District of Massachusetts
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Fall River Woman Sentenced for Stealing Nearly $90,000 in Social Security Benefits Intended for Her ChildRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Fall River woman was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for stealing her child’s Social Security benefits over a period of six years.
Nancy Taylor, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Taylor was also ordered to pay $86,994 in restitution. In February 2025, Taylor pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government money. Taylor was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024.
From May 2016 through May 2022, Taylor embezzled approximately $86,994 in Social Security benefits that were intended for her minor child. In August 2014, when Taylor applied to receive benefits on behalf of her child as a representative payee, the Social Security Administration (SSA) informed her of her obligation to notify SSA if her child left her custody. However, Taylor did not notify SSA when she lost custody of her child in May 2016. Instead, Taylor called SSA in October 2021 to update contact information for the child so that she could continue receiving her child’s benefits. Further, in June 2022, Taylor visited an SSA field office to reactivate her receipt of her child’s benefits and provided two fraudulent forms claiming that her child still lived with her and that she spent all the Social Security benefits she received for her child’s care. In reality, Taylor used the vast majority of the stolen funds to pay her own bills.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Boston Gang Members Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Firearms; Defrauding Federal Credit Union; Hundred-Thousand-Dollar Check Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Mission Hill gang member with multiple prior convictions has pleaded guilty to three separate indictments charging him with a sweeping slate of federal charges – including trafficking firearms, defrauding a credit union of over $130,000 and stealing mail as part of a large-scale “card cracking” scheme that caused up to half a million dollars in losses.
Glenroy Miller, a/k/a “Trinny,” 28, of Boston, pleaded guilty on May 9, 2025 to three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; one count of unlawful possession of a machinegun; one count of trafficking in firearms; two counts of conspiracy to commit bank fraud; one count of bank fraud and aiding and abetting; and one count of conspiracy to steal and possess stolen mail. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Aug. 7, 2025.
In September 2019, Miller was convicted in Suffolk Superior Court of possession of a firearm without a permit; carrying a firearm with ammunition; possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number; and resisting arrest. He was subsequently sentenced to three years in prison, followed by two years’ probation. In December 2019, shortly after beginning his state prison sentence, Miller conspired with long-time friend Nadaje Hendrix to defraud a credit union where Hendrix served as a loan officer and assistant branch manager at the time. Specifically, between December 2019 and August 2021, the two defrauded the credit union by obtaining loans in the names of other individuals, including Miller’s fellow inmates, as well as loans under stolen identities. In total, Miller and Hendrix defrauded the credit union of approximately $134,000. The two were indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2024 in relation to this conduct. In October 2024, Hendrix was sentenced to eight months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty in July 2024.
In the summer of 2023, upon his release from state prison, and prior to his January 2024 indictment, Miller conspired with other Mission Hill members to engage in a mail theft and “card cracking” scheme while on probation. According to court documents, card cracking involves the theft of checks – usually checks stolen from USPS collection boxes – which are chemically washed to remove the payee information. The checks are then rewritten in the names of others who have typically been recruited into the scheme via social media, deposited into their bank accounts and withdrawn or transferred as soon the funds are made available. According to the signed plea agreement, Miller is responsible for $250,000 - $550,000 in losses or attempted losses via checks that were stolen from the mail, washed and/or deposited into recruited accounts between June 2023 and February 2024. In August 2024, Miller was indicted by a federal grand jury along with eight other Mission Hill gang members and associates for their alleged roles in the card cracking scheme.
Additionally, during the summer of 2023, while on state probation, Miller sold six firearms to a cooperating witness on four separate occasions on Aug. 7, 2023 and Oct. 24, 2023. One of the sales included a firearm with a high-capacity magazine equipped with a machinegun conversion device. Additionally, Miller was aware that the cooperating witness was a convicted felon who was prohibited from purchasing or possessing the firearms.
The charges of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition each provide for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of unlawful possession of a machinegun provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of trafficking in firearms provides for a sentence up to 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charges of bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. The charge of conspiracy to steal and possess stolen mail provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to 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; James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and Randy Maloney, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston and Wellesley Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kriss Basil, Lucy Sun and Philip C. Cheng of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
Guatemalan National and Malden Man Indicted for Distributing CocaineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two men have been indicted for allegedly conspiring to distribute cocaine.
Erick Sandoval-Perez, 43, a Guatemalan national living in Malden and Christhian Castillo, 32, also of Malden, were indicted for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 or more grams of cocaine and distribution of 500 or more grams of cocaine. Sandoval-Perez was also charged with distribution of cocaine. Castillo and Sandoval-Perez were charged by criminal complaint in February 2025. Castillo was ordered held pending further proceedings and Sandoval-Perez was released on conditions.
Sandoval-Perez and Castillo allegedly worked together to sell cocaine on several occasions to an undercover law enforcement officer. On Feb. 12, 2025, Sandoval-Perez allegedly arranged to sell a kilogram of cocaine to an undercover. Castillo was arrested when he allegedly handed the kilogram of cocaine to the undercover and Sandoval-Perez was arrested nearby.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 or more grams of cocaine, and the charge of distribution of 500 or more grams of cocaine, both carry a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5,000,000. The charge of distribution of cocaine carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Sandoval-Perez is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Chief Ryan Malatos of the Leominster Police Department; and Chief Brian W. Coyne of the Clinton Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Malden Police Department. 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 defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Gloucester Police Officer Charged with Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A police officer with the Gloucester Police Department has been charged with receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Alexander Aiello, 34, of Gloucester, was charged with one count of receipt of child pornography. Aiello will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging documents, Aiello is a patrol officer employed with the Gloucester Police Department. It is alleged that Aiello was identified as a user with a registered account for a dark website, which provided a platform for users to download, view, advertise and distribute CSAM. Searches of Aiello’s person and residence on April 28, 2025, resulted in the seizure of the defendant’s cell phone and laptop as well as a USB thumb drive, which was found in Aiello’s nightstand in his bedroom.
It is alleged that a preliminary examination of the devices revealed that a TOR Browser – an application that provides anonymous web access and access to dark web hidden services – was installed and actively running on Aiello’s laptop. It is further alleged that the application had evidence of downloaded files consistent with recent use. Additionally, the preliminary examination allegedly located encrypted folders on the USB drive and laptop computer.
“As a law enforcement officer, Mr. Aiello was entrusted with safeguarding the community – and that includes protecting children from exploitation and abuse. Instead, he allegedly participated in one of the most reprehensible forms of exploitation,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “This case underscores our unwavering commitment to combating child exploitation in all its forms. Whether the offender is a private citizen or a public official, our mission remains the same: to protect children and pursue justice for victims.”
“As a police officer, Alexander Aiello was sworn to protect and serve, but today, the FBI charged him for receiving images of children being sexually abused,” said James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Those who seek out this despicable material are perpetuating the victimization of innocent children. That’s why the FBI Boston's Child Exploitation – Human Trafficking Task Force diligently pursues these cases. Protecting kids from this physical and emotional trauma is our priority.”
The charge of receipt 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.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274 or contact [email protected].
U.S. Attorney Foley and FBI Acting SAC Crowley made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Gloucester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
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.
CORRECTION: The defendant is 34, not 24 as the original release stated. In addition there is a updated FBI quote.
Fall River Man Pleads Guilty to Shipping Cocaine Through the MailRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Fall River man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to a drug trafficking offense arising from his shipment of cocaine through the U.S. mail from California to Massachusetts.
Justin Dupras, 42, pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Sept. 4, 2025. Dupras was charged by criminal complaint in January 2025.
According to the charging document, Dupras mailed a package containing approximately two kilograms of cocaine from a Post Office in Los Angeles, Calif. to Fall River, Mass. on Dec. 17, 2024. Dupras then returned to Massachusetts and, on Dec. 19, 2024, drove to the Fall River Post Office. Another individual signed for the package containing cocaine and handed it to Dupras.
In addition, Dupras mailed packages containing cocaine from California to Massachusetts on multiple prior occasions. For example, on Sept. 17, 2024, Dupras mailed a box containing more than two kilograms of cocaine from Chino Hills, Calif. to Fall River, Mass. On Oct. 29, 2024, Dupras mailed a box containing approximately two kilograms of cocaine from Los Angeles, Calif. to Fall River, Mass. Flight records show Dupras returning to Massachusetts on the same day that he mailed the two packages.
The charge of attempting to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $2,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Fall River Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely is prosecuting the case.
Member of Drug Trafficking Organization That Distributed Heart Shaped Pills Resembling Candy, Laced with Lethal Drugs, Sentenced to 12 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lynn, Mass. man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a large-scale drug trafficking organization (DTO) on the North Shore of Massachusetts. In November 2023, millions of doses of fentanyl and methamphetamine laced pills and powder, with street value estimated to be over $7 million, was seized from a stash location and clandestine laboratory used by the organization.
