pacheco’s communications with a minor victim in Massachusetts and the contents of his social media accounts espoused goals shared by Nihilistic Violent Extremists (NVEs). According to the indictment, NVEs engage in criminal conduct to further the goal of bringing about society’s collapse by sowing chaos and social instability. NVEs frequently use social media to connect with individuals, particularly minors, to desensitize them to violence by breaking down societal norms regarding the commission of violent acts, normalizing the possession and distribution of CSAM as well as gore material and otherwise corrupting and grooming the individuals towards committing future acts of violence.
It is alleged that Pacheco knowingly distributed CSAM to a minor victim, distributed animal crushing videos and, on five occasions, threatened to murder a minor victim:
Approximate Date
Description of Threat
June 1, 2025I will kill you if you ever leave me. I cannot live without you. You’re mine forever.June 6, 2025I have your address and I’ll commit a murder suicide.July 11, 2025Just self-harm or hit yourself to make yourself useful. I’ll f*****g rape and kill you. I know where you live.July 12, 2025After you were messaging her without telling me
Don’t do it again
Cause omg. If I caught you one more time
I’ll swear I’ll f*****g kill you.
July 13, 2025If you don’t add me back
I promise you
I’ll f*****g kill you
Kill your whole family.
The charge of knowingly distributing child pornography to a minor provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of sending threatening communications in interstate commerce provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of distribution of animal crushing videos provides for a sentence of up to seven 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; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Chief Paul B. Saucier of the Worcester Police Department made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of the National Security Unit is 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 identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Chicago Man Charged with Sexually Exploiting MinorRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Chicago man has been arrested and charged with allegedly sexually exploiting a 14-year-old minor victim from Massachusetts.
Joshua Rogers, 30, of Chicago, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of sexual exploitation of children. Roger was arrested this morning in Chicago and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging documents, in July 2025, local law enforcement in Brookline were notified of an individual purporting to be a 17-year-old boy named ‘John’ – allegedly later identified as Rogers – engaging in sexually explicit communications with a 14-year-old female minor victim via Snapchat. A review of cell phone data allegedly revealed numerous explicit communications from Rogers in which he allegedly coerced the minor to engage in sexually explicit acts – many of which he demanded be documented by photo or video. It is further alleged that, in his communications, Rogers discussed kidnapping the minor or the minor running away.
The charge of sexual exploitation of minors (and attempt and conspiracy) provides for a 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; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Chief Jennifer Paster of the Brookline Police Department made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Chicago Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of the Major Crimes Unit is 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.
Wakefield Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Wakefield man pleaded guilty today to his role in a conspiracy to distribute crystal methamphetamine.
Daniel Loughman, a/k/a “Swiss,” 40, 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 10, 2025.
Loughman 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 Loughman as a drug trafficker who distributed methamphetamine to customers throughout Eastern Massachusetts. Investigators also conducted controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Loughman, as well as from his co-conspirators James Snow, of Tewkesbury, Danielle Steenbruggen, of Peabody, and, allegedly, James Adams, of Byfield. Approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine and four firearms were seized throughout the investigation from controlled purchases, motor vehicle stops and search warrants.
Loughman is the third 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.
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 no less than 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; Ketty Larco-Ward, 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, Peabody and Hampton (N.H.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is 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.
Stoneham Man Indicted for Using an Explosive to Damage Bank ATMRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Stoneham man was indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 20, 2025 for allegedly using an explosive to damage an ATM in Woburn, Mass.
Christopher Silva, 43, was indicted on one count of maliciously damaging by means of an explosive real property used in and affecting interstate commerce. Silva was arrested and charged by complaint in October 2025 and remains in custody pending trial. He will be arraigned in federal court in Boston on Dec. 9, 2025.
According to the charging documents, shortly after 4:00 a.m. on Sept. 4, 2025, Silva, wearing a blue balaclava over his face and a black jumpsuit, allegedly approached an ATM at Eastern Bank in Woburn. It is alleged that Silva then placed an explosive device on the ATM and ran away. Several seconds later, the device exploded, causing significant damage to the frame and lower right section of the ATM. Silva was allegedly identified through DNA evidence and surveillance footage.
The charge of maliciously damaging by explosive property used in and affecting interstate commerce provides for a sentence of at least five years in prison, up to three 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 that 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, Boston Division; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Woburn and Stoneham Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes 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.
Dominican National Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national in state custody at Souza-Baronowski Correction Center in Lancaster, Mass., has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Carlos Alexander Martinez-Jimenez, 48, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Martinez-Jimenez currently is serving a state prison sentence and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging documents, 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.
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.
Wakefield Woman Convicted of Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Wakefield woman was convicted of money laundering conspiracy on Nov. 24, 2025, following a six-day jury trial.
Christiane Fischer, 42, was convicted of one count of money laundering conspiracy. U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley scheduled sentencing for March 5, 2026. Fischer was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2022.
Fischer owns PK Motor Cars, a used car dealership in Peabody that also repairs cars and rents used cars. In 2016, law enforcement began an investigation into a large-scale drug trafficker named Phillip Morose who sold hundreds of thousands of counterfeit fentanyl pills.
Evidence presented at trial established that Fischer conspired to launder Morose’s drug proceeds through her business, PK Motor Cars. In August 2016, Fischer added Morose as CEO of PK Motor Cars and thereafter Morose deposited nearly $1 million in cash into Fischer’s business bank accounts. At the end of 2016, Fischer used cashier’s checks from those same business bank accounts to buy Morose a house in Lynnfield. The house was purchased in the name of Fischer’s business in order to conceal the true ownership of the house and where the proceeds to buy the house came from. Fischer also allowed Morose to use luxury vehicles owned by her business to promote his drug trafficking.
