District of Massachusetts

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.

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.

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.     

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.

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.  

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:

1. Samy Fadi Khouadja, 45, of France and the United Arab Emirates;
2. 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;
3. Zhi Ge, a/k/a “Josh Ge,” a/k/a “Josh Gez,” a/k/a “Jay Gat,” 34, of Singapore;
4. Christophe Dong, 41, of France;
5. Julien Liu, 35, of France and Hong Kong;
6. Patrick Chou, 38, of France and Hong Kong;
7. Cheuk Yue Lee, a/k/a “Ryan,” a/k/a “m100,” 43, of Hong Kong; and
8. 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.

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.

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.  

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.

BOSTON – A Honduran national residing in Fall River, Mass., was sentenced on Nov. 12, 2025 in federal court in Boston for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.

Denis Aguirre-Murillo, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to four months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In September 2025, Aguirre-Murillo pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2025.  

Aguirre-Murillo has been deported from the United States to Honduras on three occasions, in July 2007, March 2016 and January 2021. Sometime after his January 2021 removal, Aguirre-Murillo unlawfully re-entered the United States at an unknown time and place. Immigration authorities became aware that Aguirre-Murillo was unlawfully present in the United States on May 4, 2024, when he was arrested under an alias in Fall River for charges that included intimidation and rape. The rape charge was later amended to an indecent assault and battery charge.

Immigration authorities lodged a detainer for Aguirre-Murillo. However, on Feb. 19, 2025, Aguirre-Murillo was released from state custody without notification. He was later located and taken into immigration custody on May 29, 2025.

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 Mackenzie A. Queenin of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Fall River man has been charged with drug distribution offenses involving cocaine base, more commonly known as crack cocaine.

Antonio Calderon, 43, was charged with four counts of distribution of 28 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing cocaine base. Calderon was arrested on Nov. 14, 2025 and was ordered detained following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston.

According to the charging documents, Calderon is alleged to have sold over 28 grams of crack cocaine in the Fall River area on four separate occasions: June 17; June 24; July 16; and Sept. 18, 2025.

According to the charging documents, Calderon has been arraigned for 31 charges dating back to 2000 and has 13 convictions, including for trafficking cocaine for which he was sentenced to 10-15 years in state prison.

The charges of distribution of 28 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing cocaine base 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. 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 Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Fall River Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Reynolds III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A Dominican national pleaded guilty on Nov. 13, 2025 to resisting federal officers during an immigration arrest.

Eddy Rafael Matos-Lara, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, or interfering with federal officers engaged in the performance of official duties. United States District Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Dec. 15, 2025. Matos-Lara is subjection to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. The defendant was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2025.

Matos-Lara unlawfully entered the United States on Jan. 5, 2024, at Nogales, Arizona.  He was identified and fingerprinted by border officials and released into the community.  

On or about June 15, 2025, Matos-Lara was arrested in Boston by local authorities and charged with two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Immigration authorities were dispatched on June 16, 2025, to take Matos-Lara into custody at his arraignment at Roxbury District Court.

At the courthouse, two federal law enforcement officers approached Matos-Lara, identified themselves and informed Matos-Lara that he was under arrest for being unlawfully present in the United States. Matos-Lara resisted arrest, assaulted both federal officers and attempted to flee. After several minutes of resistance, Matos-Lara was placed in custody. Both officers received medical attention for injuries sustained during the arrest.

The charge of forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, or interfering with federal officers engaged in the performance of official duties provides for a sentence of up to eight 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; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Fall River man has been arrested and charged for allegedly possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and distributing cocaine.

Carlos Perez, 40, has been charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and one count of distributing a controlled substance. Perez was arrested on Nov. 13, 2025 and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, was ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for Nov. 19, 2025.

According to charging documents, on May 5, 2025, Perez sold cocaine as well as a .45 caliber pistol and ammunition to a cooperating witness. It is further alleged that, Perez sold a Sig Sauer, P230 SL, .380 caliber pistol and ammunition on June 2, 2025 as well as a Ruger, Max 9, 9mm pistol and ammunition on June 30, 2025.

Perez is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition due multiple prior convictions. According to the charging documents, Perez has 61 adult charges on his record and over 15 criminal convictions, including a 2015 state conviction for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class A Substance, for which he served two years in the house of corrections, as well as two separate convictions for Assault and Battery Dangerous Weapon in 2008, for which he received a two-year suspended sentence and six months in the house of corrections.

The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of distributing a controlled substance 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 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 Massachusetts State Police and the Fall River and New Bedford Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Reynolds III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A Chicopee man was arrested on Nov. 12, 2025 for allegedly distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Thomas Selby, 46, of Chicopee, Mass., was charged by criminal complaint with one count of distribution of child pornography. Selby was arrested on Nov. 12, 2025 and made an initial appearance in federal court in Springfield later that day. He was subsequently released on conditions following a detention hearing held on Nov. 14, 2025.

According to the charging documents, in early 2024, Selby was identified as an active member of a group dedicated to CSAM on an internet-based messaging and social-media application. On Nov. 12, 2025, searches of Selby’s person and residence allegedly resulted in the recovery of various electronic devices – including smart phones. It is alleged that an initial forensic examination of Selby’s phone revealed multiple files consistent with CSAM and his active participation in multiple groups dedicated to the viewing and sharing of CSAM. Further review of Selby’s devices remains on-going.

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 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 and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of the Homeland Security Investigations New England made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas A. Barnico, Jr. of the Springfield Branch Office 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.

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.

BOSTON – A Brazilian national unlawfully residing in Marlborough pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to trafficking firearms.

Guilherme Fernandes-Tavares, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of dealing firearms without a license. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Feb. 26, 2026. Fernandes-Tavares was charged by criminal complaint in March 2025 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2025.

Between December 2023 and May 2024, Fernandes-Tavares sold 11 firearms and ammunition across 10 different dates and offered others for sale. Specifically, the firearms Fernandes-Tavares sold were pistols, some of which were privately manufactured firearms without serial numbers and one of which had an obliterated serial number. One of the firearms was sold with a large capacity magazine that could hold 28 rounds of ammunition. In addition, a package intended for Fernandes-Tavares sent from Florida was intercepted and found to contain an additional firearm.

The charge of engaging in the business of dealing 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. 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 U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Massachusetts State Police; and the Westborough Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Reynolds III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Windsor man pleaded guilty on Oct. 22, 2025 in federal court in Springfield to making online threats and extortionate demands.

Michael Andrew Rodgers, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of threatening interstate communications and one count of extortionate interstate communications before U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni, who scheduled sentencing for Feb. 4, 2026. Rodgers was arrested and charged in September 2024.

On April 5, 2023, Rodgers posted a threat on the Google review page of a Springfield medical practice that stated: “They gonna get what’s coming soon. […] Will be there in the morning to get them myself one way or another. Locked and loaded.” Beneath this text, Rodgers included an image of a hand holding a gun.

