District of Massachusetts
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Worcester Man Charged with Assaulting a Federal InformantRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man has been charged with assault of a federal confidential informant during a planned firearm transaction in connection with the armed robbery.
Joshua Guzman, 18, was charged with assault of a person assisting federal officers with a dangerous weapon. Guzman remains detained in federal custody following an initial appearance in federal court in Worcester earlier today.
According to the charging documents, beginning on Feb. 18, 2026, Guzman and another individual allegedly coordinated the sale of a firearm to a federal confidential informant through a series of WhatsApp communications. It is alleged that Guzman and the individual directed the informant to meet at a location in Worcester on Feb. 25, 2026, to complete the transaction.
There, Guzman and the other individual allegedly entered the informant’s vehicle. It is alleged that, after the exchange of money for a gun, Guzman suddenly removed a firearm from his waistband, racked the slide back and pointed it at the informant while stating, “Gimme everything n****.” Guzman then allegedly struck the informant in the head with the firearm and grabbed the firearm that the informant purchased from the center console before both individuals fled the vehicle.
The informant immediately alerted monitoring agents, who had been conducting surveillance in the area. Guzman was observed fleeing on foot and was apprehended a short distance away after a brief pursuit. During the chase, a firearm fell from Guzman’s clothing and was recovered. The second individual was located and arrested nearby following the establishment of a perimeter. Investigators subsequently recovered clothing, a cellphone and approximately $1,600 in cash, consistent with the proceeds of the robbery.
The charge of assault of a person assisting federal officers with a dangerous weapon provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Worcester Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Boston Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Springfield Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield, Mass. man has pleaded guilty to distributing and conspiring to distribute fentanyl.
Emilio Garcia-Cappas, 29, pleaded guilty on April 17, 2026 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for July 29, 2026. The defendant was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024.
Between Feb. 5, 2024 and Feb. 22, 2024, Garcia-Cappas conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. On Feb. 12, 2024, Garcia-Cappas distributed and possessed with intent to distribute fentanyl. On three separate occasions, undercover law enforcement purchased fentanyl from Garcia-Cappas and his co-conspirators.
The charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, at least six years of supervised release and a fine of up to $2 million. The charge of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, at least six years of supervised release and a fine of up to $2 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Todd E. Newhouse and Thomas A. Barnico, Jr. of the Springfield Branch Office are prosecuting the case.
Gardner Woman Charged with Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Gardner woman was charged today in federal court in Worcester with fraudulently receiving Social Security disability benefits.
Leidy E. Otero, 43, was charged with one count of receipt of stolen government money or property and one count of Social Security fraud – concealment. She will appear in U.S. District Court in Worcester at a later date.
According to the charging documents, from January 2015 through March 2025, Otero allegedly received approximately $185,266 in Social Security disability benefits that she knew she was not entitled to. It is further alleged that Otero concealed material information from the Social Security Administration with the intent to fraudulently obtain the Social Security benefits.
The charge of receipt of stolen government money or property provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of Social Security fraud – concealment provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
On March 26, 2026, United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts. The Team is led by two senior federal prosecutors serving as Fraud Coordinators, whose mission it is to aggressively investigate and prosecute misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits in Massachusetts.
Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621).
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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.
Illegal Alien Previously Convicted of Drug Offenses Charged with Healthcare Benefit Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Brockton, Mass., has been arrested and charged with healthcare benefit fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Amaurys Arias Arias, 44, was charged with one count of making false statements relating to health care matters and one count of aggravated identity theft. The defendant was arrested and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, was ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for April 23, 2026.
According to the charging documents, Arias used the stolen identity of a U.S. citizen to obtain government benefits. Specifically, it is alleged that Arias falsely represented that he was a U.S. citizen when applying for healthcare benefits in Massachusetts and submitted a sworn affidavit falsely alleging the same. As a result, it is alleged that Arias ultimately obtained tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of MassHealth benefits using the stolen identity. It is further alleged that Arias used the stolen identity in connection with prior arrests, leading to convictions in the name of the U.S. citizen victim.
The charge of making false statements relating to a health care program provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory two-year sentence to run consecutively to any other sentence imposed, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
On March 26, 2026, United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts. The Team is led by two senior federal prosecutors serving as Fraud Coordinators, whose mission it is to aggressively investigate and prosecute misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits in Massachusetts.
Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621).
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julissa Walsh of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Boston Man Charged with Unlawful Possession of Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man has been arrested and charged after allegedly being found with a loaded firearm in his waistband.
Hakeem Cooper, 21, was charged with one count of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and appeared in U.S. District Court in Boston for an initial appearance.
According to the charging documents, on March 17, 2026, Cooper was arrested in Brookline, Mass., on a state warrant. During the arrest, a loaded firearm in the waistband of Cooper’s pants was allegedly found. The firearm was determined to be a Taurus PT111 Millenium G2 9mm pistol, loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition with one round in the chamber.
Cooper is prohibited from possessing ammunition due to his prior state court convictions, including prior convictions in Suffolk Superior Court for trafficking controlled substances and possession to distribute a class B controlled substance.
The charge of being a felon in possession provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and Brookline Police Department. Assistant United States 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.
Barre Woman Charged with Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Barre woman was charged in federal court in Worcester with stealing over $100,000 in Social Security benefits.
Jennifer Valley, 51, was charged with one count of theft of government money. Valley will make an appearance in federal court in Worcester at a later date.
The charging document alleges that Valley stole approximately $100,218 in Social Security retirement benefits from October 2022 through August 2025.
The charge of theft of public funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
On March 26, 2026, United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts. The Team is led by two senior federal prosecutors serving as Fraud Coordinators, whose mission it is to aggressively investigate and prosecute misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits in Massachusetts.
Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621).
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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.
Walpole Man Sentenced to Four Months in Prison for Smuggling Gold out of Colombia and Laundering Related FundsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Walpole man has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for his role in a 2018 scheme to smuggle gold, platinum and other precious metals into the United States from Colombia and then laundering the money.
Thomas Cataloni, 46, was sentenced on April 15, 2026 by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to four months in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release. In January 2026, Cataloni was convicted of one count of conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States, one count of international money laundering and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The defendant was charged in November 2022.
In 2018, Cataloni and his co-conspirators sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to bank accounts in Colombia to pay for gold and platinum to be smuggled into the United States without being declared at U.S. customs. To facilitate the smuggling, the gold and platinum were melted in Colombia and formed to look like crude, unfinished jewelry such as chains, keychains and purse straps. The supposed jewelry was then worn by individuals who flew from Colombia into the United States without declaring the gold and platinum.
Two of Cataloni’s co-conspirators previously pleaded guilty. One was sentenced earlier this year and the other is scheduled to be sentenced later this year.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Customs & Border Protection; Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority; and the Canton and Walpole Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian J. Sullivan and Samuel R. Feldman of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuted the case.
Lawrence Man Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Attempting to Meet with a Minor for SexRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for using an interstate facility to transmit information about a child.
Alex Bou, 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick to four years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In January 2026, Bou pleaded guilty to one count of use of an interstate facility to transmit information concerning a minor. In August 2025, Bou was arrested and charged.
On Aug. 17, 2025, Bou responded to an advertisement posted by undercover law enforcement on a website commonly used to advertise commercial sex acts. The advertisement contained images of a young female and language purported to be written by a female describing herself as a “flower ready to blossom.” On Aug. 17, 2025, Bou sent a text message to the number listed on the advertisement saying, “U available,” to which an undercover agent posing as the purported minor responded suggesting Aug. 19, 2025.
On Aug. 19, 2025, Bou continued his conversation with the undercover agent. In their conversation, the undercover agent stated that she was a 15-year-old girl available to perform sex acts in exchange for money. Upon being informed that the purported minor was 15 years old, Bou responded with, “Ok are you a virgin?” Bou agreed to pay $175 to have unprotected sex with the purported minor and acknowledged that he was agreeing to have sex with an “underage girl.” Bou obtained her address via text message, and shortly thereafter arrived at the location where he was placed under arrest.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Craig E. Estes of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit prosecuted the case.
If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact [email protected].
This case was brought in collaboration with 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.
Illegal Alien Previously Convicted of Drug Trafficking and Identity Theft Indicted for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national who unlawfully resided in Dorchester has been indicted by a federal grand jury for illegally reentering the United States after having been deported on three separate occasions. The defendant has previously been convicted of drug trafficking, aggravated identity theft and wire fraud dating as far back as 1997.
Wilson Radhames Peguero Brea, a/k/a Jose Perez Antonio, 56, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien with a prior felony conviction. The defendant was previously charged by criminal complaint in February 2026. He is currently in ICE custody.
According to the charging documents, Peguero has illegally entered the United States at least four times, and used numerous aliases, including aliases belonging to U.S. citizen victims. In 1997, under an alias associated with a U.S. citizen victim, Peguero was convicted of drug trafficking. He was removed from the United States in 2005 and thereafter illegally reentered the country. In 2016, Peguero was arrested and charged by the state for possession of a fraudulently obtained driver’s license. That criminal case remains in default status. He was removed from the U.S. a second time in 2016.
After Peguero allegedly illegally entered the U.S. a third time, he was charged in Dorchester District Court with trafficking cocaine and fentanyl in a criminal case that remains in warrant status. According to court documents, his Massachusetts criminal history is associated with his alias Jose Perez Antonio.
In 2021, Peguero was arrested and charged with his true name in federal court for aggravated identity theft and wire fraud. He was convicted of both charges on Jan. 11, 2023, and sentenced to more than two years in federal prison. In 2023, Peguero was removed from the United States a third time. Peguero then illegally reentered the United States a fourth time and was encountered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials on Feb. 5, 2026, while using a false identity document.
The charge of illegal reentry by an alien with a prior aggravated felony conviction provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and David T. Wesling, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julissa Walsh of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Leominster Man Charged with Transportation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Leominster man has been arrested and charged with transportation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Camden MacLean, 25, charged with one count of transportation of child pornography. MacLean was arrested today and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Worcester, was ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for April 21, 2026.
According to the charging documents, MacLean was flagged for secondary screening at Boston’s Logan Airport upon arrival from Toronto, Canada in August 2025. It is alleged that during a review of MacLean’s cell phone, media files depicting CSAM were found in his Telegram Messenger app. A subsequent forensic examination of the device allegedly revealed additional media files depicting CSAM that appeared to have been exchanged over Telegram and Kik Messenger, including images showing the sexual abuse of toddlers.
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 Jeff Grimming, Acting 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 Aidan Lang 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.