In 2019, Morose was sentenced to 30 years in prison for drug trafficking and money laundering in the Middle District of Florida. In March 2025, Morose was sentenced to 80 months in prison, to be served concurrently to the 2019 sentenced imposed, for money laundering in the District of Massachusetts.
The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount of the laundered funds. 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 in New England; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the DEA Tampa District Office Task Force 1; Massachusetts State Police; and the Newton, Millis, Waltham, Framingham, Haverhill, Brookline, Natick, Wakefield, Burlington, Lynnfield and Peabody Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea E. Porter and K. Nathaniel Yeager 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.
Lowell Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lowell man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Steven Estrada Ramirez, 23, pleaded guilty on Nov. 24, 2025, to receipt and possession of child pornography before U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris who scheduled sentencing for March 10, 2026. Estrada was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024.
Estrada was identified as a participant in multiple groups on a mobile chat application in which the primary purpose of the groups was for users to share and view CSAM. At the time of his arrest, Estrada was found to be in possession of a USB drive containing over 700 video files depicting CSAM, including files depicting children who appeared to be approximately one to eight years old. Additionally, the home screen of Estrada’s cell phone depicted an image of CSAM and the phone contained thousands of images and videos depicting CSAM.
The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant will also be subject to deportation proceedings 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 Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Maynard and Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus 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 identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Former Executive from Marlborough Charged with Conspiracy to Defraud the IRS and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former accounting and real estate executive in Sudbury has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty to perpetrating 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 allegedly 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, was charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and with obstruction of justice. The defendant will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston on Dec. 11, 2025.
According to the charging documents, Hochberg and Charles D. Katz agreed as early as 2014 to cheat the IRS. They allegedly 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 have lower employment taxes. Over time, Katz allegedly 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 allegedly 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. It is alleged that, in addition to his and Katz’s scheme, he lied to the U.S. Attorney’s Office about his income from Katz’s firms and obstructed the collection of restitution he 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 Kriss Basil, Deputy Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit 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.
Taxi Driver from Lawrence Convicted of Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence man has been convicted following a four-day jury trial of drug trafficking conspiracy involving methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine.
Jose Dolores Batista, 65, was convicted on Nov. 20, 2025 of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine. The defendant will be sentenced before U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV at a later date. Batista was arrested and charged in June 2023.
Batista, a taxi driver, served as a courier for a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine in various quantities – including half and whole kilograms. In his role, Batista would deliver drugs, drive drug traffickers and collect drug money from various customers of the DTO on a daily basis.
Evidence presented at trial established that on multiple dates, Batista travelled to pick up drugs and drug proceeds. Specifically, evidence showed that Batista travelled on one occasion to pick up $8,000 as a partial payment for a kilogram of fentanyl. On another occasion, Batista travelled to South Lawrence to pick up a kilogram of cocaine and then drove the cocaine to Boston where he exchanged it for $15,000. On another occasion, he drove to Lowell to pick up 350 grams of fentanyl.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years 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; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Natick, Newton, Waltham and Brookline Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Dell’Anno and J. Mackenzie Duane of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.Saugus Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Thousands of Pills Containing Meth and FentanylRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Saugus man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy involving thousands of counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine and fentanyl.
George Krabey, 47, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, involving 500 grams or more of methamphetamine; three counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine; one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; and one count of distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley scheduled sentencing for March 4, 2026. In July 2025, Krabey was indicted by a federal grand jury.
Between December 2024 and April 2025, Krabey repeatedly met with a cooperating source and sold the source thousands of counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine and fentanyl. On April 22, 2025, Krabey was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by law enforcement in Danvers. Krabey was enroute to Salisbury to sell the cooperating source 4,000 counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine. During a search of the vehicle, a shoebox was located in the back seat that contained 5,296 pills containing methamphetamine with a weight of approximately two kilograms.
The charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances involving 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, each provide 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 possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine each 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 and fentanyl 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. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Revere, Saugus and Peabody Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
Recidivist Predator Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Receipt and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield, Mass. man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Springfield for possession and receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and sexual exploitation of children. At the time of these offenses, the defendant was on state pre-trial release for aggravated rape and abuse of a child; posing or exhibiting a child in a state of nudity; disseminating CSAM; trafficking of a person for sexual servitude; extortion; larceny; assault and battery; and trafficking of a person under 18 years of age for sexual servitude. He was later convicted of the state charges in 2019 and sentenced to 10-12 years in prison.
Bairon Ubeda, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy to 40 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. In August 2025, Ubeda was convicted by a federal jury of one count of possession of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of sexual exploitation of children. Ubeda was previously indicted in May 2023.“Ubeda is a vile predator who spent years exploiting fear, shame and manipulation to dominate his victims, including coercing the horrific sexual abuse of a defenseless three-year-old child. His conduct was calculated, deliberate and among the most disturbing crimes we see in federal court,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “This sentence ensures that he can never again terrorize women or children, and it reaffirms our office’s unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable from those who prey on them.”
“Ubeda was the mastermind behind the calculated manipulation and coercion of women, using fear and shame to control them. He successfully manipulated one woman into sexually exploiting her own child at his direction – an unimaginable act.” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “With a forty-year federal prison sentence imposed for his horrific crimes, our commitment to bringing peace and justice to the victims of these predators has never been stronger.”
From at least 2015 to 2019, Ubeda sought to trick and coerce women using fraudulent social media persona and accounts while claiming to represent a fictitious adult modeling company. Ubeda would trick victims targeted by the scheme into providing explicit images as well as personal information and identification. Ubeda would then threaten to make the images and information public if the victims did not agree to engage in sexual acts with him.Ubeda coerced one woman to sexually abuse a three-year-old minor victim and document it for the purpose of producing CSAM for his gratification. If she did not comply, Ubeda threatened to send the CSAM and her identifying information to child protective services, so that she would lose custody of her children.