On April 6, 2024, Rodgers submitted a threat through a fraud reporting website for the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General with the intent to extort Social Security disability benefits. Specifically, Rodgers stated: “I m gonna start taking what I need. By any means nessacary. […] GIVE ME MY MONEY OR IM GONNA START DROPPING PEOPLE.  YOULL NEVER FIND MY WEAPONS SO STOP LOOKING AND GIVE ME MY CHECK.  […]  NEXT TIME I SLICE SOMETHING OPEN. IT WONT BE ME. ITLL BE ONE OF YOUR CHILDREN ILL MERC A WHOLE SCHOOL AND NOT GIVE A F***. […] SO YOULL BE MY FIRST TARGET IF YOU KEEP REFUSING TO HELP ME.”

The charge of threatening interstate communications 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 extortionate interstate communications provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Massachusetts State Police, Springfield Police Department, Windsor Police Department and Federal Protective Service. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – The former Director of Fleet and Facilities for the company that manages the operations and maintenance of Boston Public Schools’ (BPS) fleet of school buses was arrested and charged today for allegedly soliciting bribes from vendors who worked on the buses and in the bus yards. One of the vendors who allegedly paid bribes was also arrested and charged.

Michael Muller, 59, of Millbury, Mass. and John Colantuoni, 60, of Westwood Mass. were charged in a 21-count indictment. Muller is charged with five counts of soliciting and accepting bribes as an agent of BPS, five counts of conspiring to commit bribery, five counts of conspiring to commit honest services mail fraud and four counts of extortion. Colantuoni is charged with one count of paying bribes to Muller as an agent of BPS, one count of conspiring to commit bribery, one count of conspiring to commit honest services mail fraud and one count of obstruction of justice. Muller will make his initial appearance in federal court in Boston at 2:30 p.m. this afternoon. Colantuoni was arrested in Florida this morning and is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court in Tampa today. Colantuoni will appear in Boston at a later date.

According to court documents, Muller’s employer, the “Transportation Company,” had a contract with BPS to manage the operations and maintenance of BPS’ fleet of over 700 school buses. When not on the road, the buses were kept in bus yards owned by the City of Boston. Muller allegedly supervised all the Transportation Company employees who worked in the yards. According to the BPS contract, Muller’s job was to “ensure that BPS’s fleet is safe, well-maintained and ready for service on a daily basis.”

The Transportation Company subcontracted out much of its work on the BPS contract, including to vendors who cleaned the buses, made autobody and mechanical repairs, and plowed the snow from the bus yards. Muller allegedly managed and supervised all the vendors and had the authority to fire them. The vendors gave their invoices to the Transportation Company, which forwarded them to BPS without any markup. BPS paid the invoice amounts to the Transportation Company, allegedly from its annual transportation budget funded by taxpayer money. The Transportation Company then mailed checks to the vendors.

Between 2010 and December 2021, Muller allegedly solicited and accepted a total of more than $870,000 in bribes and kickbacks from five vendors, including Colantuoni. The alleged bribes included, among other things, cash, checks, a used pickup truck worth $15,000 and $85,000 in building materials for Muller’s vacation house. Muller also allegedly required one vendor to hire his adult child.

According to the indictment, Muller conspired to have “Vendor Two,” whose company power-washed the outside of BPS school buses and the engines, to inflate Vendor Two’s invoices by claiming to have washed more engines than Vendor Two actually had. It is alleged that Muller also told Vendor Two to pay him part of Vendor Two’s total revenues from the Transportation Company as a kickback. Muller allegedly hounded Vendor Two as soon as the Transportation Company mailed Vendor Two a check, wanting to meet as soon as the check cleared so that Muller could collect his cut. Muller and Vendor Two allegedly exchanged the following texts in 2016-2018:

• Muller: “Did the eagle land?” Vendor Two: “Not there yesterday. Will see on Monday.”
• Vendor Two: “Check did not clear. You got $2,500 last week. $5,000 this week. $500 more next week. $8,000 total….” Muller: “Just add to engine u owe for February.”
• Muller: “What time we meeting and were [sic]? We can meet on pike at rest stop if that works. Also are u giving my whole half or half of what you have? I have today off and want to do some shopping so sooner would be great.” Vendor Two: “Bank opens @9 am. Rest area @ Natick.”

It is further alleged that Muller conspired to have “Vendor Three” invoice the Transportation Company $189,444 for work Vendor Three never performed – specifically, cleaning snow off the roofs of BPS buses – and paying Muller most of the money.

Muller also allegedly demanded “Vendor Four” pay him a 5% kickback on Vendor Four’s revenues from the Transportation Company. Vendor Four sometimes paid the kickback with checks made out to a landscaping company Muller owned, in exchange for fake invoices from the landscaping company for services it never performed.

John Colantuoni was the president and half-owner of a small construction and landscaping company in Norwood, Mass. The indictment alleges that Colantuoni’s company bought approximately $85,000 in building materials from a lumber company for Muller’s vacation house in Pascoag, R.I., and, at the same time, revenues to Colantuoni’s company from the Transportation Company increased dramatically. Muller allegedly tried to conceal his business relationship with Colantuoni by telling the lumber company that Colantuoni was his uncle. Colantuoni allegedly tried to keep Muller’s address off the lumber company’s invoices, at one point telling the lumber company to use a false address in Falmouth, Mass. The indictment further alleges that Colantuoni testified in the grand jury and made false and misleading statements about his company’s purchase of the building materials for Muller.

“Families and taxpayers trust that the people overseeing their children’s school buses are doing the right thing, not looking for a payout. As alleged, these defendants broke that trust — treating taxpayer-funded contracts as a source of illicit income and, for years, siphoning off money that should have supported students. Their alleged conduct undermines confidence in a system that families rely on every day,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “We are committed to rooting out corruption wherever it occurs and ensuring that public dollars are used for public good.”

“Today’s arrests are shining a light on an alleged bribery and kickback scheme spearheaded by the manager of a company entrusted by Boston Public Schools to maintain its fleet of vehicles used to transport the city’s most precious cargo, its children,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “These two men stand accused of padding their income with ease, turning a tidy profit at the expense of taxpayers. Add in the allegations of extortion and obstruction of justice and you’ve practically got a playbook of the varied ways to violate the public’s trust. Make no mistake, the FBI will continue to work with our partners to ensure those who violate their obligations to the public are brought to justice.”

The bribery and bribery conspiracy charges each provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The extortion charges each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge for obstruction of justice 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 on 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 Tom Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Wichers of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.

BOSTON – An Athol, Mass. man has been arrested and charged for sexually exploiting minors and receiving and possessing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). Defendant allegedly convinced minors to send CSAM over Snapchat.

Michael Indelicato, 41, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Worcester on one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, aiding and abetting; one count of sexual exploitation of a minor; two counts of receipt of child pornography; and one count of possession of child pornography. Indelicato was arrested on Oct. 7, 2025 and remains in federal custody.

According to court records, on or about Nov. 16, 2020, Indelicato told an individual over Snapchat that he would pay the individual $1,500 to make CSAM of the individual’s younger sibling, a pre-pubescent minor, and to send them to Indelicato. It is alleged that Indelicato convinced the individual to make the CSAM and Indelicato received it from the individual over Snapchat. Later, on or about Jan. 12, 2021, Indelicato allegedly convinced a different minor over Snapchat to make and send him CSAM of the minor, which Indelicato received from the minor over Snapchat. Further, on May 1, 2025, a search warrant was executed at Indelicato’s home, where allegedly a large amount of CSAM belonging to Indelicato was found.  

The charge of sexual exploitation of a minor provides for a sentence of at least 15 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 receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five 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. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office 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.