Sebastien Bejin, a/k/a “Bash,” 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 12 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In January 2025, Bejin pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possess controlled substances with intent to distribute and one count of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute. Bejin was charged in November 2023 along with alleged co-conspirators Emilio Garcia and Deiby Felix. The defendants were later indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2023.
In July 2023, an investigation began into an overdose death in Salem, Mass. which led investigators to the drug trafficking organization led by Bejin, Garcia and Felix.On Nov. 1, 2023 searches were conducted at four locations frequented by Bejin and Garcia. The searches resulted in what is believed to be, one of the largest single-location seizures of fentanyl and methamphetamine in Massachusetts and the region. The seizure included nine kilograms (20 pounds) of pink heart shaped fentanyl-laced pills pressed to look like candy. Additional narcotics and five firearms were also seized. During the course of the investigation over 150 kilograms of suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine were seized, along with multiple additional kilograms of cocaine and dozens of kilograms of cutting agents, including xylazine, that are used to adulterate controlled substances.
In total, more than an estimated eight million individual doses of fentanyl and methamphetamine laced pills and powder was seized. The street value is believed to be upwards of $8 million.
Garcia and Bejin would travel to the stash location on a daily basis and then bring quantities of suspected controlled substances from the premises to supply lower-level dealers.
A search of Felix’s residence resulted in the seizure of more than three kilograms (6.6 pounds) of pressed pills containing methamphetamine and fentanyl and a firearm. A subsequent search of the basement of Felix’s residence revealed a clandestine drug laboratory that had been built into a small room. Multiple industrial pill presses, mixing equipment and other manufacturing paraphernalia and equipment were also recovered. Within multiple large storage bins located within the laboratory, over 100 pounds of suspected fentanyl powder was also discovered.
Garcia pleaded guilty on Feb. 7, 2025 and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 30, 2025. Felix pleaded guilty on Feb. 3, 2025 and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29, 2025.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and the Lynn, Lynnfield and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
Federal Charges Filed Against Former Local School Music Teacher and Filipino Man for Sexually Exploiting ChildrenRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed charges against a former local school music teacher, as well as a Filipino man living in Baltimore, Md. alleging that the two produced videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minor boys in the Philippines.
Joshua DeWitte, 50, of Cambridge, Mass., and Christopher Allan Tisoy, 27, a Filipino national residing in Baltimore, Md., were charged with one count each of sexual exploitation of minors (and attempt and conspiracy).
DeWitte was arrested today and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, was ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for May 12, 2025. Tisoy was arrested in Baltimore yesterday and, following an initial appearance in the District of Maryland, was ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for May 14, 2025.
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, is employed as a medical technologist at the Sinai Hospital of Baltimore.
According to the charging documents, in December 2024, DeWitte was allegedly identified as the owner of a Snapchat account that uploaded a file of suspected child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting the abuse of a boy who appears to be between approximately eight and 10 years old. Records obtained from Snapchat allegedly showed that, in September 2024, DeWitte engaged in multiple conversations that were sexual in nature with users who presented themselves as minors. In those conversations, it is alleged that DeWitte requested nude pictures from the 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, state law enforcement obtained a search warrant for DeWitte’s Cambridge residence in January 2025. DeWitte was then 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, forensic examination of DeWitte’s cell phone seized at the time of his January 2025 arrest allegedly revealed a Telegram conversation between DeWitte and another user in which DeWitte allegedly shared three video files and stated: “I was in the Philippines. Most of my vids are from there and that’s where I was with a 10 yo and 12. 16 yo in Japan and Korea;” and “I have a contact there…He only records vids of the boys or arranges for my visit.”
It is alleged that a separate Telegram conversation between DeWitte and Tisoy was located on DeWitte’s phone, in which they discussed four minor boys by name and arranged for the production of videos depicting the sexual exploitation of at least two 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 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. 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 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.
Dominican National Sentenced for Passport Fraud and Stealing U.S. Citizen's IdentityRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national, residing in Fall River, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to charges related to passport fraud and other offenses.
Hector Eduardo Arias Mejia, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to two years and one day in prison and one year of supervised release. The defendant is also subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In March 2025, Arias Mejia pleaded guilty to misuse of a Social Security number, aggravated identity theft and making a false statement in an application for a United States passport. In December 2023, Arias Mejia was indicted by a federal grand jury.
According to the charging documents Arias Mejia unlawfully used the identity of a United States citizen from Puerto Rico since at least 2011. In 2011, using that stolen identity, Arias Mejia was convicted in the Fall River District Court of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, for which he served an 18 month jail sentence. In 2016, again using the stolen identity, Arias Mejia was convicted in the Fall River District Court of three counts of possession with intent to distribute drugs and was sentenced two years in jail.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a specialized investigative group comprising personnel from various state, local, and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring, and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity and benefit fraud schemes.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations in Santo Domingo; Puerto Rico Department of Public Safety; U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
West Bridgewater Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A West Bridgewater man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Juan Levano, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to five years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In December 2024, Levano pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
Levano was identified as a user of an internet-based communications application used for the trafficking of CSAM. As a user of the platform, Levano participated in groups where CSAM was disseminated.
At the time of the offense, Levano rented a room at a residence that is registered as a residential daycare. Both Levano and the owner of the residence and daycare denied that Levano worked at the residential daycare and denied that Levano had any contact with the children who attend it. During a search of the residence, various electronic devices belonging to Levano were seized.
During the search, Levano admitted to being a member of several groups on the chat application and obtaining CSAM from those groups. A review of Levano’s phone revealed that Levano was a member of several active groups on the platform that included the exchange of CSAM, including children ranging from infancy to 13 years old. Additionally, more than 100 video and image files, most of which appear to depict child pornography, were found stored in a photo application on Levano’s phone.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.
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 West Bridgewater Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Soto of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Repeat Offender Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A registered sex offender was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for child pornography charges.
Corey Bouchard, 34, of Douglas, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In January 2025, Bouchard pleaded guilty to a one-count Information charging him with accessing with intent to view child pornography. Bouchard was charged by complaint in April 2024.
During a November 2023 search of Bouchard’s home, a cache file was found on Bouchard’s cell phone, which contained approximately 72 videos depicting child pornography. The file names of approximately 56 of those videos matched the file names from media files shared by others to Kik messenger group chats that Bouchard was in. Bouchard admitted to accessing child pornography with the intent to view it.
United States 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 today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Uxbridge and Douglas Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice: 205 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in Five-Day Nationwide CrackdownRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Today, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators. The operation was executed by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country.
Over the course of five days, from April 28 through May 2, more than 200 child sexual abuse offenders were arrested nationwide as part of the effort. These subjects include school leaders, registered sex offenders and members of law enforcement who are accused of various crimes including the production, distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM); online enticement and transportation of minors; and child sex trafficking.
“The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims – especially child victims – and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”
“Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”
“Protecting children from exploitation is among the most sacred responsibilities we have in law enforcement. Each case serves as a difficult reminder that child predators are embedded in our communities. Some take on roles that increase their direct contact with children, while others prey on children from behind a keyboard. But make no mistake, we will identify, arrest, and hold every one of them accountable, no matter how long it takes or how far we have to go,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley for the District of Massachusetts. “As Child Abuse Prevention Month came to a close, Operation Restore Justice delivered a powerful and urgent message: protecting children is not just a worthy cause we recognize, it is a mission we carry out every day. We will not relent in our pursuit of those who exploit children, and we are grateful to our law enforcement partners for their tireless work to bring these predators to justice. This work will not stop.”
“There are few situations more urgent than when a child is physically at risk, and as ‘Operation Restore Justice’ has shown, child predators come in many different forms,” said James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “As horrific as these alleged crimes are, they are not rare. Make no mistake, FBI Boston's Child Exploitation - Human Trafficking Task Force is committed to finding these child sex abusers, locking them up, and ensuring those they have victimized are safe and well-supported.”
In the District of Massachusetts, five individuals were arrested and charged during this Operation:
- Former Assistant Director of Admissions at Emmanuel College Jacob Henriques, 29, of Boston, is charged with attempted sex trafficking of a minor. Henriques is accused of soliciting an underage college applicant to engage in commercial sex with him;
- Level 1 sex offender Justin Ouimette, 34, of Holyoke, is charged with possessing CSAM. Ouimette allegedly possessed over 400 files depicting CSAM, including the abuse of victims as young as three years old. The defendant has a prior 2022 state conviction for possessing CSAM;
- Warren Messeck, 75, of Agawam, is charged with possessing CSAM. Messeck was allegedly identified as a user of an internet-based peer-to-peer network downloading CSAM. Over 40 electronic devices were subsequently seized from his residence. Over 10,000 CSAM files were allegedly stored on six of the seized devices;
- Brandon Bendall, 49, of Wareham, is charged with possessing and receiving CSAM. According to court documents, Bendall was allegedly identified as a member of an online chat group in which members viewed and posted CSAM. During a search of Bendall’s residence and cell phone, approximately 9,400 images and videos of CSAM, including images of children as young as infants being sexually abused, were allegedly located; and
- Cess Frazier, 32, of Boston, is charged with receiving CSAM. It is alleged that approximately 100 media files depicting CSAM were allegedly found saved on the defendant’s phone.