U.S. Attorney Foley; HSI SAC Krol; Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi; and Superintendent Lawrence Akers of the Springfield Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Maynard and Mark Grady of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.Former Suffolk County Corrections Officer Pleads Guilty to COVID Unemployment and Loan FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former corrections officer employed by the Suffolk County Sherriff’s Department pleaded guilty today to submitting fraudulent information in an effort to obtain loans through CARES Act programs like the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Christnel Orisca, 25, of Boston, pleaded guilty to five counts of wire fraud and one count of making a false statement to a financial institution, arising out of PUA, traditional Unemployment Insurance and PPP loan benefits obtained prior to his employment at the Suffolk County Sherriff’s Department. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled sentencing for March 11, 2026. Orisca was arrested and charged in December 2024.
Orisca was a Corrections Officer with the Suffolk County Sherriff’s Department from late 2021 to December 2024. Orisca fraudulently applied for pandemic unemployment and small business loan benefits while working full-time, initially for a security company and later for a delivery company. While employed full-time, Orisca collected approximately $54,700 in unemployment benefits and small business loan funds.
In his PUA application, Orisca made fraudulent representations about his employment status and thereafter falsely claimed, on a weekly basis, that he did not work and did not receive any income during the prior week. In his PPP loan application, Orisca submitted false statements to SBA-approved lenders, including about the income and/or payroll of his purported small businesses, in order to obtain his loan. He also made false representations on forms submitted to request that his PPP loans be forgiven.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The charge of making false statements to a financial institution provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a $1 million fine. 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. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Police Department and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Chao, Chief of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit, 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.
Three Former Executives for Magellan Diagnostics Sentenced for False Statements and FDCA ViolationsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The former CEO, COO and Director of Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs for Magellan Diagnostics, Inc. (Magellan), a medical device company headquartered in Billerica, Mass., have been sentenced in federal court in Boston for concealing a device malfunction that produced inaccurately low lead test results for thousands of children and other patients.
Amy Winslow, 54, of Needham, Mass., was sentenced on Oct. 27, 2025 by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to one year of home detention. Winslow was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. In March 2025, Winslow pleaded guilty to one felony count of introduction of misbranded medical devices into interstate commerce.
Hossein Maleknia, 66, of Bonita Springs, Fla., was sentenced by Judge Saris on Oct. 30, 2025 to nine months of home detention. Maleknia was also ordered to pay a $20,000 fine. In March 2025, Maleknia pleaded guilty to two felony counts of introduction of misbranded medical devices into interstate commerce.
On Nov. 21, 2025, Reba Daoust, 69, of Amesbury, Mass., was sentenced by Judge Saris to one year of probation, with the first six months to be served in home detention. Daoust was also ordered to pay a $600 fine. In March 2025, Daoust pleaded guilty to one felony count of making false statements.
Magellan’s LeadCare II and LeadCare Ultra devices detected lead levels and lead poisoning in the blood of children and adults using either venous (i.e. blood draws through the arm) or fingerstick samples. LeadCare II, which was predominantly used to test fingerstick samples, accounted for more than half of all blood lead tests conducted in the United States from 2013 through 2017. LeadCare Ultra was predominantly used to test venous samples.
Winslow, Maleknia and Daoust – Magellan’s former CEO, COO and Director of Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs, respectively – misled Magellan customers and the FDA about a serious malfunction that affected Magellan’s LeadCare devices when they were used to test venous blood samples. By hiding the malfunction and later misleading customers and the FDA about when they discovered the malfunction, the nature, extent and frequency of the malfunction, as well as the risks associated with the malfunction, the defendants caused an estimated thousands of children and other patients to receive inaccurately low lead test results.
“These defendants knowingly misled the FDA about a device malfunction that caused thousands of children and adults to receive inaccurate blood lead test results. They understood the risks: that patients could receive falsely low readings, when their actual blood lead levels met or exceeded CDC intervention thresholds. They knew this failure could delay critical care, allow continued lead exposure and endanger the health of vulnerable families. Yet they chose to conceal the truth, prioritizing corporate profits, job security, and personal gain over patient safety. Regardless of the sentences imposed, their actions jeopardized the wellbeing of thousands,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “We will continue to uncover and prosecute those who violate the public’s trust and put public health at risk.”
“Individuals and companies whose lead testing devices produce inaccurate results can put the health of all patients, especially vulnerable children, at significant risk,” said Fernando McMillian, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office. “We will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who endanger public health and safety.”
“Misleading consumers and federal regulators about a significant flaw in a medical device to boost your company’s bottom line is reprehensible. These three executives did exactly that, and in the process ignored the well-being of thousands of children and other patients who received inaccurate test results of the lead levels in their blood,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Their egregious conduct victimized vulnerable patients and eroded their trust in our healthcare system. The FBI is gratified all involved are being held accountable.”
“These three former executives deliberately concealed a known defect in medical devices used to detect lead poisoning—a condition with potentially irreversible consequences,” said Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “The criminal sentences announced today mark an important step toward justice for the thousands of children and vulnerable patients who were put at risk by the corrupt actions of these defendants.”
The FDA ultimately found that the LeadCare devices could not accurately test venous samples, leading to a recall of all LeadCare devices using venous samples and a warning to the public not to use the devices for venous blood samples because of the malfunction.
According to court documents, as referenced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no safe level of lead in the blood. Lead exposure may cause irreversible lifelong physical and mental health problems. Young children and pregnant women are most vulnerable to lead exposure, especially those from low-income households and those who live in housing built before 1978 because those homes are more likely to contain lead-based paint and have fixtures containing lead.
U.S. Attorney Foley, FDA-OCI SAC McMillan, FBI SAC Docks and HHS-OIG SAC Coviello made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leslie Wright and Mackenzie A. Queenin of the Health Care Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Asian Boyz Gang Associate from Lowell Convicted of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An associate of the Asian Boyz gang was convicted on Friday following a five-day jury trial for his role in a distribution network of homemade methamphetamine pills, branded as “Adderall.”