BOSTON – A former Assumption University student was sentenced on Oct. 14, 2025 for hacking into the computer networks of two U.S.-based companies and extorting them for ransoms.

Matthew D. Lane, 20, of Sterling, Mass., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to four years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $25,000, restitution of $14,075,540.58 and forfeiture. In June 2024, Lane pleaded guilty to cyber extortion conspiracy, cyber extortion, unauthorized access to protected computers and aggravated identity theft.  

Lane was sentenced in connection with two separate cyber extortion incidents. Between April and May 2024, Lane agreed with others to extort a $200,000 ransom payment from a telecommunications company by threatening to publicly disseminate data that had previously been stolen from the company’s computer network. When the victim company questioned whether a ransom payment would in fact end the threat of its customer data being leaked, Lane responded, “We are the only ones with a copy of this data now. Stop this nonsense [or] your executives and employees will see the same fate . . . . Make the correct decision and pay the ransom. If you keep stalling, it will be leaked.”

Between August and December 2024, Lane used stolen login credentials to access the computer network of a second victim company – a software and cloud storage company that served school systems in the United States, Canada and elsewhere. Lane caused personally identifying information of students and teachers stored on that company’s networks to be transferred to a computer server Lane leased in Ukraine. Later, the second victim company and others received threats that the names, email addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, medical information, residential addresses, parent and guardian information, and passwords, among other data, of more than 60 million students and 10 million teachers would be “leak[ed] . . . worldwide” if the company did not pay a ransom of approximately $2.85 million in Bitcoin.  

U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. The Assumption University Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Westfield man was sentenced on Oct. 17, 2025 in federal court in Worcester for his role in a conspiracy to traffic drugs from California to Massachusetts and launder the proceeds.

David Cruz, 56, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to nine years in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release. On Sept. 6, 2017, Cruz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute heroin, conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a previously convicted felon.  

Between approximately 2015 and his arrest on Sept. 12, 2016, Cruz conspired to – and did – import cocaine, heroin and fentanyl from Mexico into California, and then transport it across the United States and distribute it to local dealers in western Massachusetts and southern Vermont. According to court records, Cruz distributed approximately 32 kilos of cocaine and approximately 1 kilo of fentanyl. Cruz also used various methods to launder the proceeds to his organization in California and Mexico, including through wire transfers and cash money drops. Lastly, Cruz possessed a loaded .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol to protect his drugs and drug proceeds.  

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. DEA’s Carlsbad Resident Office, Homeland Security Investigations and the Westfield Police Department assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven H. Breslow and Neil L. Desroches of the Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Tewksbury man has been arrested and charged on Oct. 7, 2025 with distribution, possession, and receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) allegedly containing images of children between five and seven years old.

Brian McCarthy, 52, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 4, 2025 on one count of distribution of child pornography; one count of possession of child pornography; and one count of receipt of child pornography. McCarthy was arrested at home on Oct. 7, 2025 on a criminal complaint and was released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston.

According to the charging documents, on or about Oct. 6, 2025, McCarthy allegedly exchanged messages with another user on Telegram and knowingly distributed to that user 10 files appearing to depict CSAM. The children in at least two of these videos appeared to be between approximately five and seven years old. On Oct. 7, 2025, McCarthy was allegedly found to knowingly possess files appearing to depict child pornography.

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. 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 charge of receipt of child pornography provides 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 and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by HSI Columbus, Massachusetts State Police and Tewksbury Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm 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.

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.

BOSTON – The owner of a Sudbury accounting firm and a real estate company has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty to paying an executive more than $1.6 million in compensation and fringe benefits under the table, and to making a fraudulent application for more than $179,000 in pandemic relief, through a multi-year scheme.

Charles D. Katz, 63, was charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and two counts of loan fraud. The defendant pleaded guilty on Oct. 20, 2025 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 2, 2026 before U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin.

According to the charging documents, Katz and an employee, who served as the Director of Corporate Services at Katz’s accounting firm and as Chief Operating Officer at Katz’s real estate firm, allegedly agreed that Katz would pay the employee off the books so that the employee 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 the employee’s family, provided rent-free housing to the employee’s ex-wife, paid college tuition for the employee’s children, and paid personal expenses that the employee and the employee’s ex-wife charged on corporate credit cards. All told, it is alleged that Katz paid the employee at least $1,668,487 in unreported income and avoided taxes of at least $835,105. It is also alleged that in 2020, Katz and the employee fraudulently applied for Paycheck Protection Program loans for both of Katz’s firms and obtained $179,900 which Katz used in part to fund the under-the-table compensation he paid the employee.

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 loan fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five 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 the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil, Deputy Chief of the Securities, Financial and Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Springfield, Mass. man has been arrested and charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.

Terrance Brown, 41, was charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Brown was arrested on Oct. 31, 2025, and following an initial appearance in federal court in Springfield, was ordered detained.

It is alleged that on or about Jan. 19, 2025, Brown possessed a 9mm Ruger model LC9 semi-automatic pistol with a defaced serial number and nine rounds of ammunition despite having a number of prior felony convictions. According to court records, Brown has a 2010 conviction for manslaughter; 2002 conviction for assault with a dangerous weapon; 2002 conviction for distribution of cocaine; and a 2001 conviction for distribution of cocaine.

The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Feld Division, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Dorchak of the Springfield Branch 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 – A South Carolina man was sentenced on Nov. 3, 2025 in federal court in Boston for his role in a sex trafficking conspiracy.

Tyreik Reid, 21, of Beaufort County, S.C., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Angel Kelley to 70 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Reid was also ordered to pay $7,000 in restitution to his victim. In June 2025, Reid pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of an adult by force, threats of force, fraud and coercion. He was among six individuals charged in July 2024.

From in and around April 2023 until August 2023, Reid conspired with others to traffic a Massachusetts woman. Reid encouraged a co-defendant to advertise his victim and to have her “going all night.” When Reid’s co-defendant brought the victim to South Carolina where Reid was living, he took a more hands-on role. Specifically, he drove the victim to engage in commercial sex dates, timed her to make sure she did not go over the time limit, monitored sex buyers’ payments to the victim and made at least $7,000 from his role in the conspiracy.  

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 Civil Rights & Human Trafficking Unit and Trial Attorney Francisco Zornosa of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit prosecuted the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.  

BOSTON – An Uxbridge man pleaded guilty on Oct. 8, 2025 in federal court in Worcester to possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Scott Morrill, 52, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography before U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman who scheduled sentencing for Jan. 22, 2026. Morrill was arrested and charged in April 2025.

Morrill utilized a Google account to store hundreds of images of CSAM material.  Google identified the use of their services to store CSAM and notified the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children. A subsequent investigation identified CSAM material stored both in the defendant’s Google account and on a computer that he possessed at his home.  

At the time of the offense, Morrill was on federal supervised release for a 2013 conviction of distribution of child pornography, for which he was sentenced to five years in federal prison.

The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of not less than 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, a minimum of five years and up to life 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 Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Uxbridge Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of the Worcester Branch Office 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.

BOSTON – A Queens, N.Y. man pleaded guilty on Oct. 15, 2025 in federal court in Boston to a scheme to steal over $3 million in COVID relief tax credits using the stolen identity of a corporate executive in New Jersey.