This effort follows the Department’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April and underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers of online predators. While the Department investigates and prosecutes these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims and raising awareness through community education.
As part of its prevention efforts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts’ robust Project Safe Childhood (PSC) program provides public education and outreach to communities on how to keep children safe online. To date, for the current 2024-2025 school year, the program has reached nearly 8,000 children, parents and school employees across 37 cities and towns. If you would like to host a PSC presentation for students, parents, or other groups in your community, or if you have questions regarding the District's PSC program, please email us at [email protected].
The FBI takes a proactive approach to identify unknown individuals involved in the sexual exploitation of children and the production of child sexual abuse material. There is a Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force located in each field office, allowing the FBI to combine resources with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The FBI also receives information from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), which collects and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through https://report.cybertip.org/ and its 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST.
In 2004, the FBI created the Endangered Child Alert Program (ECAP) to identify individuals involved in the sexual abuse of children and the production of child sexual abuse material. The program is a collaborative effort between the FBI and the NMCEC.
The FBI also offers resources for parents and caregivers to stay engaged with their children’s online and offline activities. The FBI's Safe Online Surfing (SOS) program teaches students in grades 3 to 8 how to navigate the web safely.
The FBI urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through our tiplines at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.
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.
Guatemalan National Indicted for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Guatemalan national was indicted by a federal grand jury for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Agustin Morente, 70, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien.
According to the charging documents, on or about Feb. 28, 2025, Morente was found in the United States after having been deported from the United States to Guatemala on or about March 17, 2010.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant will also be subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Soto and David G. Tobin 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.
Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to illegally reentering the United States after deportation.
Yonelin Manuel Baez Soto, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Aug. 6, 2025. Baez Soto was indicted by a federal Grand Jury in March 2025.
In November 2020, Baez Soto was removed from the United States after being convicted of a felony narcotics offense in Essex Superior Court, as well as multiple counts of misuse of a Social Security number and aggravated identity theft in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Sometime after his November 2020 removal, Baez Soto illegally reentered the United States without permission.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant will be 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 David Cutshall of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national, residing in Dorchester, pleaded guilty on May 1, 2025, in federal court in Boston to illegal reentry charges.
Axel Aguasvivas-Martinez, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Allison Burroughs scheduled sentencing for June 3, 2025.
In March 2024, Aguasvivas-Martinez was previously charged by criminal complaint with unlawful reentry of a deported alien and was indicted on April 17, 2025. The offense occurred on or about Nov. 23, 2021. Aguasvivas-Martinez was previously removed to the Dominican Republic on Jan. 5, 2016.
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; Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
California Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A California man pleaded guilty on May 5, 2025 in federal court in Boston to additional charges involving the transportation of surreptitiously recorded videos of minors.
Jacob Guerrero,27, of Woodland, Calif., pleaded guilty to one count of transporting child pornography arising from conduct occurring in the Summer of 2019 in New Jersey. U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for July 23, 2025.
In July 2019, on a trip with his then girlfriend’s family in New Jersey, Guerrero surreptitiously filmed minor members of his girlfriend’s family, including “Minor B,” who was then eight years old. Minor B was recorded unclothed in the shower in two videos found on Guerrero’s phone.
This case arose following an investigation into allegations that Guerrero, while dressed in a wig and women’s clothing, attempted to surreptitiously record minor females in bathrooms and changing rooms at the Wrentham Outlets in Massachusetts using pen cameras affixed to his shoes. State charges arising from that incident were dismissed when Guerrero was charged in U.S. District Court.
Guerrero was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint with sexually exploiting a Massachusetts child in the Spring of 2021. In August 2024 Guerrero pleaded guilty to that offense.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.
Pursuant to the plea agreements in both matters, Guerrero faces a sentence of 15 to 20 years in prison. The charge of transporting child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. 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; James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division: and Wrentham Police Chief William McGrath made the announcement today. Special assistance was provided by the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Grady, Deputy Chief of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Guatemalan National Sentenced for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Guatemalan national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for illegally reentering the United States after deportation.
William Estuardo Rodriguez-Botello, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to three months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the sentence imposed. Earlier in the same hearing Rodriguez-Botello pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. In February 2025, Rodriguez-Botello was indicted by a federal grand jury.
Rodriguez-Botello is a citizen of Guatemala who entered the United States illegally in 2005 and 2012 having been removed to Guatemala in each instance. Sometime after his 2012 removal, Rodriguez-Botello illegally returned the United States and on Feb. 3, 2024, immigration authorities became aware Rodriguez-Botello was present in the United States following his arrest by the Waltham Police Department. Rodriguez-Botello was arrested and convicted on charges of Operating Under the Influence Liquor 2nd offense in Waltham District Court. Rodriguez-Botello was released from custody on this matter before ICE could take immigration or criminal enforcement action. On Feb. 4, 2025, immigration authorities encountered Rodriguez-Botello following his arrest and subsequent release from custody on conditions pending his case in Dedham District Court.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Level One Sex Offender Charged with Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Holyoke man, who is a registered sex offender, has been charged with possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Justin Ouimette, 34, was charged with possession of child pornography. Ouimette will make an initial appearance in federal court in Springfield at a later date.
In October 2022, Ouimette was convicted of possession of child pornography in Massachusetts Superior Court. According to the charging documents, in July 2024, during a search of Ouimette’s residence and person, over 200 files that appeared to depict CSAM, including children as young as three years old, were allegedly located on Ouimette’s electronic devices. A search of Ouimette’s Dropbox resulted in the discovery of an additional 200 files allegedly depicting CSAM.
On July 25, 2024, Ouimette was issued a probation violation, and he was subsequently sentenced to one year incarceration, which he is currently serving.
The charge of possession of child pornography as a registered sex offender provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, five years 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 and James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Soto 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.
Guatemalan National Indicted for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Guatemalan national was indicted in federal court in Boston for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
William Noel Mazariegos Lopez, 43, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Mazariegos Lopez was charged by criminal complaint on March 14, 2025 and is currently being detained.
According to the charging documents, at an unknown place and time, Mazariegos Lopez entered the United States without being inspected by an immigration officer. On Oct. 24, 2012, in the Lynn District Court, Mazariegos Lopez was convicted of operating under the influence of liquor and compulsory insurance violation. On Oct. 30, 2017, after determining Mazariegos Lopez illegally entered the United States, immigration authorities initiated deportation proceedings. On Nov. 29, 2017, Mazariegos Lopez was removed from the United States to Guatemala.
Thereafter, on an unknown date and at an unknown location, Mazariegos Lopez reentered the United States. On April 28, 2018, he was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol. On May 7, 2018, Mazariegos Lopez was removed from the United States to Guatemala for a second time.
Thereafter, on an unknown date and at an unknown location, Mazariegos Lopez reentered the United States without authority. On Aug. 15, 2021, immigration authorities became aware that Mazariegos Lopez was present in the United States following an arrest by the Essex County Sheriff’s Department. On June 9, 2022, in the Lynn District Court, Mazariegos was convicted of operating under the influence of liquor – 2nd offense, operating under the influence of liquor and operating after suspended license. He was sentenced to 2.5 years (suspended, 90 days to serve) for operating under the influence of liquor-2nd offense and two years (suspended, 90 days to serve) for operating under the influence of liquor. On Dec. 22, 2023, the court issued a violation of probation.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The 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 David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Dominican National Arrested for Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national has been arrested and charged with transportation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Jorge Junior Alvarez Rodriguez, 21, was charged with one count of transportation of child pornography. Alvarez will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston later today.
According to the charging documents, On May 3, 2025, upon arrival at t Boston’s Logan Airport from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Alvarez was flagged for secondary screening. It is alleged that during a review of Alvarez’s cell phone, files depicting CSAM were found. It is further alleged that law enforcement identified multiple files depicting children as young as four to seven years old.
The charge of transportation 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 Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Customs and Border Protection, Boston Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Maynard 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 City Councilor Pleads Guilty to Federal Public Corruption ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to public corruption charges after receiving a $7,000 kickback from a staff member’s city funded bonus.
Tania Fernandes Anderson, 46, of Boston, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of theft concerning a program receiving federal funds. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for July 29, 2025. Fernandes Anderson was indicted in December 2024. Per the plea agreement, the government is recommending a sentence of one year and one day in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and restitution in the amount of $13,000.