Illegal Alien from Dominican Republic Indicted for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Lynn has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for illegally reentering the United States after deportation.
Yodenny Michael Baez-Cabrera, 41, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. The defendant is currently in state custody and will appear in federal court at a later date.
According to the indictment, Baez-Cabrera was deported from the United States on July 18, 2017. It is alleged that sometime after his July 2018 removal, Baez-Cabrera illegally reentered the United States without permission.
In 2015, Baez-Cabrera was convicted of felony assault with a dangerous weapon and witness intimidation.
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. 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 David T. Wesling, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lynn Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aidan Lang 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.
Four Charged with Trafficking Narcotics into Massachusetts from Puerto Rico and California through the MailRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Four individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston in connection with a conspiracy to distribute multiple kilograms of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine.
The following defendants have been indicted with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances:
- Alexander Pineda Nunez, 32, residing in Methuen, Mass.;
- Angel Luis Cedeno Moni, 31, unlawfully residing in Lawrence, Mass.;
- Raymond Cedeno Calderon, 3, residing in Clifton, N.J.; and
- Adrian Pena Rodriguez, 23, unlawfully residing in Haverhill, Mass.
Pena is also charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Pineda, Moni and Pena were arrested and made their initial appearance in Boston on April 7, 2026. They remain in custody pending detention hearings. Calderon is currently in custody in Tennessee and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging documents, Pineda and Moni led a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that imported kilogram quantities of drugs to Massachusetts through the U.S. mail and other carriers. For example, Pineda, Moni, Pena and others allegedly arranged for kilogram quantities of cocaine to be mailed from Puerto Rico to various residential addresses in northeastern Massachusetts. Pineda and his co-conspirators would allegedly track the drug-laden packages and take them from the delivery address shortly after delivery, often at multiple locations on the same day. It is alleged that multiple packages mailed from Puerto Rico to the DTO in Massachusetts were seized—including one that was seized directly from Pena—and found to contain multiple kilograms of cocaine
It is further alleged that Pineda and Moni also travelled to Arizona and California to send packages of fentanyl and methamphetamine back to Massachusetts through the U.S. Mail. In August and September 2025, six packages that had allegedly been sent from California by Moni and Pineda were seized and found to contain multiple kilograms of fentanyl and methamphetamine.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted. E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Jason Buckley, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division; Jeff Grimming, Acting, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Watertown Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Dell’Anno of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Boston Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
United States Sues Illinois Doctor for Fraudulent Billing in Durable Medical Equipment SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed a lawsuit under the False Claims Act against an Illinois-based doctor for allegedly causing the submission of claims to Medicare for medically unreasonable and unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME).
The complaint alleges that between December 2018 and April 2019, Dr. Alexandria Williams signed orders for medically unnecessary orthotic braces for Medicare beneficiaries she never examined and who often did not want or need the braces. The orders that Williams allegedly signed were pre-populated based on telemarketing calls made to Medicare beneficiaries and contained multiple false statements, including, for instance, that Williams had completed an evaluation of the patient, discussed the use of orthotics with the patient, and instructed the patient on medical follow-up care. It is alleged that Williams generally did not contact the beneficiaries herself and had no medical relationship with the beneficiaries. At the time of the alleged conduct, Williams was a licensed physician in Massachusetts and ordered the braces for Massachusetts-based beneficiaries.
The complaint further alleges that Williams received payment for each order she reviewed through a staffing company that had connected her with Integrated Support Plus, Inc., a telemedicine company whose owner pleaded guilty to his role in the scheme in 2020. The orders she allegedly signed became the basis for DME suppliers to submit claims to Medicare for orthotics. As a result of Williams’ alleged participation in this scheme, the government contends that Medicare paid approximately $630,000 in false claims for DME that were medically unreasonable and unnecessary.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. This matter is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra Brazier and Lindsey Ross of the Foley’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit.
The claims are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Two U.S. Nationals Sentenced for Facilitating Fraudulent Remote Worker Scheme that Generated $5 Million in Revenue for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's WMD ProgramsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two men from New Jersey have been sentenced in federal court in Boston for their involvement in a scheme to generate revenue for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs. The scheme involved the dispatchment of skilled information technology (IT) workers who, using stolen identities of U.S. persons, posed as domestic workers to obtain remote IT jobs with U.S. companies, including several Fortune 500 companies and a defense contractor. The multi-year scheme used the stolen identities of at least 80 U.S. persons and generated more than $5 million in illicit revenue for the DPRK government.
Kejia “Tony” Wang, 42, of New Jersey, was sentenced today by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to nine years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. In September 2025, Kejia Wang pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to commit identity theft.
Yesterday, Zhenxing “Danny” Wang, 39, also of New Jersey, was sentenced by Judge Gorton to 92 months prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $200,000. On Jan. 7, 2026, Zhenxing Wang pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
In addition to the prison sentences imposed, the defendants were also ordered to forfeit $600,000 that they received in connection with the scheme. To date, the United States has received $400,000 of the ordered forfeiture amount.
“This case exposes a sophisticated scheme that exploited stolen American identities and U.S. companies to generate millions of dollars for a hostile foreign regime. By operating so-called ‘laptop farms,’ these defendants enabled overseas actors to infiltrate U.S. businesses, access sensitive data and undermine our economic and national security,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “The sentences imposed this week reflect the seriousness of this conduct and our commitment to holding accountable those who facilitate sanctions evasion and foreign threats from within our borders.”
“For years, the defendants enriched themselves by assisting North Korean actors in a fraudulent scheme to gain employment with U.S. companies,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The ruse placed North Korean IT workers on the payrolls of unwitting U.S. companies and in U.S. computer systems, thereby potentially harming our national security. NSD will hold accountable those who facilitate North Korea’s illicit revenue generation efforts.”
“Today’s announcement sends a clear message: U.S. nationals who facilitate DPRK IT worker schemes and funnel revenue to North Korea will face FBI investigation and potential prison time,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “Working closely with our partners, the FBI will pursue their co-conspirators and hold accountable those who seek to empower the DPRK by defrauding American companies and stealing the identities of private citizens.”
“These sentencings should act as a deterrent to foreign individuals and entities attempting to illegally access and export critical defense information,” said John Helsing, Special Agent-in-Charge for the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Western Field Office. “Investigating the theft, illegal export, diversion, or proliferation of sensitive Department technologies is a priority for DCIS, particularly where such compromises could enable foreign adversaries to use those capabilities against our nation’s warfighters. We will continue to work aggressively with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute those who threaten our national security.”
“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is steadfast in its commitment to protecting the integrity of the U.S. financial system from foreign adversaries and criminal actors,” said Kevin Murphy, acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI San Diego. “This case demonstrates the critical importance of collaboration across law enforcement agencies to disrupt schemes that threaten our economy and national security. HSI will continue to aggressively pursue those who exploit our financial institutions and technology infrastructure for illicit purposes, ensuring that the United States remains a safe and secure place to do business.”
“Today’s sentences should serve as a warning to those who continue to carry out schemes intending to deceive U.S. companies,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto. “We will relentlessly pursue those responsible! The FBI is committed to working with our partners to expose and mitigate these fraudulent IT schemes and provide unwavering support to victims of North Korean cyber actors. The FBI strongly advises organizations to closely monitor their data, strengthen their remote hiring processes, and report any suspicious activity or fraud to the FBI.”
From approximately 2021 until October 2024, the defendants and other co-conspirators compromised the identities of more than 80 U.S. persons to obtain remote jobs at more than 100 U.S. companies, including many Fortune 500 companies, and caused U.S. victim companies to incur legal fees, computer network remediation costs, and other damages of at least $3 million. Kejia Wang traveled to Shenyang and Dandong, China on two separate occasions in 2023, to meet with overseas actors about the scheme, including a former classmate that Kejia Wang knew was from North Korea. Kejia Wang went on to serve as the U.S.-based manager for the scheme, supervising at least five facilitators in the United States who collectively hosted hundreds of computers of U.S. victim companies at their residences. Zhenxing Wang was among the U.S. facilitators who received and hosted victim company laptops at his residence. He and the others also enabled overseas IT workers to access the laptops remotely by, among other things, connecting the laptops to hardware devices designed to allow for remote access (referred to as keyboard-video-mouse or “KVM” switches).
Kejia Wang and Zhenxing Wang created shell companies with corresponding websites and financial accounts, including Hopana Tech LLC, Tony WKJ LLC and Independent Lab LLC, to make it appear as though the overseas IT workers were affiliated with legitimate U.S. businesses. In fact, these companies had no employees or operations and existed only to further the scheme and enable the defendants and their co-conspirators to receive proceeds from the scheme. The financial accounts established by the two defendants for these shell companies ultimately received millions of dollars from victimized U.S. companies, much of which was subsequently transferred to overseas co-conspirators. In exchange for their services, Kejia Wang, Zhenxing Wang, and the four other U.S. facilitators received nearly $700,000 for their respective roles in the scheme.
IT workers employed under this scheme also gained access to sensitive employer data and source code, including International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) data from a California-based defense contractor that develops artificial intelligence-powered equipment and technologies. Specifically, between on or about Jan. 19, 2024, and on or about April 2, 2024, an overseas co-conspirator remotely accessed without authorization the company’s laptop and computer files containing technical data and other information. The stolen data included information marked as being controlled under the ITAR.
In June 2025, 17 web domains used in furtherance of this scheme were seized as well as 29 financial accounts, holding tens of thousands of dollars in funds, used to launder revenue for the North Korean regime through the remote IT work scheme. In October 2024, eight locations across three states were searched that resulted in the recovery of more than 70 laptops and remote access devices, such as KVMs. Simultaneously four web domains associated with Kejia Wang’s and Zhenxing Wang’s shell companies Hopana Tech LLC, Tony WKJ LLC, and Independent Lab LLC were also seized.
In June 2025 the defendants were charged along with eight overseas operatives who remain at large.
Concurrent with today’s announcement, the U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program announced a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the disruption of financial mechanisms of persons engaged in certain activities that support DPRK, including money laundering, exportation of luxury goods to North Korea, specified cyber-activity and actions that support weapons of mass destruction proliferation. The reward is offered for the following eight defendants who are alleged to have participated in the above-described scheme and one suspected IT worker:
- Xu Yongzhe (徐勇哲)
- Huang Jingbin (黄靖斌)
- Tong Yuze (佟雨泽)
- Zhou Baoyu (周宝玉)
- Yuan Ziyou (Samuel Yuan)
- Zhou Zhenbang (周震邦)
- Liu Menting (劉孟婷)
- Liu Enchia (刘恩嘉)
- Song Min Kim (a.k.a. Chengmin Jin)
Today’s announcement represents the Department’s latest actions to combat North Korean IT worker schemes as part of a joint NSD and FBI Cyber and Counterintelligence Divisions effort, the DPRK RevGen: Domestic Enabler Initiative. This effort prioritizes targeting and disrupting the DPRK’s illicit revenue generation schemes and its U.S.-based enablers. The Department previously announced sentencings of DPRK IT worker facilitators in July and December 2025 and February and March 2026.