Richard Nguyen, a/k/a “Cheese,” a/k/a “Cheeseburger,” 30, of Lowell, was convicted by a federal jury of two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy scheduled sentencing for Feb. 26, 2026. Nguyen was arrested and charged in January 2025.
In 2021, an investigation began into the Asian Boyz gang to disrupt the manufacturing and distribution of substantial quantities of methamphetamine pills impacting the City of Lowell. Nguyen was part of the large drug distribution network that profited from the sale of thousands of these counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine. Between March 2022 and January 2025, Nguyen and other defendants sold counterfeit Adderall pills to undercover officers and cooperating witnesses working with law enforcement on 47 different occasions.
Evidence presented at trial established that Nguyen sold counterfeit Adderall pills to a cooperating witness at least three times between January 2024 and April 2024. Each time, Nguyen directed the cooperating witness to meet him at his home to conduct the deal, on a back porch covered with a tarp and accessible only from a narrow alleyway. Nguyen negotiated the deals with the cooperating witness using an Instagram account, “Cheese.” He gave the cooperating witness a price of $0.80 per pill, explaining that he could only get the pills for $0.70 per pill, and that he had to “make [his] dollar.” During the first deal on his back porch, Nguyen sold the cooperating witness approximately 1,000 pills. During the next two deals, Nguyen sold the cooperating witness twice as much – approximately 2,000 pills each time.
The charge of distribution of and 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, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of 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. 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, Boston Division; and Superintendent Greg C. Hudon of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Billerica, Haverhill, Methuen, North Andover and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Fred M. Wyshak, III and Brendan D. O’Shea of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/PSN.
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.
Indian National Indicted for Assault Aboard AircraftRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Indian national was indicted by a federal grand jury yesterday for allegedly stabbing two minor victims with a metal fork while on board a Lufthansa flight from Chicago to Germany on Oct. 25, 2025. The defendant was previously admitted to the United States on a student visa and was enrolled in a master’s program in biblical studies. At the time of the alleged incident, the defendant did not have lawful status in the United States.
Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, 28, was indicted on two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while traveling on an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. Usiripalli was apprehended immediately following the incident and charged by complaint on Oct. 27, 2025. He remains detained pending trial and will be arraigned in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging documents, on Oct. 25, 2025, while on board Lufthansa flight 431 enroute from Chicago to Frankfurt, Germany, Usiripalli allegedly stabbed a 17-year-old male passenger (Minor A) in the shoulder area with a metal fork. Usiripalli then allegedly stabbed a second 17-year-old male passenger (Minor B) in the back of the head with the same metal fork.
Specifically, following meal service, Minor A was sleeping lightly in a middle seat when he allegedly awoke to see Usiripalli standing over him. It is alleged that Usiripalli used his right hand to strike Minor A in the left clavicle area with a metal fork. Usiripalli then allegedly lunged toward Minor B – who was seated to Minor A’s right in a middle seat in the center row of the aircraft – and struck Minor B in the back of his head with the fork. Minor B suffered a laceration to the rear of his head.
When flight crew members attempted to subdue Usiripalli, he allegedly raised his hand, formed a gun with his fingers, put it in his mouth and pulled an imaginary trigger. Immediately afterwards, Usiripalli allegedly turned toward a female passenger and slapped her with his hand. Usiripalli also allegedly attempted to slap a flight crew member.
As a result of the disturbance, the flight was diverted to Boston Logan International Airport, where Usiripalli was immediately taken into custody.
Usiripalli was previously admitted to the United States on a student visa. Most recently, he was enrolled in a master’s program in biblical studies. Usiripalli presently does not have lawful status in the United States.
The charge of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while traveling on an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three 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 that 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, Boston Division; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes 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.
Dominican National Indicted for Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Worcester has been indicted by a federal grand jury for distributing fentanyl pills.
Miguel Gonzalez Duarte, 37, has been indicted on one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl; and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Gonzalez Duarte was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on Oct. 29, 2025 and remains in federal custody.
According to the charging documents, on Aug. 21, 2025, Gonzalez Duarte distributed approximately 191 counterfeit pills that contained fentanyl, methamphetamine and xylazine, with a total approximate weight of 21.9 grams, in a store parking lot on Main Street in Worcester. On Sept. 3, 2025, Gonzalez Duarte allegedly distributed approximately 482 pills, weighing approximately 54.9 grams, containing the same mixture in the same parking lot. It is further alleged that, in the store parking lot on Sept. 24, 2025, Gonzalez Duarte distributed approximately 2,000 suspected fentanyl pills with an approximate weight of 226 grams.
On Oct. 15, Gonzalez Duarte also allegedly distributed approximately 20,000 suspected fentanyl pills in the parking lot of a restaurant in Worcester. It is alleged that, when approached by law enforcement shortly after the transaction, Gonzalez Duarte dropped the bag of pills and attempted to flee before being apprehended.
At the time of the alleged offenses, Gonzalez Duarte was on probation for an April 2025 conviction of possession with intent to distribute Class A and B drugs in Worcester District Court.
The charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl 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 charges of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl each provide for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of distribution of and 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 of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on 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. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brendan O’Shea and Kristen Noto of the Worcester Branch Office are 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.
Three Indicted in Connection with Seizure of 99 Kilograms of Cocaine in Massachusetts, New York and Puerto RicoRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Three Massachusetts men have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston in connection with the seizure of approximately 99 kilograms of cocaine in Revere, Mass.; Colton, N.Y.; and San Juan, P.R.
Joel Betances, 43, of Revere; Noel Betances, 42, of Chelsea; and Reylin Segura, 31, of Boston, were indicted on one count each of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Joel Betances and Noel Betances were also charged with possession with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. Noel Betances was charged with distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine. Segura was also charged with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. The defendants will be arraigned in federal court in Boston at a later date.