“Councilor Fernandes Anderson abused her position of trust for personal gain and turned a public checkbook into her own private slush fund. Her constituents deserve better than this. They deserve a city representative who respects the role of public service and does not use the power and position to line her own pockets,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Her guilty plea today says what she refuses to admit in her media interviews: she broke the law, lied to the public, and used her office for her own personal gain. Ms. Fernandes Anderson leaves a legacy not of a selfless trailblazer, but one of fraud, greed, and deceit. The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to ensuring elected officials are held accountable for this kind of corruption and dishonesty.”
“Tania Fernandes Anderson used the city of Boston. She wielded her official powers for her own financial gain, and grossly betrayed the trust of the residents she was elected to serve,” said James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Insidious corruption like this undermines people’s faith in, and expectations of, their government. Today’s conviction should reinforce, to both Boston’s politicos and the public, that the FBI remains committed to bringing to justice any elected official who deprives constituents of the honest services to which they are entitled.”
“The guilty plea of Tania Fernandes Anderson demonstrates IRS-CI’s commitment to identifying, investigating, and prosecuting all instances of public corruption, both in the Commonwealth and across New England,” said Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office. “Elected officials are held to a higher standard when they take an oath to serve their constituents, but Fernandes Anderson forsook this oath when she conspired to orchestrate a kickback scheme to enrich herself at the cost of the American taxpayers.”
Fernandes Anderson currently serves as City Councilor for Boston’s District 7, which includes Roxbury, Dorchester, Fenway and part of the South End. She was first elected to a two-year term in November 2021 and won re-election in November 2023.
In or about 2022, Fernandes Anderson hired two members of her immediate family as salaried employees of her City Councilor Staff. Because City Councilors are prohibited by law from hiring immediate family members to their paid staff, Fernandes Anderson was required to terminate their salaried employment in or about August 2022. Additionally, in May 2023, the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission notified Fernandes Anderson that it would be seeking a $5,000 civil penalty payment from her as a result of the violation.
In or about November 2022, Fernandes Anderson emailed a City of Boston employee regarding her hiring of Staff Member A – a relative of Fernandes Anderson who was not an immediate family member – as a salaried employee. In her email to the City of Boston employee, Fernandes Anderson falsely represented that she and Staff Member A were not related:
From in or about early to mid-2023, Fernandes Anderson was facing personal financial difficulty, which included the outstanding $5,000 civil penalty payment to the Ethics Commission. In or about early May 2023, Fernandes Anderson told Staff Member A that she would give them extra pay in the form of a large bonus, but that Staff Member A would have to give a portion of the bonus back to Fernandes Anderson. Staff Member A agreed to the arrangement with Fernandes Anderson.
On May 3, 2023, Fernandes Anderson emailed a City of Boston employee instructing them to process a $13,000 bonus for Staff Member A – more than twice the total bonuses given to her other staff – without disclosing the repayment arrangement. Staff Member A deposited the check on May 26, 2023 and, following Fernandes Anderson’s instructions, made three separate cash withdrawals over the following weeks in the amounts of $3,000; $3,000; and $4,000. Following the last withdrawal on June 9, 2023, the two met in a bathroom at Boston City Hall, where Staff Member A handed Fernandes Anderson $7,000 in cash.
According to the signed plea agreement, in 2022 and 2023, Fernandes Anderson used funds from her campaign account for her own personal enrichment, and not for campaign-related expenses. Additionally, for tax years 2021, 2022 and 2023, Fernandes Anderson filed fraudulent federal income tax returns with the IRS. Specifically, Fernandes Anderson omitted approximately $11,000 in income that she earned from a Massachusetts-based corporation from her 2021 tax return; willfully omitted campaign funds that she used for her own personal enrichment from her 2022 and 2023 tax returns; and willfully omitted the $7,000 kickback that she received from Staff Member A from her 2023 tax return.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. 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, FBI Acting SAC Crowley and IRS Acting SAC Demeo made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Mulcahy and Dustin Chao of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit are prosecuting the case.
Wareham Man Charged with Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Wareham man was arrested and charged today for allegedly possessing and receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Brandon Bendall, 49, was charged with one count of possession of child pornography and one count of receipt of child pornography. Bendall made his initial appearance in federal court today and is being held in custody pending a detention hearing to be held at a later date.
According to court documents, Bendall allegedly was a member of an on-line chat group in which members viewed and posted CSAM. During a search of Bendall’s residence and cell phone, approximately 9,400 images and videos of CSAM, including images of children as young as infants being sexually assaulted, were allegedly located.
The charge of receipt 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 carries sentence of up to 20 years in prison. 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 James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Wareham, Marion and East Bridgewater Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin 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.
Revere Man Pleads Guilty to Role in International Money Laundering OrganizationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Revere man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to laundering hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds for drug suppliers based in Central and/or South America and possessing over 17 kilograms of various controlled substances.
Jason Hunter, 48, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, 500 grams or more of cocaine and other controlled substances; and one count of money laundering conspiracy. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for July 22, 2025.
According to court documents, law enforcement received information from a confidential source about large-scale international money laundering organizations that used money brokers in Colombia as liaisons between drug suppliers based in Central and/or South America and their drug customers in the United States. The money brokers arrange contracts with U.S.-based money launderers to conduct pickups of drug proceeds on behalf of the drug suppliers in Latin America. As part of the investigation, law enforcement agents – posing as money launderers – conducted controlled pickups in connection with contracts offered by the money brokers in cities throughout the United States, including Boston.
Over the course of the investigation, Hunter delivered drug proceeds to undercover investigators on multiple occasions, including on Feb. 28, 2024, when he delivered $140,000 of bulk cash drug proceeds. On April 3, 2024 Hunter was arrested on his way to a money pickup that had been arranged by a broker. At the time of his arrest $100,000 in drug proceeds was seized from Hunter’s possession. A subsequent search of his residence and vehicle resulted in the seizure of over 16 kilograms of counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine, thousands of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, additional pills containing oxycodone, as well as over a kilogram of cocaine and multiple kilograms of marijuana.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of substance containing methamphetamine provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of substance containing methamphetamine provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the amount 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 and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Ferguson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.
This case 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.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Lawrence Woman Charged with Passport Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft and Misuse of Social Security NumberRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence woman was charged in federal court in Boston with passport fraud, aggravated identity theft and misuse of a social security number.
Wendy Dume Chavez, 49, was arrested yesterday and charged with passport fraud, aggravated identity theft and misuse of a social security number. She had her initial appearance yesterday afternoon and a detention hearing is scheduled for May 7, 2025.
According to the criminal complaint, in June 2020, Dume Chavez allegedly submitted a renewal passport application using the name, date of birth and Social Security number of the alleged victim. The passport was issued to Dume Chavez. Dume Chavez also allegedly used the victim’s name and social security number to obtain multiple government-issued identification documents, including a Massachusetts driver’s license.
The charge of false statement in a passport application provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The charge of aggravated identity theft calls for a mandatory minimum of two years in prison to be added to the felony committed while using the means of identification of another without lawful authority. The charge of misuse of Social Security number provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the United States Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Matthew O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Millix Bonilla, Acting Chief of Police in Lawrence; and Paul F. Tucker Essex County District Attorney made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit.
Former Massachusetts State Police Sergeant Convicted of Bribery and Extortion ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Sergeant with the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) was found guilty today by a federal jury in Boston of orchestrating a series of 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, as part of years-long bribery and extortion conspiracies.
Gary Cederquist, 59, of Stoughton, was convicted 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. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for July 24, 2025.
In January 2024, Cederquist was charged in a 74-count indictment along with three other MSP troopers and two civilians:
- Former Trooper Calvin Butner, 64, of Halifax;
- Former Trooper Perry Mendes, 64, of Wareham;
- Former Trooper Joel Rogers, 56, of Bridgewater;
- Scott Camara, 44, of Rehoboth; and
- Eric Mathison, 48, of Boston.
All of Cederquist’s co-defendants have accepted responsibility for their involvement in the conspiracy. Butner, Mendes, Camara and Mathison have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
“It is never a good day when a member of law enforcement is convicted of a crime, especially when it is a crime that compromises public safety. Gary Cederquist chose bribery and extortion over his oath to protect the community which he was sworn to serve. His greed put the public at risk when he devised a scheme to issue commercial driver’s licenses to applicants who had never taken a real test to operate heavy commercial vehicles on the roads and highways of Massachusetts,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office has the utmost respect for law enforcement, but we will not stand idly by if they violate the law.”
“Today’s verdict confirms that Gary Cederquist abused his authority as a Massachusetts State Trooper to recklessly bypass long-established testing and safety parameters for commercial driver’s license applicants. He did so only to enrich himself, while turning a blind eye to the potential public safety implications of ill-prepared and unqualified commercial truck drivers navigating our streets and our highways,” said Homeland Security Investigations New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “Public servants are held to a higher standard and Cederquist not only let the citizens of the Commonwealth down but also disgraced the thousands of state troopers who so proudly and honorably wear the Massachusetts State Police uniform.”“Today’s verdict sends a strong message to those who may be motivated by greed to abuse their positions—that they will be met with the full force of the criminal justice system,” said Elise Chawaga, Principal Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. “DOT OIG remains committed to working with our Federal law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to uphold motor carrier rules and regulations, which are integral to maintaining safety on our Nation’s roadways.”