Linval Jackson, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud; one count of bank fraud; and one count of aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Jan. 28, 2026. Jackson was arrested and charged in July 2024.

Jackson and his co-conspirator Isaiah Aaron Tenryk used a fraudulent driver’s license, as well as the name and Social Security number of a corporate executive in New Jersey, to open a bank account in Boston. Tenryk then deposited an approximately $3 million Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) check payable to the executive’s company into the fraudulent account. ERTC is a refundable tax credit for certain eligible businesses that had employees and were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

After the check was deposited, Jackson attempted to link the fraudulent account to other bank accounts he controlled to transfer the stolen money.

Tenryk pleaded guilty to bank fraud and identity theft in September 2024 and was sentenced to three years in prison in December 2024.

The charges of bank fraud and bank fraud conspiracy each provide for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory two-year sentence in prison to be served consecutive to any sentence imposed, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; 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 U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Peabody man, and Gangster Disciple gang member, pleaded guilty on Sept. 30, 2025 to making threats of physical violence to extort money from two victims.

Damien Willette, 30, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to make interstate communications with the intent to extort and making interstate communications with intent to extort. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Jan. 21, 2026. Willette was indicted in March 2025 along with co-conspirators William Walley and Michael O’Shea.

Willette was the cellmate of Walley in March 2023 and, later, the cellmate of O’Shea from May 2023 through June 2023. Willette and his alleged co-conspirators threatened two individuals – a former Gangster Disciple who was recruited into the gang by Willette (Victim 2) and their romantic partner (Victim 1) – while serving state prison sentences.

Willette expected Victim 2 to provide him with financial assistance during his incarceration from November 2020 to May 2024, as well as to his alleged fellow incarcerated gang members. Gangster Disciple gang members refer to this practice as “aid and assistance.” Willette told Victim 2 that he would be “blessed out” of the gang if he continued to provide “aid and assistance.” However, Victim 2 attempted to disassociate from the Gangster Disciples gang soon after his recruitment. When Victim 2 stopped providing assistance, Victim 1 continued on his behalf.

On or about March 2023, Willette and his alleged co-conspirators started threatening the victims with physical violence if they stopped providing money to them while they were incarcerated. For example, Willette warned the victims that if they failed to provide “aid and assistance,” Victim 2 would not be “blessed out” when Willette was released from state prison. Willette specified that he would have gang members pistol whip the victims that “it’s going to be bad for you and everyone you know” if they failed to provide “aid and assistance.”

The charge of conspiracy to make interstate communications with the intent to extort 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 making interstate communications with intent to extort provides for a sentence up to 20 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. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Department of Correction and the Lawrence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is 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 gun violence and other violent crime, 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 details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A Newton man was sentenced on Oct. 8, 2025, in federal court in Boston for illegally possessing two firearms and ammunition.

James Welch, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper to 30 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In June 2025, Welch pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Welch was charged in February 2025.

On Feb. 28, 2025, during a search of Welch’s Newton residence, a pistol and a rifle, as well as ammunition were recovered. Welch is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to multiple prior felony convictions.

The charge of possessing ammunition after being convicted of a felony provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of a $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 Foley and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. The Newton Police Department provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric L. Hawkins of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Nantucket man who is an associate of the transnational criminal organization 18th Street Gang, pleaded guilty on Nov. 6, 2025, to drug distribution charges.

John Angel, 32, pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. United States District Judge Myong J. Joun scheduled sentencing for Feb. 19, 2026.

In March 2024 and July 2024, Angel met with a cooperating witness to sell narcotics. Specifically, on March 27, 2024, Angel directed the cooperating witness to meet him in East Boston, where he sold approximately 50 grams of powder fentanyl. Later, on July 10, 2024, Angel met the cooperating witness on Nantucket and sold more powder fentanyl together with a quantity of cocaine.

The charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance 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.

U.S. 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, and Explosives made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations; the 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. Attorneys Fred Wyshak and Sarah Hoefle of the Criminal Division 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.

BOSTON – A Dracut, Mass. woman was sentenced on Oct. 2, 2025 in federal court in Boston for disclosing information presented to a federal grand jury to unauthorized individuals.

Jessica M. Leslie, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to two years of supervised release, with two months to be served in home detention. In August 2025, Leslie pleaded guilty to one count of criminal contempt after being charged on July 11, 2025. 

Beginning in May 2022, Leslie was sworn as a federal grand juror and was advised of the obligation of secrecy imposed by the federal rules. On various dates between Aug. 11, 2022 and March 4, 2024, Leslie disclosed sealed information to unauthorized individuals, including the names of various witnesses appearing before a federal grand jury, the substance of witness testimony and other evidence presented to the grand jury, in violation of the Federal Rules and court order. Leslie talked explicitly about two matters in the grand jury to a friend, who then publicly posted about and engaged in private chats on those matters, sharing specific details passed on by Leslie. In one instance, the friend posted about a sealed indictment before the targets were arrested. 

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Chief of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Wakefield, Mass. man has pleaded guilty to knowingly concealing the source of material support or resources intended for the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).

Mateo Ventura, 20, pleaded guilty on Oct. 15, 2025 to one count of concealment of financing of terrorism. U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper set sentencing for Jan. 8, 2026. Ventura was charged by complaint in June 2023 and was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2023.

According to the charging documents, Ventura provided multiple gift cards to an individual he believed was an ISIS supporter, with the intention that they be sold on the dark web for a little less than face value, and with the profits being used to support ISIS. Ventura stated that he wanted the proceeds to go to ISIS “for war on kuffar,” (disbelievers). In total between January and May 2023, Ventura made donations totaling $705.

The charge of attempting knowingly concealing the source of material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, 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; Assistant Attorney John A. Eisenberg for the Justice Department’s National Security Division; and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy H. Kistner of the National Security Unit is prosecuting the case. Valuable assistance was provided by Trial Attorney Michael Dittoe of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.

BOSTON – A couple from Randolph, Mass. was sentenced on Oct. 14, 2025 in federal court in Boston for running a Ponzi scheme that defrauded dozens of individual investors out of millions of dollars.

Milendophe Duperier, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun to five years in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Judge Joun sentenced Vanessa Joseph, 27, to time served (one day), to be followed by two years of supervised release. Restitution for both defendants will be determined at a later date. In July 2025, both Duperier and Joseph pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Duperier and Joseph were charged in May 2025.

Duperier acted as an investment advisor, soliciting investments from individuals and advising them that their funds would be invested in the securities markets. Joseph was Duperier’s girlfriend and business partner. Between early 2018 and December 2022, Duperier and Joseph defrauded dozens of individual investors by falsely representing that Duperier would use the entirety of their investments to purchase securities. However, instead of investing the funds in the securities markets as promised, Duperier and Joseph used the funds to pay prior investors and for personal purchases and expenses – including payments for luxury vehicles and mortgage and credit card debt.

Duperier and Joseph defrauded individual investors, many of whom had invested their life savings, of more than $3.2 million. As part of the scheme, Duperier and Joseph applied for and received small business loans for various entities and used the loan proceeds to pay purported investment returns to victim investors. In addition, Duperier made false statements and excuses to investors as to why he had not made promised interest payments and/or could not return the investors’ principal.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mackenzie A. Queenin and Leslie A. Wright of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.  