As described in Public Service Announcements published in May 2024, January 2025 and July 2025, North Korean remote IT workers posing as legitimate remote IT workers have committed data extortion and exfiltrated the proprietary and sensitive data from U.S. companies. DPRK IT worker schemes typically involve the use of stolen identities, alias emails, social media, online cross-border payment platforms and online job site accounts, as well as false websites, proxy computers and witting and unwitting third parties located in the U.S. and elsewhere. North Korean IT workers leverage these third parties, which include U.S.-based individuals, to gain fraudulent employment and access to U.S. company networks to generate revenue
Other public advisories about the threats, red flag indicators and potential mitigation measures for these schemes include a May 2022 advisory; a July 2023 advisory; and guidance issued in October 2023 by the United States and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). As described the May 2022 advisory, North Korean IT workers have been known individually to earn up to $300,000 annually, generating hundreds of millions of dollars collectively each year, on behalf of designated entities, such as the North Korean Ministry of Defense and others directly involved in the DPRK’s weapons programs.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Holcomb of the National Security Unit prosecuted the cases alongside Trial Attorney Gregory J. Nicosia, Jr. of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section. Valuable assistance was provided by FBI New York, Newark and San Diego Field Offices; HSI Newark Field Office; United States Postal Inspection Service’s San Diego Field Office; and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of New Jersey, the Eastern District of New York and the Southern District of California.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Six Indicted for Shipping Kilograms of Cocaine and Fentanyl from California to Massachusetts via UPSRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Six individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for their alleged roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy that involved shipments of packages containing kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl from California for further distribution in Massachusetts:
- Edwal Vargas, a/k/a “Max,” 34, of Swampscott, Mass., was indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; one count of money laundering conspiracy; and one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine;
- Yanivel Gomez, a/k/a “Ashley,” 31, of Peabody, Mass., was indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of money laundering conspiracy;
- George Salvatore Landingham, 33, of North Andover, Mass., was indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine;
- Stephanie Tejeda, 33, of Hudson, N.H., was indicted on one count of money laundering conspiracy;
- Tyrone Shepherd, 41, of Chestnut Hill, Mass., was indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; and
- Gustavo Tavares, 44, of Studio City, Calif., was indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; and one count of money laundering conspiracy.
According to the charging documents, more than 260 UPS packages were shipped from California to various addresses in Massachusetts by members of the conspiracy. It is alleged that several of those packages were seized during the investigation and found to contain approximately 12 kilograms of cocaine and a kilogram of fentanyl.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of at least 10 years in prison, five years 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, three years of supervised release and a fine of $500,000. The charge of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine provides for a sentence of at least 10 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Jason Buckley, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney K. Nathaniel Yeager of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Boston Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
MS-13 Member Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Involving Three MurdersRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Salvadoran national and member of La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to his role in three murders. Defendant participated in beating, shooting and dismembering victims.
Franklin Antonio Amaya Paredes, a/k/a “Mosca” or “Tony,” 28, unlawfully residing in New Bedford, Mass. pleaded guilty to racketeering involving murder, conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise involving murder and two counts of murder in aid of racketeering. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for July 10, 2026. These charges stem from two indictments, one in the District of Massachusetts, the other in the Eastern District of Virginia. By agreement, Paredes’s Virginia charges were transferred to the District of Massachusetts.
“This defendant – an illegal alien who’s been residing unlawfully in our country – admitted to participating in three brutal murders across state lines to advance MS-13’s violent agenda and be rewarded within the gang’s ranks,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Let this serve as a clear message: individuals who come to this country and engage in this level of violence will be aggressively investigated, prosecuted and held fully accountable. This transnational criminal organization is far-reaching, but my office will continue to use every resource to dismantle it and protect Massachusetts communities from such barbaric devastation. As was the case here, my office will continue to work with agents and prosecutors across the country until MS-13 and other transnational criminal groups have been eliminated.”
“What Franklin Antonio Amaya Paredes did to his victims was particularly heinous – so much so that, years later, the circumstances of these three murders still stand out,” said Ted. E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “The sheer brutality, cruel depravity, and terror he inflicted on behalf of MS-13 demonstrates a complete disregard for human life. Amaya Paredes belongs behind bars, and that’s exactly where today’s conviction will keep him. Meanwhile, the FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement and community partners to dismantle this transnational criminal organization, bring an end to their senseless violence, and obtain justice for the victims of their crimes.”
According to court documents, Paredes was a member of the Uniones Locos Salvatrucha (ULS) clique of MS-13. The ULS clique operated in northern Virginia, southeastern Massachusetts and elsewhere in the United States. The clique was responsible for committing numerous murders and other acts of violence and distributing marijuana and cocaine in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Money generated from drug sales was used for the ULS clique’s needs in the United States, to fund MS-13 activities in El Salvador, and to help incarcerated MS-13 members.
On Aug. 25, 2018, Paredes and other members of ULS met in New Bedford, Mass., to murder an associate of MS-13’s Directos Locos Salvatrucha clique. MS-13 leadership in El Salvador had approved the murder because they believed the victim had betrayed MS-13. They met the victim at the residence of an MS-13 member in New Bedford and after the group ate dinner, Paredes and other ULS members beat and strangled the victim to death. Paredes and other ULS members then dismembered the victim’s body and buried the remains in a nearby wooded area. Paredes and other members of the group were promoted within MS-13’s ranks for their participation in the murder. The victim’s remains have not yet been found.
In June 2019, Paredes and other members of ULS conspired to murder individuals who frequently gathered to drink in a wooded area in the clique’s perceived territory in Reston, Va. On June 23, 2019, ULS members armed themselves with firearms and machetes and traveled to the Hunters Woods area of Reston. There, members of the group murdered the first many they encountered by shooting him and slashing him with a machete, while Paredes and others remained in nearby cars ready to assist. After the murder, Paredes and other members of the group drove to a nearby hotel room and recounted the details of the murder.
On July 14, 2020, Paredes shot and killed another victim near Horseneck Road in Dartmouth, Mass. Text messages showed that Paredes, who was the victim’s cousin, invited the victim to a family party where he was murdered.
After being charged with murder by state authorities, Paredes confided that he murdered his cousin because the cousin failed to “check in” with MS-13 leadership when he arrived in the New Bedford area from El Salvador and had done a poor job growing MS-13 in Southeastern Massachusetts. Paredes also conspired to kill a witness to the murder while in state custody.
As alleged in the indictments, MS-13 is a transnational criminal organization with tens of thousands of members located in the United States, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and elsewhere. MS-13 branches, or “cliques,” operate throughout the United States, including in Massachusetts and Virginia. In furtherance of its mission, MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence, specifically against rival gang members; kill informants; and support and defend fellow MS-13 members in attacks. MS-13 members maintain and enhance their status in the gang and the overall reputation of the gang by participating in such violent acts.
The charge of racketeering and racketeering conspiracy involving murder provides for a maximum sentence of life in prison; supervised release for up to five years; and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross profits or other proceeds obtained by the defendant from racketeering activity. The charge of murder in aid of racketeering provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison; supervised release for up to five years; and a $250,000 fine. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
U.S. Attorney Foley; J. Frank Bradsher, Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Virginia; FBI SAC Docks; FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Jeff Grimming, Acting, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Fairfax County (Va.) Police Chief Kevin Davis; Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden; and Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl, Meghan C. Cleary, and Brian A. Fogerty are prosecuting the case for the District of Massachusetts. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Blanchard, Megan Braun, and Natasha Smalky prosecuted the case for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Brockton Man Charged with Making False Statements to Law Enforcement About Firearms Recovered at Crime ScenesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man was charged yesterday in federal court in Boston for allegedly making false statements to law enforcement regarding his disposal of more than 20 firearms he purchased more than a dozen of which later surfaced at various crime scenes across the Northeast, including a Boston homicide.
Klordenzsky Senecharles, 29, has been arrested and charged with making materially false statements. Senecharles was arrested yesterday and released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston.
According to the charging documents, between March 2020 and May 2021, Senecharles purchased a total of 28 firearms and later sold four of them. Of the 24 firearms still registered to Senecharles, 13 firearms were allegedly recovered in connection with criminal activity, including a Feb. 26, 2024 homicide in Boston. According to the criminal complaint, when law enforcement questioned Senecharles about the whereabouts of the 24 firearms, Senecharles claimed that he had sold 21 of the 24 firearms to various Massachusetts registered firearms dealers. When law enforcement contacted the firearms dealers, they allegedly reported that they had no record of purchasing from Senecharles any of the 21 firearms he claimed to have sold them.
The charge of making false statements provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan C. Cleary and Colin T. Missett of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
13 Charged in Worcester Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Thirteen individuals have been charged for their alleged roles in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating in Central Massachusetts and Puerto Rico that distributed cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and marijuana.
The following defendants have been charged with one count each of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances:
- Jack Saez Jr., 34, residing in Dayville, Conn.;
- Christopher Rivera Rodriguez, 32, residing in Puerto Rico;
- Jan Carlos Martinez Mendez, 23, residing in Puerto Rico;
- Dayanara Mendez, residing in Dayville, Conn.;
- Shaquille De Jesus Torres, 32, residing in Puerto Rico;
- Gerardo Villegas Rodriguez, 28, residing in the Dominican Republic;
- Sheldon Herring, 48, residing in Worcester, Mass.;
- Duamel Ocasio, 55, residing in Worcester, Mass.;
- Anthony Hines, 57, residing in Worcester, Mass.;
- Stephen Bandilla III, 55, residing in East Brookfield, Mass.;
- Justin Gilchrest, 34, residing in Webster, Mass.;
- Alondra Daleishka Cruz Mendoza, 23, residing in Puerto Rico; and
- Ushuuaniliz Hernandez Rios; 21, residing in Puerto Rico.