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). Class B CDLs are required to drive heavy single vehicles (e.g., box trucks, oil tankers, 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 arranged for him and his co-conspirators 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 of these applicants 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 in the thousands of dollars; 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.
The charges of conspiracy to falsify records 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 charges of conspiracy to commit extortion 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 charges of extortion 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 charges of 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 charges of falsification of records 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 charges of false statements each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Foley; HSI SAC Krol; and DOT PAIG Chawaga made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine J. Wichers and Adam W. Deitch of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit are prosecuting the case.
Emmanuel College Assistant Admissions Director Arrested for Allegedly Soliciting a College Applicant to Engage in Commercial SexRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Assistant Admissions Director for Emmanuel College in Boston was arrested this evening and charged with soliciting an underage college applicant to engage in commercial sex with him.
Jacob Henriques, 29, of Boston, is charged in a criminal complaint with one count of Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Minor. He will appear in U.S. District Court in Boston on Monday May 5, 2025.
According to the charging document, Henriques used his position as an Assistant Admissions Director to allegedly gain access to the personal information of various admitted or prospective students, who he later contacted to solicit to engage in commercial sex with him. Specifically, on April 25, 2025, Henriques met with multiple admitted or prospective students. After meeting with at least three such students, Henriques allegedly gained access to their personal information and began contacting them, offering to “pay them for some fun,” offering to provide them with pornography, and, in some instances, sending them pornographic videos or images. It is alleged that Henriques began contacting a fourth victim after she formally committed to attend the college on April 25, 2025. He allegedly offered to pay her for “some fun” and began sending pornographic videos to her.
Henriques is charged with attempting to traffic a 17-year-old victim, who was a prospective student. Henriques allegedly reviewed the victim’s tour registration form, which contained her date of birth, just before giving her a tour of the college on or about April 25, 2025. Henriques asked the victim what grade she was in and the victim told Henriques what local high school she attended. Within hours of finishing the tour, it is alleged that Henriques began texting the victim on her phone number provided on her admissions form. Henriques allegedly offered to pay the victim $400 for “some fun” right now and told her that he had pornographic videos and pictures for her. Henriques continued to contact the minor victim that night, refusing to tell her who he was or how he got her number. He allegedly told the victim that “porn” and “$” was ready for her. Henriques then allegedly sent the minor victim five pornographic videos depicting men and women engaged in sex acts and asked her whether or not she wanted to participate in a “gangbang” and whether or not she wanted to have sex with him. It is further alleged that despite the victim rejecting Henriques’s offer multiple times, Henrique continued to text her telling her to let him know if she changed her mind and that he would buy her anything she wanted. Between April 25, 2025 and April 28, 2025, it is alleged that Henriques accessed the minor’s profile 47 times. After the victim blocked his phone number, Henriques allegedly began soliciting the victim via email.
The charge of attempted sex trafficking of a minor provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, with a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Emmanuel College Campus Police and the Boston, Ware, Lunenburg, Agawam, Springfield, Ludlow and Easthampton Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig E. Estes of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit is prosecuting the case.
If you believe that you may be a victim of the alleged crime, please reach out to the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force by filling out this short short form.
If you have information or questions about this investigation, or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking or child exploitation, please contact [email protected].
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.
Ecuadorian National Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Ecuadorian national residing in Lawrence, Mass. has been charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Carlos Guaico-Bano, 35, was charged with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Guaico-Bano was arrested this morning and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston later today.
According to the charging documents on Feb. 4, 2020, Feb. 10, 2020, Feb. 19, 2020 and March 3, 2020, Border Patrol Agents encountered Guaico-Bano in Brackettville, Eagle Pass, and El Paso, Texas. In each of these four instances, Border Patrol Agents determined he had no lawful right to be present in the United States and returned him to Mexican side of the border. During his March 3rd encounter with Border Patrol, Guaico-Bano was served with a Notice to Appear at removal proceedings on March 10th. However, instead of appearing for removal proceedings as directed, Guaico-Bano allegedly attempted, for a fifth time, to enter the U.S. without permission and was caught doing so on March 10th. Guaico-Bano was placed in custody and processed for removal back to Ecuador. On the same day, an immigration judge in San Antonio, Texas ordered Guaico-Bano removed from the United States.
According to court records, Guaico-Bano was caught again in September of 2020 attempting to enter the United States illegally for a sixth time and was removed back to Ecuador. On Nov. 23, 2021, immigration authorities became aware that Guaico-Bano had reentered the United States following his arrest on Nov. 17, 2021 in Lawrence. He was charged and later convicted of one count of Assault and Battery and one count of Assault and Battery, Dangerous Weapon. He received an 18-month suspended sentence and was then released from custody before Immigration and Customs Enforcement could take action.
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 Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Agawam Man Charged with Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Agawam man was charged with possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Warren Messeck, 75, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of possession of child pornography. He made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katherine A. Robertson in Springfield.
In 2021, Messeck was identified as a user of an internet-based peer-to-peer network downloading CSAM. A subsequent search of his residence resulted in the recovery of over 40 electronic devices including a laptop, hard drives and other electronic storage devices. A forensic examination allegedly revealed over 10,000 files depicting CSAM on six of the seized devices.
The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least 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 and James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Agawam Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Merck 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.
United States Files Complaint Against Several National Health Insurance Companies and Brokers Alleging Unlawful Kickbacks and Discrimination Against Disabled AmericansRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The United States has filed a complaint against three of the nation’s largest health insurance companies: Aetna, Inc. and affiliates; Elevance Health, Inc. (formerly known as Anthem); and Humana Inc., and three large insurance broker organizations: eHealth, Inc. and an affiliate; GoHealth, Inc.; and SelectQuote, Inc. The United States alleges that from at least 2016 through at least 2021, the defendant insurers paid hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal kickbacks to the defendant brokers in exchange for enrollments into the insurers’ Medicare Advantage plans.
Under the Medicare Advantage (MA) Program, also known as Medicare Part C, Medicare beneficiaries may choose to enroll in health care plans (MA plans) offered by private insurance companies, such as defendants Aetna, Anthem and Humana. Many Medicare beneficiaries rely on insurance brokers to help them choose an MA plan that best meets their individual needs. Rather than acting as unbiased stewards, the defendant brokers allegedly directed Medicare beneficiaries to plans offered by insurers that paid brokers the most in kickbacks, regardless of the suitability for the beneficiary. According to the complaint, the broker organizations incentivized their employees and agents to sell plans based on the insurers’ kickbacks, set up teams of insurance agents who could sell only those plans, and at times refused to sell MA plans of insurers who did not pay sufficient kickbacks.
The United States further alleges that Aetna and Humana each conspired with the broker defendants to discriminate against Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities whom they perceived to be less profitable. Aetna and Humana did so by allegedly threatening to withhold kickbacks to pressure brokers to enroll fewer disabled Medicare beneficiaries in their plans. The United States alleges that, in response to these financial incentives from Aetna and Humana, the defendant brokers, or their agents, rejected referrals of disabled beneficiaries and strategically directed disabled beneficiaries away from Aetna and Humana plans.
“It is concerning, to say the least, that Medicare beneficiaries were allegedly steered towards plans that were not necessarily in their best interest – but rather in the best interest of the health insurance companies. The alleged efforts to drive beneficiaries away specifically because their disabilities might make them less profitable to health insurance companies are even more unconscionable. Profit and greed over beneficiary interest is something we will continue to investigate and prosecute aggressively,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “This office will continue to take decisive action to protect the rights of Medicare beneficiaries and vulnerable Americans.”
“Health care companies that attempt to profit from kickbacks will be held accountable,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael Granston of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We are committed to rooting out illegal practices by Medicare Advantage insurers and insurance brokers that undermine the interests of federal health care programs and the patients they serve.”
The lawsuit was originally filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act (FCA). Under the FCA, private parties can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the recovery. The FCA permits the United States to intervene in and take over the action, as it has done here. If a defendant is found liable for violating the FCA, the United States may recover three times the amount of its losses plus applicable penalties.
U.S. Attorney Foley and AAG Granston made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles B. Weinograd and Julien M. Mundele of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit are handling the matter along with Trial Attorneys David G. Miller, Anna H. Jugo, Diana E. Curtis and Sara B. Hanson of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
The claims asserted in the complaint are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
The United States Files False Claims Act Complaint Against Three National Health Insurance Companies and Three Brokers Alleging Unlawful Kickbacks and Discrimination Against Disabled AmericansRead the Press Release
The United States filed a complaint today under the False Claims Act (FCA) against three of the nation’s largest health insurance companies — Aetna Inc. and affiliates, Elevance Health Inc. (formerly known as Anthem), and Humana Inc. — and three large insurance broker organizations — eHealth, Inc. and an affiliate, GoHealth, Inc., and SelectQuote Inc. The United States alleges that from 2016 through at least 2021, the defendant insurers paid hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal kickbacks to the defendant brokers in exchange for enrollments into the insurers’ Medicare Advantage plans.