Noel Betances and Segura were previously arrested and charged by complaint in August 2025. Joel Betances was arrested in the Dominican Republic on Nov. 19, 2025.
According to court records, in 2023, an investigation began into packages sent from Puerto Rico to Massachusetts that were suspected to contain narcotics. One such package intercepted in Puerto Rico in June 2023, allegedly contained five kilograms of cocaine. Between June 2023 and September 2023, it is alleged that Noel Betances and Joel Betances were observed picking up additional suspected cocaine packages from locations in Chelsea, Revere and Boston, and delivering them to different location – including a residence in Revere.
It is further alleged that approximately two years later, on July 26, 2025, Joel Betances supplied an individual with 25 kilograms of cocaine to be transported to New York. The cocaine was subsequently seized from a vehicle in Colton, N.Y.
Additionally, it is alleged that on Aug. 12, 2025, Betances was observed exiting a residence in Revere with a box, which he transferred to Segura in exchange for a plastic bag. The box was allegedly later found to contain four kilograms of cocaine and the bag allegedly contained approximately $58,000 in bundled cash. A subsequent search of the Revere residence resulted in the seizure of an additional 65 kilograms of cocaine and approximately $341,780 cash.
The value of the cocaine seized in the case is estimated to be at least $1.4 million.
The charges of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (involving five kilograms or more of cocaine) and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine provide for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and up to life and a fine of $10 million. The charges of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (involving 500 grams or more of cocaine), distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, provide for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and up to life and a fine of $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.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. 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; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Revere Police Department, the Boston Police Department and the Worcester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman of the Narcotics & Money Laundering 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 a court of law.
Lawrence Man Arrested for Conspiring to Manufacture and Distribute Counterfeit Pills in LawrenceRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence man was arrested today in connection with an investigation targeting a drug manufacturing ring. Over two kilograms of suspected controlled substances and a pill press were allegedly recovered during related search warrants.
Aris Arvelo Gonzalez, 37, was charged today with one count of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute and manufacture controlled substances. Following an initial appearance today in federal court in Boston, Gonzalez was detained pending a hearing scheduled for Nov. 25, 2025.
According to the charging documents, Gonzalez and La Culebra controlled a large drug manufacturing location inside an apartment in Methuen. During a search of the Methuen apartment in August 2025, over 18 kilograms of controlled substances and a pill press were allegedly recovered. Gonzalez’s alleged co-conspirators, Joshua Morales, Manuel Santana-Soto and Jose Vasquez Lantigua were subsequently arrested and charged following the search.
While on pretrial release following a January 2025 arrest for drug offenses in Salem District Court in New Hampshire, Gonzalez allegedly sold over 1,500 grams of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl to a confidential informant and an undercover agent on four occasions between July 2025 and November 2025.
At the time of Gonzalez’s arrest this morning, he was allegedly found in possession of thousands of counterfeit pills bundled into smaller bags as well as a large quantity of cash:
Following his arrest, search warrants were executed at three locations in Lawrence that were allegedly tied to Gonzalez and the “La Culebra” drug trafficking organization. During those searches, various items and materials used in the manufacturing of counterfeit Percocet containing fentanyl were allegedly recovered – including a pill press and a 25-kilogram bag of pill binding agent.
The charge of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute or manufacture provides for 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 manufacturing and possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute or manufacture 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 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, Boston Division; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Essex County District Attorney’s Office. 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 (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Dominican National Sentenced 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.
Carlos Yuniol Pimentel-Ortiz, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun to 15 months in prison and one year of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. On Oct. 14, 2025, Pimentel-Ortiz pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien.
Pimentel-Ortiz was deported from the United States in November 2023. Prior to his removal, in November 2020, Pimentel-Ortiz was convicted in Essex Superior Court of assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a firearm without a license and possessing ammunition without a license. Additionally, in October 2022, he was convicted in Middlesex Superior Court of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Sometime after his November 2023 removal, Pimentel-Ortiz illegally reentered the United States without permission. In March 2025, agents were executing a drug search warrant at a location in Boston. Pimentel-Ortiz was present at the search location and determined to be unlawfully present in the United States. He was immediately taken into custody.
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. Attorney Robert E. Richardson of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Colombian National Sentenced for Cocaine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Colombian national, who was previously unlawfully residing in Everett, was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for distributing nearly half a kilogram of cocaine.
Juan Restrepo-Madrid, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 34 months in prison. In August 2025, Restrepo-Madrid pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of cocaine distribution. Restrepo-Madrid was arrested and charged in February 2020 along with co-conspirator Sebastian Arbelaez-Perez.
In August 2019, a cooperating witness arranged to meet with Restrepo-Madrid and Arbelaez to discuss purchasing cocaine. At the pre-arranged meeting on Aug. 9, 2019, only Restrepo-Madrid was present and provided the cooperating witness with a half-kilogram of cocaine.
Restrepo-Madrid was arrested in February 2020 and subsequently released on conditions pending trial. In early 2021, in advance of his scheduled change of plea hearing, Restrepo-Madrid absconded to Colombia in violation of his conditions of release. Restrepo-Madrid was arrested in Colombia in June 2023 and was extradited to the United States in June 2025 to face these charges.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistance with the investigation was provided by Boston Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, Revere Police Department, Winthrop Police Department, Massachusetts National Guard, U.S. Marshals Service for the District of Massachusetts and Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren A. Graber and Jared C. Dolan of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Brookline Man Arrested for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brookline man has been arrested for allegedly possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Ariel Torres, 37, was charged with one count of possession of child pornography. Torres was arrested yesterday and following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, was detained pending a hearing scheduled for Nov. 25, 2025.