According to the charging documents, Saez was the leader of a DTO that was receiving packages through the mail containing kilogram quantities of cocaine from Puerto Rico for distribution in Massachusetts. Over the course of the investigation, more than 10 kilograms of cocaine that had been shipped through the mail from Puerto Rico to addresses in Worcester County was seized. It is further alleged that Saez’s DTO also distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Searches of multiple stash houses and residences in Massachusetts and Puerto Rico allegedly resulted in the seizure of eight firearms along with distribution quantities of other narcotics.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Jason Buckley, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations; United States Marshals Service; Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms; Southern Worcester County Drug & Counter Crime Task Force; Puerto Rico Police Bureau; Massachusetts State Police; and the Auburn, Webster, Worcester, Southbridge, East Brookfield, Gardner, Leicester and Los Angeles Police Departments. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Robinson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Gonzalez Sanchez of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.
This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Boston Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
New Hampshire Man Indicted for Cyberstalking and Child Sexual ExploitationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Londonderry, N.H. man was arrested today for allegedly cyberstalking a Massachusetts victim through social media, text messages and various online platforms. Among numerous other things, the defendant allegedly posted sexually provocative statements, including a post that indicated the victim wanted to be sexually assaulted. The defendant also allegedly directed others on social media to produce, post and repost sexually explicit material of the victim.
Brad Cerullo, 46, was indicted on one count of cyberstalking and one count of sexual exploitation of children. Cerullo was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on March 25, 2026 and released by the Court on conditions, over the government’s objection.
According to the charging documents, between March 2021 and May 2025, the victim received approximately 72 text messages on her cell phone from at least 26 unknown senders, many from VoIP numbers. Several of the text messages referenced her photos or personal information on impersonation Twitter accounts. It is alleged that two of the unknown VoIP numbers were traced to Cerullo.
Over 340 of the victim’s images, including sexually explicit images and videos stolen from a secure device in the victim’s possession, and at least 10 accounts, including four accounts containing the victim’s name, were allegedly used to impersonate and/or further a campaign to shame, defame, harass, or otherwise cause the victim substantial emotional distress.
It is further alleged that child sexual abuse material of an approximately 12-year-old minor victim, who was known to the defendant, was found in some of Cerullo’s online accounts.
The charge of stalking by electronic means provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of sexual exploitation of children provides for a sentence of no less than 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, five years to life of supervised release and 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; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Wayne Tracy, Acting Chief of the Haverhill Police Department made the announcement today. The Andover and Londonderry (N.H.) Police Departments provided valuable assistance in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and member 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.Florida Man Charged with Running Multi-State Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Florida man was arrested today for allegedly defrauding investors who believed they were funding short-term, high-return loans for real estate transactions or storm damage repair.
Jose Bello, 38, was charged with four counts of wire fraud. He made an initial appearance in the Southern District of Florida and will be arraigned in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging document, Bello told investors that he worked with a group that would invest its money in short-term financing that Bello variously referred to as “private lending,” “gator lending” or “hard-money lending.” It is alleged that Bello recruited investors through friends and family and over Facebook and Discord. Bello allegedly gave investors fake descriptions of the investment opportunities and claimed that the loans were for repairs caused by storm damage. It is alleged, however, that Bello did not invest any of the funds he received from victim investors. Instead, Bello allegedly used the money to pay purported returns to earlier investors and otherwise gambled with investor funds. It is further alleged that Bello made false statements and excuses to investors as to why he had not made promised interest payments and/or could not return the investors’ principal. It is alleged that Bello obtained at least $5.7 million from investors and caused them to lose at least $1.8 million in purported investments.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Holcomb 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.
Carver Man Arrested on Federal Dogfighting ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Carver, Mass., man has been arrested and charged in connection with his alleged participation in a multi-year dogfighting conspiracy involving the breeding, training and fighting of dogs, as well as related animal cruelty and illegal gambling activities.
Corey Elliott, 49, has been charged with conspiring to participate in an animal fighting venture in violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act. Elliott was arrested this morning and will appear in federal court in Boston at 3:30 p.m. today.
According to the charging documents, Elliott allegedly participated in a long-running dogfighting conspiracy spanning several years and involving the breeding, training and fighting of dogs, as well as related gambling and animal cruelty offenses.
Specifically, it is alleged that Elliott and a co-conspirator operated a dogfighting venture, at times using the kennel name “The No Name Gang,” through which they possessed, bred, trained and fought dogs for sport and profit. The defendant and his co-conspirator allegedly maintained a close partnership over a period of years, during which they communicated extensively about dogfighting activities, including arranging fights, discussing outcomes, placing wagers and coordinating the acquisition, sale and conditioning of dogs for fighting purposes.
Charging documents further allege that Elliott was directly involved in organizing and hosting dogfighting events, including at his residence in Carver, Mass., and assisted in constructing dogfighting pits and kennel structures designed to house and condition dogs for fighting. Elliott and his co-conspirator allegedly discussed plans for specific fights, including the dogs to be used, the location and timing of the events and preparations necessary to conduct the fights.
It is further alleged that Elliott engaged in acts of animal cruelty in furtherance of the conspiracy, including training dogs to fight, subjecting dogs to violent encounters and culling dogs that did not meet desired performance standards. Elliott also allegedly discussed disposing of deceased animals and, at times, taking steps to conceal evidence of dogfighting activity.
According to the charging documents, Elliott and his co-conspirator also took steps to avoid law enforcement detection. These efforts allegedly included the use of coded language when discussing dogfighting activities, concealing dogs from public view, advising one another on how to avoid scrutiny from law enforcement and animal control authorities and relocating dogs to avoid potential seizure.
Searches of the co-conspirator’s residence in June 2023 resulted in the seizure of multiple pit bull-type dogs and evidence consistent with dogfighting activity, including veterinary supplies, training equipment and implements associated with dogfighting. Analysis of electronic devices seized revealed numerous videos and communications related to dogfighting, allegedly including messages between Elliott and his co-conspirator spanning several years.
In June 2025, during a search of Elliott’s residence in Carver, Mass., multiple pit bull-type dogs were seized from an outdoor kennel area. According to the charging documents, several of the dogs exhibited scarring consistent with dogfighting. It is further alleged that multiple items consistent with dogfighting activity were also recovered, including dog pedigrees, harnesses, leashes, syringes and veterinary medications, as well as equipment used to train and condition dogs.
To report animal fighting crimes, please contact your local law enforcement or the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General complaint hotline at: https://usdaoig.oversight.gov/hotline or 1-800-424-9121.
The charge of conspiring to participate in an animal fighting venture provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region; Geoffrey D. Noble, Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; and Joseph F. King, Director of the Animal Rescue League of Boston – Law Enforcement Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Massachusetts State Police; Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Law Enforcement Division; Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service; United States Marshals Service; Maine State Police; New Hampshire State Police; Massachusetts Office of the State Auditor; Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; and the Acton, Boston, Carver and Hanson Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danial E. Bennett of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Child Pornography Offense and Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Guatemalan national unlawfully residing in Dorchester, Mass. has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for unlawfully reentering the United States and for possessing child sexual abuse material. A second individual was also charged and deported from the United States.
Miguel Gomez-Lopez, a/k/a Miguel Hernandez, 32, was sentenced on April 9, 2026 by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to 13 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of the imposed sentence. In December 2025, the Gomez-Lopez pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien and two counts of possession of child pornography. The defendant was arrested and charged in June 2023 and has remained in custody since.
In June 2023, local law enforcement in Boston conducted a well-being check on a minor 14-year-old female who was believed to be in danger at Gomez-Lopez’s Dorchester apartment. When officers arrived, they discovered not one, but two, missing 14-year-old females at Gomez-Lopez’s apartment. One of the minors (MV-2) was exiting the apartment with Gomez-Lopez as police were arriving. The other minor (MV-1) was eventually located in a bedroom in Mr. Gomez-Lopez’s apartment. She appeared intoxicated and naked from the waist down. A search of Gomez-Lopez’s phone revealed nude photographs and videos of MV-2. A second individual was charged with crimes against MV-1 and has since been deported.
Following his arrest, it was determined that Gomez-Lopez was a citizen of Guatemala unlawfully present in the United States. Gomez-Lopez was first ordered removed from the United States in September 2017. Just six weeks later, in October 2017, Gomez-Lopez was again encountered by U.S. Border Patrol and subsequently deported from the United States a second time.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and David T. Wesling, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Riley, Jessica L. Soto and Mark Grady of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Winthrop Man Charged with Receiving Stolen Government Money and Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Winthrop man was arrested today for Social Security fraud over a period of more than four years.
Kenneth Riel, 51, was charged by Indictment with one count of receiving stolen government money or property and one count of Social Security fraud-concealment. The defendant was arrested today and released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston this afternoon.
As alleged in the Indictment, Riel received approximately $88,383 in stolen Social Security retirement benefits from February 2019 through November 2023. Additionally, Riel allegedly concealed and failed to report to the Social Security Administration (SSA) that an individual receiving retirement benefits had died so that he could fraudulently receive the improper benefit payments.
The charge of receiving stolen government money or property provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of Social Security fraud-concealment provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge of the SSA Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Rhode Island Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Involving Cocaine, MDMA, KetamineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Cranston, R.I., man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with his role in distributing cocaine, MDMA and ketamine.
Lengsy Prum, a/k/a, “Leon,” 39, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled sentencing for July 8, 2026. Prum was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2025.
In June 2024, Prum was identified as a Rhode Island-based distributor of cocaine, MDMA and ketamine. On three occasions between July and August 2024, Prum distributed ketamine to undercover law enforcement – personally delivering the ketamine in the parking lot of a home improvement store in Attleboro, Mass. In total, Prum distributed 3.2 kilograms of ketamine to undercover law enforcement. During an August 2024 search of Prum’s residence in Cranston, six kilograms of ketamine, 6.6 kilograms of cocaine and 4.2 kilograms of MDMA were recovered.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England, made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Walpole Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Retired Massachusetts State Police Sergeant Agrees to Plead Guilty to PPP FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A retired Sergeant for the Massachusetts State Police has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty to allegedly fraudulently obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program loan, which was later forgiven.
Damian Halfkenny, 54, of Boston, was charged with one count of wire fraud. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the court.
According to the charging document, in 2021, Halfkenny was employed full-time as a Sergeant with the Massachusetts State Police. He also owned and rented several real estate properties, a business for which he had no employees. It is alleged that in March 2021, Halfkenny submitted a PPP loan application for his real estate business, falsely representing that he had a monthly payroll expense of $8,488. In support of this application, Halfkenny allegedly provided a fabricated IRS Schedule C. Based on his alleged misrepresentations, the U.S. Small Business Administration issued Halfkenny, and later forgave, a $21,220 PPP loan.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Wichers of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Member of the Lynn Chapter of the Trinitarios Pleads Guilty to Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A member of the Lynn Chapter of the Trinitarios pleaded guilty today to racketeering charges, including his participation in two murders and two other attempted murders.