BOSTON – A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty on Oct.1, 2025 in federal court in Boston to coercing a woman to travel across state lines to engage in commercial sex and robbing multiple Massachusetts convenience stores, some at gunpoint.

David Walker, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of coercing a person to travel for purposes of prostitution and five counts of robbery interfering with interstate commerce, commonly referred to as Hobbs Act robbery. U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley scheduled sentencing for Jan. 7, 2026. Walker was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024.

Walker met the victim on social media and initiated a romantic relationship. When they struggled financially, Walker coerced and pushed the victim to engage in commercial sex, requiring the victim to make $800 per day. Walker threatened to kill the victim and her family members if she disobeyed him. Walker coerced and forced the victim to travel from Massachusetts to Maine for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex.

Additionally, on different dates in October 2023, Walker robbed four separate 7-Eleven convenience stores in West Roxbury, Cambridge, Watertown and Pepperell and attempted to rob a fifth location in Everett. In some of the robberies, Walker brandished a firearm.

If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact [email protected].

The charge of coercing a person to travel for purposes of prostitution provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of Hobbs Act robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 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 Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and the Boston, Cambridge, Watertown, Everett and Pepperell Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Torey B. Cummings of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Lynn was sentenced on Oct. 24, 2025 in federal court in Boston for making threats to an elected official.

Justin David Gaglio, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to two years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. On Sept. 9, 2025, Gaglio pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting interstate threats. He was charged in October 2024.

Beginning in or around January 2023, Gaglio began contacting the elected official via online submissions through the elected official’s website. Between January 2023 and September 2024, Gaglio submitted over 80 separate messages to the elected official via the website – sometimes sending multiple messages within minutes of each other.  

On or about Sept. 8, 2024, Gaglio submitted a contact request to the elected official’s website in which he threatened to violently murder the elected official and their family. Specifically, Gaglio said that the elected official’s entire family would “die a horrific death,” and that he was “contemplating going [to the elected official’s] home and butchering” the elected official’s family.

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 United States Capital Police, the United States Secret Service, the Massachusetts State Police and the Lynn and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea E. Porter of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Lowell man was sentenced on Oct. 8, 2025 for distributing thousands of counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine, including to a member of the Asian Boyz gang.

Scott Fournier, a/k/a “S.G.,” 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In June 2025, Fournier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine; two counts of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine; two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine; and three counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine.

According to court documents, a long-term investigation identified that Asian Boyz gang members and associates had access to a plentiful supply of dangerous, homemade pills pressed with varying doses of methamphetamine and caffeine designed to resemble pharmaceutical-grade Adderall.

Between March 2, 2023 and May 12, 2023, Fournier supplied an Asian Boyz gang member with more than 2,000 methamphetamine pills to be used in street deals. Fournier’s fingerprints were identified on one of the bags containing the pills.

The investigation subsequently traced Fournier’s supply operation to a storage unit in Tyngsborough. Security video recordings from the facility showed Fournier routinely accessing the storage unit, including at the times in which he delivered methamphetamine pills to the Asian Boyz gang member. During a search of the storage unit in October 2023, 13,464 counterfeit “Adderall” pills containing methamphetamine were found – with a combined weight of over four kilograms – as well as other types of pills. Upon being approached by law enforcement, following the search of his storage unit, Fournier was found in possession of a bag that contained an additional 1,684 counterfeit “Adderall” pills made with methamphetamine.      

Additionally, over the course of five separate occasions between April 2024 and October 2024, Fournier sold approximately 8,000 counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine – with a combined weight of over two kilograms – in recorded deals to a cooperating witness.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Superintendent Gregory C. Hudon of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Billerica, Haverhill, North Andover and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted 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 gun violence and other violent crime, 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.

This case is also 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.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A Lowell man was arrested and charged on Oct. 1, 2025 for allegedly distributing cocaine base (crack cocaine).

Marc Sanchez, 31, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. The defendant made an initial appearance in federal court in Boston on Oct. 1, 2025 and remains detained in federal custody.

According to court filings, Sanchez was allegedly dealing crack cocaine out of his residence in a large apartment complex in Lowell. Specifically, it is alleged that on Sept. 17, 2025, a cooperating witness arranged to meet Sanchez at his apartment to purchase an ounce and a half of crack cocaine. It is also alleged that at the time of meeting Sanchez was observed meeting with an unknown drug supplier in a car outside his apartment building to acquire powder cocaine. Sanchez then allegedly returned to his apartment with the cooperating witness, where Sanchez “cooked” the powder cocaine into crack cocaine, separated and weighed the substance, and then sold it to the cooperating witness. It is further alleged that Sanchez used phone numbers and cars registered in other people’s names to deal crack cocaine. According to court documents, there are at least four outstanding arrest warrants for Sanchez in connection with open criminal cases in Derry District Court in New Hampshire, and in Boston, Lawrence and Lowell District Courts in Massachusetts.

The charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance 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; Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Greg C. Hudon, Superintendent of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Billerica, Haverhill, Methuen, North Andover and Salem (Mass.) Police Departments and the Manchester, New Hampshire Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III 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 defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A Lexington, Mass. attorney was sentenced on Oct. 8, 2025 in federal court in Boston for defrauding multiple Massachusetts victims, including two relatives.

David Smerling, 75, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to nine years in prison, three years of supervised release, restitution of $3,534,316 and forfeiture.  In June 2025, Smerling pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud, two counts of money laundering and one count of aggravated identity theft.

Smerling was sentenced in connection with three separate schemes. Between January 2016 and May 2020, Smerling worked as a bookkeeper for three Massachusetts companies and embezzled more than $2.8 million from the companies and their owners. He did so by transferring funds first to a bank account owned by one of the victims that Smerling controlled before moving the money to bank accounts in his own name, or directly from the companies’ accounts to bank accounts in his own name. Smerling concealed his scheme by changing the mailing address on victims’ bank statements to his home address and refusing to share the online banking password for the victims’ accounts. In April 2020, a victim discovered Smerling had transferred $350,000 from one of the companies to himself without authorization. After these funds were returned, Smerling changed the banking passwords and again transferred $350,000 from the company to himself.  

Between May 2020 and August 2021, Smerling embezzled more than $475,000 from a trust established for the benefit of a relative with special needs for which Smerling served as the trustee. Smerling transferred trust funds to bank accounts he controlled before sending the funds to bank accounts in his wife’s name or using the funds to pay for personal expenses. He concealed his scheme by making lulling payments to the beneficiary so he would not discover the trust had been depleted.  

Between May 2023 and April 2025, Smerling embezzled more than $175,000 from a relative with dementia for whom Smerling served as the financial power of attorney, including while he was on pretrial release after his January 2025 arrest in this matter. Smerling transferred funds from the victim’s accounts to accounts he controlled, used a credit card in the victim’s name for personal purchases and took out a loan in the victim’s name. To conceal this scheme, Smerling misrepresented the purpose of the transfers to the financial institutions in which the victim’s accounts were held.  

U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – An Indian national, residing in New York, pleaded guilty on Oct. 22, 2025 in federal court in Boston to participating as the “robber” in staged armed robberies in furtherance of a visa fraud conspiracy.  

Tanveer Sidhu, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud. U.S. District Court Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Jan. 13, 2026.