According to the charging documents, Torres was identified as an online user of a network used for the dissemination of CSAM. During a search of Torres’ residence in May 2025, multiple electronic devices belonging to Torres were seized. It is alleged that approximately 49 images and 37 videos depicting CSAM were found on two of the devices.
The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 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 today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Brookline and Lawrence Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit is 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 identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
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.
Tyngsborough Daycare Worker and Former New Hampshire State Representative Plead Guilty to Child ExploitationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Hampshire woman, formerly employed at a daycare in Tyngsborough, Mass., and her former intimate partner have pleaded guilty to child exploitation and child pornography charges.
Lindsay Groves, 40, of Hudson, N.H., pleaded guilty on Oct. 14, 2025 to three counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of distribution of child pornography. U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for Feb. 4, 2026. Stacie Marie Laughton, 41, of Nashua, N.H., a former New Hampshire State Representative, pleaded guilty on Nov. 3, 2025 to three counts of sexual exploitation of children and is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 12, 2026.
Groves and Laughton were arrested and charged by criminal complaint in June 2023 and July 2023, respectively. They were both subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2023.
Groves worked at Creative Minds located in Tyngsborough, Mass. Between May 2022 and June 2023, Groves took nude images of children at the day care and sent the photos to Laughton, with whom she was previously in an intimate relationship. Specifically, Groves used natural bathroom breaks for the children (routine diaper/pull-up changes prior to “naptime”) to take multiple photos of the prepubescent children in a private bathroom and then sent the photos to Laughton via text message.
Forensic review of Grove’s and Laughton’s cellphones revealed over 10,000 text messages between them during an approximate one-month period in 2023. These messages included discussion about, and transfer of, explicit photographs that Groves had taken of children while employed at Creative Minds – including at least four sexually explicit images of children who appear to be approximately three to five years old.
All minor victims involved in this matter have been identified and their families have been contacted by law enforcement.
The charge of sexual exploitation of children 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. The charge of distribution of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 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; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Nashua (N.H.) Police Chief Kevin Rourke made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire; Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office; and the Hudson, N.H. Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica L. Soto and Anne Paruti of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Trinitarios Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Possession of MachinegunRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to possessing a loaded UZI machinegun.
Derek Mercado, 20, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a machinegun before U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton who scheduled sentencing for Feb. 18, 2026. Mercado was charged by criminal complaint in August 2025. Mercado is currently in state custody for domestic violence offenses.
Mercado is a member of the Trinitarios gang, a violent criminal enterprise responsible for numerous murders and acts of violence across Massachusetts. On May 6, 2025, an alert to arrest Mercado was broadcast by law enforcement following a report of a domestic violence incident. The victim reported that the defendant was in possession of a firearm in a green duffel bag. At the time, Mercado was in warrant status on two unrelated matters. Mercado was later observed exiting a residence while possessing a green duffel bag. He was taken into custody and an Israel Military Industries UZI model submachinegun containing an extended magazine loaded with 24 rounds was recovered in the green bag. The UZI was later test-fired and determined to be a functional machinegun.
In August 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office charged three members of the Lawrence Chapter of the Trinitarios for an alleged armed robbery. In February 2025, nearly two dozen members of the Lynn Chapter of the Trinitarios were also charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office with allegedly committing six murders in Lynn and Lawrence and in June 2025, two Trinitarios members were charged with committing a kidnapping in Andover.
The charge of possessing 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; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Haverhill Police Chief Robert Pistone made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime and 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.
California Company and Three Employees Sentenced for Conspiring to Sell Misbranded N95 Masks to Hospital in Early Months of COVID-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A California company, and three individuals who owned and managed the company, were sentenced last week in connection with the shipment of facemasks that were misbranded as N95 respirators during the earliest phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
Advoque Safeguard LLC was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun to one year of probation. The company was also ordered to pay a fine of $700,000. Jason Azevedo, 34, of Cedar Creek, Texas and Andrew Stack, 53, of Santa Cruz, Calif. were each sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay a fine of $100,000. Paul Shrater, 52, of Simi Valley, Calif. was sentenced to six months’ probation and ordered to pay a fine of $100,000.
In October of 2024, Advoque Safeguard pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to introduce misbranded devices into interstate commerce with intent to defraud or mislead. Azevedo, Shrater and Stack pleaded guilty to one count of introduction of misbranded devices into interstate commerce.
A second company, JDM Supply LLC (JDM), and two individuals, Daniel Motha and Jeffrey Motha, also pleaded guilty and were sentenced in April 2025 to one year of probation. Each were also ordered to pay a $9,500 fine. Jason Colantuoni also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit price gouging and in July 2025 was sentenced to time-served and a fine of $3,000.
In the spring of 2020, during the earliest phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, ASG and JDM conspired to ship facemasks that were misbranded as National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-approved, N95 respirators. One hospital accepted and paid for hundreds of thousands of purported N95 masks that were manufactured by ASG and sold to the hospital by JDM. The hospital did not use the masks, which were eventually returned to ASG. ASG and JDM misled the hospital into believing that the ASG masks were NIOSH-approved N95s, when in fact they were not. In August 2020, a NIOSH lab tested a sample of the ASG masks that had been shipped to the hospital and all 10 ASG masks tested between 83.94% and 93.24% filtration efficiency and thus fell under the 95% minimum level of filtration efficiency required for N95 respirators.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; Fernando McMillan, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie Queenin prosecuted the case.
Owner of Chelsea Painting Business Charged with Tax Evasion and COVID-19 Loan FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The owner of a painting company in Chelsea has been arrested and charged in connection with a five-year scheme to evade over $2.3 million in federal income taxes and with fraudulently obtaining $377,500 in COVID-19 loans.
Helcio Sperandio, 52, of Chelsea, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston on charges of filing false tax returns, tax evasion and wire fraud. The defendant was arrested today and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston at 2 p.m. this afternoon.