Luis Enrique Santana, a/k/a “Chiquito,” 32, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy. U.S. Senior District Court Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Aug. 19, 2026. Enrique Santana was arrested and charged in February 2025.
The Trinitarios are a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Trinitarios adhere to a Magna Carta, employ an internal hierarchy to organize and execute violence, and undertake extensive efforts to maintain the secrecy of the organization and its members.
In February 2025, federal racketeering charges were unsealed against 22 leaders and members of the Trinitarios. The charges were the result of a multijurisdictional investigation, dubbed Operation Paper Machetes, which began in the aftermath of four murders as well as a series of attempted murders and shootings that took place in Lynn in 2023, allegedly committed by the Trinitarios criminal enterprise and its members. In March 2025, a Lynn member of the Trinitarios was sentenced to 10 years in prison. In June 2025, two members of the Trinitarios were charged with kidnapping a drug supplier. In July 2025, the leader of the Lynn Chapter was sentenced to fourteen years in prison. In December 2025, two members of the Lynn Chapter, Michael Miliano and James Jimenez pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy. Luis Enrique Santana is the ninth defendant to plead guilty.
During today’s court proceeding, Luis Enrique Santana admitted to his membership in the gang and his participation in a shooting March 2019, where the Trinitarios intended to kill three rival gang members.
Enrique Santana also admitted to his participation as an accessory after the fact to two murders in September 2023. During this incident, three members of the Trinitarios drove by a party in Lynn and discharged numerous rounds at the people gathered outside celebrating someone a recent graduation and heading off to college. Seven people were shot during this incident, including two who later died from the gunshot wounds they sustained. After the shooting, Enrique Santana assisted the Trinitarios in moving the vehicle used in the shooting from Lynn to Lawrence in order to conceal it from law enforcement and destroy evidence that it contained.
The charge of RICO conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble; and Lynn Police Chief Christopher P. Reddy made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Former Veterans Affairs Employee Charged with Fraudulently Obtaining Multiple COVID-19 BenefitsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man was charged yesterday in federal court in Boston with wire fraud.
Jesus Abreu, 38, who worked as a Food Service Worker with the Department of Veterans Affairs from November 2021 until March 2022, was indicted on three counts of wire fraud.
As alleged in the Indictment, in July 2020, Abreu submitted an application for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and received $32,400. In the application for the EIDL, Abreu made false claims regarding gross revenues. Subsequently, in April 2021, Abreu submitted two applications seeking Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. In those applications, Abreu allegedly made false claims regarding gross income purportedly earned from a sole proprietorship. To support these false claims, Abreu allegedly attached fraudulent tax documents as part of the applications. The PPP loan applications were approved and Abreu received $41,666. Abreu allegedly used that money on personal expenses. However, in September 2021, Abreu allegedly submitted loan forgiveness applications that falsely claimed the entire $41,666 was spent on payroll. Based on the misrepresentation the loans were forgiven.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Special Agent in Charge Christopher Algieri with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northeast Field Office; and Kelly M. Lawson, Acting Regional Director, U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Boston Regional Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Norwood Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Sullivan of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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.
Chelsea Man Sentenced for His Role in a Mail Theft and Check Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Chelsea man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for fraudulently depositing checks stolen from the mail.
Josman Romero-Delgado, 24, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to time served (approximately four months in prison) and three years of supervised release. Romero-Delgado was also ordered to pay $39,157 in restitution. In November 2025, Romero-Delgado pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to steal and possess stolen mail.
From at least June 2023 until February 2024, Romero-Delgado and his co-conspirators stole mail from USPS collection boxes, looking to steal checks. After they stole these checks, they washed the hand-written ink from the checks using commercially available chemicals. The checks were then re-issued to the co-conspirators or other bank accounts that they controlled. After the checks were fraudulently deposited, the defendants and their co-conspirators withdrew money from ATMs or bought money orders with the fraudulently obtained funds. A review of the co-conspirators’ cellphones revealed that they had collaborated to advance this criminal scheme.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas A. Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Jason Buckley, Acting Inspector in Charge for the Boston Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston and Wellesley Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lucy Sun and Philip C. Cheng of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Business Owner Charged with Treasury Check FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A ninth defendant has been charged as part of an ongoing investigation into the theft of U.S. Treasury tax refund checks in eastern and central Massachusetts.
Victor Vasquez, 40, of Gardner, was charged by complaint with the theft of approximately $988,000 in government funds. Vasques was arrested yesterday and released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston. In June 2025, eight others were charged with theft of government funds or bank fraud related to approximately $8.8 million in stolen Treasury checks.
According to the charging documents, in June 2024, Vasquez deposited a Treasury check for $988,744 that had been issued to another taxpayer but altered to bear Vasquez’s name as the payee. Vasquez allegedly deposited the check into a credit union account in the name of a business he had closed years earlier, Victor Northeast Construction, LLC. Shortly after depositing the check, Vasquez allegedly transferred $8,000 to another bank account he controlled in order to pay outstanding loan balances. When the credit union spoke with Vasquez by telephone and asked about the source of the deposited funds, it is alleged that Vasquez falsely stated that the check was a tax refund for his business, despite the fact that his business had not yet been incorporated during the tax year associated with the Treasury check and that he never filed a tax return on its behalf.
The charge of theft of government funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; Michael Carpenter, Special Agent in Charge of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; and Jason Buckley, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto, Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Frauds Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Asian Boyz Gang Member and Second Gang Associate from Lowell Plead Guilty to Methamphetamine Pill Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two Lowell men with allegiances to the Asian Boyz gang have pleaded guilty to distributing and conspiring to distribute thousands of counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine.
Owen Landry, a/k/a “Oski,” 24, pleaded guilty on April 8, 2026, to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine; one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine; and two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for July 8, 2026.
Zachary Hansen, 31, pleaded guilty on March 31, 2026, to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine. Judge Burroughs scheduled sentencing for March 31, 2027.
The defendants were among five charged in January 2025.
In 2021, an investigation began into the Asian Boyz gang to disrupt the manufacturing and distribution of substantial quantities of methamphetamine pills impacting Lowell.
The investigation revealed that Landry, an Asian Boyz gang member, and Hansen, a gang associate, allegedly formed a conspiracy with another gang member, Sovath Yern, a/k/a “Stryke”, to profit from the sales of bulk quantities of the counterfeit Adderall pills. Hansen agreed to let Landry use his residence in Lowell, as one of the group’s storage and distribution centers. At Landry’s direction, Hansen also sold the counterfeit Adderall pills and collected payments.
Specifically, Landry negotiated two large counterfeit Adderall pill deals in July and August 2024 and directed the buyers to Landry’s Lowell residence to complete the transactions. Unbeknownst to Landry and Hansen, the pill deals were part of law enforcement operations to surveil and record the purchases. In July 2024, a cooperating witness met Hansen inside the Lowell residence and paid him $2,000 in exchange for 5,000 pills. In August 2024, a co-conspirator was observed, travelling back and forth from Landry’s residence in Lowell during a deal with a second cooperating witness, who paid another $2,000 in exchange for 2,000 pills.
Later in 2024, Landry himself sold pills he had allegedly obtained from Yern’s apartment in Billerica to a cooperating witness. Specifically, on two separate occasions in November 2024 and December 2024, Landry directed the cooperating witness to meet him in the garage of Yern’s apartment complex. After meeting the cooperating witness and taking the cash payments, Landry then entered the building where Yern allegedly escorted him inside. Landry was seen entering Yern’s apartment with the money and then leaving with large bags of pills. Landry then returned to the cooperating witness to deliver methamphetamine pills – 4,000 pills in the November 2024 instance, and 5,000 pills in the December 2024 instance.
The charges of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine and conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine, each 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 of and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to life in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Greg C. Hudon, Superintendent of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Billerica, Haverhill, Methuen, North Andover and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant in the case is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Ten Indian Nationals Indicted for Visa Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Ten Indian nationals have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston in connection with a conspiracy to carry out staged armed robberies of convenience stores for the purpose of allowing store clerks to falsely claim they were crime victims on immigration applications. The defendants were previously charged by criminal complaint in March 2026.
The following defendants have been indicted by a federal grand jury with one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud:- Jitendrakumar Patel, 39, unlawfully residing in Marshfield, Mass.;
- Maheshkumar Patel, 36, unlawfully residing in Randolph, Mass.;
- Sanjaykumar Patel, 45, unlawfully residing in Quincy, Mass.;
- Dipikaben Patel, 40, deported to India after unlawfully residing in Weymouth, Mass.;
- Rameshbhai Patel, 52, unlawfully residing in Eubank, Ky.;
- Amitabahen Patel, 43, unlawfully residing in Plainville, Mass.;
- Ronakkumar Patel, 28, unlawfully residing in Maryland Heights, Miss.;
- Sangitaben Patel, 36, unlawfully residing in Randolph, Mass.;
- Minkesh Patel, 42, unlawfully residing in Perrysburg, Ohio; and
- Sonal Patel, 42, unlawfully residing in Perrysburg, Ohio.
All 10 defendants were previously charged by criminal complaint and released on conditions. Rameshbhai Patel and Ronakkumar Patel have been taken into immigration custody. The defendants are subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. This case stems from an investigation into Rambhai Patel, the organizer of the scheme, and getaway driver Balwinder Singh – both of whom were charged in December 2023 and later convicted in May 2025.
According to the charging documents, in March 2023, Rambhai Patel and his co-conspirators set up and carried out staged armed robberies of at least six convenience/liquor stores and fast food restaurants in Massachusetts and elsewhere. It is alleged that the purpose of the staged robberies was to allow the clerks present to falsely claim that they were victims of a violent crime on an application for U non-immigration status (U Visa). A U Visa is available to victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and who have been helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.
In the course of the alleged staged robberies, the “robber” would allegedly threaten store clerks and/or owners with an apparent firearm before taking cash from the register and fleeing, while the interaction was captured on store surveillance video. The clerks and/or owners would then wait five or more minutes until the alleged “robber” had escaped before calling police to report the “crime.” The “victims” are alleged to have each paid Rambhai Patel to participate in the scheme. In turn, Rambhai Patel paid the store owners for the use of their stores for the staged robbery.
The organizer Rambhai Patel, the “robber,” and the getaway driver, Balwinder Singh, were convicted in May 2025. The 10 defendants indicted today are alleged to have either arranged with Rambhai Patel to set up each robbery, or paid for themselves or a family member to participate as a “victim.”
The charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Additionally, the defendants are subject to deportation after any sentence imposed.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of New York, the Western District of Washington, the Northern District of Ohio, the Eastern District of Missouri, and the Eastern District of Kentucky; FBI’s New York, Seattle, Louisville, Cleveland and St. Louis Field Offices; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; Massachusetts State Police; Worcester County District Attorney’s Office; and the Boston, Dedham, Hingham, Malden, Marshfield, Randolph, Somerville, Weymouth, Worcester, Upper Darby, (Pa.), West Pittston (Pa.), Louisville, (Ky.) and Bean Station (Tenn.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elianna J. Nuzum and Jessica L. Soto of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
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.Southbridge Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Cocaine Conspiracy and Possession of a MachinegunRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Southbridge man was sentenced today for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, including possessing a machinegun and cocaine intended for distribution.
Miguel Lopez, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to six years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. In December 2025, Lopez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine; one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances; and one count of unlawful possession of a machine gun.
From in or about April 2023 through in or about April 2024, Lopez conspired with others to distribute cocaine shipped from Puerto Rico to Massachusetts. On at least four different occasions during that period, Lopez was observed collecting packages suspected of containing controlled substances. On or about Jan. 29, 2024, a package addressed to Lopez was seized and one kilogram of cocaine was found hidden inside. During an April 2024 search of Lopez’s residence, approximately two kilograms of cocaine was found hidden inside a package that had been delivered earlier that day. A Glock pistol with a machinegun conversion device attached to the back along with ammunition, a 30-round magazine and a 50-round drum magazine were also found at Lopez’s residence.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Jason Buckley, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin Brown of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.Lynn Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving Stolen Government Money and Making False StatementsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lynn man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to receiving stolen Social Security benefits and making false statements.
James C. Burdulis, 57, pleaded guilty to one count of receiving stolen government money or property and one count of false statements. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for July 8, 2026. Burdulis was charged on March 26, 2026.Burdulis received approximately $63,959 in stolen Social Security benefits from June 2019 through June 2025 that were intended for a beneficiary that had died. Prior to the beneficiary’s death in May 2019, Burdulis had been appointed as the beneficiary’s representative payee to manage their Social Security benefits and provide regular accountings to the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Between June 2020 and June 2024, Burdulis submitted five fraudulent representative payee reports to the SSA under penalty of perjury in which he stated that he spent money received from the SSA on behalf of the deceased beneficiary after their death. Further, Burdulis submitted a fraudulent verification form to the SSA in September 2020 stating that the deceased beneficiary continued to live at the same location.
The charge of receiving stolen government money or property provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of false statements provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Leader of Sex Trafficking Ring Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Fall River woman pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to her role in a sex trafficking conspiracy that victimized two minors and one adult.
Christy Parker, a/k/a “Lula,” 28, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; and one count of sex trafficking a minor. U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley scheduled sentencing for July 15, 2026. Parker was arrested and charged in June 2024 along with five others in connection with the sex trafficking conspiracy. She has remained in federal custody since.
Between January and August 2023, Parker used physical beatings, threats, intimidation, sleep deprivation, starvation and other means to coerce at least one adult victim and two minor victims to engage in repeated commercial sex acts in and around Fall River, Mass.
Specifically, in early 2023, Parker coerced the adult victim to engage in repeated commercial sex acts by physically beating, threatening and verbally abusing the victim; imposing manufactured debts on the victim; supplying the victim with alcohol and subsequently withholding it; and threatening to have the authorities take the victim’s three-year-old child away from her.
Parker later worked with a minor to recruit two minor victims for commercial sex with false promises of easy money. Parker and her co-defendants harbored the minor victims in a house and a Somerset, Mass., hotel and provided them for commercial sex over the course of two months in July and August 2023. Parker physically beat at least one minor victim and threatened both minor victims, prohibited them from sleeping so they could engage in more commercial sex, starved them and confiscated all of their earnings.
Parker’s scheme ended in August 2023, when one of the minor victims called her social worker and asked for help. The social worker contacted law enforcement, and Parker was arrested at the Somerset, Mass., hotel where she was harboring the victims.
Parker is the fifth defendant to be convicted in the case. In November 2025, Tyreik Reid and Cory Primo were each sentenced to 70 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking in June 2025. Avvani Jeffers and Tre’sean Reid were sentenced in January 2026 after each pleading guilty to their roles in October 2025. Alexander Smalls has pleaded not guilty is pending trial.
The charge of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, provides for a sentence of at least 15 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of sex trafficking of a minor 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 $ 250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office and the Somerset Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Riley, Chief of the Human Trafficking and Civil Rights Unit is prosecuting the case alongside Trial Attorney Francisco Zornosa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecution Section.
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.
East Boston Man Charged with Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An East Boston man has been arrested and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Three privately made firearms (ghost guns), four machine gun conversion devices, a 3D printer, five magazines and 31 privately made firearm receivers found during search.
Angel Negron, 47, of East Boston, was charged with one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Negron was arrested at his apartment on March 31, 2026 and remains detained following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston.
According to the charging documents, between Jan. 14, 2026, and March 2, 2026, Negron ordered 29 firearm parts to his apartment via his eBay account. Additionally, on March 3, 2026, Negron allegedly submitted an online complaint to a firearm company, saying that a trigger he purchased from the company’s eBay store did not fire his firearm properly. In that communication, Negron allegedly included a photograph of a firearm with a 3D printed frame:
During a search of Negron’s apartment on March 31, 2026, investigators seized three privately made firearms (ghost guns), four machine gun conversion devices, a 3D printer, five magazines and 31 privately made firearm receivers.
In 2007, Negron was convicted in Suffolk Superior Court of possession of a firearm without a license and carrying a loaded firearm, for which he was sentenced to 30 months in the house of correction.
The charge of felon in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeffrey Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Boston Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Robinson of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Convicted Felon from Fall River Pleads Guilty to Firearm and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Fall River man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and distributing cocaine.
Carlos Perez, 40, pleaded guilty to four counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and one count of distributing a controlled substance. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for July 14, 2026. In November 2025, Perez was arrested and charged.
On May 5, 2025, Perez sold cocaine as well as a .45 caliber pistol and ammunition to a cooperating witness. In addition, Perez sold a Sig Sauer, P230 SL, .380 caliber pistol and ammunition on June 2, 2025; a Ruger, Max 9, 9mm pistol and ammunition on June 30, 2025; and a Smith & Wesson, M&P 9 Shield, 9mm pistol and ammunition on Aug. 27, 2025.
Perez is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition due multiple prior convictions. According to the charging documents, Perez has 61 adult charges on his record and over 15 criminal convictions, including a 2015 state conviction for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class A Substance, for which he served two years in the house of corrections, as well as two separate convictions for Assault and Battery Dangerous Weapon in 2008, for which he received a two-year suspended sentence and six months in the house of corrections.
The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of distributing a controlled substance provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Fall River and New Bedford Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Reynolds III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Brazilian National Sentenced for Conspiracy to Obtain Driver's Licenses for Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian national illegally residing in Boston was sentenced today for conspiring to obtain driver’s licenses for ineligible applicants, principally illegal aliens.
Gabriel Nascimento De Andrade, 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to time served (450 days in prison). The defendant is now subject to deportation. On March 6, 2026, the defendant pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to unlawfully produce and possess with intent to transfer identification documents.
From in or about November 2020 through in or about September 2024, Nascimento De Andrade and his alleged co-conspirators fraudulently procured driver’s licenses for illegal alien customers who resided in states that prohibited illegal aliens from obtaining driver’s licenses. Prior to July 2023, illegal aliens residing in Massachusetts were not permitted to obtain Massachusetts driver’s licenses. Beginning in 2019, illegal aliens residing in New York became eligible to obtain New York driver’s licenses.
Gabriel Nascimento De Andrade and his alleged co-conspirators conspired to fraudulently obtain New York driver’s licenses for illegal alien customers who did not reside in New York, including Massachusetts residents, and after July 2023 to fraudulently obtain Massachusetts driver’s licenses for illegal alien customers who did not reside in Massachusetts. The co-conspirators collected money from the customers in exchange for fraudulently obtaining the driver’s licenses for them. In one instance, on April 24, 2024, Nascimento De Andrade requested and accepted $450 in cash from a customer in the parking lot of a Plymouth RMV location in return for providing the customer with a fake cable bill to provide to the RMV, falsely showing that the customer lived in Massachusetts.
In New York, before obtaining a driver’s license, applicants were required to pass a written permit test and complete driver’s education coursework from a New York driving school. Online permit test-takers were required by the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (NY DMV) to take a picture of themselves with a web camera during the test. This was to ensure that the test-taker was indeed the applicant and that there was not a person sitting with and helping the applicant with the test.
To avoid the customers having to take the permit tests, Gabriel Nascimento De Andrade and his alleged co-conspirators conspired to obtain several pictures of the customers sitting down, making it look as if the customers were taking the tests. They also allegedly conspired to complete the permit tests for the customers online and, when prompted by the NY DMV to take pictures during the tests, and to upload the pictures that the customers previously provided – purporting to show that it was the customers who were taking the tests, not the defendants. The co-conspirators allegedly conspired to create fraudulent driver’s education certificates of completion, purportedly from New York driving schools, and they conspired to forge the signatures of driving school staff on the fake certificates and to give these documents to the customers to provide to the NY DMV.
The NY DMV also required that applicants appear at a NY DMV location and provide documents to prove their identity and residence in New York. The co-conspirators allegedly conspired to meet Massachusetts-based customers at locations in Massachusetts and drive them to NY DMV branch locations. When they arrived at the NY DMV locations, the defendants allegedly gave the customers fraudulent documents falsely purporting to demonstrate that the customers resided in New York. The NY DMV relied on the misrepresentations to issue New York driving permits to the customers. The co-conspirators allegedly conspired to arrange for the NY DMV to mail the permits to locations in New York that were controlled by the defendants and provided the permits to the customers in-person. The defendants then allegedly conspired to schedule road driving license tests for the customers with the NY DMV and, again, drive the customers to New York for them to take the road tests. If the customers passed the tests, the NY DMV sent the driver’s licenses to mailing addresses in New York that the defendants allegedly controlled, and the defendants then provided the licenses to the customers.