Beginning in March 2023, Sidhu and co-conspirators set up and carried out staged armed robberies of at least nine convenience/liquor stores and fast-food restaurants across the United States – including at least five in Massachusetts. The purpose of the staged robberies was to allow the store clerks to claim that they were victims of a violent crime on an application for U nonimmigrant status (U Visa). A U Visa is available to victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and who have been helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.  

During the staged robberies, Sidhu, acting as the “robber,” would threaten store clerks and/or owners with an apparent firearm before taking cash from the register and fleeing, while the interaction was captured on store surveillance video. The clerks and/or owners would wait five or more minutes until the “robber” had escaped to a nearby getaway car before calling police to report the “crime.” The “victims” were paid to participate in the scheme. For example, one purported victim paid $20,000 to participate as a victim in one of the staged armed robberies. In turn, the co-conspirator who organized the scheme paid the store owners for the use of their stores for the staged robbery and paid Sidhu for his assistance.

At least two purported victim co-conspirators submitted U Visa applications based on being victims of the staged armed robberies.

The charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $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 Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of New York and the Western District of Washington; FBI’s New York and Seattle Field Offices; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; Massachusetts State Police; Worcester County District Attorney’s Office; and the Hingham, Marshfield, Randolph, Weymouth, Worcester, Upper Darby, (Pa.), West Pittston (Pa.), Louisville, (Ky.) and Bean Station (Tenn.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elianna J. Nuzum and Jessica L. Soto of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Guatemalan national unlawfully residing in New Bedford was sentenced on Oct. 1, 2025 in federal court in Boston for illegally reentering the United States after deportation.

Manuel Ruiz Luis, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Julia Kobick to six months in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In June 2025, Ruiz Luis pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. In May 2025, Ruiz Luis was indicted by a federal grand jury.

Ruiz Luis was first deported from the United States to Guatemala in April 1996 and reentered the United States illegally sometime thereafter. Ruiz Luis was removed from the United States a second time on March 28, 2012. Sometime after his March 2012 removal, Ruiz Luis illegally reentered the United States without permission.

Prior to his 2012 removal, Ruiz Luis had multiple criminal convictions including one charge of operating under the influence and four separate charges of operating a motor vehicle without a license.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra W. Amrhein of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Guatemalan man pleaded guilty on Oct. 30, 2025 in federal court in Boston to assaulting multiple officers during an immigration arrest.

Guido Andres Cuellar Batres, 24, pleaded guilty to forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, or interfering with federal officers engaged in the performance of official duties. U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley scheduled sentencing for Jan. 12, 2026. Cuellar was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 17, 2025.

Cuellar had overstayed his non-immigrant visa by more than four years and, as a result, there was an outstanding immigration warrant for his arrest. At approximately 9:45 a.m. on May 4, 2025, four federal officers – three Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and a Drug Enforcement Administration agent – set up surveillance in a parking lot in Marlborough. There, a vehicle was observed entering the parking lot, with Cuellar in the front passenger seat. The officers – who were wearing outer garments identifying themselves as law enforcement – approached the vehicle and ordered Cuellar, in both English and Spanish, to step out of the car.  Cuellar refused. The officers then instructed Cuellar and the driver to unlock the vehicle, but they did not do so. After being instructed to keep his hands visible, Cuellar reached down such that officers lost sight of his hands – raising concern that he might be reaching for a weapon.  Given this concern and the refusals to comply with orders, the officers broke the rear passenger side window, enabling them to gain entry to the vehicle and unlock the front passenger door.

Upon being removed from the vehicle, Cuellar resisted officer efforts to bring his arms behind his back for handcuffing. As officers continued to attempt to handcuff Cuellar, he tried to bite one of them in the leg, did bite another officer above his wrist and struck that officer in the head multiple times.  

After the officers succeeded in handcuffing Cuellar, he continued to resist. As agents attempted to secure Cuellar in the rear seat of their vehicle, he jumped numerous times to avoid being put in the vehicle. One of the officers entered the opposite side of the vehicle to pull Cuellar into the rear seat. As the officer took hold of Cuellar, he head-butted the officer and spat directly into the officer’s eyes and face.

The charge of forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, or interfering with federal officers engaged in the performance of official duties provides for a sentence of up to eight 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; Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston; and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. Richardson of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Guatemalan national unlawfully residing in Chelsea, Mass. pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Oct. 22, 2025 in federal court in Boston for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.

Leonardo Hernandez-Blanco, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien and was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to time served (approximately 10 months) followed by one year of supervised release. The defendant is now subject to deportation proceedings. Hernandez-Blanco was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2020.

Hernandez-Blanco was deported from the United States to Mexico on July 23, 2010 and on Feb. 11, 2020. Sometime after each of removal, Hernandez-Blanco illegally reentered the United States without permission.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston; and Chelsea Police Chief Keith E. Houghton made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case. 

BOSTON – A Guatemalan national unlawfully residing in Waltham pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Oct. 1, 2025 in federal court in Boston for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.

Kevin Elizar Reyes-Andres, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien and was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to time served (approximately three months). The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. Reyes-Andres was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2025.

Reyes-Andres was deported from the United States to Guatemala on Feb. 27, 2019. Sometime after his February 2019 removal, Reyes-Andres illegally reentered the United States without permission. On May 19, 2025, he was arrested by immigration authorities in Waltham. On that date, a car stop was initiated. Reyes-Andres fled and was later observed getting into another vehicle, attempting to flee again on foot before being apprehended.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case. 

BOSTON – A Guatemalan national residing in Chelsea, Mass. has been charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.

Esteban Chavez-Gonzalez, 35, is charged with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Chavez-Gonzalez was arrested on Oct. 30, 2025 in Gray, Maine and extradited to the District of Massachusetts. Following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston on Nov. 6, 2025, the defendant was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond and special conditions.

Chavez-Gonzalez was deported from the United States in April of 2013. According to the charging documents, at some point he unlawfully reentered the U.S. and, on Nov. 8, 2020, was arrested for a sexual assault for which he was convicted in 2022. Chavez-Gonzalez is a registered sex offender.

The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, one year 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. Attorney Elizabeth Riley, Chief of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights 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.

BOSTON – Four Dominican nationals have been extradited to the United States for their alleged roles in connection with a transnational “call center” operation in the Dominican Republic that tricked hundreds of elderly victims in the United States into believing that their grandchildren or other close family members were in trouble and needed money. In total, the investigation identified over 400 victims with an average age of 84, including at least 50 in Massachusetts, and more than $5 million in losses.

Oscar Manuel Castanos Garcia, 33; Joel Jose Cruz Rodriguez, a/k/a “Paflow,” 33; Edward Jose Puello Garcia, 45; and Joel Francisco Mathilda Leon, 26, were arrested in August 2025 in the Dominican Republic and extradited on Sept. 30, 2025. They appeared in federal court in Boston on Oct. 1, 2025 and were detained pending trial. The defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024 with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud and one count of money laundering conspiracy.

According to the charging documents, the defendants, allegedly led by Castanos Garcia, ran a sophisticated “call center” operation in the Dominican Republic that tricked hundreds of elderly victims in the United States into believing that their grandchildren and other close family members were in trouble and needed money. Once the defendants obtained the money, they allegedly laundered their illicit proceeds back to the Dominican Republic.