Under the Medicare Advantage (MA) Program, also known as Medicare Part C, Medicare beneficiaries may choose to enroll in health care plans (MA plans) offered by private insurance companies, such as defendants Aetna, Anthem, and Humana. Many Medicare beneficiaries rely on insurance brokers to help them choose an MA plan that best meets their individual needs. Rather than acting as unbiased stewards, the defendant brokers allegedly directed Medicare beneficiaries to the plans offered by insurers that paid brokers the most in kickbacks, regardless of the suitability of the MA plans for the beneficiaries. According to the complaint, the broker organizations incentivized their employees and agents to sell plans based on the insurers’ kickbacks, set up teams of insurance agents who could sell only those plans, and at times refused to sell MA plans of insurers who did not pay sufficient kickbacks.
The United States further alleges that Aetna and Humana each conspired with the broker defendants to discriminate against Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities whom they perceived to be less profitable. Aetna and Humana allegedly did so by threatening to withhold kickbacks to pressure brokers to enroll fewer disabled Medicare beneficiaries in their plans. The United States alleges that, in response to these financial incentives from Aetna and Humana, the defendant brokers or their agents rejected referrals of disabled beneficiaries and strategically directed disabled beneficiaries away from Aetna and Humana plans.
“Health care companies that attempt to profit from kickbacks will be held accountable,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael Granston of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We are committed to rooting out illegal practices by Medicare Advantage insurers and insurance brokers that undermine the interests of federal health care programs and the patients they serve.”
“It is concerning, to say the least, that Medicare beneficiaries were allegedly steered towards plans that were not necessarily in their best interest – but rather in the best interest of the health insurance companies,” said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley for the District of Massachusetts. “The alleged efforts to drive beneficiaries away specifically because their disabilities might make them less profitable to health insurance companies are even more unconscionable. Profit and greed over beneficiary interest is something we will continue to investigate and prosecute aggressively. This office will continue to take decisive action to protect the rights of Medicare beneficiaries and vulnerable Americans.”
The lawsuit was originally filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the FCA. Under the FCA, private parties can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the recovery. The FCA permits the United States to intervene in and take over the action, as it has done here. If a defendant is found liable for violating the FCA, the United States may recover three times the amount of its losses plus applicable penalties.
The Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts are handling the matter, with valuable assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General and the FBI. The case is captioned United States ex rel. Shea v. eHealth, et al., No. 21-cv-11777.
Trial Attorneys David G. Miller, Anna H. Jugo, Diana E. Curtis, and Sara B. Hanson of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Weinograd and Julien Mundele for the District of Massachusetts are handling the matter.
The investigation and prosecution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the FCA. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The claims asserted in the complaint are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
Note: Read the complaint here
Member of Violent Gang Sentenced to Nearly Five Years in Prison for Racketeering and Firearm and Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston-area man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang.
Jonathan Darosa, a/k/a “Jeezy,” 32, of Boston, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 57 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In January 2025, Darosa pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise (more commonly referred to as RICO or racketeering conspiracy); one count of being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition; one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and oxycodone; and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Over the course of a two-year investigation, Darosa was identified as a member of Cameron Street. On two separate occasions, Darosa distributed cocaine and oxycodone to a cooperating witness. Additionally, in an interaction with law enforcement, Darosa threatened officers, telling them “If I had a gun on me, I would have shot at you,” “I am not going back to jail,” and “I keep it on my hip.” In April 2021 in Dorchester, law enforcement observed Darosa wearing a “waist bag” across his chest – law enforcement had recovered firearms from similar bags in the past. During a search of Darosa’s person, a Taurus 9 millimeter semi-automatic pistol containing 12 rounds of assorted 9 millimeter ammunition, including one round in the chamber, was recovered.
According to court documents, Cameron Street is a violent gang based largely in the Dorchester section of Boston that used violence and threats of violence to preserve, protect and expand its territory, promote a climate of fear and enhance its reputation.
Darosa has been convicted on three prior occasions of unlawful possession of a firearm, including a 2016 conviction in Suffolk Superior Court for which he served a three-year prison sentence.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Feld Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth and Pawtucket (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Charles Dell’Anno of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations. 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 remaining defendants named in the indictment are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Ecuadorian National Indicted for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Ecuadorian man residing in Lawrence, Mass. has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for illegally reentering the United States after deportation.
Gilberto Avila-Jara, 66, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Avila-Jara was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on April 1, 2025.
According to the indictment, Avila-Jara was deported from the United States on June 2, 1996. It is alleged that sometime after his June 1996 removal, Avila-Jara illegally reentered the United States without permission.
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 Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Dominican National Sentenced to Three Years in prison for Fentanyl Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national, residing in Chelsea, Mass., was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for fentanyl trafficking.
Junior Baez Sanchez, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to three years in prison. Baez Sanchez is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In January 2025, Baez Sanchez pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing fentanyl and one count of failing to appear for court.
Baez Sanchez distributed more than 40 grams of fentanyl in Chelsea on June 2, 2020 and in Malden on July 15, 2020. In March 2021, Baez Sanchez was indicted by a federal grand jury and was scheduled for trial in October 2022. Baez Sanchez failed to appear for court as required on Oct. 4, 2022—less than two weeks before trial—and the Court issued a warrant for his arrest. Approximately two years later, on Sept. 24, 2024, Baez Sanchez was arrested on the warrant after law enforcement stopped a vehicle driven by Baez Sanchez. At the time of his arrest, Baez Sanchez had 12 clear bags of fentanyl in his pocket.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Special assistance was provided by the Chelsea Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Dell’Anno of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Dominican National Indicted for Fentanyl Distribution While on Supervised Release for Drug Trafficking ConvictionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national residing in Lawrence has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly distributing 1,000 fentanyl pills while on federal supervised release for a prior drug trafficking conviction involving heroin and cocaine.
Wagner Ismael Mejia Sanchez, a/k/a “Jose F. Rosario,” a/k/a “Jose Majimbe,” 39, was indicted on one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Mejia Sanchez was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint on April 1, 2025.
In 2012, Mejia Sanchez was among 10 individuals charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in connection with a cocaine and heroin trafficking conspiracy. He subsequently pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and, in 2015, was sentenced to 39 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release.
According to the charging documents, during an investigation into a drug trafficking organization in January 2025, Mejia Sanchez was allegedly identified as a drug supplier who provided fentanyl pills to a distributor and was also observed engaging in suspected hand-to-hand drug transactions. It is alleged that law enforcement subsequently arranged for a controlled purchase from Mejia Sanchez on Feb. 19, 2025 in Lawrence, during which he allegedly distributed approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills (with a net weight of 96.2 grams) while on federal supervised release.
The charge of distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least five and up to 20 years in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Because of the prior conviction, Mejia Sanchez may face a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least eight years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $8 million. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annapurna Balakrishna of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting this 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 and Project Safe Neighborhood.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.Dominican National Charged with Distributing Hundreds of Fentanyl PillsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national, living in Haverhill and Methuen, Mass., has been arrested and charged for allegedly conspiring to distribute approximately 600 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl.
Jose Radhame Sanchez, 41, was charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Sanchez was arrested yesterday and following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, was ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for May 6, 2025.
According to the charging documents, in April 2025, Sanchez allegedly sold a total of approximately 600 suspected fentanyl pills to a cooperating source. Specifically, on April 9, 2025, in Lawrence, Sanchez allegedly distributed approximately 200 suspected fentanyl pills pressed to resemble 30 milligram oxycodone pills. It is alleged that Sanchez had a minor child with him in the car during the transaction. On April 17, 2025, Sanchez allegedly distributed approximately 400 counterfeit oxycodone pills suspected to contain fentanyl at a restaurant in Methuen.
It is further alleged that, in 2024, two suspected overdose victims were found in Sanchez’s Haverhill residence. On one occasion, in February 2024, law enforcement found a female who had overdosed at the residence. The female victim survived. It is alleged that, although Sanchez told law enforcement at the time in 2024 that he had found the victim “on the side of the road in his neighborhood and allowed her into his home” and “denied having knowledge that the female was a drug user,” recent phone records allegedly revealed that Sanchez had contacted the victim 171 times in less than a week in March 2025.
On another occasion, in April 2024, a two-year-old child was found unresponsive and not breathing at Sanchez’s residence. According to court documents, the minor victim later tested positive for fentanyl and cocaine. Sanchez also allegedly tested positive for cocaine at the time. The minor victim survived.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances 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. 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 Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Annapurna Balakrishna and Andrew Caffrey are prosecuting this 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 and Project Safe Neighborhood.The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Boston Man Charged with Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man has been arrested and charged for allegedly receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Cess Frazier, 32, has been charged with one count of receipt of child pornography. Frazier was arrested at his residence yesterday and made his initial appearance in federal court in Boston. He has been ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for May 1, 2025.