The defendants allegedly conspired to obtain Massachusetts driver’s licenses for out-of-state residents, in generally the same manner as they allegedly obtained the New York licenses for Massachusetts residents. Collectively, the co-conspirators allegedly fraudulently applied for licenses for more than 1,000 customers, obtained licenses for more than 600 of the customers, and collected at least hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Nascimento De Andrade is the third defendant to be sentenced in this case. In September 2025, Cesar Agusto Marin Reis was sentenced to 290 days in prison and, in October 2025, Helbert Costa Generoso was sentenced to nine months in prison.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Jason Buckley, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the NY DMV Division of Field Investigation; the Boston, Danbury (Conn.) and Waterbury (Conn.) Police Departments; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut; and the New York State Inspector General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Sex Trafficking Leader Pleads Guilty to Multiple Counts of Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
A Massachusetts woman pleaded guilty today for her role in conspiring with others and committing sex trafficking of two minors and one adult.
According to court documents and evidence presented in court, Christy Parker, also known as “Lula,” 28, of Fall River, Massachusetts, used physical beatings, threats, intimidation, sleep deprivation, starvation and other means to coerce at least one adult victim and two minor victims to engage in repeated commercial sex acts in and around Fall River, Massachusetts between January and August 2023. Starting in January 2023, Parker coerced the adult victim to engage in repeated commercial sex acts by physically beating, threatening and verbally abusing the victim; imposing manufactured debts on the victim; plying the victim with alcohol and subsequently withholding it; and threatening to have the authorities take the victim’s 3-year-old child away from her.
Parker later worked with a minor to recruit two minor victims for commercial sex with false promises of easy money. Parker and her co-defendants harbored the minor victims in a house and a Fall River hotel and provided them for commercial sex over the course of two months in July and August 2023. Parker physically beat and threatened the minor victims, prohibited them from sleeping so they could engage in more commercial sex, starved them, and confiscated all of their earnings. Parker’s scheme ended in August 2023, when one of the minor victims called her social worker and asked for help. The social worker contacted law enforcement, and Parker was arrested at the Fall River hotel where she was harboring the victims.
Parker pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and one count of sex trafficking a minor. She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 15, and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Restitution is also mandatory for offenses involving sex trafficking.
Four of Parker’s co-defendants were previously convicted and sentenced. Tyreik Reid, 22, and Cory Primo, 44, were convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking each and sentenced to 70 months in prison. Avvani Jeffers, 24, was convicted of two counts of forced labor and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Tre’sean Reid, 23, was convicted of one count of forced labor and sentenced to time served, which amounted to 8 months in prison.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley for the District of Massachusetts; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming of the HSI New England Field Office made the announcement.
The HSI New England Field Office and Fall River Police Department are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Francisco Zornosa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecution Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Riley-Cunniffe for the District of Massachusetts are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Saugus Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Thousands of Pills Containing Meth and FentanylRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Saugus man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy involving thousands of counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine and fentanyl.
George Krabey, 47, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In November 2025, Krabey pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, involving 500 grams or more of methamphetamine; three counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine; one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; and one count of distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl. In July 2025, Krabey was indicted by a federal grand jury.
Between December 2024 and April 2025, Krabey repeatedly met with a cooperating source and sold thousands of counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine and fentanyl. On April 22, 2025, Krabey was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by law enforcement in Danvers. Krabey was enroute to Salisbury to sell the cooperating source 4,000 counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine. During a search of the vehicle, a shoebox was located containing 5,296 pills containing methamphetamine with a weight of approximately two kilograms.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jared A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Revere, Saugus and Peabody Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.Dominican National Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Carlos Alexander Martinez-Jimenez, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to one year in prison, to be served consecutive to his current state prison sentence. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In January 2026, Martinez-Jimenez pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2025.
In February 2017, Martinez-Jimenez was convicted of Furnishing a False Name or Social Security Number as well as Identity Fraud in Fall River District Court, for which he was sentenced to 134 days in state prison. He was subsequently removed from the United States in April 2017 after serving his sentence.
Sometime after his April 2017 removal, Martinez-Jimenez unlawfully reentered the United States.
On Jan. 31, 2024, Martinez-Jimenez was convicted of Trafficking 18 grams or more (Less Than 36 grams) of Heroin/Morphine/Opium/Fentanyl in Essex Superior Court. He was sentenced to three-and-a-half to five years in state prison and is currently serving that sentence.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and David T. Wesling, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan C. Cleary and Zachary Stendig of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Two Men Plead Guilty to Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Randolph man and a Boston man have pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to cocaine trafficking charges, following a series of arrests targeting gangs in the Brockton and Randolph areas. The charges stemmed from the search of a luxury apartment in Dorchester, where over a kilogram of cocaine and two loaded guns were recovered.
Giovany Fouyolle, 31, of Randolph, pleaded guilty on March 25, 2026 to one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Adonis Graham, 34, of Boston, pleaded guilty today to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy scheduled sentencings for May 26, 2026 and July 2, 2026, respectively.
Fouyolle and Graham were arrested on Dec. 17, 2025, after search warrants were executed at numerous residences and stash houses associated with the Brockton-based Harvard Street Gang and their Randolph-based affiliates. One of the places searched was a unit at the Imprint Apartments in Dorchester, which Fouyolle used as a stash location. Approximately 1,170 grams of cocaine, along with two loaded guns and $2,000 cash in bare kitchen cabinets, were located in the apartment.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to life in prison, consecutive to any other term of imprisonment, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. 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 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Abington, Acushnet, Ashland, Boston, Braintree, Bridgewater, Brockton, Chelsea, East Bridgewater, Medford, Quincy, Randolph, Raynham, Stoughton, Taunton and West Bridgewater Police Departments; Plymouth and Suffolk County Sheriff’s Departments; Massachusetts Department of Correction; Plymouth, Norfolk and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices; and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Cutshall and Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
New York Man Charged in Multi-State Cargo-Theft ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New York man has been indicted for allegedly conspiring to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of cargo and sell the items for illicit profit. The goods allegedly stolen include beer worth approximately $35,200; 33,750 pounds of frozen snow crabs worth approximately $325,000; pallets of blueberries; and more than $430,000 worth of designer cologne.
Romoy Forbes, 31, a Jamaican national living in Deer Park, N.Y., has been indicted for interstate transportation of stolen goods, and conspiracy to commit that offense. Forbes was previously arrested on Feb. 5, 2026 in Long Island, N.Y., after being charged by complaint in the District of Massachusetts. He was later released on conditions and will be arraigned in federal court in Worcester at 3:15 p.m. today.
According to the indictment, Forbes and his co-conspirators were able to steal the goods, partly through fraudulent emails that they sent to shippers. The emails were made to appear as though they were being sent by legitimate trucking carrier companies, offering and agreeing to receive and deliver goods that the shippers had advertised as in need of transportation.
On July 15, 2025, Forbes allegedly obtained the frozen snow crab from a storage warehouse in Worcester, Mass. that was intended to be delivered on behalf of a freight service company based in Maine, to a customer in Jacksonville, Fla. Forbes allegedly procured the seafood by falsely representing that he was acting on behalf of a trucking carrier company based in Illinois. Instead of delivering the goods to the true customer in Florida, Forbes allegedly transported it to a loading dock in Queens, N.Y.
According to the charging documents, on June 6, 2025, before the alleged seafood heist, Forbes allegedly obtained a shipment of beer worth approximately $35,200, from a brewery in Newark, N.J. that was intended for delivery to a customer in Portland, Maine. Instead of delivering the beer to the true customer in Maine, Forbes allegedly drove the beer to Long Island, N.Y., where he provided it to an individual in return for payment.
In addition, on June 26, 2025, Forbes allegedly obtained blueberries from a storage business in Winslow Junction, N.J., that was intended to be delivered on behalf of a freight service company based in Maine, to a customer in Illinois, by falsely representing that Forbes was acting on behalf of a trucking carrier company based in New Jersey. Forbes allegedly did not deliver the fruit to the customer. Instead, on June 27, 2025, a contact in Forbes’ cellphone named, “My customer for everything,” allegedly texted Forbes, “You bringing the blues,” to which Forbes texted “Yes, just text me the address,” “we can do 4000 and I will bring it to you right now,” and “OK, so I will be there tomorrow to drop off the blueberries.”
After the seafood, beer and blueberry thefts, on July 25, 2025, Forbes allegedly conspired to steal cologne in Ronkonkoma, N.Y. that was intended to be delivered on behalf of a freight service company based in Illinois, to a customer in Los Angeles, by falsely representing that Forbes was acting on behalf of a trucking carrier company based in Illinois. Instead of delivering the fragrances to the true customer in California, Forbes allegedly contacted his “customer for everything” offering to sell the cologne and sent the contact a video of the cologne, to which the contact replied, “Ok.”
The charge of interstate transportation of stolen goods 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 conspiracy to commit that offense carries a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the FBI in New York. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Member of Multi-State "Smash-and-Grab" Crew Sentenced for Luxury Retail Burglary SpreeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Washington, D.C. man has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for his involvement in a string of smash and grab burglaries.
Ronald Patterson, Jr., 35, was sentenced on April 1, 2026 by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani to 37 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Patterson was also ordered to pay $33,000 in restitution. In September 2021, Patterson, Jr. pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport stolen goods in interstate commerce and one count of interstate transportation of stolen goods. Patterson was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2023 along with two co-conspirators.
Patterson was a member of a group of individuals who conducted “smash and grab” burglaries of luxury stores from Florida to Massachusetts. Patterson admitted his participation in 14 such burglaries with a total of $506,532 worth of merchandise stolen. Many of the burglaries were recorded by store surveillance cameras. The videos show a group of men breaking into a store by smashing the glass doors. After entering the closed stores, the men grabbed and stole armfuls of high-end merchandise. The investigation revealed that Patterson listed for sale stolen merchandise on his social media account.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and the Wrentham Police Chief William R. McGrath made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Woodbury Police Department (N.Y.), Pocono Township Police Department (Pennsylvania), Leesburg Police Department (Virginia) and the Tilton Falls Police Department (N.J.). Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Med Spa Owner Pleads Guilty to Performing Thousands of Injections Using Counterfeit ProductsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Stoughton, Mass. woman pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to charges relating to thousands of injections she performed using counterfeit Botox and dermal fillers imported from China and Brazil. The defendant, who was not licensed to perform injections, received more than $1 million in client payments for these procedures.
Rebecca Fadanelli, 40, pleaded guilty to four counts of importing merchandise contrary to law, two counts of selling or dispensing a counterfeit drug and two counts of selling or dispensing a counterfeit device. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled sentencing for July 1, 2026. Fadanelli was arrested and charged in November 2024.
According to the charging documents, beginning in at least March 2021, Fadanelli, the owner of Skin Beaute Med Spa with locations in Randolph and South Easton, Mass., imported counterfeit Botox, Sculptra and Juvéderm from China and Brazil and performed thousands of injections using these and other counterfeit drugs and devices for which she received more than $1 million in client payments. Fadanelli falsely represented to her clients and employees that she was a nurse; in fact, Fadanelli is an aesthetician and was never licensed to perform injections or otherwise dispense or administer prescription drugs or devices.