Castanos Garcia allegedly oversaw call centers in the Dominican Republic, where he employed co-conspirators who spoke English and carried out what are commonly known as “grandparent scams.” These scams would begin with an “Opener” employee, who would call victims and pretend to be a grandchild who was in an accident. Then, a “Closer” would allegedly follow up with another call, pretending to be the grandchild’s attorney, asking for a sum of money to pay for the grandchild’s attorney’s fees. Castanos Garcia allegedly ran these call center locations with the help of several managers, including Cruz Rodriguez and Puello Garcia, who allegedly supervised, instructed and paid the employees.

As alleged in the indictment, callers for Castanos Garcia’s call centers would instruct elderly victims to provide cash to “runners” in the United States, including Joel Francisco Mathilda Leon. Most often, the callers would instruct victims to give the packages with cash to rideshare drivers who were ordered to the victim’s house by a runner. The runners would then allegedly have the unsuspecting rideshare drivers deliver the packages to the runners at nearby locations. In some cases, the callers would allegedly direct the victims to ship packages of cash to specified addresses via mail or commercial carriers.

Often times, the call center would allegedly call victims again and ask for additional funds for their grandchildren, sometimes two or three additional times. For example, callers would allegedly claim that there had been a “mix up” or that a “pregnant women’s baby was lost in the crash.”

At times, co-conspirators would allegedly order unwitting rideshare drivers to drive the elderly victims to the bank to withdraw additional funds.

It is further alleged that, at the direction of Castanos Garcia’s and others, the runners would engage in financial transactions with the victims’ money, including depositing cash into bank accounts and delivering it to co-conspirators in New York and elsewhere. Operators of the scheme relied on money launderers in the United States and the Dominican Republic to transmit proceeds from victims in the United States to Castanos Garcia and others in the Dominican Republic.

Members of the public who believe they may be victims of this case, or other elder fraud scams, should contact [email protected] or call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). Suspected fraud can also be reported on the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center.

The charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the loss to the victim. The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the amount of laundered funds, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Kevin Neal, Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs; the Dominican National Police; División Especial de Investigación del Crimen Organizado Internacional (DEICROI); Central de Investigaciones Criminales (DICRIM); and the Ministerio Publico. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Holcomb of the Criminal Division is 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.

###

ADDENDUM

Defendant

Alleged Role

Charges

Status

Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud and Wire Fraud

Money Laundering Conspiracy.

Luis German Santos

Burgos, a/k/a “Mambo Flow,” 32, of the Dominican Republic and Dorchester, Mass.

BOSTON – A Quincy man was sentenced on Oct. 8, 2025 in federal court in Boston for falsely claiming to sell repossessed vehicles as a law enforcement officer. Defendant claimed to be a Boston Police Detective, Massachusetts State Police Trooper and County Sheriff.

Recardo S. Beale, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun to 90 days in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Beale was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $199,885.00. In May 2025, Beale pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud.

Beale was an Officer for the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department from approximately April 2021 to November 2021. Between approximately October 2023 and February 2024, Beale claimed to six individuals that as a law enforcement officer, he had access to repossessed vehicles that he could sell at a low price.

At various times, Beale identified himself to these individuals as a Sheriff, a Boston Police Detective and/or a Massachusetts State Police Trooper. Beale did not, in fact, hold any of these positions when he made such representations. In reliance on Beale’s false representations, the individuals gave tens of thousands of dollars to Beale for purported repossessed vehicles. Among the vehicles that Beale falsely promised to sell were a BMW, an Audi and a Mercedes. Beale never delivered any such vehicles as Beale did not have any such repossessed vehicles available for sale. On separate occasions, Beale met with two separate individuals at the Suffolk County House of Correction purportedly to show them repossessed vehicles. During one such meeting on Nov. 17, 2023, Beale met with an individual inside a secure area of the House of Correction. Surveillance video showed Beale wearing a Suffolk County Correction Officer Academy hoodie, blue tactical pants like those worn by jail guards and black boots also similar to those worn by jail guards. Beale did not show any vehicles to the individual on Nov. 17, 2023, claiming that a fictious captain was also involved in the sale, and not available.  

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Office; and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caroline Merck and John Mulcahy of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.   

BOSTON – A Bridgewater, Mass. woman pleaded guilty on Oct. 7, 2025 to providing a controlled substance in the form of a synthetic cannabinoid, also known as “K2,” to a federal inmate at the federal prison FMC Devens. The inmate was granted clemency on Jan. 17, 2025, reducing his 2022 federal prison sentence for drug distribution.

Tasha Hammock, 43, a former employee with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, pleaded guilty to providing contraband to a prison inmate. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for Jan. 16, 2026. In March 2025, Hammock and her co-conspirator Raymond Gaines were charged by criminal complaint. Gaines, a federal inmate at FMC Devens, was indicted by a federal grand jury with possessing contraband by a prison inmate, and his case remains pending.

In February 2022, Gaines was sentenced to more than seven years in prison after pleading guilty in federal court in Boston to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. At the time Gaines committed the alleged offenses charged, he was on federal supervised release after serving a prison sentence resulting from a 2017 conviction for distributing cocaine base within 1,000 feet of a school. In both prior cases Gaines was alleged to be an associate of the Orchard Park Trailblazers, a street gang in Boston.

On Jan. 17, 2025, Gaines received an Executive Grant of Clemency, reducing his current federal sentence to five years in prison.  

Hammock admitted that on Aug. 18, 2024, while visiting Gaines in prison, she surreptitiously passed K2-laced papers to Gaines, which he allegedly pocketed. At the time, Hammock was employed with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. 

As described in court documents, K2 presents a health problem at FMC Devens, where inmates have become sick from smoking paper believed to contain K2, as well as prison staff who have been exposed to the secondary smoke.    

The charges of providing a prohibited object to a prison inmate, and receiving a prohibited object by a prison inmate, each carry a penalty 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; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston; and Ryan Geach, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Regional Office of DOJ-OIG, made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Special Investigative Services Unit at FMC Devens. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office 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.

BOSTON – A former Sergeant with the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) was sentenced on Oct. 14, 2025 in federal court in Boston for orchestrating a series of bribery and extortion schemes to give false passing scores to certain Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) applicants, including individuals who had failed or did not take the CDL skills test.

Gary Cederquist, 60, of Stoughton, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to six years in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Cederquist was also ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $30,000, restitution in the amount of $18,300, and a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $18,300. In May 2025, Cederquist was convicted by a federal jury of two counts of conspiracy to commit extortion, one count of extortion, six counts of honest services mail fraud, three counts of conspiracy to falsify records, 19 counts of falsification of records and 17 counts of false statements. Cederquist was acquitted of one count of conspiracy to commit extortion, two counts of extortion, three counts of falsification of records and three counts of false statements.

In January 2024, Cederquist was charged in a 74-count indictment along with three other MSP troopers and two civilians:  

• Former Trooper Calvin Butner, 65, of Halifax;
• Former Trooper Perry Mendes, 65, of Wareham;
• Former Trooper Joel Rogers, 56, of Bridgewater;
• Scott Camara, 44, of Rehoboth; and
• Eric Mathison, 48, of Boston.