According to the charging document, Sperandio owned and operated Aquarelle Painting & Services (Aquarelle). It is alleged that, from 2018 through at least 2022, Sperandio cashed hundreds of customer payment checks instead of depositing them into his business bank accounts. When tax time came, Sperandio allegedly gave his tax preparer Aquarelle’s bank statements, but he did not disclose information about the payment checks that he cashed. Using this information, the preparer filed Sperandio’s corporate and individual tax returns, unwittingly underreporting Sperandio’s income and allowing him to evade $2,309,466 in federal income tax.
It is further alleged that when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, Sperandio obtained a $150,000 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) from the Small Business Administration (SBA) by providing false revenue numbers and falsely certifying that he was not engaged in any illegal activity, even though he was activity defrauding the U.S. Treasury. Later, Sperandio allegedly obtained an additional $277,500 from the SBA as a loan increase and used some of the money to start a new real estate company, a purpose prohibited under the EIDL program.
The charge of filing 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. The charge of tax evasion 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 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 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; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Boston Field Office; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil Deputy Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit 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 NCDF Web Complaint Form.
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.
Eight Members of Global Insider Trading Network Charged with Securities Fraud and Money Laundering OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A superseding indictment was unsealed today bringing securities fraud and money laundering charges against eight foreign nationals who are alleged members of a global insider trading network, including several leaders of the network:
- Samy Fadi Khouadja, 45, of France and the United Arab Emirates;
- Eamma Safi, a/k/a “TT,” a/k/a “Yummy,” a/k/a “Situatie Packered,” a/k/a “Roman Kna,” 38, of the United Arab Emirates and Germany;
- Zhi Ge, a/k/a “Josh Ge,” a/k/a “Josh Gez,” a/k/a “Jay Gat,” 34, of Singapore;
- Christophe Dong, 41, of France;
- Julien Liu, 35, of France and Hong Kong;
- Patrick Chou, 38, of France and Hong Kong;
- Cheuk Yue Lee, a/k/a “Ryan,” a/k/a “m100,” 43, of Hong Kong; and
- Dev Ananth Durai, a/k/a “Devah,” 39, of Singapore.
Safi and Ge were charged by criminal complaint in April 2024 and indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston in July 2024. The superseding indictment charges all eight defendants with two counts of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, two counts of securities fraud, and one count of money laundering conspiracy. Safi is in U.S. custody, and Ge was provisionally arrested in Singapore on July 3, 2024, and remains in extradition proceedings. The remaining defendants are considered fugitives.
As alleged in the charging documents, which included information obtained from cooperating witnesses, Khouadja, Safi and Ge were leaders of an insider trading network from 2016 to 2024. As part of the scheme, Khouadja, Safi and Ge allegedly recruited investment bankers and other corporate insiders who had access to material, non-public information (MNPI) about the financial performance and merger-and-acquisition activity of publicly traded companies. As alleged, Khouadja, Safi and Ge then obtained MNPI from those insiders, including by paying the insiders for the information. Thereafter, Khouadja, Safi and Ge allegedly traded on the basis of the MNPI and recruited a network of traders, in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, to trade on it.
The defendants allegedly leaked MNPI to journalists and news outlets to profit on securities trades following the publication of the information. Many of the illegal trades allegedly took place over an automated exchange operated in Massachusetts.
It is further alleged that the network of traders, which included Dong, Liu, Chou, Lee and Durai, traded on the basis of the MNPI in exchange for their agreement to kick back a percentage of illicit profits to leaders of the network, through payments designed to conceal the nature of the proceeds, including cash transfers, third-party payments and the use of shell companies and sham loans and invoices. As alleged, the defendants and other co-conspirators who were members of the network traded on MNPI in advance of more than a dozen corporate transactions and announcements, generating tens of millions of dollars in illicit profits.
The defendants and other co-conspirators who were members of the network allegedly took various steps to conceal the scheme from law enforcement and regulators, including the use of burner or disposable cell phones, coded language, in-person meetings and various encrypted communications channels. Specifically, the defendants and other co-conspirators allegedly relied heavily on encrypted mobile messaging applications, featuring disappearing or auto-deleting messages, which they believed were beyond the reach of law enforcement.
For example, it is alleged that Durai messaged a co-conspirator trader that Liu was a “purely insider trading guy,” and that “the deal I made with the guy who gives me the tip [Liu] is that I give him 50% of profit…so you can buy and help me subsidize my payment to him.” In another message, Liu allegedly told Durai that Khouadja provided MNPI that was “only [a] 100% thing.” In another message, Khouadja allegedly told Dong to tell a co-conspirator trader that “the source wants 50, so for you, me and the source, you can tell him 200. He will give me the code [stock ticker] only if the guy [trader] is ok,” and thereafter, Khouadja told Dong to tell the trader that the deal “could be anytile [sic, anytime] | they are already drafting SPA [stock purchase agreement].” Khouadja also allegedly messaged Dong, “US deal 50c premium imminent…can he do it,” which Dong then forwarded to traders, including Chou and Durai. As another example, Safi allegedly provided MNPI to Ge to relay to Lee, and Safi said: “Is like [Lee] asking me in order to take our trade we should let him speak with the insider | I am his assurance,” and if “[Lee] wants the formal way let him go to a financial advisor.” It is further alleged that after Chou profitably traded on MNPI obtained from Dong, Dong sent Chou a phony invoice for dresses to substantiate a kick-back payment of illicit securities fraud proceeds from Chou to Dong.
“Protecting the integrity of our nation’s capital markets is a priority of my office,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Today’s charges show that we will aggressively pursue those who engage in insider trading and cheat the system. No matter how secret you think encrypted messaging is and no matter how many steps you take to conceal your illegal activities, if you sell inside information or trade on non-public information be warned, my office will use every tool at our disposal to track you down and one day, you will find yourself in federal custody.”