According to the charging documents, an ongoing investigation into the dissemination of CSAM allegedly identified Frazier as an individual who had purchased CSAM. During a search of Frazier’s cell phone approximately 100 media files that depicted CSAM were allegedly found saved in Telegram Messenger. The minor victims in the files are alleged to be between approximately three and 10 years old.
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 receipt 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 James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston 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.
United States Files Forfeiture Action for Historic Firearm Alleged to be Stolen from Springfield ArmoryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The United States Attorney’s Office filed a civil forfeiture action against a U.S. Springfield Model 1868 Style Trapdoor Saddle Ring Carbine bearing serial number 1444 believed to have been unlawfully removed from the Springfield Armory, a National Historic site, several decades ago.
The Springfield Armory, located in Springfield, Mass., is a National Historic Site managed by the National Park Service (NPS). The artifacts in the Springfield Armory’s collection are property of the United States Government.
The model 1868 carbine was a variation of Springfield’s model 1868 rifle, designed at the request of the United States Army Chief of Ordinance in August 1869. In a request to the Springfield Armory, the U.S. Army’s Chief of Ordinance requested “two… breech loading carbines, suitable for cavalry.” These carbines were to be used to determine their suitability for use by the U.S. Army Cavalry. Records from the Springfield Armory show that three model 1868 carbines were produced in 1869 and one in 1870. Records also show that the model 1868 carbine did not make it into full production. The four carbines are the only four the Springfield Armory ever produced.
Of the four documented model 1868 carbines produced, the Springfield Armory had maintained two in its collection, including the carbine that is the subject of this civil forfeiture action. The Smithsonian maintains one, serial number 2290. The fourth is believed to be privately held.
In 1985, the NPS determined one of its 1868 carbines to be missing. At various times over the years, the NPS obtained information that the missing carbine may have been in the hands of private collectors.
In 2023, federal law enforcement initiated an investigation into the stolen carbine, which resulted in the seizure of a carbine that is the subject of the civil forfeiture action. Although analysis indicated efforts had been made to obliterate identifying marks on the carbine, as alleged in the complaint, the federal law enforcement gathered evidence indicating that the seized carbine was indeed the missing carbine that had been stolen from the Springfield Armory.
The Springfield Armory was established in 1777 as a federal arsenal to supply the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. After the Revolutionary War, the Springfield Armory remained under control of the United States Army until 1974 when Congress designated it as a national historic landmark and transferred control to the NPS. The Springfield Armory began operating a museum on the premises in 1866 and has been collecting artifacts since that time.
It is a violation of federal law to embezzle, steal, purloin, or knowingly convert, or, without authority, to sell, convey or dispose of government property. A civil forfeiture action allows third parties to assert claims to property, which must be resolved before the property can be forfeited to the United States and returned to victims.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. The civil forfeiture action is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol E. Head, Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit.
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.
Brazilian National Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian national residing in Worcester, Mass. has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Thiago Aquino-De Paula, 34, is charged with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Aquino-De Paula was charged by complaint March 2025 and is currently in federal custody.
According to the charging documents, Aquino-De Paula was deported from the United States on three previous occasions including on or about Nov. 4, 2021. It is alleged that sometime after his Nov. 4, 2021 removal, Aquino-De Paula illegally reentered the United States without permission. Aquino-De Paula was found in Massachusetts after being arrested in Uxbridge for allegedly operating under the influence.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The 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 Kaitlin J. Brown 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.
Virginia Man Sentenced for Firearm and Ammunition ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Virginia man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Ted Therrien, 54, of Newport News, Va., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to time served (356 days) plus two weeks in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. In November 2024, Therrien pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
According to court documents, on or around July 30, 2021, when boarding a commercial fishing vessel in Fairhaven, Mass., Therrien unlawfully possessed a Ruger .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol and at least nine rounds of Remington .40 caliber ammunition. While on board the fishing vessel, after an argument with fellow crew members, Therrien discharged the firearm into the air. The U.S. Coast Guard was called and removed him from the fishing vessel. Therrien is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to a prior felony conviction.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Steven Firth, Special Agent in Charge of Coast Guard Investigative Service, Northeast Region made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Marshals Service and the Fairhaven Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elianna Nuzum of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Saugus Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Drug Conspiracy Involving Tens of Thousands of Counterfeit Pills and Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Saugus man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for a drug conspiracy involving tens of thousands of counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine, pills containing fentanyl and a firearm offense.
Aaron Lenardis, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 15 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In November 2024, Lenardis was convicted by a federal jury of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl; one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl; and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. In February 2023, Lenardis was indicted along with co-conspirator Charles Bates.
In August 2022, an investigation began into Bates after he ordered 50 kilograms of an orange binding agent commonly used to make counterfeit Adderall pills, which he was observed picking up at a UPS store in Boston. Bates brought the binding agent to Lenardis’s house in Saugus, where he and Lenardis used it to manufacture counterfeit pills using a pill press.
Throughout September 2022 and October 2022, Bates exchanged text messages with drug customers and associates in which he spoke about pills that are “made to order,” described being physically present at the place where the pills were made—Lenardis’s house—and “watching the guy work so no corners have been cut.” Bates described the pill press being used for 20 hours at a time and producing 5,000 pills per hour. In total, the offense involved at least 136,000 counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine, equivalent to approximately 40 kilograms of such pills.
After the pill press broke, Bates traveled to Pawtucket, R.I. to obtain a replacement. Bates and Lenardis were observed carrying the replacement pill press into Lenardis’ residence in Saugus.
A search of Lenardis’ residence in Saugus on Oct. 25, 2022 resulted in the seizure of an industrial pill press; 14 firearms including a Glock outfitted to operate as a machinegun; at least 1.85 kilograms of pills; powder containing methamphetamine; at least 87.6 grams of pills and powder containing fentanyl and “M30” stamps commonly used to manufacture counterfeit pills.
In November 2024, Bates was sentenced to 10 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel R. Feldman and Charles Dell’Anno of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Connecticut Man Who Committed Narcotics Offense While on Federal Supervised Release Sentenced to 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Connecticut man was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.
Hector Soto Gonzalez, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In January 2025, Soto Gonzalez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Beginning at least as early as June 2023, while Soto Gonzalez was on federal supervised release after serving a 10-year sentence for a narcotics conviction in the District of Puerto Rico, Soto Gonzalez became a source of supply for fentanyl for co-defendant Jose Mercado Aponte. Mercado Aponte travelled from Massachusetts to the area of Soto Gonzalez’s residence in Hartford, Conn., on multiple occasions to pick up drugs that Mercado Aponte then provided to a cooperating witness (CW).
On Nov. 13, 2023, Mercado Aponte arranged to sell a kilogram of fentanyl to the CW. On that date, Mercado Aponte communicated with the CW to coordinate the deal and then made three calls to Soto Gonzalez. Later that afternoon, law enforcement conducting surveillance of the residence observed Soto Gonzalez leave his residence and put something in his trunk. Soto Gonzalez subsequently departed his residence in his truck and travelled from Connecticut to Massachusetts where a traffic stop was conducted and approximately one kilogram of fentanyl was located inside the vehicle. Soto Gonzalez was released from federal custody in May 2022 after being sentenced and serving 10 years in prison.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Colonel Geoffrey Noble of the Massachusetts State Police; and Commissioner Shawn Jenkins of the Massachusetts Department of Correction made the announcement today. The Federal Bureau of Investigation New Haven Division, Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office and the Watertown, Reading, Peabody, Hudson, Concord, Waltham, Fitchburg, Leominster and Hartford, Conn. Police Departments provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Mackenzie Duane of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of MachinegunRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to unlawful possession of a machinegun.
James Thelwell-Mullen, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a machinegun before U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs who scheduled sentencing for July 29, 2025. In July 2024, Thelwell-Mullen was indicted by a federal grand jury.
On or around April 28, 2023, Thelwell-Mullen unlawfully possessed a machinegun conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch” – a device designed to enable a Glock semi-automatic pistol to fire automatically. According to court documents, a machinegun conversion device, as well as two privately made firearms, ammunition, firearm magazines, other firearm accessories, and one plastic bag of fentanyl, were recovered during a search of Thelwell-Mullen’s Boston residence. Messages on Thelwell-Mullen’s phone indicated that he was also selling machinegun conversion devices.
The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum of the Criminal Division.
Springfield Man Indicted for Drug and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield man was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mass., in connection with drug and firearms offenses.
Hector Navarro, 36, was indicted for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, being a felon in possession of ammunition and possessing a firearm if furtherance of a drug distribution felony. Navarro is currently in state custody on related charges and will appear in federal court in Springfield at a later date.