Cederquist was in charge of MSP’s CDL Unit, of which former Troopers Butner, Mendes and Rogers were members. Class A CDLs are required to drive combination vehicles (e.g., tractor-trailers, oil tankers). Class B CDLs are required to drive heavy single vehicles (e.g., box trucks, school buses). Test requirements for CDLs are established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Members of MSP’s CDL Unit are responsible for administering CDL skills tests. The CDL skills test is a demanding, in-person test that consists of three segments: Vehicle Inspection; Basic Control Skills; and the Road Test. Test scores reported by members of MSP’s CDL Unit are material to whether applicants meet federal requirements for, and therefore whether the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is permitted to issue applicants, CDLs. In Massachusetts, the pass rate was 48% in 2019, 44% in 2020, 41% in 2021 and 41% in 2022.

Between in on or about February 2019 and January 2023, Cederquist and his co-conspirators arranged to give passing scores to at least three dozen applicants regardless of whether or not they had actually passed or, in some cases, had even taken the CDL skills test, including in some instances in exchange for bribes.

Cederquist and his co-conspirators used the code word “golden handshake” or “golden” to identify applicants who received special treatment and were to be given passing scores on their skills tests regardless of performance. In text message conversations, Cederquist and his co-conspirators described a number of “golden” applicants as performing poorly on their skills tests. However, all of the applicants received passing scores.

Among the CDL applicants to whom Cederquist gave preferential treatment were six MSP Troopers who Cederquist falsely reported as having passed a Class A skills test. In reality, however, the Troopers did not take a real CDL skills test. For four of the Trooper applicants, Cederquist conspired with his friend Camara, who worked for a truck-driving school in Brockton, to accomplish this offense.

Cederquist also conspired with his friend Mathison, who worked for a water company that employed drivers who needed CDLs, to give passing scores to certain applicants affiliated with the water company. In exchange for the passing scores, Cederquist accepted bribes – for years – of free inventory from the water company, such as cases of bottled Fiji, VOSS and Essentia water, cases of bottled Arizona Iced Tea, coffee and tea products and boxes of Twizzlers and Swedish Fish, all of which Mathison delivered to an office trailer at the CDL test site in Stoughton. Cederquist sent Mathison a text describing one applicant as “an idiot,” who had “no idea what he’s doing,” and “should have failed about 10 times already.” Cederquist then texted Mathison that Mathison’s boss “owes big time.”

In exchange for using his official position to give preferential treatment to certain CDL applicants, Cederquist accepted a variety of bribes including inventory from Mathison’s water company valued at $8,300; a $750 granite post and mailbox; a new driveway valued at over $10,000; and a snowblower valued at nearly $2,000. Cederquist described one such applicant as “horrible,” and “brain dead,” but gave him a passing score anyway in exchange for the snowblower.

All CDL recipients identified as not qualified during the course of this investigation have been reported to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.  

In August 2025, former Trooper Calvin Butner, a co-defendant, was sentenced to three months in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release with the first three months in home confinement. In August 2025, former Trooper Perry Mendes, also a co-defendant, was sentenced to one month in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release with the first two months on home confinement. In September 2025, civilian co-defendant Eric Mathison was sentenced to one year and one day in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In September 2025, Scott Camara was sentenced to one month in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Elise Chawaga, Principal Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine J. Wichers and Adam W. Deitch of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Los Angeles man who formerly resided in Randolph, Mass. was sentenced on Oct. 1, 2025 in federal court in Boston for submitting fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications on behalf of multiple companies he owns and controls.  

Rindal Pierre-Canel, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Myong J. Joun to two years’ probation. In June 2025, Pierre-Canel pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud. The defendant was arrested and charged in January 2025.  

Between March 2021 and May 2021, Pierre-Canel submitted three fraudulent applications seeking and receiving over $50,000 in PPP funds. Two of the applications were submitted in Pierre-Canel’s own name and the third application was submitted using the stolen personal identifying information of a victim. The submissions included false representations about the existence and income of businesses and included false tax documents in support of these false representations. Pierre-Canel used the funds he received from the fraudulent PPP loan applications on personal expenses, including flights to California and purchases of designer clothing.

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 U.S. Department of Labor and the Cambridge (Mass.) and Hermosa Beach (Calif.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Sullivan of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division's prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 150 defendants in more than 95 criminal cases and has seized over $75 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at: Justice.gov/OPA/pr/justice-department-takes-action-against-covid-19-fraud.

BOSTON – The former Chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and former President of the Tribe’s Gaming Authority was sentenced on Nov. 5, 2025 for extortion in connection with the First Light Resort and Casino, which the Tribe’s Gaming Authority is building in Taunton, as well as for failing to report hundreds of thousands of dollars of income on his federal income tax returns – most of which was related to the casino project.

Cedric Cromwell, 60, of Attleboro, Mass., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 42 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release. The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $270,763, and to pay $51,849 in a forfeiture money judgment.

In March 2021, a federal grand jury sitting in Boston indicted Cromwell on tax charges and charges that he extorted Robinson Green Beretta Corp. (RGB), an architecture-and-design firm that had a contract to serve as the Gaming Authority’s “owner’s representative” for the casino project. The trial court severed the tax counts from the extortion counts, which went to trial in the spring of 2022.

On May 5, 2022, a federal jury convicted Cromwell of three counts of extortion under color of official right and one count of conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right, finding that he had extorted RGB into paying him $50,000 in 2014-2015, giving him a $1,700 Bowflex Revolution home gym in 2016 and paying for a weekend stay at an upscale Boston hotel in 2017. The trial court dismissed the jury’s convictions, but the First Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated them on Sept. 27, 2024. Cromwell filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court but the Court declined to hear his appeal.

In July 2025, Cromwell pleaded guilty to four counts of filing a false tax return, admitting that he failed to report more than $177,000 in income on his federal income tax returns for 2014 - 2017. Cromwell’s unreported income included $57,549 that he extorted from RGB, $45,023 that he received from the architect on the casino project and $74,821 that he received from a company that sold forest carbon offsets.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Wichers and Jared C. Dolan of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case. 

BOSTON – A former local school music teacher and a Filipino national living in Baltimore, Md., have been charged with allegedly sexually exploiting and sex trafficking minor children.

Joshua DeWitte, 50, of Cambridge, Mass., was indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 29, 2025 on six counts of sexual exploitation of children (and attempt and conspiracy); one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children; one count of distribution of child pornography; and one count of possession of child pornography. Christopher Allan Tisoy, 27, a Filipino national residing in Baltimore, Md., was charged by an Information on Oct. 29, 2025 with one count of sexual exploitation of children (and attempt and conspiracy) and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children.

The defendants were arrested in May 2025 and charged with one count each of sexual exploitation of minors (and attempt and conspiracy). They remain detained 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 allegedly showed that, in September 2024, DeWitte requested nude pictures from multiple purported minors; sent pictures of his penis 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 allegedly relayed instructions to the minor victims to create a video.

DeWitte allegedly paid Tisoy for each video Tisoy produced and sent. It is further alleged that, between July 3, 2023 and Dec. 27, 2024, DeWitte sent 87 PayPal payments to Tisoy, in amounts ranging from $27 to $958, to film the sexual exploitation of minors in the Philippines – totaling to 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 mandatory minimum sentence of 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 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 $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 defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.