“These eight men are accused of engaging in a global con – trading on material, non-public information stolen from companies to score millions of dollars for themselves,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston Field Office. “We believe everything these men did, including their alleged attempts to conceal their crimes, show a willful disregard for the law. Protecting companies from theft and maintaining a level playing field for investors is critical to the financial markets. For that reason, the FBI takes our responsibility to investigate insider trading and other complex financial crimes seriously.”
The charge of conspiracy to commit securities fraud provides for a sentence of up to 25 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of securities fraud provides for a sentence of up to 25 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $5 million. The superseding indictment charges each defendant with one count of money laundering conspiracy, which provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved, whichever is greater. The superseding indictment charges Safi and Ge with one count of money laundering, which provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $500,000, or twice the value of the property involved, 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.
U.S. Attorney Foley and FBI SAC Docks made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Government of Switzerland to secure the arrest and February 26, 2025 extradition from Switzerland of Safi. Assistant United States Attorney Ian J. Stearns of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Dorchester Man Charged with Firearms TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dorchester man has been arrested and charged with trafficking firearms.
Joshua Morency, 28, was charged with one count of dealing in firearms without a license and one count of possessing a machinegun. Morency was arrested on Nov. 12, 2025 and was ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for Nov. 19, 2025.
According to the charging documents, in August 2025, federal and state law enforcement began an investigation of Morency for unlawfully distributing firearms in the Boston area. Over the course of the investigation, Morency allegedly sold 21 firearms in undercover controlled purchases. It is alleged that the majority of the firearms purchased from Morency were 3D-printed, privately made firearms (commonly known as “ghost guns”).
The charge of dealing in firearms without a license provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possessing a machinegun provides for a sentence of up to ten 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; Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department and the Suffolk County and Plymouth County Sheriff's Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra W. Amrhein and Anne Paruti and of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.
This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.
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.
United States Seeks Civil Forfeiture of $70,000 and Two Rolex Watches as Proceeds of Construction and Elder FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The United States Attorney’s Office filed a civil forfeiture action to recover $70,000, in United States currency and two Rolex watches alleged to be proceeds of wire fraud and involved in money laundering.
Law enforcement seized these items on Jan. 20, 2024, following a traffic stop of Michael McInerney and Crystel O’Reilly, neither of whom had a driver’s license. McInerney and O’Reilly are Irish nationals and were not legally present in the United States. While inventorying their vehicle, officers found a white trash bag that contained $30,000 in one white sock and $40,000 inside a second sock and the two Rolex watches.
At the time of the traffic stop, law enforcement recognized McInerney as a suspected member of a transnational organized crime group that conducted construction, paving and roofing fraud schemes in the United States. The fraud schemes generally involved foreign nationals who pose as licensed contractors to induce homeowners, who were often elderly, to allow them to work on their homes. The foreign nationals often failed to pull required permits; performed unnecessary work; overcharged the homeowners; and disappeared when the homeowners discovered the fraud, expressed displeasure with the work, or threatened to report them to law enforcement. The foreign nationals bought jewelry and watches with the fraud proceeds in order to evade currency reporting requirements.
Following the stop, investigators obtained financial records and interviewed elderly homeowners in Somerville and Cambridge, Mass. who had written checks to McInerney, who is not legally authorized to work in the United States, for construction work. The Somerville homeowner, who was 75 years old, withdrew money from his retirement account to pay for the work and told investigators that the work was not completed and that he could not get in touch with the company after he paid them $199,500. The Cambridge homeowner, who was 78 years old years old, reported being charged $80,000 for work that should have cost no more than $30,000.
Investigators also learned that a homeowner in Washington, D.C., had obtained a default judgment against McInerney and an associate named Terrence Connors after writing checks totaling $60,000 to McInerney in August 2023. McInerney and Connors represented themselves to the homeowner as working for a legitimate roofing and masonry company. When the homeowner learned that the company was not legitimate, he confronted Connors, who threatened to tear up the roofing job if the homeowner did not pay an additional $20,000. The homeowner never saw Connors or McInerney again.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Quincy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annapurna Balakrishna of the Asset Recovery Unit is prosecuting the case.
The accusations in the complaint, and the description of the complaint, constitute allegations that certain property is subject to forfeiture. The United States must prove, by a standard of preponderance of the evidence, that the property is subject to forfeiture.
Sex Offender from Dracut Arrested for Firearm and Ammunition OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A registered sex offender from Dracut has been arrested and charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.
Tyler Bullock, 30, was charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Bullock was arrested on Nov. 6, 2025, and is presently detained following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston.
According to the charging documents, Bullock was identified as an individual who had, on several occasions, sent money to an India-based network in exchange for child sexual abuse material (CSAM). During a search of Bullock’s residence, Bullock allegedly admitted to soliciting and paying for CSAM. Forensic review of his devices is ongoing.
It is further alleged that, during the search of the residence, a Ruger P85 9mm pistol loaded with a magazine that contained several rounds of ammunition as well as a knife bearing the Schutztaffel lightning bolts and a swastika were located in a small safe under a rug in a bedroom. According to court documents, the pistol was reported stolen in transit from New Hampshire to Arizona. It is further alleged that a copy of Mein Kampf and an additional 42 rounds of ammunition were also located in the same bedroom.
Additionally, according to the charging documents, a partially assembled rifle was located in an upstairs bedroom along with numerous WWII-era German military medals, patches and memorabilia containing Nazi symbolism.
Bullock is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition as a result of a 2016 conviction for the Purchase or Possession of Child Pornography in Lowell District Court, for which he is a registered sex offender.
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 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 Matthew O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra W. Amrhein and Eric L. Hawkins of the Major Crimes Unit are 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.