The charge of importing merchandise contrary to law provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charges of knowingly selling or dispensing a counterfeit drug or counterfeit device each provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
If you or a family member believe you received services involving a counterfeit drug or counterfeit device from Fadanelli and/or Skin Beaute Med Spa between 2021 and 2025, please complete the questionnaire located on the FDA’s website at https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/criminal-investigations/oci-vw-assistance. Information about the status of the case is located on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/victim-and-witness-assistance-program/united-states-v-rebecca-fadanelli.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Fernando P. McMillan, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; and Jennifer De La O, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. The Medicaid Fraud Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and the Stoughton and Randolph Police Departments also provided valuable assistance in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leslie Wright and Sarah Hoefle of the Health Care Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.
H Block Gang Associate Sentenced to More Than Four Years in Prison for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An associate of the violent Boston-based gang, H-Block, was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for drug conspiracy charges.
Mark Linnehan, 26, of West Roxbury, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 51 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In January 2026, Linnehan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Linnehan was one of 10 H-Block gang members and associates charged in August 2024 following a multi-year investigation of H-Block beginning in 2021 in response to an uptick in gang-related drug trafficking, shootings and violence. According to court documents, over 500 grams of cocaine, cocaine base (crack cocaine) and fentanyl, as well as over 20,000 doses of drug-laced paper were seized during the investigation.
The investigation of H Block began in response to an uptick in gang-related drug trafficking, shootings and violence. Since the start of the investigation in 2021, law enforcement attributed 12 incidents of gunfire to growing tensions involving H Block gang associates. Six H Block members and associates were arrested and charged with drug dealing in Boston and the surrounding communities. Four additional H Block members and associates were already in state custody at the time of the arrests. Additional drugs and four firearms were seized during the subsequent arrests.
From 2022 through 2023, Linnehan, a long-time H Block gang associate, participated in a conspiracy to distribute various controlled substances, in particular, fentanyl and cocaine. According to court filings, Linnehan was a supplier of fentanyl to his co-conspirators and also engaged in various drug deals with an undercover officer.
According to the charging documents, the H Block Street Gang is one of the most feared and influential city-wide gangs in Boston. Originally formed in the 1980s as the Humboldt Raiders in the Roxbury section of Boston, the gang re-emerged in the 2000s as H Block. Current members of H Block have a history of violent confrontation with law enforcement, including an incident in 2015 when a member shot a Boston Police officer at point blank range without warning or provocation.
Linnehan is the 6th defendant to be sentenced in the case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Randy Maloney, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office; Ted E., Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; and Russell W. Cunningham Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Mid-Atlantic Region made the announcement. The investigation was supported by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office; Massachusetts Department of Corrections; and the Braintree, Quincy, Randolph, and Watertown Police Departments. Assistant United States Attorney John T. Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit and Jeremy Franker of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime & Racketeering Section are prosecuting the cases.The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Post Office Employee Sentenced for Mail TheftRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former United States Postal Service (USPS) employee was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for the theft of mail and theft of government funds.
Michael Murray, 38, of Lynn, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 30 months’ probation. Murray was also ordered to pay $8,553 in restitution and forfeiture of $5,130. In January 2025, Murray pleaded guilty to one count of theft of mail matter by an employee and one count of theft of government money. In April 2024, Murray was indicted by a federal grand jury.
From approximately September 2022 through July 2023, Murray worked as a USPS postal clerk at the Beach Street Post Office in Revere and the Melrose Post Office. From approximately April 2023 through July 2023, Murray used his official position to steal the contents of hundreds of pieces of mail entrusted to him, including gift cards, cash and checks totaling approximately $3,422. During the same time period, Murray stole and fraudulently negotiated USPS money orders by generating them for postal customers for his own use totaling approximately $5,131.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Chao, Chief of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit, prosecuted the case.
Former Executive from Marlborough Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Defraud the IRS and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former accounting and real estate executive in Sudbury was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for a multi-year scheme to cheat the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by getting paid more than $1.6 million in compensation and fringe benefits under the table, all while lying to the U.S. Attorney’s Office about his income to avoid paying restitution he owed to victims of an earlier fraud scheme.
Stephen L. Hochberg, 78, of Marlborough, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to two years in prison, to be followed by three years supervised release. Hochberg was also ordered to pay $2,888,288 in restitution to the IRS, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as to victims of his prior crimes of securities and wire fraud. In January 2026, Hochberg pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and to obstruction of justice. Hochberg was charged in December 2025.
Hochberg and Charles D. Katz, the owner of a Sudbury accounting firm and a real estate company, agreed in as early as 2014 to cheat the IRS. They agreed that Hochberg, who served as the Director of Corporate Services at Katz’s accounting firm and as Chief Operating Officer at Katz’s real estate firm, would be paid significant compensation off the books so that Hochberg would have tax-free income and so that Katz’s firms – CD Katz LLC and Gebsco Realty Corporation – would owe less employment taxes. Over time, Katz paid Hochberg’s family, provided rent-free housing to Hochberg’s ex-wife, paid college tuition for his children and paid personal expenses that Hochberg and his ex-wife charged on corporate credit cards.
All told, Katz paid Hochberg at least $1,668,487 in unreported income and avoided taxes of at least $835,105.
In 2008, Hochberg was convicted of eight counts of wire fraud and nine counts of securities fraud, for which he was sentenced to more than five years in federal prison and ordered to pay $1,791,500 to his victims. In addition to his and Katz’s tax scheme, Hochberg lied to the U.S. Attorney’s Office about his income from Katz’s firms and obstructed the collection of restitution Hochberg owed to victims.
Katz was charged and agreed to plead guilty in October 2025. The Court accepted his plea and scheduled a sentencing hearing for April 29, 2026.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol E. Head, Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit prosecuted the case.
Worcester Man Charged with Snap FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – As part of the United States Attorney’s ongoing enforcement priority to investigate and prosecute benefit fraud involving federal and state assistance programs, a Worcester man has been charged with using the identity of a deceased U.S. citizen to obtain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
John Doe, an individual whose true identity is alleged to be that of a 57-year-old citizen of the Dominican Republic believed to be unlawfully present in the United States, was charged with unlawfully obtaining SNAP benefits and false representation of a Social Security number. The defendant was arrested on April 2, 2026 and remains detained following an initial appearance in federal court in Worcester.
According to the charging documents, since at least 2001, John Doe has been living in Massachusetts under the identity of a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico who died in 2006. It is alleged that under the deceased citizen’s identity, the defendant fraudulently obtained Massachusetts identification cards and a Social Security card.
According to court documents John Doe has criminal convictions in Massachusetts under the deceased citizen’s identity, including assault and drug convictions. Specifically, in September 2012, John Doe was convicted in Worcester Superior Court of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (gun) as well as trafficking cocaine, for which he was sentenced to state prison for 8-10 years and 11-15 years in state prison, respectively.
Upon his release from prison in January 2022, the defendant allegedly used the stolen identity to apply for SNAP benefits. It is alleged that, in connection with his SNAP application, John Doe spoke with an employee of the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) in April 2022, claiming that he was the individual listed on the application, that he was a U.S. citizen, and verified his purported Social Security number. According to the charging documents, the DTA employee noted in the file: “Death match ??? – reviewing with suoervisor [sic]” – apparently indicating that the Social Security number that John Doe allegedly provided corresponded to a deceased person. However, the application was ultimately approved by Massachusetts DTA, and John Doe allegedly proceeded to collect SNAP benefits.
In total, from April 2022 through February 2026, John Doe allegedly applied for and obtained approximately $12,623 in SNAP benefits under the stolen deceased citizen’s identity.
The charge of unlawfully obtaining SNAP benefits provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of misrepresenting a Social Security number provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region; and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Brazilian National Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Selling FirearmsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for selling 11 firearms, including one equipped with a large capacity magazine and another with an obliterated serial number.
Guilherme Fernandes-Tavares, 32, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to four years in prison. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In November 2025, Fernandes-Tavares pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license. Fernandes-Tavares was arrested in May 2024 in an unrelated state case. Fernandes-Tavares was charged in federal court by criminal complaint in March 2025 and subsequently indicted in July 2025.
Between January and May 2024, Fernandes-Tavares sold firearms in Eastern Massachusetts. Specifically, on March 27, 2024, Fernandes-Tavares sold a pistol with a high-capacity magazine capable of holding 29 rounds. On May 7, 2024, Fernandes-Tavares sold a pistol with an obliterated serial number. When asked about the serial number, Fernandes-Tavares told a cooperating witness that Fernandes-Tavares’ source of the firearm required him to obliterate the serial number. In addition, Fernandes-Tavares sold nine other firearms to the cooperating witness during this time period.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and David T. Wesling, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Reynolds of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
Asian Boyz Gang Associate from Lowell Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An associate of the Asian Boyz gang was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in a distribution network that produced homemade methamphetamine pills, branded as “Adderall.”
Richard Nguyen, a/k/a “Cheese,” a/k/a “Cheeseburger,” 30, of Lowell, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy to 128 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In November 2025, Nguyen was convicted by a federal jury of two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Nguyen was arrested and charged in January 2025.
In 2021, an investigation began into the Asian Boyz gang to disrupt the manufacturing and distribution of substantial quantities of methamphetamine pills impacting the City of Lowell. Nguyen was part of the large drug distribution network that profited from the sale of thousands of these counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine. Between March 2022 and January 2025, Nguyen and other defendants sold counterfeit Adderall pills to undercover officers and cooperating witnesses on 47 different occasions.
Nguyen sold counterfeit Adderall pills to a cooperating witness at least three times between January 2024 and April 2024. Each time, Nguyen directed the cooperating witness to meet him at his home to conduct the deal, on a back porch covered with a tarp and accessible only from a narrow alleyway. Nguyen negotiated the deals with the cooperating witness using an Instagram account, “Cheese.” He gave the cooperating witness a price of $0.80 per pill, explaining that he could only get the pills for $0.70 per pill, and that he had to “make [his] dollar.” During the first deal on his back porch, Nguyen sold the cooperating witness approximately 1,000 pills. During the next two deals, Nguyen sold the cooperating witness twice as much – approximately 2,000 pills each time.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Superintendent Greg C. Hudon of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Billerica, Haverhill, Methuen, North Andover and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Fred M. Wyshak, III and Brendan D. O’Shea of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/PSN.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.