According to the charging document, on Jan. 27, 2025, Navarro possessed cocaine intended for distribution, along with a 9-mm handgun with no serial number and approximately 47 rounds of ammunition.
Navarro is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition due to a number of prior convictions including heroin distribution, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and assault with a dangerous weapon.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1,000,000. The charge of being a felon in possession of ammunition provides for a sentence of at least 15 years in prison and up to life in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking felony provides for a sentence of at least five years in prison and up to life in prison, no more than three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Superintendent Lawrence Akers of the Springfield Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of the Springfield 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.
Massachusetts Doctor Agrees to Plead Guilty to $35.5 Million Medicare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A doctor from Boston has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty in connection with a multi-million-dollar health care fraud scheme in which she allegedly defrauded Medicare for genetic testing services she never provided.
Le Thu, 69, is charged and has agreed to plead guilty to two counts of making false statements relating to health care matters. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court.
According to the charging documents, from in or about March 2017 through in November 2020, Thu knowingly and willfully engaged in a scheme to deceive the Medicare Program in connection with payments for genetic testing for beneficiaries. Specifically, Thu allegedly signed and/or caused other individuals who had no medical training to sign and submit false medical documentation and orders for beneficiaries’ genetic testing – which was generally not covered by Medicare – therefore making it appear that Thu was providing legitimate services. Thu allegedly signed or caused these orders to be signed that falsely claimed she had consulted with beneficiaries, conducted examinations prior to ordering genetic testing, obtained consent, and/or would use the testing results to treat the beneficiaries.
However, it is alleged that Thu did not see, speak to, or otherwise communicate, examine or provide any medical services to Medicare beneficiaries in connection with any of the false orders submitted, without regard to whether the beneficiaries needed the genetic testing. It is alleged that in one of the orders, Thu stated, among other things that the test results would “assist [Thu] in making patient-specific clinical decisions” and would “directly impact [Thu’s] patient’s medical management.” In connection with that alleged false order, a third-party laboratory billed Medicare approximately $5,368, for which Medicare paid approximately $2,886. Thu allegedly falsely stated in another order for genetic testing that the results of the testing would “determine [a] patient’s medical management and treatment decision.” In connection with that alleged false order, a third-party laboratory billed Medicare for over $24,052.
It is alleged that, as a result of the orders submitted on false medical documentation, Thu caused laboratories to submit approximately $35.3 million in claims to Medicare based on doctors’ orders containing materially false representations, for which Medicare paid approximately $25.3 million.
The charges of making false statements relating to health care matters each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge, Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard Locker of the Health Care Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Turner Falls Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Turner Falls man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Springfield, Mass. to possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Edward Dunphy, 79, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography before U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni who scheduled sentencing for July 30, 2025. In August 2023, Dunphy was indicted by a federal grand jury.
Dunphy was identified through an investigation of peer-to-peer file-sharing networks. During a May 18, 2023 search of Dunphy’s home, over 340,000 files containing child sexual abuse material were located on Dunphy’s computer and external hard drives.
The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least 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 and Randy Maloney, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Montague Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Sullivan of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Mexican national has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Luis Fernando Lara Uribe, 49, pleaded guilty on April 22, 2025 to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for July 15, 2025. Lara Uribe was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2024.
Lara Uribe was previously deported five times, the last being in February 2015. Sometime after his removal in 2015, Lara Uribe unlawfully reentered the United States.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes that 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 Robert E. Richardson of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Honduran National Arrested and Charged for Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Honduran man residing in Brockton has been arrested and charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Oscar Lopez, 41, also known as “Luis Maldonado” and other names, is charged in U.S. District Court in Boston with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Lopez was arrested on April 16, 2025 and ordered detained pending trial.
According to the charging documents, Lopez is a citizen of Honduras who entered the United States illegally in 2003. Lopez did not appear for an Immigration Court date in 2003 and was ordered to be removed from the United States. Immigration and Customs Enforcement were not able to remove Lopez until January 2013. It is alleged Lopez returned to the United States just a few months later without permission and was removed again in May 2013. At some point, Lopez allegedly returned again and Immigration and Customs Enforcement became aware of Lopez’s unlawful presence in the United States following arrests in March and April 2024.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien in this case 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, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Reynolds of the Criminal Division 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.
Guatemalan National Indicted for Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Guatemalan national has been indicted by a federal grand jury for illegally reentering the United States after deportation.
Mario Lopez, 35, was charged with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Lopez was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in March 2025 and has been detained pending trial.
According to the charging documents, Lopez was deported from the United States on Dec. 8, 2010 after an assault conviction in Maryland. It is alleged that sometime after his removal, Lopez attempted to return to the United States twice in 2022 but was denied entry. Sometime after that, Lopez unlawfully reentered the United States. Immigration and Customs Enforcement became aware of Garcia’s unlawful presence in the United States following arrests in November 2023, March 2024 and December 2024.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien in this case provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Reynolds of the Criminal Division 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.
Fugitive Captured After Brockton ShootoutRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Early this morning, an indicted fugitive was apprehended in connection with his alleged participation in a violent shootout that left a female victim with a gunshot wound to her chest.
Romeo Miller, 26, of Brockton, was arrested in Taunton on federal charges of being a felon in possession of ammunition. Following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston Miller was ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for May 5, 2025.
In February 2025, Miller was indicted by a federal grand jury along with three other Brockton men in connection with the shootout, all of whom remain in custody:
- Natalio Miranda, 33, charged with one count each of possession of a machinegun and being a felon in possession of ammunition;
- Jonathan Alves, 28, charged with one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition; and
- Jahleil Monteiro, 25, charged with one count of being an accessory after the fact to Miller’s felon in possession charge.
According to court filings, on June 2, 2024, at approximately 1:45 a.m., law enforcement responded to a “shots fired” call to a home in Brockton. Upon arrival, officers observed a large crowd outside the home and a 31-year-old female victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital and survived.
It is alleged that numerous bullet casings were found scattered throughout the front yard and driveway of the Brockton residence. According to court documents, video footage obtained from the home’s surveillance system determined that a house party at the residence led to a physical altercation in the driveway and, allegedly, an exchange of gunfire between the victim and Miranda, Miller and Alves.
Specifically, surveillance video allegedly captured Miranda as he discharged several bursts of ammunition from an automatic weapon in the front yard of the residence before leaving the scene. Miller and Alves are also allegedly seen firing towards the victim from the driveway. It is further alleged that Miller is later seen on the footage crossing the street to hide behind a parked car, where he shot the victim in the chest. Surveillance video then allegedly captured Miller returning to the driveway, where he passed his firearm off to Monteiro, before the two drove away in separate parked cars.
According to court records, at the time of the shooting, Miranda was on federal supervised release for his fentanyl distribution conspiracy conviction and has a prior state conviction for cocaine distribution. Additionally, at the time of the shooting, Miller and Monteiro were on probation for prior state convictions for unlawfully possessing a firearm, possessing a high capacity feeding device, assault and battery on a police officer and/or fentanyl distribution. Alves has a prior state conviction of possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine.
The charges of being a felon in possession of ammunition each provide 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 possession of a machinegun provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of being an accessory after the fact to a felon in possession provides for a sentence of up to half the maximum punishment for the underlying offense. 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; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Division; Brian A. Kyes, United States Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Brockton Police Chief Brenda I. Perez made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Pohl of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit 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.
Brazilian National Pleads Guilty to Selling Firearms Without a License and ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian national, who was living in Massachusetts, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy and dealing firearms without a license.
Lucas Henrique Moreira DePaiva, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing firearms without a license and one count of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for July 22, 2025. Moreira DePaiva was arrested and charged on Sept. 17, 2024.
Between Feb. 28, 2024 and Sept. 17, 2024, Moreira DePaiva sold 15 firearms across 10 dates in exchange for cash. In addition to firearms, Moreira DePaiva also sold ammunition and magazines. In February 2024, he also conspired with another to sell one of these firearms.
The charge of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license and conspiracy to engage in the same provides for a sentence for each of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Weymouth and Malden Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Crowley and John Reynolds of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
Brazilian National Pleads Guilty to Selling Firearms Without a License and ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian national, who was living in Massachusetts, pleaded guilty on April 18, 2025 in federal court in Boston to conspiracy and dealing firearms without a license.
Gideoni De Oliveira Moutinho, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing firearms without a license and one count of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for May 22, 2025. De Oliveira Moutinho was arrested and charged on Sept. 17, 2024.
Between Jan. 2, 2024 and Aug. 30, 2024, De Oliveira Moutinho sold seven firearms on different six dates in exchange for cash. In February 2024, he also conspired with another to secure the sale of one of these firearms.
The charge of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license and conspiracy to engage in the same each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. 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; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Weymouth and Malden Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Crowley and John J. Reynolds of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.